Collective Rebirth
ESKK: A new chapter time to get started.
(Start Sven's Team on Tuchanka)
Sven, Mordin, and Tali were riding on one of the borrowed Krogan tanks as it drove down the desolate roads of Tuchanka. However, a shock for many who saw this came when they also noted the Green Lion and Red Lion were running down the same road as well. "We're approaching the Hospital now." Penny said as they were entering Wyrloc territory.
They eventually arrived at their intended destination and with it their goal for the journey. The tank parked outside the hospital while the Lions circled around and lowered themselves to release the Paladins inside. Stepping out Leon had his Bayard active while Penny had her sub-machine gun held in one hand and her Bayard held in the other. Sven joined the paladins with his side arm as Mordin, Ashley, Samara, and Tali and with boots hitting the ground the group began the mission.
"Ok so the scout captain said this is where Maelon was taken." Penny said knowing Mordin's old student was out here somewhere.
"We need to move quickly." Sven said knowing that they had to find Maelon fast. "Zere iz no telling vhat zey vill do to him." Sven said reminding the group that Maelon's role in the Genophage upgrade would not make him very safe on Tuchanka.
"Agreed." Mordin said and thus they got moving once more. Making their way through a door the group quickly found themselves in a clearly wrecked area of the hoping to locate any sign of Maelon.
"All right, try to keep in mind that we need to do this with as little bulldozing as possible." Leon said as he stood close with Sven. "Our team's not lined up for that, mostly because most of our bigger guns are off with the others on Grunt and Lotarious rite." Leon said reminding the group that they needed to be careful here.
"Just try and remember zat ziz iz a rescue operation." Sven said reminding the group that they were not here for major violence. "If zi Blood Pack attack then defend yourselves othervize try to steer clear of zem." Sven said reminding the group of their roles here.
"Seems simple enough." Ashley said as they kept moving forward. Going through the open area the group noted how similar it was to a bridge which drew their attention. It just screamed ambush a mile away and they all knew it. But they could not just charge in and right now they wish they had Thane and Kasumi to help them through this.
Penny was the first to voice the concern of this. "Ok not to be that girl but this has to be an ambush." Penny said gesturing to the bridge.
"Kind of hard not to see it." Leon said but Sven gave the scene a close look.
"Zis iz zi only vay through." Sven said noting that they didn't have any other choice.
"Your call Sven." Tali said while she looked over towards Sven.
"Ve vill spring it." Sven said and in turn the group got moving knowing the ambush was bound to happen here. They started moving and with it they were soon met with the threats they were expecting.
"Incoming!" Mordin alerted as soon they saw a small grouping of large insects coming their way ready to attack. Coming at them the team opened fire in order to take down the enemy in question. Samara and Penny provided aid with their biotics to keep this enemy at bay. These creatures, the Klixen were insectoids similar to the Rachne but also completely different from them. It was to note that these creatures were dangerous at close range and thus needed to be eliminated from a distance. So, making sure to keep their distance the group took down the insect like creatures from afar. When killed the Klixen exploded showing that taking them down from long range was the ideal method to remove their threat.
However, after the Klixen were dealt with the group was soon met by another form of opposition, the Varen. The alien hounds charged in seeing fresh meat and had intention to maul the group. Thankfully, they were easy enough to deal with even if it left a bad taste in Penny's mouth being a dog person and all. Ashley provided aid with her sniper shots while Samara and Mordin were with Penny, Sven, and Leon taking out their opposition. Mordin quickly unleashed a plasma round from his omni-tool that lit up an approaching Varren, causing it to scramble away in fear long enough for Tali to finish it off with her shotgun. The Quarian would have likely tried to set up another enemy for Mordin to take down but instead had to let out a small shriek of fright when one of the klixens got a bit too close for her comfort. Thankfully, she had made sure to pack the new upgrades to her suit, so a quick blast from her wrist-mounted shotguns made short work of the oversized bug.
While they were doing that, the Vorcha and Krogan that were standing guard had been alerted to the sounds of battle and found the team on approach towards them. Ashley took a sniping position and began taking out the Vorcha one by one while the rest of the team can focus on the Krogan's. Their combination of tactics proved to be effective as they made their way towards the locked door standing in their way. Penny and Tali then ran ahead and proceeded to work their magic. What would take only a minute or two took only second between the two of them.
"Viola." Penny boasted as she and Tali gestured the group to enter like they were holding the door open for a friend.
"I almost forgot how much I loved your hacking, skills Tali." Ashley praised as she entered the room happy to be back on the same team as her old friend.
"Thank you." Tali thanked with a chuckled as they entered the building.
Once the group was inside Mordin began studying their surroundings feeling as though there were something familiar about them until he finally managed to place it. "Repurposed Krogan hospital." Mordin began once he was able to pin down the familiar feeling. "Sturdy. Built to withstand punishment," the Salarian reported to the others.
"I doubt zis place vas sterilized." Sven noted as the ruins outside did not give any comforting thoughts to the group.
Just then Ashley noticed something nearby which got her worried. "Hey guys we have a body!" Ashley said and thus this got the groups attention.
This prompted the doctor of the group to move to the forefront and approached the body that Ashley had found. Once Mordin was close enough he began to investigate noting the poor soul was already dead. "This body. Human. Need to take a look," The Salarain revealed to them before opening his omni-tool and running some medical scans. "Sores, tumors, ligatures showing restraint at wrists. Track marks for repeated injection sites. Test subject. Victim of experimentation." Mordin said which got the group surprised and worried about this.
"Is there some way we might learn who this poor soul was?" Samara asked with a hint of hope that the next of kin could be alerted of this man's passing.
"No tattoos or ID. Maybe slave or prisoner. Maybe merc or pirate. Irrelevant now," Mordin waved off while continuing his scans. Penny, Leon, and Sven did not like how Mordin said this but understood he was trying to remain professional. "Clearly part of krogan tests to cure genophage," Mordin continued knowing how valuable a cure would be to the Krogan's. "Humans useful as test subjects. Genetically diverse. Enables exploration of treatment modalities." Mordin said which got the groups attention at this.
"Ok going to speak for the four humans in the room and ignore the offense there." Penny said as Ashley agreed with Penny when she said that.
"Vait if zey ver trying to use something to cure zi genophage, zen vy not use something native to Tuchanka like zi Varen?" Sven asked as he as Penny noticed this as well.
"Yeah, now that I think about wouldn't it make more sense to use a native creature to this planet?" Penny asked curious as to why they weren't using the local wildlife for such experiments. Clearly the researcher in her was coming out in her inquiry.
"Yes. Human experiments strictly high-level, concept testing." Mordin began which got Penny to pay close attention. "Native Tuchanka fauna likely used later, in development stages. Wise to delay use of Varren until necessary. Powerful bite," Mordin explained which made some, sense to the group but Leon did not understand any of it.
"Uh, I know I'm probably the last person to be asking this, but I still have to ask: how are humans more genetically diverse, aside from the obvious, I mean?" Leon asked as he wanted to know more about this.
"More variable. Peaks and valleys, mutations, adaptations. Far beyond other life." Mordin said as Kalvin and his mother Jane were proof of that. If a human can interbreed with a species of a similar biological genetics, then a hybrid of the two parent species will be the resulting offspring. Lotor was also proof of how genetically compatible the Galra were to humans. "Makes humans useful test subjects. Larger reactions to smaller stimuli." Mordin finished which got Ashley to step up.
"I know humans can look pretty different from one another, but there are other aliens out there that can look different from one another too." Ashley said countering what Mordin said. "I mean Asari have a wide range of skin tones." Ashley said but Mordin had a counter for that one.
"No. Ignore superficial appearance. Down to genetic code. Biotic levels, intelligence levels." Mordin began to counter as this got the team to think for a moment. "Can look at random Asari, Krogan, make reasonable guess. Humans too variable to judge," Mordin said as his counter to the groups concern made a bit too much sense.
"Ok he does have a point, I mean look at Kalvin and his mom they got Galra DNA in them, his mom was fertile despite it and Kalvin is still potent." Penny said which made everyone look at her strangely.
"How do you know that?" Tali asked as she gave Penny a strange look. But she was ignored as Mordin continued to speak.
"Exactly." Mordin said as he saw where Penny was going with this. "Outliers in all species, of course. Geniuses, idiots. But human probability curve offers greater overall variety." Mordin added which gave Penny a bit of a bitter feeling knowing Mordin's role in the improved Genophage when the Krogan were starting to adapt to the old version.
"What can you tell us about zi body?" Sven asked as he opted to change the subject before Penny went on a rant. Many in the Galaxy had some objections about the Genophage while some agreed that what the Salarians did was needed.
"Position of tumors suggests deliberate mutation of adrenal, pineal glands." Mordin said as he began to explain what he had found. "Modifying hormone levels. Counterattack on glands hit by genophage." Mordin said before he then had to let out a quick sigh before he admitted, "Clever."
"Sounds a bit more, bad than clever if you ask me." Leon said as he knew there was more to what Mordin had found.
"Agreed." Penny said before looking to Mordin. "Is there a chance they are close to curing the Genophage?" Samara asked as she looked over to Mordin. While she was no scientist, she knew what this may lead to.
"Can't say. Need more data," Mordin admitted to the group as he observed the body. "Conceptually sound, though. Genophage alters hormone levels. Could repair damage with hormonal counterattack." Mordin said seeing that this may lead to a cure to the Genophage or at the very least a method of treatment.
"Eizer vay, ve now have another reason to shut zis place down," Sven said as he was ready to move.
"Let's get moving." Ashley said as they needed to focus on the mission at hand. "We can't help this guy now, but we can still help Maelon." Ashley said filling the role of Shepard for a bit.
Everyone nodded in agreement at that, and quickly proceeded onwards, determined to see this through to the end. Despite that, some of them still sent Mordin some skeptical looks every so often, and when he caught notice of them, Mordin knew that this meant that the trust he had from those teammates had likely been shaken a little. He would still defend the actions he had taken in the past as he always had, but he did acknowledge that he would have to prove to his newfound teammates that they could count on him despite that. That was something he felt was best to put on the backburner for now though, because rescuing Maelon took priority for the moment.
(Meanwhile with the Krogan Rite)
While Sven and Mordin's team were steadily progressing through Wyrloc's base, the Shepard's were making their way to the location of where Grunt and Lotarius Rite of Passage would take place. John rode in the Krogan tank alongside Garrus, Grunt, Lotarius, and Jack while Kalvin, Allura, and Hector used the Lions to make the journey. The Robot Lions ran on the ground keeping the Tank within their convoy with the Black Lion leading the pack behind the Tank. The Paladins of course got a good look at all the destruction of the Krogan home world and needless to say it did not leave a happy taste in Allura's mouth.
"How horrid." Allura admitted as she looked at all the destruction. "The Krogan did this to themselves?" Allura asked over the communications to her fellow Paladins.
"According to Wrex... yeah." Kalvin said as Allura knew this, but she didn't think it was this bad. "This became one of the proving point in support of the Genophage." Kalvin added knowing that the Krogan expansion was only one of the few reasons. He didn't like what they did with the Genophage not after hanging around more friendly Krogan. In the past before Voltron Kalvin may not have cared for it or would even saw the Genophage as justified. But after Voltron after all he had went through Kalvin sees how wrong all of this was.
"Guys I'm a bit hesitant on doing this." Hector admitted as he would rather do the Rite from the safety of the Yellow Lion.
"Suck it up Hector this is for Grunt and Lotarious." Kalvin scolded as he focused on the mission at hand.
"Wait, I think we're here." Allura said as she saw how they were arriving at a Tunnell into a large city. With this the Paladins got ready to stop so they can join the team on the ground for the trial.
Eventually the group arrived at their destination through a Tunnel. They were lucky the tunnel was big enough for the Lions to fit through so they could all get in. When they arrived, the shaman had explained that their battleground was the last surface city to fall in the Krogan Rebellions, calling it Tuchanka's most recent scar as he did, and mentioned that an item called the keystone lay at the heart of this scar. Apparently, it had endured in that same place for centuries much like the krogan, and if Grunt and Lotarius wanted to join Clan Urdnot, he would have to contemplate the keystone and its trials. When asked what would happen, the shaman's reply indicated that even he did not know for sure, as he simply said that they would need to adapt and thrive no matter the situation like any true Krogan would.
Thus, with that, he left them there, standing before the keystone atop the small flight of stairs in the middle of what was sure to be their arena of combat. As he glanced around at the surface city, taking in the ruins and the dust-filled winds that whipped throughout, Steve could not help but let out a silent sigh at how far the Krogan home world had been to fall, be it because of the Krogan themselves or because of others.
The group was getting ready as the lions went into standby mode with their shield deploy as they know to wait for their paladins to return as the group follow the Shaman as he said, "This is Tuchanka's most recent scar, the last surface city to fall in the rebellions. The keystone was at the heart. It has survived wars and the passage of centuries. It endures like the Krogan.
Both Grunt and Lotarious look at the surface city seeing how large and damage it was could not help but smile in excitement as the Shaman went on saying, "IF you both wish to join Clan Urdnot, you must contemplate the keystone and its trials."
The group keep going even if the winds were pushing against them, they stood firm with Grunt question, "What will happen?"
"Who knows? You must adapt. You must thrive, no matter the situation. Any true Krogan will," the shaman explain as after that the Shaman soon lead them to the place to start and showing this is where it starts as soon enough as the shaman left, everyone got out their weapons with Allura and Hector goes for their Bayard's weapon, Kalvin only went for his side arm and Dagger before transforming it into a sword as he knew this would be test of warriors and wants to honor that as he look to Allura and said, "Be careful, things may getting a tad bit rough."
"You as well," Allura said with a smile as she is ready for this with Hector whinny a bit. Jack hears him before she turned to him and said, "Stop whinny like a scare little bitch yellow."
"Hey, I can't help it, alright? I never thought of doing something this crazy or dangerous," Hector said as John went up to the keystone control as it turn from red to a flashing green as Grunt said, "Let's get started, Shepard. Hit the Keystone."
"Do it," Lotarious said as John nodded and came up to activate the keystone with an intercom turning on as it announced, "First the krogan conquered Tuchanka... and mastered a natural world only we are fit to hold."
An elevator like machine started to raise up high in the air before it came back down with a loud bang, signaling that the trial had started with grunt said, "Here they come!"
"We're ready," Lotarious said as soon enough Varren started to come in as the group charge in and fought against the wildlife as Hector fire his gatling gun at a group as they started dying, many of them broke off from the main group and came at each person with Kalvin charge in as he spin his sword around before slashing at one and shot another down with his side arm as they both drop dead.
Allura was show to taking on 3 of them as she rush at them snapping her whip at one to make them flinch before leap over a 2nd and then wrap her whip around the 3rd Varren's neck as she landed on top of it as she put her foot on its back and pull back sharply breaking the creature neck before leaping off to it and throw its corpse at the other two as they were sent flying with Lotarius grab them midair and slam down them down hard on the ground killing them both at the same time with Allura give him a nod.
"Jack you and Hector cover our flank!" Kalvin called out as he made sure the two knew what he was doing.
"Who made you in charge?!" Jack asked as she launched a biotic attack with one hand while the other held her gun.
"Do it!" John ordered and in turn Jack growled but agreed.
"Let's go pansy!" Jack called out before she and Hector went for it.
"Do you think it was a good idea to send Samara with Sven?" Allura asked as she watched Jack and Hector take on the Varen's.
"Honestly, I'm starting to regret making that call." Kalvin said fearing the worst from this outcome.
"Son as a leader making a bad call is bound to happen." John said as he fired his rifle off at the approaching enemies. "You learn to adapt." John added as the Hero of Elysium and the Lone Survivor of Akuze worked side by side to take out the incoming foes.
Of course, the Varen began to swarm in on the group as this started to cause the group issues. In response to this Jack and Hector got moving with Hector trying to mow through the foes while Jack used her Biotics to blast or flatten the Varen while holding a few suspended to let the others finish it off. Kalvin meanwhile ran up a ledge and jumped down with his Bayard and took the feral Varen down with the blade.
Garrus had taken up a sniping position and was doing his part to clear out the enemy forces one after the other. All the while Grunt and Lotarius were having the time of their life taking out the oncoming foes. Thus, it came as no surprise that it was a short time until they had found no more Varren coming after them, meaning that this round was more than likely over. Seeing the field was cleared, Grunt let out a small laugh of satisfaction before Lotarius and Grunt turned towards each other and gave each other a headbutt with a laugh.
"Well, those two are certainly enjoying themselves." Garrus said with a smirk on his face. Grunt then started to grin towards John and by the looks of it Grunt was itching for more.
"Don't tell me that's it, because I was just getting warmed up." Grunt called out as he and Lotarius agreed though Lotarius was more subdued about it. "Let's go again already!" Grunt added and thus the group got a bit of a sweat drop, or a grin in Jack's case.
While he did applaud Grunt's enthusiasm, John still had to make doubly sure that they were in the clear, so he quickly checked with their eyes-in-the-sky and the sniper of their group to make sure that they were in the clear. "I can't see any more Varren coming at us from where I am, so I'd assume that's it," Garrus reported from his position as this meant they took care of the feral beasts.
"If we're in the clear, I'll go tag the keystone." Grunt began but then Kalvin stopped him.
"Easy big guy this may be your trial, but you also need to remember that you also have to show we can rely on you." Kalvin said as he stopped Grunt. "We need to catch our breath and regroup I'm sure Lotarius agrees." Kalvin said as then Grunt look towards Lotarius.
"It would be smart to take a moment to recover." Lotarius said and thus Grunt saw the logic in it. Grunt then looked towards his teammates and took a minute to study them. could see that some of them were indeed still looking over their equipment to make sure it was all in working order. Not only that, but he saw that Jack was very slightly out of breath, no doubt due to the constant use of her biotics in the previous fight. Allura was drinking from a small canteen of water she brought with her, Kalvin was checking his guns, Garrus was reloading his sniper rifle.
Hector meanwhile was trying to center himself no doubt panicked about facing a round two in all of this. Even after hearing that though, Grunt had to take a moment to look over his teammates, just to make sure that they were ready himself, and when he saw no sign of anyone looking like they needed another minute, he headed over and activated the old device, confident that he and his krantt were ready for round two and whatever the Rite of Passage had to throw at them. He just hoped it was something besides more varren, because killing nothing besides those things the whole time would be really boring.
(Meanwhile over with Sven's Team)
Sven led his team through the halls of the destroyed hospital knowing full well the enemies that were likely waiting for them at every corner. Ashley being the senior officer and the one with more combat experience was ready to take control if the need ever arrives. Penny had been somewhat quiet after finding the corpse because while she favored machines over organics Penny did not like what the Salarians did to the Krogans. Yes, at the time it seemed like the only option but eventually people had to see that enough was an enough. The Salarians refused to see this and let the Krogans suffer until they wipe themselves out or die out by old age.
"Hey, I've been thinking, don't you think it's strange that Clan Wyrloc abducted Maelon and have their base set up at a hospital." Tali said voicing something that began to bug her.
"Yeah, I've noticed that to." Penny said as it was bothering her for a bit. "Ever since we found that corpse." Penny said as she had a theory but didn't have enough proof.
"Same." Tali said as she had similar thoughts from earlier.
"The corpse suggested to have died from experimentation to cure the Genophage." Mordin said reminding the group of his earlier prognostic of the victim.
"Yeah, and now, they have Maelon." Penny said as she began to paint a picture that did not sit well with the group. "What if Wyrloc found out he worked on the Genophage but instead of killing him they force him to work on a cure." Penny said giving the theory that got everyone on edge.
"If that's true and they make a breakthrough then we are all screwed." Ashley said fearing the worst of what may happened.
"Hold!" Sven suddenly said as they got to another door. "Be advised possible ambush." Sven said gesturing to the room ahead of them.
"Alright lock and load but be careful." Ashley said reminding the group to watch themselves.
"Just like old time, Ashley." Tali said feeling nostalgic to be working with Ashley again. Ashley smiled to this before they proceeded to enter the next room. Upon entering another set of doors opened and from it a group of Krogan began to make their way in.
"I am the speaker for Clan Wyrloc off-worlders." The Krogan speaker said as he entered the room. "You shed our blood. By rights you should be dead already." The Krogan said glaring down upon the group. "But Wyrloc Guld, the chief of chiefs, has ordered that you be given leave to flee and spread the message of our coming." The Clan Speaker announced as they all had eyes on him.
"Wait I thought Krogan don't normally let people go." Leon said as he found this to be a bit confusing to hear.
"What exactly iz Clan Wyrloc planning?" Sven asked curious as to what is going on around here. Whatever it is that they're planning it may require the Paladins to step in and take them down if it proves to be a threat to people.
"If you walk away now, you can tell your children that you saw Clan Wyrloc before our Blood Pact conquered the stars." The Speaker began as the group let him talk for a bit. Meanwhile Leon tapped Ashley's shoulder and pointed to something bellow the Clan Speaker. "You think the Urdnot impressive?" He began to ask rhetorically. "They are pitiful. Wyrloc Guld will destroy them!" The speaker roared as the group seemed to be getting bored oddly enough. Penny meanwhile was working on her omni-tool as she seemed to be keeping a timer up for some odd reason. "The Salarian will cure the Genophage, and Clan Wyrloc will spread across the galaxy in a sea of blood!" The Speaker called out as Mordin did not like this.
"Appears they have discovered Maelon's work. Unfortunate." Mordin said as this all the more important to rescue the abducted Salarian.
"Hey man listen it doesn't have to happen like this." Leon said as he stepped up to plate. "I understand wanting to cure the Genophage but." Kalvin began hoping to get the Krogan to stand down.
"No human! You understand nothing!" The Speaker for Clan Wyrloc yelled as Leon chose his words poorly. "You have not seen the piles of children that never lived." The Speaker yelled as his tone suggested he may have been a father who never got to hold his young. "The Krogan were wronged! We will make it right, and then we will have our revenge!" The Speaker announced before Sven cut in.
"Half zi Galazy zeez zi Korgan as zi victims." Sven said as he stepped up to plate.
"Yeah; if you wage war, you lose that support and then some." Penny said choosing to not bring in the fact that the Galra would likely fight the Krogan head on.
"We have the Blood Pact, and we have the Salarian!" The Speaker began not at all bothered by his foes. "When our clan numbers are in the millions, we will not need support!" The Speaker went on as Penny kept the timer going. "When we cure the Genophage, Wyrloc Guld will rule all Krogan! The Krogan Rebellions will become the Krogan Empire." The Krogan began unaware of the flammable object bellow him the same one Leon pointed out. "The Surviving races will frighten their children with tales of what the Blood Pact did to the Turians! The Asari will scream as their Citadel plunges into the sun! We will keep the Salarians as slaves and eat their eggs as a delicacy! The Alteans will know despair as we parade their beloved Voltron into a black hole!" The Krogan speaker yelled as the group was thankful that Allura was not here to hear that.
Penny was gesturing to Tali as she noted the timer Penny had and held back a small giggle at what Penny was doing. "If you lack the wisdom to flee, then you will be the first of billions to be crushed beneath our might!" He began and thus came the final bit. "For Wyrloc Guld!" He began but then Ashley had enough.
"Ok we're done here." Ashley said before she took out her sidearm and opened fire on the object.
The Speaker flinched but quickly drew his own gun. "See the human cannot hit a simple target!" The Speaker for Clan Wyrloc taunted. But then a sound got his attention as it did the two Krogan with him. They began to step back a bit as the group was smirking at what they saw. Leon then pulled his Bayard out and fired again and in doing so the flammable gas ignited and set the Krogan on fire as he screamed out in pain from being burned to death.
This began the battle as the group got to work on taking out the attacking Krogans who were now disorganized without their leader. Thankfully, the use of Incendiary rounds was a great benefit in dealing with their Krogan attackers. With the combination of all this the Krogans who served Clan Wyrloc were dealt with one after the other.
"That should be the last of them." Tali said as Samara looked to Ashley for a moment.
"Was, that move entirely necessary?" Samara asked as she sounded disappointed a bit.
"It wasn't my idea." Leon said taking the fall. "I just figured it would be smart to end the battle sooner rather than later." Leon said as Samara seemed to accept Leon's answer for the moment.
"By the way Leon, 4 minutes." Penny said pulling up the timer. "That guy was monologuing for 4 Minutes." Penny repeated and thus Tali began to laugh now.
"I assume you do this often." Samara said as she stifled her own laughter when she saw Penny display the stopped timer.
"Yeah, we faced a lot of guys who liked to hear themselves talk." Leon added as Sven sighed a bit but chuckled a bit as well while a tad bit upset that he had missed out on all those adventures.
"Ve should keep moving." Sven said reminding the team they had to find Maelon before the Blood Pact does anything permanent to him.
"Agreed." Mordin said and in turn the team was on the move once more.
(Back with the Krogan Rite)
The intercom was blaring once more after Kalvin had tagged the button on it. "Then the Krogan were lifted to the stars to destroy the fears of a galaxy, an enemy only we could chase to its lair." The voice of the Shamen was heard and with it the Keystone slammed down onto the ground creating another resonating wave to call the next foe.
Soon enough new enemies approaches it was the Kilxen that approaches the group with Hector was freaking out to this as he remember the Rachni at Peak 15 as he said, "Oh great more giant bugs."
"Stand your ground and take them down Hector. You got this, I know you can," Kalvin said words of encouragement to Hector but it hardly helped as he was still shaking like a leaf, while with Grunt charges at them while yelling "Crawlers! Come to your death!"
The group advance towards the Kilxen as Jack was having lots of fun fighting, if her laughter was anything to go off of as Allura was handling them well enough using her side arm, some of them breath out fire as Allura quickly put up a shield to block the flames, while the Kilxen didn't stop, it advancement was halted completely with Lotarius came in to help her as he pick up the giant bug and throw it across the area as it scream out before becoming paste against a wall while exploding with Allura call out, "Thank you Lotarius, the help was appreciated."
Lotarius nodded as he turn to the other Kilxen as they keep on coming, no doubt another wave was coming at them, with John thrown out some grenades and took a few of them down quickly and stun other, while Grunt went at them, shooting some down, or tearing them apart with Lotarius helping double teaming with his brother on the bugs creatures.
Kalvin was handling himself well enough as he knew to keep his distant, taking his mother side arm and fire at them killing some while also throw his blade towards a group of them and cause a chain reaction as when one exploded, the others did so as well.
Suddenly a giant bug creature with wings came forth as it roars out as Hector jaw drop and said, "What is that thing?"
"A Mother Queen, maybe?" Kalvin said as he wasn't sure but as Allura said, "Whatever it is, it has brought friends."
More Kilxen did show up as the team keep shooting and blasting at them, while keeping their distant between them and killing them off quickly but that same flying Kilxen came in and landed for a moment before taking off again as soon enough more of those fire breath bugs came forth as Jack said, "That things keep bringing more in."
"It must be a carrier then, nothing we can do about it until we clear out most of these creatures," John said as they still have a large fight on their hands with the two Krogan ready to keep fighting with Kalvin retrieved his dagger once more as he said, "We can handle it."
"That we can," John said as he and everyone else quickly reload as they waited for the next wave toe hit as the Kilxen came at them fast before they charge at them.
(Meanwhile back with Sven's Team)
The team keep walking deeper in the hospital as the team approach to a door Mordin said, "Labs likely through there. Can smell antiseptic, hints of dead flesh."
"Really, and I thought the rank smell was coming from my armpits," Leon said as he gags a bit from the smell as did other as they got closer with Sven asked Tali, "You think you can get that door open for us?"
"Not a problem," Tali said as she got up to the door and started working on it, no doubt thanks to her suit filter and what not she was able to withstand the smell enough to hack the doors open.
After a little bit Tali got the doors open with the team proceeded with caution but found no enemies around so far, and just saw a shot up area with broken lap equipment and Medical machines, if they were preforming experiments, this wasn't the area, but they may be getting closer, with Mordin came upon a working console as he said, "Active console. May contain useful data. One moment."
Mordin look through the data and list of thing as he said, "Genetic sequences. Hormone mutagens still steady. Protein chains, live tissue, cloned tissue. Very thorough. Standard treatments vectors. Avoiding scorched-earth immunosuppressants to alter hormone levels. Good. Hate to see that."
Penny scowled a little when she heard Mordin's words and could not help but give voice to her distaste. "That's a little ironic coming from someone who helped doom the krogan race," Penny remarked as the Paladin of the green lion made her dislike of the Genophage known.
"Pardon?" Mordin asked when he heard Penny's words.
"I'm just saying that normally people aren't so casual about developing a sterility plague, and yet you talk about it like someone had asked you about the weather." Penny said as she had worked with Krogan in the past and seen that not all of them are cut from the same cloth.
"Not developing. Modifying," Mordin corrected the Paladin who had more often than not been the smartest of the five. "Much more difficult. Working within confines of existing genophage. A hundred times the complexity." Mordin began as he explained what he did was different. "Errors unacceptable. Could cause total sterility, malignant tumors. Could even reduce effectiveness. Worse than doing nothing." Mordin said detailing that he did what had to be done for the greater good. "Had to keep Krogan population stable. One in one thousand. Perfect target, optimal growth. Like gardening." Mordin said and just as Penny or even one of the other Paladins was about to argue it was Tali who spoke up.
"Are you saying that you were working just as hard to keep the krogan population from falling?" Tali asked after taking a moment to note his words.
"Yes. Could have eradicated krogan. Not difficult. Increased mutation to degrade genetic structure further. Chose not to." Mordin said as Sven and Leon were glad that Kalvin wasn't here, he and Allura would have cost them the team medic. "Rachni extinction tragic. Didn't want to repeat. All life precious. Universe demands diversity," Mordin said passionately and thus many had to agree with him on this.
Tali and Ashley had seen the Racchni Queen and had seen how Shepard had spared her life. Even after they mercy killed her offspring, she still did not seek vengeance against them. Allura had even been making plans to find them and reintroduce them back into the Galaxy as a peaceful species instead of the monsters that they made the Krogan fight.
Mordin was right of course, all life was precious, unfortunately for Mordin it was that same argument that pushed Leon to make his opinion known on this. "I don't care what you say to try and assuage your conscience. You still murdered millions!" Leon snapped as Penny looked ready to move in to calm Leon down knowing how he can be on some subjects.
"Murdered no one. Altered fertility, prevented fetal development of nervous system." Mordin said to explain things from his point of view. "Have killed many. Many methods. Gunfire, knives, drugs, tech attacks, once with farming equipment. But not with medicine!" Mordin said as medicine's sole purpose was to heal never to kill. If used to kill, then it was not medicine it was poison plain and simple.
Clearly, Leon had hit a nerve with that, and Sven saw it fit to intervene before he dug herself into a deeper hole than he already had. The fact that this gave him an opportunity to ask a question he had been wondering about for a little while now was just an added bonus. "Mordin, I have to know how you can really agree with uzing ze genophage, especially after zeeing vat happened to Tuchanka as ze rezult," Sven asked making his own thoughts on the matter known.
"State of Tuchanka not due to genophage, Sven. Nuclear winter caused by krogan before salarians made first contact," Mordin corrected once again as the team paid close attention to what he was saying. "Krogan choices. Refuse truce during Krogan Rebellions. Expand after Rachni Wars. Splinter after genophage." Mordin said listing off what had happened to cause the Salarians to develop the Genophage. "Genophage medical, not nuclear. No craters from virus. Damage caused by krogan, not salarians. Not me." Mordin said as some of those here noted what he said at the end the way he said it.
"Just because you can't see them, doesn't mean there aren't any craters that were caused by the genophage," Penny disputed to the Salarian she respected. For someone like her to find someone who was as smart as her but not morally compromised as a huge leap. "You basically upgraded the virus that kept them as the mindless barbarians so many people stereotype them as, and that makes the effects on Tuchanka part of your responsibility." Penny said making her views on this clear.
"Krogan committed war crimes. Refused to negotiate. Turian defeat not complete. Krogan could have recovered, attacked again." Mordin said detailing what had happened so long ago. "Conventional war too risky. Krogan forces too strong. Genophage was only option. Krogan forced genophage. Us or them. No apologies for winning." Mordin calmly explained but there was a certain tone in how he said it. "Wouldn't have minded peaceful solution," Mordin finished as this got the groups attention,
"So, you would be okay with krogan coming together to form a united government," Ashley asked, just to make sure she was understanding right.
"Yes. United krogan saved galaxy, destroyed Rachni," Mordin confirmed, and while his response may seem more on the tactical side, the three could somehow tell that he had thoughts that went beyond that. "Genophage not punishment. Simply alters fertility to correct for removal from hostile environment." Mordin said as the Salarians did what they felt was needed to ensure both the Galaxy's survival and the Krogan's survival. This conversation was obviously not going to go anywhere further than that and was ready to move on now.
However, Samara noted how quiet Ashley got when she heard about the Genophage. "Ashley." Samara began as the Justicar approached Ashley.
"What's up Samara?" Ashley asked the Asari before her.
"You have grown quiet... I sense something is troubling you." Samara said as she looked to Ashley.
"No just thinking about all of this." Ashley said as she gestured to the ruins. "The Genophage and the low birthrates." Ashley said as she then thought it over.
"You desire an offspring of your own." Samara said as she saw right through Ashley.
"Maybe I don't know it's just..." Ashley trailed off before she made a defeated sigh. "I never told anyone this, but I used to have a brother, mom said it would be the last kid she'd have, and we were all excited when we found out." Ashley said as she chuckled imagining what life would have been like to have a younger brother to look out for. "Dad was over the moon but..." Ashley trailed off as she recalled the tragedy that came in the end.
Samara knew what happened by her tone and knew the pain of a life snuffed out before it could ever truly live. "I am so sorry." Samara said realizing that Ashley's mother lost the baby.
"We got better but... none of us were ever the same again." Ashley said as she recalled how her mom had laid in bed deep in depression over the incident. Samara knew the pain well and while she never suffered such tragedy her daughters on the other hand... Samara did not want to think about it.
Jane had often commented when she was alive that Kalvin would have been a great friend to Samara's daughters. A brother in all but blood if they had all made first contact sooner. Samara had been amongst the last to arrive at Jane Shepard's funeral when she was laid to rest. Samara had once saw Jane as a tainted foe that her code demanded she eliminate. Then she saw Jane as a warrior who sought great battles to fight much like a Justicar but while Samara did it out of duty Jane did it out of the thrill of a fight. Then she saw Jane as a friend a respected ally, and even a sister at times.
Samara was hurt when she learned of Jane's death. She had dropped everything she was doing to attend her friends funeral. She had also done so to make sure young Kalvin was ok. Kalvin and John may not know this, but Samara had memorized Kalvin's birthday and every human holiday that children would enjoy. Every year Samara made the journey to Mindior to ensure Kalvin was cared for. She did so from the shadows mostly not wanting him to grow attached to her. Every year she left a gift for him on the day of his birth and Christmas at least on days where she suspects his father would not be able to attend.
Kalvin still thinks it had been his father sending those gifts to him. But then... her target learned of this, and Samara was forced to leave and never return. She owed Jane so much for this and she wondered to herself at times if she could have done more. She still recalled one evening in the bar where Jane and Samara shared a drink. Jane commenting how she'll have Kalvin and her daughters be friends even if she has to break into the Monastery to do it.
Samara had joked back stating if Jane did that, she would have to kill her for it. The two shared a laugh because both knew that the other would do what they said they would do. It had been a strange friendship and Samara for her part enjoyed every moment of it. If Jane had been single Samara may had been tempted to explore the feelings, they had with her to see if they reached beyond friendship.
Just then Peni was heard screaming from nearby in panic. This caused Samara and Ashley to run over and found Peni looking at something in shock. "What is it?!" Leon asked with weapons drawn as they found Penny.
"That." Penny said showing she had been surprised by what she found. On the table in another lab was a large dead body. Judging by what was being done here it was easy to figure out what the dead body was.
Mordin was instantly approaching so that he could examine the body, likely anticipating that someone was going to ask him, and he was soon giving a report of his own. "Krogan female. Tumors indicate experimentation. No restraint marks. Volunteer." Mordin said using his medical expertise to identify the cause of death.
"Volunteer? You mean she let them do this to her," Ashley asked, sounding both horrified and appalled at the idea.
"Yes," Mordin said as he nodded sadly. "Sterile Wyrloc female willing to risk procedures. Hoped for cure. Pointless. Pointless waste of life." Mordin said but Samara had more to add.
"She wanted a world where she could hold her offspring in her arms to watch as they are brought into the world innocent and pure." Samara said knowing why the Wyrloc female did this.
"Didn't think you'd be disturbed by this, Doc." Leon said admitting that Mordin's reaction had surprised him.
"What? Why? Because of genophage work? Irrelevant. No, causative," Mordin heatedly insisted, glaring at everyone to silently dare them to try and say otherwise. "Never killed with medicine. Her death not my work, only reaction to it." Mordin said as he sounded like he was trying to justify it to himself and was failing so had to rely on logic. "Goal was to stabilize population. Never wanted this. Can see it logically…but still unnecessary. Foolish waste of life. Hate to see it." Mordin said as he leaned over the corpse a sense of guilt in his voice clear to see.
"You say that like you've had a lot of direct contact with these kinds of things," Ashley said noting how Mordin was speaking.
"Have seen much of this. Yearly recon missions on Tuchanka after dropping genophage modification," Mordin began to explain to the team, so they understood. "Water, tissue samples. Ensure no mistakes." Mordin said listing off what he came to check on. "Superiors offered to carry it on. Refused. Need to see it in person. Need to look. Need to see. Accept it, as necessary." Mordin then paused as he took a deep breath to control his emotions. "See small picture. Remind myself why I run a clinic on Omega." Mordin said as the group saw it clearly and while Mordin tried to pretend it didn't affect him the Genophage cure had affected Mordin deeply.
No one could argue with him this time as Penny was reminded that it was not as cut dry as she would like to see. No one could say anything, but they were surprised when Mordin waved a hand over the dead krogan and recited a prayer for her. "Rest, young mother. Find your gods. Find someplace better." Mordin said reciting a prayer to the Krogan female.
"I did not believe you to be the religious sort, Mordin." Samara said honestly surprised that Mordin would do that.
"Genophage modification project altered millions of lives. Then saw results. Ego, humility, juxtaposition. Frailty of life. Size of universe." Mordin said as he began to recall those days after the project. "Explored religions after work completed. Different races. No answers. Many questions," Mordin revealed as clearly, he had a guilty conscience even if he won't admit to it.
"So, you were trying ease your guilty conscience or something," Ashley asked, though her glare made it seem more like a demand than anything else.
"Modified Genophage project great in scope. Scientifically brilliant. But ethically difficult." Mordin admitted at the end because as a Doctor his duty was to heal. Despite the intention of the Genophage to heal and control the population the results spoke otherwise. "Krogan reaction visceral, tragic. Not guilty, but responsible." Mordin said showing that this was a cross he would have to bare. "Trained as doctor. Genophage affects fertility. Doesn't kill. Still, caused this." He said looking down in guilt. "Hard to see big picture behind pile of corpses." Mordin finished and in turn Penny chose to speak up.
"If it bothers you so much, then how are you able to justify this so easily?" Penny asked as she wanted the truth and wanted to still see the scientific mind she respected.
Mordin then took a deep breath as he controlled his emotions on this. "Wheel of life. Popular salarian concept. Similar to human Hinduism in focus on reincarnation." Mordin said as he began to paste back and forth while speaking. "Appealing to see life as endless. Fix mistakes in next life. Learn, adapt, improve." Mordin said before focusing his attention on the dead mother before him. "Refuse to believe life ends here. Too wasteful. Have more to offer. Mistakes to fix. Cannot end here. Could do so much more." Mordin said as he did feel guilty but had been trying to rationalize it away so he could find some comfort in what had taken place here.
"You can also do more and fix your mistakes in this life." Penny began hoping that Mordin would see the benefit of fixing his mistakes now rather than later. "If it really takes this much soul-searching for you to get over what happened, then don't you think that means the genophage was wrong?" Penny asked as her tone shifted to a more understanding tone.
"Had to be done. Rachni Wars, Krogan Rebellions all pointed to krogan aggression." Mordin said revealing what had been learned in the labs before they began the project. "So many simulations. Effects of krogan population increase. All pointed to war. Extinction." Mordin said before getting down to the crux he had been faced with. "Genophage or genocide. Save galaxy from krogan. Save krogan from galaxy." Mordin said revealing the ultimatum he had been struck with so long ago.
"You do know that real life is a lot different from a simulation, no matter how many of them you run, right?" Penny asked as while she trusted the simulation data, she also knew that real life applications aren't as fixed as a simulation. Another reason why she preferred machines over people easy to make decisions without fear.
"Do your people ever try to test something outside of a lab without being forced to, or are you all just too afraid of what you might find if you did?" Leon asked showing that while he was not a scientist, he also knew that you can't make decision based on simulations alone.
"Fear not a deciding factor at all." Mordin said assuring that his people worked with logic before making this decision. "Will admit that salarians do put too much stock in what lab simulation results say, but don't just leave it at a small handful either." Mordin said making his argument against the Paladins whose duty was to protect lives and save them not sterilize them. "Millions of data points. Years of arguments. Countless scenarios. All noted krogan fragmentation as dangerous. No unified culture to support repopulation." Mordin said his tone showing he was trying his damn hardest to convince them, but it was hard to tell if he meant the team or himself. "Would have been war. Turians and humans destroying krogan utterly. Genophage was better. Saved lives." Mordin said but by the sound of it he was trying to convince himself more than the others.
"I don't zink ze dead woman here vould agree vith you, Mordin." Sven said before Penny cut in as well.
"And frankly, it doesn't look like you saved her to me either," Penny argued as she knew this could have been avoided in some way or form.
"…No. It doesn't," Mordin sighed sadly. "Worked with available data. Only option. No other possible…Doesn't matter." Mordin said with a saddened tone in his voice.
"Whether or not it matters isn't the point. There's still a chance to fix this." Penny said as she knew that while science was trial and error taking risks for great rewards. "Maybe curing the genophage will have a bad end result, maybe it won't but you won't really know for sure until you try. That's something that can't truly be discovered in a lab simulation," Penny finished showing that she wants to see that cure made someway somehow. Sven then stepped forward and took a moment too look around at the others, and said, "Staying here right now on zi other hand, iz pointless."
"Sven's right there's nothing we can do for her now, but we can still save Maelon, so let's keep moving, hopefully before we have to add any more bodies to the casualty list." Leon said knowing that this had been a trying mission for all of them and not because of the obstacles.
Everyone agreed with that sentiment, and they were soon moving again, with Mordin being the last to leave the room, having taken one last look at the deceased female krogan before he went after them. They were all still feeling very upset over what they had just seen though, so the next time they came across a group of Blood Pack guards, they did not make any attempts to avoid them.
Instead, they made said guards into targets that they could take out their frustrations on, and it was not a pretty sight when they did. Tali and Mordin were both throwing out tech attacks and shotgun blasts at whatever poor soul dared to cross them, while Samara used her Biotics to tear through the guards. Penny and Leon double teamed with Penny using her own biotics and Leon finishing the foe off for her when she suspended them in the air. Even Sven was being brutal with his attacks as he used his enhanced prosthetic to cleave through his foes one after the other. Despite this they still had a mission to complete and that was to find Maelin.
Regardless of how brutal that fight had been, it did serve its purpose in helping the team to clear their heads a little and made their next few encounters with Blood Pack troops go a little more quickly and smoothly, just as they all should have. Every take down was swift, and they made sure to keep any of them for calling in reinforcements, which made their progress through the base that much easier. In no time at all, they found themselves coming up on the room where Mordin suspected his former student was being held.
But before they did Ashley noticed the door nearby and decided to investigate it. "Hey guys I think this holding cell is in use." Ashley said and thus Sven saw this.
"Penny, Tali can one of you hack it?" Leon asked as he looked to the pair.
"On it." Tali said and thus she made her way to the door and got to work. It didn't take them long to break through and when the door finally opened, they did indeed find one living krogan inside, and once they confirmed that his clan markings were not those of Wyrloc, they knew in an instant that they had found their guy.
"Hey, you're the missing Urdnot scout," Penny asked, just to be sure so they can send the right guy home.
"Yeah," The scout replied. "Wyrloc guards got me. Brought me here." The Scout said in a defeated tone.
"Well then, it's your lucky day, because this here's a jailbreak," Leon jovially announced to the now freed scout. "The guards are all down so the way back to Urdnot is all clear for you." Leon said pointing towards the way out so he can make it back to camp.
"I can't," the scout revealed, surprising the whole team. "The Wyrloc did things to me. Drugs. Injections…Said I was sacrificing for the good of all krogan. Experiments to cure the genophage." The Krogan scout said as he did seem out of it. "Everything's blurry. Hard to think. Have to stay." He said as this sounded serious.
"Ve can help vith zat." Sven said as he was not going to leave this guy behind.
"Yeah, we've got medigel and a doctor with us. He should be able to get you back on your feet," Leon offered, waving to Mordin when he mentioned their resident doctor.
"No, you don't understand. I'm not too sick to leave. I have to stay."
"…Come again," Ashely asked, not entirely sure that she had heard that right, a sentiment that the others all shared with her.
"They're curing the genophage. They're going to make it all better! They have to keep doing the tests," the krogan emphasized as best as he could in his condition.
"He can't be serious," Penny muttered shocked at what she was hearing.
"Caution, friends. Patient unstable, susceptible. Brainwashed," Mordin whispered to the group. No one really needed Mordin to tell them that, seeing as they had all already figured it had to be something like that, but it was still good to have a little confirmation.
Then again, there could be something else as well, and Samara was the first to recognize that. "Why do you wish for them to continue the tests? You do know that you will likely perish if this goes on, don't you?" Samara asked as she might be able to find the source of this by talking to the Krogan.
"Yeah, I know that, and I'm okay with it," the krogan scout insisted which did not easy anyone here. "This is my fault. I got caught. Wasn't strong enough, not good enough. This is the best I can do. This is all I can do." The Krogan said as it sounded like guilt trip on his part. "I'm not big enough to have a real shot with the females. I'll never have kids of my own, but if I help undo the genophage, then I'll matter!" He said which got Leon to reaction.
"What?" Leon asked shocked at what he just heard. "You mean to tell me that you are letting them use you like a lab rat as part of some messed up guilt-trip, and you don't think you'll ever get in with the ladies?" Leon asked shocked at what the Krogan was hearing. "Dude that is way too much, even for me." Leon said as its not time for the flirt to get this Korgan off his ass.
"I get you want to help the krogan, and it's great that you want to do something to help cure the genophage, but this isn't the way to do it." Leon began speaking as a ladies man and a Paladin. "Not just because the experiments they're doing here are wrong, but because of what will happen if they succeed." Leon said as this got the scouts attention on him.
"What're you talking about?" The Scout asked worried about the implications of Leons words.
"You're right to say that millions of children will be born, but they'll all be Wyrloc children. The minute they've cured themselves of the genophage and built up their forces, they're going to destroy all the other clans."
"But…no. No, they said I was helping Urdnot." The scout protested, hardly believing his ears.
"Well, these guys are a criminal gang, and people like that will always pretty things up and make it seem like you're getting something good out of the deal in order to further their own goals," Leon reassured him. He had seen such things happen many times in superhero shows and comics. "If you really want to help Urdnot, you need to get back to the camp. Help them fulfill Wrex's goals so that the krogan can truly be strong again." Leon said before he laughed a bit. "Of course, doing something like that while injured would take someone who's a real badass." Leon said edging the Krogan on in the best way he knew how.
"I can do it," the krogan scout insisted, but he made no moves to show it.
Leon saw this, and he knew that it was just going to take one more little push to get him going. "You? Ha! Get real." Leon said in an almost taunting way. "I said a badass, not some little baby who was whining like a Quarian with a tummy-ache." Leon said which got Tali to glare.
"I'm standing right here," Tali reminded the Red Lions Paladin with a glare.
"Sorry. Just trying to make a point." Leon said quickly reassured her that she was taking one for the team. Apparently, it worked, and his point was made, because a second later, the scout was getting up on his feet, slowly but steadily, and declared, "I'm no baby, and I can do it! I'm up, and I'm going to the female camp!"
"Now that's damn well more like it! You get back there and show them what you're made of, and if anyone's got a problem with it, give them a good head-butt NOW GO!" Leon encouraged the Krogan and in turn The krogan scout let out a mighty roar. He then immediately limped out of the cell as fast as he could, much to the amusement of some and the surprise of others.
When the scout finally disappeared around the bend, it was one of the surprised who spoke up and broke the silence that had followed. "I can't believe that actually worked," Tali muttered as she was surprised that being the insult target had actually helped that guy out.
"I'm not, this is Leon we're talking about. The guy is somehow able to dumb his way to a win." Penny said pointing at Leon with a grin on his face. "Now let's go and get Mordin's friend out of here." Penny said to get the team back on task.
Everyone nodded in agreement and returned their attention to their original destination, each fingering their weapon of choice for action the moment that Tali opened the door, since they were expecting guards to be waiting on the other side. "Paladins I am detected crates of highly volatile materials." EDI said reporting things through the Battle net. "A stray shot may cause them to explode." She added which Sven nodded to this.
"Understood." Sven said and thus they got moving once more. They entered into another large room and when they did the group was met with more Krogan Guards. The team instantly ran for cover as they made sure the cover could be defended and would give them the needed advantage to take these enemies out.
The Team moved through their cover firing their guns and using what abilities they had. Ashley had been improving as a sniper and was providing support fire while Penny and Samara covered their flanks with their Biotics. Tali of course deployed a drone to assist them as it move towards the Krogans and proceeded to attack. As the teams medic Mordin kept to cover focusing his attention on healing and support for the combat oriented members of the team.
"Advance!" Sven called out as they started to make their way towards their targets. The Krogan of course seemed to consider this and were aware of the explosive materials in the room. Bullets went flying and Biotics flared as the team moved in. But as this went on the Krogan got smart about what they were doing. They began to move in order to try and charge them. The team had to move and scatter as Penny glared at them and recalled the prior arguments.
Krogan violent tendencies being the reason for the Genophage. Krogan to violent needed to control the population. But it was wrong the Krogan were not all cut from the same cloth it wasn't right. There had to have been a better way or at least they could have increased the birthrates so that the Krogan could flourish. Simulations don't lie but it wasn't fair still. As she hid behind some cover Penny saw the enemy were preparing to move in on her position after they scattered around the room.
"Guys I need help I'm pinned!" Penny called out as she put up a Biotic Shield.
"We can't reach you!" Ashley called as she tried to keep the Krogans from trying to corner the team.
"SHIT!" Leon cursed realizing the situation they were in.
"Dammit." Penny cursed as she realized Samara would not be able to reach her in time. "Come on think, Penny think." Penny told herself as she kept her Biotic Shield up. Just then she saw a Krogan on her and was wide eyed as he was charging in. She brough the shield down and in doing so fired a Biotic blast while jumping away. The Krogan was hit but he was not down and knowing their healing factor Penny knew he was going to be pissed.
Penny had her Bayard ready as she needed to try to keep distance, but she was at a disadvantage. Looking around Penny was trying to find a way out of this situation. The Krogan who had her charged with guns blazing as Penny kept her Biotic shield up but was unable to get her gun. However, her desire, her need, and of course her growth lead to something with her Bayard. The Bayard began to glow as Penny was wide eyed at this. It began to change form and soon Penny was met with a gauntlet of all things one that had a handle that went to her hand and carried a trigger on it. On the back of it Penny noted a slot on it.
Penny recognized the weapon as her mind connected the dots. "Is this?" Penny began but the roaring Krogan drew her attention back to the battle on hand. Acting fast Penny fired a Biotic push with her left hand and then with her right hand fired off her new Bayard form which launched Shuriken's at the Krogan which were launch at high speeds enough to slice into him. It hurt but the Korgan laughed at the tiny lades piercing his armor. But instead, Penny smirked and soon the reason became clear when the shuriken's began to beep with a flashing red light. "Boom." Penny said and in turn the Shuriken's exploded taking the Krogan down with them.
"Wow that is sick." Leon praised as he saw this.
"Keelah." Tali said surprised at such fire power inside something so small. Samara for her part smirked as she recognized what that weapon was in a heartbeat. The battle continued now with the team pushing back against their Krogan attackers. One by one the Krogan were falling before them and with it victory was assured. Eventually the last of the Krogan was felled and with it the battle was won as was the final hurdle to Maelin's cell.
"Penny what was that?!" Leon asked as he looked at Penny's Bayard's new form.
"It's an Asari Vambrace." Samara said as she approached the group. "In days of yore it was used in combat carrying inside it an assortment of tools from hidden blades, poison darts, and many others." Samara said as she had seen such a weapon in museums and the Justicars own archives.
"My question is how come you haven't busted that thing out sooner?" Ashley asked and then Leon cut in on this.
"Bayard's adapt and grow with their Paladins, I guess Penny has gotten to a point where her Bayard had changed with her." Leon said recalling the day he got his Altean Broadsword while Penny deactivated her Bayard.
"It's all vell and good but ve have zi mission still." Sven said stepping in and thus the group knew what was needed.
"Alright let's keep going there." Leon said and thus the team got moving once more so they can make it through the final hurdle to find Maelon and rescue him from the Blood Pact.
(TBC)
ESKK: So yeah, the chapter was getting way to long, so we had to break it up so now the Tuchanka Tussle is officially a three part arc. I hope you enjoyed it and join us next time as we finally conclude the Tuchanka Loyalty Quests. Until next time be sure to leave a review and as always folks, ja-ne.