truefortune: Hey guys! I'm here with a new chapter. Again if other authors read this and see some similarities that may relate to theirs. I apologize if you take offense to that. And I'm sorry for the long ass wait you had to endure. Also I have a challenge that I may or may not forget to post on my profile.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything that relates to Mass Effect or other things recognizable.

"talk", "Radio/Speakers"

"thought"

Sign/ important info

Saving Tali/Ghost Meets Shepard/The Hunt for the Conduit Begins

(Chora's Den)

[Jackie]

We've been in this dump for like half an hour. Paco was doing some calibrations on his Valiant while Daniel was sharpening one of his combat knives with his own shoulder pads. All I'm doing was looking through the codex for medical purposes and taking a few drinks.

Daniel already briefed us on what we're supposed to do on our next mission involving Tali' Zorah nar Rayya.

I've activated my Omni-tool, checking out more info about this worlds medical advancements and techniques. I came across an interesting article about the creation of medi-gel so I went through it to see if I could create my own medi-gel supply line and possibly make an improve version of them.

Surprisingly, it only took me a couple of minutes to get through with it and ideas to make the improvements maybe because I wanted to be a doctor when I grow up and applied for medical school.

Before I could look through anymore info I was interrupted by Daniel. I looked at him.

"What?"

He just moves his eyes right, telling me to look at the direction he wants me to look.

As I looked to my left, I saw the person we were waiting for. I tapped Paco's shoulder and directed him at the direction I saw Tali.

Daniel turn towards both of us, "You guys know the what to do?"

We both nodded and watched as Tali walks over to the Krogan Bouncer. They both just talked to each other, Tali went inside towards Fist's office, and came back out, heading straight for the exit.

When she went through the door, Paco counted down from 5 with his fingers and when it reached zero, we all got up, payed for our drinks, and followed Tali.

[Daniel]

We followed Tali towards her destination, there were a few close calls as she stopped a few times to look around her surrounding, but we arrived at her meeting place for Fist and the 'Shadow Broker'.

We all hid behind a corner in the alley, I looked at Paco and Jackie and said, "Ready?"

"Besides using dialogues that is SO over used. Sure, why not." while Jackie just nods.

I nodded to both of them and we all walked out the corner like we just finished a job. I purposely bumped into Tali, she fell down to her knees from the sudden contact.

I looked at her and said, "Sorry about that miss. I wasn't looking where I was going. I'm Daniel by the way."

I helped her up and she said in a somewhat shocked voice, "Oh-um. It's alright, it was an accident. I'm Tali'Zorah nar Rayya."

Paco went forward, "Hey! I'm Paco and this gal with us is Jackie. What are you doing here? This doesn't seem the kind of place for a young girl like you around?", Jackie followed with a nod.

"Oh, I know. It's just that I'm here to meet someone important.", Tali fidgets with her fingers.

Jackie raised a brow, "This doesn't seem like a great place for a meeting."

Tali sighs, "I know, it's just that I have information on Saren, a Spectre, that proves that he went rogue and was responsible for the attack on Eden Prime. I tried to warn the Council, but that stinkin bosh'tet receptionist told me to bother someone else that cares. I heard that Fist was one of an informant for the Shadow Broker so I made a deal with him. If he could get the Shadow Broker to meet me in person, I give him the info for protection."

We all looked at each other in 'confusion' I said, "I think your mistaken, Ms. Zorah."

Paco followed, "We're mercs for the guy or gal or whoever the guy is.", and Jackie finished, "We're hired through his or her agents and even they don't know his or her real identity."

When Tali heard that, she was not happy, "That bastard. Fist setted me up this whole time."

I shook my head, "Fist shouldn't have done that then. He just basically told the Shadow Broker to suck my dick."

Paco nodded, "Whoever the guy is, he doesn't take betrayal very well."

Tali sighed in doubt, "Now what am I supposed to do?"

Jackie coughed and said, "We could help you out with the mercs that are after you."

Tali looks up at us in I guess shock, "You'll help me?"

Paco nodded, "Yeah, just because we're mercs doesn't mean we know from right and wrong."

I followed, "Plus, we have morals."

Jackie stated, "We have this saying between us three. 'Stay your blade from the innocent', it means that we don't kill innocent lives." (I REALLY like the Assassin's Creed code and motto.)

Tali gave it some thought then nodded at our offer. I nodded back to her and said to the others,

"Okay team, we have a power hungry Turian out there, a Spectre no less. And he hired a few assassin to cut a few loose ends. Our job is to make sure that evidence that would revoke Saren's Spectre status and protect our only way to revoke him is our Quarian friend here."

I pointed my thumb at Tali. "Let's not fail this. Who knows what'll happen if we fail protecting the one person with the evidence to stop him. So let-"

Paco yawns and said, "We get IT, Daniel. Don't have to tell us when we know the stakes and that we were here to listen to Tali's story."

I sigh in frustration when I heard Paco bitching again so I continued.

"ANYWAY, I have a plan." I turned to Tali and asked, "You were going to meet someone right?"

She nods, "Then all we gotta do is wait for them to come."

Tali looked at me, "Isn't it safe for us to go somewhere else?"

Jackie shook her head, "Not a good idea. A bunch of mercs tried to kill the doctor at the clinic you were at a while back."

Tali was shocked, but sighs and nods in agreement that staying here is much more safer.

I nodded, "I'll stay with Tali as a paid bodyguard for her to meet the "Shadow Broker" as agreement to the deal she and Fist made while Jackie and Paco go hide with a clear view of the place. I'll look over my left gauntlet to 'check' the strappings if it needs to be readjusted. That's the signal for you guys to jump out. Clear?"

They all nodded, but Tali was still nervous. I grasp her shoulder with my hand to reassure her. It didn't work that much, but at least her shaking stopped.

Jackie popped open one of the empty crates and checked how durable it is.

She nodded in satisfaction that the crate is strong to act as cover, but was easily penetrable if shot within it and proceeded to get in and closed the crate.

Paco just activated his Active Camo and hid within one of the darkest corners of the alley.

"Cheap ass ninja wannabe".

It didn't take long to wait as the assassins that Saren has sent came by.

The Turian saw me and Tali and asked, "Who's your friend girl?" Tali was about to answer, but I beated her to the punch.

"I'm just here for what I'm paid for." The guy gave me a look and turns his gaze to Tali when she asked, "Where's Fist? He said he would bring the Shadow Broker to meet me."

The Turian assassin just grasp her shoulder and said, "Don't worry, everything is fine. Just tell me if you have the information safe with you?"

I saw at the corner of my eyes that the Turian's Salarian buddies were slowly going for their sidearms.

I went and 'check' to see if my gauntlet needed so more readjusting as I saw a light flash of Paco's silhouette as he moved quietly to the farthest Salarian Assassin from the group.

I heard a small, but soft shuffle in the crate to the right of two Salarians closes to it. I already knew Tali primed a stun grenade as I prepared myself to ram into the Turian.

Tali brushed the Turians hand off of her and said, "Forget it, the deals off. Besides, I wasn't really going to give you guys the information anyways." As those words were said, chaos happened.

(Moments before the Tali said no to the Assassin's)

[Shepard]

I was sprinting to the one location where the Quarian would be as Kaiden, Ashley, Garrus, and our new Krogan friend Wrex, were behind me.

I heard a loud bang from that of an explosive and doubled my efforts in hopes that the Quarian is still alive.

I finally turned the corner to see a one-sided battle between the assassins and a group of armed people with Tali.

[Back to Daniel]

Before the the assassins could pull out their sidearms, Tali threw a stun grenade at the middle of their formation. I rammed the Turian into the wall and took advantage of his disoriented state and did a choker hold on him.

The Salarian at the back was about to open fire, but didn't get a chance when Paco decloaked and shoved his Kukri knife down the guys head.

The two closes to the crate didn't even get a chance to grab their weapons when Jackie fired two new holes within the crate with her Katana as the shots blasted their legs off, slowly killing them both. The last Salarian was given a shotgun to the face by Tali as I snapped the Turian's neck.

I dropped the body and checked how the others were doing. I see Paco wiping off green blood off his Kukri on the Salarian's arm and proceeded to put it back where it belongs.

I looked to my right to Jackie already out of the crate and looting the Salarian's bodies for either info or creds.

I saw Tali at the corner of my eyes and turned to ask if she was ok, only to see her in the fetal position close to the Salarian she killed. I felt guilty for what I've had made her do.

I walked up to her and knelt down to her level. I spread out both my arms, wordlessly asking if she wanted someone to hold her.

She quickly grabbed on to me and started sobbing. I just knelt there, gently rubbing her back in hopes that she would find comfort by my gesture.

I berated myself thinking that just because her race are now scavengers and are trained to protect themselves from danger doesn't mean that they are prepared to take someones life.

A few minutes has passed when Tali finally let go and Jackie helped her up. I stood up and heard someone walk up behind me.

I looked back and saw the one person that we were waiting to meet(Just think of her default appearance from ME 1.).

I don't need to know that Paco and Jackie walked up behind along with Tali as I removed my helmet.

"You must be Commander Shepard." as she, Kaiden, Ash, Garrus, and Wrex stop a few meters in front of me.

[Shepard]

I stopped as I stared right at the red eyes of a 17 maybe 18- year-old teenage boy, and his team and the Quarian.

The others stop right behind me as the kid said, "You must be Com. Shepard."

I nodded.

"You guys must be the ones who helped Garrus out at the clinic. I got to say, you guys know how to execute a well made plan and have the skills to take down a bunch of trained killers."

The boy chuckled and gave a small smile, "All it takes is checking your surroundings."

Kaiden ask, "Why do you kids have military-grade equipment? Shouldn't you guys supposed to be at school or back home?"

He frown slightly and sighs.

"We should be don't we. However, our home was attacked by slavers years ago. Our families and Militia trained us to defend ourselves to a degree, I'll explain more later. Right now, we got to get Ms. Zorah to safety. " I nodded at the logic at the response.

Ashley ask, "How old are you guys?"

Wrex added his two cents, "And what are your names?"

Garrus nodded in agreement, wanting to know the names of the group that helped him and Dr. Chloe out.

He rubbed the back of his head and chuckled in embarrassment for forgetting to introduce him and his friends.

"The names Daniel, I'm 17 and my callsign when on missions is Umbra; leader of a not known mercenary group called Ghost."

I motioned to Paco, "The guy wearing the Terminus Assault Armor is my friend Paco, he's 16 and his callsign is Reaper; the teams Infiltrator."

Then I motioned to Jackie, "The gal with the customized black/purple armor is my best friend Jackie, she's 16 too and her callsign is Angelus; the groups' combat medic."

I faced them and said, "We abandoned our surnames for personal reasons that we really don't feel comfortable to talk about. And our little miss damsel in distress is Tali'Zorah nar Rayya."

I gave a small nod and introduced myself and my team, "Com. Jane Shepard, Alliance Navy. The guy is my best friend and second in command, Staff Lt. Kaiden Alenko. The lady in the armor is Gun. Chief Ashley Williams. The Turian is C-Sec Detective Garrus Vakarian. And finally our newest addition is a Krogan Battlemaster, Urdnot Wrex."

In that order, Kaiden nodded, Ash gave a mock salute, Garrus smiles and Wrex just crosses his arms and nods in approval with a smirk.

They nodded and Jackie said, "Is there a place that's safe where Ms. Zorah could deliver the evidence?"

I said we should head to the Human Embassy and deliver it to Ambassador Udina and we all proceeded to the Embassy.

[Daniel]

As we head out, I noticed that Ash kept staring at Tali for some odd reason. I don't see any ill will in her eyes, but I thought I saw a curious look. Like she's trying to figure out something.

I smiled thinking that her curiosity would lead to love her. Then chuckled at the possible blackmail/matchmaking materials I could gain/do if she does pursue that path.

"All the horrible things I could do to her with just a simple picture of her and Tali all alone. Hehehehehe. All the stuff I wouldn't hesitate to do and say just to tease the hell out of her, and get them together. *evil chuckle*

Everyone, except Jackie and Paco, looks at me in confusion.

[Paco]

I sigh as I just kept walking without sparing a glace at Daniel.

"I remembered the last time when he laughed like that, he got two of his friends and locked them up in a small bedroom. And by the time he let them out, the two were having a massive makeout session on MY coffee table. Had to hose that thing out before I had dump it in hot water to get it clean. Hope it's not Shepard and Liara. Those gals are his favorite pairing."

I continue to head to the Embassy while praying for the two to endure Daniel's wrath of matchmaking/blackmail.

[Jackie]

My left eye started to twitch in irritation at Daniel's laughter.

"I'm going to keep a close eye on that good for nothing, waste of life, piece of shit, mother/father fucker, son of a perverted BITCH whenever Shepard and Liara are alone."

I started planning multiple slow and agonizing deaths for one best friend/ brother figure that I know and love.

[Ashley]

As I look at Daniel, I felt a slightly cold shiver down my spine.

"Why do I suddenly feel cold when I heard Daniel chuckle? It feels like I should watch my back when I'm alone with Tali. Matter of fact, make sure Daniel is tied up somewhere dark before I'm alone with Tali."

[Tali]

I felt like I should give Daniel a hug to thank him for some reason when I heard him chuckle.

"Why do I feel like I should do that? And why do I feel like it involves a certain Gun. Chief and the matter that I look forward to it?"

I took a glace at Ms. Williams and started to check out her amazing hip and thighs. "Wait, where did that come from?"

(Human Embassy)

(Just imagine the whole thing as the same as the gameplay.)

[Daniel]

When Ambassador Udina said that they have the evidence to arrest Saren, he turned his attention to us.

Honestly, I played Mass Effect 3 first out of the whole trilogy and I like the guy, made me sick when I saw he was just a greedy bastard.

But I would admit, him calling the council a bunch of self concerned jackasses was pretty funny.

But after the Citadel Coup, I hate the guy.

"And who might you three be?"

I gave him a bored look, even though he couldn't see my face thanks to my helmet.

"It's common courtesy to introduce oneself first before demanding another." He glared at me and responded with a bit more edge to it.

"I'm the Human Ambassador Donnel Udina and I say again. Who are you three?" I just kept staring at him with my bored expression and responded.

"I'm Umbra; leader of Ghost. The one to my left is Reaper; team's Infiltrator. And the gal to my right is Angelus; and the team's Combat Medic."

His expression didn't improve in the slightest and turn to Shepard.

"I need to go address this to the Council, Shepard. Hopefully, they'll condemn Saren." He headed out the door, but before he could he said,

"I need you to head there as well Commander. Don't be late."

We all waited for a few more seconds after the door closed and I said for all to hear me as I remove my helmet, "I don't like him."

"I agree with you right there kid, but why give the guy your callsigns?" Ashely said in agreement.

Everyone else just nods there heads at that.

"I don't need any unnecessary individuals to go snooping around for our records. Besides, I don't trust him. Albeit, I don't trust most politicians, but he just gives me that feeling to just get less and less involved in any subject relating to him."

I went to sit down as I brought out a codex from my tactical/hard case and skimmed through it. Making a few changes here and there on a new grenade I'm working on.

"Hey Danny. What are you checking?" asked Paco.

"Making some adjustments to a prototype grenade I'm planning to create for combat purposes. And stop calling me that." I answered, not even bothering to look at him.

"Prototype?" as the others looks at me.

I sighed and said, "It's not really a prototype, more like an improvement to the regular frag grenades we have."

They all said, 'Improvements?"

I quickly explained that the project is called the Thanatos Project and that the grenade was filled with a special gunpowder that me and Paco accidentally created in Chemistry and used explosive marbles to deal major damage than the common Frag grenades.

I received a mixed reaction from the others. Most were shocked, but the only ones that weren't were either impressed(Wrex and Paco) or curious(Kaiden and Ash).

When those that got over it, Paco whistled at the destructive power from one Thanatos Frag grenade(T. Frag) could do. Tali and Garrus were nervous for reasons that I don't give a shit about, while Shepard just raised one brow.

Jackie just shook her head and looks at the holoclock and said that we should head to the Assembly if don't want to be late. Everyone nodded in agreement and took a transit to it.

(The Assembly)

(Skip to the part where Shepard received Spectre status)

Everyone congratulated Shepard for reaching Spectre status, while I just stood off the side with a smile. Even though I knew she could do it, but I soon frown in thought.

"Even though she's a Spectre now, but us being here is already disturbing the timeline that Shepard goes through that should be decided by the player themselves. Seeing that this is all real, we'll don't know if this timeline would follow mine or other players paths. All we got to do is just wait and hope for the best."

I saw Shepard finished talking with Anderson and Udina about the terms of her mission. While they left I approached her to make a deal.

"Hey Shepard."

"Hey Daniel. What 'cha need?" as the others stood by there respectable leaders.

"Since you're going after Saren, how 'bout my team goes with your crew." I stated.

Ash, Kaiden, Garrus and Tali were worried that we wouldn't be able to handle the mission, while Wrex just stated that he doesn't care as long as he gets to have a good fight.

Shepard gave it some thought and asked, "What do you get out of this?"

I smiled, "Besides the adventure of a lifetime that involves fighting Geth, Saren and possibly saving the Galaxy. Ripping off vendors with your Spectre status to buy new equipment." Paco and Jackie(hesitantly) nods in agreement.

Shepard gave my proposal some thought and nods.

"However, you guys have to help around the ship. Follow Ash, Kaiden, or my orders, and tell me when you guys are going to buy some stuff and I'll see if I could get you guys to buy them at a reasonable price. Deal?"

We nodded and headed to the Normandy with Shepard in the lead.

(Inside the Normandy)

(After meeting Udina and Anderson at the Normandy- Basically when she starts her speech.)

[NoPOV]

"This is Com. Shepard, we all have our orders: find Saren before he reaches the Conduit. I won't lie to any of you, this won't be an easy mission."

Shows some of the unimportant characters of Mass Effect 1.

"I know that there are rumors that Cap. Anderson has reassign as Captain of the Normandy. I'm afraid that those rumors are true, but he did this to benefit our chances to stop Saren because of my newly required Spectre status. I will do this to make him proud for giving me the command of the Normandy."

Shows Daniel and Paco working on a few upgrades for the teams' equipment for the coming battles to come as they stopped when they heard Shepard talk through the intercom.

"For too long, humanity has stood apart from the rest. Now humanity finally has the chance to be a part of the galaxy. So let's show what we're made of."

Shows Tali next to a terminal as she and the engineering crew listens intently to Shepard's speech.

"Saren knows that we're following him. Him and all his followers in the Traverse Systems will stop at nothing to find the Conduit so they'll be throwing everything they have against us to achieve his goal."

Shows Dr. Chakwas giving Kaiden his daily check up with Jackie as her assistant.

"Humanity and it's allies needs to do this. Not for just it's own sakes, but for the sake to carve a brighter future for the next generations to come. And mark my words everyone, we will stop him!"

Shows Ash, Wrex, and Garrus next to the CMC(I think that's what it is and what it's called for short.) as Shepard finally finishes her speech.

(Normandy- Hanger Bay)

[Daniel]

As Shepard finishes her speech, we all went back to work at the stations where each one of us were.

I'm helping Paco make a few adjustments on the engines and make some calibrations on Tali's shotgun on her request. I think that Jackie is with Dr. Chakwas to learn a few new things on the medical arts.

I stopped making some calibrations on Tali's shotgun and stared up at the ceiling in deep thought.

I couldn't help, but think about home. Wondering if me and the others might have a chance to get back to the world that we know.

I was so deep in thought that it took Paco to grasp my shoulder to get my attention.

He asked if I was alright and I told him I was fine and went back to working on Tali's shotgun, letting out one last thought that would come across my mind for the rest of our time staying in this world.

"Looks like the games are about to begin. Well, this is gonna be fun."

truefortune:I know people likes my LEO fic, but I am facing some writers-block for it. I'm just lucky that I could have finally finished this chapter. But don't worry everyone. I'll think of something while not bleeding Mass Effect ideas into the LEO. Don't forget to R&R for this chapter.