Book 2, Chapter 12 -- Trial
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A/N -- Good news. Now that 'Dragonborn Rising' is complete, I can focus on this for the moment. Currently covering Mass Effect 2 and 'Book 2' of this story is complete. I'm in the middle of writing 'Book 3' covering Mass Effect 3. That will remain my focus until it's complete.
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I could hear the crashing from outside his room but, with it locked from the outside, at least the destruction was kept to his quarters. "I really don't think you should go in there, Shepard," Miranda stated.
"Well, something is clearly wrong with him and I guess we should find out what's wrong."
"I think you should at least go in armed, lest he really try and cause you damage as well."
"Back up too, because something clearly has him riled up," Zaeed added.
"Okay, you've just volunteered. You too, Miranda. Let's go armour up, grab some weapons, then head in."
Jacob was wondering what was going on as the three of us put on armour, grabbing my favourite shotgun, Zaeed a rifle, Miranda her SMG. Jacob suited up, bringing a shotgun too, heading back downstairs. Gathering outside the door, Jack seemed to know something was up, immediately glowed blue, and joined our line. Without glancing back, I gestured a countdown before breaching, opening the door and immediately leading the way in, my shotgun immediately falling upon Grunt, taking a knee as the others followed in and aimed. Grunt stopped and looked our way, noticing four weapons and a small biotic woman ready to open fire.
"Grunt, what the fuck are you doing in here?" I asked.
He growled, though didn't approach, recognising the fact four weapons were trained on him. I didn't want to open fire, as the other three would fire immediately, but if I needed to, I would. "Something is wrong, Shepard. I feel wrong. Tense. I just want to kill something. With my hands." He strolled to the glass window overlooking the hangar bay.
"So what's new?" I asked, adding a little humour.
"No, more so than usual, Shepard. Like it's not my choice. Like I just want to, I don't know..." He roared and slammed his head into the window. It was made of strong stuff, but it still cracked as he turned, walking towards us. "See? Why do that? What's wrong?"
"Shepard, I might have suggestion."
"I'm all ears, Zaeed."
"I think our baby krogan is going through puberty. Maybe we need to take him to Omega and get him laid?"
"A couple of asari dancers and a room for a couple of hours?"
"Hmmm. I wouldn't mind another visit," I muttered, immediately thinking of Tara. We sent messages quite often. Kelly knew all about it, of course. She thought it was rather sweet, and knew that Tara liked me quite a bit in return, as she'd read some of her messages. She'd even said, if we ended up back on Omega, she wouldn't mind me visiting her for a little fun, dropping hints that she might just come along. When she offered that, we definitely enjoyed some hot and heavy sex afterwards. Another reason why I loved her. She was so open-minded about everything.
"Just a suggestion, Shepard. Maybe he just needs to pop his heat sink and he'll calm down."
I laughed at the euphemism. "Okeer didn't imprint anything to help you figure this out?" I asked Grunt.
He shook his head as he began to pace again. I'd dropped my shotgun slightly, but he still looked tense, as he said. I didn't know if he'd just lose it eventually. "I see pictures of old battles, voices of warlords. But this is... a blood haze in my head." He growled again, and I raised my shotgun at him. He barely noticed as he was turned away. "I want control. When we're moving, fighting, I focus. But here, my blood screams, my plates itch, and even you are just noise!"
"Ooh, that's gotta sting, Shepard," Jack joked quietly
"I'm tank born, Shepard. I don't know. What's is all this?"
"I'll be honest, Grunt. I don't know. Okeer died before he could tell us anything about you, and if he didn't put anything into your head, then I'm at a loss. The only suggestion I can make is that we find another krogan who knows what is happening to you."
"You mean we should head to my homeworld. Tuchanka." He paused and shook his head. "I won't ask you to go there, Shepard. I will control this."
"Out of the question, Grunt. I need everyone at their best. No distractions. And it's obvious whatever is going on you will probably only get worse over the following weeks and months. Joker can get us into orbit over Tuchanka without a problem. It's only getting groundside that concerns me." I paused before adding, "Good thing for you is that I do have an old friend now living on Tuchanka. He may be able to help."
"Thank you, Shepard. I don't like this. Fury is my choice, not a sickness."
"Still think he needs to get laid, Shepard," Zaeed muttered as I lowered my weapon.
"You just want to go back to Omega, Massani."
"Hey, lots of pretty asari dancers. An old man like me learns to appreciate how nubile and flexible a one-hundred-year-old asari can be."
I turned and gestured for everyone to store their weapons as Grunt was still tense, but he had calmed down enough for me to not feel it necessary to shoot him if it got worse. "Head downstairs if it gets bad and start beating up boxing bags instead of destroying your room," I suggested.
I left Grunt alone, thanking everyone for joining me, as I headed upstairs to the CIC. Kelly asked if the situation downstairs was now okay and I assured her it was as I stepped up to the galaxy map. Inputting the destination, I wasn't surprised by the immediate reaction from Joker.
"Okay, Commander, I'll take us there immediately. But you do know that airspace around Tuchanka is a demilitarised zone, there is an exclusion zone in addition to that, a no fly zone in addition that, and turian patrols ensure most visitors are processed before they head groundside."
"That makes having an invisible ship a bonus, Joker. We should get in and out without someone taking an interest in our arrival."
"And they will fire upon us if we are seen and ignore their hails."
"So make sure we are not seen, Joker."
