Recap: 'Well I'm going to be busy for awhile. Time to hit these guys where it hurts and find the ones who attacked Mindoir!' Ghost thought, finally ready to begin his own crusade against the slavers.

Now Year 2171, Omega Nebula, Sahrabarik System, Omega

After taking the base, Shepard had pretty much emptied the credit accounts on the slaver database. He did not dare transfer them to his account knowing that he could be tracked down. That would have made things worse. So instead, he had Isaac transfer the credits all over the galaxy in different sums, in different directions and made sure to have covered their tracks over big regions of space. Shepard knew Isaac couldn't cover all of their tracks, but most of them and with huge gaps in the trail they couldn't track it to Omega and to him and Isaac.

He had been keeping track of what has been happening in the galaxy. He had to admit the Hegemony was a big crybaby about how the Council was not listening to them anymore about limiting human expansion and closing their embassy. It was pathetic, just because you are not getting your way does not mean you have to cut all ties. They have practically backed themselves into a corner. Oh well, makes his job easier he supposed. The fewer allies the Hegemony had to trade with, the quicker the slavers would lose credibility to bail themselves out.

Over the past year Shepard, as Ghost has been hitting slaver outposts left and right in different systems. Some of them he would find slaves being ready for transport, and some he would have to wait. With the people he had freed they would spread word of this person calling himself Ghost. They would say he only hunts down slavers and their ilk, that he would set upon them like a demon from hell and free the people about to be caged. His reputation as Ghost had earned him the title of slaver-hunter. Even people in council space were starting to hear of a man who attacked slavers without mercy. To some people he was a hero, to others a myth, to the slavers he was a nuisance that needed to be made an example of not that they could ever find him though. Hell the slavers tried to pay the Shadow Broker to find out his identity, but Shepard was very careful. He made sure no one would find out his identity unless he wished them too.

Currently Shepard was in his pad in the living room looking around and noticed that in the time he had stayed, he was missing something important: a TV monitor.

"Hey Isaac, I've been thinking. We could use TV monitor so we could keep track of things, maybe even use those mini-cameras we've been making." Isaac and Shepard have been thinking about using mini-cameras as a way of keeping track of things that could happen in and around the house, specifically if 'company' was coming through the front door or from the underground parts.

"You know that would be useful Shepard, why don't you go out and buy one today?" Isaac suggested.

"Yeah sure any suggestions on one in particular?" Shepard asked. Afterall this was Isaac's home too. He had as much a say in it as Shepard, in fact Isaac definitely had better taste in technology than Shepard did. One of the quirks of an AI.

"There is a particular brand of monitors being sold in the markets. Quite expensive but worth every credit." Isaac said.

"Okay tell me the store and I'll go." Shepard said.

One walk to the markets later

"So this is the model Isaac wants? I have to admit he had good taste." Shepard said aloud looking at the monitor. It was sleek black, easily the size of one of his windows, hi-def, able to handle multiple cameras, and was brand new. That was saying something considering it was on Omega.

"Would you be making a purchase today sir?" said the sales clerk. The sales clerk was a turian who had no markings.

'A bareface?' Shepard thought to himself suddenly wary of the clerk. He knew if a turian did not have the markings they were most likely not trustworthy.

"Sure I'll be taking this." Shepard said pointing to the monitor.

"Okay, would you also like to buy the extended warranty?" the clerk asked.

"Uh no thank you, just the monitor." Shepard said trying to be polite.

"You know, you should really get the extended warranty, its only manufactured limited and it's just for 6 months and if that expires we need to call our guys from another system, and we might need them for a week, might even need to send it to Ilium to be repaired. It might cost 80,000 credits. You could lose your home." Said the clerk trying to scare Shepard into signing. It didn't work.

"If the monitor cost 80,000 to fix, I would throw it away and buy a new one and save me 78,000 credits." Shepard replied cheekily.

"You know everyone does this, just sign here." The clerk offered sweetly.

"No! What do I need an extended warranty for?" Shepard said agitated.

"Well in case the monitor breaks." The clerk replied.

"The monitor breaks I'm not buying it!" Shepard told the clerk, voice raised. As soon as Shepard said that the clerk's eyes went dead. Apparently no one had ever said that to him.

"Sir this one the best monitors in the store it won't break." The clerk told him.

"Then what do I need an extended warranty for?!" Shepard said very irritated now.

"In case the monitor breaks!" the clerk said his voice now raising.

"The monitor breaks, I'm not buying it!" Shepard yelled.

"Its not going to break, you son of bitch! Hold your voice down!" the clerk now yelled.

"WHAT DO I NEED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR?!" Shepard yelled back.

"IN CASE THE MONITOR BREAKS! JUST BUY THE WARRANTY, YOU GOT THE MONEY IF YOUR BUYING IT!" The clerk snarled back.

"NO FREAKING WAY! WHAT DO I NEED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR?!" Shepard yelled again.

"SHUT UP AND SIGN!" the clerk yelled at him.

"Get your ass outside." Shepard growled.

After the fight that ended in a tie, Shepard had to keep appearances afterall, Shepard took a step back and thought to himself 'I'm a better person than this why am I so mad?' He then looked at the clerk….

"WHAT DO I NEED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR?!" and yelled at him.

"IN CASE THE MONITOR BREAKS!" the stubborn clerk yelled back.

"ITS GONNA BREAK I'M NOT BUYING IT!" Shepard howled at him.

"Its not gonna break, I swear to the spirits sir! I've been here for seven years, not one has broken." The clerk said, voice pleading to stop this.

"Then what do I need an extended warranty for?" Shepard said voice considerably lower.

"IN CASE THE MONITOR BREAKS! ARE YOU UGLY AND STUPID?!" The clerk snapped. That was when Shepard proceeded to beat the hell out of the clerk. Now Shepard drags him back into the store, customers are whispering, but he doesn't care. He stops and flips the clerk over and steps on his chest.

"What do I need an extended warranty for?" Shepard said in an even tone.

"In case the monitor breaks." The clerk replied in a strained voice.

"Let me give you some air…" Shepard said talking his foot off the turian.

"I want you to know, although you may not live through the day, I admire your tenacity. Now what do I need an extended warranty for?" Shepard continued.

The clerk finally cracked "we get a hundred credit bonus if you sign."

"Okay then, I'll take it. Let me help you up." Shepard said surprising everyone. After that he took his monitor and hooked it up at his pad along with the cameras putting them in front of the bridge, all the rooms in the pad and in the rooms below. It worked real well. Afterwards, Shepard continued on with his crusade, planning attacks, maintaining equipment, and selling what he took from the slavers for 5 whole years until one day he got wind of something big.

Year 2176, Random Planet, Slaver base

Ghost exhaled. This base was probably the most well fortified one he had attacked yet. It had well over 25 men guarding it on the inside. The outside was guarded by heavy automated turrents. He had to call Isaac in for an airstrike just to get in the base. After walking inside, all kinds of things happened: explosions, gunfire, screaming and a lot of blood being spilt. He had taken some pretty heavy wounds, but luckily his armor was taking care that as well as his unique healing ability. He never paid much mind to it, but he was grateful he had it. After looking through the Slaver Commander's computer he found something that sent the hairs on his neck stand on end.

Kray,

Listen some human pirate named Elanos Haliat has been making plans with the other pirates to assault the human colony Elysium. I've sent word to the Hegemony. We are to join up with Haliat and offer our support. Finally we can hit those pathetic upstarts and show them what happens when they mess with the Hegemony! And then galaxy will remember the power the Hegemony has! The attack is supposed to happen in 4 days. Be there to join in the fun!

'Jesus Christ! They're going to attack Elysium! Wait if the slavers are throwing in their support Haliat might have something that can link them to the main base! But first I need to notify the Alliance, it is one of their colonies afterall and I can't save everyone, but maybe most of them can be saved with the alliance notified.' Ghost thought frantically, running like a madman out of the base and to his ship.

"Isaac! Send a message to the Alliance! Slavers are going to attack Elysium in 4 days time now!" Ghost said running to the cockpit of the Judgment. As he punched in the coordinates for the colony he heard Isaac. "Message sent Shepard straight to the nearest Alliance outpost. They won't be able to trace it to us."

"Perfect! Now we need to get to Elysium fast Isaac how long until we get there?" Shepard asked with his mask off.

"At this speed, around 3 days. Luckily only half our fuel will be gone. So that means we will have enough for a space battle if need be." Isaac said. Shepard wasn't so sure. There was a chance that the Alliance would not take that message seriously or they would not arrive fast enough. If so, then he would need to personally warn the people groundside of the impending attack. This time he would save this colony. He won't let it happen like it did on Mindoir. Never again.

3 days later, Elysium,

Shepard was now on Elysium, clad in his Ghost outfit, talking to one of the soldiers on shore leave currently.

"Listen! You have to believe me! I raided a slaver base 3 days ago and found plans of an impending slaver attack on this colony!" Ghost desperately told the Alliance soldier in front of him. The young man was not really a soldier, he was a sentinel. He had brown eyes, slicked back black hair and somewhat pale skin.

"Look sir, I don't even know who you are. Besides do have any proof of what you're saying?" the young man said.

"Look mr…" Ghost just realized that he didn't know the guys name.

"Alenko, my name is Kaidan Alenko." Kaidan said noticing Ghost's tone of voice.

"Thank you, now Mr. Alenko, I do not have any proof, but please at the very least tell all the other soldiers, hell everyone, to be prepared for trouble tomorrow. Please why else would come here warning you?" Ghost said pleading for the young man to listen. Kaidan just stood there looking at Ghost with a very analytical gaze. After a while he sighed. This cloaked man was very serious about this. Something about the way he said everything made Kaidan believe that this guy might be telling the truth.

"Fine. But before I go telling my superiors about this, I should know who informed about this." Kaidan finally said.

"I'm sorry, where are manners? My name is Ghost." Ghost replied feeling sheepish that he hadn't introduced himself. Kaidan on the other hand was shocked. This guy was Ghost? The Ghost!? There had been rumors of some black robed figure in the Terminus who kept attacking slavers as if he was hell bent on wiping them out. If this guy was truly Ghost then they were all in danger.

"Thank you for the message Ghost, I will go speak to my superiors about this and see what happens." Kaidan assured Ghost.

"Well then, I guess that all I can hope for." Ghost said. The two men parted ways one heading for his base and the other heading to his ship to prepare for the battle tomorrow. Neither one would ever think that they would meet again for another mission together after Elysium.

The next day

Shepard was back in his Ghost Outfit, checking out to make sure it was functioning properly. Then he went to his weapons adding anything he could from stability increase, damage increase, to heat absorption rates. After that he checked his omni-tools to see if they were functioning properly from range attacks, shields, to blades. Next he and Isaac went over the ship making sure connectivity with the mechs was perfect, all ammunition was loaded, the shield were at there max and operating properly. All in all he was ready, he might not be able to say the same for the colony though. Then all of the sudden he heard explosions from far away.

"Oh no! They're here, Isaac link into my suit and coordinate me through the colony! I have to get to the front line!" Shepard ordered.

"Would it not be better to fly over there?" Isaac asked.

"And have you get shot down? No way! I'm not going to risk my friend on that!" Shepard said as ran out the ship. Isaac was actually speechless for a few seconds. Ever since his creation, he knew Shepard was strange. He always treated Isaac with kindness and always asked for his opinion on things, but this was the first time Shepard called him his friend and Isaac kind of liked it.

On the streets of Elysium

Ghost was running through the ruined streets that had been hit only meeting small scouting bands of enemies, quickly gunning them down. For 10 minutes of running it was simply like that until he made it to the front of the fight. The pirates and slavers were massacring the people, soldier and civilian alike. He saw one of them soldiers fighting the enemies with an impressive display of biotics. That was when he noticed that it was the same guy he met yesterday. He also noticed a batarian about to shoot him from behind.

"Kaidan duck!" Ghost yelled out. On instinct Kaidan ducked and Ghost shot the batarian with his pistol. Ghost then switched to his rifle and unleashed a hellstorm of fire on the invaders taking down many of them but they still kept coming. Ghost then used adrenaline to help speed him up, took his pistol, and started dual shooting at all the enemies. He kept shooting until both weapons overheated and was forced to take cover. Kaidan was still helping, but was internally in awe at what Ghost had done.

'I can't believe he took down 30 of them that quickly! No one got passed 5 without having to take cover! If he was with the alliance we definitely wouldn't lose to anyone!' Kaidan thought.

"Hey! What happened with your superiors?! You guys should have been more prepared than this!" Ghost roared at Kaidan over the gunfire.

"They didn't believe me, but I told all the other soldiers like me about it. Some listened, others just laughed it off saying I was being messed with!" Kaidan hollered back

"You have got to be kidding me! Those dumbasses! Now innocent people are being butchered while they just laughed at the mere notion of it yesterday?! They do not deserve to protect people!" Ghost was livid. How could they do that? Then he calmed down. First they had to get out of this kill zone. Then an idea popped into his head.

"Kaidan! Can you lay down a singularity at that choke point where they keep coming in? I have an idea." Ghost roared, having switched to his shotgun since his other mid range weapons were overheated at the moment.

"Yeah, I got ya." Kaidan said he ducked out of cover and used a singularity right at the choke point.

"Perfect!" Ghost said when he saw 5 enemies fall into it. Then he used a cryo blast to freeze the area making a temporary wall.

"That won't hold for long. Hurry we need to regroup with any others that are out there and find a safe place to hold out until help arrives." Ghost ordered. He had no arguments from Kaidan when he took the lead to retreat and regroup.

A few hours later

The last few hours could be described with only one word in Ghost's opinion: Hell. After he and Kaidan retreated, they found a lot of people, some soldiers on shore leave who had listened to Kaidan, some civilians as well as the local militia. After convincing everyone that he wasn't the bad guy and was in fact the guy who tried to warn them, they warmed up to him real fast. Ghost then proceeded to tell everyone to barricade themselves in the nearby hospital. With a defensive position and medical equipment nearby they could hold out until help arrived. Then the waves of enemies came like a flood of malice and death. Ghost had managed to rally everyone who could use a gun to fight and were holding out well against the tides. When the enemy was broken and disorganized, Ghost attacked and drove them all back. He had forgone guns as entered close quarters with the enemy only using his blades and Tech combat armor on. He had slashed so many of his enemies he had lost count and was covered in all kinds of blood. They had gotten a few good hits on him though. He was sure that his ribs were broken. Finally after what seemed like an eternity the Alliance forces arrived wiping out the ships in orbit and causing them to retreat. Ghost was definitely not finished though. He was haggard, his cloak was missing and he was covered in different colors of blood.

"Shepard! Haliat is retreating!" Isaac suddenly said through communications.

"I'm coming. Prep the ship for takeoff and pursuit." Ghost said as he made his way to his ship.

"Where are you going?" Kaidan said from behind him.

"Going to go get the man who started this whole thing." Ghost said as he ran off.

A few minutes later, in the space above Elysium,

"We're gaining on him Isaac fire at his engines!" Ghost said. He had managed to catch up to Haliat's ship, but the bastard was stubborn. The rounds had hit their mark and Haliat's ship was slowing down, but it was still moving toward the relay. As the Judgment got closer, Haliat's ship shot a missile at her engines. It did not cause any real damage but it did take her offline and now she was falling toward Elysium, headed on a trajectory toward the main colony.

"Eezo core is offline. Shepard, get out of here now." Isaac said knowing the ship would most likely not survive.

"Hell no! I'm not going to abandon you! And I'm most certainly not letting this ship hit the colony." Shepard yelled as he ran through the falling ship as cargo and mechs started falling around.

"Shepard! If you make the climb to the core and restart it, the sudden surge of Eezo could kill you!" Isaac said frantically.

"I DON'T CARE!" Shepard stated as he ran into the engine room.

As the door closed behind him, he made his way to the core and jumpstarted it. It came on but wasn't functioning right. That was when he saw the couplings were out of alignment. He went and corrected them and was suddenly blasted back by a powerful wave element zero energy. The ship started to ease up and finally stopped hovering just above Elysium.

"Shepard?" Isaac asked.

"The ship? The Colony?" Shepard asked in a weak voice.

"Out of danger." Isaac said. For the first time Isaac felt sadness for someone else.

"Good. Isaac, you have to know why I didn't let you fly me over to the fighting, why I saved the ship despite the risk." Shepard said weakly.

"Because you are my friend." Isaac stated knowing what he was saying his voice solemn.

"Yes, Isaac please do me a favor. Hack Haliat's ship, take all the information and destroy his ship. Then take the data along with all of ours and send it to Kaidan Alenko as well as Alliance Command." Shepard said as his head fell back and his eyes closed.

"Haliat….you….HALIAAAAT!" Isaac roared with rage at the loss of his friend. He then made the Judgment haul ass towards Haliat's ship and began to hack it taking everything of value on the server. After the data mine was done he locked all weapons on Haliat's ship until his sensors picked up a life sign…. In the engine room. Quickly using the mechs to transport Shepard to the medbay, he made sure that Shepard was well taken care of, but in doing so Haliat managed to slip away.

"You are very lucky that he is still alive right now. You do not even deserve to be called an organic you monster!" Isaac said as he went to heal Shepard.