III: Requiem

by RedCenturionG

The Collector threat is done; and the Normandy crew survived. The Shadow Broker has eyes watching a friend of Shepard's. Loyalties will be questioned, lives put on the line. And Peta will stop at nothing to get the girl of his dreams. In this, the crew is never safe. And in the end, Marcus Shepard will have to make a decision that could cripple his resolve forever.

15. Chapter 14 Deathship

REQUIEM

CHAPTER FOURTEEN:

DEATHSHIP

October 29, 2185

1339 hours.

Shuttle Bay, Normandy-Class Stealth Frigate Normandy SR-2, Docked with the Rayya.

Subject Zero Jack, Justicar Samara, First Lieutenant Miranda Lawson.

Jack was distracted. It was obvious.

She knew why.

But she didn't address it.

She needed to take her anger out on something.

And she had expected to take it out on Samara. Instead, she got the cheerleader.

Even better.

She screamed obscenities, her body glowing with blue fire as she sent strike after strike at Miranda, the woman, initially, holding her off like her attacks were nothing. But slowly, and gradually, Jack's attacks increased in strength, and Miranda weakened and got tired, making her more and more sloppy.

The convict's face was screwed up in a look of sheer hatred and rage, her fists and legs charging forth with a maelstrom of biotic assaults; unrelenting, unwavering, and unwilling to tire. Already her muscles began to ache, but she was so full of adrenaline that she just couldn't bring herself to notice. Her broken arm from the Collector Base by this point had completely healed, so her biotics were now completely unhindered; ready for full release.

She was Jack; the psychotic biotic. The most powerfulest bitch this side of the galaxy. A scared girl, encased by pure biotic powerhouse. An experiment by Cerberus gone wrong. She was the nameless girl, named Jack, and she was angry. Oh yes, she was fucking angry. At what you ask? Well, had Jack told herself that she'd be pissed off over rejection before meeting Shepard on Purgatory, she would have laughed her ass off and called herself a sappy little cunt.

But now she had been rejected. By Commander Shepard. And she wasn't laughing.

She screamed until she was blue in the face (no pun intended) and she was unable to stop, even if she wanted to. Not that she would. Seeing Miranda's exhausted and shocked expression, not to mention beating the perfect Cerberus bitch into a pulp was the most satisfying thing she had ever done, and it put a sadistic grin on Jack's lips, one she noticed Miranda sneer at. Perfect little cunt, aren't you? What's wrong? Getting beaten by the nine-tenths naked woman? Oh, is that some blood on your lip? Did I break a fucking nail? Did I accidentally wipe some of your mascara? Well too bad! I've seen you eying Shepard! But the perfect bitch didn't get him!

Jack sneered.

Neither did she.

And that's what made her angry.

So when Jack's fist finally broke through Miranda's defenses and smashed into the side of Miranda's jaw, causing the woman to double backwards in double mixtures of shock and pain, Jack could only laugh in triumph. She didn't stop though; using what Samara taught her, she ducked low and swung a leg out, sweeping the woman's feet out from under her and causing her to collapse onto the ground in a crumpled heap.

Her assault complete, Jack stood up and sent a biotic kick towards Miranda's side, but Jack had forgotten one thing; Miranda was not some whore; as much as her clothing said otherwise, and the way she strutted around. She was a Cerberus soldier, and as much as it disgusted Jack to admit it, she was a damn good soldier. Not to mention a leader.

Miranda shifted to the side, causing Jack's stomping foot to land squarely on the titanium surface of the bay, positioning her body so that she faced Jack's leg. Using the momentum she gained, Miranda glowed with biotics and she repeated Jack's own action, causing the convict this time to collapse onto the ground. And unlike Jack, Miranda did not take time to take pride in what she did; she simply did.

A heel pinned her to the ground via the throat, and Miranda looked down at her with a cold expression, blood trickling down her lip. From what she could tell, Jack had not only done that, but had also broken the cheerleader's nose too. Loving the pain, whore? Fucking eat it, you australian shit.

Jack wasn't done; and she entered back into full rage mode. Her hands shooting up, a burst of energy blasted from her palms, a powerful shockwave, one of the strongest ever built, slammed into Miranda, sending the woman literally gliding across the shuttle bay to land a mere inch from the elevator door, just short of her head hitting the door. It would have opened like a melon, I fucking bet.

Jack shot up onto her feet and made a progressive moment towards Miranda who, despite herself, still had trouble getting back to her feet, taken offguard by the sheer force of the convict's shockwave. Underestimated me, did you? Serves you right. The human biotic moved forward with sadism in is intent, biotic fire consuming her entire frame as it prepared to rip the cheerleader apart. And Shepard will be so angry. But I'm past giving a fuck about what that self-righteous xenophile retard cunt thinks!

A biotic fist raised in the air, only for a familiar calm, cool, soothing voice to raise through the air, catching both Jack and Miranda's attention, this time laced with worry and concern, "Jack, that is quite enough!"

Miranda didn't look at the source of the voice though; she only looked at Jack as the convict approached. Jack didn't turn either, just fixing the bitch infront of her with a glare full of vehemence, ice and cold. How about that, ice-queen? Fight ice with ice?

"Fuck you grandma!" Jack cursed back, not even turning to face Samara.

Miranda tried to get up, but Jack wasn't giving her the time too and when she reached the human...she would tear her apart. She would savor the woman's screams, she would enjoy making her eyes pop and sizzle...and she would plunge a hand deep into her fucking vagina and she would rip her clit out. This isn't me...I don't take pleasure in-SHUT THE FUCK UP! I'M GOING TO KILL THIS BITCH AND IT'LL BE SHEPARD'S FAULT!

FUCK YOU SHEPARD! YOU COULD HAVE BEEN MINE!

Selfish.

He's happy; if you love him, shouldn't you be happy for him?

Idiotic.

You'll murder someone you hate to justify rejection.

Is she worth the energy?

SHUT THE FUCK UP! ALL OF YOU! SHUT IT!

Jack was meters from Miranda, her body and emotions seizing control as she hurled forward, reading to tear the helpless cheerleader to bits...

...only to fly away from her like a kite's strings being tugged away, the convict slamming into the wall behind her and falling to the ground, the lingering effects of foreign biotics lingering on her already numbly cold form. She growled...no, she snarled, a feral, animalistic sound, as she stood to her full height, pure, unhinged rage in her body as she came to stand on both legs and faced her attacker, eyes glowing with pure death. She eyed the one who took away her prize.

Samara. The fucking grandma.

Samara faced Jack, Miranda having already crawled away and behind a support beam to get away from Jack's pure blood rage. She was obviously going to contact Shepard when Samara raised an arm, telling her to let the justicar deal with it. Miranda agreed, and Samara turned back to Jack, hand help up.

"Stop this Jack," Samara scolded her in a motherly tone, but her voice was still cool and calm, "This madness has to stop. This is not like you. You are a hateful person...but the look in your eyes, it is one a predator gives when he spots prey. Explain yourself Jack...you can tell me what is wrong."

Jack growled again through gritted teeth, stepping forward, "You will shut your pretty little fucking trap or I'll shut it for you! What I do is none of your fucking business!" How much I want to tell you. But my body...so much rage...I need to...I need to get...get it off my chest. I...need to vent. That cheerleader...she was so close. I could smell her blood. I could practically taste it. I wanted to rip her apart; I really did. Maybe Zaeed has had a bad influence on me...

Zaeed.

That old bastard refused to die. There he lay, in the med bay, being tended to by Doctor Chakwas, and riddled with bullets in every area of the body imaginable. And still, he lived. Noone knew if he could keep it up, especially after taking two bullets to the head, but maybe he would. If only he was awake. He'd know what to say to me, the grizzled old man. Him and his fucking love affair with that rifle of his. Guess it didn't save you in the end, did it?

At least it didn't reject him.

Samara spoke once more, tone soft and Miranda nowhere in sight, "Listen to reason, Jack. This is unnecessary. I do not know the source of what causes you this anger, but I have seen it before in many young asari. I recognize the taint of grief. Of fear. I know what it feels like, Jack. I know how it feels."

"What the fuck would you know!?" Jack shouted.

Samara was still as collected as could be, but Jack swore she saw a tear bypass the asari's defenses, "I felt the same when I had to kill the smartest of my daughter. Just because I did not go on an attempted killing frenzy does not mean I didn't feel it; I am just better at hiding it. Please Jack, I can help you. Shepard can help you."

Why would he? He rejected me. But you don't know that.

"Jack?"

I offered him sex. He turned me down. I thought him a boy-scout.

"Jack? Come here. Its okay."

He helped me on Pragia. I had my suspicions.

"Jack."

I wanted him. Oh my fucking god...yes, I wanted him...

"Jack! Look at me! Calm yourself!"

Then I tried to take him...he was going to be mine...but he pushed me away. He wanted Tali more than he wanted me. He wanted a quarian trapped behind a suit more than he wanted somebody of his own damn species.

"JACK!"

I could have had him. And he pushed me away. For her.

And she loved him.

With a chaotic war cry, Jack charged forth, her planned barrage of destruction aimed directly at Samara. Miranda, wide-eyed, turned away and fled for the elevator, entering the box and hitting the button for an upper deck. Just as the doors shut, Jack reached Samara, and her fist came down in one fell swoop.

Samara blocked it with her arm and pushed Jack back with a small burst of energy; a simple breath of the wind compared to what the justicar could truly do, and only enough to slightly push her away. Jack scoffed at the pathetic gesture and charged again, this time sending a biotic shockwave in the asari's direction.

Samara gracefully leapt over it and this time sent a rougher wave of energy, a small shockwave causing Jack to stumble backwards as Samara landed lightly, like a gliding bird coming in for landing, and the asari held Jack's gaze. But Jack saw something new in it; understanding.

She knows what I must do. She knows I must do this. How the fuck does she do that...?

Jack didn't even acknowledge the asari as she charged forth again, like a rocket of biotics racing towards its destination. Samara strafed to the side effortlessly, letting Jack shoot past as she did. Jack shifted her weight distribution with her biotics and came to a stop, before turning back around and launching herself into the air, before coming back down with her fist raised, smashing it into the ground.

An explosion of biotic energy rippled out, sending waves of uncontained power out all around the convict, sending crates and all manner of equipment flying within the blast radius, but Samara only seemed to stumble alittle, the asari's biotic form holding stable as she encased herself in a temporary stasis field. Smart bitch...

So, Jack pulled the next trick out of her sleeve and powered up a ball of biotic energy in her right arm, before shooting it forth, and letting loose a cannonball of biotic energies. Samara, noticing the dark energy flare, raised a barrier just in time to save herself from the colossal explosion that ensued, sending Jack flying into a steel beam and leaving a massive scorch mark where Samara had deflected the attack, the asari lowering her arm.

"A flare," the justicar pondered, impressed, "A powerful ability; usually used as a form of biotic artillery strike. And slamming your fist into the ground? A nova. Another useful ability. I would like to see what else you can do."

"Fuck off bitch," Jack snapped and charged forth, charging with biotic energy once more, and Samara only waited for her, as confident and calm as ever. Not cocky, but cool. Calculated. Cold.

Jack went all out on the justicar. She didn't let up, her attacks swift and brutal, and occassionally, like with Miranda, one would break through, but Samara was alot more collected than Miranda, and she learned quickly and adapted. But she could tell the asari was tiring, and Jack only had to keep pressing. If she gave up now and stopped, she wouldn't able to keep the tears in. She wouldn't be able to bottle them up. And she wasn't a pussy.

"Jack, look at me," Samara ordered, eyes persistent, "Violence solves nothing. Stop this. Stop this madness right now."

Screw you...

"Do it."

...I can't...

"Now."

Please...don't make me do it...I don't want to...

But she did it; Jack's body, finally exhausted, collapsed to the ground, dry-heaving for air. Samara stood over her, looking down on the pitiful convict as the rage began to melt from her eyes, her body relaxed and her biotics died down. During all of this, Jack just looked at the ground, unwilling to look up.

Please don't...I can't do it...I'm not that kind of-

Then Samara was crouching next to her, a comforting hand on her shoulder. Normally she'd swat it off, but this time, all Jack did was look up and meet the asari's gaze. Its calculating gaze was gone, replaced by a warmth, a caring, an understanding. Jack saw a side of Samara she had never encountered before.

And Samara was about to see a side of Jack she had never shown anyone.

Noone but him.

Tears burst from Jack's eyes as she began to sob, her mental barriers unable to stop Samara's onslaught and collapsing, and Samara rushed in. She wrapped her arms around Jack's frail form, which was now wracked with weeping as Jack sobbed and sobbed. It felt good to finally let it all out; to stop pretending to be in control. To stop pretending to a be tough, unbeatable bitch. It felt nice to be...human.

Tears dripped off Samara's shoulderpad as she cradled Jack's head there, but she didn't seem to notice, whispering kind words into Jack's ear, most likely in the asari language, and there was a motherly tone lacing her words. Jack's arms gripped at Samara, trying to hold her close so that all the grief poured out.

Seconds went by. Minutes. Eventually, half an hour later, Jack pushed herself away from Samara, wiping at her eyes and the mascara dripping from below her eyes. She sniffed, drying to get rid of all evidence of her sobbing. Samara simply nodded, understanding that Jack needed a moment to collect herself before speaking. She crossed her legs in a cross-legged sitting position, while Jack assumed her normal sitting position; on her butt, legs spread out like some impatient teenager.

After a moment, Jack managed to choke out the one word that plagued her thoughts, "Shepard."

Samara cocked her head in confusion, raising an eyebrow, "Shepard?"

Jack nodded, sighing heavily, "Yeah...Shepard."

"What about him?" Samara asked, head still cocked.

Another sigh. An inhale of breath. A third sigh, "I had a...I was...damn it, I'm not good with this shit. Things were so much better when I got just rip everything apart and I could kill those who screwed me over. But him...damn it!"

"Slow down and tell me what is wrong," Samara requested, unmoving, "Now, tell me what Shepard has done to cause you such anger and grief."

Jack decided she might as well just come out with it, "He rejected me."

"Rejected you...?" Samara asked, obviously wanting her to elaborate.

Jack rolled her eyes, "I told him I wanted him and...I think I loved him, I think I love him, and tried to fuck him right there and then. But he pushed me away. I insisted. Then he biotically shoved me away; the piece of shit." She slammed a fist into the ground, a burst of biotic energy coming forth, but it was tiny and barely noticable.

Samara raised both brows this time, "I did not realize your feelings for the Commander. However, it would seem that, from what I hear, you expressed feelings for him, and when he didn't return them, you attempted to rape him."

"It was not rape...!" Jack tried to refute before simply pouting and leaning back, arms crossed and body tense once more, "He's just a fucking asshole. He wants me, and he knows it! I know it! He wanted to fuck me and he's too much of a pussy to admit it!" Empty words. You know they are false, and yet you persist. You are desperate for something you can never have.

"You do not truly believe that. I do not believe that," Samara replied, "The Commander I've come to know is a kind hearted person. He would not push someone away like that without reasons, and I know that the person he truly loves is someone of which he would never betray."

Jack rolled her eyes again, lips curling into a sneer, "Ah yes...the quarian princess..." He chose her over you. A quarian over a human. "I don't want to talk about her. And I didn't rape him! I didn't...I didn't try to rape him either! I...you...you don't understand! You don't get it!"

"I think I do," Samara replied dryly, eyes lacking emotion, as always, "You love a man and desperately want him to love you back, but it can never be. Love is a foreign emotion to you, one you're still getting used to."

"I...yes," Jack sighed, not knowing what else to say, "Yes grandma, you basically summed up my feelings; congratu-fucking-lations. Want...want a medal?"

"You curse and joke to shield yourself from the matters at heart," Samara replied, "His rejection has crushed you, visibly, and you do not like this. You have always been independent and strong, but now Shepard has battered down your walls and you find yourself defenseless to the emotions he invokes in you. But you must learn to keep them under lock and key, for they could cause serious damage."

"Why should I fucking care!?" Jack shouted, unwilling to accept the asari's words, knowing them true, "He rejected me! I even offered to share him with that quarian whore! But he still turned his back on me!"

Samara's gaze narrowed, "Watch what you say, lest the wrong ears hear. And offering to share him wasn't likely to help your case. Commander Shepard is a man who takes relationships seriously. He is not building a harem, he has found woman who he loves deeply and wishes to keep her. You're intervention is not helping matters. You must learn to let him go. It is these aspects of his personality that made you fall for him. Now you must let go..."

"WHY!?" Jack shouted, "Why..why would I give him up!?"

"Because it will only cause you pain and suffering," Samara deadpanned, as if she knew the question was coming, "He will continue to reject you, and he will not let in. Miss Zorah will find out and make no mistake, she will be furious. You're a powerful biotic, but I have seen the Chief Engineer in action. She is a capable marine, a Brigadier General, and her combat skills are close to the best, only matched by those of this ship. Biotic or not, she will fight you...and Shepard will have to choose. We both know who he'll pick."

Jack opened her mouth to refute the words, but her energy was gone; her will to continue arguing diminishing. All that came out was the opening and closing of her jaw, gargled sounds, before she bit back a sob and fell back, defeated.

"You're right..." Jack admitted reluctantly, "You're always fucking right..."

"It comes with years of experience child," Samara stated, as if it was obvious and didn't need to be said, "In the entire four hundred years I spent alive before joining the justicar order, I have gotten my way around the galaxy. I did time in a strip club as a dancer. I became a mercenary and I killed people. I drank and danced the nights away, and mated with every male I could find. Life was simple. But life is also cruel. I was taken advantage of, drained and I found many males I loved that didn't love me back. It is a hindrance, and not something you should dwell on. Life moves on; it is up to you whether you move with it or let it leave."

Jack met the asari's gaze, and noticed a genuine care hidden behind those steely eyes. She felt a smile plaster on her features, although grim, "Yeah yeah, I get it. Don't mope about one man and move the fuck on. Don't need a history lesson you know."

"It clearly helped," Samara joked, "But I'm glad you understand what I've told you. You may love Shepard now, but his heart belongs to another, and your heart will soon understand, and will find another."

"Or find none at all. I'm a bitch that way," Jack chuckled, weakly standing up but giving into exhaustion and collapsing back down. Samara nodded, letting a quick smile grace her lips before it disappeared, the justicar standing up and helping the convict stand up, hand wrapped around her shoulders.

"Hey, Samara..."

"Yes, child?"

"Did I ever tell you...you're like a mother I never had."

Samara raised an eyebrow, surprised, "You consider me a motherly figure?"

Jack laughed, "Yeah. Don't let it get to your head. It'll fuck with your brain cells."

Samara merely nodded, helping Jack towards the elevator, "I am not capable of such ego. It would conflict with my code."

Jack rolled her eyes and sighed, seemingly forgetting their conversation, "You and your fucking code. Guess I can't bitch; I have a code of my own."

Samara cocked her head at this as she shit the button for the engineering deck, the doors shutting closed, "And what code would that be?"

"To fuck shit up and do what I want," Jack grinned, obviously loving every moment of this.

"A code like that would conflict with mine you know," Samara replied, "Before we met and I pledged allegiance to Shepard, I might have been inclined to kill you."

Jack laughed, "Wow, you're nice, mum. You know, its not very motherly to threaten your own child."

Samara smiled grimly, looking away from the convict, and the elevator fell into silence.

And yet I killed my own.

That was Samara's last thought as the elevator arrived and the doors opened.

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October 29, 2185

1339 hours.

Main Bridge, Hyderabad-Class Light Cruiser, CAW Montgomery, Enoch System.

Captain Michael Gatpey, Chief Operative Aeda Pil.

The Enoch relay sat there; pulsing vibrantly, waiting patiently for its next arrivals. As it was now, only one ship currently occupied the system, and it didn't come there with peaceful intent. Soon, a fleet of 50,000 vessels would pour through that relay, but the Montgomery would only be looking for one; the QMFV Rayya.

Captain Michael Gatpey sat in his new command chair, smiling wickedly as he sat on its comfy surface, watching as numerous Cerberus crew members moved about the bridge of the newly built light cruiser. Michael had marvelled at the hard work put into the ship; a few weeks, and Cerberus had spat out the first light cruiser in what was going to be the glorious Cerberus Navy. A ship flying Cerberus banners; built with Cerberus hands, not Alliance.

The Montgomery, named after Bernard Montgomery, a famous British field marshal in World War II, was an impressive vessel. Its specs were exactly that of an Alliance Hyderabad-Class Light Cruiser, but with a few modifications to make it seem...Cerberus. A few cannons, a little added boost to the shields and an enhanced VI in the ship, making it slightly superior to Alliance designs.

So there he sat, watching the stars and the relay as he waited for the Migrant Fleet arrive; which according to the Shadow Broker's intel, would be pretty damn soon. The Illusive Man and Shadow Broker had planned the attack, and one of the Broker's inside agents on the fleet was hard at work scrambling a pass code and hacking the Rayya's network, hoping to disable its defenses and communications.

The Montgomery flew Migrant Fleet colors to conceal itself as a pilgrimage vessel, and the Broker's inside agent was conjuring up pass codes for a pilgrim still out on duty and was of the Rayya. They would say the codes, gain access and dock with the Rayya, and the liveship's communcations and defenses would be disabled, leaving the entire fleet unaware of the events transpiring on the ship.

And then, Cerberus and Shadow Broker troops alike, would board the ship via two routes, locate Shepard, Tali'Zorah, Liara T'Soni and Shala'Raan, and execute them before retreating. If anyone got nosy during their escape; well, that's why the Illusive Man sent a light cruiser.

It was risky; the firefight would most likely involve civilian deaths, but Michael didn't care. Why Kai Leng hadn't been sent to do the job was beyond him, as the assassin was more than capable of dealing with such a threat. Not only had the man been gunning to fight Shepard one on one, but he would kill the others like they were nothing. He had seen the vids of Leng's attack on Walker Station; and it had been nothing short of spectacular. Fast, brutal, efficient. He'd take down Shepard like he was nothing. Instead they send this...salarian, to be on my ship.

As if reminded by the alien's presence, Michael looked up and saw, once again, the salarian operative, leader of the Shadow Broker mercs deployed on his ship, loomed over him, hands at his sides and oddly calm, the salarian's expression hidden behind a full-head helmet. Michael cringed in the amphibian's presence, hating every second that Cerberus personnel has to mingle with these...scum.

It was a mistake working with aliens. Cerberus is human-centrist. We don't need these mindless ingrates fighting by our side, let alone on our ships. The sooner we are done with the Shadow Broker and Shepard is dead, the better. He had been disgusted when he heard Shepard had defected from Cerberus. Ungrateful, alien-loving parasite. We bring him back from the dead, and he repays us by spitting in our face. The Illusive Man is right to want him dead.

And Michael was happy that he was the one chosen for the job.

"Your inside agent should have contacted us by now," Michael commented, trying to bait the salarian into an argument, which was hard to do. These mercs were unusually well-trained for paid thugs. Their training was beyond that of Eclipse and the Blue Suns, and was even on par with the military. Apparently Aeda, that was apparently the aliens name, had been an ex-STG, which explained his cool demeanour.

Aeda shook his head his usual disappointed way, "You're impatient, captain. He will contact us. He won't betray us; the Broker has given him a deal he cannot refuse."

"And that is?" Michael asked.

"None of your concern," Aeda replied in that damnable cool accent, "All you need to know is that once he has exceeded his usefulness, he will be eliminated too. The Broker cannot allow security breaches, especially one of this man's calibre. Just get us into dock and we'll do the rest."

Michael grunted his reply as he leaned back into his seat, "Just remember who got you here, alien. This is my ship, and you'll be good to remember that." Fuck, he's gotten a rise out of me. Got to be better than that.

"A fact I'm very much aware of," Aeda replied, "Your racist remarks are not necessary. I am simply here to do a job, as are you. We both get paid for this either way, its just a matter of bullet or credit. Which would you think is more investive in the long term? I'd rather keep the green of my body in my body."

"Unlike you, I don't do this for the money," Michael replied, sneering at the salarian, "I do this for Cerberus."

"We all do this for money," Aeda replied, "When you take a job, do you find one you want to do and get paid alot for, or do you choose the one you dislike, but still get paid alot for? I very much enjoy serving the Broker, and it is an honor being chief operative of this operation, but for every man I kill, I get another credit added to my paycheck."

"Thanks for the fucking philosophy frog boy," Michael cussed, trying to ignore Aeda, but failing.

"Frogs leap," the operative replied, unholstering a pistol from his holster and causing Michael to flinch in reflex and for two Cerberus commandos in the doorway to move for their weapons. But Aeda didn't take aim, simply examining the carnifex in his grip, "And this frog has armor. A dangerous mix, wouldn't you say?"

Another grunt was all the reply the salarian got. Aeda deemed it sufficient, but let his carnifex hand cannon dangle at his side, turning back to examining the relay. Michael was about to order someone to contact the quarian when a request came in to speak with the captain. Without even asking Aeda's consent, he grabbed the salarian's arm, pulled it towards him and keyed the recognition key, watching the quarian's face mask pop up.

"Is it done, rat?" Michael spat, "For your sake, you better hope it is."

Whether the mask or his posture, the quarian looked unfazed and simply stood there, "Who is this? I contacted Operative Aeda Pil."

Michael snarled but was interrupted as Aeda spoke over him, "I am here, but the captain in his impatience has...seized control of my omni-tool. Hold one moment."

Before he could ask what the salarian meant, Aeda twisted the omni-tool from his grip and screamed out in pain as electricity flowed through him like a tazer shot, making him dance on the chair like some kind of spastic. Aeda didn't even look at him after unleashing the overload, simply looking back to his omni-tool, "Now, has it been done?"

"That, and then some," the quarian dictated, "I completely fried the system; it would take all the engineers working in tandem to get communications working again; which would take too long for them to stop you. Alot of Kar'Danna's marines are centralized around the Normandy dock, so that'll make things easier, and it seems only Shepard and Tali are present on the Normandy along with Admiral Raan, but word has it they'll be returning soon, and Shepard won't be able to ignore an attack on the Rayya anyway. I can't give you T'Soni, but you have the rest. However, remember our deal. Tali is to be left unharmed. Untouched. Unmolested."

"What the Broker deals is my deal," Aeda replied, "I will honor his pact with you and leave the quarian unhurt-"

"Can't give us T'Soni!?" Michael screamed, shooting up after recovering from the electric shock dealt on him, "You had one job and you screwed it up!"

"Not completely. If you're primitive ears listened, you might have heard," Aeda replied, still calm as ever, "He has given us three of the original four; a majority vote for a referendum. He believe this is sufficient for what the Broker needs; he did not get T'Soni, but the asari will be helpless without Shepard to help her. We will be cutting the head off the snake."

"Whatever," Michael cursed, thrusting a finger in his face, "You attacked me on my ship. I could have you thrown out the airlock!"

"Could, but won't," Aeda replied, "First of all, killing me will invoke Broker's wrath; he values the life of his top operatives. Second, my mercs will turn on you upon my death. Third, your commandos are incompetent morons; my mercs and myself are properly trained soldiers. I could take this ship with a flick of my fingers."

"You-"

"You have no leverage captain, so I suggest you drop these thoughts," Aeda cut him off, turning back to his omni-tool, "Find a safe area and change your IFF to the Cerberus signatures provided. We will board the ship and you will be extracted upon completion of the mission. Do not attempt to assist us in the operations. Let us do this; allow the professionals to our jobs, and this day will be in your grasp."

"Very well. I've transmitted the pass code. Good luck," the quarian replied, "Yala, out."

The omni-tool on Aeda's arm flashed and disappeared, and the salarian turned to fix his gaze on a still murderous looking Michael, who seemed to be fanning his anger slowly and retreating into his chair.

He didn't even spare the salarian a glance as he growled, "Head down to the shuttle bay and prep a shuttle. My men will open the airlock and attack, and your agents will attack via shuttle from another location, draw them out. Await my orders and we'll catch them with their tails between their legs."

"I don't follow your orders. You seem to keep forgetting that," Aeda dictated, turning to leave and motioning his two operatives to follow him out. Michael watched him go and when the door had closed, he slammed his fist into the side of his chair and spun back around, trying to mediate his anger. He had to put up with Aeda, for now.

He contacted the man in charge of the Cerberus troops storming the airlock, "Mendoza, assemble your men and meet at the airlock. Prepare for the assault; go in guns blazing and kill everything they moves that isn't a Shadow Broker merc or Cerberus. Kill everything." And with that, he turned off the comms and looked off into space, eyes fixing back on the Enoch relay.

This would be the second time Cerberus attacked the Migrant Fleet.

But this time, it would be successful.

{Loading...}

October 29, 2185

1354 hours.

Docking Corridor, Liveship Rayya, Migrant Fleet, Enoch System.

Decon Manager Brox'Ter vas Rayya.

Nothing special ever happened in Brox's life. Quarians were anything but special or demanding people; their lives were average by Flotilla standards, and all of them had a specific role to play, none of them particulary fascinating or engaging. So when Brox said his life was pretty dull, he wasn't joking around. It was the definition of insipid.

Brox was a decontaminator; depressing, huh? That pretty much sums it up. While most quarians were engineers, marines, captains, technicians, mechanics etc, he was one of the lower class of people; his job was to decontaminate every new ship that came into the fleet. He didn't get paid for it; no quarians got paid for doing jobs on the Flotilla, they just did it because it was expected of them.

And guess what? He was chief manager of Decon on the Rayya. So, in other words, it was essentially a spit-sized bit of cream that had been put ontop of the horrible, moth-eaten cake. Fantastic, was Brox's impression of it. He didn't just decontaminate things, he ruled decontamination of things. Positively joyful.

Luckily for Brox though, ships rarely docked with the Rayya until now, so he had no reason to work. Apart from the human vessel's arrival twice, he had been relatively out of a job. Of course he'd try to find work; it was the quarian way, but he just ended up getting in people's way and he never really helped anyway, so he just sat in a corner and moped. He and his wife would occassionally go and share rations together or watch the stars on the observation deck, but that was essentially it. That was his life.

And now, he was employed. For the third time. A new ship had just arrived in the fleet flying Migrant Fleet colors; a light cruiser by the size and shape. It was bristling with armaments and looked to be in prestine condition. The name 'Montgomery' was plastered on the side, but nothing much else gave any notion of the vessel's title or architecture, but judging by the design, Brox would guess it was a decomissioned Alliance cruiser.

And would you believe it? A pilgrim captained that vessel, the spoiled lad. Or girl. Admiral Kar'Danna had his suspicions when the ship approached the fleet and had almost contacted Admiral Gerrel to open fire on it, but the pass code had solved that matter and they had passed through, requesting to dock with the Rayya, to which the captain cautiously accepted, sending Brox and his men to greet and decontaminate the ship and its personnel.

He couldn't wait to meet the pilgrim who found such a find. Noone had arrived at the fleet before in such style since Tali'Zorah returned on a fully-crewed alliance dreadnought, and even then, the quarian hadn't been captaining it. This pilgrim had to have been one lucky bosh'tet to have found a light cruiser of its shape, weaponry and condition. Not to mention the paint work. Who would have been willing to sell such a vessel in such condition? It looks new enough to have only just been commissioned.

Of course, the pilgrim could have stolen it.

Unlikely. A ship like that and only newly commissioned would still be in an Alliance naval dock, which would be deep in Alliance space, possibly in the Sol System, and noone, and definitely not a quarian, would be allowed anywhere near Alliance space. This ship had to have been sold to the quarian. But why? What did the Alliance get out of selling it to the Flotilla?

Whoa, Brox. Way above your IQ. You just scrub walls. Leave that thinking to captains and admirals and people trained to do that.

Brox sighed inwardly, stretching his muscles as he waited for the Montgomery to fully dock. Just in record time too, as he felt the familiar thud of docking clamps locking onto a ship as it docked, latching onto it and locking it to the ship's surface. Brox stood up to his full height, the quarian being tall for someone of his trade, and motioning for his fellow decontaminators to approach the airlock. Multiple other quarians followed suit, moving towards the airlock, along with Captain Kar'Danna and a group of marines.

Brox stood in the vanguard with his fellow decons as they waited for the airlock to finish decon protocols; hissing and brushing and the sound of beams cleaning skin and destroying bacteria could be heard. Brox only stood firm, waiting patiently for it to open. Its just another airlock to clean. But come on! It'll be the airlock of the Migrant Fleet's first prestine warship! Brand new! He or she will be one of the most reknowned quarian captains in the fleet! Keelah, I wish I was important enough or smart enough to have done that on my pilgrimage. Such an opportunity, I wish I-

The decontamination sequence finished, and the airlock door shot open. Brox moved forward, to stop as his eyes widened in horror and shouting was heard behind him.

No pilgrim came to greet them. No triumphant pose of a quarian adult who had brought the Flotilla a new hope. A new ship to be proud of.

No, there was 15 troopers, all squashed inside the airlock and wearing light to medium combat armor, kinetic barriers strapped to hips and helmets sealed ontop. They all held shotguns, assault rifles and pistols of every stripe, and one of them at the back had to be a engineer, by the way he played with his omni-tool. And only two things caught his attention the most.

One was the Cerberus insignias on their armor, not to mention the gold and white colors that gave it away. Oh keelah...my wife...no!

Two was the weapon muzzle pressed up against Brox's mask.

He didn't even get to gasp as the Cerberus soldier pulled the trigger, blinding the quarian in a flash of white, followed by brief, exploding pain.

And then, only darkness.

{Loading...}

October 29, 2185

1353 hours.

Captain's Quarters, Normandy-Class Stealth Frigate Normandy SR-2, Docked with the Rayya.

Commander Marcus Lee Shepard, Chief Engineer Tali'Zorah vas Normandy, Admiral Shala'Raan vas Tonbay.

"She did what?"

Marcus was barely holding back a guffaw, visibly amused by Tali's constantly shifting stance on the couch. Shala sat across from him, holding a complimentary drink of turian ale and sipping through her straw, courtesies of Kasumi. Got to thank her later too. Shala seemed to be smiling behind her mask as well, obviously finding the embarassment of Tali as amusing as her niece's boyfriend.

"Its nothing Marcus," Tali stated, with a voice that brokered no argument, glaring daggers at her aunt, "Just Raan being...ridiculous."

Raan chuckled, "Hardly, Tali. I know what I saw."

"Do tell Shala," Marcus mused and Tali shot him a murderous glare, but he ignored it. I'm going to get it after this, but...what are those words Tali said? It'll be totally worth it. He sat up and curled his legs infront of him like a child waiting to have a story told, and eagerly sipped at his drink. Tali sighed and rolled her eyes, crossing her arms and looking away from them, defeated.

Raan nodded and turned to him, beginning the story, "Well, this was many years ago, when Tali was seventeen and was going through her military training for her pilgrimage, and round about the same time I thought she had a crush on General Reegar."

Marcus noticed Tali shuffle on the sofa and knew the words had hit home. His grin grew as Raan continued, "I was on my way down to her cabin; Rael was on duty, so he couldn't look after her, so I decided to check on her. So I went down to the sleeping quarters to check on Tali. It was currently empty, so she had all to herself. And you wouldn't believe what I found her doing."

"Please auntie," Tali pleaded one final time, "I'm begging you. Stop there."

"Oh, but I'm hardly done," Raan teased, ignoring Tali's demands, "So, like I was saying, I went to move inside when I found the door locked and I was sure I could hear low humming sounds coming from inside. I wanted to have a look, but I had no idea what was going on. But as soon as I was starting to leave, the hums grew more intense, and I knew something was wrong, so I went to check. I activated my omni-tool, managed to use Rael's program to bypass Tali's, as she was a genius engineer, even then, and the door opened. Lights were on and everything. And guess what the humming sounds were..."

"Some contrapion Tali created? A walking omni-tool? A geth to control all geth? A machine to complete her plans of world domination?"

Raan cocked her head but Marcus shook his head, urging her to continue. She laughed and leaned in, whispering in his ear as he strained to listen, "They weren't hums at all. What I heard was merely muffled moans."

Oh god...He shot a look at Tali, and the quarian pretended to be blissfully ignorant of the conversation, but he could tell she was visibly embarassed. So when he turned back, and saw Raan about to finish, he grinned.

"So, just what was our devious and sneaky little quarian doing?" Marcus asked, eyes quirked upwards, inviting Raan to continue.

And she did, delivering the damaging blow, "Her moans were the production of something very naughty, and she was obviously desperate for noone to find out. She had somehow gotten her hands on a nerve-stim pro deluxe edition unit, and had programmed her omni-tool to activate it and interface with her suit systems."

"Nerve stim pro?" Marcus asked, confused, "Deluxe Edition?"

"Its a program quarians use to masturbate, captain," Raan deadpanned, and he was sure Tali was flushing right about now, "And Deluxe Edition is the expansion version for...well, exclusively for women. Originally, only the men had access to it, but the deluxe edition added a version for women as well."

"How does it work?"

"You interface it with your suit systems and you get a 'joystick' fashioned interface on your omni-tool that allows you to control the motion of the...sensations," Raan told him, "Its not just masturbation, Shepard, it literally simulates sex for a host. Every. Minute. Detail."

"I see..." Bingo. I've just found how to get revenge on Tali. Now if I can just find someone to hack into her omni-tool...

"Indeed," Raan agreed, inching forward, "It allows simulations of kissing, lips and skin contact, penetration, every sexual position, and of course, standard masturbation. And Tali had it on full auto."

Marcus burst out laughing, "How the hell do you do that!? Full auto?"

"She was going through everything," Raan explained, "Sex, kissing, the lot. If I hadn't closed the door, I'm sure Kar'Danna would have heard her moaning from the Rayya's bridge."

He was teary eyed, "So you essentially caught Tali masturbating?"

"More like having simulated sex," Raan told him, "But simply put, yes."

"I was...experimenting," Tali piped up, catching both their attention, her voice a weak whisper.

"And guess who's picture she was doing it off to?" Raan asked him.

"I think I know," Marcus told her, "Who?"

"Kal'Reegar, the one and only," Raan chuckled, "I was right. She had a crush on him. Even the point of sexual fantasies."

"I..." Tali had to interrupt, standing up to her full height, as if engaging in a tantrum, "I...I was a teenager! And immature! All teenagers are like at that age! I was horny and my hormones demanded I have a strong, muscular, well-toned, prime specimen of a male...keelah!" Tali clasped her hands over her vocalizer, as if trying to stem the tide of her words, "I...it was stupid! All girls do what...what I did...at that age!"

"I know that Tali; doesn't stop it from being funny," Raan replied.

"He's like a big brother to me!" Tali continued, unwilling or unable to stop, "What I thought of him then...I was a hormone-induced teenager! I was on a puberty high! I..."

"Its okay," Raan stopped her, placing her drink on the table, "I was teasing."

"I...I know," Tali stammered, but immediately snapped towards Marcus, pointing an accusing finger, "But you! You put her up to this! This is all-"

Before she could finish, he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her down into his lap, where he then cuddled her into his chest, strong arms holding her firmly as she resisted. But slowly, after a while, she began to resist less and eventually she just gave up, melting into his hold as her head rested on his chest, hand fiddling with his shirt.

"Bosh'tet..."

"You know you love me."

"You're a lovable bosh'tet," Tali replied, tracing lines up his chest, "You always know how to shut me up."

"You bet I do," with an evil grin, he let his hand slide down her back and let it keep growing until his hand hovered over her posterior...

She almost jumped in his arms as he squeezed her ass, causing her to squeal silently into his chest. She looked up at him and shot him a mischevious look that was followed by an awkward cough next to them, drawing both their attention back to the quarian admiral in the room.

"Yes, I'm still-"

"Commander!" Joker shouted over the comm, voice urgent. Noticing the voice's intent, Marcus shot up, letting Tali slide from his lap to land on the floor and both of them looked at each other with worry as Marcus replied.

"What is it Joker?"

"You better suit up and get out there! The Rayya's under attack!" Joker exclaimed, before some hesitation. Then his voice returned, "I can hear gunfire just outside the airlock and its getting louder! Marines confirm it as Cerberus commandos!"

Marcus shot a look at Tali who gasped in shock, while Raan practically knocked over her drink standing up, "What!? That's impossible! Noone could attack the Migrant Fleet! We took every precaution..."

"Tell that to the welcoming committee outside," Joker shot back, before addressing the commander again, "They infiltrated the fleet via a repainted light cruiser of Alliance design, Shepard. Its called the Montgomery. Strange thing is though, I had EDI find the ship in Alliance databases on a hunch..."

EDI's voice spoke to finish the sentence, "This ship doesn't exist, Shepard. The ship is of Hyderadad-Class design, but the Montgomery itself does not exist. And considering recent Cerberus activities..."

"Cerberus is stealing Alliance ship designs and building their own vessels," Marcus finished. The Illusive Man is learning. He knows his current fleet of mercenary, second-grade freighters strapped with weapons isn't going to be enough. He's building a proper fleet, and if he's sent a light cruiser to the Rayya...fuck. This is worse than I thought. First the Shadow Broker, now Cerberus. Who else wants us all dead?

"Tali, come on," Marcus ordered, marching up towards the elevator, "Its time to kick Cerberus' ass."

"I will stay here," Raan told them, sighing, "I'm of no use to you in combat."

Marcus turned to her, shaking his head, "You are not useless, Shala. Get in contact with whoever you can. Get them to help us. Coordinate the defense, do anything. It can help us in the long run."

Raan nodded and was activating her omni-tool as Marcus and Tali passed the bridge between the cabin and the access junction before entering the elevator, punching the button for the CIC. As he did this, he looked up, addressing EDI, "EDI, scramble whoever's available and have them meet me at the elevator; have everyone else as reserve. Inform Liara of what's happening; sound general's quarters. I want everyone ready except Legion. I don't want the quarians freaking out, and we'll only call upon it if the situation desperately requires it."

"Very well Shepard," EDI replied. Marcus and Tali turned to face the door and the elevator had reached the CIC and the doors opened when EDI continued, "Commander, two shuttles have just left the Montgomery and are heading for the ship's trading deck with the intention of forcing their way inside. It is possible that more Cerberus forces lurk inside."

"Goddamn it all..." Marcus cursed as he approached the armoury with increased need, practically slamming his palm into the interface to open it as Tali moved in behind him, "Tell Zaeed..." he trailed off before shaking the thought from his head, "Tell Kaidan to take Jack, Samara, Liara and Miranda and to take a shuttle to counter the second Cerberus attack. Keep them checked."

"Jack is currently unavailable due to...strenuous combat training in the shuttle bay earlier," EDI replied. Marcus cursed, but gave a reluctant nod as he approached his armor locker.

"Marcus?" He turned around at the sound of Tali's voice as he stopped infront of his armor locker, "Is it really wise to send all biotics away to one location?"

"Not all of them Tali," Marcus replied, grabbing the first gauntlet, and letting his own biotics flash in demonstration, "We've also got Jacob and Thane, which makes three biotics in total, so its nothing to fret about. With Zaeed out, I'll be forced to take only Grunt, Garrus and Kal only, but its not like I need them anyway."

"Keep your ego in check," Tali snapped, "This is serious."

Marcus noticed the inappropriate timing of his joke and gulped, nodding as he continued fitting on his armor. The new Terminus Armor he had acquired was top of the range; it wasn't the Blood Dragon Armor he had come to love, but it was something, and maybe this time, this armor would actually last. He finished fitting on his armor, but pinned the helmet under his armpit as he turned to Tali, who helped him put on his breastplate.

An armoured hand cupped Tali's cheek and she looked up into his eyes, seeing worry and concern, "We'll get your people out of this alive, Tali. I give you my word. These Cerberus scumbags will die, I promise. Not one more innocent will be hurt. But I'm going to have to ask you to stay back with the marines and coordinate supression fire. I'm going to be in the vanguard, with Grunt and Garrus."

Tali's eyes widened behind the mask, "No I'm not! I'm coming with you! I need to be there!"

This time, both hands cupped Tali's entire face and he let his forehead lean against her visor, his eyes never leaving hers. His voice was but a soft whisper, "And I need you to be at the rearguard. I need an engineer coordinating defense and someone to lead the marines. Garrus will be with me, Jacob will be part of that group, Miranda is off with Kaidan, so that leaves you in charge. I can't risk bringing Legion and Kasumi will be stealthly extracting civilians, so that leaves you as engineer. I'm sorry Tali; but I can't think with my heart here, I need to be the Commander, just for now. I'm sorry."

Tali sighed, her hands cupping his, her voice the same low whisper, a sound that also seemed to soothe her mate's senses, "I know, and don't apologize. I know what its like to be in command, and I know you need to be focused. No fraternization in the military exists for a reason, I guess," she then, with foreheads still touching, embraced him, arms wrapping around him as her suit pressed against his armoured visage, "Just be careful, you bosh'tet. I know what you're like, and I don't think I could stand seeing you injured again. I don't care if you have to hide behind Grunt, stay safe. And that's not a request, that's an order. Do you hear me?"

Marcus chuckled, hugging her back, "Yes, ma'am. Whatever you say, ma'am."

They broke the hug, knowing the urgency of the situation. But before turning away, Tali turned around, snatched a grenade from a nearby bench and placed it in Marcus' grip. He looked up at her with a raised brow and she nodded.

"I told you I'd loan you a grenade to blow up Cerberus," the quarian seethed and bristled with rage, "Here's the grenade, now go blow those fuckers back to hell."

Marcus was almost taken aback by the quarian's use of human curse terms, but he only smiled. That's my girl; using human mannerisms.

"God, I love you," Marcus exclaimed, placing a large kiss on her visor before clicking his helmet into place and gathering his weapons; he grabbed his claymore shotgun and primed it on his back before snatching a Revenant LMG and a bandolier of grenades, wrapping them around his chest. He grabbed Tali's grenade and placed it in the pouch on his chest, giving the quarian a warm smile. He was turning to leave when Tali stopped him. He looked down at her and words were not needed.

"I love you too," Tali told him, before slapping his chest, the quarian moving towards her own locker, "Now, go kick their ass."

He nodded and moved to leave, watching the quarian grab, not her geth plasma shotgun, but, to his surprise, her old Armageddon shotgun, or rather, his Armageddon shotgun that he had used two years ago in the Saren campaign before giving it to her as a gift. It was during the time he had been developing feelings for her.

He moved through the flight deck with purpose as he reached the airlock, nodded to Joker and entered the decon chamber, watching as Jacob, Mordin, Garrus, Grunt, Kasumi, Tali, Kal and Thane arrived inside, weapons brandished. It seems there would be no need for a reserve force. He looked forward, ready to draw his Revenant. He only brought the weapon out of a need to rip Cerberus apart, and an LMG was perfect for such a situation.

The airlock finished cycling and shot open, revealing a war-torn looking corridor before them. And as Marcus marched forth, he felt sick to the stomach.

All along the corridor, rows of quarian bodies lay, pools of red blood collecting. Bodies of marines mixed with those of the innocent; quarians who had been talking and chatting and operating their daily lives before they were cut short by the sudden and unprovoked Cerberus attack. Khelish curses spat in the air as both sides exchanged fire, both trying to kill and overwhelm the other. It was a bloodbath.

This is my fault...I did this...if I had never come to the Migrant Fleet...they're only here because of me...this...these people's blood...they're on my hands...

Without giving his team a chance to recognize his hesitation, he charged forth, Revenant in his grip as he raised it, pulled the trigger, and felt it roar to life in his hands. The fire poured down the corridor and tore a charging commando apart, the unexpected assault causing the Cerberus troopers to flee back into cover, shouting orders at one another. He counted at least seven of them before diving into cover himself.

He landed next to another quarian marine as Garrus went prone, positioning his Reaper sniper rifle and began to sweep the corridor, sniping any commando stupid enough to come out of his or her cover. Kasumi disappeared and headed over to where civilians were hiding, and Tali began shouting orders at the marines.

"Marines! Form up, on me, double time it! Someone, get me your leader and your squad number; move it!"

"Who the hell are you?" The quarian next to him asked.

Tali shot her a glare as she moved behind the cover both she and Marcus shared, Armageddon clasped in her hands as she shot daggers at the soldier, "Brigadier General Tali'Zorah vas Normandy, that's who, marine."

The marine snapped to attention, a salute reaching her masked head, "Keelah, I apologize ma'am! I'm the squad leader; Master Sergeant Vas'Yala vas Rayya, ma'am! Ready and able ma'am!"

"I need a sit-rep," Tali ordered and Marcus just let her run things as he poked his head over cover, grabbed the grenade she had christened, and tossed it at Cerberus, watching it drop behind the enemy cover and explode in a glorious bang, ripping apart numerous commandos, wounding others and forcing others from their position like frightened rabbits.

The marine nodded her affirmation, "Its ugly, man. I've counted at least fourteen civilian fatalities, with four of my men down and two civilians with suit punctures. The entire decon team is dead, as is most of the captain's personal guard..."

"The captain was here!?" Tali demanded, grabbing the quarian's veil and pulling her closer, "Is he alive?"

"I..." the woman gulped, fearing her next words, "No, ma'am. Captain Kar'Danna was killed in the initial Cerberus assault; took us completely by surprise. By the time I could organize my men and a retreat, they had already killed the captain. There was nothing I could do, ma'am."

"Those bosh'tets..." he heard devastation in the quarian's tone; years of nostalgia gone in a heartbeat. The captain of the ship she had grown up with, the man she had grown up with, and as much as the man's welcome was extremely hostile and Marcus found himself slightly disliking the man, he had been honorable. And Cerberus had killed him. The Rayya mourned.

"Then we'll make them pay for it in turn," Tali growled, turning down the hallway, "I want that ship marine; and I will kill its captain myself."

"But ma'am!" The soldier insisted, "Those Cerberus soldiers are entrenched deeply and their firepower and numbers are greater than ours! Plus, they've deployed more troops to the trading deck, so we're completely divided! The captain is dead! We're completely outgunned!"

"Why can't you just send a distress call?" Marcus asked, "The other admirals can't ignore an attack on one of their liveships."

"Don't you think we've tried that?" The soldier snapped before correcting herself, "Sir, sending a distress call was the first thing the XO did. We can't; the communications array is fried; someone has completely dished the entire system, and we cannot afford the troops or resources to hold them while they repair them. Hell, even the defenses aren't reacting. We're completely defenseless and unable to call for help! And what's funny is that they found that the system had been sabotaged prior to the docking."

Both of them went silent and they could practically hear Tali's growl, "Are you implying...are you saying that one of our own people sold out their own people to Cerberus? That bosh'tet; if I find them I'm going to rip their suit open! I cannot believe the audacity needed...ARGH!" With a blood cry that even sent shivers up Marcus' spine, Tali shot up, Chiktika shooting forth as Tali moved, her shotgun booming, again and again, as she charged the Cerberus line.

"TALI YOU FUCKING IDIOT!" Marcus roared, charging out to get her back back behind cover before the commandos regrouped, "YOU'RE GOING TO GET YOURSELF KILLED!"

Friendly fire danced around them; Garrus and Thane's snipers firing in sync while Kal fired his assault rifle. Grunt roared as he charged forth, his claymore blowing apart Cerberus cover. Jacob and Mordin provided supression fire, peppering the commando's cover to keep them pinned. One commando braved the enemy fire, trying to take advantage of Tali's vulnerable form with her mattock heavy rifle, only to have her head torn open like a bloody melon.

He pumped his legs until he was infront of Tali, raising his omni-shield to shield both of them from further fire. He glared at Tali, who sheepishly turned away and he turned back, roaring loudly as he dropped the shield and pulsed with biotic light, launching a flare directly into the center of the enemy squad.

Bright, purple light consumed and ate through the end of the corridor, vaporizing many of the commandos while tearing others apart; bone, muscle and limb. Red blood caked the walls from the explosion, and scorch marks covered the walls. He raised his Revenant and moved forward, gunning down those still on the ground, before skidding behind the remnants of the Cerberus cover, taking the time to reload from the assault. Tali skidded down next to him, and he grabbed her arm, pulling her close to him.

"What the fuck was that!?" Marcus scolded, "Do you have a death wish!? Goddamn it Tali, you almost gave me a heart attack!"

"I am not a fucking child!" Tali shot back, shoving backwards, "I can look after myself! What makes it right for you to charge forward like a imbecile, but not for me!?"

"Because I'm not the one wearing a suit!" He shook her, "I am not the one with a weakened immune system! When I get shot, I shrug it off, I don't get a fever or have to live in constant fear of dying! That commando with the mattock? You're lucky I was there to save you, otherwise you might have died! That trooper's mattock would have opened your head!"

He felt Tali start sobbing, and he wrapped his arms around her, suddenly conscious of himself. He had felt bad for yelling at her, but damn it, she had scared him to death! One shot was all it would have taken...to take the woman he loved away from him...one lucky Cerberus commando...

"I-I-I'm so-sorry..." she weeped, "B-but I can't lose any-anyone else! They killed Captain Danna! They've killed a dozen innocent civilians! How many children will soon fall to them!? I was there when they stormed the Idenna! I helped fight them off! I saw a mother's body, covered in blood, holding her baby in her arms...still in its bubble...the mother was dead, and the baby t-thought...so adorably...adorably...ignorant..."

He sighed, nodding, "I understand Tali, and I know I wasn't there on the Idenna, but I know the attrocities Cerberus has committed. They will pay, but if you die...Tali I don't know if I could..."

"This isn't about us!" Tali shouted in his face, "This is about my people!"

"We can discuss this later! Right now we've got some Cerberus bastards to blow to hell!" He shot forth from his cover, holstering his Revenant and unholstered his Claymore, pumping a shell into the chamber and blowing the torso clean off a charging commando, bodyless legs collapsing to the ground in a sea of crimson.

Two more tried to flank him, but Tali was past in a flash, body moving like a dancer. One foot ducked low and sweeped the legs out of one commando, allowing her to unsheathe her boot knife and slam it into the throat of the damned commando, before disgarding it, spinning, and ramming her shotgun forwards just as the second commando went to kick her in the face...

...only to have her leg from the foot to her knee completely shorn off, meaty fragments coating the ground in sloppy blood, crimson blood blinding Tali as it stuck to her visor, leaving nothing but a meaty stump on the woman's leg. The commando screamed, while Tali shot up, wiping her visor with one hand and continuing in one clean movement as she slammed a fist into the woman's chest, doubling her over. She fell to her knees, allowing Tali to grab onto her helmet and yank it back, snapping her neck.

Tali retrieved her knife, wiped it on her leg, and then sheathed, moving to follow Marcus into the Cerberus vessel. Marcus nodded to her, turning to his squad to see them, arrive Garrus and Grunt arriving. He moved to see the rest approaching, but held up a hand, "The rest of you hold position and make sure no more Cerberus troops arrive; if they do, kill every last one of them, no prisoners. These fuckers are done."

He moved into the ship as Garrus, Grunt and Tali followed him. He would let Tali kill the captain, no matter what. They would pay for this attrocity.

He tried to contact Kaidan, but he cursed as he found it jammed.

I hope they're alright.

{Loading...}

October 29, 2185

1403 hours.

Trading Deck, Liveship Rayya, Migrant Fleet, Enoch System.

Chief Operative Aeda Pil.

The Cerberus shuttle's hatch decompressed and opened, letting the vacuum of space enter it, but luckily for the Broker mercs, they wore EVA suits, so the decompression didn't kill them or suck them out. Aeda watched from behind as he signalled one of his asari mercs, the woman raising a shoulder amounted Arc Projector, courtesy of Cerberus, and aimed it at the center of the door...

An erratic jet of electricity shot forth, impacting the door and causing small tremor of light to rock through the solid blast door. The asari lowered the heavy weapon, and Aeda raised his carnifex, activating his tech armor as he did and preparing to attack, preparing to attack. His fellow mercs did the same, assuming position behind the walls of the vehicle.

The door's circuits burst and gave out, and the blast doors shuddered open, revealing the inside of the liveship. Forcefields shot to life, they only stopped decompression; not bullets. The quarians inside went about their daily lives, oblivious to the attack about to be wrought upon them. Aeda almost felt sorry for them; innocent civilians going about their lives, and about to be disposed of just to kill four people.

But in the end, it is the Broker I am loyal to, not my morals.

He raised his pistol, targetted the nearest civilian; a man carrying a crate, and fired.

Chaos dissolved into the room as their shuttle shot forth and into the room, the target's corpse collapsing onto the ground along with his crate as he crumbled down dead, the whole room dissolving into screaming as people desperately tried to flee. His men opened fire, gunning down helpless civilians left and right. Aeda leapt out of the shuttle, leading the assault as his carnifex answered bloody murder to the screams.

Shots pinged off his tech armor and he turned to see four marines running towards them, assault rifles booming. They assumed cover and tried to flank them, but Aeda had seen similiar tactics in his days working in the STG; he knew how they worked, and where they faltered. He leapt forth, his leg ramming into the chest of one charging quarian woman, doubling her over before placing his pistol to her visor and pulling the trigger, blowing her head clean off her shoulders.

One man screamed in rage at the death of his comrade, or, due to the sobs he heard, his mate, another quarian appeared, this one a...female? Aeda was confused. A female who is mates with another female? Homosexuality is not limited to humans it appears. Interesting...pointless among salarians, pointless among many species. Irrelevant. A target. Target, fire, discard.

He dodged the rifle butt of the female quarian as he then spun around, straightened her arm out and shot an elbow into her shoulder, snapping it in a single second, a loud crack heard throughout the room as the female's scream increased in pitch, before he then spun her around again and did the same with her leg, her scream sounding like a banshee's cry now.

Not willing to let the quarian linger in pain, he placed his carnifex behind her head and pulled the trigger, the shot ripping open her hood and emptying her brains all over her mask as she crumbled forward and onto the ground. As he turned, all the quarians had been eliminated, so he moved up the stairs, motioning his demolitions specialist, a turian, to plant a charge on the only quarian shuttle in the room. There would be no escaping this onslaught.

Aeda moved up and stood ontop of the observation dais, watching his men secure the room. Sixteen mercenaries moved about, all carrying state of the art weaponry as they moved to entrench themselves. Five men would hold the trading deck, and the other ten would follow him and push on through the ship, using the Cerberus attack as a distraction to let them flank Shepard, Tali, Liara and Shala's position, allowing him to kill them.

His omni-tool beeped with a communique from Peta and he pressed the answer button, watching the quarian's face appear on the screen.

"Future conversation unnecessary Yala," Aeda stated bluntly, "Be quick with it, before I decide to jump ship and add a fifth man to my list of dead men."

"Thought you should know that Shepard, Tali and Shala are still on the ship, as is Liara. Cerberus forces have boarded the ship and begun opening fire. Now's a better time than ever to take control of the situation. You might even get the Normandy."

"I am interested in loyalty, not a ship I cannot use," Aeda replied cooly, "When the Broker requires the Normandy for my loyalty, then I shall take it without hesitation. Until then, I recommend you stay hiding until I can liberate you from the hole you hide in."

"Just get me Tali, alive, and I'll leave you unhindered," Peta promised before cutting the line.

"Cocky and overconfident. Loyalty obviously not a strong virtue," Aeda muttered, "Will have to eliminate when this is all done; I will do it myself. When you crush a leech, you do it yourself, you don't get someone else to do it."

Suddenly, an explosion rocked the bay, and he turned back around to see another shuttle, this one sporting red and black colors, in the same position as they had been, but this time there was a human wielding a missile launcher. Unexpected counterattack. Damn it. Will have to counteract, scramble response. He shouted orders at his men and steadily made his way down, making sure to take cover behind a nearby crate.

He held his carnifex steadily as he peeked over his cover, watching another missile erupt from the human's launcher, this shot impacting their shuttle, the first shot rupturing the cockpit before the second shot ripped straight through, a ripple of explosions tearing through the vehicle and causing it to explode in flames, consuming two of his men that had been taking cover behind it, and destroying their main avenue of escape.

He watched the shuttle moved inside, and a horde of weapons fire met both sides, covering the trading deck in a roar of death. And as the salarian looked on, he saw another human in a white, revealing uniform, an asari in a red, patterned uniform and then finally, another asari, this one wearing an armoured labcoat and undeniably familiar. T'Soni...

All four lit up with biotics, and orbs of light shot forth from the hostile shuttle, raining even more death upon the already grizzled Broker mercenaries. Aeda raised his carnifex and fired at the center human, but the shot pinged harmlessly off his shields and he seemed to ignore him, dropping his missile launcher to draw an avenger assault rifle.

Aeda ducked back behind cover and rolled to another, narrowly dodging the roar of fire that impacted his tech armor and pinged off harmlessly. He saw that his turian demolitions engineer had placed a charge on the shuttle and was now wielding a heavy weapon, noticably a grenade launcher, and was aiming it at the enemy shuttle.

Shots poured into the turian's shield, and rolled out of the way, making sure to keep his grenade launcher steady. Shots kept pouring into his shields, but Aeda noticed where the enemy fire was directed. He went to comm the turian, but it was too late.

One shot. Two shots. Three. All impacted the barrel of the launcher, impacting it with such heavy force that it pierced the agent's kinetic barriers and ripped into the barrel. The turian practically disappeared in a massive series of explosions, all the grenades in the launcher detonating at once, the turian vanishing in a combination of fire and a mist of blood and gore. The explosion four more mercs before they could escape as well, reducing Aeda's force to nine men in total.

He commed his entire squad, "Concentrate fire on the shuttle's engines; bring it down! Taria, Christopher, Parus, Bell, Tracey, Mae, form up, on me and prepare to flank! Reload weapons and fire! I wanted that thing down yesterday."

Without another word, Aeda slipped from his cover and rushed to the left, rushing down the front of the bay. As he did, he watched one asari, three humans, a turian and a salarian move to meet him; leaving the other three mercs to fire on the enemy's engines and draw their attention. He never intended to take the shuttle down; only draw the attention of its occupants.

He motioned to the shuttle with hand signals, not willing to risk noise. Without a sound, he raised his own carnifex hand cannon, aimed at the red armoured asari, and opened fire, joined quickly by the other six mercs. Together, they combined fire to completely bring down hell on the enemy force.

Expectantly, they retreated into the shuttle to save themselves from the enemy fire, giving his men room to breathe, regroup and reload. He crouched, slipping a thermal clip from the pouch in his light armor and slamming it into the slot on his heavy magnum, hearing the satisfying click of it connecting to the main power cell.

His men followed suit but just as they were ready to continue their attack, Christopher, who had been raising his rifle to fire again, was brought down to kneel, his entire kneecap torn right open as he screamed, only to be silenced as a second sniper rifle pierced his left eyesocket, left side of his head disappearing in a red mist.

Aeda, taken by surprise, spun around, pistol raised and cursed inwardly at his incompetence; watching as an entire squad of quarian marines rushed into the room, one of them brandishing the sniper rifle that had killed Chris. Damn it, I made a foolish decision forgetting about them. Getting complacent; must complete mission; but I cannot focus on both sides. Divide forces.

He motioned for Taria, Bell and Mae to follow him as he moved to deal with the quarians, while he ordered the rest to keep the shuttle occupants pinned, only to watch as their shuttle landed. Very good; makes killing them easier. Without a second thought, he turned, this time raising his omni-tool and deploying his combat drone and then keying his incineration program, charging.

Taria's biotics lit up to his side, and Bell and Mae provided suppression fire, catching one reckless marine in the side and downing him, before finishing him with a shot to the belly. Aeda's omni-tool pulsed with energy and a fiery orb shot forth, impacting one unlucky quarian in the face. The quarian woman dropped her shotgun and screamed as her body wreathed, face melting in flames. To end her misery, he raised his carnifex once more, and littered the ground with her brain matter.

Two more marines fell before they assumed defensive positions and pinned his troops. Aeda took cover, deciding to deactivate his tech armor to allow himself to draw power to his omni-tool. Using what energy he had left, he prepared his cryo blast function, stood up, aimed, and fired. He caught one standing quarian in a solid casing of ice, solidifying her before he fired his pistol into it, cracking the ice and reducing the quarian to blood stained pieces of ice on the deck.

Their victory was short lived. Just as he moved to press his attack, a frag grenade landed right inbetween Mae and Bell, the two men almost yelling as they dodged to avoid the blast, but in futility. Aeda raised an arm to shield himself from the blast, hoping his tech armor activated in time as the grenade detonated.

No pain. Nothing. But he could hear crackling. He looked down to see his tech armor had activated just in time, but the explosion had fried the circuits, and part of the armour on his arm was now charred and twisted and scorched, with bits of grenade wedged in them. Problematic. Tech armor out of the question now. He looked further up to see that Mae and Bell were completely gone, nothing but scorched rifle, meaty fragments and a few specks of blood left to remind him of their existence.

He turned to Taria, watching as her biotic barrier desperately tried to fight off the marine assault, but they would break through eventually. He commed the asari, "Cover my retreat! Remember your duty! You die for the Broker!"

"I'll die for the Broker!" Taria swore and she seemed to grow stronger with the words, her stance towards her barrier growing stronger; but it wouldn't last. Aeda hastily retreated, his last view of Taria being that of her pushing forward, all her biotic energy going to her barrier. Without turning back, Aeda rushed forward, making sure to never lower his pistol.

But as he arrived, he did not find what he wanted to find.

Parus and Tracey were lying on the ground in pools of blood, and the rest of his forces dead. He surveyed the scene, unwilling to believe what had transpired. He leapt under cover, watching the enemy from the red and black shuttle begin to pan out and secure the area, and he commed the Montgomery.

"What the fuck do you want, frog?" Michael snapped, "Has the frog forgotten how to leap?"

"The frog is alone against snakes," Aeda snapped back, "My team is all dead and only me and Taria remain. I require reinforcements; the Normandy managed to scramble a response faster than anticipated."

"What's this? You need help from the primitive? Well fuck me twice," Aeda was sure the human was smiling smugly at that point, "I'd love to, but I'm busy at the moment dealing with my own problems. I just had Shepard, Miss Zorah and his krogan and turian pet just board my ship and begin tearing everything up, so many commandos are currently very occupied."

Aeda frowned, "You let them get onto your ship?"

"You were the one who said my troops were incompetent! If you had switched roles and had your mercs protect the ship, we might have been better off!" the Cerberus captain yelled back, "What matters right now is leaving! I'm scrubbing the mission!"

"We cannot turn back!" Aeda snapped, finally losing his cool, "You and I both know the Illusive Man and Shadow Broker both will have our heads for desertion!"

"Who said anything about you?" Michael asked coldly, "I'm taking the ship and bugging out. You can rot for all I care, salarian piece of shit. I'll deal with the master's whip, but you won't."

"You still have to deal with Shepard and his men," Aeda pondered, "You can't escape."

"That's my problem, not yours," Michael dictated, "Goodbye, Operative Pil. Enjoy...well, whatever afterlife the frogs live in, I guess."

Then the comms went dead and the salarian deactivated his omni-tool. He inhaled and exhaled, but then his head shot up at the sound a thunder shot, finding Taria's dead corpse fall to the ground as the quarians finally broke through her barrier and took her out. Just me now. I'll die for the Broker.

He activated his omni-tool one last time and activated the injector in his armor to inject barbicide instead of medi-gel into him. If he got captured, he would activate it and kill himself; he would not allow himself to break and give them the location of the Broker. He could not, would not, allow it.

He reloaded his carnifex one final time and leapt from his cover, immediately opening fire on the nearest target; the male human in the armor. The man saw him coming and blocked the salarian's incoming swipe with his rifle, before dropping it and assuming a battle pose, hands up and clenched in fists. It was clear this man was military as well. Posture, professionalism, authority. Uh yes...Staff Commander Kaidan Alenko.

The woman in white uniform would be Miranda Lawson, the white armoured asari obviously was Liara T'Soni, and the red armoured one had to be Samara. He assumed a similiar pose, deciding that this was a battle of skill; he dropped his carnifex and kicked it away, seeing no need for it anymore. He was surrounded, with quarian marines behind him, weapons raised, and the Normandy crew before him.

No escape, only death. But a good death.

He then reached up and removed his helmet, also dropping it to the floor, revealing his salarian features. He was totally unremarkable; the standard salarian face, with but a single bit out of place; his mouth was sloped weirdly enough that when he smiled, it looked crooked. He bowed to Kaidan, who also removed his helmet and dropped it, revealing his raven black hair and calm eyes.

He turned to Liara, "Doctor T'Soni, my mission was to kill you, along with Shepard, Miss Zorah and Admiral Raan. You make take pleasure in knowing I failed, if you wish."

Liara shook her head, eyes narrowed in anger, "I didn't know the Shadow Broker now worked for Cerberus. And that he enjoyed killing innocent civilians."

"Enjoyment and necessity are two different things," Aeda corrected, "And not working for Cerberus, working with them. Mutual cooperation and mutual goals. Both sides see Shepard as threat and the Broker just happens to want to get rid of you anyway, so it was like killing two birds with one stone."

"I will end him," Liara brissled, eyes narrowing into slits as she glowed with biotic power.

"You will never find him," Aeda replied calmly, "Kill me if you wish, but I will never betray the Broker. He has remained hidden for hundreds of years. You cannot find him, and you will not kill him. It is that simple."

"They said Shepard couldn't destroy the Collectors. Saren said the Reapers couldn't be stopped," Liara replied simply, a grin gracing her lips, "And so far, the Collectors are gone and the Reapers still haven't arrived. Shepard will find the Broker, and he will pay for all that he has done."

"If that is your attitude, it is not up to me to try and change it," the salarian replied, assuming a battle pose, "But my time for sociability is over. Now we must fight, Staff Commander Alenko."

Kaidan didn't even wait as he sent a jab in the salarian's direction, with Aeda dodged. Another punch quickly followed it, but the merc easily blocked it. He felt a burst of biotic energy from the soldier push him back slightly, but he quickly regained his composure and swiped at the man's incoming assault, countering it at every juncture.

He was taken by surprise however when the human faked one attack with his right and attacked with his left, hitting the salarian across the jaw, and causing him to double back. He spun around to face him again, but a kick connected with his chest, sending him onto the ground. He desperately tried to find air as the human approached.

Just as Kaidan moved to attack him again, he leapt to his feet and used his momentum to return the favor, punching him across the face. Kaidan reeled from the blow but quickly recovered, his body being less frail than a salarian's, and sent an elbow flying into his face. Teeth blew apart as Aeda almost gasped from the sudden pain and fell backwards, stunned as he cradled his face, which was all the opening the alliance marine needed.

Another punch, followed by another, further disorienting the STG soldier and causing him to lose balance as he became dizzy from the blows. A kick shot out and hit the salarian's right shin, causing him to cry out and fall to one knee, but not before he sent his own punch into the human's thigh, achieving but a small thump.

He blocked a hammerfist blow from Kaidan, but another fist rained down and hit the blocking arm, before it was then straightened, and an elbow snapped it. Despite Aeda's skill, he was ultimately no match for a fully-trained alliance soldier. He yelped in agony as he tried to stand up and ignore his snapped arm, but it was hopeless. He desperately held his other arm up to protect himself, but it proved fruitless as Kaidan seemingly ignored it.

A kick; and Aeda fell forwards, useful arm shooting up to stop him from faceplanting into the ground as he spat out green blood from his ruin of a mouth, the blow to the back of his head finishing him; not killing him, but ending the fight. But Kaidan wasn't finished; and to add insult to injury, he felt a biotic hand grab one horn and pull.

It came off in a sheen of green gore, causing Aeda to screech as it came off and fell to the ground, Kaidan sneering at the lowered salarian. I deserve it. All the innocent men and women I killed. He is serving justice. Do not apologize for my actions; I did it for the Broker, but still regret what I ultimately had to do.

A pistol collapsed into Kaidan's hand and Aeda could practically feel the cold steel touching the back of his head, "Its over."

"Do what you have to do," was all Aeda had to say.

A gunshot rang out throughout the trading deck.

{Loading...}

October 29, 2185

1427 hours.

Main Bridge, Hyderabad-Class Light Cruiser, CAW Montgomery, Enoch System.

Commander Marcus Lee Shepard, Chief Engineer Tali'Zorah vas Normandy, Soldier Urdnot Grunt, Gunnery Master Garrus Vakarian.

The entrance to the cruiser's bridge was littered with the dead; long lines of bloodied corpses, still in heavy, medium and light armor, all lying dead and bent, either torn down by gunfire or defeated in hand-to-hand combat. Red blood stained the pristine, gold and white colored bulkheads, a bloody testament to the combat that had occured. Spent thermal clips littered the fall, and blood flowed freely. The dead occupied the hall.

And they all belonged to one side.

Marcus and his team walked through the piles of dead Cerberus commandos that had made their stand at the door; squads of them throwing themselves at the team in a desperate attempt at overwhelming them in a battle of attrition; a battle that cannot be won against the masters of it. These bodies were all that was left of the Montgomery's security and troops; all that lay ahead now was the crew itself.

He wanted to kill the cruiser's captain for what he had done here.

But that was Tali's honor. Cerberus had attacked her people. Killed her old captain. As far as she was concerned, the terrorist captain would die at her hands.

Its my fault. I brought them here. They wanted me, and they butchered innocents to get me.

He closed his eyes and shook the feelings from his head. But Harbinger's words were unwilling to leave, unwilling to let go of his conscious.

You will make a choice that will destroy you. You will push those you love away in the name of false safeties. You will surrender yourself, allowing time for our arrival. You will falter, you will waver, and you will die. All of you...ascending to a higher form. Reaper form. Those which you know as Reapers are your salvation through destruction.

The Requiem is coming.

Was this that Requiem? A mass grave for god knows how many quarians? And all of it on his head?

No, that's not what Harbinger could have meant. What Cerberus and the Shadow Broker is doing...it has nothing to do with the Reapers.

Or does it? What if the Shadow Broker is indoctrinated? What if...if...

What if the Illusive Man is indoctrinated?

The words were like shell shock, but they were dismissed quickly. He palmed the interface for the door and felt it open with a hiss, watching the bridge appear before him. Numerous crew members stopped what they were doing to look at Marcus with horrified glances, and the human captain, sitting in his chair, spun around and faced Marcus, his own eyes widening in shock.

He grunted orders and Grunt and Garrus charged forward, weapons brandished as they ordered the crew to get on the ground. They refused, charging forward as they growled with hateful intent. One man almost reached Grunt, only to be headbutted by the massive krogan, skull cracking open like a christmas cracker. Garrus' mattock rifle spat death and chewed up the Cerberus crew, and in the end, the entire bridge crew was left dead.

They all spun to face the enemy captain who, in the commotion, and tried to sneak out the bridge door, only to have Tali appear. And she was the defintion of the devil.

A three-fingered hand wrapped around the human's throat and Tali, in a showcase of deceptive quarian strength, picked him up and literally carried him over to his command chair where he was thrusted back into it, the quarian snarling as he pulled out her knife and held it to his throat, eyes narrowing into a murderous glare.

Garrus and Grunt shot Marcus shot concerned glances, Grunt looking more for clarification and Marcus nodded for them to lower their weapons. A second later, they did just that and they all watched as Tali pressed her boot knife against the man's throat and she leaned in. The man didn't look the least bit intimidated, if only slightly.

"You sack of shit," Tali cursed, pressing up against the man, who by all rights should be wetting himself by now, "I can't believe...you murdered innocent civilians! Do you have anything to say about yourself!"

"Yeah, I do," the man replied, a grin creasing his mouth as he gurgled and spat, his saliva hitting Tali's visor like a ripple on a pond. For a moment, the quarian froze, as if trying to comprehend what had just happened. The man looked immensely pleased with himself. But he didn't know Tali. Didn't know what the quarian was capable of when she was pissed.

This was the woman who had lost her father, and immediately, had torn a geth prime apart, with a knife.

This woman had defeated Saren Arterius' satantic form and helped face down a Reaper; a man who, by all rights, and made an attempt on her life.

This woman had climbed through the gates of hell itself, diving into the Collector Base and coming out alive.

And this man had just blatantly ordered the murder of a dozen civilian, including the possible next dozen by the team they sent to the trading deck. And when it came to her people, Tali was ruthless in her defense of them.

And this man spat on that, literally.

The smile was wiped away from the man's face instantly as he felt a scream erupt from his throat, Tali's knife now wedged between one of his shoulder blades. His eyes met Tali's, and if her mask was off, he probably would have passed out from horror.

They were the gates of hell.

She grabbed the blade and twisted, simultaneously wiping the spit from her visor and wiping it on the man's face, "You will regret that, you bosh'tet. I'm very unforgiving when it comes to Cerberus."

"Yet you were so willing to work with us," the man spat through clenched teeth, almost sighing as Tali finally removed the knife, blood gutting from the wound, only to wince when she nicked a nice long scratch along the side of his cheek.

She grabbed his hair and pulled his head back, leaning close and looking deep into his eyes, "I worked with Marcus Shepard, a man who saved my life, loved me and let me join a crusade to save the galaxy. A man who I have devoted my loyalty to. He is not Cerberus, but you are, which means I'm going to kill you."

"This the bit where you tell me I'm going to die slowly and painfully?" the man asked, grinning somehow as Tali let go.

Tali giggled, almost sadistically, making Marcus cringed, "Of course not; that would make me Cerberus, correct? No, you'll die quickly, but that doesn't mean I can't have fun with the man who murdered innocents."

"Kill a dozen people and you freak out. Fuck," the man snapped, leaning closer to the quarian who was now wiping her blood stained knife on her arm, "Ever heard of this famous human quote? 'One death is a tragedy, one million is a statistic.' A dozen people doesn't matter in the grand scope of thing; had it been up to me, I would have blown up this entire liveship."

Marcus expected Tali to lose it right there and then, but she kept her calm, simply eying the man. And then she spoke; her words cold, measured and ruthless. They reminded him of what he had been like on Torfan, when speaking to Balak. Dear god...what have I turned her into?

Tali moved forward, spreading his legs, "You know, you're pretty cocky," Tali purred dangerously, leaning right up to him, "I might be able to fix that."

"Seriously woman? Are you going to blow me? Right infront of your boy here?" He jabbed a finger at the man and laughed, "Well, I'm not going to say no to a-"

A scream of agony. Contortions of pain. The man was going through all seven of the realms of hell, slowly and agonizingly, and Marcus, the man who flinched from nothing, turned away in disgust. Even noticed Garrus turning away and even Grunt seemed to be surprised; most unlikely out of being shocked that Tali could do such a thing, rather than the act itself. My...god...I don't...I...did I turn her into this? If she had never met me, would she have become this...beast?

When he turned back around, he saw that Tali was done, wiping her knife on her veil; and he saw it, swinging on her blade; a flap of skin that Tali carelessly picked up and tossed to the ground before sheathing her knife. He looked at the wound she had opened up; the man was shaking uncontrollably and seemed to have passed out from the torture, and he wasn't surprised.

Tali's pun wasn't just that; she had delivered. She had literally opened his pants and rammed her blade into his testicles, effectively castrating him and worse. The area inbetween his thighs was a bloody mess as the remnants of his testicles and penis lay haphazardly like the wreckage of a destroyed vehicle; none of it was even recognizable anymore, and the skin was drenched in crimson, making it impossible to see anything.

Tali leaned in close and sighed, "This is for the Rayya. This is for Captain Kar'Danna vas Rayya. This is for all those people you slaughtered. And this...this is because I feel like it." And with that, she lined her knife up and slit the unconscious man's throat, watching as blood exploded from his ruptured jugular veins and erupted onto the floor. Marcus could only watch, face emotionless.

He turned to Garrus and Grunt, ordering them to leave. They did so without hesitation, and he was quickly left alone with Tali, who seemingly returned to normal, the ruthless maniac he had seen before evaporated.

"Marcus..." she whispered.

"No," he held a hand up, keeping her at bay, "We'll talk about this later. Report to the Rayya and see what you can do to help the wounded. I'm going to try and contact Kaidan and the second team and see what happened."

Tali seemed about to object but he already turned to leave, leaving her behind him, unwilling to even look at her.

Because why would I?

Because she's not Tali'Zorah.

She was what he engineered her to be.

"I...I scared you."

- Tali'Shepard pav Rannoch.

"You terrified me. I didn't know what to do with myself; but I guess it worked out alright in the end, huh?"

- Marcus Shepard.

A/N:

I am extremely proud of this chapter; I hope you see why. I've put all my 'guns' into making this, and it turned out FANTASTICALLY.

None of you seemed to have guessed what the Revengeance is or the name of her captain, so I guess I won't spoil it. But trust me, you'll be bashing heads when you find out who it is. You'll be cursing yourselves for not seeing the obvious.

This is also the longest chapter I've ever written since the Trials of Treason chapter from Prophecy. And funnily enough, both involved quarians. Guess I love that species too much, although this chapter was definitely alot darker.

What do you think of Tali's sporadic ruthlessness? Was it called-for? Do you think Michael deserved to have his balls mutilated?

What will Peta do now that his mission has failed?

Will Tali and Shepard's relationship fall apart?

How much more can the crew take of the Shadow Broker's attempts to assassinate them before they finally crack?

Keelah Se'lai!