A/N: Thanks for the reviews and feedback. I take it all to heart guys. Love it. :) You guys are big fans of both games canon, and I want to be as accurate as possible so thank you.

About Shepard and Noble being "bland". I think I am going nameless and not so much lack of a personality. Shepard whatever name, renegade or paragon, is charismatic and a great leader. Noble 6 no matter what his armor or name was a loyal, no bull crap Spartan. I will try and respect the customization as well as give enough character to not make them boring.

Wish me luck!

~ The SSV Normandy: Communications Bay ~

Our favorite Commander groaned. She was always doing this speaking to Udina and company… She was a soldier… not a politician.

"Shepard, do you know what this discovery implies to humanity? If I had a cent for every time you've-"

Ugh, Udina, your stupid words hurt me more than any Geth I've encountered.

"... Treat this honor with some damn respect." A certain diplomat was on fire. "This unknown alien cargo can be the discovery of a lifetime. Where are those alien teammates of yours? They had better not be contaminating the scene any more than they probably already have."

Just stay calm Shepard.

"This discovery might just sway the Council to forget your ludicrous Reaper speech."

Fuck this guy...

"Shepard, are we coming through clear?" Captain Anderson's voice broke the Commander's stuing temper.

"To be honest? I've been trying to listen but Udina is making this so.. So difficult."

"Why you disrespectful-"

"Calm down…" Udina fronted by Anderson. "Excuse us Shepard. We know Udina here can get a little overzealous about these things," The War hero tried, as always, to play peaceful ambassador. "But we do need to get the facts straight and plan our reveal of this discovery to the Council."

"And the galaxy as well Anderson," Udina puffed, straightening out that spiffy white Alliance uniform. "Think about it both of you." He began holding his hands out in front of his face, imagining the headlines in big bold letters. "Commander Shepard of the Alliance Fleet. The first human Spectre. The first to find evidence of new races and technology since the year 2157."

Shepard just ran a finger through her locks, groaning. "For one damn second can you get your head out of your politics? This is something bigger than just some PR for humanity…"

The Commander let off a relieving sigh getting a monkey off her back. She finally told Udina off directly and it felt great. The scornful diplomat just stared beady eyed through the defiant holographic Shepard.

"Let's go over the facts," She began counting with her gloved fingers. "At fifteen hundred hours we investigated the derelict ship the Alliance is now dubbing Dead Drop. This ship is now officially confirmed to not be linked to any Council species."

Shepard began typing on the side panel, images floating by in slideshow format. "Furthermore, we've officially found four unidentified race types donned in mysterious armor and weaponry. We've found one dead human soldier and another one barely surviving with massive injuries. They had their own types of weapons and protection, nothing Alliance or Cerberus builds that we know of."

The two ambassadors turned to one another trying to make sense of the situation as well. They didn't teach how to deal with this in Alliance 101.

"Uh speaking of which, how is the survivor doing?" Anderson asked.

"He's barely holding on… that was the last report." Shepard's mood darkened on cue. "The guy was on death's door until Chakwas gave him a stimpak straight to the heart. She's really doing all she can but... we still don't know."

"Sorry to hear that." Anderson sighed. "I was hoping for some good news and answers."

"We'll be lucky just to get him backup and alive." Shepard spun her attention over to the vital reports in the data display. "The damage on him, the sub-temperatures of space, and the lack of air… Heck. How someone can survive that?"

A moment of silence of three pondering heads now ruled the holographic conversation.

"So two humans, with unknown weapons and armory on a nameless ship of undocumented aliens… probably hostile," Anderson mused. "This throws a little wrench into the Saren and Geth problem doesn't it?"

"Of course it does. But we cannot let this opportunity slip away." Udina barked with fervor. "Saren and the Geth will be stopped eventually. But Shepard has priceless information that can change the course of history and we need to get on it now. We can't let some Turians or Salarians take any credit for this," he sighed with disgust.

Shepard bit her lip and couldn't disagree anymore. Sure she agreed that humans needed to integrate deeper into the Council but they didn't need to get in bed with them. Human progress is important but all that progress would mean nothing after a mass genocide of the universe. The bullshit of the political world had no place with this Spectre, especially right now. As Shepard's father told her numerous times. You shouldn't be an ass kisser when you need to be an ass kicker. Anderson sympathized with the dirty work. Udina would never understand this because he wasn't a soldier like Anderson was.

Like Shepard is.

"Saren is plotting to bring the galaxy to an end." This soldier had just about enough. "My team will continue to analyze what we have but we stick to the plan. The objective priorities don't change."

"Not this Reaper, talk again Shepard. Please."

"You just don't get it do you?" Shepard growled. channeling a lion. "This is how I say it goes down. We'll try our best to revive this survivor and get more information. I don't care what you do. As far as the cargo? Send troops. Send doctors. Send scientists. Send lawyers! Confiscate it!"

"And you?" Udina blinked.

She glared at them with all seriousness. "…We have a galaxy to save."

The Commander always did have a way of getting her point across.

"… I agree Shepard and we don't need to waste anymore time." Anderson began to sign off. "Good luck. Like I've said before, you're making us real proud here, soldier."

"Likewise Captain," She saluted.

"This is madness Shepard." Udina begged. "I strongly disagree but you better keep us posted on every acti-"

CLICK!

"Oops." The Commander let go of the sign off button. "Clumsy fingers always get me."

"You're the definitely the coolest Commander." Normandy pilot chimed through intercom. "Although it is kinda funny how those clumsy fingers seem to disappear with a blaster in the hand."

"Set coordinates to Feros Joker." Shepard turned leaving the COMM room. "I'm assuming everyone is in the Medical Bay?"

"Right again Commander. They're waiting for you."

~ SSV Normandy: Medical Bay ~

Click click click click

Beep!

The anticipation blanketed our Normandy crew, coiling around them like an annoying bug swarm, testing their resolve to wait. Team Normandy hated waiting. These were 'do it now' soldiers, engineers, and excavators after all. Whether it was finding answers or beating up people to find answers, instant gratification was needed. The room was almost at a standstill, the group sitting around the main life support for what felt like an entire day. Besides the near death situation as Noble Six was being brought in by Ash Williams, it seems his vitals were at least stabilizing for the moment.

Noble Six had a chance to be saved and that's what the Alliance's finest medic Chakwas was going to do.

Click click click... click.

Beep!

"So is this guy gonna live or not?" Wrex shot out impatiently as he was cross armed in boredom, leaning in the back of the room, lurking in the shadows like a bouncer at club Afterlife.

His teammates just stared at him, dumbly shaking their heads. Chakwas' uncanny attention did not leave her computer monitor as she spoke. "Like I said for the umpteenth time Urdnot, it's not looking good. But thankfully things aren't getting worse."

"You're like fragile meatbags." The Battlemaster's voice thumped. "We can't wait on this forever… Saren is still out there."

"On the contrary," The mature doctor adjusted her seat. "I've seen this type of damage and trauma on many a dead Krogan during medical training. Considering the circumstances this young man is incredible."

"Interesting..." Wrex was silenced a bit, now pacing out of the room. "Tell me if he decides to wake up…"

On the other side of the support bed was a surprisingly more than concerned Ashley Williams. Her apathy was plain and simple. There's a common bond between those who dawn the armor. Soldiers understand each other at least on that front. This Noble Six was a young soldier and was one on the brink of death.

What was his motives? His orders? Who knows? Apparently this young man was fighting for his life...

The sight reminded her of what happened on Eden Prime. A lot of fine young soldiers were slaughtered that day. The most blood she had ever seen in action and it was for absolutely nothing. Those memories of running into such heartless murders gave her chills.

Chills...

Williams remembered that four jawed creature staring at her with those beady dead eyes. That was what was chasing you? She shook her head to shake off the thought. In her mind she already had drawn out an image about this soldier. There was a strange feeling of good… of heroism…

Those two soldiers in that ship… they were heroes… she just felt it.

"He appears so young." Liara looked over to Chakwas. "He can't be much older than twenty human years old."

"Good call Professor T'soni. He's nineteen… an estimation of course." The Doctor mused. "And that's not the biggest surprise according to my findings. He is the strangest specimen I've ever analyzed and treated. When the Commander arrives I will fill you all in."

"Nineteen?" Ash blinked, glancing down. You're a young soldier like I was. I was nineteen coming into the Alliance.

Ashley Williams of the 2nd Frontier Division didn't see any action earlier in her career. It was part of the Williams stigma in the Alliance. This Noble Six based on the scars seemed like he'd been seeing action for years. Was he fighting just as a mere teenager? If Ash would look like this on a medical table at nineteen, she was glad fate treated her a bit more kindly.

She wasn't this tough. With all that armor off and even in such a beat up condition, his body seemed trained beyond anything she'd ever seen. Better than those meatheads back at Alliance training facilities. Lean, muscular, powerful…

It wasn't attractive or anything… only admirable…

I guess.

"What's with the commotion? Any news?" Shepard brought some calmness with just her mere presence. Walking in, now dressed in her tight black and gold trimming Alliance jumpsuit, the Commander proceeded to go over the results of the test.

"Ah Shepard." Dr. Chakwas finally took her view off the monitors. "Our patient is in critical condition but is stabilizing. We need to look at these numbers though."

"Besides the damage is something wrong?" The Commander's face curled.

"Not at all. Actually it's quite amazing." Chakwas chuckled at the vital display. "It seems-"

"Shepard!" Tali busted in the room with a bounce to those Quarian steps, timely interrupting the conversation with much excitement.

"Tali, what's up?"

"I think I've found something that you all might be interested in." Tali began to type on her omni-tool with the speed of a facebooker, engaging the built-in holographic projector. "It took a while, but after many failures I have learned that the programming language of the technology isn't like anything we have on any current ship to date."

Shepard didn't get the geek talk, her attention on the floating image in the middle of the room. "And…?"

"Well after digging even deeper I found that there is a programming language that stimulates the drop ship's information grid and even the controls to an extent. The algorithms match about ninety percent accuracy."

The crew was clueless to the discovery and their faces showed it. Tali was probably grinning huge behind that Quarian survival suit, knowing she was about to drop a knowledge bomb. None of them seemed all that amused besides Liara.

"Is this why you needed my research files on the artifacts?" The blue archeologist blinked twice.

"Exactly. Using some of those files on the artifact data you've found on your journeys, I ran the same ancient algorithms from my omni-tool. As a result, I am certain that the programming technology in that ghost ship only uses a slightly different variation of what the Protheans would have used."

The team's heart skipped.

"So, those aliens are Protheans?" Shepard perked. "I didn't see anything like these from the visions of the beacon."

"I can also attest to that." Liara remembered sharing Shepard's vision so clearly and vividly.

"Not exactly," Tali'Zorah Vas Rayya activated more buttons, unreadable text cycling through the projector. "I believe that this technology is a variation, perhaps these creatures are another 'extinct' race that has had some sort of contact with the Protheans."

Shepard attempted to confirm, "But nothing concrete… old races just popping up out of nowhere?"

"I only have theories sadly." The Quarian admitted. "But this is not a coincidence… maybe we have found something much bigger than just some strange race… this may be a world we have discovered."

Garrus waved his hands ergency. "I see you're going to treat us to an omni-tool video." The Turian was as eager as anyone. "What exactly do you have to show us?"

"Well, I've found some creaky footage." Tali morphed the hologram into a paused image of a battle ridden world, the camera a weak video full of static but it was quite clear for what it was.

"L-like a security camera?" Ashley asked.

"Yes, there were monitors all around the ship apparently" Tali prepped the imagery." This is the footage from the last couple hours of the ship that I pieced together using multiple angles. I am figuring that this might answer some questions about what we've found."

Shepard always loved the Quarians talents. "Tali you really are a genius."

"Oh… n-no," The blushing cheeks were hidden behind that purple glass veil. "I am just using what I've been given Shepard. Thank Liara as well."

"Great finally something to see..." Wrex was dying of boredom clearly.

Shepard nodded. "Play it Tali."

"Affirmative Commander," With a few presses of the omni tool, the footage begins to roll.

(The holographic image shifted in motion to a sky high view dropping rapidly. The camera angle being taken was located beneath the ship. There were distorted clips and flashes of explosions causing static on the hologram, too many to get a gauge on where they were coming from. Bullet rounds, missiles, plasma blasts came down like rain from a violent storm. Around the landing zone, the earth beneath was cracked and desolate, fissures scattering across the scape. It looked like the ground itself was on fire.)

(This scene was death in motion. This planet was barely holding itself together and above the ground were piles and piles of bodies. This was a besieging that caused a deluge of dead aliens and many more primitively armored humans. This was a battle for the ages.)

~ Year 2552, Planet Reach ~

The skies glowed blood crimson as the Reach's surface was being annihilated by a well oiled killing machine. The Covenant truly were a vicious and efficient enemy. Halsley was correct. Planet Reach's fall was inevitable. The Pillar of Autumn, the one glimmer of hope promised to humankind had left Reach space for a solid three hours now. Noble's final mission was complete. Their sixth member didn't know what exactly he delivered to Keyes but he hoped to hell it was worth it.

How could an A.I. turn this bloodbath of a war? They were outclassed in technology and numbers. Six's soldier instincts kicked in so he wouldn't question too much. Shut your mouth. Follow orders. Finish the mission.

The hours of bombing went by with helpless soldiers falling around him. The coupe de gras was supposed to be Noble Six's last stand. From the heavens above was an approaching Phantom, heavily armored drop ships to the mighty Covenant army, transporting their ground troops to finish the job. That job instilled butchering off strayed and weakened humans that were still alive, fighting valiantly for the planet. This particular Phantom was the first of many Phantoms that were intended to land in the area, doing one last scan of the zone before the glassing begins.

It wasn't a priority but gathering up injured brethren was the only reason this drop ship was landing on the ground. There is no room for the weak and lame in the Covenant army. But if they could drag their carcasses into the ship, they would be saved. If not? Well…

"We land and finish off any humans you come in contact with." The Elite growled at his minions, ready as ever to lay waste to their enemies. Many grunts cackled, numerous jackals howled, and the lone Brute with a hammer stood silent. All the while grinning their toothy sneers.

"As you say Sangheli," The Ape looking beast felt the carrier land. "The Prophets were right. Victory will soon be ours."

The Elite's energy blade erupted in a brilliant array from his handle, shooting a disappointed look to the Brute. "… If it only was that simple fool. We've won nothing yet."

The latch entrance to the ship opened automatically with a release of the pressure mechanism, the precursor to the final rush was imminent. There was only one little problem for these blood thirsty Covenant though. All of the alpha troops that were supposed to clear the ground, waiting for rescue, were on the floor face down, in mixed puddles of death- dust, their own innards, and blood. To the surprise of the alien warriors, two shadows now stood right in front of them. The silhouettes were instantly and frighteningly recognizable.

It was the shape of their nightmares. The last image so many of their own brothers in arms would see right before their demise.

Spartans

"What do you think about this ship?" The gray one said as stoic as usual.

"Not my style Six, but we'll take it." The green one cracked back with a heavy accent.

"Destroy them!" The Elite shouted only to be replied with no mercy from his enemy. The front-line of grunts and jackals soldiers erupted in flames and shrieks, multiple frag grenades blinding the Sangheli in the light flash, taking out his shields as well.

One third of Noble Team were here and doing what they do best - taking out as many Covenant they could. Noble Six's well timed grenades took out the front wedge in a fragged mess, now Jun's well placed sniper rifle blasts at point blank range hammering the Brute into the ship's inner wall. The jade colored Spartan was relentless, blasting multiple 55mm bullets straight through its armored chest. It took almost an entire magazine to down the beast but Jun was pleased with the results.

"CURSE YOU!" The Brute fell, clenching his hammer, the blood running down his black fur. "AARGH!"

"... And fuck you sir." Jun pushed his gun into the ape's mouth, and finished him off with another shot to his head clearing a gaping hole right through it.

"Raargh!" From behind the Elite attempted to impale Jun's back with that blade of energy, only to be met with bullet wounds that scattered from his torso all the way up to that lizard neck, splitting its right side wide open. Jun smirked calmly in reply to the carnage.

"They want us dead so badly." The Gray Spartan stepped on its head to finish. "We don't take requests do we?"

"No sir." Jun scoffed at the comment, Noble Six having his assault rifle pointed right behind him, the smoke from the barrel fizzling out.

"Now we're even by the way." Six breathed heavy behind his mask, weakly lowering his rifle.

Jun shrugged. "I save you from five blade wielding Elites, not to mention the oncoming Covenant armies and you call that even?" The two began stepping over dead bodies, climbing into the ship and looking for the main controls.

"Could've come a little sooner by the way." Six kicked away a dead Grunt, punting it half a football field's distance. "He shoots… he scores..."

Jun observed out to the deathly horizon of a planet about to be bombarded to Hell. Things were bad but they were about to get a lot worse. He reloaded his rifle. "Enough chat. We need to get this Phantom up and running. Then we have to get past the other ships. Chances are slim but it's the only way out."

Six only glared behind his mask helpless. Even after all Noble and the other Spartans platoons scattered throughout Reach have done, this planet was still falling in biblical proportions. The strongest UNSC fleet, the heart of the UNSC was crumbling. The last stepping stone to Earth was now in enemy hands. Too many wasted lives for this kind of defeat.

"You shouldn't have come back for me by the way." The Grey Noble spat, a bit of blood running down his mouth. Injuries were clearly mounting up as both Spartans made their way towards the front of the hijacked Phantom.

"My orders were complete." Jun was hurryingly looking for the piloting panel. "I delivered Hasley to CASTLE and she locked herself in and told me the same thing you just told me." He located a glowing terminal, tossing a piece of a Grunt's arm off of the board.

"I wouldn't leave-"

"Rafagh… Raargh…"

Spartan A-266 took a peak behind the passenger seat noticing a half-burnt Grunt squirming for its life. He growled taking his rifle butt and caved its skull in with one traumatic smash. After a moment to make sure it was dead, he finished.

"…A Noble behind."

Noble Six stared at the dead little beast, but appreciated the thought Jun was sharing. They shared a mutual nod. Both of them knew living to tell tales of this escape was about as slim as getting hit by lightning thrice times. It didn't matter anyway. To him they should have been dead a long time ago. Might as well give these Covenant a little more trouble for their efforts.

Shit. Spartan B312 stared at the Phantom console.

For Noble Six, the Spartan training was kicking in slowly, even when the body and mind was nearly at null from massive blood loss. He recognized these Phantom controls but it definitely wasn't like riding a bike just yet. He had to concentrate.

Reverse polarized triggers for the engines. Use the hand pods for maneuvering, blaster turrets in heat seeking mode. Accelerator boost, as always, at the feet...

"I think I got it." Six clenched his fist.

"You think so huh?" Jun was seriously skeptical.

"... I'd bet my life on it."

A bet is exactly what it was. It was like playing Russian roulette and Noble Six was betting with a life he didn't have. He was ready for his death and was owed a death but fate is strange. God only knows how he now found himself here on this hijacked ship with the improbable help of his teammate. For a gruesome hour he was making his last stand, slaughtering countless Covenant, numerous of the best Elite soldiers at this very outpost. He was wounded, beaten, but still on his feet. The Spartan-III Beta Training program must have been completely brutal and he was tops in his class.

Maybe surviving this wasn't so impossible after all.

Vroom. The Phantom's engines blared with a twist of his wrist.

There was no hope when every enemy you kill sprouts two more. Elite soldiers almost had him. A seemingly inevitable death blow from two Elites was thwarted when a few sniper rounds went right through their brains. Jun always had the greatest timing.

"Not like I am worried or anything but," Jun's accent cut through Six's thought. "I am assuming you've trained to fly one of these things at some point?"

"I got it." The Expert pilot sat at the controls grimacing from his wounds. He was giving a white lie. He was an expert Sabre pilot but not so much Covenant ships. Compound that with being chased by countless Banshees and Phantoms, Jun had every right to be worried.

"I'll get us out of here…" Six clutched his side.

"You alright?" The third Noble was getting really concerned about his partner, noticing that the wounds from battling hordes of Covenant solo were beginning to slow him. Blood stained the gray MJONIR armor and it was only getting worse. Could Six even make it to the atmosphere?

"Just concentrate on your job and I'll do mine." Noble Six was as frank as he was tough. Not showing weakness the best he could he pulled up on the pods. It was sort of like trying to prevent a net of water from leaking but he was trying.

"Roger that Six." The Phantom began initiating lift off as Jun admired the Spartan way. Control the pain. Stay the path. You will have victory.

Jun stalked over to the entrance, kicking the dead Elite to the side, kneeling into sniper position. "Get us up and I'll lay them down."

At thirty feet elevation eight Covenant were dead. At sixty feet about sixteen had bit the dust. At two hundred almost fifty have gone down. Jun's sniper skills still brought a grin to Six even after all this time. The Phantom flew off, accelerators at maximum usage, as the ground was cleared, attempting to hit orbit from a less crowded airspace. The two could finally breathe for a second as they made some distance between them and the enemy. The next conversation just had to happen. Jun had been wondering this ever since he saved his sixth brother from impending death.

"Tell me," Jun still carefully kept his eye on the scope as they made their getaway. "How did Noble One go… missing?"

The gray armored soldier paused, playing the image in his head, mostly shards of metal in flames coming to mind. "He sacrificed himself flying his carrier straight into a Scarab. Took it out."

Silence.

"… Noble Four?"

"An Elite blade from behind." Six stated just as plainly, the two of them once again at a loss for words.

That is until Noble Six smirked. "But he did call it a mother f-er and stabbed its neck before he went."

"Emile." Jun chuckled. "That crazy son of a bitch."

The two last Noble team members fell quiet for their fallen teammates, the sounds of a dying planet echoing around them. This time it was a more reflective silence. The faces of Jorge, Kat, Carter, and Emile were still fresh in their minds. It's true that Spartans are made to eventually die that glorious death. But the struggle on Reach, where team Noble continued to defy the odds like no other time before… it had struck a chord in both of them. Team Noble and Reach deserved to live. Not to be killed by these lunatics.

Jun clutched his sniper rifle, eyes wide, looking to the blood red sky of the planet they failed to defend. "I know our brothers and sisters have peace wherever they reside."

Six reflected. "... To Noble."

"... To Reach." Jun added, taking his attention back to the scope.

Honor Noble…

Remember Reach…

"Alright," The sniper cracked his knuckles. "Lets take some more down with us just in case we-"

"No, here's the plan." Noble Six put the pedal to the metal. "We get out alive. And we get some payback for what they did to the planet. We hit them back two fold. Got it?"

Jun wanted to believe. There was a concentrating silence. There was no way around this. This wasn't just for them. This was for the Noble team. This was for the human race. Noble's story would not end on Reach. Six and Jun made that a promise to themselves.

"Now that's what I am talking about." Jun broke a smile behind his sniper scope, beginning to fire at will on incoming Banshees, doing unreal damage. The hi-jacked Phantom flew towards the sky, soon breaking into space. Their enemies were closing in fast, blasters lighting up the hull of the ship. It was not looking good but Noble One ingrained this in their heads.

Don't look back. Don't hesitate. Finish the job Noble.

~ SSV Normandy: Medical Bay ~

(The sound from the security viewer was coming in more distorted and cutting out as the integrity of the ship was compromised. The hi-jacked phantom seemed to be now in deep space, breached holes now visible. The Spartans were being bombarded with Covenant fire at a relentless pace. A well-aimed plasma missile suddenly rips through the hull, smashing Jun into the wall impaling him. Noble Six turned in visibly flustered. The green Spartan streaks down the wall dead instantly, a bloody mess, Six slamming his fist into the controls in anger.)

"Guess we know how the green one died now." Wrex muttered his mouth wide open, literally watching this as closely as a child would his or her favorite cartoon show.

"Shut it and watch." Garrus quieted him.

(The Phantom was doomed. The blaster holes became more abundant as all external shields were rendered useless. The controls were also no longer responsive, Six getting up from his piloting spot to man a turret. Before many shots could be fired a blue light appears catching his attention, the camera trying to adjust to the light. An explosion rattled the ship, engulfing the entire camera's view in ethereal light. A huge popping noise clipped the audio as the camera feed goes to permanent static.)

The Normandy fell just as silent, the hologram hissing before shutting itself off. Tali offed her omni-tool with flip of her finger, turning to her teammates who were as stated speechless. The conversation took a while to get started.

"Y-yeah, great job Tali." Shepard, craned to Chakwas and the rest of the squad… now staring at Noble Six on the medical bay.

"Those two soldiers took them all out." Ashley gleemed to herself, admiring. "It took a seige of ship fire to take these guys out. That was amazing."

"That… was impressive." Wrex rarely gave respect. "And to be honest I want to be there right now… that looked like a good time."

"We don't even know what 'there' is." Garrus scratched his scaled head, that odd shaped mouth quivering. "That falling planet… they called it Reach right?"

"Right," Shepard said somberly, still empathizing for that planet she never knew. She couldn't help but feel for Noble Six and where he came from. She'd seen bad invasions before. This Fall of Reach seemed as bad as anything she had ever seen or experienced. If only she truly saw it in person. It was scary how that fate seemed so close to what team Normandy was trying to prevent.

"I've been many places in this universe, but never have I heard of a planet named Reach." Liara was perplexed. "None of the Asari archives have anything on such a place either."

Shepard began thinking about something. The way the footage cut out. "... At the end of the tape. That wasn't some normal explosion. Right before it goes static. It seemed almost ghostly didn't it? Like a vapor of some sort?"

"Yeah, I know what you mean." Ashley was trying to find the words. "Almost, like how they describe that bright light before you die? That's what I'd imagine it would look like anyway."

There was a pause before Liara politely took the middle of the room and cleared her throat. "We now have an idea on what happened to this fallen soldier but I wish for us to dig deeper."

"What do you mean?" Shepard asked.

Liara wouldn't look her team in the eye, signaling a crazy idea. "I-I… will try and join with this Noble Six." The Asari stuttered. "I don't know if it will work. But if he dies, we run the chance of never finding the answers to what happened to that ship or what this means for us. Perhaps these aliens who attacked Reach are coming here. Who knows?"

Shepard had connected with Liara before. This Asari could see scrambled images and thoughts clearer than her partner could think of it. The young asari had a point. She helped unlock the Reaper mystery. Perhaps this all could be cleared up with the same technique.

Garrus was intrigued. "Is it even possible for someone who's unconscious to join with you?"

"It has been done but it is not easy." The Asari biotic stepped over to Noble Six, looking over his body. She knew there was a bit of a risk but she had confidence in herself. "Shepard with your permission and Doctor Chakwas' clearance I would like to try."

"I see no reason to deny you if this has been done before." Doctor Chakwas gave the blessing. "I will monitor him to make sure if anything goes wrong."

"I don't think we have much of a choice." Shepard nodded. "Do it Liara."

"Very well Commander." The Asari began the connection, trying to coerce Noble's mind to let go.

The team watched on as she closed her eyes, calmly breathing, her biotic energy glowing from her blue skin. Inside the calmness was a hectic battle. The asari's consciousness was struggling, trying to find Noble Six's conscious mind. For an Asari trying to connect to someone's conscious brain was like finding a huge water source in a huge maze of bone dry tunnels. On top of that, most of the pathways had astral blocks. A conscious partner willing to share a connection would be a straight path to the source. On someone who resists, it gets much more complicated like a puzzle. An unconscious body is a similar deal.

Liara had to find that opening and she was determined to do so. Her persistence was coming to fruition after a hard fought minute. Liara's eyes slowly became that signature jet black. Images began to flow into her mind like a river as she broke through. She completely opened up his mind. She gasped.

Young children. Screaming. Guns. Pain. Armors. Death. Onyx. Spartans. Reach. Covenant. A Light.

"Agh!" Liara's connection was stopped at a standstill but it was not her own doing. A firm grip on her delicate throat was the cause, her windpipe being shut off. A revived Noble Six had a choke on her. The Asari was just about to black out until she found herself thrown back at incredible speeds, crashing into a desk, yelling out as she hit the floor.

"Wait! We're here to help! Oof!" Ashley pleaded only to be shoved aside with little effort to the ground.

"Hold it human!" Wrex began to charge at the awoken Spartan, expecting to slam the kid into the wall with his 650 pound frame and pin him there. He leapt at Noble Six expecting a pancake, but instead felt inertial force. It was unbelievable but a human half his size just lifted him up, using his own momentum dropping him on the medical support bed, the metal cracking in half. The Krogan groaned, a minor headache brewing.

"Commander arm yourself!" Garrus grabbed his Raikou pistol from his holster, pulling it out only to have it kicked away from him, a solid right hand leveling the Turian to the ground. "Nngh!"

The handgun skidded across the floor. Noble Six's head was on a swivel, meeting eyes with Shepard. Their concentrated eyes locked. Two of the world's best met with stares but it was only for a second. The Spartan dove for Garrus' pistol, taking it in mid roll, getting up with his finger on the trigger pointing it at Shepard. Six succeeded.

He just didn't expect to be staring down the barrel of the Commander's blaster as well.

"Not bad." Shepard smirked under the pressure. The crew's eyes seemed twice the size as normal. Both the spectre and the spartan had pistols right against their foreheads in a stalemate, pressed right into the skin.

"Drop the gun." Noble Six demanded.

"I think we were going to tell you to do the same thing." Shepard exaggerated her pupils to the left and right.

Six took a quick perimeter check with his peripheral vision, noticing an angry Krogan with a shotgun, a Quarian with a pistol, a Turian with a sniper rifle, and a female gunner with an assault rifle all aimed right at him. He felt right at home. Spartans are always outnumbered.

Six got serious. "Think I am afraid to go? I'll take you out with me sister."

Shepard scowled at the thought. "Look here kid. You wouldn't even be here doing this if we hadn't pulled your ass out of that dead ship. Now if we really wanted to kill you we would have done so then but we nursed you back to health."

"Drop the gun." Ashley scowled. "Listen to the commander."

"Don't do anything stupid." Garrus was ready to pull the trigger.

The Spartan began to notice his medical surroundings. He noticed he was missing his armor. The situation was a bit sticky but he was feeling that it was mostly his to blame. These guys definitely weren't Covenant. Then again they definitely weren't UNSC either. Nevermind seeing these weird aliens he had never witnessed before, he was taking deep breaths. He was alive. Either he's dreaming or they were telling the truth.

"Who the hell are you guys?"

"Put down the gun and we'll talk like civilized people." Shepard suggested, if not demanded. "If anyone should be on edge it should be us. You drop the gun and you get to ask the first question. Deal?"

The standoff continued Chakwas feeling like she was going to have a heart attack. Noble Six took one last peak around staring Shepard straight in the eyes. There was no lying in those eyes. There was something about this woman that really made Noble trust her. He hadn't met anyone just like that. Not even Carter had this type of demanding eyes.

What choice did he have anyway?

"Deal," Noble dropped the gun. The entire crew breathed a sigh of relief, Shepard slowly putting her pistol back in the holster. The crew followed suit with their own weapons.

"Now then," The Commander got up to both feet, reaching out with a hand. "A deal is a deal. We'll alternate questions. You get the first one."

Noble Six glanced at the Normandy Team analyzing them each. He then let his eyes roll around the medical bay taking notes about that. He looked at himself, noticing his healed wounds. There were so many questions to ask but this Spartan had only one thing on his mind right now.

"… Where's my armor?"

A/N: I have an idea in my head but it's constantly switching on what Saren is going to do, and the Covenant weaponry. The review gave me an idea! I'll keep thinking about it as I write. This fic is fun for me. Later guys!

John