Chapter 2

Shepard lay in his bed, deep in thought. He wished Tali could be there with him, but the doctors gave him an earful when they caught them sneaking back in, and made it clear she wasn't ready yet. He couldn't disagree; she was very weak and needed his support to get to her bed, falling asleep within minutes. He stayed there for a few hours, even fell asleep himself until he was woken up and told it was time to leave. Tali was definitely in no condition to go anywhere, let alone fight off professional mercs. But he knew that if he went, she would want to come as well.

Was he even up to the task? He had not even heard James come up behind them, and he is usually very aware of his surroundings. Was Tali right? Should he let this one go? He had never been good at that. Anytime there was trouble, he was always quick to act, usually without thinking. He had already died once, and then came very close to death. He really would be pushing his luck by going and fighting an enemy who was giving even Aria trouble. But what if he was correct? What if this new mercenary group became an uprising power and started causing trouble? The galaxy had enough trouble to last a lifetime, and every race was spent. They had put everything towards this war, and didn't need a new power attacking them.

He sighed. He was thinking too much, and it was starting to give him a headache. He had enough problems for 1 day. He decided he would figure it out tomorrow, and went to sleep.

He woke up to a loud knocking at his door. He groaned, rolling over and sitting up. Sore, as usual, but he thankfully didn't have the nightmare, and got plenty of sleep. "Just a minute!" He yelled, putting on some sweats for the time being. He looked at the time, and saw that it was almost 12; he slept in. probably making up for the lack of sleep the night before.

He got to the door and almost opened it, but old habits die hard, and he looked at a small screen on the wall to see who it was. It was Garrus. He gladly opened the door.

"Hello Shepard, you lazy oaf." Garrus said. "You sure had a good long sleep. Mind if I come in?"

Shepard nodded, to lazy to come up with a comeback, and lead the Turian to his small kitchen, where he sat at the table. Shepard started coffee and sat at the table, gesturing Garrus to speak.

"Well Shepard, as I'm sure you know by now, our lovely friend Aria is having trouble. What you don't know is who is attacking her, correct?"

Shepard nodded.

"Well."Garrus continued, "I do. I did a little digging, and figured out that the group attacking her is called The Burning Locusts. Now the group itself is a fine group, very well trained, but normally wouldn't be a problem for Aria, who has superior numbers. It's their leader who is giving Aria problems." He handed Shepard a data pad. "His name is Davin Kecker. Odd name."

Shepard raised an eyebrow and started going through his file. Everything was normal until he came across something. "He used to work for the Alliance?"

"Yes." Garrus answered. "He was a commander, like your self. According to his files, he was brilliant. He had many successful missions, with a low casualty count. But one mission he walked into a trap, and had his legs blown off."

Shepard flinched. "Never how a soldier wants to go. I'm guessing he was honorably discharged?"

"Correct. But he had come from a wealthy family, and they had him get bionic legs. Not only has he made a full recovery, he's even faster and more dangerous with his new bionic legs. Very high tech. But the Alliance wouldn't take him back, even with his new legs, so he went and started a mercenary group."

Shepard grew impatient. "Get to the point Garrus. What does this have to do with me?"

The Turian grew quiet for a moment, then continued. "A few months before the reaper attack something changed. He was just a merc leader, recruiting people and training them. Then he just decides to start attacking other groups. At first it was just pirates and bandits, but it slowly grew to bigger and bigger groups, and his mercenary group also grew. Something made him want to start killing instead of recruiting. And now of all times he attacks Omega. He is very skilled, and very dangerous. What if he decides he has a grudge on the Alliance? What if he just keeps getting bigger and stronger until he rivals us in military strength? This could be a problem."

Shepard said nothing. Garrus had just damn near confirmed his fears. Now he had to decide; either let it go, or stop them.

"Whatever you decide," Garrus said, pulling him from his thoughts. "I'm with you. My gun is always yours, Shepard."

Shepard nodded, and made his decision. "Garrus, get the whole group together, whoever isn't too injured to fight. Have them meet here in 2 hours, ready head out."

Garrus nodded, and then said "What about Tali?"

Damn it. Shepard had forgotten about her for the moment. "I'll have to let her know I'm leaving. She's not recovered enough to come with us, so I'll-"

"You're going to tell her she can't come with us?" Garrus interrupted to ask. Shepard nodded, then nearly jumped as Garrus laughed, getting up. "Tell me how that works out." With that, he walked out, leaving Shepard confused.

"What do you mean I can't come with?" Tali demanded, crossing her arms and most likely putting on the most stubborn face ever. Shepard figured out pretty quickly what Garrus meant. The instant he even suggested it, she got furious.

"Your not ready yet Tal." He said, crossing his arms and assuming what Ashley called his 'Commander' position when he was not around. "You got weak from just walking with me yesterday. You don't need to go into the middle of a gun-"

"So what if I was a little weak yesterday?" Tali asked loudly. "I can at least come along on the ship and help from there. I can help!"

Shepard shook his head. "And what if the ship gets attacked? I might not be there to defend you, and-"

"I'm not some helpless child! I might be a little weak, but I can defend myself Shepard!"

Shepard was getting frustrated."I never said you were, but these aren't regular mercs. They are basically soldiers! I don't want you getting hu-"

"I'm coming with!" Tali said.

"Will you stop being stubborn? I said no." Shepard said, and Tali pushed past him, saying "Bosh'tet!" and stormed off.

He sighed heavily, frustrated. Why did she not understand? He almost lost her, and he didn't want to risk her getting injured or killed. But he hated seeing her so mad, and she had plenty of energy to push him aside…was he doing this just because he loved her? He contemplated it. Then he realized he was being unfair. If it had been Garrus or Liara, he would have had no problems with them coming along on the ship. He slapped his forehead. This was his fault. He was the cause of their first argument. He had to go find her.

He found Garrus and Ashley waiting outside the hospital. "Did it go as you thought it would?" Garrus asked with a smile on his face.

Shepard sighed. "No, it went the exact opposite. She stormed out and called me a bosh'tet."

Garrus laughed, while Ashley put her hand on his shoulder. "You have to understand, you 2 are in a relationship. You can't approach topics as the commander. That won't work."

Shepard blinked at her. "Do I really go commander on you guys?"

They both nodded.

"Damn. I didn't mean too. I just…want her safe, you know. Is that bad?"

Ashley shook her head. "It isn't, but you can't treat her different because of it. You love her, but remember that she is still Tali. Her favorite weapon isn't a shotgun for no reason."

Shepard mulled it over, and then gave in. "Alright. Tell me where she went, and I'll meet you guys at my apartment."

Garrus simply pointed in a direction and Shepard headed towards it.

After he left, Ashley turned to Garrus. "You're right. He is pretty clueless."

Garrus chuckled. "Yes. As you humans say, he's like a dog chasing a vehicle. He has no idea what to do now that he has actually caught it."

Shepard found her easily enough; she was the only Quarian around, and there was only 1 placed she could go. He slowly walked back to the spot where they sat the day before, seeing her sitting with her back to him. He sat down besides her, and they sat there in silence for a few minutes.

"I'm sorry." He said.

"I'm sorry." Tali said at the same time.

They looked at each other for a few seconds, and then they both laughed a little at each other. She reached over and took his hand.

"I'm sorry I called you a Bosh'tet."

"I'm sorry I went commander on you."

She looked at him. "Went commander on me? You must have been talking to Garrus if you heard that term." She giggled.

He smiled. "I was wrong to tell you not to come. Just try to understand Tal…Before I made it to the Citadel, I saw you dying on the ground. The image is burned into my mind. I had lost all thought of living after that. The only reason I pushed on was to save everyone else…not myself."

She squeezed his hand. "Keelah…I didn't know. I'm sorry you had to see me like that Shepard. It must have been horrible." He looked away, but she yanked his face back to hers. "But I am still me Shepard. I survived. And I do not plan on leaving you for a long time."

He put his hand over hers. "You are a tough one Tal. You're right; I just didn't want to lose you. But I promise to try and treat you exactly like everyone else."

She scoffed at him. "I hope you don't treat me exactly like everyone else Shepard. That would be no fun." He couldn't see her face, but he would bet 1000 credits that she winked.

He laughed, feeling so relieved. "Well, you know what I meant Tal." He laid his forehead against her mask again. "Ready to go?"

"Yes. Let's go help Aria" She replied, no hesitation.

The sound of gunfire filled the air. Shepard saw the 2 opposing sides dug in, trying to find a weakness in the other. He saw a soldier stick his head up to shoot, and saw his head burst into pieces as a bullet tore through it. His body crumpled to the floor, lifeless, and Shepard went into commander mode; poker face and no emotions. They are not needed in a battle field.

He turned around to Aria. "From what I see, your mercenaries are getting torn apart. I see why you called me here."

Aria glared at him. "You are very perceptive Commander Shepard. Yes they are getting torn apart dammit! You find it funny to mock me?"

Shepard glared right back. "Nothing is funny about this. You have connections, why didn't you use them? Why let these slaughters continue?"

She paced back and forth, looking more agitated then he had ever seen her. "I can't! I just got Omega back from Cerberus. It would make me look pathetic to beg for assistance already. If my reputation is ruined, I'm ruined. I need this taken care of without military help. That's why I called you Shepard. Now are you going to stand their and talk me to death, or go out there and kick their asses?"

Shepard gave her a cold stare, and then called his squad together. Garrus, Tali, Ashley, James, and Edi. Liara had gone back to Thessia to assist in its recovery. But he had enough people. "Tali, I want you to stay on the ship and analyze the entire time. This is a big group who is dug in and spread out, so I want to know if they try any flanking maneuvers.

"Yes commander." Tali responded.

"Garrus, get to a higher vantage point. Any of them dare stick their head up, remove it for them."

"Gladly commander." Garrus replied, taking his sniper rifle and heading out.

"As for the rest of us, we will split into 2 groups. Edi and Ashley, You hit their right side. James and I will take the left side. Try to wedge them together; I don't want them too spread out. Are we clear?"

"Yes commander!" They replied in unison, making him smile. He went to Tali and laid his hand on her shoulder, squeezing it.

"Good luck." She said softly.

He nodded, and then they headed out.

Garrus wasn't joking when he said they were well trained. They never spooked, never faltered, and attacked aggressively. But Shepard wasn't known for nothing, and they slowly started moving forward. Shepard lifted his assault rifle and shot from behind cover. His aim wasn't to hit someone, because he was shooting blindly; his goal was to make someone duck behind cover, which usually makes someone else pop out from cover to fire, giving Garrus and James a chance to hit them. James and he took turns firing blindly and then shooting whoever pops up. It worked for awhile, and he dropped a few himself. He even saw a few heads pop, and heard Garrus cheer.

But they caught on to it, and changed their strategy. Half of the front line would fire, then they would go into cover and the other half would fire, and they made sure to have a couple of soldiers aim at Garrus to keep him at bay. In response, James tossed a grenade, and Shepard followed suit. They ran from cover, and were picked off by Garrus and the remaining mercs on Aria's side, letting them push forward and wedge them in the middle.

Just as it looked like the end for the enemy, Shepard heard 3 consecutive shots, and saw 3 mercs on Aria's side drop dead. He looked and behind and saw their leader.

He was pretty tall, at least 6'7. He had short black hair and ocean blue eyes, but his eyes were cold and very soldier like. He had only 2 weapons; a pistol, and to Shepards surprise a sword at his hip. It looked like a samurai sword, from ancient times, yet it also looked different, as if made from alien material. Why would a soldier use a long sword in this day and age?

He got his answer as Davin Kecker switched the pistol to his left hand and drew his sword. It made a soft sliding sound as it exited the sheath, and then Davin went into action. Shepard saw why Garrus said he was dangerous. He moved so fast he was a blur, and he was at their cover in seconds. The mercs shot at him, but he suddenly veered off to the left and, surprising Shepard again, he jumped. He flew 10 feet and instead of face planting the wall, he somehow turned his body to where his feet landed on the wall, and then leapt off, flying behind their cover with ease. He swung his sword out and, using his momentum, cut the merc cleanly in half. He landed, rolling onto his feet quickly, and striking like a snake, cutting down 2 more mercs. His sword had to be made from a metal not on earth, to cut through their armor so easily.

Shepard reacted, swinging around and firing at Davin. Davin jumped to the left, flying at least 10 feet. Shepard followed him, but just wasn't as fast, and Davin disappeared behind the cover put up.

Shepard got up to follow him, but then Tali's voice rang in his ear. 'Shepard! He is going to-chhchhhhh" She cut off and all he heard was static. "Tali, do you read me?" He yelled, pressing on the communicator in his ear. "Commander, we have to get this bastard!" James yelled, and Shepard nodded, heading after Davin carefully.

He got to the cover Davin disappeared behind and whipped around it, swinging his gun back and forth but finding no one. Shepard searched around, confused. Where could he have gone? What was Tali trying to tell him?

He was about to turn around and head back when he saw Tali running towards them. He was actually shocked speechless. What the hell was she doing?

"Shepard!" She yelled, sprinting as fast as she could. "He went around! He's behind you!"

Shepard and James whipped around, seeing Davin. Davin swung his sword, knocking James gun out of his hands, then he rammed James with his shoulder, knocking him to the ground. Shepard fired, but Davin ducked just in time, using his free hand to push Shepard's gun to the side, swinging his sword. Shepard moved to the right, and felt the sword skim off of his armor. Before he could react, Davin kicked Shepard in the chest, knocking him to the ground. He got up as fast as he could, and turned to see Davin's sword fall towards him.

He thought that was the end for him, but he felt himself being pushed to the side, and watched in horror as the sword hit Tali instead. She fell, and Davin stood there, looking completely shocked. Shepard roared, whipping out his pistol at his side and firing. This time he hit Davin, and Davin fell.