Disclaimer: I do not own Mass Effect

AN: As requested by Yonis, hope you like it.

Mass Fiction

Episode 6: Young Pups and Old Dogs

The shuttle shook violently as it descended through the harsh, dust choked and windswept atmosphere of Tuchanka. Grunt grumbled as the transport shook, his girth shifting uneasily on the bench. Shepard was a strong warrior on the field, but only a so-so pilot if the Turian was to be believed. His skin was beginning to crawl again, the faint echo of a voice in his head demanding battle, demanding blood. He shook his head, slamming his fist together trying to work out the aggression. It did little to calm his nerves.

A slight snore drew his attention as he stared at the human before him. He was leaning back in his seat, his arms crossed and his head leaning against the bulkhead.

"It would be easy," Grunt thought eyeing the sleeping human. "One quick blow to the throat would crush his windpipe. Another to the back of the neck would shatter the spine. So easy to kill."

"If you keep fucking staring at me like that I expect at least a drink," Zaeed said not opening his eyes.

Grunt started for a moment, surprised that the human was still aware of his surroundings, but only for a moment.

"I could sever your spine with just the tip of my finger Massani," Grunt snarled, "the only thing standing between you and death is a quarter inch of squishy flesh protecting your arteries."

"Don't forget my ten inches of hardened steel pup," Zaeed said unfolding his arms revealing a large combat knife in a reverse grip in his hand. "Put one of these in the right spot and you can tear the plate right off a Krogan's head. Though this might be overkill for a little thing like yours," Zaeed said smirking at the growl he got out of Grunt.

"I can see why Shepard spared your life at the refinery," Grunt said cracking his knuckles, "you deceive your enemies by appearing weak, but keep your weapon ready. Smart."

"When you get to be as old as me you learn a few things," Zaeed said leaning back.

"Old warriors are strange to me," Grunt said rubbing his head. "The tank speaks of great battlemasters, Malek, Jorgan, Barum, all of them powerful and mighty, living long lives after many battles. But the tank also says that age will bring weakness, that the strength of the young will rise up to snuff out the old."

"In the long run yeah, nobody lives forever. But in my experience, the older ones are the guys you need to look out for. They've seen the most shit and find a way to survive. Some do it by weaseling their way around, but others do it by just killing anything that gets in their way. Both are dangerous and neither one of them is to be fucked with," Zaeed said picking his fingernails with the knife.

"And which one are you," Grunt sneered.

"I've never been one to go around a problem. Life's too goddamn short for detours," Zaeed snorted. "Reminds me of this time I took out a whole team of Blood Pack."

"Blood Pack huh," Grunt said warily.

"You don't goddamn believe me," Zaeed said glaring. "I was catching a ride on this freighter back to Omega. Just got done chasing down a bounty and was going to collect. Next thing I know the ships under attack and its being boarded by a group of filthy Vorcha and their goddamn Krogan warlord."

"So you rallied the crew to fight them off," Grunt asked bored.

"Fuck no," Zaeed said laughing, "those goddamn pussies locked themselves in on the bridge. For the better really, just kept them out of my way."

"So what did you do?"

"I knew they wanted to take the ship, so I got on their comm frequencies and challenged the Krogan to a duel," the merc said grinning.

"You what," Grunt said in disbelief.

"You heard me, I challenged…what was his name…Gazak…Gizak…ah it doesn't matter. If I won he left, if he won I shoot the crew and then myself. He thought it was funny as hell."

"So then what happened," Grunt said leaning in.

"We meet down in the cargo hold and he has the Vorcha move a bunch of crates around into a ring. The whole time he's going on and on how he's gonna crush me and how I stand no chance. I didn't want to hear any of that shit. You're Krogan, you're strong I get it. Anyway we both get into the center and he's roaring and pounding his chest and the nasty little vermin with him are going fucking crazy."

"So what did he do," Grunt said inching forward.

"He did what all Krogan do, he charged me and you know what," Zaeed said smirking as he saw Grunt's eyes widen with anticipation, "I charged back."

"Ha," Grunt laugh slamming his fist together, "right into the fire."

"No shit, about the craziest goddamn thing I've ever done. Anyway, he's rushing at me and I'm charging him, so at the last second I leap forward with my legs out and wham," Zaeed said smacking his hands together, "I catch the unlucky bastard right under both knee caps. Everything above his knees went one way and everything below went the other. About the sickest goddamn sound you ever heard bone and tissue make."

Zaeed leaned back as Grunt's eyes seem to glaze over as the vivid imagery flooded his mind.

"A great move," Grunt said in admiration.

"That's only the half of it," Zaeed said waving the Krogan off.

"There's more," Grunt said in disbelief.

"Of course," Zaeed snorted. "I just barely managed to roll away before the meaty bastard almost landed on me. I pop up, grab the assault rifle from his back and start putting rounds in the Vorcha's heads. They were so surprised they didn't know what to do. Just started running around like chickens with their heads cut off."

"What about the warlord?"

"He was still alive, but he wasn't going anywhere. I pulled his helmet off and the look on his face is something I'll never forget. I've never seen a Krogan that beaten in my entire life. Put a bullet in his head and kept the helmet as a prize. After that I said fuck the ship and the crew. I loaded anything of value into the Blood Pack shuttle and left for Omega. I was the only one who walked out of the cargo bay that night."

Zaeed leaned back in his seat, a smug look on his face as he watched the Krogan seem to regard him with a new respect and awe.

"Shepard chooses his allies wisely," Grunt said nodding his head.

"Stick with me pup," Zaeed said smirking, "this old dog is full of tricks."

I think Zaeed is a riot and I'm glad he'll be back in ME3. Next chapter will be the crew's weekly poker game so a lot of character interaction is on the way. Tali, Jack, Zaeed, Kasumi, Garrus, Ken, and Gabby are definitely in. Like always, if you have something you want to see, drop me a review and a request and I'll see what can be done. Until next time, read and review people.