AN's are weird

You know what belongs to who

ONWARD

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Shepard could tell something was wrong, King was off, as far as she could tell. With a team she needed to make sure that everyone was performing at their best but she didn't know King enough for any solid bar to put him at. The King was fine up until they met with Mordin, unless he was holding his breath for the past few hours and wasn't Human she doubt it had anything to do with the plague.

There were subtle mistakes here and there; missed shots and trip ups all contradicting the skill he's already shown. She would have been worried if it weren't for the fact that he's trying to cover it up. That could only mean that he knows what's causing his little blunders. He was still effective when it came to hacking and covering fire but the second he started becoming a problem she was going to bring it up, one way or another.

Shepard noticed that King's been slowing making distance between them. Tactically she could understand since his weapons are better at range but with everything it seemed apparent that he was avoiding them.

"Hey, Zaeed?" Shepard asked. "What do you think of King?" She didn't know Zaeed that much either but from the few stories he's told her he might have a better idea than her.

"You want my opinion?" He asked and received a nod in return. "The guy's probably a fuckin' nutcase." He said quietly.

"What makes you say that?"

"Had a look through the dossiers when we got back to the Normandy. Says he's a mute, problem is I've worked with mutes before, no way he's one, he's trying to hard. Then there's his armor."

Shepard did find his armor a bit odd as well. She understood it was probably custom made and it stuck out to her but she couldn't figure out why.

"What's the problem with his armor?" She asked, fishing for more information.

"Custom made, bloody obvious, but the real kicker is that it's based off some very old goddamn vids." Zaeed explained.

Just like that, it clicked. "A knight?"

"Yep, don't know about you but I haven't seen a vid with a knight in it since I was a kid."

She didn't really think that the armor had any connections to King's odd behavior but she would keep it in mind.

Of course that would have to come later as they ran into another group of Vorcha, this time they were already holding off the Blue Suns who were most likely trying to retake their territory. Shepard signaled her team to hold fire, last thing they needed was getting caught in a crossfire.

It was obvious the Vorcha had the upper hand, not only did they have better cover but also most of the Blue Suns looked liked they were going to drop before the fight even started. Didn't take long for the last of the Blue Suns to scatter and with that Shepard pushed the attack.

Caught by surprise, the Vorcha had no time to react to the sudden rush of biotic power, as the Vorcha closest to the front was sent flying back with Shepard in its place. She dispersed the adjacent Vorcha's brains with her shotgun before taking cover.

The Vorcha retaliated firepower but were met in kind by King's precise aim and Zaeed's more relentless attack. The Vorcha soon realized they were out gunned and retreated.

Shepard immediately took a knee as the adrenaline started to wear off, taking a few deep breaths.

"Everything alright, Shepard?" Zaeed asked as King and him approached.

"Yeah... I'm still getting used to my new implants... I wasn't able to channel my biotics into myself before." Shepard said between breaths.

"Use them a bit more and I'm sure you'll get used to it. I don't know piss about the technicalities of biotics but if it's like anything else practice helps, either that or you die." Zaeed put plainly.

"Always the optimist, huh." Shepard said receiving a shrug in response as she pushed herself to her feet.

Shepard checked her omni-tool as they moved forward, they reached a crossroad. One path lead to the environmental plant and the other lead to the apartment complex, if Mordin's assistant wanted to help that would be the place to go.

So that's where Shepard would go, she knew they were pressed for time but if they put looking for him on hold that would leave time for them to find a corpse instead and she wasn't going to let that be the case. As they were making their way through she received a message on her omni-tool.

"Is there a reason we've taken the wrong path?" Sent by King.

"If Mordin's assistant is alive he would most likely come here to try and help." Shepard said looking back towards King.

It looked like King wanted to type something again but opted not too and just unholstered his weapon as they continued. She could guess that he probably wanted to say "It's a waste of time." or "We already have a mission." but she was glad he held it back, she would bring it up later to clear any bad air if any arises.

"Commander, I've scanned the areas of importance a multitude of time and have found evidence of the AI from before." EDI stated over coms.

Shepard doubted a question on her mind but she asked anyways. "Think it had anything to do with this plague?"

"Unlikely, data suggest it accessed the slums at about the same time you have."

"Sounds like you've got a secret admirer." said Zaeed.

"It does seem to have a keen interest in you, Shepard." EDI agreed.

Shepard was kind of split on the idea of an unhinged AI being interested in her. On one had it's an AI, she's met a few in the past: The Geth that worked with Saren and tried to bring the Reapers in from dark space, the AI she found on the Citadel that tried to blow itself up, and the Reaper Sovereign, not really giving her the best introduction to AIs. Then there was the fact that this AI has helped them but it seemed a bit too cheerful when it took down the gunship.

"Can you make contact with it?" Shepard asked.

"It's blocked every attempt I've made but it's not trying to hide like before, it shows higher function and at the rate it's halted my progress I hypothesis it's much older. Recommend caution." Sail informed.

She was about to ask another question as they turned a corner but stopped when she noticed that one of the apartment doors down the hall was glitching out, flickering between red, yellow and green. Shepard signaled her team to follow as she approached the door.

"I was never a big fan of walking into traps that we know are goddamn traps." Zaeed said as they took up positions at the door, Shepard on the right side, with King and Zaeed on the other.

Before Shepard could get King to open the door the lock flickered to green and opened on its own. King leaned heavily on the frame of the door as he peaked in and Shepard did the same.

"Please... I'm telling you the truth. I work for Mordin at the clinic. I came here to help you." Said a scared yet irritated young man being held up by his collar by a Batarian.

"We know you're spreading the plague virus. We saw the vials in your bag." The main Batarian said seemingly unaware of Shepard.

"No! Those vials contain the cure. Please... you have to believe me." Pleaded the young man.

Shepard couldn't see this going well for Daniel and signaled King to move in with her.

"Maybe we should cut off your fingers. That should loosen your-" The Batarian was cut off as the Batarian behind him noticed Shepard as they moved in armed.

"Look out!" The Batarian shouted as they armed themselves.

The Batarian took quick action and aimed his pistol at Daniel's chest.

"Don't move! One more step, and we kill your friend!" Shepard could hear it in his voice, he was scared.

No distinct markings, didn't even look like they had any shielding. So they aren't apart of any gang and probably didn't have any solid training. They're just scared, angry and looking for someone to blame. First one is smart enough to take a hostage and knows that's the only reason he's not dead. Smart means she should be able to talk him down.

"I know you're scared. Of the Vorcha. Of the plague. But this man isn't to blame. If he wanted to spread the plague why would he come to Vorcha territory?" She asked, if they couldn't connect the dots she would have to put them down fast.

"She's right, the Vorcha are immune. It would be stupid to try." Said the Batarian to their left.

"If we let the prisoner go, you'll let us leave?" The center Batarian asked.

"You have my word." Shepard said.

The Batarians lowered their weapons, letting Daniel move back a bit, just out of harm's way.

"You got what you wanted, Human. Are we free to go?" He asked.

For a split second Shepard considered putting them down. They wasted her time and put a civi in danger, but she gave them her word and she wouldn't go back on it.

"We had a deal." She said as she also lowered her weapon.

The Batarian didn't look anymore at ease. Shepard looked to King and saw that he was still aiming at the Batarians. No, his aim was focused on the wall behind them but there was nothing there.

"King?" Shepard called out, when he didn't show any sign of hearing her she called again. "King!"

His head swiftly turned to her, than back to the wall and than to the rest of the room, as if he was looking for something. Seemingly not finding it he lowered his gun.

The Batarians made quick on their exit and Shepard told Daniel to head back to the clinic.

After that she approached King who started typing on his omni-tool. Before he could finish Shepard grabbed his wrist and pulled it away from his hand.

"Listen very closely because I will only going to say it once. If I had time I would send you packing but at this very moment I don't have time to do so. So you will get your shit together and finish this mission, but when this mission is over and we are on the Normandy you are going to tell me everything or you're gone, understood." While there was a hint of anger, the volume in her voice never changed, but anyone could tell it would be suicide to question.

For a second Shepard wasn't sure she was going to receive an answer, she even felt his wrist twitch a few times until he nodded once.

"Good." She released his wrist and they resumed their track to the environmental plant.

It didn't take long for them to get to the plant but they ran straight into more Vorcha and the leader was talkative. The Vorcha made it clear that the collectors were involved and that they were going to try to stop Shepard from curing the Plague. At this point Shepard knew there was no talking them down, damn Vorcha.

It was a small team of Vorcha so it took them little time to clear the room. Shepard made her way to the fan and inserted the cure.

"You will need to activate both fans on either side of this room to distribute the cure." EDI told them.

"Got it." But before Shepard could start making her way to the other consoles King pushed past her to the main console.

"What are you doing!" Shepard wasn't in the mood for anymore hiccups.

King fell to his knee as he activated his omni-tool and ran it over the console.

"Shepard, the AI from before has reemerged and is activating the fans remotely." EDI informed.

She watched as the the fan indicators on the screen one by one turned green. She would have been more shocked if it wasn't for the fact that they had a company of Blood Pack grunts pouring into the room. Shepard and Zaeed took cover and returned fire.

She wasn't kidding about needing King's help, Zaeed could somewhat help at range and Shepard could tear them apart when they got close but they couldn't take out the snipers. Shepard looked back to see King still kneeled down next to the console but very suddenly he stood up and for a second she could have sworn she saw a red glow from his visor.

As if he were back to how he was before Mordin, he pulled the rifle from his back and joined the fray. Noticeable back at full strength they slaughtered the Vorcha and the few Krogans that stood in their way.

As soon as the dust had settled Shepard looked over to King as he holstered his weapon.

"King!" She shouted.

She wanted answers now, is the AI his? In fact, it made sense, the AI showed up at about the same time and seemed to follow around with him. Just as she was about to reach him he disappeared in a blue flash of light.

"What the fuck?" Zaeed said.

He was saying what she was thinking but before she could say anything she received a message on her omni-tool.

"Calm down first then we'll talk, and when we do it will be just me and you. Any question you want to ask I will answer honestly."

Shepard could feel her biotics flaring up but quickly put them in check. She needed to stay calm, if he was keeping his part of the deal he'll show up at the Normandy.

"I thought I've seen just about everything. Should I shoot him on sight or do you want the honor?" Zaeed asked leaning against a railing.

"I'll hear him out but if I don't like what I hear...I'll give you call." Shepard said trying to lighten the mood for her own good.

"That was too close." Sail stated.

"Sickly. I still don't feel too well." Stonewire said as he moved back the way they came as fast as he could using his blink ability.

Things just didn't go his way. He thought his vision was going blurring but instead he was hallucinating and his muscles were starting to lock up on him. When Shepard decided to go find that missing doctor Stonewire had no choice but to get Sail to find them and that helped with time but then he started seeing ghost. Then he had to blow it all when he his motor functions took a hit. He couldn't waste anytime, he didn't know why but the plague was hitting him faster than any other species by the looks of it.

"It seems the cure pumped up your adrenaline and now that it's wearing off some of the effects of the plague might come back, but for now you are safe from death. At least until you decide to not listen to me, again." She said sounding a bit annoyed.

"Agitated. It's not like I wanted to get sick, Sail, it just kind of happened when the crazy speed talking Salarian started looking at me funny. infuriated! You think I like feeling like I have no control over my own body! Enraged! I felt like I was fighting my body every step of the way!" Stonewire yelled, still with a voice betraying no emotions, he suddenly stopped next to a wall and fell against it.

"Anguish. I didn't know what to do and I'm honestly losing it, I'm stuck in a whole in world and I have no idea what I'm doing. Distressed. What am I even doing, I've been making small mistakes ever since I got here." Stonewire said much quieter.

Sail didn't really know what to say. Stonewire never broke down before, not like this, but she could understand why. When she told him that they were in a new world he buried himself in his tech, things he could control. It was only a matter of time before it all fell down. Right now all he has is her but what was she supposed to do? Even with all the emotions she knows she has more control over them than any other species in the universe. The only thing she can offer is words.

"Do you remember the Rigel two?" No answer "Ice planet, controlled by an Apex named Jumana."

"Inform. He enslaved the Hylotl that called the water beneath the ice home, I was hired by an Apex defective to help him overthrow Jumana. Displeased. I underestimated his defenses." Stonewire stated as he looked down at his hands. His right hand was shaking and he couldn't make it stop.

"But you still saved them. Yes, Jumana escaped but he no longer had any rule over the people there... What I'm trying to say is, we've seen worse, been through worse. I know it might not mean much, but remember that I will always be here. You won't die here, we won't die here."

A minute passed, than another. Finally, he pushed himself from the wall.

"Request. Sail?"

"Yes, Stone?"

"Grateful. Thank you."

"Anytime, stone... I would still like to know what you plan to tell Shepard?" Sail asked as Stonewire began to move forward again.

"Straightforward. Anything she asks."

0o0o0o0o0o0

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