They made their way across the snowy road and indeed there were facing against geth and heavy turrets across the road. It was quite a firefight, but they managed to reach the facility and they had the fight their way through to get to the front door.

When they got there they found that the turrets were facing the wrong way.

Liara looked around. "Why are the turrets facing the wrong way?"

"They want to keep their people in as much as they want to keep others out." Kaidan narrowed his eyes.

Shepard frowned.

They'd run into fewer geth in the garage than he'd been expecting. He started to pull up his sensors when there was a strange banging sound from somewhere to their right. Weapons came up, but the sound did not repeat.

"Animals?" Kaidan looked around. "Wind? This place is in bad shape."

Ice and snow littered the area. It was possible something had gotten in. He was more concerned about what might have gotten out. They hadn't gone far when something jumped out at them. Strange insect lifeforms with tentacles attacked, swiping at them. Garrus was knocked off his feet, and the creature started to close. Kaidan and Shepard fired simultaneously, blowing the creature back.

"What the hell were those?" said Kaidan.

"Liara, any ideas?" Shepard asked looking at the remains.

"Xenobiology is not my field." She shook her head. "Maybe someone in the labs knows."

He nodded, and offered Garrus a hand back to his feet. "Kaidan, tune your sensors to look for biologics and alert us if you detect any more of those things."

"Yes, Commander."

"It looks like you're trying to restore this facility. Would you like help?"

"You're the virtual intelligence that runs this place?" Shepard asked.

"This system is monitored to respond to the name 'Mira.' May I ask your name?" The hologram's light flickered over the displays.

Might as well try the easy way. "Commander Shepard, I work for the Citadel's Special Tactics and Reconnaissance."

"One moment, please. Counsel for the confirmed. You are entitled to Secure Access of all systems."

They got some information out of the VI which told them that Benezia had taken a tramway to the Rift Station. She also mentioned about how the facility was badly damaged and telling them that they had to make the repairs manually.

More of the strange things attacked them when they went about restoring the damage. Kaidan looked at his medical scanner. The creatures had some kind of venom, but the medigel was able to counter it without trouble. He took a sample for Doctor Chakwas.

It didn't take long for Shepard to get the disinfectant system working. He hit the switch, clearing the passage of the creatures. Kaidan looked at his combat scanner. "There don't appear to be any on the tram, Commander."

"All right." Shepard nodded to him. "Let's go find some answers."

They stepped off the tram to find armed men. The men lowered their weapons almost immediately. The one that appeared to be in charge nodded to Michael. "Sorry. We couldn't be sure who was on the tram."

"I'd only be upset if they had fired," said Shepard.

"Even hopped up on stims, my people know the rules. Two legs good, four legs bad." He sighed. "Look. You're human, and that's enough that I won't shoot. But I'd like to know who you are."

"My name is Shepard. I'm a Spectre."

The captain didn't look convinced, but shrugged. "I won't look heavily-armed horse in the mouth. The aliens overran the hot labs last week. Only Han Olar got out, and he ain't all there anymore. The first we know, the bastards were clawing into my command post. We had a lot more staff then."

"You were taken by surprise and has civilians to protect," said Shepard. "You did a good job, Captain."

"Yeah? Sure as hell doesn't feel like it." He sighed. "The board sent an asari to clean up the mess. She went to the hot labs yesterday. We haven't heard from her since."

He started trying to get what additional information he could, and then there was a scuttling sound. He turned in time to see more of the creatures coming up from vents in the floor. With his team's firepower added to the soldiers, the fight was over quickly.

"Thanks for the help. Every few hours, a group come up a tram tunnel. It's actually better since we locked down the elevator."

"I'll see what I can do," said Shepard.

"I don't know why they keep throwing themselves against our defences." The man shook his head. "Even animals should learn not to stick their noses where it hurts."

Shepard nodded, and led his team on. When they were out of earshot, he glanced back over his shoulder. "That read off to the rest of you?"

Kaidan nodded. "He wasn't curious about what those things were."

"Which implies he knew." Shepard nodded. "Keep your guard up."

A brief conversation with Dr. Cohen revealed this particular group of scientists were messing with more than one thing they shouldn't have been. It was always sort of interesting how genius came with a lack of self-preservation instinct.

Getting into the medical lab was easy enough, and it took Kaidan only a couple minutes to get the cure together. The problem turned out to be another asari. Well, and a couple geth troopers, but mostly the asari. A shot to the head solved the problem. Funny how often that tended to be true.

Hans Olar informed them that the asari and her group had come up from the maintenance tunnels.

"You came to find out about them, didn't you?" Hans Olar asked.

"You mean those things out there?"

"Yes. I'm the only survivor from the hot labs, you know."

"I need to know more about these things out there," said Shepard.

"About the rachni?"

"Rachni? That's preposterous," said Liara.

Shepard shared her surprise, because from what he knew about history they were supposed to be extinct. Killed off by the kroagn over two thousand years ago now he wished he brought Wrex along.

"Where did they come from?" Shepard asked.

"They found it in a delicate ship. An egg," said Hans Olar. "Waiting since the last battles. They brought it here—"

"Shut up!" said a scientist nearby. "God. You want to get us killed?"

Han Olar turned to face him. "I don't have any control over those who lives or dies here. Do you?"

"If you're going to be crazy, be the quiet kind," said a turian scientist.

"Crazy? I'm sane. God, am I sane."

Five minutes later, Dr. Cohen had his cure, and Shepard had a pass to said maintenance tunnels.

When they made their way into the hot labs they only found the one man sitting in a chair alone in a dark room. Shepard had a feeling that the place was infected with the rachni and he didn't fancy staying any longer that was necessary.

"Are you here to secure the station?"

"How are you holding up?" Shepard asked.

"You must listen to me," he said desperately. "If you do not contain our mistake, they will drop bombs from battle stations. You understand?"

"You let these things out?" Shepard stared.

"Ehh. I am only following the orders. Binary Helix found an egg. It was on a derelict ship, thousands of years drifting. This was rachni ship. Inside they find many eggs in cryogenic suspension."

"A thousand-year-old egg hatched?" said Shepard sceptically.

"Yes. Very tough, to be so long frozen. That is survived the centuries—this is miraculous. Binary Helix plan to clone rachni. Mass-produce them. Create an army. But when they get here, they find this egg is not a common rachni. It is a queen. After she lays eggs, they move her to Rift Station. They are thinking that without her, they can raise the babies to be obedient."

"Obviously they were wrong," said Shepard.

He nodded. "Ehh. This was exactly the wrong thing to do. I am thinking without the queen, rachni do not develop properly. Her mind is shaping theirs. These rachni are uncontrollable."

"Then all we have to do is bring her here," said Shepard. These rachni are beyond saving. It is a sad thing, but they must be euthanized. I am thinking that the neutron purge must be set off."

"How do we set off the purge?"

"Arming controls are nearby. All you do is insert the key. Then I will give Mira destruct co—"

Suddenly a sharp claw pierced through his chest. Then they saw the rachni behind him. It then tossed the scientists aside and they immediately began to fire at it.

Kaidan sighed, and stood back up. The doctor had been dead before he hit the ground. He offered Shepard a security card. "These might be the codes."

"All right, let's find the Mira terminal and set off the purge." Shepard nodded.

"Hopefully, that will get enough of them for the survivors to make it to safety." Kaidan followed Shepard, with Liara and Garrus a pace behind. "Rachni?"

"I know." Shepard nodded. "I am not looking forward to telling Wrex we fought rachni without him."

"May I recommend doing so from a safe distance, Commander?" Kaidan smiled. "Such as about three systems?"

"All right." Shepard stepped back from the terminal. "Neutron purge initiated." He pointed. "This is the part where we run."

They then started to head towards the room where Benezia was located and Shepard could see that Liara looked uneasy.

"Liara, you don't have to here," said Shepard.

"I appreciate your concern, Commander," said Liara and she took the lead towards the door. "But I have to do this."

When they entered they found the asari matriarch stood at the top of the stairs. She was dressed in severe black, and wore an unusual headpiece. Her voice was slightly strange when she spoke to them. "You do not know the privilege of being a mother. There is a power in creation. To shape a life. Turn it toward happiness or despair." Benezia turned to a being trapped in a glass cage. "Her children were to be ours. Raised to hunt and slay Saren's enemies." She took a few steps towards them, and her eyes went to Liara. "I won't be moved by sympathy. No matter who you bring into this confrontation."

"Liara's here because she wants to be," said Shepard. "Not because I asked her to."

Shepard looked around. He saw no one else, but that didn't mean they weren't there. Something was jamming their scanners.

"Indeed?" Benezia gave a slight shake of her head. "What have you told him about me, Liara?"

"What could I say, mother?" Liara's voice was raw. "That you're insane? Evil? Should I explain how to kill you? What could I say?"

Benezia smirked. "Have you faced an asari commando unit before? Few humans have."

So much for diplomacy. "There's obviously no peaceful way to settle this."

"Indeed." Her biotics flared.

Kaidan got up a barrier just in time to block a crate Benezia flung at Shepard. Shepard retreated to his location, reducing the strain. On the other side of the room, Liara and Garrus quickly adopted a similar position.

The head of an oncoming geth blew apart, and Shepard lined up his next shot. Kaidan concentrated, creating another barrier to force the geth into a smaller area. Shepard was flinging a grenade into that area a heartbeat later.

One of the asari smashed her own biotic throw into his barrier, and Kaidan staggered backwards. Shepard rolled forward and fired several slugs into the commando's ribcage. Kaidan sent out a wave of biotic energy, tossing the geth coming at the commander into the wall before taking aim with his sidearm. The other two asari commandos clearly weren't prepared for close quarters combat. Shepard hit one with the butt of his rifle, then simply headbutted the other before finishing them both off with two shots to the head each.

He regrouped with Shepard, moving in while Liara and Garrus provided cover fire. Liara tossed out a singularity to close off one of the doorways. Shepard tossed out a grenade as the geth attempted to come through the other, then he and Kaidan adopted a back to back position to finish clearing the area.

Benezia was slowly getting back to her feet. "This is not over. Saren is unstoppable. My mind is filled with his light. Everything is clear." She staggered slightly.

Shepard made his way towards her. "The rachni didn't cooperate with you. Why should I?"

"I will not betray him. You will—" She started to turn towards him. "You…" Suddenly her voice and her entire body language changed. It was like he was looking at a different person entirely. "You must listen. Saren still whispers in my mind. I can fight his compulsions. Briefly. But the indoctrination is strong."

"So you can turn on me again."

Benezia nodded. "Yes. But it would not be my will, Shepard. People are not themselves around Saren. You come to idolize him. Worship him. You would do anything for him." She shook her head slightly. "The key is Sovereign, his flagship. It is a dreadnought of incredible size and its power is extraordinary."

"Sovereign's not like other ships. Where did it come from?"

"I cannot say. The geth did not build it. Its technology is far more advanced than that of any species." Her hands started to shake. "The longer you stay aboard, the more Saren's will seems correct. You sit at his feet and smile as his words pour into you." She shivered. "It is subtle at first. I thought I was strong enough to resist. Instead, I became a willing tool, eager to serve. He sent me here to find the location of the Mu Relay. Its position was lost thousands of years ago."

"Someone on Noveria found it?" Shepard guest.

Benezia nodded. "Two thousand years ago, the rachni inhabited that region of our galaxy. They discovered the relay. The rachin can share memories across generations. Queens inherit the knowledge of their mothers. I took the location of the relay from the queen's mind. I was not gentle."

"You can still make it right," said Shepard. "Give me the information."

"I was not myself, but—I should have been stronger." She approached cautiously, and held an item out. "I transcribed the data to an OSD. Take it. Please." He did.

Liara stepped to his shoulder. "Knowing the relay's coordinates is not enough. Do you know where he planned to go from there?"

"Saren wouldn't tell me his destination. But you must find out quickly." She looked down for a moment, then back up at them. "I transmitted the coordinates to him before you arrived. You have to stop—" She started shaking. "Me. I can't—" She clenched and unclenched her hands. "His teeth are at my ear. Fingers on my spine. You should—" She started moving away. "Uh, you should—"

"Mother, I—" Liara took a step towards her. "Don't leave. Fight him!"

Benezia turned and looked at her daughter. Her face was warm and loving. "You've always made me proud, Liara." And then Benezia vanished once more. "—Die!"

Shooting her hurt. It was an odd feeling. He'd just gunned down a girl's mother right in front of her. Despite it being the right thing to do, it still… Shepard shook his head.

Liara knelt at her dying mother's side. Benezia looked up at her daughter. "I cannot go on." Her eyes went to his. "You will have to stop him, Shepard."

He gestured to Kaidan, and Kaidan took out his medical kit. Perhaps there was something that could be done, though he doubted it. Shepard looked down at her. "Hold on. We've got medi-gel, maybe we can—"

Benezia shook her head. "No. He is still in my mind. I am not entirely myself. I will never be again." Her voice grew weaker.

"Mother…" Liara clutched her hand.

"Good night, Little Wing. I will see you again with the dawn." Her voice slowly faded. "No light? They always said there would be a—" Silence.

Kaidan looked up, and gave a shake of his head. Benezia was gone. The medic moved to Liara, and put a hand on her shoulder. Shepard sighed, and turned his eyes to the creature in the cage.

One of the asari that had been killed suddenly was back on her feet. Sort of. She moved jerkily, as if pulled by invisible strings. He stepped back as she went towards the creature in the cage. When she spoke, her voice raspy. "This one. Serves as our voice. We cannot sing. Not in these low spaces. Your musics are colorless."

Shepard looked from the asari to the creature in the cage. "Who am I speaking to here?"

"We are the mother. We sing for those left behind. The children you thought silenced. We are rachni."

He walked to the cage again, looking at the creature inside. It was different than the ones they'd killed earlier. "How are you speaking through her?"

"Our kind sing through touchings of thought. We plunk the strings, and the others understands. She is weak to urging. She has colours we have no names for. But she is ending. Her music is bittersweet. It is beautiful." The asari didn't move, but the creature in the cage shifted to look at him. "You are not in harmony with those who hoped to control us. What will you sing? Will you release us? Are we to fade away once more?"

Kaidan's voice was quiet. "Commander. Those tanks on her enclosure? They're acid. Strong enough to dissolve any living creature. They must have installed them for a reason."

Liara shook her head. "They made a mistake. They let the krogan go too far. This is a chance for us to atone. She has done nothing to us."

Garrus just simply crossed his arms and looked at them as if he was in two minds. The asari spoke again. "Your companions hear the truth. You have the power to free us, or return our people to the silence of memory."

"If I let you live, would you attack other races again?"

"No. We—" It hesitated. "I do not know what happened in the war. We heard only discordance, songs the color of oily shadows. We would seek a hidden place to teach our children harmony. If they understand, perhaps we would return."

"You could have calmed them if I hadn't set off the purge?"

"No. Our minds are not as yours. We can only learn to sing in harmony. Without a mother, children are lost to silence." The creature moved in the cage. "You should not sing of them in grey and violet. We would have stilled them ourselves."

"Are you a survivor from the war? A clone?"

"We do not know. We were only an egg, hearing Mother cry in our dreams. A tone from space hushed one voice after another. It forced the singers to resonate with its own sour yellow note. Then we awoke, in this place. The last echo of those who came out from the Singing Planet. The sky is silent."

Shepard glanced over his shoulder. He very much doubt that this creature could lie and he didn't fancy causing genocide. "I won't destroy your entire race. You'll go free."

"You will give us a chance to compose anew? We will remember. We will sing of your forgiveness to our children."

He touched the controls, setting the cage to release. The asari fell to the ground. The rachni turned back to look at them one last time before leaving. And they watched as the queen left the container. "Let's get out of here."

"What's our next move, Commander?" Ashley leaned forward. "Head for the Mu Relay?"

Shepard shook his head. "The Mu Relay could link to dozens of systems. Unless we know exactly where Saren's going, we'd just be wasting our time."

"The commander is right." Liara nodded. "We cannot rush off blind. We still need to learn more about Saren."

"Who put you in charge?" Ashley glared. "Did the commander resign when I wasn't looking?"

"We're all on the same team here, Williams. She's just trying to help." He met Ashley's eyes. And she's just lost her mother, cut her some slack.

He saw Ashley give a slight nod at the unspoken part. "Sorry, Commander."

"This is a tough mission. We're all on edge. Everyone go get some rest. Crew…" He looked around at them. "Dismissed!"

As they filed out, Joker's voice came over the comm. "Noveria report is away, Commander. You want me to patch you through to the Council?"

Shepard had a feeling that the Council won't be too happy. "Patch them through, Joker."

"Setting up the link now, Commander."

"Is this report accurate, Commander? You found rachni on Noveria?" the Asari Councillor stared

Shepard merely nodded.

"And then released the queen!" The Turian Councillor glared. "Do you have any idea what you've done? How many generations until they overrun the galaxy?"

"This queen is different," said Shepard. "She understands why her kind had to be wiped out last time around."

Turian Councillor continued to glare. "I hope you're right, Shepard. Our children's children will pay the price if you're not."

"We'll be waiting for your next report, Commander," said the Asari Councillor.

They then logged out and Shepard was surprise that things went out well.