Collapse the Light into Earth - Porcupine Tree
Scientific Log of Doctor Mordin Solus
Entry 15,438 - Normandy time 1545 hours July 18, 2185
Cured virus on Omega. Saved many lives. Disappointing lack of moral gratification. Met Commander Shepard. Strong-willed, and excellent soldier. Was recruited onto Normandy vessel. Cerberus scientific facilities impressive. Looking forward to studying Collectors. Current data limited. Will write extensive paper upon mission completion. Solus out.
Mordin heard the door opening to his lab as he finished his log entry. He wasn't surprised to see that it was Shepard.
"Shepard, what can I do for you?"
"EDI? Privacy level Alpha. Same threat as before: returned to Illusive Man in pieces."
"Understood, Commander. Logging you out."
Shepard approached Mordin's desk, his gaze never leaving his console. "I can't trust Cerberus," she said, her voice low, "but I desperately need your help with some research so I'm going to have to risk them overhearing us."
"But Collector research remains top priority?" Mordin inquired, his fingers flying over his keyboard.
"This will be for the moment. But with your abilities, it shouldn't take you long. I do need to be sure that everything that happens in this lab is strictly confidential between you and me."
"Patient-doctor confidentiality, Shepard. Won't tell a soul."
"Good. As you may or may not know, Cerberus reconstructed me after my death."
"I'm aware. Very impressive work."
"Well when they had me on the verge of life and death they made some... changes. They improved my biotics and combat skills, and changed some of my facial features." She lowered her voice even further. "But when we were out on our first mission, I was hit. Grazed with a bullet on the hand. When I looked at the wound it was... regenerating."
Mordin's looked up from his computer, his expression changing to one of surprise while his hand flew to his chin. "Regeneration? Impossible. Many failed attempts in past. Desire to replicate krogan redundant nervous system. Resulted in patient death. May I test it?"
"Do what you need to do, Doctor."
"Have a seat," he said, gesturing to the examination table in the far corner of the lab. He dug for a syringe and small scalpel. "Was pain experienced on impact?"
"Everything felt normal until it started healing itself."
"Good." He stood in front of Shepard, pulling her forearm straight. "Injection will numb area. Will make small incision with scalpel, then record results with omni-tool."
Shepard watched her arm with an expression of apprehension as he first numbed the area, waited a few seconds, and then made the incision. It was small, but she bled slightly. When he wiped away the blood with a small piece of gauze, the wound had disappeared.
Mordin stepped back, his hand on his forehead. He stared at her arm for a minute in silence before returning to his desk to pull out more tools. "Don't want to be morbid, but must conduct further testing. Needs more damage."
He turned to face the commander, his pistol in his hand. "May I shoot you?"
She laughed lightly. "Never thought someone would be asking my permission, but of course."
He approached her again with a larger needle, which numbed her entire arm. She lifted her arm and dropped it back onto the table, feeling like the entire limb had disappeared. Satisfied that it would be painless, she said, "Shoot away."
Mordin waved his omni-tool at the doors to ensure that they were locked and sound-proof before cocking his gun and aiming it at his Commander's outstretched arm.
"Excellent first impression of Shepard. Shooting her for science."
Mordin's aim was true, and Shepard jumped when she heard the shot but did not feel it enter her arm. Mordin approached her and held her arm in his long-fingered hands while he studied the wound. It remained still for a moment before the skin began to crawl inwards towards the centre of the wound, and within a minute the gunshot wound was completely invisible.
"Incredible," Mordin muttered. "Absolutely incredible. DNA samples required for further analysis. May I?" Shepard nodded and Mordin ran to his desk, taking out an empty syringe and taking a small amount of blood from her arm.
"Will need a day to run tests. Comm wave will be sent on completion."
"Thank you, Mordin. Your help is greatly appreciated. We're going to set our course for Purgatory to recruit our next team member. If your research here is completed I'd like you on my ground team."
"Excellent. I'll get to work. Speak with you then."
Shepard exited the lab and made her way to the bridge to notify Joker of their course.
Scientific Log of Doctor Mordin Solus
Entry 15,440 - Normandy time 0250 hours July 19, 2185
Cerberus discovery is phenomenal. Astronomical. Must speak to Shepard immediately. Her body. Deserves to know. Solus out.
"Shepard. Please wake up. Mordin Solus is requesting to speak with you immediately, he says it's a matter of the utmost importance."
Shepard groaned as the lights in her cabin turned on, temporarily blinding her. "What time is it, EDI?"
"0324 hours, commander."
"Don't salarians sleep?"
"For only about an hour a day, Shepard."
She sighed and pulled herself into a sitting position, wiping the sleep out of her eyes. "Tell him I'll be there in ten minutes." She saw her omni-tool was flashing, notifying her of 24 messages from Mordin. She wiped her eyes again before standing up and making her way to the bathroom.
Glancing in the mirror revealed that she looked exhausted, her eyes red with large bags underneath. She had been up until 0100 hours catching up with her mother and father, and although she was grateful to have an opportunity to speak with them she wished now that she had cut the conversation off earlier. As she brushed her teeth her stomach rumbled loudly, and she vowed to visit the mess on her way to the lab.
She considered taking a shower to wake herself up, but with Mordin's impatience the news must be of dire importance. Instead, she changed into her Cerberus civvies and made her way down to the mess, closing her eyes and almost falling asleep on the elevator.
The mess was blissfully empty due to being in the middle of the night shift, and Shepard walked like a zombie towards the fridge. She was disappointed by the lack of selection, and made a mental note to procure better rations with so many biotics on the ship. She settled for a chicken salad sandwich and a glass of orange juice.
The narrowing light from the refrigerator fell in the direction of the main battery as she closed the door, and she raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "EDI, is Officer Vakarian currently in the main battery?"
"Yes, Commander."
"Is he awake?"
"No, Commander."
She pondered a moment before deciding that it was best to leave him sleeping and discuss Mordin's discovery in the morning; she had no desire to invoke the wrath of a sleeping turian.
She made her way back to the elevator, taking a bite out of her sandwich as she did. Although the bread was stale and the chicken salad soggy, as the elevator slowly climbed to the second floor she found both her energy and her curiosity returning.
The lab door slid open, and Shepard saw that Mordin was restlessly pacing across the lab. His left arm was draped across his midsection, propping up his right arm with his hand at his mouth muting his muttering. A scientific genius at work.
"Shepard! Glad you're here. Much to discuss. Come to my desk."
He walked so quickly Shepard had to jog to keep up with him before he turned on his microscope. He gestured for her to look into the scope.
"This is sample of cells in your bloodstream. As you know, there are two types of blood cells found in humans: red and white. Red carries oxygen, white heals and protects." Shepard could feel Mordin buzzing with excitement. "Observe."
He took a small needle to poke into the petri dish and stirred it around. Several of the cells in the petri dish appeared broken from the process. Almost immediately after the disturbance, hundreds of cells, smaller than either the white or red blood cells, repaired all of the cells which were damaged before disappearing.
"This is a new type of cell. More efficient at repairs than white blood cell. Moves incredibly quickly and reproduces through cellular mitosis at an unusually rapid rate. These new cells have been programmed to repair damaged cells of any other type."
She looked away from the microscope to see that Mordin was pacing again. He looked thrilled, but slightly agitated. "I've run hundreds of simulations. Regardless of degree of damage, and regardless of how vital the organ is, the cells will repair. They reproduce so quickly the body is never short of these cells."
His pacing ceased. "But there's more."
Shepard could tell that this was the reason he woke her at 3 in the morning. "The new type of cells repair damaged cells, cells affected by bacteria or virus, and aging cells."
Shepard's brow furrowed. She could see what direction he was heading, but she was waiting for his grand conclusion.
"In layman's terms, Shepard, you can't die from injury, disease, or age."
Shepard's eyes went wide with disbelief, and she felt her whole body become so light that she collapsed weakly onto the ground. Her heart was pounding in her chest and her lungs were begging for air to keep up with her heart.
Her mind began racing. She couldn't begin to fathom the implications of this discovery. She rested her head in her hands as she felt the weight of the knowledge bear down on her.
She gazed up at Mordin, her mouth gaping, and the two of them exchanged wide-eyed glances.
"What do we do, Mordin?" she said softly after several minutes of contemplation. "The ramifications-"
"-are astronomical," he finished. "We need to find out how Cerberus obtained this tech."
"I don't even know where to begin to think I'm so shocked."
"Take some time. Decide where we go from here. I'm right behind you, Shepard. But more tests need to be run. More simulations. Come see me tomorrow."
Shepard stood slowly and made her way to the door, her body changing from feeling incredibly light to incredibly heavy.
What the fuck do I do now?