NORMANDY DE-BRIEFING ROOM
John was talking with the Illusive Man after the events of the Horizon.
"Shepard! Good work on the Horizon." The Illusive Man greeted him, as he sat on his usual chair. "Hopefully, the Collectors will think twice about attacking another human colony."
"It's not a victory. We interrupted the Collectors, but they still abducted half the colony." John disagreed.
"That's better than an entire colony, and more than we've accomplished since the abductions began." The Illusive Man argued. "The Collectors will be more careful now, but I think we can find another way to lure them in."
The 'again' word got John's attention. "What do you mean by 'again'?" His brain started working and suddenly he realized. "Kaidan and Ashley said they got a tip about me and Cerberus. Was that you?"
The Illusive Man took a puff from his cigarette. "I may have let it slip that you are alive and with Cerberus." John didn't believe that Illusive Man slipped anything. He had done it on purpose.
"You risked the lives of my friends, my crew and the entire colony? Just to lure the Collectors there?" John asked angrily.
But the Illusive Man ignored his anger casually. "A calculated risk. I suspected the Collectors were looking for you, or people connected to you. Now I know for certain. I told you I wouldn't sit and wait while the Reapers and the Collectors gather strength. Besides, they would've hit another colony eventually and without a way to predict which one, they would've abducted everyone."
John nodded. He was still angry but he could understand the Illusive Man's reasons. "We've to make sure that the Collectors do not abduct anyone else."
The Illusive Man nodded. "I want the Collectors stopped for that very reason. That's why we are doing this, Shepard. I am devoting all the resources to finding a way through the Omega 4 relay. We have to hit them where they live. Your need would need to be strong, as will their resolve. There's no looking back."
"I know. What's your point?" John asked.
"Once you find a way through the Omega 4 relay to the Collector homeworld, there's no guarantee that you will return. To have any hope of surviving, you and your entire team must be fully committed to this." The Illusive Man suggested.
John let out an irritated huff. "Let me worry about my team. You just find a way through the Omega 4 relay."
"I just need to be upfront about your odds. You'll need everyone at their best. And be careful Shepard, the Collectors will be watching you." The Illusive Man pressed a button on his chair and the connection terminated.
Once John found himself in the debriefing room of the Normandy, only one word left his mouth. "Bastard!"
CITADEL PRESIDIUM, 1300 HOURS
"This is unacceptable. One of the Council Spectres is working with Cerberus? We should take necessary actions before the situation gets out of our hands." The turian Councilor demanded.
"May I speak?" Anderson asked politely.
"You don't have to ask for our permission to speak, Councilor Anderson. You are one of us. You can speak freely and we are most interested in what you want to say." The Asari Councilor said.
"Thank you." Anderson paused and turned away slightly from the Asari Councilor to face all the three Councilors. "We have heard that Commander Shepard is alive. It was only a rumor but his former crews Chief Williams and Lieutenant Alenko have confirmed that he is really alive. They encountered him on Horizon and together they were able to stop the Collectors."
"The Collectors?" The Asari Councilor asked.
"I thought they were just myths." The Salarian Councilor added.
As you thought about the Reapers and are still ignorant of Shepard's warning. Anderson thought but didn't say it out aloud. "The Collectors are indeed true and they deserted another colony on Horizon. Commander Shepard and his team only managed to rescue a handful of survivors."
"What is this to do with the Commander working for Cerberus?" The turian Councilor asked.
"I am getting to it." Anderson replied politely. He managed to remain calm on the outside but internally he was getting irritated at the Council. Politics isn't really his strong suit. He is a marine. He belongs in the field. If it wasn't for Shepard, he would've stepped down from the position of Councilor long ago and he is sure that Udina would've been more than happy to take his position. That bastard. A small smirk crept on Anderson's face when he remembered that day, he punched Udina in the face to help Shepard escape with the Normandy. Seeing the other members of the Council waiting for him to speak, he cleared his throat, "We have made mistakes in the past of not believing Commander Shepard. It cost us dearly. We must also keep in mind what he did not only to save the Citadel but the Council too. So I am only requesting that he should be given a chance to speak for himself and hear what he has to say."
"You are right, Councilor Anderson. We will hear what the Commander has to say about his involvement with Cerberus. We owe him that." The Asari Councilor assured.
"Thank You. That's all I wanted to say. And what about his Spectre status?"
"We will decide about it after he is here and we hear his explanation." The Salarian Councilor said.
"That's fair." Anderson mumbled to himself.
"We want you to send a message to Commander Shepard, requesting him to meet us for an audience." The turian Councilor added.
"A message is already sent. I am expecting to hear from him any time." Anderson said.
"Very well, then this meeting is adjourned."
NORMANDY, MORDIN'S LAB
John was in the lab, standing beside Mordin as he worked on the remains of the husks and a dead body of a Collector drone. He has relieved his team members of their duty for a few hours, since they deserved rest after the intensive battle where they were almost got overrun by the sheer number of enemies. He had also insisted Mordin take rest but the professor said that researching on the Collectors was his rest. After that John didn't argue anymore.
Mordin first analyzed the remains of the large machine that attacked them. He was digging inside the machine's body for sometime while John waited patiently. Suddenly the door opened, and Miranda Lawson stepped inside the lab, looking perfect. No one could tell that she had just broken a few of her ribs and got a concussion on her head only a few hours ago. She looked perfect, as always. She stood there silently, and watched Mordin work. No one said a word.
After some digging Mordin looked at John and handed him a datapad.
John looked at the datapad with his eyebrows raised.
"Praetorian?" John asked, looking at Mordin.
Mordin's face formed into a small smile. "Named it myself. This machine is built from the remains of thirty deformed husks, fused together. But…." The smile on his face vanished. "The technology is clearly reaper tech according to the scans of EDI."
"The Illusive Man was right all along. The Collectors are the servants of the Reapers." Miranda added.
John nodded. "We know that already. We have already seen the Sovereign taking control of the Collector drones."
The holographic image of EDI appeared there at the moment. "My scans on the Collector drone reveal something remarkable, Shepard. These are preliminary results. A quad-strand genetic structure, identical to traces collected from ancient ruins. Only one race is known to have this structure - The Protheans."
Everyone's eyes widened at EDI's revelations. "My god! The Protheans didn't vanish. They're just working for the Reapers now." John murmured.
"These are no longer Protheans, Shepard." EDI cut in. "Their genes show extensive signs of genetic rewrite. The Reapers have repurposed them to suit their needs."
"You'd think somebody must have picked up on this." John said.
"No one has had an opportunity to study a Collector genetic code in this detail. Most species in the galaxy don't even believe that the Collectors even exist." EDI explained. "I have already matched two thousand alleles to recorded fragments. This Collector likely descends from a Prothean colony in the Styx Theta Cluster. But there are signs of extreme alteration. Three fewer chromosomes. Reduced heterochromatin structure. Elimination of superfluous 'junk' sequences."
Miranda rested her hands on Mordin's table. Her eyes fixed on the broken pieces of the Praetorian. "The Reapers didn't wipe out the Protheans. They turned them into monsters and enslaved them." She said to John.
He nodded.
"Shepard, I would require your blood sample. Only a small amount." Mordin interrupted.
"Certainly." John rolled up his sleeves.
Miranda didn't waste any more time there. She needed to send reports of their last mission to the Illusive Man. She also needed to check on the list of the supplies the Normandy needs since they are already heading towards the Citadel now.
SOMEWHERE IN ALLIANCE SPACE
"I still can't believe the Commander is working with Cerberus." Kaidan shook his head in disbelief. "I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it with my own eyes. Adding to that, Garrus has also joined Cerberus."
Ashley sat on a crate with her chin resting on her hands, staring at nothing. She was there with Kaidan but her mind was elsewhere. She was replaying the whole event of Horizon over and over again in her mind. So she didn't concentrate on what Kaidan was rambling about. She still can't believe – Commander Shepard, the hero of Citadel, the first human Spectre has joined Cerberus. He is working with the terrorists. How can he?
After getting freed from the swarms, she and Kaidan heard voices and one of those voices she recognized very well. How can she forget that voice? The voice that commanded everything, the voice that can make people agree to go to hell. Her heart began to race in anticipation as she and Kaidan began to approach the source of the sound. And then she saw him, alive and perfectly healthy, as she remembered him from two years ago, talking with the mechanic. As she made herself visible, she saw the genuine and happy smile appear on his lips. It warmed her heart realizing that he is as happy as she is to see him, alive, again. But when he started a casual conversation like nothing had changed, Kaidan snapped at him. She knew he didn't mean to, but he did.
She couldn't blame him either. She was very close to yelling out at him but she had controlled her anger. She couldn't believe that he had joined them, the terrorists - Cerberus. How could he?
Cerberus is known for their intense methods to make humans the dominant race in the galaxy. They didn't follow any rules or laws, they would do anything to assert human dominance over the galaxy. They truly believe that ascension of human race are entirely justified, including illegal experiments, terrorist activities, sabotage and assassination. Ashley had seen two Cerberus agents with the Commander - one was a dark skinned man, well built, and his behavior was similar to that of a marine, but the woman in skin tight suit truly puzzled Ashley to no end.
Who wears skin tight suits in combat instead of armors?
While she and Kaidan talked with Shepard, she stood by his side, never wavering. Ashley could practically feel the intense gaze of that woman on her skin during that time. She even defended Shepard from Kaidan's verbal battle. Even if Cerberus had brain washed the Commander, how could Garrus join them of all people? He knew perfectly well what Cerberus was capable of, what they have done in the past in the name of humanity.
Ashley trusted the Commander. She still does. Her loyalty was unquestionable but she couldn't decide whether he was being controlled by Cerberus or not. But Garrus seems to think that Shepard is not controlled by Cerberus, he is himself. This made Ashley want to believe that maybe, just maybe Shepard was right about the Collectors and Cerberus? She had seen the threat the Collectors possessed. They had abducted a whole human colony and no one could do anything to defend themselves. Shepard was sure that Cerberus had nothing to do with the Collector attacks, instead they had recruited Shepard to stop them.
Her thoughts broke when her omni tool beeped signaling an incoming message. It was from Liara. She never met Liara after the destruction of the first Normandy and when the team got separated after Shepard's death. She had no idea where Liara was until she got the information from Anderson. Anderson was very secretive about Liara's whereabouts. Ashley only got to know that Liara is now in Illium and how to contact her.
Ashley smiled slightly to herself at the thought of Liara and when old memories came back to her. She was so jealous when she thought that Liara was trying to get into Shepard's pants. It was so silly of her. Liara had agreed that she was attracted to Shepard, making Ashley's suspicions true, but Shepard was not attracted to Liara. The two of them were nothing but good friends which turned into a sort of brother sister relationship with Shepard being the older brother, teaching Liara the ways of the galaxy.
She walked towards the computer a few feet away to check her message. She logged into her account and first her eyes fell on the message she had written to Liara.
ASHLEY: Liara, this is Ashley. I got your contact info from Anderson. It's been a long time since we have talked and I would like to apologize for my previous behaviors towards you. I thought that you were seducing the Skipper with your charms and naivety. I was wrong, I realized that later but I never apologized to you ever about it. I was jealous. I know we have never seen eye to eye but I am truly glad that you are safe and sound.
I have heard the rumors that the Skipper is alive and we've met again on Horizon. He saved me again, just like he did years ago from the geth. He admitted that he is working for Cerberus now to stop the Collectors. I know the Collectors are true, Skipper and his team had fought and drove them away on Horizon. I know he was telling the truth, but Liara, what if Cerberus is manipulating him? Or had his mind controlled? He offered me and Kaidan to join him, 'just like old times' as he said but Kaidan refused on his face and I couldn't make up my mind.
Anderson had told me that you know what really happened after the old Normandy was destroyed. Please, tell me, Liara. This is important.
LIARA: Ashley, I am sorry to reply to you a bit late. The Shadow Broker is keeping tabs on me and I needed a secure terminal to send you this message. I am glad John has saved you and Kaidan. I have already heard about the incidents on Horizon. And don't you worry about the past. We both misunderstood his intentions, Ashley.
I understand your doubts about Cerberus, Ashley. But this time they are truly invested in stopping the Collectors. They have spent an unlimited amount of resources to bring John back for him to fight against the Collectors because he is the only one who can stop them and John is not working for them, he is working with them. I can't explain everything in detail here, but I will be brief.
It was me who handed over John's body to Cerberus. You are fair to ask why would I do that? How could I trust an organization who are believed to be terrorists? I was skeptical at first and wanted to give John a proper burial by human standards. Cerberus didn't change my mind but someone else did.
Miranda Lawson.
She had kept her words and proved that me and Garrus were not wrong to trust her. I am sorry I can't tell you more than this about her. I…
Ashley quickly realized the message from Liara was incomplete. But she had gotten her answers, well some of them. She knew what Liara said was true. But does that mean Cerberus has really changed? Ashley knew she could never trust Cerberus, but she could trust the Skipper. So why not join him?
But who is this Miranda Lawson? And why did Liara and Garrus trust her? How'd Garrus fit in here?
CITADEL, FEW HOURS LATER
John gave his crew a break after landing on the Citadel. He knew they needed it. Besides, he has some personal matters to attend to at the Citadel. As he approached the security, a hooded woman appeared on the screen on the right wall and addressed him directly, "Please tell me your password, Commander Shepard."
John had already read about Kasumi Goto's dossier received from the Illusive Man himself.
From: Illusive Man
Shepard,
At great cost and effort, we have tracked down the master thief Kasumi Goto and convinced her to work with you. Very few people have ever heard of her, and fewer can claim to have seen her in person. She is unequaled at stealth and infiltration, and her skills will prove invaluable in your mission.
Travel to the Zakera Ward on the Citadel. There you will find a special ad terminal that differs from the usual. Input the password "Silence is golden" to begin the rendezvous.
"Silence is golden." John replied. He knew the identity of the mysterious woman – Kasumi Goto. A master thief.
"Good to finally meet you, Commander Shepard. Kasumi Goto. I'm a fan."
"What's with the password and the sneaking around? Are you in trouble or something?"
"I'm the best thief in the business, not the most famous. Need to watch my step to keep it that way. I also needed to make sure all this was legit and I have no doubts now – you are the real Commander Shepard."
"Has Cerberus filed you in on the mission?"
"Honestly, I'm shocked they didn't come to see me sooner. My fault for being hard to find, I guess." She replied smugly.
"Good to have you along, Kasumi. Are you ready to go?"
"I travel light….. I've already slipped my things aboard your ship. I'm really glad you're helping me out with the heist. Can't wait to see how you look in formal wear." She flirted.
"What does formal wear have to do with anything?" John raised his eyebrows, confused.
"I guess you could go with what you have on, but you'd kind of stick out at a fancy party. I'm looking for my old partner's graybox. A man named Donovan Hock took it, and I'm planning to get it back. It'll be fun and if we're lucky, you won't even have to draw your gun." She paused. "We should probably wrap this up. You look pretty silly standing there and talking to an advertisement. See you on the ship, Shepard." John heard her voice no more.
"A thief?" Garrus asked, looking at John.
He just shrugged.
"Fine. As long as she doesn't steal my calibration tools." He stepped towards the security. "Obviously security has tightened since we were last here." Garrus observed.
When the security scan was complete on John and Garrus the C-Sec security guard spoke in his comm to shut the system down. "Sorry for the inconvenience, sir." The turian guard apologized. "Our scanners are picking up false readings. They seem to think you're….ahhh…. dead."
"I was listed as MIA a couple of years ago." John replied.
"Would you mind checking in with my Captain? He can reinstate you in the system. He's just past the scanners, on your right."
"Sure."
They stepped through the door and saw the Captain of the C-Sec, sitting in front of a computer.
"I see the problem already, Commander Shepard. My console says you're dead." Captain Bailey addressed John.
"You're not worried I'm some imposter claiming to be me?" John asked.
"We have the best screening equipment in the galaxy. Those scanners can sample DNA from skin flakes. Hell, if you've unregistered gene mods, they can even figure those out."
"Your sergeant said you could help with that."
"Usually you'd have to go through the Station Security Administration to reactivate your IDs. Then to customs and Immigration to regain access to the Citadel itself. And probably a stop by the treasury. "Spending a year dead" is a popular tax dodge. But I can see you're a busy man. So how about I just press this button right here and call it done?"
"Couldn't one of us or both of us get into trouble for that?"
"There's no way to fool the DNA scanners in that tunnel. You're you. Why wait in long lines and fill out a mass of useless hardcopy paperwork to get to the same place? The Council does everything by the book. They've had thousands of years to write it. Sometimes things need to get done without a committee vote."
"That'd be great."
Bailey pressed some keys on his computers. "Done. You're good to go. You should head to the Presidium, though. The Council would probably like to know that one of their lost Spectres is still kicking."
"I will. Having access to the Council and the Spectres' resources would be useful."
"Yeah. The Council can get anything. Best thing about working C-Sec is that any equipment, information, or money you need, you get it. Anyway, something else you need? Or I can get back to work?"
"No. That will be all. Thank you." John said.
As they headed to the transport Garrus said, "Bailey seems to be a decent guy." To which John agreed.
PRESIDIUM, FEW MINUTES LATER
"This meeting would be more productive if Udina was to join us." The Asari Councilor said.
"My advisor is unavailable. As Councilor, I represent the voice of humanity and the Alliance." Anderson said. "Shepard will be here any mo….." He stopped when the door to his right opened and John stepped in. "Oh, Commander. We were just talking about you."
"It's been a long time, Anderson. I hope the last couple of years have treated you right." John shook hands with Anderson.
"There've been some rough spots. It's good to have you back." Anderson replied with a warm smile.
"We've heard many rumors surrounding your unexpected return. Some of them are….. Unsettling." The Salarian Councilor's words got John's attention. He looked at their holographic image in the room.
"We called this meeting so you could explain your actions, Shepard. We owe you that much. After all, you saved our lives in the battle against Saren and his geth." The Asari Councilor added.
"The Collectors are abducting human colonists in the Terminus Systems. Worse, we think they are working for the Reapers." John said.
"The Terminus Systems are beyond our jurisdiction! Your colonists knew this when they left Council Space." The Turian Councilor accused.
"You are missing the important part, Councilor. The Reapers are involved." Anderson cut in.
"Ah, yes, Reapers. The immortal race of sentient starships allegedly waiting in dark space. We have dismissed that claim." The Turian Councilor countered casually.
John looked at Anderson with an irritated look on his face. "Shepard, no one else encountered the hologram on Ilos that told you the truth about the Reapers. Only you and your crew ever spoke with Sovereign. I believe you, but without evidence from another source, the others think Saren was behind the geth attacks." Anderson explained.
"Saren was an organic. The geth would never accept him as their leader. They only followed him because he was the Sovereign's agent!" John tried to explain but the Council still refused to believe him.
"Saren was a compelling and charismatic individual. He convinced the geth the Reapers were real…. Just as he convinced you." The Asari Councilor said.
"It was part of his plan to attack the Citadel. The Reapers are just a myth. Only you insist on perpetuating it." The Turian Councilor added.
"We believe that you believe it, but that doesn't make it true." The Asari Councilor said.
"Go back to Ilos and talk to Vigil. Or just look at what's left of Sovereign. It's obvious the technology is more advanced than ours!" John almost raised his voice in irritation but controlled himself at the last second.
"The hologram on Ilos is no longer functional, and we have found nothing to suggest that Sovereign was not a geth creation." The Salarian Councilor said.
"The geth are capable of remarkable technological achievements. This is probably why Saren recruited them."
"This Reaper theory proves just how fragile your mental state is. You have been manipulated by Cerberus and before them, by Saren."
"I kept Saren from conquering the Citadel." John protested. I am not mentally fit? That's what they are suggesting after what we went through. They don't even realize the danger we are in.
"We are in a difficult position, Shepard. You are working for Cerberus, an avowed enemy of the Council. This is treason, a capital offense." The Asari Councilor accused John.
"That is too far. Shepard is a hero." Anderson raised his voice in anger. "I'm on the Council too, and I won't let this whitewash continue."
"Maybe there is a compromise. Not a public acknowledgement, given your ties, but something to show peripheral support." The Asari Councilor said to diffuse the tension which was growing in the room.
"Shepard, if you keep a low profile and restrict your operations to the terminus Systems, the Council is willing to offer your reinstatement as a Spectre." The Turian Councilor said.
"What does that mean? Will I need to start filing reports?" John asked.
"That won't be necessary. This is a show of good faith on our part. We cannot be involved in an investigation regarding the missing colonies in the Terminus Systems. But Spectre reinstatement shows our support of you personally." The Salarian Councilor explained.
It's better than nothing. John thought. "I accept your offer. It's good to have the Council on my side."
"Good luck with your investigation, Shepard. We hope for a quick resolution… and a quick end to your relationship with Cerberus." That being said, the meeting was concluded.
John turned to face Anderson. "Well. That went better than I expected."
"You realize the Council's offers are just symbolic. They won't actually do anything." Anderson said.
"Even if they don't help, I might as well be on good terms."
"True enough. Don't worry about the Council or the Alliance. I'll find some way to keep them off your back. Shouldn't be too hard as long as you keep to the Terminus Systems." Anderson assured.
At that moment the door opened again and Udina stepped in. "Anderson, we need to talk about…" Whatever he was about to say, remained unspoken when his eyes fell on John. Udina's eyes widened in disbelief. He never really believed the rumors but now he could see the rumors were true. A dead man was standing in front of him, very much alive. "Shepard! What are you doing here?"
"Stopped to see how Anderson was doing." John said casually.
"You don't have to cover for me." Anderson stated. Then he looked at Udina, "I invited Shepard here to speak with the Council. We just finished our meeting."
"You what? Councilor, do the words political shit-storm mean anything to you?" Udina asked. From his voice Anderson realized he wasn't pleased but he didn't care what Udina thinks.
"The Council reinstated my Spectre status. They're just happy I'm staying out in the Terminus Systems." John informed Udina.
"Yes….. I could see how that arrangement works best for both sides. But you really shouldn't have taken a step like this without consulting with me first, Councilor." Udina replied.
"I don't answer to you, Udina. Why don't you go to your office and think about that for a while?" Anderson stated firmly.
Udina flinched. "Of course, Councilor. Good day to both of you." He said before departing.
"Sorry about that. Udina's never gotten over the fact that I got the Council position instead of him. Sometimes I need to put him in place." Anderson said.
"Udina's just doing his job."
"True enough. He's got his uses and if you want to do something on the Citadel, he knows who can make it happen. Plus, he's always happy to attend all those formal diplomatic functions I can't be bothered with."
"How have the last couple of years treated you?" John asked, looking at Anderson and wanted to talk about something else other than politics.
"Serving on the Council isn't how I planned to spend my twilight years. Sometimes it feels like I'm just beating my head against a wall. Knowing the truth about Sovereign is brutal. It's nightmare stuff. Can't blame others for not wanting to believe it. But I know how important it is, so I keep trying. Fight the good fight, right?" Anderson asked, leaning forward on the railing.
"I'm surprised no one can tell Sovereign isn't a geth technology. Didn't they examine the wreckage?"
"We don't have much to look at. Pieces of it rained all over the station. It was chaos. We secured as much as we could, but between the keepers and a whole lot of unauthorized salvage, there's no way to account how much was lost in the battle against the Sovereign. Another reason they don't want to acknowledge what Sovereign was."
"How long did it take to get this place back up to speed after the battle?"
"Still counting. The main areas of commerce and the most populated wards are complete, but estimates for total restoration are sitting around five years. The keepers always surprises us, though. It's like our repairs are annoying. We'll put up an ugly new bulkhead and in a few days they've made it seamless. We never really thought of them as heavy lifters, and I have no idea where they get the resources. But we'd never get done without them." Anderson explained.
"Last I knew, we were still fighting holdouts."
"Here and there, but they are increasingly disorganized. It's long since stopped being called a war. More like cleaning up. Not that you can ever discount them, but we haven't had serious casualties for months. A civilian ship will spot an enclave and we send in a squad to clear it."
"Ashley and Kaidan, they both were on Horizon. They said they were looking into Cerberus."
"I know. I approved the mission. We had to find out if they were behind the missing colonists. I couldn't tell anyone without compromising the investigation. I'm sorry. I still don't trust Cerberus, but they were right about the Collectors abducting the colonists. Unfortunately, Williams and Kaidan didn't find anything to convince the Council that the Reapers are behind this or even that they exist."
"I have no proof either but during the battle with the Collectors, once in a while a single Collector was getting possessed and it was changing into a more powerful and advanced Collector. And it talked with me directly. The voice was Harbinger's or Sovereign, whatever you call it." John said.
"It spoke to you?"
"Yes."
"That's interesting. What did it say?"
"Aside from that it wants to kill me? Nothing." John paused. "But I can't prove it. We have no recordings and I can't make anyone believe that it was Harbinger."
"Hm. So, how are you, Shepard?"
"I am all right."
"How did you survive after the attack on Normandy?"
"I was dead, Anderson. But someone brought me back."
"You were dead and this person you are speaking of brought you back?"
"Yes."
"How is that even possible?"
"I don't know in details but cutting edge technology, perhaps?" John didn't feel comfortable going into details about this specific subject.
"I see but who is this person?"
"I am afraid I can't tell you that. But when the time comes you will meet her." John replied.
Anderson was not entirely satisfied but he trusted Shepard. He must have a good reason for not telling him about the person who brought him back from the dead.
PLANET: KORLUS, SEVERAL HOURS LATER
A veteran of the Krogan Rebellions fought more than a thousand years ago, Okeer is a militant radical who was so ruthless and fanatical that even his own people turned on him. He maintains an extreme social Darwinist belief that the effect it has had on krogan natural selection, rather than the loss of numbers, is where the genophage has performed its greatest damage. His efforts aren't geared toward curing it, but rather, toward ignoring it completely in the goal of "perfecting" his species. With each rare newborn, even the weaker ones, cared for, grown to adulthood and possibly reproducing, Okeer believes the ancient krogan philosophy that only the strongest survive and reproduce is lost. He sees the survival of the weak and the integration of their genetics into the krogan gene pool as proof that krogan are growing weaker with each generation, becoming shadows of those who fought in the Rebellions. An army of krogan of equal or greater strength, skill, and wits as those of the Rebellions, even a limited and non-reproducing one, will be enough to bring the galaxy to its knees. To this end Okeer experimented with genetics and sold a great number of his kind to the Collectors for the technology he required, earning himself a vile reputation among krogan and forcing him off Tuchanka.
John threw down the data pad on the seat before jumping down from the shuttle with his squad following him.
"The dossier doesn't say if Okeer is on the planet by choice. Assume hostiles." John stated.
"There is only one measure of success: kill or be killed! Perfection is your goal." The team heard a broadcast.
"Broadcasting orders over loudspeaker? Charming." Miranda deadpanned.
John sent her a disapproving glare. "Stay focused. We're looking for a krogan warlord."
They encountered three Blue Sun mercenaries after proceeding ahead, one of whom was injured and lying on the ground. The other two were killed by Kasumi silently. They got no chance to alert the others.
"Shit, Shit! It won't stop bleeding…. I'm gonna…. Son of a bitch!" The wounded soldier kept on cursing.
"Doesn't look that bad actually." Miranda whispered.
"He doesn't need to know that." John whispered back.
"I knew it wasn't berserkers. Not at range. You're mercs. Or Alliance. I'm not…. I'm not telling you anything." The wounded merc said stubbornly.
"I've got a nice application of medi-gel ready to go. But if you'd rather I just keep walking….." John said while walking away from the merc.
"Son of a ….. I just, I don't know anything. I just shoot the overflow from the labs. The old krogan up there, he's really been cleaning the house lately. Jedore hired him to make an army, but the krogan he creates are insane, so we use them for live ammo training. It's all crap, I don't get paid enough to goddamn bleed out!" He explained.
"Outpost four? Jedore wants us to move. We need coordinates on that krogan pack." The mercs radio came alive at that moment.
"I want each and every one of your friends gone. Now." John ordered invading the mercs' personal space.
He nodded. "Uh, patrol? The last group dispersed. Lost sight five minutes ago."
"Dispersed? Jedore will be pissed. She wanted a show."
"You asked for a report, you got it. Dispersed."
"Understood. Returning to the labs." The radio connection ended.
"There. You see? I am helping. If you start limping now, you might find a shady spot before you bleed out." John stated after applying a small amount of medi-gel on the mercs' wounds. He walked away from there cursing under his breath.
"The scare was a nice touch." Miranda complemented. She was impressed.
"I thought so." John replied with a smirk. "Come on. Our warlord is somewhere in Jedore's lab." John said, readying his rifle.
"So, we got a crazy army of tank bred krogans and Blue Suns out there to nail us?" Jack asked, stepping beside John.
"Seems so." John replied.
"Last time we faced the tank bred krogans, the experience was not pleasant, I'd say that much." Garrus cut in.
"Saren?" Jacob questioned.
"Yeah, his slaves." Garrus replied. "They were immune to pain and had greater abilities than a normal krogan."
As they went further ahead, they saw corpses of mercenaries and krogans scattered on the ground everywhere.
"This is a slaughterhouse." Jacob commented.
"For amusement and pleasures." Miranda said disgustedly.
At that moment they were ambushed by the Blue Suns. The mercs were everywhere but still they were no match for Commander Shepard's team. They simply stood no chance. Jack and Jacob's biotics, Miranda's tech and biotic attacks with John, Zaeed and Garrus' firepower, the enemies were wiped out within minutes. Kasumi stayed in cover and provided minimal support because she had no training against this kind of combat.
"When will they learn?" Garrus said, shouldering his rifle.
"Never." John said, stepping past him.
After encountering another group of Blue Suns, they found a lone krogan fighting against three mercs alone. The krogan was struggling because the mercs were over a small bridge and shooting at him from behind covers. Samara flared up her biotics and grabbed the mercs with Singularity. John detonated the Singularity sphere with a Throw attack. The biotic blast tore apart the mercs bodies and sent them scattering around the area.
Seeing his enemies dead, the krogan turned around to face John and his team.
"You…. Are different. New. You don't smell like this world. Seven night cycles, and I have felt only the need to kill you. But you…. Something makes me speak." The krogan said coming closer to John.
"He's only a week old?" Miranda asked.
"They must breed them full-size, ready to kill. Not much improvement over regular mercs if they need training."
"Bred… to kill. No. I kill because my blood and bone tell me to. But it was not why I was flushed from glass mother. Survival is what I hear in my head. Against the enemies that threaten all my kind. But I failed even before waking. That is what the voice in the water said. That is why I wait here."
"You're supposed to be a part of the mercenary army? Remember Jedore?"
"I know that name. It causes anger but also laughter. It is not a name that will be sung when we march. I don't know what that means but I heard it many times."
"Okeer's voice? Did he speak to you while you were in your tank?"
"I heard the voice. Not like now, with ears. Inside. I called it 'Father'. It liked that. But it was disappointed. I am not what it needs me to be."
"A breeding program. Trying to escape genophage effects?" Mordin murmured.
"Escape? Escape was never whispered. Survive. Resist. Ignore."
"How did you disappoint the voice?"
"I don't know. It was decided before I left tank mother. I was not perfect."
"Can you show me the laboratory? I need to speak to Okeer."
"The glass mother. She is up. Past the broken parts." He indicated to his left. "Behind many of you fleshy things. I will show you."
The krogan walked to the broken wall and tried to remove a large metal path from the way. But it won't budge. After trying for a few seconds he stepped back and looked at John. "I am not perfect."
John nodded. "Let me try."
"I will help." Garrus said, trying to follow John.
"What is he playing at? Even the krogan couldn't move it." Jack said.
John grabbed the metal path and yanked it up from the ground using his immense strength. Jack's jaw dropped.
Following that very path, they entered a tunnel to face the hostile krogan army of Jedore. They were approaching through narrow paths inside the tunnel. Beside the narrow path there was a dark abyss.
"Jack slow them down." John said, indicating three krogans charging forward. She nodded and unbalanced them with a powerful shockwave. The krogans fell down from the impact of the shockwave but no harm was done. Their shield and armor took the brunt of the impact of the biotic power. They only got on their feet to find a frag grenade at their feet. The explosion sent the three krogans flying away and they fell down into the abyss.
The danger wasn't gone as more krogans kept on coming. Biotics, tech and firearms combined attacks took them down but the team was weary. Taking down a krogan army wasn't an easy task.
"That's the end of them." Jacob said.
"I hope I don't need to kill another." Jack mumbled.
They found the stairs at the end of the tunnel as the krogan told them about. On top they encountered more mercs but there were no more krogans to their benefit. The mercs were destroyed before they could properly assess what hit them.
"Jedore must be desperate." Kasumi said. "She has numerous men surrounding this area."
"Yeah. But what does she want with the krogan army?" Jacob asked no one in particular.
"Only Jedore can answer that." Jack piped in.
On their way to the top of the tower they came face to face with an asari. She seemed to be scared at the sight of them.
"Commander Shepard?" The asari asked. "I shut down the security cameras as soon I saw it was you. Never thought I'd say it, but I'm glad it's you shooting up the place."
"Sorry but who are you?" John asked, a little confused.
"Rana Thanoptis. You let me go when you destroyed Saren's lab on Virmire. Had to outrun a nuke in a utility pod, but it's still a second chance." She said, thankfully.
"I assume you have a good reason for being at this lab?" John asked. Now he remembered her.
"Don't worry. I'm not wasting the chance you gave me. My work here – strictly beneficial. Not for the mercs. Jedore's on a standard power trip. But Okeer is trying to do something good, I can tell. Even if his methods are a little extreme." She paused for a moment and gave a small smile of appreciation to John. "Everyone deserves a second chance. Right? And sometimes giving one pays off. I will take care of my debts."
"Finding you in a place like this makes me think letting you go was a mistake. You don't want that." John said in his deep commanding tone that everyone respects and fears.
"We agree on that. Don't worry I plan on staying as far away from anything to do with you as possible. Now if you don't mind, I'm going to run like hell before you blow the place or something. I know how you work." Rana proposed.
"She remembers you." Garrus smirked.
"Yeah, it's hard to forget me." John said. Miranda scowled at his back. "Go. Run." And Rana did run like hell as she said she would.
"Should have killed her. Too much knowledge without ethical boundaries." Zaeed said.
"No. What she said was right. Everybody deserves a second chance." John disagreed as he stepped past Zaeed.
OKEER'S LAB
"It's about time. The batteries on these tanks will not wait while you play with these idiotic mercs." Okeer said, turning his head sideways, as the team stepped inside his lab.
"I take it you're Okeer. You don't seem particularly caged….. or grateful that I'm here." John said.
"You may claim to be here to help, but the formerly deceased Shepard is not a sign of gentle change. Surprised? All krogan should know you. I'm sure Rana has already revisited your actions on Virmire." Okeer replied.
"I didn't have a lot of room for finesse. If there'd been any other solution, I'd have considered it." John replied.
"But I approve. Saren's pale horde were not true krogans. Numbers alone are nothing. The mistake of an outsider, one that these mercenaries have also made. I gave their leader my rejects for her army. But she grows impatient. It's time for you to take me out of here."
"Personal issues are irrelevant. Here for the Collectors." Zaeed interrupted.
"I see. Yes. Collector attacks have increased. A human concern. My requests were focused elsewhere. I acquired the knowledge to create one pure soldier. With that, I will inflict upon the genophage the greatest insult an enemy can suffer. To be ignored."
"Your methods are extreme but you know how to deconstruct a threat. Will you help us?" John asked.
"Perhaps I can strike a deal to secure passage. But my prototype is not negotiable. It is the key to my legacy." Okeer said.
Their conversation was interrupted by Jedore's voice over the radio. "Attention! I have traced the krogan release. Okeer, of course. I'm calling 'blank slate' on this project. Gas these commandoes and start over from Okeer's data. Flush the tanks!"
"She's that weak-willed? She'll kill my legacy with a damned valve!" Okeer begin to panic. "Shepard! You want information on the Collectors? Stop her. She'll try to access contaminants in the storage bay."
"You could just start over, like she plans to. What's the big deal?"
"This tank is pure. It involved as much trial as data. Starting over will not duplicate it. It must survive." Okeer pointed to the large tank at his right. Inside there was an unconscious krogan. "Jedore will be with rejected tanks. Kill her. I will….. stay and do what must be done."
"All right." John agreed to his proposal.
Okeer merely gave a nod and opened the door on the other side of the lab.
"I was looking forward to this." Jack cracked her knuckles.
"Stay focused." John warned.
Mercs, Krogans and a large YMIR mech were their adversary in their battle against Jedore. The mercenary leader hid herself behind the tanks so there was no clear shot and she had multiple defense on herself.
"Garrus, stay hidden. Keep Jedore in your sights. We will bring down her defense." John ordered.
Garrus acknowledged his order. He hid himself and kept his eyes on Jedore through the sniper scope. He had several opportunities to shoot her, but he knew it would only give away his position and alert her.
"Take down the mech!" Jacob yelled.
Kasumi proved herself quite useful in the battle against the mercs. She cloaked herself and stabbed mercs from behind whenever she got the opportunity. The krogans were halted in their way by gun fire and biotics.
In the meantime Jacob lobbed an incendiary grenade at a group of mercs who were hidden behind a cover. The incendiary frag immediately set them on fire. Jack saw the opportunity and she crushed them with her biotics leaving them no room to survive.
"Krogans are down. Concentrate your fire on the mech." John ordered. It was hard to do so because Jedore was constantly firing at them from behind the tanks. She took a few hits and her shield was nearly down. Jedore peeked out from cover to get a direct sniper shot at John, but Miranda reacted first. With an electrical blast she drained Jedore's remaining shield, leaving her vulnerable.
"Got you." Garrus whispered and pressed the trigger. He saw Jedore's head burst into pieces, after getting hit by the armor piercing round from his sniper, leaving blood and gore everywhere around her body.
"Did you get her?" Jacob asked.
"Got the bitch." Garrus nodded and came out from his hiding place.
"Let's return to Okeer." John said.
They reached the lab to find Okeer lying still on the ground. Clearly dead. But a recording of his voice started to play. "You gave me time, Shepard. If I knew why the Collectors wanted humans, I would tell you. But everything is in my prototype. My legacy is pure. This… one soldier, this grunt. Perfect."
"Okeer wasted his life to save this single krogan?" Miranda said, shocked.
"We can't leave it here. Okeer sacrificed himself for this. Normandy, Okeer is a no-go. But we have a package that needs retrieval." John paused. "And he's a big one." He finished looking at the krogan inside the tank.
NORMANDY DE-BRIEFING ROOM
"Bringing the krogan for study makes sense, but I have concerns about waking it." Miranda repeated for the tenth time.
"Yeah, you've said that a few times now." Jacob replied in a slightly annoyed tone.
John entered the room at that moment. They regarded each with nods and proceeded with the discussion about the krogan.
"A normal krogan is dangerous. This one was created, and likely educated by a madman." She replied ignoring Jacob's tone.
"There's no way he's getting out unless one of us lets him out." John tried to restrain her anxiety.
But she didn't seem to hear him. "Or unless Okeer installed some sort of failsafe. Or a malfunction causes the tank to shut down." She stated her opinion.
"I'm not saying we take a crowbar to it right now, but I'm not giving up a potential resource." John said stubbornly.
Miranda's eyebrows knitted together when she looked at John. Her eyes were narrowed. It was obvious from her expression that she is not happy with his decision. "It's your decision, Commander. Just be careful." She said and stepped past him out of the room.
"Take the tank down to the shuttle bay, Jacob. I will be there in a moment." John ordered.
"Aye, aye Commander." Jacob saluted and started to leave.
"And Jacob?" John called him.
"Yes, Commander?"
"Get the shuttle bay cleared."
He nodded in understanding and left.
Before John went to release the krogan from the tank he decided to visit the CIC on his way. He went to the cockpit to find Joker arguing with EDI about alcohol. He chuckled silently listening to their banter and slowly retreated from there. He asked Kelly Chambers whether he got any personal messages or is there anything which he should know about. She informed that there is nothing he should know about. So he turned back to leave but Yeoman Kelly Chambers halted him in his tracks.
"Is it true, we have a pod containing a baby krogan down in the cargo hold?" She asked.
"Not a baby. He's a full grown super soldier ready for combat." John answered truthfully.
"Please be careful if you decide to…. Err… birth him? His personality is completely unknown."
"Don't worry. I'll be careful." He gave her a pleasant smile and entered the elevator. Kelly couldn't help but swoon at the charming smile he gave her. How can she deny the attraction she feels towards him? She knows that there is not a single woman in Normandy who doesn't want him. Of course she is on that list but the question is who does he want to be with? The man is a mystery to her. She tried to flirt with him, she still tries sometimes but it never works. She knows that she has good looks. Men are attracted to her then why doesn't it work for him?
John headed straight to the shuttle bay. He saw that his orders were followed and the area was getting cleared as much as they could.
"Heard you are going to release the tank bred?" Jack asked, stepping beside him.
He nodded.
"You are taking a great risk, Shepard. You don't know how it will react." Jack added.
"I can't let it go, Jack. He is an asset who can be of great help in our fight against the Collectors. I can't lose the opportunity. We need every help we can get." John said stubbornly. He has made his decision and he isn't going to change his mind now.
"I understand." Jack said.
"Anyways what are you doing here? I never saw you outside your… err…. Quarter."
"I am here out of curiosity and there is something I need to talk about."
"I have given you time with the data Miranda provided. You want to talk about them? Found anything useful?" John asked.
"No. I… want to talk about something else. I just feel that I have seen you before, like I've known you for some time. I meant personally. Can you tell me anything about it?" She hesitated.
John sighed sadly. "I am sorry, Jack. I don't think I've ever met you. But…" John stopped. He didn't want to reveal to Jack that he has amnesia. He had only known her for a short while. But she is claiming that she knows him…then...perhaps? "Are you sure, Jack?"
Jack shook his head. "No. I am not Shepard."
"Then, I suppose it can wait." John said, looking at her. Jack crossed her arms over her chest and nodded. She didn't speak any further.
With a swooshing sound the elevator door behind them opened and two persons stepped outside into the Shuttle bay. They were Garrus and Miranda. But there was also another person whom John didn't notice at first.
"Kasumi. What are you doing here?" John asked.
"I have come to see the show. Just like the others." She shrugged her shoulders.
Jack snorted. Garrus grinned and Miranda sent a death glare at John and then kept on staring daggers at Kasumi's back. John saw that both Miranda and Garrus had brought their weapons. He raised one eyebrow. "What are those for?" He asked, pointing his finger towards their guns.
"Backup." Came the cold reply from Miranda.
John huffed and turned around. He saw Jacob returning with the crew. Everything is ready.
"The area is clear, Commander." Jacob reported.
"Thanks, Jacob. I will take this on from here." John replied and began to walk towards the tank leaving everyone at the door. He halted and turned back to face his teammates. "Don't show yourself. I will handle this."
Everyone followed his command without any argument but he got a glimpse of Miranda and he saw that she was already readying her SMG. John shook his head and turned towards the tank.
"EDI?" John said. He knew EDI will respond.
"The subject is stable, Shepard. Integration with onboard systems was seamless." EDI informed.
"Can he see anything in there? Does he know where he is?"
"Unlikely. Current neural patterns indicate minimal cognition. Barring ship-wide power loss, the nutrients in the tank could sustain him for over a year."
"Stand by. I'm going to open the tank and let him out."
"Cerberus protocol is very clear regarding untested alien technology."
"He's either a powerful addition to the crew or a time bomb. I'd rather deal with it now."
"Very well, Shepard. The controls are online. The switch …. And consequences are yours." Came EDI's synthetic reply. Her voice halted for a moment. It sounded as if she was worried.
John slowly stepped forward and pressed the large switch in front of the tank. There was a hissing sound and then the liquid inside the tank drained completely. When the liquid was gone the door of the tank opened and the krogan fell on his knees on the floor. It coughed out some liquid from inside its mouth. Then its eyes fell on John. He slowly got to his feet and easily towered over John. John has seen many krogans in his life but this one is particularly huge. He is as big as Wrex, if not more.
Then the krogan charged, tackling John and smashed him against the wall. The krogan held him there by placing the back of its hand against his throat. John didn't say anything. The brunt of the force actually did hurt but he quickly overcame the pain and focused on the krogan who was curiously examining him from head to toe.
"Human male." It stated. "Before you die, I need a name."
"I'm Commander Shepard of Normandy." John replied calmly.
"Not your name. Mine. I am trained, I know things, but the tank. Okeer couldn't implant the connection. His words are hollow." The krogan replied. "Warlord, legacy, grunt…..grunt. 'Grunt' was among the last. It has no meaning. It'll do. I am Grunt. If you are worthy of your command, prove your strength and try to destroy me."
"You'll get your wish, Grunt." John replied.
Then, quicker than blinking one of his hands shot out and grabbed Grunt's hand which was against his throat, pinning him against the wall. To the astonishment of Grunt the human begins to push his hand away from his throat with minimum effort. Grunt applied more strength but the strength of the human was much stronger than him. Grunt looked towards the face of the human. The human is looking at him casually but Grunt could see that his already blue eyes have started to glow brightly. Suddenly, with a mighty push he threw Grunt away from him. Grunt's eyes widened as he flew back and landed hard on the floor a few feet away. He can't believe it. A human, a mere human pushed him away? A human easily overpowered a krogan in melee combat? It is impossible. Grunt saw the human named 'Shepard' stepped forward towards him and extended his hand.
"I think I've proven my worth to you, Grunt. Now will you fight for me?" John said, extending his hand towards the krogan to help him get on his feet. "I have a good ship and a strong crew, a strong clan. You'd make it stronger."
Grunt refused his helping hand and quickly got on his feet. "If you choose weaker enemies, I have to kill you."
"Our enemies are worthy. No doubt about that."
"Hmm. That's acceptable. I'll fight for you." Grunt accepted the offer.
"Why didn't you prefer the name 'Okeer' or 'Legacy'"? John asked.
"It's short. Matches the training in my blood. The other words are big things I don't feel. Maybe they fit your mouth better. I feel nothing for Okeer's clan or his enemies. I will do what I am bred to do…. Fight and determine the strongest…. But his imprint has failed. Without a reason that's mine, one fight is as good as any other." Grunt explained. "You are worthy, Shepard. If I find a clan, if I find what I…. I want, I will be honored to eventually pit them against you."
John smiled. "Thanks, Grunt. You can stay in the cargo hold. Will it suffice?"
"Yes. It'll do." Grunt replied, looking around.
"Good. My crew will show you the way." John said.
After John left Grunt behind, he saw all the crew members who were waiting outside for any signs of trouble, except Miranda had left. She was standing beside the elevator leaning against the wall with a datapad in her hand. When he approached her she wordlessly handed over the datapad to him.
Justicar Samara
- Biotics strength near that of an asari matriarch - Extensive weapons training
Samara is a justicar, a rare member of an asari monastic group trained in enhanced combat biotics alongside standard weapons. Samara was recently sighted on Illium, outside normal asari space.
"The Justicar is on Illium in the commercial spaceport area for an unknown reason, Commander. The authorities there are not pleased and would want her to leave fast. I would suggest heading there and recruiting her before she disappears. She could be an important asset to our team." Miranda said, evenly. "You would also find your previous teammate, Liara on Illium."
John was surprised. "Liara? What is she doing there?"
"You can ask her yourself when you get there." Miranda replied coldly and entered the elevator and left John standing there. She was pissed off at him because of the unnecessary risks he is taking.
John stood there puzzled, with his eyes on the elevator door.
What just happened?
A/N: What do you think, will Ashley join the Normandy SR-2?