Chapter 9 - Unlikely Companions
Eternity's Struggle

Eternity's Struggle, the sequel to A Glimpse of Eternity, is a complication of short stories, letters and life-snapshots that are sprinkled throughout the events of Mass Effect 2 following both Commander Kiara Shepard and Kaidan Alenko. While they're in chronological order, its not the complete storyline of the whole of Shepard's missions as she prepares, then faces, the Collectors. There will be SPOILERS. Please read the Eternity Series - Disclaimer for more general information.

Disclaimer: I own only the parts of the individual personality of Commander Kiara Shepard I have developed inspired by the Commander Shepard in the gameplay. I do not own, nor hold any rights, to any of the characters, dialogue, storylines or any part in or of the "Mass Effect" game series. I want to thank Drew Karpyshyn and his staff of amazing writers, animators and voice actors. These are for fan enjoyment only and no money had been made on these stories.

For weeks after Horizon, Shepard buried herself in her mission. Though she held a small hope in her heart that after her mission she and Kaidan would find a way back to each other, she knew there was nothing she could do about them until then. He was gone and he had his own missions and life to lead. What would be, would be.

It was better that way. The chances of surviving taking out the Collector homeworld grew dimmer each day as they learned more of what it would likely entail. Though she had hardly given up hope, she knew if there was any chance of surviving their ultimate mission, it would need her complete focus.

So she have it just that and worked, keeping herself busy tracking down the team members she needed. Shepard had to admit she'd never seen a more diverse and eclectic crew. It wasn't just the number of aliens she had on the team but the various walks of life they'd come from. She relied heavily on Garrus, Joker and Chakwas for the most part but she was warming to the rest of the ship.

Even her Cerberus crew was growing on her as she began to see the individuals rather than just their association with Cerberus. Miranda was the only one who Shepard couldn't bring herself to trust. She tolerated her but she doubted she would ever trust her. She was Cerberus through and through. She'd drank the Kool-Aid and was devout in her belief of them.

The rest of the team she'd assembled were alright though. As the mission pushed on, Shepard found herself growing closer with Jack with each passing day. There was an understanding there and the more she learned about the woman, the more she appreciated. She understood why she was the way she was and, for some reason, Shepard trusted her as much as she trusted Garrus or Joker. Jacob, even, was slowly gaining Shepard's trust. He was honest and open and while he supported the good things Cerberus did, he wasn't afraid to speak his mind against all the bad Cerberus had done.

She'd even found an unlikely companionship with the tank-bred krogan after their tussle when she'd woken him. He responded well to straight-talk and when she interacted with him, he was one of the few she didn't have to filter herself with. It was cathartic. In turn, Grunt and her built a rapport. It didn't take long before he began seeking her out, learning all he could from whatever she could tell him. She answered his questions and over the weeks, she'd found herself in an odd relationship with the krogan. It wasn't maternal, per say, but it was similar - like a mentor/mentee dynamic that suited her well. He was her haven for speaking her mind and she was his resource for learning about the ways of the galaxy.

It was during one of these talks, he had expressed a distress over the thoughts and feelings that had been growing inside him. Thoughts of anger and violence, a rage coursing under his skin and a need to battle. They'd already set course for Tuchanka to rescue an old teammate of the salarian doctor's. When they arrived, she wasted no time setting about making sure he was seen by the clan leader to help explain what was going on with him.

It had surprised her when that clan leader was none other than Urdot Wrex, her old teammate. She hadn't expected to find Wrex there but seeing him alive and well, a leader amongst his people, had made her happy. She was proud of him and all he had accomplished and she could see sparing him on Virmire had been a wise decision. She'd known then he'd had the potential but seeing him put that potential in action made her proud, for him and his people.

Shepard had also found relief when she learned that Grunt only needed to complete his Rite of Passage. Declaring herself his krant, she stood at his side during his Rite. It was a challenge but one that ended up helping Shepard as much as it did Grunt. They'd faced a thresher maw, on foot, and the experience had brought back a lot of memories she'd buried from Akuze. The battle had been an epic one and in the end it had helped her process through her memories. With its death, she was able to lay her past of Akuze to rest.

The fact her and Grunt had defeated the Thresher Maw had been a major feat in the eyes of the Krogan. It was something that hadn't been done since Wrex's own Rite. As a result, Wrex invited Grunt to join the Urdnot clan. In Shepard's eyes, there was no clan more worthy of her Grunt than Urdnot and she knew under Wrex's leadership, he had a strong future ahead of him.

The days spent on Tuchanka were an eye-opening time for Shepard and she found an unlikely friendship with many krogan she met there. She valued their customs and rituals and understood their culture more than she had previously. She felt an odd kinship with the krogan people. The more she learned, the more she liked. They were a strong race with strong values. By the end of their time there, she knew it was a place she wanted to return to after her mission was complete.

Laying in bed, she rolled over as her thoughts on the mission and her time on Tuchanka mulled in her head. As she adjusted her position, her leg knocked against her new bed companion's leg. Looking down, she sighed when she saw the varren curled up against her side. Her latest stray. She smirked and shook her head. A varren.

The mongrel had taken a shining to her while on Tuchanka and refused to leave her side when she tried to leave. As a gift, Wrex gave him to her though she recalled how he stated, gift or not, he didn't think the varren would even let a thresher maw get in his way of following her back to the Normandy.

"Urz" was his name and though she was hesitant at having a varren on her ship, or any pet larger than her hamster and fish, he quickly wormed his way into her heart with his puppy like behavior and fiercely loyal disposition. Immediately she had recognized a kindred spirit in him. They were both survivors. She sighed affectionately as she reached down to pet him between his ears, a soft huff of contentment leaving his nose at the touch.

Laying back, she looked up at the window on her ceiling, the stars rushing by as they made their way to Illium.

Survivors.

They were certainly that.