Chapter 4: The Specter arrives

Time skip: 1 month after Malen first arrived to Omega, and after Shepard was resurrected, investigated freedom's progress, and was on board the newly named Normandy SR-2 and has docked with an airlock on Omega to recruit Archangel, the mercenary, and Doctor. Mordin Solus.

Location: in a walkway just outside the port Shepard docked the Normandy

Shepard (male) along with Cerberus officer/Queen Ice Bitch Miranda Lawson, and former Alliance crosier Jacob Taylor (who really seemed to be a good kind of guy that you could have a drink with) were walking towards where they could see their first new recruit the mercenary Zaeed Massani, but were stopped by a Batarian guard soon after they left port.

Batarian guard:" welcome to Omega Shepard."

Shepard:" you know who I am?"

Batarian:" it's not often a dead specter comes to Omega, Aria had you tagged as soon as your ship entered the Terminus systems. I suggest you go to Afterlife and speak with Aria."

Shepard:" I think you need to relax a little buddy."

Batarian:" Afterlife now."

Shepard:" ok ok I get, I'll go to Afterlife. Bye"

E.D.I:" Shepard reports show Professor Mordin Solus is in the quarantine area here on Omega, I'm also getting reports that Arch-Angle is in a firefight with the 3 main merc groups that are stationed here on Omega. I would advise in speaking with Aria for more information about the recruits."

Shepard:" thanks EDI."

The trio then approaches Zaeed who is currently beating the shit out of a Batarian criminal he was contracted to catch. After Shepard recruits Zaeed for the mission against the collectors, Jacob brings up a question that has been in the trio's minds ever since they landed in Omega.

Jacob:" so who will we recruit first?"

Shepard:" I think it would be most wise to recruit Arch-Angel first."

Miranda in an annoyed tone:" Commander, shouldn't we recruit Mordin first, we need him to make the countermeasure for the seeker swarms."

Shepard:" I know Miranda, but based on the reports it seems that Arch-angel is the one in the most imminent danger, and it would be pointless to recruit a dead man, wouldn't you agree Miranda?"

Miranda sighs:" I suppose your right commander, but don't take too long, we need Mordin to make that countermeasure ASAP."

Shepard: "understood; now let us go meet Aria."

The trio then proceed to enter Afterlife, along the way Shepard talks a group of armed batarians into leaving the area and later picks up a bottle of seris iced brandy off of a bar counter. When the trio reaches the balcony where Aria is the Batarian and turian guards point their guns at Shepard and team, while the trio does the same to Aria's men.

Aria:" that's close enough Shepard" a batarian guard then stands in front of Shepard and scans his body with his Omni tool."

Batarian guard:" hold still."

Shepard pulls out his pistol to show it in front of the batarian in a mocking fashion.

Shepard:" if you're looking for weapons, you're not doing a very good job."

Aria:" can't be too careful, that can be anyone wearing that skin, especially with a dead specter."

Batarian guard:" he's clean." The guard allows Shepard by to be within conversation distance of Aria.

Shepard:" I was told to speak to you. Are you the one in charge?"

Aria chuckles at that and replies full of pride:" I am Omega. I am ruler, dictator, queen and other names like that. But you need something, someone always needs something here on Omega and when they do they come to me. Omega has one rule and ONLY one rule."

Shepard:" and that is?"

Aria:" don't fuck with Aria!" she says with a smile on her face.

Shepard:" I like it, simple and easy to remember."

Aria:" if you forget, someone will be here to remind you."

Batarian guard:" then I get to toss your sorry ass out the nearest airlock."

Aria then motions to Shepard with her head for him to sit on the couch on her right.

Aria: "so Shepard, what brings you here?"

Shepard:" I'm looking for recruits to help me stop the collectors from abducting human colonies in the Terminus Systems, and I was told to look for you for information."

Aria:" anyone in particular you're looking for?"

Shepard:" I'm looking for Arch-Angel."

Aria:"You and half of Omega."

Shepard:" why is that?"

Aria:" everywhere he goes pisses someone; apparently, he pissed off the 3 biggest merc groups here on Omega for them to actually work together to kill him, which is quite the accomplishment."

Shepard:" what groups are after him?"

Aria:" Blue Suns, Eclipse, and Blood Pack are the big players here on Omega. They have Arch-Angel pinned but it sounds like they are having trouble taking him out. They have a Blue Suns recruiter over there (Aria points over to her left with her left thumb) hiring anyone who can hold a gun to storm his position, your best bet to get to him is to go with them."

Shepard:" thanks for the info."

Aria:" is there anyone else you need help finding?"

Shepard:" I'm looking for a salarian scientist named Mordin Solus."

Aria:" I always liked Mordin. He's as likely to heal you as he is to shoot you. He is running a clinic down in the quarantine zone for plague victims. The guard at the door will let you pass since you look like you can handle yourself in a firefight."

Shepard:" thanks for the info. That's all I will need for now."

Shepard stands up and is about to walk away with his team when Aria motions with her left hand for him to wait.

Aria:" Before you go Shepard, you said that you were recruiting for a mission to stop the collectors from abducting human colonies in the Terminus Systems?" Aria says this in a way that Shepard is wondering what Aria is getting at.

Shepard:" Yes I am, why do you ask?" with a curious and somewhat confused expression on his face.

Aria:" I have a proposition for you that I think you can't refuse considering what you're up against."

Shepard is starting to become intrigued by this conversation because the way Aria is speaking is that while she does not sound like she is lying, he could tell that she was hoping that he would accept her proposal.

Shepard:" What kind of proposition?"

Aria:" there is someone on this station that would be worth more to your mission than an army, interested?"

Shepard is taken aback by this, if someone on this station was worth more than an army against the collectors like Aria depicts, then this person could prove to be a valuable asset that he could not possibly pass up, but he would have to see this person in action and know what kind of person he/she is before he believes that this person is indeed worth more than an army.

Shepard:" I'm listening."

Aria:" well, we don't know much about him, though we do know enough to make a rough dossier on him, here, you can have this one." Aria hands Shepard a data pad with the dossier of the person in question on it.

Aria:" though there is one more thing you should know about this person before you go, a word of warning really."

Shepard:" what? Is there something wrong with this person?"

Aria:" no nothing wrong with him, he has manners and restraint. The word of warning is for your own good Shepard, do not get into a physical confrontation with this man!" she said in a whispered and ominous voice.

Shepard:" why is that?"

Shepard felt like he was at the edge of a seat during an exciting and suspenseful movie, Aria didn't seem to be the kind of person to give out warnings about other people. Shepard thought that speaking of such things would damage Aria's pride, which seemed like a huge part of her personality, so for her to warn him about this man she is talking about shows great volumes about the value for recruiting this man. Miranda notices Shepard's interest in Aria's proposal and decides to intervene.

Miranda:" Commander we don't have time to listen to a proposal from a crime lord about a recruit whose value to us is in question and sounds like a bunch of bullshit, we need to get to Arch-Angel, then Mordin ASAP!" she said in a very irritated tone.

Shepard looks at her with rage filled eyes that she would question his judgment and would speak so rudely in front of someone who not only provided the information on the people they needed but also is offering a potential gold mind of a recruit that may prove invaluable to their cause.

Shepard:" I will decide what is worth our time or NOT Miranda! Now I'm going to listen to Aria's proposal and you are going to follow whatever decision I make! Are we clear?" he says in a commanding tone.

Miranda:" Yes Commander."

Shepard:" good. Now then, where were we Aria, you were telling me about a warning to not get into a physical conflict with this man? Why is that?"

Aria:" the reason why is reason enough for the bitch next to you to never say what she said in front of this man. It does not matter what weapons you have, or how many soldiers you have. You could have a whole god damn army of specter class soldiers with you armed to the teeth with all the weaponry any asshole could ever want, if you face this man in combat as an enemy Shepard you WILL die."

If someone who didn't have Aria's reputation and disposition then Shepard would have said that this was total bullshit no matter what he could read from their face and voice, but since it WAS Aria that stated this, this interested and awed Shepard to no end, he REALLY wanted to see what this man was capable of in combat, as an ally of course.

Shepard:" do you know where he is?" Shepard asks not even looking at the dossier he was handed.

Aria:" no one but the man himself does, but he said he was looking for something interesting and exciting to do. Based on what you told me he might actually try to find you. More than likely he will be waiting near where Arch-Angel is, since that is currently the most active stop on Omega, for someone(s) like you. Before you go to recruit the others for your mission, I strongly suggest that you read his dossier; I added security vids to it so that some parts of the dossier can be better explained. One last thing, all I ask in return for this information is for you to convince him to join you on your mission and to get him off of Omega, the reason for that is while he follows Omega's one rule, he makes such a huge and terrifying mess out of those who have tried to mug him that none of my workers have been able to clean up his messes because of the sociological scars they get from it make them vomit their lungs out and then proceed to pass out, not to mention we don't have the tools to fix the kind and magnitude of damage he has done to at least one hallway on Omega, so having him go with you willingly would be a great help to me and my workers, but it MUST be WILLINGLY, I don't want to have your bodies as a permanent shit stain on some walls on my station."

Shepard now was very confused with himself because of the mixed emotions he was getting about this man, a part of him was giddy with excitement to have the chance to recruit such a deadly warrior, but also worried that perhaps this man could be "too dangerous". Weighing his options Shepard decided to give this man a chance as a potential recruit, because the potential reward far outweighed the risks considering the monumental task set before him, to stop the collectors from harvesting human colonies, but even after that Shepard has the daunting task of dealing with the vast armada of reapers that were approaching the galaxy from dark space, so Shepard was willing to take all the help he could get.

After making up his mind, Shepard thought it would be best to go to the Blue Suns recruiter and go with them to Arch-Angel, this was going to be the first person he was going to recruit after Zaeed, and besides Aria stated that was where this man was most likely to be if he was bored. But before actually speaking with the recruiter who was now just 10 feet away down some stairs standing in front of a console he was using to sign up freelancers.

This is what the dossier Shepard is currently reading states.

Dossier:

-Name: Malen Katarn. Also known as:" The Demon of Omega"

-Species: unknown, appears to be some sort of reptilian humanoid.

-Height: 6ft, 3in

-Weight: unknown, maybe 240 pounds. mostly in muscle

-Eyes: slight pupils down the middle of eyes, like a snake, white GLOWING eyes.

-Body: dark red, scaly skin, spikes on top of his head (appear to have been naturally grown from his body), 4-5 foot long tail, also dark red in color with scales.

-Description: Strong warrior like personality like krogan, but without the needing to act out to prove his strength, also nowhere near as stupid. Has shown a universal I.Q that could put salarian scientists to shame, and has the diplomatic skills of any asari matriarch, but has not always used them, especially if threated.

-Abilities/Attributes/Powers: Strength that makes krogan clan leaders look like salarians with severe muscle dystrophy. Speed that makes drell look like elcor with their legs cut off. Invulnerability to all known weapons and probably weapons we never heard of. Some form of EXTREMLY POWERFUL and VERSITILE telekinesis that is not based on biotics or element zero, far outstrips anything any biotic can do. Unknown powers that seem to stem from some strange language that can't be translated. Could possibly be hiding a vast amount more abilities he has yet to use since his arrival at Omega.

:Attachment- Security vids

Shepard clicked on the attachment and the data pad pulled up a video that had been stored. The video showed how Malen had killed a group of 5 vorcha and suffered absolutely no damage when shot at with thousands of bullets, and used a strange language that Shepard's in-suit translator could not decipher that appeared to make Malen speed forward at speeds Shepard thought impossible even for some small shuttles. Then the vid skipped to when Malen was up against 3 krogan battle masters and 4 vorcha flamers. Shepard stared with his mouth wide up when he saw that Malen had stopped and suspended in the air all the bullets that the battles masters shot at him with their shotguns that only krogans could use. when Shepard saw Malen turn the offending bullets and shot them at the same speed they were shot from the shotguns at their apparent leader with nothing more than a flick of his finger, and that the bullets kept flying in and out of the krogan's body as if the bullets were electrons and the center of the krogan's body was the nucleus.

Shepard was starting to sweat waterfalls and he was breathing heavily enough to put Darth Vader to shame. Then Shepard saw Malen stop a charging battle master's fist with his own with such little effort or care like Malen was fighting against nothing more than a child and crushed the krogan's hand into paste with as much effort as it takes to pop a bubble, and when the krogan tried to punch Malen with his other fist, Shepard saw Malen thrust his pointer finger at blurring speeds through the krogan's skull that made a whole out the other side of his head and out through his armor like he was shot in the head at point blank range with a evisorator shotgun.

What Shepard saw last in the vid shocked him to his very core and he hoped that this part of the vid was fake. What Shepard saw was Malen standing completely still with a charging krogan battle master in a blood rage who was just 9 feet away. When the charging krogan was 7 feet away, Shepard heard Malen speak what sounded like 4 words in that strange language he heard him use against the previous group of vorcha that his translator could not translate "Zii-Los Dii Du" when Malen said "Du" Shepard saw the charging battle master stop dead in his tracks and fall forwards with his head just an inch away from Malen's foot. At first Shepard thought that Malen strange "power" had paralyzed the krogan, but that idea was quickly and violently thrown out the window when just a few seconds later Shepard saw the krogan's armor, skin, muscle, and bone decay rapidly, FAR too fast for it to be any sort of a natural cause and no weapon, poison, or acid in the galaxy could make any body, regardless of species, decay or dissolve that fast, let alone the armor the battle master was wearing. When the decay had finally stopped ( when it started, it only took 10 seconds for the krogan to be completely dissolved) all that Shepard saw left of the krogan was grey dust that made an outline of the krogan that once laid there.

Shepard's entire body didn't know how to take in what he had witnessed, his body had stopped sweating because the muscles in Shepard's head that released sweat couldn't move out of total shock of what was shown to him, and the only words that Shepard could form in his mind was " HOLY SHIT!"

After what seemed like hours waiting for a response from Shepard, Jacob broke the silence.

Jacob:" ummm Shepard, you alright? You face was sweating like a fat guy on a treadmill, what did you see on the data pad?" he said with concern and worry.

Shepard finally managed to regain his composure and make his mouth less dry.

Shepard:" There was an attachment on the data pad that had security vids in it, what I saw on them is something you are going to have to see to believe."

Shepard gave Jacob the dossier to look over for himself, Jacob had the same shocked and terrified expression on his face Shepard had when he finished viewing the security vids, and like Shepard he hoped that last part he saw was fake, to say that it was terrifying to witness is a monumental understatement. After Jacob finally managed to regain his composure, he handed the data pad to Miranda. When Miranda had finished going over the dossier her face showed a ting of the same shock and fear that Jacob and Shepard had, though she quickly shook her head and tried to rationalize what she saw.

Miranda:" this, this has to be fake Shepard. No way in hell is any of that real."

While Miranda tried her best to hide and suppress her emotions, she could not help but show a tiny amount of worry and anxiety on her face.

Shepard:" Maybe, Maybe not Miranda, I understand your reserve for believing the security vids, but Miranda think about it, if the vids actually prove to be true, think of what Malen can provide to us in our effort against the collectors and reapers."

Miranda did not respond for at least 30 seconds, she was contemplating what Shepard had said, but a large part of her still refused to believe what was on those vids.

Miranda:" ok I see your point commander, but I'm not holding high hopes for this."

Shepard:" all that I ask of you is to follow my orders and my lead; you are entitled to your feelings and opinions. Now if there is nothing else to discuss about it lets go talk to the Blue Suns recruiter about going "after" Arch-Angel."

Miranda:" roger that commander."

The trio approached the recruiter that had just called for the next freelancer(s), the Batarian Blue Suns recruiter looked impressed at the trio before them since they looked well-armed and ready for combat.

Blue Suns recruiter:" you three look like you could do some damage, you here to sign up?"

Shepard:" If this is the place to go after Arch-Angel."

Recruiter:" this is the place. The standard fee paid out for completion of the job is 500 credits each. You're also going to need your own weapons and armor."

Recruiter looks up at the trio and quickly returns to his console.

"Looks like you got that covered, and no this does not make you a member of the Blue Suns, Eclipse, or Blood Pack: you are a freelancer. Just do the job and get paid. Any questions?" he said with a monotone voice.

Shepard:" my team is ready to go, where do we go?"

Recruiter:" A Blue Sun's member is next to the transport you to where the action is, just tell him you're a freelancer gunning for Arch-Angel and he will do the rest."

Shepard:" thanks, I'll be going now."

And with that Shepard, Jacob, and Miranda left Afterlife, approached the Blue Suns member and road off to go recruit Arch-Angel, which the mercs don't know yet."