The big day is here. Everyone is in the cargo bay readying their equipment. Tali is doing something important with her omni tool based on the text on her screen and the speed she is typing. She is really fast, especially with only three fingers. I watch her for a few minutes, and she never once has to delete anything. Garrus is working on the mako. He is checking the tire pressure and making sure the turret is turning without issue. The rest of us are preparing our firearms. We all can feel that something in the air, something big is going to happen. The room is silent as we're too focused on our own tasks. We are going to be dropped on Virmire in a few minutes. I actually get to drive the mako. FINALLY!
Step on into the galaxy famous *********'s mako drop. Nearly a thousand foot drop of adrenaline filled excitement and enough fun to make amusement parks feel inadequate. The reality is that it's more of a slow descent. The burners can last up to ten minutes. The cooldown in the game was just a mechanic to challenge the player. Shepard, Ashley, Kaiden, and Wrex are this week's lucky passengers. Joker opens the normandy's doors and the mako starts to slide backwards. Shepard orders me to floor it and to keep flooring it until we make it to the ground. Also, to hold down this blue button on the left side of the steering wheel until we land. It controls the burners. I do just that. The descent was surprisingly smooth. I did feel uneasy seeing the ground steadily get bigger, however Shepard told me not to worry. Nearly a minute passes and the ground is right in front of us. A hard thump from below shakes the mako and we are on the ground. I ease off the gas (does this thing even use gas?) and let friction stop the mako.
"Nice job. Have you ever driven before?" Shepherds asked. Oh, he complimented me. The brain fuzzles are being released. I like this feeling.
"Oh yeah, a ton. It is second nature to me" I comment.
"Just don't crash the mako" Ashley nervously requested. She doesn't trust my driving.
"Relax… I never been in a car accident that wasn't my fault" I said.
"Stop the mako" Shepard said without missing a beat.
"I was in the passenger seat both times it happened. I only said that to freak you out. It worked too well, didn't it?" I said.
"The kid is doing better than I did. Let him have his fun" Wrex said.
"When did you drive the mako?" Kaiden asks Wrex who is remaining silent. We all look back to him.
"Did you drive the mako somewhere?" Shepard asks. Wrex still remains silent. We humans all look at each other wondering what to do. Wrex crosses his arm and slouches in his chair who proceeds to take a nap. Smart man.
The drive to the salarian STG camp took much longer than in the game. Apart from stopping to open the gates and taking out geth, it took nearly two and a half hours of driving. I tried playing music through the radio, but the geth jammers removed that too. I took out my frustration on a colossus. Other than that, Wrex enjoyed his nap. His snoring was not a good replacement for the radio.
We see the STG camp. The white beaches and beautiful waters. A tropical paradise. Too bad this place will be nuked. I like it here. The air feels warm and smells pleasant. The gentle sounds of the waves are calming. I can feel the tension leave my body. I ask Shepard if he wants to retire here with me someday and he sternly answers no. Fine, I get it. He hates the ocean. Maybe he'll like Vegas instead. I drive onto the sand and park the mako. We exit and find who is in charge.
"Commander Shepard" the salarian captain jogged to us.
"Captain Kirrahe" the spectre shakes the STG officer's hand.
"I requested backup from the council. Where is it?" he asks with those large black eyes. The angle makes it seem like he is talking to all of us at once. Kinda off putting.
"We are it. The council sent us to investigate" Shepard said.
Kirrahe appears strong to his men, although his concern that we are the only ones here does not exactly hide his alarm. "I asked for an entire fleet. Where is it?" he asks.
"The geth have jammers everywhere. The council only received static. We didn't know if you were alive or dead" Kaiden explained.
"Sadly, it might not matter soon. My men are tired, supplies are low, and we are running on hope. Commander Shepard, I heard stories about your bravery. I need to be able to count on you and your people. I need to speak with my men then I need to talk to you in private.
Kirrahe confidently walks over to the crowd of salarian soldiers and gives his "hold the line" speech, which Mordin would approve of. The words he speaks are corny, but it doesn't matter. The passion, the bravado. His words penetrate our hearts and minds. The energy in his voice is invigorating. I feel like dying for this man. The salarians cheer and return to work. I walk around and marvel at the waters while we wait for the Normandy to land. The geth we eliminated earlier made the sky safe. Everyone exits the ship and gets ready for the fight, except Liara. She is helping Chakwas tend to the injured salarians who are unfit for battle. A finger taps my right shoulder. I turn around and see Ashely.
"********* I feel like something really bad is about to happen" the gunnery chief softly said.
"What makes you say that?" I ask.
"It is just a gut feeling. An instinct. I felt it on Eden prime. ********* would you pray with me?" she earnestly asks. Did I hear her right? I take a minute to replay what she just said. Startled, I ask "What?"
"No one else on the normandy is religious and while you're not Christian, you are spiritual. Would you please join me? It would mean a lot" she is giving me the puppy dog eyes. Why the puppy dog eyes. I can't resist that.
"Ok for you. Do we do it here?" I use both hands to point to the ground.
"No, let's go to one of those tents for privacy" Ashley points to an empty salarian tent. We walk towards there and Ashley picks up two pieces of driftwood as we make our way closer. She builds a makeshift cross and leans it against the fabric. She gets down on her knees and brings her hands to her chest. I place my hand on her shoulder and lean on her. I make old man noises and slowly get down on my knees. I respect people's beliefs. It provides them comfort. I dislike prayer. The idea of asking for something and hoping you will get it seems dangerous to me. If I want something I do whatever I need to in order to get it, within reason. Although it is possible to send your thoughts outwards into the universe. Who knows, maybe there is a god-like individual in this universe. There is in other universes.
"Lord. I ask you for strength, for your love, and for your grace in ensuring our safety. The people I am with are good, kind, compassionate people, even Wrex deep down. They took me in when my squad was killed and made me feel that I have a home. I pray for their health and wellbeing and ask you to protect them like you did me" Ashley nudges me with her elbow. "Now you" she smiles. Really? Do I have to? Screw it, I am already down here. I finish what I start.
"Fine. Hey Lord. I don't know if you are real, which is really weird because you would think I would have found some kind of evidence by now. If you are hearing me, please do not let anyone here die. I have been to a lot of places and met a lot of people. These people really are special. They made me feel connected and that someone other than my family cares for myself and well being. Please protect them. OK, now onto asking forgiveness for my regrets" I said.
Ashley turns to me "You don't have to do…"
"If I'm doing this, I am going all the way" I shout.
Ashley doesn't say a word but does smirk. She closes her eyes and continues praying. I put in the work, now I get to have my fun.
"Dear god. Please forgive my regrets. You already know about my childhood anger issues but that was because I was sick, so it does not really count. I am a nice guy, and not barcode she language for he's a creep" I look at Ashley. She smirked for a second. I will break her.
"When I used to work for money, I always paid my taxes whenever the government balanced their budget" I glanced at Ashley. She twists her neck in a shallow attempt to stop the laughter from coming out. I am so close to getting her.
"I failed to eradicate communism. I'll carry that with me for the rest of my days. Ok last one. I know I wasn't supposed to eat the dodo bird, but I was curious, and we both knew it was heading for extinction. You shouldn't have made it so tasty" Ashley bursts with laughter.
"Really?! That is what got you?" I start to laugh too.
"Ah HAhahaha. It's not that funny but the way you said it just got me." Ashley finishes her prayer, and we head outside and find Shepard and Kaiden talking with Kirrahe.
"We have a problem" Shepard alters us.
"I'm sorry" I blurt out.
"What? No, not you. Wait, did he do something?" Kaiden asks Ashley.
"No, we just finished praying. He was with me the whole time" Ashley covers for me.
"Then why did you apologize" Shepard asks.
"I'm still in the asking for forgiveness mood. Sniff sniff. So, what's up?" I'm back to my normal lovable self.
"The salarians confirmed Saren did in fact cure the geophage. The plan is to nuke the base to thwart Saren's plan. A krogan army is a formidable thing. Wrex knows and is pissed. Could you go talk to him?" Shepard asks.
"Alright I'll go now" I head towards Wrex until I'm spun around.
"Wait just a minute. He is very upset. We're concerned he might do something he'll regret. Ashley, I want you to go behind them and be ready to take care of Wrex if need be" the spectre said. I feel ice cold.
"Shepard, I know what you are really asking. I will talk Wrex down. There is no need for this" I saw the videos online; Ashley could shoot Wrex. I don't want to lose my big buddy.
"Ashley do not and I repeat DO NOT shoot unless I give you the thumbs up" I strain my voice with a serious tone. Ashley understands. She grabs her sniper rifle and walks discreetly to a building behind where Wrex is tapping his giant dinosaur feet. I slowly walk to my friend and try to console him.
"This isn't right *********" Wrex looks straight at me. He unfolds his arms.
"I know Wrex. I can't imagine what you are feeling" I said.
"I bet you don't care. Saren has a cure for my people, and you all want to destroy it!" Wrex steps closer to me. I instinctively grab my weapon tighter and relax when I realize what I am doing.
"Wrex, you know I don't share your exact views on the genophage, but I hope you know, I want what is best for the krogan" I see Ashely getting into position with my peripheral vision.
"Then help me out. The line between friend and foe is getting real blurry" Wrex points his shotgun at me. I just stand there. I knew this could happen, but I still feel shocked he would do this to me. His best friend.
"Aren't you going to put up your weapon? I'll give you that much" Wrex is testing me. I throw my assault rifle into the sand. His eyes follow it to the ground and back to me.
"Why did you do that?" he asks.
"Because I lead by example. I don't point weapons at my friends" I raise my voice.
"********* you helped me out more than anyone else including my own family. Give me a reason why I should let the only hope for my people burn" he is sending me a message.
"What do you think Saren is going to do with the cure? Is he a good samaritan and will hand out the cure to everyone?" The gears in Wrex's brain start to turn. Ashley takes aim. I look towards her and I make the stop sign with my hand that is hovering near my knee. Wrex saw this and knows he is pinned.
"Do you think Saren of all people would cure the genophage out of the goodness of his heart? He will give it to whoever will follow him. The council put a collar around the krogan when they infected your people with the genophage. Letting Saren cure the genophage only changes who holds your leash. Is that what you want? For the krogan to be saren's pets?" I point out. Wrex knows I am right. The only question is if he will listen to his head or his heart.
Wrex thinks it over and begrudgingly lowers is weapon. "You're right. I don't like it, but we can't let Saren have the cure. I'll follow and won't cause any more trouble. Wrex holsters his gun. I breathe out a sigh of relief. I put my hand out and Wrex shakes it.
"Thank you for trusting me, Wrex. I know this wasn't easy and I'll do my best to make it worth it. If we are fast and lucky maybe, we can get some data on the cure" I reward good behavior and now I need to prevent the bad behavior from repeating. I headbutt him which knocks his butt into the sand. He looks at me completely surprised.
"If you ever point a gun at me again you shoot me! Understand!" I yell. Wrex processes what I really mean through his shocked brain. He then closes his eyes and laughs it off. I hold my hand out and help the big baby up. Ashley lowers her weapon and joins us.
'That could have gone badly" she comments.
"Yeah. I almost had to kick his butt" I said.
"Like you have a chance" Wrex said.
"Hey I almost did and I still have some tricks up my sleeve. If I didn't hold back, you would have a big problem" I said. He doesn't believe me.
"Sure kid. Oh buy the way my ass itches thanks to you. Might not be a bad thing. Saren was so easy to beat, I did it with sand in my ass. That sounded better in my head" he said.
off in the distance, Kirrahe and Shepard watch the human and Krogan get ready for the misson.
"That human is insane" Kirrahe states.
"He definitely drives me crazy" Shepard said.
