Author's Notes.
Sorry for the long wait but this one is a big one so I hope that makes up for it.
Shepard looked over her team before the air lock opened. She was leaving behind Miranda and Jacob because she wanted to see how the new guys did in the field. Behind her was Beskis, Tesc, and Thenvas. Sho had been left on the recommendation of Beskis, he said that Sho was unlikely to do well in such a Xeno heavy place. Miranda had been left to work on her report on the situation to the Illusive Man and Jacob was working with the crew. Gesgina would handle her crew while Jacob his. Koith was left behind as being a never before seen Alien he might drew attention. It took some work getting him to leave Beskis' side but they were able to do it, Shepard made a deal that they would find a way to make a helmet or something that would cover his face, to keep him secret.
"You guys ready for this?" Shepard said as the hiss of the air lock opening began.
"Just another day, and another target mam." Thenvas said, that was somewhat expected.
"You bet, can't wait to see humans and Xenos living and committing crimes together." Bekis joked. He had been given a pretty blunt description of Omega from Joker.
"I also look forward to seeing the interaction of Humans and Xenos." Tesc answered, Shepard had noticed that Tesc seemed to be a bit livelier than before.
"Oaky before we go can I ask you guys to please just call them aliens, it might help." Shepard slightly groaned. The three nodded. "Wow that was easier than I thought." Shepard said as the doors opened to Omega. Shepard and her team walked onto the station. The halls were lit just enough for someone to see clearly but just barely, on one side was windows to the void of space the other side was rock and scrap. Shepard walked through until a Salarian walked up to them. Beskis, Tesc, and Thenvas all studied the new Xeno with increased focused. The alien was amphibian, humanoid in shape but for the head, it had large eyes and thin face with two horn like protrusions coming out of its head.
"Ah! Welcome to Omega! You're new here, aren't you?" Shepard noticed a Batarian walk behind the Salarian. "I can always tell. Allow me to…" The Salarian noticed the Batarian. "Oh… hello, Moklan. I was just…"
"Leave, Fargut. Now." The Batarian ordered. The three Imperials were unable to properly describe the four eyed alien other than it was also humanoid.
"Of course, Moklan! Whatever she want!" The Salarian was pushed away and began walking back down the hallway.
"I think I might have misunderstood the alien but did it implied that that is the female of the species?" Bekis whispered to Tesc.
"My scans indicate that the alien has male sexual organs." Tesc replied back. "My scans also indicate that not nearly as effective as human's." Beskis held back the laughter at the statement.
"Blasted scavengers. Welcome to Omega… Shepard." Shepard smiled at this.
"You know who I am?"
"Of course. We had you tagged the moment you entered the Terminus Systems. You're not as subtle as you think. Aria wants to know what brings a dead Spectre to Omega. I suggest you go to Afterlife and present yourself."
"Sure why not? I need help and she might give it if she wants me to see her."
"Well she'll help you if she feels like it and never for any other reason, don't keep her waiting. Afterlife. Now." The Batarian said before leaving the four.
"Well he was pleasant." Beskis joked.
"Yeah but he did give us a good lead on how to find Mordin and Archangel, but first…" Shepard turned down to the end of the hallway where a human in white and yellow armor was punching a Batarian down to the ground.
"Please you have to help me." The Batarian asked as Shepard walked up to the two.
"No one said you could talk jackass." The man said in slight English accent.
"You Zaeed Massani?" Shepard asked. The man turned around to face the four. Their eyes widen at the sight of the man's half sacred face.
"Yeah. That's me. You must be Commander Shepard. I hear we have a galaxy to save… what's with the costumes?" Zaeed pointed to the three behind Shepard. The three Imperials gave each other looks of confusion. Thenvas was in his Vindicare body suit, Tesc's body was covered in the heavy red robes of the Mechanicus, and Beskis was in his green and black Carapace armor and Guard General cloak.
"Ignore them for right now, you've been briefed?"
"I've done my homework. Cerberus sent me everything I needed to know."
"And just how you feel about Cerberus?"
"Cerberus is paying me a lot of money to help you on your mission. That's the long and short."
"Not many men would take a suicide mission for cheap coin." Beskis said, he assumed this was how it worked here, there were millions of men who would so just that in the Imperium.
"Most men don't get an offer like the one Cerberus sent me." Zaeed answered the Rouge Trader. "This mission doesn't sound like good business. But… your Illusive Man can move a lot of credits."
"So how's your friend?" Shepard joked by sounding like she was asking a five-year-old.
"Batarian delinquent. Pissed off someone rich enough to hire me to go after him. And for my bring'em in alive rates even."
"Please… I didn't do it…" The Batarian pleaded.
"He is lying." Tesc said having scanned the alien's heart rate.
"You hear that, now shut it." Zaeed said before kicking the Batarian in the face. "Tried to lead me on a chase all over the Systems. He should have known better. These people always run to Omega."
"Good to know." Thenvas thought to himself.
"I was told you're the best, so far… you haven't shown me anything to dismiss that. Welcome to my crew." With that the two seal the contract with a quick handshake. "We have a lot of work to do."
"That's what they tell me." Zaeed said as he pulled out his pistol and motioned the Batarian to get up. "I assume thee illusive man told you about our arrangement?"
"no. I guess he decided to leave that information out of the dossier."
"Good thing I asked. Picked up a mission a little while back, just before I signed on with Cerberus. Thought you might be interested. You heard the name Vido Santiago?" Shepard shook her head. "He's the head of the Blue Suns. Runs the whole organization. Seems he recently captured an Eldfell-Ashland refinery on Zorya and is using their workers for slave labor. The company wants it dealt with." Shepard, Beskis, and Tesc turned to Thenvas.
"He'll be dead within the week. I'll wait for you guys on this Zorya for pick up and clean up." Thenvas said before walking away from the group and into the rest of Omega.
"Ummm… is going to do what I think he is?" Shepard asked Beskis.
"Yes indeed, Vindicare are quite resourceful when they need to be." Beskis answered, he was sure that Thenvas was just waiting for any target.
"So that guy is going to take down Vido huh? I'd like to see him try, the bastard is surrounded by all sides with the best the Blue Suns got in a refinery that he's turned into his personal fortress." Zaeed said as he kept his gun on his prisoner.
"That was the best sniper in this galaxy, this Vido is already dead." Beskis knew that people would have to learn just what the Officio Assassinorum was capable of producing.
"I'll believe it when I see Vido's body without a head." Just then the Batarian made run for it but didn't get far as he was strung up by one of Tesc's Mechadendrites. The Batarian was to shocked and confused at what caught him to make any real effort to escape. "Well damn. Never seen that before." Zaeed said before shooting the Batarian in the leg. "That should keep him nice and slow, now I better turn that thing before it starts to stink up the lady's nice shiny implants." At that Tesc dropped the Batarian and Zaeed began dragging him off to wherever ever he was paid to take him. "I'll be locked and loaded next time you're ready to get some killing done." Zaeed said before he was out of sight.
"Well we're down to three, let's get moving." Shepard said as the three moved towards the rest of Omega. When the doors opened to the rest of the station Beskis and Tesc were amazed at what they saw. Not with the station itself as they had seen far more impressive void structures before, this before them was little more than a mining complex rather than full station. No what amazed them was the sight of humans and Xenos walking around together and living together. It was a true sight to behold. "Hey you two okay?"
"Yes Commander, just taking in the sights." Beskis said as if he was looking the most beautiful sunset he had ever seen. To Shepard all she saw was garbage and the understanding of Omega's title the evil twin of the Citadel.
"Shepard…" EDI's voice came over Shepard and Beskis' intercoms while Tesc had received the information EDI was about give in the time it took to say half of Shepard's name. "… I'm receiving quarantine warnings about the slums where Dr. Mordin Solus runs the clinic. Anticipate resistance at the transport station. I have also accessed messages between mercenary groups regarding plans to deal with Archangel. There's a recruiting station at Afterlife that may have information on him."
"Well we were heading to Afterlife anyways." Shepard said, she looked Imperials. "Come on it's not that impressive."
"The station, no. Not at all. It is the sight of Aliens and Humans in the same place and not killing each other." Beskis said as the three made their way to Afterlife. "As a Rogue Trader I have seen my fair share of human and Xeno interaction without violence but never something like this. Where people simple see all this as normal."
"Minus the aliens does this place remind you of anywhere in the Imperium?" Shepard said a curious about their home reality.
"The Hives." Both Beskis and Tesc said.
"Hives?" Shepard asked as the three of them passed through the club's doors. The line outside get was quite long but the doorman said that Aria was expecting them so they were able to just walk though. The Imperials got a few more looks, Tesc more than Beskis, while his armor was different than the norm it was thee heavy red robes that covered Tesc's body that drew in the most interest. Most likely people just wanted to know what was under them.
"The Hive Cites are sky reaching mega cites that hold millions if not billions of humans. Think of them man made mountains, city built on city built on city and so on until you reach the atmosphere and maybe even past that. It is in the Hives that much of the manufacturing of the Imperium takes place as the bulk of a Hives population works in its factories. This station is very reminiscent of the lower hives, where said workers live and work."
"If this is the normal for a hive I'd hate to see what you consider worse."
"That would be the Under-Hive, the law of man has no place there. The rule ther is whoever has the biggest gun or the most men under his thumb. Life there is a daily struggle. I would go in to more detail but I's rather not. Just know that Hive Cites and Hive Worlds are but a part of the Imperium. There are several classes of words in the Imperium, I myself come from a Knight World. And Tesc comes from a Forge World. But that is… a… story for… another… day." Beskis train of thought was derailed as the walked through the doors into the main floor of Afterlife. The place was filled with a deep bass brand of music and the lights drew the eyes straight to the main stage. Beskis and Tesc were taken back by what they saw, all around them was the air of debauchery and indulgence. They followed Shepard around the elevated circler stage, Beskis was having a hard time keeping his eyes off the Asari dancers. Tesc was doing a bit better though only after turning down the volume at which her hearing could bring in to her. the three walked up to the back office.
"That's close enough." The Asari standing by the front window said as Shepard approached her. the guards in the room pointed their weapons at the three and one of the Batarians opened up his Omi-Tool.
"Stand still." The Batarian said as he worked his Omi-Tool.
"Hey buddy my gun is right here." Shepard said pulling out her gun for show.
"The scan is not for that, can't be too careful with dead Spectres. That could be anyone wearing your face." The Asari said still not looking at the three.
"I was told you're the person to talk to if I have questions."
"They're clean." The Batarian said before moving out of the way.
"Depends on the questions." The Asari finally turned to face Shepard.
"You run Omega?" That made the Asari laugh and turn back to the club.
"I am Omega." She said in a very grandstanding way before turning back to Shepard. "But you need more. Everyone needs more something. And they all come to me." She began pacing in front of Shepard. "I'm the boss, CEO, queen if you're feeling dramatic, it doesn't matter. Omega has no titled ruler and only one rule." The Asari said before sitting back down on her couch. "Don't fuck with Aria." Aria said smiling.
"Sounds like neither of us likes being jerked around."
"And on your ship that would matter. Here, we entertain my preferences." Aria nodded for Shepard to sit and she did. "So… what can I do for you?"
"I'm looking for Mordin Solus, do you know where I can find him?" Shepard said as she leaned back into the couch.
"The Salarian doctor? Last I heard he was trying to help plague victims in the quarantine zone. I always liked Mordin. He's as likely to heal as he is to shoot you."
"What can you tell me about him?"
"Used to be part of the Salarian Special Tasks Group. He's brilliant and dangerous. Just don't get him talking. He never shuts up. If you really need to find him, take a shuttle to the quarantine zone. No guarantee they'll let you in, of course."
"Is that so, well I'll find my way in somehow. What can you tell me about Archangel, I'm trying to track him down."
"You and half of Omega. You want him dead, too?"
"He's on my shopping list of Badass, so no."
"Interesting. You're going to make some enemies teaming up with Archangel. That's assuming you can get to him. He's in a lot of trouble right now."
"What kind of trouble?"
"The local merc groups have joined forces to take him down. They have him cornered, but it sounds like they're having trouble finishing him off. They started hiring anybody with a gun to help them."
"We have guns, lots of guns." Beskis joked. He and Tesc had kept quiet due to the fact they had very little in the way of first-hand knowledge when dealing with aliens so they were deferring to Shepard to handle this on her own.
"They're using a private room for recruiting… just over there. I'm sure they'll sign you up."
"Which merc groups are after Archangel?" Shepard said leaning towards Aria, she need to know just what to expect.
"Blue Suns, Eclipse, Blood Pack. They're three Omega's major players. Strangle enough the Blood Angles are staying out of this, even though Archangel has hit them just as hard as the others."
"I sorry but did you say the Blood Angels?" Beskis said, his mind was trying to wrap his head around the idea that there might be Astartes in this reality.
"Yes I did." Aria gave Beskis a look that made him freeze in his place for interrupting her. This give Beskis the understanding of just the kind of person this alien could be. "Unless they're at war you'll never see those groups together. But one thing they hate more than each other is Archangel."
"What can you tell me about the guy?"
"Not has much as I like. He showed up here several months ago and started causing all sorts of problems. If you make your own laws, which everyone here does, he makes life difficult. He's reckless and idealistic. But he seems to know enough to stay clear of me."
"Do you hate Archangel?"
"I don't have time for hate. But I distrust them all equally. For now, I'm just happy to just let them kill each other."
"Thanks, I'm sure this will help."
"See if you still feel that way when the mercs realize you're here to help him." Aria said as she watched Shepard stand up.
"One last thing, One scan and we're straight to business? People are more concerned about who I am?"
"Your death was downplayed, but hardly what I call a secret. I had to be sure it was really you. You could have been anyone. Anything. Whatever you need will come out on its own. I'm curious, but Omega doesn't really care about you." Shepard cut back the laugh that formed at that statement and just smiled.
"Maybe I'll come back later."
"Maybe I'll be here."
Miranda sat staring at her terminal, she was trying to write a report on what had just happened to the Illusive Man without sounding like she had gone insane. A ship larger the Citadel, an entirely new race of alien, humans from another reality brought here by a human god. It all sounded so ridiculous and yet it was clear that it was all true. From what Beskis and the Tau's diplomat told her it was all true. But when she tried to put it all on a report it sound like the writings of a science fiction novel, a very dark one at that from what she had heard from the Imperials. The Illusive Man was expecting some kind of report soon so she needed to do something. She was thankfully saved by the sound of her door opening.
"Operative Lawson? The Astropath is showing signs that he is about to wake." Gesgina said as she walked in.
"Thank you Gesgina…" Miranda said getting up from her station. She really needed something to put off this report. The two woman walked over to the med-bay where doctor Chakwas was waiting for them. "What is the man's current condition?"
"Currently he is stable, and I am confident that he is ready to be woken up." Doctor Chakwas replied to the Cerberus officer.
"Are you saying he's not coming out himself?"
"Unfortunately in his condition that is not possible, he is effectively in a medically induced coma. That was quite apparent to me when he was brought in. It is only now that his brain has healed enough from whatever shock caused him to be placed in said coma for me to bring him out of it." The doctor injected something into the Astropath's IV. The three women watched as the Astropath began to stir but they were frightened at the ear shattering scream that quickly came from him. The man flailed off the medical bed and landed on the clean metal floor with a thud. All that came from the man was more scrams and small sounds of worry and terror.
"Sorae! What is happening?" Gesgina said as she dropped to his side.
"His light! I can not see his holy brilliance! The warp… it is glass. A mirror with no reflection!"
"What is he talking about?" Miranda asked, she understood that this Warp was something that was very important in their home reality.
"Sorae is an Astropath, they are able to peer into the warp and communicate with other Astropaths, it was the only true means of interstellar communication." Gesgina answered the Cerberus officer.
"Silence… silence… all I see and hear is but silence. The warp's tides are motionless, and I do not see His Light!" Sorae scream out but then stopped. "I see it… I see something. A ripple, long since cast. But it is there."
"Sorae, we are not where we used to be, we have been… gifted by the Emperor with a new galaxy with a new humanity. We don't need to worry about corruption anymore, you can set your mind free. There are no hunters in warp waiting for you to drop your guard."
"No! I will not fall for your filthy lie lies daemon!" At this Gesgina slapped Sorae.
"Shut up and listen to yourself." Gesgina said with iron in her voice. "You said yourself that the Warp is still. There are no daemons there are no terrors that will whisper heresies in to your mind. The Emperor has gifted you with the greatest gift any Psyker could ever receive, a life free from worry of his own mind." Sorae continued looking at the floor but he turned completely silent showing that he had heard her. A sudden wave of energy ruptured out from Sorae knocking Miranda and doctor Chakwas down to the floor.
"What was that?!" Miranda said as she struggled to get back up.
"I let my wards free, for the first time since my binding I think free. I think without restraint… it is different." Sorae tilted his head up and faced towards doctor Chakwas. "You… I feel your soul, it is warm, always looking after others, yet confused… you are unsure of your future. But you see someone else's light and are reaffirmed. Your soul is radiant."
"Oh… thank you." Doctor Chakwas blushed a small bit. Sorae turned his head to Miranda, his face quickly turned sour and looked away.
"You are wrong… not true made. Your soul is cold and distant. All it seeks is isolation." There was no reaction from Miranda. Sorae began turning to Gesgina. But she stopped his face.
"That's enough of that, I don't need to know my soul." Gesgina sighed. "Now I don't want you doing this trick on any of the crew even if they ask."
"Yes mam."
"Good, now I have the wonderful task of explaining what happened to you."
"Repent the end is nigh!" A Batarian on a box yelled out over the small crowd of onlookers. Shepard, Beskis, and Tesc were currently heading to the nearest market in order to get a few upgrades and proper shields for Beskis and Tesc. "Humans are a blight on galactic purity!" At that Shepard froze in place. Pure, undiluted terror filled her mind as that statement came into her ears. She slowly turned around expecting to see the eviscerated remains of the Batarian to be hanging from Tesc's metal tentacles but was relieved to see that was not the case.
"What?" Beskis said in his normal semi-cheerful way.
"You guys heard that right?" Shepard nodded to the preaching Batarian.
"Oh please, we have heard that many times before and far worse. We understand that rules are different here and he is but one tiny alien with no real power. Others in the Imperium might be so petty as to jump to anger over such things but no us."
"Oh, good." Shepard sighed. And continued on her way. Once she was a nice distance away Beskis lean toward Tesc.
"Send a Vox-message to Thenvas and inform him of this Xeno, if he has not left the station." Beskis whispered.
"Already done, he has time and will do so in the next hour or so."
"You sir, you are a blight!" The Batarian yelled, pointing to Beskis.
"Better tell his to make it sooner, Emperor knows I can only take so much."
Joker was checking all the systems he could think of. He was bored and very little else to do. Plus he had to make sure that nothing from the Omega networks made it on to the Normandy. He knew that the AI would keep that from happening but he still wanted to do it himself. Then he heard something, it was like faint breathing.
"Oh shit. This is how every horror movie starts. Whatever you do don't look back." Joker thought to himself. He knew that he shouldn't but after twelve minutes of the sound coming right behind him he just couldn't take it. "EDI… something is behind me isn't there?"
"Yes Mr. Moreau." Joker looked at the blue avatar of the AI looking for more. "It is Mr. Beskis' bodyguard."
"That doesn't make me feel any better." Joker growled at the AI before turning to Koith. "What do you need."
"My master and the Commander have left me here. You are the most important crew member with them gone, as such I must protect you from any threats."
"Wow… I don't know if I should be grateful or creeped out." There was an uneasy silence following that. "Anyways, I've been meaning to ask this but what are you?"
"I am a Tarellian, a race born on…"
"No I mean what is your job? Are you Beskis' bodyguard, just some mercenary… I hope not some freaky sex thing."
"I assume that was a joke… the crew calls you Joker."
"Yes that last one was a joke."
"I have taken a Oath of Guardianship over Karet Beskis. Through his actions my kin were able to escape from the maw of the great Devourer of All. My people hold a great hated for humanity, many millennia ago they attempted to bring my kind to oblivion, to be not even be recorded to history. But because of this hatred we all most resigned ourselves to oblivion but Beskis saved us from our stubbornness. I doubt my race would ever find peace with humanity in our home reality but we shall always know that humans are many of a kind."
"And now you are his watch dog?"
"Yes…" A sound akin to laughter came from Koith. "The Imperium often refers to us as Tarellian Dog-Soldiers."
Zaeed waiting in Afterlife, Shepard had contacted him to her up there for the first job. He was currently enjoying the show the dancer in front of him was providing. He would normally pay the girl for more than just the show but he was on a job now and would have the extra time. Out of the corner of his good eye he saw Shepard walk in to the club. He gave the girl the tip he owed her and made his way over to his new boss. The vids did not do the lady justice in Zaeed's opinion, but then again they never do.
"Zaeed, you get your job done?" Shepard asked as Zaeed approached the three.
"Done and paid for." Zaeed said smiling, he had also spent all of it.
"Alright, you two have got kinetic barriers all set up we should have no problem requiting Archangel." Shepard said as she led the group towards the merc recruiting post.
"Why are we going for him first, the Salarian would be a more logical choice." Tesc said as she followed Shepard.
"Because the mercs are gunning hard and doctor Mordian Solas I think could handle a plague, we go after the one that might not be alive for much longer." Shepard led the group over to the room the mercs were using. "I hear your recruiting?"
"Hmm…" The Blue Suns merc looked the group over. "Why don't you step inside?" The merc waved the door open and the four walked inside.
"You get paid when the job is done just like everyone else." The recruiter said to some freelancer. "Who's next?" he said as Shepard and her followers came forward. "You four look like you could do some damage. Looking for a fight?"
"If the fight is with Archangel?"
"Then this is the place. Standard fee is five hundred credits each. You get paid when the job is done. If you die, your friends don't collect your share. You'll need your own weapons and armor… looks like you have that covered and then some. And no this does not make you a member of the of the Blue Suns, Eclipse, or Blood Pack. You are a freelancer. Period."
"Where is this whole thing going down?"
"Archangel's base of operations. He's been hiding right under our noses. I can't tell you exactly where you're going, but we'll get you there."
"Where do we go?"
"Just head over to the transport depot outside the club. One of our boys will take you from there. Send in the next one." Shepard and the group began moving towards the exit but Shepard stopped at the sight of the teenager coming through the door.
"Hey is this where I sign up?" The boy asked.
"You look a little young to be freelancing as a merc."
"I'm old enough! I grew up here, if you want to do that on Omega you learn how to use a gun real fast."
"I yet you haven't learned when not to yourself killed." Zaeed interjected.
"I can handle myself. Besides, I just spent 50 credits on this pistol, and I want to use it." The kid said waving his pistol around. Shepard used her biotics to pull the pistol out of his hands and in to hers. She quickly popped the thermal clip and disassembled the pistol before the kid's eyes.
"Trust me kid, you'll thank me later.' Shepard said before leaving the room with her squad behind her.
"Do you treat all new blood with such softness?" Beskis said as they made their way out of Afterlife. "He was fit and ready for his duty, he might have had poor taste in who to fight for but he was ready."
"I thought you would have approved of what I just did." Shepard said, she was a little surprised, the way the man talked, he seemed to want nothing more for less soldiers to die for meaningless causes. "He was going to die, he had his whole life to make stupid mistakes. I just saved him from the one that was going to get him killed."
"To fight and die is noble Shepard, it is how we find the strong and use the weak so that they aren't a burden. I'm not saying what you did was wrong by your standards but it was unnecessary." Shepard wanted to argue this but they were fast approaching the Blue Suns transport.
"Will talk about this later… Hi we're all on the mission."
"I hope your ready. Archangel's been annihilating you freelancers."
"We as ready as we're going to be."
"Get in." the group quickly got in the transport, barley fitting given Tesc's implants. The ride was spent in total silence, they all just watched the spires and lights of Omega pass by. But it was over fairly quickly and they soon landed. "It's about time they sent me someone who looks like they can actually fight." The Batarian said as they all got out of the transport. "They tell you what we're up against?"
"Beyond its Archangel no."
"Right now he and two others are trapped in a building at the end of the boulevard over there. They have superior position, and the only way in is over a very exposed bridge. It's a killing ground. But they're getting sloppy, making mistakes. We'll have him soon enough."
"So the bridge is the only way to get to his hideout?"
"Exactly. Archangel collapsed all the underground passageways and sealed the doors to the lower levels. We've got teams digging but it's taking too long. If they can get the gunship flying again that'll help."
"They were using a gunship to take out one guy?" Shepard said and Beskis slightly laughed at this, he knew that in the Imperium that a single gunship was no match for a Tactical Marine much less a Captain, sometimes one man could be worth a hundred gunships if that.
"Yeah… and Archangel shot it down. He didn't destroy it, but he knew just where to hit it to disable it. It wasn't even a fair fight. At least not for us."
"You guys have a plan?"
"A small team is waiting to infiltrate his hideout, but we need to draw Archangel's fire so they can move in."
"And that's where we come in?" Beskis ask, it was a sound plan and one the Guard used often.
"Exactly. You'll be on a distraction team. Head straight over the bridge and keep Archangel and his buddies busy so the infiltration team can sneak in behind him."
"That's goddamn suicide." Zaeed said with a bit of a laugh to it, it wouldn't be the first time he did something like that.
"Pretty much, but you four look like you can handle it. Head up to the boulevard and get to the third barricade. Talk to sergeant Cathka. He'll tell you when to go in."
"Well then I better go find sergeant Cathka."
"Good idea, watch yourself on the boulevard. Archangel's kill dozens out there already." The Batarian said before returning to his transport and took off to pick up more freelancers.
"In's gonna be easy. Out's gonna be a bitch." Zaeed said bluntly.
"Let's find him first. then we'll figure out how to get back." Shepard sighed and began her way up the first flight of stairs to the boulevard.
"Shepard I scanned the area, but I am unable to plot any other paths to Archangel." EDI informed the group.
"Well let's just continue on with the merc plan then."
"The heavy mechs and gunship possess considerable fire power. Weakening them before leaving will improve your chances."
"Thanks we'll be on the lookout." Shepard and the three other starting through the Eclipse room of the area. Just as they were about to leave the room Tesc noticed something in a data stream from a tablet on a nearby table. With quick movement she stole the tablet with one of her many metal tentacles. Once the door closed behind them and the group was alone she brought it up in front of Shepard.
"You will want to read this." Tesc said as Shepard took the tablet from the mechanical claw. Shepard took a moment to read the information over. Tesc remotely brought up what she knew was the important part. It was a message from Tarak, the head of the Blue Suns on Omega, to Jaroth, the EHad of the Eclipse on Omega, about having just enough men to go after Aria after they deal with Archangel.
"Thanks Tesc, this will help a lot." Shepard smiled as she downloaded the information on to her Omi-Tool.
"And the Heavy Mech is beyond that door." Shepard turned toward they and opened it, in the room was row upon row of mechs and standing in the middle was the Heavy they were warned of. "I will handle this." Tesc said as she extended her hand towards the Mech's head, twisting wires extended to the head and once the connection was made Tesc mind entered into the cyber battlefield. What she saw was laughable, she had seen the mighty virtual citadel of her home Forge World, this before her was a wooden fort by comparison. She easily bombarded the firewalls with the weapons every one of the Tech-Priest knew how to wield. "The machine is ours."
"Good, now let's pick up our new angel friend." Shepard led the group to the front of the boulevard dodging the stray shots coming from Archangel. Shepard talked to one of the freelancers and he pointed the group to Cathka. They moved over to the gunship where they found Cathka making repairs. "Cathka?"
"Sergeant Cathka…" The Batarian said as he moved from under the gunship. "Ah… you must be the group Salkie mentioned. You're just in time." Cathka said before taking a hit from cigarette.
"Salkie?"
"You met him when you were dropped off. He radioed to say you were coming. You four kinda stand out from most of the other freelancers. Anyway… the infiltration tema is about to give us the signal. Archangel and his pals won't know what hit them." Cathka said as he dropped his tool nearby. "You got any question, this is your last chance."
"Are leading the assault?"
"Ha! Tarak doesn't pay me to fight. I just plan the attack and fix the damn gunship. You freelancers get the privilege of…" At that moment Cathka got a message from the infiltration team. "Check: Bravo team… go, go, go!" At that the other freelancers began moving towards the bridge. "Archangel's got quite a surprise waiting for him. But that means no more waiting for me." Cathka said as he moved back to the gunship. Shepard nodded and began walking toward the bridge. But Beskis walked behind Cathka holding the sparking tool he had dropped on the desk before.
"You're working too hard Xeno." Beskis said as he jammed the tool into Cathka's back, jolting him with massive amounts of energy causing him to fall to the ground dead. Beskis joined back up with the group who other than Tesc had no idea of what he had done though he was fairly sure that only Shepard would have taken what he did as a bad thing. The four moved across the bridge with the other freelancers. All but Shepard's group made it but Archangel didn't make it easy and had dropped Beskis' shields making him very happy that he had gotten them.
"There are four mercs in building, on my command we…" Shepard began say but stopped when she watched Beskis drew out his sword. She had thought the thing was for decoration or a mark of rank but when she saw it spark to life she could tell it was for more than just that. The hilt was solid and certainly built for practicality and the blade was perfect, not a nick anywhere. The blade curved slightly up until the top which ended in a sharp hook. Beskis shoot forward with reflexes that could only be obtained after years of training and experience. The head of the first merc was sliced clean off, armor didn't help him at all. The next was stabbed by the blade's hook and with a single swing was pulled up and over Beskis, the blade ripping through as the merc was in the air. Shepard could only think that this was possible because of Beskis implant arm. But she watch in amazement as the blade simply ignored all resistance. In one fluid movement three shots were fired from Beskis heavy pistol shattering the next merc's shields allowing for a forth to pass right through his skull. Beskis turned to the last merc but his thoughts were halted by the sight of a man jumping down from the railing above and slamming into the merc, the staff in his hands tearing through his body and armor just as easily as Beskis' sword would. The man looked up, his face clean and free of any scars, his blond hair dropped downward below his chin and neck. He looked at Beskis and then at his sword and then his smile plastered his face.
"Oh my Emperor!" that statement made everyone in the room go wide eyed. His voice was high like a child but it was clear that he was in his mid-twenties. "That's a power sword!" The man said as he lunged at Beskis, popping around the sword and the man himself trying to look at everything. "It looks just like how dad described them! This is so awesome!" Beskis was taken completely back by both the invoking of His name and the childlike energy this man had.
"Hey kid!" Shepard yelled as she came on to the scene. "Where's your boss?" The man's eyes sparkled at the sight of Shepard, he even began making a mock chorus sound. "Stop that."
"Your… your…" The man gasped. "You need to the boss right now!" The man said before running up the stairs to the second floor.
"What in the name of the holy throne just happened?" Beskis said unable to understand the last five minutes.
"Well maybe Archangel might be able to answer our questions." Shepard said as she begun to follow the path of the man. The group followed her up to the door and found the Turain known as Archangel watching over the bridge, an Asari going over what supplies they had left and the human man they saw before sitting on one of the couches bouncing up and down. "You Archangel?" Shepard asked but all she got was a finger saying to wait. The Turain took one last shot killing the last of the freelancers. He used his rifle to help himself up and began walking over to the group taking off his helmet as he did so.
"Shepard… I thought you were dead." Garrus said as he leaned up on one of the chairs in the room.
"Garrus!" Shepard said trying to keep the emotion back a little, Joker was still holding it over her that she cried when she saw him and Garrus could be ten times worse. "What the hell?"
"Good to see you too." Garrus slightly laughed.
"Damn buddy, I was not expecting this."
"You and me both. Still, it's good to see another friendly face. Killing mercs is hard work."
"How'd you manage to piss off every major merc organization in the Terminus Systems?"
"I t wasn't easy, I really had to work at it. But it got so much more easier when you got the most annoying human in the galaxy, right Rogal?" Garrus looked at the human.
"That's me." Rogal said with complete understanding of what the Turain just said.
"Wait." Beskis said moving up in front of Shepard. "Did you just call him Rogal, as in Rogal Dorn?"
"Does that mean something to you?" Garrus asked fairly surprised at this.
"See I told you I'm not crazy! He's from the Imperium just like my dad."
"Ignore them for right now." Shepard said, they still were in a very dangerous place and now was not the time to sort out any inter-reality bullshit that was going on but she was still surprised as anyone that Garrus managed to pick up an Imperial as well… or the son of one anyways. "What are you doing here on Omega Garrus?" Garrus looked back at Shepard and picked up on what she was thinking and smiled, she was still as sharp as ever.
"I got fed up with all the bureaucratic crap on the Citadel. Figured I could do more good on my own. At least it's not hard to find criminals here. All I have to do is point my gun and shoot."
"You nailed my friend here pretty good back there."
"Concussive rounds only. No harm done. Didn't want the merc getting ideas."
"Uh-huh." Beskis grunted.
"If I wanted to do more then take your shields down I'd have done it. Besides, you all were taking your sweet time. I needed to get you moving."
"Well we got here, but I don't think getting out will be as easy."
"No, it won't." Garrus said getting up. "That bridge has saved our lives… funneling all those witless idiots into scope. But it works both ways." Garrus said as he and Shepard walked over to the window. "They'll slaughter us if we try to get out that way."
"We don't have much to do but wait to die." Rogal joked.
"It's not to that point yet. This place has held them off so far. And with the four of you… I suggest we hold this location. Wait for a crack in their defenses, and take our chances. It's not a perfect, but it's a plan."
"How'd you guys get into this position." Shepard watched Garrus make a hard death stare to Rogal, effectively shutting him up from answering that.
"My feelings got in the way of my better judgment. It's a long story. I'll make you a deal: you get me and my team out of here alive and I'll tell you the whole damn thing."
"Well let's get the hell out of here, I'm fucking done with these mercs."
"Glad to see you haven't changed. Let's see what they're up to…" Garrus looked through his scope to the marc base. "Hmm… looks like they know their infiltration team failed. Take a look." Garrus handed Shepard the rifle. "Scout, Eclipse I think." Shepard could see the mechs and took a shot and blew the head off one.
"More than scouts, one less now though."
"Indeed we better get ready. I'll stay up here, I can do a lot of damage from this vantage point. Rogal would be best down in the front, he works best up close."
"What about her?" Shepard nodded to the Asari who had been silent the entire time.
"Alicia doesn't fight, she's good at patching people up but talking and fighting are the two things she can't do." Garrus answered. "She'll stay up here and hide but you... you do what you do best. Just like old times, Shepard." Shepard smiled at that.
"Beskis you head down with Rogal and keep anyone out of the building. Zaeed you sand me are going to keep Garrus company, Tesc I want you on standby to help if one side needs it or if the mercs find their way in some other way." The squad nodded at their orders, Beskis was uneasy at the thought of working with Rogal but he kept shut mostly out of his hardened soldier mindset that came rolling back with Shepard's commanding voice. Shepard, Garrus and Zaeed all locked to the railing and began taking shots at the incoming mechs. With the three of them none made it through to the building leaving Beskis and Rogal time to talk, something Beskis was hoping the battle would help him avoid as this was not the place for talking. Rogal began asking constant questions about the Imperium and himself but Beskis was not in a mood talk about such things. This was a battle and it deserved the attitude of such.
Shepard took another shot with her sniper rifle and destroyed another mech. She was at ten with that one. She then noticed the Eclipse started sending in their snipers and vanguards.
"Beskis! Rogal! I think you're going to get some company soon!" Shepard yelled down to the two close combat specialists. Mechs were one thing but a few of the organic troops were making it through.
The first Eclipse merc that came through was an Asari vanguard. She quickly moved close to Rogal, he being the first one she recognized, and prepared a biotic enhanced punch to the gut but quickly found herself without any arms a second later but before the pain of the amputation came to her she was killed by Rogal's power staff hitting her heart. The next three suffered similar fates as Beskis' sword disarmed them and Rogal finished them off. The two quickly moved into this routine.
Shepard soon saw after the launching of the true Eclipse troops the deployment of the heavy mech.
"They're sending out the heavies!" Garrus yelled down to the men downstairs but when he heard Shepard laugh he quickly turned to see the mech gun down the Eclipse leader Jaroth. They finished off the remaining Eclipse but there wasn't much left. Zaeed got the very last vanguard who decided to try her luck at running back. Garrus let out a sigh of relief. "We're kicking ass Shepard. They barely touched us. And we got Jaroth in the process. I've been hunting that little bastard for months."
"Why were you after him to begin with?"
"He's been shipping tainted eezo all over Citadel space. Half the goods I seized back a C-Sec came from his team here on Omega. I took out a big shipment a while back and killed his top lieutenant in the process. Not surprised he decided to work with the other mercs after that."
"We still got the Blood Pack and Blue Suns left. Think we can make a break for it?"
"Maybe. Let's see what they're up to." Garrus looked back the merc base. "They've reinforced the other side… heavily. But they're not coming over the bridge yet. What are they waiting for?" just then the building began shaking and load boom was heard from the basement. "Shit, they're coming from the basement, well they had to start using their brains at some point. Shepard, I have shutters down there that will keep them out but we can't access them from here."
"We can't but Tesc might." Shepard connected to Tesc through their intercom. "Tesc can you activate the shutters in the basement?"
"I can try…" Tesc quickly found an opening to the Omega network but once inside she exited. "No! Shepard I can not! The Network here is filthy and vile. Nothing short of a full data purge could bring this back to the Machine God's grace."
"Tesc, I need you to try. We need those shutters closed or we're going to be overrun with mercs." Shepard knew she was asking a lot. She could guess what the networks of Omega looked like to someone who could actually See the network.
"Very well Shepard." Tesc dove back in. it helped that she knew where and what she was looking for. The data flows and the digital landscape were that of smut and virus. Every byte of data was corrupted in some way. This would have been a simple task but because of the fact she had to focus on keeping any of the vile data from entering her own networks. She was able to close three out of four of the shutters but the forth was held open for two minutes before Tesc forced the close. "Shepard, all of the shutters have been closed but the enemies were able to make it through." Shepard and Garrus looked back over the railing to the living quarters of the building. Three Krogan, one bigger then Shepard had ever seen before, and several Vorcha came running through one of the doors.
"Raaah! Rip them to shreds!" the huge Krogan barked out. Shepard, Garrus, and Zaeed switched over to their automatic rifles and rained down fire over the room. The Vorcha die quickly leaving the three Krogan. Beskis and Rogal came running out and charged the two smaller Krogan. The big began moving towards the stiars but turned at the sound of Tesc dropping from the second floor back room. She had jumped down and made quite the dent in the floor. With a shot from Garrus' sniper the Krogan's shields were shattered. Tesc swung her power axe down at the Krogan's face but he held it back, the cog shaped blade mare inches from his face, with his biotics. But Tesc slightly smiled as under her robes began to glow bright blue. The Krogan felt a sudden jolt of electricity come from the ground and caused his biotics to drop ensuring the axe to fall into his face cutting clean inward, killing the Krogan.
Tesc looked back at Beskis and Rogal both awe struck at what they had both saw. They had finished off their opponents and were about to help her but now they just stood there, Beskis thanking the Emperor and Rogal with his jaw dropped.
"Damn Shepard." Garrus said as they moved back to the window. "You just find the best people don't you?"
"I found you didn't I?"
"You flatter me. Okay… we took out Garm and his Blood Pack. The day just gets better and better. He was a tough son of a bitch."
"You've fought with him before?"
"Yeah, we tangled once. Caught him alone. None of his gang to help him. I still couldn't take him out. I've never seen a Krogan regen that fast. He was a freak of nature. He just kept at it until his Vorcha showed up. It was close, but I had to let him go."
"Only the Blue Suns left. I say we take our chances and fight our way out."
"I think you're right. Tarak's got the toughest group, but nothing we haven't faced before. Besides, he won't be expecting us to meet him head-on…" Garrus turned to the far window to see the gunship before it opened fired. Everyone in the room dived for cover. Garrus, Shepard and Zaeed opened fire on the gunship. They moved from the gunship to the offloaded troops.
"Beskis! Rogal! Stay down there! Tesc get up here, I need your heavy weapons!" Shepard yelled down.
"Heavy weapons Shepard?" Garrus asked as he took out another Blue Sun. Garrus watched as Tesc walked into the room. The glow under her robes returned and bolts of lightning came shooting out from her robe and hit the gunship.
"Archangel!" Tarak screamed through the gunship's speakers. "I'm not letting you screw with the Blue Suns anymore!" The gunship began firing off its minigun causing everyone to dive for cover again and caused Garrus' shields to shatter. Garrus looked back at the falling gunship and saw it fire one last missile. Garrus took the missile right to the face, most of the blast was countered by Shepard and Alicia's biotics but still critically wounded him.
"Garrus!" Shepard yelled as she ran over to her friend. She rolled him on to his back. "Don't you die on me!" At that Garrus' eyes opened with a gasp of air and a hard clutch to his rifle.
Author's Notes
Oh that was hard. That was the longest chapter I have written so far… and it might have cost me a good grade on my math exam… I fucking hate math. Please review and tell me what you thought, it helps a lot.
