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"Wrex, I'm not asking you again. Get your ass on board the Normandy."
"You're not gonna like it if I do, Shepard. Some things have come up."
She frowned at Wrex's face on the vidscreen. "Things like what?"
"That's for me to know and you to find out."
"Fine, be that way. But if you're not here to negotiate, I can't even begin to approach getting you what you want."
"They're not going to go for it."
"Damn it, Wrex! Earth and Palaven are being destroyed by the Reapers. People are dying by the thousands even as we speak. I don't give a damn what you want, if it's important, I'll make them give it to you so I can get your help for Palaven and the turians' help for Earth. All right? Have some faith."
Wrex cleared his throat, his voice softer when he spoke. "Sorry, Shepard. I … wasn't thinking about Earth. I'll meet you at the rendezvous. But I'm warning you—there's only one thing I want. And you know what that is."
"Yeah, I know, Wrex." She frowned. "It's not going to be easy, but we'll make it happen. Somehow."
"Glad we're on the same page, Shepard." Wrex's face disappeared from the screen, and Shepard sat back with a weary sigh. It was never easy where Wrex was concerned … but if she was right, and what he wanted was a cure for the genophage, and really, what else could it be?, it was going to be damned near impossible to get the turians and salarians to agree.
The intercom in her quarters chimed, and she punched the button to talk. "Traynor?"
"Sorry to interrupt, Commander, but we have a link to Earth and Admiral Anderson is available. I thought you would want—"
"You were absolutely right. I'm on my way down."
Shepard rushed through the ship to the communications center. There was no telling how long Anderson would be available, and she didn't want to miss the opportunity to talk to him, the first time since she'd left Earth.
He was wavery and blue, but he was in one piece and looked his usual vital and dependable self. She felt a rush of relief and renewed confidence just seeing him.
"Shepard! Aren't you a sight for sore eyes."
"Good to see you, too, sir."
He smiled. "'Sir'? I reinstate you and you get all formal on me?"
"Sorry. I meant—glad to see you've kept your ass alive, Anderson."
"That's more like it. How are things up there?"
"The usual. Soon as you ask anyone to do the sensible thing and join together to help, they think of all sorts of favors they need you to do for them first. The turians are on board, but Palaven's in the same shape as Earth, so they want the krogan to help them hold the line before they'll promise to help us."
"Typical. Urdnot Wrex still on top on Tuchanka?"
"So far. He's agreed to a meeting with the turians and salarians, but … I think the price is going to be high."
"Find a way to pay it. We need them, Shepard."
"I know. How are things down there?"
"Not so hard to get people working together when it's join or die." He sighed. "We're putting up a fight, trying to protect the people, and running when that's all we can do."
"Keep yourself safe. We need you down there."
"Will do." He cleared his throat. "I got a partial report from Hackett that said you'd been at Grissom Academy."
Shepard smiled to herself. So that's why he had managed to get a channel open. "Yes. We got most of the remaining kids safely off the station—and out of Cerberus hands."
"The report didn't mention …"
"Kahlee Sanders says she's looking forward to seeing you when this is over, so don't do anything stupid."
Anderson laughed. "She would. Glad to hear she made it."
"We couldn't have done it without her."
Anderson glanced sharply over his shoulder. "Looks like my time's up. If you see Kahlee …"
"I'll tell her. Take care of yourself."
"You, too—"
And then he was gone. Shepard stood for a moment looking at the empty space where his hologram had been, worrying. But there was no time to waste in wondering about other people's tasks. She had her own ahead of her, and they weren't going to be easy.