Except from The Song of the Shepard (Canto 5, Stanza 9). Light spoilers for Mass Effect. © Bioware

The Krogan stands on the whitened shore

Staring over the sea

The wind and the waves and the clouds move and roar

But he stands as still as the lee

At first I think I have not been heard

But a low rumble speaks out my name:

‘Shepard,

Do you know how many Krogan children live to be carried to term?’

I do not answer, nor does he turn.

‘But one in five hundred. We dwindle, Shepard.

Dying before we are even born.’

He’s silent again, and the sea fills the space.

Rushing in. Rushing out.

‘That is their genophage.’

Suddenly past his shoulder, I see where Ashley stands

Perched up among the boulders, her rifle in her hand.

(Dammit, woman! Put that away.

There’s no call for that yet. I hope not today.)

‘Wrex this has to be destroyed.

It’s a task we simply cannot avoid.

Think what Saren is! He is your foe

Yours just like mine-’

‘But is he though?!

He is trying to cure my people!

And you would destroy that work!’

All of a sudden, his rage overspills

He grabs at his gun with a jerk.

And there we stand on the on the edge of the land

Weapons of death nose to nose in our hands.

‘Help me out, Shepard.’

He breathes out low.

‘It’s getting real hard to tell friend from foe.’

‘These aren’t your people! They’re Saren’s slaves!

Not free Krogan warriors, wild and brave.

If he has a cure, it’s a trap to enslave you!

If you’re hard-up now, think how you’ll be used

To lay waste your own as well as your foes.

And what when he needs you no more?

Is that what you want for your people, Wrex?

Pawns in a synthetic war?’

His eyes are boring down into the sand.

But his shotgun’s still clutched in his gauntleted hands.

(Don’t you dare, Ashley! I’ve got this, I say!

Can’t you see what I’m asking of him today!)

‘Wrex, I’d help if I could! I swear that I would.

Any chance that I have, I’ll do your folk good.

But help me today, Wrex. You know the stakes.

Come with me. Fight Saren. Fight him for your race!’

I hear a man running. Kaidan is coming.

And Ashley’s sight’s at her eye.

But Wrex doesn’t see. Just stares into me.

In his face, anger, pain, and reason compete.

He drops his gun by his side.

‘Alright, Shepard. You’ve done right by me

And you’re probably right about what Saren means.

I don’t like this. But, I’ll trust you on it.

Come on, let’s go get this thing over with.’

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