Beeping sound woke Shepard up. One hour till docking. Time to move. With a groan John got up, took a shower and started putting on his armour. Leg armor with additional servos made him faster despite weight of the whole set. Chest piece was a standard N7 plate, pauldrons and gauntlets were routed with additional capacitors to further enchance amount of the shields. Finally the helmet was from Kestrel armor set, a solid piece covering face with sliding plate on mouth. Much better than standard visors. Whole set was painted in glossy dark crimson color. Suited up, he took an elevator to the armory.

Walking into Armory he noticed that Max was busy. Few tools were on the workbench along with dissasembled unknown rifle. Music was playing so John was unnoticed by his brother. Jester was wearing his own armor already. A solid black matte outfit with high collar, composed of titatnium-alloy plates overlapping each other mixed with elastic fibers. Set was definietly custom made and tailored to the frame as was fitting, though not as snuggly as Kasumi's suit.

"Nice armor brother," Shepard raised his voice to be heard through the music. Jester stopped tinkering with the rifle on his bench and turned around. " 'Sup Logan?" usual cheerful voice contrasted with focused and calm stare. Music stopped.

"Just checking. We're 30 minutes out I guess but I see you're ready."

"Yah, thought you gonna want to give me a spin. I also want to test few of my toys" Max motioned on few devices sorted neatly on the table next to him. "Also been testing this," in few moves he assembled rifle. Short and compact with thick heavy barrel and heat sink slot in front grip. Nice and sleek. "This my dear brother is a prototype I liberated from a pirate base on my first op. I think it's a cross-breed between sniper and assault rifle. Automatic, holds 15 shots now. Almost kicks ass like old Mattocks but with almost no recoil. Added fast reload and low powered scope."

"Nice toy, looks familliar tough" Garrus entered Armory and came closer to brothers. "I've seen that before, reminds me of old Kishock Gun used by batarians" turian pointed at guns upper part. "Other parts...are new. Where did you get this?"

"Snatched from a pirate base. Batarians and turians from Blue Suns outfit were there. Perhaps they were making a template to produce on black market, dunno. Blew the whole thing up but took this and modified a bit. I would share but schematics would be in Cerberus hands if produced here. No way." Max explained "It's no longer a sniper though. Mattock's full auto little nasty brother" he put gun on his back. John noticed that Max had single mag lock on his back, going across his back not two horizontally.

"Well then, it's fitting. Like brothers like guns," John picked a semi-auto modified Mattock C-96 from his locker. "You gotta be shitting me bro." Jester only laughed looking at John's choice. "I gotta get my hands on this, gonna shoot unicorns and fart rainbows when I'm done with it. Unless you think overkill is overrated"

John only smiled at this offer. If his brother is so good, then why not? Packing a bigger punch is always handy.

"I'll think about it. Get your gear and meet me at the airlock. Us three and Zaeed are coming."

5 minutes before docking, scarred mercenary appeared with his usual scowl on the face and Vindicator on his back and bandolier of incendiary grenades.

"Who's the kid? Goddamn trade-off?" A second later he was staring at the barrel of Jester's rifle. "Name's Max, and play nice old dog, then I won't put you to sleep" There was no arrogant prankster left now. A trained soldier took his place.

John decided to step in, "Jester step down!" gun went down when last word left Shepard's mouth. "Watch it Zaeed, my brother's no rookie." Massani wanted to say something but changed his mind.

"Approaching dock. Standby." EDI's voice chimed in.

"Alright team, a quick rundown. Cerberus payed off this slam to give us a con. A biotic named Jack, nothing else is known. Keep on your toes and wear you helmets in case things go south and walls fall down"

"Warden here's a Blue Sun bastard, so are the guards. Watch your ass" Zaeed spat and started putting on his facemask. John glanced on Max, he only shrugged and grabbed back of his collar, extending it into a helmet from plates that opened like a chineese fan encasing his whole face. A thin visor flashed in red color. Putting a fiber hood on top of this he looked damn impressive.

"I told you, got a few toys to test" A chuckle came out from under mask. John only shooked his head and went through the airlock into the Purgatory prison ship.

/.../

Warden Kuril happened to be a two bit greedy slaver, selling prisoners to the highest bidder. Wanted to sell Shepard too, but his calculations went out the airlock when Shepard instead of entering the presented cell gave a mark to his team and unleashed hell on the guards behind him.

"Every op you do ends up like this?" Jester shouted while picking off two guards that came through the corridors door with a burst.

"Pretty much!" Garrus answered for Shepard. Spirits, he was damn positive that every action they did was ending with a firefight.

Three humanoid mechs stepped into the hall the team was crossing. "Get down" Max shouted while rolling a metallic ball down the floor in mech direction. A loud bang later mechs and near walls where in shambles. John looked at his brother.

"A serrated tungsten wedges with explosives packed in neat ball," Max threw one into Johns hands. "I can even juggle with them." Shepard threw deadly toy back smirking inside his armor.

Upon reaching mainframe, Jester quickly breached the security, "I can only open every cell here, to get this Jack out of cryo we gonna start a riot here" he said looking at Shepard.

"Do it" Shepard nodded. Few taps later the watched through the monitors how a mechanic arm pulled a cryo unit from the floor. Four boxes around the unit came to life and extened into anti-riot heavy mechs. their wepons pointed at the unit. The frozen mist started fading.

"That's Jack?" Garrus gasped. Their recruit turned out to be a bald headed woman, with lithe frame covered in tattoos neck down. They could see it easily because she wore only a ragged pants and a leather belts strapped across her chest. So much for modesty... As Jack opened her eyes she snapped her wrists from locks holding her, tore the third on her neck and fell on the ground. The mechs took a step closer to her and took aim. Jack glowed blue and ran. Through the two mechs standing in a row, and through the wall behind them.

"Woah, you think they make ones with hair and more clothes?" Jester asked evidently amused and impressed.

"Let's get her before she tears out from here or beats us to our ship" John quickly retorted.

Fighting through the yards full of guards, prisoners and Warden himself took a while, but thanks to Jesters ability to shift and appear in places where nobody was looking and expecting an explosion, team managed to follow Jack's trail of carnage down to the docks.

Jack ran through two guards swatting them into walls with a shockwave when suddenly stop in her tracks. Behind the glass she could see a docked ship, but with a logo she hated most.

"Cerberus!" she yelled at her misfortune. then she heard a thud of boots on the floor behind her. Turned around and saw three humans and a turian in different armors, no guards.

"You Jack? I'm here for you" A voice beamed from one in crimson steel. Jack's eyes narrowed, only ship was Cerberus and bastard was not from Purgatory.

"Fuck you Cerberus! I ain't goin' anywhere with you!" She yelled at them. No way for her to go back to that place, no way...

Shepard took a step close to her and motioned other to put their gun down. "I'm no Cerberus but whatever. This joint is going in flames, I have the only ride outta here and despite that I need your sorry biotic ass for my op, I'll leave you here if you won't play nice."

Jacked paced a few steps. Considering her shitty situatiuon. Still she could play something on her side. "You got Cerberus ship, that means intel. I want all they have on me."

"Deal. Now move." John only shrugged. he didn't care whether Miranda will like it or no, he needed a biotic who could tear down walls.

"You better be straight with me!" Jack flashed her biotics then walked to the airlock.

/.../

"Welcome Jack, I'm Miranda, XO to Commander Shepard. Here, we listen to orders." Miranda spoken to the convict with barely hidden disgust as they were standing in briefing room. A convict with history of psychotic actions was setting off Miranda's internal alarms.

"Fuck off chearleader, I got a deal with him and that's what I want" Jack spat looking with hate at brunette standing in front of her. Smooth face and a huge bust surely would caught attention of anybody. But Cerberus logo put a huge shit mark on her and first place on Jack's kill list.

"Miranda, get anything you find on Jack and give to her" John spoken. Miranda's stare went vacuum cold. "This will take some time" She spoken trough clenched teeth. She wanted to protest but learned that Shepard was not in the negotiative mood now.

"You have a moment when we go and back from med bay" John replied then glanced at Jack. "I don't trust any prison butcher, Come with me, I want to be sure you're up for combat."

"Fuck it, I ain't goin' to any doctors." Jack defiantly stood and looked at Shepard. John took a step closer and leaned to convicts face. Jack noticed glowing scars on his face along with strange glow in his eyes. "You will go where I tell you. Whether to the doctor or into combat. When I tell you. Or I'll shoot your head off and space the carcass" His voice hold notes that made Miranda wince and Jack relent.

When John walked out with Jack following him and muttering curses, Miranda took a deep thought. Man was different, right after boarding Normandy he ordered pilot to shoot onto Purgatory, making sure none of these murderers survive. Chapter of him being a good poster man, were way over. Rage can be controlled, and put on the right tracks, Miranda thought and started tapping on her omni-tool, searching for intel on Jack.

/.../

John gave Jack the datapads from Miranda. Ex-con found a dim lighted corner in engineering sub-deck.

"Here's the intel. If you want squat here I'l get you a cot. Take some rest and eat something. Mess is on deck three." John waited for reply.

"Yeah, I'm not a fan of Cerberus." Jack spat.

"Me neither but I don't give a fuck as long as they do what I tell them. Same as you. No fighting on the ship, no threats or any bullshit. Clear?" His face was barely visible in the shadows, only eyes were shining reddishly.

"Like I care. I could take your ship if I wanted" Jack acted all tough, she feared little but this soldier was striking the right cords of her nerves.

"Get rested, then head to Armory on deck two. You won't be running nude. You need armor."

"I managed good so far"

"Yeah, maybe in a slam or shaking up asari hooker on Omega" John retorted. "I'm running through hell every day. And you will go right behind me, just like anyone else." He turned around and left.

"Pffft what a fucker..." Jack muttered and started reading what Cerberus got on her.

/.../

John ordered course to Korlus to claim another recruit there then entered observation deck, looking for a drink from a bar. He heard that Kasumi claimed that room but made no problems about tresspassing.

"Hey Shep!" a friendly chirp came from hooded thief that was sprawled on a couch.

"Hey Kasumi, I see you're stockpiling" John motioned to bar filled to the brim with bottles.

"I like a wide selection, knock yourself out, not like I payed for it anyway" Kasumi giggled.

John poured himself a bourbon. "Got a visit from Jester" Kasumi grinned. "Interesting brother you have"

John took a sip. "Yeah, when he's not an asshole and that's rare. Was at least"

"He seemed nice to me, got some skills and you hear it from best in the bussiness" Kasumi couldn't hide impression Max made on her. John thought about it, was a bit unsure whether his brother was up for this insanity he as running everyday, but he kept cool and his fiery tools made fighitng much easier at some points. Yeah, he matured, even if he's hiding it.

"Well then we'll see how good you perform in my conditions. You're on on the next mission. Korlus mercenary base, expect mercs and a lot of unstable rust. Whole planet's a dusty scrapyard."

Kasumi only nodded. John was going to pour another glass when his omni-tool beeped.

"Hey Logan, got our sweetheart right here, from what I understood from her insults you sended her here?" Max's voice rang loudly.

"Yeah, fit her an armor if there's any, and measure her to pick up a new one when we dock somwhere" John spoke to the comm. "Aye aye" Max replied and cut the link.

"Logan?" Kasumi asked interested. John sighed.

"My middle name, Max insists on using it since nobody calls me by first and I'm calling him by his middle one too" John shrugged emptying glass. That'll be enough for today.

"Why's that?"

"We don't have happy memories with the first ones" John replied taking a sip.

"What's his first?" Kasumi loved ferreting out secrets.

"That's as priveleged as it gets. You'd gonna have make him tell you if you want it." John laughed and left.

"Mmmmm" Kasumi already was devising some plan. She loved a challenge. Specially one like that.

/.../

"Now that you consulted with your mama, get on with this you fuck" Jack spat. She didn't like this guy, all smug and cocky. He was at the Purgatory too. She recognized his build and stance.

"Hold your horses, I'm running an organized establishment here" He retorted annoyed while fishing through lockers on the wall. "Gotcha!" He pulled a box. Pulled a complete suit minus the helmet. A light armor made from plates and support webbing. In white and yellow colors and big ass Cerberus logo on the chest. He looked at it critically and tsked. "Laaaame!" He looked at Jack who only snorted.

"No way I'm wearing Cerberus armor."

"Nope, no Cerberus gear in this shop baby!" He put the armor pieces down on a bench and set up a painting gun. "What do you feeling? Pearlscent black? Candy pink with unicorns?" He smirked while tapping a the console. Jack was pissed off, but crazy attitde was rubbing off on her. Guy was totally fucked up in his mind. She enjoyed it. "Wait, got it! Iridescent purple and fleur-de-lis on the chest, we're going street smart" He laughed and entered commands to the machine that started painting the armor in deep purple color. Then he took the paint gun from the device and freehanded a fleur in gold paint. whole thing looked like a gang graffitti. Jack did most of her tattoos herself and she could appreciate his skills.

"Nice one, you got hand for ink too?" Jack asked watching soldier working.

"Nope, I have a couple but done by a pro." Max replied. "You know we're talking shop here but I didn't caught your name."

"It's Jack" She said leaning closer to watch the shading.

"Jester" Max shot back finishing the work and putting paint gun down. She only shrugged, she heard worse nicknames.

"All right, we're done, good thing it's unisex o you'll have and issue with breathing here," Jester chuckled. Jack only pursed her lips remembering mediocre size of her rack. "Put it on, we'll fit it on you" Max handed her a undersuit and turned around. "I ain't lookin!" he cheerfully added. Jack cursed and jumped out of boots and pants putting snug undesuit, then taking pieces of armor. Buckles were universal luckily.

"Done" Jack prompted Jester to turn around. "Damn I'm good, you look like a Saint" and smirked.

"What?" Jack raised her eyebrow.

"A street gang from earth. Tough SOB's but they got style."

"You're earthborn?"

"Nope, space kid all the way. Just like my brother. Maybe you met the guy, a huge bloke with glowing scars, runs this ship." Jester leaned and started tinkering with underlayers of armor pieces to fit better Jack's frame. Jack was fazed. This prancing funny man was big guy's brother?

"And I'm no slouch either but not so obvious about it. Just so you know in case you get any ideas about double-crossing." Jester's voice went cold along with his stare. "Don't. You're on the roll now. Finish with us, end up free and with some cool stuff to keep." He patted the pauldron of now well-fitted armor. "All right, weasel out of it and stay in the undersuit for a second. She complied and he scanned her with omni-tool. Max nodded letting her get dressed. He turned around again waiting. She didn't look happy at the scolding revelation she received. She was used to spread fear not being put in her place.

Jester only tapped on console and music started playing again. Some rap stuff.

"One more thing, what guns you want? Gotta have them ready."

"A shotgun. And a pistol" Jack said and left. Jester only shrugged and pulled Katana shotgun along Predator pistol and started disassembling them.