They had managed to reach the Normandy, but it was very touch and go. Shepard waiting the briefing room for about two hours since they came aboard. Jacob had just arrived to tell him the news.

"Commander. We've done what we could for Garrus, but he took a bad hit," said Jacob. Shepard merely lowered its head. "The docs corrected with surgery precision and some cybernetics. Best we can tell, he'll have full functionality, but…"

The door opened, and Garrus walked in. The right half of his face bore an impressive array of scars. "Shepard."

Jacob blinked. "Tough son of a bitch. Didn't think he'd be up yet."

Garrus walked towards him. "Nobody would give me a mirror. How bad is it?"

Shepard chuckled. "Hell, Garrus, you were always ugly. Slap some face-paint on there, and no one will even notice."

A burst of laughter came from the turian followed by a twitch of pain. "Don't make me laugh, damn it. My face is barely holding together as it is." He shrugged. "Ah, probably for the best. Everyone was always ignoring you and hitting on me. Time for you to get a fair shot at it."

He waited until Jacob saluted and left the room. Garrus spoke before he could. "Frankly, I'm more worried about you. Cerberus, Shepard? You remember those sick experiments they were doing?"

Shepard nodded. "That's why I'm glad you're here, Garrus. If I'm walking into hell, I want someone I trust at my side."

"You realise this plan has me walking into hell, too." He mandibles clicked. "Hah. Just like old times. I'm for duty whenever you need me, Shepard. I'll settle in and see what I can do at the forward batteries."

Shepard made his way to the armoury and made his way over towards Jacob.

"Commander. Can I help you with something?" Jacob asked turning away from his work.

"I'm more interested in talking for a bit."

"Sounds good. Have to say, you run this ship tight, and we're getting things done. We keep on tracking and maybe we'll figure some of this out." He then rubbed the back of his head. "I hope so. I'm not looking forward to the debrief if it all goes to hell. Is there something specific, are you just checking in?"

"I like to know my crew. Forget procedure. Tell me about yourself."

"Informal, huh?" Jacob said curiously. "Everything's in my file. Ex-Alliance, like you. No Reapers or anything, but I got swept under the rug, too. The more good you do, the less they want to admit that something needed doing."

"What led you to Cerberus?"

"The Alliance sidelined me after Eden Prime. Ended up on a job with Miranda that Cerberus treated like an audition and here I am."

"You don't seem like a 'result at all costs' kind of guy. Cerberus history doesn't bother you?"

Jacob shrugged. "The Alliance is all politics. Somebody has to take down the bad people. Cerberus keep that line, I'm on their side."

"You look like you came through no worse for wear," Shepard noted.

"If nothing else, the Alliance trained its people well. Once you live that life, you can't sit around getting fat. You know how it goes. Although I bet Cerberus put you back together better than ever. Get any upgrades?"

Shepard had to admit that he was a lot stronger than he used to be. "I'm glad enough they restored me to stock. Couldn't hurt to keep some spare part handy, thought."

Jacob nodded. "I hear that. Your job isn't getting any safer. You know, I used to wonder what the big deal with you was. But now that we're in deep, I'm glad it's not me in the spotlight."

"There's no hiding, Jacob. Not for any of us."

"Don't worry. This is exactly what I signed on for. If that's all, Commander. I'll get back to my duties. There's a lot to get ready."

Aria was able to direct them to where he could find Mordin. And apparently there was a plague between them and the doctor. A plague and a gang turf war, with vorcha. Apparently the plague didn't kill non-humans and vorcha all other species were dying.

Because of our people believe that it was man-made which meant that that humans were getting the blame, because no one believe that the vorcha were smart enough to create it. At the same time the vorcha were taking advantage of the situation and were taking quite a bit of Blue Sun territorially.

Vorcha were short lived species that were immune to all kinds of ailments. There was a very savage and bloodthirsty and as such were considered vermin or pests and Shepard can only blame them.

"So a plague that doesn't kill humans and a turf war," said Shepard. "It would seem as if getting to our professor has got a lot more complicated."

"At least we're immune," said Jacob.

"Won't stop them from shooting our heads off," Zaeed pointed out.

"Let's see if we can't do something to stop that," said Shepard.

They ran into several Blue Suns mercenary and upon laying eyes on they began to fire. However there was only two of them and they were easily dealt with. They then came across and burning pyres and notice somebody's burning in them. However, there were quite a few other dead bodies lying around.

"Guess they just left the dead in the streets," said Jacob.

Zaeed bent down to one of the bodies. "Plague control as its most basic: pile the bodies in the streets and burn 'em."

"It doesn't seem to be working though," said Miranda.

Then Shepard noticed a batarian collapsed near bend in the corridor. The man looked up at him, glaring balefully out of all four eyes. "Human. Should have guessed."He shook his head. "Bad enough you infect us with this plague. Now you lack the decency to even wait until I die before you come to steal my possessions."

Shepard shook his head. "Humans didn't create this plague."

"Lies drip from your mouth like the blood from my sores. The proof is there for all to see. Your species is the only one that does not succumb to the virus. Yours, and the wretched vorcha."

This was getting them nowhere. "I need to find Mordin Solus."

"Humans looking for the human sympathizer. I hope the vorcha burn Mordin and his clinic to the ground. I hope you…" He coughed. "I hope…" He choked before spitting out some blood. "Damn it. Damn you. Can't…"

Almost before he knew what he was doing, Shepard was kneeling by the man, applying a dose of medigel. "Hey, stay with me! This won't cure the plague, but it might help a bit."

"You…" The batarian staggered to his feet. "You helped me. Why?"

"It's what I do," said Shepard tiredly. "I don't know if I can find a cure for this plague, but I'm going to try."

The batarian just stared at him. "Your words sound… sincere. Maybe it's the fever, but as you said—what have I to lose?"

He promised to send help after the batarian directed him to Mordin's clinic, then continued onward.

The place was bloody and brutal. People had simply been locked in their homes to die. A few had actually tried to claw their way out. One building contained looters. Shepard convince them that now was not the time to go scavenging.

They soon found the clinic and followed a stream of medical babble led him into one of the rooms. A salarian was instructing his assistant on mixing a medication. "Professor Mordin Solus?"

The doctor turned towards him and ran his omnitool in their general direction. "Hmmm… Don't recognise you from area. Too well-armed to be refugees. No mercenary uniform. Quarantine still in effect. Here for something else. Vorcha? Crew to clean them out? Unlikely. Vorcha a symptom, not a cause. The plague? Investigating possible use as bio-weapon? No. Too many guns, not enough data equipment. Soldiers, not scientists. Hired guns, maybe? Looking for someone! Yes! But who? Someone important. Valuable. Someone of secrets. Someone like me."

Shepard blinked and then held out his hand calmly. "Relax, Mordin. I'm Commander Shepard, and I came here to find you. On a critical mission, and I need your help."

"Mission? What mission? No. Too busy. Clinic understaffed. Plague spreading too fast. Who sent you?" Mordin ducked down and handed some vials off to his assistant.

Shepard thought it was wise not to mention that he came from a terrorist organisation. "It's a covert and privately funded human group."

Moridan stood up and looked at him curiously as he began to fiddle with his equipment. "related to plague? Doesn't affect humans. Human-centric interest. Few human groups would know me. Equipment suggests military origin. Not Alliance standard. Spectres not human. Terra Firma to unstable. Only one option." He looked back at Shepard now that the interest. "Cerberus sent you. Unexpected."

Mordian then bent down to examine his equipment. "You're very well-informed. How did a salarain scientist here about Cerberus?"

Mordin stood back up. "Crossed paths on occasion. Thought they only worked with humans." He shrugged. "Why request salarian aid?"

"The Collectors are kidnapping entire human populations. We're going to find out why and stop them."

"Collectors?" Mordin tapped his hand against his chin. "Interesting. Plague hitting these slums is engineered. Collectors one of few groups with technology to design it. Our goals may be similar." He nodded. "But must stop plague first. Already have cure. Need to distribute it at environmental control centre. Vorcha guarding it. Need to kill them."

"I'll get in there and deal with the vorcha," Shepard assured.

Mordin was about to say something else when there was a rumbling sound. And then the air flow coming from the vents abruptly stopped.

"What the hell was that?" Jacob asked.

"Vorcha have shut down environmental systems. Trying to kill everyone. Need to get power back on before district suffocates." Mordin started handing him things. "Here, take plague cure. Also, bonus in good faith. Weapon from dead Blue Sun mercs. May come in handy against vorcha." The salarian held up his hands. "One more thing. Daniel. One of my assistants. Went into vorcha territory. Looking for victims. Hasn't come back."

"If I see him, I'll do what I can to help."

"Thank you. Told him not go. But he's smart. Bright future. I hope."

"I found a sick batarain plague victims near the entrance to the neighbourhood. Can you send someone to help him?"

"Risky. Blue Suns, vorcha still battling. District not secure. See what I can do."

Mordin then went on to explain why the Collectors ignored humans when agreed to the virus. Apparently they had a diverse genetic background, Shepard couldn't really understand what he meant by that, but from what he could tell was that it would have been too complicated for them to include humans in their calculations.

Shepard used two of the empty barrels as a makeshift sniper nest as he started picking off oncoming vorcha and Zaeed picked off any stragglers. Both Jacob and Miranda threw out biotics to keep the vorcha pinned.

"Please…" A young man was being threatened by a group of batarians. That would be Daniel then. "I'm telling you the truth. I work for Mordin at the clinic. I came here to help you."

A batarian had him by the neck. "We know you're spreading the plague virus. We saw the vials in your bag."

"No. Those vials contain the cure. Please…" The man was shaking his head desperately. "You have to believe me."

"Maybe we should cut off your fingers. That should loosen your—" The batarian cut off when Shepard entered, gun drawn. "Don't move! One more step and we kill your friend!"

"I know you're scared. Of the vorcha. Of the plague. But this man isn't to blame. If he was here to spread the virus, why would he come in to vorcha territory? They're immune."

One of the batarians looked at their leader. "He's right. It doesn't make any sense."

Leader then looked at Shepard. "If release the prisoner, we can go?"

"You have my word on it."

The batarian leader thought for a moment. "Let him go." He turned to Shepard. "You got what you wanted, human. Are we free to go?"

Shepard nodded. "We had a deal."

The batarian actually looked surprised. "Human nobility. I didn't know such a thing existed." They filed out.

Daniel managed to catch his breath. "Thank you. I thought they were going to…" He swallowed. "To kill me." He looked up at Michael. "Did Mordin send you to find me?"

"The Professor could use your help right now. He's got too many patients and not enough volunteers."

"Yeah, okay. I'll go right away. Thanks again. I owe you…" Daniel blinked. "Well…" He shrugged. "Everything."

They soon entered into the ventilation shafts, but the vorcha have the place well-fortified with missile launchers on the high ground, they have themselves dig in, and they have to run through the plays like was a shooting gallery.

They hadn't gone far when some vorcha emerged. "You no come here. We shut down machines, break fans! Everyone choke and die! Then Collectors make us strong!"

So the Collectors were in on this. "What do the Collectors want?"

"Collectors want plague! You work for doctor, turn on machines, put cure in air. We kill you first!"

"Not if we kill you first," said Shepard.

They then began to open fire.

He fired off a round into the tanks on the back of one of the vorcha. The vorcha spun around, and a heartbeat later exploded, taking three of its companions with it. Then he rushed out of cover, grabbed Miranda's wrist, and hauled her behind one of the pillars. "Status?"

She used her omnitool to apply some of the gel to the wound on her side. "I'll be fine."

"Barriers are no substitute for armour." He came out of cover and fired off another shot. "Jacob, get that vial in, Zaeed with me." He and Zaeed provided cover fire as Jacob headed into the control room.

The vorcha certainly tried to prevent them from doing anything with the vents, but the attack with no coordination and the tactics were obvious. Shepard shot around another tank on a flamethrower and Miranda pushed the vorcha right into a squad.

Zaeed fired a couple around that a missile launcher while Shepard picked the others off with a sniper rifle. It took some doing but they'll finally all dead and Jacob was able to install all the vials into the vents which began to spread across the district.

"Let's meet with our Professor," said Shepard.

"Environmental systems engaged. Airborne viral levels dropping. Patients improving. Vorcha retreating. Well done, Shepard. Thank you." Mordin looked away from the display and nodded.

Daniel smiled. "And thank you from me, as well. Those batarians would have killed me." He wiped at his brow. "For a second there, I thought you were going to shoot them even after they let me go."

Shepard narrowed his eyes. "I made a promise to spare them if they let you go. I hold my promises."

"Merciful of you. Risky." Mordin frowned. "Would have killed them myself."

"Professor?" Daniel looked horrified. "How can you say that? You're a doctor. You believe in helping people."

"Lots of ways to help people. Sometimes heal patients." Mordin gestured as he spoke. "Sometimes execute dangerous people. Either way helps." He waved a hand. "Go check on the patients. Lots of work to do. Think about what I said." He waited for Daniel to walk away before turning back to Michael. "Good kid. Bit naive. He'll learn. Letting him take over the clinic. Should be able to handle it now that vorcha are gone."

Shepard had to admit that Mordin was an unusual character. He also seem to be quite a skilled fighter despite his age and there was no denying that he was an excellent scientist. "We've cure the plague. You ready to help stop the Collectors?

"Yes. Unexpected to be working with Cerberus. Many surprises." Mordin nodded. "Just need to finish up here at the clinic. Won't take long. Meet you at your ship. Looking forward to it."

Before returning to Normandy, Shepard had to assist Aria with protecting her predecessor, Patriarch. He was a krogan that looked as if he had seen battle the battle turned out to be Aria. Apparently someone was trying to make a hit on him and Shepard offered to be his bodyguard in order to help his image.

Aria wasn't too happy, but they got the job done and that was as good enough for her. He even provided her with information that one of the mercs that when to try and kill Garrus were planning to assassinate her. In gratitude she gave the coordinates to a supply cash.

Even ran into Helena Blake, the former smuggler he encountered two years ago and discovered that she was still going straight, much to his surprise. He then took ill the bartender that like to kill humans and nearly killed him and when he returned to the bartender a turian shot him.

When Shepard returned to the Normandy he looked in on Zaeed to discover the man had taken over one of the storage rooms in engineering and turned it into his personal quarters. Then he headed into the briefing room. Taylor led Mordin in a few moments later. "Welcome to the Normandy, Professor. It's an honour to have you on board."

"Yes." Mordin looked around. "Very exciting. Cerberus working with aliens. Unexpected. Illusive Man branching out, maybe? Not so human-centric?"

"You're very well-informed." Shepard gave Mordin another appraising look.

"Salarian government well-connected. Espionage experts. Had top level clearance once. Retired now. Still hear things." Mordin shrugged as he continued his rapid fire speech. "Informed of name only. No knowledge of man behind it. Anti-alien reputation listed as problematic."

"Don't kid yourself, Professor. Humans still come first in Illusive Man's eyes. But this mission is too big for them to handle alone."

Jacob nodded. "The Collectors have been abducting colonists from the fringes of the Terminus Systems."

Mordin frowned. "Not simple adductions. Wouldn't want me for simple."

Jacob nodded again. "Entire colonies disappear without a trace. There's no signs of any kind of attack. "There is virtually no evidence that anything useful happened at all…" He leaned on the table. "Except that every man, woman, and child is gone."

"Gas, maybe?" Mordin paced and gestured as he spoke. "No. Spreads too slow. Airborne virus? No. Slower than gas. Drugged water supply? No. Effects not simultaneous. Intriguing. Fascinating. No distress calls? No signs of resistance? New technology. Marvelously advanced…"

"You don't have to sit there and guess. We collected samples from one of the colonies. I'd like you to analyse them and figure out how the Collectors did this."

"Yes." Mordin pointed at him. "Of course. Analyse the samples. Going to need a lab."

EDI's voice entered the room. "There is a fully-equipped lab on the combat deck, Professor Solus. If you find anything lacking, please place a requisition order."

"Who's that? Pilot. No. Synthesized voice. Simulated emotional inflection. Could it be…" Mordin frowned. "No. Maybe. Have to ask. Is that an AI?"

"This ship is equipped with an artificial intelligence."

"An AI on board? Non-human crew members? Cerberus more desperate than I thought."

"The Collectors have taken tens of thousands of colonists." Jacob nodded. "We'll do whatever we have to do to find and stop them."

"Yes. Of course. Can't risk being captured like colonists. Need to identify, neutralize technology. Need samples. Which way to the lab?"

"Follow me, Professor." Jacob led him out.

Shepard quickly checked his messages, and felt a chill when he saw one from Anderson, of all people. He quickly pulled it up and read it over. A sigh escaped him. Yeah, he definitely owed Anderson an explanation.

For a moment, he just stood there. Then he sighed, and hit the button for the comm. "Joker, set us a course for the Citadel."