It had been two weeks since the crew of the Verminus were able to bring the Rachni Queen to a safe location highly above classified for only the highest ranking officers. Since then things aboard the ship had been quiet for most of the crew. Carter and Zea'Nara hadn't talk much about the little close encounter incident in his room. They still talked allot of course on normal things but neither of them wanted to bring the subject back up. Carter decided he hasn't heard from Kerim in a while and needed to check on his status after his little snap on the last mission. So once the elevator brought him to the medical room, he exited and entered to see Dr. Kayla giving a check up on one of the soldiers.
"Commander sir!" the soldier saluted.
"At ease."
"Morning Commander, how may I help you?" Kayla asked while still inspecting the soldier.
"I was just wondering if I could get the report on Kerim."
"Okay. Kerim has been his usual quiet to himself. He has been coming to the medical bay when required so that's an improvement. And I have subscribed him some Turian medicine for his… condition. Go speak with Florolia if you wish to get the full report since I put her in charge of Kerim's condition and well being."
"Okay thank you Dr. Kayla."
Carter heads over to Florolia's room to see her looking at the necklace Kerim gave her, her face with a mid blush as she sighs. Carter clears his throat to get her attention in which she almost jumped from her seat in embarrassment.
"Oh Carter I… didn't see you there, how can I help?" Florolia stammered.
"I just came to see how you were. After from Kerim…"
"Oh um uh yes Kerim has been making some progress. His physical and mental state where extremely tensed so I prescribed to him to relax more, starting with a massage the other day." Florolia answered blushing a little more.
"A massage?" Carter asks curiously.
"Yes his body was that tensed up and so was his mental state. So I figured giving him one would help. And it has helped in many ways." she answered.
"Hm, I can tell." Carter getting the idea in his head of having a massage.
"However um, it was just yesterday that while Kerim was visiting to talk to Dr. Kayla more about his medicine. He asked me to tell you he would like to speak to you very personally down at his room." Florolia mentions.
"Of course. Thank you for the update. I'll go check on him now."
Just as Carter turned around to leave, Florolia gently stops Carter.
"Carter, I'm scared for him. I know you two haven't been seeing eye to eye lately but please help him. He's in such terrible internal pain. Please, watch after him for me." Florolia asked with a sad look on her face.
"I will and I know you care for him dearly."
Carter pats her hand gently before walking back to the elevator to take it down to the hanger. Once down there, he walks into Kerim's room as he sees him just laying back in a chair throwing knives at a target board. Almost hitting bulls eye spot each throw.
"Hello Carter, how can I help?" Kerim said as he threw another knife.
"Florolia tells me you wanted to speak to me personally." Carter answers.
Kerim throws another knife and hits bullseye.
"Remember when I told you how back on Akuze when me and my team went down there for a mission and we waited for an Alliance team to come but never came?"
"Yes I do recall. Why?"
"I finally found the bastard who left us there to die. That Alliance Marine who used to be a buddy of mine." Kerim answered.
"You did? How?" Carter asks.
"Like I've always have, keeping my eyes and ears out for anything. So here's the thing, the man got promoted for his efforts on that mission even though he never did show up. So I need your help to set up a trap for me."
"You sure you found him?"
"Oh yes, very positive. And I need your help to lure him out, since you have Specter status."
"Okay. I'll see what I can do."
"Good now here's my plan. I need you to use your specter status to request to meet with him at this location in the citadel. Also I will need you to use your specter status to prevent police involvement or anything. And from there let handle the situation myself." kerim smirked.
"Alright just… don't do anything drastic that could get us caught."
"I'm going to assassinate the bastard like I assassinate any other target I had to take out in the Citadel. The only difference is I have a Specter on my side this time and that will make things a littler easier on my part."
"But what if they want proof to see how he is like you said. They'll be asking me questions."
"Yes but they can't touch you, and also you need to make this a private meeting. Have it set up like you're just meeting with him and I will make it look like someone is randomly attacking him. You do your part to help him, I'll finish him off, and in the end he'll be gun downed by a random assassin while you were just talking with him. No questions to ask there."
"Alright. I'll help you."
Kerim smiled, stood up and shook Carter's hand. "I appreciate this Commander. Help me with this I promise I'll do everything and anything to follow your orders by the letter. No more disobeying them."
"That's great. Give the coordinates to Jade and I'll set up the meeting."
Kerim taps his omni-tool. "Oh I believe your good buddy Darex has a request to want to speak with you once you have the time." Kerim mentions to Carter.
"Tell him I'm coming over now."
Kerim nods and walks over to pull all the knives off the wall as Carter heads back to the elevator. There he takes it to Darex's room.
"Brother there you are, I'm in need of your serious help and it's deeply personal." Darex tells Carter."
"Of course brother. What is it?" Carter asks Darex.
"You remember when we met that we promised not hold out on our secrets. You know the Krogan Brother honor?"
"Yes I remember."
Darex leans back on the wall and let's out a big sigh. "I've been having a mental issues for some time now and then. I couldn't tell because you would think I was crazy."
"Nothing is crazy until you tell me."
"Remember the time we met back as we were kids and I told you was from Tuchanka? Well that part is true but I never told you the true beginning of how I started. Back on Tuchanka, me and mother were being experimented like other Krogans alike. We were both scared for our lives on that dissect table. He took my mother away from me. The last I've seen her face she was reaching out to me but couldn't. When they took her I heard screams from her as they were killing her but the screams stop. The worst thing was that she didn't come back out. I didn't want to believe myself but she was gone forever. I was up next to be the one torn apart like my mother until a rescue team of Krogans came to save the rest of the surviving Krogans and kill the scientists. When I was carried away I saw mother in pieces I didn't want to see my mother like this."
"My god. That's horrible." Carter shocked
"Yeah it was. Just like how we saw with the Rachni eggs. It was same situation like that."
"What happened next?" Carter asked.
"After I was rescued I was taken to a Krogan refugee ship to be taken off world. The ship I was on took me to Earth and I was on my own from there. The only thing that makes me remember her is this picture." Darex shows a picture of him and his mother together.
"That is terrible. I'm sorry Darex."
"It's alright. If I told you this, I thought you think I would be going… soft."
"Darex, you are my brother no matter what. Regardless if you're strong or weak. All I care about is how my brother is feeling. That's all I care about." Darex feels a bit more calm hearing that as he will remember is compassion.
"Thanks Carter. You really are a great brother."
"You're welcome. Who did this to you?" Carter asks.
"You wanna know who did this to me? The sick son of a bitch that took my mother and tore her into pieces. That name is Dr. Maeoquol. The sick motherfucker that killed my mother is reason why I'm still alive. I wanna tear him into pieces like he did with my mother."
"Whatever happened to this sick bastard?' Carter asked.
"The last time I heard he was running an unmarked space station as his hideout along with the other sick bastards like him. But only Salarians work there. Nobody knows where it is... but I do."
"And I imagine you want to pay a visit there right?"
"Damn right I do but I don't want do this alone. I wanna do this with my brother."
"Of course you won't do this alone because I won't let you untill you have me come with you to help." Carter answers.
"I've been waiting for you to say that. I'll give the coordinates to Jade and we can head over there anytime. And besides he's got nowhere else to go. He-he. In the meantime I'll be prepping and… thanks again brother."
"Anytime Darex."
"Oh before you go, Amuya wanted me to tell you she wanted to speak to you about something. Can you go give her a visit please." Darex requested.
"Sure thing Darex. I'll go talk to her now."
Darex nods and goes back to resting. Carter takes the elevator to the observatory room to find Amuya in her meditating stance.
"Carter, thank you for coming, I need your help."
"Of course Amuya. What is it?"
"Remember when I told you about my sister back on Omega?"
"Of course."
"Carter she's in trouble. One of the most powerful gangs in Omega are after her and my mother. I would go there myself but I don't know what to do and this gang is a very dangerous and very powerful one. I wouldn't be able to handle this on my own and I fear for my family." Amuya answered clearly scared.
"It's alright Amuya. I want to help anyway I can."
"Thank you Carter, I sent the coordinates to Jade already and thank you. Before you leave, Kriat wanted to have a word with you down at the Library." Amuya mentions.
"Okay. I'll go speak with him."
Amuya smiles and goes back to her meditating as Carter takes the elevator to the library. There he found Kriat with his arms crossed behind his back staring out into space.
"Hello Carter, please have a seat, I'm in need of a word with you." Kriat spoke in Carter's mind.
"Of course Kriat. What is that you need?" Carter asks.
Kriat pauses.
"Do you recall the one time that I mentioned that I failed to save my wife?"
"Yes I do recall."
"I never mentioned anything to anyone not even commander Javik during our cycle. But I was the one who ended her life."
"Oh my God… you killed your wife?"
"I was indoctrinated. It was not and never was my choice. I loved her despite it was an arranged marriage by our Empire. She was a scientist and the avatar of knowledge. The empire believe that marrying us that it would increase my power dramatically by allowing her to use me as her personal test subject. But she took care not to harm me. She was a honorable member of the empire, and I wish to go to place of her grave and present the Death Ceremony she never got all those years ago."
"Of course Kriat."
"Thank you Carter, the assassin Anetti requested me to ask you to pay her a visit involving going after the one responsible for her family's death. Be sure to visit her next if you can Commander."
"Will do Kriat."
Carter gets up and heads back to the elevator to the garden section to find Anetti sitting calmly at the table.
"Carter there you are, I was just about to go find you."
"Hey Anetti, Kriat tells me you wanted to talk to me about the Batarian who killed your family."
"Yes I do. I've been meaning to talk to you about it."
"Alright, what did you want to tell me?"
"Well I finally discovers the possible culprit who masterminded the murder of her family. The culprit is a Batarian politician on the Citadel. Usually this wouldn't be much of a challenge however he's under serious protection that even I can't get to. I need your help with your Specter status to help me get closer to him and find the evidence to rather I should kill him or not." Anetti spoke.
"Alright Anetti. You just hope we don't get caught from this."
"I'm a professional Commander, I won't let you down even for this personal mission."
"Alright. You want this to stay between us?"
"We can bring other teammates of course, just in case something happens."
"How about I bring Axel and Kerim along. If that's okay?"
"Of course, oh Jolee wanted a moment of your time as well as Axel's so if you can, be sure to give them a talk."
"I will, thank you Anetti, send the coordinates to Jade."
Anetti taps her omnitool while Carter takes the elevator down at the the shuttle. He found Axel in his room as he just finished shaving his beard off.
"Hey Carter, got a minute?" Axel requested.
"Sure. What is it Axel?"
"Remember when I said I was part of Project Phoenix, had a crap ton of implants installed into me that made me a biotic and all kinds of stuff. I never did tell you the whole story. Dr. Kenlinsky was the Cerberus Scientist who was in charge of Project Phoenix ten years ago. After the Reaper War Kenlinsky was charged and sentenced to prison for his war crimes but was let out scott clean for reasons I never could find out. And from the others have told regarding the sightings of Cerberus Dragoons, I think he's back and he's restarting the program for Cerberus." Axel started.
"That makes sense. Do you know where he could be?" Carter asks.
"At the remains of the Lazarus station where the Illusive man first chose to have project Phoenix to commence. I sent the coordinates to Jade this morning. We can head there when ever your ready."
"Alright. We'll get this bastard."
"Thanks Commander, Jolee is at the weapons hanger and she mentioned she wanted to ask you something so give her visit since you're down here."
"Alright. Thanks for the info."
Axel nods and goes back to cleaning up his face. In the meantime, Carter heads over to the weapons section of the shuttle bay and sees Jolee working on her N7 Valkyrie assault rifle.
"There you are Carter, I got something I wanted to ask you if you got time." Jolee asks.
"Sure thing Jolee. What is it?"
"A few years ago, me and a N7 squad that I served and fought with for ten years, failed to complete a mission on this abandoned space station. I don't know what happened or how to tell you the full story but all I can say is that we went in and I was the only one that came out of it alive. And for years this mission has been left incomplete. I'm tired of just sitting where ever while the mission my team died in is left incomplete. I want to finish what we started all those years ago. Can you help me please?" Jolee asks.
"Alright but finishing missions like this won't bring them back. You know that right?"
"I know, but It will help me find closure, know what I mean?
"Yeah I get it. I'll help you anyway I can."
"Thank you commander, this means allot to me and I know it would mean allot to my squad if they were still here. I got one more thing to mention. Astok requests that you see him in his lab for something he wouldn't tell me but looked scared about something."
"Alright I'll go see him."
Carter takes the elevator to the science room. Once he arrives of course he sees the whole room a mess with a variety of Astok's stuff. He found Astok laying back on his seat with his feet on the table while reading a Fornax magazine while drinking beer.
"Is there something you wanted Astok?"
"Is Darex with you?" Astok asked with a serious tone while not taking his eyes of the magazine.
"No. Why?"
"Are you wired or anything that could get recorded?" Astok asked while still not taking his eyes off the magazine.
"No Ass-tok." Carter answers.
Astok tosses his magazine aside and taps on his omni-tool to completely shut the room sealed tight. "What I'm about to ask and tell you stays between you and me. No Council, no Alliance, no nothing understand commander?"
"Yes Astok. I understand."
"Good, now for good measures I've disabled your side arm for what I'm about to tell you could anger you greatly but anger Darex even more to the point that he could kill me. Therefore I hope that you don't mind that I took every possible safety precaution. Now I do trust you commander but I cannot take chances or risks thus all the safety protocols okay?"
"Alright. Just tell me already."
Astok takes his feet off his table and sits up straight.
"If I was to say that I created a far more powerful and deadly version of the Genophage what would your response be?" Astok asked in a very serious tone.
Carter right hooks him in the face as Astok falls back on his chair. He rubs his cheek in pain. "I'd be very pissed. Now what's this about a more powerful Genophage."
"I guess I deserved that. But allow me to explain. Back when I first joined STG first of my class. I was secretly contacted by the Dalatrass Linron to remake the genophage and in return she would put in a good word for me to become a council specter. Of course like a fool I jumped into the offer without realizing the consequences. So I would spend the next two years trying to recreate a new modified genophage. In the end, I created one that makes the previous Genophage look like the common cold." Astok answered in all seriousness.
"And what happened to it now?"
"When I finished my work, I looked back at everything I did in order to make it as well as research the previous Genophage. And it was that moment I seriously just wanted to put a pistol in my head and pull the trigger. But I didn't. But for the first time in my life I had became so ashamed of my work and so regretful that it was a surprise that I didn't commit suicide on the spot. So what I did was I destroyed the virus, and all my research and worked. Because of me, I pushed back the recreation of the virus all the way back from the start." Astok continued.
"That's one way of redeeming yourself. What's going on now?"
"After I destroyed my modified Genophage I cut all ties with the Dalatrass and continued to work with STG. But Carter, I just recently discovered that my life's work is on the verge of being completed by another scientist the Dalatrass hired. I don't know how, I don't know what but commander, they are about to finish what I started." Astok warned.
"Why didn't you tell me before?"
"Because I just found out that they are on the verge of creating the modified Genophage that I almost finished years ago. I didn't tell you that I help made the virus because you were close to the Krogan Darex and I was scared to death on what your reaction would be. I still am now but Carter."
Astok gets up and gets on his knees in front of Carter. "I am on my knees begging you to help me make sure they don't use my work to remake that virus. I've done some very bad stuff during my time in STG and the real reason why I joined the Vipers was to find redemption and forgiveness. Please, I am sorry for my work, truly am."
"You're just like Axel. Alright I'll help but I have to inform the Alliance because if I don't we won't be able prevent another incident like this."
Astok sighed. "Fuck…Carter I was a fool back then and I didn't know what I was thinking when I made it. I really am sorry."
Carter helps Astok up and pats him on the shoulder.
"Hey I understand, you and Axel are on the same boat. You both did stuff you've regretted and just want to make things right. Sorry I punched you back there."
"No I deserved that. I made a more dangerous Genophage, what does that make me sir?" Astok asked Carter.
"A person on a quest to redeem himself."
Astok sighed. "You're gonna tell Darex aren't you?"
"I'm gonna have to, we may need him on this mission and he may need to report this to Urdnot Wrex about it."
"I'm so fucked."
"Well maybe they'll know it was mistake. Wrex will have to understand that. I'm mean he is leading his people in one clan with a bit of passion."
"What about your buddy Darex?"
"He might take it hard."
"Thus the statement of I'm so fucked."
"Yeah but don't worry I'll be there."
"I guess, anyrate I need to get some ice for my face. I secretly send the coordinates to the facility I used to work at back at Sur'Kesh. We can go there anytime you wish and thank you for this Carter. And thank you for not killing me on the spot for what I've done."
"Of course. But I won't say the same for Darex."
"Yeah that what's got me scared." Astok grabs an ice pack and puts it on his bruised face. "Oh, your girlfriend wanted to speak to you said it was very urgent."
"Girlfriend?" Carter asks confusingly.
"Zea'Nara who else?"
"She's not my girlfriend."
"Commander, it's pretty obvious you two have a thing for each other even the crew is talking about it. But regardless she really needs to talk to you. She is scared on the tip of her Qurian toes sir."
"Alright. I'll talk to her but she's not my girlfriend."
"Not yet at least." Astok smiled a little.
Carter takes the elevator to the lower deck of the ship to the engine room. He approaches Zea'Nara behind her.
"Zea?"
"Commander, thank you for coming I'm in serious trouble."
"What's wrong?" Carter asked in deep concern.
"I was talking to my sister back on Rannoch and someone is trying to ruin our lives." Zea'Nara says while crying under her mask.
"Hey, hey don't cry. It's okay it's gonna be okay." Carter gently grabs Zea'Nara and brings her into a gentle hug to let her cry on his shoulder.
"No Carter. You don't understand. Someone is spreading rumors about me and my sister on Rannoch. Someone is spreading rumors about me and my sister; Sena'Yaera about giving secret information to the Cerberus. I just found out a like a second ago. Our lives will be ruined and another thing too." She sniffles under mask.
"I won't let that happen Zea, I promise and swear to you. Now take a deep breath, and try to relax and calm down for me please." Carter tells her calmly and sweetly. "Now what's this other thing?"
"Someone stole my mother's armor forearm piece. She wore when she goes into fights and told us stories about her forearm piece. Now that's just great. Someone steals our precise armor piece and someone is spreading rumors. My life is over Carter."
"No it's not Zea I won't let that happened I promise and swear to you. Now please calm down for me, I'll help you find your mother's armor piece and clear your name. This I swear to you."
"Oh thank you Carter. You don't know how much this means to me and my sister." Zea'Nara gives him a large hug and Carter hugs her back.
"Alright, do you feel better now?" Carter asked.
"A little but thank you."
"Your welcome, I'll send the coordinates to Rannoch myself personally for you. Please just try to take a few deep breaths and relax. I'm going to make everything right for you, promise."
"Okay. I'll try." Zea'Nara opens her faceplate only showing her arthropod-like mandibles where she stretches them just enough to kiss him on the cheek. "You're so sweet Commander. Thank you again." Her faceplate retracts.
Carter's face blushed a heavy crimson color as he smiled a little from the kiss on the cheek. "Your welcome."
Zea'Nara blushes under her mask heavily as well from seeing him blush.
"Well, I got to go get ready for the first of many set of long personal missions. Starting with yours more importantly. Jade set a course for Rannoch."
(over com) "Rodger commander." Jade answered.
"Well, see you soon." Carter smiled.
"See you on Rannoch and Carter?" Zea'Nara stops him.
"Yeah Zea?"
"Again thank you."
"No problem. Just be ready when we get there."
"Okay." He smiles as he walked out of the engine room and Zea'Nara continues working.