KORLUS, PART TWO
"RUN!" Miranda yelled as the squad sprinted up a staircase, six very angry Krogan still on their heels. Shepard pulled a cargo container with his biotics, a decent sized piece of garbage, but it was most importantly bulky. He dragged it into the air and dropped it on the staircase between the squad and the krogan.
"Kasumi, get that door." Shepard said, his body feeling exerted after that unexpected use of his biotics...and the headlong sprint it had taken them to get there. The master thief broke out her omni-tool and threw seventy attack programs at the security in less than thirty seconds. Overwhelmed, the door gave Kasumi the code she needed and allowed the squad inside...just as one of the Krogan fired a carnage blast at them. Miranda's shields collapsed as she took the blow, but Shepard grabbed her arm and hustled her through the door.
"I knew they'd remember they have guns eventually." Shepard panted. "Are you all right?"
"Yes, my shields took the shot." Miranda gasped out. "Ouch."
"Ouch is right." Kasumi said, slamming the door with a command from her omni-tool. She immediately reinitialized the security program.
"How long can we wait?" Miranda said woozily.
"Not long at all.' Shepard responded tartly. "They've got guns, remember? They'll blast that door once it fools them enough times."
Miranda nodded wearily, rose to her feet, and pulled her M-5 Phalanx pistol out. "In that case, I'm ready for action, Commander."
"As am I, Shepard, but you don't hear me complaining." Kasumi's reply was positively acidic. "There's another staircase ahead, and some more catwalks."
More stairs. Didn't these old starships have elevators or something? Shepard wondered. "Krogan on our six; copy, goddamn it! Where is Jedore and her personal guard?" A man swore over the same loudspeaker that Jedore had been using to upbraid her personnel...and her enemies...for the past half hour.
As they made it to the top of the stairs, Kasumi closed another door behind them. "The Krogan we left behind us are going to get through that one with no problems. I thought I might as well make it easier for them to get to the Blue Suns. They REALLY hate each other..."She said with a half-smile. Shepard noticed something on the floor that a dead Blue Sun had been using...well, up until the point that they'd been killed.
"This looks pretty interesting. Can you carry it, Miranda?" Shepard picked up a modified version of a Devlon Industries M-92 Mantis sniper rifle, scanning it with his omni-tool once Miranda had hefted it. "It looks like this rifle offers a ten percent improvement in damage output over the baseline model."
"Not bad." Miranda responded drily, suddenly cocking the sniper rifle and loading a fresh thermal clip. "Use what you have, right?"
"Right." Paul said with a smile. "You really are getting the hang of working with me."
Kasumi opened a door that led from the room they were in. Miranda whispered, "Enemies in front!"
"Think we can get past them?" Shepard asked as Kasumi hastily closed the door.
"I think so. They're shooting at the courtyard. Bet they'll love our secret admirers..." Kasumi said. "Especially because they just broke down the door I hacked earlier."
"Move, quietly." Shepard instructed. "If that door makes so much as a squeak, we're done."
Ten harrowing minutes later, the krogan that had followed Shepard's squad up the stairs and the Blue Suns across the catwalk were all dead. Through sheer dumb luck, the squad had managed to sneak past, only to run into a platoon of Blue Suns on another catwalk and hallway area. They had been fortunate not to get hit from behind by the troops they had snuck past; the krogan had hit the troops holding the rocket launchers and engaged in a blistering exchange of fire that resulted in massive casualties. The entire upper area where Shepard's team had passed through resembled less a decaying starship and more a horror film, thanks to all the dead bodies.
The Blue Suns they had encountered was dead as well, but these were self-inflicted casualties for the most part. Kasumi had overloaded a rocket launcher, and one poor sap had fired despite his weapon being sabotaged. One exploded rocket launcher later that Blue Sun was down for the count (along with two of his friends) and the squad's job was made a lot easier.
They just had to get so many damn rocket launchers! Shepard thought angrily as his shields absorbed another impact. Two rocket launcher-toting Blue Suns crouched by what looked like a barracks area, with a Blue Suns Centurion covering them in front. Naturally, they happened to be firing with an unlimited supply of ammunition, and they were just beyond Kasumi's reach. But not beyond the reach of Shepard's pistol...the only problem being that he was running through ammunition faster than he could replenish it. If he could set up a biotic detonation... As soon as the Centurion's shields failed under fire from Kasumi, Shepard reached out with his biotics and ripped the man off the ground and into the air. Miranda's own biotics flared up and she ripped apart the pull field he had hit the merc with.
"The field's clear for now, Shepard." Miranda reported as the last Blue Sun in that area fell.
"Good." Shepard responded, breathing heavily for a moment. "My God, they just don't stop."
Miranda made no reply. Kasumi looked a little wearier, though, and said, "I thought our suicide mission was against the Collectors, but it looks like we're taking on half the Blue Suns mercenary band and all of their ammunition, too."
"At least we don't have krogan chasing after us any longer." Shepard pointed out.
"Small bonuses." Miranda replied.
"Kasumi, can you hack their base security? How far is it to Okeer?"
Kasumi brought up her omni-tool and consulted a set of readouts. "It looks like there's a laboratory and observation area in the next couple of rooms. If he's not there, then he's not anywhere in this base. I'll take point." She offered. Shepard and Lawson followed her, weapons at the ready. Another staircase later, they arrived at the first lab. A terrified looking asari scientist suddenly recognized Shepard.
"Shepard, don't shoot! You know me!" She pleaded. "I shut down the security cams as soon as I saw it was you. I never thought I'd say it, but I'm glad it's you shooting up the place." The very familiar looking asari scientist said. "Sorry, Rana Thanoptis. You let me go when you destroyed Saren's lab on Virmire. I had to outrun a nuke in a utility pod, but it's still a second chance."
"What is Okeer attempting to accomplish here, Rana?" Shepard folded his arms and awaited a long-winded explanation.
Rana sighed and gave him that explanation. "It's complicated. Jedore wants a private army, but Okay mostly ignores her. He's running the project for his own reasons. I created a mental imprint routine to help educate his tank-bred, but most get through it. He dumps them for some reason. He wants to help his people, but he's not looking for a cure for the genophage and he's not going for numbers. That's all I know."
"Finding you in a place like this makes me think letting you go back on Virmire was a mistake. You don't want that." Shepard said. His voice wasn't even raised, but his intent was clear. He seemed to be indicating the M-4 Shuriken at his waist, as well...
"We agree on that." Rana responded hastily. "Don't worry: I plan on staying as far away from anything to do with you as possible. Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to get moving before you blow the place or something. I know how you work."
As she left, Kasumi said, "She seemed nice...in a mad scientist, ethics for sale kind of way."
"Bingo." Shepard responded. "That's about the kindest description I've ever heard for her."
They left the lab and headed into the next room. To the right was a huge cloning tank with a very...unusual...looking krogan. To the left of that was a very old krogan, who looked at a monitor with a glare that could split the atom. "Here you are. I've watched your progress." As the squad approached, he offered, "It's about time you arrived. The batteries on these tanks will not wait while you play with these idiotic mercs."
"I take it you're Okeer," Shepard surmised. "You don't seem particularly caged...or grateful that I'm here."
"You may claim to be here to help, but the formerly deceased Shepard is not a sign of gentle change," Okeer responded in his deep voice. "Surprised? All krogan should know you. I'm sure Rana has already revisited your actions on Virmire."
"And I'm sure you're eager to tell me again." Paul responded sarcastically, folding his arms.
Okeer raised his arms up in a grand gesture, "Such a tale! Saren, the Spectre traitor, threatens the return of the krogan horde by curing the genophage; undoing the gentle genocide of the turians and salarians." Pacing in front of Shepard, Okeer pointed at his chest accusingly. "But before Saren can deliver his endless troops, in rides Shepard: securing victory through nuclear fire!" Instead of glowering, though, Okeer seemed to relish in that. "I like that part. It has weight."
"I make no apologies." Shepard said firmly. "It was the most efficient solution available."
Okeer held his hands up to indicate he didn't have an issue with that. "But I approve. Saren's pale horde were not true krogan. Numbers alone are nothing: that is the mistake of an outsider, and one that these mercenaries have also made. I gave their leader my rejects for her army. But she grows impatient. It's time for you to take me out of here."
"We're here about the Collectors." Miranda stated quite emphatically. "We couldn't care less about your problems." She added in a sneer of derision at the end for good measure.
"Yes...I see. Yes, Collector attacks have increased. A human concern." Okeer waved an arm dismissively in a manner reminiscent of Councilor Sparatus. Shepard's eyes narrowed lethally. "My requests were focused elsewhere. Through working with the Collectors, I acquired the knowledge to create one pure soldier. With that, I will inflict the greatest insult an enemy can suffer. To be ignored."
"So you don't want to cure the genophage." Paul summed up.
"Contrary to what survivors claim, the genophage does not produce strong krogan – the only quality it filters is the ability to survive the genophage," the warlord answered. "For every stillborn, too many weaklings live...and every survivor is branded as precious. That's produced more coddling than your collective human teats! I say let us carry the genophage! Let a thousand die in a clutch. We will defeat it by climbing atop our dead. That is the krogan way." Okeer said with a sense of pride.
Paul Shepard, who had seen more death than anyone should have by his age, shook his head in disgust. "You're just as malevolent and unfeeling as those who unleashed the genophage upon your people over a thousand years ago, Okeer." Now I really don't want this guy for the long-term voyage. If I dropped him on Wrex, Wrex would probably rip my spine out through my feet.
"Perhaps." Okeer responded thoughtfully. "But I will restore the krogan and my soldier will not provoke a nuclear response such as a "cure" or "horde" would. My legacy is perfection, with each pure krogan reaching higher by standing on our dead. They will exceed, but not forget."
"Your search for the perfect soldier created a lot of 'failures'. You don't care about them at all?" Kasumi asked, incredulous.
"I failed no one," Okeer corrected her boldly. "My rejects are exactly what Jedore asked for. She simply lacks the ability to command. They are strong, healthy, and useless to me. I need perfection. If a few thousand are rejected, so be it. My work will purify the krogan. We will not be restored - we will be renewed." Now the warlord's voice took on a tone, the same tone that Saren had once had...on Virmire. "We will not need numbers. My soldier is a template. It is a greater threat than all the phantom siblings that would have been at its flank. The galaxy still bears the scars of the horde. But it will learn to fear the lance."
Miranda silently shook her head again and again. Paul had to imagine she was thinking: This is who Cerberus wanted for this mission?
Shepard shook his head again. "What do you know about the Collectors?"
Okeer turned to him again. "The Collectors are strange. So isolated...yet available when your sacrifice is big enough. I gave them many krogan." Kasumi looked absolutely horrified at that revelation, as did Miranda.. "I may have information for you, but the tech was consumed in my prototype...well, after I determined how to use it without killing the subjects. The deaths were unfortunate, but I only needed one success to start the process."
"Your methods are extreme, but you know how to deconstruct a threat. Will you help us?" Shepard asked diplomatically.
"Perhaps I can strike a deal to secure passage. But my prototype is not negotiable. It is the key to my legacy..." Okeer answered him. Miranda looked as though she wanted to tell him, Do not let this madman anywhere near the Normandy on peril of your life.
Shepard looked at her with a glance that indicated his temporary helplessness in the matter. What am I supposed to do, rip the cloning tank out of the ground and shoot Okeer in the back?
"Attention! I have traced the krogan release. Okeer, of course," Jedore announced from her position in the bay beyond. "I'm calling 'blank slate' on this project. Gas these commandoes and start over from Okeer's data. Flush the tanks!" She demanded.
Miranda shook her head in disgust. "After what we did to her mercenaries, she still has enough forces to try this?"
"She's that weak willed? She'll kill my legacy with a damned valve!" Okeer cursed as he ran to the control panel. "Shepard! You want information on the Collectors? Stop her. She'll try to access contaminants in the storage bay."
"You could start over, like she plans to. What's the big deal?" Paul shrugged nonchalantly.
Okeer answered, but his voice was distant. "This tank is pure. It involved as much trial as data. Starting over will not duplicate it. It must survive. Jedore will be with the rejected tanks. Kill her. I will…stay and do what must be done."
Shepard gestured to Miranda and Kasumi. "We've got to take Jedore down before she gasses the whole damn area. It looked to me like she had tech armor on: any recommendations?"
Miranda nodded and said quickly, "Don't get too close. That tech armor will burst once breached, and it'll send energy flying everywhere. If you're too close, it'll knock you flat on your backside."
"So we snipe away at her." Shepard stated. "How many shots do you have left in the M-92, Miranda?"
Miranda checked. "Just three shots remaining, Commander."
"Then we make them count." Kasumi said with a shrug. "Use the tanks for cover, though."
"I don't care who they are, I want them dead! This is my world, I'll poison them all!" Jedore barked like a raving idiot, even backed up against the wall.
"I think she's talked enough." Miranda's face was the picture of irritation.
"First to take her down gets a three day pass?" Kasumi suggested.
"Not a fair contest, Kasumi..." Paul chastised her.
"Who said it had to be fair? Oh no." As the door to Jedore's 'arena' of sorts opened, Paul caught sight of another damnable YMIR mech.
"How come she couldn't have used that on the berserkers?!" Shepard asked to no one in particular. "Miranda, save your sniper fire for the mech; we're done for if it flanks us!"
"I've got it!" She responded.
"WATCH THE KROGAN!" Kasumi cried out. One of the tanks in front of their position had opened and a very angry krogan warrior began firing at them from range.
Good thing shotguns aren't accurate from distance...ah hell. Shepard charged across the battlefield and into the krogan, firing his shotgun immediately after coming to a relative stop. The krogan hit the floor, his head literally charring and melting from the incendiary rounds. Damn it, damn it, DAMN IT! Paul thought as he found a cloning tank for cover. I killed enough krogan when I fought Saren!
Jedore was more than annoying with her damn grenade launcher shooting every which way, even hitting her own YMIR mech out of clumsiness on a couple occasions. A grenade blast soared across the field and slammed into a tank, detonating it and blowing out three cloning bays. Miranda hastily moved to another cover position and took aim at Jedore, only for the pesky human woman to fire another grenade. Before Miranda could get into cover, she took a direct hit. She flinched on the spot and hastily ducked down behind another tank. As she did so, Miranda yelled out, "Kasumi, hit Jedore already, damn it!"
Kasumi obliged, closing to range with Jedore while cloaked. Shepard hurriedly switched to his Kovalyov and sprayed suppression fire all over Jedore's position. As Kasumi struck the Blue Suns commander down, however, Jedore turned, screamed, "NO, IMPOSSIBLE!" and fired a grenade at her assailant at point blank range. Combined with Jedore's tech armor detonation as Shepard's assault rifle fire struck home, it looked as though the entire scene blew up. Kasumi's shields collapsed instantly and she went skidding away; she hit the deck and was out cold from the concussive effects of the grenade. Jedore never rose again.
Miranda and Shepard were left on their own to fight the remaining krogan commando and the YMIR. The YMIR's armor was failing, but it was drawing power from the weapons to restore its shields. That is totally unacceptable. Shepard thought angrily, swapping the shotgun for his M-4 Shuriken. Incendiary rounds blazed away merrily at the armor on the mech, but it wasn't until Miranda blasted it away with warp that she had her shot...and she took it. Similarly to Freedom's Progress, the mech's head blew apart...and an alarm began to go off.
"Take cover!" Miranda called out. The explosion as the mech's ammunition and power supply detonated was colossal, shattering the cloning tanks that Jedore had used to unleash her berserkers just moments before and erasing the lone krogan commando from existence from where he stood. Consoles blew out all around them, and the observation window between the lab and the tank area was utterly annihilated. Shepard's kinetic barriers actually collapsed and he was forced to a knee.
Before Shepard could congratulate Miranda on her shot, alarms started blaring from the lab area. "Alarms in the lab!" Miranda cried out. "Damn it, what's Okeer doing up there?
EDI chimed in from the Normandy. "Shepard, the lab alarms coincided with a systems failure. The remaining lab systems are unprotected, and I have gained limited access. According to the lab scanners, the room is flooded with toxins and Okeer's vital signs are failing rapidly. I recommend haste."
Shepard understood, but went to Kasumi first. "Are you all right, Kasumi?"
Kasumi shook her head almost like a dog trying to shake off water. "I'm as all right as can be expected...after taking a grenade blast to the head. Is it over?"
"It is, and you get your three-day pass for taking down Jedore." Shepard offered. "We've got to get up to the lab, ASAP."
"Contamination detected. Emergency venting in progress. Contamination detected. Emergency venting in progress." An automated system from the laboratory informed the squad as they made their way back up the stairs.
Warlord Okeer, who had fought in at least a dozen battles in the Krogan Rebellions, now lay dead on the floor, next to his prototype krogan. A prerecorded message played on the monitor that he had used when they'd entered the room, and Okeer's last moments played out for them. Okeer coughed, his body suffering from the murderous cocktail of chemicals that Jedore had unleashed in revenge for his betrayal. "You gave me time, Shepard. If I knew why the Collectors wanted humans, I would have told you. But everything is in my prototype. My legacy is pure. This one soldier, this...grunt...is perfect." Okeer slumped forward on the viewscreen, his last words hanging in the air as he breathed his last.
"Okeer wasted his life to save this single krogan?" Miranda asked with a curl of her lip that indicated total disapproval.
Kasumi countered, "That thing can't be worse than Okeer. And if he's tough, we need him."
"A 'pure' krogan could pack a hell of a punch. We could always use another heavy hitter." Shepard pointed out.
"If he'll even help. I doubt anyone's asked his opinion on anything." Miranda cautioned.
Shepard nodded. "I'll take it under advisement, and we'll proceed with caution." He activated his suit radio. "Normandy? Okeer is a no-go. But we have a package that needs retrieval...and he's a big one."
MISSION SUMMARY:
Cloning facility destroyed. Blue Suns presence neutralized. Okeer dead, but his "son" was recovered.
Loss of Okeer could be a problem. Will allow Shepard to decide whether or not to activate the krogan.
NORMANDY SR-2, DECK 2
"Bringing the krogan for study makes sense, but I have concerns about waking it." Miranda was going to have her say, and Shepard had to remind himself, She's your executive officer for now. She has some valid concerns. Get used to it!
"Yeah...you've said that a few times now." Jacob retorted.
"A normal krogan is dangerous: this one was created, and likely educated, by a madman!" Miranda replied, as though everyone should share her concern.
"I see everyone's enjoying the new paperweight." Shepard said, folding his arms over his chest. "Concerns?"
"We don't know anything about him, Commander." Miranda stated dourly.
"I know. You don't find that interesting?" Paul questioned.
"Krogan fight well at close quarters. Perhaps awakening him in a confined space wouldn't be prudent." Miranda offered.
"Noted. The cargo hold is safe enough for now while I decide what to do with him." Shepard responded with a curt nod. Miranda walked out of the room more exasperated than ever while Jacob shrugged and left.
As he made his way to the galaxy map, Kelly accosted him, gently, of course. "Is it true we have a pod containing a baby krogan down in the cargo hold?"
Shepard shook his head. "Not a baby. He's a full-grown super soldier, ready for combat at the drop of a pin."
Kelly urged, "Please be careful if you decide to...birth...him? His personality is completely unknown."
"I'll be sure to do that, Kelly." Shepard said confidently. Instead of heading to the galaxy map and setting their course for the Omega Nebula, however, Shepard walked straight back to the elevator and punched in a command for Deck 4. He was going to resolve this situation as soon as possible.
NORMANDY SR-2, DECK 4
The port cargo bay of the Normandy was immaculate. There was absolutely nothing out of place here...except for the gigantic krogan in a birthing chamber in the center. Shepard walked up to it and consulted EDI first.
"The subject is stable, Shepard. Integration with on-board systems was seamless." EDI reported.
"Can he see anything in there? Does he know where he is?" Shepard asked the AI.
EDI's response came quickly. "Unlikely. Current neural patterns indicate minimal cognition. Barring shipwide power loss, the nutrients in the tank could sustain him for over a year."
"What can you tell me about this guy? Anything unusual?" Shepard asked.
EDI's answer confirmed some of his suspicions. "The subject is an exceptional example of the krogan species, with fully formed primary, secondary, and tertiary organs, where applicable. No defects of any kind, aside from the genetic markers of the genophage present within all krogan. I cannot judge mental functioning at this time."
"How dangerous is this guy? Is he a security risk?"
"He is a krogan, Shepard." EDI replied. "If you are asking whether he is actively hostile, I don't have the necessary data to answer. Okeer's technology could impart data, not methods of thinking. The subject may know of his views, but would not necessarily share them."
Shepard nodded. That was all he needed to hear. "Stand by. I'm going to open the tank and let him out."
"Cerberus protocols are very clear regarding untested alien technology, Commander." EDI remonstrated.
Shepard made it damn clear he wasn't budging. "He's either a powerful addition to the crew or a ticking time bomb. I'd rather deal with it now."
EDI sounded resigned as she replied, "Very well, Shepard. The controls are online. The switch...and consequences...are yours."
Shepard input the first set of commands to drain the fluid levels and nutrient drink from the tank. The next command caused the entire apparatus to slide apart. The krogan fell to his knees, coughed out some of the fluid, and then blinked as he saw the world around him for the first time. He looked at Paul, then, without any warning, lifted Paul off his feet and slammed the commander into a container.
His voice was the most surprising part about him, though. It was utterly calm, cool. "Human. Male. Before you die, I need a name." He said without preamble, pinning Paul to the container with one hand.
"I'm Commander Paul Shepard of the Normandy, and I don't take threats lightly. I suggest you relax." Paul answered, his voice hard. Damn, I'm glad it didn't come to this on Virmire with Wrex!
"Not your name." The krogan responded. "Mine. I'm trained; I know things...but the tank. Okeer couldn't implant connection. His words ring hollow. Warlord, legacy...grunt... Grunt. "Grunt" was among the last. It has no meaning. It will do." The krogan decided on the spot.
"I am Grunt. If you are worthy of your command, prove your strength and try to destroy me." The krogan had Paul pinned to the container with one arm, almost effortlessly.
"Why do you want me to try to kill you?" Paul asked.
Grunt answered his question with a question. "Want? I do what I am meant to – fight and reveal the strongest. Nothing in the tank ever asked what I want. I feel nothing for Okeer's clan, or his enemies. His imprint has failed – he has failed. Without a reason that's mine, one fight is as good as any other. Might as well start with you..."
"I have a good ship and a strong crew: a strong clan. You would make it much stronger." Paul stated.
"If you're weak and choose weak enemies, I'll have to kill you." Grunt informed him.
"Our enemies seek the destruction of entire races." Shepard answered. "They're worthy of being our enemies. No doubt about that."
"Hmm. That's acceptable. I'll fight for you." Grunt decided.
"I'm glad you saw reason." Paul said with a wry smile. Grunt looked down at his chest with a strange sound resembling his name. Paul Shepard held an M-4 Shuriken leveled at his chest, ready to blast away...but only if necessary. The krogan released his grip on Shepard's neck.
"Ha! Arm one hand, but arm the other. Wise, Shepard." Grunt nodded in respect to him. "If I find a clan, if I find what I...want...I would be honored to eventually pit them against you."
"Grunt?" Shepard asked.
"Shepard." The young krogan responded.
"What do you think about the crew?" Shepard asked.
Grunt answered, "Good bunch if they stay out of my way. Dead bunch if they don't. Train them well if you want to take on Collectors, though...some of these aliens are...too smooth."
Paul asked a different question, "Did Okeer give you any imprints about the Collectors, Grunt?"
"I see blurry ships, guesses about strength, but nothing to find a weak spot and tear it apart. Okeer spent all his time on old hatreds." Grunt explained. "Well, whatever he had, it was used up when he made me." Grunt shrugged.
"What are your thoughts about our mission?" Shepard asked.
"I fight." Grunt answered plainly. "It doesn't matter who for."
"That's all for now, Grunt." Paul said, ending the conversation.
"Shepard." Grunt nodded.