Disclaimer: I don't own anything from either the Halo or Mass Effect universes. Sadly I probably don't even have the claim over Karen because though I created her, she is everything Commander Shepard from the game is.

A/N: First I want to apologize for the shortness of this chapter, but with Mass Effect 2 having just come out I figured a little was better than nothing until I beat it a second time. Secondly plenty of you alerted me to the fact that I said they were going to one planet but arrived at another. That's the large downside to not having a proof reader(beta reader?). At least the large majority of you knew what I meant. So in short I'm sorry, I'll try harder and the next chapter will be regular length. As always I hope you enjoy and feel free to leave a review of some sort.

BrazeRancor: Yeah she does! As for your talk about the shielding and weaponry....I'm not an engineer or anything of a sort close to it....so let's just pretend OK?

DmacIntosh: Thanks, but it doesn't really make me feel better to hear your mom broke her ankle. Unless of course she is mean or something, but thats besides the point.

infernothechinchilla: That is the only thing my fan fiction is missing at this point...some Chuck Norris.

Tom: That's what I meant more or less. My wording isn't always the best. Hard to explain some ideas ya know?

Anime Fan Team: I think the closest John has EVER come to anything even close to a relationship is Cortana, and if she finds a way to "put out" for him...well let me know how that goes.

Eipok: I doubt you'll be as surprised as you might think at the outcome of it.

Charioteer: You're only one of many that informed me of that, addressed it above.

grasshopper named octavis: It's a shame your fan fiction fell apart, without anyone pushing me I really hope this one doesn't get out from under me.

CreepyReaper: It saddens me to hear that! :'(

Mechwar: I'm trying my best I promise.

Infamous Anh: I like to imagine that the MJOLNIR suit has a built in shower system, but I actually had a shower planned for him soon enough. So no worries, and thanks. :)

Karen's head lolled to the side, her breath having much difficulty reaching her lungs. As the Geth Juggernaut tightened it's grip on her throat she could only think one thing, 'where the fuck is Williams?!' Her vision starting to blur she found herself thanking the God she didn't believe in for the sight of green crashing into the Geth, causing her to fall to the ground.

John felt immense satisfaction as his bulk slammed into the large machine. Their shields clashed and flared as "old" technology and "new" technology battled. More advanced as it might be, the Geth's shielding just didn't have as large a power source behind it as John's, and it failed as the two smashed into the wall of the hallway, creating a crater and sending the Juggernaut's gun skidding along the ground. Pulling back a fist to strike, the Geth reacted first hitting John in the side of the head with a big metal fist. Unfortunately for the Geth it would take much more than that to even faze a SPARTAN. Ignoring the blow John punched forcefully against the chest of the machine. A fist sized dent, nothing more. No time for much else he reinforced his point by punching home again, and again, and again, and again, finally smashing through the armor plating and reaching into the Geth's mechanized guts.

Karen had propped herself against the wall to sit and watch the fight. Seeing John pull various cords and other items out of the Geth made her feel safe again, for the time being. Finished with the small annoyance, John offered Karen a helping hand to her feet.

"My hero I suppose?" Karen asked once to her feet. John simply shrugged in response. "Psh, whatever. Let's just get over to the ExoGeni building and find out whats up."

John, Karen, and Ashley weren't more than a third of the way across the Skyway when they had noticed the large Geth ship attached to the ExoGeni building. There was a little 'What the hell is that for?' and a bit of 'How the fuck should I know?'. Cortana quickly advised they simply figure it out once inside the building and soon the Mako 35 IFV was rolling to a stop at the opposite end of the Skyway.

"50 credits says there's more Geth in the building than there was on the way here." Karen offered a bet to either of the other two.

"I'll take that bet Commander" Ashley said as she slipped out of the Mako. John exited the Mako last and spent a minute stretching his aching limbs. The Mako could hold four normal Humans, albeit not very comfortably. John was, of course, not a normal Human. He was cramped inside the vehicle and the ride wasn't exactly short.

"C'mon, the sooner we get inside the quicker you cough up those 50 credits Williams." Karen led them to the entrance which, as luck would have it, was blocked off with a energy barrier.

"We just can't catch a break can we?" Ashley complained when they discovered the barrier.

"What do you think?" Karen sighed while pointing at it.

"Any input Cortana?" John asked the expert for her opinion.

"I'll venture a pretty accurate guess that it's being powered by that Geth ship we saw attached to the outside of the building."

"Through or around then?" John queried.

"I've run several hundred calculations Chief. You're going around, start walking."

It didn't take longer than a minute of searching for the three of them to find what was assumed to be a maintenance tunnel. As soon as they entered the tunnel a gunshot sounded and John watched as a bullet was harmlessly absorbed by his shields.

"I'm sorry" an obviously scared woman stepped from behind some partial cover to talk to them. "I thought you were Geth, or those damned Varren."

"You should be more careful" Karen said with crossed arms and a ticked look on her face. "Shooting people can get you killed. Besides what good would attacking a group of Geth with a pistol do?"

"I'm not sure" the woman stammered.

"See this is why I hate civilians" Karen sighed and turned to walk a few steps away. "You're wearing an ExoGeni uniform, so tell me what the Geth would want from here."

"I don't have a single clue, I'm just an employee."

"Look, I'm here to destroy the Geth, hey took over and instead of running like everyone else obviously did you stayed behind. There's a reason you stayed behind and I would bet my Spectre status that it's the same reason the Geth are here. Now you're going to tell me before things get violent, right?" Karen gave a devious smile as she finished.

"OK. I'm not sure but it probably has something to do with the Thorian" she answered, not wanting to further upset a well armed Spectre.

"What the hell is a Thorian?" Ashley asked.

"Not a clue. Nothing about it in the data I downloaded from various places" Cortana responded. John simply shrugged his shoulders.

"It's an indigenous life form that ExoGeni was studying."

"That sure tells us a lot" Karen said sarcastically. "What else can you tell me about it?"

"Not much" the woman replied nervously. "you might be able to find out more inside, since you're going in anyways."

"Yeah, yeah" Karen sighed. "I figured as much. Just, I don't know, wait here for us. I suppose we can take you back with us once we are done here."

"Thank you so much. Be careful though, there are Varren around here somewhere" she warned. As if waiting for a cue there were barks, grunts, and whines as a pack of wild Varren came out of hiding places to attack the group. John could only entertain thoughts of where the dog like creatures had come from, seeing as how they were very high up, as the name Skyway would leave you to believe.