Hello Lovely Readers,

C.O. strikes again! In honor of the Legendary Edition of the Mass Effect series coming out, I was able to see some of the DLC I never got to as a kid. I really like Zaeed's character, so here's a fun tidbit with him and our favorite furball of chaos!

I may or may not add more; it depends on my muse. So subscribing is probably the best idea in case I think of more in the future!

Enjoy!

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**Zaeed is sharing war stories with Engineer Donnelly in a bar on Omega. Set during the 6 month-window between ME2 and ME**

"So, what's yer craziest story?"

Zaeed opened his mouth, but Engineer Donnelly cut him off. "No, no, not that one! I've already heard all about that damn rifle's exploits, and I've already heard all the gory merc stuff. I want the weirdest thing that's happened to you."

There's a gleam in the old merc's good eye as he nods. "Alright, got the perfect one."

Donnelly nods in approval and nurses his mug of imported beer as Zaeed gets into his story.

"So, there are, getting our asses handed to us by a crew of Batarian pirates. Their hideout is on fire, and Shepard is off doing whatever heroic deed of the day she needs to go do. Garrus, who's usually attached to her hip, is getting swamped from automatic weapons fire."

"I'm there behind a crate and trying to shoot enough of these bastards so Garrus can take a clean shot at the leader. As I'm laying down suppressive fire, I see a gray-streak across the battlefield, coming right at us."

Donnelly groaned. "Oh, you're kidding."

"No!" Zaeed slammed his own mug down, sloshing some of the crappy beer onto the tabletop. "I barely have time to think about it when I feel something trying to crawl up my leg. Damn near pissed myself! I look down and literally freeze in the middle of the firefight because all I can think is: 'Fuck me sideways, is that the Krogan's cat? The hell is it doing here!' Then I had to duck because I almost lost my goddamn head to a Batarian sniper round."

Donnelly narrows his eyes. "You're pulling my leg, merc."

"If I'm lying, I'm cying; do you see any tears? Dunno how that little shithead got off the Normandy, but I realized at that moment that if we came back without 'im...well, there wouldn't be any worrying about the Collectors, Grunt would space us all.

"Finally, Shepard's hauls her ass back and we're able to make it to the shuttle. So, I scooped the little shithead up in my arms and hauled ass back to the shuttle." He pointed to some scratches on his armor. "The little fucker was not amused."

"Then...what?" Donnelly is hyperventilating over his beer.

"Then," Zaeed was growling now. "Shaped and Garrus see me holding this spitting mad furball and told me I'd have to figure out a way to sneak him back on the ship without Grunt noticing!" He paused to shake his head.

"He was waiting at the airlock, like a Dad waiting to catch his daughter out past curfew. I thought I was dead. Shepard had to explain the little bastard had been a stowaway. Then, the Krogan comes up to me and grabs his little friend, and tells me if I had wanted to see the cat's 'battle prowess,' I should have asked permission first!"

They look at their respective glasses for a moment, after their laughter calms down. "Still, gotta hand it to the little shit," Zaeed said, with a note of respect in his voice. "He went after the Collectors and saved Joker's crippled ass. I'll drink to the little fucker, but if I never see that Krogan and his rabid mouser again, it'll be too soon."

They raised their glasses and clinked them in a toast.