HERS

A series of messages between Rachel and Kaidan

Rachel Shepard: Hey, we made it back to Tuchanka. Wrex says hi and asked me if you still smell like sex. I told him he was a dirty old man. He laughed and said curing the genophage will make him a dirty and horny old man. God, maybe this is a mistake? More Wrexes running around? J/K ;)

Kaidan Alenko: Don't you think there'd have to be sex to smell like it? Tell Wrex hi and that I smell as pure as the driven rain.

RS: I gave you the opportunity to change that after your ceremony. Your loss.

KA: Don't remind me. In all seriousness, you found a cure for the genophage?

RS: I didn't. A salarian I worked with to take out the Collectors named Mordin Solus did. He actually gave us some sort of inoculation against their little bugs. That's why we weren't frozen on Horizon.

KA: That's amazing! A salarian fixing what they started? I didn't know that could happen. Why are you doing this?

RS: Well, it's a convoluted way to get turian support. They want the krogan to help fight on Palaven. Krogan want a cure. Right now, I'm just sitting in a damn truck. We're supposed to… Shit! I have to go.

KA: Rachel? Are you ok?

Some hours pass…

RS: Ok, so I just saw some of the most amazing architecture on Tuchanka. I never knew the krogan had it in them. Apparently, they did, millennia ago. Riding in a truck again. There's a Reaper sitting near this Shroud thing.

KA: A REAPER? Good God, Rachel, you act like it's no big deal!

RS: Hopefully, it isn't. Wrex told us about this giant thresher maw and we're going to try to pit them against each other. So I hope that plan works.

KA: Holy hell, Rachel. A thresher maw too? You know I'm not going to be work now. Do you have a plan B?

RS: Not really. It'll be fine, Kaidan. Talk to you soon. Gotta go.

A few more hours…

KA: Rachel, I just need to know you are ok. I'm trying my best not to worry.

Another hour passes…

RS: I'm fine, Kaidan. The genophage is cured, Wrex is happy, but we lost Mordin in the process. I hate war.

KA: I'm sorry, what happened?

RS: Well, it's a long story. Short version…The salarians sabotaged this Shroud years ago in case something like this would happen. Mordin had to go up and fix it. He said it had to be him. Somebody else might have gotten it wrong. He was a weird guy, but he was a friend. Damn, I'm going to miss him.

KA: When are you coming to the Citadel again? I have a few things to tell you in person.

RS: Soon, we're going to get some stuff settled here and then head there to load up on supplies.

HIS

Kaidan walked into Councilor Udina's office. Being a Spectre and having those resources was pretty interesting, but feeling like Udina's gofer was a pain in the ass. He had only been doing this for a little over a week and his patience was already wearing thin.

Udina was sitting at his desk, looking intently at his console. "Alenko, I'm glad you're here," he said without looking up. "There is something you need to see. After what happened on Mars, you will find this enlightening."

His brow furrowed, Kaidan stood behind Udina as he started an audio file. Shepard's voice was unmistakable.

"If we stick together, we'll make it." Then a voice Kaidan had come to recognize. The Illusive Man.

"I knew we brought you back for a reason. I've never seen a better leader." The filed faded out.

Kaidan ran his fingers through his hair. "This is awfully vague, Councilor. What are you trying to show me?"

"I'm trying to show you that you cannot trust Shepard," said Udina. "She is still with Cerberus. Probably as a covert agent now, even more so than she was before."

"You've been showing me these things since I've started. Not one of them had any real hard evidence to support what you are saying!"

"It isn't about what each of them say or don't say. This last one was dated just over a week ago. Right before your induction. You have to see this. It's a pattern, Alenko. There may not be enough to convict, but there is enough to doubt."

"Fine. I'll keep it in mind." I wish I didn't have to. There's some smattering of truth there. I can't believe she'd be talking to the Illusive Man still! She said she was done with them. She told me…shit. Why do I let that bastard Udina get in my head? I need to hear about this from her.

Kaidan pulled open his omni-tool, seeing Shepard had just sent him another message. He typed out his own quickly. When are you coming to the Citadel? I have a few things to tell you in person. She was upset about her friend. Kaidan reasoned it wasn't the best time to talk about Udina or Cerberus.

A message came quickly back. She'll be here soon. Then we can sort this mess out.