Foreword

This story is based on "Salvation", which you can read here.

archiveofourown dot org /works/387434/chapters/634868

(sorry for the url format, the editor here disallows links).

Alternately, google : mass effect salvation archiveofourown

"Salvation" is a great story, very well written, which leverages Mass Effect universe and characters to examine a very difficult subject.

"In a universe under the gentle control of the Asari Empire, a chance meeting of two kindred spirits and their part in the salvation of the galaxy is simply fated to happen."

OK, no spoilers. Go read it now, it is worth it.

However, the author apparently abandoned it mid-story, leaving poor little Shepard in a dire situation with no closure in sight. Something had to be done. Honestly, it kept me up until 4AM until Mordin Solus volunteered to help.


This is my horror/trauma take on the story. It is horrible. Well, it talks about slavery, so that is kinda the point.

I made a nice/cute/fluffy version to compensate. Click on my pseudo.

Rated M for extreme psychological horror and insanity. You been warned.

This is Version 2.


Chapter 1

These events happen before Salvation, and concurrently to the first two paragraphs.

I suggest reading Salvation first, then this chapter.

Shameless Retconning ? Not really. None of the characters in Salvation have heard about these events :


After completing an assignment on Thessia, Mordin Solus, STG, was aboard the Destiny Ascension, on his way to the Terminus systems.

While taking a shower in his private cabin, he mentally reviewed the emails he had just received.

« From : STG dispatch To : Operative Solus

When asari will finish their war with humans, chances are high we will be next.

Attached documents are archived intercepts from human organization Cerberus, about operation Blue Horse. This operation aims to delay asari by forcing them to reallocate forces to secondary, real or imaginary threats. Might be interesting for us, or red herring.

By coincidence, Blue Horse is on same ship as you. If possible, investigate, but do not take any risks.

»


Interesting species, humans. Resourceful, creative, eager. Dangerous.

Asari much more dangerous. Gentle in appearance only. Arrogant, superior.

He dried himself, put on his clothes, inspected his look in the mirror, exited the cabin, walked towards the elevator, and recalled the next message.


« Intercept

From : [redacted], Cerberus Noveria, To : [redacted], Cerberus

All attempts to link to the alien artifact caused brain death in test subjects. However, we were able to identify a brain wave pattern common across all subjects prior to death. Brain wave scan of all available personnel yielded several candidates with good correlation to alien wave pattern and acceptable probability of survival [~20%]

We believe the best quality of mental imprinting will be achieved with young subject.

We have a match. Waiting for orders.

»


Solus sighed as the elevator was taking him up.

Cerberus... Always questionable ethics. Rogue science never stops.


« Intercept [reply to previous]

Any agent aware of Operation Blue Horse or subject identity must self-terminate if caught. Identity of subject and payload MUST remain under absolute secrecy. Subject must be unaware. Everything must happen « accidentally ».

Artifact and subject must survive. Other losses are acceptable. Death of subject's friends or relatives will strengthen mental imprinting by tying it to emotional response.

Operation Blue Horse is go. Good luck.

»


He exited the elevator and walked towards the mess hall. Feeling a bit hungry, he picked up a fruit from one of the vending machines. As he entered the hall, his eyes quickly scanned the asari faces. He immediately recognized her, finishing her meal, alone, seemingly lost in thoughts.


« Intercept

From : Shadow Broker, To : [redacted], Cerberus

As requested :

Located ideal asari target : Liara T'Soni.

Young, gullible, inexperienced, often overconfident yet insecure, high interest in Protheans, and head of a powerful house due to a runaway mother. Domination fantasies. Virgin. Unusually kind for her species. A real high value, low hanging fruit.

We arranged for her presence on Destiny Ascension by attracting her to Therum dig site as you requested.

Payment as usual.

»


He walked past her. A few seconds studying her manners and looks confirmed the Broker's psychological profile.

Young test subject. Mental imprint. Prothean beacon. Asari target. Payload is a mind bomb, hidden inside an unsuspecting child. Perfect agent. Information in Beacon must be really worth the risk...

Sorry for you, T'Soni, you are by far not the worst Asari out there, perhaps even one of the best, and that's why you are the ideal target. I wish you survive this and make your kind less annoying. Good luck.

Solus cursed politics and wars, as he headed for the brig.


« Intercept

From : Blue Deep, To : Cerberus

Orders received. Will make sure T'Soni is aware of prisoner and meets her. Payment as usual.

»


Last message.

He saluted the guard, pretended to "check on slave's health, important for resale price", and looked at the redheaded girl through the cell door grille.

Poor girl. Suffering and misery are shared equally among species... except damn asari, always so arrogant. Gentle as they crush you.

If message intercepts are true, she has a Prothean beacon inside her mind. Amazing. Maybe buy her ? Get her out of this ? Experiment on her ? No. She suffered enough. Could save her, make her a lab assistant... set her free. But what if Cerberus was right and her mission succeeds ? Let T'Soni buying her as slave. Make sure beacon fires up T'Soni's brain.

Mordin Solus turned from the door, nodded to the guard and walked. He met T'Soni in the stairway, bumped into her, politely excused himself, and started conversation.

She was an inexperienced archeologist. He was highly trained STG. Ten seconds later, she had confirmed everything he already knew.

He seemed to think for a while, then handed her the fruit he'd had intended as a snack.

"Sanalas. Tastes good for human and asari, nice conversation starter for scared prisoner. Myself, not hungry."

He left.

Fourth time today I feel the urge to make a Genophage for them. Must resist.

.


A/N : Even in an alternate universe, it seems Shepard always has Prothean beacons in her head... and Cerberus' ethics never change.
Also, I wanted Mordin to say hi. He could have done this mission from his desk, since he did nothing at all... but now he's attached to this poor kid, in a way.