Chapter 13

After a few more hours of deliberation and travel, the Normandy arrived at its next destination, Tuchanka. Shepard had decided that it was time to check in with an old friend to see how his work with the krogan clans was going, maybe catch up and discuss the old days. There hadn't been much time for that while they were fighting the Collectors.

Tali and Garrus boarded the shuttle with him, as well as Grunt. Grunt wanted to talk to the Clan Urdnot's shaman, try to learn a bit more about his adopted clan while Shepard and the others talked with Wrex. Shepard hadn't had a problem with it, but he hoped that Grunt wouldn't start anything. But since that was like hoping water wouldn't be wet, he hadn't let that weigh on his mind too much. Grunt was as tough a krogan as any Shepard had seen, he could handle himself.

As the shuttle touched down on the landing pad and the door swung open, Shepard was greeted as usual by the same guard detachment as last time. They looked threatening, but the lowered their weapons as soon as they recognized Shepard, Tali, and Grunt. That got a flicker of a smile out of Shepard. Apparently, anyone who could kill a thresher maw on foot was plenty badass by krogan standards.

He continued on past them, through the tunnel to what could be called a throne room, for lack of a better word. Grunt nodded to Shepard, then turned right to take the tunnel to the room where the shaman usually stayed, while Shepard and the others continued on to the throne.

As he had been last time, Wrex was having a discussion with a krogan who was probably another clan leader. This time, though, the discussion seemed to be holding a more civil tone. As Shepard approached the dais, Wrex appeared to notice them. He nodded off a few more lines to the krogan he was talking to, who nodded back before walking off. Shepard walked up to the dais, and nodded to Wrex.

"Wrex."

Wrex nodded back.

"Shepard."

Again, Shepard very carefully kept a smile off his face at Wrex's usual greeting. It had been a startling contrast when Wrex had first seen that Shepard was still alive. If he'd reacted the same way this time, Shepard wasn't sure he could have handled that. So he pressed on with his questions.

"How's work going with the clans, Wrex?" he asked.

Wrex shrugged in response, "It's going as well as anything can on Tuchanka. Though ever since you wiped out Clan Weyrloc and took care of that moron Uvenk, there haven't been many more problems. Most other clans have fallen in line, and the rest are getting more used to what I'm doing here."

"Good to hear." said Shepard, "We're gonna need a united krogan force against the Reapers."

Wrex nodded again, "Ah, that sounds like a fight I can get behind. What about those Collectors? I take it their not a problem anymore."

Shepard shook his head. "We went through the Omega 4 relay a few days ago and wiped them out. But they were just working for the Reaper's, they're still the real problem."

Wrex was quiet for a moment, then shook his head. "Why is it that whenever you go on some crazy suicide mission I always get left behind? You still owe me for leaving me behind for that mission on Illos."

This time Shepard did smile a bit, before saying "Don't worry about it Wrex, there'll be enough fight for everyone soon enough." He raised an eyebrow, then added "I just hope all this time on this rock hasn't turned you soft."

Wrex favored him with a murderous look, then rolled his eyes and let out a laugh that sounded reassuringly like bedrock being ripped apart. "You haven't changed at all Shepard."

"Some things have to stay the same, Wrex." said Shepard, "Not much else does."

"True." said Wrex. Then he finally looked past Shepard, noticing Tali and Garrus for the first time. "So this is a reunion, huh?" He shook his head, then nodded at each of them in turn "Garrus, Tali."

"Good to see you Wrex." said Tali.

Garrus nodded back, "Wrex."

Wrex regarded Garrus for a while, then said "You may want to be careful around here Garrus. Turians aren't that popular."

"I appreciate the warning, Wrex." said Garrus, "But I spent the last few years on Omega. I think I can survive a day on Tuchanka."

Wrex looked surprised at that, but let it passed without another comment. Then he looked over at Tali. 'I'm surprised you're not back with your people, Tali. I figured now that this mission is over, you'd have to get back to your ship."

"The Normandy is my ship now, Wrex." said Tali, with a sideways glance at Shepard. Garrus coughed a little, giving Wrex a significant look.

Wrex looked from Tali to Shepard to Garrus for a few moments, then burst out laughing again. It was the most Shepard had ever heard him laugh. It took him a few minutes to finally get himself under control, and by the time he did every krogan in the room had turned to look at the dais. Tali was fidgeting a little, but Shepard didn't show anything. Always the master of emotional control, that was Shepard.

Wrex regarded him for another minute, then snorted again and moved on. "And where's the newest member of Clan Urdnot?"

"Last I saw him he was heading up to talk to your shaman about the ways of your clan." said Shepard. "He got a lot of imprints from Okeer when he was in his tank, he's just having some difficulty sorting through all of them."

"Hmm, I'm sure the shaman should be able to help him out with that." said Wrex. "He's the first tank-born krogan we've ever had around here. But he's krogan at his core, he'll get it together."

"Clan leader." said a voice from behind them, "The representative from the Female Clans wants to speak to you."

Catching up was going to have to wait, then. "Looks like duty calls, Wrex. I'll see you around." said Shepard.

"Good luck Shepard." said Wrex, just the barest hint of a laugh in his voice. "When these Reapers show up, you just let me know. Can't keep me out of three good fights."

"Wouldn't dream of it Wrex." said Shepard.

And with that, he turned and left the dais, heading to the shaman to see how things were going with Grunt.

He'd barely made it halfway up the stairs before Grunt appeared, already on the way back down. Shepard turned to follow when Grunt reached him, and they started making their way back to the shuttle.

"The shaman help you get all your imprints sorted out?" asked Shepard.

Grunt considered that for a moment, then said "I'm starting to understand all these thoughts now. He showed me the place of the krogan in this galaxy, helped me understand my place in the clan. Then he told me there were some things I needed to work out for myself." He shook his head and said "I'm not perfect yet, but I'm better."

"Good to hear Grunt." said Shepard, just as they reached the landing bay.

They all got back into the shuttle, headed up to the Normandy, and plotted a course for Omega.