Chapter 30: Sacrifice

The Normandy

Shepherd and Tali was in the War room, waiting for Garrus, who was talking to Primarch Victus on the situation of Palaven. Tali looked up at her boyfriend, she was worried about Shepherd, he looked so haggard, his face was worn and had a somber expression, not the roguish boyish energy she fell in love with on the original Normandy. She gripped his hand; Shepherd looked at Tali, and wore a small smile to tell her he was alright, even though she knew differently. Garrus came out of the War room to meet Shepherd and Tali, Wrex had come through the first batch of krogan troops were ready to mobilize to Menae. When they were done stabilizing the moon, they were heading to Palaven.

That was not all, Hackett was in talks with the battlemaster to help with some of the human colonies, Wrex was sending Aralakh Company and krogan battalions to help with evacuations. Not to mention he was sending krogan mechanics to work on the Crucible and Victus was sending some of the Hierarchy's best engineers as well. Eve was traveling throughout Tuchanka, to recruit more and more krogan clans to fight in the war; things were looking up for once in the war…however it did not seem that way with Shepherd.

"I'll start managing support right away, Boss" Garrus said. "Why don't you get some rest?"

Shepherd shook his head. "I'm fine, Garrus" he lied.

Tali gripped his arm. "Who do you think you're fooling, Wayne?" she asked softly. "We know Mordin's death was tough on you…"

"Besides, we need you at your best…we can't afford any mistakes…" Garrus said.

Shepherd sighed, he knew better than trying to hide his feelings from them, they knew him better than he knew himself sometimes. "Right…" Shepherd said. "Anything happens, let me know…" Garrus nodded and he walked away.

"Is Wayne going to be okay?" Tali asked worried.

Garrus sighed. "I don't know Tali…" he said. "Just give him room for now…" he said. Tali looked on at Shepherd's back sadly. Shepherd was back in room, where he saw his datapad blinking…he went to pick it up and frowned. It was a message from the Dalatrass…

Commander, I am deeply disappointed by your actions on Tuchanka. As I thought I made clear, curing the genophage will have long-term consequences. Once the Reaper threat has passed, our combined forces will be so depleted that no race in the galaxy will be capable of stopping a resurgent krogan. Moreover, the krogan will undoubtedly seek revenge for the genophage, and the Salarian Union will be among their first targets. When that day comes, Commander, the blood of my people will be on your hands.

I am ashamed to also learn that our own scientist sacrificed his life carrying out your orders.

This is a dark day not only for my people, but all of galactic civilization.

Dalatrass Linron, Salarian Union

The message made Shepherd's blood boil, here he was…hours after losing a friend and all the Dalatrass could do was shove her self-righteous crap in his face. With a roar of frustration, he threw the datapad against the wall; breaking it in half…he sat down on the chair holding his head in his arms looking down on the floor. The truth of the matter, Shepherd was really angry at himself…Mordin was right there in front of him, he could have found another way to cure the Genophage without Mordin dying…but instead he just let him walk to his death…

Tuchanka-hours ago

Shepherd was inside the Shroud looking for Mordin and Eve, although the giant maw killed the reaper, their battle had damaged the Shroud, so much, that the tower was now coming apart, Shepherd only had a limited time to find Mordin and Eve and get before it collapses.

"I got to hurry!" The alarms loudly sounded, as the spectre made his way to the center…luckily the salarians built the tower easy to navigate in such an emergency. It also had multiple passageways also, and Shepherd was thankful as he had to face some dead-ends until he got to the lobby. He then saw a tannish figure in the distance, it was Mordin on a console and Shepherd made his way over to him.

"Mordin, is the cure ready?" Shepherd asked.

"Yes loaded for dispersal" Mordin said.

"And Eve?"

"Fine, sent her back to Urdnot Wrex" he said. "Her survival fortunate, will be able to stabilize new government with Wrex, both intelligent and moderate. Good match, see promising future for Krogan" A piece of the Shroud, then came plummeting to console near Shepherd.

"Shit, this place is coming down, fast, Mordin release the cure, and then we can get the hell out of here"

"Control room on top floor, must take elevator up" Mordin said.

Shepherd's eyes went wide. "You're going up there?!"

"Must counteract STG sabotage, ensure cure spreads properly" he said.

"That's suicide, Mordin, there must be another way!"

"Remote bypass not possible with countermeasure in place, no time to adjust cure for temperature variance" He then took a deep breath. "Not coming back, suggest you get cleared, explosion likely to be problematic, Tali would be worried" He begins to walk towards elevator.

"Mordin, no!" Shepherd said concerned.

"Please Shepherd, need to do this, my mistake, my cure, and my responsibility…"he said. "Please, ensure peace with krogan is possible"

Shepherd clenched his teeth and fists, it was the same as Virmire, once again he would have to choice a between an impossible choice. Shepherd closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I…I will…" he said sadly. "I…I'm…so sorry…"

Mordin smiled. "I'm not, had to be me, someone else might have gotten it wrong…" he said. "I hope to see you in the next life"

Shepherd saluted. "Me too…" Mordin gave one back as the elevator went up to the control room. Mordin arrived to the top floor, the control room was full of debris and flames…there was not much time to waste, he ran to the console to disable to the countermeasure dodging explosions and falling debris. Meanwhile, the spectre ran out of the building and met up with Jacob and Kasumi who were running towards him.

"Wayne! You alright cuz?" Kasumi asked worried.

"Yeah…" Jacob then spoke up.

"Wait, where's Mordin?" Shepherd lowered his head and looked back at the Shroud. Jacob and Kasumi eyes widen and looked at the Shroud. "No way…" They then saw the most amazing thing, a silver cloud that came out of the Shroud and was spreading in the air, Mordin did it… the genophage was cured. The team then saw an explosion coming from the top floor, the team knew it, he was gone….the salarian gave his life to ensure this deal would happen. The other tomkahs caught up to them, and the krogans came out to look at the sight…amazingly enough there was no roar of victory, the krogans just look up in the sky in awe of the sight. It was like the centuries of hardship and turmoil was washed by the silver cloud…for once some of the krogan did not know what to do next, all they knew was fighting and now they had a second chance. Wrex and Eve came to them, equally in awe of the sight…Wrex soon snapped out of it and got serious.

"Shepherd, we need to talk…"

The Hollows

Wrex's tomkah traveled back to the Hollows to speak in private, on the way they saw a final explosion from the Shroud and the tower fell. That was it, the deed was done…even if Shepherd regretted his decision there was no going back. With the cure being spread throughout Tuchanka and no turian bomb as backup, the krogan was back…whether that was good thing or a bad thing was up in the air for now. Shepherd, Wrex and Eve walked around the hollows; the battlemaster was walking around the ruins and touched the rubble in the middle of the site. The look on Wrex's face was melancholy but also full of hope…he looked back at Shepherd. "Remember, when I told you I killed my father?"

Shepherd remembered, his father Jarrod carried a grudge against the Citadel races after the Rebellions and the devastating effects that the genophage had on his species. He disregarded the dwindling of krogan numbers, and joined with other tribal leaders to continue fighting. However, other krogan leaders, including Wrex, refused to follow Jarrod's call to war, preferring to focus on breeding instead. Jarrod became angry, and arranged for a Crush (a meeting on neutral ground) with Wrex and other tribal leaders at the Hollows, to discuss what should be done.

"Yeah, why?"

"It was right here centuries ago… my father betrayed me and tried to kill me" Wrex said. "His own son, just because I didn't see fighting in our future"

"On that day, when I killed him, I lost faith in my people, I welcomed extinction" he said. "That's what the genophage reduced us to, a hopeless shell of our former selves, animals that would betray their own…"

"You changed that today, Shepherd"

"Now we'll fight for our children, not against them" Eve said.

"Just remember, what we had to sacrifice…" Shepherd said.

"Yes I know, it's a pity that Mordin had to die…"

"The pyjack got it done, in the end" Wrex said. "It would be an honor to name my first-born after him" He then smirked. "Maybe a girl…" Shepherd smiled softly, he was sure if Mordin was here to hear that he would find that amusing. He looked up, where ever he was, the spectre was sure he was putting in a good word for them.

"Even though we can't thank him, we can thank you in person" Eve said.

"Tell Victus, I'll be deploying troops to Palaven immediately" Wrex said. "And when you're ready to kick the reapers off Earth, just call and we'll come, the krogan are back in business"

"Good bye, Commander and good luck" she said. "I will spread the hope you've given us, even now there are clans gathering in the Kelphic Valley"

"I'll speak to them and make sure this gift is not wasted" Eve said. "And know that Urdnot Bakara calls you friend" Shepherd nodded and went back to the Normandy.

Now

A knock interrupted Shepherd from his thoughts, he looked back. "Come in" Tali came in and sat in his lap, she wrapped her arms around his neck making him feel better. Shepherd gave her kiss on her forehead. They sat in the dark, just enjoying each other's company, until Tali spoke up.

"Wayne…." She said.

Shepherd looked at her. "I'm fine, Rookie…sorry for worrying you"

Tali took off her mask and kissed Shepherd on the lips. "Don't be, I know it was hard for you, it's hard for all of us, but you're not alone, you don't have to put this damn war on your shoulders." She said. "You can share your burden with me, no matter what …I'm with you till the end…"

Shepherd touched his head to hers. "I don't deserve you, but thank you, I promise when this shit is over, I'll make you the happiest woman alive, I swear it"

Tali kissed him. "I love you, sayang…"

"I love you too, jiwa" Tali made her move and slid her hands under his shirt and Shepherd made his way to back of the Quarian's suit, while kissing her neck. Before they could continue the PA opened and it was Traynor.

"Commander, I hope I'm not disturbing you"

Shepherd sighed. "What is it, Traynor?"

"The Councilor Valern, would like to talk to you in the comm room, he says it is urgent" she said.

"We'll pick this up as soon as I get back" Shepherd said stealing one last kiss from Tali. Tali smiled.

The Comm Room

Shepherd went to com room, he sighed expecting a tirade from the salarian councilor. However, to his surprised Valern instead congratulated Shepherd on his victory on Tuchanka. The praise of course was short-lived as he questioned his decision to cure the genophage…no doubt he was talking to the Dalatrass. Shepherd crossed his arms. "What's done is done, no going back now, besides I trust Wrex to keep the Krogan in line" Shepherd said.

Valern snorted. "I hope you are right, for all our sakes…"

"So what do you want?"

"I have concerns about humanity's representative, Councilor Udina" he said. "My agents have discovered large sums of money in his account, where he got it from and what he plans to do with it, I do not know"

Shepherd crossed his arms. "You're kidding? We're in the middle of a war and you want me to sniff around Udina's dirty laundry?"

Valern blinked. "Why would…I am well aware of our war with the reapers, but if one of the councilors is dirty, then that doesn't help you now does it?"

"I suppose, but if I'm going to help, what do I get in return?"

"And why would I give you anything? You work for us" Valern said dryly.

"My people have a saying, you scratch my back and I scratch yours, you want me then you get me what I need" He said.

"And what's that?"

"Full salarian support for the war, this is too important to be stopped by a spoiled dalatrass bitch" Shepherd said. "You know I'm right…"

Valern sighed. "Very well, come to the Citadel, we will have much discussed in private" he said. Valern out"

"Joker, get us the Citadel" Shepherd said.

"Aye-aye, Commander" Shepherd went back to his cabin to be with Tali.

Review and Comment.

Sayang: Keelish for love or lover

Jiwa: Keelish for my heart and hope