Author's Note: Here's this chapter's excuse for the slow uploading time: First I went on vacation for a week and then this chapter turned into a monster chapter. One of the longest ones I've written, if not the longest. I am very sorry for the ridiculous wait. That will hopefully never happen again.
Chapter Sixty Eight: Plan B is Not Good for Your Health
"EDI, how many humans have we...lost?" Colt needed to be convinced that the greater good was really worth it.
"The Alliance doesn't have solid numbers but estimates range from five to six billion," EDI answered smoothly. Colt thought that maybe hearing the numbers would convince him that Wrex, Eve, and Mordin could be sacrificed.
"What's the total casualty count?" Shepard closed his eyes and rested his head in his hands. He was preparing himself for the truth.
"Estimates range from the higher billions to lower trillions," EDI answered. The war had been going on for a little more than a month and already the losses were staggering. How could he justify not doing what was clearly the right thing with those kind of numbers?
"Contact Admiral Shepard and bring her up on the quantum entanglement thingy," it was hard to sound angry when saying the word thingy, but Colt pulled it off quite nicely, "Keep the Normandy locked down."
"Understood, Commander. I'm contacting her now," EDI responded.
…
"EDI, I don't want this conversation recorded. In fact make sure it doesn't exist at all," Shepard said softly while waiting for Hannah.
"I deactivated all recording devices," EDI replied an instant later. A blue form waved for a second on the holographic display before becoming solid.
"I was wondering when you wanted to talk about the indoctrinated Krogan incident. What was the bastard's name again?" Admiral Hannah Shepard still looked and sounded like Mom despite being displayed as a blue hologram. Her eyes were bright with fight, impatience, and mischief. Laugh lines were etched into her face despite being at a young age of fifty eight. Hannah looked about twenty years older than her actual age due to the permanent death of one son, the temporary death of the other, and the death of her husband, whom she was very attached to. She was easily excitable around friends and family, but famously stubborn and often opposed to compromise while she worked. A knack for ruthlessness and being a bit of a renegade was covered with a mask of personability and amusement. Colt never understood how she married his gentle father, who seemed to be an exact opposite.
"That's not why I contacted you," Colt stared at the wall.
"Okay," Hannah said no more. She looked expectantly at him.
Colt remained silent as he tried to figure out a way to explain the situation, "I can't make an important decision. I know what I should do, but I really, really don't want to."
"Remember, my son, the answer is always inside of you," Hannah glared seriously for a moment before laughing. "I'm just messin with you. Let's go through this."
"Full salarian support in exchange for sabotaging the genophage cure," Shepard wrung his hands nervously, "I should do it, but I'd have to kill some people to make sure I still got support. They would find out about it."
"Are these people some of your friends?" Hannah raised her eyebrows.
"Yes," Colt rubbed the top of his head.
"No way in hell would you kill any of those people. I see the vids of you and your friends all the time, that's the only damn thing the news shows nowadays, and I know that you couldn't do it," Hannah said what Colt had known all along.
"We need the salarians," Shepard said.
"If I were you, I'd play them like a fiddle. Use them, trick them," Hannah's eyes glowed with the thought of fooling someone else.
"Thanks Mom, you're a genius," Shepard's mind was running wild with this new idea.
"I know kiddo. Stay safe, okay?" Hannah smiled warmly at him. They hadn't had a nice conversation in a long, long time. Shepard was still resentful towards her.
"I'll try and you be careful too Mom," Colt noted how much they looked alike. Same eyes and nose most notably.
"I'll try," Hannah narrowed her eyes affectionately.
"So...ah...we didn't have this conversation," Shepard said.
"What conversation? Hannah out," she flickered for a moment before her image disappeared. Emptiness crept into Colt when he realized he was all alone.
...
"The salarians offered me full support if I sabotage the cure," Colt leaned heavily on the kitchen's counter with his palms. His back was turned to the small group in the Mess Hall. The cabinets he was staring at were lighter than the ones to his left. It took him a moment to realize that the color change was because he had destroyed the previous ones while fighting Jacob.
"Shepard," Wrex rumbled. A slight creak from the table indicated he had gotten up and was probably coming towards Colt. His fine-tuned ears picked up every step the Krogan took towards him. A slight buzzing feeling in the back of his mind told him that Liara was gathering biotic energy. Garrus shifted his weight foot to foot. Chakwas wrung her hands. Elevated breathing from everyone indicated that Wrex was about to ruin his day.
"Now before you snap my neck or something unfortunate like that, I want you to know that we're going to cure the genophage. What I was thinking is that we don't tell the salarians that," Colt let his words sink in. The tension dissipated almost immediately. Wrex stopped his advance and Liara let her biotics go out. "Make em' think we sabotaged it," Shepard said.
"As long as the genophage is taken care of," Wrex said from directly behind him. The Krogan's feet retreated back to the table where he originally sat.
"That's always been the first priority," Colt lied. He didn't want them to know what he had been thinking earlier, but his Mom was right, he couldn't have done it. He couldn't have done it under any circumstance. He barely killed Grayson when he was actively threatening a part of Shepard's crew. "I really, really want salarian support. You guys think we can pull this off?" Shepard turned around for the first time.
"Make sabotaged sample. Send in infected specimens. Get eyewitnesses," Mordin took a deep breathe, "Possible. Could only keep up the illusion for week or two."
"I don't know, fooling an entire race like that is dangerous. Especially to you, Commander," Eve looked over him with concern.
"Ehh, whatever. If the salarians knock me off, someone else can take my place pretty easily," Shepard was positive that he could kill any salarian who tried to eliminate him, so he wasn't concerned about that. "The important thing is gaining as many resources as possible. As for the short window we have, I don't need to keep it up for long. Just long enough for the salarians to send their support," Colt could see the pieces falling together nicely.
"Wouldn't they just pull their people when they figured it out?" Garrus's normally playful eyes looked him over intensely.
"And risk facing galactic-wide disapproval? I don't think so. If they do pull out, the media will have a field day. I can see the headlines now: Traitorous Salarians and Sneaky Frog People. They wouldn't risk collapsing their already strained economy," Shepard answered (he read daily reports on the economic climate for each race). "They rely on the altruism and magnanimity of the asari, as well as other races for trade. Who would want to help or trade with a race that showed zero interest in everyone else? They know isolationism would be committing economic suicide, especially with the Reapers hot on their heels. They're dependent on races who would surely abandon them if they stopped contributing."
Everyone was looking at Shepard weirdly. Garrus started clapping, "I have to admit, I had no idea you knew so many big words...But do I think we can trick the salarians? Hell ya."
Shepard turned his gaze towards Garrus. He narrowed his eyes before grinning, "Thanks for the input Garrus, and fuck you." Chakwas remained silent, so he turned to the person whose opinion mattered more than everyone else's in the whole galaxy combined. "What do you think?"
Liara and Colt had a whole conversation in a matter of seconds just using facial expressions. She told him that it was possible, very possible, but she didn't like it one bit. Shepard told her that he couldn't let this opportunity pass them by. They both felt uneasy about disagreeing.
"I believe this will work... Mordin you go and get a sample for the dalatrass ready. We're also going to need samples from those still infected. Take anyone you need. EDI, deny anyone who has requested copies of headcam footage. I want that only broadcasted to the Normandy. We'll figure out the footage situation later. Everyone else can hang around and look good."
"Commander, I need your pretty little ass up here," Joker's voice came over the intercom.
…
"Our sensors are picking up a Reaper near the Shroud, a shuttle won't be able to get in there," Joker pointed excitedly at a bunch readings that Shepard understood about negative two percent of.
"How convenient," Colt muttered under his breathe, "Gather everyone in the war room. I want eyes on the Shroud."
"Aye, aye sir!" Joker responded.
Shepard made his way to the war room. He finally arrived there after a few minutes. Garrus, Liara, James, Cortez, Mordin, Primarch Victus, Wrex, Eve, Traynor, and Javik were all examining a holographic picture of a Reaper when he walked in. Joker really did get everyone. It would've been a goddamn party if someone had thought to bring Ryncol. Why anyone brought Javik was a bit of a mystery. He would have to tell Joker that assholes were not allowed in war meetings.
"New type of Reaper. Poisoning Tuchanka with Shroud. Problematic," Mordin had one of his hands thoughtfully on his chin.
"It sucks to be poisoned," Colt took a moment to reflect on the fact that he could say that from experience.
"If they want a fight, they've got one," Wrex started pacing.
"Let's think about this before getting our quads twisted. We can't go running in without a plan, relying on only blood rage," Colt scanned the shroud and Reaper. A plan was starting to form.
"Why not?" Wrex chuckled darkly.
"Mostly because only two of us are capable of going blood rage," Colt thought about it for a minute before turning to look at Liara, "Actually three of us. The point is we need to think about this logically without emotions getting in the way... Primarch we're going to need your help."
"That could be difficult. Palaven's losses are catastrophic," Victus avoided eye contact.
"This is all for Palaven. Think about it being like a deposit. Put people in now and get the benefits later," Colt could tell he was manipulating the Primarch quite well.
"Do you have a plan, Commander?" Victus's eyes were darting between the hologram and Shepard.
"Give me a second," Colt quickly went through all the tactics he had ever learned. He stopped when he got to one that would fit this situation perfectly, "A combined attack. Your people will strike from the air, while Wrex's attack on the ground."
"A distraction. Small team can infiltrate Shroud facility, finalize synthesizing cure," Mordin nodded his head. "Eve will have to come with us," Mordin looked at the huge Krogan. She agreed with a nod of her head.
"We've never faced a Reaper so up close and personal," Shepard swept his eyes across the serious faces of his friends, "Is everyone on board?"
"I think the important question is: Are you ready for this Commander?" Traynor asked.
"Me? Hell, I was raised from the dead to do this sort of thing," Colt cracked his neck loudly; "Let's go cure the genophage."
…
"The Krogans are assembled at our sacred ground," Wrex stood in front of Colt in the crowded shuttle. Liara and James sat to his right, while Mordin and Eve sat to his left.
"Good," Shepard waited for Wrex to continue. He obviously had a lot on his mind.
"This will be a defining moment in Krogan history," Wrex looked hopefully at Shepard.
"History filled with defining moments. Mostly bloody. Hope this is better," Mordin made the passengers feel better about the mission.
"I love it when someone hypes me up for a mission. Makes me feel all gooey and delicious inside," Colt shot Mordin a grin. "Now lets all remember what the deal is," Colt looked at each face suggestively.
"The Reapers are already at the rendezvous. Be prepared to get out with guns blazing," some Krogan told Wrex.
"Commander, we're approaching the drop zone," Cortez shouted back.
Shepard slung a gun off his back while watching the door. The shuttle went downwards before the doors opened. A husk stood up and started running towards the open shuttle. Wrex and Shepard shot it at the same time, blowing the thing's head clean off. They exchanged a look before bursting into laughter. Colt didn't realize how much he missed having Wrex around.
"I'll organize the other clans, you protect the female," Wrex said after he recovered from laughing.
…
"I do love me some Novas, mmmhhhmm," Colt surveyed the damage Liara, James, and he did. Husks lay in puddles of their own innards, some only had bits and pieces left from being torn apart by biotics. Not one even reached the stairs leading to Eve. "Thrown in a couple shotgun blasts and charges and dayuumm. We've got ourselves a fight reminiscent of a warm summer day."
"What?" Liara's eyes were filled with confusion. She wasn't a horrible person, she wouldn't understand. If fighting felt so good then it couldn't be wrong.
Wrex interrupted at precisely the right moment, "They'll sing battle-songs about this one day."
"Thank God, I've always wanted a song," Shepard walked towards the small group around Wrex.
"There is a song about you," Traynor's voice came over the comm. unit connected to the Normandy.
"Seriously?" Colt was suddenly very excited.
"Yep," a multitude of people on the Normandy agreed.
"Reaper blood has finally soaked our soil!" Wrex yelled, making the Krogans around them roar. Shepard didn't mean to interrupt his inspirational speech. Shit.
"Let's get to the Shroud, the airstrike is a comin'," Colt jogged up to Wrex.
"Female safe. Vitals strong," Mordin emerged from behind Wrex and nodded at Shepard. Colt stretched his shoulders triumphantly.
"Why is there a salarian here?" Another Krogan and his herd clopped towards Mordin. "This was never part of the plan!"
"Multiple Krogan, problematic," Mordin looked at them with little interest.
"Who the hell are you?" Colt let biotic energy flow through his skin and build up inside of him.
"Urdnot Wreav, brood brother to our... wonderful leader," Wreav's words caused many cries of outrage.
"I don't care if your Wrex's mother. You so much as touch someone who isn't a Reaper thing and I'll fuck up your day. Sound like a plan?" Shepard flared his biotics slightly to get his point across.
"I love it when you're diplomatic," Garrus's voice came over the comm. this time.
"I'm feeling dangerous today," Colt said. Wreav took a step forward.
"The only thing we share is a mother, nothing more," Wrex growled.
"Yes, because I remember how to be a true Krogan. We flay our enemies alive and drown them in geysers of their own blood. We don't invite them into our house," Wreav painted a lovely picture.
"Generally I invite my enemies into my house, make them take off their shoes, and then BOOM! I poison them with tea. No one ever suspects the tea... Then I respectfully bury them and shed a tear because I needed my enemy and they needed me. Once I realize this, more manly tears are shed because their existence allowed me to feel alive. As long as the other one is alive, our actions are justified," Colt was putting in a lot of effort to stop this from escalating. What made it even better was that he constantly made tea for everyone on the Normandy, "But you know, different strokes for different folks. Geysers are cool too."
Colt couldn't say something without getting weird looks anymore, "Plus the salarian isn't your enemy. He's here to help cure the genophage. So you won't have to get caught up in that nasty enemy cycle."
"Why should I trust him?" Wreav seemingly ignored Shepard's advice. Instead of being logical about this situation, Wreav started towards Mordin. Biotic energy swirled around his fist, clearly intent on killing. Colt stepped in between them and head butted the angry Krogan with the ferocity of Grunt running towards the toilet on taco night. Wreav's scream combined with the crack of helmet against face was gruesome. Shepard danced backwards, noticing blood running into the Krogan's eye.
"Because I do," Wrex said, "And you will too."
Wreav recovered from the hit and pulled out a shotgun.
"Now let's be peaceful. I only did it because you were about to do something incredibly stupid. I won't do anything else if we just calm down. I'll even pinky promise I won't. I don't wanna fight anyone who isn't Cerberus or a Reaper," Colt used a reassuring tone. Wreav cocked his gun while his men pulled theirs out. Plan B went into effect.
A wail, so high pitched Shepard could barely hear it, screeched around him. Blue biotic energy started whipping and turning around his body. Small bits of debris flew into the aura forming around Shepard. Rudimentary lights previously hanging quietly on lamp posts were pulled horizontal as they strained to join the deadly biotic mass. Most of the lights flickered with the influx of energy. Glass in windows and light bulbs shattered and started swirling around Colt. The whole building they stood in groaned with the pressure of trying to stand when massive amounts of energy were being summoned at its core.
Colt let out a tiny bit of energy that made Wreav plus his ten men fly back fifteen feet. He moved towards them slowly, fighting the energy's need to be released. Colt was the center of the huge building now. The lights moved with him and flickered under stress. When he got to his enemy's position, they were trying to stand in a dazed state. "I always wondered what the inside of a Krogan looked like," Colt spoke from deep within his chest. Of course with this kind of energy, there wouldn't be anything left. He cocked his fist backwards to release the built-up energy onto the Krogans. Unmasked fear shown on their faces.
"ENOUGH!" Eve's voice stopped Shepard from completely decimating eleven people. He turned to her. The others watching the fight also shifted their attention. "Are we going to let petty disagreements centuries old stop us from getting what we truly need and want? Or are we going to fight the enemy we were destined to destroy and win a new future for our children? I choose to fight. Who's with me?"
…
Liara stood behind a slab of concrete just in case Shepard's biotics backfired. James was right next to her. They both trembled. Wrex was close behind them, watching Shepard. Colt was seconds away from taking a chunk off Tuchanka when Eve interrupted. She gave a short speech asking who would join her. All eyes turned to Shepard. He regarded her coldly before stepping forward. Blue still engulfed him and churned violently. Wisps of energy became contrails behind his legs and arms. Light shined on him and bathed his features, making his face look flawless. He was the only one lit up in the entire building. Commander Shepard looked God-like. Liara felt surprised when she remembered how intimately she knew this holy creature.
"I will," Colt nodded his head like he was convincing himself.
"Me too," Wrex strode over to Eve. The main attraction was still Shepard. "Now hold your heads high like true Krogan!" Wreav and his men joined the growing group. They stayed far away from Colt. "There's a Reaper that needs killing!" Wrex said. Roars and growls filled the building. They pounded their fists. Wreav joined in.
Shepard looked at the inspired Krogan, then he headed towards the door without a word. The majority followed closely behind. The old, heavy door opened to Reaper forces. Before any shots were fired, Colt let out a massive wave of biotics. It sounded like lightning had hit right next to Liara. The blue wave mowed down an impressive number of Reaper forces. Liara counted a total of six waves exploding from Shepard. The aftermath was blood, guts, and rarely an intact body. Liara shivered when she thought about what he could've done to Wreav and his people.
"I...ah...had to get rid of all my built up energy," Shepard faced them.
"Aren't you exhausted?" Liara asked. Goddess knows she would've been spent if she had done this.
Colt laughed slightly, "Exhausted? We've only just started."