Chapter 21: Urdnot Grunt
Shepard was back in her armor and waiting next to the shuttle in the hangar while she checked the thermal clips on her guns. Grunt was already down there with her, impatiently pacing in front of the shuttle occasionally slamming one fist into the palm of his other hand. He had tried asking Shepard about the Rite of Passage but she wouldn't tell him much. She thought it was best that he learn about it at the keystone the way he was meant to.
"About time," Grunt grumbled when Jack and Grundan Krul finally arrived.
Shepard opened the shuttle door and stepped out of the way while Grunt clambered inside. Jack climbed in behind him and glanced back over her shoulder at Shepard when she was halfway inside.
"Stop staring at my ass, Shepard," Jack said.
Shepard reached out and put her palm on Jack's ass, shoving her the rest of the way inside the shuttle. Jack's laughter echoed off the shuttle walls as Grundan Krul stepped inside. Shepard climbed in and pulled the door closed behind her, banging her hand against the metal wall. She wanted to talk to Wrex before she brought Mordin down. It was never a big issue in the past, but she had more to ask of her old friend this time and she was hoping to convince the krogan to come back to the Normandy with her to discuss the details.
The hangar opened and the shuttle took off, heading down to the ruined, ruddy brown planet the krogan called home. The ride down was mostly filled with silence as Grunt's tension seeped out of him to thicken the atmosphere. When finally the shuttle landed amidst the rubble of Clan Urdnot territory, Grunt pushed his way past the others to open the shuttle door and take his first breath of Tuchanka air. Shepard stepped out of the shuttle next to him and let her eyes roam over the ancient destruction and the few krogan hanging around the landing pad. Shepard was a little surprised to find that there wasn't the usual greeting party waiting at the foot of the steps to threaten her and challenge Grunt's presence. Grunt snorted softly and turned to Shepard, his brow ridges raised in question.
"This is Tuchanka?" Grunt asked.
"I'm told it was once a majestic place," Shepard said.
The others stepped out behind Shepard and closed the shuttle door. Shepard led them down the stairs and through the door on the right. The krogan on the platform watched them as they went but none bothered to stop them and question what business they had on Tuchanka. Shepard guessed Wrex had already warned his people that Shepard would be showing up soon. The door opened up to a longer set of stairs leading deeper down beneath the planet's surface before leveling out. Rebar showed through broken bits of cement and metal walls and long, thick piping and ventilation fans ran along the sides of the hall.
The door at the end slid open and Shepard led her team up the ramp made of nothing more than an angled pile of chunks of broken cement and debris left where they fell when the wall above collapsed. Or perhaps the wall was knocked down; with krogan one could never tell. They passed through the hole in the wall and looked around. Partitions made of metal frames with aged, dirty canvas stretched between the poles sectioned off the area. Light shone through from a gaping hole in the ceiling of the buried structure. Shepard turned to her right, towards the crackling sounds of fire. Her group fanned out around her, Grunt standing to her right and Jack to her left while Grundan Krul stayed behind her. Shepard started to climb her way up the rubble to the dais where Wrex sat on a throne cut from jagged stone.
One of the guards at the top of the dais spotted her as she made her way up. She expected him to give her some gruff, telling her she had to wait for the clan leader to summon her. She was pleasantly surprised when he stepped to the side and gestured her forward with his hand instead.
"Commander Shepard? The clan leader has been expecting you," the guard said.
"Thank you," Shepard said nodding to him as she walked past.
Wrex looked up from his throne and smiled.
"At least it's still him sitting on that throne," Jane said.
"Go away, Uvenk. My honored guest has arrived," Wrex said standing up and waving away the krogan in front of him.
Wrex pushed past the krogan to get to Shepard, the toothy grin on his scarred up face a little intimidating even to her. Still, Shepard couldn't stop a smile from spreading so wide on her own face that it made her cheeks ache. Wrex stopped in front of Shepard and held his hand out to her. He gripped Shepard's upper arm and gave it a little shake when she took his hand in hers.
"About time, Shepard. I was starting to think you'd forgotten about me," Wrex said, his eyes moving over her team.
"Never, Wrex," Shepard said. "I've just had a lot on my plate."
"Of course you do. Wouldn't really be you if you didn't. You've got a krogan with you? Trying to replace me with this whelp, Shepard?" Wrex asked.
"Please, Wrex. You're irreplaceable. We both know that," Shepard said.
Wrex chuckled, "Knew there was a reason I liked you. You still smell like that damn turian. How is he?"
"Garrus is good, I'll bring him down later. This is Grunt, I brought him to you because he needs the Rite of Passage," Shepard said.
"The Rite of Passage? Who is his clan? They are responsible for this," Wrex said.
"Who is this human? What does she know of krogan rites?" Uvenk asked moving closer to the group.
"This human is your better a hundred times over, Uvenk. I suggest you show her some respect," Wrex said.
"You call her my better?! She shouldn't even be on Tuchanka. She is an alien, a mere human at that. You've already abandoned many traditions to get your way and now you allow aliens to walk around Tuchanka?" Uvenk asked.
Wrex turned around and reared back his head before slamming it into the other krogan's plating, dropping Uvenk to the ground.
"Last warning, Uvenk," Wrex said.
Shepard watched the green-plated krogan with calculating eyes as he raised a lip in disgust and paced behind Wrex. She knew that he was going to stand in her way, try to prevent Grunt from taking the Rite of Passage. She knew that it would end with him confronting her team after the rite, and inevitably with his death. Shepard considered searching for an alternative, a way to spare the krogan's life and keep the peace but when she looked at the bigger picture she knew that this krogan was a thorn in Wrex's side. She could do her old friend this favor and let the close-minded Uvenk make the stupid choice of confronting her team. Grunt stepped forward to address Wrex on his own behalf. Uvenk stopped his pacing and stood behind Wrex once more.
"Shepard and her team are the only clan I have known. I was tank-bred by Warlord Okeer, implanted with what I need to know to survive," Grunt said.
Uvenk sneered at Grunt but Wrex watched him with steady, appraising eyes.
"You brought this… this off-spring of a syringe here – an experiment of Okeer's no less, expecting it to undergo the Rite of Passage?" Uvenk spat out, his eyes locking on Shepard.
"I'm sorry, but who the fuck asked you?" Shepard asked crossing her arms.
Jack smirked and rested an arm on Shepard's shoulder while saying, "Damn, Alliance. We've been here for five minutes and you're already talking shit and starting a fight. I like it."
Wrex let out a booming laugh, ignoring Uvenk's grumbles of protestation at Shepard having the audacity to speak to him in such a manner.
"Who is this tiny human, Shepard? She likes to spill blood as much as krogan, I can smell it on her," Wrex asked.
"That might be an understatement," Jane said.
"This is Jack. Jack say hello to Wrex," Shepard said.
"Hey," Jack said giving Wrex a mock salute.
"And this is Grundan Krul," Shepard said gesturing at the batarian standing behind her.
"Come here where I can get a look at you," Wrex said.
Grundan Krul stepped around to stand at Shepard's left, filling the spot Grunt evacuated. Grundan Krul stood passively as Wrex stepped forward, leaning into his face.
"A batarian. Interesting choice, Shepard. You always were one for diversity," Wrex said.
"What can I say, I like to surround myself with the best the galaxy has to offer," Shepard said.
Wrex grunted and pulled away from Grundan Krul's face before extending his hand. Grundan Krul accepted it and didn't flinch under Wrex's vise grip. Wrex nodded in approval before moving back to stand in front of Grunt.
"Uvenk's right about one thing. Okeer's name won't win you any favors on Tuchanka. It's an old name, but a hated name," Wrex said.
"Well, he's also dead now and irrelevant," Shepard said.
Wrex swung his head to take in Shepard with a grin before turning his attention back to Grunt.
"You wish to stand with Clan Urdnot and undergo the Rite of Passage, boy?" Wrex asked.
"You go too far, Wrex. Urdnot may rule for now, but this thing is not krogan!" Uvenk said storming off.
Grunt turned to look back at Shepard and she raised an eyebrow.
"Don't look at her, boy. Look at me. I respect Shepard more than any other human in the galaxy. Hell, more than most the krogan I know but this is not a decision a human can make," Wrex said.
"Clan Urdnot leads with strength. Its enemies will not be weak. I will stand with Clan Urdnot," Grunt said.
Wrex slapped him on the shoulder and said, "Good. If I can't be with Shepard, at least she'll have an Urdnot with her. She's going to need it if she still gets into as much trouble as we did in the good old days."
"Shepard is strong and fights strong enemies," Grunt said.
"Well of course she does. She's Shepard. Now go over there to the second level and talk to the shaman. He'll tell you everything you need to know for the rite," Wrex said pointing behind the group.
Grunt nodded his acknowledgement and turned to walk away but stopped when he realized Shepard wasn't following him yet. He waited for her on the rubble heap leading down from the dais.
"Wrex, when this is over, why don't you come up to the Normandy for a tour? Say hello to Garrus. Joker and Dr. Chakwas are up there, too. There's some things I need to talk to you about that would best be discussed on the ship," Shepard said.
"Do you think he believed your fail-safe message?" Jane asked.
"I don't know, but we'll soon find out. I hope so, otherwise introducing him to Mordin and talking about the Shroud will be awkward," Shepard thought.
Wrex watched her closely, weighing her words before he said, "Alright, Shepard. Can't stay up there long though, these idiots can't handle themselves for five minutes without me."
"Sure, we'll make it quick. Thanks, Wrex," Shepard said.
Shepard turned and walked down the rubble pile to meet up with Grunt, Jack and Grundan Krul at her side. She let Grunt lead the way up to the shaman. There were several more krogan on the second level than what she ever remembered seeing before. The ambassador for the Nakmor Clan stood surrounded by his guards just as always but he seemed to be engaged in talks with two other clans. Shepard was curious but wasn't going to deter from their route to Shaman Urdnot until the ambassador called out to her.
"Commander Shepard, I wish to speak with you on behalf of Clan Nakmor," he said moving through the crowd.
Grunt stopped beside Shepard and watched curiously as the krogan with a rich, dark chocolate colored head plate moved towards the group.
"What can I do for Clan Nakmor?" Shepard asked folding her hands behind her back.
"This is a first. Must have something to do with everything Wrex is working on here on Tuchanka. We don't know what changes he's made with his leadership this time," Jane said.
"It is more what Clan Nakmor can do for you," he said.
"Oh?" Jane said.
"I'm listening," Shepard said.
"You released a vid after the attack on the Citadel, warning everyone of a greater threat to come," he said.
"A declaration of support for the war?" Jane asked.
"I don't know, Jane. Probably. If you'll stow it and be patient for five seconds I'm sure we'll find out," Shepard thought.
"What vid?" Grunt asked.
The ambassador turned his eyes to Grunt before opening his omni-tool and playing the video. Apparently he had it saved, just as Mordin had. He turned so that Grunt could see the short video. Jack and Grundan Krul turned their attention to it also when Shepard began to speak:
"My name is Commander Shepard. Many of you might recognize me as the first human Spectre. I'm recording this video today in the hopes that my message won't fall on deaf ears. As we stand today, the galaxy is facing an approaching threat that we are not yet ready to defend against. The ship that many of you saw on the Citadel – Sovereign was not geth technology, but one of many to come. Sovereign was what the protheans called a reaper, and they were responsible for the downfall of the protheans."
"I am not telling you this to incite panic, or to cause terror – although I accept that will likely be a consequence of my doing so. I am telling you this because I think that you have the right to know. I am telling you this because the galaxy is going to need all of the help it can get."
"If you are hearing these words and you are in a position of power, then I ask that you do what you can to prepare for what our future holds. Gather resources, gather men, train yourselves, and seek new recruits – whatever it is that you can do."
"It is not my intention for this video to be aired to the public but I understand that is a potential outcome. If you are a civilian and you hear this, know that your military is going to need more able bodied men and women who are willing to fight for their people and for the galaxy. Make the right decision to use this knowledge to help the war effort and not hinder it, lives are at stake."
While the video played, Shepard's voice drew the attention of the other krogans that had stood with the ambassador. They moved closer, their attention now firmly riveted on Shepard and her crew. Shepard glanced over her shoulder and saw that others had surrounded them from behind, including the shaman and a fuming Uvenk. The vid stopped and the krogan closed his omni-tool before turning his attention back to Shepard.
"Clan Nakmor has spent much time discussing this reaper threat with Urdnot Wrex. We understand he was with you when you fought off Sovereign. We are engaged in talks of a more permanent alliance with Clan Urdnot, but regardless of what may come of our talks, Clan Nakmor stands ready to fight the reaper threat. Urdnot Wrex assures us that you will be the spearhead of the war when it comes," the ambassador said.
"This will only work as long as we stay in Wrex's good graces and get the genophage cured. If something, anything goes wrong with that by a result of you warning Mordin… the krogan may very well turn on us instead," Jane said.
"That's not going to happen. This is going to work," Shepard thought.
One of the other ambassadors behind the Nakmor ambassador pushed forward and said, "Clan Ravanor stands ready to fight the reapers."
"Ravanor… Ravanor… miners? Yes, I think their clan runs a mining operation," Jane said.
"As does Clan Jorgal," said another.
"Jorgal has the longest breeding line. That gives them political clout. This is good," Jane said.
"You can't be serious? This human will not be leading any war. If the reapers are real, and they attack, this human will be defenseless," Uvenk said, the contempt heavy in his voice.
"Excuse me for just a moment," Shepard said turning away from the ambassadors.
Shepard made her way to Uvenk who stood flanked by two members of his krantt. Shepard didn't speak to the krogan who did his best to glare at her intimidatingly; she just reared back her head and slammed it as hard as she could into Uvenk's plating. She knew it wouldn't have the same impact as if she were krogan, but all of the metal Cerberus had put in her skull gave it a little extra oomph. The second floor erupted with krogan laughter as Uvenk shook his head and stared in disbelief.
"You… you dare?" Uvenk asked with wide eyes.
Uvenk's krantt moved to draw their weapons but stopped when Grunt stepped up on Shepard's right with a snarl, Jack flared with biotics on her left, and the sound of several pairs of shuffling krogan feet moved closer to her back. Shepard forced herself not to look behind her.
"Holy shit. They must really not like him at all," Jane said.
"Or, they've fully put their faith in what Wrex has said and are willing to back my move," Shepard thought.
"This isn't over, human," Uvenk threatened.
Shepard crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. Uvenk gestured to his krantt and they walked away, leaving the other krogans who had witnessed his disgrace to laugh even harder. Shepard turned back to the ambassadors and resumed parade rest once more.
"I'm sorry, you were saying?" Shepard asked.
"I like you, human. I see why the Council chose you as Spectre, and why Urdnot Wrex has placed his trust in you. I am Nakmor Khirg, and Clan Nakmor looks forward to seeing you on the battlefield," Khirg said.
"Thank you, it is good to know that the threat is being taken seriously and that the krogan are prepared to lend their support in the war," Shepard said. "The reapers are a threat to the entire galaxy, and it's going to take all of us working together to stop them, but we will stop them. They think us small and insignificant, easily felled like the races that came before us. They have no idea they're about to meet their match."
The thunderous sound of every krogan gathered in the small area slamming their fists into their palms resounded off the walls. Shepard gave the ambassador a final nod of her head before stepping away from the group of riled krogan to speak with the shaman.
"You are the tank-bred Uvenk is so worked up over? Big. Strong. Good krogan stock. His complaints ring hollow," Shaman Urdnot said. "You wish to undergo the Rite of Passage? To become a part of Clan Urdnot?"
"I do," Grunt said simply.
"Who stands with you – who are your krantt?" the shaman asked.
"We stand with Grunt and will destroy anything the rite throws at him," Shepard said.
"I like your spirit, human. Very well, are you ready to begin?" asked Shaman Urdnot.
"I'm ready to rip something apart," Grunt said.
The shaman chuckled and gestured towards the door as he said, "Let's go. I will take you to the keystone."
Shaman Urdnot led Shepard's group back down to the first level and over to where the Tomkah vehicles were kept. Shepard pulled herself up into the towering infantry vehicle behind Grunt and then reached down to offer Jack a hand up. Jack slapped Shepard's hand away before scaling the sides and pulling herself up. Shepard chuckled but stayed where she was, letting Jack squeeze past her as she offered her hand to Grundan Krul. The batarian, unlike Jack, accepted Shepard's hand and used her strength to help pull him in.
The ride to the keystone was filled with a tense atmosphere as Shaman Urdnot spoke quietly to Grunt about the history of the krogan and the importance of the Rite of Passage. The shaman nodded as Grunt spoke, rattling off lists of names, places, and events that Okeer implanted into his memories while he was in the tank. Shepard could tell that Shaman Urdnot found the lack of cultural pride and attachment in Grunt's voice to be disappointing; anathema to the essence of what a krogan shaman was. Occasionally he would correct something Grunt said, or add more contexts to a significant event. It was during those times that Grunt would listen with rapt attention and ask questions, drawing out more of the story from the shaman.
Shepard watched the krogan pair out of the corner of her eye; a small smile lifted the edges of her mouth. She turned her attention to Jack when she stood, ducking her head to avoid the ceiling. Jack grabbed a hold of the railing that spanned the Tomkah to keep from being thrown around as she crossed over to Shepard and motioned at Grundan Krul to scoot over. The batarian complied without comment and Jack sat down a foot away from Shepard. She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her splayed knees and watched Shepard. Shepard lifted an eyebrow when the human biotic didn't speak.
"I don't get it," Jack said.
"Get what?" Shepard asked.
Jack waved a hand around and said, "This. All of this, Alliance. I don't get why you do this? I mean, you aren't krogan so why do you give a damn?"
"She'll get it someday. When she's put in charge of those kids at Grissom Academy. She'll understand it completely," Jane said.
"Grunt's a part of my crew," Shepard said with a shrug.
"Yeah, but I mean you go out of your way to do things for people that have nothing to do with your mission or whatever. I thought the point of all of this was to take down the collectors?" Jack said.
Shepard shifted and leaned forward, mimicking Jack's position and said, "Taking down the collectors is the primary mission we're on but if we're going to be successful with the mission I need everyone on my team at their best. Grunt needs this to be at his best. You need to set off a bomb in that old hellhole to be at your best. Focused. Every battle that we live through makes us stronger, better at winning battles but even the best can get distracted on the field and distractions can get you killed. Right now, this is a distraction for Grunt and it needs to be dealt with to keep his head on straight when we're dab smack in the middle of the collectors' home field surrounded by some of the toughest enemies we've faced."
"And if you don't do this, there's a good chance he'll die holding off the ravagers on Utukku," Jane said.
"Alright, I get that. So why are you going in with him? This is some sort of sacred ceremony crap, right? You're not krogan. This ritual or whatever doesn't mean anything to you," Jack said.
"Sure it does," Shepard said.
The conversation at the other end of the Tomkah stopped and Shepard could feel all eyes on her but she kept her eyes locked on Jack's.
"What, they going to make you an honorary krogan or something? That even a thing?" Jack asked.
Shepard chuckled and said, "Maybe I should look into that. No, it means something to me because it means something to Grunt. He's a part of my team. You guys aren't just expendable pawns to me, you know. I mean… will I send each and every one of you to die if that's what it takes to get the job done? Yeah. I will. Sometimes that's a part of what being a leader means. It sucks."
Shepard leaned back and took a deep breath before she continued, "But as a commander I have to look at the bigger picture. If it comes down to your lives, hell if it comes down to my life, or we lose this thing then you bet your ass I'll walk into the flames to make sure those collector sons-of-bitches go down with me."
She paused to let that sink in before she said, "But it's my job to do everything I possibly can to make sure it doesn't come to that. To keep all of you alive and fighting. To do my damn best to rip anything apart that threatens you. But if I have to make that call, I will. Doesn't mean I won't feel it, though. You guys are family. Like it or not, Jack, that includes you. Any one of you goes down and I'm going to feel it, personally."
"Except you don't have to do all of this for all of them. You even told Anderson you wouldn't waste time hitting the collector base. So why are you doing all of this?" Jane asked.
"There's a lot going on. I need more time," Shepard thought.
"All of that can be taken care of after the collectors just as easily now that the Council has excused you for the Alpha Relay and Anderson will fight tooth and nail to keep the Alliance from charging you with anything this time around," said Jane. "This is about me, isn't it?"
Shepard ignored Jane's question and focused on Jack who was staring at her. She couldn't read what was going on in Jack's eyes but it made her question if she'd said too much. Jack shook her head and stood up.
"This is about me, isn't it, Dawn? You're stalling because you're trying to figure out a way to keep me in check. Keep me locked away inside," Jane said.
"I don't need to explain myself to you," Shepard thought.
"Shit, Shepard," Jack said making her way back to the other side of the vehicle.
"You don't have to, Dawn. I can see it, you try so hard but you can't hide it all from me. I know what you're thinking," Jane said.
Jack sat slumped in the seat with her arms crossed over her chest staring at the back wall. Shepard watched her for a moment, debating on whether she should go sit with her and try to talk with her. Jack was obviously feeling something, Shepard just didn't know what but she did know that trying to get Jack to talk about her feelings was like skating on thin ice. It'd probably be even more dangerous considering they were in an enclosed space with other people. Nowhere for Jack to retreat. If anyone could be considered to be a wounded animal, it was Jack and Shepard had no interest in cornering a wounded animal that wielded more biotic power than any other human she'd ever met.
"Wise words, Commander," Shaman Urdnot said.
Shepard turned to look at the old krogan. He watched her intently, Shepard felt like he was taking her measure, looking for the weight of the truth in her words. Grunt moved his head back and forth, taking in Shepard and then Shaman Urdnot.
"Too many young krogan lives have been lost because nothing but the kill mattered on the battlefield. They lost the way of our ancestors. Distorted what it meant to be krogan. Victory at any cost does not mean the cost should be easily or carelessly paid," Shaman Urdnot said.
"Okeer said –," Grunt started to say.
"Okeer was a maddened fool. It is good that he is dead and it is good that you are with Shepard. She is not krogan, but she understands," Shaman Urdnot said. "We have arrived."
The Tomkah slowed to a stop and the shaman opened the door before dropping to the ground; Grunt right behind him. Dust swirled all around the vehicle, thrown up into the air from the Tomkah and the krogan jumping from its carriage. More Tomkahs came to a stop nearby as others from Clan Urdnot arrived to watch the tank-bred's Rite of Passage. Shaman Urdnot led the group to the grounds of the rite up a tunnel through mountains piles of shattered structures left in complete ruin. Shepard activated her Incendiary Ammo on each of her weapons as they walked; the others taking their cue from her began readying their guns as well. Grundan Krul scanned the area as they walked, watching for whatever attack might be coming.
"This is Tuchanka's most recent scar, the last surface city to fall in the rebellions. The keystone was at the heart," Shaman Urdnot said. "It has survived wars and the passage of centuries. It endures – like the krogan."
Grunt stopped at the top of the tunnel and turned in a circle, his head tilted back as he took in the looming metal beams high above his head; the structure that endured.
"If you wish to join Clan Urdnot, you must contemplate the keystone and its trials," Shaman Urdnot said.
Shepard wondered idly how many krogan the shaman had been tasked with giving this speech to over the years. They climbed up to the central platform as they talked. The occasional krogan corpse littered the grounds. Those who did not survive the Rite of Passage, left to remind those walking into the keystone that not every krogan walked back out alive. Shepard ran through the trials in her mind. Sifting through Jane's memories as she pieced together what order the creatures would attack in and their tactics, locations where she would find supplies scattered throughout the grounds, and what areas would give her the best advantage.
Shaman Urdnot left with a solemn bow. Shepard could feel the tension coming off of Grunt in waves. She drew her assault rifle and ordered her team into position near the front set of stairs. A moment later, a krogan's voice came in over the loud speakers set up around the area.
"First the krogan conquered Tuchanka, and mastered a natural world only we are fit to hold," the voice said.
Shepard hit the keystone's activation. The ground shook beneath their feet as the hammer slammed into the ground in the distance, echoing back to them and alerting the natural predators of Tuchanka to activity in the area. Shepard made her way to her team and told Grundan Krul to watch her six while she turned to face the stone ramp that led down to the area of the rite. The sudden drop off at the end of the ramp made it easy for animals to enter, but made it difficult for anyone to get out.
Moments later varren started to swarm the area. Grunt cackled with glee, wasting no time tearing into the charging beasts. Most if the varren came straight for Shepard's team, funneling toward the stairs but a few slipped in behind her from the other set of stairs. Grundan Krul alerted her every time a varren approached from that direction and she turned to help him take it down before turning back to the main horde.
Jack made liberal use of her Shockwave to knock the varren back as they dropped from the ramp to the ground below. When one got a little closer than she liked, Jack used her pull to lift the beast into the air before blowing it full of holes. Grunt used his assault rifle to keep the varren at bay, but chuckled each time one of the wily creatures got close enough for him to charge in and beat to death by hand. Once the varren were down, Shepard replenished her ammo from the field before activating the keystone once more with Grunt's urging.
"Then the krogan were lifted to the stars to destroy the fears of the galaxy, an enemy only we could chase to their lair," the voice on the intercom said.
A harvester dropped from the sky and suddenly Shepard couldn't breathe. Jane flooded her mind with images of reaper harvesters; threw her into the middle of a reaper battle she wasn't actually fighting. The screams of people dying surrounded her; filling her ears with terrified pleas for help. She could hear weapons being fired, and buildings exploding. The twisted, fused form that was once krogan and turian charged at her; the brute ready to pulverize her. In the distance somewhere a banshee screamed. Shepard's blood ran cold before her body dumped more adrenaline into her system, warning her of a threat even larger than the klixen that were being dropped by the harvester while she was lost in the hell of her mind's eye.
"Shepard! Shepard!" Jack yelled.
Her voice cut through Shepard's haze and she turned to look at the biotic. Jack's brow furrowed as Shepard's eyes met hers. Shepard shook her head and lifted her assault rifle, taking aim she shot at the nearest klixen.
"You good?" Grundan Krul asked from behind her.
"Yeah, I'm good," Shepard said.
"What the fuck was that, Jane?" Shepard thought.
"Just a reminder of what's coming while you waste time trying to figure out how to control me," Jane said. "It's not going to happen, Dawn. It'll never happen. I'm getting stronger and you try to pretend we're not the same person because you've changed, but deep down we are. You know it. I am every bit as much Commander Shepard, Council Spectre, Savior of the Citadel as you are. I've been here and done this a thousand times. I am better qualified to stop the reapers from coming and to stop this cycle we're caught in from continuing. I'm the original badass and I will do whatever it takes to make sure you don't fuck this thing up."
Shepard growled in frustration and activated her biotic Charge to slam into one of the overgrown, fire-breathing bugs before finishing it off with her rifle. Shepard was beginning to think that they most unappealing thing about the idea of waking up again in someone else's body would be spending an eternity stuck in there with Jane. A harvester dropped back down into the field dropping more klixen before taking flight again. It moved from side to side dropping klixen to surround her team.
Shepard stayed mobile, keeping the insects at a distance while Grunt charged them with unrestrained bloodlust. She stopped to use Medi-gel on Jack, standing guard over the fallen biotic until she was back up on her feet and flinging Shockwaves again. When the last klixen was down, Shepard moved around the field replenishing her Medi-gel and ammo while Grunt badgered her to trigger the keystone once more.
Once the keystone was activated, the voice spoke over the intercom, "Now all krogan bear the genophage, our reward, our curse. It is a fight where the only goal is survival!"
The ground began to rumble with the unmistakable movement of a thresher maw. Shepard had fought too many of them to not recognize it – lost too many good men and women on Akuze to not know what it felt like when a thresher maw was coming even without Jane's help. Shepard switched to her missile launcher and waited for the thresher maw to show itself. Blue tails popped out of the ground off in the distance; their tentacle ends waving ominously in the air. A few moments later the thresher maw's head rose up out of the debris and spit acid at Shepard.
She dodged the acid and returned fire, getting off as many shots as she could from cover knowing that the thresher maw would go back to ground before popping up somewhere else. Her team provided her what support they could with their smaller weapons; the tech and biotic skills were all but useless on something that big from such a distance.
As soon as the thresher maw went back to ground, Shepard used her Medi-gel and rushed to the nearest box of power cells before turning towards the sound of the screeching hiss from the returned giant. She wasn't fast enough, though, and she was hit in the chest with acid that splashed up in her face. She hissed as it sizzled against her skin, grateful for the eye guard. The acid took down her shields leaving her exposed. The thresher maw was already preparing to spit again as she dove for cover.
Shepard didn't wait for her shields to recharge; she didn't want to waste the time. She knew that they didn't have to actually kill the thresher maw for Grunt to pass the trials of the Rite of Passage, they only had to survive it for a few minutes but Shepard desperately wanted the added respect that both she and Grunt would get from all krogan if they took it down before the time ran out. She thought it might strengthen the faith of those clans who had pledged to support her in the war, and maybe, just maybe it might bring in another clan or two.
After a minute of playing cat and mouse with the thresher maw destroying every rickety piece of metal sheeting that Shepard took cover behind, Shepard finally had the thresher maw beat down. It was moving slower and she just needed to get to the crate of power cells a few yards away. She was about to run for it when Grunt's voice broke through her comm.
"We've got company, Shepard," he said.
Shepard looked up as the small aircraft flew overhead; it's shadow drawing the attention of the wounded thresher maw as well. The thresher maw spit acid at the aircraft, forcing it to back away and divert its flight path.
"You've got to be kidding me," Shepard grumbled.
"Keep on the maw so I can get to the power cells. Those assholes can wait their turn to die!" Shepard said through her mic.
The aircraft settled down to the debris field and krogan began to pour out. Grunt fired his assault rifle at the thresher maw and Shepard ran for the power cells. Uvenk led his krantt straight into battle, not stopping to chit chat or to try to recruit Grunt for his own this time. Shepard had insulted him and pissed him off one too many times. She loaded the power cells into her missile launcher and turned to aim at the thresher maw but it had gone to ground again. Shepard gave orders to her team to defend against Uvenk's assault while she moved to the closed tunnel entrance in the center of the dais to wait for the thresher maw to show itself again.
Her team closed in, forming a semi-circle around her with their backs to her, standing between her and the oncoming krogan. The thresher maw rose from the ground once more, this time from behind Uvenk's ship. The thresher maw didn't care who was a part of the rite and who wasn't; the thresher maw only saw more potential morsels to fill its stomach and was rightly pissed that the food that had bitten back. The thresher maw spit acid at one of Uvenk's krantt, sizzling through the krogan's exposed hide around his neck and face as well as dropping his shields. Grundan Krul, ever observant as he was, took advantage of the situation and chose him as the first target.
Shepard raised her missile launcher and fired off two more shots at the looming thresher maw before it could turn its attention back to her. The last shot did the trick; the thresher maw screeched in agony as it thrashed around before falling and retracting into the debris for the final time. Shepard quickly changed to her assault rifle and joined the fight.
"Tank-bred, prove yourself a true krogan and join us in killing this human who thinks herself strong enough to lead krogan into war!" Uvenk called over the sounds of battle.
Grunt swung his head towards Uvenk and snarled before bashing the butt of his assault rifle into the head of the krogan he was wrestling.
"Very well, tank-bred. You'll die beside your human master like the rutting pet that you are," Uvenk yelled.
Grunt dropped the krogan he'd been fighting and charged Uvenk, knocking another Gatatog warrior out of the way as he went. Shepard pushed forward closing some of the distance and switched to her shotgun. She didn't like getting up close and personal with this many krogan on the field but Grunt was going to need her support and nothing beat a shotgun at close range against a krogan. Except maybe heavy weapons. Or another krogan.
Grundan Krul worked to keep the shields down on the remaining three warriors while Jack used her biotics to keep them unbalanced so they couldn't charge. Shepard took point between the two and fired round after round into the three krogans as she slowly pushed her way towards Grunt and Uvenk's tangled forms. Shepard took a couple of hits herself and had to move to cover. The last blast had hit her hard in the chest and she was pretty sure she cracked a couple of ribs. She hissed in pain as she activated her Medi-gel dispense and waited for the cool, numbing relief to wash over her.
"I AM KROGAN!" Grunt yelled.
"They're charging, Shepard," Grundan Krul said.
Shepard turned out of cover and fired her shotgun at the nearest krogan. Jack threw a Shockwave before firing her pistol at the same krogan finishing him off. Grundan Krul used his Overload to damage one krogan's shields just before Shepard hit him with a shotgun blast. The shot dropped his shields the rest of the way and the Incendiary Ammo caught, setting his armor on fire. He started to panic and slap at the flames when Shepard fired again and caught him in the chest. One last shot from Grundan Krul's pistol and the krogan dropped to the ground dead. That left just one more Gatatog warrior between her and Grunt. Shepard grinned as the krogan watched his clan mate fall with wide-eyed disbelief.
The krogan turned his eyes to Shepard and she could see the moment he realized he was about to die. His eyes hardened with determination. He raised his shotgun before bellowing at the top of his lungs and charging straight for Shepard. Shepard stood her ground and fired over and over again, taking the hit to her chest and biting back the curse of pain as the still mending ribs cracked all over again. Jack flung biotics and Grundan Krul used his tech to Sabotage the krogan's gun while Shepard kept firing. The final Gatatog warrior collapsed at Shepard's feet.
She looked up to see Grunt had the upper hand in the fight with Uvenk but he was bloodied. It was alright though; Shepard realized half of it at least was Uvenk's blood. She stepped over the dead warrior and jogged over to the two krogan. Jack and Grundan Krul raised their guns to intervene but Shepard held up a hand to stop them.
"Wait. Let him do this," Shepard said.
Shepard watched as the two krogan wrestled with one another, landing blows to head and ribs whenever they could. Slamming the plates of their head together and trying to push the other back like two bulls locked by the horns. Neither krogan had kept hold of the weapons they had out; they lay a few feet away where the brawl first started. Both still had weapons they could draw, but they seemed content to match brute strength against brute strength.
Grunt growled and slammed his head into Uvenk's plating, knocking him back. Uvenk stumbled and swayed, fighting with everything he had to stay on his feet. Grunt didn't relent or give the older krogan time to recover before head-butting him again. Uvenk fell to the ground stunned. Grunt stopped and watched as Uvenk tried to pull himself to his feet only to collapse back to the ground again.
"What are you waiting for tank-bred? Are you so unnatural that you can't even recognize when it's time to take the killing blow? You're no krogan. You'll never be krogan," Uvenk said.
"You're not even worth killing, Uvenk," Grunt said.
"You… you – I am… Gatatog Uvenk. I –," Uvenk said.
"Come on, Shepard. Let's signal at the keystone and get out of here. I'm bored with this," Grunt said.
"You got it, Grunt," Shepard said.
They turned their backs on Uvenk and headed back to the keystone. Grunt stopped to retrieve his assault rifle along the way. Shepard was expecting the shot to the back as they walked away and already had her hand on her pistol when she heard the sound of an assault rifle extending. She drew her pistol and spun on her heel, firing as soon as Uvenk was in her sight. He had pulled himself back to his feet and had his assault rifle aimed at Grunt's back. She didn't let up off the trigger when he fell again until she was sure he was down for good.
"That's the problem with krogan. The only way to convince them to stay down is to kill 'em," Shepard said.
Grunt chuckled as Shepard turned back to the keystone. They activated the signal and then walked down to the tunnel entrance as Shaman Urdnot and two others from Clan Urdnot stepped out to meet them. The shaman's eyes roamed over the carnage that surrounded and covered the dais before nodding in approval. He ushered Shepard and her team back to the waiting Tomkah where they rode back in exhausted silence.
When they got back to the Urdnot camp grounds they were led back up to the second level to Shaman Urdnot's station. The ambassadors that had been present when they left kept their distance but watched with reverence as the shaman for their allied clan completed his ceremony. Grunt knelt down before Shaman Urdnot as he commended him for not only felling the thresher maw but doing so even while under attack from Gatatog Uvenk and his krantt and still managing to defeat them as well. Shepard had a feeling that the shaman added in that part for the sake of the ambassadors watching more than anything else. They began to whisper quietly amongst themselves, clearly impressed but their conversation quickly grew in volume as Grunt declared Shepard to be his battlemaster, claiming she had no match.
Grunt stood again and accepted the congratulations and slaps on the back from various krogans in the area. A hush fell over the room and Shepard turned to see Wrex standing in the doorway. She grinned at her old friend and he made his way over to Grunt, the crowd parting before him. Grunt turned to see Wrex coming and knelt down before him expecting something ceremonial from the clan leader.
"Get up, boy. All that's the shaman's job. I'm just here to congratulate you and talk to Shepard," Wrex said. "I hear you took down the thresher maw and Uvnek. Nice work, Urdnot Grunt, you've saved me the hassle of having to deal with him myself."
Grunt stood back up and said, "Thank you."
The crowd disbursed leaving Wrex alone with Shepard and her team. Shepard fished out her credit chit and handed it to Grunt.
"Why don't you guys give Wrex and me a minute? Go see what you can find that might be useful at the kiosks," Shepard said.
Grunt took the credit chit and nodded.
"Shit, let's go find some ryncol. Shepard's buying," Jack said.
Wrex chuckled as Grunt led Jack and Grundan Krul back down the stairs.
"I'm told the ambassadors for Clans Nakmor, Jorgal, and Ravanor have sworn to give you aid in the war," Wrex said.
"They have. Is that a problem?" Shepard asked.
"A problem? No, it just might work in my favor while I try to pull all of these clans together. With Uvenk dead, I might even be able to influence who replaces him in Clan Gatatog," Wrex said.
"Good, I'm glad things are working out," Shepard said.
She waited for Wrex to say what was really on his mind. She'd learned before to not push the krogan too far, he'd say what he needed to say when he was ready and trying to make him talk before that was about as effective as telling a mountain to move itself.
"You smell different," Wrex said. "Like metal."
"Yeah, they had to put a lot of metal in me to piece me back together again. But hey, I heal faster now. Not as fast as a krogan but it's still pretty impressive," Shepard said.
Wrex snorted and eyed Shepard before saying, "But you're still Shepard."
"I'm still Shepard," she agreed.
"You sent me a message," Wrex said.
Shepard nodded, "I made a vid for everyone on the team, set them to be sent if I didn't log in after fifteen days. I wasn't sure how things were going to go. I tried to find another way that didn't involve me getting spaced but when the time came… it was the only sure way."
"I've always said you have a quad," Wrex said.
There was a weighted pause before he continued, "You made me a promise, Shepard."
"And I intend to keep it, Wrex. That's a part of what I want you to come up to the Normandy for," Shepard said.
"Good. I'm ready when you are," Wrex said.
"That's it? No questions about the other thing?" Shepard asked.
Wrex shrugged, "I'm old, Shepard. I've seen a lot of strange things in my life and I've learned to not question them, especially when they're useful."
Shepard laughed and shook her head.
"Alright, I'll round up the others and have them meet us at the shuttle," Shepard said.
Wrex gave orders to his clan guards before following Shepard to the Cerberus shuttle. He sneered at the black and orange logo before climbing inside. A few minutes later the others joined them. Shepard slapped her hand on the shuttle wall and the shuttle rose up into the air, making its way out of the tunnel shaft and up to the surface.
"So, Saren's head?" Shepard asked.
"Launched it right into the sun just like I said I was," Wrex said.
"Good," Shepard said.