Forward Unto a New Dawn
And they got to the root of the problem. Garrus was jealous that Tali was devoting all her time to work and her new friend. Shepard let Garrus calm down a bit and went down to see Tali. It was best to solve this problem quickly. It wasn't like she didn't have the time.
Chapter 4
"That's just not fair Shepard…"
Said woman just stared dumbstruck at the merc base they had been about to destroy. The base was completely leveled and just a pile of smoldering rubble. Up on a cliff Garrus and Shepard were gazing down at the former base. However, down in the center of the destruction was an irate quarian engineer and the several ton giant in blue armor she was chastising.
"B-but… We left him on the Normandy! The ship back in low orbit! How the hell did he survive the descent?!"
"I don't know Shepard… But as much as I don't like him, I gotta respect him. The big guy knows how to make an entrance…"
Indeed, Grimlock had been up in the Normandy monitoring the mission Shepard took Tali and Garrus on. They had managed to get pretty close to the base but couldn't get any closer due to the perimeter defense systems in place. Shepard would have called in an airstrike from the Normandy but the chance that the AA-cannons would be active was too great. So while Shepard was arguing with Miranda (via comlink) and Garrus about battle tactics, he decided to take matters into his own hands.
After informing EDI of his intentions, Grimlock opened up the Cargo Bay doors and performed a HALO jump like he'd done several times before back in his universe. Using the mass-altering upgrades and activating the kinetic barriers Tali integrated into his new-ish armor, Grimlock managed to control his descent enough to ensure he landed directly on top of the merc base.
The ground team had caught sight of him just as he slammed into the roof and smashed right through it (and the several floors beneath). As Grimlock re-oriented himself the mercs had began to recover from the shock of his entry. As Grimlock's armor returned to full-power, one of the mercs (a large orange-crested krogan in red armor) said,
"By Weyrloc, what is that?!"
Remembering a story one of the Sanghelii were telling back in his universe, Grimlock flared his visor-light and charged up his assault cannon.
"I…I am a monument to all your sins…"
The mercs barely had time to lift their guns before their worlds were consumed by burning green light.
"Bloody fuckin' hell, in all my years I've never seen something as scary as that shit…"
The rest of the team couldn't help but agree with the recent addition to the team, a scarred merc veteran named Zaeed Massani. They had all gathered to go over the hacked security feeds from the merc base. They had watched as Grimlock tore the place apart with brutal efficiency and serious amounts of plasma. The twelve foot tall juggernaut had ripped through blast doors and some of the best security defenses money could buy like they were tissue paper. His plasma cannon had melted everything it was directed at.
They were awed even more by the fact that the whole time, the big guy was serenading his victims with poetry while he decimated their forces.
In one particular scene they could see Grimlock smashing through a few modified Mako and Grizzlies as he practically sang,
"Hell grant soon we hear again the swords clash!
And the shrill neighs of destriers in battle rejoicing,
Spiked breast to spiked breast opposing!
Better one hour's stour than a year's peace
With fat boards, bawds, wine and frail music!
Bah! there's no wine like the blood's crimson!"
They had to admit, his poetic talents were pretty interesting. Though this particular verse was riddled with human terms, Tali had informed them that Grimlock has been reading up on the cultural literature of the various races on the extranet, Humanity especially. So far, his favorite Earth-based poem was "The Charge of the Light Brigade – Tennyson".
"Just so you all know; I could so take him down."
They all glanced incredulously at Jack, who glared at the attention.
"What? I'm just saying. I might be able to take Big Blue if I had like, three more of me and a whole fuckin' mess of pet Threshers on my side…"
A week later, on-route to Illium – Recruiting the Justicar & Assassin
"We'll be arriving at Illium in just a few hours. Miranda, I want you and Jacob to get us restocked and make sure the crew gets their shore leave. Mordin, I need you to go over the data we collected from the Collectors on Horizon. Zaeed, hit every hole-in-the-wall bar and club. Get anything on this Krios-guy you can find. Garrus, check out the local authorities on any Justicar sightings. I'll take Tali and go see if Liara has any info."
Jack butted in while Shepard paused to double check her datapad.
"What the fuck Shep? Why ain't I got anything to do? I could be going with Massani to scope out the bars; you know I'd fit right in."
"Because I need you, Grunt and Grimlock ready just in case we need backup. Most likely one of the searches are gonna either find something or run into some trouble. You'd be able get to any part of the city the quickest of us all."
Jack huffed, knowing what Shepard was getting at. She knew she was one of Shepard's heaviest hitters; knowing that she'd have to stay cooped up in the ship while all this was going down was the hard part.
"Any more questions? If not, get moving."
Flash Forward six hours…
Jack was tossing a ball she jacked from Joker at the wall. A rapid thumping echoed throughout the Cargo Bay. Grunt paced restlessly, cradling his M-300 Claymore. Grimlock seemed to be the calmest of all, but a keen eyed observer would spot the tell-tale nervous twitching of the pseudo-Lekgolo strands still visible. After the thirty-seventh bounce of the ball, Jack finally spoke up.
"Yo Big Blue!"
Grimlock tilted his head towards the approaching biotic.
"What is it you require Ms. Pointe?"
Jack actually tripped at that. She flared her biotics and jabbed a glowing digit at the behemoth.
"H-how the fuck do you know my last name?!"
"Records hacked from Cerberus archives. Know much about most of squad; made several assessments on each individual."
"Oh? What'cha got on Shepard?"
Grimloc fell silent and his visor started blinking at a rapid pace.
"Commander Alice Shepard, age 29. Daughter of Captain Hannah Shepard and Jonathan Shepard (deceased). Graduated top of her class and fast-tracked to N7 training. Military record exemplary; top ranked marksmanship and expert in urban warfare. Leadership capabilities exemplary.
Received Star of Terra for service at Elysium: held off Terminus pirates with only local defense force at hand.
Inducted into Spectres at age 27.
"Favored Weapon: M-15 Vindicator Battle Rifle
"Preferred Method of Combat: Three-Person Squad – Soldier, Sniper, Tech Configuration
"Threat Assessment: Minimal
"Arm-"
Jack interrupted, her biotics long since faded.
"Hold up, what the fuck do you mean by 'Threat Assessment: Minimal'?"
"Cmdr. Shepard's threat level is less than significant."
"So what, you saying you could take down the Commander if you wanted?"
Grimlock's visor flashed ominously.
"Affirmative."
"I call bullsh-"
*Shepard to Normandy. Tali and I have found where Krios is headed. Jacob, I need you to get Grunt and Grimlock to the Dantius Towers ASAP! Jack, head over to the spaceport and link up with Garrus and Zaeed; they've found Samara.*
Dantius Towers
Ducking behind the burnt husk of their ride, Tali and Shepard traded a few more rounds with the squad of Eclipse mercs and mechs. The mercs had shot them out of the sky and Seryna (their informant) had died in the crash. Shepard glanced up and was surprised to see not the Kodiak but a large hover-truck coming in for a landing. A torrent of mass accelerated rounds smashed into its side and two large figures jumped out…from three stories up.
"Shit, incoming!"
Shepard and Tali ran to the side as Grimlock and Grunt smashed onto the ground no worse for the wear. Immediately the mercs were consumed by plasma and shotgun rounds while Jacob got the hell out of there.
"HA! I can see why you prefer jumping Grimlock! Much quicker and exhilarating!"
Shepard sighed and quickly took command.
"Grunt, Grimlock; fall in. We got a Drell to find."
(The following encounters with the Eclipse and krogan bounty hunter were too tedious to write. Just know that Grunt whined the whole way because Grimlock took everyone out before any of them could get a shot in. And Shepard wanted to get through this quickly because the numerous plasma-induced holes in the tower supports were very nerve-racking. Tali was also very frustrated with Grimlock's overprotectiveness. She had a shotgun!)
The elevator finally opened up and the team poured out onto the first tower roof. They still had a bridge to cross though. Glancing around, Shepard spotted several mercs hiding behind the unfinished pillars and construction supplies.
"Grunt, take them down. Grimlock…let Grunt have a turn?"
Said krogan practically launched himself on the poor mercs. He had yet to use his new Claymore and he wanted to do something, anything for a chance to show off to his momm-…I mean battlemaster. With a roar he young krogan tore through the ill-prepared mercenaries. The three watched as he gleefully pumped several rounds of metal into the Eclipse mercs. Tali winced every time one lost a limb or had a hole blown through their chest.
"I…AM…KROGAN!"
"Oh god!"
"I can't stop the bleeding!"
"Goddess help us!"
"RRrraaagggghhh!"
Soon there was silence as Grunt stood at the exit, covered in blood. Tali and Shepard padded through the mess almost daintily while Grimlock just squished anything in his way.
"Ha! Did you see Shepard? I tore through them like a varren through a crowd of pyjacks. I need more; let me prove my worth Mothe-…uh, nevermind."
Shepard shared a glance with Tali. Was Grunt about to call Shepard Mother? Tali shrugged.
"Ok? Grimlock, Grunt; Take point. Grunt takes the lead. Grimlock, stick with your autocannon to provide covering fire and keep Tali out of direct sight. Tali, get ready to hack as many mechs and turret drones as you can; keep them from flanking us. I'll take up the rear and take out any rocket troopers. MOVE OUT!"
(In the face of such opposition, the Eclipse mercs were completely overwhelmed and Shepard's team made it to the second tower without incident. The encounters within the tower up to Nassana's Penthouse were also completely unnoteworthy; Grunt's growling and Grimlock's silent intimidations lead to several suicides.)
Grimlock smashed through the door to Nassana's penthouse with a single swing, stepping out of the dust like a vengeful god. The team stealthily followed Grimlock in.
"So, it's come to- WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?"
Nassana's monologue was interrupted by Grimlock's appearance. Clearly she was not expecting a near 12-foot tall juggernaut to smash its way through and aim a plasma-assault cannon at her…then again, who is? Shepard smirked and gave a subtle nudge that Grimlock easily interpreted. He took a few heavy steps forward, the mercs and Nassana firing at him wildly. The rounds just bounced off while the team watched. Well, Shepard and Grunt watched; Tali twitched with every ping.
"I…I am a monument to all your sins."
Nassana screamed and slammed into one of her guards. Said guard had been about to throw a grenade but the impact knocked it from his hands. It dropped to the floor and quickly exploded, shattering the glass. Nassana was the only one that survived. She took up one of the fallen rifles and emptied the clip at Grimlock with no effect. Just as she took another step back, she tripped over the body of one of the mercs and went tumbling out the room; she fell several dozen stories screaming all the way.
A few moments of silence passed before Shepard cleared her throat pointedly at the ceiling. Nothing happened so Grimlock slammed his shield against the roof, causing a green-scaled alien to come tumbling out of one of the vents. As he got to his feet, Shepard and Grunt stepped forward while Tali fussed over Grimlock.
"Thane Krios?"
"Uhhh…"
The drell blinked up at her, rather embarrassed by his entrance.
"I'll take that as a yes. I'm Commander Shepard and I'd like to talk to you about a mission…"