Collective Rebirth
ESKK: Hey all you badass readers we got a brand-new chapter up, now let's get this story started people.
(Start The Castle of Lions)
Needless to say, things were rather tense on the Normandy after the team had returned from the prison ship with Jack. As Joker had so eloquently put it, they could only hold so much crazy, and clearly having a psychotic biotic like Jack on board was really pushing that limit for everyone. Every time someone saw Jack, even in passing, they tended to put as much distance as they could between her and themselves or just prayed that she would not notice them, especially given how she would glare at anyone who was wearing a Cerberus uniform.
The only one that everyone tended to avoid more than Jack at the moment though was actually Miranda, as she had been silently seething ever since the team had returned to the ship and she had been forced to give Jack access to the files in Cerberus' databases. It was not really as obvious if you were to just go by the neutral expression Miranda had on her face, but it was plainly obvious with the way she was carrying herself as though she were hoping to get something over with as quickly as possible, along with the dangerously icy aura that she was giving off whenever she entered a room, especially when John was in said room. True, she typically gave off a rather cold aura in general, but that was more of a cold, calculating vibe, and this was more of an icy, silent furry type of feeling than anything else. Given this, Steve knew he would have to talk with Miranda about what had happened sooner or later, but there were still other things he wanted to deal with first.
One of those things was seeing how Jack was settling in, and that was why Steve was now making his way to one of the lowest parts of the ship; the sub-deck underneath engineering to be exact, which had now been re-branded as "the Forbidden Zone" by the crew after Jack had taken the area up as her personal quarters. Part of the reason was because he genuinely wanted to see how Jack was doing and because he wanted to get to know the person behind the dossier that he had been sent. There had to be a reason as to why Jack hated Cerberus so much, because that kind of hate and anger could never come about without good reason.
The Castle of Lions on the other hand was having different things to concern itself with. With Jack part of the team now Kalvin had Penny's stock up on her Biotic counter measures in case Jack starts a killing spree. Kalvin didn't like it honestly, but he'd rather be ready in case Jack goes postal on the group. Of course, the names she had given the Paladins had stuck around none of them very welcoming or friendly. Only Allura got the friendliest one by being called Elf Freak which almost made Kalvin lash out on her.
But they were focused on another issue entirely and that was the fact that a Robeast was deployed to Purgatory. With the ship out of commission and most of its criminals either dead or on the run Kalvin wondered why it was sent there. Haggar never did anything without some bigger scheme in the works. Plus, since she has access to wormholes it was hard to predict what her next target was. Still was Jack the target or was that just a simple case of coincidence, and why did Jack want access to Cerberus's files so badly.
Hector was in the kitchen cooking up food for both ships using Cosmo as the delivery system for it. Needless to say, Cosmo made a lot of things easier for the group both on the battlefield and off it. The Normandy had its own cook but sometimes it was nice to give the guy a break even if he was Cerberus. Still Kalvin had his concerns which was why he was off to see Sven again. Kalvin needed to make sure that Sven was ok after what happened against Jack.
Kalvin found Sven standing in the Castle of Lions Command Deck as he was going through mission reports and news stories of the past 2 years trying to catch up. "Hey Sven how goes it?" Kalvin asked getting Sven's attention.
"Doing as vell as I could." Sven said as he looked over to Kalvin before back to the files. "Been trying to get caught up wiz zi vorld." Sven said looking back towards the screen.
"I know being dead for over 2 years can do that." Kalvin said as Sven shrugged a bit to this.
"Itz strange zat for me itz only been a vew moment but for all of you itz been over 2 years." Sven admitted as such a thing have left its mark on him.
"Have you been contacting your folks?" Sven asked as he looked to Sven.
"No been meaning to but itz... hard." Sven admitted as the Swedish ex-Paladins knew his parents had no doubt suffered a great deal with his passing two years ago. "Would have been better if zi bullet never hit me." Sven tried to joke but when he saw Kalvin was not laughing, he stopped. "Sorry." Sven said as he knew that joke was in poor tastes.
"It's fine... it was two years ago anyway." Kalvin admitted but by his tone it was clear he had not gotten over what had happened that day.
"Still." Sven trailed off knowing that his death had a negative impact on everyone in his life. "At zi very least I'm back now." Sven said looking at the silver lining in all of this.
"Yeah, I guess you're right, Sven." Kalvin said agreeing with Sven. But even though he was saying that the problem for Kalvin was that looking at Sven now still reminded Kalvin of the day that his friend was gunned down in battle, and he was powerless to do anything about it. It hurt and the incident had left it scar on him it left scars on all of the Paladins that day. That day they were just kids who had no idea of the concept of war who had no idea that the galaxy was not as black and white as they had grown up believing. If it were that simple, then things would have been a lot easier for them all those years ago.
"If it makes you veel better I don't zink it hurt when it happened." Sven said causing Kalvin to roll his eyes at Sven's failed attempt to cheer Kalvin up.
"I should go." Kalvin said as he took his leave of the conversation leaving Sven to continue his work to catch up on the current events in the Galaxy.
(Later over in Kasumi's quarters)
Kalvin arrived at Kasumi's quarters and found she had set the room up to her liking. Penny had to start hiding her pudding with Kasumi on board. When he saw the pudding Kalvin had hoped the pudding cup Kasumi had, was not from Penny's stash. Entering the room Kalvin came to check in on the thief see how she was settling in on the Castle of Lions.
"Ah the black paladin, Kalvin Shepard, making your rounds?" Kasumi asked as Kalvin said, "Yep… how the pudding?"
"Sweet, savory, and delicious with every bite, and taking my time with each one as well," Kasumi said as she took another bite as Kalvin said, "Well then better hope they aren't Penny, seeing as she had started to hide hers because you were on board the ship."
Kasumi moaned a bit enjoying the pudding but didn't say a word about it as she took her time with the bite as Kalvin sighed a bit and moved on as he said, "So how are you enjoying yourself sense you join up with us anyways?"
"Oh," Kasumi said as she swallow what little pudding she had in her mouth before went on saying, "It's been nice, I've haven't got into any trouble with anyone or starts trouble with me."
"I suppose you are a bit lucky that Alteans are more friendlier than any other known species in the galaxy," Kalvin said as Kasumi nodded a bit and said, "I suppose so, I think they are trying to understand me as well, as they are like they never meet a thief before."
"Well given the Alteans are a race of peaceful and never really had crimes other than maybe going too far with experiments," Kalvin explain as Kasumi nodded a bit as she understood as Kalvin said, "But that don't let that be an excuse to try and taken advantage of them, they had it rough after finding out their savior was really their harvester."
"Don't worry, I'm not that kind of girl, as even I have standers," Kasumi said as Kalvin counter saying, "Beside robbing my friend Leon twice, first time was his lion, the second time was his money and clothes."
"Well, I needed funds for travel, and the clothes bit was his own fault as he dared me to do it," Kasumi said as she took another bite of pudding and enjoy it for a bit before she said, "But it is surprising that he is willing to talk with me, but he keep his distant from me this time."
"Well after what happen the last two times and nearly stealing his Bayard, it understandable, but there something I'm trying to understand here," Kalvin said as Kasumi soon ask, "And what is that?"
"Why did Cerberus hired you for, just to join us or are they still trying to steal knowledge on Voltron?" Kalvin said as Kasumi points her spoon at him and said, "Now that's a good question to ask, and the answer is no, I'm not here to steal anything dealing with your giant robot savior, in fact I rather have you keep doing what you do best with him so while I can keep doing what I do best."
"Stealing?" Kalvin question as Kasumi answer him saying, "And surviving, after all I can't enjoy life if I'm head, right? Anyways Cerberus told me to help both you and commander Shepard, with something and we soon came to an agreement."
"And that agreement is?" Kalvin said as Kasumi smile and said, "Sorry but that is between me and your little daddy dearest."
"Find then, I'll be going," Kalvin said as he turn around and about to leave but stop before at the door and said, "Also one more thing."
"Hmm?" Kasumi said as suddenly Kalvin hit the side of the wall which cause a lot of stuff from above came down suddenly as Kalvin said to Kasumi, "Put everything back of where you found it."
After that Kalvin left with Kasumi smile and said, "Very cleaver black paladin, very cleaver."
(Penny)
Kalvin soon stops by Penny's area as he hear her talking with someone as he came around and saw Penny was talking on a monitor with Mordin about something.
"Thanks Dr. Solus with this new data I can push the upgrades I've been gunning for." Penny said not noticing Kalvin was standing behind her.
"Happy to help, bright young minds hard to come by. Salarian STG would have been happy to have you if you were a Salarian." Mordin said as he was happy that someone can keep up with his mind.
"It wasn't that hard, its why we geniuses are so few in between." Penny said and thus Mordin nodded to this.
"Anyway, work to do, samples to study Collectors have unique biology." Mordin said and thus Penny nodded before they hung up.
Seeing that Penny was done with that conversation Kalvin began to approach her. "Well Penny happy to see that your making friends." Kalvin said which got Penny's attention as she jumped with a yelp.
Looking to the source Pennys aw Kalvin and then sighed a bit. "Jesus Kal don't sneak up on me like that." Penny said as she looked to Kalvin. "Damn near gave me a heart attack." Penny said looking towards Kalvin.
"Doubt it, you probably already replaced your heart with a mechanical one." Kalvin joked as he looked to Penny.
"Oh, very funny." Penny quipped as she then went to her work bench. "Oh, before I forget I need to show you something." Penny said and thus she showed a display of the Green Lion and Voltron. "Remember Hestia 5 when we found out that the Green Lion had a cloaking function?" Penny asked as the Biotic Paladin looked towards Kalvin.
"Yeah?" Kalvin asked as he raised a brow to Penny.
"Well, I found a way to apply that power to Voltron." Penny said and thus displayed the power in question via a simulation. "That means we can form Voltron cloak and then catch the bad guys by surprise." Penny said as Kalvin heard this.
"Is there any way we can apply this tech to the Normandy." Kalvin said as he recalled that the Normandy was a Stealth Vessel.
"Working on it, right now I'm trying to apply it to a smaller vessel like the Altean Pods." Penny said and thus she put the ships in question on display. "I've been upgrading them between missions and what not." Penny said as she then gestured to the Pods in the hanger nearby. "Right now, these bad boys can take as much punishment as a Kodiak and then some." Penny said showing that they now had drop ships like the Normandy Crew does.
"Way to go, Penny." Kalvin said with a smile on his face.
"And add the Mako we got ourselves a damn good arsenal." Penny said as she gestured to the Mako which seemed to have been broken down. "After I finish with its upgrades of course." Penny added as she had been working to add some new tech to it. "Anyway, Kalvin I've been working on some ideas for upgrading the ship, mainly we need stronger shielding." Penny said as Kalvin heard her out.
"Yeah; I know, if we're going to fight the Collectors then we'll need something that can tank their big guns." Kalvin said recalling the Collector Ship from over two years ago.
"Lucky for us I got a few ideas on where to find such upgrades." Penny said as she knew that Ilium had some Thanex Cannons they can apply to the Normandy. "Right now, I need to set up a few feels contact a few friends see if they can hook us up." Penny said which Kalvin nodded to this.
"Alright just don't blow out our budget." Kalvin said as he rather have enough cash for fuel and supplies.
"Don't worry I won't bankrupt the team." Penny said assuring Kalvin that she has everything under control. "And I'll make sure my upgrades don't blow us sky high either." She added causing Kalvin to smile and roll his eyes.
"Though I feel I need to ask, where did you get a Mako?" Kalvin asked as he gestured to the vehicle Penny had in her area of work.
"Used a few favors from some friends we made to get an older model." Penny said revealing that this Mako was in fact an older model of the vehicle. "Once this thing is done, she'll tear through just about anything we throw against it." Penny said as she had a lot of plans for this vehicle.
"Here's hoping." Kalvin said wanting to see what this new tank can do. Still having some wheels on the ground may be useful for the Paladins when out in the field even if said chances to use it may not come as often as they would like. Still better to be save then sorry and all that. So, as he took his leave Kalvin knew they had to make the trip to meet with a Krogan Warlord a Dr. Okeer on Korlus a planet ripe with crime. They best be ready for whatever they may find down there.
(Scene Break Korlus)
The Castle of Lions and the Normandy SR-2 flew over Korlus as they flew close to the location of a Blue Sun camp. The two ships deployed an Altean Pod and a Kodiak as both small ships flew towards the ground to a safe enough landing zone. Inside the Altean Pod the Paladins were there with Kasumi as they flew down to the planet's surface. Leon was keeping Penny and Hector between him and Kasumi in case she tries to steal from his pockets.
"So let me see if I got this right." Hector said as he sat in the back of the Altean Pod. "We're supposed to go down into a Blue Suns camp, find Dr. Okeer a Krogan Warlord and get him on the Normandy." Hector said as the Dossier showed that Dr. Okeer had some information about the Collectors.
"Sure, seems that way." Leon said as he saw where this fight was going for them.
"And we're supposed to do it with the Lions." Hector added and thus Kalvin responded to that one.
"Their big and would draw to much attention." Kalvin said knowing they were already risking it with two small ships like this.
"And besides after what Shepard's team did to them on Omega and again on their prison ship, how much you willing to bet they'll shoot us down first chance they get." Penny added reminding the group that they've been pissing on the Blue Suns for a while now.
"That's a good point but..." Hector began before Allura cut in.
"Don't worry Hector." Allura said with a calming tone in her voice. "We'll make it out of this." Allura said assuring Hector that they'll be ok.
"Heads up team." Kalvin began as he got the Paladin's attention. "We're about to make landfall weapons ready." Kalvin said and thus they drew their guns and/or Bayard's for the fight to come assuming there will be a fight when they land.
(Later at the Landing Zone)
When both transport ship touch down, both Shepard's team the paladins all rush, with Leon dragging Hector out of the pod as he was whining a bit of not want to be on a crime filled planet, as they quickly took cover before the transport ships took off leaving both teams behind.
"The dossier doesn't say if Okeer is on this planet by choice. Assume hostiles," Commander Shepard said as Kalvin said, "And watch out for any ambushes as well, no telling what's around this place."
Suddenly on a loudspeaker as a woman was telling the grunts around the area as she said, "There is only one measure of success: Kill or be killed! Perfection is your goal."
"Broadcasting order over loudspeakers? Charming" Miranda said as Penny said, "If you can even call those orders."
"Yeah, it almost sound like a cult or something going on here," Leon said as Allura said, "I do not like the sound of that."
"Great as if there wasn't enough reason to be worried for my life for," Hector said as Penny said to him, "How is it that you're a mean cook, but out on the battlefield you're a chicken?"
"Hey, I'm lover of food, not much of a fighter," Hector said as Jack heard this and said, "Ah is the yellow fat ass scared of getting hurt?"
"Hey Jack, shut up and mind your business, and Hector there nothing to be scared of, as long we stick together and complete this mission, we can all leave in one piece," Kalvin said as he got his gun and Bayard sword ready for action as John said, "Stay focused. We're looking for a Krogan warlord."
With that the group move across the war zone like planet with many gun fire and explosions that could be heard in the distant as the loudspeaker was turn on again as the woman on the mic said, "Being hired is merely the beginning. You must earn your place in the mighty army we are building."
"Yep, sound like a cult," Leon said as they heard what the woman said, as Kalvin said, "We may be in for a fight."
"As long we're the one coming out of this alive, I'll be happy. By the way what is up with this guy that we're trying to recruit?" Leon asked with Kalvin explain to him, "Rumor has it that Okeer had contact with the collectors before, so we're going to try and get any information from him and hopefully get him to join us in the fight against the collectors."
"Observation post. And ready for a fight, it looks like," Garrus said as he saw the post with the group got to cover as Kalvin look over around the corner of a wall before ducking back and said, "There 3 enemies, and looks like they looking in our direction, so we can't avoid them, at least not like this."
"Got an idea?" John asked Kalvin as he look over to Cosmo as he smile and said. "Yeah, I got one, just get ready to shot when you get the signal."
After a bit as the wannabe soldiers of the Blue suns were guarding the area, suddenly from behind as there was a quick blue flash of light before one of them turn around before being tackled to the ground as Cosmo attacked them as the guy scream out while being attacked by the space wolf, with the another one saw this and about to shot until a blade cut through his weapon, making it unusable before shooting the blue sun grunt point blank, with the last guy look to the black paladin as he was about to shot him until gun fire was heard, but not from the enemy, as they just drop down as it John was the one to take care of them.
"Get this thing off of me!" the last grunt cry out as he try to get Cosmo off of him as Kalvin whistled out calling Cosmo to him which make him stop attacking the guy as he quickly got up and about to run until Allura came in with a staff and smack the last man upside the head with a hard crack was heard, breaking the man helmet before she spin as her staff turn into her Bayard whip as she wraps around the man's neck and throw him over to the side breaking their neck, she look up at Kalvin as he nodded to her and said, "That take care of that
"Let move on then," John said to both groups as the teams moves on with Miranda soon said, "Interesting, even being two years apart they worked so well together."
"Well before the commander was spaced, he and Kalvin did train together in simulations, along with the team as well," Garrus said as he remember those sims training which cause a Turian soldier to bet and lose his weapons to the father and son duo when they were standing up to a human soldier that he was threating to report for cheating and get him kicked out.
"Hey, we got a live one," Leon said as he pointed to the last living guy who John had shot at as the group approach the guy said, "Shit. Shit. It won't stop bleeding. I'm gonna- Son of a bitch!"
"Doesn't look that bad, actually," Miranda said as she saw the wound on the Mercenary grunt guy, and could tell the guy would mostly live, if he get it treated within an hour or so as John said, "He doesn't need to know that."
"I knew it wasn't berserkers. Not at range. You're mercs. Or Alliance, or... wait I know those uniforms those Voltron paladins guys," the grunt said as he looked at Kalvin's outfit as no doubt everyone had seen them once or twice before as the guy spoken up again saying, "I'm not- I'm not telling you anything."
"I got a nice application of Medi-gel ready to go. But if you'd rather I just keep walking..." John said as he trail off, leading the wounded merc on as he said, "Son of a... I just, I don't know anything. I just shoot the overflow from the labs. The old Krogan up there, he's really been cleaning house lately."
"What can you tell us about this Krogan?" Kalvin asked the guy as the merc said, "Not much other than Jedore hired him to make her an army, but the Krogan he creates are insane, so we use them for love ammo training. It's all crap, I don't get paid enough to goddamn bleed out!"
"Outpost four? Jedore wants us to move. We need coordinates on that Krogan Pack," someone called on the Merc com link which everyone heard as John move close to the man and said, "I want your friends gone. Understand?"
"Uh, patrol? The last group…dispersed. Lost sight five minutes ago." The Merc said reporting to his higher ups.
"Dispersed," the man on the other end repeated in disbelief and displeasure. "Jedore will be pissed. She wanted a show." He added knowing he'll have to let his boss know about this.
"You asked for a report, you got it: dispersed!" The Merc responded making it clear Jedore was his boss's problem now.
"Understood. Returning to the labs." The Merc in charge said before ending the call.
After the line was cut, the merc looked back to the two teams. "There, you see. I'm helping." He said hoping that will be enough to get him out of this mess.
"Good choice." Kalvin said glaring down upon the merc. "Now we need some information we're looking for a Krogan Warlord named Okeer." Kalvin said taking a part for this interrogation.
"You already know more than I do in that regard. I've never even heard of the guy until just now," the merc admitted as he laid there with his flesh wound. "I just kill the crazy Krogan that the old one in the lab dumps down here." He added before moving towards what he did know. "Jedore hired him to make her an army, but the Krogan he creates are insane. So, we use them for live-ammo training." He said before bemoaning his current situation. "It's all crap! I don't get paid enough to goddamn bleed out." The bleeding merc bemoaned clearly unhappy with his current line of work.
what else can you tell us about these Krogan or what Jedore is planning to do with them?"
"I've told you all I know about the damn Krogan: they're crazy and we're supposed to shoot them." The Merc said as the group paid him close mind. "We can't go in the labs that they come out of, so anyone up there would be the only ones who know what's going on." He which was not enough to figure out what was waiting for them inside. "As for what Jedore wants with them, I'm guessing she probably wants to replace us with them." He said which made sense on paper but from his words alone not so much with execution. "I mean, I sure wouldn't want to see an army of them coming at me, but the only problem is that Jedore can't control them. They're all crazy, but then again, they're Krogan, so how smart are they to start?" The Merc said which Garrus had one thing to say.
"Sad thing is, he's not entirely wrong about that," Garrus commented, getting nods from just about everyone in response.
"How heavily guarded is the lab," Miranda then asked, hoping that they could get something useful that would help them stay alive as they approached the lab. You did not need to be half as smart as Miranda to know that the team was going to end up going there eventually since it was also the most likely place that Okeer was.
"There are big guns to keep ships away, but we're not outfitted to fight goddamned commandos and the Paladins." the merc immediately retorted giving Miranda what she needed to know.
"Man, do we have some kickass rep or what?" Leon asked happy that they make the bad guys shake in their boots.
"Who cares? Can I kill him now," Jack asked, clearly getting a little impatient, while getting the merc riled up with fear at what the bald woman would do to him if someone said yes.
"No," John immediately told Jack, causing the merc to breathe a sigh of relief in response until he fell under Commander Shepard's intense glare once again. "But you will need to start limping and crawling now if you want to find a spot to hide until this whole mess is over with." John said and thus the merc got the memo.
The merc did not need any more incentive than that to get the hell out of there, and the team just watched in amusement as took the medigel before he left, cursing the whole way as he did. When he was finally gone, Jack had to throw a smirk towards John and said, "Okay, I may be a little upset that I didn't get to kill him, but I can admit that was definitely funny."
"I figured you'd think so," John revealed with a humorous smile of his own before he pulled out his pistol. "Now, let's go get our warlord from Jedore's lab." HE said and thus the group got moving once more. Confirming the order with a nod the two teams got moving as they headed off towards the facility hopefully to find Okeer.
(Later)
Not much was said after the team had left the merc they interrogated, aside from the few necessary orders that went out for when they engaged other groups of mercs and the occasional complaint from hearing Jedore barking out her idea of "morale boosters" from over the loudspeaker, and if anyone were being honest with themselves, they were actually rather glad for it. At the same time though, everyone was a bit put off by the strange silence that enveloped them.
Jack felt they should bring in the Lions, but Kalvin defended that without knowing what state Okeer was in the Lions arriving may force Jedore to kill him or something. Moving fast and quiet was their best bet to get to Okeer without issue. Allura meanwhile felt bad for the Krogan here, despite the unnatural method of their birth the fact they were brough into the world only to fight and kill for the amusement of others like gladiators was appalling. However, they did not get much time to talk contemplate further as the two teams once again walked into another fire fight, only this time, it involved one of the Krogan that they had been told about. The Krogan in question was armed with only a shotgun, was completely clad in basic Krogan armor, helmet included, and at the moment, he was pinned down by a number of Blue Suns mercs that were on the walkway above them.
Kasumi and Leon were both quick to race forward and open fire on the mercs since there was not much of a chance for either of the two to make their way up there without getting shot full of holes. This move allowed for Penny, Jack, and Miranda to get close enough so that they could use their biotics to launch a pair into the air. Once the mercs were airborne, Garrus gladly put a few holes through their heads with some quick, precise shots from his rifle aided by Jacob and Kalvin. With that done, Hector, John, and Allura took out the last few with their Bayard's and guns.
With the mercs all gone, the Paladin and Normandy teams were left with only the Krogan to deal with, and they were all more cautious than one usually would be around a Krogan. It was pretty understandable when one considered what they had been told about the Krogan that the mercs were fighting on this planet, but the closer they got to the Krogan, the less likely it seemed that it would attack them.
John looked over to his son who in turn turned his head as the Krogan was not making any move to attack them. The idea that the Krogan would not likely be a threat to them was only enforced when Jack finally noted, "Did he really think he would've been able to hit any fucking shit from a distance with a shotgun?"
No one had a chance to answer, as they were all quickly on the defensive when the Krogan in question suddenly started moving towards them with his weapon down at his side. When he saw that the Krogan was making no other threatening moves, Steve quickly waved for his team to stand down and then looked the slightly larger alien as dead in the eye as he could through the alien's mask. "You…are different," the Krogan eventually said in a low, slow voice. "New…you don't smell like this world." When no one said anything in response to this, the Krogan stepped back to a respectable distance and continued, "Seven-night cycles, and I have only felt the need to kill. But you…something makes me speak."
"Seven what? He's a week old," Jack exclaimed in honest shock.
"How horrid." Allura said shocked at the fact that this Krogan was basically an infant.
"Not only grown full-sized, but it seems they're also bred to kill." Garrus guessed as he figured that to be the case. "Not much of an improvement over regular mercs if they need training though," Garrus added with a small jab at the Krogan. "Bet Mordin would've loved this." Garrus said as he smiled towards Penny a bit.
"That makes one of us," Penny said as she had lines, she would not cross. Then again, she preferred machinery over biological science.
"Bred…to kill," the Krogan suddenly asked, cutting into the group's discussion. "No. I kill because my blood and bone tell me to, but it's not why I was flushed from glass mother." The Krogan said as he looked to the group telling them what he knew.
"Glass what-now," Kasumi asked in confusion, only to get a shrug from both Garrus and Leon in response since they were the only ones to acknowledge her question.
"He means the cloning tank." Allura said assuming that to be the case.
"Oh." Kasumi said as she should have figured as much.
"Survival is what I hear in my head against the enemy that threatens all my kind," the Krogan continued as though he had not been interrupted, his speech getting better with every passing second. "But I failed even before waking. That is what the voice in the water said, and that is why I wait here." The nameless Korgan said while looking to the group.
"Was this voice you heard Okeer's?" John asked hoping to get something useful out of their unexpected friend.
"The voice did not give a name. I heard the voice, not like now, with ears. It was inside," the Krogan explained as he indicated his head with a finger. "I called it father. It liked that, but it was disappointed. I'm not what it needs me to be." The Krogan said as Allura felt pity for this creature.
"If this lab is full of Krogan, then it might be some sort of breeding program," Miranda hypothesized as the group heard this. "Maybe something to try and cure the genophage?" Miranda offered as Leon heard this.
"Oh, great the Saren situation again." Leon said recalling Virmir where Saren had a similar thing going on.
"Cure," the Krogan questioned when it heard Miranda said that word. "Cure was never whispered. Survive, resist, ignore." The Krogan said as that was cause for concern.
"So why was the voice disappointed," Hector asked wondering what this clone was talking about.
"I don't know," the Krogan replied as it had been bothering him for some time now. "It was decided before I left tank mother. I was not perfect." He said giving a simple explanation based on what he knew.
"Maybe spending his week-long childhood in a tank made him crazy, like that merc said," Kasumi suggested causing Allura to glare at her for that.
"I don't know of that, but I am not perfect," the Krogan repeated which Penny sighed.
"Yeah, we heard that already." Penny said but then Jack cut in as something was bothering her.
"Isn't anyone curious how this guy can even speak if he's only a fucking week old," Jack asked as that was cause for concern on her part.
"There was a scratching sound in my head that became the voice, and it taught things I would need: walking, talking, hitting, shooting. Then the voice said I was not perfect, and the teachings stopped, and now I am here." The Krogan explained and in turn answered Jack's previous question.
"Fail one test and you're done? What kind of teaching is that." Kasumi asked in slight disbelief at those words.
"Not a very good one." Penny said as she had a few choice words for Okeer assuming he was the one to make these Krogan. Realizing that they would not likely get all that much from this Krogan lead John to decide that they would be better off just moving forward, so he quickly asked, "Is there a way that you can show us how to get to the lab? We need to speak with Okeer."
"Father…and the glass mother is up, past the broken parts. Behind many of you fleshy things. I will show you," the Krogan indicated, and he then walked over to a section of the wall that was covered by a large metal plate. After rolling his shoulders a little, the Krogan grabbed the massive hunk of metal, picked it up, and chucked it aside with ease.
The two teams looked down the large, dark cavern in front of them that had various cables and metal slabs strewn across the walls and ground. "Well that certainly looks welcoming." Hector said nervous as to what might be down there.
"What you scared you big fucking baby?" Jack asked as she smirked over to Hector.
"Hey ease off him, Jack." Jacob said coming to Hectors defense. Jack of course scoffed to this as she then looked down to the cavern again.
Before they continued on though, Kalvin thought of something in regard to the Krogan and immediately looked over to him as he asked, "You know, you could've run before and tried to get back to the labs if you wanted to, so why did you just stay here?"
"I am waiting," the Krogan replied which got Allura's attention on it. "The voice told me if they come, I fight, but I will not run, and I will not follow." The Krogan said making his place here clear. "I am not perfect, but I have purpose. I must wait until called. Released." The Krogan said as Allura didn't like how this Krogan's life may end.
That gave everyone pause for a moment, and they all found themselves watching on in sadness as the Krogan moved back to the middle of the battlefield they were just in so that he could wait for the release he had mentioned, each of them knowing that at this point, there was only going to be one kind of release for him. "Poor bastard," Jack finally said after a minute of silence.
"Maybe it doesn't have to be this way for you." Allura said as she approached the Krogan in question. "You can speak so you can choose, and if you can choose you have sentience to go with it." Allura said as she approached the Krogan with compassion and hope. "You don't have to stay here just to fight and die you could live for a greater purpose one of your own choosing." Allura said as she looked to the Krogan being reminded of Wrex and what he would have done to help this creature.
"I was told to wait here so I must." The Krogan said and thus Allura looked down in pity to the creature.
"I see..." Allura said as she knew she could not change his mind. But at the very least she could give him something else something personal and his alone. "Then might I offer you something else... a name something to call you beyond just Krogan." Allura said offering this Krogan something that would be unique only to him.
The Krogan thought about it for a moment before deciding on what to do. "Very well." The Krogan said and thus Allura smiled to the tank bred Krogan.
She then put her hand against the Krogan's chest and focused her Quintessence into him hoping by sharing enough of it would aid this Krogan. During this act, her marks were glowing as she imparted a small amount of her Quintessence into this Krogan. "Your name will be... Lotarius." Allura said and then lowered her hand. "It's the name of a famous Altean Explorer." Allura said to the newly named Krogan.
"Lotarius..." The Korgan said for a moment thinking it over. "Very well." The Krogan now named Lotarius said accepting his new name.
"Come on Allura." John said as he reminded her of their mission here. "We've done all we could for him." He added before Kalvin cut in.
"Let's just focus on the job at hand and get a move on so that we can leave this planet as soon as possible." Kalvin said and thus the group all knew it was time to go.
"Yes sir," everyone chorused in response, and like that, everyone was moving forward again, even if some of them ended up shooting a few last backwards glances at the Krogan.
Meanwhile Lotarius stood there staring at the cavern before he glanced down at his shotgun. Lotarius was not a Krogan name and according to Allura it belonged to an explorer, someone who journeyed to discover new things. He then looked to the sky above as a new feeling formed in him a longing that went to the stars above beyond the skies. He then glanced down at his shotgun again and with a tightened grip he felt a new desire one that came from Allura's voice no scratching the back of his head. With this in mind he made a decision that could change his fate for years to come.
The Korgan named Lotarius, moved.
(Later with the two teams)
After Lotarius was out of sight the Normandy and Paladin Teams were fighting again, only this time they were dealing with both Blue Suns mercs and crazy Krogan shooting at them and having to deal with both at the same time did not make things any easier for the team. They moved over to cover and knew they had to be smart about this fight.
"Kasumi, Miranda, Kalvin, and Allura you four are with me we'll be focusing on the merc." John said as he began to give out orders to the group. "Garrus and Leon, you two go for the guys that are further away; prioritize any that are trying to get closer to our position Hector." John said as he then threw a frag grenade out towards their attackers to give themselves breathing room. "Hector, Jacob, Jack, and Penny you three four with the guys John said as Hector was surprised by this cursing himself for getting the big gun for a Bayard.
"Hell yeah," Jack whooped in reply as her biotics flared to life, and immediately afterwards, she was throwing one of the approaching Krogan into the air with a biotic Pull. That Krogan did not stay in the air for long, as it was soon blasted out of the fight by a well-placed cannon shot from Hector's Bayard. Using the chance Penny zipped in with her own Bayard towards the second Krogan and jumped over him. She then launched her Biotics at the foe before using her Bayard to zap him leaving him dazed and disoriented. Jacob and Jack then acted and used Warp infused ammo to end this Krogan on the spot.
"Nice moves there." Jacob said as he looked to the pair. "You've really come a long way since we last met two years ago." Jacob said impressed with how much Penny has improved.
"We had some good teachers." Penny said with a smile on her face.
"Figures they'd get the fun job," Garrus muttered as he took out three different Blue Suns mercs with little to no effort at all.
"Less talking and more shooting," Miranda scolded as she used her own biotics to send a few different mercs into the air for Kasumi and John to take them out with their guns. Meanwhile Kalvin and Allura were using their Bayard's to slice through the mercs own shields and taking them out one by one. After eliminating her targets, Kasumi then vanished from sight once again with her cloak and moved around to get behind her next targets, only having to duck down once when Allura used her whip to take out a few mercs near her position.
Normally, Kasumi would have had some sort of funny remark to say in response to such an action, but since she was cloaked behind enemy lines at the moment, she knew that doing so, even over a secure channel would probably have been a bad idea, so she kept moving until she was in position to let loose a hail of bullets from her Shuriken SMG.
With a roar Kalvin took out the last few of their foes allowing for the team to continue on with their mission. After Kalvin took the win the two teams quickly moved on to the first of no doubt many staircase so that they could make their way up to the lab they had been informed of. The Paladins saw this and thus Hector voiced it out.
"That is a lot of stairs." Hector said noting that this was going to be a long day for them.
"Yeap." Leon said as he knew this was not going to be fun.
(Scene Break Later)
Going up the steps the two teams were soon engaged in many more battles like that previous one. Thankfully, the formation and tactics that they used were easily applied to each and every battle after that first one, so they did not have much to worry about, and they only found a need to change tactics every once in a while.
Even in such instances though, it was not much of a change, as it usually involved Cosmo teleporting around acting as a distraction for someone to land a finishing blow that would speed up the fight or having Penny, Jack, or Miranda throw up a biotic barrier to shield the team when there was no satisfactory cover to use. With such things in mind, it was actually understandable that everyone was starting to get a little bored, but they mostly just chalked that up to the fact that they had already fought so many different Blue Suns groups now, which meant they had likely learned their tactics by heart.
Of course, Jedore did not sound very pleased with their progress either, but for an entirely different reason. "Squad Four? Outpost?! DAMMIT! DO I HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING MYSELF?!" Jedore roared out clearly upset that her crew was being taken down by the Normandy Team and the Paladins.
"If I don't get the chance to kill that bitch before we leave, then this Krogan had better be worth this shitload of trouble," Jack snarled afterwards.
"Not to mention the headache," Garrus added which Jack had to agree with.
"That too," Jack agreed after a minute of consideration.
They did not hear from Jedore again after that point, something that everyone was immensely grateful for. They had to fight through several more of these foes when they came to another room one that looked to be a lab of some kind. Inside they found an Asari that John and Garrus both recognized on the spot upon entering.
"I shut down the security cams as soon as I saw it was you." The Asari said as she looked to the two teams. "Never thought I'd say it but I'm glad its you shooting up the place." She said as Kalvin looked confused.
"Dad, you know this, Asari?" Kalvin asked as he was lost here.
"Rana Thanoptis a Neurologist your father and I met on Virmire before he set off that nuke." She said looking to John. "He let me go and I had to outrun a nuke in a utility pod." She added but had something to say about that day. "Have to admit it was interesting to see Voltron in person." Rana added as the Asari neurologist offered her hand to the Paladins.
"A pleasure to meet you doctor." Allura said shaking Rana's hand being polite to the woman.
"Likewise, now if only it was under better circumstances, you highness." Rana said but then John cut in as there was an issue to address.
"What are you even doing here?" John asked as he looked towards the Asari with a small glare.
"Don't worry I'm not wasting the chance you gave me. My work here strictly beneficial." Rana said making it clear she was trying to do some good for the galaxy. "Not for the mercs Jedore is on a standard power trip, but Okeer is trying to do something good even if his methods are a little extreme." Rana said as the group saw a corpse nearby. Seeing the corpse Hector gulped a bit with fear. "Everyone deserves a second chance and sometimes giving one pays off I take care of my debts." Rana said trying to make the most of her second chance.
"Finding you in a place like this makes me second guess giving you a second chance." John said but then Allura had a thought.
"Wait what did you do while working under Saren?" Allura asked as she may have an idea.
"I was studying Indoctrination and its effects on the mind, but my colleagues found out that it affected them as well as the subjects." Rana said and thus Penny had an idea as well.
"Would you say that your something of an expert on it?" Penny asked as she was already working the gears Allura had turned.
"Not exactly but I'd say I know more then the average person… why?" Rana asked and thus Allura got down to it.
"We need a way to counter it 2 years ago we found out that our lions protected our minds from Indoctrination." Allura said as she got down to it. "Basically, you can't indoctrinate something that has already been indoctrinated." Allura said as Rana paid close attention.
"I know you don't want anything to do with John here." Penny said pointing her thumb to John. "But we were hoping you can recreate the method the Lions used to protect other minds." Penny said which Rana had to think it over for a second.
"Look the last time I crossed paths with you all I had to run from a nuke." Rana said as she did not want to be caught in a firefight.
"Look at it this way." Kalvin said stepping up to the plate. "Unlike last time you'll actually be doing ethical work, won't have any fear of being gunned down, and most of all you can be helping a lot of people." Kalvin said before getting to the big thing. "Plus, beyond that we're literally the safest bet to get you out of here alive… unless of course you WANT to sneak through hundreds of mercs and Krogan Tank bred." Kalvin said and thus Rana saw that the Paladins drove of hard offer.
"Plus, you will be paid for your work." Allura added refusing to force this woman to work for free.
"Alright get me out of here and we'll talk." Rana said and thus Kalvin nodded to this.
"Shiala this is Kalvin do you copy? We need pod down here transporting one civilian." Kalvin said and thus Shiala understood.
"Pod is in bound just need a beacon." Shiala responded and thus Kalvin nodded.
"Here." Kalvin said as he then handed to Rana a beacon. "Activate this and you'll meet with a ship outside to pick you up." Kalvin said and thus Rana nodded.
"Alright. Okeer is just up ahead I suppose I'll see you later… hopefully when I'm not in danger of being blown up." Rana said and thus she took her leave of the group.
As soon as the Asari scientist had left, the team quickly crossed the room and entered the lab that they had been looking for, inside which was numerous amounts of scientific equipment that Penny recognized to be crude. Yet the various notes on the other hand were most certainly something that a few scientists could have admired. On their right was a large window that looked out on a lower area that was practically littered with tanks with Kogan's inside of them, and there, in front of the window, was a Krogan in faded, yellowish-green and brown armor standing over a computer that was plugged into a tank that seemed to be larger than the ones downstairs. Inside the tank itself was a large Krogan with multiple spikes on his head as opposed to the usual single plate, decked out in advanced, silver armor. While the Krogan in the tank seemed to catch Spider-Man's attention for some reason, everyone else was more focused on the Krogan that seemed to be working hurriedly at the computer.
"Here you are," the Krogan growled in a low voice once the teams got in. "I've watched your progress, and it's really about time you got here." HE said as he was finishing up a few final moves on his part. "The batteries on these tanks will not wait while you play with these idiotic mercs." He finished as the group saw the Krogan standing there.
"Okeer, I presume," John asked as he holstered his pistol.
"You seem rather free for someone who was believed to be imprisoned." Kalvin said as he looked at the scene before him. "And a bit rude and ungrateful that we're even here." Kalvin added as he noted the Krogan's rude tone to this rescue party.
"You may be here to help but the sign of the formerly deceased Shepard and the Paladins of Voltron is not a sign of gentle change." The Krogan said as he looked over to the two teams. Of course, they were surprised that John was known as Okeer turned towards them. "Surprised? All Krogan should know you, or have you forgotten your actions on Virmir." Okeer asked almost accusingly towards the group.
"Hey, we didn't have a lot of room to make it look pretty we had a Robeast, Geth, and a Reaper to deal with." Leon said defending the choices made that day even Rovers.
"But I approved." Okeer said not at all bothered by what happened. "Sarens pale horde were not true Krogan." Okeer said as he began to approach the group. "Numbers alone are nothing. The mistake of an outsider one that these Mercenaries also made." Okeer said before going towards the window. "I gave their leader my rejects for her army. But she grows impatient it's time for you to take me out of here." Okeer said and thus Penny cut in on this topic.
"Hey, it's all well and good but we're here for the information you have on the Collectors." Penny said making it clear as to why they were here.
"I have heard that Collector attacks have increased, but that is a human concern. I preferred to focus my requests elsewhere; namely on my prototype." Okeer said as he walked over to the tank where a Krogan was seen sleeping. "The knowledge and technology to create this one pure soldier was costly, but well worth it. With him, I will unleash upon the genophage the greatest insult an enemy can suffer: to be ignored." Okeer said sounding every bit the mad scientists he was.
"Your search for the perfect soldier created a lot of failures you don't care about them?" John asked as he was doing his hardest to not lash out. He was a father after all and it grinded his gears to see a father abusing their young.
"I failed no one my rejects are exactly what Jenore asked for she simply lacks the ability to command. They are strong healthy and useless to me." Okeer said listing off why he gave Jenore the rejects. "I need perfection and if a few thousand are rejected so be it my work will purify the Krogan we will not be restored we will be renewed." Okeer said sounding like he was giving a villain monologue.
"I thought the Krogan ideal was to return to the numbers that threatened the Galaxy." Kalvin said as he found this to be strange.
"We will not need numbers my soldier is a template it is a greater threat then all the phantom siblings that would have been at its flank." Okeer said as Kalvin was ready to fire should it be needed. "The Galaxy still bears the scars of the horde, but it will learn to fear the mass." Okeer said and thus Allura had enough because the next thing she did was lash out and with her Altean strength pushed Okeer against the wall denting it. Allura had even grown her size to match up to the Krogan's strength.
"How could you say such cruel things!" Allura yelled as she glared at Okeer. "These creatures you had the technology to cure them, and you decide that they are trash to you simply for not being your idea of perfection!" Allura yelled as she glared at Okeer in the face.
"Allura!" Kalvin called as he pulled Allura away from Okeer. "Stand down." Kalvin said as Allura growled and let Okeer go as she returned to her normal size. Once Allura was off Okeer Kalvin glared at the Krogan as he had been tempted to let Allura take him out. "You do seem to know how to deconstruct a threat, but your methods are a little too extreme for my tastes, so you should consider yourself lucky I stopped Allura when I did. I was very tempted to tell him to kill you." Kalvin said as he glared at Okeer while John stood by his sone on this one.
Okeer just scoffed at this, thinking that the Black Paladin was bluffing, and just stood up as he proposed, "Perhaps I can strike a deal for you to provide me with safe passage off of this world. Anything you wish for with the exception of my prototype; that is the only thing that is non-negotiable. It is the key to my legacy."
"Attention! I have traced the Krogan release. Okeer of course," Jedore had spoken up again and had caught onto Okeer it seem as the Krogan scientist walked to the window seeing Jedore outside in the tank bred storage area as she said," I'm calling "Blank slate" on this Project. gas these commandos and start over from Okeer's data. Flush the tanks!"
Suddenly a burst of steam came bursting out from some pipes as one was over Okeer's prototype as he said, "She's that weak willed? She'll kill my legacy with a damned Valve!"
Okeer turn to the group and said, "Shepard! Paladins! You both want information on the collectors, yes? Then stop her. She'll try to access contaminants in the storage bay."
"You could just start over, like she plans to. What's the big deal?" John question the Krogan as Okeer said to him, "This tank is pure. It involved as much trial as data. Starting over will not Duplicate it. IT must survive. Jedore will be with the rejected tanks. Kill her. I will... stay and do what must be done."
"She's gonna gas this entire lab, it might kill you," Kalvin said as staying here might be suicide for the Krogan Scientist, but instead Okeer just said to him, "If that is my fate, so be it, but I will give you what you want as I promise. Go now"
"Come on Kal, we got cult bitch to kill," Leon said as Jack smile to that and said, "I can get behind that idea."
"Fine, let move," Kalvin said as with the group soon went out to the tank bay area Allura frown as she left with Kalvin noticing this and said, "Something wrong Allura?"
"It nothing Kal, I just can't believe that Krogan would do all this, not to help his people but to create just one "Pure Krogan" as he puts it." Allura said showing her disdain for what Okeer was doing here.
"obsession is just an ugly as greed, jealousy, and hatred. Let just focus finishing this mission and we can get pass this if this guy is helpful to us against the collector, we just have to set our feeling on this, as just because he may not care for his own people, it's those like yourself Allura that will help everyone that needs it, and maybe one day we can help the Krogan and remove or lessen the effect of the genophage," Kalvin said as Allura knew he was right, and smile to what Kalvin had said to her she said to him, "Alright then, let do this."
Kalvin nodded as soon enough the group reach the storage bay and engage in combat while Jedore could be heard as they hear her say, "I don't care who they are, I want them dead! this is my world! I'll poison them all!"
"I think she's talked enough," Miranda said as Penny said to her, "I think that for once we can all agree on that."
With that the group engage in combat against the mercs and the tank bred Krogan that were coming out from said tanks, but it seem that wasn't the only thing.
Okeer isn't the only one with toys to command!" Jedore said as she awaken a Ymir mech to fight alongside her as the group takes cover while avoiding the rocket that Jedore's firing at them as Kalvin said, "Commander, your group take care of Jedore and the Krogans, we'll take care of the mech and the Mercs that are coming at us."
"Good luck then," John said as both father and son nodded as both group split up and handle their own task as when the mech was firing at them, Penny put up a barrier with her biotic with Hector was drawing its attention and try to take out its shield with his Bayard weapon, while Leon was taking out mercs with long range shooting while Kalvin, Allura, and Cosmo to take care of the mercs nearby as they easily cut them down or beat them down with Cosmo helping wherever he could while Kasumi was doing her own thing of sneaking behind the enemy and taking them down with stealth strikes.
Nearby Allura saw Jedore and went on the attack against her growling Allura had her Bayard out and thus Jedore acted. Allura had her shield up as she blocked the incoming bullets, but Jedore snarled and threw some Grenades at her. Allura moved for over but in doing so for herself pinned.
"The Ruler of Altea, having you will fetch me a big payday." Jedore said as she moved in on Allura.
"Over my dead body!" Allura said and thus she had her pistol out.
"That's the plan!" Jedore called but then a roar was heard, the roar of a Krogan. Just then Jedore was blindsided as she was bashed into by a Krogan that sent her flying. The Krogan roared in fury as he then looked to Allura.
Allura was ready to fight but then noted a familiar air around the Krogan. "Lotarius." Allura said as Lotarius nodded.
"My choice, imperfection and all." The Krogan Lotarius said as he joined with Allura.
"Did that Korgan just save the elf?" Jack asked as she saw Lotarius.
"Seems good deeds are rewarded." Miranda quipped as they now had some backup. With the Krogan now helping the Paladins they began their counterattack against Jenore and her forces.
"Please go down- Please go down- Please go down!" Hector said as he keep firing at the Mech chipping at its shields as Penny said, "Come on Hector and shoot it!"
"I am shooting it," Hector said as he had his Bayard in gatling mode but hardly doing but before he which it to cannon mode and fire at it, knocking out its shield as he fired again and again as it was tearing it apart as hector was screaming out a bit as the Ymir mech was getting closer and closer before it was just before the two before it just fell down broken and busted with all the shots hector shit it with as Penny said, "Nice job."
"Thanks, but I rather not do that again," Hector said as Jacob soon yells out to them as he said, "Paladins, Krogan heading your way!"
"Oh no," Hector said as he whines a bit as they look and saw some Krogan coming their way as Penny pulled out her Bayard and went at them with Hector just fired at them to cut down their numbers hopefully.
Meanwhile with John Shepard and his team as they were fighting a bunch of Krogan that came at them and Jedore keep shooting at them with rockets but they have been chipping at her shield bit by bit with jack taking some Krogan head on while charging at Jedore as she turn to jack about to fire until John shot her weapon out of her hand, surprising her as Jack was on her and use her Biotic to pick her up by her neck as Jedore said to her, "You bitch, you know who I am?"
"I don't give fuck of who you are, I just want you to shut up!" Jack said before she throw Jedore against the wall hard as the woman gasp in pain before Jack took her gun and shot Jedore up, killing her dead before she even drop down with blood pooling below her as Jack smile to this and said, "That feel so much better now."
The two teams gather together again after taking care of all the enemies, but the alarms were still going off in the labs as they wonder what is going on as Miranda said, "Alarms in the lab! Damn it, what's Okeer doing back there?"
"Shepard, the lab alarms coincided with a systems failure. The remaining lab systems are unprotected, and I have gained limited access," Edi said as it seem she was in control of the lab system themselves as she soon reported, "According to the lab scanners, the room is flooded with toxins, and Okeer's personal life sighs are failing rapidly. I recommended haste."
"Oh no," Kalvin said as he knew staying in the lab was dangerous, but Okeer stayed anyways as they quickly rush back to the lab, only to find Okeer dead, but it seem he left a message on a nearby terminal as it record Okeer last words as it someone hit play and they heard," You have me time, Shepard. If I knew why the collectors wanted humans. I would tell you. But everything is in my prototype. My legacy is pure. This... one soldier, this... Grunt. Perfect."
"Great, all that for nothing," Leon said as they look at the dead warlord as the group look to Okeer Legacy as Miranda said, "Okeer wasted his life to save this single Krogan?"
"Must be special if he banked everything on it." Penny said crossing her arms while glaring at Miranda's figure and comparing it to her own underdeveloped figure.
"Crack it open. Let's see what this supposed Perfect Krogan's got," Jack suggested, clearly still coming down from her adrenaline rush from the earlier fight.
"No, it's too dangerous! We should just kill it now," Miranda protested.
"Whoa, hold on a minute! A Krogan in general packs one hell of a punch." Garrus said recalling time with Wrex. It's not like we couldn't use another heavy hitter," Garrus pointed out as they already had the other Korgan on their side now.
"No, this Krogan hasn't committed any crimes as far as I see its innocent." Allura said refusing to kill someone who was defenseless.
"She's right besides wouldn't be the first Korgan to surprise us." John said making the final call as he gestured to Lotarius.
"I hope you know what you're doing Shepard." Jacob said as he had some doubt since they were bringing two Krogan onto the team.
Seeing his team no longer arguing about it John began to make the call. "Normandy. Okeer's a no-go, but we have a package that needs retrieval…and he's a big one." John said as he called in for pick up.
"Shiala we're also ready for pick up... and we're bringing a new friend aboard." Kalvin said as Lotarius gave the group a look by tilting his head.
(Meanwhile Lotor and Haggar's base)
Haggar was in her lab once more as she was tinkering with one of her projects. As she worked, she glared at a vial of some glowing substance. "Haggar." Came a new voice as Haggar paid it no mind.
"Maahox, you have a new specimen?" Haggar asked as she kept to her work.
Maahox was a green skinned creature with cybernetic legs and eye as he looked more like a mad scientist then anything. "Why of course." He said as he held a case with a Spider inside it. "With Kala currently preparing our troops I had to acquire another to make up this specimen's... mind if you will." Maahox said and thus Haggar raised a brow.
"Neither Lotor nor I will tolerate failure." Haggar said warning Maahox of her ire. After all the last time Maahox tried to pull a fast one Haggar had put her foot down and put her assistant in his place.
"I've learned my lesson worry not." Maahox said and thus Haggar walked over and took the Specimen from him.
"Leave." Haggar said and thus Maahox bowed and left the room as Haggar got to work. She looked to the Robeast shell she was working on. It should prove to be ready in time for the coming battle. With a sinister smirk on her face Haggar got to work on her latest project.
(TBC)
ESKK: Another chapter over and done with. I hope you all enjoyed the new update. It took us a while but, in the end, we got it done. Now then be sure to leave a review before leaving as I once more say here, ja-ne.