Samantha and Machiko moved through the Cerberus hideout, quickly and efficiently clearing the facility. Once they made sure they had cleared out the last of the Cerberus operatives, Samantha moved to bring the power back online, while Machiko approached their central computer. The lights flickered to life, and Machiko inserted her copy of Serina into the computer, and the AI quickly broke through Cerberus's security measures, copying all relevant data. Everything from personnel files and correspondence to other base locations.
Once she was finished, she shut down the surveillance hardware, and erased the footage, as well as the original versions of her copied data, leaving no digital trace of what happened here. If Cerberus tried to investigate what occurred, the weapons Sam and Chiko used would leave them thinking it was the Alliance that had attacked their facilities. Probably. After all, Jack Harper wasn't an idiot, and there were only so many outfits in this galaxy that could hit Cerberus without leaving any evidence.
Machiko retrieved Serina, and inserted her into her Ancilla, and then the two Hunters moved swiftly to the exfil location, fifty kilometers to the west.
It took the pair nearly half an hour to reach the LZ, where they'd left their drop-ship covered in assorted foliage to hide it from any curious eyes. They performed one last sweep to ensure they weren't being watched, then entered. Samantha sighed, and gripped the handrail above her head.
Machiko turned to look at her as the ship took off. "Something wrong?"
Sam shrugged. "No, it's just… you know how it feels killing humans." She said dispassionately.
Chiko nodded. For Hunters, killing a human felt like winning a race against a man with no legs, or a wrestling match against a four year old. There was no challenge to it, and it just left one feeling rotten inside. They didn't even have a chance to defend themselves.
Everyone in Artemis was waiting for the moment they could engage their true enemy in this galaxy. Once the Reapers arrived, they didn't have to waste time with defenseless children, they could do what they had their bodies destroyed and remade to do: fighting monsters. They wouldn't have to worry about the moral ramifications of killing a husk, or a collector, or whatever other mindless automatons the Reapers utilized, they could simply do their job, guilt free.
But until then, they would have to deal with people who would make the coming conflict far more difficult. Which was why Cerberus had to be destroyed.
"Ready?" Nora asked.
"Ready." Laura said. No sooner had the words left her mouth, than alarms began to screech, and the lights on the station shifted from the harsh, sickly yellow to an angry red.
There were panicked screams and shouts from the civilian population as Omega's emergency procedures were activated. Serina had taken control of nearly every facet of the station. Camera's, doors, elevators, anything that could be used by their target to aid her in her escape.
The two Hunters lunged towards the bulkhead doors that served as the entrance to Afterlife, sprinting past the Elcor bouncer, Nora barely paying him enough mind to incapacitate him with a volt gun.
They slammed their claws into the seam of the bulkhead, and pulled. The massive metal doors shrieked, and groaned as it resisted the several thousand pound titans that pried it apart, but it yielded all the same. Laura rolled her shoulders as she released her grip on the bulkhead, and she advanced down the short hallway, Nora close behind, the pair passing the shocked and terrified civilians that were trapped inside.
Nora fired two shots with laser-like precision, killing the two guards standing on the other side of the hallway as Laura rushed the door. She slammed her shoulder into the door, leaving a massive dent in the metal.
Laura growled, and brought her leg to her chest, before launching the limb forward, striking the door with such force it nearly ripped the door off its hinges.
Panicked civilians were running aimlessly through the club like chickens with their heads cut off, and as Laura and Nora entered, Serina hacked the weapons of the clubs guards, tricking their systems into thinking they'd overheated, and preventing them from firing on the two Hunters, but more importantly, preventing them from shooting near the civilians.
A Krogan charged Nora, clad in heavy armor, and roaring a challenge. Rather than meet the Krogan head on, Nora smoothly stepped aside as the Krogan rushed her, and grabbed the aliens jaw, yanking back hard. The Krogan's legs swung out from under him as his forward momentum clashed with the sudden opposing force on his skull.
Nora shoved her claws into his throat as he fell, and savagely tore several deep gashes through his neck as she yanked them free, splattering her obsidian armor with orange gore.
Laura raised her volt gun, trying to take aim at Aria's guards, her finger hovering over the trigger as she tried to line up shots, but the civilians running to and fro made getting a clear shot impossible. She snorted, and holstered her weapon. She and Nora would have to fight hand to hand with Aria's crew if they wanted to avoid civilian casualties.
With their guns rendered inoperable, Aria's security drew knives, batons, anything they could use as a weapon, and rushed the pair.
A Batarian lunged at Nora, wielding a stun baton that could stop a Krogan. Nora didn't even bother blocking or avoiding the strike, and when the baton made contact, her armor began to absorb the electricity being pumped into it. She huffed in mild amusement, and yanked the stick out of the Batarian's hand, before shoving the device through one of his eye sockets.
Laura "slapped" a Turian brandishing a knife that charged her, making contact with the man's jaw, her hook like claws tearing it off his skull. As they tore their way through Aria's guards, the Asari stared with unbridled rage at the two, before an escape hatch opened behind her. She gazed at the escape route for a moment.
Aria T'loak was one of the most well connected people in the galaxy, and she'd heard plenty about what these freaks were capable of. Enough to know that she couldn't take two of them, especially when they had the initiative. She snarled, and spun on her heel, before climbing down the ladder.
Unbeknownst to Aria, her retreat didn't go unnoticed. Laura crouched, and jumped ten meters to Aria's perch, and when she landed, she effortlessly blew past the few bodyguards there, chasing Laura entered the escaped tunnel, the entrance sealed shut behind her.
Aria hadn't made it far before she felt the floor beneath her trembling under her pursuers footsteps. Knowing that she couldn't run, she turned, ready to fight.
Aria scowled at the lone Hunter that towered over her. "There's only one rule on Omega." She snarled as biotic energy began to swirl around her. "Don't fuck with Aria. And you've done nothing but fuck with me since you stepped foot on my station." Aria lashed out, and Laura was flung effortlessly through the air, slamming into a nearby wall. "And I'm going to peel the meat from your bones." Aria finished as she flung Laura into the other wall.
The Asari smirked as she unleashed a biotic assault on her prey, obliterating Laura's body, tearing flesh, and rupturing organs, leaving nothing behind but her bones. Aria relaxed, believing Laura was dead, and she was about to turn to leave, when she saw something that made her stomach turn. Laura's body began to repair itself, muscle and sinew writhing like eels as they grew back, flesh knitting itself back together before Aria's very eyes.
She grinned sadistically. At first, she thought simply killing her attackers would be enough, but now… having a pair of examples she could torture endlessly would guarantee nobody else would get ideas. Biotic energy surged again as Aria renewed her barrage, tearing holes in Laura's body. Holes which quickly healed.
Aria's sadistic satisfaction quickly turned to frustration, then anger, as her opponent refused to stay down. Each attack, effective though it was, failed to put the creature down. It kept regenerating, and the door behind Aria remained locked. She couldn't run, even when it became clear she had to if she wanted to survive.
With each new biotic attack, Aria's muscles screamed in protest, and her head felt like it was being peeled apart. The pain and exhaustion, mixed with the dawning realization of what was happening only served to fuel her rage, resulting in her expending more and more energy. Until finally, her body gave out.
Aria collapsed, falling to her hands and knees, her chest heaving as she struggled to breath. She heard the sounds of the monster she was trapped with healing, and then footsteps.
She gazed up, willing her gaze to kill the freak as it stepped towards her. The hallway was stained with her blood and viscera, but Laura herself looked entirely unscathed as she activated her plasma blade. "For what it's worth, that really hurt." Laura commented dryly.
Aria laughed, in spite of her impending death. As far as dying went, getting to torture your executioner was a pretty satisfying way to go. As Laura raised her blade, she saw Aria produce a cylindrical object. The grenade detonated in one final fuck you.
Shepard stepped out of the warmth of her shower, and dried herself off as quickly as possible. The Normandy was due to arrive at Tuchanka shortly, and she had just enough time to squeeze in a much needed shower, before she spent the next few hours in cumbersome armor on the Krogan's hostile homeworld.
She quickly geared up, and took the elevator to the second deck, where she found Mordin, Kara, and Rocket already waiting. Kara nodded in greeting, and Shepard raised a hand. "You two coming along?"
"I heard you were headed to Tuchanka. Which means Krogan. Lot's of Krogan."
Shepard nodded. "So we'll need heavy hitters. EDI, tell Jack to gear up and meet us in the shuttle bay."
"Yes, Commander." The AI responded.
Shepard and the rest of her assembled team climbed into the elevator and took it to the fifth deck. She noticed Mordin shifting uneasily, and she couldn't tell if it was due to the cramped space, or their mission. "You good Mordin?"
The Salarian jerked his head as Shepard drew him out of his stupor. "Hm? Yes, yes. Just thinking. Krogan lack technological and scientific knowledge to cure Genophage. Must have had outside help."
Without moving her head, Shepard shifted her eyes to gaze at Kara, standing in the corner. She really hoped it wasn't her.
The elevator came to a halt, and everyone filed out, Rocket bringing up the rear. They found Jack already waiting, giving her shotgun a once over before holstering it.
"What's the job? Jack asked.
"Mordin believes that the Krogan are close to creating a cure for the Genophage. We are to find out if the rumor is true." Kara said matter of factly.
"Is that a good or bad thing?" Jack asked as everyone climbed into the Kodiak.
"Depends on who you ask." Rocket commented, glaring at Mordin out of the corner of his eye.
"Genophage was necessary. Krogan expansion and aggression during rebellions unstoppable. Genophage reduced Krogan birth rates to more manageable sizes. Cure would result in resurgence of Krogan, numbers would grow unchecked, would pose to great a threat to galaxy."
"The Reapers would be a bigger threat. If we want to stand a chance against them, we'll need the Krogan's cooperation." Kara said dryly.
"What about after the Reapers? Won't the Krogan be a problem?" Shepard asked.
Kara was about to say it was bold of Shepard to assume any of them would be alive to see "after" the Reaper invasion, but she caught the words in her throat. "Modifying the Genophage to keep Krogan birth rates more manageable would be necessary, but taking into account the current mortality and birth rates among Krogan, they will go extinct. Even without the impending threat of the Reapers, the Genophage must be dealt with."
Shepard shifted uncomfortably. "So Kara, do you or Serina have any idea who's helping the Krogan?"
Kara stared at Shepard in silence for an uncomfortably long time, her visor unflinching. After some thought, Kara decided that Shepard and Mordin would inevitably find out about her involvement anyway, so trying to hide it was a fruitless endeavor. "I did. I learned about a former Salarian STG agent who was trying to cure the Genophage, and I gave him the data I recovered on Virmire."
"Who's your guy?" Jack asked.
"Maelon Heplorn. An old associate of our dear Dr. Mordin." Kara responded.
Shepard turned to look at Mordin. "Who's Maelon?"
Mordin shook his head. "Student of mine. Smart, but emotional, makes his decision making… questionable. Accompanied me on mission to Tuchanka years ago. Evidence suggested Krogan adapting to Genophage, team and I were dispatched to release modified variant, and ensure Genophage remained effective. Mission was successful, but there were complications… Maelon was uncomfortable with actions taken during mission."
"Are you referring to when your team killed unarmed women in a Krogan temple?" Kara growled.
The Salarian twitched, growing increasingly uncomfortable with how much Kara seemed to know of classified information. If the Krogan knew about the STG's operation on Tuchanka, it could start another war. Shepard cleared her throat. "We're not going to have problems, are we?" Shepard asked, hiding her anxiety.
Kara glared at the Human. "My objectives are to secure Maelon, his work, and any surviving subjects that may exist, and ensure the safety thereof." she said coldly. "Do you have a problem with that?" Shepard took note of Jack, sitting beside Kara. If things did turn bloody between Kara and Mordin, Shepard wasn't sure Jack would help her stop Kara. Jack had been noticeably friendlier towards Kara and Rocket than she was towards the other crew members.
Not that Shepard thought Kara would actually kill either her or Mordin. She and Rocket both had non-lethal weapons, after all. Even so, Shepard wasn't eager to end up on the receiving end of Kara's aggression. Besides, Kara had a point, morally and tactically. What the Turians and Salarians had done to the Krogan via the Genophage was unquestionably an act of genocide. The effects it had on their population, and culture were undeniable.
And the impending arrival of the Reapers meant that every species in the galaxy needed to be in as strong a position as possible if they were to stand a chance of survival, which meant the Genophage needed to be dealt with.
"No, we don't." Shepard said, looking at Mordin out of the corner of her eyes. "Where're we headed anyway?" Shepard continued, trying to change the subject.
"Maelon's facility is located within Clan Weyrloc territory, surrounded by AA batteries. We'll have to meet with Clan Urdnot, procure transportation from them, and proceed from there." Serina chimed in.
"If you're working with Maelon, will Weyrloc be friendly?" Shepard inquired.
Rocket shook his head. "Nah, these guys are itchin' for payback for what happened to 'em. We'll need to take 'em out first, then nab the cure."
"Why would Maelon work with Weyrloc in the first place if he knows what they're planning?" Jack interjected.
"Guilt. He's trying to make amends for his actions, and since his hands are already bloody, he doesn't care about a few more corpses. He tried to work with Clan Urdnot, but they refused, deeming his requests too extreme." Kara said. "I found out about his work a few days later, and we finally made contact shortly after."
A light flashed blue, indicating the Kodiak was nearing the LZ, and Shepard stood, gripping a handrail. "Alright, let's get this over with."
The Kodiak came to a stop at the bottom of a deep crater, evidently serving as one of Clan Urdnot's landing pads. Shepard slid the door open, and was greeted by four scowling Krogan. Three were wearing heavy armor, and carrying shotguns, and the third was dressed in a more casual fashion.
The "greeter" (as that was the closest cultural equivalent Shepard could make) gazed at each of the newcomers with an air of what could almost be interpreted as annoyance.
"What business do you have on Tuchanka?" He asked, his voice carrying the whisper of a threat.
Kara growled softly, a deep rumbling reverberating through her throat before she answered. "Our business is our own. Tell Urdnot Wrex Commander Shepard requests an audience."
The Krogan snarled, aggravated by Kara dodging his question, but looked at one of the guards behind him, who nodded, and activated his omni-tool. A moment passed as he spoke with someone, then he looked up. "Wrex will speak to you."
Shepard and her team were escorted by four armed Krogan through the crumbling ruins of what used to be a Krogan city. Mordin and Kara seemed to be fascinated by the architecture, absorbing every detail of the stonework, wondering aloud what the city must have looked like before it's destruction and decay, and how resilient the foundations of the structures themselves must be to endure the harsh environment of Tuchanka, and the aggression of their builders, and remain in any form.
Rocket listened to Kara whispering to herself, admiring the fact that even after three quarters of a millennium, she was still full of curiosity, and fascinated by the world and people around her. He heard her mutter to herself about how she should ask if there was a chronicler, or a historian she could speak to, or lacking that, a particularly old Krogan.
He smiled to himself as he stroked the fur on her neck with his right hand. They came to the end of the walkway, and they found themselves inside what might once have been a hangar, considering the large open area.
The guards escorted them up a small staircase, and at the top was a small congregation of Krogan. Once they reached the top of the stairs, they spotted a familiar face, scowling as he was forced to listen to the petty complaints from another clan's delegate.
Wrex was fighting off the urge to have the nuisance shot when he saw a human clad in N7 armor approach, flanked by one overgrown walking carpet and her pet. "Shepard!" Wrex called out boisterously. He pushed past the delegate and took Shepard's hand in a firm shake, and clasped her arm. "It's good to see you. I heard you died."
"I've been getting that a lot."
Wrex chuckled, then swept his gaze across the rest of Shepard's team, nodding to Kara and Rocket. "So, who are you here to kill?"
Mordin was about to take a step forward to speak, but was silenced when Kara took a step in front of him with a leg thicker than his torso. She growled a warning to the Salarian, much to Wrex's amusement, then spoke. "We're here for Maelon, and his research."
"So, that scrawny insect actually made a cure?" Wrex asked.
"His last message to me indicated he was administering the cure to a few volunteers. All that's left to do now is pick the fruits of his labor."
"So what's the plan?" Shepard asked, believing Kara already had one.
"Wrex will provide us transport to Clan Weyrloc's territory. We'll eliminate any threat that tries to stop us, then when we find Maelon, his data, and his patients, we'll escort them all back to Urdnot territory. With Weyrloc weakened, and the cure in our possession, their absorption by Urdnot will practically be guaranteed."
Wrex chuckled. "You sure you aren't a Salarian hiding under all that fur? You sure scheme like one."
"You ain't wrong." Rocket commented. "She's always plotting' something."
Kara ignored their comments, and continued. "After we've brought you the fruits of Maelon's labor, it'll be on you to unify the Krogan Wrex. Are you sure you're up for that?"
Wrex paused, and looked out across the rubble. His eyes drifted across the ancient ruins, and focused on all his clan members. The people he was charged with leading. After this was over, Clan Urdnot would be placed squarely at the top of the food chain, and the other clans would have no choice but to rally behind him.
"If I'm not, I'll sure as hell die trying." He said resolutely. "Now you should probably get going." Wrex pointed past Shepard, towards what appeared to be a garage. "Talk to the chief mechanic, he'll give you a ride."
"Thanks for the help Wrex." Shepard said, dipping her head.
"Anytime Shepard."
Kara rolled her shoulders as the team made their way to the garage, feeling the watchful eyes of dozens of Krogan on them. It was obvious the Krogan didn't trust the interlopers, and some looked as if they were just waiting for an excuse to open fire. Kara made sure her hands remained close to her sidearms, just in case.
As Shepard began to converse with the head mechanic, Kara gazed out at Wrex's little chunk of Tuchanka. Through the stone beneath her feet, she could feel scores of Krogan hard at work, clearing rubble, setting up fences and walls for cattle farms, and all sorts of other labor, all in the effort to carve out a future for themselves.
She idly wondered if they'd have one.
The ride to Weyrloc territory was as rough as one would imagine, given Tuchanka's terrain. The only way it could be worse, was if they were being shot at, so Rocket could appreciate that at least. The rest of the team shifted uncomfortably in seats too large for them, while Kara simply kneeled, with Rocket resting on her shoulder.
The Tomkha rocked and rolled so harshly, that it felt as if his bones were being shaken out of his body, so when the transport finally came to a stop, he let out an exasperated, "Thank flark the rides over."
"Ditto." Shepard muttered as she undid the clasps to her seat, and rose, shaking her limbs.
Rocket hung on tightly to Kara's shoulder as she opened the Tomkha's hatch, and climbed out, then hopped off when she came to a stop, landing with a grunt near her foot. He readied his weapon as the rest of the team climbed out after them, double checking the plasma battery, making sure it was sufficiently charged.
Satisfied that his gear was combat ready, he followed Kara and the rest of the team as they made their way to the "hospital" Maelon set up shop in. They had waded through crumbling ruins for a few minutes when Kara held up a closed fist.
"What is it? Krogan?" Shepard said, crouching and readying her weapon.
"No, it's something else." Kara growled softly, pointing her weapon towards their 11 o'clock. The team followed her aim, and after a few moments of nothing, they saw a horde of skittering insect-like creatures bearing down on their position.
Without a moment's hesitation, the team opened fire. A combination of searing plasma, and white hot metal were fired into a mass of gnashing mandibles and razor sharp claws. Nearly a dozen of the creatures had been killed in mere moments, and yet the aliens didn't relent.
Rocket was forced to stop firing when his weapon overheated, and began to vent heat hot enough to melt flesh. He growled, taking care to keep his hand away from the vent, when his eyes settled on a large stone column between Shepard's team and the insects. An idea popped into the procyonids head, and once his weapon completed the venting process, he barked an order. "Keep me covered, I've got an idea."
Rocket holstered his rifle, and sprinted on all fours to the column, all the while his ears were assaulted by the hiss of gunfire above his head, and the screeching of the insects in front of him. He lunged at the stone structure, digging his fingers into the cracks and crevices in the column, climbing to the center of the structure, where he attached a bomb.
He set the charge as best he could using only one hand, then hopped down, landing with a pained grunt. When he looked up, he was staring face to face with one of the giant insects, its mandibles mere inches from his face. Before the creature could move to kill him, its head exploded when a plasma bolt burned through its skull, spraying Rocket's face with blood and brain matter.
"Move!" Kara barked, sending rounds into another one of the creatures bearing down on Rocket.
Rocket grunted, and fought to ignore the fact that a piece of the creature landed in his mouth, running as fast as his legs could carry him back to Kara's position. He plucked the bombs detonator from his belt, and clenched his fist tight around the trigger.
His shields were depleted as they tried to withstand the explosive force, and he felt himself be flung into the air. He was thrown nearly ten feet, and was ready for a rough landing on the ground, when he felt hands wrap around him.
Kara caught him, and moved her body in tandem with Rocket's momentum, allowing him to slow down rather than come to an abrupt stop in her hands. He dipped his head in gratitude once he came to a stop. "Thanks."
Kara hummed in response, and set him down. The pillar blocked off the creatures, but it also forced Shepard's team to take a detour through what looked like what once might have been an aqueduct.
The team moved through as quickly as possible, the complete lack of cover meant that if they were attacked now, it could spell a death sentence. They climbed over, through, and around crumbled stone, before reaching their destination.
Kara holstered her rifle, and placed her back against the wall of the aqueduct, planting her feet and interlocking her claws, allowing her squad-mates to use her as a step ladder out. Rocket quickly and effortlessly clambered up Kara's body, halting long enough to make sure the area was clear before climbing out.
Shepard was next, placing her foot in Kara's hands, and gripping the Hunter's shoulder as Kara effortlessly lifted the Human. Mordin and Jack followed shortly after, and Kara hopped out after them.
They managed to make it the rest of the way to the hospital without coming into contact with any more hostiles, intelligent or otherwise. They stacked up on the entrance, and Kara readied her rifle. "Ready?" Shepard asked, sweeping her gaze over her team.
"Ready." They responded. Shepard tightened her grip on her rifle, and nodded to Kara, who kicked down the door to a hospital full of soon to be angry Krogan.