I step off of the shuttle after it comes to a complete stop within Port Hanshan's shuttle hanger. E.T. is just behind me, and opens up his Omni-tool. Now that we were off the Geth ship, his demeanor changed a bit, it was more formal, and completely different from when we first met. I was carrying a large briefcase in my right hand, which was holding the prototype weapon I created, which I dubbed the Nemesis. I thought that it was fairly unique, since it had two firing modes. One was similar to the Geth pulse rifle, and closer to the traditional assault rifles of this era. The second firing mode used a unique slug the size of a mouse, while it would be considered inefficient by the Geth, I thought that it would have a good practical application. Depending on the situation, I used a different head on the slugs.

The Nemesis had three different slugs, one was a super conductor, covered in the same phasic envelope as regular Geth rounds, in order to bypass shields of any sort, and punch through its targets. The second one was a High Explosive, Anti-Tank head, allowing for any thick armor to be breached after the slug dug into the armor. This one, I though wouldn't have much use besides on the Geth armatures or Colossi that we come across, or maybe breaching a bulkhead. The third round was basically just a hunk of solid tungsten, with weak points, so that after it exits the barrel, it shatters into slivers of metal and shreds its target.

With only a week to come up with this weapon, I thought it was pretty well thought out. The problem I had though, was that the main mode of fire, the Geth pulse rounds, required that I used Thermal clips. I could easily scavenge them whenever I fight the Geth, but with Saren's ability to hire people, it was clear that the Geth weren't our only enemies.

I looked at my left hand, which I had the Geth remake with their synthetic muscles and ligaments in order to reinforce it. They also added in a biotic regulator, and built in Omni-tool. Tali would be able to recognize the technology as Geth immediately, I just hoped that when she did, she would try and confront me about it quietly instead of bringing it up to the entire crew of the Normandy.

"We still have a few days until the Shepard arrives with the rest of the crew," E.T. says as he walks past me towards the security checkpoint, "You should get some rest while you are here. I have some business to take care of as the Ambassador to the Quarians."

And with that E.T. leaves me behind and walks into a group of Quarians standing at the edge of the Hanger, next to what looks like some sort of salvaging ship. I don't pay any mind to it, as everyone has their own plans for how to deal with everything. I start walking up the stairs to the security checkpoint, and make sure that my Omni-tool is broadcasting the AMMO security badge that E.T. gave me just before we departed the Geth vessel. The security team stopped me momentarily to check my credentials, which were actually forged, but still legitimate, and let me through without another word. The briefcase I was given, hid the Nemesis from sensors, and since it was the only weapon I had on me, they stayed silent. I activated my visor, and a nav-point popped up leading me towards the room Michael secured for me to use while I was on Noveria.

I opened the door, and dropped the Nemesis gently on the floor, before removing all my armor and clothing. I rushed into the shower, and turned on the water. It had been a week and a half since I had showered, and I felt a layer of grime slide off of my body. Thankfully, I no longer had to take my arm off, because of the Geth upgrades covering the attachment point, and making it look more natural on my body. After a good shower, I go back into the apartment, and check the drawers, and there are cargo pants and t-shirts inside, enough for five days. My armor had a self-cleaning mechanism, so I wouldn't have to worry about cleaning it too much. For now, I would just relax, and enjoy these next five days by myself.

I go down to the bar, and order some whisky, as I take a whiff of it, I realize how long its been since I've had a proper drink, "Oh, its good to not have worries," I say as I downed the shot. I put the glass down and pay for it. There was no sense in getting hammered in the middle of the day, so I'd best just stick to a drink and relax. I close my eyes as I lean forward, and start listening to the various conversations going on in the bar.

Most of them have to do with accounting, backroom deals, and even an affair between a turian and asari. None really peak my interest until I hear a human voice say something about the Andromeda Inititive. I open my eyes, turn in my seat and look towards the conversation, I'm too far away to catch anything else, and the conversation was ending when I tuned in. I see that one of the two is actually wearing N7 gear, just like Shepard. I stand up just as he starts walking out of the bar, and start following him. When we are isolated enough, which conveniently doesn't take long, I open my mouth to speak to him. Just before I get a syllable out though, his body lights up blue with biotics, and in a split second I see him barreling at me surrounded in a blue aura. Out of sheer instinct, I try to move to my left, knowing that I won't make it in time. To my surprise, and extreme disorientation, I instantly move to the left just out of his way, and he hits the wall behind me with a large thunk. Before I can turn to look at him, I fall to my knees and throw up the nutrient paste I had eaten before coming here.

"And I thought it tasted bad going in," I comment just before a hand wraps around my throat.

"Why were you following me? Were you after SAM?" he asked me as his body started glowing blue again.

I put my artificial hand on his arm, and his biotics are absorbed by the regulator, and he let's go of me out of shock, allowing me to catch my breath, "Who the fuck is Sam?" I return the question as I held my arm up, the regulator glowing blue with his biotic energy, "I just wanted to know what the Andromeda Initiative was."

"Oh, I'm sorry," he said as he offered his hand to help me up, "Generally, I have people after a pet project of mine."

I took his hand with my artificial one, and dispersed the biotic energy built up in the regulator safely, "I'm Kyon Salgrens, part of AMMO security," it was a lie, but as long as my credentials say that's who I am, that's who I have to be.

"Security? I talked with one of their representatives recently about the Andromeda initiative, but he said that he didn't find it a good use of time. Alec Ryder, Formerly of the Alliance military," he let go of my hand once he was standing up.

I could hear a cleaning drone come by, and start dealing with my vomit, but I didn't pay attention to it, "Why are you still wearing N7 gear then, if you are former military?"

"Once N7, always N7," Alec responded as he he chuckled, "You said you wanted to learn about the Initiative? I don't suppose you are interested in traveling to another galaxy, are you?"

I listen to his words, and for some reason I'm drawn to say yes, but I know I have responsibilities here, I started something, and I'll be damned if I turn my back on it now, but it couldn't hurt hearing about details, maybe I would finish my work with Shepard before it started.

"Yeah, it sounds good, this sounds like it is still a hush-hush type of thing, why don't we find a place away from prying ears," I suggest as I gesture for him to lead the way.

After a good Q and A session with Alec, I learned a lot about the Initiative. It seemed like a great adventure, and I was always up for something exciting. After we were finished, I took a deep breath and thought about it. In the end, unless Saren is stopped, I would be leaving my friends to finish the work.

"Alec, I understand everything, and I would love to go, but I have some unfinished business, so I won't be able to sign on right now," I answer honestly, standing up to shake his hand, "I wouldn't be able to be satisfied if I left things as they are. Maybe when I'm finished with my business, I'll join up with you."

"Quite honestly, I would find it strange if you jumped at this opportunity immediately," he responded as he stood up and took my hand, "You seem like you have a good head on you, and a knack for mechanical engineering."

"Well, I was working on getting my doctorate back on Earth before deciding to explore the universe," I comment nonchalantly as I shrug.

"Doctorate? How old are you?"

"25 now, I think," I respond, trying to remember what the date was, "I got my bachelors when I was 20, masters by 22. I was in my final year, then that damn four eyed bastard spirited me away."

I didn't realize I was talking about what happened before I arrived at Eden Prime, but Alec didn't say anything, he just looked at me with a sorrowful look. By the time I realized what was happening. When I do realize, I close my mouth. chuckling, I rub the back of my head, then sigh.

"Sorry about venting, there is a lot you have to get used to before when you suddenly find yourself in the galaxy, trying to hunt down a rogue SpecTre."

The look in Alec's eyes is suddenly replaced with curiosity, "You are hunting down Saren Arterius?"

"Trying, but things don't always go as you expect," I show him my arm, peeling back some of the synthetic muscle that the Geth put onto the prosthetic to make it move more fluently, "I've been more or less recovering since I lost my arm a few weeks ago."

Alec examined the arm just before he scanned it, "The arm is mostly human based technology, but there is Geth programming and materials used. How did you manage that?"

"Trade secret, I'm afraid," I answered, baffled by the fact that he scanned the arm, but then again, most people interested in this sort of thing would probably want to scan the thing. Though it would have been nice to ask. That being said, it was interesting that he was able to identify the Geth coding inside of the arm.

"How did they manage to keep your body from rejecting the prosthesis?"

"No idea, my area of expertise was mechanical engineering and weapons development," I answer, shrugging off the question, "Here's my contact information, I'd be glad to hear more about the Initiative, and maybe even join up after my business here is done."

"I think the Initiative would be very glad to have you," Alec responded as we both stood up.

We shook hands, and I walked out of his hotel room, and back down to the main area of the port. I held my left hand out as I covered it with a glove again, "I wonder how long its going to take for Shepard and company to get here."