Author's note:
This kind of screws up the timeline but the premise still works and that's the important thing. Thanks have a good day.
Mordin
Mordin Solus typed worked frantically at the console. He felt his heart fell as he read the readings, at temperature malfunction, manual override would be required. Resigned Mordin gazed up at the Shroud. Unstable, survival unlikely, he thought turning back to his work making his final preparations. A noise caused him to turn and smiled as he saw the commander approach him. If there was anyone he wanted to talk to before he died it was Shepard.
"Mordin," Shepard asked, "Is the cure ready?"
"Yes. Loaded for dispersal in two minutes. Procedure traumatic for Eve but not lethal. Maelon's research invaluable."
"She's okay?" Shepard asked.
"Headed to safety now. Her survival fortunate. Will stabilize new government should Wrex get any ideas." Mordin replied as he made a final touch on his notes before shutting down his console. "Good match, promising future for krogan."
A large piece of debris fell from the tower smashing to the ground.
"Damn," Shepard shouted surprised but Mordin only glanced at the wreckage. It posed no danger to them.
Mordin finished the last of his notes. "Control room on top of Shroud tower. Must take elevator up." He said, gesturing to the elevator.
"You're going up there?" Shepard asked incredulously gazing up at the damaged tower, explosions clearly going off.
Mordin nodded "Yes, readings at lab indicate temperature malfunction. Could affect cure viability. Need to adjust settings manually."
"It's too dangerous Mordin we need to get out of here." Shepard protested, trying to reason with the salarian.
Mordin shook his head "No, temperature variations could destroy cure. Have to go up."
Shepard's voice lowered dangerously, "Mordin, you're not going up."
Mordin paused only for a second as he put together the picture. "Not concerned about my safety. Concerned I might discover something. Sabotage? But whose? Ahhh…."
Mordin turned glaring at Shepard, "Why, Shepard? Every time we spoke about the genophage you said the krogan deserved a cure. A second chance. How could you change your mind?"
Mordin's mind was racing. This didn't make any sense. Shepard would never abandon the krogan even for salarian support.
"I made a mistake." Shepard shouted, "The krogan are too dangerous, too hard to control."
Too hard to control? Mordin thought, that sounded like Cerberus not Shepard.
"Mordin, you know I'm right." Shepard said "Hell, Mordin, I had to convince you in the first place to begin work on the cure."
Mordin wasn't listening to Shepard any more. He was thinking intently, going over every detail since he had met the commander at the STG base. Shepard's behaviour had changed after their last shore leave. At the time Mordin had brushed it off, believing it merely to be the war taking its toll on the commander. But now…
Mordin stepped back from the commander his blood boiling and drew his weapon, "Who are you?" he demanded.
Surprise showed itself on the clone's features, "Mordin, you know who I am." He insisted.
Mordin shook his head, "No, data doesn't add up. Behavioral differences, radical ideology differences, forgotten events. Doesn't make sense. Unless you aren't who you appear to be."
The clone raised his hands slowly, "You think I'm indoctrinated?" He asked trying to throw Mordin off the scent.
"No, secondary symptoms not present." Mordin said raising his voice, "Who are you?" he repeated.
There was a moment of silence only broken by another explosion from the shroud. Then the clone smiled. "I'm a clone, a by product of the Lazarus project. I was used to give the scientists the experience they needed to continue and also when they were done I became an organ donor. In case anything happened to Shepard, I would give him what he needed."
"Understandable, but unethical." Mordin stated, "Never would condone such practices."
The clone continued "But when Shepard broke ties from Cerberus, The Illusive Man had the perfect way to solve his problem. We took care of Shepard and the I took his place.
"Where's Shepard?" Mordin demanded his hand shaking with rage.
"In his apartment. He is now what I was to him. Spare parts."
Hope flooded through Mordin, perhaps they had kept Shepard alive then. "Is he alive? No, too many variables. Better to be certain, kill him."
"Exactly." The clone said his smile increasing "I'll admit though it feels good to confess."
"Not confessing. Boasting, mocking." Mordin corrected, "No guilt, merely satisfaction."
"I'm impressed, Mordin. I didn't think anybody would figure it out at this point."
Mrdin glared at the man who had killed one of his closest friends and had even stolen his life. The hate Mordin felt was like nothing he had ever felt before. Even Maelon's betrayal hadn't hurt have this much. "Had to be me. Someone else might've gotten it wrong." Mordin pulled the trigger but the clone was already moving, diving behind the monitor and drawing his own weapon.
Mordin knelt behind the desk he had been standing by, desperately trying to get a shot at the imposter.
"What's it going to be Mordin?" The clone shouted, "Killing me, or saving the krogan race. You only have time for one."
He was right Mordin realized he had to make a decision. Growling he turned from the commander and stepped onto the elevator. Immediately, it sped upwards.
"Need to warn others. Avenge Shepard." Mordin said speaking to himself. Bringing up his omnitool keying Wrex's contact. Mordin watched in horror as nothing occurred. "Signal from Shroud or the Reaper interfering."
Mordin's mind went into back into overdrive thinking desperately. Then it hit him his omnitool was still linked to the Shroud's internal system. He could still edit his notes.
Quickly, Mordin opened the program and wrote his warning. Just as he finished the doors opened. Several fires had started but they didn't deter Mordin as he made his way to the console. The corrections were simple. STG, it appeared, had merely hoped that no one would discover the sabotage. It was sloppy work. Mordin mused.
A single tear fell down Mordin's cheek as he heard the Vi confirmed the correction, "Sorry, Shepard." He said quietly, before an explosion tore through the control room.
The clone gazed up at the tower. Mordin had apparently managed to fix the sabotage, saving the krogan race. The clone frowned, the krogan could be a problem for human supremacy in the future, but at least his secret had died with the salarian.
SSV Everest
Admiral Hackett was in command of the largest and most powerful fleet ever assembled by the Alliance. It was also, ironically, hopelessly out classed by their enemies. The Reapers had decimated everything they had thrown at them. As a result, the Alliance's precious dreadnoughts would be sitting on the bench until the final push. A push Hackett hoped would occur in a month.
"Admiral Hackett to med-bay. Admiral Hackett to med-bay." The detached voice of a VI droned.
Sighing Hackett began the lengthy walk from his quarters to the med-bay. As he exited his cabin the two fully armoured marine guards who had been stationed there fell in behind him. They were a precaution against both Cerberus assassins and indoctrinated agents.
When Hackett finally reached the med-bay he found Dr. Richards sweating nervously. The man was forty-seven and had served with Hackett for the last ten years.
"Doctor." Hackett greeted taking in the man's distraught appearance.
"Admiral Hackett," the man greeted nervously, "This something I need to talk to in private."
Hackett gestured to the door. The two marines saluted and marched out. "What's wrong doctor?" Hackett asked concerned
"What do you know about Mordin Solus?"
Hackett knew quite a bit actually, when he heard that Shepard was working with Cerberus and putting together a new team. Hackett had ordered Alliance intelligence to give him the dossiers on all of Shepard's crew. "Salarian doctor ex STG. Exemplary service record, fought with Shepard against the collector's and went back to STG after the alpha relay incident."
"But do you trust him?
Hackett shrugged "Never met the man personally but if Shepard trusts him that's good enough for me. Why are you asking."
Richards passed Hackett the data pad on the table. "I was reading over his notes on the genophage cure and I found this passage. I've highlighted it for you."
Hackett took the data pad and read it.
This is Mordin Solus, Commander Shepard has been replaced by a Cerberus clone. The clone in question has been working against our goals and must be stopped. The real Shepard's body is being kept in the Tiberius Towers penthouse.
If you are able to recover the body I request that you give Shepard the rest he deserves.
Hackett reread it not believing it, before looking back at the doctor. "This stays between us doctor. Do you understand?"
Richards nodded, "Do you think its true?" he asked.
"I don't know but I hope to God it isn't." Hackett shook his head, "Excuse me doctor, I need to make some calls."
Hackett went immediately to the QEC his marine escort following close behind. The officers saluted smartly. "Get me the citadel." He ordered.
Jondum Bau frowned at the notification from the asari councillor Tevos. As if he didn't have enough on his plate already. "Bau." He answered curtly.
"Spectre Bau, I have a priority request from Admiral Hackett to speak with you." Tevos said.
Jondum frowned as far as he knew he had never interacted with the Alliance Admiral. "Why?" he asked slightly confused.
"I don't know," Tevos replied crisply, "All he said was that he needed to speak with a spectre on the Citadel, but he declined to mention why."
"I'll speak with him in a minute." Jondum replied shutting down the link. He quickly made his way to the spectre QEC.
As he stepped into the ring the hologram human admiral appeared in front of him.
"Spectre Bau, what I'm about to ask you to do must stay between us. Not even the council can know of this." Hacket said crossing his arms stoically.
"Admiral, I must inform you that I am responsible for the safety of council space if this information compromises that safety I will be forced to warn the council."
Hackett waved the salarian's words away, "It's nothing like that."
"Then we do not have a problem." Jondom said. "What do you need?"
Hackett stared at Jondum for a moment, "One of my doctors was going over Professor Mordin's genophage notes when he came over this passage."
Hackett's form disappeared and Mordin's warning appeared in his stead. Jondum's eyes widened as he read the document fully understanding the consequences. Another second and Hackett's image reappeared. "As you understand the implications of this warning are dire."
That was an understatement Jondum thought, Shepard was a war hero. Not only that, he was also the only reason why so many of the galaxy's races were working together. "What do you want me to do?" he asked.
"As you read, Mordin believed that Shepard's corpse was being kept in Tiberius Towers. I need you to get in there and out without alerting the clone and confirm this."
Jondum nodded "I believe I can assist you Admiral."
"Good, but I need you to promise me that you won't inform the council of this."
"Very well, Admiral."
SSV Everest
Admiral Hackett waited impatiently for the spectre's reply dreading the news that he would bear.
"Incoming call." The communication officer said, "ID reads Spectre Bua."
"Answer it." Hackett ordered stepping into the circle.
Jondum Bau's hologram flickered into life. The salarian looked disgusted and Hackett already knew what he was going to say.
"Admiral, I'm afraid that Shepard is dead." Jondum reported gravely.
"How?" Hackett asked, he had to know, the man was his and Anderson's protégé.
"One shredder round through the lower abdomen." Jondum said.
Hackett winced when Jondum did not elaborate, a wound like that would have taken time to kill Shepard and if his attacker hadn't finished him off… "State of the body?"
Jondum glared, "Very good, they've put it in a storage pod."
At least they would be able to honour the commander, Hackett thought, "Thank you, Spectre Bau." He said before signing off.
Turning to the Com officer he ordered "Get me the Normandy"
SSV Normandy
Today was the day that the Normandy would link back up with the fleet. The whole crew was on edge, eagerly awaiting the Admiral's tour. Ashley Williams was one of the most anxious, as this was the first time she would be meeting with the Admiral face to face. She stood next to Shepard and came to attention as the admiral entered the ship. His escort was bigger than Ashley expected. Instead of the customary two man escort the Admiral had brought ten.
"At ease." Hackett ordered as began making his way down the row of officers before him. Ashley caught her breath as the Admiral passed her but was disappointed as he only gave her a cursory look as he stopped in front of Shepard. Figured, thought Ashley, Shepard always got the attention.
Hackett came to a stop in front of the man wearing Shepard's face. It took all his control to stop the hate he felt from showing. He wanted to call for his men to arrest the bastard immediately but he had to do something first.
Ashley chastised herself on her unkind thought about Shepard he had done more than enough to have earned the Admiral's respect.
Ashley was completely taken by surprise when, Admiral Hackett, the highest ranking officer in the Alliance fleet sucker punched Shepard in the face. She watched in shock as she looked up from Shepard and saw the look of hate and disgust on the Admiral's face.
"Marines arrest this son of a bitch." Hackett ordered glaring down at the stricken commander.
Almost unconsciously Shepard's team stepped in front of the advancing marines.
"Sorry, Admiral," Garrus said glaring back at Hackett "But we can't let you do that."
Hacket turned to the turian "Garrus Vakarian, stand down. That isn't Shepard."
What? Ahsley thought in disbelief.
"What do you mean 'that isn't Shepard,'?" Garrus sputtered.
"Mordin Solus hid this in his notes." Hackett said handing Garrus a datapad from his jacket. "We found the real Shepard's body in his apartment a week ago."
Garrus stared numbly at the datapad not believing what he was reading. If this was true…
Ashley took the pad from Garrus's hands and stared at the commander, "Is it true?" She asked.
The clone knew he was caught, Shepard's body was all the proof they needed and if they had it. He sneered at Ashley "Everyone, always said how close you were. How everyone loved Shepard. Where were you when I put a bullet in his gut? Where were you when he bled out? You didn't even notice he was gone."
Ashley stared dumbstruck at the clone but Garrus didn't. His vision went red and he pounced on the downed clone. His blows were filled with a rage he had never felt before. Each of his blows fell like sledge hammers beating the clone's face in. Dimly he felt the Alliance marines tear him off the clone.
Hackett stared into the cell housing the clone. All the man had done since his return from the med-bay was lay on his cot. Silently Hackett turned to face Shepard's crew.
"What are you going to do with him?" Ashley demanded, staring at the clone.
'For now nothing. Shepard is hero if people learned that he's been dead for months, moral would plummet. And we can't afford that, not when we are so close."
"What about after?" Garrus asked quietly.
"I don't know." Hackett replied, "The Alliance doesn't execute prisoners, but there will be a long list of people after his head."
"If you don't kill him," Garrus said his tone dangerous, "I sure as hell will."
"Like I said, it's a long list." Hackett said.
"And I'm first on that list, Admiral." Garrus growled.
"Regardless." Hackett said "It'll wait until the end of the war." Turning back to stare at the prisoner.