Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter 7: Recruitment

Lia'Vael nar Ulnay stole a quick glance towards Revan as she set the contents of her field pack on a table set up at the starboard side of the Normandy's transport bay. The man had simply been staring into the cargo crate Miranda had brought down, his unmasked face blank as he looked down at his belongings. Luckily, her shot had been absorbed mostly by Revan's barrier and armor, what little did get through only left superficial wounds that had healed quickly. Lia still felt terrible over the matter though, and had been trying to make the space Shepard had set aside for the two of them livable while Revan inspected his possessions.

"They took apart my bloody lightsaber."

Revan was frowning as he spoke, his eyes confused as he glanced at where Miranda was still standing with her arms crossed and her eyes locked with his own.

"We needed to understand their functions and the threat they posed to us… we met with failure at every turn. I suppose those efforts were wasted now that you are here."

Revan reached down into the crate, carefully collecting the cylindrical casing and the scattered components of the lightsaber Miranda had managed to take apart.

"I'm surprised you're still alive."

The Cerberus Operative shifted slightly at the honest surprise she heard in Revan's tone as he took a small case from his belt within the crate and set out the components on the table Lia was working over. The quarian quickly made room for Revan, glancing uncertainly in his direction as he began wiping off the components with an odd, slightly glistening cloth he'd taken from an airtight pouch on his reacquired belt.

"For a lightsaber to function properly… the refinement of the parts and their alignment has to be so precise, so finely tuned that even a computer or droid cannot calculate the necessary variable. If you'd managed to put this back together and it wasn't aligned to within a ten trillionth of an atom's width… well, you and everything within several hundred meters would have been atomized. Jedi and Sith use the Force to align the crystals properly with the necessary components. The Force… the Force will let us know when the adjustments are correct. We then create a feedback process that automatically disables the weapon if that changes. Getting it wet for instance or cutting one in half with disengage the energy loop rather than cause it to expand violently in a… well, nasty explosion."

Having seen firsthand how dangerous certain parts of Revan's armor were Miranda was not surprised by the destructive capabilities of the strange cylindrical device she'd taken apart, merely apprehensive when she learned how precise the weapon needed to be aligned to serve its proper function. By the term lightsaber, the Cerberus Operative correctly surmised the weapon was a type of energy blade, so when Revan finished cleaning the components and an invisible field of energy reassembled the components as they'd been when she first saw them, Miranda was unsurprised at the blue beam of energy precisely one meter long that jumped from one end of the tube. She was curious as to how the weapon would remain functional if its alignment was such a fine process and a simple jostling would throw off the functionality of it. As if reading her mind, which Miranda mused darkly was entirely possible, Revan answered the question in a tone most teachers used when instructing a student.

"A very precise dampening field is fed through the weapon. It acts in conjunction with a series of focusing lenses and energy cells that create a sort of nullified field. A trained Jedi or Sith can use the Force to properly align the necessary components in any scenario… It actually becomes almost second nature to us. Others use a stasis field to hold the component in place. It is still functional despite the stasis, but it makes the weapon more resilient. The stasis field is also necessary if one were to want their weapon to function underwater or in more… hostile environments. I still have yet to add that function to these weapons. When I initially crafted them… well, I wasn't myself."

Chuckling at some private joke humorlessly, Revan set the functional lightsaber he'd crafted on Dantooine while retraining as a Jedi on the workbench, his thoughts turning to the other lightsaber. Using the Force the saber rose gently into the air and slid into Revan's waiting hand. Wincing slightly as his left hand bumped the table, Revan ran his eyes along the elegant Sith designs of the weapon he'd received on Korriban during Uthar Wynn's trials. He could have made a much better weapon, but like the one the reprogrammed identity that had controlled his mind during his second search for the Star Forge had crafted on Dantooine, it was a part of him. He'd worn the weapon and used it with the Jedi weapon to kill Malak on the Star Forge. Thinking of his former Apprentice, Revan scowled darkly and tried to focus on the present. The Jedi had taken the decision away from him in regards to Malak and part of him wondered if there would have been a better way. He'd been a brainwashed tool at the time and once his real memories had returned, Revan had spent his time ensuring that the Jedi Council remembered he wasn't their pawn. He'd chosen his path when he'd gone to fight the Mandalorians. He just hadn't realized what it was until after the fighting was finished, by then it was too late to go back and he wouldn't have with the threat lingering on the edge of the galaxy.

"There was no mask in the inventory and I checked through the contents of the crate. All I saw were various armor pieces, a pressure suit, some simple black robes along with some leather gloves and boots that I assume you wear over the environmental-suit. I took the liberty of having them all washed for you, there was little damage to the items from your little swim in the Presidium, but I can't say for certain over your other equipment."

Revan nodded to Miranda, pulling out his wrist-communicator and frowning at it for a moment before he set it on the workbench, separate from his other things. With absolutely no modesty, Revan stripped of the Cerberus clothing that was provided to him after his brief stay in the Normandy's medical bay and Lia quickly turned away, her face flushing beneath her mask while Miranda merely tilted her head to the side and took the opportunity to peruse the man's visible physique and injuries. None of the scars she saw looked at all pleasant and after seeing the damage the man could unleash as well as take Miranda surmised that it would be a major wound that would down a man like Revan, especially if he was wearing his own equipment. The resilience tests she'd done with the unknown metal of his armor had shown a ridiculous amount of resistance to kinetic force as well as heat. It was unlike any type of metal she'd seen before and Cerberus was currently trying to decode the various elements present in the small sample she'd given them, trying desperately to recreate the strong armor that Revan was currently inspecting as he finished pulling a semi-loose set of black robes over his pressure suit.

"The only thing missing is my mask. It has a respirator that lets me operate in vacuum or in a poisonous environment as well as a data recorder with some of my more… colorful exploits on record. I suppose I could use the wrist-comm's power cell to adapt to a blaster. I'll need some more supplies for that, but I'm almost certain I can make a nice new toy for you, Lia."

Lia glanced up from the bulkhead, seeing that Revan was decent and shifted slightly, frowning as she cautiously approached the man. Seeing him in his armor, even without his mask was intimidating. While quarian blood was of a different color, Lia knew the significance of the colors that dominated Revan's armor and robes and cast a glance to see if Miranda was intimidated as well. The Cerberus Operative's features were blank, though a hint of curiosity was shining in her blue eyes as she watched Revan wiping down his armor before setting it in place and tightening the straps over his robes.

"Almost feel like myself again."Revan commented as he flicked his wrists, checking the blades that popped out of his gauntlets in satisfaction. The metal was crafted in the Mandalorian style and was both strong and resilient. It would take centuries of misuse and neglect for the armor to degrade and Revan wasn't too worried about water having too much of a detrimental effect. Even blaster fire had difficulty piercing the armor, the common strategy amongst Republic soldiers being aiming at the unarmored throats of the Mandalorians or simply cooking them alive in their own armor from sustained fire. Kinetic energy was still deadly against the armor and while it may not penetrate the armor, it would transfer the concussive force within the pressure suit and leave a mess behind if a rocket or enough disruptor fire hit the warrior.

"Yes well Shepard is planning the next Operation and wants us all to meet him near the cockpit once he's finished giving his report to the Illusive Man. If you're finished here?"

Revan quickly cast a glance at his discarded wrist-communicator before shaking his head and simply placing his Omni-tool where the other device would normally be. The new device did not encumber his movements and Revan smirked slightly before checking his personal shield generator. While an energy shield would be pointless against projectiles, a Mandalorian dueling shield would function well enough until he could adapt a kinetic barrier generator to his armor. Shepard had only given him time to recover from his injuries and get his old items functional again before he'd mentioned the urgency of their next mission. Apparently a vigilante the Commander wanted to recruit had gotten himself cornered somewhere on Omega.

"You sure you want to come, Lia?"

Revan ignored the sniper rifle he knew wouldn't attach to his armor, even if his cloak wasn't in the way and used a shoulder-style harness to holster his SMG. The compact form of the M-4 Shuriken nearly hidden by his black cloak. Pulling his hood over his near-bald head, Revan scowled slightly at the different feel of his shortened hair on the material of his cloak before pushing it aside and securing his lightsabers to his belt.

"I already promised Shepard I would help, Revan. I won't go back on my word."

Revan glanced at the quarian as she took his discarded sniper rifle and nodded approval. Better for her to keep her distance for the time being. She was trained to watch her own back, not work with a squad. Sniper duty would suit her and Revan already knew the quarian youth had steady hands. She would be a natural.

"Are you ready?"

Miranda's voice was impatient as she did a check of her pistol and SMG, her eyes flicking up to the two new crewmen. She had no doubt both would have something valuable to ring to their mission against the Collectors, but they were wasting time with all of the small talk and reassurances. It was beginning to grate on the Operative's nerves.

"Lets move."

Revan stated as Lia quickly grabbed a bandolier of spare heatsinks, slipping it over her shoulder and across her chest before she joined Revan and Miranda in the elevator. Revan crossed his arms as his left hand opened and closed slowly, testing the still-healing damage done by his assault on the Krogan before the former Jedi leaned against the bulkhead, waiting for the lift to reach the Normandy's CIC.

The Illusive Man glanced over the report Miranda had sent him with a frown, trying to decide what he thought over the new player Shepard's team had found on Omega. While more help would be preferable to the Collectors continuing their operations uninhibited, it was an unknown element and from the carious abilities Miranda had cataloged on the dossier for Revan, a dangerous one as well.

"Shepard I'm reading the report on your two new crewmen. The quarian has shown hostility to Cerberus and this… Revan is an unknown. I'm putting my trust in you on this Shepard, but I want you to know what you're dealing with."

Shepard merely crossed his arms while the Illusive Man typed in an unseen sequence into the console by his chair and the hologram filled with footage of Anderson and Bailey interrogating Revan before it changed to the filmed parts of Revan's escape from the Citadel. The Commander watched it all silently, a frown on his face before he shook off his unease before the Illusive Man offered some good advice for once.

"You may want to keep him out of the more civilized parts of the galaxy, Shepard. Chances are the Council and any number of Information Brokers will be looking for this man. It may add unnecessary complications to your missions… especially if the man is planning to wear his original gear."

Shepard merely shook his head as he signed, feeling tired suddenly despite the hours of rest he'd gotten since they'd returned to the Normandy.

"He's a valuable asset to this mission. One I think we'll need before all of this is over."

The Illusive Man took a drag of his cigarette, breathing out the smoke slowly before simply nodding to Shepard.

"Its your call, Commander. Just be careful with this one."

As the hologram died, Shepard rolled his eyes and glanced at the door. No one had interrupted the meeting, but he still felt like someone was listening in. Glancing at the console for the controls and seeing EDI's glowing blue eye, Shepard did a quick check of his gear before leaving the Communications room and spotting his aide, Kelly Chambers giving him a furtive glance.

"Something on your mind, Kelly?"

Jerking slightly, the Cerberus psychologist glanced towards the front of the CIC where Revan, Miranda, Lia and Jacob were standing by the airlock, the blank features of Revan casting annoyed glances towards Joker as the pilot goaded the man.

"Seriously, is that a dress you're wearing? I mean, if that's your thing man its cool, free galaxy and all, but still. Clashes with your image don't you think?"

Revan had not spoken a single word since leaving the lift, merely communicating with nods to Jacob and Miranda's greetings and debriefing. If he were a less patient man, he may have even tried to use the Force to silence Joker, but the Force had given the Dark Lord an impression of the Normandy pilot's weakened physical state. He wasn't going to go around terrorizing cripples when he could just ignore them, regardless of how obnoxious they were being.

"I mean, don't get me wrong, the whole red and black thing? Totally badass and the armor helps, but man, you gotta put some pants on or people are gonna get confused as to if you're a woman or not."

EDI chose that moment to interject, her scanners picking up the increase in blood pressure in Revan as well as the expression that had just crossed his face.

"Mister Moreau, General Revan is from a completely different culture than any we are familiar with. It stands to reason that their weapons, technology and beliefs would be different or unrecognizable from anything you are familiar with. Also, the dress as you referred to, is similar to a Japanese style Hakama pants which is worn traditionally by both men and women as well as previously having been used by Samurai warriors as combat attire. The garments allow for comfort and mobility and are split into two distinct pant legs. Perhaps you should have Doctor Chakwas test your eyesight."

Flushing slightly at the taunts of the Normandy's AI, Joker ceased his taunting of Revan in favor of grumbling over talking appliances. Revan merely closed his eyes and took in a deep breath before letting it out. Drawing up his hood, the former Jedi Knight called on the Force to disguise his very unique presence. Unless someone was looking at him and trying to see it, they wouldn't notice his rather unorthodox clothing choice. It would simply escape their notice as an oddity.

"Commander… its about the new crewman you picked up. General Revan… I didn't really get the chance to speak with him but I've read the reports. He seems to be under a lot of stress and is separated from his own people and ways. There is a chance he may develop a type of disassociated sociopath behavior if this doesn't change. He has no real stock in anything in our galaxy and if his actions in the slums are any measure of who he is, he may not even realize his disconnection with the rest of the galaxy. He may simply categorize it into an unimportant nuisance and… with his powers, sir. I think he could really use a friend, sir."

Shepard glanced from Kelly's face to where Revan and Lia were inspecting each other's gear and frowned, wondering if their friendship was one-sided. As if reading his thoughts Kelly spoke up and addressed the concern nervously.

"I don't think Revan really sees Lia or… well any of us as people, sir. Just obstacles or tools. Its possible this is a coping mechanism he developed as a General to excuse sending others to die, but you can see it is unhealthy. Lia won't approach Revan over the issue, I'm sure. She's too shy, too polite and she feels responsible for the man at some level. I'd like to sit down and talk to him, sir… but I doubt he'd bother. He'd see it as a waste of time unless it came from someone he respected."

Shepard kept his gaze on Revan for a moment longer, commiserating on the time he'd spent working with the man in the slums and trying to get a bead on the man's personality. As far as he could tell, Revan was a fierce and intelligent fighter who could orchestrate a battleground with the skills of the General he claimed to have been and the Commander crossed his arms, grunting slightly as his muscles protested. It would've been nice to have a it more down time but from what he'd heard of the developments since going into the slums, his next recruit had gotten himself pinned down and was in trouble. The kind of trouble that wouldn't wait for bruises and sprains to go away.

"I'll keep that in mind, Kelly. I'd like to get a better feel of him before I try to have a heart to heart."

The seriousness in the Commander's voice shifted to sarcasm at the end and Yeoman Chambers straightened slightly, nodding to Shepard before she continued filtering through the messages the Normandy was receiving, prioritizing them and passing them along accordingly. Rubbing his head with his left hand, Shepard let out a quick breath, glancing at the lift as Zaeed walked out and moved to join the rest of the shore party at the airlock. The mercenary frowned as he eyed Revan and Lia momentarily before he shrugged and checked the heatsink on his M-15 Vindicator. He'd find out who the two newcomers were eventually. It was Shepard's show.

"Everyone set?"

Nods and affirmations were given to Shepard's question and the Commander cast a quick glance to Joker, ignoring the pilot's mocking salute before stepping out of the Normandy's airlock and into Omega's docking port. The smell hit him instantly, a mixture of rust, alien body odors and stagnant air. Clearing his throat slightly, the Commander moved on, making a beeline for Afterlife. He'd need to speak with Aria to smooth over the coming violence and get some advice on where to find the vigilante.

"Miranda, take Revan and Lia down to the shops. Get Revan a kinetic barrier if you can find a decent one and make sure we've got enough heatsinks. Jacob, Zaeed, you're with me. We'll get the go ahead from Aria and meet up in the lower level of the club. I could use a drink anyways."

Revan, Lia and Miranda all exchanged glances before the Cerberus Operative sighed and jerked her head in the direction of the shops, resigning herself to playing quartermaster to the new crewmen. Neither Revan nor Lia bothered upgrading their weapons and Revan opted out of a Kinetic Barrier due to time constraints, merely turning up the power on his Mandalorian dueling shield instead.

"You sure that is going to hold up to the punishment we're going to be facing?"

Miranda wasn't concerned, not really. Merely skeptical and curious of the alien device Revan had flashed her when she'd asked over his shielding. Revan shook his head at Miranda's comment, quickly bringing up a comparison of his old and no longer functional but still respectable kinetic barrier and the power output and energy deflection calculations of his dueling shields. Miranda rose a brow skeptically but decided it would be Revan lying on the ground bleeding out and not her and refused to comment further. Lia merely asked after a few odds and ends that Miranda gladly purchased, her thoughts turning to the upcoming mission.

"Shepard hasn't checked in since he went to speak with Aria. You don't think he ran into any trouble do you?"

Revan helped Lia secure her new purchases, his lips turning down in a frown as he glanced at the Cerberus Operative before reaching out with the Force and sensing Shepard's presence. The Commander seemed at ease, though what he was hearing from Aria wasn't sitting well with him Revan could sense Shepard was in no real danger from Aria. At least until he chose to fuck with her operation.

"Shepard's fine. Doesn't like what he is hearing, but no threat from any of Aria's people as of yet. We should probably head back there."

Shari'a T'Nala calmly sipped at her Asari honey mead, her pale blue eyes scanning the platform Aria dominated. The former C-Sec Officer's eyes narrowed as she watched the supposedly dead former Spectre speaking with her aunt and a frown played on her lips as she took in his companions. Two tall humans, one dark-skinned and carrying himself like a soldier and the other light-skinned with a hideous scar running along the side of his face were flanking the Commander. Taking in Shepard's appearance, Shari'a frowned at the cracks in his skin where a faint orange glow ran beneath his skin. The scars looked painful and Shari'a winced slightly, remembering the story that had filtered through C-Sec regarding the first human Spectre's death. Even if he'd survived getting spaced, obviously Shepard had taken some serious injury in the intervening two years.

Movement at the club's entrance caught Shari'a's eye and she turned to see a human woman enter with a quarian behind her. The cloaked figure beside the quarian caught the Asari's eye and she frowned as she recognized the armor she'd confiscated on the Citadel from Revan. He'd made contact with Cerberus then. Banishing the worry that thought brought to her, Shari'a slowly finished her sweet drink, savoring its flavor for a moment before she stood, making certain her kinetic barrier was active before she summoned a biotic barrier around her. The feeling of static energy on her skin pushed aside the Asari Matron's misgivings before she slowly climbed down the stairs, ignoring the two accompanying Revan and going straight for the man.

Trailing behind Miranda and Lia, Revan frowned as he pulled his hood over his head. Someone had spotted him and was tracking him. While that wouldn't normally concern him given his surroundings, the face that this person knew to look for him and had pierced the Force-suggestion spoke of both familiarity with him and a strong mind. Neither of those options were favorable to Revan if he was dealing with a potential assassin and the former Dark Lord of the Sith quickly palmed the shield attached to his left arm just above his Omni-tool and discreetly removed the serrated diamond composite blade he'd talked Jacob into giving him from the Normandy's armor. It wasn't as flashy as a lightsaber, but then again that was the point. Shifting as he held the blade in a backwards grip Revan locked eyes with Shari'a causing the former C-Sec officer to pause in her approach. Miranda and Lia hadn't noticed the exchange and were ahead of Revan several yards. The former Jedi General allowed the gap to grow, not wanting to endanger his allies in what was going to be a likely messy matter.

"C-Sec."

Revan's lips curved slightly as he turned fully to Shari'a. The Asari Matron frowned at the look on the man's face, shifting her gaze to his companions a moment before she felt the edge of a blade on her throat as Revan swept across the few yards between them in an instant, his grip on the composite blade firm and practiced. Shari'a's biotic and kinetic barriers flared briefly before they failed at the precise pressure and Force-assault Revan subtly used as he rested the blade against her jugular.

"I know you're not human… but you're near-human enough for me to know putting a hole there won't look good for your continued existence. "

Closing her eyes and giving off a quick prayer to her Goddess, Shari'a carefully opened the satchel she had slung over the shoulder of her armor and slowly pulled out the cloth-wrapped item within. Revan tensed slightly, but the Force did not sense any danger in the Asari's movement and Revan's eyes moved quickly to where Shepard was, the features of an older Asari were watching his exchange with Shari'a closely and with concern.

"This is Aria's place. You don't bring your problems here or they become her problems and you become dead."

Revan ignored the Batarian that had crept up behind him with a pistol, his eyes locking with Aria's. Keeping his gaze locked, Revan made a quick gesture with his hand, flinging the Batarian into a stairwell and knocking him unconscious before he smirked. Aria merely rose a brow, her frown still in place as she held up her hand and red dots from well-hidden snipers illuminated Revan's vital points, covered or not in armor. Revan tapped the blade against Shari'a's throat before movement from Aria's balcony brought in a new player.

Shepard watched Aria pace as she outlined the situation with Archangel. What he heard he didn't like. Apparently the vigilante had gotten cornered and was at the other end of a lot of guns and angry mercenaries. As he inquired as to Aria's interests, a guard motioned to the defacto leader of Omega and Aria had turned, honest surprise crossing her features before she muttered an Asari curse and approached the balcony of her club. Frowning and exchanging glances with Jacob and Zaeed, Shepard moved to Aria's side, his eyes closing in annoyance as he saw Miranda glancing about with a pensive look, Lia palming her sniper rifle and Revan holding a well-armored Asari at knifepoint.

"Drop it, Revan!"

Shepard's voice was strong and confident, piercing the noise of the club and causing silence to fall over the various guards, dancers and patrons as all eyes turned to the Commander before moving to the cloaked figure holding an Asari hostage.

"I didn't come to fight you, Revan."

Shari'a's voice was barely a whisper and she felt the razor's edge of the blade shift to avoid slicing her throat. Revan glanced from Aria's cold features to Shepard's pissed off expression and slowly held out his arms, making it clear he wasn't going to attack. Several guards of mixed species approached the man but Shari'a's lifted hand stopped their progress. The guards all glanced at Aria before the Asari Matriarch nodded slowly to concede to Shari'a's judgment. Several of the illuminated laser dots on Revan vanished, though two lingered on his heart before flicking off.

"Why did you come here, C-Sec?"

Revan's voice was a harsh whisper, the memory of C-Sec's treatment coating his words in rage, though his calm countenance gave nothing away. Turning to face the former Sith Lord, Shari'a held up the cloth wrapping, a corner of the pale blue cloth falling away and revealing a weathered red and black mask. Revan's blade disappeared as quickly as it appeared, his right hand raising and brushing along the exposed edge of the mask.

"I'm returning what I- what was illegally taken from you. I also wished to- to apologize on behalf of my people for your treatment on the Citadel. I do not speak for the Council, but I hope that you can- can forgive me for having any part in that. I'm… I'm no longer a part of C-Sec and while my leaving wasn't completely my choice, had I known what they were going to do and who you were, I would have tried to stop it."

The woman's face was earnest and the Force told Revan Shari'a was being completely honest with him. Frowning, Revan glanced down at his mask for a moment before slowly pulling it from Shari'a's grasp and inspecting it briefly. Nodding in satisfaction, Revan pulled back his hood and adjusted the enviro-seal, pulling the rubber-like material over his head and then placing the mask carefully over his face. A series of clicks and hisses overcame Revan's hearing momentarily before he took in a filtered breath and chuckled, pulling his hood back over his head.

"That's much better. I don't think we've been properly introduced. General Revan Qel-Droma, former Emperor and Dark Lord of the Sith and Jedi Knight."

Holding out his hand, Revan's masked features tilted down slightly, the gesture disturbing Shari'a momentarily before she slowly reached out and took the man's hand. Revan was the type of man to commit fully to a set of standards. A Code really. While the code Revan followed was questionable at times, Shari'a's centuries of knowledge and early fascination with Justicars could understand the former Jedi Knight's motives. Even respect them on some level despite their horrific execution.

"Shari'a T'Nala, former C-Sec Officer. Currently… seeking alternate employment."

Shepard watched as Revan calmly spoke with the woman he'd been threatening moments before, his frowning features turning to see Aria giving him a bemused look before the Asari Matriarch shrugged indifferently and took a seat at her favored spot.

"I think my old… friend, Shari'a might be able to help you on your little quest against the Collectors, Shepard. They really made a mess of those slums… more so than they were and I won't lose any sleep if there are fewer of them in the galaxy. I think you'd better hurry though if you want to get to Archangel before those mercs do. There's a recruiting station just down there. I'm sure they won't mind a few extra guns. Just don't make anymore trouble for me."

Still frowning, Shepard glanced at Aria and thanked the Matriarch before moving to where Miranda was still holding the grip of her pistol and frowning,

"I recognize her, Shepard. C-Sec officer for two centuries at least, the one responsible for cataloguing and storing Revan's possessions on the Citadel during his initial arrival. I suppose we know what happened to his mask now… I'm surprised she was able to keep it from Cerberus and the Citadel."

Shepard shook his head as Jacob came up to his side, crossing his arms as he watched Lia cautiously approaching Revan and Shari'a as the two spoke quietly.

"The Citadel can miss a lot of stuff when they're not really looking. Hell, Sovereign was inside the damned Citadel and they're still in denial. We've seen what Revan can do, do you honestly think they'd waste their time trying to hunt down one man?"

Shepard frowned as he remembered his induction into the Spectres and his initial purpose.

"This sounds forebodingly familiar… Miranda, get Joker on the horn. I want EDI doing a full search of known Council Spectres and their current assignments. Chances are Revan or this Asari have a tail. If we're going to have a Council Spectre on our asses… I want to know about it."

Sighing in annoyance at to continued complications Revan was bringing to the Lazarus Cell's mission, Miranda nodded to Shepard and quickly activated her Omni-tool while Zaeed Massani moved from the stairs to Shepard's left side, palming his assault rifle thoughtfully.

"He's fast. Moved like a pro too. Got that blade right past that Asari's barriers before she could blink. You've got yourself an assassin there, Shepard. That or a fighter with some bad hobbies and anger issues."

Glancing at Zaeed's scarred features, Shepard sighed rubbing his buzz cut and trying to make sense of the new situation.

"I'm getting the feeling we're going to have a new hand on the Normandy. Suppose the firepower she'd bringing will be nice."

Jacob nodded towards the very expensive and heavily modified pistol sitting at Shari'a's waist and Shepard quickly grabbed the Cerberus Operative's arm, making a motion to Zaeed to follow him.

"We got some mercs to see about Archangel. Lets do it sooner rather than later. Miranda, I'm taking Zaeed and Jacob with me, make sure the rest of the squad is ready to go. I'll give you our position once we get to where Archangel is holding out. I think we'll be chancing it with more then three recruits if we want to get by the mercs and to Archangel first."

Zaeed nodded to Shepard's assessment, his good eye fixing on the Commander's frazzled expression.

"Probably for the best. More than that and they'll get suspicious. More men means less of a cut. Not merc style if you get my meaning."

Shepard eyed Zaeed warily before nodding slowly and stalking down to the recruitment center the Mercenaries attacking Archangel. All this posturing was starting to get on his nerves. Making short work of a wannabe merc who was just a kid with a gun, the Commander took his squad to the transport site, his Omni-tool subtly broadcasting a low-level signal linked directly to the Normandy and monitored by EDI. Hopefully Miranda could straighten out the situation in time for the attack on Archangel's holdout. Otherwise he'd just have to make due with the Mercenary and the former Corsair.