A/N: I just wanted to thank everyone for reading my story. I also wanted to ask if anyone thinks that the canon dialog is too much. I've been some, but also trying to change it to better fit my M!Shepard. Please let me know if you think it's too much. At some point there is going to be less, but for now I thought it would be best to have it in to help develop the characters and how they interact with each other. Also wanted to thank everyone who has been following and my new followers Stark' and annrmk. Thank you so much guys! It's because of you guys I keep writing! Please review to let me know how I'm doing.
It didn't long for Shepard, Miranda and Jacob to find Professor Mordin in his clinic on Omega. All they had to do was follow the trail of dead bodies and the stench of burning flesh. So much death lying around it was hard to tell whether they died because of the virus or because of the Blue Suns. Either way Shepard found it disgusting the way that they just left the dead in the streets to rot. These poor bastards deserve better than this. How can people just leave the dead and dying like this in streets?
Entering the clinic the trio got nothing but nasty looks for the patients. Everyone in the quarantine believed that it was the humans, and Shepard had suspicions that it was Cerberus.
"Collectors? Interesting. Plague hitting these slums is engineered. Collectors one of few groups with technology to design it. We may have similar goals," the Professor explained after Shepard had explained their reason for seeking him out. "But must stop plague first. Already have cure. Need to distribute it at environmental control center. Vorcha guarding it. Need to kill them."
"We'll get in there and take care of it," Shepard said as he looked to Jacob and Miranda. Shepard knew that he couldn't leave Omega in this condition; they needed to help the people whether or not they would appreciate it.
Moments later they heard a loud bang, and everything around them seemed to stop. "What the hell was that?" Jacob asked as he looked around the small room.
Mordin blinked his large dark eyes. "Vorcha have shut down environmental systems. Trying to kill everyone. Need to get power back on before district suffocates. Here, take plague cure," he said as he handed Shepard the cure. "Also, bonus in good faith. Weapon from dead Blue Suns mercs. May come in handy against Vorcha.
"One for thing, Daniel, one of my assistants, went into Vorcha territory looking for victims. Hasn't come back," Mordin said before Shepard turned his back to leave.
Shepard nodded, "I'll keep an eye out for him Mordin."
"Thank you. Told him not to go. But he's smart, bright future, I hope," Mordin rambled on.
Before Shepard left he remembered the Batarian that was sick, Mordin promised to send someone to help while he was fixing the environmental system.
The trio made their way through the slums, fighting Vorcha and the Blue Suns along the way. They found Daniel soon enough with a Batarian pointing a gun at his head.
"No, no! Those vials have the cure not the plague!" he said franticly.
"Maybe we cut off your fingers and we'll see how that loosens you…" the enraged Batarian said as he shoved Daniel.
"Look out!" the other Batarian that was leaned against the window said as Shepard and his team came in the room, guns drawn.
"Don't move! One more step and I'll shot your friend!" the latter Batarian said as he pointed his gun at Daniel.
"I know you're afraid. Of the Vorcha. Of the plague, but this man isn't to blame," Shepard said as he continued to reason with the Batarian. "If this man was spreading the plague why would he come into Vorcha territory? They're immune."
"He's right. It doesn't make any sense," the Batarian by the window said as he lowered his weapon slowly.
The Batarian pointing his gun at Daniel grumbled, "If we release the prisoner, will you let us go?"
Shepard kept his gun pointed at the Batarians, "you have my word."
The Batarians lowered their guns. "Let him go," he said before turning to Shepard. "You got what you wanted, human. Are we free to go?"
"You're free to go," Shepard said as he lowered his gun.
"Human nobility. I didn't know such a thing existed," the Batarian said with a shrug before he and his crew walked passed Shepard and his own.
Shepard watched as the Batarians left the room, than turned back to Daniel. The man was twisting his hands nervously as he watched Shepard with worry. "T-thank you. I thought they were going to…. to kill me," he stammered. "Did Mordin send you to find me?"
"The professor could use your help right now. He's got too many patients and not enough volunteers," Shepard said trying to move Daniel along.
"Yeah, okay. I'll go right away. Thanks again. I owe you….well….everything," Daniel stammered again nervously before he left the room.
Shepard watched as Daniel left the room, than turned to his team. "I'm surprised at you Shepard. If that were me I would have killed them anyways," Miranda said as she pulled out her gun again.
Jacob chuckled lightly agreeing as he too pulled out his shotgun.
Shepard eyed his comrades closely. "I keep my promises, remember that," he said making sure they understood every single one of his words.
The trio made their way through the slums, picking off Blue Suns and Vorcha on their way. Shepard was getting used to working with Jacob and Miranda. They worked hard and were always on his six. Whatever he may think about Cerberus, he had to say that Miranda and Jacob were very useful and very well trained. Now that is not saying that he trusted them yet, no he didn't, but he did trust that they wanted what was best for humanity and that's all that mattered at the moment.
It didn't take long for them to reach the environmental system, but not before a Vorcha could stop them. "You no come here. We shut down machines, break fans. Everyone choke and die! Then Collectors make us strong!" he says as he turns back to his other gang members.
Shepard was shocked that the Vorcha even knew that the Collectors existed let alone that the Collectors would have anything to do with such creatures. The Vorcha were not known for their smarts or even their technology. They were a pestilence on society, nothing more, nothing less.
"What do the Collectors want from you?" Shepard asked, needing to know the answer. Whatever these creatures knew, if they knew anything, he had to know.
"The Collectors want plague! You work for doctor, turn on machines, put cure in air. We will kill you first!" the Vorcha says with a great yell, baring his teeth to show his dominance over Shepard and his crew.
With that being said the fight was on. It didn't take long for EDI's smooth voice to come over their comms. telling them where the central control system was and where the cure could be placed. After that was done they would have to turn the fans back on manually, one on each side.
The trio fought their way to the alcove and soon they were making their way to the right side of the room. Wave after wave of Blue Suns came after them. Times like this I seriously wonder if these guys just pop out of the damn ground like daisies.
They seemed to be even worse when the trio started their way to the left. Miranda and Jacob combined their biotics, while Shepard used his sniper rifle to take down the Vorcha that were using grenade launchers from the balcony above.
After Shepard had successfully taken down the last Vorcha, he moved his sights to the Krogan that were charging Jacob and Miranda. He quickly pulled out his assault rifle and killed him after Miranda used Overload to take down his shields.
Shepard had to admit that the more the three of them worked together the easier it seemed. Miranda and Jacob would use their biotics while Shepard came up from behind to fill their enemy with lead. The more they worked together the more they could trust each other, and that was exactly what he wanted, and what needs to happen.
After the trio had gotten the last fan going, they made their way back to the clinic with ease. Shepard figured it was because they had gone through the slums killing the most of the Blue Suns, and the fact that they had destroyed the leader and the rest of the gang yesterday helping Garrus. Shepard wondered to himself how long it would take for the Blue Suns to get back up and running, than he remember that this is Omega and they pop out of the damn ground like daisies.
"Environmental systems engaged. Airborne levels dropping. Patients improving. Vorcha retreating. Well done, Shepard. Thank you," Mordin said over samples he was testing.
"And thank you for me, as well. Those Batarians would have killed me," Daniel said as he fiddled with supplies. "For a second there, I thought you were going to shoot them even after they let me go."
Shepard chuckled lightly. Remembering what he had said to Jacob and Miranda earlier about how he keeps his promises. "I made a promise to spare them if they let you go. I honor my promises."
Mordin's large eyes looked Shepard up and down. "Merciful of you. Would have killed them myself," he said shocked that Shepard would not do the same thing.
Daniel stopped fidgeting with the supplies and turned to Mordin. "Professor? How can you say that? You're a doctor. You believe in helping people," Daniel said with shock in his voice.
Mordin turned to Daniel, his large dark eyes fixed on the young man. "Lots of ways to help people. Sometimes heal people. Sometimes execute dangerous people. Either way helps," he says very matter-of-factly.
In some ways Shepard had to agree with the doctor. There were times in his career that killing someone was what was needed, Saren being the perfect example. There was no way that he could let that man walk away with what he had done. Sometimes people really did need to be put down.
"Go check on the patients. Lots of work to do. Think about what I said," Mordin said as he patted his apprentice on the shoulder. They watched as Daniel left the room. "Good kid. Bit naïve. Letting him take over clinic. Should be able to handle it now that Vorcha are gone."
"We've cured the plague. Are you ready to help stop the Collectors?" Shepard asked as he looked around the room.
"Yes. Unexpected to be working with Cerberus. Many surprise," Mordin says nodding his head. "Just need to finish up here at the clinic. Won't take long. Meet you at your ship. Looking forward to it."
As Shepard and his squad left the clinic they ran into the Batarian they had helped earlier. He thanked them for saving his life and for keeping their promise to help him. Shepard shook his hand and told him that not all humans are the enemy. "Working together gets us a lot further than working against," Shepard had said before he turned and walked away from the clinic.
It wasn't long after they had gotten back to the Normandy that the Professor showed up. Mordin was anxious to start his work, or at least that's what Shepard thought. However, it seemed that was his way. The Professor is an odd man, but if he is as useful as the Illusive Man says than his ramblings will be worth it.
Mordin explained how he had heard of the Illusive Man before, but had never seen him. His time in the Salarian government kept him well connected, even if he was retired. Shepard realized that the information the Professor had might be useful.
"What type of information can you find?" Shepard asked, careful not to arise too much suspicion in Jacob, but that didn't stop Jacob from raising an eyebrow.
The Professor eyed Shepard quizzically, "information on Collectors? No, nothing there. Know no more than you do."
Shepard shook his head, "no something else, but it doesn't matter right now. Maybe I'll come by you lab later and we can discuss it." Shepard than turned to a very curious Jacob, "Jacob would please show the Professor to his laboratory. I'm sure he wants to get to his research."
Jacob nodded his head, but not before he gave the Commander a long and questioning look. "This way Professor, I'm sure you'll be happy with what we've got here on the Normandy," Jacob said as he led the Professor to his new laboratory.
Shepard watched as they left the comm. room, wondering if he should ask Mordin about his sister. The thought of someone, anyone finding her gave him the slightest of hope.
Shepard made his way to Miranda's office, needing to go over their supplies and other necessities. The office doubled as her living quarters, which didn't surprise him in the least. He found her sitting behind the desk typing up reports.
"Commander," Miranda greeted him when he walked through the sliding doors.
"Miranda," Shepard said as he took a seat across from her. "I wanted to go over the supplies for the next week or so. I'm not sure if we're going to be able to stop long enough anywhere to restock, I'd like to make sure we're covered till we get another opportunity."
Miranda nodded her head and searched her tidy desk for the datapad that held the needed information. "It looks like we've got pretty much everything we need, but I can always double check Commander," she said rolling her finger up and down the list.
"Thank you Miranda. I would also like the list after you are done double checking, just to make sure," he said with a nod of his head.
"Commander," Miranda said as she watched Shepard raised from his seat to exit the room. "I understand that you are searching for your sister."
Those words made him stop in his tracks. He didn't tell Miranda or any of the other Cerberus agents about her, but he should have known that the Illusive Man would say something to her.
Shepard eyed Miranda behind the desk, wondering what she was going to say to him about it. "I just wanted to tell you that I hope you find her, but the Illusive Man has other plans," she said as she rose from behind her desk in a fluid movement to stand only feet away from Shepard. "He fears that she will be a distraction, detour you away from the objective."
Shepard crossed his arms across his chest in a huff. "And what do you think about it?" he asked eyeing the woman in front of him.
Miranda sighed. She didn't know what to think about it. She believed what the Illusive Man said, that she would be a distraction, but her personal feelings about it were different. She wanted Shepard to have his sister, to have his family, just like she always wanted her own. She knew that all he wanted to do was protect her, and that was nothing different than what she wanted.
Miranda sighed as she took a step closer to Shepard. "I hope you find her," was the only thing she said, the only thing she could say.
Shepard nodded as a smiled crept across his lips. "Thank you," he said as turned to leave.
Miranda watched as the Commander left the room. There is something about that man that is far more intriguing than I'd like to admit. She shook those thoughts out of her mind quickly, cannot being those thoughts while on this mission. There are far more important things to attend to than my desires.
Shepard walked out of Miranda's office and paused in the mess hall and watched the humans eating their meals. He missed his old crew, the mix of humans and aliens working together, showing not only humanity but the rest of the galaxy that everyone can work together. He just hoped that when his other 'non' human recruits joined the team the Cerberus crew would be respectful. However, he knew that it was going to be a pipe dream.
Than Shepard remember Garrus in the main battery and headed in his direction. The man was busy calibrating, predictable as ever. Shepard smiled at his old friend. It's good to know that something's don't change.
"Shepard, is there something I can do for you?" Garrus said as he turned to face his Commander.
Shepard rubbed the back of his neck, trying to relieve some of the tension. "Just wanted to talk, that's all," he said taking a seat on some of the crates near the wall.
"Of course Shepard, what's on your mind?" Garrus asked as he leaned against the computer. He knew what Shepard was going to ask, and he knew that he needed to talk to him about it. He was just dreading this moment. The moment where he had to talk about his feelings and what drove him to Omega in the first place.
Shepard eyed his old friend and stretching his legs out in front of him. His legs weren't as long as Garrus' but he was still a tall man. "Garrus, you know why I'm here. I want to know what you were doing on Omega. I thought you were going to go try and be a Specter or at least go back to C-Sec," Shepard paused for a moment before continuing. "I never thought I would see the day you would become a vigilante."
Garrus sighed. He wasn't sure how Shepard was going to react to the story he was about to tell, but he knew he needed to tell his Commander the details of what happened. "After the Normandy was destroyed I went back to the Citadel to try and become a Specter, but after you were gone the council disavowed everything you had said. They said that the Reapers didn't exist and that Saren was just a rogue agent working with the Geth and Sovereign was a Geth creation," Garrus said with evident rage in his voice.
"So I left, it was too much politicking for my tastes anyways. I've always hated injustice and Omega is the perfect place for someone like me. The people of Omega wanted someone to believe in, someone that would stand up to the local thugs. Besides all I have to do here is point my gun," Garrus said with a grumble in his voice as he rubbed his brow plate. "I ended up getting a squad together. Other C-Sec officers, people that have been wronged by the gangs, even had a Salarian bomb expert and a Batarian that could hack into anything."
Shepard laughed at the visual image of Garrus' rag-tag team. "Sounds like you had a real great team. How did you get them all together?" he asked.
"Much the same way as you did. I proved that I could get things done and people joined up," Garrus said with a shrug of his broad shoulders. "People are sick of being taken advantage of and they just wanted it to stop. I was there to stop it, and so was my team."
Shepard nodded. He knew exactly what his friend was talking about. He had to prove to not only his crew but also to the Council and the Alliance that he could do the impossible, do what everyone else was afraid to do.
"So what happened?" Shepard asked, wary of the answer his friend was going to give him.
Garrus started to pace with the question running through his mind. I don't want Shepard to think less of me for failing my team, but he needs to know what happened. With a heavy sigh Garrus continued his story. "I let my feelings get the better of me," he said as he continued to pace the tiny room. Shepard could feel the anxiety filling the room till it was about to bust at the seams. "I was betrayed by one of my own and I didn't see it coming. Sidonis was one of mine, a fellow Turian and C-Sec officer. I trusted him and he got my whole team killed!" Rage bit every word Garrus said as he clutched his fists, his talons nearly breaking through his rough skin.
Shepard's eyes grew wide with this confession. "What a minute. Start over and tell me from the beginning. I don't understand," Shepard said as he rose from his seat to stand against the nearby railing.
Garrus stopped his pacing and looked into his old friends eyes. The once blue eyes glinted red as Shepard blinked at his friend. "Sidonis lured me away from my team, into an empty warehouse. By the time I knew it was a set up I was too late. The Blue Suns had boomed my team's hideout, killing everyone," Garrus dropped his head in defeat, sorrow and rage draw across his face. "Failed them, I failed everyone."
Silence fell between the two men. Shepard knew that Garrus needed a moment, just a moment to gather his thoughts before he finished his story. "So when you found me I had given up, I had resigned myself to death, but I was going to take down as many of those damn thugs as I could," Garrus said, his mandibles spread as wide as he could in a grin with the bandage on his face.
"Well than I'm glad we showed up when we did," Shepard confessed as he slapped his old friend on the shoulder.
"There are a few things I want to tidy up on Omega before we leave. Would you like to come along?" Shepard asked before he turned to leave the main battery.
"I'm right behind you Shepard," Garrus said with a wince as his mandibles spread wide with a smile.
The two friends smiled at each other before heading back into the darkness known as Omega.