So I'm going to try and write again...here we go.
It's been awhile since I've written anything so...bear with me guys okay. The next few chapters are Leela centric so, I'm taking my time with it. I'm sorry if this isn't ideal...but I got a lot of things going on guys so hopefully you can be patient with me.
Chapter 25
"I still don't understand why we need the female here? It's bad enough that we have slagging turians and salarians here with us."
Leela looked up from her data pad at the krogan sitting across from her. It had been a week since her arrival on Tuchanka. She was more than willing to do what was necessary to finish the negotiations the Council members had requested she sit in on. When she arrived, she found Wrex more than willing to sit down and discuss the expansion of Krogan territory rationally while other clan leaders were more expressive in their desires to start their own colonies. Hence why she was so glad the Krogan in front of her was the last one she'd be dealing with before heading back to Earth.
"What does my being a female have to do with anything Agni?" inquired Leela setting the pad aside. She was seated to the right of Wrex who was at the head of the table with Grunt on her right, the younger krogan glaring daggers at Agni for talking to her in such a manner. She appreciated the gesture from her comrade, but it was unnecessary. She'd encountered this problem before when dealing with other clan leaders and had expected as much from them so she let it go.
"In my opinion," replied the krogan with a heavy grumble, "it's of little consequence. However," he pointed at the Wrex, Grunt, and a few other clan leaders who had decided that Wrex was choosing the best path for their people, "this is a matter between Krogan and our former enemies. Not humans."
"I beg to differ, Agni," growled Wrex, his gaze narrowing on the other clan leader. "All of us here have found these proceedings to be quite necessary if our people are to survive."
"Of course you would," snorted Agni his eyes darting between Leela and his opponent, "You and that little tank-bred have been their pets for so long..."
"WE ARE NOT PETS!" roared Grunt rising to his feet; nostrils flared.
Around her Leela could hear the low, worried whispers of the salarians and the deep flanging rumble of the turians' throat registers. Wrex and the other clan representatives remained quiet and to many they would appear rather stoic in their gestures. Leela knew better of course. Years of fighting with them had given her a deeper knowledge when she saw a slight adjustment in Wrex's posture and knew what he was thinking. While the other members of this small council were concerned about having to take military action, she knew Wrex was thinking about what he'd have to do to appease the other clans should Grunt lose his cool. They were sitting on Krogan sacred ground where only once in recent memory had a Krogan dared attempt to shed the blood of a fellow warrior only to have his own blood spilt by the one he sought to kill.
Still, Grunt's youth and inexperience showedand while it was only conjecture, Leela knew from a few of her intelligence officers that Agni would attempt to bait Grunt, hoping that his hotheadedness and youth would override any sense the younger Krogan had in his head. Should the plan work, then Agni could make any request of Wrex that could suit his needs.
"Grunt," snapped Wrex, "Sit down! NOW!"
Wrex's voice echoed throughout the hall, but Grunt remained standing, too stunned at what he had just heard. His clan leader was telling him to stand down from an enemy; one he knew could be a likely threat. Turning his attention away from Agni, he gave a pleading look to Shepard.
"Battle Master," protested Grunt, "He's insulted you and our clan. He needs to be reminded of his place."
"He will be reminded, Grunt." replied Leela with a reassuring smile. "He knows that he is in no place to make any demands of us or the Council." She could see the confusion still swimming in Grunt's eyes and added, "He is simply trying to goad you into attacking him so he can gain some amount of leverage in the negotiations." She turned her attention back to Agni and chuckled, "Isn't that right?"
"What makes you so sure that I hold so little power?" spat the krogan; slamming his fist down on the table. "I'm the leader of the Brodasi Clan and we are..."
"You're the leader of a tiny clan with nothing to offer." finished Wrex, laughing along with his allies.
"AND WHOSE FAULT IS THAT!?" roared Agni slamming his other fist down even harder on the table.
"The Reapers." retorted Leela, indifferent to the ripple of distress.
"Rear-Admiral," cautioned a familiar voice, "you would be wise to watch how far you dig this hole."
"I appreciate your concern Primarch." laughed Leela with a courteous nod to Victus before turning her attention back to Agni; eyes narrowed and teeth clenched, "but he needs to be reminded of who he is dealing with."
"Do not try to threaten me, Human." scoffed Agni pulling a data pad from beneath the table. "I have seen the medical reports. You have denied much of the reconstructive surgery recommended for you to return to active combat and your biotics aren't as powerful as they once were." His lip curled in a derisive grin, "You are no more of a threat to me than a child with a toy gun."
"Can I see that medical report?" asked Leela extending her hand. Agni tossed it to her and with a gentle application of her biotics, the pad floated into her hand and she read it quietly to herself before laughing, "This medical report is from when Doctor Chakwas first found me on the colony I was held captive on."
She handed it to Wrex who looked it over and laughed along with her.
"What's that have to do with anything? The reports are accurate." snapped Agni his frustration slowly getting the better of him.
"In one sense they are Agni," chuckled Leela twirling the data pad on her middle finger, "I have refused full reconstructive surgery on my cybernetics which will keep me from fighting on the front lines. But my biotics," she activated a small field around the data pad, obliterating it, "are as strong as ever and I can safely say that you are about as much a threat to me as an ant is to a boot."
His eyes locked on the biotic field containing the dust, Agni let out low chuckle at the tiny human in front of him, "Prove it."
"Name the time and the place, Agni." agreed Leela allowing a quick flare of her biotics. "But, let me just tell you one thing," she snarled as she stood up, a biotic field pulsing around her body, "Choose your next words carefully; because whatever little scheme you have rattling around in that," she pointed at his head and smirked, "hollow shell you call a head, will fail and your clan will suffer the consequences of your actions."
"My clan will die before they agree to your terms." hissed Agni; a familiar blue glow beginning to pulse around him.
"Agni if you would just listen to our terms you will see that..." announced Victus, his flange growing louder betraying the steady tone of his voice.
"Hold your threats, Turian..." began Agni as his biotics began to shake the table.
"We are not threatening," interjected Major Kirrahe from his position next to Victus. "A threat implies that we may not act. However, should you choose to follow through with whatever plans you have with your people..."
"I will personally oversee the end of your plans myself, Agni." confirmed Wrex without missing a beat.
This revelation did little to calm the fury they could see boiling inside Agni. It didn't take long for that anger to explode out of Agni in a biotic rush. His powers flaring, Agni shot forward toward Wrex, a primal roar echoing off the walls of the ancient cavern. In that moment, instinct overtook reason and Leela shot forward with her own biotics, her tiny frame slamming into the massive eight-hundred pound mountain of muscle. Luck was on her side as she sent herself and Agni past Wrex. She felt her body slam into the ground and heard the loud thud of Agni's body land only a few feet away. Pushing herself up, she let out a small painful groan as she turned to see Agni clutching his stomach; retching loudly as he tried to get to his feet.
"Are you all right, Shepard?" asked Grunt appearing above the shaken human; his toothy grin scrunching the scales around his bright blue eyes.
Nodding, Leela took the hand her former disciple offered her. She felt herself being lifted effortlessly and a little too quickly. Her head spun as she felt her knees buckle and reached out for Grunt who caught her; asking if she was able to stand. Taking a few breaths she nodded and straightened up.
"Yeah," she exhaled loudly. "Just a little winded. Damn implants are still taking their toll on me."
"That's a shame," chuckled Grunt jerking his head back toward Agni, "I would have loved to see what would happen if you were at full power."
Looking past the mound that was Grunt, Leela watched as Agni was escorted from the meeting hall, his face shadowed in defeat.
"He'd probably be dead," she said simply.
"As he damn well should be." sneered Grunt; his tongue brushed along the front of his teeth at the mere thought of Agni's death.
"Why does he deserve death?" asked Leela turning her attention back to Grunt. "He was doing what he thought was best for his clan, isn't that what the Krogan have done for several generations?"
"We can't afford to have any weak links." snorted Grunt at Shepard's comment.
"So he deserves death?" Leela's eyes locked with Grunt's steely gaze.
"His actions would have made our people weak." contested Grunt, "You heard Kirrahe, anything that goes against the plans that we have set deserves to be annihilated !"
"Do you remember what Wrex said?" reproached Leela, straightening herself a little more.
"He said that he would deal with the dissension."
"And did you hear Wrex say in what manner he would deal with them?" retorted Leela. After a moment Grunt shook his head. "Then what makes you think that death was in any way a part of our plans?"
She watched as the remaining hope for battle in his eyes flicker.
"You, Shepard."
"Me?" Leela asked surprised, "Grunt, when have I ever given you the impression that I would kill because someone had a different opinion?"
"You're a soldier." he answered promptly. "You chose the life of a soldier;to kill in order to fight for something." His frustration was beginning to overtake him, his voice slowly rising. "You led us into battle. You united a galaxy to fight against the Reapers in order for us to survive, hell you sacrificed Mordin to allow the entire Krogan race to flourish." His voice was growing steadily faster as the words tumbled from his mouth. "You, yourself have shown that the sacrifice of a few is forgivable for the majority to live. That is the duty of a soldie; to kill to maintain the peace of your people. That was why you joined the Alliance isn't it? To extinguish those preceived to be a threat? And now you tell me, as my Battle Master, that this is no longer the case?! Why is this situation any different? Why shouldn't we make an example of them!?"
"Because Grunt," hissed Leela; her biotics flared out of instinct knocking Grunt back. "We are better than that."
Grunt let out a growl but said nothing, she knew he wouldn't. Even with an entire company under his command, Shepard was still his Battle Master and when she spoke he would always listen.
"Yes, as a I soldier I have killed for the sake of peace. I led us to war, I asked people to lay down their lives and have even lost mine in the process. BUT," she added quickly, cutting off any chance for him to argue. "You have seen how I operate Grunt, and you know that if there is a way to avoid bloodshed I will do whatever I can to do so."
"Agni," she said, her finger snapping at the door, "was trying to make his life better for his people. The Krogan are still divided Grunt despite the victory against the Reapers. There is still too much bad blood between the clans. That is the purpose of these meetings, to find a way to dissolve those grudges. If we continue to kill them, just because they disagree then what hope do your people have of ever becoming more than just pawns to be used during another crisis?"
She watched Grunt; his large eyes flicking between her and the wall behind her trying to hide what was going on inside him. She knew that look, the struggle that was going on inside him. It was the same look he had when he was trying to make sense of what had been building up inside him when they were fighting the Collectors.
The battle between his blood and his mind.
After several tense minutes she watched as his eyes calm; the eagerness for blood slowly ebbing away as he nodded in concession. "You are right, Shepard," he lamented, avoiding her gaze. "His death would serve no purpose."
"Grunt," replied Leela acknowledging his concession, "I'm not denying that you make an excellent argument. You're right in saying that this peace is worth fighting for. As someone who has fought beside me and led people into combat you have every right to say those things."
"But?" asked Grunt, knowing that everything she had said before would mean nothing in a matter of moments.
"But," she answered wearily, "I think for now, at least for the rest of my life time, we're doomed to obscurity."
"I don't like the thought of that, Shepard." snorted Grunt after a few more moments' palpable silence. "I don't like it one damn bit."
"You don't like the thought of having to fight without me saving your ass all the time?" she laughed, poking him in the ribs with her elbow.
Grunt's head snapped around; lip curled and eyes burning at her. "I've saved your life more times than I can count."
"You've saved my life more than four times?" Grunt's lip twitched violently as a loud growl thundered from his chest as she smiled inwardly at the familiar fire returning to his eyes. "Did I hit a nerve, Grunt? I'm surprised you'd let the words of a small delicate human like me get you so upset."
"Don't toy with me, Shepard." scoffed Grunt spitting a large wad of saliva on the ground. "Agni may think he could have taken you, but I know for a fact you've had some of your implants fixed and even without them," his lip curled in a smug smirk, "you're about as delicate as the ass end of a thresher maw."
"You really think you can go toe to toe with me?" challenged Leela shoving Grunt's shoulder.
"Name the time and place, Human." accepted Grunt, the fire in his eyes growing brighter at the chance to fight his Battle Master.
"Twenty-one hundred hours at the bar followed by the training hall at twenty-two hundred." replied Shepard after a couple of moments thought before adding, "If we're able to walk of course."
Grunt stared at her for a moment. She could see the wheels in his mind turning as he processed what she had just said.
Finally after a moment, the Krogan slammed his fists together and chortled, "Wouldn't miss it, Shepard."