Leaders of the Krogan
Chapter 1
The Return of a Queen
My Comments :
Ah. Urdnot Wrex and Shepard. A couple that seems very, very odd, yet seems to make a lot of sense. Here is my little addition to the already small fanbase. I hope you enjoy this change of pace. And my small tweaking to the ending.
And for now, this will remain a 'one-shot'. If this receives well, then maybe I'll write more. On my poll I got one for this and more for continuing a different Mass Effect 'fic, so I figured I'd just write a single chapter for that one.
Hope you enjoy!
Sorry is Wrex is a little out of character. Grief and relief can really change a guy, right?
The Story :
A large Krogan covered in a red suit of armor stood above his subjects, delegating them to their duties. He was going to make sure this planet was flourishing when Shepard and the Normandy made their triumphant return. After that strange red-purple beam had shot out of the Crucible, the Reapers had self-destructed. Anything with Reaper technology had been damaged, but not beyond repair. Now, he was preparing Tuchanka for when that fleshy being he had fallen in love with returned. And oh how they would celebrate. The Krogan way.
A smaller Krogan ran up to him, panting loudly. Her brown eyes were tearing up slightly from the exertion, a substance similar to sweat poured through the cracks in her green headplate.
"Urdnot Wrex," she managed.
"What is it, Severus?" Wrex questioned. Severus was Bakara's first, and currently only, daughter. The name had been picked out by her mate, and a few Humans who were helping on the planet mentioned the name sounded masculine. The small Krogan had kicked their asses to teach them a lesson.
"There's a ship in orbit. They're out of fuel and badly damaged. A Turian on board says he knows you. They wish to take a shuttle down," she said in one quick breath, finally managing to stand upright.
"Don't keep me waiting," the leader of the Krogan growled in annoyance. "Who's the Turian?"
"He said his name was Garrus."
Wrex froze. The Normandy. Garrus had to have been aboard the Normandy! That means Shepard was back, right?
"What are you waiting for?! Get them down here now!"
"Y-yes, sir!" she squeaked, rushing back down the small hill.
Wrex let a small smile overcome his mouth. Sure, the planet wasn't in great condition, but Shepard had been gone a year now. He didn't want to wait.
As he neared the shuttle, he noticed Bakara was already there. She was talking to Joker and EDI, both of whom seemed absolutely exhausted.
"Well," he grumbled, alerting them to his presence. "Where is she?" Not many knew of the relationship he had with the Commander, but those who had been aboard during the mission against the Collectors knew. It was when they had just started anyway.
Garrus limped out of the shuttle, Javik doing the same beside him. Both were covered in bandages. And neither could meet his gaze.
"What?" Wrex growled, growing more impatient as every second passed. "Is she in the Med Bay on the Normandy?"
Garrus moved forward until he was closer, but just out of Wrex's reach. "She wasn't on the Normady, Wrex. We thought maybe she'd gone with you."
The Krogan was frozen, unable to move a single inch. Had he heard right? How else would Shepard have escaped?! He voiced his concern to the others.
Javik shook his head. "I am not positive, but I do not believe the Commander made it off the Crucible."
"That can't be," Bakara growled out, anger flashing in her eyes. "The Crucible was destroyed after that blast went off! Pieces of it are still melting in Earth's atmosphere!"
The group sat in silence as Bakara's statement sunk in. If Shepard had never made it off the Crucible, and that same device didn't exist anymore, she was-
Their musings were cut off when Wrex, visibly shaking from holding in the torrent of feelings, turned on his heel and forced his way towards the open dessert. No one stopped him. If killing some Thresher Maws let him get anger out, all the more power to him.
They just hoped he'd come back alive.
Unlike the woman who saved them all.
~ Break ~
Miranda eyed the woman before her with a sigh. Why wouldn't she wake up already?! After saving Shepard from the wreckage of the Crucible, the biotic had acquired the aid of a few well-trusted friends and rebuilt her. Again.
"Miranda," came Jacob's familiar voice. "Staring at her won't help."
The woman managed a glare at the man. "She has to wake up soon!"
"Calm down!" Jacob growled back, narrowing his eyes. He wasn't used to seeing Miranda lose her cool like this. It seemed only the Commander could make the 'perfect' woman act like that. "We both know that she may never wake up from that coma."
"That can't be!" Miranda yelled, putting but hands on the edge of Shepard's bed and balling the sheet in her hands. "She has to wake up!"
Jacob sighed. "Miranda. Everyone wants her to wake up. We'll find a way, alright?"
Just then, a soft, female voice spoke over the intercom, "Miranda? Jacob? It's Liara. Javik just left so I have a little while."
Liara lived on the upper levels of the station they were residing on. Omega. Shepard's personal Med Area had been arranged by the Asari deep in the depths of the station, with the help of Aria, and was nearly inaccessible. Jacob and Miranda lived there to avoid rousing suspicion.
"Any updates?"
"No," Miranda spat. "Nothing. It's like she's waiting for something to wake up!"
Silence for a moment. "Perhaps she won't."
"Don't say that!"
"Miranda. I was there for Shepard from the beginning when she saved me in those Prothean ruins. I don't want to see her die any more than you do. A week from now is the second anniversary of her death. I know just as well as you that the rest of the crew would feel a lot of closure having a body." A sigh interrupted her words. "It's a lot easier to mourn a body than a set of dog tags, Miranda."
Miranda gripped the sheets tighter, feeling the unfamiliar sting of tears in her eyes. "She can't be gone! Shepard helped me save Oriana, twice. Not to mention getting me out of that suicide mission. Even all the little things!" The tears began to fall down her cheeks. "There has to be something we can do! Anyt-"
A red light coursed through the room.
"Miranda! Why is the alarm going off! Red alerts are showing up!"
Jacob drew his gun. "Red means intruder."
"Who could possibly know?!"
The door to the room opened as a highly annoyed voice muttered, "damn primitives."
Jacob dropped the gun in shock. "Javik?"
"W-what? You said you had something to do on the station!"
"It took me much too long to figure out what you were keeping from me, Asari," Javik growled. "I am here to help the Commander." He stepped towards the bed.
And Miranda, with no options left, let go of the sheets and stepped back. "Save her or I swear I'll shoot all four of those damned eyes!"
~ Break ~
Garrus checked his eyepiece again. What the hell? Liara and Javik were never late. At this rate, the ceremony was going to start without them. He sighed. The second anniversary of Shepard's death. Somehow fitting, it was being held on Tuchanka. Wrex had worked hard to make it how he had thought the Human would have liked it. They were in one of the few lush areas of Tuchanka. The flower's were pretty. Shepard would have loved it.
"Hey, Garrus."
The Turian turned. "Hey, Wrex."
"Are they here yet? We need to start." Despite the fact his words came normally, there was still a hint of sorrow in them. He was having a hard time keeping the facade.
"No. It's strange. Liara's never late."
The Krogan growled. "Come on. We can't wait anymore."
"Right," Garrus managed, moving to the front of the large area. The first two rows were reserved for the Normandy's ground team. The next four were reserved for the surviving Normandy team. After that, it was people who had helped in the war.
Once the Turian was seated, and after receiving a few words of worry from Tali, Wrex went up to the Podium. Did they really expect him to talk about the woman he loved and how they were all supposed to revere her and accept the fact she'd died. For god's sake! They'd recovered Anderson's body and not hers! She had to be somewhere! As he prepared to speak, a voice cut through the silence,
"Wait!"
Everyone turned, spotting a panting Liara. Her hands were on her knees as she tried to catch her breath.
"Liara," Wrex growled. "Why are you yelling? Take your seat." He may be upset about losing her, but this event deserved to go well. For Shepard's sake.
"You all need to see something!"
"What's so important that we would postpone the ceremony?!"
A gasp arose from the crowd as Javik walked in, Miranda and Jacob just behind him. However, the fact the three of them showed up wasn't the surprising part. It was what the Prothean was carrying. Shepard.
"What's going on?!" Vega yelled out, standing up from his seat.
"Primitives," Javik scoffed, following Liara down the walkway. "Must you be so loud?"
Wrex was speechless. It wasn't often anyone could see the Krogan so confused, or any Krogan for that matter. Especially in front of so many people.
As the group of five neared the front row, the woman in Javik's arms stirred. Her eyes slowly flitted open and the Prothean paused in surprise.
"Commander?"
Liara froze, spinning on her heels. "She woke up?! I thought she was still in that coma!"
Miranda looked over Javik's shoulder. "I thought that dose of painkiller would keep her asleep for another day," she mumbled, annoyance and relief flitting across her face simultaneously.
Shepard eyed the man carrying her before frowning. "What am I?" she croaked out, voice weak from lack of use. "A damsel in distress?" She narrowed her eyes weakly. "Put me down."
Javik, at a complete loss for words, did exactly as she said. After wobbling for a moment, she regained her sense of balance. Her eyes studied her surroundings, obviously confused.
"W-where am I?" she questioned. Tilting her head, she added, "what happened?" Shepard looked around more, eyes narrowing in confusion. "And why is everyone looking at me like that?" Her voice was slowly becoming normal as it was used more. Realizing no one would answer her, she took a better look around her. Her bright eyes widened when she spotted a small sign that read,
"Second Anniversary; In Loving Memory of Spectre Commander Shepard."
The Commander turned to Liara, eyes narrowed considerably. "What the hell is going on?!"
"Calm down," Miranda said from behind her. "I know it isn't what you want to hear, but you're body isn't used to exerting itself this much."
"How long?" Shepard growled.
"Two years," Liara replied quietly.
That was when the formerly deceased Spectre Commander Shepard's world went black once again.
~ Break ~
Shepard tried to avoid groaning in pain as she began to wake up. Her eyelids felt heavy and everything ached. It felt like she'd been a pinball for someone who was really good at the game. Despite the fact she couldn't move, she listened as a door creaked open.
"Hey." Tali. "You should go sleep. It's been a tough day for all of us."
Who was she talking to?
"Yeah." Garrus this time. But his voice sounded like it was next to Tali's. So he'd come with her? "We'll call you if anything happens. The moment it happens."
"No," came the gruff reply.
That voice...!
"I'm not leaving her side."
It couldn't be...!
"Never again."
Shepard forced her eyes to open and she turned to the side. There was a hell of a crick in her neck. She noticed a very concerned looking Turian standing next to a Quarian who was nervously wringing her hands. However, right next to her bed was a welcome sight. A large Krogan sat there, two of his large, warm hands wrapped around her right. He was still in armor, no real surprise there, but was looking away, glaring at the intruders.
"It's not your fault we lost her in the first place, Wrex!" Garrus argued. "And would she want you to think like that?!"
Tali put a comforting hand on the Turian's shoulder. They were all really shaken up by her sudden appearance. "Garrus. Relax." The Quarian lifted her face to Wrex. "Shepard wouldn't want you to get sick. You've barely eaten or slept since she got back. Bakara mentioned you haven't even left this room."
"I left her once. And even if she doesn't want me to think like this, I do! Maybe if I'd been there..."
Shepard winced slightly. She'd never seen Wrex so hurt. It hurt her too.
Before anyone else could speak, Shepard managed a, "Wrex." She forced her right hand to move a little in his hands, despite the pain that shot up her arm.
Everyone froze, eyes, mouths, and mandibles widening. Wrex slowly turned, his reddish eyes moving all over her face, studying her.
"Shepard?" he questioned hesitantly, as if he was worried he might be dreaming.
The Commander smiled weakly, eyes watering from emotion and pain.
"Shepard!" Wrex let go of her hand, wrapping her in his arms instead. "What were you thinking?" he growled, the relief in his voice betraying his attempt at seeming angry. "How am I supposed to watch your back if you keep leaving me behind?"
Shepard remembered her trip to the final beam.
~ Break ~
"Go!" the Commander yelled at the ship, her crew watching in horror before being rushed to the Med Bay. Convinced they'd be okay after getting hit by that tank, Shepard turned, facing the beam again.
"Shepard!" a voice suddenly rang out in her ear.
"Wrex?!" she yelped in surprise, moving toward the beam. "How'd you get on this line?"
"EDI," he said gruffly, sounding very annoyed, yet a hint of worry was there as well. "She said you called for an evac! Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," she said in what she hoped was a soothing tone. "Javik and Garrus nearly got crushed though. I needed to get them out of here."
"And what about you?!"
"I need to get to the Citadel, Wrex."
"Wait for me. I'll watch your back," he growled, giving no room for argument.
But that had never stopped the Spectre before. "Wrex," she said sternly. "The Krogan need their leader." To her left and right more and more of the attack team were being brought down. Harbinger was watching her vigilantly. Why hadn't he attacked her yet, exactly? "I'll be fine. We've got a full force." It was a lie. He probably knew it too.
"Wait for back up, Shepard! I'm not losing you!"
Shepard looked up, noticing Harbinger was preparing his beam. Apparently she'd gotten too close for comfort.
"Don't worry, Wrex. I've always gone back to you, right?"
The beam shot out, and those were the last words Wrex heard from her. When she shot the 'Control' option later, he was the last thought she had before her world went blank.
~ Break ~
She tried to make a remark in return, but saying Wrex's name earlier had taken everything she had. Her muscles felt they were being torn apart from the Krogan's tight grip, but she couldn't care less. This was were she had wanted to be. Now and always. In the arms of the Krogan she loved with all her heart. In the room stood two of the four people who had wholeheartedly accepted their relationship. She still remembered the days they'd found out.
Garrus had been happy for her, despite a flicker of disappointment in his eyes. She still didn't know why. Wrex had told her not to worry and never be alone with him.
Tali had quite literally squealed and ran into her arms, laughing. She immediately began talking about how great it was that the two of them could be happy. The young Quarian had muttered something about Shepard deserving happiness more than anyone else.
Liara had brought it up during one of their meetings on Illium. Mentioned she'd heard a few rumors. A similar flicker of disappointment, but the Asari had been about as excited as Tali.
Shepard had told Joker first. The day it happened. He was like her older brother. The pilot had been happy for her, talking about how if she had to date anybody they'd had on board, he'd always prefer Wrex over Zaeed and Jacob. Zaeed was just weird and Jacob was Cerberus. He also mentioned that if the Krogan ever hurt her, Joker would let EDI into the weapons systems as a special surprise. Something he'd only do for his 'sister'.
Not everyone had been that happy. But that, my friends, is a story that will be told later. And besides, now that Shepard was back were she belonged, she knew exactly what she wanted to do and where she wanted to be.
Right beside Wrex.
On Tuchanka.
Where she'd given up on protecting the galaxy.
And was finally willing to be protected.