I'm not dead! Yes, it's been a while, but after a bout of writer's block, coupled with a metric ton of coursework made finding time to write hard.

Don't despair! I will finish this!

VAI's dialogue has been edited in the last few chapters; I decided to go full HK-47 with her/it.

Another note, this is written on LibreOffice, so any format differences are because of that. And because I love them, more OCs! I know some people have problem with tons of people who don't actually exist, but I do. It's much easier to make characters to what I want than to mould existing characters.

Final note, the first two thousand words were written about four months ago, the latest four are written more recently and you may be able to tell a difference. I might come back to it at some point, because I know that I pretty much skimmed over the events of ME1. Make no mistake, I regret it, and ME2/3 will go much slower with more character development (yay). I skimmed simply because I dislike the first game :v

While I leave on a cliffy, I'm gonna start on ME2 shit because its my favourite of the games in the next chapter (most likely anyway).

Enjoy,

Mack


Chapter 11 – The Battle for the Citadel

"I'm one impressive motherfucker wouldn't you say?" - Divide by Disturbed

It was about an hour journey skirting the Geth fleet. We did get scanned again, and ended up being chased by a fighter.

If one thing's for certain, I fucking hate space battles.

It's as if someone starts hand breaking on the middle of a motorway. I keep getting thrown from side to side; I even re-opened one of my facial scars after being thrown into table.

We won, in the end, and by 'won' I mean we blew up that fighter to smithereens.

But the Geth fleet was less than an hour away. I could only assume that Shepard is on her way to Ilos now, I'm not even entirely sure what I should do next. I mean, I think I'll go to Udina, and sort of do some protective duty, but what if he sends me to a ship and I end up in space? Fuck.

We even ended up with problems in trying to dock.

The Alliance wouldn't have us because they were busy, the Salarian dock told us to go to the Alliance dock, the Asari flat out refused to talk to us and the Turians simply said 'Why are you docking? Get out there and do your duty.'

Farrun eventually got in touch with the current Dalatrass and we got access to the special STG dock. This was pretty cool; full of cool tech, ships and fancy looking weapons.

Now? I have a fast paced walk heading towards Udina's office. Perhaps Anderson is still there? Udina might even still be unconscious in that case.

I had just got off of the taxi things. It was safe to say that I was impressed. They move smoothly, as if you are a cloud.

"Excuse me." A small, familiar voice said trying to push past me.

"Tali?" I couldn't stop myself. I wanted to stay hidden, if anything, I wanted to surprise Ash when this was over. Perhaps see if I could find some Hibiscus somewhere, I found that, that is the universal flower that women don't hate. Perhaps it was simply my choice of women, but they were beautiful flowers.

Tali stopped trying to push past my bulk. I had put my Armour on, and VAI had been pleasantly silent since we landed. Tali cocked her head to one side. "Do I know you?"

I snorted. Not entirely sure why really.

"You do." Unfortunately, I shouldn't have continued talking. "Why have you not gone to Ilos yet?"

I bit my lip. How on Earth was I supposed to explain that I knew that?

"Bosh'tet council turning their backs on the truth." She seemed to pause, to my dismay, she realised my fears. "How did you know we were headed there…"

I gulped. What … oh fuck it.

"VAI, lower my helmet." I state. I'm not entirely sure how it works in all honesty.

Tali's shock was definitely worth it though.

"Mack?" She cried. She seemed to scowl after the momentary show of shock. "Why didn't you contact us sooner? Shepard was distraught about how Virmire went."

I can't help but smile. "I guess it all turned out for the best eh?"

She frowned. And then scowled again. "How did you know about Ilos? Is this why Shepard was angry with you?"

I lose my smile. "I told her I would tell her when this was over." I stated, a little too coldly.

This wasn't lost to her.

"How can you be like that!" She shouted. "This is bigger than you! Can you not satisfy your ego for the sake of your friends!"

I was still apprehensive about what happened when we took the Arcadia, my anger was simply released to Tali as she was the only person who appeared to feel provoked by my actual presence.

"Friends?" I snarl, "The people who I stayed with for a few weeks?" I felt myself pulling up to my full height, six feet tall with shoulders about a metre wide opposed to a short, small Quarian.

"Ash was your friend."

"And I'll make it up to her after this over."

The Quarian's expression appeared to soften. "Whatever you think you know, I pity you."

I physically had to unclench my fists. Pity? Who was she to pity me? I did not need her pity. I could feel myself understanding the stereotype of Tali's people. They were nefarious indeed. Here she was, seeing a man who was dead, and she was making judgments about him, judgements that were unfounded. Ego. She knew nothing of what will happen to her.

Pity? Shit, nothing disgusts me more. But she needed it more than I.

"Whatever I know, I pity you too Tali." I state, my voice void of emotion. If I wasn't so angry, perhaps I would have made a friend.

I pushed past her, "Give Shepard my regards." I gave Tali one last glance, "for what it's worth, I'm sorry."

And I was. Despite my misgivings, I didn't mean to take my pent up anger, mainly at myself, on her. I sighed.

"And I." Were her final words to me. Nice to know we aren't at each other's throats but this will be resurface ME2 comes around. What if I'm not with Shepard? I mean, there's nothing that forces me to help her. I could go my own path. Help out the universe in another way?

Perhaps, but I'll think about that later. Right now I need to see Anderson. If Tali is still here then Anderson hasn't decked Udina yet. Perhaps he'll let me do it?

Guess who was standing outside of Udina's office nervously rubbing his knuckles?

That's right. Anderson.

"Captain?" I state, my anger still there, but all but vanished at the sight of my prior's mentor.

He seems to flinch at my very presence. "Mack? I thought you were dead?"

"Changed my mind." I said with slight smile. "I met the Quarian, what's the plan?"

"Plan?" Once again, he visibly flinched. I couldn't hold my laughter.

"Wait ten minutes. Then we'll go in, okay sir?" I say, an amused expression.

"Yeah, that's what I'm doing." He was conflicted, and I don't blame him. If Shepard fails then he could lose his job and be court marshalled. I'm not entirely sure what that entails, but I'm pretty sure it's not good.

"Let me sir."

"Mack?" The surprise in his voice was only slight. As if he almost expected it from me.

"If Udina tries to stop us, then we have to do something. Just look like you're trying to stop me." I said with a laugh, "Better me than you sir." I add.

Despite my light heartedness, he still looks conflicted. We spend a few minutes in a sombre silence. We both knew that Udina won't be happy ever again, if he had emotions of course. But I would most likely be arrested if Shepard fails. If Shepard fails however, we'd all be dead.

Letting off a dark chuckle, Anderson appeared to have the same thoughts as me.

I opened Udina's door to see him talking to some other person on his omnitool.

"I don't care if …What do you want?" He asked. Turning to me, his swagger and natural snarl amused me. He was wearing his signature suit, the funky beige one. Oh my god, how I hated it.

"I'm sorry sir." All of my anger at myself, at Tali, was put into the punch sending the now unconscious ambassador across the room.

Anderson followed, he must have been too conflicted. He sort of looked at the unconscious Ambassador who was on the floor of his balcony. He simply shook his head.

"Let's hope Shepard can do this." He started typing into Udina's computer. Removing the dock arm? Giving him permission? I'm not entirely sure.

"Done." He turned to me, "Thank you Mack, now, get out of here."

I pulled a salute. Luckily my prior was pretty good at those. I wouldn't have had the foggiest. I have to admit, my prior's skills are coming in pretty handy.

I left the Captain alone, a few moments later hearing him shout for C-Sec. I liked him, of his three apprentices, my prior felt he was the most distant but I liked him. Three?

I was the Colonist right … Shepard was the Spacer, so then there must be a, presumably, biotic Earthborn somewhere. Nifty.

"Get him!" I heard shout behind me. Fuck, I had slowed down in my musings.

I sprinted down an Alleyway, but it had lights for stupid reason. What single file alley has lights? Before I could even consider this question I was abruptly tackled to the ground.

I elbowed the Turian on my legs, only to get a boot from the Human accompanying him.

I could have taken them both out. I'd be fucked up, but I'd win in the long run. But I didn't to kill C-Sec, I didn't want to have them hunting me forever more.

Luck was with me. Kinda. Not really.

The Geth attack started.

I wasn't one to pass up on something like that. I swung my legs, tripping the human officer. He hit his head pretty hard, knocking him out cold. The Turian was still watching the sky of potential death. A simple sleeper hold was all he needed.

After glancing at the comatose C-Sec agents I looked up at the sky. Despite the horror, it was beautiful.

Ships filled the sky, like various objects in the nebula sky. Various bursts of red and blue light were flashing like the fireworks of New Years Eve. The Geth were predominately outnumbered. How the Council could think this that was the main attack is completely mindboggling.

I shook off my amazement. I needed to meet with the Salarians.

It took almost an hour to get to the pond, but I made it. I told them to wait outside the elevators, mainly because I couldn't remember where the Mako lands, but also because I know Shep has to go to there at some point.

"Where to now?" Farrun asked.

"Nowhere, now, we wait." I state simply.

"Huh? What for?" Arraya asked, cocking her head.

"Shepard."

"But … how do you know she'll be here?"

"I just do."

"What are you talking about?" Arraya was sounding peeved now.

"She'll be here." My voice not changing.

"How do you know?!"

"Special insight."

"What? How… how is that…"

"Accept it."

"I found the STG reports on Virmire…" Farrun interrupted.

Both Arraya and I turned to him, she was standing up against me squaring against me. I have no doubts that I could take her, but I'd take damage. Some serious damage I reckon.

"What about it?" We said in unison, sharing an amused glance.

"Casualty reports…" He replied, looking into his omnitool.

I raised my brow, there were casualties? Shit the Salarians, how heartless…

"Arraya, we were the only Salarians to survive…"

She dipped her head and said something in her native tongue. I was touched by the simple gesture. Few people had that sentiment, only families had sort of treatment. It said a lot about how the STG worked.

"Shepard only lost two troops, I'm sorry you missed the funeral Mack …" Huh?

"W-who?" My heartbeat ceased to beat.

Farrun swiped at his omnitool, seemingly frowning. "I can't find specific names …" he grunted something in his native tongue. My heart was now, paradoxically, doing bounds. If it were possibly, it would be on the next ship to Earth.

"Ah," shouted Farrun, startling me in my anxiousness, making me gasp. Despite the funny look he gave me, he continued, "I've got it listed as a Marine Officer, and Gunnery Chief."

My heart stopped.


Shepard

To say the Mako hit the ground hard was an understatement. We hit the ground HARD.

A mix of cursing and shaky blessings followed the inevitable silence of the realisation. We made it.

It took mere moments before we could hear gunshots. They broke the silence, and the remainder of the front window of the mako.

"Go go go!" I shouted.

Tali was the first out. While she still had much to learn, since joining my team she had improved noticeably. Yes, she had the stature of a, perhaps a novice marine, nowhere near the skills of what she'll have when finished her training.

Garrus followed. Since helping him with doctor Heart, he's really opened up. If anything, he's cute, and that feels really messed up to say. While Garrus isn't exactly a Humanphobe, I doubt he has the same thoughts I do. Especially when he trains with his shirt off. Who would have thought a steel like chest is sexy? Not to mention his dry wit.

Both Liara and I jumped out after that. Liara… she was the wild card of my team. Our only biotic left, and where her training is concerned, I can't say. Assuming it was because of her mother's status, she's surprisingly well trained. Her biotic skills are second to only a few, and she can do all sorts of gymnastic shit I could only to dream about.

Of course, as soon as I had hit the ground, the Geth were dead, and two Salarians were running towards us. They looked familiar but I couldn't place them.

"Commander Shepard!" The female shouted. She held a submachine gun, and had a sniper rifle strapped over her shoulder. Her partner looked more dangerous however, holding a shotgun, with an ungainly sword on his back.

"Yes?" I replied.


Mack

Ash was dead.

After all that… all I did. She was dead anyway.

Perhaps I can't change things? Are things preordained?

Time is like a river. It can twist and bend, go in any direction, but it will always lead to the ocean.

The same point in time.

Is this right though? Is this the ocean? In the game we had choices – this isn't a game anymore!

I shook my head at my own naivety. People die and… People like Ash, who simply don't deserve to. But isn't this how the world works? There is no such thing as good or bad – sacrificing the majority of the Salarians to save Ash and Kaiden, since they would have a bigger impact in the future, would have been good, but I'm pretty sure the families of the Salarians would not see it like that.

There are no facts, simply perspective.

Black and white, Yin and Yang, Night and Day, nothing was that clear anymore.

But if I had focused solely on the Salarians, then perhaps Ash or Kaiden would have survived.

Huh, I used my knowledge and then… what? The universe decides to fuck me over?

Giving myself a small smile, Mother Nature was a woman of course. Thinking back to Ash removed my smiles just as quick.

She didn't deserve to die, well, once again, perspective matters. She was xeno-ist? The equivalent of racism however, and I doubt any other the other species under her scrutiny would agree with me.

But she had a big heart? I snort at that. She was wonderful… feisty in her own racist, soldiery way. I wipe at my face, removing some of the tears, which hadn't stopped flowing since I left the Salarians.

Ugh, since when am I so weak? I'm strong, I can fight anything.

Another bout of tears away at my resolve. What could I do?

Kill him.

Saren? Shepard does that.

Nothing is set in stone.

I snort again, Ash is dead, so is Kaiden, so… I'm the new Virmire survivor? Pah, I wonder is Ash or Kaiden would have talked to themselves?

Who said I was you?


"My honey heard me comin' on my left right on left!"

"My honey heard me comin' on my left right on left!" Was the chorused reply.

"I saw Jody runnin' on their left right on left" I shouted.

"I saw Jody runnin' on their left right on left!"

I had next to no experience in training troops. But, after a few months, doing a march of the patrol route to a hastily researched march-y sounding tune was still great to do on a Sunday morning.

At least the Turians agreed… the humans? Not so much.

I clocked at least four mutterings of 'fucking' five 'wanker' and a multitude of 'shit' 'dick' and even a few Turian curses that they had learnt. It brought a tear to my eye.

The new squad, and while still a few still held xenophobic views and wouldn't admit it, had advanced Turian skills that made the troops much more effective.

But they were still fucking lazy.

As the cadence call continued, I slowed my pace to inspect the troops at the back of the group.

Williams saw me and simply snorted. She was still the biggest xenophobe and was the only trooper to actively try to alienate the Turians. In turn, alienating some of the more liberal soldiers, with this endless domino effect due to some silly held principles of pride.

Sick of her shit again, I strolled into the group and pulled her out. The other soldiers looked at me but this talk was a long time due.

Last night, Jorrun told me of an incident that pitted her against the Turians. From what I heard, she approached them and tried to provoke them, stating that I would take her side naturally because I was human. So, I want her side before I judge, just to prove a point.

"What?" She hissed at me.

"What happened last night?" I asked, still jogging, but acutely aware of the focus turning towards us. What can I do? Sure, the embarrassment can be a punishment of sorts. Jorrun was the embodiment of etiquette, and he wasn't in the business of back stabbing, and Williams… I sighed.

"Last night?" She asked curtly.

"Don't play dumb, what happened with Jorrun? I want your side." I said, ignoring her tone.

"We had an argument, there's nothing to it."

At this I snapped, "One more incident that involves racism, and you'll be shipped back to whatever rock your family calls home. Got it?" I snarled.

If looks could kill, I'd be as dead as a dodo. "That isn't a new threat for me, sir."

Because of her grandfather? "It's not a threat, chief." He cadence call had stopped, and now there was silence made of veiled anger, mainly between Williams and her supporters, and the Turians and their allies. This sort of shit is what gets coalition style groups torn apart.

"Listen up!" I shouted. Not all head turned to me, but enough to make me continue. "If I hear of anymore racism within this unit, so help me God, I will ensure that your career is finished." More glares and even a few mutterings.

This conflict is not solved. Far from.


Mack

I rubbed my head. Shit. This isn't what I want right now.

The goddamn elevators. Slow as shit. Especially in a crisis.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. For fucks sake, Saren could be in council chambers, right this second and I'm here, being stalled by shoddy engineering.

Distant sounds of gunfire made me look away from the elevator doors.

"Observation: The floor below seems to giving off high levels of energy." VAI said. I almost replied with a bit of sarcasm, but what she followed with surprised me. "Radio broadcasts suggests that a Geth infiltration squadron are attacked a Cerberus cell."

"Cerberus? As in human terrorists?" I asked.

"Confirmation: A special weapons unit it appears, putting it onto com."

The amazing Australian voice came through loud in my earpiece.

"Swanson, cover Yakamori's retreat, he has the package."

A chorus of replies came through, and I leant over the balcony to get a look at their situation.

Five humans, with about a dozen Geth closing in. Of the humans, I could recognise Miranda from miles off with her voluptulous outfit. Yakamori was running away from the semi-circle of approaching Geth with a briefcase, and yes, an actual silver briefcase I'd expect in a James Bond film.

Swanson appeared to be doing a great job of distracting the robots, with a mix of biotics and submachine gun fire. A lucky shot managed to take down a flamethrower Geth, but a sniper tokk him down with a rather gruesome headshot.

Ignoring the swearing filtering through my mic. I jumped onto a Geth sniper who just happened to under my position. I landed with a hefty crunch and pistol-whipped a trooper standing next to him. "I thought you might need a hand." I said, with my best Sean Connery impression.

Miranda wasn't amused. "N7 trooper, why aren't up in the sky?"

I snorted. As I went to reply, VAI's voice interupted me. "Observation: Could this conservation not wait til after the battle?"

Another snort and I swung around my pistol, taking a few shots at some of the Geth who were taking cover. Miranda seemed to follow my lead, either that or she simply had the same thoughts as VAI.

With the Geth sniper down, their group seemed to lose effectiveness almost instantly. The Cerberus troops now had less reason to hide, and within minutes the rest of the robots were out of commission.

Miranda strolled up to me, not bothering to lower her gun. "So?"

I put a bullet into the trooper I bashed, and look at her. Honestly, I tried not to look at her...'goods' but its like trying to... do something incredibly impossible. If she noticed, she didn't say anything, or perhaps her permanent scowl got deeper.

"I'm here to kill Saren." I say bluntly.

Her scowl did not disappear. "So are we, but we have no clue to what he's trying do." She lowered her gun and turned away from me, "With the citadel closed, there's nothing he can do."

"He's going to the council chambers, overwrite... something I think." I say, putting my pistol back into it's holster.

"Oh?"


Scrolling through my emails, I thought about our species problem.

Williams wasn't going to budge. The Turians weren't in the wrong, but technically neither was the chief. Interspecies racism is protected under freedom of speech and thought, whether or not it was counter intuitive or not.

BUY THREE PISTOLS AND YOU COULD WIN AN ALL EXPENSES PAID TRIP TO SHANXI

I snort, both at the spam and laws.

SPECTRE TRAINING

I opened this one.

Mack

It's Anderson, unfortunately, you weren't chosen for the spectre position. They chose Shepard, and your recommendation definitely helped. When she gets back from pirate hunting, we'll be meeting a council rep to watch over her. I expect you and Garrett to be at her ceremony when it actually happens.

Anderson

I smiled. Shepard was a decent fit. Good record and I never heard a bad story from the good Captain. Out of the three of us, she definitely deserved it. She's not as reckless as me, or as timid as good ole Steven Garrett either. Good lad, definitely, but can't keep his head in combat. Great biotic if I recall. Never met Shepard though.

My omnitool interrupted my musings. I answered it to see the beautiful face of Georgina Swift.

"Got me a ring yet?" She smiled. We'd being meeting up since I got here, and our little romp my first night here. She wanted to get married settle down and make a family...

"What about Lieutenant Barton? If I'm not mistaken, his father wants you two betrothed by the end of the year." I tease. Barton's father was an Admiral, and wanted his son to marry the young Governor-to-be before he reaches the grand old age of 25.

"Screw you." She laughed, such a great sound. "Okay Commander, to business," She put emphasis on the 'Commander' part making me scowl, "We have an dig scheduled for next week, apparently some energy found near a shipping community, I need your best men there just in case of trouble."

She brushed one of her blond curls from her face, highlighting her youth. He was what, 23? And she was already well versed in the arts of politicking and could convince almost anyone that the black was white. She wasn't a bad artist either, and I made sure to frequently request portraits.

I glanced at on the ones on my office wall, it was me, holding a salute. I think we had sex just before she finished my arm, and I smile at the memory.

"What?" She asked shyly.

"When's the next time we can meet?" I asked, a slight smile and twinkle in my eye.

She laughed, "Father's visiting Earth for some colonial business, how about then?"

"It's a date." I wink, cutting the call.

I leant back on my chair. I'm going to miss her when I have to leave. Such a cute lass. Still, I'm a soldier, and I can't give her what she wants. I frowned.

She wants marriage... but I can't settle down... and she'll be devastated when I leave... I assume anyway. We've spoke about this multiple times...

I'm once again interrupted from my musings, this time from shouting outside my door. With a sigh, I stand up. Love life later, angry soldiers now. Give me soldiers any day.

As my door slid open, a rather amusing site greeted me.

There quite a few troopers, and they were standing in two distinct groups. In the blue corner, the one with blue coloured lockers, we had the mix of Turians and Humans, we even had a Drell in there too.

However, in the yellow corner, with a bunch of yellow rubbish bags, we a purely human group which was significantly smaller.

Each group had a distinct leader, and it doesn't take an eezo scientist to guess who they were. Chief Williams and Serviceman Jorrun Lyons. And they wrestling.

Jorrun had his torso bare, and unfortunately Williams wore a tank top, and both sported shorts.

I watched for a few minutes, and I realised, neither of the two were getting the upper hand.

She's learnt well. Jorrun kept a poker-face, but his breath was loud and husky. I assume Williams ambushed him after his rounds assuming she could win.

With a grin, she dislocated his shoulder plate and he cried in pain. With a rough shove she pushed him over, and put her foot on his chest with a victory pose.

As she began to gloat, I stripped off my shirt. Jorrun was good, I'll give him that, but Williams was resourceful, but I was simply better. I'm not just fulfilling my ego, I have more experience than the chief, and I'm also a resourceful human, which is better than being an honour bound Turian.

"How about a fresh opponent?" I snarl as I stroll towards the groups. Dozens of eyes turn to me, and William's show shock. "If I win, this pathetic feud ends, you win, then I'll enforce a human only policy."

Some gasps come from the blue corner, some even from the yellow, but the chief tries, unsuccessfully, to hide her surprise.

"Are you sure sir?"

"What, are you scared?" I snarl. I don't mean to look like a bastard, but this feud needs to end, and this is what people like the good chief respond to.

As I expected, she returns my snarl, "I'll show you scared Commander." And with a growl our bout begins.

She leads with a quick jab, testing my defences. I don't bite, and simply take a defensive stance, jumping on the balls of my feet holding my arms in front of my face.

I'm a pretty big fellow, and she assumes I use my strength to finish fights quickly. She's dead wrong. She feints and expects me go for a quick knock-out, instead, and to her surprise, I flick out my own jab, hitting her square in the face. She stumbles back with a dazed expression, and jump forward trying to hit her again, but she drops to the floor.

I go to kick her, but she rolls and jumps back to her feet. I notice tears in her eyes, I assume that's because I hit her in the bridge of her nose, but the tears blur her vision giving me an edge.

She comes to this realisation as well, and she wipes one of her eyes. During this moment, I jump at the chance to catch her off guard, to my surprise, she grabs my fist and twists. For the first time in a while, I feel genuine pain.

I can't believe I fell for that. She smirks, but that disappears when I pull my fist away, bringing her with me, and my elbow connects with a crunch into her face, followed by my knee hitting her stomach, winding and downing her.

As she lands on her knees, I deliver a powerful roundhouse kick to her face. As it connects, I realise that it was a tad excessive, but its too late now. Her unconscious body spins, and lands flat on her face.

A cheer surprises me form the yellow corner, and Jorrun puts a friendly hand on my shoulder. I brush him off, and I walk over to the yellows. Ignoring their glares, I speak softly.

"A deal is a deal, if there's anyone who disagrees, feel free to leave." I turn to walk back to my office, but I glance over my shoulder, "Get the chief to medical, and when she wakes tell her to come to my office."


Its a couple of hours before she comes to see me. I did get a message from our resident medic, and I certainly did the number on her. I broke her nose, and fractured her skull, thats not mentioning the mess of bruises she'll have from Jorrun's fight.

She let herself in just as I was finishing my report to Governor Swift, Georgina's father.

"Of course sir, I've already spoke to Geor... Advisor Swift about the dig site, and I will have my best men stationed there."

"Thank you Commander, although, I wish you and my daughter weren't so close..." He said. I gritted my teeth.

"We're simply friends sir, I love the intelligent conversation that the barracks generally lacks." He gave me slight chuckle, removing some of the tension.

"Of course Mack, I'll await next week's report." And he cut the call.

The chief was simply standing by the door with an amused expression. I hope she doesn't hold a grudge about what happened...

"Come in Chief." I say, gesturing at the seat in front of my desk.

"I'll stand sir, you wanted to see me?" She didn't move, but she still had the amused expression on her face.

"If that's what you want, drink?" She shook her head, but I walked over to my cabinet. Getting out some whiskey, a habit I gained off of my Grandfather, and which I continue in his memory. I poured it in two tumblers and sat back down.

I, naturally, downed my glass in one. His had earned me a rather... unsavoury reputation amongst the barracks, and everyone assumes that I could drink them under the table with ease. I can handle my alcohol better than most sure, but I'm not a pro.

She looked at the tumbler like it was the Antichrist, and I chuckled. No one appears to have a good taste in the good stuff.

"Whether you like it or not, your gonna need it lass." I say with a smile.

"Where did you learn to fight?" She said, the words coming rather quickly making me smile bigger.

"Drink up, you won't like it." She does as I say, her face a permanent cringe as she tries to do what I did. Failing that, she simply splutters and tries to hide her blush. I simply chuckle at her misfortune, and continue my story.

"After I finished the N7 training, I entered joined the Alliance Black Ops. Our instructors were a variety of races. A Drell led our undercover training, a Krogan led our special weapons and tactics and a Turian/human duo led the close quarters combat section."

She took another sip, once again wincing, her eyes wide at this information.

"Aliens?"

"Allies." I correct, "At least the Turian was. The Krogan, Commander Smash, as he made us call him, owed a life debt to Admiral Hackett, and even admitted he enjoyed training humans just spite the council races." I smile at the memory, "despite us being all squishy and shit, Krogans like us for that reason alone in most cases."

I lean back on my chair and look her in the eye. "It was the CQC section that helped the most though, special operations are always more effective when you dispatch opponents quickly and silently. Guns always have light, which isn't great in the dead of night."

She frowned, thinking, "So... without the help of the Alien- sorry, Allies, then you wouldn't be the soldier you are?"

I smile, "Sort of, what I'm trying to get across is that whatever you believe, a species made for war will be naturally better than us in some regards. Humans are much more adaptable however, and that's why you were able to beat Jorrun."

She goes to say something else, but I hold out my hand, "I beat you because I was brutal, and brought you down without trying to inflict pain, as you did with Jorrun. Your focus on inflicting pain made you use more stamina, and I barely lost a breath."

She frowned again, and then she pursed her lips. "And thats why you want us together?"

"If the Turians focussed more on tactics than archaic ideals of honour, then we would have become just another client state of their glorious empire." I reply, waving my arms to show my opinion of 'honour'.

She sighed, and I didn't actually take note that she had sat down. "I'm sorry sir... I was out of line..."

I laugh, "Don't worry about it Williams." I say, dismissal clear.

She stood, saluted and headed towards the door.

"Oh, Williams" She turns at my voice, "Apologize to Jorrun, and I want you two to lead Alpha and Beta over to sector eight. High priority apparently, speak to the head researcher, his name escapes me."

Another salute and she's gone.


News of the Prothean beacon shocked the Command, and I was sent to the dig site to make judgement calls. It was weird, the news should have been great, but with news of a new stealth ship on the way, carrying the potential Spectre, Commander Kiara Shepard, along with Captain Anderson and a council Spectre, Nihlus, on their way, the troopers were openly nervous. Soldier based intuition perhaps?

Whatever the reason, the Geth attack surprised all of us. As alpha squad, along with myself, we on a general patrol route, the Geth attacked mercilessly.

Williams managed to get off a distress beacon off just in time for a ridiculously loud white noise to black out communications.

We managed to get as far as the outskirts of the camp when I saw it.

A vicious hamster looking creature, decimated Beta squad, Jorrun himself was torn in half.

I was shocked, and I took aim with my sniper rifle. I took out a Geth sniper, but before I could kill the unknown alien, a flash of light, and he was gone.

I looked around, but the rodent had gone. Another flash of light and he appeared on the cliff face opposite my position. I fired once, shield piercing rounds, yet his shield still blocked it.

He snarled at me, before aiming his own rifle. Another one of my shots, and once again, its absorbed.

Before I say 'mother-fucker', I saw him pull the trigger.

After a moment of intense pain, darkness took me.


"If you ever need someone with my... talents, give me a bell." I said with smile. Getting on Cerberus's good side is the best way to get to Shepard during the Lazarus Project.

With a scowl, "Of course, but we have our specialists." I have to enjoy her personality, so I smile even bigger.

"Of course, but they aren't as good as me." I say with a wink.

One of her friends laughs, and says something before Miranda can rip me to shreds. "We'll put in a good word for you." Swanson I think it is.

"Thanks, after Saren's taken care of, I might be out of work for a while."

I offered to escort the group to there shuttle. I didn't ask what they were getting, and while I did care, a little, I decided to ignore it, crime bosses like people just do shit without asking right?

To my dismay, I heard the crash before I saw it.

Looking up, I guess I realise what part of the game we've got to. Seeing four figures climb out of the giant lift is enough for me to recognise how long I've got left to kill Saren before Shepard can.

The sight of Sovereign floating towards the middle of the Citadel was terrifying.

I left the Cerberus troops silently, and I broke into a sprint towards the giant lifts. While Shepard's crew took the main lift, there was, luckily, there was a maintenance elevator next to the main one. It was much smaller, but before the doors closed, someone joined me.

The Turian held her arm to my throat, pushing me against the back the now, much more smaller elevator.

Instead of grabbing the arm, and trying to pull it off, I brought my knee to her stomach. Her hold on me faltered, and I managed to give her a nasty right hook that sent her sprawling backwards.

"What the fuck birdbrain?!" I shouted. My helmet was down, despite the filters, I prefer fresh air.

"Birdbrain? Hairless Pyjak!" She lunged at me again, this time winding me. This time she holds my throat with her talons. I assume she wanted to look me in the eye as she killed me.

Something made her hesitate.

"Who are you?!" She snarled.

"Lieutenant-Commander **** 'Mack' ********, and you are?" I ask, my voice leaving me due to her inhuman, Turian I guess, grip.

"Mack?" She frowned, and for a moment it looked like she was going to kill me anyway. Then her eyes lightened. "Eden Prime Mack?"

She dropped me, and I land heavy on my knees coughing and spluttering. After I managed to compose myself, I look back up at her. "Why do you look so familiar?"

She put her hands on her hips, and raised an eyebrow. "Do you not remember me at all?"

It was weird... I assume my prior met her at some point... after racking my brains for Turians I had met, I had no clue.

"I'm sorry..."

She laughed, "Don't worry, we met for like five minutes when you first got your post."

I frowned again. First post? I assume that when Jorrun was fighting with my prior's predecessor... wait... didn't Jorrun have a daughter?

"Jorrun?"

A soft chuckle left her lips, or where her lips should be I guess, "No, but he's my father..."

As I bit my lip, her gaze turns towards the floor. "Yeah... we've already buried him..."

"Allirah, wasn't it?" I get back on my feet, and I put my hand on her shoulder. "He fought well, not to mention that it was him that helped me train the garrison."

She gives me a soft smile, but turns towards the glass. I frown, but I stand next to her. "We're nearly there, and you can get revenge with me." I say.

We do the rest of the journey in silence.