Paths to Vengeance
Chapter 19 meetings
Authors notes I don't own Mass Effect Bioware does and this fic is a slight crossover with the film War, just so you all know.
Also I recommend that all my readers check out the fics written by Angels Anthem, Appa Appa Away, LongLiveThe Clones, XxheavendragonxX, Aurora Lunar 0Love This0, Icehockeychic4 and Canadiancloneluver as they are seven of the best writers on this site in my opinion. And please if you read this fic let me know what you think of it good or bad comments let me know as I want your opinions on it.
And lastly I recommend that all of readers have a look at the work written by Guardian Kitch as the work that author has written is very, very good.
Well that's enough of an authors note on with chapter 19.
The Citadel
As the Normandy arrived at the Citadel to pick up fresh supplies Shepard told the crew that they had 24 hours shore leave before they headed out to the planet Korlus to find a Krogan warlord named Okeer. And as everyone was going around doing their own thing Rogue headed off to talk to an old friend of his.
Rogue took a public transport to level 27 of the Drazir ward of the Citadel, the perfect place to go if you didn't want to be seen, and he made sure his pacemaker was fine before he got in the car and also checked to ensure he had enough ammo in case a fight broke out. Once he was satisfied he got in and headed off.
Cerberus facility
As Zaeed Massani woke up he saw that was no longer restrained to a board in Henry Radcliff's mansion and that he was now in a Cerberus facility, reason he knew that was because the Cerberus logo was on the wall of this room.
Zaeed then saw he was on a bed and fresh clothes were laid out nearby and a toilet and sink were in the room. Once Zaeed got dressed the door opened and a Cerberus operative entered the room. The man only said "Follow me, The Illusive Man wants to talk to you. And you should know if don't come willingly, we'll take you to him by force so make the smart bet for once in your life Massani".
Zaeed followed the operative to a hallway as the man stopped walking and simply said "The Illusive Man is waiting for you in that room Massani. Get moving, he doesn't like to be kept waiting". Zaeed walked to the room and saw all that was there was a quantum-entanglement communicator and he knew how expensive they were and just who was on the other of this communicator and without any further ado Zaeed stepped onto the projectors and quickly found himself face to face with the Illusive Man.
The leader of Cerberus smoked his cigarette as he said "Zaeed Massani, good to finally meet you, I wish it was under better circumstances though. Forgive me but I'll get straight to the point, we rescued you from Radcliff because you Zaeed have something we need and that's information, so please if you could tell me in your own words the behaviour and actions of Rogue while you saw him on the Normandy. I assure you Zaeed we don't want to kill you, we only want information then you'll be free to go with the money we promised in return for helping Shepard, you have my word".
Zaeed knew not to trust The Illusive Man he knew by reputation that Cerberus didn't always keep their word but regardless he told them what they wanted to know.
The Citadel Drazir Ward main hanger bay
Rogue looked around the empty hanger bay turned warehouse as he remembered what happened there 3 years ago, he remembered the battle between the Eclipse and Blue Suns, he remembered the 2 C-Sec officers and remembered getting shot in the face and the aftermath of that night.
He then heard footsteps and watched from afar as he saw the tail that had been following since he arrived on the Citadel walk around looking for him. Rogue knew who is was, he knew exactly who The Illusive Man would send after him once he knew Rogue was back 3 years after he went off the grid, it was Kai Leng, former Systems Alliance N7 operative and Cerberus best wet work assassin, at least he was now the best assassin since after Rogue left Cerberus.
When Kai Leng was in the centre of the room he looked around as he took out a pistol and yelled out "Show yourself Rogue! I know you're here, come out of hiding and show some bravery, face me man to man!".
The assassin was standing on a container high above and as he pointed his Brawler pistol at Kai Leng he said loudly "I'm right here Kai". At that Kai Leng looked up and had his gun trained on Rogue and vice versa.
Kai Leng only smirked and said "Still use a brawler pistol with those titanium clips of yours Rogue? You can get a dozen surgeries to change your face but your style of kill rarely ever changes, that makes you predictable, makes you weak, that makes you easy to kill. No wonder you couldn't kill The Illusive Man for the Alliance so long ago. Now after you killed that C-Sec detective Tzhang and his family, you went back home and killed the assassin waiting for you and then you simply sent back all the money the Eclipse gave you for that job and disappeared for 3 years and now your back working for Aria T'Loak of all people in the galaxy, why her. What the fucking hell is your game here Rogue?".
Rogue simply stepped down from one container to another until he was back on the ground and stood in front in front of Kai Leng all the while both men still had their weapons waiting for the other to make the first and possible last move of that man's life.
Kai Leng then asked "Is it because of what happened when you got home after killing that family, when you found that assassin waiting for you and saw what he did. You know as well as I do that The Illusive Man didn't send him, he wouldn't do that, he liked you back then Rogue, you were a good operative, you still could be, I know that we would be grateful if you rejoined us once again, help us stop the Collectors, the Reapers. Anything that threatens humanity from taking our rightful place in the galaxy. It's the only way you'll be able to save yourself, it's a onetime offer only Rogue, refuse now and its off the table forever. So what's it going to be, yes or no. Will you rejoin Cerberus?".
The assassin was silent for a few minutes before he answered "No".
Cerberus facility
As Zaeed Massani was escorted to the shuttle the Cerberus operatives assured him once again that it wasn't going to explode as soon as he got away from this star system they were in. And as soon as Zaeed's shuttle was away from the facility. The leader of the Cerberus cell talked to The Illusive Man who made it clear that Zaeed was only to be watched by their agents but no aggression was to be made against him, they got what they needed from him and Zaeed was someone who could help them in the future.
With that once the operative was gone The Illusive Man contacted the Normandy and told the Normandy AI EDI to inform Miranda that he wanted to talk to her in the debriefing room. Once he saw the holographic projection of Miranda in front of him, The Illusive Man said "Miranda, I just got some Intel on Rogue, I want to look over it with Yeoman Chambers, compare Rogue's behaviour now to his behaviour and psychological profile before he went off the grid 3 years ago".
Miranda acknowledged the order with a simple "Understood sir. Just so I know, what am I looking for exactly?".
The leader of Cerberus extinguished his cigarette as he answered honestly "I don't know myself Miranda, I just know Rogue has changed in more ways then 1".
The Citadel Drazir Ward main hanger bay
Kai Leng was shocked at Rogue's rejection of the offer he gave him and said "You know what will happen once The Illusive Man learns you rejected this, he'll send a lot of people after you. You'll be Cerberus's most wanted. I actually find myself wondering why?, why are you back now Rogue?, you were gone for 3 years, you were out and you couldn't be found at all. Don't you think for a second that we didn't try. We couldn't find you despite our best efforts. So why are you doing this, what exactly are you getting out of this?, What do you want?".
Rogue only answered with a smile on his face "You'll find out soon, Kai. Until then goodbye, I've got some things to do" and with that Rogue simply walked off keeping his gun on Kai Leng and never taking his eyes off him for 1 second and as he did Kai Leng was left in utter disbelief.
Authors notes well that's chapter 19 completed please let me know what you think of it read and review no flames though ok.