Chapter 5: Understandings

POV: SPECTRE Saren Arterius's POV

Unknown time+ 2 months

Unknown place

"Well, it seems like we are in, what do you humans call it? Ah, a Mexican stand-off, yes?" I comment dryly as I look at the menacing, armoured being in front of me. I did not know what it's intentions were, but I had to protect the Commander and the Captain from it. It responded in the least expected manner.

"You watch Westerns?" it asked in an incredulous manner. What does he think I am? A philistine? Just because I don't like humans doesn't mean I don't appreciate good cinema.

"Yes I do. The Good The Bad and The Ugly and The Dollars Trilogy are my all-time favourites" I reply, as I slowly start to gather biotic energy in myself to knock him flat. It takes one hand off it's gun and shakes a finger at me, small sparks of electricity dancing on it's finger tip.

"Ah,ah,ah, naughty, naughty. I really recommend you don't do that" it says in admonishment, before it send a blast of electricity into my gun, knocking it out of my hand. A red wave of light washes over me and my two charges who I am trying to protect from this being. It cocks it's head to a side as I ready a biotic barrier, praying I can hold it off.

"Hold up, you saved both the man you deliberately failed in his SPECTRE trials and the woman who was sent to hunt you down? What's up with that?" it, no he, says in surprise.

"Two months on a desert planet, being helped by humans who have themselves had very little to offer, can change your views" I reply. The being nods its head sagely at that, then holsters its weapon and offers its hand in a hand shake.

"Name's Gideon. Don't know where I am or where the hell we are, but I had my suit AI recategorise you as a friendly instead of a Tier 1 threat" 'Gideon' said. I grab his forearm in a turian handshake and nod in acknowledgement.

"I guess my introduction would just be superfluous under the circumstances" I reply. Nothing against humans, but I feel a turian handshake evokes more camaraderie. Something I was hoping from this killing machine.

"Too true mate. SPECTRE Saren Arterius, one-time top Council agent, then messiah of the heretic Geth and war criminal" he says in a slightly mocking tone. I barely manage to control the growl that comes out of my throat, while my sub-vocals scream in rage. Gideon shook his head at my reaction.

"Mate, water under the bridge. What matters now is how you are going to behave" Gideon replied to my reaction. I shook my head and clamped down on my sub-vocals. I heave a sigh as I rub my face tiredly.

"Come on, let's get these people to the Lars's" I say, computing how long it would take us to reach the two brothers who were kind enough to take me into their home. Apparently, quite a few species in this galaxy were dextro, so food had never been an issue with me.

"Right. By the way I knocked out your eight foot tall bodyguard" Gideon commented casually as he activates a tac-pad on his right arm. That bit surprised me.

"You knocked out Titus? And what about Saphira?!" I ask in shock. Gideon looked up from his tac-pad and spared me a glance.

"If Titus was the big, blue armoured dude, yeah. I dunno who Saphira is, didn't see anyone else" he replied as he continued to type away. He then tapped the side of his helmet and was standing stock-still as if he were communicating with someone over the radio. He then turned to me.

"Well, all sorts of good news. My team is inbound in a Spirit dropship. We should be able to evac to the nearest settlement. After that, we'll see" he commented as he walks around me, to check on the Captain and the Commander.

I nod as a now-familiar thump sounds through the clearing, followed by the loudest roar of rage I had ever heard. Momentarily disoriented, I barely manage to reach out to the dragoness as she mentally lashed out at Gideon. Though the attack was not aimed at me, I could still feel the power. It felt like all of a Reaper's power compressed into a smaller, organic form. Suddenly, I feel a colossal presence within the cave, easily deflecting Saphira's attacks. It then slowly, almost inexorably contained the blue dragoness in an ever crushing sphere of mental power.

I turn to look at Gideon and see all the blue markings, even his eyepieces, had turned a blood red. Then an awesome voice of raw power spoke.

"DO NOT TRIFLE WITH ME, DRAGON" it said. Honestly, I was quite relieved when I felt the presence recede. Only then I noticed I was on my knees. Gideon then walked over, picked Commander Jane Shepard up after wrapping her up in the blanket I used as a bed for her. He then gestured to Captain David Anderson and said.

"Well look lively there. We need to get them some proper medical care. By the way, what's the name of the planet we're on?"

I just get up and pick up the Captain, then turn to reply.

"Tatooine" I say, then march out of the cave,coming face-to-face with an upset dragoness, an even more upset supersoldier and more trouble coming off a U-shaped, purple dropship.

Sorry for the long wait!

R&R!

N.B.: The date and time thing may confuse you all but it is relative to the character's POV and how long they have been stuck there.

Next up, The Normandy on Kashyyyk!

I am going to put up a poll for pairings, with one option extra in it. Looking forward to the replies!