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First note, this chapter is written solely off of Wiki, so my description won't be the exact same as that portrayed in the game. Think of it as … the game's wrong and I'm right? Yeah. Think that.

Mack

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The Dragon of Virmire

Shepard landed on Virmire with Garrus, Wrex and Ash. While I was disappointed I wasn't chosen, I'm too preoccupied in what will happen.

I mean, Kaiden or Ash will die. While there isn't any love lost between me and Kaiden, I don't want Ash to die. I'm feeling … lost? I don't know. But I want to spend more time with her …but it's all up to Shepard. While I doubt she'd choose solely on who she likes the most, it must have a minor role. Or maybe I'm just being shallow? When I played, I would always choose the character I wanted to romance. Nothing wrong with Liara, I just never found her attractive. I prefer confidence, Ash for example. And I fell for her.

I sigh.

"What's up Lieutenant?" I turn to see Tali watching me, she was always the character I would choose to romance in ME2, how hypocritical do I sound? Miranda was a bitch, and so was Jack. There wasn't any action with Samara so Tali was the next best thing, she was the most likable character.

I sigh again, "Lovestruck." I state, sighing again. I've been in this situation a few times, as most people have I would assume, but it rarely ends well.

"Who's the lucky girl?" Tali never took her eyes off me, or well, face plate.

"It's a surprise." I wave my hands around. While I like Tali, I don't want her prying.

"It's either Ash, Shep, Liara or me. I have 25 percent chance of guessing. It's a not a fun game. I could even help." While she's stubborn, but she doesn't have the experience I need.

"What information could you possibly give me?" I state, a little too sharply.

She gives me a sigh of frustration. "Speak to her?"

"Wow, why didn't I come to you first?" My voice dripping in sarcasm. I'm not thinking straight, one of my few flaws, I don't think when I'm nervous.

"I'm trying to help!" Her voice is raising, shit I've awoken the beast.

"And I told you I didn't want it!" I could see Liara and Kaiden just warily staying at the side lines.

"Humans are so dense."

"Women are so temperamental."

"No better than Pyjaks."

"At least we can breathe."

"You don't even have a unified planet!"

"Hey what's this? It's Skin!"

This continued for a few minutes. Tali eventually ended up just screaming terms of profanity at me. The only one of which I recognised was the universal 'bosh'tet', which is the equivalent of 'bastard' in English. This would have kept going on if Liara hadn't stepped in.

"Please , this isn't helping anyone."

Tali of course, wouldn't back down. "Tell him to apologise!" Tali had being shouting for the last five minutes.

"I'm not saying sorry." Perhaps I was dense? "She started with her questions." I was right. Come on, I was not in the wrong.

"They were only questions Mack." Kaiden, forever the voice of reason.

"Fuck off lover boy. You've already made everyone think I want to bone Shep."

The punch felt like my jaw would fall off. He used all his biotic might in hitting me. And I landed flat on my arse.

"Guys? I hate to break up the party, but we're meeting the STG squad, landing in five." Thank you Joker.

Rubbing my jaw, noticing no one offered to help me up, II stood up and leaned against the wall. Meeting the STG team, meant that Virmire was half way through. And my nerves jumped again.

Tali was, what I assume, glaring at me. I said some pretty … I suppose racist points, like I might have slipped the term suit rat, after she called me, and I quote, "A walking, talking, mass of biological waste." After she claimed humans were mistakes in the chain of evolution. Kaiden was also glaring, obvious reason, I still think he's a moron, and Liara was apprehensive. I doubt any of the team have seen me angry, few people do.

Even back home, I never got angry. I was proud of that. Calm, patient and happy. But I suppose the torment was being THROWN OUT MY UNIVERSE put my nerves on edge.

Flipping the bird at Kaiden, I strolled over to my locker and proceeded to strip. Taking my shirt off, I felt eyes bare into my back. I turned, and stretched my abs, which I have to say, I never had before this … awesome. I saw Tali's glare soften, women are simple, despite the sayings of many men, and the same with Liara. Kaiden went red, and turned around. Pah, bitch. Noticing this, Liara went red, well, the shade of red only a blue person could, and Tali let out a short gasp.

I turned back, and let myself have a little chuckle, people are so easy to please.

After I stopped, I picked up my new visor. One similar to Garrus', and it would help my aim with my sniper and pistol.

"Mack I'm sorry." I turned around to see a still pretty angry Tali.

"Don't expect to get in my pants now." I say with, what I hope is, a condescending smile. She looks up at me, and has what I perceive to be a look of 'I want to tear out your throat'.

She sort of continued to glare at me, "Why are you being such an ass?" She said pointedly.

"I'm sorry lass, I'm on edge for this mission, I don't normally feel like this before missions …" I say, surrounding area with a sense of foreboding.

"That's not a good excuse. I try and apologize and all I get is more dickery." She stormed off. I wasn't in the wrong here.

"I'll see you later then ..." I say with a smile. The problem is, she's right. I shouldn't be provoking my team mates, however on edge I might be. I mentally slap myself, I am dick.

I stroll over to Kaiden, he's still fuming, and I'm not surprised.

"Kaiden." He looks at me, if looks could kill. "I'm sorry for what I said …"

I was ready for it this time. His fist would have connected in the same place as before, but I caught his fist, like a boss I must say. I twisted, and he landed on the floor on his face with a dull thud. Pulling his arm behind his head makes him let off a small scream which he failed to hide.

"Kaiden. I mean it, I didn't mean what I said." I state simply, before letting his hand go. I grabbed my gun, from my locker, ignoring a shocked Quarian and Asari, and headed to the airlock.

He started it. I was simply finishing it. I sigh. Even I can't convince myself. I always hated Kaiden, well, in the games I mean, but here… he was unbearable. He sucked the mood out of everyone. Yeah, I had a single conversation with him that I enjoyed, but I never really tried.

Joker's voice came through the speakers, close enough to my head to make me jump, and realise my height isn't always good. "Great landing, but scanners have got a ton of weapons aimed at us".

Captain Kirrahe isn't happy if I recall. His transmission expected a fleet, but he gets Shep, with the same orders that got half his team killed. I wouldn't be happy either.

Stepping out of the Normandy, I get the real Virmire Experience.

The sun beats down on me, threatening to make me melt. The view is beautiful though. While, the armed Salarians aiming at me with an assortment of different weapons at me, isn't the best view, but the cliffs, the green and blue... gah! It's beautiful. Dragging my eyes from the lovely scenery, reminding me of Brazil, the rainforests and humidity, barely twenty seconds, I'm sweating like a pig.

"Who are you?" Ah Captain Kirrahe.

"Lieutenant-Commander Mack, Alliance Military, currently under the command of Spectre Shepard. We're here to investigate a STG transmission." I state, using my arse licker voice. I was told I was one the people who uses their voice to transmit status. I can see why. Language and power.

"I assume Shepard is the one alerting the Geth to our presence?" He asked.

"Aye, destroyed the anti-air." He nods his head, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know he still isn't happy.

I followed him to his command tent, Kaiden a step behind me.

"So what are supposed to do now?" Kaiden asked, sparing a glance that gives me the impression he would eat my soul given a chance.

"Stay put until we can come up with a plan." Was the captain's reply. I can't remember the exact situation but –

"Are you in charge here? What's the situation?" We all turned to see Sheppard, drenched in sweat, a dishellved Ash close behind. Shepard stood between me and Kaiden, giving us a quick once over. Once at me, then at Kaiden's now bandaged arm, which I have to say I never noticed, then her eye brow raised at me. A small shrug, and she turns back to Kirrahe. Ash looked at me, then looked at the floor, licking her lips nervously. It was adorable. I let Sheppard take my spot, and stood next to Ash, putting my hand on her shoulder and giving her a smile.

"Hey.." She whispered. I'd the heard this conversation before, but I was glad to see Ash again.

"Hey, you've got a bug on you" I whispered back, stroking a loose hair behind her ear. She blushed and looked at the floor.

"You're a dick, you know that?" I let out a small laugh.

"I can't help you being adorable can I?" She blushed again. I chuckled some more, this time earning an angry look from one of the Salarians behind Kirrahe; promptly shutting me up.

"You had your chance the night you kissed me." I give her a sad smile as she looks up.

"You avoided me since then." Her blush had finally gone, and she returned my smile.

"I didn't want you to impact on my performance sir" She said with a grin.

"When we're on our way back to citadel with Saren's head, I'll make it up to you." I slide my hand around hers, and she looked me in the eye. "I promise."

"Tali's glaring at you." She said before laughing. I turned to see a smug looking Tali looking at me. Well … I guess she can guess.

"He's using the facility to breed an army of Krogan." Kiarrahe said, we all turned to Kirrahe in horror, I, of course, putting my acting skills to use.

"How is that possible?" Growled Wrex, making Kaiden jump. Heh.

"Apparently, Saren has discovered a cure for the Genophage." The Captain said, his voice lowering, as if afraid to be heard by a higher power.

"The Geth are bad enough … but a Krogan army? He'd be almost unstoppable." Stated Shepard. Way to dampen the spirits.

"Exactly my thoughts. We must ensure that this facility and its secrets are destroyed." Replied Kirrahe, cue angry Wrex.

"Destroyed? I don't think so. Our people are dying. This cure can save them." He was calm, and that surprised me. Wrex is quiet yeah, but I wouldn't say calm.

"If that cure leaves the planet, the Krogan will become unstoppable. We can't make the same mistake again." Countered the good captain. I never did like this opinion, but I had never lived in this universe.

Wrex stomped his way past Shepard, and approached Kirrahe. "We are not a mistake." He stated, before storming off.

"Is he going to be a problem? We already have enough angry Krogan to deal with."

Shepard didn't reply, she just followed.

"I'm going to keep an eye on him." Ash said, following Kia, leaving me with Kaiden.

"You broke my arm." He said after a moment of silence.

"That wasn't the idea Kaiden … I was trying to apologise." I reply calmly, I wasn't the bad guy.

I looked over to Wrex, and he had just drawn his gun at Shepard. "Holy shit" Kaiden shouted before jogging over to the commotion. I could see Ash lining up her shot, from behind him, but I had confidence in Shepard's abilities.

The gunshot was what I heard. My blood became ice. I saw Wrex hit the ground. I was too far away to hear what Ash said as she walked up to him, but she shot him twice again. He was dead, and Kaiden was running over. I could see Shepard shouting at Ash, tears in her eyes.

Wrex was dead.

The feeling hit me like a freight train, this wasn't going to be an easy ride. People were going to get killed.

Ash or Kaiden.

One of them is next.

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What have I done! What else could go wrong! Gah!

Mack

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