A/N: I AM BACK! Sorry for the long wait guys, but life kind of took priority since a lot of stuff was going on. But I'm here now and I haven't forgotten my readers who have been here all this time waiting for my updates. And I won't make you wait any longer.
This chapter is a bit short and has mostly dialogue with a little action, but I'm intending on closing out this arc of the story with a few good send offs. (I own nothing)
Alexander 'Maverick' Drake
Back Alley - Presidium
November, 30, 2180 - 14:20 hours
Alex had been expecting many things to occur since his arrival on the Citadel. His actions and skills as 'Maverick' had gathered a lot of attention since he started his fight against the mercs. He was bound to attract known parties that would attempt to either capture or kill him.
Cerberus had been at the top of that list.
And here he was, standing in an alley with Miranda Lawson against the wall with his arm pressed tightly against her throat. "I was wondering when Cerberus would track me down. And you didn't disappoint." he said darkly.
"There is no need for violence. I came to speak with you civilly." said Miranda with her hands grasping tightly to the arm against her throat. "My boss would like to speak to you. He has a proposition." she said as calmly as possible.
Alex's eyes narrowed, his motion tracker lit up with four unknown targets on the rooftops above. His detection meter went from yellow to red in seconds. "Tell those four snipers to stand down. Or you'll spend the rest of your life as a vegetable." he said making her eyes shoot open.
Miranda brought out her omni-tool, the arm against her throat tensed. Sending the silent message of what would happen if she tried anything. "Stand down." she ordered. The four hostiles slowly disappeared and the detection meter went back into the yellow.
"Good move." he said stepping back and released her. "Now what the fuck do you want?"
Miranda straightened out her suit as she looked up at him. "The Illusive Man has been tracking your movements for some time now Maverick. Your skill set and prowess in combat is something our organization could use."
"About what? And don't bullshit me Lawson. I know all about Cerberus and all of the experiments they commit against aliens and Humans alike. So don't think you can get into my head with your pro-Human shit." said Alex leaving no room for argument.
Miranda's eyes widened a little before narrowing. This was suppose to be a simple meet and greet, instead she discovers that her target knew a lot more than she or anyone in the organization knew he did.
"I can assure you, that Cerberus is not as 'unpleasant' as the Alliance makes us appear." she tried to reason.
"Right, like there's another ex-Alliance Black Ops organization that went rogue and has become more Human-centric than Terra Firma." said the vigilante stiffly.
"Tell the Illusive Man to go fuck himself, I'm not interested." turning to walk away he felt wisps of dark energy travel across his form. "Element Zero Energy Detected. Maximum Armor." The weave of the nano suit strengthened and repulsed the stasis attack that had attempted to trap him.
Grabbing the woman by the neck and holding her off the ground, Alex pressed his visor close to Miranda's face. Her shocked eyes reflecting back at her. "That...was a mistake bitch."
The sounds of heavy footsteps flooded the alley. A squad of nine Cerberus Assault Troopers stormed the alley weapons drawn with a Centurion leading them. The four snipers from before resumed their positions.
"I have to insist that you come with us." said Miranda while she was suspended.
Alex quickly tagged all 14 hostiles along with Miranda as he surveyed the surroundings. He didn't have any weapons on him safe for his knife, deciding to leave them back at the apartment so that he would seem less hostile at the Citadel tower. "Tactical Options Available."
He tossed Miranda aside as he kicked the Centurion hard in the chest, sending the squad leader crashing into his team knocking several of them down.
Before any of them had a chance to register what had happened Alex grabbed one of the Assault Troopers by the arm, twisting it violently to the side and breaking the limb allowing him to snatch the Mattock rifle that he was holding.
Grabbing the stunned man by the throat, Alex used him as a Human shield as he gunned down the two men that were standing behind him. Quickly snapping his neck afterward as sniper fire rained down from above.
Spinning around, he fired four quick rounds taking down the snipers on the roof with direct headshots before they could get a lock on him.
The rest of the Cerberus personnel regrouped and got into cover before returning fire. Alex dropped into cover letting the rounds pass before standing up and returning fire. Two more troopers fell dead before he returned to cover.
The Centurion dropped three smoke grenades that quickly created a wall of haze in the alley. "Like that will work." Alex muttered "Nano Vision Enabled."
The five remaining Cerberus troops lit up through the smoke as they all got out of cover to surround him. The Mattock in his hands fired one round after another as they dropped one after another. The Centurion's shields dropped under the assault as Alex ran through the smoke screen, throwing the rifle aside as he cocked his fist back.
"Maximum Power." The fist connected with the squad leaders head, his helmet flying clean off with a sickening crack as his body crumpled to the ground dead like the rest of his men.
Surveying the bodies around him in the battle scarred alleyway, Alex saw that Miranda was missing. Having slipped away during the fighting.
HUD coming on line, Prophet highlighted the tagged corpses and several footprints all around the alley. One set of footprints went past all of the downed bodies and farther down the alley. "Gotcha." he muttered scooping up a heavy pistol as he followed the glowing tracks.
X
Miranda pressed her back to the wall next to her. Seeing Maverick tearing through the heavily armed troopers that were sent to ensure his capture had given her reason to retreat. This was far more than what she had thought. The vigilante proved to me a far greater challenge than she or her boss had thought.
Realizing that her operation was a failure, she brought up her omni-tool to report back to the Illusive Man.
Something grabbed her arm, a shimmer in the air faded revealing the hulking form of Maverick as he towered over her. "Leaving so soon Lawson?" he asked darkly. "What's the matter? A little nervous now that your help is dead?"
Miranda remained silent, "Not much of a talker now are you. That's okay, I don't need you to talk." Alex's omni-tool flared to life as Prophet hacked into the woman's omni-tool.
"What are you-" the vigilante slammed her into the wall jarring her badly as the AI finished hacking the device. When it was over he looked at his device before glaring at her through his visor. "I just hacked your omni-tool. Everything you had on it is now in my possession. Including contact information for the Illusive Man."
The 'perfect woman's' face drained of color before the vigilante knocked her out cold.
X
Cerberus Headquarters - Cronos Station
Anadius Cluster - Horsehead Nebula
November 30, 2180 - 15:30 hours
The Illusive Man sat back in his chair, silently observing the wall of holo-screens before him and the countless streams of data that scrolled over them. Cigarette held in his fingers as he waited patiently for Miranda to contact him.
As if by clockwork, the holo projection behind him came online. "Ms. Lawson, I take it your mission was successful." he said taking a drag on the cancer stick.
"Sorry, Miranda can't come to the phone right now. She's a bit tied up at the moment." The head of Cerberus spun his chair around. Instead of seeing one of his best operatives, he saw the very vigilante he had sent her after.
"Maverick. I had a feeling you and I would be speaking face to face at some point." TIM said calmly.
"Is that right? I had a similar feeling, though I was expecting to have a gun trained on you head." said Alex as he stood with his arms crossed.
TIM tapped his cigarette on the ash tray, "Your hostility toward me and Cerberus is unneeded Maverick. We are not the only party currently tracking your movements. Ms. Lawson was merely offering a proposition to one of your skill and prowess."
"Was that suppose to be before or after the dozen or so armed assholes came at me?" Alex asked not convinced. "They're all dead by the way. Lawson's lucky I feel merciful to her situation."
"I'm not surprised you were able to dispatch them so easily. Your past actions against the Blue Suns proved what you are capable of in a combat situation. Someone of your skillset could prove invaluable to Humanity as a whole." said TIM.
"Humanity? Or Cerberus? Captain Anderson and Admiral Hackett are already on my side, I don't need an organization like yours hounding me at every turn. I know what you assholes do. You only look out for your own selfish wants, killing and blackmailing anyone that gets in your way. You experiment on innocent people to make Humanity look like top dog when your making us out to be monsters to the rest of the Traverse."
Alex's stance turned tense, "I know all about Akuze, along with over a dozen other operations taking place as we speak in every corner of the galaxy. You fuckers are sick. The shit you've had your people do are inhumane against every law of morality in existence."
For a long moment nothing was said. TIM took another drag on his cigarette as he spoke. "Although I am curious on how you received your information, you failed to see what we are hoping to achieve. Humanity has been under the scrutiny of the rest of the galaxy for decades. The First Contact war proved that our species will always be considered second rate. Improving our species and proving our strengths are the only ways that the galaxy at large will see what we are capable of. Cerberus has the best intentions for Humanity."
"The road to Hell was paved with 'good intentions'. Over the dead bodies of good people who stood in the way." Alex growled. "The ends don't justify the means, what's the point of showing our 'dominance' when we lose our humanity in the process."
"Poetic, but misses the point." said TIM taking another drag. "Morality and ethics may define some but they never see the bigger picture. The Alliance formed Cerberus with the intention of being the tip of the spear for Humanity. Yet they never could fully grasp our methods and labeled us as a threat. We still are what Humanity can be at their best, even if others fail to notice it."
"Cerberus was suppose to be Humanity's sword, not a dagger in the back. How many innocent people had to die because of your twisted intentions? How many problems has the Human race had to face because of what you've done?" Alex said clenching his fists in rage.
TIM set his cigarette down, "Despite our intentions. The offer stands for you Maverick." his glowing blue eyes locked with the red visor. "Humanity could use someone like you. Cerberus could benefit from your abilities."
Alex bit back every profanity that he knew in the english language. "I'll never join Cerberus. I'd rather be fired into the fucking sun than be a part of your organization."
"That's...disappointing." said TIM slowly. "You must understand that someone in your position could find things rather difficult with such a decision."
"Are you threatening me Illusive Man?" asked Alex. "Or should I be calling you Jack Harper."
The silence that followed was suffocating for some. TIM's glowing eyes were practically burning holes through the vigilante's hologramed form despite his calm features. "Where did you learn that?" he said calmly, but with enough ice to frost a planet.
"I have my connections Jack. I know what you did on Shanxi during the First Contact War, how you became head of Cerberus, almost every dirty little secret the Alliance and the Council would love to get their hands on." Alex said not threatened.
"And what are you intending on doing with this information." said TIM standing from his chair and advancing on the vigilante's hologram.
"Not a damn thing." he replied. "But if you send your goddamn goons after me again, every little bit about your past and identity will spread across the extranet like a virus. If I'm somehow killed, if you have me killed, it will spread anyway and the Alliance will be knocking down every facility you have from here to the Terminus Systems. I'll personally bring the fight right to your fucking doorstep."
The two glared at each other for a long while, as if daring one another to make the next move. "I'm giving you fair warning Maverick. You do not want to make Cerberus your enemy." TIM said with a sharp tone.
"Don't really care. You know where I stand, and the repercussions if you come after me again." Alex pointed a finger at the Cerberus tycoon, "And that is a threat Jack. I'd remember this moment if I were you." with that the hologram faded.
The Illusive Man sat back in his chair, taking up his cigarette and taking a deep drag.
Maverick was definitely an interesting subject.
X
Alex stepped away from the terminal in the empty apartment in the Upper Wards before turning to Miranda who was strapped down to a chair. "I think I pissed off your boss. Though I don't really give two fucks what he thinks."
The woman glared at him, "You can't hope to defy the Illusive Man forever. Even with the so called information you possess." she said snarkly.
Tilting his head, Alex brought up a chair and sat infront of her. "It's not just the Illusive Man I have information on Ms. Lawson." he leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. "Miranda Lawson. Daughter of Henry Lawson, genetically tailored to be the 'perfect child' to run his dynasty. Fled his clutches when you were a teenager with your sister Oriana while she was an infant so she didn't suffer the same destiny that was set for you. Joined Cerberus to ensure that her and her adopted family wouldn't be discovered by your father."
Miranda's face was the color of ash and her mouth was hanging open in both shock and horror. "I take it I hit the nail on the head." said Alex calmly.
"...please...leave her out of this. Ori's not a part of this." said the woman weakly.
"I'm not going to go after your sister Lawson. Unlike Cerberus, I don't use underhanded tactics to take down my enemies. I'd rather look them in the eye as I kill them instead of targeting their family, only cowards do something like that." said the vigilante as he stood up and took out his knife.
The woman flinched as Alex got behind her and cut her bindings. "Your...letting me go?" she asked rubbing her wrists.
"I've removed your weapons, omni-tool and communication devices. I also temporarily nullified your biotic implants. Your no more a threat to me than a mugger right now." he said heading for the door, pausing at the threshold before looking over his shoulder at her. "I'm passing a warning to you as well. Come after me again, and Oriana will be an only child."
He slipped out the door without another word and activated his cloak. Miranda watched him go, a perfect eyebrow raised as she recounted the events that had transpired.
Maverick was just as much a threat as they had believed. He took down an entire squad of heavily armed men with little difficulty and managed to hack her omni-tool's encryptions l;ike it was second nature.
Whoever he is, the vigilante just proved to be either a valuable asset to some and the untimely death of those who stood in his way.
X
Alexander 'Maverick' Drake
Alex and Reena's Apartment
November 30, 2180 - 16:00 hours
"Wait a minute, Cerberus?" asked Reena in shock.
Alex sat at the table drinking a glass of water. After his encounter with Cerberus and his talk with the Illusive Man, he took the long way back to his apartment to ensure that he wasn't being followed again.
Chellick and Reena had already been there when he arrived when he explained everything that happened when he left the Citadel tower.
"Apparently I've been on their radar for a while. They just waited for the right time to reveal themselves. But I don't think they intended on me taking them down so easily and putting the Illusive Man in his place like I did." said Alex.
Chellick shook his head, "You know fucking with these guys is a bad idea. A few threats won't scare these people off. They'll just find another way to get you to join their cause."
Alex grinned ferally, "Oh, I know they will. And when they do, they'll learn the hard way of what happens when you mess with someone like me." his look turned serious, "And I won't take unnecessary risks. I won't put you guys or anyone else in danger as long as I can help it."
Reena sighed, "Leave it to you to be so noble and thick headed at the same time." Alex chuckled as they settled in for the night. The Post-Human decided to take a few days just to relax, after everything that's happened thus far he earned a vacation.
And he could only hope that the next two or so years would be easy ones.
...
...
...
...fat chance of that.
A/N: Cerberus had been handled...for now. The next chapter is going to be a 'Time-Skip' chapter that will lead right into the ME1 storyline. It will be in the form of an interview where Alex will recount some of the more outstanding things he's accomplished before jumping right into the fight with Saren, the Geth and Sovereign.
Till next time guys, I won't let you down.