A/N: I've been considering the words of one of my reviewers and I feel obligated to answer. Even though Alchatraz had a symbiotic link to the nano suit in Crysis and had to rely on it though combat, the same will not be said for Xero. He's a spartan and the augmentations keep the nano suit from bonding with him in such a way. But at the same time the Cyph nanites and the nano suit in combination to the augmentations make Xero stronger than his fellow spartans.

Anyway, here's the next installment. (I own nothing)

Destruction, gunfire, the sounds of soldiers dropping around me. The large mech stomped through the street raining gunfire down on the Marines in the diner where we took refuge.

Peering out into the street, I saw Emile crouched down behind the remains of a humvee that was destroyed. He dropped down just as his shields were taken out by the mech's guns. I looked over at Kat who was helping the medics with the wounded, "Six, we can't hold out long! If you have a plan do it quick!" she shouted.

"The things got some kind of power core on the back. Try aiming at that!" said Emile over the comms. I looked around the diner, siftering through the many empty crates that once held thousands of rounds of ammo and weaponry.

I flipped over one last crate and a JAW fell out onto the floor. "Alright." I muttered picking up the launcher. "Emile, I want you to have that thing focus fire on your position." A green light winked at the bottom of my HUD and the mech turned as gunfire struck it's back. I looked at the Marines around me, they were tired, some looked hopeless.

"Listen up!" I shouted getting their attention. "I'm taking this fucker down, I want you guys to fire every round and grenade you got at it while I take out the core." I looked at the corpses of the fallen soldiers, "No one else is going to die because of that thing." I stepped into the doorway and readied myself.

"Maximum Armor." I charged out of the diner when the torent of rounds struck the machine. It turned to regain fire but saw me running straight at it.

The chaingun roared, and I felt the rounds bounce off my now thick skinned suit. "Energy at 53%" I readied the JAW just as I was more than halfway there. "Energy at 17%" I dropped, sliding on my back across the ground aiming the heavy weapon straight up.

I slid right between the mech's legs, the bright red core Emile spoke of was in my sights. I squeezed the trigger launching the rocket right into it. The following explosion shook the mech hard, large cracks appeared along the core and it started to shake more violently.

My sliding came to a stop, I flipped around tossing the empty tube away and drawing my assault rifle in one swift motion. The mech turned to me, small fires coming from it's joints and sparks flying out of it's back.

There was a moments pause as I aimed my rifle straight at it. Then the mech exploded sending debris flying in all directions.

All was silent. Then loud cheers roared as the Marines came out of the diner and approached where I was standing. "Pretty awesome. I forgot all the crazy ass shit your able to do." said Emile.

Suddently everything froze. The fires, the soldiers, Kat and Emile, everything just stopped as if it were a movie on pause.

I raised my rifle and looked in every direction for a target. "Your destiny is close at hand." I spun around and saw the same woman from before, walking across the cracked pavement without losing stride. She approached me, lifting her hand and slowly lowering my weapon by the barrel. Not a hint of fear on her face.

"Who are you?" I asked. She smiled, her yellow eyes glowed brightly. "You will learn in time. But for now you have much more to do." She waved her hand and everything around us vanished. Now we were standing on a mountain, the large expanse of earth expanding out tens of thousands of feet below us.

After surveying where we were, I looked back at the woman. "What's this all about? And what do you mean I still have much more to do?" The woman gave a sad smile, "My time is short, but I'll tell you what I can."

She looked out over the horizon, "You remember your death, do you not?" I nodded, "How could I forget." She looked back at me, "You were chosen by the god's to serve a purpose. The survival of the universe...all universes rest on your shoulders."

"What's happening? Why are so many dimensions in trouble?" I asked frantically.

The sky suddently darkened, red lightning struck the ground causing an infreno to spread across the land. "There isn't much time! You must find the others!" I looked from the destruction back at her, "What others? What the hell's happening!"

She gave a saddened look, the flames from the ground shot up the mountain and started to burn her. "NO!" I yelled as I heard the woman scream in pain and sorrow.

X

"MATE WAKE UP!" I snapped awake, weapon raised aiming at everything that was around me. Soap threw himself back with his hands up, "Easy mate, it's just me." Breathing heavily, "What...what the hell..." I said rubbing my head through my helmet.

Around me, Soap, Emile, Wrex, Kat, Price, Yuri and Ashley where all looking at me with looks of concern and a little fear. It was then I realized that I must had fallen asleep on the bench I was sitting on. "You okay?" asked Kat sitting down next to me and scanning me with her omni-tool.

"Yeah...just a strange dream." I said sounding hollow. "When was the last time you slept?" asked Ashley. I took a deep breath and stood up, "About a week ago." I said ignoring the bewildered looks. And I knew Kat and Emile had knowing looks on their faces, they were brother and sister Spartans afterall.

After the incident at Chora's den. Me and the others introduced our selves to Aviana Shepard and her team. After she was told about the data Tali had, she had us all tag along as she brought the evidence to the council. Now here we all sat in the main atrium leading into the council chambers waiting for Shepard, Tali, Garrus, and Kaidan to join us.

"How much longer do you think?" asked Wrex. "Depends on how much convincing Shepard has to do with them." said Price. "Get ready for a long wait then." said Ashley.

It had taken another hour before Shepard and the others came out of the council chambers. "Everything good?" asked Emile. "The council gave me Spectre status. And has given us the mission to track down Saren and bring him down." said Shepard.

"Finally. A good fight." said Wrex slamming his fists together. Shepard looked over at me, "I'm gonna need good soldiers to do this job. Xero, you and your people want in?" I looked from each of the people around me.

Price nodded. Soap smirked. Emile flipped his Kukri between his fingers. Yuri cracked his knuckles. And Kat just rolled her shoulders. Lastly, I landed on Tali, "You in Tali?" I asked kindly. The young Quarian looked at me with her glowing eyes, and I could make out the smile through her visor. "Yes."

I looked back at Shepard, "We're all in Commander." She nodded and smirked, "Gather your gear and meet us at these coordinates in an hour." she said sending the location to regroup to our omni-tools.

X

After we gathered all the gear we needed. Me and Kat sold the small ship to a local merchant. Easy money, though I don't think the Volus was happy at our 'intimidation' tactics to get him to pay a little more for it.

We arrived at the station where the Normandy was docked. Price whistled, "Damn. Now that's a ship." "The UNSC definately couldn't have made something like this by themselves." said Emile.

I could only smirk. Afterall I did tell them all about both Normandys and the features they were packing. The only one not knowing was Tali, who was starring at the frigate in awe. "You okay Tali?" I asked gently nudging her with my arm. She jumped a little. "Yes, it's just that...this ship looks amazing. I wonder what the drive core looks like."

I smirked under my helmet. She was still overly excited about tech like I had expected. I'm surprised she hasn't wanted to take a closer look at the nano suit yet.

Shepard was standing by the airlock talking with Anderson and Udina. "Good luck Shepard. Your gonna need it." said Anderson. "Don't worry, I got the best people I could find." She looked at us as we approached and smirked. "Infact, here's a bunch of them now."

The Captain and the politician looked at us and were shocked. "We late?" I asked casually. "No, just in time actually." said Shepard.

"I have to voice my concerns." said Udina. "And that would be?" asked Shepard. "Shepard already has a Krogan and a Turian on board. Can you trust a Quarian too?"

I didn't know what happened, but the moment those words spilled out of that bastard's mouth I was holding him off the ground by the throat. "You wanna repeat that?" I said with enough ice to turn a sun into a winter wonderland. "How dare you. Unhand me or I'll have you arrested!" Udina ordered.

I pulled him close so that his nose was almost touching my visor, squeezing his throat ever so lightly. "Try it. I. Dare. You." I hissed. "Enough! Xero release him." ordered Shepard. I gnashed my teeth and tossed Udina on his ass. "Take this under advisement. Keep your mouth shut." Without another word I spun on my heel and walked past everyone and into the airlock.

What just happened? I asked myself. I never lost control of my emotions. Hell I was trained to push them aside when a mission was on the line. A hand clasped onto my shoulder"Hay, you alright?" asked Emile. "Yeah, just...a little stressed out is all." I said simply.

Emile sighed, "Xero, Me and Kat know you better than you think. You never lose control because of stress, especially after all we've been through. So what is it really?" I looked down at my hands and sighed. "Honestly brother...I don't know."

X

The ship departed from the Citadel roughly an hour later. We were all gathered in the briefing room while Shepard briefed us on the mission. "According to the information we've recieved; we have three priority objectives." A large map of the Traverse came on at the head of the room. A red blip appeared in a star cluster "The colony Zulu's Hope has been experiencing a lot of Geth activity lately. And transmissions with them went offline a week ago."

Another blip appeared, "On the planet Noveria, there have been reported sightings of Matriach Benezia. Since she working with Saren, it would be the best place to catch her and find out what she knows."

The last blip appeared, "And lastly, Benezia's daughter Dr. Liara T'Soni is said to be working on a Prothean digsite on Therum. Recruiting her could prove to be valuable for stoping Saren."

"Can we trust her? I mean she is Benezia's daughter." said Ashley. "We can't jump to conclusions Ash. Her knowledge of the Protheans could help us understand what the Conduit is and why Saren's after it." said Shepard.

"I say we go after Benezia first. Taking her out could put a dent in Saren's plans." said Garrus. "We should find Dr. T'Soni first. She could give us intel on her mother's abilities along with the Prothean data she's discovered." said Kat.

Shepard went into deep thought. "Kat's right. We should strengthen our team before going after Saren's right hand." I said outloud. The Commander nodded, "Then it's settled. Joker, plot a course for Therum." "Aye aye." said the pilot over the intercom.

"Everyone's dismissed. Except for Xero, I need to have a word with you." Everyone filed out, leaving me and the Commander alone. "You wanted something ma'am?" I asked standing in the 'at ease' position. "First, take off your helmet. I'd like to see the person under than thing if you don't mind." she said in honesty.

I hesitated a moment, then reached up and removed the helmet slowly. When Shepard got a good look at me she looked a little startled. "Your eyes..." "It's a long story. And I'd rather not talk about it." I said running a hand over my bare scalp.

After regaining her composure, Shepard spoke again. "I wanted to know how you and your team are handling everything." I shrugged, "A mission's a mission. No matter what, we'll get the job done." Shepard gave me a look, I could tell she was trying to read me.

She couldn't, and I could tell it frusterated her.

"I need to know that I can trust everyone on board. You have to understand that with a mission this important I have to know about the people I'm fighting with." said the Commander. "What are you asking ma'am?" I asked.

Shepard sat down, motioning for me to do the same, "Honestly? Other than Soap, Yuri Price; Kat and Emile have some pretty strong and impressive armor. And yours...I can't even fathom how you got your hand's on such a powerful suit." She looked me in the eye, "Basically...I get the feeling that there's something up. No one in this galaxy has the kind of tech you and the other two have, so how did you get it?"

Everything kind of closed in on me there. If i didn't tell her, then she wouldn't be able to trust any of us...that left me with one option. And believe you me, I had to make that decision wisely. But regardless, she did have a right to know the truth.

So I sat there and told Shepard everything, how I was hoping different dimensions and bringing others with me each time. I told her about the Spartan program I had undergone like the others. The fall of Reach. Fighting the Ceph and the Cell soldiers through the streets of New York. And saving the lives of Soap, Price and Yuri before winding up where we are now.

At the end of my tale, Shepard was speechless. "So...everything where your originated was just as video game?" I nodded, "Yeah. And because of that I had enough knowledge to keep myself and the others alive. But Kat had pointed out that everytime we step in, the timelines of each dimension drastically change. And who knows the changes we brought to this universe."

Shepard leaned back in her seat, soaking in all I had told her. She looked over the nano suit briefly, "So...that suit has a lot of perks doesn't it?" I sighed, "Yeah, but it's a symbiotic thing. After that Ceph pierced the suit and implanted it's cells into it, the suit changed, as did my body. Me and the suit are one. Neither can operate without the other."

The Commander sat up, "So, those nanites you talked about. Their-" "Inside my by body as well." I finished for her. "From what Kat could make out, the nanites have greatly improved my physiology. Because of the augmentations from the Spartan program, I was able to survive the change in my body. As well as keep the suit from bonding with me perminently like it was trying to do with the last one who wore it."

I looked at the ceiling, "I can regenerate from wounds quickly. My bones are harder than steel. And I'm faster and stronger than my fellow Spartans, which is unbelievable by every standard." I raised my hand and looked at it. "But I'm not invincible. The suit, along with the augmentations have limits. And there's a strong chance that I can burn myself out if I fight at my fullest for too long."

Silence filled the room. My red eyes were still focused on the ceiling above me when I heard Shepard stand up. "Thank you, for trusting me with such a large secret. And I swear, that the information won't leave this room." I stood up, "Thank you Commander. I will give you what info I can on the missions we go one to help us." I looked at her, "Is that all ma'am?"

Shepard nodded, "Your dismissed." I snapped a salute and headed for the door. "One last thing though." Shepard said making me pause. "That Spartan program...it sounded horrid and inhumane..." she said sadly. "How bad was it...for you?"

I kept my back to her as I slipped my helmet back on. "I died four times on the operating table. Forcibly brought back each time. ONI didn't want their prized weapon dead." I walked out the door, but I could feel the pain and sorrow filled look she gave me as I left.

A/N: The team are on the Normandy, but how much will change with the increase in Shepard's crew. Therum will be up first, and there's going to be a hell of a shocker for you guys.