Authors Notes:
Here's another snippet! A sort of apology for falling off the radar for so long. ;;
-Feary
Chapter 12 : Tuchanka - The Battle Masters
The bumpy ride soon fell smooth as the shuttle entered Tuchanka's atmosphere. Garrus had his worries, but he knew Wrex and Grunt. Both wouldn't let anyone harm Shepard, however other Krogans still have a blood lust. All it would take would be one wrong look for a fight to start, especially with him being a Turian, one of the main causes of the Genophage. Wrex and Grunt where still his friend's but what would the other Krogans think of him. His foot started to fidget agains the metal floor board, tapping away at his thoughts. However he wasn't worried about his safety at all. He looked down at Shepard, sitting in her seat tapping away at the data pad. He felt his heart race. The thoughts of possible problems that could occur on Tuchanka, it made his Spinal Scales flex out. He hadn't realized yet that he forgot to take the medication again after thowing the first one up. He wanted to protect her, and was willing to do anything to make that assured.
She was most definitely aware of his tapping foot, and even though she was making arrangements for their landing, her gaze often turned to him. A sense of worry filled her, and she hoped everything would turn out okay, so neither one of them would be too stressed out after everything was said and done. A soft sigh left her lips as their landing was approved, and so her data pad was folded and placed beside her as she leaned against her lovers side.
"Everything will turn out fine. I promise." She offered a smile that was unseen due to the helm she wore, and those thoughts were short lived as the shuttle touched down on the dry land.
"Landing has been approved, you are free to disengage the shuttle commander. Just link me when you wish to leave, I'd rather not stay grounded around the Krogans."
"Understood Cortez. Thanks." Shepard replied as she stood, removing her assault rifle from her back and holding it at her side. One could never be unprepared on this planet.
Within moments her boots were on the ground and with a few turns of her head she rolled her shoulders and moved toward the awaiting Krogans. Many of them were wary, especially with the drawn weapon, a few drew their own. "Stand down, soldiers. I'm not here to fight." She raised her free hand in a non-aggressive manner. At her voice many lowered their weapons, some in shock, others in awe.
"Commander Shepard. We were told of your arrival, but we did not believe it." Some said, however the lead Krogan was not fooled. "How do we know its really you? You haven't even removed your helm!" His voice boomed around them, full of authority and strong, causing many others to nod in approval.
Shepard curled her lip slightly, but slowly holstered her assault rifle and moved her hands up to remove her helm. It hissed as it depressurized, the faint white coloration of Oxygen leaking out into the dry air of the Krogan world. Her face was scarred, as it always has been, and her green blue eyes blazed at the Krogans with annoyance. "Are you satisfied now? Please escort us to Urdnot Wrex, and Grunt." She tucked her helm under her arm, and moved forward as the guards all nodded and began their escort.
Garrus felt on edge the whole time, from the second of questioning from the walk to the main clan hall. Krogans may have allied themselves with the rest of citadel space since the war with the Reapers and because of Urdnot Wrex's rule. But it didn't stray individual Krogans from there own opinion, he could clearly see from miles away the thousands of eyes that lay upon him and and Shepard. Even EDI was watched with extreme care. Between minutes which seemed like seconds, one of the leading Krogans spoke up at the Commander, holding up the walk before entering the main chamber.
"For the safety of the Battle Master, Alpha of Clan Urdnot! The Turian will not enter and shall stay here, guarded!"
Garrus tensed up at his response, there was no way he was leaving Shepard's side. "Sorry if you don't understand. Shepard and I are close friends to Wrex, Grunt, and great Allies to clan Urdnot."
The Krogan looked back at Garrus's resistance and snarled in vexation. "Sorry if you don't understand. I. Dont. Care. Turian!"
Shepard met many of the gazes that stared upon her and her group, but her smiles did not last for long. The second the Krogan dared to turn against her lover she curled her lip, getting right in the others face. "Excuse me, worthless hunk of shit, but you seem to be the one who does not understand." She spat, her pistol shoving hard into the Krogans gut. "This Turian has been to hell and back with me, and he goes where I go. Without his help, you would all still be under the effects of the Genophage. Now step aside."
Her tone was a hiss, and she looked like a coiled viper ready to strike and lash out at any second. The Krogan instantly bristled, but when he realized who he was going head to head with, he staggered back slightly, placing his hands out as if to prevent her from shooting. "I-.. I..."
Garrus watched as Shepard defended him from the Krogan. He felt proud, a little relieved as well. She was more then capable of defending herself if something were to happen to him. She didn't forget that and neither did he. She was Commander Shepard after all, and she was baring there child. The combination of a bad ass couple. Would take a lot more then a few Krogans to turn the skies grey for them.
It was at that moment that the Battle Master Wrex spoke up from within the room. "Shepard? Garrus?" His tone rumbled as he could be seen peering into the hall. "Let them in at once!" He growled.
Shepard sneered at the other Krogan, roughly shouldering her way past him as she made her way into the room to meet head on with the Battle Master.
They both entered the chamber in response to Wrex's command for the Krogans to step aside. He could see his friend stand from his throne as well as Grunt right at his side. Grunt looked a little different, his scales had grown and matured to full length. Garrus removed his helmet as the three of them got closer, the his of air escaping the seams. Wrex and Grunt had a pleased look on there faces.
"HAHA!...Shepard! I could smell your sent the second you got off the shuttle! I knew it had to be you. You're too stubborn and tough like a Krogan to die in this life time!" Wrex's arms spread wide ready to embrace his old friend. Grunt waiting for his turn to apprase his long lost Battle Master.
The look on her face was smug as she stepped into the room and right up the stairs to the throne. Her face was straight for a moment until a huge grin spread across it as Wrex spoke. Quickly, easily, and oh so carefully she stepped into the Krogans embrace. "Damn right, Wrex." She snorted. "How many times was that now?" She smirked, stepping back to move to Grunt. She was half expecting a handshake of some kind, a pat on the back, but he really surprised her with a huge hug. Even if he nearly squeezed the air out of her.
"How have you two been? Has anyone settled down yet?" She chuckled, turning from the more mature looking Grunt, to Wrex and back again.
"Grunt over here refuses to pick just any female Krogan, so nothing new for him! But I have a few of my own. I don't get to see them often, but they are out there somewhere." Wrex nodded quickly, where Grunt simply shook his head.
"Shepard, its good to see you. Dont listen to this hunk of scales, I have just not been interested in settling down yet." There was a sigh from the purebred as everyone turned to watch Shepard link her arm through the Turians.
"Hey why the long face Garrus? We know you missed us!" Wrex grunted with a snicker.
Grunt smiled back in response. "HEH HEH HEH! Yeaaaahhhh! We missed ya too Pyjack!"
Garrus felt like the youngest of three brothers when in came to those two. But he did miss them nevertheless. However time was short and they still needed to gather the rest of the Normandy's crew. So politely, he started to explain there reason of arrival. About Hackets Intel and about the risk of of danger awaiting everyone. For every minute they stayed on Tuchanka, they could be found out. Even EDI helped Garrus clarify the situation to Wrex and Grunt.
Shepard giggled quietly at the look of Garrus, and the words the Krogans spoke. She remained quiet most of the time as Garrus and EDI explained, only pitching in with a few words herself by listing the names of the crew they've already obtained. "I believe Tali is the only one left to get out of all of us." She chuckled, turning slightly to keep her eyes wandering. She never felt safe here, especially not with the Bloodpack being run mostly by rogue Krogans.
After a good minute of info gathering, Wrex developed a puzzled look on his face. He took two steps forward towards Shepard, then admitted an animal like grunt as he started to sniff and inhale the air around them. Garrus had no idea what he was doing nor why he was doing it, even EDI was a bit confused. After his act. Wrex looked dead at Garrus and Shepard for a brief moment then back at Grunt.
"Grunt! From here on out we will stand by Shepards side once more. Inform clan Urdnot of this then meet back at the Shuttle." Grunt did as he was told before Wrex turned back around with a grin on his face. "Just like old times again, huh Shepard! Can't have the Normandy without a Krogan or two on board!"
She watched as Wrex seemed to scent the air, and her gut clenched nervously, was there something wrong? Were there enemies approaching? Could he scent that she was with child? She fidgeted nervously for a moment before Wrex finally spoke. His words knocked away the nervousness and she grinned widely.
"Just like old times! You know you're my go to Krogans." She continued to grin.
EDI paused momentary, listening to something over her com. Her eyes widened slightly before she turned to Garrus. "Joker has notified me that there is activity at the nearest Mass Effect Relay. No Alliance ships are within radius. Joker recommends immediate extraction of the Commander. Cortez is already at the load bay." She chirped, already ushering Shepard toward the shuttle.
Garrus nodded in agreement. He quickly seal his helmet back on and pulled out his M7-Lancer in preparation. He had a plan in thought. If this was a ship that was tracking them, recon and disabling the ship was required to get more information and to slow them down. "Shepard. You, Wrex, and EDI meet up with Grunt and Cortez at the Shuttle. Get to the Normandy asap. Wrex I'm going to need to borrow one of your Krogans Skiff shuttles. I will send the code of the model to the Normandy as well as any information I find on that ship. Whatever it is we will know about it once I'm done. Wrex! You and Grunt protect Shepard with your life. This is why we need you two."
Garrus began to check his shields and ammo to make sure he was prepared for whatever was out there. Before he could run of though he looked back at Shepard who clutched on to his arm. Preventing him from moving. "Shepard please. I'm just as scared too, but his could be the only chance we've got. We're fighting blind without this information. Plus... I don't want to loose you again. Not anymore. I will take them off our trail while you and the Normandy escapes. Then I will Meet you at Rannoch."
Shepard tensed as EDI ushered her forward, and as Garrus began laying out his plan she instantly panicked. Of course she latched onto his arm the words 'you go i go' just about left her lips when he started talking again. A sigh left her lips as she nodded slowly. "Please be safe.. I love you." She murmured as she stood on her toes to bump her head against his. Everything happened so quickly after that. Her helm was placed back on her head and with her Krogan escourt she was guided to the shuttle. Before she was even seated the shuttle was in the air and back in route to the Normandy. Shepard was silent the entire trip, even as they docked to the Normandy. FTL drives were quickly activated and on course to Rannoch within seconds.
Garrus Really wanted to stay, he didn't want her to leave."I Love you too!". As EDI places a hand on Shepards shoulder insisting they they departed as quick as possible. Garrus took a long serious hard look into Wrex's eyes, as well as Wrex to him. Both didn't say anything but Wrex knew exactly what he was thinking, Garrus's thoughts of "you better keep her safe" cauterized itself into Wrex's skull. They both nodded back at each other in understanding as the three of them disappeared down the hall. With that Garrus sprung straight into action running to the main shuttle bay where many Krogan Skiffs lay lined up in symmetry.
He commandeered the closest one and began his assent to orbit. The motion tracker on the ship showed three ships all apart from each other. Two in which started to fly towards one. The Normandy. One had to have been the shuttle Shepard was aboard. The other was the mystery ship. He flew as fast as he could fly. Wedging himself between the Normandy and the ship. He had to draw it away from the Mass Effect Relay so that the Normandy could use it for evac to Rannoc. And he had a good plan to do so. Without hesitation and with ship in view. He locked every weapon that was on the skiff onto the Ghost ship. And put the thrusters on max acceleration. When the Normandy would turn its cloaking on the only ship that would stick out like a sore thumb would be his skiff, heat radiating from the hull. And it worked.
All of the Ships main guns focused on Garrus as the Normandy vanished from Radar. The Ship rattled and clanked as massive ordinance fired his way to shoot him out of the sky. However, citizens on Omega didn't call him Archangel for nothing. And the skiff was quick and light. Easy to dodge the projectiles. With time the two ships got closer and it was time for Garrus to make his move. He had to get into the ship undetected for his plan to work so he put the skiff on auto-pilot and aimed the airlock to jettison him strait to the hull of the Giant Frigate. "3...2...1... Launch!"