Arch-Daishou00: Hope you folks enjoy it.

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It was a week of passing through every censor and not being caught. A small transport ship was finally leaving Arcturus station. "I feel inadequate sometimes; Shepard is as unstoppable as her brother. She accomplished in two years what we failed to do in five years before that."

"Come on, Lock. You're no slouch; we just haven't had the luxury of face time. Ever since that Maw attack, we've had to take to the shadows to survive." So mentioned Grim, who was cleaning her rifle. "Besides, if all goes well, we will start active operations soon."

"Don't get your hopes up. As far as Cerberus is concerned, we're only a nuisance." Mirage retorted.

Taking off their helmet, Lock's long and dark hair flowed over their face. "Hope we finally take it to them... My adoptive father's death was brutal. I won't let them get away with using him like a test subject as they did."

A hand came from Grim, who nodded. "We all feel that way... And no matter what, Zabuza's soul will rest in peace. Even if I must tear the head of the scientist responsible for you."

The thankful smile from Lock was almost gleamingly bright. Most who saw it swore they saw a beautiful angel of a woman beyond the natural beauty. "Thank you."

The transport stopped, and Mirage took his helmet off as well. Raven-colored hair even longer than Lock's flowed, and eyes of red stared at his comrades. "Let's go. Hackett will want to finalize the data and ensure we use it correctly. Haku, TenTen, let's go."

"On it, Itachi!" Grim took her helmet off to see the face of an energetic young woman with brown hair. As they left the transport, she tossed her hair into twin buns. "Boy, will Naruto be surprised..."

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The four-person squad followed the corridor, with Garrus looking through the window at the Normandy in full glory. It was even more present than when he saw it from Omega. "You know, I kind of preferred the original design..."

"So does Joker. He complained the other day that the front end is a little stiff. They took away the flexibility for more speed. Though he mentions, this design is still amazing in its own right."

The blonde led the team to a checkpoint, which was manned pretty well by guards. As they stepped forward, they were stopped. "Naruto Uzumaki for prisoner transfer."

A brow cocked from the buxom Cerberus agent, "This standard protocol?"

"On a prison vessel like this, ma'am, it is needed," a Turian man in full Blue Sun's armor and helmet responded. "We will also need to confiscate your firearms."

Within moments Naruto's crew drew their weapons, "This feels like Noveria all over again," Garrus quipped with a mumble.

"You will forgive us if we're not fully trusting on a mercenary ship," Naruto remarked. "No offense."

The doors opened up with a charging forward Turian. "Commander Uzumaki, I would request you holster your weapons. You'll forgive us for not wanting an armed fireteam free reign of the facility."

"Be that as it may, we're keeping our weapons. Neither of us is in any position to trust the other." The tight-suited scientist kept eyes on the guards aimed at her. "You don't try anything, and neither will we."

The bare-faced Turian and the commanding biotic human locked eyes. Naruto made his case. "I give you my word. My squad won't lay a finger on a weapon this whole trip as long as you don't double cross us. As long as things go smoothly, it'll be like we never had them."

It took a moment before the Warden finally accepted that. In his head, he had several ideas of how this trip would go. "Holster. Everyone, right now."

As soon as he commanded it, the guards slowly trained their weapons away and holstered them, whereas Naruto did the same and made sure everyone with him did too. Finally, Garrus could be heard with a slight trilling grumble. "I've got a bad feeling about all this."

When the potential shootout was finally settled down, the Turian warden stepped down. "Make no mistake. A shootout isn't preferable by any means, but we're more capable of handling armed assailants if things turn sour. I am Warden Kuril, and I run this facility."

"Want to tell us why everyone has armor designating them as Suns?"

"Despite all of us here deciding to become jailors to the most dangerous criminals in the galaxy. We are still Blue Suns." Kuril responded plainly, "An while yes, The Suns have done plenty of shady and illegal actions for decades. But, a small portion of them tries to do what's right." He omits before motioning the four to follow him down a lengthy glass hallway.

Garrus strolled beside his human friend, "I heard tales of this place in my time at C-Sec. Not a lot of it good."

"So you got tired of C-Sec as well," Kuril glanced back.

"Pallin and I may have had disagreements and argued, but neither of us ever lost sight of bringing justice and protecting the innocent."

"Neither have I," the bare-faced Turian quipped back, "But as we saw during our respected times in C-Sec and likely in the military were criminals and monsters going free while innocent people suffer." Then, he growled, "It made me sick. I had enough after a serial killer was set free because of his political ties."

As much as they could tell he was committed to such an ideal, and why, something about this all felt off. Still, as long as he held a line, so did they. "Didn't notice any ships docked, even for prison guard members. So how do you go get the criminals?"

"We don't. We're not an official prison, and we've had to make certain choices to maintain our recognition as the only jail that hasn't had anyone escape. Including, as you may have noticed, a heavy guard on all doors to your ship."

That did worry them a little, and Jacob had to wonder. "They told us to just head in, and they weren't interested in anything else than bunkering down."

With a nod, the Warden turned to them at a stop. "Orders to blow the doors if there's any attempt from a prisoner to hijack your ship they cannot handle themselves. We don't have ships because if we did, anyone attempting an escape would have a way out. So we maintain control by ensuring they understand they have nowhere else to go. Even if they took control of this facility, they wouldn't be alive for very long without supplies."

"Brutal, but gets the message across, I suppose," Miranda commented, observing two prisons scuffling before barriers encased both.

"Indeed. My methods are harsh, but these are not people. They are monsters and demons who caused nothing but harm to all in the galaxy. So a taste of their medicine is a good balance for them."

Naruto glanced at the Turian, "What can you tell me about Jack."

Within a microsecond, Kuril's expression takes a decisive turn, "Never in all my years have I encountered such a being with an intense level of violence and raw biotic power. Of course, I heard of your prowess, Uzumaki, but I think I can say Jack is every bit your equal in biotics."

"What's her list of crimes," Garrus questioned.

Kuril tapped on his Omni-tool, "We'd be here all day explaining. There is a copy of her list of crimes."

The sheer file size was enough to warrant red flags and then some. "I get the feeling that if we still used paper for such things, it would make desk workers faint when they saw it." Naruto left that file well enough alone as they continued.

Nearing their destination, Kuril opened the next corridor that branched out. "I'm going to see if the funds from Cerberus have cleared. If they have, then you'll have your prisoner. Head to Outproccessing. It's down the hall and is on the far left of the section."

"Do you need one of us to be there for the confirmation?"

"If we cannot confirm payment, we know you doublecrossed us. If the funds are cleared, we know you kept your word. No need for debate. Besides, the longer your ship is here, the more chance these criminals think they have of escape. We've had a year without riots, and I'd like to keep it that way." Kuril gave them all a simple bow of the head. "Good day." And then he turned and headed off.

A hefty sigh came from the blonde. "And that's where I start thinking we're in trouble." Then, turning to Miranda, he ensured her what the behind-the-scenes deal was. "Illusive Man covering the bill? Because I shudder to think he'd send us into hell before we even attempt fighting the Collectors."

"The Illusive man spared no expense in acquiring Jack. Of course, it wasn't about how much it was to bring you back. But still a hefty sum nonetheless."

Jacob nodded, "Believe me, the boss does not play around with stuff like this, man."

Grunting, the blond turned his gaze to his Turian comrade, "Thoughts?"

"Never trust a bare-faced Turian."

The four kept an even pace through the hall. Then, turning a corner, they entered a cell hall. A growl came from Garrus as they observed an inmate being beaten by a guard.

"Leave it... We don't need any trouble right now." As much as Naruto wanted to stop the abuse, they were in a very bad situation.

Though they took a dozen steps barely before they were being called over by an inmate. "Hey, you guys! No way you're here to be put in a cell... Meaning you're here to buy prisoners. Hey, if you're buying some, mind picking me up? I don't care where you take me anywhere but here."

"Might not think that consider who we're here to get," Jacob quipped at the convict.

"Who?"

Naruto answered, "Jack."

Within seconds the man back away from the glass, "I'll stay in here, thanks. Some assholes jumped her once here. After what they did to her, she killed them all one by one." He shivered, "Most were in pieces."

That told a pretty good story of who they were getting. Every red flag was being waved in their faces on this one, but it wasn't like they had very many choices for allies at the moment. Heading up to the prisoner, Naruto wanted some answers about the prison. "Is buying prisoners here a common thing? I thought it was supposed to be a general lockup. Sounds more like an auction."

"Nah, not an auction. The Warden doesn't just toss us to the highest bidder." The man hummed as he tried to put it in a way it was best understood. "We're more like defective merch. People pay to keep us locked up or even more to have us ready for their own form of justice and punishment."

"And if they don't pay?"

"Well, that's what we all look forward to. If the Warden isn't making money off us, we're not much used to him here. He generally lets the ones who make him nothing free. Though some of the stupid ones cause more trouble and end up back in a cell here, and then comes the credits that keep them in their cell this time."

"An extortion scheme if I ever heard one," Garrus growled.

"Pretty much," the prisoner shrugged before leaning in, "Word of advice, though. Kuril acts all high and mighty, but he's a damn thug like every other Blue Sun. Watch your back."

The blond gave a thankful nod before they resumed their walk through the hallways. They soon came to a door with a Turian guard, "Welcome to processing Uzumaki. Clerks inside will help you set getting Jack. And good fucking riddance."

"Well, this day keeps getting worse." The blond mentally mused as the doors opened into a spacious office area with over a dozen desks.

The team entered the room, and red flags appeared in their heads. It was an empty room with no security. The only one there was a non-combatant on board working on his terminal. If Jack was that dangerous, what stops her from tearing the place apart when she steps out of her cell?

As they got closer, it opened to show nothing inside. Then, finally, the man behind the terminal spoke up. "Step inside. You'll be taken to where Jack is soon."

"That's a no-go." Naruto glared. "Sorry, but we're not getting in a cell. I'm no criminal, and we're here to take one for our purposes."

The intercom shot to live. "Really? And yet, you're quite friendly with Cerberus. The Suns may not be all that honest, but at least we're not terrorists. Set your weapons aside and go into the cell. You will not be harmed."

A low bestial growl escaped Garrus's maw pulling out his sniper rifle, "Saw this coming. Never trust a bare-faced Turian!"

The others followed suit, readying themselves as the lone non-armed man ran from the room. Following his fleeing were Suns running in and bullets flying from their firearms. The four quickly took cover while Naruto heard his fellow sniper cursing his native tongue loudly enough to get Kurill yelling back.

"The hell you say to him?" Jacob questioned

Garrus brought his weapon, taking out a Sun between the eyes, "Later!"

A couple of rounds clashed along the side of the cover near his face, making Jacob quickly think to activate his biotics to provide additional barrier support. "Sometimes, I wonder why we even have universal translators!"

"We can talk about the slang later! Just fire!" Naruto rounded the corner with his rifle to take another head, firing two in rapid succession to get through the shields and a third to take out the sun running with mecha dogs in tow.

Adjusting her Omni-Tool, the Cerberus scientist tried a new trick. Creating a new hard light device in hand, she tossed it out and biotically slammed it into the floor. As the Suns saw this, they attempted to get into cover, only for the device to erupt and start shocking the lot with an electrical discharge. Their shields were gone, and the robots malfunctioned. The team mopped up.

With a Singularity launched into the shocked group, Jacob reloaded his shotgun. "Blow it!"

Not needing more incentive, the blonde threw a Warp into the gravity field and caused it to erupt, though not all of the guards were completely neutralized. Not for long, as Jacob ran in to finish it with his shotgun, taking out the downed guards and kicking the only surviving Fenrir.

Seeing his friend empower the barrier, Naruto called for the all-clear. "Are we good!?"

"Not likely, but we're clear for the moment!"

Coming out of the room fully, the crew kept their guard up. Calling into the Normandy, Miranda was surprised when EDI spoke up first. "Ms. Lawson, the station is going into lockdown, and the guards outside the ship attempted to gain entry. Captain Shepard has successfully taken them out and is en route."

"Negative put her on," Naruto ordered. As soon as Edi transferred the frequency, he gave his assessment. "Sis, get back to the Normandy. Kuril's betrayed us and won't take the return trip to the Normandy too kindly. We need our ride home secure."

"We will keep the area secure. So get your asses back here on the double!"

Naruto turned his gaze to everyone, "Well, you all heard the lady."

As they went in the only other direction, they could go, sizing up their surroundings and knowing that the way they came was at least cleared out of most if not all hostiles, they opened the door to meet a new firing squad. All that fire was hitting was the biotic shielding that Naruto put up when the doors opened.

"You're not getting out of here alive!" Said one of the guards, as the biotic field was still rejecting their rifle fire.

"Back at ya, pal!" Building his biotic field, the human wrecking ball of a soldier got ready as Naruto got to cover. The moment the shield was away, Jacob sent a field of biotic energy that combusted along a path, a shockwave of power that flung a couple of guards to the side, giving Garrus and Miranda less suppression to deal with as they took to aiming together at one guard to kill them quickly, and then another until the one side was finished.

Warping one of the guards recovering from the tumble they took, Naruto pulled them into the line of fire for Jacob and aimed at the other guard, both men managing the other side with little trouble. The non-combatant of the room was frantically trying to handle the terminal ahead.

When the team cleared the guards, they stepped in. "YOU!" The man turned to see Garrus grab his collar and was pinned to the window. "Where is Jack? We're not leaving until we get what we came here for!"

The man grunted as he tried to get free. "Cryo! She's in the Cryo-tube in the room there!" He pointed to the room in question, where three YMIR mechs were stood in wait. "But we're ordered not to let her out! She'll kill us all if she gets free of all her constraints!"

Miranda went over to the terminal, "Everything is all connected here." She points to another console, "You press that button. Jack and every convict in this place are set free."

The blond strolled up to the terminal in question near the glass showing the cryo chamber.

"If nothing else, it will keep the Suns off our asses," Jacob came beside his old partner.

"Nothing like a little small-scale war, right?" Even though the protest of one civilian, Naruto pressed the activation switch. The YMIR units came to life as the primary cryo cell rose and soon opened. They saw a young woman, a head smaller than Miranda, a petite figure, with a shaved head, with tattoos and scars over her entire body. Wearing a simple, rugged leather halter top with baggy pants and boots.

Letting the man's collar go as he soon ran, Garrus came over, "That's Jack?"

Naruto said nothing as they all saw the woman in question sharply wake up and rip out of her restraints with a deceptive amount of strength despite her small size. Rubbing a hand over her face, Jack glimpsed up at the window, looking right at Uzumaki before looking back down to the YMIR unit charging weapons. Soon Jack's body was cloaked by pure biotic energy as she let out a primal growl.

The display of power went full throttle as she launched herself with such force and fury that she tackled two of the Ymir at once, and they could feel the entire room shake from the biotic shockwave under them.

"Alright, now to get down there and introduce ourselves! Let's go!" With weapons ready, they went out the side and down the stairs. About halfway down, the entire station rocked, and alarms blared with flashing red lights. Somehow they knew Jack was just fine.

And they were right if her not being amongst the rubble in her room was any indication. All the mechs were scrap, torn to pieces, and then some, but the biggest evidence of her being fine was the giant hole in the wall. Looking at the devastation, Jacob whistled. "I doubted she could match you, but now I think she may be more than a match."

"Depends on her biotic stamina, whether she can keep going without an aneurysm. Besides, unrelenting power and no skill can only get one so far. And right now, we need to ensure she and we get very far out of this cluster by getting to the Normandy." Naruto jumped into the hole in the wall to the service maintenance shaft. "Come on!"

Once more, the station rocked as Kurill's voice sounded panicked, issuing orders and lockdowns. Running down Jack's path, they soon came to an ample space where dozens of criminals and guards lay dead. But that wasn't all, as portions of the area looked like a missile had struck it, with machinery collapsing in flames.

Further ahead was gunfire with inmates and guards battling it out.

"Out of the frying pan and into the fire, as you humans say?" Garrus quipped.

"Good to know you're getting some of the figures of speech, Garrus. Time to get out of the fire, though." Calling into the Normandy, Naruto was going to make damn sure they got Kuril for his betrayal. "EDI, send a map. I want to know where Kuril is and how to get there from here."

"On its way, Naruto." As it was being found and sent, the team was suddenly hit by fire from the Guards, who had much better odds of taking the prisoners out. As the team got behind cover, the map came to the team. "Sent."

"Thanks, EDI. Team, let's go!"

Reloading his sniper, Garrus was almost grinning. "It would be my pleasure to end Kuril with my own hands!" Then, popping out, he took a single shot and managed to rip through the shields of one guard, and Miranda took the opportunity to place the kill shot.

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Outside the doors, Zaeed blasted a hole clean through a prisoner coming from the direction opposite the others went. "Something tells me our little situation is arse backward because it was someone's bloody idea to hit the wrong button."

Emily's shotgun came to life, blasting a hole into another inmate at point-blank. The force sent the body flying backward. "Well, at least it won't be boring."

Both humans turned their gaze to the Krogan super soldier, who laughed somewhat maniacally, tearing three inmates apart and tossing them around like ragdolls. Grunt smiled, "Hope there is more." Then, as if the universe heard him, in came several Blue Suns trying to escape. "Now this got fun!" The giant Krogan charged with a roar.

Bullets flew and bounded off Grunt's armor and shields of the panicked guards.

"Hell of a kid you got, Shepard," Zaeed laughed with a snort.

"He's not my-" Being interrupted by one of the Suns trying to tackle her, she grabbed him by the throat and choke-slammed him before blowing his brains to the floor and reloading. "Just protect the Normandy until everyone is back!"

"Roger that, haha!" Oh, how Shepard could feel the grin on the man's face.

Appearing behind her, Kasumi put her two credits in. "You know, you DID birth him in a sense, and he only wants to be around you. Like a little kid with his mother."

"I hate you all..." BLAM! Another guard is dead. "If my brother doesn't get back soon, I'll give Zaeed one hell of a concussion for any more remarks."

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Further within the prison was a gauntlet firefight between the guards, prisoners, and Naruto's team as they kept on the trial of Jack's biotic rampage of the place.

Garrus whistled at the sight of YMIR mechs being tossed around and embedded into metal walls, "Well, this lady is creative."

Finishing off the last guard of the room, as the alarms blared with higher volume, it was just a lot of death and destruction, and agreeably in creative ways. Miranda thought getting someone like Jack onboard an even smaller vessel was less of a good idea. Still, she trusted in the Illusive Man without hesitation. "As long as she's still killing the guards, she's alive."

"Agreed. We should go, and quick." As advised by EDI's map, the team found their current route to Kuril was off the path from where Jack managed to break more walls to wherever she was heading. "Whose in favor of beating Kuril over heading after jack and giving support to the Normandy?"

Garrus trilled out a Turian version of a scoff. "No way am I going to let Kuril get away with his crimes."

"I'm sticking it out with you, Commander. I've always followed your lead."

"We can catch up, and it's not like she has many choices in directions if she's trying to find a ship out. If we hurry, we'll beat her back to our ship." Miranda suggested. "The warden broke his word and needed to be put in his place."

With a full unanimous vote, the team followed the whiskered biotic down the least destroyed path. When they entered the room, it was huge and had a heavily fortified command deck that shielded several groups of guards from the prisoners who managed to get weapons and armor. "Seems Kuril is prepared for riots, at least."

They soon took cover as several bullets aimed their way. "Spirits, damn you, Uzumaki!" The Warden yelled out from a high position with reinforced shields and walls. "You should have stayed dead!"

"What's wrong, you bastard," Garrus called out, "Pissy, your little scam is falling apart!?"

"Fuck you, Vakarian! Unlike you or your father, I did the job no other Turian ever would do!"

"Yeah, tell the other Turians in the Suns, or better yet, the shit for brains who think they can get away from order to do whatever they want! Your 'Job' is criminal activity disguised as good deeds! Now, you get to receive real justice!" Naruto grabbed an ammunition sphere, and it was radiating a slight aura.

Jacob recognized it. "I thought our Warp ammo was supposed to be for emergencies?"

As if to answer him, Miranda saw that the rest of the prisoners were slaughtered, and the engineers set up defense turrets. "Have any more? Because 'Emergency' is exactly what I call this situation."

"If you think I'm going to let any of you live, you're mistaken! Once you're dead, I'll recapture Jack and make my fortune back! Once I gain control of the external systems, your ship will be our outer defense's main target!"

"Oh, this bastard thinks highly of himself," Jacob grumbled.

"Let's take him down a notch," Garrus declared angrily.

"Orders?" Miranda called as the cover behind them was starting to be hit hard by the turrets.

With what he managed to see before they needed to hit the deck, Naruto knew well what systems they had. "Barrier generators are mine and will shield themselves and the fortification. Once those are out, I need Garrus and Miranda to take down those turrets however you can. After that, we close in and finish the stragglers. Now split up and cover each other's backs!"

Leaping from cover, Garrus and Jacob went left, and Miranda went right as Naruto flared his biotics and generated a shield to move forward into the direct fire. Thankfully he managed to get behind one of the more solid fortifications cover walls, probably unprotected due to the immediate threats causing Kuril to move back to the corner.

Setting up his Omni-Tool, Garrus pulled a trick from his Salarian friend on turrets. "Rest easy, my friend."

Taking his first shot, the blonde sniper made quick work of the first barrier generator, tearing through the biotic field to take the whole power source out. As it did, the field flickered in a weakened state but not enough to break. It was enough that a couple of the heavy Vanguards started heading out to meet him in CQC, though Jacob wasn't about to let that happen.

With a flick of biotic strength, he hit one of the three coming for his friend and lifted them into the air, giving Garrus a shot to take the shields down and put another two through the hard Light armor to finish it with a heart shot.

The buxom Cerberus fighter turned to the armory master. "Delta!"

"Copy!" Generating a field that lifted a second Vanguard into the air, this time much higher and faster, Miranda caught the enemy in her field, which suddenly blasted the enemy into the floor at such high speeds it caused a shockwave of power to erupt and blast him back, nearly killing him but knocking him out of the fight at least.

With all his might, Naruto threw the last Vanguard, who got close enough to fire, and the force of the biotic field slammed him into the barrier generator he was aiming for. The shotgun blast to his shields, thankfully not enough to take them down completely, though he had to be quick as he finished the outer barrier of the generator and killed the power yet again.

Growling, the Warden started making drones that flew out from the field. "You'll not take me down so easily!"

"We might surprise you!" Garrus called out.

Naruto loaded another round, "Your day is about to get worse, Kuril."

Naruto did not have to worry about the drones thanks to his team. Between the Lazarus head's technical abilities, three were ripped apart by power overloads, with a fourth being taken out by an explosive bit of sabotage to its hard light-generated core.

As Miranda got behind cover to read her next cyber attack, Garrus and Jacob teamed to rid the sky of the rest, with a Singularity joining around another two, being blasted by an unstable biotic combination, and the rest being hit by sniper fire with the Turian's skills intact.

With that out of the way, Naruto cleared the last patch of the room's barrier, the last generator being taken out swiftly thanks to the Warp ammo he took in case things went south. As the barrier fell, Kuril activated the backup generators, causing the turrets to get shields to halt their destruction.

"Did you think this would be easy!?" Kuril yelled in a challenging tone as he discharged his weapon at the blond who took cover. The Turrets soon joined in, laying firepower towards the party.

"Getting sick of turrets," Jacob growled, pumping his shotgun.

With the barrier down, Kuril and his men were more vulnerable, but with the turret fire, it was hard to make a move. To add to their troubles, the remaining guards were swarming to surround and end the four-person team, with Kuril yelling out orders. "Focus on Uzumaki! His life ends first! Capture the human woman after!"

Naruto was about done with this bullshit. The blonde in question started flaring his biotics and felt the surge of power inside. He remembered this type of feeling when facing Saren... "The last time I pulled on my powers in an overwhelming heated moment, I ripped Soverign's puppet a new one and saved the Citadel. Come on, and I need that power now…"

The Turian companion overloaded the shield around one of the turrets, taking some fire to his own as two guards tried going on the flank of his team. He took one look at them and noticed Naruto. Everyone did, Miranda looking in surprise at the vulpine cloak of biotic aura, a crimson she'd never seen from him, even in old vids.

"What the... Naruto? What's going on?" The eye-widening event was enough for even an old teammate like Jacob to question it.

"Just give him time! Push these guards back!" loading a new thermal clip, Garrus switched his ammunition cycle to concussion and slammed a blast into one of the guards, their shields out. "Kuril, you just pissed off the wrong Biotic... I almost feel sorry for you... Almost."

With slitted-pupil eyes, Naruto jumped over the barrier, storming the fortification with his SMG in hand. The turrets turned on him instantly, but it was like the bullets were bouncing off thin air around his biotic aura as his fox-like tail swung and knocked out one of the guards trying to stop him by hand.

His movements became like the wind as he flowed around their enemies. His SMG tears through foes like paper while evading the turrets. Kuril's eyes were wide as what he said should be impossible! No biotic, maybe the Asari matriarchs could do what the human Spectre was doing. "You are a demon!"

The fox tail wrapped around a guard and tossed him with such force her broke through a metal wall. Naruto's glowing crimson slit eyes glared up at the Warden. "And you're dead, Kuril!"

Trying to remember how he killed Saren's mechanical body, the blonde warped crimson fields of dark energy around the Turrets, shorting their shields and causing the gravity pulse to sharpen every second until each turret was crushed into the size of apples. Then, with them gone, Naruto leaped up to the top of the platform where Kuril was.

The guards who remained alive tried to save their commanding officer, only to be taken out by the no longer pinned down squad under Naruto's command. Miranda and Jacob were about to head up, but Garrus blocked them. "Watch. He's fine, just tapping into his true potential."

"Anyone has ever noted nothing like this. So how do you know what's going on?" Even with her research, she never saw what Garrus did. Miranda knew something big went down at the Citadel, but there was no footage. Every video cut out when the team was sent into the private terrarium under the Council Chambers.

"You can ask when we get back on the ship. For now... Kuril's dead." The Cerberus agents confusedly at each other for a moment before looking at the scene.

Kuril poured every round of his heavy machine cannon at Naruto, only for the bullets to bounce clean away. Naruto grabbed the barrel and then crushed it in a biotic field, warping it into being non-functional. Kuril was staring with horror.

"If you had been exactly what you preached, doing the good work of the galaxy, and had a shred of honor? If you'd had just given us Jack and let us on our way, this would never have happened... Part of me is very happy to tear your sick operation to the ground. This is Justice, and it comes for you. My mother was Mercy. I'll show none to those who waste their lives on disgusting pursuits like yours!" In his hands, Naruto formed his iconic spiraling dark energy sphere and shoved it through five layers of protection that Kuril had keeping danger at bay. Shields, barriers, hard light armor, composite armor, undersuit armor, and even the Turian's natural plated chest. The biotic ball tore through them all and erupted upon meeting the dark heart of the bare-faced Warden. As the Turian fell, Naruto slowly breathed and calmed himself down, out of danger. His aura returned to normal before dissipating entirely.

As the final guard was dropped, Garrus and the others came close to the platform as Naruto dropped down. "Well done, Naruto." The Turian vigilante patted his human friend's shoulder.

"What was that?" Jacob questioned.

The blond shook his head, "I don't know. I used it only once against Sovereign when he possessed Saren."

"I have never seen such a thing. None of my research showed biotics to do something like you did." Miranda commented, genuinely perplexed.

"We can figure it out during the mission. Let's go."

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Halfway through the outer sections of the prison, having gotten through every shithead who tried anything against her before she was snatched up and put into a cryo-tube, the shaved-headed biotic powerhouse of a criminal launched another wounded guard trying to save themselves against the wall, splitting his ragdoll of a body into a lump on the ground. "Damn it! Where're all the fucking transports?! You'd think they'd be bringing prisoners in and out all the time."

After a few more corridors, she found one, finally. "Now there's a big-" Her speech faltered as the ship's markings fully came into view. "Cerberus?! What the fuck are they doing here?!"

A low growl escaped Jack's lips at the sight of three humans, and the biggest Krogan she ever saw came from the dock where said Cerberus ship was docked. Zaeed snorted, "Your brother must be cleaning the place, Shepard, if there is only one left coming here."

A blue biotic hue cloaked Jeck, who snarled, "The fact you're with Cerberus just made my day fucking better." She needed to vent some more justifiable rage.

Kasumi's eyes rose considerably, "Should we take her on?"

Emily, however, took a few steps forward, staring at the petite woman. "...Are you Jack?"

Objects around the tattooed woman began to rise, "What the hell do you think bitch?" Within second, crates, metal containers, and anything not nailed down flew at the four with intense speed. "Now fucking die!" She roared, dashing at them with heightened biotic speeds

As the furious biotic got close, she launched the objects at the Spectre, only for a tech shield to block them, nearly breaking it in the process but still holding. Then, as the objects fell, Emily saw Jack leaping into the air and was about to crush the shield with a powerful biotic fist.

Letting the shield go, she anchored herself and caught the strong strike in her robotic arm, taking the brunt with her impressively sturdy low-tech prosthetic. That got Jack to back off a moment, which had Shepard try diplomacy. "Wait! We're not here to hurt you! Let's talk before you try breaking this station apart with no way out!"

"And why the fuck should I listen to a pack of Cerberus lapdogs, girl scout?!" Her eyes glowed a pure blue. "So your goddamn boss can put me back under as his best project!?"

Once more, her biotics flared with pieces of the metal floor were ripped from the ground. They were about to be launched before flung to the wall covered in crimson. Jack sharply turned at the sight of Naruto and his squad coming in. "Well, well..." Jack smiled sinisterly, "The natural human biotic himself. Always wanted to see which one of us was the strongest." she sneered, "Never thought you'd join these fuckers."

"I'm not with Cerberus," the blond said evenly.

"Oh really?" Jack pointed to the logo on the Normandy, "Want to say some more bullshit to me?"

As he took a step forward, Naruto said, "This is only a temporary alliance to deal with the Collectors."

"You're a fucking Spectre, and you go to the biggest assholes for help?" Jack scoffed as her biotics simmered on her body. "Or did they fill your head with shit to believe in their 'grand' cause of protecting humanity?"

The red aura of the man in charge flared as he crossed his arms and gave her a firm stare. He wasn't backing down. "News flash, I was dead for two years. If anything, Cerberus is the reason I can't get anyone else to lend a hand because of their stupid rumors floating around, making anyone who sees me instantly do the same thing you are doing; pointing at the logo and my being near it, and judging before you can even know the truth. My options are limited, as are yours if you keep this up."

"Yeah, and I'm the queen of the Hourglass Nebula. I'm not getting anywhere near your ship unless it's to either blow it to atoms or take it for a joyride and smash it into the first station that pisses me off. If you think I'm changing my mind on that, you're a fucking moron."

"Says the one arguing with the people who want to get you out of here free of charge. Because, if you hadn't noticed, this station's pretty much dead, and we are the only ship on the station." Mentioned Shepard, as she came up on the other side of Jack to help things along. "Cerberus logo or not, we came to recruit you for a mission, one that could use an extra biotic slugger with a high amount of power under the hood."

Jack glared hard at the sister sibling of the two before looking back to Uzumaki, "A trade then."

"I'm listening," Naruto cocked a brow.

"I help you, and you give me every file Cerberus has on me. And I mean every goddamn file."

Miranda came to Naruto's side," We will-"

"You got it." Naruto interrupted, "Every detailed file about you."

"You can't do that, Commander." The buxom brunette countered.

Naruto glared back, "And if I recall, The Illusive man gave me full authority to act how I wish for this mission. And if that means giving Jack all she needs."

The frown was very deep on the Cerberus scientist's face. Though he wasn't wrong, so she just let it be. "Understood, Commander..."

Jack's grin was shark-like. "Awww, and it upsets the bimbo. Even better."

"With that settled, can we go? Stations dead, and we all would rather be elsewhere." Mentioned the glass-eyed merc.

As the tensions settled, the active Spectre turned to head to the ship. "Agreed. Let's get out of here."

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The ship wasn't even at full throttle away from the station, and already Naruto was face palming at the scene before him in the conference room. "I'd say they were Asari with Krogan fathers, but even they are less tense towards each other than these two."

Of course, he was referring to the tension between Jack and Miranda. Even the air in the room felt aggressive as the two women glared. The others in the room focused on the scene with a glance from Emily beside Jacob to her brother. Finally, Jack turned an eye to the sight of the blond, "The files."

Naruto tossed an Omni-tool pad to the former prisoner, "Everything is on there."

She put the device on her wrist and began typing as it came to life. "Well, you do keep your word." She grinned, even more, feeling Miranda's glare at her.

"Actions speak louder than words and all that. Prove that you can trust me."

"I don't trust anyone, Uzumaki. You did me a solid with these files, but we're not buddies." Jack's eyes glowed a sapphire hue, "And I still want to fight you."

Naruto nodded, "Fine by me. But we do that somewhere else and not on my ship."

A chuckle escaped Jack's lip as she licked them, "I'll hold you to that." Then, she began to leave the room, "I'll be in the bowls. Keep your people somewhere else, safer for them." The room's doors opened and soon closed as Jacob let out a long sigh.

"And I thought that mission on Tortuga was intense," Jacob huffed.

With the air feeling lighter, Miranda kept her mouth shut as the Turian sniper chuckled. "A vigilante Turian, a scientist Krogan's pet project, a Salarian with a large amount of genetic knowledge, a mercenary, a thief, and now a powerhouse of a biotic with anger and trust issues. Is it me, or is the Illusive Man throwing piss at the fan and hoping it doesn't spray him in the face?"

"That's every dossier, too. So now we just wait for our countermeasure." Shepard mentioned. "I can't say I'm thrilled having two biotics with the power to rend this ship in half without effort, but we might need that power after my investigations."

Naruto leaned against the table, "Joker showed me a few details we can do to upgrade the Normandy if we gather enough raw materials."

"Spoke with the pilot too about the same thing," Jacob quipped, "Pulled some favors to putting in some new top-of-line armor."

Garrus chuckled, "Also got something to add a kick to the forward batteries upgrades."

"Have a better edge against the Collectors or anything else wanting to kill us," Emily mused.

Knowing they were still just a frigate, as tough as the Normandy was as one, they would still need every edge. And that meant getting some more experts and other ideas. "Alright. So, holding pattern and getting the resources we need through the available funding and channels. It shouldn't be-"

The doors opened to Yoeman Chambers. "Sorry to interrupt! We've got an open communications relay from the Citadel, asking to speak to Commander Uzumaki and Captain Shepard!"

"EDI? Put it through."

The room darkened, and the holographic monitor showed the Councilor. "Well, mark me surprised that Cerberus would allow me a live message."

"Anderson. They seem to want to keep on my good side, so thank the lucky stars we ride on that one. Everything alright?" Naruto was wondering what exactly was going on himself, and this was not something he thought the Illusive Man would casually give them.

"About an hour ago, I received a heavily coded emergency message meant for you, Uzumaki."

The blond cocked his brow in question, "What about?" It was then they noticed the face of the human Councilor being one full of emotions, "Sir?"

Anderson rubbed his eyes as he shook his head, "You have to see it for yourself, Commander. This is something I can't put into words. Admiral Hackett has also been informed on the matter given who this involves."

Gazing at one another, everyone turned their eyes to the former captain, "Play it, sir."

Soon the image on the holo screen became static before what appeared was an older man in his seventies with a full white beard and hair. Finally, recognition bloomed on Miranda's face, "It can't be"

"You know him?" Garrus questioned.

Before she could speak, the message soon played, "Commander Uzumaki, my name is Dr. Samual Light. I apologize for reaching out to you, but this is a situation in that I had no choice but to call for help." His voice was frantic as he looked away from the camera before looking back, "I was was chief scientist of the original Lazarus project. Another subject was used for the project's revival, but it was changed due to an incident that Illusive man deemed a failure."

Naruto looked at Miranda, who was just as surprised as he was. "Impossible. 'you' were the only subject."

As if to answer her in a weird way, the message continued. "No doubt Miranda Lawson was not told of this. And with good reason, the person that was used was your mother, Kushina Uzumaki."

A pin could have dropped in the room; it had become so silent. "...What?" Naruto's voice was breathless.

Dr. Light shook his head, "We had done every measure correctly and fully revived her. But her mind was feral, and she attacked everyone in the lab. The illusive man deemed it a failure attempted and then went you. But it wasn't a failure! After some trial and error, I discovered the cause of why Kushina's mind degenerated and healed it!"

The non-Cerberus crew was all wondering what the hook was, and there was something weird about why they were just now getting something like this. The timing was just too perfect. Yet, Shepard kept her eyes on the screen, having an inward smirk as to why the message was there.

The elderly doctor continued on screen. "I've used every resource available to me to keep everything out of reach, set so many breadcrumbs for the Corsairs to find me, but this will be my last transmission on this frequency. Someone found me who isn't Alliance and wants Mercy with murderous vigor. They nearly killed me at my last base, but I managed to get away. Unfortunately, they can still find me, so I am sending you my ship transponder encoded in the message. I'm sure Cerberus will keep this to themselves, but if they want Kushina back, they will send you to meet me."

They heard a female VI speak in the background. "Sensors show company. Shall we jump, Dr. Light?"

The man took to find the ship's controls; as he did, the camera spun, showing a stasis pod with a person, a woman in red, though the sheen on the glass kept most features obscure. Then, finally, Light came back, nearly knocking the camera over. "If Kushina is lost, I can only hope you can forgive me... Light out. Roll! Get us out of here!" The video cut out right then; message complete.

Anderson returned to the screen. "That message was sent six hours ago in the Omega system. It took some digging, but we found the ship went to the Titan Nebula. So we'll be sending you the transponder signal to go from there."

Knowing they were running out of time, Emily ended the communication. "Thank you, Sir. Emergency priority one, we're on it." With that, the comms cut.

Without a second thought, Naruto started out of the room. "EDI, I want that transponder signal, and I don't give a damn what the Illusive Man says. We're going!"

"Right away, Commander Uzumaki. Should I relay the flight coordinates to Mr. Moreau?"

"Ask him to step on it, would you? That'd be nice."

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Godo: Horizon's on the Horizon, but first, things get heated!

Arch-Daishou00: hope you guys had fun!