Genophage Scene Test

It seemed like a good idea at the time.

Leaving Cheryl to run back to the others, the Reaper destroyed by that colossal Thresher Maw. Going in here with Shepard as a backup just in case. Of course, he knew Shepard could handle it. This was probably scripted. But he had to be sure, didn't know for certain that Doctor Solus would survive.

The inside being on fire and falling apart.... less than good. Explosions still wracked the inside of the building, and he knew that if he died, Cheryl was totally going to kill him.

The elevator at the back was probably the only way to go, but they needed Mordin right now.

The salarian doctor was sprinting over to a console, three-fingered hands typing quickly at it, focused on the mission as the two men came down the stairs from his side.

"Is the cure ready?" Shepard asked.

As manic as ever. "Yes. Loaded for dispersal in two minutes. Procedure traumatic for Eve but not lethal. Maelon's research [i]invaluable![/i]"

Isaac was wary. "She's okay?"

"Headed to safety now. Her survival fortunate. Will stabilize new government should Wrex get any ideas. Good match. Promising future for krogan."

A piece fell off of a higher area of the Shroud, slamming into the ceiling, through it, into a nearby console.

"Damn!" Isaac shouted, as both of the human held up their arms instinctually.

Mordin motioned to the elevator with his right hand as the left didn't stop typing. "Control room on top of Shroud tower. Must take elevator up."

"You're going up there?" Shepard asked, incredulous.

Finally done, Mordin activated his omnitool, typing into it as he stood upright again. "Yes. Readings at lab suggest temperature malfunction. Could effect cure viability. Need to adjust settings manually."

It was the commander's clone's turn to tell the truth, as Isaac glared at him. "It's not a malfunction. It's sabotage. Your people did it years ago."

Though surprised, Mordin didn't seem incredulous, just looking up at the burning, partly exploding Shroud. "Of course. Shroud necessary for distribution. STG would have [i]back up[/i] plan, contingency to stop cure." He addressed the male Shepard, upset. "And you knew."

"The dalatrass offered me a deal. Her full support for the Crucible project."

"Difficult moral circumstance. Salarian assistance reluctant, minimal. Need loyalty for intel, assistance with Crucible." He turned, glaring at Shepard. "Understandable, but not acceptable. Will not sacrifice krogan for political gain." He stormed off toward the elevator, Shepard following him, Isaac also following close behind the latter.

The clone was angry. "Every time we talked about this before, you [i]defended[/i] the genophage! How could you change your mind now?"

Suddenly, everything changed. Mordin stopped, rounding on him, glaring with anger and sadness, guilt. All of his frustration came to one sentence.

"I made a [i][b]mistake![/b][/i]"

Shepard took a step back, surprised, but Isaac stood his ground, staying between them.

Mordin looked down, guilty, but back to his manic speech. "I made a mistake... Focused on big picture. Big picture made of little pictures, too many variables." His death glare at Shepard sealed it. "Can't ignore statistics, can't ignore new data. [i]my[/i] responsibility. Need to go! Running out of time!"

"Mordin!" Shepard pulled his handgun, aiming at his chest. "Walk away."

The salarian looked down at his chest. "Can't do that, Shepard."

"I don't have a choice here! Walk away, or I [i]will[/i] fire."

He wasn't prepared for the gun pressed against his own head from the side, the Collector Assault Rifle. "You said it. Go, Mordin! I'm right behind you!"

"No!" He started off toward the elevator. "My work, my cure, my responsibility. Would have liked to see how it ends. Sure you'll be fine without me."

"I'm not giving you a choice here, dammit! Go up there right now!"

He relented, not enough time to argue, going inside the elevator.

As it rose swiftly, the Silver Tongue spoke, the handgun aiming at him now. "What the [i]f***[/i] are you doing? What is wrong with you?"

"I need those scientists. We can still stop the elevator."

"And Wrex? And Eve? And Kirrahe? I'm [i]not[/i] letting you out of this. You can shoot me, I'll burn your damned head clean off, then Cheryl and the rest will finish you off. You're spare. We don't need another Shepard. Especially not one like you."

The aim lowered slightly... "Who's to say Kirrahe will go against the dalatrass?"

"Linron is a self-centered moron who nobody listens to! Nobody! You saved Kirrahe's life! Or a form of you, anyway! You honestly think he's going to turn his back on you? You step the hell back or I'll kill you myself!"

Finally, the commander completely lowered the gun, stepping back. "You better know what you're doing." And he stormed out.

"Not even slightly," the demon admitted. He waved his hand behind him, and stepped back into the appearing darkness, firing an offhand Hellfire fireball at a Shadow who came out, killing it instantly.

===

The demon stumbled out of the other end, another Shadow destroyed by an explosion to his side. "Is it ready?!"

He was ignored, the doctor mumbling to himself "I've studied species turian, asarian, and batarian..."

The Silver Tongue stormed over. "Doctor!"

The computer answered for him. [i]"Temperature now within acceptable range."[/i]

The doctor looked out the window as it spoke again.

[i]"Dispersal commencing."[/i]

"My xenoscience studies range from urban to agrarian..."

Isaac grabbed him around the waist, dragging him back toward the portal. He changed the exit point slightly, to a safer distance.

"I am the very model of a--" And he was completely inaudible as he was thrown through.

The demon dove in...

Not quite fast enough.

[i][b]BOOM![/b][/i]