The Malevolence

A single ship was still docked with the Citadel, a single, triangular, prototype ship. The ship had bent triangular wings that made the ship slightly more fearsome. Suddenly, the ship tore off of the station and began to cruise away from the Citadel.

Garrus, Sidonis, and Wrex just arrived on the Destiny Ascension when they heard a voice yell, "Sir, the SRV Odyssey just took off!" Garrus and Wrex exchanged glances. They cannot let anyone know they were a part of this.

"Garrus!" a voice greeted. The turian looked up and saw Anderson walk towards them.

"Anderson," Garrus said in surprise. "You aren't one of Bane's hostages?"

"I was recalled from the Destiny Ascension at the last moment," Anderson explained. "It was a good thing too. Who's your friend?"

"Sidonis," Garrus introduced. "We're here to see if there's anything we can do to help, being a former C-Sec officer."

"We're preparing an infiltration team while we're setting Zaeed's release from Purgatory." Anderson showed them to the meeting room. Garrus, Wrex, and Sidonis took their places in the crowd as a Turian officer stood in front of the room.

"Men," the officer said strictly. "I am Agent Mindor. I'll be in charge of this operation. You all know the situation. A Quarian bounty hunter that operates under the alias of 'Bane' has gathered a small team and taken the Council, several ambassadors, and the Council's advisors hostage. If we can take them all out, we will not need to release the bounty hunter Zaeed Massani." A holographic map of the Destiny Ascension appeared. "The bounty hunters have only control of a small portion of the ship." A small area of the image began to glow red, indicating the area that the bounty hunters had control of. "We have confirmation that a single Volus has separated from the group and locked himself in the ship's security center. Now, they can monitor every corner of the ship. Rumors say that some Krogan that Bane originally hired have gone rogue somewhere on the ship, but that's not what we need to worry about. After looking at blueprints of the ship, we have plotted the best route of infiltration." On the holographic map, several areas began to glow green. "A main infiltration team can slip through a series of ventilation shafts that will lead to a hangar bay on the port side of the ship. The hangar has a network of transport systems that lead to the Council Chamber on the ship, where they are being held hostage." Garrus knew it was standard procedure to try and sneak a squad to a good vantage point. From there, they could take out the hostage takers without fulfilling the hostage takers' goals. That is assuming the team got close enough without being detected. "A secondary infiltration team can use the main vent shafts that lead into a hall that leads to a room right above the Council Chamber. We hit them hard, we hit them fast! They'll never see this coming."

"You're wrong about that," Garrus said. The entire room turned to face him.

"Excuse me?" Mindor asked.

"If we plotted this route, Bane will probably know about this route as well." The officers and agents in the roof murmured among each other when they head this.

"Even if he did, we have no other way," Mindor said. "Garrus, you and your friends will join me as part of the main infiltration team. I've already chosen the main infiltration team; the rest of you will join the secondary infiltration team and head through the main vent shafts. MOVE OUT!"

Bane was pacing around the large atrium where he held the Council and their advisors hostage.

"Bane," Snu-Cal said over the radio. The Volus had gone to the ship's security center to help monitor the situation. "C-Sec is preparing for an infiltration. They're headed your way." Bane growled angrily when he heard this.

"How long?" he asked.

"ETA: 3 minutes.

"Transmit the location to my omni-tool!" Bane ordered. "Seal all the doors surrounding this room! Hack into the main computer core! Transfer all control to my omni-tool! I want control of doors, service drones, life-support, EVERYTHING!" Bane turned and faced Cyclops. "Take the mechs and intercept the team using the ventilation shaft."

"We're better off here," Cyclops argued.

"We must stop the infiltration teams before they get too close. DO AS I SAY!" Cyclops glared at Bane, and Bane glared back. The Batarian did not want to know what Bane would do if he did not follow Bane's orders.

"Fine," Cyclops growled.

Ashley stood on the bridge with Tali and Liara as Joker piloted the ship through FTL. Ashley wore her pink armor while Liara wore the green one she always wore.

"You know, even if we do stop Sovereign, C-Sec will still arrest us for stealing a ship," Liara said. "And without evidence of Sovereign's existence we will not be able to convince them to release us."

"We have no other choice," Tali said.

"When are we going to get there?" Ashley asked impatiently.

"The cargo ship that was carrying Sovereign's debris traveled along this course," Joker said. "We'll be arriving…now." As soon as he said that, the Odyssey exited FTL. The three women looked out the window into the darkness of space. They all stared at a field of debris floating through space.

"We're too late," Tali gasped. The debris field was made from the debris of the cargo ship and its escort.

"We're picking up another ship," Joker said anxiously. "It's the Malevolence."

On board the Malevolence, Gore quickly walked through the ship. He had to tell his master what just happened. He walked into a small chamber where a dark, cloaked, hooded figure sat upon a throne. It was the super-creature that was made. The creature now had a large hood that covered most of its neck and hung out in front of the flaps on the end of its neck.

"My lord," Gore said. The super-creature turned to face Gore. As its neck turned, a set of menacing jaws slowly extended from the flaps on the end of its neck.

"Speak," the creature said in a dark, hollow, demonic, voice that seemed to echo in a menacingly. When Gore helped create the body, he never imagined what its voice would sound like. The body had the voice of a thousand demons.

"We have detected the Alliance ship Odyssey exiting FTL," Gore explained. "The ship was given to Jeff Monroe. If the pilot is onboard, we can presume that his team is." Hearing this new information, the creature rose to its feet. His cloak dangled on the ground. There was a click and a holographic screen appeared in front of the creature. On the screen showed the image of the Odyssey taken from the ship's sensors. "Should we continue on our course to the Citadel, or break off to attack?" The creature took a moment to think.

"Break off course, arm all batteries, and open fire on the Odyssey," the creature finally said.

"Yes…my Lord, Sovereign," Gore replied, bowing before his master. The Krogan turned and left the room, leaving Sovereign, in his new body, staring at the screen. Seeing this, only one thing came to mind.

"Revenge is MINE!" Sovereign growled through his gritted fangs.

Mindor and his squad snuck through the halls of the Destiny Ascension. The squad was larger than usual, made of twenty seven squad members, including Garrus, Wrex, and Sidonis. The halls were pitch black after Bane, for some reason, pulled the power in the corridors.

"This is stupid," Garrus muttered as he snuck through the halls.

"It's our only option," Mindor repeated.

"Well, it's a stupid option. He'll see us long before-"

"Quiet," Mindor said. "Do you hear that?" The infiltration squad quieted down. The ship was silent, but they could just barely hear a faint tapping noise. Mindor shone his light in front of him, and saw a figure spring down the hall.

"There!" Mindor shouted. The entire squad charged after the figure, who led them down the corridor. As the squad turned the corner, they saw the figure close a door right behind him. If this was some sort of sentry they could not let him warn Bane. The squad burst through the door, and stopped dead in its tracks. They had followed their plan precisely and were now in the hangar they already spoke about. The only problem was, in the hangar was an entire army of mechs. The white, humanoid mechs all had weapons drawn and pointed at the squad. Outnumbered and outgunned, everyone considered retreating, but the door slammed shut behind them. Bane emerged from the crowd and stopped right in front of his army.

"Hello again, Garrus," Bane chuckled. "I've been expecting you." Garrus looked at Wrex, almost hoping the he had an answer, but the Krogan was just as stunned by the sight. It's a trap. Bane had led all of them into his trap.

"KILL THEM!" Bane roared. All of a sudden, all the mechs in the room began firing. The hangar was consumed in chaos as the squad of C-Sec officers returned fire. Sidonis pointed his pistol at Bane, but Bane drew his two pistols faster.

"Look out, kid!" Garrus yelled, shoving Sidonis behind a pile of boxes. Garrus took a quick shot at a mech, then turned and faced Sidonis.

"Are you trying to get yourself killed?" Garrus snapped.

"This won't end unless we kill Bane!" Sidonis argued.

"You won't kill Bane if he kills you first!"

Bane maneuvered through the battlefield, shooting every C-Sec officer in his path.

"Let's make this battle a bit more interesting," Bane said, typing something into his omni-tool. There was a whirring noise as the crane system came online. The crane system began to take out large crates and dropped them on the C-Sec officers! Bane smiled as he watched the officers panic. Everything was going exactly as planned.

The Malevolence flew straight at the Odyssey. Sovereign stood on the bridge, staring at the ship.

"We're in firing range," Gore said, looking at the sensors. Sovereign looked at his indoctrinated slave wickedly.

"Fire," Sovereign said.

On the Odyssey, Joker looked at his sensors.

"We're now in firing range," Joker said.

"Open fire!" Ashley yelled.

The two ships began firing at each other. The Malevolence unleashed a firestorm of lasers on the Odyssey as the Odyssey rained missiles on the Malevolence. Both ships were engulfed in flames from the explosions.

The Odyssey shook violently from the explosions.

"We're losing life-support on several decks!" Joker said in panic. "Kinetic barriers at fifty-two percent! Multiple hull breaches!" Another explosion sent pieces of the ceiling crashing to the floor! "Somebody get that fire out!" Liara grabbed an extinguisher and began dousing the flames. "I'm transferring all power to combat essential systems!" The lights in the ship flickered as the power was transferred.

The Malevolence rocked slightly as they were hailed with rockets and missiles.

"Kinetic barriers are at seventy-eight percent!" Gore said. "They have disabled their engines and rerouted that power into weapons and shields."

Everyone on the Odyssey nearly fell over when a jerk rocked the ship.

"What was that?" Ashley yelled. Joker quickly looked at his scanners.

"The force of their weapons fire is pushing us into the debris field!" Joker yelled. "It's draining out kinetic barriers!" Tali ducked as the control panel behind her exploded in a shower of sparks.

"Can you get us out of here?" Ashley yelled over the explosions. Joker kept looking at his readings.

"We already used too much power! We can either keep firing or move!" Ashley took a moment to think, then, she had an idea.

"Activate the engines!" Ashley said. "Everyone else, to the MAKO!"

"The MAKO?" Joker yelled in surprise. "What are you going to do?" But, everyone had already left.

Gore looked at his control panel, then looked at Sovereign.

"The Odyssey is abandoning its position!"

Wrex ducked behind another crate as another volley of bullets flew over him. He heard screaming as another crate fell on another C-Sec officer. Wrex jumped back out to take another shot at the mechs.

Bane walked out from behind a stack of crates and took another shot. Mindor saw that the bounty hunter was now exposed. The officer aimed his assault rifle at Bane. This single shot could end all of this. Mindor was about to pull the trigger when Bane turned and faced the officer. The bounty hunter pointed his pistol at the officer and pulled the trigger. The bang was lost in the chaos but the bullet hit Mindor straight in the chest. The commanding officer fell to his knees, grasping the wound in pain. As Mindor fell to the ground, he saw Garrus rush over.

"Sir," Garrus said.

"Looks like I won't be seeing the end of this like I hoped to," Mindor gasped. "Get him for me!"

"What about you?" Garrus asked.

"I'll be fine," Mindor said persistently. "Go!"

The second infiltration team moved quickly through the halls.

"We're nearly in position," one of the officers said over the radio. They turned around the corner and, suddenly, the hall was filled with the sounds of gunfire. The hallway leads to large room which had a winding staircase that lead to a floor above. On the staircase, Cyclops rained bullets with an automatic machine gun along with a small team of mechs. The entire squad jumped back behind the corner as the bullets hailed on the squad.

"This is the second infiltration team!" the officer yelled over the radio. "We've met heavy resistance! We have no choice but to fall back!" Cyclops cackled psychotically as he fired a massive wave of bullets from his machine gun.

"Are you sure this is going to work?" Joker asked Ashley through the radio.

"It has to," Ashley said from inside the MAKO. The Odyssey flew straight at the Malevolence.

"My lord," Gore said on the bridge of the Malevolence. "The Odyssey is coming for a second attack."

"Destroy it!" Sovereign growled fiercely.

There was a pop, and the Odyssey launched the MAKO towards the Malevolence. Joker veered the Odyssey off course so that the small tank could reach the ship. He watched as the MAKO rammed flew into the Malevolence. Joker almost chuckled when he saw this, wondering what Shepard would say if he were here.

"Sorry that we had to trash the MAKO , Commander," Joker said.

"It's okay. I never like the darn thing anyways."

The Malevolence rocked as the MAKO rammed into the ship.

"We have a hull breach," Gore said. "Sensors say that we have been boarded." Sovereign snarled angrily when he heard this. He turned and left the room.

"Stay here and defend the bridge," Sovereign growled as he left. "I have things to take care of."

"My lord," Gore protested. "They have already defeated you before…" Sovereign stopped when he heard this phrase.

"You doubt me?" he asked ominously.

"Of course not!" Gore quickly answered. "I am only saying it for your sake."

"Do not concern yourself for my sake. I shall deal with this myself." With that said, Sovereign disappeared down the hall.

Bane gunned down another C-Sec officer when he radio came on.

"Package has arrived," Sin said over the radio.

"Have Carmine pick up the package," Bane said. "Make sure that C-Sec knows that we are still in control." Now that his package has arrived, Bane has no reason to stay and keep fighting. He turned and ran through the doors behind him. Garrus watched as the bounty hunter sprinted down those halls, and he did not intend to let Bane get away. Ignoring the mechs and the bullets, Garrus jumped out from his cover and ran after Bane.

"Garrus!" Sidonis yelled as he tried to follow the former C-Sec officer. Wrex grumbled when he saw what was happening, but he got up and ran after the two Turians.

Bane was nearly where he needed to be when he noticed Garrus and Sidonis chasing after him. Bane's omni-tool appeared and he quickly typed a command in. There was a hissing noise as the doors closed behind Garrus and Sidonis, and right in front of Wrex. The krogan came to a halt right in front of the closed doors. Seeing that there was no way through, cocking his shotgun, Wrex ran down another hall.

Bane took a glance behind him and saw that only Garrus and Sidonis were still in pursuit. The two Turians drew their guns, but Bane suddenly whipped out a small orb that unleashed a cloud of gas as it hit the ground.

Gore quietly worked at his control panel, chasing after the Odyssey, when, suddenly, Liara jumped out from behind the corner and shoved them all back with a biotic blast. Everyone on the bridge drew their guns, but Ashley and Tali both jumped into the room from the other side and began shooting. It was a short gun fight. Attacked from both sides, Sovereign's indoctrinated slaves all easily fell. The three women cautiously entered the bridge. Seeing that everyone was dead, Tali got to the control panel.

"Joker," she said over the radio. "We've taken the Malevolence. It's over." Joker breathed a sigh of relief.

"Copy that," he said. "There a science station not too far from here, we can make it without using FTL. I suggest we stop there to make some repairs. I'm sending you the coordinates." Tali looked at the monitor.

"I've got the coordinates. See you there." Ashley quickly counted the bodies on the bridge.

"Seven bodies," she said. "Topa said that there should only be seven left."

"And we've taken out the last seven," Tali said. "I'm glad it was this easy."

"Too easy," Liara commented. "These indoctrinated slaves have caused us trouble and anticipated our every move. Why did they all remain on the bridge, waiting for us?"

"I don't know," Ashley shrugged. "It's almost like they were ordered to stay here."

"By who?"

"Keelah!" Tali gasped fearfully. Liara and Ashley turned around and saw what Tali was looking at. Coming down the hall was a single humanoid creature with shimmering black skin, wearing a dark hooded cloak slowly strolled down the hall.

"Who are you?" Ashley asked threateningly as the figure continued to walk towards them. What was happening? There should have only been seven, who is the eighth?

"You are still ignorant," the creature said hollowly. "You are still incapable of comprehension." Tali felt her jaw drop in horror when she heard these words.

"You've touched my mind, fumbling in ignorance, incapable of comprehension."

Only she and Garrus were there to hear these words, so she knew what it meant.

"Impossible," she breathed. "Sovereign." There was a loud whoosh and a massive biotic wave threw Ashley, Liara, and Tali into the wall, and they fell to the ground. In his new body, Sovereign's abilities are unmatched. Ashley desperately crawled to pick her rifle back up. Just as Williams reached her rifle, a heavy foot stepped on her back and pressed her into the floor. She felt the air pressed out of her as she was pushed into the floor. Tali got to her feet and drew her pistol. The room echoed as she fired three shots. She was almost sure she scored hits. She looked up and noticed three small metallic objects being held in the air by Sovereign's biotics. Sovereign had used his biotic abilities to catch the bullets in midair. The bullets fell to the ground with quiet clinks. Tali immediately aimed her gun again, but Sovereign threw her back with another biotic shockwave. Suddenly, Sovereign flew back into the wall as Liara blasted the Reaper with an orb of biotic energy. Such a blast would have killed a normal creature, but Sovereign was not normal. He was stronger, faster, smarter that anything else.

"We're coming up on the science station," Joker said over his radio. "Is there anyone there?" Sovereign looked out the window and saw the massive cylindrical station. The Reaper moved for the controls, ready to retake control of the ship. Before he could reach the control panel, it exploded in his face! He whipped around and saw that Tali had grabbed her pistol and shot the panel. His patience for these insolent creatures has come to an end.

"Run," Ashley breathed. "RUN!" The three women jumped to their feet and sprinted down the hall. Sovereign quickly chased after them, his superior legs making him run faster with less effort and energy.

Bane burst through the door of the large room where he held the Council hostage.

"We've got to go," he said calmly.

"Carmine says he's picked up the package," Sin said.

"Then it is time to go," Bane hissed. "Infiltration teams will be soon storming this position and I would like to be gone when that happens."

"How are supposed to get through the C-Sec officers?" Cyclops asked.

"I am in control of the situation," Bane said slyly. "They will not dare to do anything rash."

"I'm going to need something more than that," that Batarian hissed fiercely. Bane turned and faced Cyclops. Was it Bane's visor or face that darkened?

"I gave you an order," Bane growled.

"I'm a little tired of following your orders," Cyclops challenged. Bane took a step forwards, unsure whether to shoot the insubordinate Batarian.

"If you don't want to leave, you can stay," Bane growled. "Sin, follow me." Bane turned and left with the Asari mercenary following him, leaving the Batarian raider behind. Right before Bane went through the doors; he stopped and said, "I'll leave the mechs with you as an act of good faith. It will take a squad of krogan to fight them. Good luck." The doors hissed closed behind Bane.

Wrex was still sneaking through the halls, looking for a way back to Garrus. As he turned around the corner, he was stunned to see a gang of Krogan.

"Halt!" one of the krogans roared, pointing his shotgun at Wrex, who drew his shotgun.

"What are you doing here?" Wrex growled. His question was never answered.

"Wait, I recognize you!" the Krogan said fiercely. "You're Urdnot Wrex!"

"I must be more popular than I thought," Wrex chuckled.

"You're the one who destroyed the cure for the genophage!" All the Krogans in the room stiffened. "You…You destroyed the one hope for our race."

"You could never understand my reasons," Wrex snapped. "You weren't there. You didn't know what I knew."

"I know enough. I know that you destroyed the single thing that could have saved our race. I know that you are a traitor to all Krogans, and for that, you must die!"