Chapter Twelve: Into the Dragon's Mouth

The first thing Tali was going to do was make sure Zane got some sleep. While the rest of the Normandy rested before helping Miranda he decided to continue working. When Zane showed up just at the end of the mission he looked like he could sleep for days. Tali felt bad for him, he was always working, always trying to do something, always trying to help someone. It was an endearing quality about him. Although she would never tell him that. At least not yet.

She walked up to the door and saw it was unlocked. She pressed it open and saw him up and moving. His head shot towards the door and a look she couldn't describe crossed his features for a moment. But relinquished into a large -if tired- smile.

"Hi, Tali." He said simply before reading his datapad.

"Zane, you should be asleep you have gotten very little rest." She nagged and he laughed.

"I already slept. I woke up, took a shower, shaved, and now here I am." She looked closer and did see the glistening of his skin and the fact the dark hair across his face was gone. She was saddened by that a little bit, she kind of liked the shadow of hair across his jaw.

"Zane, you look like you haven't slept at all… and where did you get this?" She asked seeing the luxurious bed that wasn't there before Illium. It was made as well as he could manage. The blankets were cast aside from where he had risen from the bed. He had two pillows one where it should've been and the other was sideways. He had indeed slept that was clear now. But it didn't look like it was a restful sleep.

"A gift from Liara. I helped her and now she helped me." Zane said simply and with a shrug.

"By giving you a bed?" Tali asked. She knew Liara was trying to take him she knew it!

"Yes, she wanted my help I said I need a better bed. I told her which one I wanted and now here it is. Works as a form of payment for me." He said and Tali admitted that made a little bit of sense. So maybe Liara hadn't been sleeping with him. Tali had to think rationally about everything. Zane was a vigilante and it only made sense he would ask for payment for a job.

"So why a bed and not credits to buy your own?" Tali asked.

"Cuts out me having to acquire it. Besides, I figured Liara knew the right people to call to get it cheaper." He said and she nodded before a yawn surprised her. "Telling me I need rest are we Lady Zorah? Tsk, tsk, tsk one should practice what they preach." He said with a smile and a chuckle.

"Bosh'tet you do need rest and so do I." Another yawn escaped her. This one slightly stronger than the last. "Imma take a nap, you should do the same." She said and he laughed again.

"Yes, Mother." He teased and rolled his eyes.

"Bosh'tet I swear." He approached her and stared down at her. His eyes showing a bit of mischief.

"You'll what Lady Zorah?" He asked in a gruff and low voice. Her heart began to beat faster.

"Now that would be telling." She whispered and felt his hands rest on her hips. They were gentle as he smiled down at her. That look of mischief hadn't left. So many thoughts zoomed in her head she couldn't keep track. The urge to feel his skin on hers demanded to be released…to be sated.

"Very true…but I was never one for waiting." He said and his fingers pinched at specific points on her hips. The sensitive area sending sparks of pain and pleasure at the same time through her sides.

"Ah!" She exclaimed and nearly fell but he held onto her tightly as he laughed.

"Sorry Lady Zorah, I couldn't pass on the opportunity." He said and as she regained breath he apologized again by way of hugging her tightly. His warmth enveloped her and she wished she could sleep then and there. If he held on for too long, then she just might.

"One day Zane I'll get you back." She said with a smile.

"Oh, I am sure that's why I'm cashing in my chips now." He said and released her from the hug but still held onto her arms. "Now, you have a nap to take and I have work to do."

"Whatever Zane I'll see you in a bit."

"Sleep tight Tali'Zorah vas Neema." He said as she left. And as she entered the elevator a constant smile remained on her face. All the way until she made it to her room close to the engine and fell asleep.

…

Zane was working diligently trying to figure out where the Rogue One was and still to no avail. But his mind was split in two. One half was focused on the Rogue One and the other half was a mess. The mess had to do with one person and one person only. Tali'Zorah vas Neema nar Rayya just wouldn't get out of his head. Like a nagging thought and the bad part was that he liked the thought.

He thought about telling her how he felt when she was there. About how he couldn't get her out of his head. But he halted his tongue. The fear of rejection being a reason but it wasn't the main reason. Another being that the last person he fell for…well that was too painful to think about now. Plus, the fact, he wasn't sure he could remain objective if the feelings were mutual. He was afraid he would pick her over the mission and that may cast the galaxy into a worse place then he could manage. And if it didn't work between them. He didn't want to be looked upon differently from her and nor did he wish to change his look upon her. But the urge to be next to her…to talk to her…to see her…to hear her. All of these urges and feelings were getting harder and harder to reject…to ignore.

"She might return the sentiment." He thought and then shook his head. There was no way that could be.

Why him? There were much better options and no doubt more preferable than him. Shepard, Garrus, literally anyone would be better than him. What was he? He was a man who didn't belong here. And as the voice said…he was pathetic. There were many from his time that would've been better suited to the task then him. But instead, he was chosen to save the galaxy.

Just because he knew much about the galaxy didn't mean he knew how to save it. Knowledge is one thing, but using the knowledge is another. He had tried his best to use his knowledge and there was a lot of success but even then…there were other issues. Ashley, Kaiden, thousands of innocents on the Citadel, those lost on Horizon. So many people he tried to save and failed. And there were others he tried to save but he didn't know if they survived.

"Did Nelyna survive? Did the other acolytes? Have I saved anyone or condemn them all to death?" He thought he could get everyone to safety on Horizon and that didn't work. He thought he could get Achilles to warn the Citadel in time to close the arms before Sovereign showed up and it didn't work. He thought he could stop Ashley or Kaiden from dying and instead they both died.

He tried to save…her and only ended up killing the first person to love him. And the first person he loved in return.

"I don't deserve Tali and she deserves so much better than me. I would only fail her too." He said. And then the door opened. He looked quickly, a part of him hoped it was her again. Even with all of his doubts about himself…he still felt for her.

"Hey, Zane." Shepard said as he entered. He was tired from a day of fighting.

"Commander, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Zane asked standing at attention with his hands behind his back.

"Just getting some thoughts on our mission on Illium." He said and Zane smiled with a slight bow of the head.

"Well, I can honestly say that we are getting pretty full. We are running out of room on the Normandy but with that being said, we got a damn fine team. The Collectors won't know what hit'em and I personally intend on delivering a black eye. With your permission, of course." Zane said with a chuckle causing the Commander to smile.

"Permission granted, when the time comes Zane. What about those we picked up? Any thoughts?"

"Thane Krios…a man I wouldn't want to piss off and that is me saying that…I piss everyone off. That goes double for Samara one will kill me silently and the other will rip me limb from limb. And I for one like my limbs where they are, thank you very much." Shepard smiled and nodded.

"I wanted to tell you something, Zane." Shepard said surprising Zane.

"Yes, Sir?"

"You have been doing damn good work. Liara told me about your mission for her. And I appreciate it. Damn fine work." He said and Zane couldn't help but feel proud and sheepish at once.

"Aw shucks. Commander thank you, for your kind words." He said with a smirk. Shepard placed a hand on Zane's shoulder.

"Just don't forget that if you need help with anything we got your back." He said and Zane nodded a look of determination in his eyes.

"Yes, Sir. And if you ever need help with making something dead…I'm your man."

"I'll keep that in mind. Now I have to get some rest. You're pretty much the only specialist awake. Everyone else either fought all day or got hammered while on shore leave so if anything happens I'll hold you accountable."

"Aw…so no Normandy parties?"

"Especially no Normandy parties."

"Damn well, there went my fun." Zane said causing the Commander to laugh and shake his head.

"See ya, Zane." Shepard turned to leave.

"Always a pleasure Shepard."

…

"Commander?" He heard while sleeping and quickly shot his eyes open. He looked around quickly trying to catch his bearings.

"Ye…Yes EDI?" He stuttered before yawning.

"The Illusive Man has requested to speak with you." The AI said as he started to wake up and get to a sitting position on the side of his bed.

"Did he say why?"

"Only that it has to do with the Collectors."

In moments Shepard rose from his bed and put a shirt on and walked into the elevator. And punched the CIC floor. It took some time and eventually the doors opened to reveal most of the crew working. Shepard quickly walked to the comm room and the scanner did its job before he stood before the Illusive Man.

"Shepard…we caught another break and have another lead." The shadowy figure said. His cybernetic eyes and cigarette was the only bit of visible light Shepard could see. The giant star behind the Illusive Man did well to cast the man in shadows.

"What have you found? Another one of my previous crew in danger?" Shepard said sarcastically and crossed his arms. The man's eyes narrowed and a smirk could be seen cross his face.

"Now Shepard I understand your anger. Buy if I recall your compatriot kept most of the Collectors at bay and saved most of the colony. Not to mention he even joined you and as I understand it. He has been an invaluable asset. Say what you will about how things are done. But so long as they are done I care little about the means it took us to get there." The Illusive Man's eyes shot daggers at Shepard but still, the Commander didn't break.

"That is what is different between you and me. The means do matter."

"Even so, talking about how we do things isn't why I called you here." He took another puff of smoke into his lungs and sprayed it out of his nose. "I have intercepted a transmission and it tells a good story. A Collector ship has been disabled and is doing repairs. I have the coordinates. All you need to do is go there, grab as much data as possible, especially traveling data, and extract. That is your mission." Shepard didn't believe him for a moment.

"How was it disabled?" He asked.

"Irrelevant. But I have my theories. If it is the same ship from Horizon, then perhaps your battle weakened it for a sizable ship. The Turians, Humanity, Asari, even the Organization could've taken it down."

"It's too convenient. I don't trust it."

"Convenient or not we need to risk it. Otherwise, we will be fighting this war from a disadvantaged position." The Illusive Man then took a swig from his drink and then another puff of smoke. "If you trust your team then you have nothing to worry about."

"So, it's like that then? Just throw us at the enemy with little information?"

"If it means we will be in striking distance of winning this war…then yes. And I will win this war. Coordinates have been sent to you." Then the link was cut. Leaving Shepard fuming but with little choice.

"EDI, I want Zane, Tali, and Garrus ready when we get to the following coordinates." He said and turned when his omni-tool blinked.

Surprisingly it was a vidcall and he didn't have a number…nor a caller ID. He pressed the accept button and was met with a black screen. The symbol of the Organization spinning like a slow top.

"Hello?" He asked and was met with silence for a moment.

"Commander Shepard a pleasure to speak with you." The voice was stern yet gentle, careless yet empathetic. It was powerful yet soft. It was a male voice but was distorted by some sort of device.

"Who is this?"

"An interested party in your success."

"I obviously know you are in the Organization." He pressed and a quiet laugh was his reply for a moment.

"True but we both know that wasn't what you meant. You want to know my name, rank, and or callsign right?"

"So, I'll ask you again who are you?"

"I am the Speaker. Whenever THOS cannot speak I am his voice and that is all you need to know about me. Your concern should be that Collector vessel." The Speaker said it almost like a threat. A point that he knew Shepard's mission and was listening in on his conversations.

"How do you know about that? I just got that information." Shepard asked and looked around as if he expected to see a shadow in the shape of a man. The voice chuckled then it turned into a laugh.

"We have eyes and ears everywhere Shepard you can hide no secrets from us. No one can. You think Cerberus is the only one bugging you? I know for a fact your scientist and the ex-vigilante have given you several comm devices. And that your Quarian friend has spotted them." The voice said full of mirth.

"And because Cerberus does it that means you can?" Shepard was getting angry with the Organization. This was his ship as far as he was concerned. And he was hating his privacy being stripped away from him!

"No, but unlike them, we don't do it to make sure you are doing your job. Or using you like lab rats. No, we are doing it to help you."

"And how is that?"

"You cannot trust Cerberus. You know this, I know this, your crew know this. We have done nothing against you. We have only helped you. Illium, Horizon, Omega, Freedom's Progress, Haestrom. We were there…watching…waiting…helping. If not you then we helped the people of those planets and cities. Can Cerberus say the same?" Shepard had no argument for it. The Organization was everywhere sure, but they seemed to be helping everyone. Stopping gangs mainly but also Collectors when possible.

"Why haven't you been taking the fight to the Collector's like Cerberus?" Shepard asked and it was his only real argument. The Organization was on the defensive when it came to the Collectors. Cerberus was on the offensive.

"And how would we pay for it? We have many contributors, that is true. But our credits are spent on the Reaper War to come. You are buying us time to get prepared for their arrival. We may be on the defensive for right now and maybe for the beginning of the Reaper War. But I assure you it won't last long. Why do you think we have been fighting gangs, the corrupt, the troublemakers? These people will be a thorn in the side of you, us, and every nation as we fight the Reapers. Get rid of them early and we minimize their impact later. They are a wound that will get infected when the Reapers come. We are sewing up the wound before that happens."

"And why contact me directly now?"

"We have contacted you directly several times Shepard." The voice laughed. "But I digress. The vessel Cerberus is sending you after is most likely not what it seems. You know of what I speak."

"It is a trap." Shepard said.

"Exactly, a trap laid out by the Collectors and one the Illusive Man knows about." Shepard's blood pressure sky-rocketed with that statement. But he saw little choice than to do what the Illusive Man wanted.

"Damn it. I knew I couldn't trust him. You got any alternatives?" He asked. Shepard saw no reason to be distrustful of the Speaker. Hell, at least the Organization was being more honest with him then Cerberus.

"To get the info you want? No this is your only option…your best option." Shepard sighed in contempt and frustration. "I am only telling you this to warn you in advance and maybe you can prepare yourself for it. Good luck Commander Shepard. Walk in defiance." And then the call ended.

…

"Here is how this is going down. Me, Zane, Tali, and Garrus all will be 'Infiltrator squad.' We will be the ones that go on the ship and extract any and all relevant data. The rest of you will be 'Adept squad' and will protect the shuttle until we return. Miranda is squad leader of Adept." Shepard said. And Zane thought the name 'Adept' was a good idea. Most people in the squad were heavy biotics. Any Husks they found would be ripped to shreds.

"Commander, how much trouble do we expect?" Jacob asked.

"We are going into a Collector ship. The question you should ask is how much time do we have before trouble swarms us." Zane said Shepard shot daggers that said the comment was inappropriate.

"Hopefully before we extract the data, barely any. But once the data is taken then all hell will break loose. I also do not believe that the ship is disabled. It is just too convenient."

"The Illusive Man…" Miranda began but Shepard cut her off.

"Can kiss my ass. Orders have been given now get it done." Shepard said. And the teams began to pile into the shuttle.

Zane cracked his neck and fingers before grabbing his M4. He looked at Shepard, Garrus, and Tali each nodding to him and he nodded back. He was the last of Infiltrator squad to get into the shuttle and he did so with a shaky breath.

"Into the lion's den." Shepard said.

"More like the dragon's mouth." Zane replied with a half-smile. He knew the ship was a trap but was unsure of how it would go down. Chances were high it would happen the same as the game. But that was the only bit of hope he had for the infiltration. Of course, there was the fact that this entire thing was different, to begin with. So, he had no idea just what would happen.

The shuttle closed in on a hull breach as Zane clasped his mask over his mouth. Untainted air circulating through his lungs in no time. The clean air had a…taste to it. An indescribable taste but it wasn't a bad one.

He felt like they were being watched as they exited the shuttle. The feeling of eyes and ears watching and hearing them was unnerving. It was a sixth sense Zane developed as the Reaper and one he perfected in the two-year gap. It had never led him astray before and he doubted it would now.

"Adept, stay put. Protect the shuttle and gather any data if you can from here." Shepard ordered as Infiltrator moved on.

"Feels strange." Garrus said as they slowly made their way through the ship. It all looked organic and like the interior was made of bone and chitin. The ground was metal but laced with organic material. The material had the consistency of living flesh and it seemed to pulse as if blood coursed through it.

"This ship…it feels alive. Like it is awake and it knows we are in it." Zane said. The hairs on the back of his neck standing straight and tall. His hands felt clammy under the gloves and the urge to pop knuckles had to be repressed.

Infiltrator moved up and saw many empty stasis pods. When Zane passed one, he looked inside and saw chilly fluid leaking and dripping from the inside of the pod.

"Must be some sort of biological agent. Chills the pod's occupant to the point they are snap frozen. Is this what the Drones use?" Zane asked as he scanned the pod with his omni-tool.

"A possible theory, however, I have insufficient data at this time. Based on initial scans, however, I will say it is ninety-five percent the same. But, a mixture of this agent and carbon dioxide gas is what makes the occupant fall asleep. The fluid simply keeps the occupant unconscious and then freezes their interior temperature for, what I theorize, to be a long travel." EDI answered as the team moved on.

"EDI, send me data on the liquid. I wish to analyze it for future study." Mordin asked.

…

The team moved passed the discarded test subjects after speaking of it and relaying the information to Adept at what they were finding. The horror ship was giving Tali a feeling of fear as if it echoed off the walls. The empty pods they passed, the dead Collector subjects, and the discarded subjects. All of it culminated into the unifying feeling of "leave" but she ignored it. She ignored it like she ignored the similar feeling on Ilos and that was much worse than here.

On Ilos you felt like you were more than being watched. But like the dead themselves were blaming you. Like you were unwanted and even hated by the very planet. Illos should've been named Keelah'dae. Planet of the Dead. For the living were not welcome there.

"What the hell? EDI get as much info as possible." Shepard ordered upon seeing another Collector test subject. But it was cut open. A large cut had been made from chest to groin and was separated by several mechanical arms. The inside revealed something…horrendous.

Hardly any organic parts remained on the inside. Hardly any blood leaked from the wounds and what remained of anything organic was a gray material. Black and gray pipes lined the stomach area. Some large enough to be bigger than a fist and others as small as a needle. Hoses connected the groin and neck, blue lights blinking.

More precision cuts were made along the forearms and were also separated. Chitin and skin were separated revealing the interior. The gray material seemed to be just on the inside of the skin and even more pipes and wires remained behind that. The wires and pipes were on top of the bones. And the bones had several implants in it under the pipes and wires. The entire Collector had been rewired and redone.

"What the fuck?" Zane whispered.

"I have determined the Collectors were trying to learn more about themselves and learn what made them work. And what they reveal is interesting. Veins have been replaced by wires that transport necessary nutrients to the different parts of the body. Bone was implanted with several strengthened implants made of metal. I have no record of this exact metal but its composition closely matches that of Sovereign. Hearts and lungs have been worked in such a way that they need very little oxygen but give out way more. The brain was implanted with various implants. A biotic chip, a control chip, and an unusual chip that I can only assume is a variant of the control chip. This one is hardwired to the nervous system and many more derelict biotic implants. I believe that it is this chip that the General uses to directly control its units. The gray material is muscle imbued with adrenaline and nanites. This subject could outrun most animals in the galaxy in a footrace. It could outswim any fish in the sea and see in perfect darkness." EDI spoke like a professor in a lecture.

"It was meant to be perfect." Zane said quietly.

"Who was this poor bastard?" Garrus asked.

"I can't give a name or designation, but I do know what it was. Based on recorded DNA and this subject's data I believe it was once a Prothean."

"Wait, what?" Shepard asked. "The Protheans were turned to Collectors?"

"Yes, or rather after many centuries of work. It is likely this is the Prothean version of a Husk and after many years of forced evolution, they have become this. And to call it a 'Prothean' is misleading. Less than ten percent of original Prothean DNA remains." Infiltrator remained quiet as they processed the information.

"Come on we can't stay here forever we got to get moving. We will make them pay for this." Shepard said.

"Is this what we will become? Pawns to be used by the Reapers to do their dirty work?" Zane asked.

"We will stop them Zane you know we will." Shepard reassured him and Zane gave a nod. The look in his eyes turning to ice. An unbreakable and uncrackable ice.

…

Zane looked around the spacious cavern. Billions of stasis pods surrounded them. He saw Shepard grip his new Revenant machine gun a little tighter. Tali looked around, flabbergasted by the sheer number of pods. Garrus used his scope to see as far as possible and his mandibles were slack as he scanned the room.

"So many pods…they are going to hit Earth." Tali said. As Zane looked around, quietly surveying the area. Making sure no enemies were around. Deep in the pit of his stomach, he felt fear but the hate he had tripled the fear. It swallowed the fear.

When he saw the Normandy be destroyed two-years ago, he knew the Collector's fate was sealed. That he would oversee the Collector's pay for what they had done. But the threat wasn't just directed at the Collectors but the Reapers as well. He would use every resource, every bullet, every gun, and even their own brethren against them. They would all pay and would become ash on the very planets they would try to destroy.

"They won't make it pass Neptune." Zane said between gritted teeth.

"Damn straight." Garrus said as the team moved forward towards a lonely console.

Zane recognized the console immediately as the one that would set off the trap. He looked around again to make sure no enemies were in the vicinity but he knew they were there. They were watching and waiting.

"Alright get ready. I'm having EDI access the console." Shepard ordered.

"Shepard, how do you know it will happen?" Tali asked him about the trap in question. And the team was lucky the Collectors didn't know they knew. But then again, other than the backup at the shuttle the team hadn't done anything super different.

"Ask me afterward." He said and EDI quickly began driving through the data. A data-surge went around them. Lights flickered, and tech went offline for a moment.

"What just happened?" Joker asked

"It has happened." Zane said as the platform they stood on levitated into the air. As they went higher and higher into the air Zane saw many more platforms appear and come at them. He helped Tali up and music began to blast in his ear as if on cue.

"It's not that complicated…" He began to sing as he went to work.

…

Jack ripped another Collector in half and threw the pieces into several Husks. Thane rose several Collectors and Husks into the air. Miranda saw the opportunity and immediately sent a warp into the bunch. The explosions caused a chain reaction and many more abominations were sent into an exploding frenzy.

Grunt charged with a loud roar and crashed against several squads of Husks and Collectors and grabbed one unlucky Trooper and smashed his head against a bulkhead. In a blinding rage, he swung his large arm and swatted several Husks aside with ease. Then he stomped on one's head while laughing with enjoyment.

"Infiltrator, this is Adept we are being swarmed. Got an ETA?" Miranda asked as she shot a Husk then threw a Collector.

…

"Almost to you." Shepard said as the Praetorian fired its beams at him. Zane stayed in cover and took pot shots. But he knew that this battle was taking too long. If they didn't finish this battle soon then there wouldn't be an Adept squad to go back to. Infiltrator hit the Praetorian with everything they had but to no avail. The thick armor plating it had was too much.

"Enough of this." Shepard said and rose while grabbing the Particle Beam on his back. Zane saw the frustration on Shepard's face as the rifle got ready to fire. The Praetorian then kicked it into high gear and leaped from spot to spot. Like a grasshopper and swatted at Shepard just as the rifle began to fire. The beam burned a hole directly into a bulkhead on the other side of the room.

The beam rifle was thrown into the air towards Zane and he acted quickly. He dropped his M4 and clutched the beam rifle. The heat was intense even through his black glove and the clammy feeling of his hands intensified. He grabbed the handle and squeezed. The trigger appeared soon afterward and he pulled it just as quickly.

The Praetorian looked at him and its eyes shined bright before dual beams of death came at him. The dual beams connected with the beam emitted by the rifle. And a battle began as Zane put as much energy he could into the handle of the rifle. He squeezed with every muscle he could and focused it into the squishy handle. More heat and power was exerted from the rifle into the beam. A bubble formed from the plasma energy and grew as power grew. The heat of the room increased by several degrees every second as the bubble grew larger.

The rest of Infiltrator tried to kill the Praetorian while it was distracted but nothing seemed to kill it. Then finally the bubble reached its maximum point and burst. The resulting explosion burned a hole in the floor and scorched the ceiling. The area closest to the bubble was little more than ash. Infiltrator was thrown across the room with Zane hitting a wall and collapsing.

He rose slowly and used the beam rifle to support his weight. He peered his gaze towards where the Praetorian was and saw it had been flung across the room as well. But its plating had been scorched off with the blast being closer to it. With the armor gone, now he saw the gray insides of the Praetorian's shell. Zane squeezed the handle again only for the rifle to hiss and fizzle but nothing more.

"Shit." He said and saw his M4 and limped towards it.

"Zane!" He heard his name and saw Tali pointing behind him. He looked back at the Praetorian and saw it get up with energy coursing through the gray matter and towards its eyes. The eyes began to shine brightly as the thing looked at him. The same two beams came at him fast and he didn't have time to get to his M4. He quickly grabbed his pistol and fired at the Praetorian. He aimed it towards the gray matter hoping to hit a brain or something else important.

It screeched like a banshee and the beams died and soon the Praetorian fell. Two scorch marks were inches from his toes telling him how lucky he had gotten. He saw the others get up and Zane finished getting his M4.

"Infiltrator let's get out of here." Shepard ordered getting his rifle.

"Don't have to tell me twice." Zane replied and followed the team. When he was close enough he threw Shepard the spent beam rifle.

"Thanks, and good job Zane." He said.

"All in a day's work." Zane said and the limp began to dissolve.

…

Adept squad had been driven back into the shuttle fending off the hordes. Samara and Jack used their near-godly biotics to create a large shield around the whole shuttle. Collector rounds pinged off the shield but the stress it was causing was mounting. And soon they would not be able to keep up the fight.

"Infiltrator, we are in some deep shit. How much longer?" Jacob asked firing out of the shield.

"Time's up." They heard Zane say and the horde began to change direction. They fell back and ran towards the rear. Explosions and rumbling of gunfire could be heard. The flash of guns and gushes of blood told Adept that Infiltrator had made it in time. The gleam of an omni-blade could be seen for a moment followed by loud shotgun blast spoke of a dynamic duo going at the horde. And the sound of music blaring could be heard in the horde.

…Riding high, the devil on the crest
for all the world to see forevermore
I am I — devil in the belfry, I'll be glorified forevermore…

More of the horde dwindled until only a single team remained in the middle of the corpses. Guts and blood surrounded them and stuck to them.

"Infiltrator onto the shuttle let's go people!" Shepard ordered.

"Yes, Sir!" Zane said and moved quickly being the second to last onto the shuttle followed by Shepard.

"Damn fine job people." Said as the shuttle took off and went towards an awaiting Normandy that was ready to leave as soon as the shuttle docked.

A/N: Song: Avantasia: Devil in the Belfry