….

Saren..

The Normandy stayed in place and sent the shuttle, Edi found reports that there had been a fight recently and she wasn't sure about them getting too close. Felicity got ready to go before Aaron could even try to keep her on ship, she only had to reason that she was here to prove what she learned and would be off the ship sooner if she did. With or without becoming captain, that removed any argument he could have.

The Volus were running scared it was a war zone alright most structures were just rubble now, most didn't bother with the planet the small battle hadn't attracted very much attention. As soon as the shuttle door opened the closet Turian and Batarian that noticed them started shooting. They weren't wearing helmets and their eyes were a bright yellow coughing up red foam the bullets hit the doors. He chose Garrus, Solana, Miranda, and Kaiden though Grunt and Jack came along as Edi's count for hostiles went higher and higher. He planned to scatter the squad and it was better some stay back but there was no reason to keep it as small as they could not knowing the exact situation.

There were quite a few to dodge blocking them from immediately jumping off the shuttle so the extra hand helped plenty with Jack putting up a barrier where they would have been sideswiped before.

"Sensors have picked up some missing tech that matches what was stolen from the Batarian ship we saw last, you should head straight while you can." Edi said, on call.

They would have to scan the bodies later there was no telling what was wrong with them though they were already wearing the suits to travel safely. Whether the atmosphere was toxic or not they weren't entirely sure that was what was causing the red foam and neon eyes. They ran forward some of those fighting were distracted not shooting just roaming around in confusion. Felicity was starting to wonder if it would be kinder to put them out of their misery.

They couldn't leave without getting samples it just had to wait while those that were still aware were using them as fucking target practice.

Garrus shook his head frustrated he couldn't completely concentrate it was no issue staying further back and getting a few headshots with Solana. Though there was the mark distracting him every time Felicity was in danger. It was Aaron's fault he was determined to rush forward which alerted more than they could take on the bottom.

"There is no way this is just hidden, it must have been covered up." Miranda said on the channel connecting them.

"Yeah look they don't even make the same armor some of them are wearing, more than one series some must have been here years ago." Kaiden said.

"Not that it matters I'll break down whoever is in my way...incidentally, move it Felicity!" Jack called.

"Uh..trying I'm stu..."she screamed as her caught boot was yanked dragging her beneath she just barely heard them calling for her. Before the mud like substance hardened blocking them from going after her.

….

"Felicity answer me..."

She groaned, hearing the slow sloshing sound, something slick and wet was moving around she shook her head and turned around and stared at the mass behind her. A grotesque mix of tentacles, arms, malformed heads and feet. It was a rainbow of mutated color a mix of several species leaking the same foam. She backed up the tentacles stretched up above it was spitting at the walls and up above sliding it's tentacles to grab whoever was there. Mostly it had a hold of the soldiers that were too off to defend themselves she watched it suck them into it's body melting it down with the same spit.

"...Felicity?"

She gagged a bit and looked away sure she heard someone calling she was a little confused.

"Felicity snap out of it...that thing bit you."

She shook her head in confusion.

"We need to keep moving forward." Aaron said.

"We need to look for my sister pyjak." Grunt snapped.

"Oh for the love of, she's not your sister and we don't have time for this."

"They ran off we need to look while we can." Miranda said.

"Miranda I have to abandon her for the mission don't you understand."

"No I don't, I'd do anything for my sister, the scanner says that's not fucking quick sand she could be just fine needing a hand up."

"Look I'm..."

"An ass, if you hadn't of rushed forward she wouldn't have had to cover you and been in the open to be snatched." Jack said.

She had hit her head and the com was on the fritz at most, it blinked in and out but she heard enough she shook her head to clear it and tapped the button.

"I'm fine..."

"Thankfully...we don't cover survival in giant whole consumption situations in training." Solana said.

She laughed though a little dazed.

"Oh don't make me laugh..."

"Felicity..are you alright?"

"Where are you?" Garrus asked.

"Some dark area with some creepy...monster thing..who else is that talking?"

"Assuming you're on a comm and not crazy I'm behind you sweetheart."

She turned her head and moved to pushed herself up though her ankle was stiff, whatever bit her had to melt part of her suit to do it and her leg was numb. She noticed the woman tied loosely but strapped to a table in the corner.

"Irikah...?"

She waved her fingers, she wore a simple mask over her face to breathe easily though Felicity vaguely recognized her voice.

"I uh don't know where this is but this thing it's spitting up that foam but it's version can melt through anything before it cools down...it got my leg but now it's hardened thankfully. I could crawl somewhere but I'm stuck." she banged on the helmet until she could hear them clearly.

"Are there enemies around you?" Aaron finally asked.

"No enemies...well none that are alive since the mass is ignoring me."

"Then you'll be fine we need to continue."

"You asshole..." Miranda muttered.

"It's fine...I'm just a little confused anyhow keep going, if he's still on the planet you don't want to give him too much time leave."

"Are you sure?" Grunt and Garrus asked.

"Of course she is, let's go."

"Wait...what's effecting you..it's a poison and there's an antidote it's in the lab." Irikah said.

"Where is it?"

"Middle of the city they should pass it wherever they're headed, there's a tube here that leads to there you should be able to get through."

She nodded and told them about it as she tried to crawl forward hearing footsteps she looked up.

"Make it quick...Saren's down here.." she added.

He was naked and covered in blood twitching a bit.

"Irikah...precious I thought I heard you call me.." she grunted and struggled against her ties as he came closer.

"No no no, Saren go away..."

He sighed.

"Now now...don't..." he paused as he spotted Felicity.

"Oh you have a...guest, well that's no reason to deny me a little kiss...I'll leave you with your friend." he stumbled over and grabbed either side of her face she screamed as he started drooling that red substance wasn't just blood as it bubbled and lit up.

The creature panicked shaking it's tentacles banging against the cave walls chunks started to fall.

….