"Mordin believed that the genophage was the right thing to do. It was the only option they had. He may not have made the genophage, but he did work on modifying it. It was a numbers game, and to him, the numbers agreed with him.
"So, who wants to go first?"
Kacey stood in front of the shuttle door as she asked, looking at Garrus, Mordin and Grunt as all three of them refused to meet her gaze. She could understand why; Tuchanka wasn't exactly a holiday destination. After all, it was a toxic wasteland, a barely liveable environment.
"Fine. I'll do it." Kacey replied as she opened the door and stepped out onto the cracked concrete.
She led the way across the landing pad only for a small group of krogan to pull their guns on her and the squad. Kacey eyed the captain as he observed her carefully.
"That was quick." Kacey mused.
"The clan leader wants to speak with you." The krogan grumbled, "Keep your rutting pet on a short leash. Get him the Rite soon, or put him down."
"Okay..?" Kacey mused before walking through the hall.
The place was a dump; much like the rest of the planet. They walked through the ruins of a large building, avoiding the gazes of the krogan. The air was foul and by the time Kacey arrived in the main area, Kacey could see the throne on which the leader of the clan was sitting.
She marched over, undeterred by the krogan guards that stood between her and the clan chief. She wasn't intimidated by the krogan; never has, probably never will. She simply treated them like every other opponent, keep your distance and time your shots. And after taking down a Reaper, not much scared Kacey anymore.
"Halt!" One of the guards shouted as Kacey approached, blocking her path, "You must wait till the clan leader summons you. He is…in talks."
"Oh this is gonna be good." Garrus mused with a snicker.
Kacey could see a familiar face sitting bored on the throne; Urdnot Wrex. The former bounty hunter didn't look very amused as listened to the krogan in front of him drone on and on.
"You know what tradition demands—Clan Urdnot must respond. Your reforms will not go unopposed. You risk appearing weak at a critical time."
"Shepard!" Wrex shouted as he stood up. Kacey simply smirked at the guard and pushed him aside.
"Excuse us." Kacey said curtly as she walked passed.
Wrex pushed the other krogan out of the way as he approached, a smile on his face, "Shepard! My friend!"
He shook her hand roughly before continuing, "You look well for dead, Shepard. Should've known the void couldn't hold you."
"It's been a long time, Wrex," Kacey smiled, "Looks like helping me destroy Saren and the geth has worked out for you. Glad we didn't have to kill each other on Virmire."
"Ha! You made the rise of Urdnot possible." Wrex explained, "Virmire was a turning point for the krogan, though not everyone was happy about it. Destroying Saren's genophage cure freed us from his manipulation. I used that to spur the clans to unify under Urdnot."
The other krogan scowled, "You abandoned many traditions to get your way. Dangerous."
Wrex turned and headbutted the other krogan, "Speak when spoken to, Uvenk. I'll drag your clan to glory whether it likes it or not."
Uvenk scowled as Kacey walked past; Wrex returned to his throne and sat down, getting comfy as Kacey returned her attention to Wrex.
"Now, Shepard. What brings you here?" Wrex asked, "How's the Normandy?"
"Blown to pieces and I got spaced. Didn't Joker tell you that?" Kacey replied.
"Nope." Wrex replied, "though you look good. Ah the benefits of a redundant nervous system."
"Yeah, humans don't have that."
"Oh it must have been painful then." Wrex replied bluntly, "But you're standing here, and you've got a strong new ship. Takes me back to the old days. Us against the unknown, killing it with big guns. Good times."
"Sounds like you've been busy since we last spoke." Kacey mused.
"We are making a neutral ground where all clans are welcome." Wrex explained, "Fertile females can be shared among clans. We will strengthen the race as a whole."
"You threaten everything that makes us strong." Uvenk snapped, "It will not last."
"And neither will my patience if you keep talking." Kacey said as Garrus snickered.
"Couldn't have said it better myself." Wrex smirked, "You should consider yourself lucky to be a part of this, Uvenk."
"Anyway, I'm here because these two," Kacey gestured to Grunt and Mordin, "have a bit of a problem that we need your help with."
"Normally we don't allow aliens to do business on Tuchanka, but you're the exception." Wrex said, "What do you need?"
"My krogan friend seems to have some kind of illness." Kacey explained.
Wrex eyed Grunt carefully as the younger krogan approached, "Where are you from, whelp? Was your clan destroyed before you could learn what is expected of you?"
"I have no clan." Grunt replied bluntly, "I was tank bred by Warlord Okeer, my line distilled from Kredak, Moro, Shiagur—"
"You recite warlords, but you are the offspring of a syringe!" Uvenk spat.
"I am pure krogan. You should be in awe." Grunt replied.
"Okeer is a very old name." Wrex mused, "A very hated name."
"He is dead."
"Of course. You're with Shepard." Wrex scoffed, "How could he be alive?"
"Standing right here, Wrex." Kacey mused, "What's wrong with him?"
"Nothing. He's becoming a full adult."
"Adolescence?" Garrus groaned, "Can't we just take him to Omega and buy him a few dances?"
"Good to see you haven't changed Garrus." Wrex mused, "I don't give damn what aliens call it. Krogan undergo the Rite of Passage."
"Too far, Wrex!" Uvenk shouted as he stormed off "Your clan may rule, but this thing is not krogan!"
"Idiot." Wrex scoffed, "So, Grunt? Do you wish to stand with Urdnot?"
"You're not bothered by the fact that he's tank bred?" Kacey asked.
"No, and it's only because he's with you, Shepard." Wrex explained, "After all, you and I—"
"Ahem."
"And Garrus killed thousands like him. Not quite as big, but many. Clan Urdnot is strong and the others will do as I say. They'll see the benefit of my vision."
"Well Grunt?" Kacey said.
"It is in my blood. It is what I am for." Grunt replied.
"Good boy. Speak with the shaman on the second level." Wrex said, "Give him a good show and he'll set you on the right path. You too, Shepard. How many times have you stepped in a mess for your crew, hmm?"
"Too many? I've lost count." Kacey replied.
"Sounds about right. Now what's with the salarian?"
"He's looking for his student, a salarian that was kidnapped by the Blood Pack." Kacey explained.
"My scout commander can direct you. And if you wipe out Clan Weyrloc while you're at it, I'll be happy." Wrex replied.
"Thanks Wrex."
"Good luck, Shepard." Wrex replied, "You're gonna need it. After all, Tuchanka isn't safe and homey, like Feros and Ilos."
…
"What do you want, human?" The scout leader said with a huff, "Wrex told me to be polite. He didn't say you were going to talk to me."
"I'm looking for a salarian." Kacey replied, "The Blood Pack captured him, and he was last seen around here."
"I heard about that salarian, poor bastard." The scout leader mused, "If it's the Blood Pack, then Clan Weyrloc has him. Sent one of my scouts to check it out, but he never reported back. Guess they got him, too. Chief told me to give you one of the trucks. Just follow the highway to Weyrloc's base. If you've got the quads to deal with him and the Blood Pack. If you see an old hospital, you're there."
"Thanks." Kacey said before leading the squad towards the truck.
…
"There was no alternative. That was Mordin's reason for defending the genophage. What other choice did they have? Could they risk the krogan rising up again seeking vengeance?"
The drive was long and bumpy, and by the time they reached their location, Kacey was already beginning to feel a bit motion sick. The air was foul, and fires burned through the area near the abandoned hospital. A harsh wind was blowing all sorts across the rubble as the quartet made their approach. Even when the odd packs of varren or klixen arrived Kacey dispatched them with little difficulty.
A scouting party was waiting for them up ahead; Kacey eyed the vorcha with their rifles and flamethrowers. She ordered Mordin and Grunt to take the right while she and Garrus took the left. The Blood Pack vorcha were just like the ones from before; unorganised and distracted. It was far too easy to wipe the floor with them.
It didn't take long to reach the hospital, and killing the guards outside was a simple enough endeavour; Grunt practically made the guard's attacks redundant. She reached the door and began to hack it open.
"Repurposed krogan hospital. Sturdy." Mordin mused as the doors opened, "Built to withstand punishment."
"That's unfortunate." Garrus hummed, "Hospitals aren't fun to fight through."
Kacey turned mid-way down the stairs to face the turian sharpshooter with a bewildered look, "What is fun to fight through?"
"Gardens, electronics shops. Antique stores, but only if they're classy." Garrus replied.
"Someone's got expensive tastes."
"You got a better suggestion?"
"I prefer combat arenas." Kacey replied.
"Figures." Garrus snickered.
"What can I say? I have simple tastes."
They moved down the hall; the only sound Kacey could hear was the squad's own footsteps. There was no sign of any Blood Pack members within the hospital and Kacey grew concerned. She was beginning to expect an ambush as she led the squad down another flight of stairs, where a lone human body was lying in the corner.
"That body. Human." Mordin mused, "Need to take a look."
"Garrus, Grunt, scout ahead. Make sure they're not planning to ambush us." Kacey said as Mordin knelt down in front of the corpse.
"Got it." Garrus nodded as they both moved down the remaining stairs.
Mordin scanned the corpse, "Sores, tumours, ligatures showing restraint at wrists and ankles. Track marks for repeated injection sites, Test subject. Victim of experimentation."
"I don't suppose there's a way to tell who this poor bastard is?" Kacey asked.
"No. No idea."
"Any idea if he's contagious?" Kacey asked.
"No." Mordin confirmed, "Appears to be cultivation of cancerous cells, aggravated by torture, malnourishment. Not a testing vectors to attack genophage. Primary goal not infection of humans. Humans useful as test subjects. Genetically diverse. Enables exploration treatment modalities."
"And that's probably why some people think Cerberus is a good idea." Kacey scoffed.
"Never used humans myself." Mordin added, "Disgusting, unethical, sloppy. Used by brute force researchers, not thinkers. No place in proper science. Krogan use of humans unsurprising."
"You're telling me you've never used live test subjects for developing the genophage modification?"
"No. Unnecessary. Limited tests to simulations, corpses, cloned tissue sample. High level varren testing. No tests on species with members capable of calculus. Simple rule, never broke it."
"That still doesn't explain how humans are more genetically diverse." .
"More variables. Peaks and valleys. Mutations, adaptations. Far beyond other life." Mordin explained, "Makes humans useful test subjects. Larger reactions to smallest stimuli."
"I know we can look different from each other, but the asari have a wide range of skin tones." Kacey said.
"No. Ignore superficial appearance." Mordin replied, "Down to genetic code. Biotic abilities, intelligence levels. Can look at random asari, krogan, make reasonable guess. Humans too variable to judge. Outliers in all species of course. Geniuses, idiots. But humans probability curve offers greater overall variety."
"Looks like we've got more than one reason to shut this place down."
"Focus on Maelon." Mordin said, "Too late to help the dead."
Kacey cautiously moved further down the stairs and down the hall. She then saw Garrus and Grunt, heads pressed up against the door ahead. Once they caught up, Kacey gave the signal to move forward into the next room. There was no sign of any mercenaries in the room, at least not as they walked in. A few seconds later, the door on the other side of the room, on the upper level opened, and three krogan stormed through, with the one in the middle bellowing loudly.
"I am the speaker for Clan Weyrloc, off-worlders!" He bellowed, "You have shed our blood! By rights, you should be dead already. But Weyrloc Guld, the Chief of Chiefs, has ordered that you be given leave to flee and spread the message of our coming!"
Kacey snorted, struggling to hide her amused laughter, "Wow, you really like the sound of your own voice huh? You know what? I'll take my chances. If I flee, I might trip over the dozens of Weyrloc krogan I killed to get here."
"Damn, Kacey." Kaidan said, amused, "That was dark."
"Dark? Yes." Kacey replied, "Well-deserved? Absolutely!"
"You killed our youngest and weakest, human. They were not worthy of remaining near our glorious work." The krogan snapped, "Inside you will find only hardened Blood Pack veterans, tempered by savagery and war and dedicated to one goal. The salarian will cure the genophage and Clan Weyrloc will spread across the galaxy in a sea of blood!"
"Appears they discovered Maelon's work." Mordin mused, "Unfortunate."
"Look, nobody else had to die today!" Kacey shouted back, "Either give us the salarian or we'll wipe your clan off the planet!"
"Big words for a human." The krogan spat back, "When we cure the genophage, Weyrloc Guld will rule all krogan! The Krogan Rebellions will become the Krogan Empire!"
"You talk too much." Kacey mused in a snarky tone as she fired a concussive shot at the krogan, sending all three up in flames as the gas pipe below burst and caused a fiery explosion up above the catwalk.
"And that solves that." Garrus mused, "You just had to take all the fun out of it, didn't you?"
"Naturally." Kacey replied, "Come on, let's move."
…
"I guess you're never really ready for it. To see the horrors for the first time, trying to imagine something so…evil and vile…and the sudden realisation that your actions led to this."
"Labs likely through there." Mordin spoke up, "Can smell antiseptic, hint of dead flesh."
"That's a little TMI, Mordin." Kacey said.
"It's the truth."
"True as it may be, I don't think anyone wanted to hear that." Garrus added.
"Maybe I'm just used to it; desensitised to it. Not much horrifies me these days but for Mordin, this was where the reality began to sink in for him."
Bullet holes adorned the walls of the labs, with layers of rubble and debris around the hall and in the corners of each laboratory. The strong smell of antiseptic and death Mordin mentioned lingered in the air, the latter's foul stench caused Kacey to become concerned. There were no bodies lying in sight as they entered, making her wonder where the morgue was located, and how many people had died here.
"Active console." Mordin said, shattering the silence, "May contain useful data. One moment. Genetic sequences, hormone mutagens still steady. Protein chains, live tissue, cloned tissue. Very thorough. Standard treatment vectors. Avoiding scorched earth immunosuppressants to alter hormone levels. Good. Hate to see that."
"Y'know most people wouldn't be so casual about developing a sterility plague, Mordin." Kacey said, her tone serious.
"Not developing. Modifying." Mordin corrected, "Much more difficult. Working within confines of existing genophage. A hundred times the complexity. Errors unacceptable. Could cause total sterility, malignant tumours. Could even reduce effectiveness. Worse than doing nothing. Had to keep krogan population stable. One in one thousand. Perfect target. Optimal growth. Like gardening."
"You can pretty it up however you like, Mordin." Kacey scoffed, "You're talking about murdering millions!"
"No. Murdered no one." Mordin replied quickly, "Altered fertility, prevented foetal development of nervous system. Have killed many, Shepard. Many methods. Gunfire, drugs, tech attacks, once with farming equipment. But not with medicine."
"What was it like working on the project?"
"Best years of my life." Mordin replied, "Wake up with ideas. Talk over breakfast. Experiments all morning. Statistical analysis in afternoon. Run new simulation during dinner. Set data runs to cook overnight. Laughter. Ego. Argument. Passion. Galaxy's biggest problem, massive resources thrown at us. Got anything we wanted."
"How'd you go from that to running a clinic on Omega?"
"Wanted to heal people. Good use of last decade. Something easy. No ethical concerns." Mordin replied before sighing, "Understand rationale for modified genophage. Right choice. Still hard to sleep some nights."
"Yet you're still defending the genophage." Kacey replied sharply, "Look around, Mordin! Look at the state of Tuchanka and tell me you made the right choice."
"State of Tuchanka not due to genophage." Mordin deflected, "Nuclear winter caused by krogan before salarians made first contact. Krogan choices. Refuse truce during Krogan Rebellions. Expand after Rachni Wars. Splinter after genophage. Genophage medical, not nuclear. No craters from virus. Damage caused by krogan not salarians. Not me."
"It's still your fault." Kacey replied, "The effects on Tuchanka are your responsibility! You upgraded the virus that kept the krogan in barberism."
"Krogan committed war crimes!" Mordin replied defensively, "Refused to negotiate. Turian defeat not complete. Krogan could have recovered, attacked again. Conventional war too risky. Krogan forces too strong. Genophage only option. Krogan forced genophage. Us or them. No apologies for winning. Wouldn't have minded peaceful solution."
Kacey crossed her arms, scepticism written across her face, "So if the krogan banded together and formed a united government, you'd welcome that?"
"Yes. United krogan saved galaxy, destroyed rachni." Mordin said, "Genophage not punishment. Simply alters fertility to correct for removal from hostile environment."
"I bet it does. Come on, let's get moving." Kacey scoffed.
"Mordin was adamant that the genophage was the right thing to do, even if it made him uncomfortable. The numbers agreed with him. But reality hadn't sunk in for Mordin. These were living beings we were talking about, not machines. Those actions have consequences, and the result was something Mordin had yet to face."
The next room was no type of lab; the scent of decay was a strong telltale sign that they had found the makeshift morgue. Rotting flesh was left to wither on the slab as they approached, the body covered by a crimson bag. The room was drab, dark and cold. Mordin approached the body, hesitant as he picked up the nearby datapad.
"Dead krogan. Female. Tumours indicate experimentation. No restraint marks. Volunteer." he said, his voice lacking emotion, "Sterile Weyrloc female willing to risk procedures. Hoped for cure. Pointless. Pointless waste of life."
"I didn't expect you to be disturbed by the sight of a dead krogan." Kacey said.
"What?! Why?! Because of genophage work?" Mordin snapped defensively, "Irrelevant. No, causative. Never experimented on live krogan. Never killed with medicine. Her death not my work, only reaction to it. Goal was to stabilise population. Never wanted this. Can see it logically…but still unnecessary. Foolish waste of life. Hate to see it."
"Given the way you've been defending the genophage, I didn't think you had much direct contact with things like this." Kacey mused, "Did you come to Tuchanka after dropping your plague?"
"Yearly recon missions. Water, tissue samples. Ensure no mistakes. Superiors offered to carry it on. Refused. Need to see it in person." Mordin explained, his tone sombre, "Need to look. Need to see. Accept it as necessary. See small picture. Remind myself why I run a clinic on Omega."
Mordin raised his arm and sighed, "Rest young mother. Find your Gods. Find someplace better."
"I didn't expect spirituality from you, Mordin."
"Genophage modification project altered millions of lives. Then saw results. Ego. Humility. Juxtaposition. Frailty of life. Size of universe. Explored different religions after work completed. Different races. No answer. Many questions."
"Sounds to me like you were trying to deal with a guilty conscience." Kacey mused, "The doctor who killed millions."
Mordin sighed, "Modified genophage project great in scope. Scientifically brilliant. But ethically difficult. Krogan reaction visceral, tragic. Not guilty, but responsible. Trained as doctor. Genophage affects fertility. Doesn't kill. Still caused this. Hard to see big picture behind pile of corpses."
"Yeah no shit." Kacey replied, "Mordin, can you really just rationalise it all away? How do you justify it?"
"Wheel of life. Popular salarian concept. Similar to human Hinduism in focus on reincarnation." Mordin explained as he paced beside the slab, "Appealing to see life as endless. Fix mistakes in next life. Learn, adapt, improve. Refuse to believe life ends here. Too wasteful. Have more to offer. Mistakes to fix. Cannot end here. Could do so much more."
"Like undoing the genophage."
Mordin turned on his heel and looked at Kacey, aghast, "No. Not that."
"If you need this much soul-searching to get over it, maybe the genophage was wrong!" Kacey said firmly.
"Had to be done." Mordin replied, "Rachni Wars, Krogan Rebellions all pointed to krogan aggression. So many simulations. Effects of krogan population increase. All pointed to war. Extinction. Genophage or genocide. Save galaxy from krogan. Save krogan from galaxy."
"You could just as easily cured the genophage instead. Brought hope to the krogan. They'd have rejoiced." Kacey argued.
"Assumes human reaction. Krogan stimulus response different. Harsh environment, take chance to fight, flee. Would have caused chaos on Tuchanka. Victor would have war economy, bloodthristy army." Mordin explained, "Galactic expansion only logical outcome. More war. Genophage saved lives, war would have ended."
"You sterilised an entire species on the back of a few simulations!"
"Analysed thousands of data sets. All pointed towards krogan fragmentation. All leads to war!"
"Look at the dead woman, Mordin!" Kacey shouted, "It doesn't look like you saved her."
Mordin hesitated, "No…it doesn't. Worked with available data. Only option. No other possible…doesn't matter."
Kacey walked off, not remotely interested in more arguments. She was too stubborn to let go of her convictions and it was clear that Mordin wasn't keen on letting go of his. Despite this, she was getting the sense that Mordin was beginning to change his mind.
…
"There's no pep talk like a military pep talk." Garrus said as the quartet moved down the hall, "And you're one of the best, Shepard.
"I appreciate it, Garrus." Kacey said as they reached the end of the hall and opened the door, "Careful! We've got Blood Pack in here!"
She ducked as a barrage of bullets flew over her. She rolled into cover and opened fire on the vorcha on the other side. It was clear that they were fighting in a massive stairwell, as gunshots echoed around the area. Kacey tilted her head to the side as she peered around the corner, watching as Grunt charged into another krogan while Mordin incinerated a group of vorcha while simultaneously shooting those he missed. Garrus was taking pot shots at the vorcha on the balcony as the sound of thunderous footsteps echoed around the stairwell.
"I think we just found their boss." Garrus said as he fired a concussive shot.
"Looks that way." Kacey replied, "Grunt, Mordin, tag team the Blood Pack. Garrus and I will take down Guld!"
Garrus looked at Kacey unamused, "You have got to be kidding."
"You wish." Kacey smirked, "Let's move."
Guld was not a typical krogan. He was built stronger than a tank, since the duo's concussive shots were swatted away like flies as the hulking behemoth charged towards them. Kacey leaped backwards and darted away, switching weapons. If they're standard gear wasn't going to cut through Guld's armour, then it was time to bring out an unconventional one.
Garrus managed to distance himself from Guld as he aimed his rifle at the krogan's face and opened fire, with each shot landing across the scarred krogan's face. Kacey took the krogan's brief moment of distraction to quickly bring out the Collector Beam and aimed it squarely at the krogan's back and pulled the trigger. The beam hit Guld hard as he turned to face the scarlet-haired Commander and began to charge at her. Unfortunately, she had stopped him quite literally in his tracks as he quickly disintegrated from the beam.
"What. The. Fuck." Kacey mused, almost in disbelief.
"Haha! Good one, Shepard." Grunt chuckled.
"That's not the reaction I would have after doing that." Garrus mused.
"Nobody asked you."
"Let's just go find Maelon and leave." Kacey said quickly as she ran towards the door on the far side.
…
"At this point, Mordin wasn't really convinced that the genophage was wrong. The stats agreed with them, right? Except Mordin wasn't the only one haunted by what they had done."
The main lab was at the end of a dark hallway; no more Blood Pack mercenaries interrupted the group as they moved down the hall. Kacey carefully opened the door, only to find a single slarian in the empty lab, tapping away on a large screen at the far side of the room, unaware of the quartet's arrival.
"Maleon. Alive. Unharmed." Mordin said as he walked towards Maelon, "No signs of restraint. No evidence of torture. Don't understand."
"For such a smart man, Professor, you always had trouble seeing evidence that disagreed with your preconceptions." Maelon scoffed as he turned to face Mordin, "How long will it take you to admit that I'm here because I wish to be here?"
"He wasn't kidnapped." Kacey mused, "He came here voluntarily to cure the genophage."
"Impossible!" Mordin said in disbelief, "Whole team agreed! Project necessary!"
"How was I supposed to disagree with the great Doctor Solus?" Maelon snapped, "I was your student! I looked up to you!"
"Experiments performed here. Live subjects! Prisoners! Torture and executions! Your doing?!" Mordin snapped.
"We've already got the blood of millions on our hands, Doctor." Maelon argued, "If it takes a bit more to put things right, I can deal with that."
"You honestly think the experiments here are justified?" Kacey asked.
"We committed cultural genocide!" Maelon shouted, "Nothing I do will ever be justified! The experiments are monstrous…because I was taught to be a monster."
"You told me you never did anything like this." Kacey said, facing Mordin.
"I do not. Never taught you this, Maelon." Mordin replied.
"So your hands are clean!" Maelon said in a condescending tone, "What does it matter if the ground is stained with the blood of millions! You taught me the ends justified the means. I will undo what we did, Professor. The only way I know how."
I'm all for curing the genophage, but have you even thought this through? You do know what Clan Weyrloc was planning to do once you cured them." Kacey added.
"I have! We justified this atrocity by saying the krogan would cause havoc and war if their population recovered." Maelon explained, "But look at the galaxy! Batarian attacks in the Traverse! Geth attacks on the Citadel! Is this a more peaceful universe? The assault on your Eden Prime might never have happened if we had let the krogan recover. We'll never know."
"How the fuck would an army of krogan stop a two kilometer tall, genocidal squid machine?"
"It would've forced the Council to take steps, likely involving colony rights in the turian fleets would've been there, and vigilant for any military activity in the area. They might have stopped the attack at Eden Prime."
"It would have led to thousands of turian deaths." Kacey scoffed.
"Supposition. Impossible to be certain." Mordin added.
"Don't you see?" Maelon said, "We tried to play God, and we failed! We only made things worse…and I'm going to fix it."
"Maleon clearly doesn't need rescuing." Kacey mused, "What do you want to do, Mordin?"
"Have to end this." Mordin said firmly.
Maelon jumped, pulling his pistol out and pointing it frantically at the quartet, "You can't face the truth, can you? Can't admit that your brilliant mind led you to commit an atrocity!"
Mordin punched Maelon in the face, pinning him up against the wall and pointing his own pistol at Maelon's face.
"Unacceptable experiments. Unacceptable goals." Mordin snapped, "Won't change. No choice. Have to kill you."
"Wait." Kacey intervened calmly, "you don't need to do this, Mordin. You're not a murderer."
"No. not a murderer." Mordin mused, "Thank you, Shepard. Finished, Maleon. Get out. No Weyrloc left. Project over."
"You heard him." Kacey said firmly, "Scram!"
"Where am I supposed to go, Professor?" Maelon asked.
"Don't care. Try Omega." Mordin replied bluntly, "Can always use another clinic."
Maelon walked towards the door, turning to shout one final thing, "The krogan didn't deserve what we did to them! The genophage needs to end!"
"Not like this." Mordin replied as Maelon left, "Apologies, Commander. Misunderstood mission parameters. No kidnapping. My mistake. Thank you."
"Don't worry about me, Mordin. How are you doing?" Kacey asked.
"Should have killed him. Wanted to." Mordin explained, "Easier than listening. Easier for him, too. Experiments indicate how far he's fallen. Expected it from krogan. Not one of mine."
"Maybe you'll remember that the next time we're discussing the ethics of the genophage."
"Yes. So many variables. Stress responses. Impossible to truly predict. Something to think about." Mordin said, "Maelon's research. Only loose end. Could destroy it. Closure. Security. Still valuable though."
"If you think it could be useful, keep it." Kacey said, "Maybe it'll come in handy."
"Agreed. It could cure genophage. Don't know. Effects on krogan, galaxy. Too many variables. Too many variables! Done. Ready to go, ready to be off Tuchanka. Anywhere else. Maybe somewhere sunny."
"Yeah, maybe after we blow up the Collectors." Kacey said as she followed Mordin out of the lab.