I've been in charge of the cerberus's version of the normandy for nearly a year. I'm forming a team in order to stop the collectors. A mysterious race for some reason is abducting humans from remote colonies. The illusive man has been surprisingly liberal with my choice on recruits. I've inadvertently chosen aliens for my team. A human xenophobic group having aliens on board. I am lucky most of them haven't heard of cerberus. And the two that have, do not seem to care or at least keep it to themselves. The crew has been strangely welcoming of aliens. No doubt the illusive man put together the most xeno friendly members his organization have for my crew. I don't trust any of them.
Ever since I came back, I've had doubts. Am I really commander Shepard? What exactly did they do to me? The parts they put into me had amazing boosts. I'm so much stronger and can last much longer than I could before. Miranda believes it is possible to train and improve, she continues to remind me that I'm in unknown waters. I woke up with some scars that Doctor Chakwas was able to heal with the help of special equipment. No permanent injuries. My body improved; however my mind was affected. I can't relax. These damn syntheic muscles won't let go. I feel like I constantly have to do something no matter what I do. I work myself to exhaustion so I can have a decent night's sleep. Miranda claims that it's not her doing and recommended therapy with the mental health counselor Kelly. She is a kind ginger who in some ways reminds me of Tali. I ran into the grown up quarian on a human colony shortly after I woke up. Tali plans on joing my team after some important business of hers is complete.
When there is nothing to do, I stick with the aliens. I first recruited a drell assassin named Thane. He reminds me alot of *********. Thane is a very skilled, mysterious man. Despite the nature of his profession, is a spiritual man. Unlike *********, Thane is stoic. He is also dying. An incurable bacterial illness of the lungs that only affects drell, sadly common to his race. He wishes to do one last good thing before his time comes, which could be in a year or several. Time of death varies from individual to individual.
I had to go to Omega to recruit Mordin, a former Special Task Group member. He is a fast talking salarian who cured a bioweapon that was being tested on Omega's public. The Illusive man specially asked for him due to his intelligence and combat skills. I suspect he's also trying to gain any intel on STG tactics. Mordin talks fast, but he keeps his lips shut on his time on STG unless it became necessary. Mordin can be aloof. He is friendly and outgoing some days, others he's withdrawn and focusing on his experiments. We are going to Tuchunka. Malen, a former student of his is there working on curing the genophage. He believes his student was kidnapped and forced to work on a cure as Saren used some of his work on his cure. How those turian fingers found it remains a mystery.
The timing couldn't have been any better. The illusive man wanted me to find this Krogan warlord whose obsession led him to create the perfect Krogan. Grunt, a genetically modified Krogan assumed to be the best, dozens of different warlord's DNA within his genome, fighting techniques downloaded into his brain, brave, strong, but sick. Something is wrong with him. He's agitated, feels like his body is fighting him. Going into his tank mother seems to help him.
We're going to clan Urdnot. I haven't seen Wrex and ********* since they left for Tuchunka, which was around four years for them. The illusive man warned me things were very different. I asked what he meant and he said I'll see.
I thought about recruiting ********* as soon as I could, but I've been procrastinating. I thought about texting him multiple times, but for some reason I never did. Would he even come aboard? He's made a life there. To be honest, a part of me doesn't want him on my team. His mannerisms might be too much for me now. Besides I would be asking him to risk his life. On the original Normandy he was whisked away with the craziness and now it's a suicide mission. I'll see.. What did you use to say? The giant river? His version of fate.
We docked at Tuchunka. I'm bringing Thane and Grunt. I want Garrus on my team, but Krogan hate turians and I do not want a conflict. I'm going to have to beg Wrex to help Mordin. Grunt doesn't seem to care but he's an infant compared to the rest. We depart the Normandy and gaze at the clan. My jaw drops.
—-
"Hey **********, check this out" someone wants my attention.
I'm looking at my clipboard. I need to focus on my tasks. Let's see what we have to do left. We need to order more earth food and materials such as metals, cloth, and plastic supplies, etc. The ambassadors from clan Nakmor are learning how we built our little bachleor paradise and volunteers will help them tidy up their camps. Wrex believes they should take care of their own clans. I argue that our shining beacon will come under attack due to tall Poppy syndrome if we don't help them. Besides, it is a good idea to bring them out of their misery and into the light. Urdnot is now the cleanest and wealthiest clan on the planet. It's not all sunshine and rainbows. Everyone is so much happier and hopeful. The issue is from outside. Other clans are concerned about our growing power and several attacks have occurred. We fought them back and made close friendships with other clans. It is more of a mutually beneficial relationship I expect to change in time. Other than that, things have never been better. It is more work, but my clan brothers are very pleased with all the breeding requests.
Eukark helps me with a variety of tasks. He's very independent and works with overseeing imports and exports most of the time. He'll take over my duties time to time when I am needed to build something. He's official second in charge and I'm his advisor. We all know who's really in charge, but it looks bad a human has any say in Korgan affairs despite all I've done.
Eukark finds me "********* some humans are here."
"The documentary crew again? They're probably here to reshoot some things for the editing stages" the cultural explosion has reached ears all across the galaxy and a film company heard of our success and wished to document our growth. Wrex agreed believing it would break the mold that krogan are only violent primitive animals.
"No, it's not them. Someone else. The ship belongs to a group called cerberus" Eukark said. My ears perk up. Keep cool, don't let your excitement show. Is he really here? How long has it been? My god, what has he been doing? Wrex, the clan's leader orders Eukark to bring them to us.
—-
Four krogan of colossal strength escort us to the clan leader. I make small talk to break the ice, I'm ignored until I ask about *********. They all smirk when I ask about him. What the hell happened since he got here? We are brought to Wrex. He sits upon a beautifully carved wood chair wearing his family armor. ********* Is standing next to the throne. God did he go feral! He's wearing clothes are made from tough animal hides decorated with various bone carvings and ornaments. He wears a pale gray torso armor and wears a necklace with sharp animal teeth and a giant scorpion stinger in the middle. A helmet of sorts with antlers. That's not the only thing different about him. He put on some muscle. He was strong enough to stand up to Wrex in the Normandy, now look at him. When will this guy ever be satisfied? ********* Looks up and sees me. At first his eyes are chilling. I feel afraid. The most compassionate man I knew, stares at me with this penetrating intimidating expression. It feels wrong seeing him like this. I lock eye contact with him, then that spark is back. He lunges at me and picks me up in his arms. Pops my back as he gives me the biggest hug I've ever had.
"SHEPARD! I'm so glad you finally visited. Hey everyone, this is my best human friend I've told you about. It's good to see you. How have you been?" He's talking like I'm an old high school buddy of his.
"Not the greatest. I'm sure you heard about the attack on the Normandy. What you probably didn't hear is that I died, and an organization called Cerberus spent billions of credits and two years to bring me back to life" it feels weird saying it out loud.
"You sure you died? You'd don't look like it. Believe me I would know. Did you pop?" ********* asks.
"I'm not entirely sure myself" I confess. ********** Looks angry at me. I never seen him like that.
"BOYS GUNS UP. We might have a zombie" ********* yells. Every krogan in the vicinity drops what they are doing and aims their guns at us.
"The kalros is a zombie?" Someone asks.
********* steps forward.
"I hate zombies. I'm not dealing with those again. If you are really commander Shepard, what's my opinion on socialist?" ********* asks.
I exhaustively said "Errrrr. You told me numerous times that socialists are just communists trying again with a new name and are worse than communists because they are communists lying about being communists and are therefore worst than communists." ********* Cockly smiles.
"Guns down they're good" the krogan lower their weapons.
"Now that is over with, why did you wait until now to see your bestest friend? Ah I forgive you. how's life treating you? You could have told me you were revived" ********* said.
"It's been rough. I would have come sooner but I've been busy. I came here because I have a tank breed krogan who's sick. We're hoping Wrex knows what to do" I explain. Wrex comes off his throne and asks grunts a series of medical questions. Wrex laughs to the sky.
"He's becoming a full adult. Nothing is wrong with him" Wrex said. Puberty? Grunt is going through puberty.
"Ah a maturation period" Thane comments.
********* steps forwards and talks to grunt "you don't know me but pay attention. Save yourself. Find yourself the right girl and fall in love. Care for her and be happy. I know it's tempting to wanna .hmpm. any female you see but you want to associate the flow center with those feelings coming from your pelvis. Form those neuron connections and DON'T LOSE THEM! What wires together fires together."
Grunt ignores him and asks Wrex for what to do. Wrex tells him he needs to visit the shaman and ********* will escort us. We talked along the way.
"You seem to be doing very well" I said.
"Yeah I'm doing pretty well. It didn't start out like this. The camp was pigsty and the others HATED me" ********* said.
"What changed?" I ask.
"I lead by my supreme amazing example and showed them what a little work each day could do" ********* said.
Grunt yells "WHY THE HELL ARE THE KROGAN FOLLOWING A WEAKLING? Where is their honor? What strength is to be found listening to you?"
A krogan close to us grabs Grunts bicep and scolds him. "Do not talk to him like that. He has done more for us in the past few years than anyone has in centuries. Also he's stronger than he looks. He fought me to a standstill when he first arrived and has only gotten stronger. He is our clan brother and if you wish to be one of us, you will show him the respect he's earned!"
The trio looks at me.
"It's true. Don't see yourself short. You've been working out. We'll need to do a rematch someday" ********* high-fives this krogan with nasty headplate scars.
Grunt is taken aback. I don't think he understands. O'keer put all kinds of propaganda about krogan strength, honor, and more in his head. His knowledge is textbook, not practical.
********* pats Grunt's shoulder and leans on him with his elbow "hey don't be too rough. He's a kid and has a lot to learn. I'll show him the ropes." Grunt shakes him off.
We arrive at a church, I'm assuming. We enter and are introduced to the shaman. Grunts goes to speak with him alone. When he returns, Grunt said the rite of passage will be set up for him. In the meantime, ********* gives us a tour. He shows us "the shop." The area where krogan work with pottery, glass blowing, metal, and woodworking. They somehow converted a mako to use the rear wheel to use as a lathe and the engine to power a furnace. Up next was the main hall and distillery. Our drinks are served in elegant glass. ********* mentions he sand is imported from another clan and produced here. I tried dilute rynecol, safe for humans and it was delicious. A little strong for my tastes but has a nice oak like flavor. ********* Was really proud of the makeshift gym. The weights are concrete or metal and I see a variety of machines that are built for krogan. thick steel wires attach to comically large weight. Then we see *********'s cabin.
Flowers decorate the perimeter and inside the fence are various crop. ********* He said he's tried everything and collected ones he likes. Some flowers make him energetic or delightful while others are only decorative. A berry bush that helps him sleep and have vivid dreams. Smooth river stones form a trail to the porch. The cabin itself is small yet has a lot of character. The roof is covered in thick luscious grass.The windows are beautiful geometric stained glass. The inside is cozy and relaxing. Wood floors and candles gently illuminate the interior. An octagonal area with shelves of wood carvings around a large beanbag made of sewn up animal hides. Out of the rear window is a view of the crop field and three windmills. A fourth one in construction.
"We actually don't eat the food. Well I do. Something about the food grown here affects our bodies. Humans and asari. It gives us more energy and improves gaining muscle mass, although it has a side effect of putting us on edge if we eat too much, causing agitation or stress. It's very popular among athletes or people who just want to experience the effect. I tried growing earth crops in the soil here, but they'll also have this funny tingling taste sensation. I think it's something in the ground. I got a few krogan into earth food and after a while like Wrex, they became so much more mellow. Other's started trying it and know they won't touch from this planet. They love and I mean love fermented foods. Cheese, pickles, pretty much anything partially digested by bacteria" ********* said.
"What are the windmills for?" Thane asks.
"I like the look. It's peaceful to watch the blades spin while I eat breakfast. We also set it up so it will grind the seeds into flour as well as produce a special sound that scares away the wild life. Something is weird on this planet. Depending on the plant, we can have a yield in as little as two months. Things grow fast and big here" ********* said.
"You are a remarkable individual" Thane said. He's getting the good spare comforter.
"How they fuck did you guys do all this?" Shepard asks.
"I didn't plan anything. I just started cleaning then my clan brothers decided to help me and afterwards when that was done, I showed them a few things we could do to make the camp better and it just grew and grew. When Wrex came back from a business trip, he was stunned how much changed since he's been gone. The sun is going down soon. You're welcome to crash here. I have blankets but it doesn't get cold enough to use them to stay warm. I just like the feel of fabric against my skin. They are in the armoire by the fireplace, oh feel free to use it. I have filtered water in a clay pot in the pantry. The outhouse is 100 ft north. I'm going to bed. I'll see you in the morning."
