Mass Effect: Aconcagua Dawn
A Mass Effect fanfic by The Man In The Alley
Episode 1. The Moral Stasis
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CITADEL- THE WARDS
FLUX
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"That's just it, human. Some days you wake up knowing exactly what's ahead of you, step-by-step; pitfalls and helping hands, creeks of shit and the bridges that run above 'em."
The krogan was drunk. Not to the point of violence, which considering the point at which krogan's became violent he might have been completely sober with brain damage to soften him up, but Derby assumed the krogan was just lubricated to the point where he wouldn't mind a little conversation.
After all, he certainly didn't seem to have a problem talking the ear off the barkeep.
"But then you've got these days, days that turn into weeks, weeks that seem like forever. Weeks like the last few I've had. Weeks filled with days that are anything but what you'd expect. Days where the steps are broken, the pitfalls are covered so well you can't see 'em till you're right on top of them and they give way, the helping hands have greasy fingers that slip right through your palm and the bridges-the bridges are completely rotted thro-".
"Excuse me, can I get a drink over here?" A voice called out from the other end of the bar.
The krogan looked up from his drink, cut off mid-sentence. The bartender had walked to the customer at the other side. His gravel voice faded to a simple rasping thrum as he mumbled to himself.
Derby, who had already pushed a seat close to the krogan aside and was resting on his haunches, decided this would be as good a time as any.
"Amicably; you were saying…"
The krogan darted his blood-red eyes to Derby, appraisingly. He seemed to think for a moment, drunkenly perhaps, before; "Shit creek. You fall into shit creek cause the bridge is rotted through. And you're stuck there, wading to the other end just because the path you always took before suddenly wasn't there anymore."
Derby shifted his cumbersome form from one foot to the other. "Tactful prodding; you seem to be speaking in metaphors, krogan. Would you care to elaborate?"
"Well, there was this suspiciously brown river on Bulisder, beyond the Veil…but yeah, I'm talking about my recent hunt for Saren."
"Surprised recognition; you are Urdnot Wrex. Emphatically; it is a great honor to meet a hero of your caliber."
Wrex chuckled into his mug. Derby spotted the krogan's talons as they gripped the polyurethane coat of the stein. They were clicking against the foam, one after the other, almost playfully. Wrex did not believe the compliment to be true, Derby guessed, but he seemed to enjoy the sound of it.
"You got a name, elcor?" Wrex rumbled.
"Child-like glee; My name is Derby, Urdnot Wrex. I am a research assistant, but, with shameful aggravation; I have discontinued my studies for the time being in order to help with Citadel restoration."
Wrex nodded. "Yeah, it's pretty hectic down here. The crime rate seems to have skyrocketed."
"Assuring; C-Sec will regain control, I am certain. You seem to be doing well after your highly publicized ordeal. Hesitantly; how are your compatriots faring?"
The bartender returned at this point, apparently relieved to see that the krogan had found someone else to talk to. Without asking he took Urdnot's mug and began refilling it. He eyed Derby.
"Need a drink, friend?"
Urdnot nodded. "He'll take a drink. I'm about to regale your elcor patron here with some current news. He'll need something strong to keep himself interested."
Derby wished the krogan could see how taken aback he was by that. "Horrified; I am very interested in the fate of true heroes, Urdnot Wrex. With utmost sincerity; please understand that."
Urdnot passed the alcohol, which had been filled in a bowl-like glass for the elcor. "Drink up, Derby. I'm gonna tell you a thing or two about 'heroes'."