Kacey looked towards the asari, "I'm trying to track down two people. The first one is Archangel."

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

"No, I'm putting a team together and he's on my list."

"Interesting." Aria smirked wickedly, "You're going to make some enemies teaming up with Archangel. That's assuming you can get to him. He's in a bit of trouble right now."

"What kind of trouble?" Asked Kacey.

"The local merc groups have joined forces to take him down." Aria explained, "They've got him cornered, but it sounds like they're having trouble finishing him off. They've started hiring anybody with a gun to help them."

"Sounds like our ticket in." Jacob mused.

"Where do we sign up?" Kacey asked.

"They're using a private room for recruiting…just over there. I'm sure they'll sign you up." Aria said.

"Got any information about Archangel?"

"Not as much as I'd like." Aria replied, "He showed up here several months ago and started causing all sorts of problems. If you make your own laws—which everyone here does—he makes life difficult. He's reckless and idealistic. But he seems to know enough to stay clear of me."

"Which merc groups are after Archangel anyway?"

"Blue Suns. Eclipse. Blood Pack. They're Omega's major players. Unless they're at war, you'll never see them together. But one thing they hate more than each other is Archangel."

"Do you hate Archangel?"

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

"Wow, Archangel really knows how to tick people off," Kaidan mused.

"Yeah, he does." Kacey replied with a smirk, "More so than I realised."

"I appreciate the help, Aria." Kacey replied.

"See if you still feel that way when the mercs realise you're here to help him," Aria replied, "Who's the other person you're looking for?"

"Mordin Solus."

"The salarian doctor? Last I heard he was trying to help plague victims in the quarantine zone. I always liked Mordin. He's as likely to heal you as he is to shoot you. If you're desperate to find him, take a shuttle to the quarantine zone. No guarantee they'll let you in of course."

"Thanks for the information." Kacey said, standing up.

"Yes. Just try not to bring the plague back with you." Aria spat.

Kacey rolled her eyes as she left Aria and walked back downstairs.

"Seems like going after Archangel is the best course of action." Kacey said.

"I agree," Miranda said, "Otherwise, he's going to be killed before we can reach him."

Kacey quickly spotted the recruiter and headed over.

"I hear you're recruiting." Kacey said to the mercenary.

"Hmm." He looked over her briefly, "Why don't you step inside?"

Kacey walked in as another mercenary spoke to a recruit.

"You'll paid when the job's done like everyone else." He said tired, "Who's next?"

As Kacey approached the mercenary, he smiled deviously.

"Well, aren't you sweet?" the batarian said, causing Kacey to roll her eyes, "You're in the wrong place, honey. Strippers' quarters are that way."

Kacey simply glared at the recruiter. She crossed her arms as the merc looked at her unamused.

"Should I be surprised that you stayed calm like that?" Kaidan said, "I don't know how you do it Kacey."

"Do what?" Kacey asked.

"Stay calm and collected all the time," Kaidan replied.

"I wouldn't say all the time." Kacey sighed, "But I try my best. Besides, it isn't the easiest thing to do."

Kaidan took a mental note of her answer as Kacey continued.

"Wow. Not even a smile." The recruiter quipped, "So, you're here to fight then?"

"You could say that." Kacey replied vaguely.

"Standard fee is 500 credits each." the merc said, typing away on his terminal, "You get paid when the job's done. If you die, your friends don't collect your share. You'll need your own weapons and amour…looks like you've got that covered. And no, this does not make you a member of the Blue Suns, Eclipse or Blood Pack. You are a freelancer. Period."

"Wasn't going to ask." Kacey muttered.

"Any questions?"

"Why do you want to take down Archangel?" Kacey asked.

"Haven't been on Omega long, huh?" the merc mused, "He does everything he can to screw with us. Shipments go missing, operations are compromised…every month it gets worse. Tarak and the other bosses are tired of losing credits…and men."

"Tarak?"

"Yeah, Tarak runs the Blue Suns, but all three bosses are overseeing the operation. Tarak is ultimately the one in charge, but the others would never admit it."

"Okay, so where do we go?" Kacey asked, cracking her knuckles.

"Just head over to the transport depot outside the club. One of our boys will take you from there. Send in the next one!"

Kacey turned to leave as the door opened, showing a young man walking in excitedly. Kacey reckoned the boy was somewhere in his late teens-early twenties. And could tell he wasn't up for a task like this.

"Hey, is this where I sigh up?" he said. Kacey turned to face him.

"You look a little young to be freelancing as a merc." Kacey said.

"I'm old enough." he replied defensively, "I grew up on Omega. I know how to use a gun."

"So does Archangel." Jacob replied.

"I can handle myself. Besides I just spent 50 credits on this pistol, and I want to use it!"

"I couldn't let that kid go and face Archangel. He was going to get himself killed, with that defective gun. So, I stopped him, and in turn, saved his life."

Kacey grabbed the kid, ensuring that she had his full attention, "Get your money back."

She let him go and grabbed his gun.

"Hey! What are you—"

She removed the clips and handed the empty gun back to the kid.

"Trust me, kid." She replied calmly, "You'll thank me later."

Kacey turned around and walked back upstairs and exited the club. Once outside, the trio turned right and made their way towards the transit hub. Miranda took a glance at the skyline.

"Omega. What a pisshole." She remarked.

"I couldn't agree more." Kacey replied.

"Yeah but at least, it keeps you on your toes." Miranda said, "I've had to come here on business before. I feel like I need a shower afterward—in addition to the normal decontamination."

"Yeah, I don't blame you." Kacey replied, "I think I'll need one as well."

Once they arrived, they encountered a batarian in the same armour as the recruiter.

"I'm on the mission." Kacey said bluntly to the merc.

"I hope you're ready. Archangel's been annihilating you freelancers."

"Ready when you are."

…

They arrived a lot quicker than Kacey had anticipated. Once the exited the car, another Blue Suns mercenary stood at the entrance, waiting. The transport driver left quickly.

"It's about time they sent me someone who looks like they can actually fight." Salkie said, "They tell you what we're up against?"

"Not really," Kacey replied, "The recruiter was a little vague."

"We wouldn't get many hires if everyone knew the truth." Salkie said truthfully, "Archangel's holed up in a building at the end of the boulevard over there. He's got superior position, and the only way in is over a very exposed bridge. It's a killing ground. But he's getting tired, making mistakes. We'll have him soon enough."

"You guys have a plan?"

"A small team is waiting to infiltrate his hideout," Salkie explained, "but we need to draw Archangel's fire so they can move in."

"And that's where we come in?" Kacey said.

"Exactly." Salkie stated, "You'll be on a distraction team. Head straight over the bridge and keep Archangel busy so the infiltration team can sneak in behind him."

"Sounds like a suicide mission to me." Jacob grunted.

"Yeah, it sounds like one to me too," Kaidan said, "If Archangel is really this tough, maybe we track him down to help with the Reapers."

"You think so?" Kacey smirked.

"Yeah I do." Kaidan replied, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"You'll see."

"Pretty much." Salkie said, "But you look like you can handle it. Head up to the boulevard and get to the third barricade. Talk to Sergeant Cathka. He'll tell you when to go in."

"Well, we better go find Sergeant Cathka." Kacey said.

"Good idea. Watch yourself on the boulevard. Archangel's killed dozens out there already."

Salkie then left, leaving Kacey and the Cerberus agents alone.

"Well, we might have a way in," Jacob said, "but getting out could be interesting."

"We'll cross that bridge once we get to it." Kacey said, "Come on, let's go get him."

…

Getting to Cathka wasn't much of an eventful journey, as Kacey mostly walked past the various mercenaries to get to the Sergeant. Hopefully, they wouldn't have too much trouble leaving, assuming they survived Archangel's fire of course. Once they finally reached the barricade, Kacey headed towards the downed fighter jet, where three humans were standing guard.

"Cathka?"

The humans moved aside as the batarian Sergeant revealed himself, putting down his tools.

"Sergeant Cathka." He corrected, "Ah…you must be the group Salkie mentioned. You're just in time."

"Were you waiting on us?" Kacey asked.

"The infiltration team is about to give us the signal. Archangel won't know what hit him. Got any questions? This is your last chance."

"Are you leading the assault?"

"Ha! Tarak doesn't pay me to fight." Cathka said, "I just plan the attack and fix the damn gunship. You freelancers get the privilege of—"

"Target in sight!" someone shouted.

"Okay. Bravo team! Go, go, go" Cathka said.

Multiple mercenaries darted across the room to the barricade, ready to storm the bridge.

"Archangel's got quite the surprise waiting for him." Cathka said, "But that means no waiting for me."

Cathka went back to the gunship as Kacey turned around and headed towards the barricade with Jacob and Miranda. As they approached, Kacey hoped that she wouldn't die a second time.