Disclaimer: Don't own Mass Effect, do own all Original Characters in this story

Chapter 3

Whisper

None of this makes sense, why? Why would Cerberus a group that Shepherd nearly destroyed resurrect him. Imari's borrow crinkled in thought looking at the data pads laid out in front of him. It was like this was some big puzzle and he needed to put together to see the bigger picture. It had been years sense he had seen Shephard last and the two men, buddies during their trying were vastly different men now. It made sense to pick Ashley for the team she other than Anderson had the closest ties to Shepherd before the original Normandy was destroyed.

What am I missing? Ronin mused , the Collectors why take human colonies through humanity was numerous they were not the most physical versatile race. The Krogans or Turians would have been better picks. So why humanity? Rubbing his face in vain attempt to fight off the sleep that his body had demand. He needed to speak the Matriarch, she always had answers, insights that he would miss. Sighing he place the data pad down on the table he was getting no where like this.

"Come on Nate what are you doing out there?" He my have never talked much to Nathaniel after they went their separate ways but the bond they shared was something that was unbreakable. Imari gathered himself and sat down in the middle of the his cabin's floor. Taking a deep breath he let everything melt away, along himself to go deep in his mind. The center, your place of peace was different for each person his was a single Sakura Tree over looking a churning dark ocean and a bright setting sun on the horizon. Their teacher Matriarch Chloe told them that each place , each center was different for every biotic. Also that landscape changed as the person grow. Under the tree sitting was attractive Asari dressed in flowing robes. Imari sat down in the same crossed legged position just in front of her..

"What is troubling you child?" Her voice was soft, as gently as cool breeze that was blowing.

Taking a deep breath " Its Shepherd and this mission, it just does not seem right something is off." Her eyes opened and she smile that same all knowing comforting smile that made want to lay all you fears to bear before her.

"Pieces of the puzzle are missing truths that are important, all buried under lies and half truths "

"He is in trouble and I don't who or what is after him, I needed to help him but I feel disconnected from him. Ever since we lost you and I choose to go into black ops he has been distant." the memories of her death hunted him till this day. Just like the memories of the loss of his family the pain, anger and grief had been burnt into his very soul.

"You walk a path in a world that he wishes to forget." The Matriarch placed a hand on his cheek brushing a strand of the brown hair from his face. "There is such turmoil in his soul, a darkness vast and ageless claws at him. He fears this beast but they are tied together. For him to overcome it, you must over yours." His darkness the churning ocean below them endlessly vast as it was deep. Waters so dark the light of the setting sun was consumed by it depths. "My little warrior, my Ronin always searching for a cause to fight for, always desiring freedom from past regrets. You must understand his pain to free him from the darkness. Only when you seas are calm and clear will that understanding come. "

Just after Matriarch Chloe death

Anger it was all that he felt at the moment, they had killed her being a traitor. For teaching them, the lost, forgotten, the street rats and orphans, they spat upon them. She however taught them to exist and not harm those around them. They - the Asari her own people branded her a traitor blasphemer out convenience and political expedience. Oh he hated them, a hate that churned, burned and ate his very soul.

"Shepherd I am joining Alliance Black Ops ." He stated plainly Imari knew that Shepherd would be angry. He did not care, Shepherd was a man that had no family he could not never understand the hate ripping at his soul. Batarian Slavers had taken his family and now Asari politics had taken his master.

"Imari no...they are nothing more than killers and xenophobes you've seen what the Hades division has done even to its own people. Revenge is not what she would want us to do." Nathaniel plead but Imari gray eyes hardened even more his turning in a venomous sneer.

Imari shook with anger as he screamed " Her own people killed her, framed her and killed her all because she taught a bunch of gutter rats the Asari precious biotic teachings. They lied to Alliance to all of us and she is dead because she had no more use. Our teacher and master is dead because she would not sell us out and kill us." Shepherd recoiled from the verbal assault his friend always had issues with his anger. Who wouldn't given his past but Nathaniel knew he was good person. When the first came to the training center . He and Imari fought for what seemed like hours neither willing to give into the other. Only when they were on the ground with barely enough energy to spit an insult at the other did she appear, the two soldiers out of boot half expected to thrown into the brig. No she smile and told that was an impressive display of biotics.

"I know Imari, I know she was only mother I ever knew but she would not want you or me to go down that road" Imari was not inches from shepherds face eyes narrowing,

"The only mother you ever knew and you too much of a coward to find the people that did this." the brown haired man hissed through clenched teeth.

"What do you know? While you were growing up you nice house, I was running the streets, while your friends played in back yards, I was digging through dumpsters for my next scrap of food. ." Shepherd fired back pushing Imari back.

"Right until I saw them murdered by slavers and my sister raped and shipped off while I laid dying on ground. But what do I know right?" turning to leave Imari voice hung in to air, the anger completely gone replaced by a cold ire. "You stay here and hide behind her dead memory."

Imari was pulled out of the memory hanging his head low part of him regretted that day. The relationship had chilled after that both men walking there own paths. Shepherd to Akuze and he to Operations in the Terminus Systems

"I never wished to see you consumed by revenge but yet the need still fills you soul." Imari looked up as she started fade away in to mist as familiar fog settled into the area.

"Lieutenant." Ashley voice pulled him gently out of his meditation and he was still just as lost as he was before he entered. Ashley wait from him raise from his siting position. " I did not mean to barrage in but you did not answer you do thought something was wrong."

"Its okay and Imari or Ronin will do, I hate my title." she noticed that his mask was back on covering up the lost and confused look he had in eyes.

"That will take some getting used but I can learn to like it." she smiled. " I talked to Cpt Bailey he was able to find Koylat Kiros. Said that his father and Shepherd came through about 3 weeks ago." Imari looked back at her smiling finally a lead something he could with on this mission.

"That name was in Anderson Dossiers for possible recruits." he mused grabbing to long rectangular objects and placing them on his back.

"I was thinking the same thing - first us, now one of his crew members son... it makes no sense. We are too emotionally attached for this type of mission." Ronin nodded in agreement making his way to the door.

"You're right and I think that is point... come on."

Tip Tap Tips

Legion found the behavior odd but intriguing at that same time. The Geth watched as it continued to work on repairing the console in front him. There had be a change in her behavior despite her quarters on the Normandy being destroyed and most of personal positions being lost. She was strangely happy and in good spirits. Despite the mountains of work she had in front of her with repairs. The Geth audio receptors picked up a strange rhythm coming from her helmet. Watching he noticed at her foot would sway in precise time with the deepest of the rhythms.

"Creator-Zorah this platform as a question." Coming out from under the console she was working on the engineer looked up at Geth platform confused.

"Yes Legion?" Legion's head flaps twitched almost as sign of it being nervous.

"We noticed that when the creator listens to a musical selection work output increase's but fatigue decreases along with stress levels why?" She could not believe that it just asked her this question and she was at loss on how to answer. How does one explain an emotional response to something that does not understand emotional.

"Its hard to explain Legion." She answered hoping that the answer would satisfy his curiosity. The confused lean of the its head and flexing of it head flaps told her she would have come up the an better answer. " I don't know Legion I guess it helps pass the time I can do my work without thinking it is work. It makes the job seem less tedious."

"But the music Creator-Tali-Zorah is listening to is human." She knew Legion did not hate humans. Hell the Geth was probably incapable of hate in the form she would understand.

"I guess it reminds me of some Qaurian music I have heard from before the..." her sentence trailed off not wanting to over the topic of the Morning Star War again.

"This platform agrees humans and the Creators have an amazing amount similarities Biological and artistic This platform wish's to understand art better why organics find it so important." Legion never ceased to amaze her, she never would have thought that a Geth would want to learn so much they were strangely curious about everything around them. Even more so about organics and other species she found it odd and comforting at the same time.

"What do you mean Legion by artistically similar?" Getting up from the ground as its eye flashed briefly. Then she heard the music playing from his speakers into Quarain she could tell by the language. Legion played another sample it was defiantly human from the sound it like it similar to what she heard in Shepherds music collection.

"The first piece was from the home world thirty years before the Morning Star War, We have reviewed all records and found while the Creators were technological more advanced than Humans. The Creators music had a striking resemblance to Human music of the late 20th and early 21st century." Tali stared at the Geth in complete disbelief did they keep a record of the entire Quarian history.

"Legion did the Geth keep records of life before the war?"

"Yes all records before the Morning Star War have been preserved. Historical, Artistic, Census records, Patents. The Geth preserved everything of cultural significance to the Creators." Legion said head leaning to the side head flaps raising as it observed her response. First the place her hand over what would have been her mouth. "Did this platform say something to upset Creator Tali'Zorah?"

Tali was overwhelmed every Quarian thought their entire history and culture was lost when the Geth drove them from Rannoch. What she heard just know proved that completely wrong their history, music, and art had been preserved. She could not form any words she did the only thing that came to mind. She jumped at Legion wrapping her around the confused Geth platform in delight.

"Oh Keelah thank you Legion, thank you, thank you thank you." She repeated over and over again much Legion growing confusion pulling back leaving her arms on his shoulders.

"This platform is confused, why would be thanking the Geth for doing what the Geth were designed for?" She was to happy at moment she laughed as his question, Shepherd was right he was like child-A child with a Anti-material rifle.

"Because its the Art and history that makes us who we are, its the expressions of the our souls and the records of our past, triumphs, achievements and regrets its everything that makes us who we are." she explained.

"Understood , but we are still confused , humans evolved light years away from the Creators yet there are overwhelming similarities in thier music." the Geth continued.

"Maybe humans and Quarians have similar souls..." That would explain her and Shepherd in a nice easy way.

" We have no data available on a soul. Creators said the Geth did not have souls." Now that hit her harder than she expected. For the months that Legion had been on the Normandy after their confrontation in the AI core they keep their distance. Now she had to wonder Legion asked about art and history where her ancestor mistaken maybe they did have souls. Shepherd told her that home world has preserved but it was not safe and Legion was elaborating.. The Geth lived on large space stations. Legion watched for a brief moment before bring up his omini-tool and showing her a picture of what looked like a monument in enclosed space flowers and trees all around it. It was statue of shining star.

"Legion did...did the Geth build that?" it was beautiful, how could a mere program build something so beautiful.

"Yes to record the Morning Star War.."

"But you must have found the design somewhere else right?" She had to asked still in disbelief.

"Negative the Geth created the monument." it stated planning the words took time for her process but she just heard him say they created the monument themselves. They could create, not just design but create from their own even more to even have the thought to remember the dead at all. "It took 52 years 231 days and 16 hours to reach consensus on what the Creators would like as a monument."

"Wait... What?"

Miranda's Office

This was getting her nowhere they has been at it for about 3 hours and the only thing that Kasumi and Thane could agree on was on how not agree on the point of entry.

"Why do all that work when we can slip in right here" the master thief point at the spot on the holo-map. "And not have to sneak past three floors of guards."

Thane's black eyes narrowed ever so slightly her impatient nature was ruffling his feathers some what. "That would leave us in the most secure section of the complex with little support and escape. It is not practical

"Neither is sneaking past three floors of guards." crossing her arms across glaring at the Master Assassin.. "Its a waste of time." Miranda pinched the bridge of her nose plotting how to kill the m both.

"Both you enough." the raven haired women barked grabbing their attention. Kasumi looked as if she wanted to argue but the look Miranda gave could have thrice frozen hell over. Thane simple raised an eyebrow ridge. "Let me check something here.." a few clicks on her omni-tool followed by few seconds of the silence. "Excellent the CEO son is throwing a party there in the three days we can slip in then. We can break up in the three teams. first team will be the insertion team they go for the location of the funds we need. Second team will make the insertion at this point and make there way to underground research faucet below the house. There they we get the data on the virus that Exo -Geni is creating. Team three will be waiting with the Hammerhead if things get well … interesting."

Thane and Kasumi looked at her plan both going over in detail it was good they had to admit. They wanted to disagree on the finer points but Miranda narrowed eyes told them that it would rather unwise.

"I do have a question why would they keep a massive research lab under the CEO's house." Kasumi asked it was rather odd.

"The CEO owns that island and he his own private army, there to protect his companies secrets." Kasumi nodded slowly taking in the information.

"What about any test subjects?" Thane asked. "We should have Mordin and Chakwas waiting with shuttle just in case."

"If there still alive I am expecting any to be but I think we manage.." Miranda noticed the slow grin appearing on Kasumi face.

"So does this mean we get to go shopping"

Ain't no rest of the Wicked

She had to admit Imari four man team was rather interesting, there was the Pilot Dominique 'Sallow' Baxton . She was tall beautiful dark skinned women with dark brown dread locked hair and wicked sense of humor. Ashley could see some kind of tension between her and Imari but choose to ignore it for the moment. Then the was almost silent Vance 'Orion' Jones' a quiet man that didn't he looked to be the sniper of the team as well as biotic from the same program as Shepherd and Imari.

"So Dom how did you get the name Sallow you did not got through the same training as Imari and Vance here?" the pilot looked cut an eye at Ashley assessing the newest member of their little outfit. She screamed Alliance general issue Marine with every motion she half expected the women to be dead by the end of this little run. Still she did look half competent and if she was picked as Specter then she must be alright in fight.

"Your old buddy Jeff gave it to me in flight school." She answered.

"Get the hell out of here you and Joker went to flight school together damn. So was he really top of the class?" Dom laughed at the notion of Joker being better than her as pilot.

"Only because I pissed the instructors off more times than he did, those assholes were idiots they couldn't fly their way out of a wet paper bag. Well everyone but one, Athena that woman could make a dreadnaught dance. She is the one that gave us our nicknames his because he never smiled and mine because I'm always more graceful in the air than at big formal dinners." Truth of the matter was that she was worried about Joker. She always looked out of for him during there academy days. Jeff's condition always made him a target for the other cadets and her being one of the only females and her background made it so she had bulls eye on her back as well. So they stuck together and showed all the rich bastards what real flying was about.

"Don't worry Skipper is going to take care of him and we'll find them and figure this out." Ashley notice the worried look crossing the woman's face. " You didn't..."

"Who Jeff .." Dom laughed. "No he is cute and all but well I would break him, literally . No he was always like my annoying little brother."

"Yeah he does have that vibe going with him.."

"Their bonding this is troubling." Vance said softly Imari looked over at the blonde man who's long flaxen hair was bulled back in ponytail, holographic visor over his left eye.

"Yeah it could be trouble, she now has a partner in crime." Both women snapped their heads around glaring daggers at there male companions. "See.."

"Eh whats the deal with Koylat kid anyway?" Dom turned the air car in to the flow of the traffic as the headed towards their target.

"He is the son of the Master Assassin Thane Kiros who happens to be a members of Shepherds crews." Checking his pistol he continued. "Few weeks ago dear old dad and the Commander came by and stopped him doing hit on dirty politician. Heard they pissed off a man by the of Elias Kelham."

"Shit this Commander knows how to make enemies." she stated cutting off a Salarian Truck drive who made some rude gesture as she passed.

"Yeah no shit..." Ashley knew all to well the truth behind that statement.

"So apparently my old buddy and Kiros were out to find the runner that set the contract up, one of Kiros's old contacts Mouse." Holstering the pistol as the Kelham apartment complex came into view. "Not to bore with the details but Kelham found out it was Mouse who sold him out and he now has Mouse held in his penthouse sweet. So Koylat is on his way to rush in and save little ole Mouse."

"You know could have just said cluster fuck.. see it works nice and to the point. This is a cluster fuck." Vance humph from back Imari eying his squad mate who simply shrugged and went back to making sure was rifle was in working order..

"So then whats the plan... we sneak in and grab the kid before Elias finds out ..." Ashley noticed a rather familiar grin appear on Imari face. It was same type grin Shepherd had when he was about to do something completely crazy.

Switch On

"Excuse me Mister Kelham ordered a pizza we here to deliver." Ronin walked up the two Turain guard one of the leveling his rifle and placing his finger on the trigger. "Move three steps to left." Imari heard in his ear piece from Orion was already in position in one of the adjacent buildings. Imari moved three steps to the left holding his arms out wide.

"Mister Kelham didn't order anything... how stupid do you think..." the guards head exploded in a cloud of blue and gray as the second opened fire the rounds bouncing off the Ronin biotic barrier. Before the guard could called for back up three shots where placed firmly in his centers mast. His last vision was of Imari holding the smoking gun.

"See that we went rather smoothly." Just then when the automated alarm activated and the Ymir Heavy Mech came to life.

"You just had to say something right..." Sallow pulled her pistol out as Ashley draw her assault rifle.

"So you got a plan?" Ashley could not help but ask.

Turning back to her "Yeah don't get dead." and the Mech opened fire with its heavy Machine gun. Ronin sprinted to the left to the closest pillar, Ashley found herself behind the receptionist desk firing as she went bullets bouncing harmlessly off its shields. Dom found herself taking cover behind on of the pillars to the right her omni-tool glowing as she threw a disruptor charge weakening its shields as it fired a missile in Ronin's direction. Diving out the way just as the pillar he was taking cover behind was destroyed. Ashley popped back unleashing hail of gunfire combined with second disruptor charge from Sallow it's shields finally fell.

"Go its shields are down." Ashley barked popping the heat sink from her rifle and loading new one. Ronin got back to his feet pulling out his sub machine firing as she ran forward. He focused as his body started to glow an ethereal blue seconds later he shot forward the impact of him hitting the mech sounding through out the lobby.. The Ymir however did not stagger instead its hand clasp around Ronin throat hoisting him in the air gasping for the breath that was being squeezed from him.

"Um... a little help would be nice." the Ymir tossed Ronin across the lobby his body hitting the wall with a dull thud. Ashley switched incineration ammo, bullets melting some of its armor plating. Dom rolled out of cover throwing her hand forward the mech started to glow blue at it bent and buckled from the force of biotic field. Ronin pulled himself from the ground coughing recovering quickly he charged the Ymir again this time the behemoth stumbled from the impact. Ronin unloaded a full clip into the machines chest ripping into the sensitive circuitry under the heavy armor. Ronin with almost psychic precognition avoided the mech's wild swing.

"Ashley now!" Dom yelled holding the mech in place was stasis field the solider rushed forward climbing up the mechs arm she placed one of her grenades into the open hole. Jumping off its back and rushing to cover as she pressed detonator. The Ymir was torn asunder by the high explosive its chest being rip open from shoulder to waist.

"Come on that would have tipped them off." Imari said starring down at the smoking wreak.

Notes: Ah the opening fight scenes is always a relief to write oh and no Ymir mechs where hurt in the making of this chapter