36 Damage Control
They walked into the clinic's decon chamber to be greeted by a guard and 3 security mechs. "No funny business in the clinic, or you have to deal with the mechs." The guard sounded bored.
"Noted. I'm looking for Mordin Solus." Shepard tried to sound diplomatic.
The guard nodded for them to enter. When the decon cycle finished they walked into the overcrowded clinic, immediately taken back by the diversity of the patients. Shepard followed the directions from the staff to the back room where a Salarian dr was rattling off instructions to his help.
Mordin looked up at the heavily armed humans. "Human, not local residents, too clean. Not Aria's troops, too well-funded. Investigation team perhaps? Looking to use plague as possible bioweapon? No, too heavily armed. Soldiers, not scientists. Yes! Yes! Here for something else maybe, but what? Hmm. Only one option, here for... Me." The scarred Salarian moved toward the exam table, slowly reaching his hand under the edge.
Shepard put his hands up in defense. "Calm down dr. My name is Shepard. I work for Cerberus, we came to ask for your help. The Collectors are abducting entire Human colonies. We're looking for a way to stop them."
"Collectors? Considered possible cause for plague, common interest, common goal. Would join, but need to stop plague first. Already have cure, just need to insert it in environmental controls and..." Mordin paused and looked up, as the air suddenly stopped flowing from the vent. "Vorcha shut down air to sector, trying to suffocate everyone... Need to kill them."
"I'm on it." Shepard took the cannister Mordin offered. "Also, there was a Batarian plague victim we passed near the entrance to the slums, he could really use your help."
Mordin seemed to study the 3 humans for a second. "Will see what I can do Shepard."
With a nod to Mordin, Shepard led his team back out into the slums. He slid himself against the wall when he head the distinct growl of Vorcha. "Ready?" getting nods of affirmation, they rounded the corner and picked a fight with the Blood pack guarding the southern entrance to the clinic.
Once the empty market was clear. "EDI? Can you hack the stations vid and audio feeds?" Shepard pulled up his omnitool, and looked at the map. Trying to decide which was the fastest way to get to environmental.
EDI sounded offended at the implication of her skills being sub-par. "Of course Shepard." Almost a full second passed. "It is complete. What do you wish me to broadcast?"
Deciding on going through the front door instead of working their way around to a different entrance. "When we get to the door of environmental controls, I want you to start broadcasting from my feeds."
"What are you planning Shepard?" Miranda was fairly certain she already knew.
"Damage control. We need to let the other races on the station know that the humans didn't start the plague. Otherwise they will get slaughtered." Shepard sent his battle plan to Miranda and Jack. "I would be willing to bet that just inside that door is the asshole in charge of this little venture. I plan on making them talk."
Jack smirked. "The way you made the warden talk?"
His voice was cold, "No. I plan on them actually answering my questions." Shepard paused at the door control. "EDI, begin now please."
"You are transmitting Shepard." Edi sounded the consummate professional.
Shepard made sure the camera on his armor was pointing at the sign on the door. "Listen up Omega. Whoever is on the other side of this door let loose the plague that is ravaging the station, and now have shut down all environmentals to this district. I am going to attempt to get answers. But no matter what, we cure it before we leave this room. That is all." He turned so the camera could catch small glimpses of his team, showing the station they were Human. "Alright team, let's go take care of these assholes."
"Ready when you are Boss Man." Jack double checked the thermal clip in her shotgun as her barrier lit up.
The door slid open to reveal a horde of Vorcha. The one giving orders turned to Shepard. "Humans. You die now." came out with a hiss.
Shepard stopped short of the nearest cover. "Why are you doing this? What is it you want?"
"We want strong! Collectors promise make us strong if we give sick to everyone but Humans. Collectors want Humans, say you good test meat." The Vorcha leader stepped forward. "Collectors say all but Humans must be gone, then no one left to help Humans. But you stop sick. You put cure in air, so you die now." He stepped forward again. His head suddenly exploding in a spray of blood.
Miranda smirked. "Well Shepard, I guess that was what we needed?"
"Yeah, Done talking." the tone came from Shepard was so dark it made Miranda's skin prickly. Jack started grinning like she was about to have the time of her life, as he shot forward, the force of his barrier vaporizing a path through the unfortunate. After a short brutal battle the room seemed clear.
"Okay Omega. This is the part where we cure the plague. Courtesy of Dr Mordin Solus." Shepard put the cure into the distribution system. "If this works, the whole station owes Dr Solus a drink."
EDI broke in. "Sir, all you need to do now is reactivate the 2 circulation fans."
"Thank you EDI." Shepard started off tor the fan controls with Jack and Miranda close behind.
Before they could get to the doors of control room 1, they were facing a small pack of Vorcha flamethrowers and a Krogan.
"You sure know how to pick good fights Boss." Jack was ecstatic, her shotgun firing relentlessly.
Reaching the controls, he keyed in the startup. The distinct sound of Vorcha could be heard. They pulled no punches, 2 Krogan, 4 flamethrowers, and 4 rocket troops rained hell down on the squad, as they headed for control 2. The laughter and excited yells of Jack and Tombstone broadcast to the entire station. Jack calling out targets on the run for Tombstone to hit with his whip.
"Whoo Yeah, Boss Man! Damn that was a good shot!" Jack was smiling, the light in her eyes visible even through her visor. She punched in the sequence she saw Shepard enter to start the second fan. She flashed him a grin when it started spinning up. "I need a drink Boss, you buyin?"
Mordin's voice broke through the stillness. "Shepard, good work. Scans show cure has already spread to more than 43 percent of district. Estimated time until total saturation is... 16 minutes."
"Good to know Professor. We have someplace we need to be. I would suggest you prepare enough cure for the whole station, but I expect you already thought of that. Will contact you when our business is done." Shepard led Jack and Miranda back up to the markets, passing thankful residents coming out of their homes for the first time since the contagion started.
Miranda made note of the humble way Shepard handled them all. Letting them know that if not for Mordin, they would most likely have died. They approached Aria's club (Afterlife) There was a line of people waiting to get in to the main source of entertainment on the whole of Omega. "Come in Shepard, Aria's waiting for you." the Batarian door guard waved them through.
Not 6 feet inside the door, a group of Batarian thugs walked over and stood in front of Shepard. "What do you want?" Jack clenched her fists as her hands started to glow. She raised an eyebrow at Miranda when the Cerberus Operative started to back away. Once Miranda was far enough away she motioned for Jack to back up as well.
The smallest Batarian with the biggest mouth, started to look uncomfortable. He was sweating and trembling. "You're in my way, Move or I will end you." Tombstone sounded hollow. His biotics flared, causing even more distress. The group of Batarians tried to move but all 4 were frozen in place by a stasis. "MOVE!" his voice nothing but a growl, the wave of anger and biotics flashed out. The thugs blew away like ash. Tombstone just simply walked off, heading for the interior door.
Jack looked over at Miranda and mouthed. "what the fuck?". She got a sad smile from the Operative.
The blare of dance music hit them, reminding them to catch up to Shepard. He stood just inside the entryway. Looking around the massive room until he spotted the ruler of this slice of hell, well above the dance floor. Aria raised her glass in toast, then motioned ever so slightly for them to come up. The 3 of them walked to the aptly named throne room with a purpose. "Go on up Shepard, Aria is expecting you.
He ascended the stairs. Before he could get to the top, her guards pulled their weapons up. "Stop right there." A Batarian moved to scan Shepard.
"Try it and you'll be scanning the inside of your colon." Tombstone growled.
The queen of Omega laughed. "Ha! I'd almost pay to see that. But you wanna talk? You get scanned. No exceptions. That could be anyone wearing your face."
"If you're looking for weapons. You're not doing a very good job." Tombstone pulled his pistol and looked it over, as the guards tensed. "I was told, you wanted to see me?" he put the pistol back in its holster.
"He's clean boss." The guard scanning him stepped out-of-the-way as he deactivated his omnitool.
"I wanted to know what brings a dead spectre to Omega, but after that little show you put on... Well let's just say you've placed yourself in my good graces for the time being." Aria turned to face them and motioned for Shepard to sit on the couch next to her. "What can Omega do for you Shepard?" her voice carrying hints of smugness, and boredom.
"I'm looking for Archangel, putting a team together and he's next on my list." Shepard did his best to sound as bored as she was.
"Funny, everyone else seems to want him dead. The 3 major players are joining up to take him down, they're recruiting anyone who can hold a gun, just over there." Aria motioned toward a private room with a lone guard. "They have him cornered, but it looks like they aren't able to make the kill."
"Anything I need to know about them?" Shepard locked eyes with Aria.
She smiled. "They hate him. He has them terrified, and they are getting sloppy. Even for Mercs."
Shepard stood. "Then I better get moving, sounds like I don't have much time."
Aria lifted her glass. "You got all the time in the world. Archangel, not so much. When you're done, why don't you come find yourself a nice girl to relax with. You seem tense Shepard."
He smirked at her. "I'll take it under advisement." Jack and Miranda followed him to the recruiter.
"You 3 look like you can do some damage. Here to sign up as freelancers?" the Batarian in the Blue Suns armor sounded tired.
"Whats the pay and mission?" Shepard crossed his arms, seeming defiant.
"Standard fee is 500 credits, you collect after the mission. If you die, your friends don't collect your pay. Any questions?" the Merc waited for some response.
"Fee is acceptable, where do we go?" Shepard cracked his knuckles.
The Merc grinned, "Head to the transport depot, someone will meet you."
They left with a nod, heading for the transit depot.