After a few long seconds of silence, Garrus's rifle sounded twice more, accompanied by a shout of "Hostile contacts!" from the man himself. A chorus of new weapons answered the Incisor's call from the other side of the Normandy.

Tali and James ran for the nearest cover, a chest-high rock pile under the ship's nose. Once in this relatively safe position, Tali did a quick evaluation of threats and assets.

Peeking around the boulders, she could see the assailants scrambling for cover of their own. Along with roughly twenty standard Cerberus troopers, she could make out at least four Guardians, a pair of engineers, a lone Centurion shouting orders from the rear, and a handful of Dragoons. There were also faint shimmering patches that an untrained eye might mistake for heat haze, but Tali knew masked the presence of Phantoms.

Garrus was still firing from the Normandy's roof, giving him height advantage and a good view of targets, but little in the way of cover. James was unarmored and unarmed, but did have a weak shield generator strapped to his belt. Tali, on the other hand, had very strong shields built into her suit, and carried both her weapons nearly everywhere except on the ship or in Shepard's apartment. Paranoid, perhaps, but this was far from the first time she had needed them on such short notice. She drew the Carnifex for herself and handed the Eviscerator to James, then set her omni-tool to combat mode. A series of holographic buttons appeared around her left hand, positions carefully arranged to be easy to reach but hard to hit accidentally.

"Try to stick to cover and watch our flank," she said. "I'll help Garrus try to thin them out as much as possible." James nodded in agreement and began scanning for close-range targets.

Tali pressed one of her omni-tool keys, causing a pair of silver spheres to appear in her hand as her visor made note of remaining fabricator materials. She tossed one of the capsules into the air, and it began to hover and glow blue as the drone came to life.

She stood up and hurled the second drone at a trio of advancing Dragoons.

The familiar pink sphere of Chatika vas Paus bloomed into existence, and began to zap the enemy soldiers. The shock was greatly lessened by their heavy armor, but they predictably turned their attention to drone. Taking advantage of the distraction, Tali rapidly discharged several shots into her foes, dropping two before ducking down to change thermals. As she killed the third, her defense drone shot a bolt of lightning to her side, stunning a Phantom that had gotten in close. She turned to face the biotic swordswoman, but a series of shotgun blasts pulverized the target before she could get a shot off.

"I got your back, Sparks, just keep shooting!" Vega yelled. Tali, nodded in thanks and rose out of cover to check the battlefield once more.

Garrus appeared to have dropped all the Guardians, and his shots continued to seek out high-threat targets. Chatika had made its way into a crowd of troopers, and was regularly hitting them with its chain lightning. Tali decided to assist, dispatching the soldiers easily with the help of her drone.

Suddenly, her shields dropped to near zero as a Nemesis peeked from cover on her right. The sniper did not return to cover quickly enough, however, and Tali pressed another omni-tool button. The Nemesis's shields overloaded and sent a pulse in Tali's direction, refilling her own barriers and stunning the target in the process.

Spotting a nearby engineer attempting to set up a turret, she wirelessly sent a virus in its direction. The auto-gun successfully deployed, but its scrambled friend-or-foe protocol caused it to immediately open fire on its master. The turret mowed down the engineer and Nemesis in rapid succession, then moved on to the remaining troopers. Now the only enemy in sight, the machine quickly fell to combined fire from Garrus and Tali.

After several minutes with no gunfire, Tali was reasonably sure the fighting was over. She turned around to rest against the rocks and check on James. The soldier had kept his promise of watching their flank; the corpses of three Phantoms and a Dragoon littered the ground around him.

"Are you hurt ?" the quarian asked.

"Bullet grazed my arm," he replied. "Hurts like a bitch, but it doesn't look bad. Chakwas'll still want a look at it, probably. You?"

She let her suit run a quick diagnostic. No suit breaches, no new injuries, and the sealed ones were holding. "All good here," she announced.

"What about you, Scars?" Vega shouted. "You hurtin'?'"

"No," Garrus growled as he approached the pair, having made his way down on his own scaffold.

"Sounds like we did alright then," James said cheerily. "Why do you think they waited so long to hit us?"

"Most of our fighters are gone, including all our biotics. Now is the best time to strike. They probably didn't even expect us to be armed," the turian stated.

"I guess so, but they weren't moving right," James replied. "They were slow and didn't work strategically. What do you think is going on there?"

"Don't know," Garrus said, gazing predatorily into the distance. "Lets find out." He continued to march toward the field of Cerberus corpses.

Tali agreed they should look into this, but Garrus's behavior was beginning to worry her. She lowered her voice and turned to address James. "Go tell the crew what happened and get Gabby and Ken to pick up where I left off with the comm repairs. It looks like I might be out here for a while."

Vega nodded and handed her her shotgun before sprinting toward the ramp. Tali stowed the weapon and turned to follow Garrus.

As Javik's particle rifle cut through the last of the helplessly floating troopers, Liara allowed the singularity to collapse, tossing the bodies to the floor. Counting the Phantoms from earlier, they had eliminated exactly fourteen Cerberus grunts.

"Do you sense any more?" Liara asked, sweeping the room with both her eyes and her N7 Hurricane. The prothean was silent for a moment as he focused his perception.

"No," he decided finally. He could neither smell, hear, nor "read" any living creatures aside from the asari and himself.

"Odd," she said nervously, still not entirely convinced. "They've never hit us in such small numbers before. Maybe the colonists did more damage to them then we thought?"

"Perhaps," Javik agreed, "but the that is not the only way the attack was unusual. Surely you noticed the disorganization, the slowed reaction time?"

"Yes, I thought that was odd as well. Any idea what was going on?" The pair kept their weapons drawn but began moving once more. The ruin entrance was only a few bends away. Though Javik was too prideful to say it aloud, they both knew his senses were not completely infallible, and it would be unwise to let their guard down.

"Maybe," Javik stated. "I sensed the same taint I have come to expect from Cerberus, but it was weaker. Whatever is controlling them may have been damaged."

"That's good news, isn't it?" Liara asked "It could be part of whatever the Crucible did."

He had explained this "taint" to Liara in a previous discussion. There was a vague but certain feeling of what could only be called "wrongness" that emanated from deeply indoctrinated individuals. Like a second consciousness that wasn't fully present. Whatever Cerberus had done to vast majority of its field agents left them giving off something similar but different. His best guess was that they were being manipulated by something other than the Reapers, something Cerberus had built. Not that the distinction mattered much. The Illusive Man had clearly fallen to the machines' influences, and any ailment of the mind affects the behavior of the body.

"Perhaps, but it does not fit with our current theory," Javik said. It is unlikely whatever Cerberus uses to exert its control was anywhere near a mass relay." The exit was in sight now.

"The pulse affected the Reapers too," Liara pointed out, "and from what we could see it was radial from each relay, not linear. It very likely hit everything in civilized space."

"We do not know enough to jump to such conclusions. For now it is best to check on the Normandy," the prothean advised.

"And how do you suggest we do that? I still can't get a comm signal out."

"There was no one here when we arrived," he explained. "Our assailants must have brought some form of transportation."

Sure enough, a lone Cerberus Kodiak sat just outside the ruins, only a few yards from the elevator that once carried Javik's stasis pod. The pilot must have been part of the attack squad, as the shuttle was completely empty. Liara took the controls and they lifted off.

"If we're looking for information, shouldn't we stop and search their tools?" Tali asked, carefully stepping around another body. "I know Cerberus designed them to fry when the owner dies, but there's a chance I can still pull some of the data. Get enough different fragments, and I might be able to piece together something useful."

"No need," said Garrus, continuing toward the treeline. "I left one alive, should be able to get everything from his." Reaching their destination, Tali was greeted with the sight of a still breathing, but quite effectively immobilized Centurion. His legs below the knees were useless, the joints having been reduced to a gory mess of blood, shrapnel, and blue cybernetics.

"How did you disarm the ocular bombs?" Tali asked, trying hard not to vomit. Corpses, she was used to, but she'd never seen such grievous wounds on something still alive. She'd also never seen such brutality from Garrus. If the turian worried her before, he terrified her now.

"Modified one of my proxy mines," Garrus clarified, pointing to a glowing, orange disk affixed to his victim's helmet. "Emits a pulse that blocks the remote detonation trigger. Lets see what he knows."

Tali connected her omni-tool to the Centurion's and began to transfer its memory, keeping the unfortunate man's legs out of her view. She could still see his upper body, which suddenly began to move. Frightened, she jumped back and drew her shotgun. In contrast, Garrus casually strode forward and placed a foot on his chest.

"I was hoping he would wake up," Garrus said calmly, almost gleefully. "Maybe this one will even talk for a change."

In response, the Centurion stared at the turian foot restraining him. "This should hurt," he said after several minutes, confused. His gaze moved downward, finding his own mangled legs. "That should hurt!" he shouted, now clearly panicked. He looked up at his captor and pleaded, "Why don't I hurt? What did they do to me?"

"I was hoping you could tell us," Garrus commanded. He put more of his weight on the man. The Centurion might not feel pain, but his choked gasps confirmed he still needed to breathe. "Now." The turian eased the pressure slightly once more to allow him to answer.

"Men in white armor, this armor," he realized, looking at his own chest, "raided our colony, took everyone they didn't kill to some lab. Filled us with machines. I started hearing voices. They made me go places, do things, but I don't remember where or what. I hurt people, killed them but I don't know who or why. Then the voices stopped for a minute, and I started to remember."

The man paused to take several deep breaths, then continued. "Then there was a new voice. Not as loud though. Tried to fight it, but it didn't work." He looked back up at Garrus. "It went away again when you shot me, but I can hear it whispering again. Can you make them stay gone?"

"Maybe if we get him to Chakwas she can help," Tali suggested.

"I don't think so," Garrus replied emotionlessly. "He's filled with Reaper tech and, according to him, It's already starting to take control again. Do we really want him on the ship?"

"No, but we can't just leave him here," Tali pleaded.

"Don't plan on it," Garrus said with a cold grin as he raised his omni-tool. "Your download finish?"

"Yes," she answered, not understanding the relevance.

"Send it to me. I'll take care of our friend here." She complied, and Garrus pressed a button on his tool.

"EDI, let me talk to Gab and Ken," James requested, stepping into the elevator. He pressed the "3" key as he waited for a response.

"Of course," came the AI's calm voice over the intercom. "Engineers Donnely and Daniels, Lieutenant Vega wishes to speak with you."

"What just happened out there, big guy?" Gabby asked. "Sounded like too many guns for Vakarian's target practice."

"I was curious about that as well," EDI added. "Until Ms. Zorah completes repairs, I am effectively blind."

"That's actually what I need to ask the grease monkeys about. We were hit by a Cerberus strike team. Sparks, Scars, and I took em' out, and now they're gonna see if they can get any intel. They don't know how long it'll take, so you two need to get on the sensor installation."

"Cerberus? Is it safe out there?" Ken asked.

"Did anyone get hurt?" added Dr. Chakwas. Apparently EDI had added the med-bay to the call as well.

"Just me," James replied. "Already medi-gelled it, but I'm on my way to see you anyway. As for danger, they should be gone, but I'd take sidearms and hardsuits, just in case."

"We'll get right on it, James." Gabby assured.

EDI terminated the link as the elevator opened on Deck 3. Dr. Chakwas was already waiting with the med-bay door open. James held his wounded arm up as he entered the sterile, white room. Joker looked up at him from the far-most bed.

"Only one damn bullet in the entire firefight breaks shields, and they hit your arm?" The pilot said incredulously. "Those guys must have went completely Stormtrooper since the last time we fought."James nodded as Chakwas poked, prodded, and cleaned his wound.

"It was real weird," the soldier replied. "Not a sign of the creepy hyper-coordination they usually have either."

"Isn't that a good thing?" Joker retorted.

"Maybe," Vega agreed, "but it still doesn't sit right with me. How's it look, Doc?"

"Not bad," she answered. "Closest to a miss I've ever seen. Barely even broke the skin. Just the gel should be fine."

"So I can get back out there? If they do come back I don't want our engineers undefended."

"We're a little short on options at the moment, so I don't see why not," she replied, " Just let me know if it gets irritated."

"Might want your armor this time, too," Joker added. "On this team, paranoia pays off."

With a nod to the pilot and a quick salute to the doctor, James headed once more to the elevator and keyed in Deck five. After stopping at his locker long enough to strap on his armor, visor, Typhoon, and Wraith, he exited via the cargo ramp.

He spotted Tali and Garrus standing around a Centurion. It looked like they were talking to him. Curious, he jogged over to meet them. He arrived just in time to see Garrus hit a command on his omni-tool. The Centurion's head exploded like a melon.

Tali stared at Garrus with abject horror.

"The fuck was that, Scars?" yelped James's voice behind her, echoing her thoughts perfectly.

"You did say we needed to do something about him," Garrus stated, as if had not just killed a man in cold blood. He didn't even look up from his omni-tool.

"Not like that!" She shouted. "He was no threat to us, and you heard him talking! There was still a person in there, no matter what Cerberus did to him. We could have helped!"

"Not likely. Besides, waste of a good mine otherwise." Still unconcerned, Garrus turned to James. "It's good you're back. A team of three will be better when we head out."

"Team for what?" Vega inquired, still in shock.

"Once I break this encryption, we should know where Cerberus is based on this planet. Can't be far," the turian reasoned. "I don't see any sign of a vehicle."

"I don't care if it's right under your damn nose," James hissed. "After what I just saw, I'm not sure I want to go anywhere with you."

Garrus shrugged and continued to type. "Your choice, I'm going either way." He took several long strides away from them. "I'll work over here while you two talk it over."

"What the hell is with him, Sparks?" the marine whispered. "I know he ain't afraid to fight dirty, but executing prisoners is another matter entirely."

"I don't know," Tali replied. "He's not acting like himself at all. He's acting on impulse, he doesn't care who he hurts or offends. I've yet to see any emotion but anger and hatred from him today. And this brutality? I just don't ... No. No." She shook her head and repeated the word several more times.

Realization hit her like a brick. She had seen her friend like this before, once. Almost a year ago on the Citadel.

"Got it!" the turian called, beginning to move. "Just a few miles this way." Tali grabbed James's arm and looked into his eyes.

"We need to follow him, or things get a lot worse," she pleaded. "Oh, keelah, this is bad." Vega could see fear in her stance and the shape of her eyes.

"Alright Sparks, we'll go. What's going on, you're acting like you've seen a ghost." In a way she had. The pair began to run to keep up with Garrus.

James was worried now as well. "Talk to me, Tali, you're seriously creeping me out right now."She turned her head towards him, but did not stop running.

"He isn't acting like himself," she breathed, "because he's not Garrus right now. He's Archangel."

Nearly two weeks late, but at least it's still January. It's clear now my schedule moves more than I thought, so the best I can promise for now is at least one chapter a month, at least until the next major school break. It feels like this should be longer for the amount of time I spent on it, but I'm. Otherwise ok with it. Thought about drawing out the combat more, but I don't think it would really add anything and I'm still not sure I'm great with large scale battles. As always, reviews are appreciated and I'll try to have more soon. We're closer to liftoff than the Word count might lead you to believe.

I'd also like to thank Tsyne-Oblivion, who has volunteered to help edit this and future chapters.

-Swordshade