Chapter 14: Rachni and the Krogan:

"You cannot ignore the evidence on this, we have four eye witnesses and video proof showing you that Saren was working with the Geth before trying to kill us."

Shepard said sternly, his patience beginning to wear thin,

"Captain Shepard, how can we be sure this is not just some fanatical colonist who managed to escape the last attack and has agreed to work with the Geth for ulterior motives."

Cheum said trying to find anyway to clear the name of a Spectre, Shepard slammed his fist on the podium and looked into the Councillors eyes,

"If you don't want to accept the truth then I will not search your colonies anymore, Humanity is also under attack, so I shall simply defend my own."

Brunus gave Shepard a glare that would have made other men cower,

"If you think for one minute this Council will be bullied by some upstart Human Captain you are mistaken, although your evidence is conclusive that Saren was indeed with the Geth we cannot assertion his motives or if he is working under his own will, if you could hold your temper in check, we will be more than happy to discuss your assignment. We commission you to find conclusive evidence pointing to Saren's betrayal."

Shepard nodded slightly and left,

"Damn council they'll do anything to save their own."

Shepard huffed as he walked into the elevator back to the Normandy,

"So just to clarify what is our mission?"

Shepard closed his eyes and thought,

"For the moment were investigating Saren, as he and his Geth are both linked with the Collectors and the Reaper, if we find Saren we find the Collectors I'm sure of it."

Nodding I looked at my VV for any reports of Saren or Geth sighted on other colonies, it turned up blank but there was a planet that had recorded Saren visiting on a regular basis, Noveria.

"Shepard I think we should investigate Noveria, Saren appears to have some interest with that planet."

He must have been looking at similar files as he nodded,

"My thoughts to, ah where does all this fit, Saren, Geth, Collectors and a Reaper? The Geth are working with the Collectors who are Reaper slaves so are the Geth slaves to and Saren, well what is he?"

I sighed,

"I think this just got whole lot bigger than kidnapped colonists."

When we arrived back on the Normandy Shepard told Joker to set a course for Noveria leaving me in charge as he went on his rounds. It was a short journey relatively speaking about a 6 hour round trip from the Citadel to Noveria so I stayed on the bridge talking with Joker as my company until stepping aside when Shepard returned,

"Stan go get some dinner, you've been up since Aspire."

Giving him my thanks I left, taking a seat in the mess hall but only eating my meal at rare opportunities as I read up on unclassified information on Saren, he had been a spectre for ten years, born on Palaven to a typical military family, but other than the basic he was hidden by Citadel protection, Just then I spotted Garrus,

"Hey Garrus don't suppose you know anything about Saren that isn't on the books?"

He shook his head, "Sorry I got nothing, CSEC made the files you have access to but there is rarely little information they miss."

Nodding in thanks I sat back and sighed,

"So where we heading?"

Garrus asked sitting down with his Turian tea,

"Noveria, an ice planet so pack a flask of that stuff I know how you hate the cold, taking his cup and sipping it slightly,

"That's a good tea."

He had long since giving up trying to stop me tasting Turian foods,

"That will kill you one day's you know?"

Shrugging I took a bigger sip,

"Got to go someday I guess."

He laughed,

"That's the problem you can't die now, and not with your relife procedures, tell me have you found a way to do the same for other species?"

I shrugged,

"Dr Chakwas and Mordin are the people to ask, Mordin has been trying to extend Salarian lives for most of his, he's been helping our scientists with the relife procedures for all but it slow progress."

Garrus nodded resigning his original tea to me and standing to get another. At 30 minutes till arrival I received a message from Chakwas saying she had grounded Shepard to the ship and that I was to take the team to the Noveria facility.

"Right Garrus get yourself organised you're under my command for this one, oh and how Vale?"

His version of a raised eyebrow was his answer,

"Vale?"

I nodded,

"Oh yeah she's fine Shepard spoke with her CO via messages, and got her on loan to the Normandy."

He left before I could say anything, so I went to get ready but before leaving I knocked on Liara's door, when it opened she was already in her armour,

"Stan tell Shepard I'm going to the facility."

She said before walking toward the lift, I rushed after her,

"Liara, Shepard is grounded I'm leading this mission and I was about to ask if you wanted to go."

She didn't look surprised,

"Glad that he isn't going, not that he is annoying but in his state, fighting wouldn't be the best thing right now."

I told her to meet Garrus outside the shuttle while I went to get ready. A minute later I walked into the cargo bay and gestured for the others to get in,

"Right I know you probably want a nice and gentle descent but I'm afraid we have a job to do so hang on."

I heard Liara mutter something about crazy Humans while Garrus chuckled to himself and as soon as the bay doors opened I floored it.

Within two minutes we were inside the planet's atmosphere and heading to the facility,

"Stan I'm reading no electrical signals from the welcome centre, I guess they evacuated from the storm or something else happened."

Shepard said as he moved the waypoint to the fourth mountain laboratory,

"Better hurry though the winds are picking up."

He added much to the delight of Liara, as I shoved the throttle to full power closing the distance from us to the landing pad, when I finally touched the little craft down and extended the magnetic clamps to stop it from being lifed off.

"NEON access the computer grid and retract this landing platform."

Within seconds the pad moved and soon we were inside the facility,

"Load up let's find anything we can on Saren."

Garrus who had jumped out first, tilted his head to me,

"How do we even know this is Saren's lab?"

I thought as I locked up the shuttle but NEON appeared,

"EDI and myself hacked into the facilities database upon entry into the planet, number four has been sold from the Sirta Foundation to a private contractor who paid in full using Citadel currency, stating that they didn't not want to be disturbed."

As I joined the others at the end of the corridor I told NEON to scan the facility for life signs,

"So we have a super-rich individual that lived and worked for the citadel I think this is our guy."

Garrus nodded as he opened the first door into the facility, as the door slid apart Liara screamed and the sounds of scuttling could be heard as well as the sound of tapping on metal,

"Liara what did you see?"

I asked as I poked my head around the door to see a few patches of green and purple fluid on the floor,

"I'm not sure but they were big insects and they were eating Asari!" She cried as she took deep breaths,

"Garrus eyes peeled, Liara on my six."

I said as I entered the room scanning all the points of entry I couldn't hear any more noise and guessed the insects had fled,

"NEON any signs of life yet?" He didn't respond,

"Normandy come in?"

No response either,

"Right were on our own for this one, stay close."

As we made our way deeper into the station every so often we would hear a scuttle or clang from pipes around us but we pressed on following the signs for the computer core room, I hoped we be able to deactivate whatever was blocking our signals and hopefully find out if Saren or any of his minions were here. As we reached the last corridor to the computer room a loud retching sounds came from up ahead, and as we rounded the last corner we froze there was a huge insect lying on the floor convulsing while a Human crouched next to it a knife buried in the back of the creatures neck,

"Hey who are you, and what is that?!"

The Human twisted its knife and stood wiping the blood on a cloth then turning around,

"I am Ashley Williams and you are Stan Grant if my memory serves me correctly."

My mind jumped back to when I first met Ashley when she joined my crew all those years ago,

"What are you doing here, you were with the Navy what happened to you?"

She smiled coyly,

"After your heroic desertion I left the Navy to and tried to join the Blue suns to take it to the aliens once and for all, but in the I became a low life merc, taking the odd job here and there, until I was offered a security job here on this dump of a planet, only I didn't realise it was for some whack job Turian and an equally crazy Asari Matriarch."

Liara stepped forward,

"Do you know what her name is?"

Ashley shook her head,

"No sorry I don't, she never leaves the secure lab, but I guess whatever in there spawned these things, so you heading to the computer core right? Same here trying to get an SOS out of here, but it looks like you beat me to it but I'll come with you we still need to turn off the jammer and find out if any of the scientists made it?"

I gestured her forward but held back, "Do not trust her, if she is working for Saren she may be liable to turn on us."

After that we followed her down the corridor and into the computer core, where Garrus set about trying to re-activate the computers sensor and take down the jamming signal.

"Ok we have computer control and the sensors are online but I am unable to take the jammer down."

I waved it off,

"Good job nonetheless, so anything near us?"

He nodded,

"Updating our maps, there's a group of Turians, Humans, Asari, Elcor, Salarians and a Volus in the crew quarters, and there is a single Asari in the secure lab."

I thought for a moment,

"We need to secure any survivors for interrogation, lets head out to the crew quarters and once there we will try find out what's going on in this place before tackling the Matriarch."

On route we had our first and soon after multiple encounters with the insects, there were relentless and spat acid at us in an attempt to slow us down but after 15 minutes of nonstop fighting we reached the crew quarters where we were greeted by an old security turret that ignored us and kept scanning the corridor.

When we were allowed inside we found that many of the survivors were in bad shape most had been bittern or had acid burns and they were slowly dying with lack of medical supplies,

"Who's in charge around here?"

I shouted and a Turian stepped forward and scowled at us,

"Ashely where the hell have you been?"

She ignored him and sat on a cot nearby,

"We meet here reactivating the computer, can you tell me what's going on and where I can find a way to shut down the jammer, if that goes my ship will be able to evacuate you."

He looked sceptical but sighed,

"The jammer is in the secure lab but it's been sealed tight and those things have been crawling all over that section of the station, if you can get in there and shut it off we can contact your ship but you need to kill these creatures first head to the security station next to the lab and activate the purge, it will kill all non-registered species in the station."

I nodded telling my team to refill ammo and head, out I told Ashley to remain behind as she wasn't with me and I couldn't trust her.

As soon as we exited the secure part of the station we were set upon by the insects again and again all the way to the purge room, after activating it we heard the cries of hundreds of insects throughout the station as they died, when the screams faded I unlocked the secure lab and entered,

"You should not have come here Human, this is far beyond your control."

A voice said from above me as my team and I entered,

"I wouldn't be so sure about that, we already stopped Saren on Aspire and we will stop you here."

I responded after checking the area was clear, then the Asari stepped out in front of the flight of stairs leading to her position,

"Mother?!"

Liara gasped as she began to walk up the stairs,

"Oh Liara, such a disappointment why couldn't you have stayed in the military where you were out of my way."

Benezia said,

"Hey Garrus you know how you said when I first met you I was lucky to get away from her, I don't think that will happen today."

I said as I grabbed Liara's arm and stopped her from climbing any higher,

"Well if it isn't the first envoy to the Council himself, I knew I should have killed you back on the Citadel, but I can make up for that today with the help from the Geth." As she spoke several Geth entered the room and began firing at us as Benezia hid behind her station.

"You just had to say it didn't you."

Garrus shouted as he shot the eye out of a Geth unit as it ran towards him,

"Ah shut up and shoot." I shouted back peppering several Geth while Liara lifted them into the air. It took most of our ammo and biotic strength in Liara's case to weaken Benezia and destroy the Geth. As we climbed the stairs wary of any ambush attacks we saw Benezia slouched on the floor clutching her stomach as blood trickled out,

"Well done Commander Grant, you beat me. But Saren's plan is too far along for you to stop him now."

Liara crouched down and placed a hand on her mother's bloody one,

"Mother please tell us what he is doing and how we can stop him."

Benezia's eyes rolled back then snapped back bitch black,

"Please you have to stop me, he's controlling my mind, Saren is in league with the Reaper Sovereign, that is the real threat, Sovereign is using the Geth to uncover ancient Prothean relicts that could aid all of you in defeating the Reapers and is destroying them, the Collectors are, Ahh!"

She screamed and her hands went to her head to cover her ears,

"Please make it stop I don't want to be a slave anymore!"

Benezia cried out in pain,

"Mother please hang on fight him!"

Liara shouted, tears spilling down her face,

"Commander you gun, please!"

Benezia whimpered, I hesitated but crouched, gently took her hand and held it around my pistol as she guided it to her head, "I love you Liara, never forget that." She said in a level and calm voice before pulling the trigger,

"NO! Mother!"

Liara screamed and hugged Garrus as I gently laid Benezia's body flat while closing her eyes and looking for something to cover her.

"I'm so sorry Liara, but she was under Saren control, she fought him off long enough to end it so she wouldn't have to kill you."

I said, lightly touching her arm to try and comfort her. She pulled her arm away from me, pulling herself tighter into Garrus, who although shocked by the gesture did his best to comfort her, while giving me a 'don't worry about it' look. As sighed and bowed my head I then heard a screech and scratching noise, I looked up and stood walking to the end of the platform and looked down,

"Jesus what the hell is that?!"

Garrus said after he had set Liara down next to her mother walked over,

"No idea but it looks like the smaller ones maybe it's a Queen?"

I nodded,

"Hey check that terminal it may have the jammer deactivation code on it."

He moved off and taped the screen he smiled and sighed in relief, "Deactivating it now."

After a second a pre-recorded message came through to my radio,

"Stan, Garrus and Liara if you're receiving respond right away."

Shepard voices said strained in worry,

"Captain we are receiving, we just deactivated the jamming signal, and confronted Saren's top lieutenant unfortunately she killed herself, she was Liara's mother. That's not all we have encountered a hostile alien race, they are an insect race but we have found what we believe is their Queen. From all of these smaller worker, insects running around it appears Saren was breeding them for his uses but they must have broken lose. What should I do with the Queen?"

A huge sigh responded before Shepard responded,

"Thank god you're alright, any injuries? See if the Queen can understand you, it could have been held against its will."

I rolled my eyes before settling my gaze on the creature at looked back at me chirping.

"No injuries to report but we encountered some survivors many of which are badly wounded, I suggest sending a security detail to escort them back, Ashley Williams was working for Saren as a hired gun, so be aware she may be compromised."

At that point Liara cried out again causing both Garrus and I to draw our weapons,

"What the hell!"

Garrus exclaimed, Benezia was sitting up her head tilted to the side and her eyes were pitch black once again,

"Please we mean you no harm, we are the last of our kind. We are Rachni, the small ones you killed were stolen from us before they could be taught how to sing, they were lost to silence. You did them a favour, but please release us, we will not make the same mistakes our ancestors did."

We stared in shock at Benezia while Liara checked her pulse,

"She dead, could it be the Queen has a telepathic link with minds who are lesser or inactive."

She guessed now holding her mother's body tightly,

"Commander what is happening down there?"

Shepard asked,

"Well Captain, the Queen the species their Rachni, she claims she is the last of her kind and that she means us no harm, she wishes to be released."

Joker could be heard faintly saying that was terrible idea.

"The Rachni terrorized the Galaxy a long time ago, can we be sure that she will not do the same to us?"

The Queen screeched angrily,

"We already told you we mean you no harm we wish to have the right to exist in peace, what gives you the right to deny us our place in the universe, we were born in captivity, and wish for freedom, we promise that we mean you nothing but peace, we will withdraw from your territory forever."

I stared about the place trying to get the reactions from my team, Liara looked sympathetic while Garrus shook his head.

"This is the species that caused us to use the Krogan to put them down and look how that turned out?"

He said with no hesitation.

"I agree with Garrus we can't not chance the safety of the Galaxy to the word of one who has a good reason to hate us."

Shepard said but I couldn't think, "Shepard we cannot doom a species to death?"

He sighed,

"I know we have no right but we cannot chance it."

I shook my head,

"No I won't destroy a race for past actions, and everyone deserves a second chance."

I said as I stepped up to the terminal and pressed containment release and the pod the Rachni was encased in and it slowly rose before meeting up it a second door that opened leading to a long corridor, Shepard was shouting in my ear but I ignored him, the Queen turned and looked at me once again,

"Thank you Commander we shall not forget your generosity, and as promised we will leave known space never to interfere with you again."

Then Benezia fell silent and limp once again. I turned picturing the bollocking I would receive when I returned to the ship. Garrus sighed and patted my shoulder,

"I hope it was worth it?"

I nodded and held my hand out to Liara, "Liara if there was anything I could have done for your mother I." She took my hand and hugged me, "Don't mention it, I realise that she was doing to protect me and free herself, I'm glad you didn't force her to or do it for her."

When we got back in the shuttle I could see the Normandy docked with a secondary docking arm with the survivors walking across the tunnel, after I had lifted off I guided the shuttle into the cargo bay and set her down then took a deep breath,

"See you guys for dinner?"

They agreed stepping out and walking off the remove their weapons and armour, as I exited I saw the lift door open and stood in place,

"Goddamnit Stan! I gave you and order to kill that Queen and you set it loose on the Galaxy!"

Shepard shouted but he didn't seem that angry,

"I know it couldn't have been easy knowing you were committing genocide, but I hope your decision doesn't come around to bite us in the ass one day."

He smiled and looked at the others who were staying focused on their work,

"Still you stopped Saren's operation here and you rescued some survivors that we can interrogate for information, so at the end of the day well done, come on go get cleaned up and take the rest of the day off, go get a drink but don't get drunk."

I smiled and thanked him joining the others before heading for the showers.

Now back to feeling fresh and human once more and back in my casual navy slacks, I saw it wasn't quite time for dinner so I walked into the port side observation room and sat down not taking my eyes off of a data pad a junior officer had given me stating that a few upgrades were needed for the ship, telling my VV to play some music while I sat back and watched the stars forgetting everything and just enjoying the view.

I hadn't been there long, when I realised I wasn't alone, looking around I saw Tali sitting a lounging chair, silently laughing to herself,

"Wow do all Humans have terrible special awareness?"

I smiled,

"No just me, sorry I didn't see you I was preoccupied with music and realising a Rachni Queen."

Tali who was in the process of moving to sit on the couch looked at me,

"You what, Keelah what possessed you to do that?"

I watched the stars thinking,

"I just couldn't deny a sentient creature who had done no wrong, to death and in the process dooming her species to extinction."

Tali sat and brushed her hand over her hood,

"That was kind of you but, maybe extremely foolish the Rachni threatened galactic peace before Humans even left Earth, but I'm pleased to see that at least your forgiving enough to spare a species."

I smiled at her,

"Thanks Tali, any news on your Father?"

She sighed,

"He has set up a salvage shop on the Citadel buying old ships, fixing them up and selling them on, so far he has been happy but I fear he may soon realise he is alone."

I placed my hand on hers and gripped it,

"He's not alone, he has you don't forget that."

I said sternly but with no steel in my voice, she gave my hand a squeezed and I could just make out a smile under her mask,

"Thanks Stan, that means a lot, hopefully his weapon will put us back on Rannoch soon, I'd like to show it to you, well you and everyone else."

She looked away back out of the window and I tugged on my hand she still held she let go,

"Oh I'm sorry."

I waved it off,

"Say want to join me for some dinner?"

She stood nodding and led the way out the door when I entered she was already at the food stand a try securely in her grasp,

"You must be hungry."

I said when I saw how many food tubes she had, she nodded grabbing a drink and turned looking for table when she spotted Garrus entering from his room with Valemia,

"Garrus, Valemia brilliant timing grab a tray and join Stan and me."

I stifled my laugh at her excited state, as she walked to the table in the centre which was rapidly becoming ours and waited for the rest of us.

After Garrus and Valemia had got their food and sat down I knocked on the door for Liara but when she didn't answer I guessed that she wasn't feeling up to socialising, so I returned giving the door an apologetic stare,

"Stan it wasn't your fault about Benezia, she chose to end it on her own terms."

Garrus said after seeing my stare,

"Yes but Liara was there she saw it and me helping her do it."

He slapped me over the head getting an angry stare as reward, but it snapped me out of my worries. For a while Garrus spoke in great detail about the Rachni which drew the interest of several of the crew, and by the time he finished some CO's were coming in wondering where their staff were.

"And Stan released them! Well thanks Commander."

Tali said jokingly as Garrus finished describing their acid spitting ability during fights. I gave an exasperated sigh and checked to see where Joker was taking us it appeared as though we were heading for Tuchanka.

As I prepared to leave Valemia drew my attention,

"Excuse me Commander, do you know where were heading?"

I smiled

"Just checked that myself, were currently on route to Tuchanka, I was just going to speak to Shepard about it."

She nodded but looked annoyed about something,

"Something wrong?"

I asked,

"She looked back at me,

"Well I'm curious how you are allowed to get away with addressing you superior officer by using his first name."

She had a point,

"Well I was his superior officer before I left the Navy, when I was asked back I was put under his command, I guess my way of running the ship rubbed off on him, and he's quite relaxed about names, anyway catch you later enjoy your dinner duty calls."

As I left I heard Garrus mutter something about power going to my head so before I turned the corner I gave him the finger and smiled at his expression before catching the lift to the bridge.

When I arrived I couldn't see Shepard anywhere and when I arrived in the cockpit Joker looked bored out of his mind,

"Where's Shepard?"

He jumped forward,

"Oh sorry I was miles away, he's been in Liara's room for hours think he's having his black eyes eternity thing with her."

He smiled when he saw my bemused expression,

"I think it's a bit soon for that now Commander."

He winked and I shook my head at him,

"Right well how long till we reach Tuchanka? And what the purpose of our visit?"

Joker looked at his screens,

"About 5 hours, Shepard says that the data he extracted from one of the survivors says that Saren visited Tuchanka with the Collectors to hand of some tech so they could build pure Krogan plus a Krogan Warlord contacted us shortly after you returned."

I frowned,

"That certainly isn't good."

He held his hand up to stop me,

"That not everything, you see the Krogan is part of clan Urdnot whose leader is one Urdnot Wrex, Wrex contacted the Admirals to hand over Okeer, who's the scientist making these Krogan in exchange for medical and food supplies. Wrex is a prideful Krogan but not stupid he sees the Collectors as just a big a threat as we do, especially if their taking pure Krogan as warriors for Saren's army, although he didn't discover it, his Brother Wreav discovered what Okeer was doing and told Wrex who at then told us, where on our way to stop Okeer."

I nodded my approval and handed Joker my mug of coffee,

"You need it more than I do when was the last time you slept,

"I sleep in the chair most times when we're in orbit, EDI watches the ship so it's all good."

I laughed turning away from him after saying good night before returning to my room.

Four hours later after dragging myself out of bed I was once again on the bridge, I had dawned my under suit in case Shepard would need me to go on the mission but I doubted he would miss this out. As we entered the system that lead to Tuchanka the Turian blockade fleet hailed us,

"ISCS Normandy state your intentions for entering the Tuchanka system."

Joker whistled at the size of the fleet that guarded the Relay,

"Blockade Fleet we are here to investigate reports of genetic modification on the Krogan to be used against the Council."

We waited for the clearance to come through,

"ISCS Normandy proceed on current heading."

Joker looked around an eyebrow raised

"I'm not about to tell them that we are here to stop a Krogan scientist who is building pure Krogan for Saren's army using tech taken from the Collectors." He nodded and prepared the ship for a Relay jump.

After the short jump and hop across space to the planet, Shepard walked onto the bridge in his armour, determined to go to ground. He surveyed our recorded data on the situation,

"So this Wrex, he's trying to unite the clans correct, well good on him but why would he turn in his top scientist for trying to create pure Krogan?"

he asked as we settled into a stable orbit,

"I think he feels threatened by the Collectors taking his species away for tests and that having new ones created using alien tech is an abomination as he calls it."

I replied watching one of the planets many dust storms tear over the space-port below.

"Right well I'll need Mordin and Garrus for this mission, but I may need a second team or an individual to investigate this Warlord Wrex to see if he knows anything about Saren or the Collectors, he may be useful to us."

I looked at him and he nodded,

"If you don't mind suiting up, I'd like you to go speak with Wrex once I've gone to find Okeer."

I shrugged,

"What could go wrong a Krogan Warlord who fought the Rachni and I set them free again, I hope you have a replacement on call."

He smiled and shook his head,

"Just don't mention it go on get ready I'll see you in five."

Twenty minutes later we set foot on Tuchanka and were greeted by a young Krogan,

"Warlord Wrex is expecting you, don't keep him waiting Human, but I must stress that Salarians and Turian are not welcome on Tuchanka!"

He growled,

"Well I can assure you, Mordin and Garrus won't cause any trouble."

The Krogan shrugged disinterested,

"It's their funerals."

To Mordin's credit he didn't flinch and he seemed genuinely excited about being on Tuchanka while Garrus stiffened as we moved. We followed the Krogan through a collapsed building and down into a small throne room, where a huge Krogan, clad in red armour sat in a throne of concrete,

"Captain Shepard, what took you so long?"

The Krogan growled,

"Urdnot Wrex I presume, held up by the Turian patrol I'm afraid."

He laughed,

"Trust a Human to be afraid of a Turian fleet, but never mind that now you're here. Go north and find the traitor Okeer, bring him here alive or dead or if you want kill him in his lab, and destroy any abominations he's created."

Shepard nodded giving me a 'good luck' stare before setting out over the destroyed city.

Wrex glared angrily at Garrus as he followed Shepard then settled his eyes on me for the first time. "Something you need Human?" Wrex boomed as his guards closed in on me as I stood facing Wrex,

"Yes actually, I want you to tell me everything you know about Spectre Saren Arterius and why he's visited Okeer."

Wrex's eyes narrowed and he stood finally showing just how massive he was,

"You've got some nerve demanding something of me in my own city let on my own planet!"

He barked causing his guards to stand up straight while they eyed me hungrily,

"I glanced around at them and smiled at the advancing mountain of muscle,

"I'm afraid to say but your city and planet need a lick of paint."

Wrex stopped an inch from my face and breathed angrily before giving me a toothy grin,

"Ha you've some balls to say that! Heck I didn't know Humans could almost act Krogan."

As he turned I silently let out my breath, I was glad l acted tough in front of him, I figured manners and protocol were wasted on Krogan.

"Warlord Wrex?"

He waved for me to follow him as he went around his throne and headed for a flight of stairs.

"Call me Wrex, I have no need for titles not like the damned Turians."

I followed Wrex up the stairs and into an area with severely old and run down computers,

"This is the largest collection of security computers the planet has, they monitor everyone who enters and leaves this city, and what their made of. You'll find this interesting?"

He looked at me curiously,

"Oh the names Commander Stan Grant."

He nodded,

"Well Commander take a look than come back to me when you're satisfied."

I nodded and he left me to look at the file he had opened, it showed a Turian bio signature entering the throne room, but something was off about it showed that the life form was incomplete indicating areas of the body that were shaded black, which said they were non-organic components.

I turned to see Wrex leaning against the door a smug smile on his face,

"Yep I had a similar expression when I saw the truth, he's a damn cyborg, now to why he visited he wanted to ask my permission to allow one hundred of my best to be used as genetic markers, so he could create a Krogan army and cure the Genophage, I told his slimy ass that he would not use my species as simple cannon fodder and that curing the Genophage as a means of me signing my species into slavery was absolutely off the table. So when I found out that he had contacted Okeer with the same offer I called you guys, knowing you're hunting him and his slippery Collector friends who supplied Okeer with the tech he needed to cure the Genophage."

I activated my Omni-tool and raised an eyebrow at him asking if I could download the data, he nodded and I began,

"So why does he want a Krogan army, he has the Geth and the Collectors backing him, not to mention a Reaper."

Wrex shrugged,

"Why'd the Council bring the Krogan in to fight the Rachni, when they had enough firepower to vaporise a planet back then?

He wants a force that is unstoppable when it touches down on a planet, the Geth may be tough but they're really only good at hacking and space warfare now they haven't fought anyone stronger than Quarians before, and the Collectors? My guess they lack the numbers to do full on fighting that or their busy kidnapping your species and everyone else."

I must have paled slightly at the fought of a Krogan army with nothing but war bred into their genes. Wrex laughed and slapped me on the back,

"Don't worry about it Grant, Saren was here only a couple of weeks ago with the offer and we only found out about Okeer a few days ago, but it doesn't look like has made much headway, but he is a driven worker plus his new tech may have given him only enough time to make maybe one working prototype and he probably hasn't even started curing the Genophage, so no blood thirsty armies will be smashing up Earth if that's what you're worried about."

I smiled,

"That's a relief, so Wrex what are you hoping to gain by uniting the clans?"

I asked innocently enough but Wrex's attitude turned foul,

"Why do you care Human, it's not like you have to worry about extinction with a population in the billions, the Krogan number in mere thousands now."

I held my hands up apologetically,

"Sorry Wrex didn't mean to cause offence I'm merely interested in the outcome, I think the Krogan deserve a chance at rebuilding despite what the Council say." He roared with laughter and walked out of the room but when I didn't follow he turned,

"Come on Grant I want to show you something."

I followed him as he launched himself off the floor and down to the floor below, I dropped down slowly, rather hoping not to break a bone,

"Good to see at least some people out there are willing to be so trusting, especially after what we've been branded as out in Citadel space, I know you're still independent from the Council but from what I heard your ambassador, Udina? Is trying to seal the deal with your becoming a member that wouldn't make me like Humanity an awful lot."

We had reached a platform overlooking Wrex's food stood and sleeping quarters, calling them run down would have been an improvement,

"That is why I am uniting the clans so that we never have to live and die in such a shit hole! We need to stop fighting, especially as there are so few of us remaining we need to try and stabilize what's left of our population and show the galaxy we aren't the mindless thugs they claim we are."

I gazed out over the ruined city and looked at the Krogan who had his fists clenched rage in his eyes,

"You know Wrex the Commonwealth is helping the Quarians with medical supplies and ship repairs, I'm sure if you sent your case to the Commonwealth Department of Alien Affairs, they would agree to help you."

He shook his head,

"No we cannot rely on the charity of offers if we have any hope of standing on our own feet but thanks for the offer, the only reason I'm accepting food and medicine from you this time is because we need it."

Just then I received a visual message from Shepard I turned and opened it,

"Shepard what's up?"

"This is what's up."

He turned to show me a huge tubes filled with thick reddish liquid bubbling inside,

"Tell Wrex, Okeer is dead, but all traces of Collector tech are inside this, a perfectly pure Genophage free Krogan. Although Okeer wiped all his data before we killed him. So I cannot destroy this sample as it may be able to help us alive. Get back to the shuttle and bring it to me, I need a heavy lift."

He closed the link and I looked back at Wrex,

"Okeer is dead, but I am afraid we must take the prototype he has built for analysis. Is that alright with you?"

He grumbled and stormed past me,

"I invited you here and you did what I asked, mostly, yes you may take the abomination, I only hope he isn't corrupted by Okeer and his mad ideas, if he is pure and unpolluted when you wake him bring him to me I will test his true nature as a Krogan maybe then he will be useful to the Krogan."

I was unsure how to respond but Wrex didn't look back so I took my leave jumping into the shuttle soon after and piloting over to Shepard's location, when I arrived and opened the doors I could hear Mordin going crazy over the possibilities of a pure Krogan he could study accompanied by Shepard's voice trying to calm him down while Garrus poked his head inside the shuttle,

"Hey, you mind giving me a hand, this thing weighs a tonne and a half."

I walked to the door and saw the tube on its side being supported by a trolley they had acquired, Garrus huffed as he pulled on the top of the tube I ran to the bottom of the tube and pushed,

"Jesus will the shuttle even take off!"

I managed to say through gritted teeth, while Shepard and Mordin continued their discussion. Eventually we managed to get the tube inside and strapped down tight while the ground team settled down for an uneasy ride back to the Normandy.

When we arrived quite a bit later thanks to the reduced lift in the shuttle, as soon as the doors opened Garrus jumped straight out while Shepard and Mordin detached the Tube from the deck and rolled it back out of the shuttle and towards the lift. Although Mordin was trying his best he wasn't making a lot of progress so I relieved him and helped Shepard getting into the lift,

"So where we taking this big boy?"

I panting deeply opposite Shepard who was doing the same,

"How about opposite you, first line of defence?"

He smiled and I shrugged,

"I think I could handle him, Wrex seemed to like me."

Shepard smiled,

"Like you meaning you're still alive."

I nodded and smiled broadly as the lift arrived on the engineering deck just in time to meet Tali as she walked out of the engine room,

"What's in there another Rachni?"

We huffed as we pushed and pulled it aside,

"No, their worst nightmare."

I managed to say, and she nodded in understanding and waited for us to clear the lift before taking our place. Soon after we managed to get the Krogan and his tube into the spare Storage room, which had thankfully been cleared, and as it happened there was a heavy lift crane on the roof which we used to get the tube standing up right. And then walked around to face it,

"EDI have you linked with the controls yet?"

Her avatar appeared,

"Yes Shepard what would you like to do with it?"

He looked at the Krogan inside and put his hand to his chin,

"Is he aware of us? I would like to get some information from him."

She took a moment to respond,

"After in-depth scans, the Krogan is awake but whether it is aware of you is another matter, I would suggest caution if you activate it?"

Shepard nodded and stepped forward using his Omni-tool to deactivate the tubes locks.

When the reddish fluid had pooled on the floor and the tubes door was fully open the Krogan's eyes fluttered and he collapsed retching up more of the liquid before his lungs were clear, he then looked up staring at both of us before letting out a guttural growl.

He stood with speed neither of us were prepared for and charged his arms grabbing both of us around our waists before ramming us into the wall before throwing Shepard aside as he was without a weapon, the Krogan must have decided to take out the strongest opponent first, the Krogan pulled me around and slammed me into Shepard as he stood, knocking him away from both of us before slamming me again into the wall.

"Human male, not much known about you other than how to kill you, but why wake me if you know I can kill you? Unless you're stupid in which case this will be an easy."

He stopped his threats and looked down to see my knife pressed perfectly against his chest ready to penetrate his primary heart while Shepard held my pistol ready at the Krogan's head,

"Hmph maybe you aren't stupid but that still doesn't answer why you woke me up."

I nodded to Shepard and he lowered the pistol,

"Put me down and we'll tell you."

He looked at Shepard and let off his grip on my neck and lowered me down,

"Fine now what."

I took my pistol back from Shepard holstered it, I was glad that he was a good catch as I had thrown it at him when the Krogan spun me around a second time, "Now you answer my questions, Stan go get cleaned up your heads a mess."

Shepard said in complete calm, his voice showing every bit of authority he wielded as he stared at the Krogan. I touched the back of my head and brought the hand into view and saw it stained with fresh blood,

"Right I'll get Garrus up here to back you up."

He shook his head,

"No I will talk with him alone that way we can straighten this out."

I gave him a concerned look as I left the room heading for the lift.

When I reached the crew deck and began making my way to the med-bay I drew few stares from some of the crew but it wasn't till Liara and Tali saw me holding my head as it dripped blood down my back they rushed forward, "Stan are you ok?! What happened?"

I waved them down like it wasn't an issue,

"Our newest guest happened, threw me against a bulkhead twice before the threat of my knife in his heart stopped him."

I smiled,

"And what about you neck?"

With my free hand I touched it feeling the swelling and soreness begin,

"That would have been his hand choking me as he held me off the floor, but don't worry the Doc will fix me up."

I said as I walked in immediately having Chakwas look up before rushing to place a cloth over my head wound before leading me to a bed. I just saw Garrus walk up to the Tali and Liara a confused look on his face,

"You could resist getting a scare from a Krogan could you?" He shouted as the doors closed.