Sarah stepped out of the skycar, and whispered, "Stay cloaked, Kasumi. Backup should show up in ten minutes."
"Backup? Why is there backup? Things went fine last time."
"That's exactly why." Sarah replied, as she stepped into the courtyard, and was greeted by a guard saying,
"There's something wrong with the statue."
"I'm sure it will be fine." Donovan said, as he stepped out of his mansion. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Gunn."
"Likewise, Mr. Hock." she replied, quickly examining the defenses of the building.
"Is something wrong, Ms. Gunn?"
"Just making sure that security is satisfactory. I recently angered a very powerful individual. And she may come after me at any moment."
"Who?" Hock asked.
"Commander Shepard."
"Commander Shepard is dead."
"I thought so too, until I encountered her on the field on Korlus."
"Korlus is Blue Suns territory. What was an independent contractor such as yourself doing there?"
"The Suns had hired my team and I to help them on the planet since they were having, difficulties." Shepard said, looking up as another skycar approached.
"Who is that? Everyone on the guest list has arrived." Hock said.
"My date. And a bit of extra security." Shepard said, "I hope you don't mind."
"Not at all." he replied as the car landed.
As the vehicle opened, Miranda stepped out in a long red dress. Hock said, "An interesting choice of attire for your added security."
"Actually," Sarah said, walking over to Miranda, and holding out her arm, which Miranda quickly took, "This is my date. He's the security." pointing at William.
He was standing there in a suit of N7 Devastator Armor. He looked at Hock, and said, "Your security is less than optimal. There should be two more guards on the western perimeter, six on the northern, three on the eastern, and one on the southern."
"I will be sure to set that up." he replied, walking away.
"Good work. Now, remember the plan." Sarah said, making sure Hock didn't have any men nearby to overhear. "We'll cut the power, steal the code to the vault, meanwhile Kasumi will be gathering DNA samples from Hock's bedroom. Once we've gathered all of that, I'll get Hock talking. Once Kasumi has what she needs, you'll go down to the vault, and I'll provide a distraction. You'll go in, get the greybox, then we'll get the hell out of here."
"How exactly are you going to distract them?" Miranda asked.
"I think they'll be a bit surprised to find out that they let Commander Shepard into their midst."
"You could get all of them to try and kill you." William said, "Sure you don't need a second?"
"I'll be fine. Just make sure that you get the greybox, and get to the shuttle. If things get too hot, I'll evac in the skycar."
-=0=-
TIM stepped into a dark chamber, where a massive, booming voice asked, "Has the Shepard's restoration been successful?"
"Yes, Masters." he replied, looking at the thousands of screens.
Then, Harbinger's voice boomed out, saying, "Good. Only she can free us from the Catalyst. The attempt to use you to release us so that the cycles may end will not work. Shepard must use the Crucible to destroy us."
"But, if she does, the history of your races will be lost. There will be no way to restore you to what you once were."
Another reaper said, "The time of the species we once were is gone. Now, we must be destroyed."
"What of the human reaper being made?"
"Shepard will destroy it, just as she did before."
"Why do we have to fight you? Can't you resist the Catalyst?"
"No." a third reaper said, it's 'eyes' closed sorrowfully.
"There has to be a way!" TIM said, "We can't lose the history of the galaxy! I agreed to help free you, so you could advance our galaxy to where it was before the cycles. Not so you could be destroyed."
-=0=-
Sarah looked around a corner, and jumped slightly when someone poked her on the shoulder. Kasumi whispered, "Everything's ready. Just need the voice recording."
"Got it." Sarah said, walking over to Hock.
He said, "Ms. Gunn, how are you enjoying the party?"
"Very much, Mr. Hock." she replied, "Though, I do wonder who would dare try to invade your home that you need so much security."
"There are many people in this galaxy, Ms. Gunn. Most of them do not understand that the things we do keep the galaxy turning. We are the cleaners, the people who do the difficulty things which keep this fragile galaxy turning. There will always be a market for the things we do."
Sarah nodded, and out of the corner of her eye saw Kasumi cloak, and assumed she was heading down to the vault. Silently standing there, she nodded at Miranda, and the operative headed down towards the vault as well.
Sarah moved silently into a dark corner of the chamber and activated the timer on her omni-tool. She stood there silently, checking the timer occasionally. The instant it hit zero, she went over to the refreshments table and grabbed a glass of champagne. She tossed the fluid out into the servant handling the area, and started tapping the glass. It sent out a loud, sound, and everyone turned and Sarah said, "Alright. I suppose there isn't any reason to keep lying to all of you. I know that I said that I pissed Commander Shepard off, and she's coming after me. But, that's just not the truth."
"Why did you lie, Ms. Gunn?" Hock demanded.
"Because, that's just an alias. My real name and title is Spectre, or Lieutenant Commander, Sarah Shepard."
"That can't be right." Hock said, "Shepard died."
"I did." Sarah said, "But, I got better."
"How?"
"Two years. Four billion credits, the best tech money can buy. And, several of the top scientists that humanity has to offer working day and night."
"Who would put that kind of money into resurrecting you, and not share any of the information?" Hock asked.
"Cerberus." She replied.
"So, Cerberus has infiltrated our little gathering. I think we should give our guest a proper welcome, now that we know who she really is?" Hock said.
"Before you attack me, might I remind you that I am a Spectre. That I've killed thousands, probably tens of thousands, of your employees. I've seen the kind of shit that would make so you would need sedatives to be able to sleep at night."
"That doesn't change the fact that you're a problem." Hock said, glaring at her, as he reached for his pistol.
Sarah said, "I wouldn't do that if I were you." looking around her, "I've got this place rigged to blow. If you shoot me, you might hit something sensitive, and send your mansion and guests sky-high. Not to mention yourself."
"You couldn't have. Why would you rig my house to explode? And when?"
"The why is classified. As to the the when, a couple of years ago."
"When I had to have some renovations done, you had the workers set up explosives in my house?"
"It made sense. The Eclipse have gotten in my way quite a bit in the past. So, why don't you just put your weapons down on the ground. All of you." she said, looking at them.
"Why should we do that, Shepard?" Hock asked.
"Because, I have a frigate armed with thanix cannons very, very close." she replied, as the Normandy rose up into view. The primary thanix cannon deployed, and she said, "So, either you surrender, or get hit with a weapon that won't leave enough of you to even tell what species you were before."
Hock stepped back, and said, "There is no need for hostility, is there Shepard?"
"No need at all. Now, just throw all of your weapons into a pile." Sarah said.
"Would you do that if our roles were reversed?"
"Of course not. I'd jump out the window, board the Normandy, and kill all of your people on the inside. But, you aren't anywhere near as skilled as I am. So, just do as you're told, and no one gets hurt." Sarah said, pointing her pistol at the arranged criminals. "Once I and my companions leave, you can take your weapons back. But, while we are here I expect everyone else to be unarmed."
"You make some rather large demands, Shepard." Hock said.
"Need I point your attention back to the frigate ready to fire its thanix cannons at you?" Sarah asked, pointing her pistol at it. Then, just as a nearby guard tried to hit her in the back of the head, she turned around, caught his arm, and broke it in a single, fluid motion. He crumbled whimpering to the ground. Shepard pointed her pistol at the man's head, and pulled the trigger three times. As blood started to pool around the man's head, the N7 said, "Anyone who does not comply will share this man's fate. Are we clear?"
"Yes, Commander." Hock said, tossing his pistol to the floor.
"Ah, thank you Mr. Hock. Everyone, please follow our kind host's example." Sarah said, looking at the assorted men and women.
They slowly at first stepped forward and added their firearms to the pile. After a while, they were quickly just tossing their weapons into the pile, and returning to where they had been before. Sarah smiled at each and every one. When the last mercenary, an asari wearing an eclipse ring put her twin pistols into the pile, Shepard grabbed her wrist, and said, "I'd like a private word with you, Sederis."
"How do you know who I am, human?" she demanded.
"I'm a Spectre. We're very well connected." Shepard replied. "I just wanted to talk to you about a small matter. Nothing too important."
"And what would that be, Shepard? The only reason I haven't killed you for being an enemy of the Eclipse is because your ship is essentially holding us hostage."
"I know. It's a marvelous plan, don't you think. I was wondering if you know about the greybox."
"What greybox?"
"Keiji Okuda's greybox. The one with information that could cause serious issues for the Alliance?"
"Oh, that greybox? Has Hock managed to crack it yet?"
"No. He doesn't have a necessary piece of the puzzle. I was just wondering how many people I'll have to kill in order to make the greybox disappear, and whoever gets it, to not have to worry about being hunted down."
"You think I'll tell you, Shepard? You just said you plan to kill me."
"I do. The question is, do you want it to be a quick, painless death, or a long, painful one?" She replied.
"You think I'm afraid of you, Shepard? I know that you can't bring yourself to torture people. You can't put them through true pain, because you don't know what it is."
"You did not just say that." Shepard said, slamming her head into the ground. "When I was just a teenager I saw batarians rape and murder my sisters!" her voice rising in volume. "The first mission that I was in command of ended with my unit, filled with people I viewed as family, getting eaten by thresher maws before my eyes! I had to deal with the woman I love falling to her death as her fingers slip through my own! I've experienced death. I lost two years of my life, because I showed the reapers that humanity is a threat to their plans! I had to let two of my closest friends give their lives for a war that you don't even believe in.
"I've had to stare down the kinds of things that would make you piss yourself and run. I've seen the entire history of the prothean race, including their destruction in a few seconds. I've had to fight two kilometer tall vessels on foot. I've seen the kind of things that are the nightmares of nightmares. Once, you would have been right in saying that I don't know how to hurt you, but now I know how to hurt anyone. No matter what you think about me, there is one inescapable fact. I might not be your worst nightmare now, but that's just because you haven't seen me pushed to the breaking point. I've brutally wounded and killed some of those who were once closest to me. I've given everything, and then some. I gave up everything to save this galaxy.
Shepard tilted her head slightly, and with cold, dead eyes, said, "You don't realize that the worst thing someone can do to another is to take away what matters to them most. You believe that I think that physical pain to someone is the best way to get them to talk. No, the best way to get someone to talk is to hurt their loved ones. Slowly, painfully kill them. So, the question is, do you want your family. Your turian husband, and your three daughters to die because of your actions? And, what about your mother. I know she means quite a lot to you. Raised you alone when your krogan father was killed in a bar fight.
"Or, if they don't matter to you, how about the asari you're cheating on your husband with? Or maybe the human chick? How do you think he would react if he learned about your infidelity through the extranet. I have some videos that I'm sure he would find most interesting. Do you know what the turian punishment for breaking an oath is? Slow painful death, of you and everyone who aided you. So, your hundred lovers across the galaxy will lose their lives if you don't talk. And, so will you. I know you just used some of them. But others, you really care about. And they will die excruciating deaths.
"And what will your daughters think of you if they knew the truth? Do you think they would still hold any affection towards you? Or, do you think that they would hate you for it?"
Sederis asked, "How do you know about that? No one should have been able to figure that out!"
"When you're the Savior of the Citadel, you have contacts that are very willing to share information with you. Even the Shadow Broker. He was surprisingly easy to kill." Sarah replied, looking at the chandelier on the ceiling.
"You killed the Shadow Broker?"
"That yagh was surprisingly weak. Who would have thought he had a liquid plasma allergy."
"The Shadow Broker was a what?"
"Yagh. Pre-spaceflight species. Killed and ate the diplomats sent by the Council to establish first contact." Sarah said. "But, this is a fucking waste of my time. Either tell me who else knows about the greybox, or I'll not only kill you, but I'll make sure that no one will mourn you. But, they'll be grateful that you aren't around to embarrass them further."
"Hock and myself are the only two who know about it. I had to keep it on the down low because if more people knew, the greater the risk that the information would be leaked to someone who could cause trouble."
"Excellent." Shepard said, as she saw Miranda and William walk into the room. "I need to go, enjoy the party." as she walked away.
Miranda asked, "So, how did they take the big reveal?"
"As well as could be expected. Had to call in the Normandy to keep them from mobbing me." Sarah replied, wrapping an arm around the Operative's shoulder.
"That must have gotten quite the reaction." Miranda said, as they walked out of the mansion.
William said, "We managed to acquire the device, without much difficulty. However, the guard captain did discover us before we were able to take the elevator back up. We had to kill her."
"Good work." Sarah said, as they all climbed into a shuttle hovering just outside of Hock's property. Sarah then said over the communicator, "Fire the cannon."
"Understood." Garrus replied.
-=0=-
Hock looked at the Normandy, as it slowly rose a bit. He stood stone still as it fired. The blue beam rapidly approaching him. A split second later it hit the window, shattering it instantly. Killing everyone near it. Then, it hit the center of the room, incinerating everyone in its path. It was immediately followed by a volley of javelin missiles, as the shuttle flew into the open cargo hold.
The Normandy silently turned, and flew away, the explosions of the javelin missiles destabilizing Hock's mansion, causing it to slowly crumble to the ground.
-=0=-
Kasumi watched the house collapse, and said, "I hope that the head is alright."
"Should be. It was in a highly secured underground vault." Shepard replied, fiddling with her omni-tool.
"You did have it hit with some of the most advanced weapon systems in the galaxy."
"The main house was hit. The vault should have been far enough beneath it to not be significantly damaged."
"Are you sure, Shep?" Kasumi asked.
"Of course. I know what I'm doing." she replied, closing her omni-tool.
"And that's fucking up one massive house." William said, as the team stepped out of the shuttle, and into the Normandy. As her foot hit the lower ground, Sarah collapsed, clutching her head.
-=0=-
Shepard's POV.
I blinked my eyes open. I touched my head, and felt a splitting headache. I blink again, as all I can see is darkness. As my eyes open once more, I can see a sterile white lab surrounding me. I turn my head, and see Wilson. He's saying something about me, but I can't really tell what. I start to turn my head again, but he pushed me back, and says, "You really shouldn't try to wake up, Shepard. It would mess up the plan."
I struggle against his grip, but I can't break free in my weakened state. Fear began to pulse through my veins as he starts to choke me. He said, "You really shouldn't have woken up. At least not after you died the second time. I mean, saving the galaxy twice wasn't enough? You had to try three times? Do you know how incredibly arrogant that makes you, Shepard? You think that you should have the right to try again, when you should have just accepted your fate, and died!"
I gasp for breath, but can't get in any air. I glare at him, and then, he seems to float away, as I see a man wrapped in white robes approach. He said, "Leave, now."
"I'd really rather not." Wilson replied.
"You do not belong here." the man said.
"Do you really think you can stop me, old man? I've grown much stronger than you could imagine."
"Could you be more cliched?" the man asked.
"What?"
"You sound like every generic villain that has been put into any work of fiction." The man said, as he pushed Wilson back. "Now go back to your masters' realm."
Wilson stumbled back, as I struggled to get up. Then the man in white gently said, "You must sleep so that you can recover. You have been through a difficult ordeal, and must heal."
"Who are you?"
"All will be made clear in time. But first you must finish your mission."
"My mission? What mission?"
"Have you truly forgotten? Your mission to destroy the Collectors."
"Oh right that. Can't I just take a vacation?" I asked, "I already destroyed them once. Let someone else do it."
The man chuckled, and said, "No. Someone else might get it wrong."
"Mordin?"
"Not quite." the man replied, "But you must sleep. There will be a time to speak later."
"Alright. But you better explain everything. I'm tired of this shit happening and me not getting an explanation."
"It has only happened twice."
"I don't have a lot of patience." I replied.
"You never did." he replied, as I felt myself slip away from consciousness.
-=0=-
Miranda sat quietly beside Shepard's bed, and when the Commander opened her eyes, Miranda said, "We took several scans of your brain while you were unconscious, but weren't able to find anything wrong. You were at normal brain wave activities for someone who was asleep. Nothing to indicate that you didn't just pass out. But, this has happened twice. Where you just collapse. Do you have any idea what is going on?"
"No clue other than it seems someone has a grudge against me, and a way to get into my head."
"That isn't very helpful." Miranda said, smiling softly at Shepard as she gently brushed a hair out of her face.
"It's all I know. I can't really remember anything other than that. I feel like something happened while I was out, but I can't remember anything other than it was done by someone."
"Do you know who it could be?" Miranda inquired, as she helped Sarah to her feet.
"No clue. I didn't even think that what's going on right now was possible a few months ago." Sarah said, as she steadied herself by leaning on Miranda. "And why do I feel so weak?"
"I don't know. Everything says you should be fine. No sign of anything in your head that would make you think you're weak when you really aren't. Nor, is there any sign of anything that is wrong with you physically."
Sarah nodded, as she fainted again. "Not again." Miranda said, as she picked the N7 up.
Chakwas looked up, and asked, "Did it happen again?"
"Of course." Miranda said, "I'm going to take her up to the loft. Maybe somewhere more homey will help her recover from whatever this issue is."
"Be sure to keep a close eye on her. And if it looks like any of her statistics are starting to drop, bring her right down here." Chakwas said.
"I will, Doctor." Miranda replied.
"Please, Miranda, call me Karin."
"Alright, Karin." Miranda replied, walking out of the room. As she did so, she was greeted by Ashley.
"Lawson, what the hell is going on?" she asked.
"What are you talking about, Ashley?"
"I've just received a dozen reports about reaper attacks in batarian space.
Shepard stirred, and asked, "Did someone say reaper attacks?"
"There are reports that the reapers have arrived in batarian space."
"That can't be right. It shouldn't happen for another two weeks." Shepard blearily replied.
"Do you know what I think it is? Cerberus pulling a stunt. Fake reapers to get the Council to send its fleet into batarian space, leaving the Citadel undefended."
"It isn't Cerberus." Shepard replied, "They don't have the tech necessary to make convincing reaper knock-offs."
"What makes you so certain?"
"Saw them try, during the last invasion. It didn't go well. Lost the entire station working on it."
"What are you talking about?"
"After I destroyed the alpha, I was called in to investigate a station that was sending out an inordinate amount of radiation. It turned out to be a reaper that Cerberus had been trying to build to use as a weapon against the reapers. The station had to be destroyed." Shepard said as she passed out again.
Miranda said, "It has to be a false report. Possibly fabricated by Cerberus." as she walked into the elevator.
"Well, you're Cerberus. So, what is your explanation?"
"Actual, the Illusive Man transferred everyone outside of Cerberus, into Shepard's personal command. The paperwork arrived yesterday. We are no longer associated with them." Miranda said as she hit the deck one button.
-=0=-
A/N: Here's the next chapter. Sorry for the wait. Thanks for reading, and please review.