SLAM.

Ungh.

My daily morning routine. Muttering, wincing as my consciousness began to wake, grimacing that I was cruelly being dragged away from my deep slumber. Ripped from the warmth of my covers. The last bastion of pleasure a man had before one's droll morning routine followed. The most awful feeling in the world really. As I awoke this time however, I found my eyes beginning to blink furiously, trying to adjust to the beams of light now assaulting them. Already, my morning had decided to take a shit all over the rest of my day. God did I hate when that happen. Sunlight coming through your window at just the right angle to start hitting your eyes. Awful.

I then immediately came to find that my mouth was dry, my nose stuffy, and I then lazily rubbed my face in a further attempt to now come to. Because something seemed off. And before long, my sight finally returned...only for it to make me to do a double take. I realized the light that shone down over my eyes came from a single fixture above, and that it actually did nothing save to blind me and illuminate a teensy-weensy spot on the floor before me. The rest of the room remained pitch black despite this lighting, an effect that I had to admit was a little off-putting to say the least.

Then I additionally realized I wasn't laying down. In fact, I found myself already sitting up. And upon trying to lift a hand to massage my head, perplexed by the scenario, I found myself oddly restrained. All limbs restrained in fact.

Oh dear.

"Oh, you're up. I hope you didn't wake because of me."

Out of the inky blackness, with an unsettling clink accompanying their every step...a stark white Turian emerged. Its eyes flitted eagerly over my restrained figure, seeming to find my current struggling to escape the metal shackles tying me down...amusing. And those eyes of it had me worried. Because I had seen eyes like it on a Turian once before. All those weeks ago during that trial in the Citadel Tower. And just like that rogue Spectre's had been...these yellow irises were cruel.

"-though I can't believe you were out so long. We're practically just a dozen light years out from Sahrabarik now. As you Humans say...'you slept like a tree'."

"Log. I think the expression's slept like a log-"

"Oooh. Then thank you for correcting me. I'll be sure to remember that for next time."

I like to think I had spent enough time around Turians now to recognize that faux-smile of theirs when I saw one. A faux-smile now currently plaguing his face.

And after some more conspicuous struggling, I decided to eventually add, "...so, uh...where am I again? Just for future reference."

"Ah, my apologies," the Turian replied, stepping out of the circular patch of light before me, disappearing into the dark. "You currently have the luxury of being a valued guest aboard my vessel. I do hope you're stay here has been comfortable so far."

"Snug as a bug," I assured, cautiously peering into the dark after him.

His face immediately popped out of the dark, inches from my own. "You Humans and your idioms...hah. Simply fascinating." The Turian then gave a lazy shove off my cozy seating and took a few steps until he was back in the light. The black arrowhead tattooed from brow to chin only served to further accentuate the toothy grin the Turian was currently wearing as he turned around. "I find your entire kind fascinating to be honest. Some might even call me a homophile."

I decided to let that one go.

"-you're all so abnormally ambitious, so restless, so...individualistic. It's truly mind-boggling how the Relay 314 incident went the way it did despite all that. Did you know only 3.7% of your population volunteers for the military? In contrast to my own people...the Galaxy truly does love diversity does it not? That two cultures possessing doctrines contrasting in every which way, with such differing... souls if you believe in such things...can still yet boast nearly the same amount influence in their environ...truly fascinating."

"...are you sure about that last part? Cause from what I've heard, I don't think Humans are quite on par yet with the Turian Hie-"

"Spirits no. Of course you all aren't. Centuries of difference between societies will create such a gap. But looking at the current trends...give it a few decades. Your species is even projected to join the Council before the turn of the century as laughable as it seems."

Try end of the year bub.

"Wait a second. I'm confused. So...is discussing interstellar politics what I'm currently here for? Because I feel like they're probably much more qualified people around than me to discuss that with."

"Actually, you've hit the...nail on the head? Was that right?"

"Oh, hey, it was. Good job."

"I thank you-"

"-wait. No. Nevermind. That expression would mean what I said just now was correct."

"But it was! That's exactly why you're here...Shield," the pallid alien retorted.

"I would say you've mistaken me for someone else, but you did just say my name so...might you have the wrong Shield perchance?"

"If I did, I would unfortunately have to kill you."

"Oh. Never mind then."

"Let's put it this way. When 'sensitive' information-"

He totally did the Turian air-quote thing.

"-concerning pan-galactic governments is released, the political atmosphere may shift and move, the outcries of news outlets might put voice to the public's outrage, and interest groups will lobby for change, but ultimately, something stays the scales from tipping too far from one side to another. For the result of violent upheaval in our galaxy is...undesirable. When things have been the way they are for so long, and you're in a position quite favorable, is it wise to stray the path you're currently on?"

"..."

"...look at me Shield."

"Oh sorry... my mind kind of wandered for a second. What was that last part about governments and people crying again?"

"I know you are here against your will, but I ask that you pay attention. It's important that you know why you're here. For you see, when 'sensitive' information concerning the Broker is released, it revolutionizes the political atmosphere. For the Broker controls it in its entirety. And you currently happen to possess the latter."

"Oh shit."

"Hmph. Do you understand now the-"

"Are you saying Cerberus wasn't responsible for the attack that just happened back at Flux?"

"...when did you first suspect? What gave it away? My lack of hair follicles or oily skin?" The Turian gestured to his face in what I took to be a sarcastic manner.

"Well you never know man. I don't know their hiring policies these days."

And with that knowledge...I guess I owe the general an apology then. Apparently, everything he said...hadn't just been a stupid distraction after all. It actually kind of lifted my spirits a bit. Even if what he said hadn't all been true...he might have really been trying to help me-

"I enjoy the fact that you're keeping your levity in spite of your predicament Shield. Most others immediately grovel when they hear of who they upset."

"Well, I guess it hasn't really sunk in yet." I squirmed in the chair a little bit more to see if despair would kick in. Nope. "Guess I just slept too well from that blow to the head...but the Broker wants me huh? Does he really find me that irresistible? My mom used to tell me how handsome I was all the time but-"

"Actually, he does. Ever since he heard the words you spat out during your detainment by Shepard in the airlock of the SSV Normandy, he's been eager to get his hands on you."

"Oh...that. That was a while ago man. I don't remember half the stuff I even said this morning. What exactly interested him during that whole thing again- wait."

"The Broker is a reclusive individual. If you're even allowed to hear a modulation of his voice, it's a great honor. So I guess I should thank you for revealing what you did about him. His previous cover as Operative Kechlu. An accurate rendition of his physical appearance. How he attained his current role as Broker. My status in the network has markedly improved because of all that. For after relaying what I thought was utter bullshit to the Broker himself, he actually confirmed every tidbit."

"...how did you guys know about all that-"

"My favorite question! And like I always say...the Broker hears and sees everything, Human. You were merely interesting to us before. Knowing the identity of one of Cerberus' trained assassins and sending an Alliance admiral to us in exchange for further information on them. Sources saying you went straight to Lorik Qui'in without incident on Noveria, apparently already informed of his evidence on Bel Anoleis' corruption. Even knowing that there was Geth activity on the world of Therum, information at the time even we weren't aware of! And claiming it was all because you were affiliated with us. The Broker doesn't like it when independent parties claim to represent our interests. But when their information is as truthful and as valuable as yours...well." The Turian shrugged. "How you knew the things you did, and how you claimed to use our resources as a front for it all. Like I said. Very interesting."

"...damn. That's...that's just not fair. There's no feasible way you guys should even know half that shit! Unless you-"

"Bugged the ship? Had agents aboard it? Intercepted transmissions being sent back to the Council?"

"You..."

"You see Shield, in the beginning, I was just assigned to monitor the SSV Normandy's progress. Where the vessel went, what objectives its crew were sent to complete, what actions you all took along the way...but that changed after Nepheron. Your words led the Broker to making you my top priority. As I diverted attention away from the Normandy's operations to yourself, I admit, you had me frustrated. I found not much at all. Very little information from the accounts linked to your omnitool. Running facial recognition software on headshots taken of you resulted in nothing coming up in our network. We couldn't even take any hint of your backstory as credible. Though there were things the Broker himself admitted as truth, he was honest enough to admit there were others that weren't."

"...you actually trust what the Broker told you? The most secretive guy in the Galaxy? Are his top agents really that gullible?"

"He has no reason to lie at this point. We had the entire transcript of your conversation with Shepard that day. Even if he had dismissed it all, I'd still be suspicious about it regardless. But no, he divulged a great deal about himself after that. Like how he had become a member of the Network by replacing the previous Kechlu, and the place of the Old Broker themself shortly after, once he noticed the previous head's numerous mistakes. How he's acted as the custodian of our network for the six decades since then."

"Oh."

"Your story might have been entirely credible up until that point Shield. Talked a little too much I suppose. As you are apparently apt to do. Your timeline ended to be off by...what? Fifty years?"

"Okay. You caught me. That was a lie. You can pretty much consider everything I say to be one of those though to be fair. If you hadn't caught on by this point."

Shepard sure had.

"Hmph. Well, as I was saying, you had me stumped. One of the largest mysteries in my career. A mystery man who had access to a network as well-informed as our own. Maybe more. That is...until someone got me a look at your equipment."

"...my equipment? What the hell would that tell you-"

My mouth snapped shut as I thought back to what had actually even been originally mine to begin with. What I first woke up with on Eden Prime. How I hadn't given any of it a second thought after I boarded the Normandy. The onyx armor. The omni-tool. And my-

The Turian extended his long arm into the dark and retrieved something. A gun.

My gun.

My...Predator?

"Do you know what we found when the measurements and schematics of this weapon were sent back to this?"

I had no idea. So...should I just come out with the truth?

"Heh...that it's tech didn't match any other out there right? That it was from the fut-"

His abrupt laughter cut me off. "Hahaha, of course it did you fool! I thought I told you to pay attention. I already said...the Shadow Broker knows everything Shield. The Alliance's Offensive Handgun Project. Black Op Skunkworks. Codenamed Harpy. Never saw mass production due to its cost and...unconventional design." The Turian cocked the gun and watched as a heat clip popped out its compartment. "The Broker has dabbled in similar technology. Nothing as unwieldy as this however," he finished, tossing the gun back into the dark, with the sound of it clattering on the floor moments later.

"...what? That...that can't be true. There's no way that gun could already exi-"

I let out a harsh grunt as a balled fist suddenly struck me in the face, causing me to momentarily go blind. The act utterly stunned me. It had seemingly come from nowhere. For...absolutely no reason. And for the first time since I had woken up...this Turian actually begun to scare me.

"Don't pawn me the same narrative you exchanged with Petrovsky! Missing memory? Hah. I'm neither gullible nor stupid Shield."

"...he's not...when...when did you-"

He gripped me by my hair, peering into my face.

"Why don't you think hard Shield? Think back. I even glanced your way as I left his table."

My eyes flashed wide as I realized I had seen this very Turian's tattooed face before.

That drunken Turian!

"You were at Flux! You talked to him before-"

"That's right. And after seeing you for the very first time...can't say I was impressed."

He let go my hair, taking a few steps back into the light.

"You...so you bugged his table? Called in that hit squad when you had heard enough of what you wanted?"

"At least you catch on quick," the Turian toothily grinned, ghostly pale skin glimmering in the light. "As I was saying however, your firearm was the first tangible hint we obtained about your past. A former black-ops member of the Alliance. Searching its database with this in mind narrowed our search. And we used a much finer comb to look for you. Resulting in the missing case of one...Alexei Leonov. Though from what I gathered...I suppose you're not too fond of that name are you?"

"...can't say relate too much to the guy."

"Yes, that was a whole other...'lifetime' ago was it? A man that was honorably discharged after a psychiatric evaluation showed he was no longer fit for duty. A man you decided could no longer live in this world and was dropped for the sake of convenience after finding a new identity." He turned around from where he had been pacing. "Am I doing well so far?"

"Look. I honestly have no idea what-"

I felt his hand strike my face, cutting through whatever words I planned to say next. My cheek immediately welled as he retracted his arm almost as lazily as he had sent it my way. He...he had a face of boredom as he did so too. Like violently lashing out at people was passe at this point in his life. And the thought of it was sickening.

"I'll tell you once more. So please pay attention. I already said I know it's all a feint. The time for ignorance is over. While Project 'Backdoor' was interesting to hear of...I found no mention of it in Alliance records when we arrived back on board this ship. I mean, the whole show you and Petrovsky put on...bravo. Marvelous acting. After seeing that performance, I say you both should of joined the Tayseri Theatre."

"Fuck you," I spat out now, finding anger welling inside me. Partly out of the pain, but mostly, mostly out of confusion. "You...you have no idea what the hell you're even talking about. I mean...what the hell are you even going on about?"

The Turian's face of bemusement disappeared at the drop of a hat. He only pinched his 'nose' now, letting out another annoyed sigh. "You were planning to meet with him about the betrayal, about how Cerberus abandoned you or something or other, and sometime during the exchange, the man realized you both were being watched and let you know via a code phrase, cutting short whatever you actually planned to discuss."

"...well that's complete and utter bullshit and you know it-"

I flinched as the alien waved his hand dismissively in the air. "Fine. You can hold on to your story if you wish. It doesn't really matter. The Broker wanted to hear everything for himself when we arrived at our destination anyway. I just hoped we could speed things along by letting you know Alexei that you have no more secrets left to hide."

"...that's not...wait. So you're taking me to the Broker? We're headed for his ship on Hagalaz right now?"

Feron's fate in Lair of the Shadow Broker didn't fail to immediately pop up in my head. And was extremely unsettling to think about at this moment as I...I could wind up like him for...what? How long was he in that prison? ...Two years?! I-

"There it is again! Hahahaha!" I recoiled as the lunatic began laughing. "Just how...how did you know that?! It took me twenty three years before I ever heard his voice. When I became one of the Broker's right hand men. There are no more than a dozen operatives even aware such a location exists asides from its crew. And yet you...hahahaha." My face drained of color as I realized that I had just splurted something stupid again. I did not like this. In fact, I found myself wishing I was still very much on the Citadel, very much continuing my insufferable self-deprecation. "So...Cerberus knows where the Broker currently stays does it? Then I'm glad I did this. That's something the Broker would surely love to hear once we dock. I suppose we'll have to scuttle the network's ship and find somewhere new after all this is said and done."

"...you think I know all this because...I'm an agent of Cerberus or something?"

"The only logical conclusion don't you think? I'll admit I still don't understand what exactly the nature of your meeting with Petrovsky was. I'll give you that much since the scales are so strongly skewed in the Broker's favor...whether you're still a member or not...yes. I suppose we'll figure that out together won't we? I'm personally just glad we finally found you after the whole incident in Manash. I still cannot believe that our tail utterly lost you in the Presidium, as soon as Shepard had kicked you off her ship no less. I had hoped for that event in particular when I told her that you weren't affiliated with us but...that freelancer completely botched it."

"...you were the one who caused all that? Who told her that?!"

"That man was quite useless, I must say."

"...how long have you had people watching me?"

The Turian only smiled as he continued ignoring me. "But who would've thought you'd find your way to us again, all the way out in the boondocks of the lower wards? I don't think we would have even found you if it hadn't been for Hodda Nar Tasi-"

...Old Man Quarian? He was...one of them?

"Oh, you were quite familiar with him, were you not?" the Turian next croaked, seeing the surprise that must have been on my face. "Please, don't hate him for that. He didn't know that we were searching for you in particular. He was just reporting events to the network as usual. Rather poor luck for you I suppose-"

...dammit. Things had really been this bad all along huh? From the very start...did I ever really even have a chance to begin with? Petrovsky. Old Man Quarian. Someone on the Normandy even. Maybe even one of the crew...Wrex. Liara. Chakwas. Tanaka. Felawa. Henderson...Joker? Who had been telling lies and who hadn't? I mean...shit. At this point, who was even telling the truth to begin with? Who could really even be trusted at this point...

And then I smiled as I realized it for the first time.

"Shield...look at me."

Well, to be fair, I already knew this deep down all along. Kind of. Which is why I guess I never truly faulted her for it. Though she was still kind of a bitchy in general...her hate of me was perfectly fine. I understood. Because...she was just trying to protect herself- no. That was just me. I had been selfish. For me, it was all just about self-preservation. For her...she had been trying to protect her crew. Trust, right? That's what a mission needed to succeed. That's what it was all about at the end of the day. And currently...I wasn't someone that could currently warrant it. That's why I'm currently where I am now-

"AGH!"

"Didn't I tell you to pay attention when I'm talking to you Human?"

Had to admit, my cheek seared with pain as the person retracted the claw they had just used to rake my face. Probably looked like Martin Riggs at the end of Lethal Weapon 2 by now.

"Real tough huh?" I found myself immediately spitting back, ignoring the blood that was now welling around my eye. "Big man! Real big to be knocking around someone who can't even hit back! Heh. You fuckin' coward. Take off these restraints and I bet you wouldn't be so tough-"

I immediately flinched as he brought his hand up again. But instead of feeling another strike, I only heard him chuckle. And I could only feel a dark sense of foreboding as the course noise reached my ears.

"-hehe...so you're one of those huh? Look, who are you trying to impress here? Take a good look around. It's just you and me friend. And while I'm flattered you'd want to put a show on for me, I've seen it too many times to count. It's gotten old." He leaned in close enough that I could now feel his breath on my face. "There's no reason for such a...ludicrous facade. I know that had to hurt. You can let a few tears fly if you want. I won't judge. I mean, I know my claws are pretty sharp. I don't file them often." He clacked his talons together as his yellow irises rapidly flit across my face. Then he leaned in closer. "Or on the other hand...I suppose I should give you some credit. You've lasted this long. Maybe you're just as tough as you're saying you are-"

Like the idiot I was, I decided to become a cliche and spit into his eye. One last act of defiance before what came next. Was it worth it as he hit me again? As half my face was now beginning to balloon up? Probably not. But it was nice to feel like I did something before I lost the ability to even entertain such a notion. The black tattoos that covered his face were as dark as the room around us, and now his demeanor came to match them as well. The Turian's otherwise alabaster face became decidedly grim, uncharacteristically serious as he reached for something behind his back.

"Hm. I guess we'll find out together then. He does want to see you himself...but you know, he never explicitly told me how pretty your face had to be."

And as usual, I couldn't help but run my mouth again. And the worst part is that I didn't even have anything to witty to say. Missed opportunities I tell you. There's always room for bad-ass one-liners in a situation like this. I mean, there's always room for bad-ass one-liners in every situation but you know what I'm just rambling now.

"Wow, real scary. Man, I gotta say...get bent you two-bit, Vorcha cocksucker. That sounded like something from a Blasto Holo-vid. I mean dear lord, were you even trying? Was that supposed to scare me into talking? I hope you can do better than that. Because if that's all you got, then you can just kill me right now because-"

"Keep running your mouth," he suddenly spoke in a low tone. "I take it back. I've never actually had someone as talkative as you. It's kind of refreshing."

A chill went down my spine as a lull fell in the conversation.

"Oh hey! Fun fact. Did you know that threatening to pry open a Krogan's headplate makes them beg like a Red Sand addict fixing for a hit? Or that splintering a Salarian's cranial horns tends to give one the same result? Every alien has that one thing just loaded with sensitive nerve-endings I tell you. For Humans...I hear the body part most akin to those are your fingers. Those cuticles on your fingers to be exact." Like a sub-par Bond villain, he revealed a knife, god knows from where, and I couldn't say that I was able to mask my fear as I began to process the very last thing he said. "Hehe...as a fan, I'm sure you recognized that was a line from the last Blasto...but the funny thing is...I actually agree with the Rogue Councilor. I find what he said to be oh so very, very true. Or the first two in any case. To be honest, I've never had the pleasure to test that last part yet. Can you believe that? You Humans usually squeal before I even get that far. But for you...I guess you get to be my first. Want to find out how true those words are together?"

He now brandished the fifteen centimeter serrated blade like a child, moving it toward my cuffed hand with a facile smile and off-kilter jubilee. And then-

I let out a shout and twisted my head away as he suddenly and violently sunk his blade into my left hand in one swift motion. My teeth ground and my eyes shot shut but...

But oddly enough, I felt no pain. Slowly...cowardly...I looked back to where the knife was, which was currently severing one of the fingers from my palm. But...it had only been one of the replacements Doctor Michel gave me. A metallic digit serving as a prosthetic. A finger that was now back to a stub as the Turian slowly removed the blade from the metal armrest. The terror that had just gripped my heart quickly disappeared. But that was before the Turian spoke again.

"Now that I have your attention, if you would please be so kind, recount what exactly Cerberus has been having you do since your discharge from the Alliance. Anything will do to be honest. In fact, share one thing, and I'll spare one finger. Does that sound fair? I think so. Why don't we even start with this one here." The Turian now edged his knife toward the pinky on my right, holding the finger out with his other set of talons, keeping me from hiding it within my fist. Slowly massaging the tip of his weapon into the tight space, already wedging it in, squeezing it in between my finger and nail. Point already antagonizing my phalange-

"OKAY! Alright! Alright! Stop! Stop stop stop. Please stop. I'll tell you something. Anything Just stop. Please-"

"Hmph." The Turian smiled. "I'm afraid that saying you'll tell me something isn't the same as telling me something. So-"

My heart went still before he pushed the blade forward.

"FUCKFUCKFUCKFUCK FUCK fuck fuck fuck FUCK FUCK! FUCK!"

I could only scream expletives as tears begun creeping down my face, legs buckling, back arched, pain the only thing my head could process as it blinded every sensation, had me in the truest sense of the word, wishing for death, searing heat antagonizing my hand. I would do anything in the world just to make it stop at this moment. Just the few seconds the knife had been in had felt like hours. Like there was nothing else in the world besides me and it.

And it had only been inserted what? Centimeters in?

I wouldn't last. I couldn't.

I could only heave as the knife was retracted, pulled out of my bloody finger; slowly, painfully, sadistically...before being laxly wiped against the alien's pant leg.

"So...on to the next one I suppose."

But nothing came to my mind as he moved on to the next finger. I couldn't move my lips. My face was frozen as the weapon lined itself up again. All that I could think of was the searing pain. How blank my mind had just been. The horrific pain. Nothing registered or responded anymore. What it had felt like when that blade-

Blade.

Blade.

Blade.

Blade blade blade blade-

My eyes traced a line from the stainless steel blade to the hand it approached, mind plagued by panic.

But I took a deep breathe in spite of this, quickly shutting my eyes close, recalling what that manual had said all those weeks ago.

Then I flexed every muscle in my body.

I once again retrained my eyes on my right hand, focusing all my thoughts onto it.

Channel it. Think it. Want it.

I flicked my wrist as well as I could before the knife planted itself at the tip of my next finger, already feeling the cold serrated metal press against my flesh.

And I then uttered the singular phrase in my head-

OMNIBLADE.

Specific gestures or muscle movements. Actions that fire the proper sequence of nerves necessary to activate a certain skill through biofeedback devices and physical mnemonics. Things present in objects such as biotic amps and...omni-tools. It wasn't anything like magic after all. It was science. It was all right there in the manual from the beginning.

The shackles on my wrist vehemently exploded away as a disposable, forked, silicon-carbide blade conveniently forged by my omni-tool miniature fabricator came into existence. The diamond-hard blade suspended by mass effect fields simultaneously flung the weapon of the Turian, just nanometers from my finger, away as well. The pronged blade's mass effect fields then illuminated what I found to be a fairly small storage room with its orange light, with the added plus of showing me the sudden shock the Turian currently wore on his face as the weapon manifested itself. The alien then quickly leaped back as my instincts took hold, swinging my arm as hard as I could towards his face.

Though I didn't hit it...I did somehow end up nicking his throat, causing the alien to let out a guttural cry as he stumbled backwards, clenching it tightly with his recently freed hands. I wasted no time in bringing down the blade on my other cuffed hand. And though I seared my own flesh just a tad too well...and though my blade had shattered upon its second use...both my hands were now free.

OMNIBLADE.

It materialized again, and I quickly repeated the motion on my leg cuffs, causing the blade to shatter once again on the second swipe, and for me to then fall forward to the ground after...once again free. I then quickly flicked my wrist as I shot up, summoning the forked orange sword of flame as I turned my eyes back toward my former captor, who still had one hand on his throat...and the other once again on his previously lost knife.

"You-" he managed to gurgle, pointing the serrated weapon in my direction. "I'll pay you back a hundred-fold for this. You're going to wish you let me saw off every one of those fingers by the end of this day. Then the Broker will do even worse. You don't realize who the FUCK you just missed with Alexei-"

"Blah. Blah. Blah Blah Blah." I put on my best rendition of an inept Shadow Broker agent before pointing my own blade in his direction. "That's all I hear anymore. And frankly, I'm fucking tired of it. I think I've heard more than my fair share of blowhards monologuing over the course of this entire last week. How I should live, who I should be, what I'm going to be sorry for and yadda, yadda, YADDA- JESUS CHRIST. I've heard so many even I'm doing it now." The alien's eyes now narrowed in rage, mouth practically frothing. "Real tired of it. So I think I'm just gonna ignore everything everyone said and live however I feel like. And I'll tell you what YOU, your Shadow Broker, Nar Tasi, and every other soul on that god-forsaken Citadel can do." The Turian tensed as I suddenly gripped my crotch with my left hand, minus one finger. "Each and everyone one of y'all can suck my LEFT NUT-"

The Turian lunged faster than I anticipated, almost causing me to miss my chance and shit my pants...almost being the key word. I jumped back as I saw the predator's feet leave the ground and in one smooth motion, quickly flicked my right arm upward, omni-blade connecting with my attacker's knife, sending it flying up into the air. I then planted my feet firmly into the ground below me, and upon windmilling my arm, thrust the Verteron Prong Omir had sold me right smack dab into the Turian's gut.

Blue blood was immediately hacked up onto my face, and as I removed my hand from his stomach, blade having already dispersed, I decided to give him one last present. I quickly cocked my hand back and with a loud CRACK, smashed it into the Turian's jaw, sending him to the floor.

"...and the name's Shield. Marauder Shield. Alexei Leonov was so 2178." I took a few steps and bent over to pick up the weapon that had been sent scattering earlier...and while I was at it, why not, took the knife too. "...because yeah. That's how you do a one-liner." I then turned to look at the unconscious Turian bleeding behind me. And then the wall beside me. And then lastly at the ground.

"...who am I even talking to. I need to stop that."

After I had turned on the lights to the room, I found that the chair I had been strapped to was actually located in a cargo bay. A fairly small one at that. A couple cages and crates lay scattered about where the darkness once enveloped them, and on the off chance he was still alive...I got a medi-gel stim from a dispensary on the wall, plugged the bastard in the stomach with it, and then decided to stuff the body of my Turian captor into one of said crates. I suppose I wasn't at a point to ruthlessly cut people's throats yet once they were unarmed and helpless so...it would do for now. I mean, heave him into a cage, pocket the key, bing bang boom. Ship captured. What else needs to be done?

Or so I thought.

Upon leaving that cargo bay, I found a narrow passage way before me, no more than a couple dozen yards long, indicating the size of the vessel I was currently aboard. Small. And after carefully checking each of the four rooms save one, I determined it was empty. Though the sounds of a pilot humming from the ship's cockpit told me otherwise.

A sharp hit to the Salarian's head after creeping up behind him was enough to knock him out.

I had thought.

"OW! What the hell Gellix-"

And then that turned into an entirely different thing as he gasped in shock upon seeing who hit him, and I ended up wrestling around with the pilot a bit before being able to hit him across the face a couple times to finish the job. Kind of felt like an asshole while doing it because the guy seemed utterly terrified and squealed during the entire thing but you know...if he wasn't with me...I ended up throwing him into the same cage as the Turian.

And here I currently sat in the cockpit, sucking on my bloodied finger, rolling my shoulder with the aching gun-shot wound from days before, at a loss. Because yeah. What was there to do next? Continue on the ship's current trajectory to the Shadow Broker's pleasure barge and subsequently get boarded by a bunch of his goons? No thank you. Head back to the Citadel when I still had not a single credit to my name and where nothing but ruin and destruction followed me wherever I went? No thank you. So-

Huh.

It was interesting now that I actually had a chance to think to myself after everything that's happened. How everything already seemed like it had happened years ago. The bar hopping, the run in with...the run in with Zael. The visit to Doctor Michel and my new prostheses, which now needed replacement actually. I was currently missing a finger thanks to that Turian douchebag the Salarian had called 'Gellix'. Then of course...all those days at the Shitadel just...living. Just doing nothing. Thinking about nothing. Nothing...until that one day...

I guess I was just feeling sorry for myself. That was essentially the entirety of my stay there. Thinking about how I had nowhere to go in this entire galaxy. How lonely it was. No home. No family. No friends. Just hoping that something would happen out of the blue, that I'd be lucky enough to just be put back into the game and be able to do something. Heh. 'Game'.

I had to sigh. Because that shit never helps anything. Sure, I messed up. Who doesn't? We all make mistakes like one Quarian once said. Was the death of Admiral Kahoku and extinction of the once sentient race of Rachni because of my own? Maybe. Did I stop Captain Ventralis from murdering Binary Helix's staff in Peak 15 on Noveria? Not really. Was I responsible for what happened to Zael since that Old Man Quarian had asked me to watch him specifically? Pretty much. But yeah, just being nihilistic and crying woe is me never did anything except stroke your ego. Utterly fucking pointless. My ego was big enough as it is.

I flicked a random switch on the dashboard in front of me.

There were so many buttons. Too many options.

...so what should I do? With everyone that's been talking at me, everybody that's been trying to get in my head recently-

(Continue Playtrack 2...Music by High School Musical 2. Bet On It. (C) 2007 Walt Disney Records.)

Zac Efron – Bet on It. (2:15) [YOU WONT]

Woah – hold up.

Well...I guess this is happening-

It's no good at all...

Unintentionally in concert, I looked up only to see a sad reflection in the ship's window before me-

-to see yourself, and not recognize, your faaace.

And is that really who I am? A shade of some dead guy?

Out on my ooown, it's such a scaaaary plaaaace.

...no. No, that's not me

Ooooh.

...tell 'em Zac.

The answer's are all, inside of meeeeee.

...aren't they?

All I gotta doooo-

...yeah. They are, aren't they?

- is belieeeeeeve.

No, you know what Zac? You're right.

I'm not, gonna stop.

No, I'm not.

Not gonna stop 'til I get my shot.

I'm gonna take that shot.

That's who I am.

Who I am? Who I am?!

That is my plan.

Yeah I have a plan!

Will I end up on top? You can Bet on It.

You choose the person you want to be.

Bet on it. Bet on it. Bet all you can. Bet on it. Bet on it. Bet on it. Bet on meeeee.

Any possibility, anything at all can be yours from this moment onward. You cannot change the past-

I want to make it right. That is the way-

-you can only go forward.

To turn my life around, today is the day.

...that's what they had all said right?

Am I the type of guy who means what I say?

And I already made a promise with myself, didn't I?

Stop Saren. Stop Sovereign. Go home...that was the deal, wasn't it?

You can bet it was.

...now how exactly does one fly a space ship again?

YOU CAN BET ON ME.

Codex Entry:

Blasto Anthology

Blasto is a fictional hanar character that has been featured in numerous films since 2000 CE. The Hanar is most commonly known as the galaxy's first hanar Spectre, with mostly action-oriented films released that detail his exploits. Though there has not been a true 'sequel' to the original classic first directed by Asari director Relya T'Awoa since 2001 CE, the original actor for 'Blasto', Wecand, has starred in the dozens of spin-offs and loosely-connected semi-canonical releases since. The Hanar is one of the most commonly used memetic mutations among online communities, with flame wars often beginning after debate arises among which 'Blasto' is the best after the original work. Woe to those who actually prefer one of the anthology works to the classic which kicked off the franchise. In the most recent film in the series, 'Blasto discovers the Prothean Beacon', the Hanar Spectre lands on Kahje to investigate a recently uncovered Prothean Beacon. However, things go awry once he discovers that the Drell mad scientist onsite has been brainwashed and has replaced the artifact with a fake, leading Blasto on a nebula-wide hunt to track down the missing Enkindler tech and uncover the insidious machinations behind who would do such a thing, involving such characters as a Krogan banker on the edge of losing everything, a loose-cannon Vorcha who doesn't play by the rules, and a Batarian hooker with a heart of gold. The shocking conclusion of the film made audiences gasp when it turns out the entire plot was the result of the first Human Spectre and Turian Councilor having gone rogue, attempting to release a techno-plague to wipe out all non-Humanoturian life! A twist that has incited some groups such as Terra-Firma, protesting it as racist (or is it speciest?), while many others upon box office release, including Humans, praise the movie's twist as 'bold', 'innovative', and 'haha, I always thought that Human Spectre looked kind of sketchy with that giant handlebar moustache'.

Author's Notes:

Yeah. That all just happened. Lucky you reader, that you got to witness it all here first hand in the flesh.

I apologize for nothing.

Bonus points to whoever knows who the manufacturer of the Harpy pistol is in game! And a dozen points to whoever thinks they know who the Shadow Broker mole on the Normandy iiiis~

Reviews:

Maybe it's Maesde, maybe it's maybelline: Yeah. I am awesome aren't I? I just knew my family, friends, school, community, and countrymen were all wrong.

That Elvis Guy: You say you liek cliffhangers? Then, oh, I'll give you cliffhangers. You don't even kno.

Deku~kun: And lastly...I am a benevolent god. You may have your single chapter. And you may now mail my cookies to this address: [Address Redacted]

In the next chapter: ...well that's a name I haven't heard in a long time.

Tune in next time to Mass Effective: A HERO MADE!