AN: Incoming flimsy repair of a continuity error I accidentally let slip through regarding what Wrex is up to. I might actually publish this before someone mentions it!
Also, Jack's gonna be different from Canon. If you don't like it, I'm hosting a seminar in Indianapolis at the JW Marriott on on Friday, January 10 where you and everyone else that criticizes my shit are more than welcome to get in line and suck it.
Chapter 40
"How long do you think?" Hannah Shepard asked. Harry shrugged.
"Hopefully not too much longer. Physically she's healthy, her magic looks good, and her brain activity looks completely normal. Hannah, I'm sorry I forgot about Fawkes... Harry said.
"We all did, Harry, don't beat yourself up for this. I'm just happy we have her back. Losing her…" Hannah said.
"I know." Harry said, looking haunted.
"Alright, I gotta get this tub to Sur'Kesh before the Dalatrass gets all bitchy at me again." Hannah said. Harry rolled his eyes.
"Steve's offer is still open, you know. I know you've kept up your PT." Harry said. Hannah sighed.
"I'm still mulling it over. I enjoy my little shipping business, but if what half of what you've told me is true, we're going to need everyone." Hannah said.
"I hope I'm wrong. Anyway, stay safe." Harry said.
"Will do. Please tell Jane I love her when she wakes. I love you too." Hannah said.
"I will, and I love you too." Harry said, killing the connection.
Harry grimaced and rolled his shoulder as he watched Anderson take off with Kaidan and Ashley, and Tali take off with Veetor. He was planning a trip to the Citadel to resupply, as there was a new shipment of potions waiting for him. He'd been in a relatively small ship for so long, and had not been able to do too much brewing. One does not want to be subjected to those kinds of fumes in an enclosed environment, with only the vaccuum of space to escape to.
He'd just left the atmosphere of Horizon and made for the relay when he got a notification on his omnitool. He activated it and grinned when he saw a holographic representation of Wrex hovering over his arm.
"Wrex! How's it going?" Harry asked.
"Could be better. Got a bit of a situation we could use a hand with." Wrex said.
"You find Actus?" Harry asked.
"Not yet.. I'm with Miranda, on a planet called Pragia." Wrex said.
"Oh, I'm actually not far. Just one relay jump." Harry said.
"Can you get over here then? Hang on, Miranda wants to talk." Wrex said, before rotating his omni-tool.
"Harry, Pragia is where that facility I told you about is, the biotics testing lab? I've been scouting around while Wrex has been trying to talk this poor kid down. Harry… They were doing it again." Miranda said. Harry's eyes glowed brightly enough to distort his image on her end.
"I'm on my way now." Harry said, disconnecting the call and reconfiguring his plotted relay course.
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"Listen, kid. I know you've got no reason to trust us, Just tell me, are you hurt?" Wrex asked. His answer came in the form of a singularity, which he narrowly avoided.
"I'm beginning to regret coming here with you Lawson." Wrex said, laughing.
"I'm going to flay The Illusive Man alive." Miranda said, shuffling through a pile of documents she'd discovered.
"That guy seems to be on top of a lot of people's shit lists." Wrex said.
"He's been torturing kids for decades, trying to craft the perfect biotic warrior." Miranda said.
"You were a part of this?" Wrex asked.
"Yeah.. not knowingly. I was sending electronic schematics, gene sequences, test procedures to the administration here, they'd send data back, which I'd analyze. As far as I knew, they were all consenting, adult volunteers." Miranda said.
"LIAR!" The voice shouted. Miranda winced.
"Kid's got good ears." Wrex said.
"I've got an idea…" Miranda said.
"Let's hear it." Wrex said.
"I don't know who you are, but you know a little about who I am. Yes, I am responsible to an extent for what has happened here. I used to work for Cerberus, and left when I discovered what The Illusive Man was doing. I don't have any proof, but a friend of mine is on his way. He's a wizard, and he might have some Veritaserum on him." Miranda said. She heard nothing so she continued.
"Do you know what that is?" Miranda asked.
"I'm not an idiot, Cerberus." The voice said.
"Good. When he gets here, I'll take the serum and answer any questions you have, ok?" Miranda offered.
"Why.. why would you do that?" The voice asked.
"Because I hurt you and it doesn't matter that I didn't mean to. I want to help you, and this is the only way I can think of to get you to let me." Miranda said. She heard no response, and sat on the ground, leaning against the wall.
"How's your amp?" Wrex asked.
"I overdid it a bit. Probably gonna need a new one." Miranda said.
"Take mine for now. Your biotics are stronger and I prefer claws and guns anyway." Wrex said, reaching behind his head and detaching his amp. Miranda removed hers and exchanged with Wrex.
"It's a bit big I know but it should have the same connection port." Wrex said.
"It does. Thanks." Miranda said, attaching the comically large amp.
"I'm thirsty…" The voice called out.
"Wrex doesn't have his amp on, and he's clearly not Cerberus. Can he come over there and give you some water?" miranda asked.
"Ok…" The voice said. Miranda reached into her bag and produced a sealed plastic bottle of water, handing it to Wrex.
"This better not take too much longer. If I'm gone too long that worthless pyjack I call my brother might get delusions of grandeur." Wrex said, accepting the bottle and walking over towards the entryway.
"Catch." Wrex said, tossing the bottle. He gave the person a long look before turning back and returning to Miranda.
"Harry really needs to step on it." Wrex muttered.
"What now?" Miranda asked.
"She's in a bad way, covered in recent injuries. It's a miracle she's still able to throw biotics around like that." Wrex said.
"Christ…" Miranda said.
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"Slow down.." Garrus said, in his archangel guise.
"There...are...vorcha…trying… no can't do it. There are vorcha in the air vents. Reasonably sure not under the employ of Aria. Equipped with expensive looking tools. Vorcha physically ideal for work in duct systems, but likely not intellectually capable. Presumably, they are working on behalf of the Blood Pack." Mordin Solus said as he held pressure on an injured Turian's leg wound.
"Hold this." Mordin said. Garrus put down his rifle and took Mordin's place, freeing him up to sedate the patient.
"Excellent." Mordin said when the Turian stopped writhing.
"Daniel, please clean and dress the injury. Report to me when finished." Mordin said.
"Right, boss." A human medic said, dancing around the clutter to make his way over. Mordin walked over to a sink and washed his hands.
"Spent time in Salarian military. Honed observational skills." Mordin said.
"Clearly. You said they were in the Doru district?" Garrus asked.
"Indeed. Water filtration and air ventilation systems present. Easy way to disperse poison, or airborn pathogen." Mordin said.
"Spirits. I'll head down there immediately." Garrus said.
"I will accompany you. Would be dangerous to go alone. Also need to find out whether air or water systems have been tainted." Mordin said.
"You armed?" Garrus asked. Mordin reached overhead, opening a panel that Garrus hadn't noticed, and withdrawing an assault rifle.
"Always." Mordin said.
"Let's get to it then." Garrus said. They made their way to the Doru district, and as Mordin had said, there were Vorcha present. Mordin was about to leap out of cover and attack when Garrus grabbed him and dragged him back down.
"Look, Solus. What the fuck is that thing they're talking to?" Garrus asked. Mordin peeked over their cover and frowned.
"Collectors… What business do they have with Vorcha?" Mordin asked. Garrus squinted.
"The collector just handed that Vorcha some sort of cylinder." Garrus observed.
"Difficult.. Should attack, neutralize Vorcha and Collector threat. Don't know what's in that Cylinder…." Mordin said.
"Wish Harry was here." Garrus muttered.
"Harry? Admiral Harry Potter? Supposedly immortal Human wizard?" Mordin asked, curiously.
"Another time. What's the play here?" Garrus asked. Mordin pondered.
"Create a distraction, I will sneak in and take cylinder." Mordin said.
"Are you sure? We have no idea what that collector's capabilities are." Garrus said.
"Have military experience…." Mordin said vaguely.
"Ah.. STG?" Garrus asked.
"Can neither confirm nor deny…" Mordin said.
"Make it quick." Garrus said, creeping away from where they were hiding before standing and shouting.
"Spirits, what is that hideous thing?" Garrus shouted. The Vorcha hissed loudly, the one holding the cylinder retreating to the back of the group.
"What you want, Turian?" One of the Vorcha asked.
"Well, I was wondering if the Blood Pack is recruiting…" Garrus said sarcastically. The Collector let out an incomprehensible series of clicks.
"KILL THE TURIAN!" The Lead Vorcha cried. Garrus rolled away just in time for dozens of bullets to fly through the space he'd previously occupied.
"Careful. This is a space station." Garrus shouted, reaching to his belt and detaching a concussion grenade. He twisted its primer and tossed it, ducking his head down when it exploded. Several Vorcha groaned and fell to the ground clutching their ears. The Collector clicked.
"Hey! Give that back!" The Vorcha with the cylinder said as the object was plucked from his hands, lifting into the air seemingly of its own volition. The Vorcha shrieked and convulsed ebfore falling to the ground twitching.
"Return to clinic!" Mordin shouted. Garrus dashed around the corner. He took one look back, and noticed that the collector was standing, completely motionless, staring into the middle distance.
"Strange." Garrus muttered to himself as he ran.
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"Bingo." Harry said to himself as his scanners found the recently abandoned facility. He grabbed a duffel bag full of ungodly amounts of potions, medicines, bandages, and various Asari confections before apparating to the surface and jogging up to the entrance of the facility.
"Miranda? Wrex?" Harry asked.
"In here!" Miranda yelled. Harry made is way deeper into the facility, scowling at what he saw. It was plain to see that the research being done her had not been even in the same galaxy as ethical. Yet another reason for him to skin Harper alive…
"OK. So you're not shooting warps at each other, I'm assuming you came to some sort of truce." Harry said. Miranda nodded.
"You got the veritaserum?" Miranda asked.
"Do I look like an amateur?" Harry asked, rummaging through his bag.
"We should hurry, she's been quiet for a while now." Wrex said. Harry nodded and withdrew the vial he'd been looking for, along with a few generalized healing potions.
"You in there, sweetie?" Harry asked. He heard a weak cough in response. He dropped his weapons on the ground
"Ok, I'm coming in slowly, Wrex has my gun, and I've got Veritaserum for Miranda but first I need to make sure you're ok." Harry said. He heard more coughing followed by a pained whimper.
"H-help! Please!" The girl gasped. Harry bolted, skidding to a halt in front of the girl and getting to work immediately.
"Ok, this looks bad, but I've seen worse. Drink this. Fair warning, it tastes like goat piss." Harry said, bringin a potion up to her lips. She drank it, scowling at the horrid taste, but her color immediately improved.
"Ok, I'm sure all of it hurts, but does anything hurt especially bad?" Harry asked, looking her over.
"My back." The girl said. Harry waved The Elder wand over her and grimaced.
"Wiggle your feet." Harry said. He nodded when he saw her feet move.
"You've got a nasty fracture in your L4 Vertebrae, but I don't think the spinal cord is injured. I'm gonna fix it so you can get out of here, but it'll hurt. Ready?" Harry asked. The girl nodded, then yelped when he fixed the bone with an episkey.
"Ok.. Take a few minutes…" Harry said, picking up her empty bottle and refilling it, before handing it to her.
"Here you go." Harry said.
"Thank you." The girl said.
"She's safe." Harry shouted out the door.
"Thank God." Miranda said.
