Thane could feel his heartbeat pounding against his chest as he moved. He took a slow breath as he lifted the sniper rifle in his hands. The cold seemed to permeate the entirety of the maze of caverns they were in, and while he knew that he couldn't actually feel the cold of this environment, a chill settled over him nonetheless. Something just didn't seem right.

The mission was supposed to be in and out, really. Land, find the desired coordinates, pick up the package listed on the shipment roster, and then leave. There had been no comm activity to alert them of any remaining mercenaries, or even any LOKI mechs to protect the materials they were looking for. It was a simple matter of finding the shipment in the first place. Of course, with Shepard around, nothing was ever that easy. Not unless it meant putting a bullet in someone who deserved it.

He was no stranger to Death. It was something he had faced every day since Irikah's departure from this life. He accepted its necessity, and prayed for those who fell into Death's grasp. Death meant a return to the Sea. The end of what was, and the start of what would be.

Thane exhaled slowly, liquid eyes taking in the whole of the cavern as he noted several points where an enemy could hide. He blinked, peering through the scope of his sniper rifle as he studied each location. "No contacts," he said through the comm link, his raspy voice low and mellow, the tone even. Even if this area felt wrong, he wouldn't let it break his calm.

"Good. Keep a sharp eye out for possible enemy activity. I don't like the layout of this place. Too many shadows. Stay focused." Shepard's voice was rich, sharp with a militaristic tint to the tone.

"Understood," he replied, eyelids flickering as he continued to keep a close watch on the path Shepard was taking.

"Try not to lose sight of us. It's not like we'll be hard to see or anything. Oh wait...Nah. We should be fine. Dark caverns are probably one of the safer things we go through."

A turian followed Shepard closely, dim light reflecting from his blue armor as he moved, avian head swiveling from side to side. Thane's brow rose at the comment from his teammate, but he said nothing.

"What is it about places like these that bad guys like? It can't be the location, Shepard. The lighting is terrible."

"Oh, you know, Garrus. Mercs don't like seeing your ugly face in bright light. Scares off the newbies."

Thane couldn't help the wry chuckle at Shepard's reply. There were times he envied the ease with which the two worked together. Sometimes it seemed as though they could read each others minds.

A single move from Shepard, and Garrus would take point, rifle raised to take out an enemy with the barest touch to the trigger. A twitch of his mandible, and Shepard would throw a shockwave right into incoming enemies. The moves were flawless, almost second nature. They were the kind of actions that needed no direction. The kind gained only through being in countless battles together.

Thane had memorized each tactic, adapting his own moves to suit Shepard's. He knew when to give suppressing fire, taking down stragglers as Shepard would flare brilliant, blinding blue, charging head first into a nearby enemy. His own biotics would thrum in harmony with hers as he would warp an enemy just as she'd pull them closer with her own manipulations of dark energy, right into a flurry of gunfire. But all of these tactics were planned in his mind long before he used them.

It was easy to work with Shepard, even for someone like himself. He was so accustomed to working alone, but Shepard had adapted, giving him directions that allowed him to utilize his skills. Directions that allowed him to work with others instead of remaining strictly on his own. It was amazing, really.

A flicker of movement caught his attention and he turned his rifle, eyes locked on one of the shadowed archways at the opposite side of the cavern. "Movement in the northeast corridor," he said quietly through the comm. He watched the open archway for a moment before moving silently, keeping to the shadows as he headed towards Shepard and Garrus, the muzzle of his rifle trained on the open archway.

"Dammit," Shepard cursed, her voice harsh over the comm. "How many, Thane?"

"One. Maybe two. They slipped into the corridor leading into the labyrinth." He was already in motion, slipping behind a column, lifting the rifle again, peering through the scope. Another shadowed movement caught his eye and he counted silently. "Two," he corrected.

"Garrus you take the left side. Watch for mechs. I'll take point. Thane, cover me."

"You got it, Shepard." The turian's voice had changed. Before, it had been jovial and teasing in nature, but now it was serious. All business. Even Garrus' body language had shifted to predatory as he moved, slinking in the direction Shepard had directed him.

Thane lifted his chin, watching carefully as Garrus took his place by the archway, glancing through before giving Shepard a sharp nod. She raised her heavy pistol and stepped through the doorway, moving with practiced ease. From his vantage point and through the scope of his favorite rifle,Thane could see a breath of air shift several silken strands of crimson hair from her cheek. He could see the muscles in her cheek clench and relax as she turned her head to nod at Garrus in silence. The turian took one step and then there was a sickeningly loud crack that reverberated through the room. A low rumble warned of the shifting rock as the archway split and chunks of stone started to drop.

"Shepard!"

Thane watched as everything seemed to move in slow motion, his heart stopping in his chest. Garrus shouted, reaching out one arm to shove Shepard out of the way of a boulder as it crashed into the stone floor, dust filling the air, obscuring everything from sight.

Thane didn't know when he'd started moving, but he was running full-speed towards the collapsed archway, slinging his rifle back into it's usual place on his back. He coughed, his lungs burning as he inhaled bits of dust. His eyes narrowed as he came to a stop, heart pounding wildly in his chest as he crouched, hands brushing bits of rock and stone as he searched, blinded by the dust that was taking a long time to settle. A second rumble shook the ground beneath his feet and his jaw tightened. It was far too dangerous to remain here. They had to leave. Now.

His fingers touched slick, hot liquid and his heart stopped. The acrid scent of blood filled his nose, and his eyes widened slightly. Shepard? No...too metallic. Turian...Garrus. He pushed Shepard out of the way...

A low coughing groan shook him from his thoughts as the dust settled, revealing Garrus' prone form. Thane's eyes widened slightly at the large rock that had both of the turian's legs pinned. Garrus moaned and went still. He made a quick glance to where the archway was...well, to where it had been. A pile of rubble blocked his way. He cursed silently, shaking his head.

Thane moved quickly, bracing himself to shift the large rock from where it pinned Garrus' legs. He checked the turian for additional wounds, moving quickly, pulling medigel from a pocket in his coat. Garrus had taken a hard hit to his head in addition to the rocks that had nearly crushed his legs, dark blood pooling from a gash to his already scarred cheek. Thane dabbed some medigel on the wound and once satisfied, he stood, frowning at the rubble with unease. He had no idea if Shepard was all right, or if she was even alive. The thought made him sick.

His lips parted as he prepared to raise her on the comm. A sharp static burst stopped him, and he froze, eyes widening slightly.

"-you get her?-ch was with a couple—aliens."

Static.

"Transport's ready. -use the sedative. Dumb—fell for it. Just like—said she would."

"Take her- back to base."

His heart clenched in his chest. A trap? How could they have known? Who was behind this? A hundred thousand thoughts tore through his mind as he listened to the chatter on the comm, recording it with his omnitool.

"Finch said—better than this. -most too easy."

"Shut up! You don't know—comms might be open. Hurry up!"

The comm went silent, and Thane could feel his insides churning with something he wasn't prepared to admit. Fear. Anger. Sorrow. Fury. Someone had taken her. Shepard. Reiya. His siha.

And they were going to pay.