The Traveler's Second Chance

by Caldesan

The Traveler has a different response to the Darkness. A story where the Guardians never accept the Darkness. The Traveler gave them a second chance, what do they do with it? Destiny shows up in Mass Effect. OC's for Destiny MC and Ghosts, different take on Destiny Lore

6. The Squad - 06

The Squad - 06 "We still need to pick up the doctor, but they have some kind of virus or something that is affecting Turians. That means you are on your ass until the next mission, Garrus. I'll take Zaeed and..." Shepard looked around.

"Where the hell is she?" Shepard asked under his breath.

Kessa then appeared and lightly pushed her forward, revealing Kasumi.

Kasumi let out a little yelp at having been found, "Hey! How did you see me?"

Kessa snorted, "A myriad of things...you have a lot of work to do to be stealthier."

Kasumi smiled from under her hood at the hunter, "Challenge accepted."

Kessa smiled, "Anytime."

Shepard sighed and started over, "I want Kasumi and Zaeed on this one. We are dealing with mercs, Blue Suns I think. Info on the Doc is that he is deep in the slums running a clinic of some sort. There has been some looting, rioting, and just violence in general. We go in quiet, get to the doc, and convince him to join with us against the Collectors."

He looked around the room, everyone either agreeing or just staying silent.

Shepard nodded back, "Alright, Fireteam Starfall. You said you wanted to come with me on my mission against the Collectors. Does that offer still stand?"

Rico spoke up, leader of the Fireteam, "Of course. We need to go back to New Terra at some point to get Garrus some better armor and introduce you all to the Vanguard. We will have a solid upgrade for your weapons as well, Garrus."

"Upgrade? Some kinda New Terra tech?" Garrus asked.

"Something like that... Light-infused weapons and armor. It makes that pretty sniper on your back look like a toy," Kessa said with a smirk.

"Is that right? Haven't had any problems recently...I don't know if you saw but I just went nearly 100 out of 100 just about an hour ago..."

"Only a hundred?" Kessa taunted.

Garrus laughed, "Fine we can talk weapons after we get this new Normandy in transit. Not a bad ship, by the way, Shep. I will need to ensure your weapons systems are calibrated up to my standard."

"Sure, we are out right now though. Miranda, can you send someone to get the parts our engineers need...something about couplers?"

Miranda raised an eyebrow, "Something isn't up to par?"

Shepard looked around noticing Miranda about to go off on a tear, "I should go."

---

"Please! My apartment is in there!"

The Turian on guard just shook his head, "Not happening."

"I'm a human, you ass! The plague doesn't affect us!" The human woman yelled.

"Don't care, there's a plague. No one goes in or out. "

Shepard and Zaeed nodded at the guard, "We are going through."

"Look this place is overrun with Vorcha, who have been going mad, and the Blue Suns have been shooting anything that moves. I don't think I can just let you run in there until they have cleared out. But by then we will have teams sweeping through on cleanup."

Shepard nodded, "I get it, but I can solve this problem and it costs you nothing to let me try."

The Turian looked Shepard up and down, shining plate armor and intimidating stature made for a competent and commanding presence.

He sighed, "Alright, good luck then. I'll radio ahead so they know you are coming through."

Shepard nodded and looked at Zaeed as they moved. Kasumi was already deep into the quarantine zone, scouting and searching for the right path.

"You are just going to let them through? After all of this?"

"You don't have a grenade launcher, lady."

Zaeed snorted at that, "Damn right."

The two continued until Kasumi updated them, "I have some Batarians holding up a couple of humans...they are blaming them for all of the problems on the station, looking for excuses anywhere it seems."

Zaeed shook his head, "Probably all kinds of shit going on like that, anyone looking to get ahead while shit is hittin' the fan. Seen it before."

Shepard nodded as they passed the first group of sentries. The two powered on, not finding hostiles so much as random people running or hiding. They didn't interact with anyone until they found an injured Batarian.

Shepard ignored his ranting, threw him an application of Medi-Gel, and kept moving. No time to waste talking.

They came upon the apartment Kasumi had marked and in they went.

A group of three Batarians was holding a human couple hostage while waving a gun threateningly.

"Uh boss, we got incoming," One of the lackeys said.

The one with the gun turned at the fully armed and armored individuals and immediately knew the situation had changed.

"Here's the deal," Shepard began, "You drop your guns and get out, or die. There is no in-between."

The thugs looked at each other, "How do we know you will keep your word, humans are all over causing hell..."

Shepard shrugged, "That is your only chance at survival, my word."

Zaeed nodded, "We have assault rifles, you have pistols. We have armor...you don't. It's that simple really."

The Batarian knew he was cornered but truly didn't have any options if he wanted to live, "F-fine...we will go. Just keep your word that you won't kill us!"

"Get out, now."

The group ran, gruns clacking as they were dropped to the floor.

The human couple breathed in relief.

"Either lock your door or follow at a distance. I don't know what is best, but at least if you follow, we are the ones drawing the fire."

The man nodded, "T-thank you, sir, we will follow after a bit."

Shepard turned and left as Kasumi joined the them.

---

"The clinic is up here, I will scout ahead. Word is, the Vorcha are messing with the air systems," Kasumi said.

Zaeed grunted.

"They are planning to take all the air?" Shepard asked.

Kasumi shrugged, "I just heard they were in the Environmental Controls...that means air. See you soon."

She vanished as her active camouflage systems took over.

Shepard turned to Zaeed who nodded and off they went.

Around a few corners and down a long flight of stairs, they found the signs for the clinic.

Battle mechs, nothing they couldn't handle, but the mechs scanned them all the same.

"Don't do anything stupid or the mechs take you down." A lab tech in white said.

"We don't mean any harm, just looking for the doctor and we will be on our way," Shepard said, command filling his voice.

The guard looked skeptical but still nodded and opened the door.

A medium-sized clinic filled with pained Batarians and Turians overflowed into the hallways. Any surface outside of a pathway to navigate the halls was used for patients.

Shepard's brow furrowed and he put on his blinders. Mission first. Hundreds of thousands of colonists are disappearing...now isn't the time.

He swept through the halls with a purpose and found the voice he had heard on the dossier of Dr. Solus.

The speed at which the words flowed from his mouth kept his assistants running around trying to keep up. He delegated instructions, analyzed a few different information packets on his Omnitool, and broadcasted prescriptions for several patients on screens in front of him.

All within a few seconds.

"Mordin Solus?"

"Hmm? Two men, heavily armored, not wearing Blue Sun's regalia, weapons stowed. Non-hostile intentions, both human, strange armor that resembles the advanced armor that the New Terrans have brought with their warp. Conclusion...hmm maybe, I must ask, are you a Guardian?"

Shepard turned his helmeted head to Zaeed with a shrug. He mimicked the hand maneuver that Rico had used to summon his ghost.

"I guess I am now..." Shepard said as Aurora transmatted his helmet into his inventory as she appeared.

Mordin's wide eyes went wider and he lifted his Omnitool to get scans.

"I am Commander Shepard, Spectre, and now also Guardian. I need your help."

"Commander Shepard, missing for two years, thought killed in action-"

Aurora stopped his open thoughts, "Doctor, we have important things to discuss and how we are here can be left for another time."

"She's right, we need your help Doc. Thousands of colonists are being stolen from our border colonies, with no sign or clues left behind. We found footage on a colony called Freedom's Progress, all humans taken and not a single sign of struggle. Like they all got up a left."

"The race known as the Collectors," Aurora projected a holographic video that she received from EDI on their quick stop on the Normandy. "Release these swarming bugs and the stings freeze everyone in place before they are loaded up in these pods and taken away. They have no way of defending themselves from them."

Mordin watched the whole thing as Collectors followed their namesake and captured all of the frozen humans. The disturbing scene of humans being carried away by distorted enemies was the last thing to play before Aurora cut the feed.

Mordin's gaze continued off into space as his mind turned over, he ran through hundreds of scenarios at speeds that only AIs, Ghosts, and Salarians could think at.

"Doctor," Shepard said again, "What will it take to get you on board?"

"Onboard? I-no, wait. I cannot do that right now! I must fix the plague here, the cure just needs to be spread. But something happened, I lost contact with my assistant who was only supposed to input the cure into the Environmental Control Center. It has been an hour and it should have started, but he never showed..."

Zaeed shook his head, "Vorcha..."

Shepard nodded back at Zaeed, "Yeah, I think we might have a lead on that already. So, if we help get this assistant of yours to finish his job, then you are with us?"

"I will be finished with my work here...a new challenge will be welcome."

---

Shepard and Zaeed rolled out, meeting up with Kasumi outside of another stickup. A few more Batarians were holding the Assistant to Mordin, along with an injection sample of the Cure, ready to be atomized.

There was no hesitation as Shepard and Zaeed breached the door. Shepard fired A Sudden Death twice, the white shotgun bringing its namesake to three Batarians. Zaeed fired two bursts from his Vindicator, dropping two other Batarians.

The shivering man in a white coat screamed as he hit the ground, untouched by all projectiles besides blood.

"Aaahhh! OH my...you killed them...oh god...You killed them," The man wailed.

Shepard wasn't listening, "You have the cure?"

His voice came deeper and more intimidating through his Titan armor. The assistant shrunk further back as Zaeed put another burst into a still-moving thug.

"The Cure!" Shepard yelled.

The man took a cylinder from within his lab coat and held it out. Shepard grabbed it and said, "Get back to the lab, Mordin is expecting you."

The man just shook in fear until Shepard pulled him to his feat.

"Let's go, the sooner we can get this handled the better," Zaeed said.

Shepard nodded and they took off.

Reaching the Environmental Control Center, Shepard made contact with Kasumi once again, "I am in here, it's full of Vorcha trying to sabotage this place...they have no idea what they are doing."

"Alright, we are just outside, how many are there?"

The sound of massive fans shutting down as power was cut off echoed through the hallways.

"Shit they must have hit the right button by accident, they have thirty or so...mostly Vorcha, a few Krogan," Kasumi reported from cover. "And rocket launchers..."

Shepard's intimidating helmet seemed to make eye contact with Zaeed who sort of shrugged with his head, as if saying, "Well we gotta do this."

Before he rolled out of cover, Aurora spoke up in his mind, "John, you are full of Light right now."

"Is that why I'm shaking with energy?"

"Exactly, you currently are holding the most Light you can right now. Anything else you try to absorb will not join your pool."

"What does that mean?" He held a hand out to Zaeed, the 'hold' command.

His conversation was all telepathic between Guardian and Ghost. A language that no one besides the two bonded beings could ever understand.

"You can feel it now, waiting to burst. As soon as you go out there, just let your instincts and power take control. There is no speaking with them, they are currently trying to wipe the station."

Shepard felt tension release, not that he relaxed, but that he was prepared, "I am going out there to finish this. Wait until I engage, then take out the extras, copy?"

Zaeed studied his armored form then nodded once, "Copy."

"Waiting on you, Shep," Kasumi replied from somewhere.

He stepped out of cover in a full sprint, reaching speeds that eclipsed any non-Guardian. In three strides he had crossed an obscene amount of space, reaching his maximum speed. Squads of Vorcha launched rockets and Mass Effect weaponry at him from all angles. The small projectiles going at obscene speed were stopped instantly with the Light-infused armor.

The rockets were too slow and he just ran past them.

Three Krogan answered his challenge and charged right back at him, but he didn't stop.

This is what an N7 has trained for. A Commander has died for. A Guardian has been reborn for.

This is combat, where he is Titan.

He flashed forward in a purple flash of Void Light. His fist crashed through the first Krogan's helmet, its metal disintegrating as it exploded. The Krogan exploded backward in a shower of purple sparks as he ceased to exist.

Shepard spun through the purple light and shoved his left hand forward, the other two Krogan nearly 7 meters behind the first. An impassible wall of purple light sprung into existence as the Krogan both ran helmet first into it.

The left one stumbled back while the right one fell on his face.

It tried to get up but was met with A Sudden Death. A single shell sent the Krogan to whatever god it believed in.

The other one tried to roll out of the way, but two more blasts from his shotgun and the thug stopped moving.

Shepard stood tall while hoards of rockets, tech blasts, and Mass Effect bullets bounced harmlessly off his shields and armor.

"Shit Shep, there are more coming, from both sides!" Kasumi said, still undercover.

"Just wait."

Aurora spoke in his mind, "Do you feel it? Just wait for your enemies to get closer so it can be released."

He didn't respond, but the Ghost felt his attention focus on the Light that coursed through him, all the acknowledgment she needed.

Aurora updated his mini-map with all of the signatures, she zoomed out a bit showing up to 100 meters out.

There were two side wings that a bunch of other Vorcha, Krogan, and their Varren pets came running from. Not to mention the dozen Vorcha with flamethrowers, another 10 with rockets, and close to 30 with rifles.

There was a funnel point about 50 meters forward, where the two side areas met up with the central walkway. The main group of enemies was already pushing forward while he took out the first few Krogan.

Shepard tossed a grenade as far as he could, arcing it behind some stragglers. They pushed forward as the Void Grenade pulled and tore things apart. One Vorcha who was having a bad day was torn into pieces after he was pulled into the grenade.

The Titan Wall had a few hits left, the Mass Effect weapons not doing as much damage as the rockets.

It was time to go and he dodged forward into another intense sprint. Three explosive conversations from his shotgun and the closest thugs were down. Light-empowered weapons are the real deal.

"Activate it now Shep!" Aurora yelled in his mind.

"Alright!" He exploded with Void Light as he launched into the air nearly 25 meters. The funnel point had one barrier, some sort of metal that acted as a vehicle barricade.

It didn't matter what it was, it had no chance against the power of Void Light.

Shepard crashed down with the force of a meteor. A shockwave of Void Light blasted outwards in a 30-meter radius, everything that was touched was lifted, now tethered to the same type of Light that formed a sphere around him. The tethers seemed to be attached to his hands with his will, he made an 'X' with his arms and screamed as he pulled downwards.

Nearly 65 enemies were pulled as if dropped from a great height, their immediate speed was enough to kill half of them. But that wasn't the scary part.

When every one of the bodies, armor, and weapons was pulled into a single spot above his hands. Everything he pulled was destroyed.

"Holy shit," Zaeed said, standing with his rifle held at his side.

"Yeah, I guess Shepard has it..." Kasumi replied.

The rest of the thugs were wiped out in seconds, A Sudden Death living up to its name.

They reset the Environmental Controls, added the Cure, and cycled the fans. Everything was taken care of and Mordin walked with them back to the Normandy.

---

Fireteam Starfall had found enough room in the hangar for The Guardian and her Ghost to set down their M3-D1 Valkyrie. The bay doors weren't wide enough to let the ship fly out, but using the Ghost and Transmat technology made it easy to just put it down.

Rico had Sam take most of his armor off, putting on the soft robes that the girls bought him. He could feel the fabric as it rested on his frame. "When the last Ghost finds its target...do we stay with Shep? On this suicide mission?"

Kessa and Kira were dancing to the soft music that was playing, smiles on their faces. They stopped when Rico stood from the chair he liked to sit on so often. It was just an extra seat that he had Sam and Ghost bolt down for him.

It was also his thinking chair, and as he watched his ghost interact with the three others, Adam, Ghost, and the unnamed and un-tethered fresh Ghost, he couldn't help but wonder what the future had in store.

Kessa had stopped dancing and walked over to sit on his lap, "What is this? Our fearless number 77, worried about the future? Can you believe this, Kira?"

Kira was in her Light empowered underwear and she floated over with the power of her light, a smile on her face as she shook her head.

Rico shook his head, Kessa always did this to him, and he loved it, "Of course, I am worried about our future. If what Shepard said is true...hundreds of thousands of humans have been taken..."

"Well of course we are going to stay with Shepard. If anything we will at least find some good fights...eh Kira?"

The Guardian smirked and flexed her right arm, ready to fight.

Rico laughed, "Then it is settled. We are with Shepard and whatever Guardians are reborn with him. Kessa, did you have any ideas for a good weapon for Garrus?"

"Hmmm, he's an Arc Hunter?"

"As close to that as he can be, first Turian Guardian and all."

She nodded, "Hmmm, Cloudstrike maybe? Or no, what about Albruna-D, Legendary Arc weapon with Arrowhead Brake, Triple Tap, and Appended Mag?"

"I mean...that sounds good, do you have one?"

"Hmm, Adam!"

Her Ghost silently floated over and formed the beautiful Rifle out of Light.

"Can we paint it blue?"

Adam sighed much louder than a being with no lungs should be able to and the weapon flashed in light again. Its frame turned into a deep metallic blue with black accents. The gun had a rather solid body that flowed from the extended barrel back into the stock, with a simple yet powerful digital scope on it.

The Guardian's Ghost floated over and made another weapon appear, this time in Kira's hands.

Ghost spoke up, "She was thinking this Hand Cannon, The Finite Impactor with an Adaptive Frame..." He was cut off by Kira doing the 'let's go' hand motion and the Ghost made a coughing sound to break his sentence, "Ahem, I mean I took the liberty of painting it blue?"

Kira smiled and nodded, holding up the hand cannon. The top part of the frame was blue, with black underneath it. The grip, magazine, guard, and underside of the pistol were white. The three colors matched Garrus's color scheme perfectly, but the pistol was just a solid addition regardless.

"Do we want to get him a third weapon? Maybe a bow?" Kessa asked.

"Nah, he's been using two weapons for a while, we can find him an assault rifle or something when we get back to New Terra," Rico said.

Kira nodded. She then spun away and floated into the air as she did some kind of dance, her body moving with the beat that played in the background, her glowing eyes looking back at the rest of her family with invitation.

Kessa laughed and jumped up to join in, pulling Rico in. Say what you will about them, but Guardians loved to dance.

---

"So you're saying that we should go to this party in two days? Why don't we just smash and grab whatever you need?" Shepard asked.

Kasumi snorted, "You would, but no. I need you in a suit in two days. It's in a nearby system so we can just take a bit of time to get there. We do this and I am good for whatever mission we need, this is my payment though...the only reason I agreed to come."

"I get it, we will go. Joker..."

"Yeah, you got it, boss. We drop you two off at a party and the rest of us will just stay up here, you know... in space," Joker said. "Not at the party."

Shepard sighed and left it at that.

---

"Come in," Miranda's elegant voice said through the speaker.

Shepard pressed the door hologram and it quickly opened.

As he walked in he got a fading glimpse of emotion on the usually controlled woman. Frustration, maybe tired resolve. Whatever it was, it was gone before they made eye contact, hidden behind her professional mask.

"Commander," She nodded.

"Miranda, I have been meaning to speak with you, but we have been going non-stop since...Well since I woke up."

She closed something out on her computer and wheeled her chair back, focusing her full attention on him. Her dark eyes constantly seemed to be analyzing every word, checking it for any angle the conversation could head.

He sighed and gathered his thoughts, "I can't imagine the dedication and time you have put into saving me. At this point, I would be surprised if I knew more about me than you do."

She raised an eyebrow with a slight exhalation of amusement, "Accurate."

"Look, what happened, with me becoming a Guardian, it doesn't take away from what you did. I would be a fucking corpse somewhere, only a helmet to remember me by. Aurora saved me, sure. But, you put years of your life away to save me, a man you never met." Shepard shook his head. "I just want to say thank you, and I don't know if anything I say matters at this point, but I owe you. Anything you need, Miranda...I have you back. No questions asked. Got it?"

She stared at him face impassive, but her eyes, the windows to her soul, were vibrant with emotion. She blinked a few times, processing the offer, "Th-thank you, Shepard..." Her voice broke, "I have been worried I have wasted my life on a dream that didn't even matter."

She paused, looking down at her hands, "I am surprisingly relieved at your words...and if I do need anything, I will let you know."

He nodded, "Can I talk with you a bit more? I want to learn more about this crazy Cerberus Agent who so willingly 'wasted her life.'" he said the last part with audible quotations.

Miranda laughed lightly, "Well, what would you like to know?"

"You, your life, how you came to be a Cerberus Agent, pick a spot and let me know," Shepard said.

Miranda thought for a moment, "Alright, that's fair I suppose. I spent the last two years learning everything there is to know about you. Well, you should probably know that I've had extensive genetic modification. Not my decision, but I make the most of it." she stood and walked over to the window, "It's one of the reasons the Illusive Man hand-picked me, the whole bettering Humanity thing. Not to mention I am usually very good at just about anything I choose to do."

Shepard laughed, "I can see that. You brought me back from the dead after all."

"I did," Miranda agreed. "And that is part of why I am where I am. Not many people are as qualified as I am, and that is not by accident. Everything that I am is to give me an edge in life, it's why I am trusted with projects like the Lazarus Project and more."

Shepard nodded, "I am lucky to have you as my XO."

"Lucky to be alive, even luckier that it was me," She challenged back with a smirk.

"I guess I am, so how did you end up with Cerberus? I mean, this whole crew seems to be on board with the save humanity thing...it just hasn't felt like that has been Cerberus's goal from the start."

"I suppose you have earned the right to know, but just remember that Cerberus has given you a second chance, perhaps you can give us one as well?" She asked rhetorically. "Well, I told you that I was genetically modified, but that is sort of an understatement."

"Understatement? You are a machine or something?"

"No, I mean that I was designed, created even, by my father. He's a very influential man, and extremely controlling. He didn't want a daughter - he wanted a dynasty. I ran away as soon as I was old and brave enough. I went to Cerberus because I knew they could protect me. With my father, it was more than just running away... he would always continue to pursue his... investments."

She leaned against the wall with a distant look in her eyes as she finished speaking.

"And Cerberus approves of your enhancements of course," Shepard led.

"Of course. Cerberus fully endorses anything that advances the cause of humanity... genetic alterations included. But unlike my father and his selfish reasons, Cerberus and the Illusive Man believe in a greater good."

"The greater good, huh?"

"Well, isn't that what we are doing, helping humanity as a whole? You saw it yourself, colonies are disappearing. The Council, and more importantly the Alliance," She paused and eyed Shepard, "And neither have..."

"The Guardians, to be fair though, I have no idea what they are doing...or anything about them outside of the brief words Aurora and Rico have told me. I plan to go meet with them after I talk with Garrus. Do you know where they are held up? I forgot to ask Kelly."

Miranda sighed, "They did their Transmatt technology thing, and warped a huge dropship in the cargo bay...of course it can't fit through the doors so I guess they will just pick it up."

Shepard shook his head, "Alright...well, anyways. I came by to thank you, and I want to say again that anything you need, let me know."

"Thank you, Shepard."

He nodded and walked out.

---

Shepard made his way into the Main Battery Room, the doors opening as he approached.

Garrus had his Omnitool active as he tinkered with things that only a Turian would enjoy.

"Shepard," Garrus said.

His Ghost, Zorah, came flying back from the depths of the room, the large main battery taking most of the space.

"Gree-tings Commander, this cannon is quite impressive, though there is room for improve-ment. I recom-mend going to the Tower's Shipyards for upgrades," Zorah said in her distorted voice.

"I was going to talk to the rest of the Guardians after I spoke with you two. I'll bring it up then," Shepard said.

Garrus continued working on whatever calibration offended him but spoke all the same, "I feel...strange, Shep. Powerful."

"I know what you mean. Just wait till you find out about your Super..."

Garrus looked at him with the best aghast face he could manage.

Shepard laughed, "Hey, I didn't come up with the name...just found mine on that last mission too."

"Flaming wings for you as well? Or is that just 'The Guardian'?" Garrus asked.

"What have you heard?"

"She's some kind of hero, the things Zorah has told me...She reminds me of you. Jumping headfirst, smashing through anything that dares stand before him."

Shepard laughed, "Tell that to the Collectors."

"Oh, I plan on it, as long as you are there as well."

"You know I'll be there."

Silence for a few beats, Garrus finished his calibrations.

"You know," Garrus began, putting the odd tool he was using into a bag he had with him. "When you died, I was ready to go on a tear. It was the start of me seeing just how held back we all are... how much shitty politics gets in the way of saving people. Then I went out and found myself a crew, a purpose. When I was trapped in that shitty tower, mercs all around me, I knew I was going to die."

Shepard let him talk.

"Then you show up to save the day. Back from the dead like some savior. I couldn't believe it... Then I met my own fate. The light at the end of the tunnel."

He laughed and shook his head, broken armor rattling, "But then again, you brought the people who saved me. You brought this other piece of me back..." He gestured to Zorah. "I have a second chance to right things, to say things I wouldn't have been able to."

Shepard nodded, "I know the feeling."

Garrus laughed helplessly, "I guess you do. It was less than a minute for me, but 2 years...that is something else."

Shepard shrugged, "It was different than when I woke up, it wasn't from a rebirth of Light...but I was brought back from Cerberus and Miranda's ministrations. I wouldn't have survived without it, I know that. But I didn't FEEL alive until Aurora brought me back."

They settled into silence again, the points being made, resonating even.

"I should feel free, unburdened even. But I only sense a feeling of urgency, like no matter what happens, I will never have enough time," He made eye contact with his Turian companion, "I know I can't save everyone, but it feels like I am fighting for something beyond that, like the soul of all of us. Our galaxy."

"Well, better you than me. I got your back though, no matter what."

"I wouldn't have it any other way."

---

Shepard walked into the shuttle bay and saw the strange-looking... spaceship. It looked like it should function like drones did back before Mass Effect technology. They would have bladed turbines and such to keep them aloft. This ship had three rings, two on the wings and one between the tails.

The interesting part was that there were no blades within the rings. It had a stubby front cockpit with a large cargo compartment underneath it like a bird was holding a box to it's chest.

The paint job was weird as well, it had a black surface with moving white lines in a strange pattern. Red highlights framed the strange moving surface, while other parts were a darker black, almost absent of light entirely.

"So, uh, do I knock?"

Aurora appeared, "I just sent them a message- Oh they said hold on-"

Shepard was surrounded by white Light and he almost stumbled as he found himself standing inside their ship.

The first thing he noticed was the only lighting was purple reflections from hidden sources, so there wasn't any direct light. It came from unseen slits in the walls, floor, behind the benches, and around the massive cylinder that took up most of the room.

The second thing he noticed was the two Awoken females in their underwear who had just stopped dancing. One had a huge smile on her face and the most beautiful person he had ever seen was currently looking at him with shock on her face.

Her dark hair seemed to gleam like the night sky, but her eyes were only matched by the glowing light that trailed all along her skin. She nearly had an aura of light tracing every delicate curve and toned muscle.

As soon as she realized that someone else was here, intricate armored robes formed around her and she threw a punch at the other Awoken. This one Shepard recognized as Kessa.

Kessa rolled backward but wasn't quite fast enough to dodge the whole strike, the glancing blow sent her flying out of sight behind the massive cylinder.

Another flash of white light and Rico's armored form appeared in front of Shepard. He was surprised at how fast this was happening when two intimidating swords appeared in The Guardian's hands.

"Oh shit! Kessa! What did you do?" Rico yelled.

"Ugh," came the reply from around the corner.

Waves of power and energy began to flow from the Guardian, her form beginning to ignite.

"Shepard, RUN!" Rico said.

"What the fu-" He was cut off as the room was immediately covered in fire.

Aurora seemed to predict the Guardian's outburst as she also equipped Shepard's Moonfang-X7 armor.

Rico yelled, "SAM, GET US ALL OUT OF HERE?"

"Even-"

"YES ALSO HER!"

With another flash of Light, Shepard breathed deeply to get used to the constant teleportations, and they were back in the Cargo Bay.

Kessa stood as her armor also formed and she shook herself, "Oh shit! I'm sorry, okay?"

"You let him see her without her helmet?" Rico asked.

"I-" Kessa started, but the Guardian's massive flame wings flapped once and she was hovering about halfway up to the ceiling.

Shepard looked right and saw a mechanic staring at the flying Guardian with a slack-jawed expression.

"HEY!" Shepard yelled, the man flinched and dropped his wrench. "Get outta here!"

"Y-yes sir!" He ran as if his life depended on it.

The conversation had gone silent between the Fireteam, but the body language was easy to read.

Her eyeless gaze, the emotionless mask of a Goddess looked down at her prey with no sympathy. Kessa held he hands up, a pleading gesture, forgiveness would be her only survival.

Rico stood strong, he created his Titan Shield, Shepard noticed. It was stronger than his, and it looked different too, an entire bubble surrounding both him and Kessa.

The angel of death held her sword casually, but the right one, a sword Aurora recognized as Goldtusk, ignited in the same solar flames as her wings. The Guardian slashed twice before Shepard had enough.

He launched himself at her, Void fists raised and ready to strike her down. But it didn't matter.

The Guardian's left hand was suddenly empty of a sword and the palm lightly pushed forward at him.

It felt like a train or an avalanche of power crashing down on him. The delicate and regal dismissal of his presence was disheartening, but the truth was revealed as he was sent flying across the chamber.

He tumbled and rolled into a support column, then immediately rolled forward again and was back on his feat.

"Holy shit," Shepard said behind his helmet.

"Yeah, she's the Guardian for a reason," Aurora said.

"You alright Shep?" Rico's voice came in.

"Yeah, no problem."

"Don't worry, she won't break anything, just needs to let out a little anger," Rico said.

The Guardian slashed her sword 6 times and stopped as Rico's shield shattered. He tanked the end of the last blast as the Guardian seemed to calm down and land.

Shepard thought that this fight might be a huge problem, but was honestly shocked as Kessa sprinted over and hugged the Guardian.

"I don't get it," Shepard said.

"One little fight won't break up Fireteams, they have been through too much to let that happen," Aurora said.

Shepard thought of Garrus, probably the closest thing he had to a best friend. He felt right in wanting Garrus in his Fireteam, but it also didn't feel permanent. Like, Garrus will one day control his own squad.

Shepard frowned to himself at the odd thought but focused on Fireteam Starfall.

Rico was breathing heavily, his shoulders rising and falling with the stress of trying to calm someone with The Guardian's power level.

Kessa was shaking as well, but they matched the cadence of a relieved sob, she held onto the Guardian like stable ground.

The Guardian seemed to sigh with each breath as she relaxed into the hug.

Shepard got the vibe that there was more to seeing the Guardian in her underwear and as he had that thought process Aurora spoke up, "It's not uncommon for Silent Guardians to also hide themselves. She must be like that as well... She is beautiful though, no?"

He shook his head, "Yeah that was...she is terrifying."

Aurora laughed, "I am amazed that Rico can keep up with them, Kessa the prankster, and The Guardian herself. An amazing Fireteam indeed."

He exhaled with amusement at that, "True enough...I wonder if we can actually speak now."

It only took another 10 minutes before Fireteam Starfall invited Shepard back onto their ship.

"Yeah, sorry about that, welcome to our home!" Rico said.

His ghost popped up, "Yeah, and believe it or not, this isn't the first time it has caught on fire!"

Rico's ghost had a happy persona and Shepard got the sense that Aurora 'liked her energy' but he wasn't sure what that meant.

"I can imagine... I will remember to wear armor next time I come through," Shepard said with a laugh.

Kessa ignited some incense that smelled like rain on concrete. It drew flashes of memories he had thought lost. As if they no longer played a part in his everyday processing.

"Well, how did that mission go? You found the doctor?" Rico asked.

"Ahem, yeah, Dr. Mordin Solis, a crazy genius Salarian. He will hopefully find a way to neutralize the insects that paralyze everything. He's in the lab working away now."

The Guardian's Ghost appeared, "That is curious, I would like to stop by there and see what we can learn. Those collectors are ugly enough to be like the Hive. Either way, maybe some sort of insight we have might be of assistance."

"That would be great, he's up in the lab on the CIC deck..." He paused as if there was more that he wanted to say.

Kessa broke the silence, "So did you Super yet?"

Aurora spoke for him, "He certainly did!"

"Show us!" Sam and Kessa said together.

"Of course!" Aurora projected a sphere of an image somehow, fitting it perfectly in the center of the small cargo room of their ship.

It showed Shepard running in as if taken from a third-person vantage, "How did you get this angle?"

"Part of when I am intangible, I can view anywhere your aura or light touches...it is a part of you and so am I," Aurora explained.

Everyone smiled at that, knowing the connection between Ghost and Guardian is sacred.

"Oh, Void Thundercrash maybe?" Kessa asked, seeing Shepard launch into the air.

He smashed down and a nova of power exploded out from him, everything that was hit was lifted and tethered. Shepard then pulled on the strings with the force of a Guardian. All of the enemies, nearly 40 of them, were pulled inward and dissolved by Void Light as they hit his shield.

"Whoa," Kessa said.

"Damn, now that is a Super!" Rico said.

The Guardian turned and eyed Shepard, he felt the weight of her gaze and looked at her, even with her full armor still on.

She nodded once then looked at her Ghost.

"The Guardian suggests the name 'Void Eater' for your Super," Ghost said.

"Not bad! I was thinking 'Black Hole', or what was it that those Biotics use? Singularity? What about 'Epic Singularity!'" Kessa said excitedly.

Sam spoke up, "I like The Guardians idea better!"

Adam appeared Kessa's quiet Ghost that rarely spoke, "Kessa's Idea!"

Rico laughed at that, "I like Void Eater."

"Void Eater for me as well," Aurora said meekly. Shepard swelled with strange emotions as Aurora let pride for his abilities show through the bond. It was a strange feeling.

"Chains of the Void Titan," Rico said definitively.

"Eh, too dramatic," Kessa said, "They weren't even chains."

"What about Nova? Uh, Void Nova or something?" Shepard asked.

Everyone shook their heads and The Guardian began to gather Solar Light in her hand.

Shepard spoke up, "Uh, sorry! It can be something else!"

The Guardian nodded once and released the energy.

"I thought she was a Dawnblade?" He asked Aurora over their telepathic link.

"She is also capable of using Void Light in the form of Nova Bombs... it's what she killed the Dominus Ghaul with, a massive explosion of Void Light," She replied.

"Right...Well, Void Eater is fine for now...we can brainstorm it another time."

The committee agreed and Shepard moved forward, "Right, well, you said something about going to this second Earth...New Terra?"

Rico nodded, "You will want to meet Zavala, and we can grab some actual armor for the Archangel."

Shepard snorted at Garrus's nickname, "Good, his last bit is falling apart."

"It wouldn't hold up at all if deployed at Guardian level. We will also show you guys to the Crucible...it will be...enlightening," Rico explained.

Kessa laughed, "Enlightening is an easy way of putting it. It's a fucking blood bath and only a few sick civies can stomach watching all the death."

"Death?"

"We are Guardians... The Crucible is a trail of all our abilities, hoping to reforge us into stronger warriors. It is to the death," Rico explained again.

Shepard's eyes widened, "And that is because we can't die?"

"Oh, we can die. It is beyond something sad or terrifying, it's a tactic. That is the cost of becoming a Guardian after all," Kessa said with a sad smile.

"That's crazy...you just kill each other, over and over again?" Shepard said, verging on disgust.

"Don't get us wrong, Kessa has a way of changing the feel of the same meaning sometimes," Rico began. "We only fight to the death when there is something to gain, some way to get better or stronger."

Rico stopped Kessa's reply with a look, "We don't do it as a joke or for fun, and I don't allow that from other Guardians around me..."

Shepard looked at their body language again, this is something this Fireteam has fought over. Even the Guardian wasn't giving her full attention, as if it would be implicating to do so.

"I don't like it, either way. I know Garrus won't either. But I understand that we come from different places and cultures...regardless of where we come from though, we are headed in the same direction."

This drew everyone's attention.

"I just know there is more to this Collector threat...the Reapers are real and they are coming. The Collectors are only their guard dogs," Shepard said.

The Fireteam exchanged looks, and Shepard cataloged it as recognition. They heard something about this.

"What do you know?"

Rico shifted, "Sam?"

"We came into this dimension a short while after your incident where the first Normandy was destroyed. It wasn't hidden knowledge and our perusing of the Extranet had full accounts of the 'Geth' attack, as they sold it," Sam said in her upbeat voice but she looked over to the Guardian and her Ghost spawned as well.

"It was easy to get footage of the attack on the Citadel, the Council's Place of power. It was the first thing we did as we entered the Citadel, access recent events. The massive attack was visible all over the station," Ghost said. He projected an image of the Reaper known as Sovereign as it tried to activate something within the Citadel.

Shepard nodded, the events flashing before his eyes as if it was yesterday.

The Ghosts continued the explanation of everything they knew and Shepard wasn't surprised. "I think we understand each other then, regardless of what the official word is, we know the threat behind the Collector's is the Reapers. Taking the Collector's down is just the first step."

---

Kasumi was reassuring Shepard that everything would be fine, "Just keep it casual and talk about evil stuff or something, it will be just fine."

"I am less reassured than before."

"It's alright, Mr. Gunn, just don't talk business with him."

"What kind of man am I dealing with?" Shepard asked, the Skycars' engine providing a comforting ambiance.

"Hock's a weapons dealer and smuggler. He killed my partner and stole his Graybox. Other than that, he's not so bad. Rich, charismatic, willing to crack open a man's skull to get at the neural implants inside."

Shepard finally asked what the plan was.

Kasumi laid it out simply, sneak the statue in, attend the party, sneak to the vault, and steal Keiji's Graybox.

Keiji was more than her partner, he was her lover and other half. The Graybox was all that remained of him, containing memories and dangerous information.

Shepard could store his armor in an engram that is held onto by Aurora. The statue was empty as it slid up to the loading bay.

They infiltrated the party, unlocked the vault door, and made it in.

What they weren't expecting, was to have to fight their way out.

"Is that it? The Graybox?"

"This is it! I got it! Let's get out of here!"

Shepard unleashed his full might, this time against fellow humans instead of Vorcha. He had killed humans before and these were scumbags, no that wasn't the problem.

The problem was how easy it was. He virtually ignored their attacks, mass-affected grains of sand not being nearly strong enough to break through Light-infused Titan armor. He focused though, as he was protecting Kasumi while he-

His thought process was cut off as Kasumi appeared from invisibility and smashed an enemy's head before turning and ending another with a burst of her new Locust SMG.

They fought their way out and finally faced off with Donovan Hock, who was currently piloting a Gunship.

His mind went to the last time he faced a Gunship...it killed Garrus.

"Nope, this isn't happening like that..." He pulled his grenade launcher out. The Witherhoard appeared in his hands.

"Cover me, Shep!"

"Watch this," Shepard said. He launched the first grenade at the gunship. The impact was green and strange energy flowed around it like giant worms burrowing through. Each spot that was hit was drastically damaged and it landed on the left wing.

Immediately the wing began to spin the Gunship, grenades 2 and 3 however, were enough to bring it down.

The gunship spun and flew off into the valley as it crashed. It rolled for a few hundred meters.

Shepard reloaded and turned his ministrations to the rest of Hock's forces.

---

Kasumi and Shepard returned to the Normandy via Cargo Bay.

They were met with three Guardians and four Ghosts.

Shepard looked up curiously, "Can we help you, Starfall?"

"Our last little Light here has detected something he's been looking for..." Rico said. The extra Ghost, one that had been with them from the start flew forward at the landed shuttle.

Kasumi's eyes widened, "You couldn't mean..."

"Maybe show them the box?" Shepard suggested.

She had it in her hands, held close to her chest, "Are you sure?"

Shepard nodded, but let her decide.

She held the Graybox like the lifeline that it was to her. She looked up at the strange floating...thing. It had a central eye that looked at her curiously, the gunmetal gray body with angular geometric features almost produced its own form of body language.

Kasumi nodded and held it out, "Alright, can you save him?"

The Ghost floated forward and scanned the Graybox.

It seemed to scan the box in her hand for an extended period, long enough that people looked around at each other as if waiting for something to happen.

The Ghost finished by transmatting the Graybox into it's storage then Light gathered for another few seconds.

"What is happening!?" Kasumi asked, her heart dropping at no longer having the item.

The un-tethered Ghost aimed a beam of light at an open spot and slowly a form began to take shape.

Kasumi was in tears before it even came close to finishing.

Keiji Okuda was born again.

He came to staggering a bit as he drew breath for the first time in this new life. He had simple clothing on, a loose hoody, and baggy pants with simple slip-on shoes. Something many new Guardians wear when out of armor.

Kasumi wasted no time, "Keiji!" She slammed into his Light-forged new body and gasped at how sturdy he felt. She would never forget his embrace, and it had changed.

"Kasumi? KASUMI! OH god! How is this possible?" He kissed her and hugged her, tears shared by both.

"I don't know," She said.

Shepard turned away from the scene and looked to Fireteam Starfall as Kasumi and Keiji reunited.

Their expressions made him frown in confusion. He would have thought this of all things, would bring them to smiles. They had almost cheered when Garrus and He became Guardians.

Rico noticed his stare and motioned for him to come closer.

"What's going on?" Shepard asked him.

"The burden has shifted."

"Go on."

"Kasumi had the burden of guilt and loss while he moved on...be Guardians are damn near immortal...If he doesn't die in combat, he will outlive her, having to deal with her death," Rico said.

"We are lucky that all of this new batch of Guardians so far has been able to retain their memories...many of us older Guardians aren't so lucky," Kessa said.

The Guardian nodded, the only one wearing her helmet.

Shepard stared at the loving couple and sighed, just another thing to add to the mountain on his shoulders. Another name to save.

---

"Commander, Zaeed Masani is requesting to speak with you, would you like me to let him in?" EDI said through the speaker by the door.

He stood from the couch where he was reading reports on New Terra. There is a whole movement for unity there, something that the Citadel Council doesn't light, but individual races are supporting. Especially the so-called 'client' races of the Citadel. Just an easy way to remove rights from people.

"Let him in EDI, thank you," Shepard said.

Zaeed walked in, armor on, but cleaned.

"Shepard, I got the word. The bastard I need to take down is ready to go, stuck in some backwater world. Shouldn't take too long to get there...are you ready?"

"I am, we go in, take this guy down, and then we are out. Is that it?"

"That's it."

"Alright then, need anything else?"

Zaeed shook his head but took a good look at Shepard, "You ready for this goddamn suicide mission or what?"

Shepard snorted, "Not yet."

"Right, let's get this done," Zaeed said. They both got in the elevator but Shepard went down to the Cargo bay.

Shepard found Rico and began discussing a plan for Fireteam Starfall.

Shepard and Zaeed would take the Normandy for Zaeed's mission in the Ismar Frontier, but drop Fireteam Starfall and their ship in the Hourglass Nebula.

The Guardian's ship was equipped with FTL drives and it would only take a couple of days to get to Purgatory, the maximum security prison that holds a powerful Biotic named Jack.

Shepard's mission would wrap up quicker, the Normandy SR2 being much faster, and would meet them at the Mass Effect Relay in the Hourglass Nebula.

Rico liked the idea and his Fireteam agreed.

Keiji and Kasumi had finally run off to their quarters from the Cargo Bay.

Shepard gave them 2 hours to do whatever they wanted, then had EDI contact them letting them know he was on his way.

Keiji and Kasumi were sitting on the couch by the bar, drinks on the table.

"Commander!" Kasumi said excitedly. "Come in! I didn't get to introduce you to my partner, Keiji. Keiji, this is Commander Shep-"

"Trust me, I know who he is. Commander, an honor to meet you. Thank you for having us on your ship."

Shepard nodded, "Of course, have you talked to your Ghost yet?"

He nodded over to the bar where a Ghost was inspecting a tablet, a beam of light scanning it thoroughly, "Yeah, I named the little dude Parker, after my little cousin. Reminds me of him so much."

When Parker heard his name, the Ghost turned and floated over, "Heya guys! How's it going? Commander Shepard, good to meet you!"

"Parker nice to meet you as well. You remember Aurora?" He did the gesture he learned from the other Guardians, his Ghost appearing above his left hand.

She spoke in her deep and smokey voice, "Parker, it's great to see you again, now that you have your other half."

"Thanks, Aurora! I...I am happy I found him! It's like we found them all so fast!" He paused and floated a bit closer. "Have you heard anything about the other?"

"The quiet one?" Aurora asked in a tone that Shepard cataloged as superior. It was a weird amount of smugness his ghost had, but it was amusing at the same time. "Of course, I know! They found a Guardian and became known as Zorah! I believe they are on this ship!"

"He is, Garrus is Zorah's Guardian, the first Turian Guardian I might add," Shepard interjected. "You can meet them later though."

"Right, sorry Commander," Keiji said.

"It's fine, so here is the deal. I know you are Kasumi's partner here, you have dangerous information, and you used to be in the Alliance...right?"

"Uh, more or less."

"You can fight though?"

"Of course."

"Okay, we have some basic Cerberus armor for now, just talk to Jacob in the armory. We will get you Guardian-level armor and stuff when we get to New Terra, but I want to bring you on this next mission to see how you do, is that alright?"

"I would like some details before jumping on a mission, but yes, I will go." Kasumi didn't look happy about it, but he kept speaking, "Parker sort of explained a bit about the Guardian stuff to me, how we are supposed to protect more than just humanity these days. Even at the cost of our lives. It will be different than hitting weapons dealers for cash, but...I am looking forward to it though, you know, a second chance and all that," Keiji said.

"I know what you mean, I was dead for two years," Shepard said, getting nods from the two, "We will figure it out by the time we get to New Terra. I know the Last City is part of the Alliance, but I am not sure how being part of the Guardians will change any of that."

Keiji looked thoughtful, "I hope the Alliance is alright with me coming back to life...I wasn't walking around with a clean record."

"You help us with the Collectors," Shepard said, but there had been a lot of information going around and Keiji didn't recognize the name. "We will get you filled in on this, but you help with that, and I will make sure are clear. If anything I can just drop both of you off in the Terminus systems with a bunch of credits...deal?"

The two thieves laughed while exchanging mischievous glances. "I believe you got yourself a deal there, Commander," Keiji said.

---

The Normandy dropped Fireteam Starfall's Valkyrie at the

"Alright this is it, Eldfell-Ashland Refinery..." Zaeed said, gesturing at the console's map of the skyship. It dropped a marker on a landing spot outside of the detection range.

"We should have waited until night," Keiji said, now wearing Cerberus Armor.

Zaeed looked over his shoulder unimpressed, "You sure about bringing the whelp?"

"He was Alliance, been doing crazier jobs than most before he kicked the bucket."

"I can hear what you are saying," Keiji said with a shake of his head.

Zaeed ignored him, but Shepard chuckled as he continued to pilot the Shuttle.

"So what are we facing? Just Blue Suns? I still say we go in silently, I could have made some invisibility modules like Kasumi has, given the right resources," Keiji said.

Shepard looked over to Zaeed, "I'm not really one for stealth, what about you Zaeed?"

He snorted, "This isn't a stealth mission."

"Is this a revenge mission? Cause this is starting to feel personal," Keiji asked.

"We have a mission here, the payment for Zaeed's help. You are here to learn your Guardian abilities and so I can see how you do in combat. This is a perfect mission to learn what you can do, so show me," Shepard said.

Zaeed nodded and in they went.

The amount of resistance they met in the form of Blue Sun's Mercs and their shitty Combat Mechs was surprising. They had a whole garrison of troops here. Even with the staggering amount of forces it was nothing for the Fireteam.

Shepard was Void-Charging all over the place, the sounds of A Sudden Death, filling the room with sound rivaling the booming impacts of a thunderstorm. Zaeed had his avenger out, laying fields of Mass Effected Bullets, adding in his own Inferno Grenades as he saw fit.

Keiji though, was like a Ghost. He was shocked to learn that he could activate an ability that worked by layering him in Void Light, keeping normal light, heat, and any other form of radiation from hitting him at all. He could go completely invisible with a thought.

His Ghost, Parker, was following the feel of his Void Light, the Guardian becoming some sort of Hunter. Keiji waited for Shepard to draw attention as he flanked around. He would appear as his Locust SMG lit up anyone in his path.

He would often line up two or three in close range before eliminating them quickly.

The group made it to a Gatehouse of all places, where they finally made visual contact with the man that Zaeed had been chasing, a human named Vido Santiago.

Shepard could understand why Zaeed hated the guy, wanting to let his shotgun shake his hand. But he wasn't expecting Zaeed to cause some sort of crazy chain reaction through the facility in hopes of taking down Vido.

"Warn me next time!" They sprinted on after Vido, but Keiji didn't.

"You coming Keiji?"

A worker was screaming for someone to save him, "No, I will meet you at the shuttle."

"Alright, let's move Zaeed!"

"On it!"

The two took off, and Keiji got to work saving people.

---

He sprinted forward, the massive steel machine or whatever it was rolled after an explosion, trapping a man under it. Keiji began lifting, his now considerable strength enough to move the machinery.

"Stop Keiji! Just use your Void Light! Push it into the machine, think about dissolving it, disintegrating it!" Parker said in Keiji's mind.

He didn't let go of the huge thing, but instead pushed his new power of Light into it. Keiji had never been able to use Biotics before, and he wondered how close this was.

A wave of Void Light flowed over the offending machine and it disappeared. He helped the man up and sent him running off.

Keiji sprinted off in the opposite direction, further into the refinery.

He found living and dead, those who were running, and those who were just lost in fear. He shoved them in the right direction and forced those who were mourning to move forward. He saved another 5 people who had been trapped or knocked unconscious, waking them up or freeing them.

"Keiji! Get out of there! Head back to the shuttle!" Shepard said over the comms.

"On it, Commander," Keiji lied.

He found a group of humans trying to help one another out of a collapsed hallway. The three were removing rubble as the explosions grew in ferocity.

"WE NEED TO GET OUT, NOW!" Keiji yelled.

Two of them ignored him and kept digging, the third yelped and took off running.

"MOVE!" He unleashed his Void Light again, removing the rubble much faster. He reached through, grabbing the man's hand when it happened.

The facility went up in a mushroom cloud of flames. Keiji along with it. The last thing he saw was his hand grabbing the man, he didn't even see his face before flames consumed them both.

---

"Let's go, Shep! That bastard's not getting away!" Zaeed said sprinting around a corner. He stopped when he saw a dead Blue Sun's Merc.

Next to him was some type of weapon, Zaeed picked it up after putting his Avenger on his back.

"What is it?"

"M-451 Firestorm... it's perfect," Zaeed said, sprinting off once again.

They found some bay doors and came face to face with another squad of mercs. This time Shepard went full Guardian mode, pulling 15 Mercs to their deaths with Void Eater.

They pushed on, hearing screams as explosions shook the entire facility.

Vido had to have been pulling troops and leaving them behind him like landmines for Shepard and Zaeed to run across.

They made it to a refinery core room, facing off against troopers, pyros, and heavies. It was a bit rough for a minute, but Zaeed had just enough grenades to thin their numbers. Precise shots from his Avenger eliminated the Pyros by sparking their fuel tanks.

Shepard used his Witherhoard to eliminate the heavies, letting them die in pools of corrosive light, their very essences being sapped away.

The last enemy this room produced was another huge YMIR Mech, but this didn't stop either of them. Shepard sprinted forward and activated his Melee Ability, after launching a grenade.

The void grenade went off just before he arrived, the charge was enough to tear the Mech apart as it dissolved.

"Nice work, but Vido is mine," Zaeed said, sprinting past the scrap pile.

They found Vido sprinting towards a Gunship after clearing out of the building.

One shot from Zaeed's pistol took out Vido's kneecap from the back.

"Eaaahhh-FUCK!" Vido yelled as he collapsed.

Zaeed pulled his brand new M-451 Firestorm from his back. He seemed to inspect the weapon, letting Vido know how he was about it do. Zaeed was just turning up the tension.

"Goddamnit Zaeed, you mother fucker!" Vido yelled.

"Shut up," Zaeed said, and he burned him down.

The tanks behind him ignited and exploded as well. They walked away and Shepard contacted the other member of the Fireteam with the help of Aurora, "Keiji! Get out of there! Head back to the shuttle!"

BOOM

Shepard watched the symbol on his HUD wink out, the only tell as to where Keiji had been. It was almost exactly at the center of the mushroom cloud.

The wave of force washed over Shepard, but it didn't do anything against his Light-enhanced form.

A wave of guilt matched the power of the explosion as it crashed around his insides. Not only did he let most of the workers die, a choice he made to secure Zaeed's loyalty and help on his greater mission, but he had let a fellow squad mate die. One who he knew just come back from death.

"Don't worry, just watch," Aurora said in his mind, breaking the downward-spiraling thought process.

Sure enough, a flash of light happened within the smoke and Keiji's icon appeared on his HUD once again.

"KEIJI! Do you read?"

Coughing, "Yeah, I'm alive...dammit, I almost had them! I almost saved them, Shep!"

Silence as Shepard tried to ignore the fact that he left all of them to die, "Right, you did your best, come back to the shuttle."

"On my way," Keiji said.

Shepard could hear the bitterness in his voice. He will have to lay down how important this mission is.

"Do we have a number on how many died?" He asked through his connection to Aurora.

"78 workers were in the facility, that's not including any Blue Suns. 35 were off duty, and were not near the blast it seems, while another 23 made it out quickly. The effort of Keiji saved another 16, and the last four...died with him."

Shepard internally cursed, that would be hard to watch. He went through his mental exercises as they approached the Shuttle, he was reminding himself that hundreds of thousands of humans were dying. Losing four is only a drop in the hat compared to the horrors that the kidnapped colonists are going through.

---

Fireteam Starfall docked at the Blue Sun's Purgatory Maximum Security Prison. It took a while to get past security, but since the Guardians had no visible weapons, they were let through. They were led on some twisting and turning pathway that ended in some labs with people in white coats working on things.

In their Fireteam Chat, "So they want us to come quietly?" Kessa asked as they ignored the horrible conditions the prisoners were in.

Rico sighed, "Seems that way, you don't think they are trying to capture us do you? I mean... without any sort of Light-capturing device they have no chance."

Ghost spoke up, "I believe that is their plan, they have been leading us deeper into the facility, the next room butts up against a block of the prison."

He sent a station layout to everyone's HUD and it was clear the Turian with them was leading them through some kind of lab that had a questionable destination at the end.

Finally, they found the trap, "Not even going to try to capture us? How pathetic..." Kessa said with disgust.

The far end of the room opened into a small shipping container-sized prison cell.

The warden wanted them to willingly enter the thing.

"Yeah...we aren't doing that, listen, you have 5 seconds before-"

SCHWING!

The Guardian had lifted her sword.

Rico sighed, "Well I tried, good luck."

The Guardian cut through the metal walls like it was made of butter. The sundered and torn metal pieces went crashing down as she cut through.

"Oh wow, she is not happy," Kessa said.

"Yeah, but that's what you get when you try to put our little Warlock in a box...she breaks the fuck out!" Rico said, pride and amusement equally making up his tone.

"I think you will have to massage her feet tonight to make up for bringing her here..."

"What?" Rico said.

Kessa laughed and ran through the new hallways, courtesy of the Guardian, Rico hot on her heels, "This is crazy, you know it doesn't even occur to me to start cutting walls."

"Yeah, she is on another level."

The Guardian was following the waypoint her Ghost Dropped onto her HUD. She ended up in a control room, releasing Ghost to interact with the controls.

"I am going to have to release all of the controls for the whole facility to release her...they have a really bad system in place."

As soon as Ghost said that, the whole of Purgatory lit up like an angry bee hive, and prisoners were released on every floor. Mechs, guards, and turrets all activated, hoping to take down any who disobeyed.

Rico and Kessa came not 10 seconds later, "Is that Jack?"

The Guardian nodded through the window, a small tattooed human who broke free of restraints. She slowly woke up from Cryostatis. She shook her head as she stumbled until she noticed the 3 large YMIR mechs waiting for her.

Jack growled, actually growled, at the mechs, before unleashing a series of Biotic attacks. It started with a Singularity, followed by a Flare, and she finished with a Shockwave.

The Shockwave smashed what remained of the mechs through the wall as she ran away.

"Wait! Jack! Annnd she's gone," Rico tried to get her attention but she didn't even look up.

"Fantastic," Kessa said.

"The chase begins!" Ghost said.

They followed her after finding her path, The Guardian approving of her station maneuvering. Running through the hole, they found a fairly large storage room, escaped prisoners actively engaging guards.

Rico assessed the scene, Guards using overwhelming firepower on these prisoners. Sure, many probably deserved to be here, but it was also clear that no one was being treated equally, especially humans.

"Take down as many Guards as you can while we push through the room!" Rico said, pulling his Thunderlord from his inventory.

"On it!" Kessa yelled, pulling her Le Monarque bow from her back.

Rico made enough noise to wake the dead as the Thunderlord rattled through its ammunition. Every third to sixth shot a bolt of lightning would spark from the sky, causing chain reactions of death as lighting bolts kept falling from the sky. Each time one hit, it would fry whatever stood in the 5m AoE of the strike, smaller tines of electricity reaching around as if to remind anyone who survived that they were still

The lightweight frame of her Monarque shifted easily as she fed a constant stream of Light into the bow, each first strike a fully drawn power shot, causing the rest of her arrows to turn into poison damage. Kessa had used this bow for years, both in the Crucible and the field. Guiding it's poisonous touch was second nature now.

Each poor bastard that entered sights was hit with 2 to 4 arrows in less than a second. She didn't watch them fall to death, their life force dying as Light-infused poison coursed through their veins, but she knew. The ticks of damage appearing on her HUD would suddenly cut off from her periphery as she moved on to other targets.

The Guardian put to use one of her favorite combos where she utilized two solid weapons. Her main one was an SMG called The Immortal in her kinetic slot while running the Fusion Rifle named the Loaded Question as her energy weapon.

Fusion Rifles are strange and devastating, powering up before spitting a few rounds of energy, then depending on the rifle the effects would vary.

Due to the perks and the synergy of her weapons, every shot from her Fusion Rifle after it reloaded in her holster caused massive explosions amongst groups of people. She would only fire it once, allow the perks to reset, then pull it out again. The entire time she would supplement the downtime with The Immortal.

The Guardians tore through the huge battle, dropping almost 50 guards as Prisoners took advantage of their intervention. Prisoners grabbed stronger weapons and the revolt was in full scale as they exited the room after Jack.

Fireteam Starfall lost Jack's trail, though they found another familiar face instead. Behind a shield that had three different power pylons, was the Warden of Purgatory. The Turian making the money for the Blue Suns.

He stood under the shield with a triumphant grin.

That was until the Guardian floated up into the air, a Void-purple bubble surrounding her. In her right hand, which she held her palm up above her head, a sphere of Void Light began to form.

The Warden Screamed at his men, but Kessa and Rico covered for the Guardian while she powered the sphere. This time though she didn't push everything she could into it, knowing that much Light would destroy this whole station. Instead, she just made the sphere the size of a basketball and tossed it over to the Warden.

The Void Nova Bomb landed nicely on the top of the Warden's shield as chaotic energy exploded from the impact point. The blast vaporized everything near it, leaving blackened scars on the floor.

The walls had slightly bent outward with the explosion. The force of the reduced Nova Bomb was artillery shells versus firecrackers when compared to the Grenades the Blue Suns had employed so far. The Guardians were thankful that they weren't against an exterior wall as the whole station shook.

After the rest of the Warden's men had been put down, the Guardian's Ghost spoke up over Fireteam chat, "Oh, I think I found our target...She is currently trying to break into the Valkyrie."

Rico laughed, "How is that working for her?"

"It's not," Ghost said with an amused tone.

"Well, let's get over there then," Kessa said.

A few hundred meters and they were at the hangar they had landed in, something the Normandy would not have been able to fit inside.

"GOD DAMNIT! These fuckers! I will get out of here," A voice echoed through the hangar with untold amounts of rage.

"Jack?" Rico asked.

"Gah, FUCKERS!" Jack said, actually growling as she jumped at the group, biotic energy gathering in her right hand.

Jack's eyes widened when she found her Biotic Shockwave completely nullified by a single forward motion of a single person. The Guardian pushed her hand out, the force and power behind her melee ability was also enough to stop Jack's momentum.

Then the Guardian tackled and slammed Jack into the ground, putting Jack into a headlock with little to no effort.

"Whoa, slow down Guardian!" Kessa said. "Maybe let her go?"

Jack screamed and sent out a pulse wave of Biotic energy, using all of her power to do so. She was out of her league.

The three Guardians just braced themselves and Rico even put up a Titan Wall.

"WHAT THE FUCK!?" Jack yelled.

"Jack we mean you no harm, we are Guardians from New Terra, here to get you out," Rico said calmly as he stepped through his wall.

"THE FUCK IS NEW TERRA? Some bullshit colony?"

Everyone exchanged glances, "How long have you been frozen?"

"How would I fucking, KNOW?" She screamed, still trying to fight against the unbreakable strength of the Guardian.

"Shit, right, well...thing's happened, there are two earths, and we are protectors from the second one," Kessa replied helpfully.

Rico glared at her, but she smiled.

"Alright, Jack, forgive us for using force, but this is our ship here," Rico gestured to the Valkyrie, "We came here to recruit you for a mission."

Finally, the Guardian let her go, Jack pulled her arm away as if she had broken the hold. "Why the fuck do you need my help when you have space-knight freaks like you around?"

Kessa fully laughed at that, "Space knights...I like it."

Rico sighed, "Look, we aren't the ones in charge of the mission, and we are just meeting up with those who are."

"And who would that be?" Jack asked, mockingly.

"Commander John Shepard, Titan Guardian of New Terra, Specter of the Citadel Council, and the leader of this mission," Rico explained.

"So many titles...should I know who this guy is? Some Alliance asshole?" Jack asked.

"Yeah, though he's not so bad...his Cerberus friends are a bit uptight though...not a dance floor in sight," Kessa said.

The tension that had been slowly easing was immediately at a peak again.

Jack's breathing grew heavy, watching the Guardians like they were scavengers circling her dead body.

Rico looked confused, "Is there something wrong?"

"Fucking Cerberus sent you?"

"Cerberus?" Rico asked, "No, it was Commander Shepard. He is a Guardian though his ship is a Cerberus-made frigate."

Rico wasn't dumb and after years of learning Kessa and the Guardian's facial expressions, he knew Jack was ready to attack and flee at the first sign of hostility. He decided coming straight forward was the best path. Rico spent the next 5 minutes explaining every connection to Cerberus, every reason they had for being on the mission, and how it led to their current circumstances.

Rico also began to offer things like protection, or even the offer just to take her off of the station and drop her somewhere.

Jack looked like a cornered animal as she listened but eventually calmed once again.

She asked about the mission and Rico didn't hold back on that either, including some footage of Collector abductions they received from EDI. Footage from Freedom's Progress.

"Why me?"

The Guardians exchanged glances once again, but Rico spoke for them, "Being a Guardian is often not a choice. But right now, you can choose to protect those who can't. To use your power-" Jack scoffed during his rant, "-use your power to help those that don't have it. I will let you go free if you wish, but just know that Humanity needs you, just like it needs us. Commander Shepard sent us to get you. Come with us and save humanity, then do what you want."

"I won't be a pawn of Cerberus."

"We won't either," Rico's calm voice said. It was the same tone that he used to speak his true thoughts to Kessa and Kira, to anyone whom he had to rely on his beliefs. Jack stared into his featureless helmet, searching for more than just truthfulness. It was unclear if she found what she was looking for but she finally agreed to come along.

"Great, let's get off this shithole," Jack said.

---

Joker had no problem finding Fireteam Starfall's Valkyrie, the strange dropship that waited a few thousand kilometers from the Mass Effect Relay. The hard part was getting them across to Normandy since the Valkyrie couldn't dock or land with it.

The Guardians had no problem but they had to Transmatt Jack over. That was when EDI gave Joker a waypoint to line up with their ship, getting it as close to the Cargo Bay as possible, it didn't work until Shepard suggested a window.

It was another few minutes of maneuvers until 3 Guardians and a heavily tattooed Jack appeared in a wave of Light. The normal human looked like a delinquent child in front of the three towering Guardians.

"What the fuck!?" Jack said as she walked forward, Shepard, Miranda, and Jacob all waiting for them.

"Welcome aboard-" Shepard was interrupted.

"This really is a fucking Cerberus shit show, isn't it?" Jack asked, talking loudly and right over the Commander.

Miranda raised an eyebrow, "This is an extremely important mission-"

"Shut up cheerleader, I have demands before I agree to anything. If I don't like what I hear, then I fucking book it with Xena the warrior space princess, and her harem here," Jack said, nodding to the Guardian. She was on their ship long enough to hear some interesting stories, supported by footage that was even less believable.

Jack assigned them all nicknames but realized who the real badass was.

Kessa laughed out loud and Rico sighed.

Shepard sighed, realizing this person brought chaos and power equally to whatever situation she was in, "Okay, ask away."

"This is a Cerberus ship, with a Cerberus Crew...but you have all kinds of titles and bullshit. Do you work for Cerberus or not?" Jack's words were as hard as her eyes.

"I don't work FOR Cerberus. They brought me back to life-" He was interrupted by a mental nudge from Aurora. She was just letting him know that she would have been there if she could. He continued, "Miranda here spent the last two years bringing me back, but it wasn't so I could work for them. It was so I could save humanity's colonies. Hundreds of thousands-"

"Yeah I heard that part, So you don't work for Cerberus," Jack said, breaking her eye contact with Shepard.

She walked around a bit, looking off into memories.

Shepard watched her, reading her emotions that were clear as day. He wanted to see further though, a motive, a reason for her to continue. There was obviously trauma with Cerberus and her dossier had nothing more than a basic description of her life, leaving all blame out of Cerberus.

"Alright, I come with you on this fucking hero's mission or whatever, but you give me access to the Cerberus database. Or I walk."

Miranda tensed and immediately responded, "Absolutely not!"

Shepard held his hand out, "I think that is reasonable."

"Shepard! You can't do that-"

"I am sorry Miranda, I think I know what she is looking for anyways," Shepard said.

"Is that right?" Jack asked with a narrowed gaze.

"It doesn't matter, I agree to those terms. Are you on the team then?"

Shepherd's second in command was furious, but he had Aurora send a message to EDI. Not only to track everything she looks at but his thoughts about her past with Cerberus. EDI forwarded the message to Miranda's Omnitool and she read it any other report. Jack didn't even glance at her.

She found Shepard's side-eye glance and she nodded.

"Alright, Shepard...I am in," They shook hands and Shepard had EDI show her to a nice hidden spot on the bottom of the ship. Not a lot of light and no traffic, it was perfect for her.

He had people bring her the necessities along with an unlocked Data Pad that was filled with Cerberus files and EDI's tracking systems.

Shepard walked with Miranda back to her office.

There was obvious tension between the two, as he just publically countered her statement. Not only that, but it was with someone who just disrespected her. Shepard wasn't an idiot and wanted to bring that up before they talked plans.

"I am sorry to deny you like that, especially in front of Jack. But she has some tormented history with Cerberus and I doubt she will be looking for anything serious besides that," Shepard said.

"You don't think she will try to burn all of us? Through our names out there, our family names...I have people to protect, Shepard!" Miranda said with a bit of anger.

He nodded, "I understand, and that is why EDI is there, she can edit the files as they go, right EDI?"

"Affirmative, Commander."

"EDI, this is an order, if you can find any of her files, give her a trail to follow. Something that will make a person with average tech experience believe that they have got the best of us. She will probably check on all of us, give Miranda a fake family name, and remove anything else about her."

"That is well within my capabilities, I am doing so now."

Miranda nodded, "Thank you."

"Of course," Shepard and EDI said at the same time.

That brought a smile out of Miranda.

"I wanted to talk to you about the next few stops," Shepard led.

"Alright, you wanted to pick up Okeer or go to New Terra First?"

Shepard remembered the Dossier for 'the warlord' named Okeer. A brilliant and brutal Krogan Warlord who fought in the Krogan Rebellions. He had dealings with the Collectors at some point and that was why Cerberus wanted him. What he wouldn't give to have Wrex back by his side, or Liara.

He drew himself out of his thoughts, "Okeer is at some Blue Sun's Facility, some kind of research base or training camp. I say we go get him, then head to New Terra. I don't know what the Guardians have planned or what they have in mind for me as a Guardian."

"As long as it doesn't distract you, we have a lot of lives to save," Miranda replied.

Shepard nodded, "Right, then Okeer first. EDI, would you pass that on to Joker?"

"Affirmative, Commander."

"Alright, have a good night, Miranda," Shepard said. Deep blue eyes match Miranda's dark brown ones.

"Goodnight, Shepard."

---

The mission to grab Okeer was a shitshow from the start.

A Krogan cloning facility that Blue Sun's used as target practice.

A Krogan Warlord splicing genes to create 'the perfect Krogan.'

An insane Blue Sun's leader with a rocket launcher and a bunch of YMIR mechs.

A baby-adult Krogan that is stronger, faster, and more powerful than any other Krogan. Shepard doubted that he would be a match for Wrex, but not many things were.

Instead of getting Okeer, they got that test-tube Krogan. Instead of Collector information, they got a recorded apology video as Okeer took his own life.

Shepard was fuming but found himself standing in front of the Krogan-in-a-pod, while in one of the Cargo Holds.

He contemplated bringing the Guardians here, or even some backup, but knowing Wrex, it would be considered a threat.

No, he would wake the Krogan on his own, decide if he can be of use, or put him down before he can go on some rampage.

"What can you tell me about him, EDI?" Shepard asked, staring at the sleeping Krogan.

"The subject is an exceptional example of the Krogan Species, with fully formed primary, secondary, and tertiary organs where applicable," EDI said in her mechanical feminine voice, "No defects of any kind, aside from the genetic markers of the genophage present in all Krogan. I cannot judge mental functioning."

Aurora spoke up as she scanned it, "He is approximately half as strong as you are if my scans are correct. Very impressive."

Shepard nodded, "Stand By, I am going to open the tank and let him out."

"Cerberus protocol is very clear regarding untested alien technology."

"He's either a powerful addition to the crew or a time bomb. I would rather deal with it now."

"Very well Shepard. The controls are online. The switch - and the consequences - are yours."

He had Aurora open the crate as she did that, she equipped his armor, leaving the helmet off. He didn't question it.

It took a few seconds, the Krogan falling to his knees as he woke up.

The moment his eyes opened, he charged Shepard.

It was pretty fast too. But Shepard had an elbow ready to meet the charging Krogan.

The impact was massive as the Krogan staggered slightly. He shook his head, then laughed.

"Ha, ha, not bad human. Before I kill...I need a name."

"I am Commander Shepard, and you won't be killing me."

"Hmph, not your name, human...mine," The Krogan said. His voice lost the edge, "I am trained. I know things...but the tank. Okeer couldn't implant a connection. His words are hollow. Warlord, legacy, grunt...grunt. "Grunt" was among the last. It has no meaning. It'll do."

As the massive Krogan looked at Shepard, it turned its head from side to side as if letting each of his strangely reptilian eyes inspect him equally.

"I am Grunt...If you are worthy of your command prove your strength and try to destroy me."

"Not Legacy? Or warlord?"

"Grunt is fine, it is short. Matches the training in my blood. The other words are big things I don't feel. It doesn't matter, I will do what I am bred to do, fight and determine the strongest, but Okeer's imprint has failed. I feel nothing for him nor his clan."

Shepard let him speak.

"Without a reason that's mine, one fight is as good as any other. Might as well start with you."

"You don't have the strength to beat me, but I honor your request."

"We fight to three strikes, if I win, you are under my Command and a part of my crew. If you win, I will drop your ass off with the rest of the Krogan... Deal?"

"If I win, I will kill you."

Shepard laughed, "Good luck."

Grunt let out a terrifying grin and charged Shepard once again.

Shepard's helmet appeared and he sidestepped the Krogan. He followed in Grunt's Passing though, shoving the Krogan forward into the wall, while tripping him.

The Krogan's massive head slammed into the wall, leaving a smiling Krogan's face print.

Shepard let him get up, "That's two."

"What? That was only one!"

"The first one when I knocked you back counts," Shepard said with a smirk.

"NO, IT DOESN'T!"

Shepard's bait worked, the Krogan angrily charged again.

Shepard noticed that his chin had a nice bit of scales to act as a target for his uppercut.

He channeled the Light and his fist slammed forward with speeds only a Guardian could attain.

It rocked the Krogan, lifting him into the air. Grunt's booted feet ended up higher than his head as he landed on his back.

"Gah, helluva fist..." Grunt said as she staggered to his feet.

"Ready for another?"

Grunt laughed and charged again, he could get used to this.

The Normandy set course for the Sol System.