To say Virmire was already a debacle would be a tremendous understatement. Kirrahe was a mixture of good and bad news. The good news is that Saren was planet-side, although no-one had actually seen him. However, intercepted communications pointed to his definitely being somewhere on Virmire. The bad news is that Kirrahe had already lost at least half of his men and that the base of operations, a research facility, was crawling with even more geth, in addition to being heavily fortified.
The bombshell, if one should use that turn of phrase, was the news of what Saren was researching. He was breeding an army of krogan. That perked Wrex's interest straight away. Particularly when Kirrahe mentioned four words in particular. 'Cure for the genophage'. Shepard was already well aware of the genophage and what a cure would mean to Wrex and his people, but to hear that a cure may have been found was a startling revelation.
Wrex was now in a foul mood, storming off after facing down Kirrahe. Shepard thought for one moment that the krogan was going to blast away with his shotgun, but appeared to keep his temper somewhat in check. Kirrahe was concerned about Wrex's mood, while Alenko and Ashley added their own concerns, the situation like a powder keg, requiring only a flash to explode into violence. They both liked Wrex but emotions were now starting to run out of control. Kirrahe wandered off to organise his own men while Shepard and the rest of his team grouped together.
"What are you going to do, Commander?" Alenko asked.
"Wrex looks ready to blow a gasket. He doesn't looked happy," added Ashley, "I can understand why. I've heard some of your conversations. Even I can hear how important a cure would be, not just to him, but to his people."
"I'll talk to him," replied Shepard, "I'll see if I can get him to cool off. I know what it means to him as well."
"Be careful, Shepard," added Tali as the Commander started to walk off, Shepard simply turning as he walked and grinning like usual.
Wrex was standing by himself on the beach, shotgun in hand, firing at a group of birds flocking on a pile of rocks across the water. Shepard approached him carefully. The krogan looked utterly furious.
"Wrex, you okay?"
Wrex grumbled something inaudible to begin with before he turned to face the Commander. "This isn't right, Shepard. If there's a cure for the genophage, we can't destroy it. The future of my people could be in this facility. If I can get my hands on it, I could finally do something for my people."
"I understand, Wrex. But we're here to get Saren. Be angry with him. We're not the enemy here."
Wrex actually laughed. It was not friendly. "Really, Shepard? Explain to me, then, how Saren has created a cure for my people yet Kirrahe, and quite possibly you, want to destroy it. The salarian I understand. They're the bastards behind it."
"I haven't said anything about destroying it, Wrex. Kirrahe wants to destroy it. I know enough about the history between yourselves and salarians to understand why he wants to destroy it."
"So what do you think then, Shepard? Help me out, my friend. Because the line between friend and foe is starting to get blurry from here."
Shepard sighed before answering. "Think for a second here, Wrex. This isn't a cure. Do you honestly think Saren cares about the krogan? This is nothing but another weapon he can use against us and the rest of the galaxy. The krogan won't reap any benefit from this cure as you'll simply be annihilated by the Reapers along with the rest of us."
"I'm willing to take that chance, Shepard!" roared the krogan, striding forward, stopping only inches from Shepard as he loomed over the human, prodding him in the chest with a finger, "This is my people we're talking about here. We're dying, Shepard! You know that. The fate of my entire race could rest on what is within these walls."
Shepard understood everything Wrex was saying. But, in his gut, this just wasn't right. Nothing that Saren was behind could have a positive outcome. Even for the krogan.
"I consider you my friend, Shepard. You've done a lot for me. You've listened to me. You've proven yourself a friend not just to myself, but to the krogan as a whole. But if you do this…"
Wrex took the shotgun from his back, stepping back, aiming it straight into the chest of Shepard.
"Then I have to know we're doing it for the right reasons. If not… Then I guess I'm on my own again."
Wrex stared down the sights of his shotgun as Shepard just glared back at him. He hadn't flinched as he took out his shotgun. Nor had he reached for a weapon of his own. Instead, the human simply sighed before he took two steps forward until the barrel was touching the front of his armour.
"So this is how it ends, then? Well, if you're going to pull the trigger, Wrex, then pull the fucking trigger and get it over with. Otherwise, put the damned gun away and talk to me. You call me your friend, Wrex. Well you are mine as well. My respect for you as a warrior is second to none. But this is not the way to deal with this situation. Do you really think this will solve anything? Shooting me will not solve this, and will not get you a cure."
Wrex blinked a few times before he looked past Shepard, seeing the rest of his team slowly approach. Shepard noticed where Wrex was staring and turned his head. He realised his entire team was approaching as they realised what was happening, so shook his head to stop them. The rest of his team stopped where they were. Shepard turned his head back to Wrex.
"So what will it be, Wrex? Are you going to shoot me? Or do you want to calm it down a bit and we'll talk? The choice is yours."
Shepard's got a quad, I'll give him that.
Wrex lowered the shotgun slightly. "My people, Shepard. I know I say otherwise. But I need to help them. We need this. I need this. It's gone on long enough…"
"I know, Wrex. But these are not your people. They're slaves. Is that what you want for the krogan? To be the unwilling slaves of Saren?"
Wrex was quiet for a moment as the thought.
No. The krogan will no longer be slaves. To themselves or to anyone else.
Wrex grumbled again. "We were tools for the Council once. To thank us for wiping out the rachni, we had the genophage unleashed on us. I doubt Saren will be half as generous." Wrex sighed, or at least made the sound of a krogan sighing. He then slowly lowered his shotgun to his side before placing it on his back. "Okay, Shepard. You've made your point. I'll follow your lead. I don't like it. But I'll follow you."
"If we find anything that may be of help, Wrex, I'll do what I can. You have my word," replied Shepard, holding out his hand. Wrex looked at it for a moment before returning the gesture. "I promise, Wrex. My word is my bond."
Wrex nodded, understanding what Shepard meant. "Just one thing, Shepard."
"What is it, Wrex?"
"When we find Saren, I want his head."
Shepard chuckled. "Sure thing, Wrex."
"Just give me a few minutes alone, Shepard. I'll be ready whenever you say otherwise."
Shepard simply nodded before he turned and walked away, taking a deep breath of relief as he walked, just giving his team a slight nod of the head to let them know everything should be okay for now.
Tali had observed the entire conversation between Shepard and Wrex, growing ever more concerned when Wrex took out his shotgun, and couldn't help but stifle crying out when Shepard actually stepped forward as the krogan looked ready to fire at any moment. But, Shepard being who he is, managed to talk the krogan down, the two shook hands and Shepard walked away unscathed, though everyone noticed the sigh of relief he took as he walked away.
Happy enough that Shepard was at least safe for now, Tali turned and walked away up the beach by herself, heading up one of the numerous dunes, stopping at the top and taking a seat on the ground, overlooking the bay. The Normandy sat alone in the distance, while Tali closed her eyes, listening to the crash of the waves and the sounds of the wind howling slightly. She wished she could dig her feet into or feel the sand on her hands, or at least feel the cool wind on her face. But, like nearly everything, that was denied to her. She sighed sadly as she opened her eyes, continuing to look out across the bay, trying not to think about anything, such as what it would be like to strip off and jump into the cool water…
She barely registered the movement off to her side and only turned when she noticed Shepard lower himself next to her. He didn't say anything as he sat close next to her. Tali couldn't help but lean into him, Shepard wrapping an arm around her waist as she snuggled slightly into him. She let out a contented sigh as both of them simply stared out across the bay.
"Water looks nice," stated Tali.
"If it wasn't for the mission, I'd go for a swim. Feels like years since I've been to a beach."
"Do you have a lot of them on Earth?"
"Yeah. The country where I'm from has some of the most famous. Miles upon miles of golden sand and clear blue water. Sometimes it looks good enough to drink, until you remember that it's saltwater. There was sometimes nothing better than going early in the morning, when it was quiet, the weather was cool and you could just lie back and close your eyes, listening to the wave's crash. It was… hypnotic. Can't remember how many times I fell asleep to that sound."
"I've never been to a beach before."
"Never?"
Tali shook her head.
"What about swimming?"
Tali shook her head again. "We live on a fleet of ships, Shepard. There wouldn't be any point."
"Is your suit water-proof?"
Tali chuckled. "Of course it is, Shepard."
"Well… how would you like to get in the water?"
Tali laughed. "I don't think now is the best time, Shepard."
Although if you want to go and take off your armour at the same time, Shepard, by all means…
Tali blushed at the thought, thankful for her mask.
"I'll have to take you to a beach then, Tali, and show you how to swim."
Tali sighed. "Maybe one day, Shepard…," she said sadly.
Shepard seemed to notice the tone. "Sorry, Tali. Just thought it was a nice idea."
"It is, Shepard. And thank you. But I was just sitting here thinking what it would feel like to dig my toes into the sand. Or go and pick those small flowers over there and smell them with my nose, and not through the olfactory filters on my mask. Or to feel the cool wind on my cheeks as I sat here. Or to go and feel the cold water of the ocean against my body. Or the one of another thousand things everyone else takes for granted that I simply can't do."
Shepard just gave Tali a squeeze. "One day, Tali…"
Tali appreciated his sentiment but knew it wouldn't be possible. Not without a return to the home-world. And that appeared as far away today as it did during the exodus. "Yeah, one day…"
The pair just continued to sit in silence, Shepard's arm still wrapped around Tali, the only sound the crashing of the waves, as they broke upon the shore, the time slowly passing by.
Kirrahe had a plan. A crude plan. But one, if it worked, would be effective. It was actually quite simple when one thought about it. Kirrahe and what remained of his squad would split into three groups, infiltrate the base, and aim for the AA guns. Shepard and his team would simply fight their way through the base, taking out any opposition they would face. Once the AA guns were taken out and the enemy accounted for, the Normandy would drop off a twenty-kiloton nuke, ensuring the facility, and everything within, would be completely wiped out.
The concern to Shepard and his team was the fact Kirrahe requested once of his squad to join his. Shepard knew that such as idea made sense, as it would help facilitate co-ordination between the groups. But Kirrahe and Shepard knew that what STG were about to do verged on a suicide run. Even Kirrahe stated that the chances of survival for everyone was slim at best. Kirrahe knew the decision would not be easy.
Shepard took a few moments as he thought, walking along the beach by himself, listening to the crash of the waves as they broke upon the shore. He looked up and out at the Normandy, sitting quietly as it waited for its next mission. He looked at the rest of his team, either relaxing on the beach or keeping themselves busy during their down-time. He knew he could be sending one of his team to their death. It was not a decision that came lightly. He had to think of who would be best suited to such an operation. Who would be the best asset to STG. Who would be the best to facilitate team-work and communications between all the teams…?
Shepard chose Kaidan.
Once that decision was made, Shepard and his team prepared themselves before they observed Kirrahe prepare his own men. Kirrahe stood at attention in front of them as they lined up. Each one looked back at Kirrahe with pride in their eyes.
"Men. You all know the mission. You know what is at stake. I have come to trust each of you with my life. But I have heard rumours of discontent. I share you concerns. We are trained for espionage. We would be legends! But the records are sealed. Glory in battle is not our way." Kirrahe walked forward and started to pace in front of his men, who seemed to stand that little bit taller as he continued to speak. "Think of our heroes. The Silent Step, who defeated a nation with a single shot. Or the Ever Alert, who kept armies at bay with hidden facts. These giants do not seem to give us solace here, but they are not all that we are. Before the network, there was the fleet. Before the fleet, there were soldiers.
Our influence stopped the rachni, but before that, we held the line.
Our influence stopped the krogan, but before that, we held the line!"
Kirrahe turned and walked back towards the middle of his men. He looked at each of them in the eye, each one giving him a slight nod in return, their chests puffed out that little bit more. They were ready for battle.
"Our influence will stop Saren! In the battle today, we will hold the line!"
If it had been any other army, there would be have been roars of approval, applause, possibly even gunfire. The salarians merely looked at each other and nodded before they prepared themselves. Kirrahe turned to Shepard, stating they were ready, and hoped they would meet again one day, before the pair shook hands. Alenko walked around to each member of the Normandy team, shaking their hands, saying a few final words. The last was Shepard.
"I guess this is it, Commander?"
"We'll see each other again, Alenko."
Alenko nodded. "Sure, sure. But… if this all goes pear-shaped, it's been…"
"Don't even finish that sentence, Alenko. The mission is dangerous. I get that. But you are coming back safe and sound."
"Don't you even think about throwing your life away, LT," added Ashley.
"I wouldn't dream of it, Chief."
To his surprise, Ashley then stepped forward, grabbed him by the collar and dragged him close for a kiss. Shepard just looked on in surprise of his own for a moment, before he found something on his armour that grabbed his immediate attention, diverting his eyes before the pair finally parted. Alenko looked shocked at first before a grin spread across his face.
"You just come back, okay, LT."
"Will do, ma'am," he replied, with a mock salute, before he gave a formal one to Shepard, then turned and walked away with the salarians.
Shepard turned towards Ashley. "What was all that about?" he asked with a chuckle.
"Had to give him some sort of good memory to live for," she replied.
"Uh-huh."
Ashley blushed slightly. "It's not like that, Commander. But we're a team, and it's going to be… weird… Kaidan not being here with us."
"I know what you mean, Ash. Come on, let's gather the team and prepare to move out. And don't worry. We'll see Kaidan again."
"Geth!" Tali shouted as she ran for cover, looking to her side for a moment to see the rest of the squad take cover behind the piles of rocks littering the ground. She knew they were already in trouble, the geth clearly taking the high ground, in addition to having numerous kinetic barriers set up.
"Ashley. Garrus. Time for some sniping," Shepard ordered, taking out his own rifle, "Tali, see what you can do regarding hacking them from here. Liara, use your warp to take out those barriers. Wrex, if you want to get in close, by all means. All of us can provide some protection from here."
As the large krogan roared and charged off, the crack of three snipers echoed off the sides of the cliff. Most shots found their target, any that didn't still kept the geth from returning fire of their own. While the three snipers got to work, Liara stood out of cover every few seconds, firing off continuous warps that eliminated the barriers, while adding in pistol shots that helped keep the opposition in cover. Tali was working wonders with her omni-tool, clear signs of geth being hacked and firing at each other. Meanwhile, Wrex was charging up the ramp, a Geth Destroyer charging the krogan in return. Wrex disabled the geth machine of its weapon, the two then continuing their fight in hand to hand combat.
"I guess the geth are learning how to fistfight," Tali stated as she took out her shotgun, leaping out of cover and charging towards one of the pylons of the watchtower. She heard footsteps in the water behind her, looking back to see everyone else following her.
"In a hurry, Tali?" Shepard asked.
"Can't let Wrex take on all these bosh'tets alone, Shepard."
Shepard made a signal for everyone to get down low, and in a line the five moved out of cover, walking slowly up the ramp, Wrex having disappeared from view. At the top, they turned a corner to see Wrex blasting away a Geth Sniper with his shotgun, the machine falling to the ground, leaking all sort of white fluid, before turning as a Geth Trooper approached him. Wrex turned and charged the trooper, tackling it to the ground. He then quickly stood up, aimed his shotgun at the geths flashlight and pulled the trigger. Job done for now, Wrex stowed his shotgun in its normal position and turned to see the rest of the team simply stare at him.
"What?" he asked.
No-one said a thing as Tali approached one of the consoles. She brought up her omni-tool and started using one of her normal hacking programs. Perusing the various sub-menus, she soon realised the watchtower was a communications hub. She guess it helped the geth organise their resistance and communicate with each other.
"Shepard, I'm going to hack this terminal and disrupt their communication. It may help Kirrahe, Alenko and the rest of the salarians."
"Do it, Tali. Anything that can help them."
The team moved on, communication quickly coming in from Kirrahe suggesting that taking out the communication hub had relieved the pressure on them for the moment, though the situation still sounded fraught. The group of six trudged onwards through the water, the canyon closing in on them as the sides closed further in on them. The occasional Geth Trooper was met and quickly eliminated while any drones were quickly hacked by Tali or Garrus, either blowing up mid-air or falling harmlessly to the ground. Then a message came through into all their ears that brought everyone to a halt.
"They're calling in sat-strikes! Jaeto, watch for comm stations. Alenko, can you see anything?"
"Negative, Captain. We're being pressed here. Closing in all sides."
Shepard turned and signalled to his team to move out at the double, taking out his assault rifle at the same time. Rounding a corner, another watchtower came into view, the entire squad charging and firing at the same time. Two Geth Troopers fell to the ground relatively quickly, though a krogan warrior charged at them in return. Wrex roared and met the charge head on, the other krogan staggering backwards. All six unloaded their weapons in the krogan, the warrior soon falling to the ground in a bloody heap.
"I can't see a console here, Shepard," Tali stated as the team searched for some sort of device.
"We're getting pounded! Bunker up before the aircraft return!"
"Quickly! Look for anything!" ordered Shepard, his team looking high and low.
"What about that antenna up there, Shepard?" Garrus pointed out with a talon at the roof of the watchtower.
Shepard nodded, the pair aiming their assault rifles at the antenna and blasting away. The antenna quickly blew up and fell to the ground, a useless hunk of burning metal.
"Shepard, geth satellite uplink is down," Tali reported while checking her omni-tool.
"Good. Everyone move out. There's no doubt more to do before we make our final assault."
With Shepard on point like usual, Wrex following in just behind, the team moved out once again, following the walkway, coming quickly to a t-junction. Shepard stopped, looking left and right. He looked behind, getting nothing but a set of shrugged shoulders in return.
"I think there's geth off to the right, Shepard," Tali suggested. Shepard nodded and turned right. Within a few metres, the team came under fire from a lone Geth Destroyer, Shepard leaping to the ground as a rocket flew overhead, blasting into the side of a cliff just behind, while taking out his assault rifle and firing a quick burst, Ashley and Garrus also doing the same while Tali keyed her omni-tool. The giant machine was quickly destroyed.
There were two paths leading on. Shepard could see a structure off to his left, assuming that was the final base, therefore he chose to follow the path straight on, thinking there may be another station that could help relieve the pressure on Kirrahe and his team. The path curved left and right before opening out onto another sort of platform, where three fuel tanks were waiting.
Along with a host of assault drones.
"Take cover!" Shepard yelled as his entire team came under fire from the drones. Two of them blew up almost immediately thanks to tech attacks from Tali and Garrus, but the lack of cover soon led to the shields of most of the team faltering. Shepard looked left and right, noticing there was a path underneath the platform. He motioned to his team to follow, leaping to the lower ground for some respite from the fire. He looked behind to see everyone had followed him.
Tali and Garrus continued to key their omni-tools, leaving a trail of destruction within the drone lines, while Liara warped the shields of a number of drones, leaving them as easy pickings for the rest of the squad. The team walked up the platform, the ground now littered with drone parts, with everyone standing back and unloading a hail of bullets into each fuel tank. After checking his own armour and shields, with the rest of the team following suit, the team moved out again, following the path back towards the main facility.
"Air threat has not materialised! We may be getting help from Shadow," Kirrahe reported.
Shepard gave the thumbs up to his team as he walked onwards. The walked onto another circular platform, and then his shields faltered immediately as a Geth Sniper lined him up and fired before he could do anything.
"Get into cover, Shepard!" Ashley ordered, pushing Shepard into cover behind one of one of the kinetic barriers while returning fire with her assault rifle. The rest of his squad took cover of their own behind other barriers that had been installed and returned fire at the line of geth lined up on the other side of the walkway. Wrex noticed another krogan warrior and charged off into the distance.
"You okay, Commander?" Ashley asked, busy firing her assault rifle. Tali was also looking across in concern, Shepard just nodding his head as he checked his shield pack, waiting for it to recharge, and also making sure his armour hadn't been compromised. The team continued to report in targets being taken down, the crack of Garrus' sniper rifle ringing constantly as Liara used a number of lifts, leaving geth as easy picks or the rest of the squad.
"Need some help here, guys! Geth bastards are everywhere!" Wrex stated over the radio. Shepard stood up from cover, taking out his assault rifle and ran across the small path, blasting away at a Geth Trooper in cover, turning to see Wrex in hand to hand combat with another krogan. He lined up two geth nearby, taking out one while the other fell to the ground also missing its head, Shepard turning to see Garrus removing the scope of his rifle from his eye. The five then lined up behind Wrex, still busy fighting the other krogan, weapons primed and ready.
"Wrex!" shouted Shepard, trying to gain his attention. Wrex pushed the other krogan away, quickly withdrawing his own shotgun, taking two steps back and then six weapons were unloaded into the other krogan warrior. The team then turned as one as they heard the roar of another krogan charging from the other end of the facility. Liara pounced quickly, using lift again, the krogan floating harmlessly into the air, leaving that one as easy picking for the team. Once that krogan back to the ground dead, there was nothing but silence.
"Shadow team must be getting close. Hold the line, men! Hold the line!"
"This is intense!" Liara stated, sucking in deep breaths, the continuous use of biotics leaving even the asari strained.
"You're doing well, Liara. Keep it up! Same for the rest of you. This is just the beginning."
Tali approached the console, keying her omni-tool to access then keying the keyboard itself.
"Hmmm… We've now got access to base security, Shepard. We should be able to cut the alarms from here. Might even be able to trigger alarms on the far side of the base. It'll clear the guards for us but they may be too much for the salarian team to handle."
Shepard looked at his team. He received a series of nods and weapons being primed and readied. He turned his attention back to Tali.
"Just disable the alarms, Tali. We can handle any of the geth bastards inside. Kirrahe and his team have enough to handle as it is without sending reinforcements their way."
"What's the plan once we enter the facility, Commander?" asked Ashley.
"Eliminate the geth and see just what the hell is going on inside."
"What about the cure?" Garrus followed up.
Shepard looked at Wrex. "I don't know, Garrus. We'll just have to see when we get there." Wrex just gave a brief nod in return to Shepard.
"All three doors into the facility are open, Shepard."
"Okay, let's split into pairs. Tali, with me. Garrus and Ash, you take the middle door. Wrex and Liara, you take the third door. Once inside, just… shoot anything else that moves. Particularly if it either beeps or roars."
Shepard counted down to three over the radio, three buttons were pushed and six entered the facility. And they came immediately under fire, though this was not a surprise, returning fire of their own. Geth Troopers were immediately destroyed, though the larger Geth Destroyers were a problem, firing rockets at the team. Thankfully, for Shepard's team at least, there were numerous large crates piled around the warehouse floor, the team taking cover as the rockets flew by, exploding against the wall behind them. Bullets flew, tech attacks burst and biotics flared as the team worked their way through the opposition. It was fraught at times as the opposing fire never appeared to relent, shields faltering and the occasional bullet impacting into shields. Slowly the team of six moved forward under fire, leaving a trail of geth bodies behind them, the floor and walls coated in white fluid. A flight of stairs, and a Geth Juggernaut blocked their progress.
"This is going to be a bitch to take down," muttered Ashley as the team ran for cover.
Tali and Garrus immediately keyed their omni-tools, overloading the shields of the giant machine. Six people then stood up out of cover and unloaded into the Juggernaut, the fire causing it to stagger back, unable to return fire. Wrex then charged forward, colliding with the giant geth, causing it to fall to the ground. Wrex walked over its body, aiming his shotgun down as he arrived at its flashlight head. Again, he unloaded a series of rounds.
"I think that's all of them, Shepard," Garrus reported, storing his rifle on his back. The rest of the team took a moment to take in a breath and recover, the adrenaline clearly flowing through everyone. Shepard and Tali walked to the next door, opening it, noticing some consoles off to their right. Tali approached one of the consoles and started to hack.
"Anything of interest?" Shepard asked.
"Mostly what we already know. These don't appear linked up to any sort of central hub," Tali replied.
"Commander, you have to see this," said Ashley behind them. Shepard and Tali turned around and walked through the door at the opposite side of the room. The six came to a stop at the railing as they noticed the cells on a lower floor. It was clear there were salarians being held captive by Saren and his geth.
"Hello? Is someone out there?" called one of the prisoners.
"These must be the salarians Kirrahe spoke of earlier, Shepard," Liara stated.
"We have to get them out of there. Come on, let's move."
Shepard walked to the door at the end of the walkway. Once opened and through, he immediately came under fire from, of all things, two salarians. Shepard got into cover, followed by the rest of his team.
"Hold fire!" he yelled as bullets continued to head towards his positon. There was no response from the salarians, who simply continued to fire upon the team.
"What's wrong with them? They should realise we're here to help!" Tali exclaimed.
"No idea. Commander, what should we do?" Ashley asked.
"Garrus, concussive rounds. Knock them out."
Garrus took out his sniper and took aim. It was too easy as both the salarians were knocked out in quick succession. The team moved out of cover, storing their weapons as they approached the two bodies.
"Physically they seem fine, Shepard," said Liara as she knelt down over one of the salarians. She brought out of her omni-tool. "Hmmm, brain waves appear different to normal."
"Any idea what's wrong with them?"
Liara stood up and shook her head. "None whatsoever, Shepard. Although their behaviour does appear to be similar to what we saw on Feros."
"You mean mind-control?"
"It's possible, Shepard."
"But we killed the Thorian. How it is possible?"
"It may not be the Thorian. It could be something else entirely."
"Is there anything we can do for them?"
"We can make them comfortable, Shepard. But they may be beyond saving."
Garrus and Wrex grabbed a salarian each and moved them across the floor, sitting them against the wall while disabling their weapons. With that done, the team looked for a stairway leading to the lower ground, Tali yelling out to the group when she opened a door and found steps leading down. Once downstairs, there was another door which unveiled the holding cells. The team approached somewhat cautiously. Most of the salarians appear to be relatively docile, clearly already under some sort of mind control. The salarian in the last cell along the line appeared to still be sane. To a degree…
Shepard approached the salarian, who walked to the glass himself. "Well, you're not geth. And you're not wearing a lab coat. So I guess I can say that I'm glad to see you."
"Who are you?"
The salarian saluted. "Lieutenant Ganto Imness of the Third Infiltration Regiment, captured during recon. I assume the fleet was called in to destroy the base?"
Shepard turned to his team again before looking back at the salarian. "Erm, we are the fleet."
"Oh, I see. Well, I know the captain. He'll want this base destroyed. My team has already been indoctrinated. He knew about the breeding grounds. But the indoctrination is a greater threat and far more horrifying." The salarian sighed, speaking quieter. "I've watched good men reduced to mindless husks. There wasn't anything left. Others died during the experiments. I envy them. They've escaped the madness."
"What were they studying in regards to indoctrination?" Liara asked.
"Saren is interested in how it progresses. He uses it to control all his people, but I don't think he fully understands the process."
"Sounds like Benezia," muttered Shepard, looking across at Liara, who simply nodded in agreement.
"I can't end up like that. An empty shell. Could you let me out?"
Shepard looked at his team. "What do you guys think?"
"He deserves a chance to at least escape, Commander."
"I agree, Shepard," was repeated by the others.
Shepard turned to the salarian. "Okay, we'll let you out. But you're on your own. We have to deal with Saren."
"No problem. I have a better chance out there than surviving this."
Tali walked forward to hack the lock, the cell door disappearing within a matter of seconds. The salarian didn't move for a moment, almost disbelieving his own freedom, before he thanked Shepard and his squad and ran. The team then moved down the row of cells, taking in all the other salarians still trapped. Each member was thinking of what to do. The team gathered at the exit of the cell block.
"What do you guys think?" Shepard asked his team again.
Liara shook her head. "It's clear their minds are gone, Shepard. They're nothing but the husks you've run into from time to time. We could release them, but they may just end up attacking us or hurting themselves. Leaving them in the blast may be the most humane thing to do."
"Anyone else have an opinion?"
Everyone was silent for a moment, deep in thought. "I agree with Liara, Commander," Ashley said eventually. Shepard didn't like it… but he agreed as well. He was starting to realise that you just couldn't save everyone, no matter how much you tried. Without another word, the group walked out of the cell block.
The bodies of numerous husks littered the floor of the science lab alongside an asari dressed in a lab coat. But it was the krogan currently kneeling down on the floor, a shotgun held by Wrex at the back of his head, which held everyone's attention.
"Who are you?" Shepard asked.
"My name is Droyas," the krogan answered.
"And what are you doing here, Droyas?"
"I don't have to answer your questions, human."
Wrex slammed the butt of shotgun into back of his head. "Answer the question, pyjak. Otherwise I will coat this floor in your blood."
"I have to admit I've never met a krogan scientist before," stated Liara.
"Most of my brethren are pathetic, mindless creatures, merely looking for their next fight and kill. But there is a reason for that. Thousands of years ago, the krogan were a glorious people. And those such as myself were held in high regard. But after our own nuclear war, the Rachni wars, the Rebellions and then the genophage, anyone who doesn't fight is considered weak and worthless."
Shepard looked at Wrex, whose face was inscrutable. The krogan noticed, returning the look and shrugging his shoulders. "The pyjak is right, Shepard."
"Okay, I'll ask again. What are you doing here, Droyas?"
"What do you know of the genophage, human?"
"My friend standing behind you has told me enough about it. I understand why you would be working on a cure, at least."
The doctor looked at Garrus. "It was unleashed on us because those cowards, along with the salarians, couldn't beat us in a fair fight."
"Yet you work for Saren?" retorted Garrus.
"The work I'm carrying out is at the behest of Saren and will lead to the glorious salvation of the krogan people. Once the cure is found and the genophage ended, the krogan will rise once again. And shall have its revenge."
"And that's exactly why no-one is worried about the genophage, you idiot!" shouted Wrex, slamming the butt of his shotgun into his head again.
"I'm intrigued how an obviously well-educated krogan such as yourself cannot see that Saren is playing you," stated Shepard.
"How so?" asked Droyas.
"Do you honestly believe Saren gives a shit about a cure for the genophage?"
"He's provided all the funding for this lab and numerous people to experiment on. He wants our help. He needs our help. The geth alone cannot help achieve his ambitions."
"Wrex is right, you are an idiot. Saren doesn't want a cure. He wants an army of krogan clones. Once he's done with you, he'll exterminate you like he wants to exterminate every other race in the galaxy."
"No, that's not possible…"
Wrex shoved the barrel of his shotgun into the back of the head of the krogan doctor. "Let me end this idiot, Shepard," he growled.
Shepard didn't answer, instead simply looking at Wrex before turning round, indicating towards Garrus to follow towards the other end of the lab, where Tali and Liara were busy working at a pair of consoles, Ashley keeping watch at the next doorway. Shepard was about to ask a question when a gunshot echoed around the lab. The three females looked at Shepard, who just shook his head, suggesting don't ask.
"What have you found?" he asked instead.
"Where do I start?" replied Tali, "There are volumes upon volumes of notes about his work for the cure, though there is nothing to suggest he was close. But it would take weeks to read all this and figure out just how close or far the doctor was to a cure."
"What do you think, Liara? Anything on your console?"
"Tali is mostly right, Commander. If we download all this information, I could certainly take a look back on the ship and try and figure all this out. Unfortunately a lot of the science is outside my realm of understanding."
Garrus finally spoke up. "Listen, Shepard. I know you talk to Wrex and want to help him. But a cure for the genophage is a big deal and not a decision to be taken lightly. I know you don't agree but there is a real reason why it was unleashed. You or I are not old enough to know what the krogan almost did to the galaxy."
"I'm not talking about going ahead and using any sort of cure, Garrus. I'm just saying that if there's a chance that the krogan prove themselves… I'm not sure of the word. Worthy, I guess, of a cure. Then surely we can take some of this information and keep it for safekeeping."
Wrex approached the group, storing his shotgun. "What have they found, Shepard?"
"Nothing concrete, Wrex. But there is some data we can take."
"But no cure?"
Shepard shook his head. "Sorry, Wrex. No cure. But the doctor may have made inroads. Perhaps he had gained some understanding. There is plenty of data available. I'll leave the choice to you – do you want Tali to download it and I'll keep it for safekeeping?"
Wrex was silent for a few moments. It was a massive decision, not just for himself, but for his people. But he knew the implications of what a known cure could do to the current balance of power, not just with the Council but between the Council races, the non-Council races and the krogan themselves. It was not a decision to be taken lightly. He knew what he wanted. He knew that Shepard generally supported him. But he figured Shepard may also not be completely aware just what a known cure could result in. Even Wrex could not be completely aware of the implications.
But, in the end, the choice was simple.
The future of his people was at stake. They needed this chance.
"Download it, Shepard."
A/N – I just had to include the 'hold the line' speech. Kirrahe is one of my favourite minor characters. Don't know why, he just is. (You may have recognised that from my first story, General and then President Kirrahe and all that...)
I always thought it was strange that you couldn't find any data about the genophage in ME1 despite Saren's obvious interest. So, while I haven't been explicit in what was found, I figured I'd just add that little detail, for now at least...