It wasn't long before Kacey, Jacob and Miranda were engaged in another fight with the Blue Suns, who were stationed behind a makeshift barricade. Bullets flew through the air as thermal clips dropped to the ground at a rapid pace. Kacey remained hidden behind a bench as a bullet grazed past her left knee. Working in tandem with Miranda, Kacey was quick to dispatch the mercenaries. The trio were quick to circle around the barrier to avoid any more contact with the Blue Suns, a group that Kacey was getting fed up with. As they opened another door, they found themselves in the middle of another gunfight between the Blue Suns and vorcha. While Jacob and Miranda held the line downstairs, Kacey snuck upstairs and drew her sniper rifle, carefully picking off vorcha until the last one went down.

"It seems we've crossed into vorcha territory." Miranda mused.

"The Blue Suns have given up a lot of turf. That doesn't bode well for them." Jacob mused.

Kacey opened the final door on the far side, where the word 'Clinic' was plastered on the wall in a soft pink, neon light. Kacey bolted down the stairs and turning right, stopping to wait for the Cerberus agents. Once they caught up, the trio turned the corner where a singular guard was waiting behind a glass wall, standing guard.

"No funny business once you're in the clinic." The guard said, "Unless you want to deal with those mechs."

Miranda scoffed as they entered the clinic. Several patients were seated on either the floor or in one of the few seats available. Coughs and splutters filled the air as patients waited for a doctor or for medicine. As Jacob and Miranda observed the patients, Kacey made her way to the front desk.

"Hey, do you know where I can find Professor Mordin Solus?" She asked politely.

"Mordin's around here somewhere," The receptionist replied, "Try down the hall."

Kacey thanked the receptionist and walked down the hall with Jacob and Miranda in tow. As they approached a room by the end of the hall, Kacey could hear voices.

"Professor – we're running low on cipoxidin." One voice said.

"Use malanarin. Plenty on hand. Almost as good." A salarian voice replied, "Causes cramping in batarians. Supplement with butemerol."

Kacey turned the corner and entered the room to see a human talking to who she assumed was Mordin.

"Malanarin and butemerol. Got it."

"Cenozine is the catalyst." Mordin mused, "Bonds to genetic markers. Hard to find. Expensive to mass produce. Why not heplacore? Too unstable. Inconsistent results. Demozane better option. No. Demozane toxic to humans. Not an option. Not an option."

"Wait. Is this the same Mordin that is on the wall?" Kaidan asked hesitantly.

"Yes." Kacey replied, "The same one that gave his life to cure the genophage. He would often ramble like that. Always willing to try and find an adequate solution to any problem."

"Professor Mordin Solus?" Kacey asked. The salarian turned to face the commander and scanned her with his omni-tool. Kacey grew tense.

"Hmm. Don't recognize you from area." Mordin replied, "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 with secrets. Someone like me. Maybe for treatment? Elevated levels of—"

"Relax, Mordin." Kacey quickly interrupted him, trying to keep her voice calm and steady, "I'm Commander Shepard, and I came here to find you. I'm on a critical mission, and I need your help."

"Mission?" Mordin questioned, "What mission? No. Too busy. Clinic understaffed. Plague spreading too fast. Who sent you?"

"Ever heard of an organisation called Cerberus?"

"Crossed paths on occasion. Thought they only worked with humans. Why request salarian aid?"

"I'm on a mission to shut down the Collectors, and I need your help."

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

"I'll get in and deal with the vorcha." Kacey replied, "Leave it to me."

A screeching sound cut through the air followed by some spluttering noises echoed around the room, catching everyone off guard.

"What the hell was that?" Jacob asked.

"Vorcha have shut down environmental systems. Trying to kill everyone." Mordin said, looking at his omni-tool, "Need to get power back on before district suffocates. Here, take plague cure. Also, bonus in good faith."

Mordin handed Kacey a vial of some odd liquid and a fancy handgun.

"Weapon from dead Blue Suns mercs. May come in handy against vorcha. One more thing, Daniel. One of my assistants. Went into vorcha territory. Looking for victims. Hasn't come back."

"I'll keep an eye out."

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

"I found a batarian plague victim near the entrance to the neighbourhood." Kacey said, "Can you send you someone to help him?"

"Risky. Blue Suns, vorcha still battling. District not secure. See what I can do. Now restore power. Release cure. Will be waiting here for your return."

…

After leaving the clinic through the back door, the trio immediately encountered several vorcha standing guard. Thankfully the trio had managed to get the jump on the vorcha and dispatch them quickly, with the fight ending once one unlucky blew up thanks to the gas canister on its back.

"You'd think with how easy it is to blow up that the vorcha wouldn't wear those canisters on their backs." Kacey said.

"They're hardly smart enough to figure that out." Miranda pointed out, "But I suppose the Alliance expects every enemy to be as intelligent as the geth, right Commander?"

"Well clearly you know nothing about the Alliance," Kacey replied.

"No? You clearly know nothing about Cerberus."

"Krogan inbound!" Jacob shouted over the pair.

Kacey dived into cover to avoid the large spread of the korgan's shotgun while giving Miranda a look that said the conversation wasn't over. Switching over to armour-piercing rounds, she mowed down the krogan with ease after Jacob used his biotic to limit the krogan's movement. Kacey immediately headed upstairs in silence, avoiding Miranda's icy glare. 'What does she want with me?' Kacey thought to herself, 'Why-? Never mind, I've got to stay focused.'

By the time the scarlet haired commander reached to top of the second flight of stairs, she heard shouting. Uneasy, nervous, panicked shouting. Kacey instructed Miranda and Jacob to cover either side of the door while she herself carefully opened it. Inside the room, three batarians had cornered a human medic, with one grabbing the human's collar tightly.

"Daniel?" Kacey whispered to herself. It must be.

"Please," the maroon-haired man begged, "I'm telling you the truth. I work for Mordin at the clinic. I came here to help you."

"We know you're spreading the plague virus." The batarian leader spat, "We saw the vials in your bag!"

"No! Those vials contain the cure. Please…you have to believe me!"

Kacey gave the pair the signal and all three entered the room, guns drawn on the leader.

"Maybe we should cut off your fingers." The leader mused, "That should loosen your—"

"Look out!" Another batarian called, pointing their gun directly at Kacey.

The leader took a quick glance at Kacey before letting Daniel go, only to hold him at gun point.

"Don't move!" the leader shouted, "One more step, and we kill your friend!"

"Nobody needs to die." Kacey replied calmly, "I know you're scared. Of the vorcha. Of the plague. But this man isn't to blame. If he was spreading the virus, why would he come into vorcha territory? They're immune."

"She's right," One of the guards said, "It doesn't make any sense."

The leader pondered over Kacey's words, "If we release the prisoner, we can go?"

"You have my word on it."

The leader lowered his gun, "Let him go." The others followed his example.

"You got what you wanted, human." The leader said, "Are we free to go?"

"We had a deal." Kacey lowered her own gun along with Jacob, while Miranda did so reluctantly.

"Human nobility." The leader mused, "I didn't know such a thing existed."

Miranda scoffed as the three batarians quickly left the area. Daniel quickly regained his composure as he approached Kacey.

"Thank you." He said, "I thought they were going to…to kill me. Did Mordin send you to find me?"

"Yes," Kacey replied, "The professor could really use your help right now. He's got too many patients and not enough volunteers."

"Yeah, okay." Daniel replied nervously, "I'll go right away. Thanks again. I owe you…well…everything."

Daniel quickly bolted it as he ran back towards the clinic. Kacey began walk towards the plant as Miranda caught up to Kacey.

"You were quite…merciful in that ordeal." Miranda said, "How do you know they won't become a problem later?"

"I don't." was Kacey's reply, "But what I do know is that you can't just open fire on everything that moves, or anyone that's on the battlefield. Not everyone is your enemy."

"But how do you know they can be trusted?"

"How do you know if they can't?"

Miranda stayed silent. Kacey quickly marched ahead until she saw a huge wall with several fans adorned on the front of it.

"That must be the plant." Jacob said.

Several red lights pierced across the sky. One aimed directly at Miranda's forehead.

"Shit!" Kacey shouted, "Snipers!"

Kacey pushed Miranda out the way before the bullet hit and quickly shot the attacker. Before Miranda could respond, more snipers began firing at their position including two vorcha with rockets.

"Oh, that's so not fair." Kacey joked as she used her own sniper rifle to pick off the enemy, "Jacob! Miranda! Head down those steps and clear out the vorcha while I handle those snipers!"

"Right away, Commander!" Jacob shouted as he bolted round the corner and down the steps, staying out of the sniper's sight. Miranda followed Jacob, using her biotics while Jacob shot the vorcha.

Kacey quickly picked off the two vorcha with rocket launchers, before working her away through each sniper on the field. She made sure to hit each one in the head quickly and efficiently. She could feel the air becoming thinner with each passing second. She quickly shot the last sniper right between the eyes when she heard the heavy footsteps of a krogan thunder through the air.

Kacey didn't waste any time running around the corner to use her shotgun against the krogan. Three close proximity shots and a punch in the face did the trick as the krogan fell to the ground with a large thud. Kacey led the pair inside the plant where a few more vorcha were waiting. After killing them, the trio bolted towards their destination.

"We're close to the environmental controls." Jacob said, "Let's get that cure in, then hit the fans."

As Kacey opened the door, an infuriated vorcha ran towards them before stopping in the middle of the room.

"You no come here." The vorcha growled, "We shut down machines, break fans! Everyone choke and die! Then Collectors make us strong!"

"Nice to have that confirmed." Kacey said, "What do the Collectors want?"

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

Kacey ducked to avoid the rocket as Miranda shot the vorcha wielding it. Bullets flew through the air as Kacey, Miranda and Jacob killed every single vorcha that was in the room.

"I've scanned the room." EDI chimed in, "The central control system is in an alcove in the centre of the back wall. You can inject the cure and re-initialize the systems there."

With Miranda focused on the last vorcha, Kacey ran towards the control unit and injected the cure.

"Cure's in." Kacey said.

"Once we get the fans going, we should be good." Jacob said.

"Let me guess," Kaidan said, "Loads of vorcha appeared to stop you from turning the fans on?"

"Of course," Kacey laughed, "What else is new?"

"Cover me!" Kacey shouted, "I'll go and turn on the fans!"

"Roger that Commander!" Miranda replied.

Kacey darted to the right, diving in and out of cover, shooting at every vorcha in her path with pin-point accuracy. After running down the hall, Kacey quickly turned the first fan on.

"One down, one to go!" Kacey muttered to herself.

She dodged a grenade as she ran right past the vorcha and threw one of her own at them. She darted down the hall, narrowly avoiding the rocket that breezed right past her from a krogan blocking the second fan. She drew her grenade launcher and shot two grenades at the krogan, killing him immediately.

"Phew!" Kacey said as she turned on the fan, "Alright! Time to go back to the clinic!"

…

"Environmental systems engaged." Mordin said as he looked at his computer, "Airborne viral levels dropping. Patients improving. Vorcha retreating. Well done, Shepard. Thank you."

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

"I'm not like that." Kacey replied, "I made a promise to spare them if they let you go. I honour my promises."

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

Daniel looked at Mordin with shock and anger.

"Professor? How can you say that?" he said, "You're a doctor. You believe in helping people."

"Lots of ways to help people. Sometimes heal patients. Sometimes execute dangerous people. Either way helps. Go check on the patients. Lots of work to do. Think about what I said."

"Quite the…interesting philosophy there." Kaidan said.

"Yeah, Mordin was a bit…uh…fucked up." Kacey said, "Then again, he was the one who made the sure the Normandy and all of us survived our suicide mission."

"Guess I can't fault him for that."

Daniel quickly left as Mordin focused his attention on Kacey.

"Good kid. Bit naïve. He'll learn." Mordin explained, "Letting him take over clinic. Should be able to handle it now that vorcha are gone."

"Are you ready to stop the Collectors?"

"Yes. Unexpected to be working with Cerberus. Many surprises."

"Same here, Mordin." Kacey replied.

…

"Welcome to the Normandy, Professor. It's an honour to have you on board." Jacob said as both he and Mordin entered the Briefing Room, where Kacey was waiting.

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

Kacey didn't know whether to laugh or not. The thinly veiled sarcasm in Mordin's voice about Cerberus nearly had her in knots.

"You and me both." Kaidan laughed, "Is that what he said?"

"Yeah, under quite a bit of sarcasm too."

"You're very well informed." Kacey said, trying hard not to laugh.

"Salarian government well connected. Espionage experts. Had top level clearance once. Retired now. Still hear things. Informed on name only. No knowledge of man behind, anti-alien reputation listed as problematic."

"Yeah? Well, don't kid yourself, Professor. Humans still come first in the Illusive Man's eyes." Kacey replied, "But this mission is too big for them to handle alone."

"The Collectors are abducting human colonists out on the fringes of Terminus Space." Jacob explained.

"Not simple abductions." Mordin mused, "Wouldn't need me for simple."

"Entire colonies disappear without a trace." Jacob continued, "No distress signals are sent out. There are no signs of any kind of attack. There is virtually no evidence that anything unusual happened at all…expect that every man, woman and child is gone."

"Gas, maybe?" Mordin suggested, "No. Spreads too slow. Airborne virus? No. slower than gas. Drugged water supply? No. Effects not simultaneous."

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

"Yes. Of course. Analyse the samples. Going to need a lab."

"There is a fully equipped lab on the Combat Deck, Professor Solus." EDI said, "If you find anything lacking, please place a requisition order."

"Who's that?" Mordin asked, "Pilot? No. Synthesised voice. Simulated emotional inflections. Could it be…no. Maybe. Have to ask. Is that an AI?"

"Yeah." Kacey replied.

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

"The Collectors have taken tens of thousands of colonists." Jacob said, "We'll do whatever it takes to get them back."

"Yes of course. Can't risk being captured like colonists. Need to identify, neutralise technology. Need samples." Mordin replied, "Which way to lab?"

A/N Thank You KroganSmash and Chibilnu20 for the faves/follows.

Next chapter is gonna take us to Gellix to rescue the ex-Cerberus Scientists and reunite with Jacob.

Thanks for all your support and which crew member do think Shepard should get next? Jack or Grunt?

Thanks for reading. Please Rate and review.