HAIL & FAREWELL

Bioware's characters and story, not mine. I've just taken the creative liberty of imagining the circumstances behind when the main (or recurring) characters in ME1 say goodbye to Shepard prior to the events of ME2. By way of explanation, the term "hail and farewell" (or a facsimile thereof) is sometimes used in military circles for a unit function when everyone comes together and collectively greets the new guys and says goodbye to the ones who are leaving. I thought it was a somewhat appropriate term given the nature of what happens in between ME1 and ME2. Minor spoilers for ME2 in case you haven't seen the opening 10 minutes of the second game. Rated T.


Chapter 1: Urdnot Wrex

SSV Normandy, 3 days after the Battle of the Citadel

"Shepard."

"Wrex." Commander Shepard studied the krogan battlemaster. It was very uncommon for Wrex to start a conversation with anyone, even Shepard. It was even more uncommon for him to venture out from his lair in the belly of the cargo deck to do so. "You're leaving the Normandy, aren't you?"

"Yes." Wrex turned his head to the side momentarily, as if debating whether or not to give the commander an explanation. "I'm going back to Tuchanka. I'm not sure if I can restore the honor of my people, but I'm going to try. See if I can't help us rise above the genophage."

Shepard smirked. "So you've decided to be a hero after all."

Wrex chuckled, the deep throaty sound echoing through the empty passageways. "Don't start with me, Shepard, you know better." His face grew more serious. "I owe you a lot. You deserve to know that."

"You don't owe me anything, Wrex. You're one of my crew and the best warrior I've ever met. And for my part anyway," Shepard grinned at the krogan, "I consider you my friend."

Wrex merely grunted in reply, but he couldn't help but show how pleased he was at the unexpected compliment. He allowed himself to smile at the human before finally speaking. "That's high praise coming from you, Shepard. I'm honored."

"The feeling is mutual. Here, I want you to have this, from one warrior to another." The commander produced a long, black dagger with harsh, intricately carved crimson lines that Shepard could only guess were some type of writing. Probably something about gutting your enemies and carving them into steaks, he mused to himself. "Hopefully you won't have to stab anyone with it when you get back home" he added out loud.

Wrex's eyes visibly widened in shock at the sight of the traditional krogan blade, and he reverently accepted the gift, noticing yet again the relentless fire in Commander Shepard's eyes. Warlord of the Normandy, he thought, not for the first time. That wildfire is why we all followed you, Shepard. Even me.

"I found it a little while back on our last mission in the Hades Gamma cluster," Shepard volunteered, answering the unspoken question. "The ship's VI identified its make as krogan. I've been meaning to give it to you." Shepard noticed that Wrex's expression was almost identical to the time when they had recovered his grandfather's armor a few months prior. What is that expression anyway? The commander paused and collected his thoughts for a second before continuing. "Thank you, Wrex. There's no way I could have stopped Sovereign or accomplished half the things we did without you."

"Maybe. But I doubt it. You would've figured something out. You're a battlemaster, Shepard. We both are."

"And battlemasters don't know how to lose."

Wrex grunted his assent. "It used to be that way." His smile broadened as he reached out and clasped Shepard's hand warmly. "And as long as we're both around, friend, it'll stay that way too."