"Too long now..." Grunt was pacing back and forth in his room on deck 4. "I crave the tender feeling of torn flesh...the sting of a fresh wound...the pleasure of pulling a trigger..." Grunt walked slowly to the window overlooking the cargo bay and stared out the reflective glass. Clenching his fist he cocked his arm back; "Raaahh!" He roared as his drove his fist straight through the glass.
"Just one battle, any battle. I must be satisfied."
...
"I'm sure you have more important things to do than see me off to work Shepard." Shepard and Tali stood side by side in the elevator as it descended to the Engineering deck. Shepard wrapped his arm around her waist. "Nonsense, a good day doesn't start unless it starts with you" he said while smiling.
The elevator came to a halt and the doors slid open. Grunt walked by heading back to his room and aggressively bumped his shoulder into Shepard. "Grunt?" Before he could speak to the Krogan he was already through the hatch and it shut behind him.
Shepard paused "What the...?"
Tali folded her arms and turned to Shepard. "If he wasn't a tank bred I would say his mother should have taught him some manners."
"I doubt there's anything Krogan mothers teach their young except how to rip the limbs off of small animals."
Tali giggled and nodded in agreement.Shepard continued to walk with her into the engine room.
When they entered Ken and Gabby both turned around. "Commander" Ken said as he and his companion saluted their captain. Shepard was about to say something before Tali interrupted with a chuckle.
"At ease" She said.
Shepard turned his head to greet her eyes and while continuing over to Tali's station, said with a smile "I don't remember dying and leaving you in charge."
When she heard these words Tali had a instant flash back, remembering the lonely two years she spent without the man she loved so much. Shepard watched as she slowly lowered her head and stepped over to her console without saying a word. He came to a realization that what he had just said upset her deeply.
"Oh...sorry I..." he said before Tali replied.
"No it's...it's alright...I really should learn to move on from it...i-it's just that it feels like it was just yesterday that you came back into my life a-and ever since I can't seem to shake this feeling that I... I might lose you aga-" Shepard interrupted her rambling by placing his hand on the back of her helmet.
"Hey...nothing in this galaxy-this universe will take me away from you ever again...not the Reapers, not even the gods themselves."
Tali lifted her head. "I believe you Shepard, but I can't seem to quell this feeling in my heart."
"That's why I'm here, to heal you as well as to love you." Shepard leaned in close and embraced her.
"I love you Shepard." Tali said tightening her hold around Shepard.
"I love you too Tali'Zorah, with every ounce of my body and soul."
Ken and Gabby both peaked over noticing the couple holding each other affectionately and both gave a small grin. Before returning to their duties, Gabby slowly placed her hand on top of Ken's and smiled. Ken's eyes widened; filled with surprise at Gabby's gesture then quickly turned his head towards the couple then back to Gabby as a smile grew on his face.
Shepard released Tali from his embrace and began strode toward the exit. "Have fun."
Tali smiled behind her mask. "I always have fun around engines Shepard."
On his way to the elevator he head a loud thud and what sounded like someone cursing. As the hatch opened he noticed Jack face down on the floor picking herself up and yelling.
"That fucking overgrown turtle!" she cursed.
She looked up to notice Shepard with a blank stare. As she did Shepard noticed her busted lip.
"The hell you looking at?" she retorted.
"I take it you were in fight?" he asked.
"A fight? That bastard Krogan slugged me for no reason then took off in the elevator!"
"I find it hard to believe that anyone would want to get under your skin for no reason." he said crossing his arms.
"Doesn't matter what you think, he gave me the one reason I need to make a hole in the ship!"
Shepard raised his hand to motion for her to calm down. "I'll take care of it. I don't need my ship becoming ground zero for the 2nd Krogan Rebellion war."
"You better, or else that son of a bitch-" Shepard stepped into the elevator and the doors closed before he could hear her finish her sentence.
Shepard sighed. "Yeah...turning out to be a good already..."
Before selecting his destination, Shepard called EDI to attention. "EDI."
"Yes Shepard" The AI chimed in upon hearing it's name.
"Where is Grunt right now?" he asked.
"Grunt is currently on deck 3." she replied.
"Thanks."
With that, EDI flickered out and Shepard selected deck 3 for his destination.
"This isn't exactly what I had in mind when I told him to make some friends..." he thought.
As soon as the elevator started to ascend EDI's holographic projection appeared once again in front of Shepard. "Alert, there is a disturbance in the mess hall."
Shepard raised a brow. "What?"
Shepard quickly stepped out of the elevator and could hear glass shattering and the loud thudding of metal. "What the hell?" Crewman Hawthorne stormed down the hall and took shelter in the crew quarters. Shepard rounded the corner only to collide with Miranda who seemed to fly through the air crashing into him. Shepard and her winced and groaned in pain. "Miranda?"
"Commander that pet of yours is on a rampage!" she retorted angrily.
"What?"
"Maybe I didn't make myself clear the first time." Miranda lifted herself up and offered a hand to Shepard helping him to his feet.
"Get in there and put a leash on him before I put him down!" Shepard peaked around Miranda to see Grunt with Mess Sergeant Gardner being held by the neck in his left hand.
"Grunt! Stand down! That's an order!" He exclaimed. Grunt turned to Shepard clenching his teeth and growling like a wild beast. "Your Battle-master just gave you a command!" Shepard yelled. Grunt slowly turned his head back to Gardner then released his grip. He fell on the floor using his hands to break his fall and gasped for air. Shepard helped Gardner to his feet then turned to Grunt. "You, me, talk, now!" With that Shepard motioned for Grunt to follow, passing Miranda who was helping the rest of the crew clean up the mess. They stopped just outside of Starboard observation. "The hell is wrong with you! We talked about this, we took care of your problem back on Tuchanka!"
"Problem! You call this a problem? This is who I am, I will always be compelled to fight!" Grunt bellowed.
"I won't have you putting the crew's lives in danger! I'd rather not drop you off on the nearest uninhabited rock, but if that's what it takes..." Grunt looked away in contempt.
"Two weeks battle-master...two miserable weeks since I've stepped in the blood of an enemy! I grow restless, hungry..."
"We aren't going to be slaughtering enemies forever, I told you that before. I need to know that I can trust you to stay under control, you've already reached the thresh-hold of that trust." Grunt looked back at Shepard with pure rage in his eyes.
"Find me blood to spill..." Grunt moved his face closer to Shepard narrowing his eyes. "Or I will be glad to make some new enemies..." Grunt turned away and headed for the elevator. As soon as he boarded, the door behind Shepard opened and Samara stepped out. Shepard turned to face her.
"Shepard...only conflict will quench his thirst." She said in her usual soulless voice.
"You heard all that?"
"There are little words that miss my ears on this ship" she replied.
"You have a recommendation?
"Yes...a duel."
"Excuse me?"
"Challenge him to single combat commander. You are his battle-master, he sees you as his superior, the only one that can defeat him on the battlefield."
"Knowing him he'd probably want to fight to the death. Not sure that's the best option."
"I only suggested it. The choice is yours to make." Samara took a few steps back and the starboard observation doors closed in front of her.
Shepard rubbed his forehead."Ironic...seemed like things were quieter before we took out the Collectors." Shepard then called Joker over the comm link. "Joker, set a course for Tuchanka."
"Tuchanka? What for? He asked.
"Personal business." Shepard replied.
"Sure you can't take your personal business somewhere with a-"
"Joker...just set the damn course please..."
"Fine, fine...grouch... ETA to Tuchanka, 14 hours."