A/N: Time for a facepalm moment of epic proportions. If you laugh about what happens in this chapter... you're a bad, bad person. ;)
Chapter 74 - Krogan vs. Rachni, Round Two
Several miles of dark tunnels and more than a few hundred disgusting dead bugs later, Shepard lets out a deep sigh. "So... we wouldn't have to deal with any of this if I had just killed the queen on Noveria?" she asks, addressing mostly herself. "Glad to see that the universe values mercy. Or not."
"Pointless to speculate about that, Morgan," Liara tells her, the asari's white combat suit looking stained beyond recognition with mud, clay and bits of squished bugs. "Perhaps the Reapers would have found some way to bring them back from the dead, even then. They certainly have the cloning capabilities to do so."
"Maybe you're right," Shepard nods. "Just gets me thinking even more about the choices I have to make."
"The central chamber is directly ahead of us, Shepard," EDI informs them. "In the event that it proves to be a nest as we have speculated, the queen should be within this large cavern we are about to enter."
"Wonder where's our backup..." Shepard says, trying to poke Grunt on the comms. "Where are you, guys? We're coming up to the nest, are you far behind?"
"Encountering heavy resistance," comes a swift reply. "We got ambushed from behind and they took out several of my krogan before we could react! Shepard, I have no idea what you're doing, but it seems as if all their forces are falling back towards the nest! Watch your back!"
"Great," Shepard mutters. "Double time towards the nest, people! We need to get there before all the rachni can retreat!" They break into a run through the dark tunnels, but shortly after encounter what at first looks like a dead end. Pointing their flashlight beams a little lower, they can see an uncomfortably narrow passage leading under the stone wall.
"Scans indicate that the central chamber is behind this wall, Shepard," EDI reaffirms Morgan's fears. "And this appears to be the way to get there."
"Grunt, we've found a way into the nest," she speaks on the comms quickly. "Not sure we'll be able to get out the same away again, it's an awfully tight squeeze. We might need to look for another way out."
"We'll dig in here, Shepard, try to prevent them from returning to the nest," Grunt reports back.
"Alright, thanks Grunt. And good luck."
"Luck? I don't need luck," Grunt laughs back at her, amidst sounds of fierce gunfire. "I have ammo. And... I... am... KROGAN!" with that he charges back into the fight, as Shepard's group continue on their path, EDI squeezing through the narrow passage first, reporting that the path is safe and pulling first Morgan, then Liara through the tight gap.
The view before them is strange, alien and disturbing. In the middle of the central chamber, there stands a creature, very similar to what she remembers freeing on Noveria, a dreadful spider-like monstrosity from the most frightening horror tales imaginable. The rachni queen is being kept in place by massive restraints, the locks in place clearly of Reaper origin.
Bodies of several krogan scouts are wrapped in the webbing and Reaper wires and tubes surrounding the queen, and as Shepard and her friends approach the rachni matriarch, the dead krogan all as one open their mouths to speak in unison, spooking Shepard and Liara, EDI merely observing them with interest.
"Please... give us... silence..." the queen speaks through the dead krogan, like she had done those few years ago through the dead asari commando on Noveria. "End the... maddening sour note..."
Shepard exchanges glances with Liara. "Is she asking to free her or... uh, end her?" Morgan asks, Liara shrugging in reply.
"We... remember you..." the krogan speak again. "You helped us once. Will you... aid us again? The machines come... and take my children... they die alone, silent... far away."
"I thought our agreement was that the rest of the galaxy would never have to worry about the rachni again," Shepard remarks, still undecided.
"We... honor our promise. Retreated back through the relay..." the queen explains. "We started a new home... beautiful children... harmony. But... the machines came. They heard our song. Their shriek of sour notes drowned us out..."
"If I let you go, wouldn't the Reapers be able to simply gain control of you and your children again?" Morgan asks the question that has been plaguing her for a while.
"Machines took us by surprise... if freed, we will hide better, silence our songs until the machines retreat," the queen replies.
"Do the machines still control you?" Morgan asks. Bit of a stupid question, though I have to pose it. Can't imagine anyone replying 'yes' to me asking if they're indoctrinated, though.
"The machines never controlled us. We hear their voice, but if you free us from these shackles... the voices will be gone..." the dead krogan all as one stutter out the reply. The queen suddenly shakes violently in her restraints. "Wait! The children return!" she exclaims. "They will destroy us all! Release us!"
"Shepard! Are you done with that nest?" Grunt yells on the comms, it sounds like the krogan are hard pressed to hold their position. "We're getting a lot of movement here!"
"Do you have a way to retreat?" Shepard shouts back. "Grab your team and get out of there while you can, do you hear me? We're almost done here, no need to sacrifice any more of your krogan!"
"Understood, Shepard," Grunt replies. "See you on the other side!"
"Morgan, what are you planning?" Liara asks her, looking deeply worried. "Without the Aralakh Company to provide cover for us..."
"Free her from those shackles, now!" Shepard commands, opening fire on one of the Reaper restraints, breaking it. "She wants to get out of here and be free? I'm giving her that chance, and hopefully we can follow the queen outside."
"Thank you. We hate the machines," the krogan speak for one last time. "We will help in your fight against them. We will fight for our unborn children." The final restraint comes loose after EDI has burned the wires with a plasma blast, and the queen bounds forth ungracefully, heading for one of the wider openings leading out of the central chamber.
Shepard and the others waste no time in following the rachni queen. The released queen glides through the passages with incredible speed, considering her size, and Shepard finds it difficult to keep up with her. It is almost fortunate that they encounter some resistance that slows the queen down, or else they might have very easily become lost in these dark passages.
The body of the rachni queen takes up almost the entire tunnel and as such it is difficult to help her out with suppressive fire when they encounter opposition. The only way that Morgan finds herself able to shoot something is by dropping herself flat on the ground and aim through the queen's legs, looking to cripple or destroy some of her unruly children, committed to stop their mother from escaping her nest.
The queen is slowing down considerably, disgusting green fluid dripping down from her belly and staining the ground of the passages, making it slippery and time and time again Liara and Shepard find themselves slipping and sliding, falling even further behind the injured and bleeding queen. Fortunately, the exit is near and they feel relieved to finally see the daylight, emerging outside next to the injured rachni matriarch, staring at them gratefully.
"Will you be alright?" Liara asks, looking worriedly at the wounds on the rachni's chest and belly. "Can you get to the safety on your own?" The queen appears to be nodding in reply.
"In that case, best of luck to you, and try not to fall under the Reaper influence again," Shepard tells the queen, feeling rather pleased about how the mission has turned out. Hey, if she actually ends up helping us against the Reapers, then my decision on Noveria will be vindicated. Nobody's going to point fingers and laugh at me for that anymore!
"Perhaps in time she can send her children to help us with the Crucible," Liara says thoughtfully, the queen leaning a little lower towards them as if to listen more carefully. "The rachni are capable of wondrous technological achiev-"
But then Liara's words are disrupted by a sudden sound of gunfire very close by. Much to their shock and dismay, the queen's head shatters like a watermelon and the dead carcass drops down and almost crushes them, Shepard and her friends narrowly managing to roll away.
"Haha! Got her just in time!" Grunt roars cheerfully, arriving at the scene and proudly brandishing his shotgun. "Close call, eh, Shepard? Moments later and the Hero of Krogan would have been a goner!"
Still blinking from surprise, covered from head to toes with green and sticky rachni blood, Shepard brings a warning finger to her lips as she turns to both EDI and Liara. "...uh, yeah Grunt... she nearly got us..." she manages an awkward chuckle. "I'll be sure to tell everyone how you saved the hero of your people... from the evil rachni queen that was... totally about to kill us, yes."
"Come on, Shepard," Grunt jovially slaps her on the shoulder. "The Aralakh Company might be down to half strength, but our ancient enemy is dead! Come with us to the scout's camp, and we'll crack open a barrel of ryncol to celebrate!"
"...that actually sounds like an excellent idea right about now..." Shepard says, rubbing her temples, still a little dazed from what had just happened.
"I completely agree..." Liara nods, also looking deeply disturbed and very much in need of a stiff drink...
"So, Commander... I have been wondering," EDI says during the shuttle flight back to the Normandy, Liara and Shepard sprawled out on the floor of the shuttle, slightly green in their faces and not just from the rachni blood. "Does this qualify as a successful mission?"
"Oh... I don't know EDI..." Shepard manages a reply, struggling not to vomit. "Going through so much trouble to save the rachni from extinction... and then in the end, when everything has been taken care of... only to see them getting... uh, extincted... by an overexcited krogan with a shotgun? That's... fairly typical and predictable, really, considering my luck..."
"At least the rachni will no longer present any problems," EDI suggests helpfully. "The annals of history will not remember the pathetic picture before us right now, they will only speak of the famous Commander Shepard and her success at forever eliminating the ancient evil of the rachni from the galaxy."
"...despite her intentions to the contrary," Liara groans, looking to be in pain as she gently rubs her belly.
"And the reward for her heroic efforts was getting smashed on ryncol," Shepard nods weakly. "I don't know what that stuff is, but it's burning a hole in my stomach, it has to be something poisonous..."
"I feel the same..." Liara manages. "And Shepard... you smell terrible, like thousand dead bugs..."
"I'm pretty sure it's you, Stinky..." Shepard snaps back without any edge whatsoever.
"Uh, with all due respect, Commander, you both smell awful," Cortez butts in from the pilot's seat. "I'm not looking forward to cleaning the shuttle."
"Thank you, Lieutenant Cortez," EDI speaks up, looking smug.
"We'll need a shower after we return to the Normandy," Shepard suggests, looking at Liara's stained face, still finding it incredibly attractive under all the mud, blood and grime.
"A very, very long shower..." Liara replies, mustering a weak smile.
"Please, Commander, spare a thought for my poor circuits, they are not designed to process such disturbing images," EDI says in an overly serious voice, making them chuckle and wheeze all the way back to the Normandy.
The following morning, Shepard's first task is a visit to the medbay, where she is pleased to see Dr. Chakwas unceremoniously sending the relieved James and Garrus packing, declaring them finally fit for action. "Ah, Shepard," Chakwas greets her. "How are you feeling this morning?"
"Much better, thanks Karin," she replies.
"Now, what on earth possessed you to drink ryncol, Commander?" Dr. Chakwas immediately begins to scold her. "There is a reason they warn any non-krogan off that stuff, you know?"
"I just found that out for myself... boy, they weren't kidding when they described it as 'ground glass'," Shepard groans from the memory of the previous day. "And let's just say that the occasion demanded us to engage in this... questionable activity."
"We hear you celebrated your victory over the rachni together with the krogan commandos," James remarks, looking impressed. "No wonder there was ryncol involved. Me, I'll stick to cerveja, thanks. Not everyone's as crazy as you are, Lola."
"At least the giant spiders are gone for good, Shepard," Garrus tells her. "Glad you realized your decision on Noveria was a mistake. I always thought they were too dangerous to be left alive, and the Reapers proved just that."
"Uh... yeah," Shepard nods awkwardly. "Yeah, we realized our mistake and corrected it, that's exactly what we did down there."
"I'm telling you, Commander, if I never see another spider in my life, I'll die a contented turian. Unless..." Garrus winces as if in pain. "Unless they have spiders in the afterlife. Damn!"
"Only the good spiders, Garrus," Shepard grins, patting him on the shoulder. "Only the good ones."
"All spiders are evil," Garrus shakes his head as Shepard turns towards James.
"Lieutenant Vega," she says. "I have some news that concern you. A few days ago, I forwarded intel about Cerberus operations on Benning to Aria T'Loak, along with an invitation to take care of things there. She has agreed to strike against Cerberus, but as always I wish to send someone from the Normandy with her forces. Since I did not hear any complaints from Aria regarding your performance last time... uh, did I say something funny?" she wonders briefly, watching Vega chuckle, looking smug for some reason. "Anyway, as long as you agree, I've decided to send you with Aria's mercenaries. See if you can learn anything new about the intentions on Cerberus."
"Uh... sure, I can do that, Commander!" James struggles not to look overexcited. "Wouldn't want to disappoint an important ally like Aria, right?"
"Exactly so, James. I trust you will handle this assignment with your usual professionalism," Morgan adds, grinning slightly and watching James blush.
"That was a completely unnecessary comment, Lola," Vega shakes his head, pretending to be affronted.
"Just making sure everything goes right, James," Shepard smiles. "A Blue Suns transport will pick you up in a couple of hours, and after that Normandy will continue to Noveria."
"Noveria? Not that gloomy pit of despair again?" Garrus mutters. "What have we lost there? Don't tell me you're now wrecked with guilt and looking for another rachni queen's egg to hatch?"
"Uh... not quite, Garrus. I am promoting you to lead a squad consisting of yourself, EDI and Prothy against a Cerberus base on Noveria," Shepard explains. "Hackett wants to secure it for the Alliance, along with their advanced fighter squadron."
"I hate Noveria," Garrus mutters, looking unhappy.
"Hey, stop whining," Shepard admonishes him. "I'm giving you a highly important task!"
"Really? Why aren't you or Liara joining us then?" Garrus glares at her.
"Because we'll be sitting in the comfy chairs of the Port Hanshan restaurant, sipping drinks and observing the snowstorms outside," Shepard explains with a broad smile. "I hate Noveria! It's cold out there!"
Garrus groans and hobbles out of the medbay, shoulders slumped, followed by a much happier looking James. Shepard is about to leave as well, when Chakwas interrupts her. "Commander, a minute of your time, if you please," she says, urging Shepard to remain behind.
"What's the matter, Karin?" Morgan asks. "You want to poke around my much suffering body with some scans again or something?"
"No, not this time, Commander," Chakwas smiles. "I merely wanted to relay to you some things that the labs in the Shalta Wards have discovered about your implants. You might have already noticed yourself that your recovery time from injury is greatly reduced. Let's take your latest injury from Tuchanka. Anyone else would have had to spend several days in the medbay, followed by a week of rehab and strengthening the knee."
"Yeah, I understood that much, it seems extremely useful," Morgan replies, nodding.
"As long as you can avoid injuries that would kill you instantly, the implants should be able to compensate for most critical damage," Chakwas goes on to explain. "There is a limit to what these implants can do, but theoretically... they would also prevent things such as... aging."
"Say... what?" Morgan blinks in surprise. "As long as a Reaper doesn't incinerate me, I could live... what, forever? That's crazy, Doc."
"Yes, and it's not the case, I'm afraid," Chakwas explains. "While the implants rebuild you very effectively... they do not rebuild themselves. At some point they will fail, and you will begin to age normally, perhaps even at accelerated rate."
"How long, Karin."
"We're not sure yet, child. First estimates are... not more than two hundred years."
"Two hundred? That's... that's still shockingly good!" Morgan exclaims. "Wait till Liara hears about this..."
"Shepard, I would advise against telling her before we have the complete picture," Chakwas says gently. "The techs and doctors at the Shalta Wards lab are still running simulations."
"If there's anything I can do to speed this up, if you need any readings, do any tests..."
"I will ask if there is need, but for now they have everything they require," Chakwas smiles. "I hope that the news have not upset you, Commander."
"Upset me? No way, this is... excellent news, Karin!" Shepard exclaims. "Excellent news indeed, now I just need to remember one small thing..."
"What's that?"
"Not to get blasted by a Reaper..."