Zenna groaned as she stood shaking her head from the backlash of whatever she touched. As she stood, she blinked clearing her eyes allowing her sight to regain focus. Once cleared she found herself in a crisp clean white room with two Protheans moving about. She blinked a few more times to adjust her eyes and to reassure herself that she was seeing what she was. The two Protheans, dressed in a light blue medical outfit, looked like VI holograms. Their outlines where fuzzy and there was a dark blue tint to them.
They seemed to move around carefully and with purpose. Looking around a bit more, Zenna saw that she was in some kind of lab. But for what? Shaking her head to get her bearings she noticed a door at the other side of the room. She walked over to it, but the door didn't open and there was no indication for controls. She looked around waving her hand to see if she could find something, when one of the Protheans walked though her with the door opening.
"Ok, ghost," she muttered as she followed the Prothean.
They walked down a corridor which led to a massive warehouse Inside were three levels of tubes with bodies inside. Blinking, Zenna moved up to the gantry to look into the tubes. Inside as an asari. Nude and with a mask attached to her face. She looked normal for the most part, but something seemed off about her. Moving along she then saw each tube had someone inside. Korgan, Asari, Turrian and the others of the galaxy but no humans. But each time she looked at them, something just screamed wrong despite the lack of anything clearly wrong with them.
She couldn't put her finger on why, but something was odd about them. As she moved the differences became clearer. All of them had developed something in the form of scales, fur, spikes and shells where they shouldn't be. Some of them had clear signs of becoming husks. As she moved, she began to question where all the humans were. There was another section of the warehouse, sectioned off from the one she was in. Approaching it she looked though the windows to see humans in the tanks.
Before she could walk through, she was transported to an oval room where several scientists knelt with a small desk in front of them. Cups steamed with some form of liquid inside. One of them, a female by the voice, spoke up.
"We have very little time left," she said, her granny voice betraying her age. "What have you all found?"
The scientists looked to one another before one spoke up. "I… I think that the Asari are a dead end," he sighed rubbing his hands. "Their biology functionally works to help the production and distribution of biotics, but that's about it. It doesn't give them any kind of excess power," he looked down. "Their world may have more Element Zero, but it looks like that hampers biological adaption,"
Another scientist nodded. "We found similar results with the Turrians," she added. "I feel they are a dead end as well. The only success we have found is with the humans, their world has no Element Zero, which is extremely rare, allowing them to develop technologically at a slower rate. That benefits their biological evolution,"
One of the female scientists nodded. "It will allow them to adapt without biotics," she noted giving it some thought. "What is the prediction about their technological development?"
The first frowned before picking up a shard and checking something. "Unsure, projections seem to indicate that they are slow to advance. But there is a margin for error in them being able to make a leap at some point. Humans are clever, resourceful and adaptable. I doubt we have to worry about them making themselves extinct,"
Zenna just chuckled nervously at that. "If only you knew," she muttered.
Others nodded as one spoke. "The aggressiveness of the Korgan makes them poor candidates. Salarians are smart, but they tend to be fragile in a sight up fight. The Quarrians also have intelligence, but the lack of insects on their world creates a…" he paused to try and find the right word. "…an almost sterile like environment for them" he took a sip of his drink. "Outside their world they will be more susceptible to viruses, bacteria and parasites. Humans, overall, represent the best balance of these traits, intelligence, adaptability, survivability, aggressiveness. They are the perfect weapon. But we need to make them more,"
The leader nodded as she leaned back rubbing her eyes. "What of the virus?" she asked.
There as a silence in the room as the others looked to one another. "The virus works on all, but seems to be more effective with the Asari, likely due to their biology and biotics," one explained, but shook his head. "They are the best candidates, and their biotics will help… but the bacteria will degrade over time due to the biotics,"
"And the problem goes for all species due to the amount of Element zero on their worlds. Humans are the only ones who don't have it," the first explained.
"Meaning that the virus will bond to them to the point that when they come across Element zero, it won't affect them," the woman said with nods around. "It's pretty clear who we need to pick,"
As she said that the world changed again and Zenna found herself in front of several tubes with humans of various ages, sizes, sex and skin colour. She watched as a couple of Prothrean scientists inject them with a green substance into them. Almost immediately they began to shake and cry out in pain. Zenna could only stand and watch as each one of them transformed into demi-humans. Minotaurs, lamia, mermaids, hu-hounds, nekomata and more. Each one changed into a type of demi-human.
As they did the Protheans took down notes before the scene changed to a similar scene this time with the Asari being injected with the green solution, unlike with humans, minor changes happened. The scene then changed to one showing her similar ones involving the other races of the galaxy to varying degrees of effect. But none having the same extreme effect like the humans had. Some developed small patches of fur, others horns or spikes. But nothing like what humans had.
The scene before then changed to that of the Protheans sitting around the table, each one of them looking somewhat deflated and dejected. The leader more so as she played with her drink. But the overall tone didn't seem to be about the project, but something else. Zenna moved and looked at each of them before one of them spoke up.
"How could the homeworld fall?" one asked, her voice young and world wary.
"It's hard to believe, but it is the truth. Command wants us to accelerate the project," the lead said. "They are already implementing the Asari project and want us to implement the human project,"
"But… it's not ready," one of the others said. "We're still working on the immunity. Only those who have had the serum activate twice are immune to both indoctrination and huskifacation,"
"But the physical effects are doubled," the lead said in a matter-of-fact tone. "Speed, aggression and more, more than counter the husks, Reapers and other races. The outward effects are odd, yes, but that is minor compared to what they can do,"
"In some cases, the outward appearance gives them more to work with like the half snakes or arachnids," one of the older ones added. "With the situation as it is, we don't have a much of a choice before we have to liquidate the facility,"
A grim silence fell on them all for a moment before the leader stood. "Then let's get the serum ready,"
Pain shot though Zenna's mind as she fell to her knees and screamed as the world around her collapsed.
OOOOO
James and Garrus looked over Zenna's body as they sat close. She had been like this for the past 30 minutes and the two had no idea what to do other than sit around keeping an eye on the entrance. To make her feel comfortable, they had moved everything off one of the tables and set her on it. They weren't sure what else to do. Moving the commander wasn't going to happen due to her bulk and size. Minotaur's, as a general rule were heavy mostly due to their muscular frames.
The two looked at each other with the holo cards trying to figure out what the other was thinking and planning. Garrus could read people well, but the man in front of him was being very uncooperative with that. James was stoic, his features hard and chiselled preventing people from reading him.
"Something wrong Arkangel?" James taunted.
Garrus resisted the urge to growl as he thought of his next move. He was about to hit one of the cards when Zenna sat up.
"Ah fuck," she yelled looking around sweat dripping down her bear skin. "Wh…wh….guy's?" she asked confused.
"Shepard, Commander," the two said as they stood and moved over to her and helped off of the table. "What happened?" Garrus asked.
Zenna just slowed her breathing as she stood. "I just discovered the reason why Thessia is so full of Eezo, and who made the demi-humans," she said as she cracked her neck.
The two looked at each other with surprise and confusion as Zenna moved over to pick up the shard and slide it into one of her pouches.
"Well spill," James as she approached.
"When the mission is done," Zenna said as she grabbed her assault rifle and headed back of the lab.
James and Garrus looked at each other before following the commander.
They followed her as she made her way though the corridors and focused on making her way up. As she did so, she made turns and went down corridors that seemed to be random to James and Garrus. As they entered deeper and darker, the three turned their lights on and continued to make their way though the catacombs. After making their way up a few more levels Zenna's light then shined on a drawing on the wall in front of her.
It looked like a like a geometric snake for the most part with a big head and rays that made it look like it was coming from the ground. Looking at it, Zenna brought up her omnitool and held it over the image. As she did so, she took several images of it.
"Could make an interesting drone," she muttered.
"Wild guess says that's Kalros." Garrus said looking at the image, clearly intimidated.
"That's what's crawling around down here?" James asked with a nervous tone.
"Looks like it," the commander muttered before turning. "I saw an exit over there," she pointed before walking to a doorway.
Leading them round two corners before coming to a creature on the floor in front of a set of stairs. It looked like a husk but all three of them knew what it was. The creature was blueish with a bug-like shape and two sacs on its underbelly.
"Rachni," Zenna muttered as she hit her comms. "Wrex heads up, we have Rachni husks."
"Commander, I was wondering if Kalros got you," he said.
"Yeah, found a Prothean lab where the temple was, sorry for the wait," she said as she looked up the stairs to see a light which made the three of them smile.
"Finally, a way out," Garrus said as they moved up the stairs.
It didn't take long to reach to the top and the three looked at the architecture. To the left was a set of three pillars that looked like it was some kind of water system. Zenna looked at it with an impressed expression.
"Well, this is new, a part of Tuchanka that isn't rubble," Garrus said with an impressed tone.
"Makes you wonder what the Krogan could have done if they didn't nuke the place," James quipped.
"Yeah," Zenna said as she took a few pictures before moving on.
The three of the then followed the pathway round to a set of stairs. Making it to the top the three stood almost in awe at the ruins. It seemed to be the remains of a bombed-out palace, looking at it, Zenna could only wish she could have seen it when it was completed. Taking a couple more pictures, she stored them in a folder for later.
"Wrex, we made it outside." she said as she tapped her comm.
A chuckle came from him. "Well, if you can see sunlight, that's progress," he replied.
"And green, I didn't think plants grew here anymore." Garrus noted as he looked around at the vines that covered the ruins like a cobweb.
"You're looking at hope- all that's left on Tuchanka," Eve said "This was once a world full of beauty. Given a chance it can be again,"
Zenna, nodded as she and the others continued onwards.
"Shepard, that Reaper is still up to no good at the shroud. Find a way out and we'll pick you up," Wrex said.
"Right," Zenna said as she walked across the ruins. "Let's move!" she yelled and double timed it with the other two close being
"Love to know how we're going to deal with the Reaper when we get out of here." James muttered.
"I'll wing it, it's worked out before," the minotaur shot back.
As they moved outside, they were shot by a group of husks. Gun fire and shells forced them to jump into cover see what they had to face. They spotted several Turrian and Rachni husks moving in from cover. Zenna and James opened up while Garrus shot one if the Rachni in the sac. It weakened the creature allowing the team to take it out. Without their support, the Marauders fell and the team moved up.
Coming round the corner to the left as a squad of husks and cannibals with another Rachni husk. James came in fast and punched one of the husks before unloading into it and threw a grenade into a cannibal's mouth. Garrus kept back, supporting James and Zeena as they tore into the husks with him finishing them off or weakening them. Once the area was clear the team moved up fast to the bridge and jumped across before being engaged again by Reaper forces. The team took cover as a brute came round with husks.
"Ahhh!" Zenna moaned as she grabbed her axe. "I hate those things,"
She charged in fast as James aimed and loaded what he could into the brute. Taking cover Garrus took aim and began to fire doing his beast to weaken the hulk of a husk. Zenna slammed into it, due to her momentum forced the beast to slam into a wall behind it. As it recovered, Zenna pointed her grenade launcher at its mouth before firing blowing it's head off killing it. Placing her grenade launcher back on her back and turning to look at the others.
"Let's keep moving. I want to get this over with." she said turning and following the path around.
As they followed the path to a ramp the ground began to shake, much harder this time.
"Wrex, your right about Kalros! She's on the move!" she said as she and the other two broke into a run.
"Yeah we got some ideas on that… What?" Wrex said.
"Not now Wrex. The commander has enough to worry about," Eve said as the squad valued over some debris.
"What's happening?" Zenna asked, letting some frustration enter her voice.
"Just some Crazy idea we had. We can talk about it later," Wrex said as more husks came from the exit.
However, Zenna, Garrus and James where not interested in fighting at the moment. Pulling her grenade launcher out and fired three rounds into the group. The grenades exploded sending them flying allowing them to move round the corner and come to the entrance to a bombed bridge. Two Rachni husks waited for them but Garrus unloaded four grenades at them taking them out before reaching the bridge.
"Shepard we're coming under the bridge," Wrex said. "Get down here so we can get to the Shroud,"
As Zenna and her team moved along something came in fast.
"WAIT!" Wrex called. "KALROS!"
The massive Thresher Maw came in fast and took out the bridge sending the team flying backwards.