Chapter Thirteen: I Don't Want to Remember

"That can't be right." Miranda said upon looking at the estimated spot where the Collector's base was.

"Seems right to me." Zane said with a shrug.

"How do you figure?" Miranda questioned.

"Collectors serve the Reapers. Reapers have access to tech we can only dream of. Who's to say they can't build a station to survive black holes?" He reasoned.

"Fair point." Shepard said. "Either way we are not ready just yet. Without an IFF we got no way of making it pass the relay anyways. And many of the crew need my assistance in personal matters. While we wait, I will get some of those done. Any questions?"

"No Sir." Zane said and Miranda and Jacob shook their heads.

"Dismissed." And with that, the room was cleared.

…

Weeks passed and Shepard looked at the datapad in his hands and saw the notes he had made about everyone. Garrus and Thane needed help on the Citadel. Samara had issues on Omega with the murderer that needed to be taken care of. Kasumi had an issue that needed to be resolved. But luckily Zaeed was finished and Jacob had his issue solved as well as Jack and Miranda.

Jack and Miranda fought but Shepard managed to resolve the matter before it got too heated. But still, with so many needing help Shepard wasn't sure if he was going to be able to keep it all straight.

"Damn it of all the things to screw me…" He trailed off as a knock came from the door. He pressed a button and the door to his cabin opened. In walked Kasumi, she seemed rushed for time and stressed. Something Shepard didn't know could even happen to her.

"Shep I need a word." She said quickly.

"Alright what can I do for you?"

"You know that thing Cerberus said you would help me with?" She asked and he nodded. Kasumi needed to steal a graybox from someone named Donovan Hock.

"Yea what about it?"

"I need to push it upon you to do it like now." She said.

"Okay, why?"

"Donovan has decided to take an extended vacation and is throwing one last party before leaving in the next few days. Normally I would just wait it out but the last 'extended vacation' he took lasted three years. You don't have that time and nor do I." She said.

"Alright, we will go there now. I'll get ready and we can be ready soon as we make it there."

"That's another thing. I need someone who isn't you." Kasumi said with a grin.

"What do you mean?"

"You are the Hero of the Citadel and a known good guy. Hock will know you the moment he spots you. I need someone else, someone who knows to keep a low profile, someone who spent a considerable amount of time as someone else. Someone like…"

"Like Zane?" Shepard finished her sentence.

"You know me so well."

"How did you learn about his secret?" Shepard asked and the girl laughed.

"I am a very good thief and I hear things, read things I steal, and just keep an ear to the ground. I may have also snuck into his room while he was talking to himself about his vigilante days." She said with a grin.

"If you can convince him then I'm okay with it." He said and she crossed her arms.

"I am nothing if not persuasive." She said with a smirk and left the room.

…

Zane played his game quietly on the vidscreen. His fingers snapped from button to button on the holographic keyboard as he ran through the virtual world. The urge to feed his old habit was too much to ignore and he couldn't hold it in no more. And so, he popped into a popular RPG and began to play once again. It was like riding a bike and even with all the shit going on around him he could still kick ass in the virtual world...at least he couldn't screw that world up.

But all things must come to an end and he had work to do. He quickly closed the game before the vidscreen shutoff. He ran a hand through his hair when he heard the rustling of his bed's sheets.

"Very well done." He heard and a lady appeared beside him. He lost his breath and adrenaline pumped through his veins.

"Kasumi! For fuck's sake, you gave me a heart attack." He said narrowing his eyes at her.

"You'll be fine I was just watching you." A smirk appeared on her lips and he rolled his eyes at her.

"How long have you been there?"

"Long enough to know you have an infatuation with three different women in the game. Two of them are not human and one is literally just a voice." He wasn't surprised by how easily she had snuck into the room. Zane heard nothing when he was playing. The world outside of his room didn't exist when he was playing.

"Don't judge me." He said and a laugh resounded from her.

"Not judging just realizing certain qualities about you."

"Like what?"

"That is for someone else to know Zane. And a thief doesn't rat out her employer."

"Uh huh. What do you want?" He asked and she got up.

"I need your help." She said and leaned against a wall. A finger tracing a sword on a nearby rack. It was a katana he had picked up ages ago but had recently found a rack to put it on.

"With what?"

"I have an issue and I need your help to resolve it."

"This wouldn't have anything to do with your graybox would it?" The look of surprise that crossed her eyes told him what he needed to know. "Alright, I'll help. What do you need me to do?"

"I need you to take Shepard's place at the party." Zane raised a brow at the request. He thought it over quietly. It wasn't the first time he would sneak into a rich asshole's party and steal his shit. The Reaper did it from time to time. Hell, he once snuck into a prison to threaten a prisoner and then snuck back out. So, the Reaper -and by extension- Zane knew how to go undercover.

"I can do that." He said and got up from his bed.

"Great we leave as soon as Shepard is dropped off at the Citadel. I hope you have a suit."

"Oh…right. Damn."

"No suit?" She asked and he shook his head.

"Not that…I just hate suits." Kasumi smirked again and left the room leaving Zane to freshen up.

…

Zane walked out to a small crowd that had formed. He wore a black and white suit from the 21st century. He even had a black tie which he never could get right but with the help of the extranet he figured it out.

The crowd gave cheers, claps, and even a whistle or three. Zane nervously rubbed the back of his neck with his head down. The small crowd laughed and began to disperse. When most had dispersed only one remained and that was the same cloaked figure that told him to get in a suit.

"Kasumi, you just couldn't keep it to yourself, could you?" He said and the woman laughed as she approached. She traced the folds and straightened the tie.

"Don't know why you seem upset with me. They seemed to enjoy themselves." She said motioning to the dispersing crowd.

"I said I didn't like suits. Not that I couldn't pull 'em off." He chuckled.

"And this one is ancient where did you get it?" She asked patting down his shoulders.

"I know a guy."

"Uh huh well, in that case, you will have to tell me about him on the way to Bekenstein." She said and Zane gave a nod of his head.

"Of course, Miss Goto."

…

"You know who you are?" Kasumi asked him as the skycar made its way to the villa. Zane cracked his neck before answering the question.

"Solomon Gunn. Dickhead of the Terminus systems."

"And why is that?' She asked.

"Have a smuggling ring. I help bring in all the bad shit. Guns, ammo, eezo, bombs, all of it."

"Well, then Mister Gunn you will do nicely." She said and Zane looked at her and she saw him get into the character. His eyes turned a little icier and hardened. A small smirk gripped at the edge of his mouth and a few teeth could be seen. "No Mister Gunn…you'll do perfectly."

"The tribute at the villa yet?" Zane asked almost nervously.

"Yes, but it will not be unveiled until we are there."

"Good." He said and the skycar landed. A small welcome party with guns waited for them. The duo got out and approached them. As they approached the statue -different from the game- was waiting for them. Kasumi had given him the choice of who he wanted a statue of. He picked someone he had a special relationship with.

Valyeria Kadaras, also known as "the Viper" was a female Turian with an infatuation with guns and explosions. But also, had a soft spot for the Reaper. He still remembered the day they met. It led to a friendship he didn't think he would ever have in the galaxy.

…

"Zane, just get the info then leave. No need for heroics. Sord would hate it if his new protégé were to die." Achilles said over the intercom as he snuck through the shadows of the old warehouse.

"Yes, Dad. And thanks for the vote of confidence." Zane teased watching his back constantly. The warehouse was a drop-off point for weapons and explosives good enough to rival Alliance Military. All he had to do was find a manifest of who is selling and who is buying.

"Well one of us needs to be a realist."

"Asshole." He said and the link was cut. He had been doing this for a month. He thought Achilles could learn to trust him just once. Sord did, hell if one vigilante was a pain in the ass then the two of them were a nightmare. Sord wanted to take this himself but decided to give it to Zane to see what all he had learned.

He stayed close to the shadows even though he didn't see any targets. He saw what he was looking for in the middle of the room. A table with datapad galore covering it. He ran to the table and flicked his eyes from side to side. Looking for anything out of place. When the coast was clear he dug into the info.

"What is a sexy thing like you doing in an unsexy place like this?" He heard a voice that chilled his spine with how it sounded. The chill wasn't in fear but in the urge to take it by the throat and fuck it to the ground. It had an allure to it that he couldn't ignore and he immediately wanted to hear more from the voice. For it to whisper sweet nothings in his ear.

He turned and there she stood in the light. A hand on a hip and a gun in the other not even pointing at him. His voice got caught in his throat as looked at the woman that made his stomach create butterflies.

"What's wrong hon? Never seen a Turian before? Or is it that you've never seen a hot Turian before?" Zane laughed at her attitude. Achilles could learn a thing or two from her about not being a complete stick in the mud.

She was certainly pretty by Turian standards and he was never all that picky really. She had a beautiful voice so that was a big plus. Her carapace was pure white with her face covered in the blue markings of her home. She walked slowly his eyes scanning her as she did the same.

He quickly snapped his eyes from their traveling trajectory and got back into business.

"Funny. But alas I am just going to take this data and be on my way." He said. His nerves calming down.

"I don't think so." She said shaking her head. She still moved like water and swayed her hips with each step. Her pistol twirling in her hand.

"Try and stop me." He cracked his neck and reach for his pistol and lighting his omni-blade.

"I'll do more than try Sexy." She said and gave him a wink before then ran at each other weapons in hand.

…

"Mister Gunn a pleasure to meet you." The man, the target, the lead dick of the party, Donovon Hock greeted them.

"Mister Hock, I have heard much of your parties though I know little of the man." Zane said pulling the gruff voice perfectly.

"And I prefer it that way."

"Of course." Zane said knowing when to not press the issue. Kasumi approached and leaned against Zane's arm. He wrapped it around her to keep up appearances and looked at Hock for any indication of distrust. And in no time, did Zane see it in Hock's eyes. They narrowed only for a moment but that was all it took.

"I will request your friend be left out here."

"Reason being?"

"I don't trust her." Zane bit his tongue to keep from speaking his mind. But he found other ways of doing that.

"I don't trust you but that isn't keeping me from having fun."

"My house my rules." He said his eyes narrowing a little longer. Zane understood that talking to him like a child was Hock's way of showing power. It was a flexing tactic, one that Zane would use from time to time when the situation demanded it.

"Fair enough. Dear if you don't mind?" Zane said with a nod of his head.

"Of course, Mister Gunn." Kasumi said playing the part flawlessly and without hesitation.

"I leave you to the party Mister Gunn I hope to see you soon." Hock said and left. Zane and Kasumi back away to come up with a game plan.

"Well, that put a damper on our plans." She said and he smirked to himself.

"You have a cloak you will do fine. Stay out of a sight and lead me to what you need."

"That is one way to do it. Alright yeah, I can do that." She said with a nod.

"I know." He said as Kasumi dissipated and shook her head as he turned around and walked up the steps to the large villa.

"Well here goes nothing." He said and walked through the doors as the guards let him through. And as soon as he stepped through the doors he saw eyes on him…a lot of eyes.

…

Tali stayed close to Shepard and Garrus on the Citadel. Thane was looking for more news about his son and Garrus had "feelers" learning about Fade. Achilles said it would take time. That Fade had been very careful with Organization around. A squad that patrolled the Citadel constantly was tasked with finding criminals and bringing them down. The squad was Reaper squad. Named after Zane's very own alias so the whoever named the squad was a fan of his apparently.

It was just another thing to get to his head. And it wasn't like he needed any help in that department. If he knew what those on the Normandy thought about him in that suit he wouldn't ever take it off. And she would be just fine with that.

He looked serious, wealthy, important, and handsome in that black and white suit. The very thought of it made her legs shake and buckle with excitement. It was a shame she didn't see him in person and only by picture. But, it would do.

"Shepard, I have a lead." Thane said appearing from a shadow.

"Lead the way." Shepard said and the team followed Thane as he made his way through the Citadel.

…

Zane dodged as many of the crowds he could but not because he was afraid of recognition. Most -if not all- had never seen the Reaper in person, and no one here had seen the Reaper's face. No, he was afraid of being seen by those that fancied him. Apparently, he could pull off the suit better then he thought he could.

"Almost there Zane just down those stairs." Kasumi said through his earpiece. Zane stepped through shadows and mixed with the crowds quietly. Most of the people there hadn't seen him walked in but he still felt people's eyes on him. Zane was quick to go down the stairs and towards the vault. He pressed his omni-tool and opened the door quietly and quickly before slipping in. He felt Kasumi tap his shoulder and he closed the door.

He turned around and saw the golden statue of Valyeria. His mouth got dry and his legs buckled with sadness and the excitement he used to feel when she would enter a room. All of this was just because he saw a statue of her. The memories of their time side by side. The way she moved, the way she talked, how she whispered his name. How she looked that last night they saw each other. Sophia may have been his first kiss but Valyeria was his first friend…and so much more.

"Zane!" He heard his name and someone shoving him out his thoughts. He was still looking at the statue. Her hand on a cocked hip and her statue stared defiantly at the adjacent wall. It was a pose she would use often. A pose she struck before making Zane laugh about something or before she began to nag him about something. He walked up and placed a hand on the metallic leg. He closed his eyes and remembered that last night before they were ripped apart.

"I am so sorry Val…forgive me." He thought with a tear falling down from his right eye. He let go of the leg and looked up at the metallic face that didn't do the woman it represented justice before turning back towards the thief. The tear was gone as was the sadness. Replaced with the willpower to be done with this mission.

"Kasumi, what's next?" Zane asked.

"Need the code for the door, a Hock voice sample, and Hock's DNA." She said. Zane nodded and knew what he had to do. The objectives were not difficult on their own. The issue was keeping a low profile. But he could make do with what he had and nothing seemed out of place from what he remembered of the party.

"Well, then Miss Goto let's get to work." He said and cracked his neck before opening the door and making his way upstairs.

…

The team met with a man named Mouse. He was an informant for the underworld and was a previous contact of Thane's. Achilles knew of the man and gave a location for where he would be and when.

"Yea I can get you that." He was speaking into his omni-tool. "Yes, of course, that can be done as well." The voice he was speaking to couldn't be heard clearly.

"That is him I know it." Thane said.

"Woah that is something else, let's talk credits first." Mouse said and shook his head with the answers he was getting.

"Mouse?" Shepard asked and Mouse raised a finger.

"Look here you son…" He began talking to the caller before Thane grabbed the finger and bent it back and brought Mouse's head next to him.

"Close the call Mouse, we have business to discuss." Thane said and the human quickly turned around while closing his omni-tool.

"Thane? Shepard? What the hell do you guys want?"

"You gave a Drell a contract to kill someone I need to know who."

"I can't give that out Krios you know that." Thane grabbed Mouse by the neck and squeezed.

"Then I'll break you slowly." He threatened. Fire in his black eyes.

"Alright I can't tell you who the contract is on but I can tell you who ordered the hit. Elias Kelham, get him and get him to talk he will tell you who he wanted dead." Thane let go of Mouse's neck and nodded with a smile.

"Thank you, Mouse…sorry." Thane apologized

"Uh huh. Look just don't let Elias know it was me or I am a dead man."

"You will not be named I promise you." Shepard said and the team left the small man who leaned against the wall in defeat.

…

"Shepard, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Achilles asked tapping on a holographic keyboard. Brown eyes looked up at them with an inquisitive look.

"Regarding Thane's son. I need you to bring in Elias Kelham." Shepard said and Achilles looked at Shepard and then Thane.

"Alright then. I can bring him I just need a charge…conspiracy to commit murder seems good enough to me. Stay here I'll get a team to get him." He said and clapped his hands. A woman appeared from a room. She looked familiar to Tali.

"Sophia get a team and bring Elias in."

"Finally, what is the charge?" She smiled.

"Conspiracy to commit murder."

"This will be fun." She said and turned but looked at Shepard a face of recognition appeared.

"Shepard! I remember you. You were with the Reaper, right?" She said and Tali wasn't sure when they would've met but she knew they had. A faint memory of a dark bar and Zane going to a darker corner where a woman waited appeared in her mind.

"Yes, Miss Rees I was. I don't believe we have been properly introduced."

"Indeed…well before I get going one question…is Reaper still around?" She asked and Tali saw the hope in her eyes. It was in her smile, her face, the shrug of her shoulders. She liked Zane…what had Zane done with her? Done for her?

"Yes, he is still out there I speak with him from time to time." Shepard said.

"Has he…"

"Sophia, get Elias, now!" Achilles ordered and the girl was quick to get moving. Tali looked at Sophia as she ran, daggers in her eyes. Garrus nudged her to get her transfixed on something else. She did so but her thoughts were still thinking about how Sophia had been acting.

"Sorry Commander, Sophia had an intimate moment with Zane before Saren came at us. Now she can't stop asking about him to every passerby who has ever seen him. Or more specifically who has seen the Reaper. All she knows is that he isn't dead and is out there somewhere."

"Seems like an infatuation." Garrus said.

"You are not kidding, it nearly is. But she gets work done and she gets it done fast. So, if I must suffer her getting dreamily eyed while thinking about him I can deal with that. Besides if Zane felt for her like she wants him to he would've shown up. I just don't have the heart to tell her that." He said and Tali wasn't sure if feeling relieved was a good thing. Relieved that Zane hadn't gone to see Sophia when he could and instead joined them.

"How do you know that?" Tali asked him. She may have been relieved but she wasn't convinced.

"Because I know him. Once he is set on something he does it. Zane has only ever loved those he considers family with one exception. Girlfriends… he never really had them." Achilles said with a Turian smirk.

"Who is the exception?' Garrus asked the team would be waiting so they had might as well make small talk while they waited. Achilles didn't miss a beat as he typed on the board and he laughed while doing so.

"Remember Valyeria Kadaras?" Achilles asked him and he nodded. Achilles gave a knowing look in return.

"No fucking way…the Reaper with the Viper?" Garrus said his mouth open wide. Tali didn't know who this Valyeria was but was nonetheless curious.

"Yep, he was smitten by her in a matter of moments. He thinks I didn't know but while they were a thing, he was stabilizing her. So, I allowed it to continue."

"Didn't sound like it from what I heard. I mean the day she died had a massive explosion."

"Yea Zane always felt like that night was his fault. She was willing to die for him and keep him out of jail or worse, dead. But before that, I heard very little of anything relating to her M.O. In a way, I wish she were still alive he needs someone to be there with him when all this shit goes down. And the pressure is getting to Zane."

"When was the last time you spoke to him?" Shepard asked the Turian. He gave a toothy smile and a mandible outstretched as he smirked.

"A few weeks ago, he messaged me he was back with you. And since I can only imagine the shit he goes through with you guys I can only imagine the pressure. And he doesn't do well with mounting pressure, stress, or the unknown."

"I can tell you he seems to be doing alright." Shepard said.

"Does he just stay in his room?" Achilles asked.

"Unless we just get back from a mission…yes." Shepard said with a nod.

"Then he is not doing well. And if he is playing video games again. Then you are in trouble. He is going back to older habits. Habits that didn't break until he became the Reaper. Your mission will only get harder and without an outlet for 'em then he will find one."

"What type of outlet will he find? How will they manifest?" Garrus asked approaching the desk.

"Rage, depression, confusion, reminiscing on the past, and it will only get worse until he just shuts everyone out or you all leave him because of his actions. Zane has never dealt with the unknown all that well. He prefers to just ignore the unknown rather than deal with it. If he can't deal with the unknown then he gets angry…almost deadly so."

"How do you know this stuff?" Tali asked. She wrung her hands. Zane had been doing most of those things.

"What if he needs me right now? What if he just needs someone right now? He has helped me so much and I can't help him now? What good am I?" She thought.

"I lived with him for nine years and then he stayed with me for several months when he moved to the Citadel. Believe me when I say the pressure is getting to him and he will break eventually." Then silence befell the team.

…

"You really cared for her, didn't you?" Kasumi asked him as they entered the elevator. He raised his mask and cocked his M4 and looked at her and then the statue. He felt sick leaving her again like he was failing her again.

"I did. We were a real Romeo and Juliet. The vigilante and criminal that fell for each other…I loved her." A sad smile grew on his face under the mask. His eyes looked like water as they grew gentler by the second.

"What happened?" She asked and his demeanor changed in a moment. His grin turned into a frown and then his eyes steeled themselves turning to ones of ice. They looked like the embodiment of hate and pain.

"I failed her like I fail everything else."

…

He held her close while he still could. It was against his better instincts to feel for this woman like he did but it didn't stop him. A part of him always thought he had felt like this since that first night he saw her.

"Reaper I…" She whispered into his ear as the light around them dimmed. Followed by the sound of sirens and blue and red lights surrounding them.

"Don't say it Val…just don't." He told her, a tear building in his eye. He felt her hands tighten around his hoodie and pressed him closer. She smelled so nice and he smiled. "Perfume Val? Really?" He asked her and she laughed. It was a sad laugh he didn't like that laugh on her. He preferred the infectious laugh that she normally had.

"I'd do anything for you." She moved her head and looked into his eyes. Her emerald eyes looked like gemstones as they gleamed in the light. A mandible twitched before she grabbed his hood and shook it down.

Zane let her do it. He couldn't stop her, he didn't want to stop her. He was lost in her eyes and her Turian smile. He tried to take a mental picture of her. Her white carapace with the blue markings of her home. The white and blue armor that clung to her like a second skin.

She then grabbed his mask and gently brought it down. He could feel her hands shake with hesitation and he still let her do it. Achilles would kill him if he knew what Zane was letting her do.

"Val…" He spoke softly but a finger on his lips stopped him. She smiled and brought her head towards his. She gently turned his head and kissed his cheek. Her tongue licked his cheek for just a moment. He wanted to take her and escape with her to run away with her. Fuck being the Reaper any longer, he loved her! He could help save the galaxy a different way so long as she was with him it would work out. He would make it work out!

"Reaper I'd do anything for you. And I'd do anything to have you. But I will not allow you to go away because of me. I won't let you die because of me. This galaxy is already a shitty place with you in it. I'd hate to see what it is like with you out of it." She said her eyes saddened and he caressed her left mandible with his hand. She grasped his hand and leaned into it.

It wasn't supposed to be this way…it couldn't be this way. How did C-Sec know? How did they learn? It wasn't fair!

"Valyeria…don't give up don't…" The sound of footsteps could be heard outside. The shouting of people and the rustling of guns and armor was getting closer.

"Leave Reaper, leave me." She said and he shook his head. He wanted to fight with her to fight for her.

"No Val I can help…we can..." She kissed his cheek again to shut him up. She put their foreheads together and instead of crying she smiled. She wiped at the tear that fell from his face with a finger.

"Zane…leave me. Please don't throw it all away just for me." She said and gently pushed him towards the window. "I love you." She said and pushed with all her might. He never saw her again after that and it was his fault. It was all his fault that she would be gone forever now. He thought she would be jailed for the rest of her life for what she had done.

But that was before the building was engulfed in explosions and flames.

…

The fire from that night remained in his stomach to this day. The hate had been building steadily for the past several years and now it needed to be unleashed. He needed an outlet for that pain and mercs and criminals would do nicely.

He looked around the room and saw the art and forgotten artifacts in the vault. These things belonged in a museum, not some asshole's basement.

"You see the graybox?" Zane asked the hooded figure.

"There." She said and ran to the small box. She opened it and inside was an even smaller box with a needle on an end of it.

"That is a graybox?"

"Yep."

"Then let's get the hell out of here." Zane said and Kasumi grabbed the locust submachine gun. A hologram came to life and the smug -if pissed- face of Hock could be seen.

"Kasumi, I knew it was you and I don't know who you are Gunn but I know I don't like thieves." He said anger lacing his voice and featured on his face. Zane cracked his neck as he approached. "I will burn you both. You will die slowly and painfully. And when I have exhausted every…"

Zane had enough of the ranting and grabbed a vase and smashed it against the floor. The man's ranting quickly ended.

"Glad that I got your attention. Know this Hock, that your time is up and the Reaper has come to get you. Don't believe me? That is fine, but you will believe when you are dying in a fountain of your own blood. And I am looking down on you with a gun pointed to your skull before I pull the god damned trigger!"

"Get them!" Mercs flooded the room from the elevator and the battle began.

The mercs were well trained but didn't last long when their enemies could turn invisible and kill them from seemingly nowhere.

"Onwards." Kasumi said and Zane followed her lead. They began to cut a bloody swath through the compound. Mercs fell by the squad with their bodies filled with bullets. Blood drowning them if the wound didn't kill them.

Zane grabbed a merc's gun and swung it out of his hand. While spinning, Zane smashed the gun against the merc's face. The man fell down and Zane put an omni-blade through his neck. He rose from the body and screamed bloody murder. The hate being unleashed just as he wanted.

He switched to pistol and omni-blade and got to work. He ran from cover to cover before slicing the throat of a poor merc who had to work that day. Death surrounded him as if he was death personified. Music in his ears was the background noise to the sound of death and battle around him. And he did his job with a grin plastered on his face and tear down his cheek.

…

"Kelham let's be honest here we both know that you are screwed. Tell me what I want to know and then I can help make a deal." Shepard said talking to the sitting criminal. At least the criminal looked nice for the occasion.

"I ain't telling you shit." Kelham replied.

"Then I will rip it out of you." Thane said getting up.

"Oh, yea and how do you plan on doing…" Thane smashed a camera and then smashed Elias' face against the table.

"That is how." Thane taunted.

"As you can see we are not really C-Sec so the standard rules do not apply." Shepard said with a shrug.

"Then who the fuck are you? I want to know so that my people can carve my name into your face when they find you. And then I'll sue your ass into the ground for what you have done to me." Shepard got up and punched Elias in the face as hard as he could. Elias spat out blood and a tooth.

"I am a Spectre so allow me to repeat myself. The standard rules do not apply." Shepard stated. Elias' face contorted with anger, fear, then defeat.

"Joram…Joram Talid some hotshot politician…fucker is going to get what he deserves." Then the duo left the room.

"Thank you, Elias." Shepard said as he left.

"Blow it out your ass!" They heard him yell.

…

Zane ran as fast as he could as the gunship opened fire. The speeding rounds chased after him and missed by mere inches but they never let up. He jumped over some boxes and then leaped into cover. The rounds chewed at the boxes before they overheated.

"Kasumi, a little help would be splendid!" He shouted and saw a merc trying to get the drop on him. He shifted and shot a single round through the merc's skull. Her body falling over a railing and dangling.

"On it!" Kasumi said and he saw her turn invisible one more time. Zane repeated the tactic and ran across the platform. He saw the shimmer of Kasumi about to make it to the edge of a pipe but then the pipe gave out from the battle wearing on them.

"AH!" She shouted as she fell hard to the ground she remained still as Hock laughed and then taunted him.

"You're mine Reaper!" Hock screamed and Zane saw the weapons aim at him but he had a trick up his sleeve. He aimed his omni-tool and sent a large overload at the gunship. The blast knocked the gunship off course giving Zane an opportunity he wouldn't pass on.

"Where are you?" Hock questioned after Zane cloaked. The gunship then focused its attention on Kasumi's figure and its guns began to spin up. And then it let loose a torrent of bullets at the body. Peppering it with rounds and dust was kicked up from the showering of bullets.

When the dust cleared…there was no body, no blood, nothing.

"What the…" Hock was interrupted searing blade penetrating his back. Then a cloaked hooded figure with red lips that smiled looked at him.

"Burn Donovon…just burn." She said and placed a special grenade in his lap. The blade that remained in him slowly retracted and an evil laugh could be heard behind him. The laugh of death echoed in his ears.

"Find your wealth in the next life Hock. Then choke on it." He heard and then silence. The grenade hissed and a molten liquid slowly washed over his lap burning to the bone at first touch. Screaming did nothing and the pain he felt was slowly going away as it went through his nerves. The grenade popped its top and more molten liquid was thrown into the air and onto the rest of his body. He never did see that his gunship crashed into the ground before his eyes were disintegrated.

….

The team walked towards the skycar and a collective sigh could be heard. Kolyat was safe and sound and hadn't killed anyone and perhaps his and Thane's relationship could be patched up. Tali felt sorry for Kolyat. She knew what it was like to have a father who ignored you for most of your life. And definitely almost all of your adult life.

Her father only ever ordered her what to do. There was never a request a "please" and "thank you" and it was infuriating. The day she came home and brought Zane with her he didn't even look up from his desk. He barely said anything and more than likely hadn't seen Zane was a human. Zane -for his part- was quiet throughout the meeting but even she saw he felt like he was being ignored. His fists clenched and his jaw tightened his eyes grew stern and icy.

It was embarrassing to her. She really liked Zane and her father didn't even have the "time" to say hello or even do what fathers are supposed to do and berate Zane or something. Anything would've been better than the excuse she was given.

"I look forward to hearing your report in an hour. But I have other things that require my full attention at the moment." He had said coldly. Like the fact his daughter had returned from a long journey, a coming of age was old news. And still, he couldn't be bothered by her or her friend

"Commander Shepard!" She heard and the team turned and saw Achilles on his way.

"Yes, Captain?" Shepard asked.

"Just wanted to ask you to tell Zane to give me a call if he can. Be best if he came to visit once and awhile." He said.

"Of course, Achilles I'll tell him." Shepard said

"Thanks, now I do have work to do. Have a good day and good luck Commander. Also, I will update you when we have something on Fade." Garrus looked surprised. "What you didn't think you could do that below my radar did you? I learned a few tricks from Zane before he left." Achilles gave a small bow of his head as he left them and returned to the precinct.

…

Tali went to go see Zane after what she had learned she felt like she had a new perspective on how and who he was. She waited in the elevator patiently as it slowly went down a single floor. The doors opened and she walked towards Zane's room.

She was stopped by an invisible hand. And turned to see Kasumi de-cloaking. She had a small frown on her face and her eyes looked sad.

"I'd be careful if I were you." She said.

"Why?" Tali asked raising a brow under her mask.

"He isn't doing well. For my mission, I needed a tribute the size of a statue. I let him pick the figure that we would use and he used a friend of his." She explained.

"And who did he pick?"

"An old love of his…Valyeria Kadaras…he isn't doing well."

"I'll keep that in mind thanks, Kasumi." Tali said and the girl nodded and let go of Tali's wrist before backing away and disappearing again. Tali took a deep breath and walked towards Zane's door and stopped in front of it. Not surprisingly, the door was closed with the door locked and music could be heard on the other side. She knocked on the door and nothing happened other than the music getting louder. She opened her omni-tool and scrolled to his name.

Zane, open the door

-Tali

The image blinked green and then opened. The music was turned down as she stepped into the room. The bed was a total mess and matched the rest of the room. The sheets were scattered and knotted and the pillows were laid about the room. Datapads had fallen onto the floor and in the middle of the entire mess was him.

Zane sat down and leaned against the bed. In his hands was a mask not unlike his own. It was black with the skeletal jaw of a beast with fangs stitched into it. On the side of the mask -in small print- were the words "The Reaper" also stitched in white. She had never seen this mask before but it was kept in perfect condition. No dust, no signs of fainted writing, but judging by the way he held it, it must have a lot of sentimental value to him.

"The mask doesn't make the man. It makes the persona. The man isn't that bad either. Val said that to me when she gave me this." He said out-of-the-blue.

"Who is Val?" Tali asked though she was certain who that was.

"Valyeria Kadaras. A dear friend of mine until…we were far past that point." He clutched the mask tighter in his hands. But was careful to not wrinkle it or scrunch it up. Tali walked cautiously towards him. She saw the redness of his face and hurt in his eyes.

"It's okay to be upset, Zane." She said and he shook his head.

"I shouldn't be this upset! It happened years ago, Tali. I should've been over it…I should've been over her." He whispered as another tear came down his cheek. She sat beside him and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Just because it happened so long ago doesn't mean you still don't hurt because of it."

"I know…but it was that I failed her…I trusted the wrong man and he…he killed her. Killed her to teach me a lesson." He confessed and his head went down in shame.

"Who wanted her dead?" Zane's eyes grew stern and iced over as he thought about the traitor.

"Who cares? All that matters is that he sent C-Sec to the exact place we would be. He knew Val wouldn't allow me to be carted off but nor would she go down without a fight. And then she died. It was my fault."

"No, it wasn't, it was his Zane you know that." She said and he gave a sad smirk.

"No…because before I impaled the fucker on his own sword he said it was my fault. Said that if I had just done my job and stayed away from her then she would've been fine. If I would've kept my feelings from ruling me she would be alive. Val's death is on me…and I can never forgive myself for that."

"What was she like?" Tali asked and his smirk turned into a smile.

"Charming, witty, quick on her feet, and loved to blow things up. Valyeria was an example of someone doing something bad to do good. She was a smuggler mainly and gave top-of-the-line equipment to mercs. But then she would give most of the profits to C-Sec to help them get better gear. She had a heart of gold under an exterior of cold." He said and another tear fell from his eyes. Tali quietly swept the tear away. He gave a thankful nod to her.

"You loved her…a lot." She said, though she didn't want to admit it. She almost didn't want it to be true. But this was Zane and for him, she would sacrifice her selfish thoughts.

"I did…I only realized it after I was too late. I thought I was over it though and then I saw a statue of her image and it all came back. I only now realize I never truly mourned, I only hunted the fucker responsible and murdered him. I didn't take the time to come to terms with my feelings." His eyes turned to ice for a moment but then they warmed.

"I'm sorry Zane." He shook his head and held her hand on his shoulder.

"No need."

"What did you do after all of it happened?"

"Went back to work and swore 'never again' I wouldn't let someone else be used against me like that again. I decided the best way to do that was to never feel for someone like that ever. And I managed." He said and her heart fell to her stomach. "But I only managed for a time and then I failed at that too." She heard and he squeezed her hand again. She looked up and saw his eyes looking at her. His eyes were gentle blue orbs of water and held something to them.

"Zane…" She was at a loss for words. She had been waiting for something like that for so long. But she didn't want to jump the gun and for it to be a misunderstanding.

"I am just saying that I trust you Tali. And that you mean a lot to me Tali. Don't forget that." He said and they got up slowly. Her legs felt unstable and shakey. And Tali wasn't sure what to think.

"I trust you to Zane. I trust you with my life and I care for you just as much if not more so."

"Trying to outdo me, are we? Can't have that now." He joked and smiled. He threw the mask on the bed with a smile. As she was about to leave when he grabbed her arms and crashed himself into her. He hugged her tightly and she was afraid to let go. He was so warm and gentle it was like a bed was enveloping her.

She felt wet tears on her suit but didn't mind and only returned the hug with more vigor. He backed away and looked at her sheepishly.

"Sorry I just…"

"Don't worry Zane it is fine. Get some sleep." She said and slowly walked outside. She felt like her chest was about to explode. Her legs shook and all she could do was breathe deeply and hope they would have this conversation again or at least something similar.

A/N: So Valyeria Kadaras…totally came up with that on the spot but I think I did well with it. Let me know what you think. Expect to see her in the future but not in this story. Oh, no I plan on writing a sort of "Prequel" to The Reaper detailing Zane's rise to prominence and she will be in that. Let me know what you think of that idea.