AUTHOR'S NOTE: HIGH PRIORITY: All right, everyone. So, I'm posting this after having a bit of an emotional breakdown and a much needed heart-to-heart with parents much better than a sad, broken little man like myself could ever deserve. I'm going back to therapy, and, partially related, but the real reason for this author's note, is that I need to get some of my (academic) shit back together. Ease my burden. So. I'm going to need to push my upload schedule once again. I can guarantee from this point forward a chapter every other week. So, post a week, don't post, post a week, etc. However, it's not impossible that sometimes, I might be able to squeeze in another chapter as well. Whether this will come in the form of a double upload, or just one gets uploaded early, I'm not sure yet. Another good thing you can take from this, is that I'll finally be able to have a more reliable time to work on that Commissioned Andromeda One-shot I have (and the one that I got inspired for while planning it out). Might, MIGHT, even start making a few trilogy ones here and there this early, but I won't bank on it yet. So, apologies for the schedule change, and I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Also, advice for any of you going to college in the future. NEVER, and I mean NEVER take online classes.

Commander John Shepard

We were all in the shuttle on our way back to the Normandy when I got a message from Liara.

Congratulations on getting Samara's help. Just be careful, the Eclipse will not take kindly to your attack. I have found information on Thane Krios. His primary contact for this hit, and main source of information, is a woman named Seryna, she used to work for Nassana and grew tired of her… deeds. My people approached her and explained the situation. She was eager to help upon learning our interests were aligned. Nassana is paranoid and has a large security detail of Eclipse, and has turned her penthouse in Dantius towers into a kind of fortress. Thane will likely infiltrate through the second tower which is still under construction. When it gets darker in a few hours, meet her in my offices. She'll be your guide to the best place to infiltrate the tower, and provide inconspicuous transport. It has to be tonight, that's when Thane is making his move.

A few hours, good. Enough time to speak with Samara and make sure everything about the reality of this situation is understood and acceptable.

"Everyone, just heard back from Liara about our next recruit. He'll be making his move in a few hours, and Liara's arranged for subtle transport. When we get back, get a bite to eat, take a power nap, whatever. Just stay ready. No guarantee you'll be on the team, but better ready than not.

"And yet, I get the feeling it is a guarantee for Tali and I," Garrus remarked.

"What can I say? I like having you both around." The Normandy's dock came into view, and the shuttle slowed, moving to enter the Normandy's cargo bay. "Samara, if you wouldn't mind, could you follow me to my quarters? I want to get you up to speed on everything."

"Of course, Shepard," she nodded. The shuttle touched down, the doors opened, and we all entered the elevator. It stopped at the crew deck, leaving Samara and I alone on the way up to my quarters. It was quiet. The elevator finished its journey, and we entered my quarters. I did notice that Samara's eyes, perhaps just naturally, rapidly scanned the room, mapping it. I gestured at my sofa and she took a seat, sitting straight up, ridged.

"Want anything to drink?" I offered.

"Water, thank you." I picked out a bottle for her, and for me… screw it, beer. I handed her the water and cracked open my beer as I took a seat, and a swig.

"So, you remember the Geth attack on the Citadel two years ago?" I began. She nodded. "And the Geth Dreadnought? Saren?"

"Yes, I have heard much about Saren, even before his cooperation with the Geth. If not for my current target, perhaps he would have been my next quarry."

"Yeah, he was a dick alright. Anyways, Saren was just a puppet, almost literally. As are the Collectors. They both share the same puppet masters. The Reapers. The Geth dreadnought was in fact one of them. They're an ancient race of AI inhabiting starships that, we're still not quite sure why, wipe out all intelligent life every fifty thousand years. They wiped out the Protheans, and I've no idea how many before them. We stopped their main plan of attack those two years ago, but now they're working on their plan B. These Collectors and the abductions are part of it."

"You seem certain. How?" she asked.

"On Eden Prime, a Prothean beacon burned a message, and images, into my brain. It took a while before it was able to be clear. They left behind a VI that explained what it could. Then a VI on Illos explained more. In addition, I spoke to Sovereign itself, the Reaper. Saren even shot himself to get rid of its influence on his mind."

"I see." Oh. That's it? Just, 'I see?' Huh.

"Yes, well, I also need to explain to you everything going on with this ship. The people on it. This mission has put me in a spot that's a lot grayer than I'm usually happy with. Out of necessity, I have to work with an organization that has broken my own code, you could say, time and time again. And in the most extreme of ways. If not for this mission, I'd be taking the fight to them. I'm just as certain that your own code demands action against them. Would I be wrong?"

"What organization is this?" she asked.

"Cerberus."

"I have heard of them, but their actions in Asari space have been limited. Thus, I have not heard as much as you perhaps have experienced. Regardless, necessity stays your hand and that of swift judgement. This I understand. And my oath bounds me to your code. If you stay your hand, I shall stay mine."

"Thanks. I'll send you copies of my old mission reports against them. You still deserve to know if you're working alongside them. Now. The general crew is split. Some forsook Cerberus once they heard my stories, some had been with them for too long to just believe me like that. All of them have limited experience or owe Cerberus. I imagine I'll find something that will change their minds during this mission. As to specific… people on board? What does your Code say about artificial intelligence?"

"The Code predates the concept of AI and not once in its long history has it been adapted. The rare retired Justicar and Asari philosophers have debated on how best to interpret the Code in that manner, even before we left Thessia. It may be clear and concise, but AI remains questionable. Does it fall under the category of living, sentient beings, or no?"

"Then you have no issue with there being a Cerberus, shackled AI aboard this ship?"

"Define shackled."

"Hardware blocks that lock EDI into certain systems and prevents her from taking certain actions or giving away certain information."

"I will meditate on it, but rest assured, without your approval, I shall not slay- or free, this, EDI."

"Good to hear. Finally, a few members of the ground team I need to make sure you can cooperate with. Zaeed Massani. Bounty hunter, merc. Doesn't kill kids and pregnant women, but I don't know too much about his contracts in the past."

"Without the oath, I may well have to end his life."

"Thought so. You won't kill him if he's around though when the oath is gone though, right?"

"That will depend on his actions while we are colleagues."

"Fair enough. So, our next recruit is a Drell Assassin, Thane Krios."

"His name is unfamiliar to me, so I shall inquire on his past contracts. If he served as an Assassin to the Hanar Primacy, the death of his targets would have been just." Something to ask Thane about when he's on board.

"Kasumi Goto. Human with a bit of Kleptomania? She's a thief, but I don't think she's out to hurt people. And I really doubt she steals from anyone but the rich."

"The Code does not accept those as excuses for her actions. If she proves herself a good woman, I will not end her, or hunt her down once my oath to you is complete."

"Also fair enough, I suppose. Finally, we have Jack. Woman covered in tattoos. A powerful biotic, dangerous. She was aboard the prison ship purgatory in cryo, even had the Warden scared. Her list of crimes was not short, and rather varied. But Cerberus did something to her. I don't know what, I don't know when, but I think she was young when it happened. She told me that she views every death that's not her as upping her chances at survival. That leads me to believe that she believes her way of survival is the only way. Maybe if she's proved wrong, she'll change," I explained. Samara paused.

"Shepard, allow me to speak with Jack. The Code's solution would be swift and simple. But I am bound to you, and you wish to change and redeem her. Perhaps I could mentor her."

"I'll admit to some surprise, Samara. If you don't mind me asking, what makes you believe you can get through to her?"

"It… is not the first time I have dealt with young, hurt, hot-tempered women."

"Vague, but I won't pry. Thank you, Samara. Any other questions?"

"Will I be required for your next mission?"

"Maybe, you're absolutely a powerhouse, but I still need to see how Kasumi handles herself in a fight, and if you're just obliterating everything, I won't get to find out. Plus, I don't know how many people can fit in the transport Liara got for us."

"Very well. I assume I can find food on the crew deck?"

"And bathrooms, and sleeper pods."

"Is there a place where I can look out into the empty void as we travel? It would be a nice place to meditate."

"Starboard observation is quiet and has a library if you want to read anything."

"That will suffice. Thank you, Shepard."

Commander John Shepard

The transport that Liara had secured for us was a larger model of a skycar, more comparable to a van. But skyvan doesn't have a ring to it. Anyways, it would be large enough to fit five of us, plus our guide, Seryna. Grunt, however, would certainly not fit. So, Garrus, Tali, Kasumi, Jack, and myself. All of us were armed, armored, and ready. Of course. The main reason we weren't just taking one of our shuttles with a destination to land, is that seeing a shuttle would put the Eclipse security detail on high alert, making our entrance that must harder. As Liara requested, we went to her office and met with Seryna, who then led us to the skycar Liara had for us. I got in the passenger seat, the others in the back.

"So, how do you know so much about Nassana's security?" I asked.

"I used to run it. I learned she was killing people to cover up her secrets. Like hell would I confront her about it, so I left, keeping up a friendly façade. Thane turned out to be the best opportunity to send some justice her way."

"Know much about him?"

"Thane? Probably less than you, considering you're looking to make friends. But I do know that no one's paying him for this hit. Doing it on his own. Said he was restoring the balance of his life, whatever that means." Hm. Interesting. "Anyways, you probably already figured this, but you'll find most of your resistance by the penthouse. That's where Nassana keeps the ones who actually know what they're doing. Along with plenty more grunts to take the bullets." The skycar was moving quickly through the lanes, zooming past others and around buildings. No illegal actions, or anything too conspicuous, but not wasting any time either. "As you know, we're entering around the middle of the second tower. From there, make your way to the top, then cross the bridge. That'll put you at the penthouse level."

"Why waste time when we could just fly right to the top?" Jack questioned.

"In a skycar?" Seryna scoffed. "Even in an armored shuttle, she has mercs with rockets and itchy trigger fingers."

"Any other defenses to look out for?"

"The only things automated are the mechs, no turrets. And you don't need to worry about traps either. Civilian workers and indentured servants should all be clocked out by now. So, if it moves, and it's not a Drell, shoot." We were coming up on the towers, large skyscrapers. The top of the second tower only reached up to about the middle of the first, and the sun had already fallen beneath the horizon. The only scaffolding and clear signs of construction we could see on the exterior of the second tower were mostly around the fourth, and highest quarter of the building. We came down to a mostly finished landing pad outside. The construction was all solid, it just hadn't been decorated yet, and the entrance was just a glass pane rather than a door. They don't want anyone entering from there yet. Seryna set down and we disembarked.

"Good luck," she called out, the doors closing, and she sped off. Alright, is there another way in, or- A pair of Salarians were running, screaming, on the other side. Not towards us, but from the left to the right. LOKI mechs and a FENRIR followed, with gunfire. One of the Salarians took the bullet right into his back, blood green, like mucus, spraying out as he fell.

"The hell?" Kasumi exclaimed. Garrus and I readied our weapons immediately while Tali activated her Omni-tool. Garrus and I shot through the glass, blowing the heads off the two LOKI's, and with the glass shattered, Tali's overload was unobstructed to short out the FENRIR. Should be clear, and the Eclipse shouldn't have any conclusive idea what happened to them.

"Check him, I'll find the other," I ordered. Garrus approached the body on the ground, it wasn't moving. I checked the right, the other Salarian had also been shot, he had his back to the wall, blood wasn't pooling, not yet at least. He was still obviously bleeding, though. And alive. Wheezing.

"Help," he struggled. "I… I can't feel my legs. My chest is killing me…"

"I've got you. Where were you hit?"

"B-Back," he wheezed.

"I need to roll you onto your stomach, sorry." He was still wheezing but let me pull him from the wall and onto his stomach. Upper back. Definitely punctured a lung. I got out my medical kit from my waist, taking out the tools to remove the bullet. I kept pressure on the wound as I carefully dug the tools in. There it is, the metal shard. The Salarian was groaning in pain as I pulled it out. Lot more blood now. I applied a healthy dose of medigel. That'll close the wound, stop the bleeding, ease the pain, and seal the punctured lung for now... until a hospital can fix him up more permanently. His breathing eased, Garrus and the others joined me. Guess the other didn't make it. The surviving Salarian took a series of deep breaths, and I helped get him back up against the wall.

"Thank you."

"Did Nassana do this? Why?" I asked gently.

"It was her, but," he took another deep breath. "I don't know. We're just night workers. We didn't hear the mech's until they started shooting. Mercs said-" he coughed. "There was no time. Nassana wanted us out… immediately. Wait, where's Pazal?"

"I'm sorry, the bullet went straight through his heart," Garrus answered.

"No…" The Salarian murmured. "Damn it. There were other workers who ran. Help them."

"We will. I promise," I answered. "What's the fastest way up to the top of this tower?"

"There's a service elevator just a few stories up. It'll take you right up," he explained.

"Thanks. Hide or go to the landing pad, flag down help. Go," I urged. I helped him to his feet, and he carefully hobbled towards our improvised exit.

"Bet we're going to end up needing that Medi-Gel," Jack mumbled. I figure that she has more disagreements, but she understands that I play by a different set of rules, and knows better than to try and argue. At least in the field. We kept moving. Eclipse and Mechs were standing guard in a room ahead, construction supplies and materials out for the night, waiting for morning.

"Kasumi, show me what you can do. We'll be waiting for your signal, or gunfire, to move in," I ordered.

"On it, Shep," she answered, and activated her cloak, disappearing. I could still make out the very faint shimmers of her cloak, and it only got harder the further away she moved. A merc in the far back suddenly jerked, a hand shooting up to grab just in front of his throat, his head lifted up, and he was gently lowered to the ground by invisible hands. "Think I got it, but stay ready," Kasumi requested. I saw the end of a gun barrel light up from where I saw her, but no sound. Silencers. Since bullets aren't propelled by gunpowder explosions anymore, the noise that our little railguns create can actually be silenced. If you're holding the weapon, you'll hear a little thwip, but nothing else. The bullet struck another Eclipse merc in the head, and exited from his forehead, judging by the blood spatter, and the next two rounds put down the LOKI mechs. Still completely unalerted.

"Good work, Kasumi. Now just to see how you act in a firefight," I remarked.

"Oh, I'll still be sneaky. But I'll be able to go a lot faster. Having someone shoot at you is a pretty good distraction."

"Hey! Matthews! Something wrong? Your comms cut- shit!" An Asari woman, another merc, had wandered over. And saw all of us standing amongst bodies. "We got intru-" Jack picked her up with her biotics and threw her off a ledge on her left, the Asari screaming as she fell. It seemed like a pair of elevator shafts, that hadn't had the elevators, or their shaft installed yet, just the gap.

"Well, that's one way to tell every merc below us that something's wrong," I grumbled. "Form up, move!" A fireteam of three more mercs and three LOKIs, combat ready, stepped out from the corridor on the opposite end of us. Using walls or the construction supplies present, we were able to take cover. Kasumi was already gone. "Take it easy, let's see what she can do." We remained in cover as the Eclipse were all unloading their clips. At the same time. Like idiots. I peeked my head up once or twice to make them think they were doing a good job, my shields taking a hit, but that's what they're for. The shooting stopped, and then there was a detonation, followed by merc's screaming, crying out. I looked up to see the LOKIs get shot down while the mercs had their hands against their eyes. Flashbang. Kasumi took them down.

"Am I just going to be handling every shootout this mission, Shep?" she joked.

"Next time, let's see how you do when you have to watch out for our shots too," I smirked.

"Maybe you should watch out for me instead," Kasumi retorted, keeping the hint of humor. I chuckled and led the squad forward. A service ramp took us up another two stories. There were some vents overhead.

"Hey, I think he went in here," a man's voice echoed through one of the vents.

"Well, go get him," a woman answered him. Mercs. I gestured for the others to secure the area, and I listened. Sounds like Thane's been spotted.

"You go," the man hesitated. I peeked up through the vent but saw nothing. It was well lit, too.

"Get your ass in there. Nassana's not paying you to stay around," the woman retorted, annoyed.

"Fine… but I-" He grunted as I heard something impact metal. Something was tossed inside the vents, and it tumbled through to this larger part, a body. I stepped back as it hit the floor, the arm was bent backward, broken, and the neck had been snapped. So, Thane's a marksman, but knows his hand-to-hand too. Any good assassin would have to. The sound of the body hitting the ground got everyone's attention, looking down at the body then right up at the vent.

"We're close. Keep moving and we can catch up," I stated, leading everyone along."

"The hell's going on? One report says that intruders are a few levels below us, another said one's a few above? Where the hell are they supposed to be?" a merc questioned from around a corner. Kasumi vanished, and we surged forward, securing cover before they were ready.

"You just had to open your big fucking mouth, didn't you, Heleen," a man grumbled. They began spreading out, but Garrus and I took one out each, Tali took out a third with her pistol, Jack slammed a fourth headfirst into the ceiling, then the floor, and three were still left. They had gotten into cover. No mechs this time, curiously. One of those still alive was an Asari, that means biotics. The two others wore helmets, one male one female. No idea if human or not, and if human, they could still be biotic. Kasumi wisely targeted the Asari, as just when she began to stand, an arm was twisted behind her back, and she was turned to face her allies, crying out in pain. Two shots, two headshots. Then the Asari's neck just opened, the thief's knife cloaked with her. The Asari tried to breathe, only catching her own blood, and slumped to the ground. Area clear. And the mercs had been guarding a service elevator.

"Hey, Shep, saw a locked door over here. You ask me? Strange they'd keep a door locked but not the elevator," Kasumi pointed out.

"Agreed. You and Tali open it up. Garrus, Jack, help me move some of these supplies to make good cover facing the elevator," I ordered. Stacks of metal sheets that would be used for walls and metal crates were placed to form essentially a long block of cover we'd be able to use.

"Shepard! Doors unlocked!" Tali called out.

"On my way. Garrus, Jack, keep eyes on the elevator." As I arrived, Kasumi and Tali opened the door. It was a supply closet, with three scared Salarians inside.

"Please don't kill us!" One with green skin and yellow construction clothing pleaded.

"Wait-wait-wait, look, they're not Eclipse," another, exclaimed. "Are you here to help us?"

"Not initially. Didn't expect civilians on the field. Here, follow me." They stuck close together, and I led them to the other side of the room. This way, if the elevator doors open by surprise, they'll at least be able to run away, rather than into a corner.

"Thank you. Just, thank you," one took a deep breath.

"I'm here looking for someone. Not one of the mercs. A Drell?" I asked.

"That must be the one who sealed us in the closet. When he found us, I thought he would kill us, but he just closed the door again and locked it." So, Thane doesn't want civvie casualties either. Good, good.

"Thanks. Head down a few stories to a landing pad. You should find another friend there."

"Yes, yes, thank you. Good luck, Human." They hurried off, and I returned to the elevator, and the others.

"Hey, Garrus, you bring any trip mines?"

"Course. I'll set it now," he answered, already moving to the elevator's exit, placing it on the outer part of the doorframe. The moment someone walks out, it blows. When he arms it, that is. First, I called the elevator, and retreated to cover as Garrus armed it remotely. The indicator on the elevator showed that currently, it was on the top floor. Speeding its way down. Kasumi was, again, gone. The indicator reached our level, and the elevator chimed. The door opened

A Krogan armed with an MG began unloading the living fuck out of his gun, and two Eclipse mercs armed with rifles were present. But the Krogan's fire forced me to immediately get back into cover.

"Eat tungsten and die!" the Krogan laughed. Then, an explosion, they set off the mine. The gunfire stopped. The Krogan was in pieces, dismembered, the mercs in even worse condition. At least the elevator itself was still intact if the walls out here were a bit warped. It's just mandatory safeties that keep the elevators resilient.

"Well. This is… grisly," Kasumi murmured, decloaking.

"Inside. I'd turn off your olfactory filters if I were you," I suggested. We entered, and… no, not the highest level. Let's go with… three below. I pressed the button, the door closed, and the elevator shot up. It was silent for the duration, and the doors opened. An Eclipse merc, male, had his back to us, looking out a window. He was on the comms.

"Don't worry about it," he continued his conversation.

"Hold fire," I ordered, and slowly stepped forward, approaching him from behind.

"We don't need any reinforcements," he paced in front of the window. "I'll take care of it. It's under control. I'll go down there myself." He paused. "Yeah, yeah. I'll report in when I'm done. Out."

"Turn around. Slowly." I poked his back with my rifle.

"Well shit," he murmured. He did as he was told, putting his hands in the air.

"You see the Assassin?"

"Why are you looking for him," he took a step back, leaning back. "You're not one of Nassana's mercs. Who are you?"

"I think you already know all you need to. You answer my questions, and… well… look over your shoulder." He did, glancing over his shoulder, and becoming very aware of that window. And the fall." By the time he looked back at me, I had taken a few steps forward. He reacted by taking a few more steps back, his back pressing against the glass.

"Look pal, even if I knew where he was, I wouldn't tell you." Hm, this guy's got balls. I can respect that.

"Is that really going to be your answer?" He crossed his arms over his chest.

"I've got nothing else to say. You shoot me, my team's right through there," he nodded his head to one of the doors by the elevator. "They'll be all over you."

"I wouldn't have to shoot you. I think that should be obvious." I grabbed him by the collar and pushed him against the glass. Not enough to crack it right away, but then I kept adding force. It began to crack. "Is she really worth dying for?" I asked, then pulled him back, staggering him and making him fall to his hands and knees.

"You make a good point," he regained his composure half-way through. "Look, last confirmation was that he was down on the mezzanine. If you came from that elevator, hell, maybe he rode the elevator on top of you. Teams on the bridge think they saw him. No one knows for sure."

"Well that's all useless," Jack grumbled.

"Tali, wipe his Omni-tool comms. You, give me your helmet."

"My helmet? Why?"

"It's got its own comm unit. And a tracker. I don't want to give them too much suspicion right now. Besides, think the Eclipse will take kindly knowing you bailed on this?"

"...Another good point. Fine." He tore off his helmet and let Tali wipe his Omni-tool. The man was probably in his thirties, growing out his beard. Lighter skin, darker hair. Tali finished, and the man made his way to the service elevator. I threw the helmet out the window, leaving a sizeable hole. The wind was strong out there. The team split up, Garrus and Jack went through the door to the left of the elevator, Tali and I took the right. Kasumi cloaked and was looking for a position. The Eclipse were not aware of us, not yet. One was on the comms.

"He's everywhere," a male spoke. We couldn't hear the response. Either Nassana or an Officer of some sort. "We've got reports of him on multiple levels. We think he's traveling through the ducts…"

"In position, Shep. Five mercs, three LOKIs., two FENRIRs," Kasumi called out.

"Understood," I answered.

"Get ready, Chatika," Tali called out her drone, but kept it on standby. "I'll start hacking into one of the LOKIs. And…" Tali finished typing at her Omni-tool. "Ready."

"Take control, then everyone open fire. Try to leave the hacked one be," I ordered. One of the LOKIs shuddered as if electrocuted, then raised its weapon and fired at one of the Eclipse, right in the back.

"The f-" they began before we unleashed hell. Chatika surged forward to take out the other mechs while we gunned down the mercs. It was over just as quickly as it began.

"So. Got another locked door, by the way," Kasumi remarked. "Open it." Kasumi nodded and jogged over. It was unlocked in moments. I stood in front of the door, it would only be a kind of closet below this large staircase. As soon as it opened, I had a gun pointed at my chest, a Salarian, panicked, was the wielder. Another nervous Salarian was behind him.

"Get back! Get back… I'll shoot!" His gun was shaking. A lot. "I don't want to hurt you. But I will. I said get back! I'll do it!" He probably won't, but let's just calm him down. "Please don't make me do it."

"Hey," I gently raised a hand. "We're only here to help. What's your name?"

"I… I- I'm Telon. Don't… come any closer."

"Telon. My name is Commander Shepard. I don't work with the mercs, and I don't want to hurt you. Put the gun down," I gently continued.

"I… ok… here…" he lowered the weapon. "I… don't… oh…" he put a hand to his forehead and then fainted.

"Telon!" the other ran over. "He's my brother," he explained checking him."

"Are you the ones who… shot the merc?" I followed the Salarian's eyes. There was a dead merc, his head blown open on the ground.

"Shot a lot today. But not that one."

"But… who did?"

"An Assassin targeting Nassana. We're here to recruit him for our mission. When your brother wakes up, use the service elevator to head down to the Mezzanine. Head to the landing pad. There's other survivors there."

"Thank you." We got moving again, up the ramp to the next level, and out to the building's exterior. No roof, no walls along the outer ledge.

"Jack, go wild, but careful. Try not to toss us, or Kasumi, off by accident," I ordered.

"Yeah, don't just toss cover or crates over. I tend to jump over them," Kasumi remarked. Jack just huffed. We moved forward.

"Forget the explosives, he's already past us!" a merc exclaimed. Some were still working on explosive canisters. Quickly, I opened fire. With just that one canister exploding, instantly killing some mercs, the shockwave sending others off the ledge, it caused a chain reaction along the explosives they had been setting up. Yeah, that's all the hostiles here dead. And a giant signal flare for the ones on the bridge. This series of detonations left holes in the floor, slowing us down as we maneuvered around. The bridge was straight ahead. It was crawling, and the far end had marksmen.

"Garrus, how bad is the wind?"

"Very. I can't hit them from here. Good news, neither can they. I'll check again about half-way."

"Got it. Jack, do your thing. Everyone else, stand back."

"Oh, hell yeah," she exclaimed, running forward, glowing blue. Every merc and mech in her way was literally just tossed aside. It reminded me of the aftermath we saw on Purgatory. She just kept running ahead, the snipers were either missing her, or her barriers were blocking the shots. We followed behind, Garrus stopping halfway to check his shots. He fired, aiming at the sniper on the right, but hitting the one on the left.

"I'll accept my trophy for Galaxy's best shot after the mission, thank you," he called out.

"Not until you and I have a little competition, buddy," I responded, still rushing forward. Seeing several more Eclipse bodies, including the other sniper, and mechs, being tossed away by Jack.

"Hell fucking yeah!" Jack shouted. "Shepard! All clear!"

"Good work, Jack," I answered, and we made our way up to her. We had our way into the main tower, the penthouse level. Course, you don't enter her own penthouse from the bridge. It's… down this way, according to Seryna's intel. Strangely, no more Eclipse. We approached the door, the interface showing it was unlocked. Kasumi cloaked, and the rest of us got in a breaching formation. Jack just making a barrier. We opened the door, the Eclipse inside readied their weapons, an office. An Asari woman in a black formal dress was looking out the window, her back to us, but turned.

"What the hell is an N7 doing shooting up my property?" she questioned, furious and confused.

"Aw, you don't recognize me, Nassana? I'm hurt." That confused her more, but then it hit her, eyes going wide.

"Shepard? You're supposed to be dead." I took off my helmet, slowly, the mercs watching me carefully but Nassana allowing it. I was smirking.

"I got better."

"And now you're here to kill me," she frowned, angry.

"Believe it or not? I didn't come here to kill you. Not such a bad idea though, after what I've seen."

"Then what the fuck did you come here for? Money? Weapons?" There was a thudding sound above, just barely audible, as she finished her statement. I noticed it, and it seems the Eclipse lieutenant did as well. Nassana noticed said lieutenant looking around rapidly. "What?" she asked, probably about to shoot something herself.

"I heard something."

"Damn it," she slammed a fist on her desk. "Check the other entrances," she ordered the other Eclipse. "You," she pointed at me. "Stay. Put." A Drell dropped down from the vents behind Nassana, and behind two of the Eclipse. Not making a sound. I wasn't even listening to Nassana as she continued. Thane targeted the Eclipse on his right first, snapping his neck instantly, with one hand around the merc's mouth. The other heard the snap and immediately received a throat punch, taking his pistol from the merc's thigh, shooting him and the Asari lieutenant right in the head. Nassana moved to shoot him herself, but he dropped the pistol, and instead spun hers around into his own grip, and into her stomach. He pulled the trigger. Her eyes went wide, and she gasped. Groaning in pain. Thane gently took hold of her and lay her down on the desk. Her eyes began to lull as Thane placed her hands upon one another, crossed over her chest. Respectfully. He stepped back from the body, clasping his own hands, and lowering his head, closing his eyes. His mouth was moving, but I couldn't see him.

"Holy. Shit. Alright, that was pretty badass," Jack remarked

"I am both aroused, and afraid," Kasumi added, decloaking. He still wasn't answering. Our weapons were already stowed.

"I… was hoping to talk to you?" I spoke loudly, clearly, stepping closer to the desk. Thane opened his eyes but kept his head low and hands clasped.

"I apologize. Prayers for the wicked must not be forsaken." His voice was low and raspy. Dry. A religious killer? I wonder what kind. History has seen plenty of the worst kind.

"Think she deserved it?"

"Not for her," Thane shook his head, and raised it. "For me." Oh. Not the answer I expected. He put his hands onto his hips, slowly walking around the desk. "The measure of an individual can be difficult to discern by actions alone. Take you, for instance. All this destruction… chaos. I was curious to see how far you'd go to find me." he was on the other side of the desk now. Nassana's body behind him. "Well… here I am." His suit was black, but it was open around his upper chest and down the middle to… just above where the navel would be in a Human.

"Like I said, I wanted to talk to you. I suppose it didn't take long for you to learn we were here."

"Yes. Your actions disrupted my plan, but proved a valuable distraction."

"Hm, well. Cutting to the chase. I need your help on a mission."

"Indeed?" Thane raised a brow.

"You hear about the Collectors and their recent abductions?"

"I know the Collectors by reputation, but, not their recent abductions of note."

"They're abducting entire Human colonies. The entire planet's worth. Freedom's Progress was them. So was Horizon, we just managed to stop that one in progress." Thane paused.

"I see." He walked around behind the desk again, looking out the window, hands clasped behind his back, which the center of his back was also revealed by his clothing. "You are going after them, then. Attacking the Collectors would require passing through Omega-4. No ship has ever returned from this.

"Yeah, I've heard 'that's impossible' quite a bit in the past," I remarked.

"Indeed you have, Commander Shepard. You have built a career on the impossible, he turned back with a slight smirk. Guess he heard Nassana give my name. He took a deep breath, looking back out the window again. "This was to be my last job."

"Why?"

"I'm dying."

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Look man, I know this ain't a cliffhanger for anyone, but, come on, there's no better spot from a narrative perspective to end this chapter. It's just perfect.