"You what?"

She had stopped in her tracks when she heard me.

"I want to be on 'Shadow Team' Shepard. You've seen me in the field. A straight firefight isn't really my specialty. I'd only slow them down." While technically true, this was only partly the reason why I was currently dead set on accompanying them. Just phase one of the grand master plan.

She had simply cast me her patented Shepard glare across the garage in response.

"If you still don't trust me, wouldn't it be better to have me by your side? And I've looked over the Salarian's reconnaissance of the place extensively since I arrived. I know the base's layout by heart. It makes sense to have someone familiar with it leading you through. If you don't, we might not make it to the dropzone in time."

"Shield if you try anything-"

"Yeah, yeah, you'll kill me where I stand, it's my last chance, I got it alright. But this is it Shepard. We can take Saren down here...if you want to catch him...let me come with you."

"...then you'll be taking point."

Droplets of water quickly slid down my visor one after another, visibility practically nil as rain obscured the riverbed around me. Continuing my trek alone through the channel, I made sure to keep my firearm level with my eyes. I had lost Garrus and Liara just moments ago, when we had run into another Geth patrol. And I was not comfortable with splitting up like Garrus had originally suggested. Though by the time I had objected, both were already gone-

"Wha...Wrex?"

When he turned around, I realized my mistake. Wrex was not fond of helmets, Wrex's head plate was not green, and Wrex was surely still at the Fuel Depot with Tali and Shepard. No, this was not Wrex. This was just a regular Krogan. Silly me.

I immediately began to sprint for a rock formation jutting out of the water to my left before I felt a shotgun round hit my back, sending me skidding into the stream. And-

-Adrenaline Rush-

-worked as it had in the fights since this morning, slowing everything to a sepia still around me. I clamored to my feet as my helmet's HUD displayed my shields at less than half capacity, and after darting forward on my fours, made another dive for the rocks.

Which exploded from a carnage blast that shot right over my shoulder. Pieces of debris ricochet off me as I fell again to a thud, realizing the ability was already coming down. Though it worked...it was shorter than usual. Which I took was from repeated use.

Adrenaline Rush.

I flipped myself over, leveling my Harp-Predator with his face and immediately fired it into the Krogan. He laughed in response, still holding his weapon in my direction, slowly letting loose his own volley as four of my own were exchanged with it. That second shotgun blast finished what the first one had started, coincidentally coinciding with my Rush ending once again. And with that second shot grouping, my shields dropped to zero and caused my body to recoil as the kinetic barrier of my armor shattered. But just my four shots had done the same to his.

I was able to blink once before a streak of light flashed before my eyes, lightning striking overhead again. Instead of killing me like I thought he would however, the Krogan was now oddly grabbing at his helmet. Eventually succeeding in wringing it off, he tossed the thing that I noticed now had a large round lodged in its eyehole aside. And I took that as my cue.

OMNIBLADE!

In just a few short strides, I had closed the gap and planted my blade right into the distracted Krogan's chest, causing him to gasp for air. I immediately pushed off as he recovered quicker than I thought, face twisted in rage. Within a split second, a second gunshot rung out, pounding the Krogan's chest just inches away from my own inflicted wound. With that, the alien stumbled backwards before falling onto its hump, slumped over, storm pouring over its still corpse.

And after watching it for a while to be sure, I turned around to the Turian sniper a couple dozen yards away, slowly getting up from where he had been kneeling.

"...I owe ya one Vakarian!"

"Three! But who's countinSHIELD WATCH OUT!"

I immediately pivoted, finding a corpse's claw wrapping itself around my neck. My gun was knocked from my hand as the Krogan next hoisted me two feet off the ground by the throat. Summoning my omniblade in response, the Krogan opted to grab my right arm with his remaining free claw. Steam flew off my orange weapon as rain pelted it, with the Krogan's armored glove doing the same as the blade began to melt it. But he was apparently focused on something other than his burning flesh at the moment. While shards of the Krogan's helmet were blinding his right eye, the other was clearly dead set on still crushing my windpipe.

But that was stupid because as my eyes were being squeezed from their sockets and his attention was distracted, I snaked my free left hand to the military talon and pulled it from its sheath to-

To let it subsequently fly out of my hand as I was unable to properly grip it.

Damn that missing finger. Damn the slippery rain. Damn this Krogan.

"KORBAL!"

"Gar...rus..."

As the Krogan shouted, Vakarian suddenly came on over my comm. "Don't move Shield! I'm taking the shot."

"Nu...drn...ghrkplhf-"

A bright flash blinded my eyes as something impacted the Krogan once again. His claws were immediately ripped from my throat as a harsh force pulled us apart. The ventilated air in my helmet now filling my lungs was a quite welcome change I must tell you. Next finding myself floating sideways, glowing purple, watching on in awe as the singularity below me decided to make gravity its bitch in comparison was more...eh.

Still, I didn't let it distract me. Freed, I quickly went for the lancer I remembered was still attached to my back, unfolded it, and then began contributing to the gunfire now targeting the helpless Krogan, yelling in the air upside down across from me. And not moments later, both of our bodies collapsed to the ground rather harshly. Though only one of us got up afterwards.

My suit whirred quickly as its kinetic barriers came back up in synchronization.

"Shield, are you alright?"

Still coughing, I held my hand up to Liara as she pulled me to my feet.

"...thanks...hrck...Liara."

"You are welcome. I am simply glad to have arrived when I did. I fear to imagine what would have happened had I not..."

"I just want you all to know that I had a clean shot."

"Shut up Garr-ack."

Damn my throat felt like shit.

Then Liara's eyes grew wide with the action. "Shield!"

For a second, I thought she was over-concerned about my damaged windpipe.

Then I realized she was staring at the Krogan getting back on his feet again.

"What the fu-"

A warp immediately hit the Krogan, rending his repairing shields, while I decided to resume firing my Lancer. As the alien immediately lowered his head to charge, in response to the pellets bouncing off his armor, the whole thing suddenly blew apart before my very eyes. Orange blood violently splattered across my visor, though my vision was quickly cleared by the deluge still falling atop my head.

"...I'm dead seriou-grck. I'm going back to the ship if he gets up again."

Because dear lord, that was straight bullshit. It's not even fair how OP Krogans are. How the hell did they ever lose thier war-

"Fortunately for the rest of us, unlike their hearts or lungs, Krogan only have one head."

"Just glad I wasn't around for the Rebellions," I added coughing, cautiously bending over to pick up my dropped belongings as I stared at the 'corpse'. "Fucking Krogans."

"With all these defenses and men though, Saren must be hiding something big," Garrus opined as Liara and I began approaching him.

"Something of even greater importance than a cure to the Genophage?" Liara asked in disbelief.

"I know but...just call it a gut feeling, because I can't help but feel like there might be more here than meets the eye."

Damn that's some good intuition Garrus. Everyone ready to witness some twisted indoctrination experiments? I know I wasn't-

"Despite my previous comment...I do find myself agreeing with you Garrus. There is something foul in the air here."

...because now that they mention it...I am feeling a bit uneasy myself. If things didn't go how-DAMMIT.

Focus!

Don't get psyched out now you idiot. You got a job to do.

Focus!

"Shepard is probably already making her way to the facility guys. Might be waiting for us. We should get going too."

"Right. Lead the way Shield."

"Air threat has not rematerialized!" We all immediately put our hands to our helmets as our comms came on with Kirrahe's voice. "We may be getting some help from Shadow!"

"Looks like Shepard was able to find that refueling station."

Garrus' voice quickly disappeared in my helmet as a bolt of lightning shot across the sky, the sound of thunder accompanying it moments later, shaking the very ground we walked.

The storm was getting worse.

"Taking the facility will not be easy, but I am sure we will succeed."

The optimism of their Prothean scientist then was only matched by Shield's.

"Oh I promise you we will T'Soni. You can take that to the bank."

"...take what to the bank?"

"Comm check. Do you read me Commander?"

Captain Kirrahe's voice had come over their radio next, clearly intelligible despite the vast amount of rain and wind coming from the typhoon above. Their visibility on the other hand was greatly hampered.

"Loud and clear."

"Good. We'll start our push. We'll try to make it to the AA guns, but it might be up to you to finish the job. And Commander, if you see any way to undermine their defenses, we could definitely use the help."

"It won't be an easy fight, but we're ready when you are Commander."

"Same for me Commander!"

Ashley and Emerson's remarks had then been followed by Kaidan's still on the ship.

"Whatever you need Commander, the Normandy will be right behind you every step of the way."

"Roger that everyone. Go in loud and get out safe. Alright, let's move!"

"These Geth won't know what them!" Fredericks had cried last as the firefight began.

Lightning illuminated the dark sky overhead as Shepard shot out her arm at the Geth, flinging it into the canyon wall with a biotic blast of energy resulting from said action. The series of events felt like they had all just happened moments ago...but in reality it must have been hours. The grueling march into Saren's facility for just 'Shadow' team alone had been hampered every step of the way.

She turned around without pause, and as her eyes went wide, immediately ignited a biotic barrier. The rocket hit her a split second later, causing the Commander to fly backwards. Recklessly using her biotics had been careless of her. And she only gnashed her teeth in response. She couldn't afford mistakes now. As the Geth reloaded its launcher and began to raise its ordinance again, she kicked back off the ground and released another biotic blast, flinging the synthetic backwards this time. Backwards into the fuel depot behind it. The entire tank exploded spectacularly as a result, a bloom of fire erupting forth before being quickly drenched by the torrent of water still coming down.

Her shields whirred again as she dived behind rubble on her right, dodging the Geth fliers coming back around to strafe her. Then the dark sky suddenly lit up red in her visor as her sensors picked up new hostile movement. She whipped around in response, flinging a warp at the thing apparently closing in behind her. The Geth Hunter was staggered by her biotics before suddenly being bulldozed by a Krogan Battlemaster not a moment later.

Wrex then finished it, blasting the Geth over the side of the platform with his shotgun.

After that, the two turned toward the Geth fliers already coming back around for another volley overhead.

Glowing violet as she turned to face them-

She found to her surprise they had come to a complete stop, and after floating still, now began to direct their fire at the last remaining fuel depot. Her eyes turned back to where she thought their Quarian was hiding having connected the dots, realizing that Tali had finally finished her attempt at hacking the drones. The fuel depot shook the platform they were on as it exploded in a spectacular fashion too.

An overload then sent one of the captured drones plummeting to the ground, with the other quickly shot down with a carnage blast.

"Looks like you've been practicing with that shotgun Nar Rayya! I hope you've been using that fast-reload trick I showed you."

The Quarian casually walked around the barrier she had been taking cover behind, deigning to respond to Wrex over their unit's radio.

"The one where I just switch guns?"

"Thatta girl. Because the only thing better than one shotgun-"

"-is two. Yes I remember. Sadly enough."

The sound of thunder suddenly shook the platform they were on again, masking the voice of Kirrahe that popped into her helmet around the same time. The dark clouds blotting out the sky, the torrent of rain coming down on them, the little amount of progress they were making...she had already resolved.

None of it would stop this mission.

"Come on you two. We still need to meet back up with the rest of Shadow. They'll be waiting for us."

"Roger," Tali replied.

"Let's just hope those Salarians can hold up until then."

"Now, normally I wouldn't think much of Salarians in a fire-fight...but these soldiers are well trained. It won't make getting through this facility any easier."

"They're only fighting hard because they're willing to die for Saren," Tali was the first to reply to Garrus. "...and I am willing to oblige them."

"Quiet you two, cut the chatter."

Lieutenant Ganto Imness. One of Kirrahe's captured men. And the control group for Saren's recently revealed studies on Indoctrination. Thankfully something being taken very seriously by the team now. Since the first time they had heard about it on Noveria anyway.

"The Captain did mention he lost some men," Liara said, crediting his words.

So, this was door that had led down to those Indoctrinated Salarians huh?

Then that would mean the elevator-

"Give them a little ground Aegohr. We don't want them to bunker-up. Draw them out."

"You heard the Captain," Ashley's distorted voice followed over the radio, accompanied by rain and gunfire. "Let's head for rally point zeta!"

"...I'm opening your cell," Shepard finally said relenting as she heard the transmission, realizing that time was wasting. "Your Captain is being exfiltrated on the opposite side of this facility. So, you're with us. But if you try anything, don't think I won't hesitate to shoot."

"Thank you, Commander," the Salarian commando simply responded. "A chance at all is better than none. This is more than I had ever hoped for after being captured." Ganto expertly caught the pistol Garrus tossed him. "I won't waste it."

"Team, move out!"

The seven operatives now making up one of the most culturally diverse strike forces in the Traverse left the basement, climbing back up the stairs to the main corridor. I then affirmed that the elevator up ahead was the way we needed to go. Maybe. Saren's facility wasn't exactly the same as I remembered it...but it wasn't exactly a maze either. And we didn't have time to waste speaking to more indoctrinated Salarians or on looting crates. I had to trust I remembered the correct path to take.

Anyway, as we packed in, I made sure to get Wrex's attention, holding up one finger. And an almost sinister grin plastered his face in response to our pre-planned signal.

We were close now.

This was it.

"Intruders! Get the guards!"

An Asari scientist yelled out across the room as what must have been a dozen husks were suddenly released from stasis. All happening the instant I had stepped foot out of the elevator of course.

Having already cleared out, a series of biotic flashes from our team flung nearly all of the zombies backwards as we non-biotics opted just to open fire. Most of the things, along with the Asari scientist, were immediately shredded by the great barrage of gunfire we unleashed upon them. With half the computers in the room going down in a blaze of glory too. And after this, the remainder of husks left moving after this initial onslaught were simply no challenge at all. Just like that, the room had been cleared in minutes. And I now truly fathomed why Bioware limited you to only two squadmates.

"Move!"

As Shepard moved to the fore, hurrying through the destroyed lab, closely followed by Garrus and Liara, covered by Ganto and Tali...

Wrex and I opted to stay back, near the rear. Because I knew this was the place that would have it. It was the Krogan lab of the Krogan scientist doing the Krogan research for god's sake. If there was a cure...it would be here. And as Wrex gave me a hard glance, I began to recite the speech in my head I'd use to convince the rest of 'Shadow' to advance without us. Because giving us-

"What is going on here? Where are the guards? Where is Saren?!"

All seven team members turned back toward the ruby-crested Krogan clad in civilian wear that had just stepped out of the elevator we had exited moments ago, two Geth standing at his side.

Wrex was the first to reply.

"...Droyas? What the hell are you doing here?"

"What...runt? Is that you?"

This...this was it. This moment was exactly what I had wanted.

I immediately spun back around to the five others training their sights on the two Krogan behind me, thrusting my hand toward the exit.

"SHEPARD, GO! We can't waste any more time here! We'll cover you!"

In turn, Shepard stared at me harshly, probably because I just had the gall of telling her to do something. But-

"Shadow team, move!"

I blinked once before Shepard already had her back to me, motioning for the others to follow her out as they exited the lab. For we really were on a time table. People would die the longer we took. And thankfully, I wouldn't be needed to guide them as there should be only one path to take outside this room, so it's not like they'd get lost on the way to finding the last Beacon or Saren.

I had truly just been given the opportunity I wanted. And I intended for things to go off without a hitch.

But...something else required my attention before I could use it.

"You know this guy Wrex?!"

"I know him from my days back on Tuchanka. He was an old, senile member of Clan Urdnot, ignored by most," Wrex replied through a snarl.

"Is that all you have to say of me runt? Truly? I remember you as a small creature of few words but...I expected more from the whelp who owes me his life," the Krogan I only knew as Doctor Droyas replied in a smooth baritone voice.

"I don't owe you shit," Wrex snapped back. "And if you hadn't noticed, I'm no runt you old fool. I'm twice your size."

The simple NPC I once thought I knew simply scoffed in turn. "It does not matter how large you grow or where in the stars you hide Wrex. I'll always remember the runt who came squealing like a babe to me in the middle of the night." The Krogan took several steps closer to Wrex from the elevator. "So, what do I owe the pleasure for this visit runt? Did you hear of what I accomplished while wasting away your life as a mercenary in the Terminus? Hear of what I, Urdnot Droyas, ALONE accomplished for our people?!"

"Don't tell me you're responsible for this," Wrex cursed, gesturing to a half-formed Krogan in a tank to our right.

The sight of the unsightly Krogan snapped me back to why I was here. I then immediately began glancing at the array of shot up computers throughout the room, utterly annihilated by our trigger-happy team earlier.

An 'oh shit' didn't fail to escape my lips.

"That is the glorious salvation of our people runt! The cure to the Genophage will-"

"Will enslave our people to Saren!" Wrex immediately roared. "You always talked about the Krogan people once being free. Free of other's influences. That the Krogan people needed to escape from the shackles that others had bound us with. Escape so that we could all be free! And yet here you are, shackling our very people to another's idiocy again!"

THERE. One unmarred console that just so happened to be next to the creepy, half-formed Krogan body that I had just been scarred by. Great. I made sure to swipe a key card off the dead Asari near me as I quickly made my way to the computer, tapping it against what I assumed was the sensor to unlock it.

This Galaxy was about to get topsy-turvy. For twas I, Marauder Shield, that would cure-

"Idiocy?" The Krogan doctor laughed loudly, distracting me. "Saren is the one who freed us runt. His research from Binary Helix has given me the tools we need to reclaim our destiny. To take back the stars for ourselves. Once he and his Geth obliterate the Council, the Krogan will once again rule-"

"You said that the Krogan needed to move on! That focusing on the past and war was the very thing destroying our people!"

And as the console flickered on from the touch of the keycard, I soon realized my mistake.

For I still had no idea on how to fucking operate tech in the 22nd century. Without it synced to my thoughts anyways.

Hm.

I tapped what I assumed was the start menu.

I assumed wrong.

The Krogan now laughed like a mad scientist. "You are still young runt. Naïve. I admit it took me longer than most to see the truth...but you should know by now that the Krogan people only know of one thing. War."

I started tapping away wildly.

"You're an old fool."

"And you're here to betray your own people, aren't you? You would condemn your own race to extinction...simply because you do not understand your own people...your own culture! You never have, because you have always stood alone runt, even when you were Chief...or maybe you're just doing this because you're just a varren on a leash for that Human Spectre now."

Was this-

A series of what looked like folders suddenly appeared one by one on the screen.

Hm.

I turned on my omni-tool and immediately began transferring them.

I then stopped the download when I found that my still shitty omni-tool would take about twenty minutes to do so.

"No, in the end, I'll be the one saving our people you senile, old fool. And you'll be dead."

A sudden roar erupted in the room as shotgun blasts and gunfire began to be exchanged.

Deciding it would be better just to pick the cure alone, I began translating the symbols over each folder I saw, stopping to download a file every time I thought I saw something good.

"WAAARGH!"

The ground shook as something heavy sailed across the room and hit the floor. I decided to ignore it.

Now...Krogan Specimen #08%-D which was also the only bolded specimen folder I had come across so far sounded promising. But so did Droyas-Corr AA. Two A's on a report card were always good so that seemed like a good omen. As did Iallis-Rep013. Because it sounded fancy. And even Binary Helix Krogan Prelim Report X-R, which sounded like a preliminary report done by Binary Helix for the Krogan...X-R.

"You will...wait. What is- NO! Stay back! That is important work! That is the glorious SALVATION of my people!"

I couldn't say I didn't flinch as a carnage shot suddenly exploded the tank next to me, nor when chunks of the Krogan inside splatter across my visor as it did.

"You will not end the work I started!"

BLAM.

"No, we'll just be ending you."

"SHUT UP AND DIE!"

I couldn't help but flinch as a loud explosion occurred behind me.

"You first!"

BAM.

But I'm sure Wrex could handle it.

WHAM.

Continuing my search, I looked specifically now for keywords such as Genophage, Cure, and No More Dead Babies. Which all resulted in nadda. Nothing as overt as CURE FOR DA GENOPHAGE OVER HERE sadly enough.

SHAZAM.

So I went on doing what I was, handpicking the documents that seemed most important.

BLAM.

And-

I startled as I suddenly found an eight-foot hulk silently hovering over my shoulder, covered in orange.

"JESUS-"

"Did you find it yet?"

"Oh. Yeah, uh...kind of. I found some files that might-"

"Let me see them."

I decided to meekly oblige, waving my omni-tool in his direction, transferring the first ten files I had to his own. I then returned to my own search as he began going through them. I was only a third of the way through at the moment but-

I had a second before a growl had already escaped his lips.

"Shield."

"Wrex?"

"...what the hell is this?"

I was shocked at his tone of voice. And I turned to look at him, seeing the Krogan violently flicking through file after file beside me, eyes scanning the pages almost as fast as they appeared. I would voice my admiration for how impressive it was if his expression while doing all this wasn't one of complete outrage. Rage currently pointed at me.

"...uh, it's what I pulled from the computer-"

"You think you could trick me Shield?!"

"What?! Wrex, I have no-"

I blinked once before I found his claw grabbing my (still sore) throat, and a moment later, tossing me clear over a nearby desk.

"Do you think I would just accept this?!"

"Da fuq you talkin' bout Wrex?!" I could only shout back, after already having bounced off the ground and rolled to a stop.

"These files hold NOTHING!"

"What?" Behind the desk I was now pinning myself to, I immediately pulled up the designated files on my own omni-tool, flipping to-

"...what?"

"Don't think I don't know what you did!"

A chunk of the counter top suddenly vanished by my head.

"WREX! I SWEAR I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING-"

"Varrenshit! What have you done to my people?!"

I didn't know what was happening. My mind wouldn't think straight. All I could do was plead and shout at him in turn.

"Wrex, I promise you! I'm telling the truth! I-"

"Your words aren't gonna cut it this time Shield!"

I heard a loud thunk.

"I already told you..."

I now heard something heavy land on top of the desk above me.

Looking up-

"If you lied, I'd kill you where you stand!"

ADRENALINE RUSH!

My legs pushed off the ground toward the Krogan already brandishing a shotgun at my noggin, close enough to bypass straight through my suit's shields.

OMNIBLADE!

With palpable fear pulsing through my veins, eyes completely shot, I slashed upward with all my might.

The blade slashed through Wrex's hand cannon like butter, immediately causing the gun to slowly vent steam out of its new gaping hole. And then as my rush ended, the gun blew to shreds in the Krogan's claws as he fired not a moment later.

The slash and recoil from the gun's misfire sent Wrex teetering off the desk, and I backwards. Not wasting a moment, I got back up, ignored my aching chest and booked it, vaulting behind another counter before the Krogan shot back up.

"You don't want to do this Wrex! We can keep looking!"

"HA! I know you deleted whatever was already there, Shield! I won't find anything but-"

"-the salvation...of the Krogan-" The coarse croak caught both our attentions as from around the corner of my desk, the formerly 'deceased' Droyas started to laugh loudly, coughing up more of that orange blood he was basted in. "...it's ingenious, isn't it?"

"...why can't one of you guys just stay dead for once?" I couldn't help but blurt.

"Shut up Shield! Don't try and-"

"That Human did nothing to my glorious research runt! Hahaha...ghrk. Heh. That console cannot possibly result in the loss of my work. I set too many fail safes on it to allow such a thing to occur."

"You're wrong. What was in those files was no cure to the Genophage, Droyas."

"Weren't they? A cure to the Genophage...heh. What would that even be runt? Hrk...a method to account for all the dead our mothers give birth too? A way to enable us to completely overcome the affliction? Couldn't the solution just be something as easy as allowing us to simply...ignore it?"

"No. What all the others said-"

"The others who joined Saren had no idea. They just heard empty rhetoric-ghrk." The old Krogan coughed up more blood as he slowly pulled himself up. "They...did not truly understand what my research here was for. They couldn't possibly."

"So...all this time your research...you weren't even actually addressing the Genophage itself?! You were-"

The 'doctor' cut me off fanatically.

"Creating the salvation of my people?! ...Yes."

"You were creating mockeries of our people Droyas! Slaves for Saren! You...you're just creating tankbred-"

"Clones! And the first to do so in galactic history! Only my research saw the first tank-bred of sentience reach adulthood without complication. Only my research created a program that properly imprinted the knowledge necessary to function into their infantile vat-grown minds during gestation. I alone will be the first to create a Krogan horde, the likes of which not seen since the Rebellions!"

"Why...why wouldn't you just cure the Genophage itself? Why clones-"

"There IS no cure to the Genophage you wretched fool!" he immediately barked back at me. "And there never will be! The Krogan people are violent and stupid. Even if it was possible, no one would willingly do so. Did you know alien, that the Genophage was never even designed as a sterility plague? But because our people aren't even willing to do what is necessary to just survive...they will die. And the Krogan will go extinct."

"...you're wrong Droyas."

"No runt, I've seen the truth. They didn't listen to me, and they never will. My research will be the only way our people survive. And Saren is the reason why. You know I'm right. That's why you left Tuchanka in the first place was it not? Because...our people are doomed. There is no other way."

Silence filled the lab.

"...It's not too late to join me Wrex. For you're right. Saren would just treat my salvation for the Krogan as a tool for his own devices. But with my continued research, and your resolve, we could-"

A slew of bullets sprayed from Wrex's gun, shutting him up. And some time passed before Saren's scientist slowly reopened his eyes again.

"...heh. Heh heh heh. Those weren't all meant for me, were they runt? It seems someone's eyes have worsened after all that time drifting through the void. You missed-"

"No. I didn't."

A violent shockwave ripped across the room, with Doctor Droyas letting out a fierce cry as his violet body was suddenly ejected from the top floor of Saren's facility, sent careening out the recently shattered window behind him.

And he'd probably still survive that.

"...I'm going to tear this place apart."

I cautiously stood up from where I was crouching as I saw Wrex turn toward the exit, having already picked up Droyas' dropped shotgun.

"...Wrex-"

"Saren's base will be nothing but dust when I'm done with it."

I gritted my teeth, tightening the grip I had on my gun as he ignored me.

...it didn't matter. The others were still waiting for us. It was time for Phase 3.

Codex Entry:

File Excerpts from Droyas' Krogan Laboratory Server on Virmire

Krogan Specimen 08~D - The specimen successfully reached full maturation within the tank without complication. Upon awakening, immediately underwent Iallis Revised Procedure. Post-op indicate procedure was success. 08~D classified as Battlemaster and sent to trenches for further instructions.

First success of cloned Krogan inferred with biotic talent.

Droyas-Corr AA - *ave seen your research and I am intrigued. I will join your cause on three conditions. I will be given charge of the lab's research and direction. I will be given free reign to contact and research who and what I wish in conjunction with the project. And I%

Urdnot Droyas' Reply to Arterius' Proposition.

Iallis-Rep013 - &ooked over the surgical procedure you said. I can safely say it is able to confer biotic ability, but the operation will surely have a high mortality rate. Examining the specific allelomorph the procedure would hybridize with the TNF/Fas recepto$

Alesita Iallis is a former molecular geneticist educated at the University of Aurais and Asari commando under Benezia stationed at Peak 15 on Noveria.

Binary Helix Cure Prelim Report X-R - %as you suggested, we have indulged the proposed case and looked into a possible cure for the Krogan genophage. But over the trial period and dozens of analyses we completed, it is clear that there is simply no way that this is possible. The Genophage is incurable. But it has been enlightening in other fields of study. The amount of data we gathered for Krogan mutative strands and from our scientific adviser Okeer has opened up an entirely new possibility for us an-

Investors from Clan Weryloc settled out of court with Binary Helix once this study showed no results for what they desired.

Author's Notes:

Did I not tell you? I said Brady would cry after the game did I not?! You may look on in astonishment. My predictions are always 100% accurate after I change them.

And did you guys know Saren's facility really was just cloning Krogan? In Mass Effect 2, Cerberus mentions Saren's 'cloning facility' a couple times, as well as Shepard themselves. Even playing through the level, the pods in the Virmire trenches look eerily similar to the one we find Grunt in during ME2. So sorry Wrex and Shield, who actually thought something would come of this, but it was impossible from the beginning. Its established in-game lore! There's no going around it! So stay back you animals! No! I promise, there was never a cure to begin with! Look, I'm sorry! I, no, wait, not the belt, not the...noooo-

Reviews:

Arthur's Little Sister (Get it? PW?!) - Stop ruining the story, jeez. Let everyone else savor Shield selling everyone out to Saren and spending the rest of his days on Tuchanka with his loyal canine Urz. Except the twist is that Urz is actually Zael reincarnated through the Lazarus Project and can talk. All so that the Shield/Zael ship is still on! Except with furries. Varren Itch? You betcha! You can read all about their romantic misadventures in this story's sequel, Sisterhood of the Traveling Krantts. Also: Uh, WRONG. UPDATE E'ER DAY. YOLO. #420BLAZEIT.

Rainesfere - And my one regret is making Shepard so unlikable. I envisioned her as harsh, but she has come across as significantly more outrageous as the story's gone along. Oops. But one thing you don't have to worry about is Shield. Never again shall he succumb to sorrow. He'll make sure of it.

Deku~tan - Again, my bad. WOULD Shepard kill Wrex? Has she actually killed anybody who hasn't deserved it in this story yet? Maybe you guys need to be a little nicer to the Commander. She's had a rough life, ease up on her. OR YOU JUST MIGHT BE NEXT D:

The TIB - My meetings are the best. I think that goes without saying.

Fonzie - Wait no longer my good chap, for the next chapter is here.

Guest - And that's probably the best place to stop to be honest. The story's basically already over at that point.

Azzie - 'a bit immature and childish'. HAHAHHAHAH oh you were serious. Ahem. Yeah, expect to see Shield man up and take charge for once in the coming chapters. It's about time for him to do some growing to be fair. But I really do appreciate the kind words, and I'm glad the dialogue seems somewhat coherent and intelligible. It's the one thing I fear most when writing this stuff. So it really is heartwarming to hear that man. You get a Gold Star in Ego-Boosting. Thanks.

In the next chapter: SAAAARREEEENN!

Tune in next time on Mass Effective: A Hero Made!