Mordin rocked on his heels, nervous - though, considering the current state, that wasn't saying much, as the same could be said of the rest of the crew.

"Move! Move!" Shepard's voice came over the Normandy comms, and Mordin heard Garrus grunt with effort. "Get going!"

"I am!" Garrus snapped back, and there was a whoop from Jack. "Come on!"

"Right behind you!"

"Haven't used weapon yet," he muttered, mostly to himself. "Mass effect fields tested, verified - additional safeguards loaded, tested, generates gravitational field - "

"Do you have to do that?"

Mordin glanced at Joker. "Hm?"

"Talk out loud. It's, like, all you do. Do you ever think quietly?"

Mordin regarded him mildly. "Yes."

"Then do it."

"Please forgive Mr. Moreau. He is worried."

"Shut up," Joker muttered to EDI, though he didn't deny it.

"Run me through this again," Jacob said, leaning against the bulkhead leading to the cockpit. "This weapon is supposed to make a black hole?"

"Micro black holes," Mordin said absentmindedly. "Got idea from discussion with Jack."

"Jack?" Jacob asked incredulously.

"Shoots charged element zero to create momentary cluster of micro black holes. Micro black holes naturally destabilize and collapse, though rapidly increasing gravity can shred tissues and cause damage to major organs on contact and disintegrating corpses - "

"Okay, ew, stop, I've had enough," Joker said loudly.

Jacob ignored him. "So it's like a… biotics black hole gun."

"No actual biotics. But yes." Mordin crossed his arms and hung one hand on the armored band across his chest, tapping it idly. "Hasn't used it yet. Worried won't work? No, trusts my work. Has said so. Only making trouble for herself - unless thinks she needs to use it strategically?"

"You're talking out loud again," Joker said dully.

"We're all nervous, Joker," Miranda reprimanded. "Let the man talk."

"Not if he starts going on about disintegrating corpses - "

"That was only to answer a question - "

"Look, I don't want to hear it, it's gross, it's horrible to think about, and - "

"Weapon," Mordin said quietly.

" - and it's honestly a borderline weapon of mass destruction! Just imagine if he'd accidentally fired that thing in here!"

"He didn't, though," Miranda said forcefully, "because he is on our side. Right, Mordin?"

"Weapon," he repeated.

"What?" Joker turned his seat to stare at him.

Mordin pointed to the comm speaker. "Weapon."

" - had better work," Shepard was saying. "We're pinned down and there's a ton coming at us. Garrus, I want you near the back. Pick off any that stray from the main pack. Jack, do what you want, but keep out of the main corridor. I don't want any accidents with this thing."

"Yes, Commander," Garrus replied.

"Okay. Let's see what this baby can do."

Mordin heard the telltale thundering noise that the new weapon made as it built in charge.

"I thought you said this thing was a biotics gun, not electric," Jacob noted.

"Electric charge required to create mass effect field. Static field also generated inside projectile to ensure gravitational effect."

"Stand clear," came Shepard's command, and the gunfire increased, along with the husks' groaning; after a few seconds, though, the noise the weapon's detonation made over the comms was so loud it made the sound level seem glitchy. As the noise died down, the Normandy crew could hear the ground crew's panting breaths.

"Holy shit," Garrus said slowly.

"You sure we're safe from that thing?" Jack asked warily.

"Mordin said we should be fine - it should have collapsed, and our shields protect against the radiation."

"What happened?" Jacob asked, his brow furrowed.

Mordin listened. "Worked," he stated.

"How do you know?"

"Listen." Mordin pointed to the comm speaker. "Hear husks?"

"Well… no. Huh." Jacob whistled. "You think that took out an entire room of husks?"

"Normandy to shore party," Joker called. "Shore party. You there?"

"We read you, Normandy," Shepard said. "Everything all right?"

"You've got a bunch of nervous Nellies up here wondering about that new gun."

Shepard paused. "It, uh… it worked, all right. It's a little unsettling, though."

"Likely," Mordin mused, one hand to his chin. "Shredding, disintegration of humanoid creatures - chilling to watch, even enemies."

"Shut up," Joker muttered. "Shore party, I'm picking up more signatures. Shepard, you need to get that Reaper core offline now."

"On it," Shepard answered immediately, and there was another smattering of gunfire. "We'll get this core offline, then you meet us and we'll get this geth and the IFF onto the Normandy."

"Good luck." Joker let the line volume die down to an audible, but not distracting, level, then turned his chair once again to face the small group gathered near the cockpit. "Somebody's got to be near the airlock when we grab them. Volunteers?"

Jacob raised his hand, along with Miranda; Mordin merely kept his arms crossed, still thinking.

"'Kay. You two stay near the airlock. I'll tell you when it's equalized once Shepard and the squad are in." He rounded on Mordin. "And you."

Mordin raised one brow. "Yes?"

"Quit hovering over my shoulder. I've got work to do." With that, Joker spun his chair around and began typing.

Mordin glanced at the back of Joker's head, slightly surprised at the dismissal, but not surprised at the brisk tone. "Very well." He turned to leave.

He made it halfway down the corridor when Kelly approached.

"Professor Solus!"

He paused for a fraction of a second, debating how to approach the situation, and settled on cordial. "Ms. Chambers."

"Please, call me Kelly."

Ah. That was a problem right from the start. Refuse, and he came across stiff and formal; agree or offer the same in turn, too casual. Instead, he gave a slight incline of the head - noncommittal enough.

She paused, eyes searching, then nodded with a tiny smile. "Mind if we talk?"

"Bit busy," he admitted, stepping to one side; she let him step around her. "Upgrades. Research. Doesn't stop with new gun."

"Of course not," she said smoothly, hurrying after him. "I only have a few questions, if you don't mind."

Again - refuse, and he came off as stiff or noncompliant, though if he agreed, he was stuck answering potentially prodding questions. Another slight incline of his head; she took that as permission, though, and lengthened her stride to keep up.

"I just wanted to check in with you - see how you're doing and all that," she said conversationally as they walked into the tech lab. "No prodding - I promise. I just want to get your perspective, and - well, you seem like the sort who appreciates an up-front approach." She stood with her hands loosely clasped behind her back. "You know I'm a psychologist - it's partly my job, but partly my passion, to make sure people are okay. I wanted to give you some space, but I want you to know I'm available. Also, I can pass along any concerns you have without giving away your identity - so, anonymously, that is."

Mordin paused from picking up his display from his work table. "Anonymous concerns. Indicates implied lack of communication between team. Potential tension? Ah." He scooped the display up and turned. "Shepard."

Kelly winced, but didn't miss a beat. "It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see you two aren't on good terms right now."

"No, suppose not," he mused. "Fine, though. Teamwork preserved. Still able to work."

"That's not the only thing I'm worried about." She took a step further up to the work table. "I won't prod into private friendships - that wouldn't be ethical - but if you two need anything, I'm here."

"Couples' counseling?" he asked with a wry smile, and she let out a startled laugh.

"Not quite - but she is your CO. If there's something you want brought up, and you don't feel comfortable with it, you can let me know and I'll pass it along without identifying you." She shrugged. "The arrangement works. Not everyone is comfortable criticizing a commanding officer - or a friend."

"Fine," he repeated smoothly, tapping the display. "Will talk to Shepard myself."

Kelly shrugged again. "If you wish. I just want to let you know I'm here."

Mordin inclined his head yet again, turning away and pulling up experiment logs.

Kelly didn't leave.

After a minute or so, Mordin turned back to her. "Can I help?" he asked mildly.

"That wasn't the only thing I wanted to talk about," she admitted. "One more thing."

Ah, here it was. The inevitable 'pipe incident' discussion. "Yes?" he asked, apprehensive.

"The mission - the one that went a bit awry." That was putting it lightly, he thought, and Kelly continued talking. "I know we haven't talked much - but I just want you to know I'm here for you about that, too." She paused to take a breath. "If you ever want to talk about it. Like I said, I want to give you the space you need, but I'm also available if you need."

Mordin paused - the offer seemed genuine - although, he reflected, unnecessary. He'd had a few snags, but he was able to think about the event objectively. The initial shock had died down, he felt reasonably confident reviewing it mentally - he had diligently worked to file it away neatly in his mind, organized, carefully slotted into its own sealed box.

Kelly frowned, her fingers making small tap tap noises behind her back. "Professor?"

Mordin nodded quickly. "Yes. Appreciate offer. Will let you know."

Kelly's brow furrowed ever so slightly, but she continued. "My job is to make sure everyone on the crew is all right. You've been through a lot - it's okay if you want or need to talk."

He bobbed his head again. "Will let you know."

She hesitated for a split second - then nodded. "I'm here if you need me."

"Appreciate it."

She hesitated again, as if she wanted to say something else, but seemed to decide better of it and turned to leave. "You know where to find me."

Mordin turned his attention back to his display. "Appreciate it."

"Bye, Professor," she said, and left.

That went better than expected, he reflected as he held the display up to the light, examining a series of charts. His husk prevention idea was the next on the list to test. His discussions with Padok had given him plenty of ideas, and it was time for a full experiment.

Leaning forward, he tapped a button on the display on his desk. "Karin?"

Dr. Chakwas' voice came through the comm, sounding a little harried. "Yes?"

"Available time to help test enzyme response?"

"Not right now, Mordin, the squad isn't even back on the Normandy yet." There was a clatter that sounded like she'd dumped a handful of equipment onto sheet metal. "Tonight?"

"Know not right now," he noted. "Tonight. Will see you later."

"So, walk me through this again. You're using pineapple?"

Mordin's mouth twitched in the hint of a grin. "Protease. Husk enzyme similar to bromelain, but much stronger; additional catalysts present. Good comparison."

"I'll give you points for ingenuity," Dr. Chakwas admitted dryly, sitting down. "So what do you need me to do?"

"Eat pineapple." Mordin deposited a container of neatly-sliced pineapple on her desk, along with a plastic bag filled with toothpicks.

"That's it?"

He raised his arm, revealing a patch of gauze taped to his forearm. "Gave self enzyme inhibitor. Need to compare reaction. Will warn," he said with a grin she couldn't quite place, "laced with additional catalysts. Will make mouth sore."

"All in the name of good science," she murmured good-naturedly, taking the container of pineapple and setting it in her lap. "Are you sure about this, yourself?"

"May have sore tongue for a while. Don't mind."

Dr. Chakwas shook her head, regarding him with a mix of amusement and curiosity. "Odd as ever, you are."

"Wait - " Mordin reached out and placed his hand on top of the lid, using the grippy pads on his fingers to lift the lid off, then took a pineapple chunk and examined it. He took a small sample of it with a pair of tweezers, then dropped the sample into a waiting dish, and popped the rest of it in his mouth. "Mm."

She yelped. "You're corrupting the results!" She slapped his hand away lightly, holding the pineapple away from him, and he snorted and held up a mid-sized vial.

"Prepared for that."

"Mouthwash?"

"Of a sort." He popped the seal on the vial and carefully poured a small amount into two paper cups. "Ready?"

Dr. Chakwas sighed and gave a rueful grin. "I'm going to be eating soup for days, aren't I," she mused, taking the paper cup. Mordin gave her another curious smile and drained his own cup, swishing it around his mouth, then spat it back out into the cup. Dr. Chakwas did the same.

"Pineapple?" he offered.

"Don't mind if I do." Dr. Chakwas stabbed the first chunk of pineapple with a toothpick and popped it into her mouth. "There's worse experiments you could've asked me to do than eat pineapple."

"Don't speak so soon," Mordin mused, filling a dropper with a dark, greenish liquid from another vial. "Hold this?"

She took the offered dropper carefully, and he sealed the vial again, then arranged gauze, water, and a small container filled with what looked like sugar granules on the table next to him. "Be careful with this."

"Of course," he said lightly, taking the dropper back. "Mm… hm."

"Why are we testing this on tongues, again?" she asked conversationally, taking another piece of pineapple.

Mordin held up a finger, his own tongue stuck out of his mouth, and delicately placed a single drop of the green liquid on it. Instantly, his face scrunched up.

"Mordin?"

"Mmmm," he said, still sticking his tongue out, and she leaned forward, worried, but he held up a hand, letting the green liquid settle, then swiped the gauze over it quickly, wiping the remainder of the liquid off. "Sour," he whined once he'd gotten his tongue back in his mouth.

Dr. Chakwas laughed, sitting back. "Must've been quite so to result in that face."

"Sour," he muttered again, glaring at the vial with the offending green liquid in it as Dr. Chakwas took another piece of pineapple. "Tongues soft tissue; easy to observe, even with natural enzymes present, given preparations." He indicated the mouthwash cups.

"How long is the latency time on this one?" she asked around the mouthful of fruit. "The husks take - what, an hour? Few hours?"

"Unsure. Some seem to take hours, some take minutes." He winced, and she could barely make out his tongue flicking against the roof of his mouth behind his teeth. "Still sour."

"Mm, pineapple," she said with relish, and grinned as he made a face.

"Could've switched," he muttered, and continued flicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth. "Ow."

"No, no," she said, taking another piece of pineapple. "This is your endeavor. I'm just helping." She paused. "Is it hurting?"

"Slightly." He leaned back, still wiggling his tongue inside his mouth as the tip began to sting. "Watch something?"

"Oh, I've been dying to watch Annie," she said, once more eating another piece of pineapple. "Do I need to eat all of this?"

Mordin nodded. "Within half-hour, preferably."

"Good to know." She chewed, then gestured to his omni-tool. "Want to put the movie on?"

"Certainly." A few gestures, and the display laying on the desk, propped up against the wall, lit up. "Heard any word from Shepard?"

"No. This was supposed to be a standard run, though."

"Standard run," he muttered, though gave a nod. "Should be back soon."

"All very well." Dr. Chakwas sat back, continuing to eat the pineapple. "Where did you get this? I haven't had pineapple in ages."

Mordin gave a light shrug. "Sgt. Gardner."

"He gave you pineapple?"

Mordin hesitated. "'Gave' strong word."

"You stole pineapple," she accused him, pointing at him with her toothpick. "Mordin Solus, you gave me stolen pineapple."

"Not stolen!" he piped. "Available with other snacks."

"Pineapple isn't standard rations, though." Despite her mock indignance, she continued to eat. "You stole me pineapple." After a moment, she gave him a smile. "The effort does not go unappreciated, though."

Mordin inclined his head as the movie began to play.

"Will you sing along with this one as well?" Dr. Chakwas asked, idly waving a piece of pineapple back and forth on a toothpick.

"Might. If you don't mind."

"Not at all. Depending on the song, I might join in."

He looked at her, interested. "Which song?"

"Tomorrow. What can I say? It's a classic."

Mordin hummed in agreement. "Finish pineapple, though."

"Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya, tomorrow, you're always a day away!"

Dr. Chakwas laughed, clapping. "Oh, I haven't sang that since I was a little girl!"

Mordin leaned back in his chair, grinning. "Sing well."

"Oh, you'd say so, wouldn't you," she accused lightly, crossing her legs and bouncing one foot. "I have to say, that is probably one of my favorite songs."

"Really?" Mordin asked mildly. "Good one."

"I know you prefer the faster ones," she commented, eyeing the screen absently. "I'll admit, I've tried to keep up with that one song you sing - the scientist salarian one." She shook her head. "I can't do it."

"Some verses even faster." His eyes twinkled.

"Well, bloody great for you," she said wryly, and he grinned again, then she winced. "Ow."

"Tongue sore?"

She stuck a finger in her mouth, then furrowed her brow. "Am I bleeding?"

"Possibly."

She grimaced. "You could've warned me that would be a side effect."

"Also a hazard in eating regular pineapple," he noted.

"You're joking." She paused. "No, wait - bromelain. I suppose that would do it."

"Now," he said briskly, standing and brushing his lab coat off. "Unpleasant bit."

"Unpleasant bit?" she echoed. "As if an aching mouth wasn't bad enough? Oh, dear." Mordin had turned around with a scalpel. "You could've warned me about this, too."

Mordin paused, then gave a sort of half-shrug. "Can refuse."

She sighed, legs crossed, one foot still bouncing. "Oh, go ahead," she murmured, running her tongue over her teeth. "Do you need lidocaine?"

"Do you?"

"How much of a sample do you need?"

Mordin tilted his head to the side. "Mostly scraped cells. Could use swab."

"Nah, then." She tossed her hair out of her face, then stood, approaching a set of cabinets at the side of the room and rummaging around. "Here. Will this help?" She offered him two sets of forceps.

"Ah, yes." He accepted the equipment, and with steady hands, took the tip of his own tongue.

"Do you want me to do that?" she asked, eyeing him warily as she sat down, and he went to shake his head awkwardly.

"Mno."

"If you say so."

Mordin paused, then quickly swiped the scalpel blade across his tongue - not slicing, but the scrape of metal caused him to wince. Once done, he quickly deposited the gathered cells in a waiting dish. "All done."

"My turn," she murmured, grimacing again, watching Mordin swap out scalpels and forceps. At his indication, she stuck her own tongue out, and he quickly collected the cells. "At least you're fast at that," she remarked once he was done, running her tongue over her teeth again.

"Thank you. Hm - enzyme inhibitor, need to observe quickly…" He glanced at the screen, then back to the sample dishes.

"We can finish the movie later," she assured him, but he shrugged.

"Would like to accompany me to lab?" he proposed.

She raised her eyebrows. "And finish watching up there?"

"Have to keep an eye on experiment. Would like to finish watching. Have extra chairs, cot if needed."

She gave him a smile. "Thought of everything, haven't you."

He shrugged. "Last-minute idea. Wasn't sure if film would be over by time experiment finished."

"All right, then," she murmured, standing and brushing her lab coat off. "Let me help you clean up, at least." At Mordin's nod, she began to collect the used equipment, leaving the sample dishes where they were. "How long do you think it'll take to create an actual counter-measure?"

Mordin shrugged, tossing the disposable equipment into the hazard bin. "Hard to say. Enzyme inhibitor technically done - need to do full-spectrum test after this." He winced.

"Full-spectrum test," she repeated. "That means a full-body, actual-toxins-used test, doesn't it."

He didn't answer right away, instead rubbing his wrist idly. "Yes," he finally replied.

She sighed, but didn't recoil. "So long as you don't do it on your own," she murmured, her tone soft but stern.

He inclined his head. "Of course not."

"Of course not," she repeated, shaking her head. "My, Mordin. You'd be doing this on your own if it weren't for me, anyway, wouldn't you."

He avoided her gaze. "Need to test efficacy."

"You need help with these, and you know it," she admonished. "We've been over this."

"Yes, yes," he muttered as he wiped down the desk. "Accept help. Valuable input. Trust professional opinion."

"Good," she said, shutting the cabinet doors. "Are you all set, then?"

He finished wiping down the table, then tossed the rag into the dirtied linens bin and took a bit of hand sanitizer, rubbing it in thoroughly. "Yes."

"Let's get these upstairs, then," she remarked, gathering up the sample dishes, and Mordin nodded. "Lead the way, Professor."

Author's Note: Fun fact, the bromelain in pineapple WILL make your mouth bleed. I know this from experience.