Disclaimer: not mine

Sorry for the wait.

Chapter 18

Garrus watched the mercs through the scope on his rifle. It wasn't looking good for him at all. One person could not hold a building forever, especially one with multiple entry points. He'd done what he could to fortify them, but eventually one of the groups would find a way in. He really missed having a team to back him up, but Sidonis had gotten them killed and his old team…well, he didn't even know where many of them were since they'd split up after the Normandy.

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His first impression of Omega was…not a nice one. The dull red lighting didn't exactly help the cheery atmosphere. And then the mercenary they were meant to recruit shot his target when they were unarmed, not a threat. He really wasn't sure about most of the recruits on the list but if the crew really was scattered… he was still hoping he could find some of them, or they'd find him, even if Tali had turned down the offer to join him.

Having the two Cerberus operatives at his back wasn't entirely reassuring but of the two, it was Miranda he expected to try and stab him in the back one day. Riku had a bit of hero worship towards him, not something he was entirely comfortable with, but the younger soldier was obviously quit willing to follow his orders and lead and even the Illusive Man had admitted that Yamada didn't trust him. To John, that just showed sense.

He sent Massani back to the ship and then they headed into the station proper. There was no missing Afterlife, the club was right there and with an entry line halfway around the block. Popular place. The music was mind numbingly loud, the lights flashing as body's writhed together or on stages. They headed for the stairs at the back, seeing the group in the lounge at the top.

"That's close enough," the Asari told them even as her guards pulled their weapons, John hearing Miranda and Riku do the same.

"Stand still." A Batarian guard ordered, bringing out a scanner so John remained still.

"If you're looking for weapons, you're not doing a very good job," he offered when it passed over his pistol without a sound.

"Can't be too careful with dead spectres," the Asari lounging on the couch commented, looking him over. He didn't care at all for the way she looked at him, he was very happily in love with Liara. "That could be anyone wearing your face," but she had a point there.

"I was told you are the person to talk too if I have questions," he offered, taking a seat on the other couch.

"Depends on the questions."

"You run Omega?"

Aria smirked at him, chuckling, waving a hand to encompass the station, her eyes never leaving his face. "I am Omega. But you need more, everyone needs more something and they all come to me. I'm the boss, CEO, queen if you're feeling dramatic. It doesn't matter. Omega has no titled ruler and only one rule - don't fuck with Aria."

"I like it, easy to remember," he offered.

"And if you forget, someone will remind you."

"And then I toss your sorry ass out the nearest airlock," her guard finished.

"So, what can I do for you?"

"I'm trying to track down Archangel." He got the feeling the extra fighter could come in handy before going for the doctor.

"You and half of Omega. You want him dead too?"

"Why is everyone after him?"

"He thinks he's fighting on the side of good. There is no good side to Omega. Everything he does pisses someone off. It's catching up to him," she explained.

Sounded like he could be the kind of person they needed after all. Just the kind of guy I'm looking for."

"Really? Well, aren't you interesting. You're going to make some enemies teaming up with Archangel. That's assuming you can get to him. He's in a bit of trouble right now."

"What kind of trouble?" Yamada spoke up from where they were standing at the base of the stairs, keeping an eye on the guards.

"The local Merc groups have joined forces to take him down. They've got him cornered, but it sounds like they're having trouble finishing him off. They've started hiring anyone with a gun to try and take him out."

"Could be our way in," Miranda smirked.

"They're using a private room for recruiting…just over there. I'm sure they'll sign you up." She shrugged slightly but thankfully was willing to give at least basic info on the groups after him. It seemed every merc group on the station had a bone to pick with Archangel.

"Do you hate Archangel?" he asked, curious.

"I don't have time for hate. But I distrust them all equally. For now, I'm happy just to let them kill each other."

"I appreciate the help," he stood to leave, figuring he could ask about the doctor later or see what info was around the station about him.

"See if you still feel that way when the mercs realise you're here to help him."

They left and went to the private room to sign up for taking on Archangel and to get a bit more info. It was a little surprising how eager people were to sign up as cannon fodder, but he supposed it was a sign of the conditions on the station.

They were heading for the transport when shouting got their attention.

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Miranda followed Shepard to where the shouting had come from, a small group trying to get past some Turian guards. The group were all humans and trying to get…ah, the quarantine area. So even if humans were immune, they weren't being allowed in. It made sense, even if they couldn't catch it, they still might be able to act as carriers, it could even attach to their clothes or something. So, it was actually good that the guards were keeping them out. The question was, since they were here now, would they go after the doctor first and hope Archangel could hold out a while longer?

She wasn't very surprised when they were quickly allowed into the quarantine zone, three heavily armed and armoured soldiers were more than the guards wanted to deal with. Plus, Aria had called ahead. It was concerning that the Asari had known they would want access at some point, did she know they were there for the doctor or had she just assumed a Spectre would want to look into such a fast-spreading plague to warn the Council in case it spread beyond the station?

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Sora read the message again and then smiled, moving towards Liara's office to give her the news in person. John had been spotted on Omega and so had Garrus. Hopefully, they would find each other there since they would both feel better if John had backup they knew. What were the odds the mission to stop the Collectors would bring them to Illium?

She knew Liara missed John fiercely but she still wouldn't give up the hunt for the Shadow Broker, even with proof John was out there, alive. She could continue the hunt from on board a ship, having the extra back up would definitely come in handy, and they would be harder for the Shadow Broker to track. Personally, she wasn't a fan of the planet, at all. Sora wanted to be back out there, among the stars, hunting down the threats others didn't want to see.

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Riku moved through the quarantine section with the others, feeling sick as he took in how they had turned on each other. Some victims had been locked in to die alone in agony and delirium, others had been shot…pyres made of bodies…he knew there were scenes just like it in human history, seemed all species shared this kind of panicked reaction to plagues. He was very glad for his helmet; he didn't want to smell the burning as well. And just because no humans had gotten sick yet, didn't mean the disease couldn't mutate to affect them or that they couldn't carry it, so it was better to keep their helmets on for everyone's safety.

Shooting the Blue Sun and even Vorcha didn't bother him, not with the way they were acting towards the others. And it's not like anyone even liked the Vorcha. Eventually, signs for the clinic began popping up and they cautiously followed them, wary of a trap.

It was the clinic, and security was good, a handful of armed human guards mixed in with security mechs and actual clinic staff. They kept their weapons holstered, even as whispers and glares were thrown their way, for being human. At the back was a room with a Salarian working on a patient. Riku thought it was male?

"Now to greetings. Human, curious not recognising from area. Too well armed to be refugees. No mercenary uniform. Quarantine zone in effect," the Salarian was rambling, gesturing with their hands, and Riku couldn't help tuning them out to glance around the treatment room. "Investigating possible use as bioweapon? No, no, too many guns not enough data equipment. Soldiers…outside yes, yes, yes guns for hire maybe."

"I'm Captain Shepard, and I came here to find you," Shepard finally cut in. "I'm on a critical mission and I need your help."

"Mission. Too busy clinic understaffed plague spreading," the doctor dismissed them.

"Ever heard of an organisation called Cerberus?" Riku asked, curious.

"Crossed paths on occasion. Thought they only work with humans."

"This mission reaches far beyond mere human interests, professor. We all have to work together to takedown the collectors."

At the sound of raised voices out in the main area, Riku slipped away to make sure it was dealt with. He had a few too many bad memories of being attacked in a hospital thanks to Saren and the Geth to feel at all comfortable.

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Shiala left the office of Baria Frontiers beyond frustrated but she would not give up. They should never have signed those contracts but they'd been desperate and now they would have to pay for it. And of course, she could feel all of the looks she was getting, even from her fellow Asari. It was uncomfortable but understandable, they weren't normally green after all, or at least not the kind of shade she had become. And then she blinked as a familiar form moved through the market, she took a second look and yes, it was Sora.

She hadn't seen the younger Asari since Feros, though they had been in contact at first. After news spread about the Normandy and death of Shepard though, she'd gone quiet. Had she finished her Commando training? But there were no indicators on her armour to align her with…anyone. That was interesting.

Sora obviously felt eyes on her, glancing around subtly, and Shiala nodded at her. Sora moved to walk towards her, scanning over her the same way she'd looked Sora over. "Shiala? I thought you remained on Feros."

"I did, I am here on the colony's behalf," she admitted. "I am surprised to see you here."

"Liara's set up in an office near the port," Sora answered, taking a seat beside her. "She needed someone here to watch her back, so I resigned."

"Someone has threatened her?" With Saren gone, Shiala had thought the sisters would be safe.

"The Shadow Broker," Sora murmured to keep from being overheard, and Shiala grimaced. Even most Matriarchs were cautious about that being, what could Liara have done to gain his attention?

"I am sorry about Shepard," she offered.

"He's alive," Sora's answered shocked her, the younger Asari smirking slightly. "He died with the Normandy but Cerberus brought him back. Liara confirmed it all, he's going after the Collectors for targeting human colonies." She gave Shiala some basic information that Shiala would be taking to Feros, they weren't in the danger zone the taken colonies appeared to be but they had already suffered from the Geth.

She told Sora of how the colony was going since the Normandy had left and why they had come looking for help. Two hours later, they were in Sora's room of the very nice apartment she shared with her sister after enjoying a nice meal.

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Hannah looked over the reports, feeling lost. Was it really possible? Could her son somehow be alive? Part of her wanted to believe but…he'd been spaced, losing oxygen and pulled into the atmosphere of Alchera, there was no way he had survived or that his body had been…well. Had someone cloned her son? She was relieved in a way, that Mark hadn't lived long enough for this, no parent should outlive their child.

The posthumous promotion didn't exactly help the grief. He should never have been there, the Normandy should have been the pride of the fleet, the first human Spectre celebrated. But to keep the crew quiet they'd been sent chasing Geth ghosts.

And now someone was trying to attach her son's name and reputation to Cerberus. Why? What was their goal?

And yet…on the tiniest chance…she sent a message to a private message inbox, if it really was John, he would know where it was.

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Garrus looked down the scope as a new group of mercs rushed the barricade and onto the bridge. It did make things easier for him. He aimed but then hesitated, upping the magnification. That was…it wasn't possible, was it? He quickly switched ammo to concussive rounds and took the shot, the armoured form staggering back but not going down. With him were two others, all three firing on the mercs from behind. It was risky…but if it was really him… they eventually vanished and he kept shooting, tensed as he waited to find out if they would try and shoot him in the back.

The door opened and three sets of boots entered. "Archangel?" a familiar voice called warily, and Garrus turned.

He looked the armoured humans over, seeing the Cerberus markings. That wasn't at all concerning. It looked like Shepard, sounded like him, but those facial scars…cybernetics, painful looking. Could cybernetics have brought him back? "Shepard…I thought you were dead," he offered.

"What are you doing here?" Shepard asked, hands away from his weapons, looking…relieved? He'd gotten better at reading humans but he was far from an expert.

"Just keeping my skills hot. Target practise," he answered, leaning on his rifle.

"What are you even doing on Omega? I tried looking for you when I woke up but you quit C-Sec and vanished."

"Woke up?"

"Apparently I spent the last two years dead, woke up in a Cerberus lab under attack."

Well, that was…odd. "Well, that doesn't sound at all ominous," he offered. "I got fed up with all the bureaucratic crap on the Citadel, figured I could do more good on my own. It's not hard to find criminals here, all I have to do this point my gun and shoot," he answered Shepard's question. He was proud that no one had managed to track where he'd gone, that had been the idea after all.

"How did you manage to piss off every major Merc organisation?" Shepard was smirking now, even as they moved towards the windows to see what said mercs were doing.

"It wasn't easy, I really had to work at it. I am amazed that they teamed up to fight me, they must really hate me," and that was something else to be proud of.

"When did you start calling yourself Archangel?" Shepard was teasing.

He'd missed the easy interaction between them. Yes, he'd had his new team but it hadn't been the same. It's just a name the locals gave me for. He glanced over at the other two, a woman and a younger male, both dressed as Cerberus. "Oh, that," he shrugged, "I didn't pick it, got it for my good deeds. I don't mind it, but please, it's just Garrus to you."

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Riku listened to the two talk, banter and teasing really. He supposed it made sense, the kind of mission they'd been on against Saren would push a team close together or tear it apart. He leant against the wall, watching the lower level to make sure no one snuck up the stairs behind them. He'd hoped the team they were making could become that close but he wasn't so sure now, not with Shepard bringing in an old teammate and the second alien at that.

He wasn't anti-alien, not like a lot of Cerberus operatives, but he'd become warier of them as he got older. The Geth, the aliens who had tried to buy him, raiders…he didn't have many good interactions with non-humans. The hospital defence was about it. Still, Mordin had risked his life to find a cure to that plague and Garrus had helped save them from Saren, Sovereign, and the Geth.

"Incoming!" Garrus called.

"Miranda, Riku, head downstairs, make sure no one makes it to the stairs," Shepard ordered.

Miranda glanced at him and smirked before leaping over the balcony. Riku shook his head but followed her, both of them landing easily thanks to their biotics.

He took cover behind a heavy-duty old couch while she slid behind a pillar, covering both entrances into the building. They could hear Shepard and Garrus firing above them, could hear the cries of pain and then the thuds of the mech that Shepard had reprogrammed. That definitely got the mercs attention.

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Soft, warm lips, fingers running through his hair. "Sora," a male voice murmured.

Sora's eyes snapped open and she blinked up at the ceiling of her bedroom. What? That had to be the strangest dream ever. But it had felt real, right, while it was happening. She sat up and touched her head, confirming the lack of hair. And she didn't think of herself as anything like 'male' as other species understood it. She didn't really consider herself to be 'female' either though, she was just Sora, an Asari. She'd just let her translator use the feminine words because it was the easiest way to set it up.

The voice was the same one she'd dreamed of for years, though she hadn't seen who it was. Would he still look a lot like Riku Yamada as he had since she'd seen his file? Were the dreams somehow connected to him? She had so many questions and no answers.

TBC…