The Elusive Man
By Lord Raa
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Disclaim-me-do: I need to change my pants.
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Part 2
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Yvonne Lawson shivered in pleasure at the stern talking to she’d received from Commander Shepard.
If any other man had spoken to her like that, she’d have them fed to hungry varren.
But this was Commander Shepard. A man capable of surviving being eaten by a thresher maw. The man who managed to get a Krogan to work with a Turian. The man who saved the Citadel.
The man who would father her children.
“Yvonne… is everything alright?”
“What? Oh, yes Father. I was just talking with Commander Shepard. He’s agreed to help stop the Collectors,” the redhead answered.
“I can’t help but feel that you’re a little obsessed with Commander Shepard,” Henry Lawson said disapprovingly.
“The Commander is a good person, Father. He’s saved countless lives – if he could have saved both Alenko and Williams on Virmire in exchange for his own, he would have. He’s strong willed; any number of his combat missions would have broken a lesser human. That’s not to mention Mindoir…”
Henry Lawson sighed. He knew that Yvonne wasn’t going to change her opinion of Commander Shepard any time soon. “Do you even know what his first name is?”
“Of course I do, Father. I know all about him. His name is Stormtrooper.”
“You’re in love with a man known as Stormtrooper. Just let that sink in for a moment. Do you really think that a man like that is suitable for a normal life? That’d be like falling for a pirate called ‘Throat Slasher’ and wondering why people start leaking blood everywhere!”
“No, Father. He’s not known as Stormtrooper,” the redhead corrected. “That’s his actual name – I’ve got a copy of his birth certificate. His parents named him Stormtrooper. A perfect case of nominative determinism if ever I saw one.”
The businessman sighed. “And how is that any better, Yvonne?”
“It just is, Father. And before you get any ideas about trying to stop me, remember what happened to the Illusive Man.”
Henry Lawson held his hands up in defeat. “Alright, I won’t stand in your way, but when it all goes wrong, I will remind you that I told you so. Repeatedly.”
“And when I present you with your grandchildren, I will remind you about how awesome I am and how I told YOU so,” Yvonne smirked. ‘Best not do that in front of the Commander though. I don’t want him to think that I’m petty and small minded. Like that Williams bitch…’
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Commander Shepard looked at the new Normandy with Joker.
“She’s a beauty, there’s no doubting that, Joker.”
“Yeah, bigger, faster, stronger, harder,” the bearded pilot nodded. “Shame our work is never over.”
“There’s always someone trying to save the galaxy from. First Saren, his Geth and Sovereign, now the Collectors. Soon, it’ll be the Reapers themselves.”
“Jeez, you’re cheery today, Commander. Come on, let’s get on board and you can see all our new toys.”
“Right behind you, Joker.”
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“Welcome aboard, Commander Shepard,” a synthesised voice greeted as the former Spectre stepped onto CIC with Jacob, Miranda and Joker.
“Is that an AI? Aren’t they dangerous?”
“Well, yes, but we know what we’re doing,” Miranda insisted.
“If you say so, Miranda. So then, Computer, where do you think we should first?” Shepard asked.
“Omega, since we will need Mordin Solus to start work on counteracting the stasis effect of the Collectors.”
“Joker, set course for Omega,” the Spectre said, waving his hand towards the cockpit. “I’m going to take a look around, get to know my crew.”
“Aye, sir,” the pilot said as he hobbled into his seat and started the launch sequence.
When he reached the galactic map, a young woman snapped to attention.
“Yeoman Kelly Chambers at your service, Sir,” she saluted.
“Yeoman,” Shepard returned the salute. “So, what are your duties aboard the Normandy?”
“I’m your assistant, Sir, I keep track of your messages,” the redhead answered. “I also observe the crew and act as a counsellor. This is going to be a stressful mission, and we need to keep everyone at peak efficiency.”
“Very good, Yeoman,” Shepard smiled.
“Y-you can call me Kelly if you like, Sir…” the yeoman blurted out, her cheeks colouring. ‘I can’t believe I’m working with THE Commander Shepard!’
“If it’ll make you comfortable, then I will. And to be honest, I’ve never been big on formalities. If you’ll excuse me, Kelly, I need to familiarise myself with the rest of the Normandy.”
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Doctor Karin Chakwas looked up from her computer screen when she heard the voice behind her.
“Doctor Chakwas? I can’t say that I expected to see you here on a Cerberus ship.”
“I don’t work for Cerberus, Commander,” the physician replied as she turned around in her chair. “I work for you.”
“Regardless, I’m glad to have you on board,” the Spectre smiled. “So, what happened after the destruction of the old Normandy?”
“I was stationed on Mars, but while I was helping soldiers, it didn’t feel the same. It was too safe. I guess that I just missed the excitement of serving on a starship.”
“Don’t forget that the last time we served together, we had so much excitement the ship got destroyed. This mission’s not going to be any easier than stopping Saren.”
“I believe in you, Commander. You will save us, that’s what you do.”
“No pressure, then,” Shepard grinned at his friend.
“None whatsoever, Commander,” the doctor grinned right back at him.
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Flanked by Jacob and Miranda, Shepard stepped out of the Normandy’s airlock, his keen vision scanning the area for threats. He was surprised to see a Salarian rush up and greet him.
“Ah, Commander Shepard…”
“Beat it, Fargut,” a Batarian growled, scaring off the Salarian. “Aria T’Loak wants to speak to you. You can find her in her club, Afterlife.”
“Can I now?” the Spectre replied. His hand moved towards his hip for his pistol.
“Aria runs Omega. So what Aria wants, Aria gets. You. Afterlife. Now.”
The Batarian turned on his heel and departed, leaving the trio of humans to make their own way to Aria T’Loak.
They followed the corridor to see a human in armour punishing a Batarian.
“What’s going on here?” Shepard asked.
“Please… help me…” the injured alien begged.
“No-one said you could talk,” the surly, Australian-accented man said, punching the Batarian in the face.
“I’m not a fan of beating up defenceless people,” the Spectre said in a warning tone.
“Ah, you must be Shepard. I’ve heard about you,” the scarred man said turning to face the trio. “This poor bastard pissed off someone rich enough to pay me to bring him in alive.”
“And you are?”
“Zaeed Massani. The Illusive Man hired me to assist in your little suicide mission.”
“Yeah, I read a brief dossier on you. You don’t seem like the sort to take a suicide mission.”
“Most suicide missions don’t pay what Cerberus is paying me,” Zaeed smirked. “But there is one other thing to take care of.”
“There’s always some other thing to take care of. It’s like my life if one big quest,” Shepard sighed. “What is it?”
“I need some help getting revenge. You ever hear the name Vido Santiago?”
“Can’t say that I have. What’s he done?”
“We used to work together in the Blue Suns. We had a falling out and he betrayed me. Don’t worry, I’ll kill him myself. I just need your help getting to him,” Zaeed clarified.
“Welcome aboard,” Shepard said as he extended a hand to the mercenary.
The Batarian took the opportunity to make a bid for freedom as the two men shook hands, only to fall victim to the mercenary’s quick reflexes. Zaeed hit his prisoner in the leg with a single shot.
“I’ll see on board the Normandy,” the scarred man said as he dragged his bounty away.
Shepard turned to Miranda. “See, I’m not such a bad person, am I?”
The biotic woman shook her head. “Let’s get to Aria before we catch something nasty from this dump.”
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Aria T’Loak wasn’t terribly impressed with Commander Shepard. Sure, he wasn’t the ugliest human she’d seen, but he didn’t look like the invincible killing machine that his reputation suggested.
“You don’t seem that bothered that I’m here.”
“I’m not. Unless you start interfering with things. Then we’re going to have a problem. There’s one rule on Omega: Don’t fuck with Aria.”
“We’re cut from the same cloth: neither of us likes being messed around. What can you tell me about Mordin Solus?”
“He’s a Salarian doctor. He keeps to himself and doesn’t like to bother people, which is good. But the thing I like most about him is that he’s practical; I heard he took out some Blue Suns mercenaries that tried to shake him down for protection money,” the Asari answered. “Just don’t get him talking – he doesn’t shut up.”
“I see,” the human nodded. “What do you know about a man named Archangel?”
“Every criminal organisation around here hates him. Eclipse, Blood Pack and the Blue Suns all want him dead for the trouble he’s caused them.”
“Sounds like just the person I’m looking for.”
“Ha,” Aria snorted in derision. “Well, if you want to find him, there’s a mercenary recruiting freelancers for the big push downstairs.”
“Thanks,” Shepard said as he rose to his feet.
“One last thing, Shepard… Is it true you killed a thresher maw single-handed?”
“Yeah. I used my biotics to burst through it after it swallowed me. Why do you ask?”
“You have a reputation and I’m trying to determine how much of it is bullshit,” Aria answered. “Some versions of the story don’t mention biotics, so I was curious as to what you’d say.”
“I’ve got a galaxy to save, Aria,” the human replied. “I don’t have time to bullshit people.”
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It had taken only a little bit of negotiating with the Turian guarding the quarantine zone to let Shepard through to track down Mordin.
Miranda’s statement that it was a simple task to locate the Salarian and that Zaeed wasn’t necessary had been reasonably logical, up until the fourth Vorcha ambush.
The Spectre glared at the biotic woman.
“Hey, how was I supposed to know how many damned Vorcha were down here?” Miranda scowled.
“You’re right. I’m being unreasonable,” Shepard conceded as he opened the door to Mordin’s clinic.
“Don’t try anything,” a receptionist warned, gesturing to some armed mechs.
“We’re here to talk to Doctor Mordin Solus. Where is he?” Jacob said, hoping that there wouldn’t be too much friction between Shepard and Miranda.
“He’s through there.”
“Thank you,” the black man smiled.
Mordin Solus was quickly issuing instructions to his assistants. He looked up to see who had just entered the room.
“Armour not covered in normal mercenary liveries. Too well equipped for local criminals. Outsiders, but who? Omega too far from Earth Alliance space for standard military jurisdiction. Terra Firma unlikely to come to Omega. Only logical conclusion is that you are Cerberus.”
“That we are,” Miranda confirmed.
“I’m Commander Shepard and I’m here to recruit you for a mission. The Collectors are abducting human colonies and I’ve got to stop them.”
“Yes, the Collectors. Suspected that they had involvement in this plague. The virus DNA has been engineered. Curious as to why it doesn’t affect humans,” the Salarian mused.
“It doesn’t affect the Vorcha, either,” Shepard added. “They could be behind it.”
“Vorcha immune to disease, true. But the Vorcha are too savage, too primitive to create a sophisticated plague like this. No, they are just the vectors.”
“Will you help us?” the Spectre asked.
“Yes. But must stop plague here first. Also, need to find my assistant, Daniel. He left to help others, but I fear he has been captured,” Mordin sniffed. “Told him not to go, but he said he had to help those who couldn’t make it to the clinic.”
“If he’s out there, we’ll find him,” Shepard said reassuring the scientist. “How are we supposed to stop the plague?”
“Airborne antidote, but must be dispersed via the environmental system.”
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After the distribution of the antidote, Mordin Solus was being formally inducted into the Normandy crew.
“Synthesised voice, but with inflections… AI?”
“Yes. My designation is EDI,” the ships computer answered.
“Cerberus has impressive assets at its disposal,” Mordin noted. “Will make data analysis easier.”
“I’ll show you to the lab,” Jacob said, saluting the Commander.
When they were alone, Shepard turned to Miranda.
“Shepard about the assessment, I…”
“Miranda, what happened is that we, the team, underestimated just how difficult that task was going to be. Given that we have to stop advanced aliens that managed to carve up the old Normandy like it was pumpkin, it’s easy for us to focus on big picture rather than the immediate task that’s on hand,” the Spectre said calmly.
Miranda blinked. “You’re not angry? When we were on the mission, I could tell…”
Shepard shook his head. “Miranda, I might have been unhappy, but chewing you out in the middle of a fire fight isn’t going to change that we underestimated the situation. What am I supposed to do, toss you out the airlock? We are going to be outnumbered every step of the way. That means we have to use our heads so we can use our guns more efficiently.”
“Understood,” the Australian accented woman nodded. ‘Yes, I can see why the Illusive Man wanted Shepard to lead this mission.’
“Good. Now, tell Joker to set course for the Citadel. I want to check in with Captain Anderson.”
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The Illusive Man was negotiating with Kasumi Goto for the use of her services.
“And just what is it that you think that I can do for you?” asked the thief.
“¬I take it you’re aware of the disappearances of human colonists?¬”
“Yes. The Alliance doesn’t seem to know what to do about it.”
“¬But I do,¬” the Illusive Man smiled.
“I’m good, but I can’t steal the colonists back from the Collectors.”
“¬I fear that those who have been abducted have already been lost. But I have taken steps to prevent further Collectors attacks on humans.¬”
Kasumi cast a sceptical eye over the hologram in front of her. “Short of shutting down the relay network, I don’t see what you can... Wait... a little bird told me that you’re behind Commander Shepard’s return. Is he part of your plan?”
The Illusive Man smiled. “¬Can you think of a better man to lead the mission than Commander Shepard? You have skills that he will need. Of course, you’ll be well compensated for your time. In addition, I believe that he will be able to retrieve the grey box that Donovan Hock stole...¬”
“All right, I’ll help you.”
“¬Excellent. Oh, one last thing, it’s unlikely that we will have direct contact like this again. However, you may find yourself contacted by a young woman called Yvonne. She may have some other work for you. It’s nothing dangerous, but it’s good money for minor inconvenience.¬”
“Understood.”
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Having cut the communication link, Yvonne Lawson allowed herself a giggle. ‘Yes, Kasumi Goto, the greatest thief in the galaxy, will finally allow me to get my hands on my greatest treasure…’
Yvonne knew that her father wouldn’t approve of her desire for what would be the crowning glory of her shrine, but he was a fool in all matters but those of business.
Henry Lawson thought that he could control his eldest daughter, Miranda. When that failed, he tried again, only for Miranda to take Oriana away from him. He thought that the Illusive Man would allow him to get Oriana back without a struggle from Miranda.
That was never going to happen – Miranda would never stand for what she saw as the enslavement of others. Despite what her father thought, the ends did not always justify the means.
Yvonne was following in his footsteps in that she was ensuring that the human race thrived in the galactic community, but she didn’t feel the same enthusiasm for human dominance that the Illusive Man had felt.
She knew the difference between anti-alien and pro-human, but that didn’t mean that she felt comfortable pulling strings and manipulating people to achieve Cerberus’ goals.
The best way for humanity’s standing to improve in the galactic arena would be for it to win the battle for hearts and minds. Stopping Sovereign was a key part of that battle, but it wasn’t enough.
Especially since the Council wanted to keep people calm and carry on. A war footing would not help if there was no enemy to be fought.
No, things had to be as normal as possible. Yvonne understood that.
However, she was now in control of Cerberus’ considerable resources. Perhaps, once the Collectors had been stopped, she could convince Commander Shepard to take control of Cerberus and use these resources to protect the galaxy from the Reapers?
All it would take for such a helping hand for the galaxy would be marriage to a beautiful young woman. Hardly the biggest sacrifice Shepard could possibly be asked to make.
Even if that wasn’t enough, perhaps the dowry of her father’s business empire would be enough to sweeten the deal?
Once the Reapers were defeated, the Commander would have earned some time off. And a honeymoon would be a great way to spend that time off.
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“¬Commander, we’re coming up to the Citadel,¬” Joker announced over the comm.
“Thanks, Joker. I’ll be right down,” Shepard replied. He looked at the newest dossier that had been sent to him. ‘A thief? I’m not sure I approve, but I need all the help I can get. At least I won’t have to go far to find her.’
Activating the comm. system, the Commander told Miranda and Zaeed to meet at the airlock before putting on his armour.
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Armando Bailey looked up from his computer screen at Commander Shepard. “It says here you’re dead. You weren’t using it as a tax dodge, were you?”
“I was declared MIA a couple of years back. To be honest, it’s getting pretty annoying having to tell people I’m not dead,” Shepard admitted. “What do you mean tax dodge?”
“Some people think that by spending a year dead, they can reduce their tax liabilities. I’m not sure cost effective it is to actually be brought back from the dead. The amount it would cost would dwarf any actual income tax owed unless you were Henry Lawson,” Bailey explained.
Miranda frowned for a moment. ‘Why can’t I escape my father?’
“But I can see you’re actually alive and now with a few keystrokes, I have updated your records.”
Shepard looked thoughtful for a moment. “Wait, won’t that get both of us into trouble?”
“I just saved you weeks of running round trying to get appointments with various bureaucrats.”
“In that case, thank you,” Shepard smiled. “I hate having to deal with red tape.”
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Captain Anderson was surprised to see Commander Shepard walk into his office with Zaeed Massani and Miranda Lawson.
“Shepard?”
“Captain,” the resurrected man smiled as he shook his friend’s hand. “How’s it going?”
“I’m on the line with the Council.”
“¬I see that the rumours of your return are true,¬” the Salarian councillor mused.
“Yeah. I was dead, but Cerberus brought me back. Listen, what are you doing about the Collector attacks on human colonies?”
“¬There’s not a lot we can do, Commander Shepard,¬” the Asari councillor admitted. “¬It is a human affair.¬”
“But the Collectors are working with the Reapers,” Shepard insisted.
“¬Ah yes, the ‘Reapers’. We have investigated that claim and found it lacking credibility,¬” the Turian councillor said dismissively.
“… What about Sovereign? Didn’t that prove anything?”
“¬Saren was a charismatic individual who managed to procure an advanced ship from the Geth. He was very persuasive,¬” the Asari replied.
“… Alright, if you say so. What about the Collectors? Are you going to let me go about my investigation?” Shepard asked. He was beginning to wonder if this part of his visit was a waste of time.
The Council looked at each other. “¬I believe that it would be best if you were the one to conduct this investigation into the attacks on human colonies,¬” the Salarian stated. “¬We will reinstate your Spectre status on the condition that you restrict your activities to the Terminus systems.¬”
“Thank you,” the Spectre nodded respectfully.
“¬Captain Anderson, we have other business to attend to,¬” the Turian said before the signal was cut off.
“That was surprisingly civil of you,” Zaeed mused. “Not one swear word.”
“No sense in burning bridges,” Shepard shrugged. “So, Captain-”
The door opened and in walked Councillor Udina.
“What’s going on here?” he demanded. “Shepard?”
“We were discussing the Collector attacks with the Council.”
“Without me?” Udina protested. “That’s a massive breach in protocol!”
Shepard rolled his eyes. “That’s one way of looking at it. Another is that Captain Anderson was securing my reinstatement as a Spectre allowing me to stop the Collectors without any political fallout for the Council.”
“Yes… that’s a good way to spin things. I’m not happy that you went over my head, Anderson, but I’ll see what I can do to help,” the Councillor said as he left for his private office.
“So, you’re still alive,” Anderson said as he looked out from the balcony.
“Yeah.”
The older man smiled for a moment. “And now you’re working with Cerberus.”
“They’re the only ones who can stop the Collectors. What else was I supposed to do, Captain?” Shepard asked.
Anderson let out a chuckle. “That’s the Shepard I know – always trying to save as many as possible.”
Anderson’s omnitool sparked into life. “¬Anderson, I need you in my office.¬”
“We’ll talk later, Captain,” Shepard saluted before shaking hands with his former CO.
When they were alone, Zaeed took a look at the view. “Prothean architecture certainly beats Omega.”
“It’s like nothing else,” Miranda commented approvingly.
“It’s not Prothean,” the Spectre corrected. “The Citadel, the mass relays, all created by the Reapers.”
“Who told you that?” asked the mercenary.
“Sovereign did. It’s part of the Reapers’ plan to direct our development down a certain path. Anyway, I need to find this Kasumi Goto person. The Illusive Man thinks that she’ll be a great asset on our mission.”
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To be continued…