Dragon's Teeth: Mass Effect 1 (Shenko)

Chapter 8

Milky Way/Attican Beta/Theseus/Feros/Zhu's Hope/Thorian Lair

Callie shared a look with Kaidan and Garrus. She had no idea what they would find below the colony - but a plant that could control people? Sounded made up to her, but she couldn't deny the colonist's strange behaviour or the awful smell that got stronger as they descended the stairs.

"Okay we just have to find... to find..." Kaidan trailed off as they saw what could only be the Thorian.

A plant-like creature, unlike any plant they'd ever seen was suspended in an air shaft by large, round tendrils that Callie assumed must be vines or roots. Green and copper in colour it was easily as wide as ancient redwood trees, the only difference was that from where she stood, it seemed to be breathing.

"That doesn't look like any plant I've ever seen." She commented, stepping closer. "This may be... problematic."

Without warning, the plant creature began lurching and a green asari fell out at their feet. She was covered in a clear liquid that evaporated quickly as she rose and stood before them.

"Invaders. Your every step is a transgression. A thousand feelers appraise you as meat. Good only to dig or decompose. I speak for the Old Growth as I did for Saren. You are within and before the Thorian, it commands you to be in awe."

"You gave something to Saren." Callie said, knowing instantly that somehow she was talking to the Thorian. "Something I need."

"Saren sought knowledge of those who are gone. The Old Growth listened to flesh for the first time in the long cycle. Trades were made, then cold ones began killing the flesh that would tend the next cycle - flesh fairly given. The Old Growth sees the air you push as lies. It will listen no more."

"I won't let you keep your thralls. Release them. Now."

"No more will the Thorian listen to those that scurry. Your lives are short but have gone on too long." She said before tossing a warp at her.

Callie countered the asari's attack with a biotic throw, sending her to her death as she fell down the shaft the Thorian was suspended in.

Snarls and growls came from behind them and they rounded on the new threat, weapons ready. Creatures like those they'd encountered surrounding the colony began flooding the room. As they shot them, they exploded in a sea of green spores, spewing toxic clouds into the air. Garrus had gotten too close to one as it died, damaging his shields and dazing him. Kaidan stepped in, lifting more of the creatures into the air to protect Garrus from further injury while he recovered.

The room cleared, they followed the path where the things had come from, coming upon a node that seemed to be supporting the Thorian.

"I think if we take these out, we might be able to kill it." Garrus said as he studied it.

Callie wasted no time and unloaded on it with her pistol. More creatures poured into the room as she did, intent on stopping them. Another asari joined them, identical to the one she'd already killed. Must be a clone she thought, as Kaidan used Neural Shock to drop her, while Garrus took aim with his sniper rifle. They continued following the path, destroying what Callie had decided to call Thorian Creepers because, well... they were creepy. As they destroyed the final node, the Thorian fell to it's death and another asari fell out at their feet. This one was blue though, so Callie waited to see what would happen.