The barren plains of Tuchanka a land destroyed by war. A land that took rather than gave. A land that was home to one of the fiercest species in the universe. The krogans. They were a strong species of a warrior. Known mainly for the strength and their amazing durability. They fought without mercy and destroyed any who stood in their path. Some could compare them to earth Spartans of ancient times. They were once a primitive species; fighting amongst themselves on their planet. But, when they were lifted to the stars; to destroy the rachni. But, when they had gotten too powerful in numbers. The council had the salarians create the genophage; a disease that has almost wiped out the krogan race. For many of them, breeding is a top priority; so that their numbers may increase. While others wanted to continue to carry the genophage. To prove to all races that even though their race was dying. They were still the dominant race that all should fear.

A truck slowly drove through one of the many deserts of Tuchanka. Its engine roared loudly inside the truck sat a group of five Krogans. All of them wore the same colored armor; they were all also male. The one who drove the truck had an X master line shotgun. Two of the three that were sitting had breaker rifles. While the third carried a sylvoko with explosive rounds. The one who stood at the door; staring hard through the window and out onto the landscape. His eyes were red and three large scars were on his face. He carried a claymore shotgun. The driver continued to stare forward at the path in front of them. The desert seemed almost endless; the wind created a curtain of dust and sand. Which made visibility almost zero.

The driver then spoke, “You think it's still out there, Wrex?”

The one standing at the door turned and looked at him, “Yes,” he answered before he looked back outside, “A threshermaw that stubborn and brave will not go too far away from its food source.” he growled a little as his hand balled into a fist, “But, this one made the mistake of eating some of the females.” he finished.

Three days ago a threshermaw had attacked a female camp. It had devoured two and injured around fifteen. Among the fifteen three of them were children. Two only had minor injuries; while the third had to be taken to the citadel. Immediately a hunting group was sent after it. They had their first encounter with the monster about a mile away from the camp. They fought it for a good minute until they severed its tongue and one of its legs. Forcing it to retreat into the wastelands. When it started to run; they started to hunt. They had been on its trail since it started to run; stopping only when the truck needed to be refueled. They knew it was going to eventually turn around and head back. But, they were the ones who were going to give it something to eat.

The truck then slowed to a stop; Wrex walked forward and stared out the window. He asked, “Rin, why have we stopped moving?” He saw no signs of threshermaw movement in front of them.

Rin answered, “Somethings,” he paused for a moment before he turned the truck's engine off, “not right.” He finished as he got out of the driver's seat and exited the vehicle. His weapon grasped in hand. The sand beneath his feet crunched loudly as he stepped out. He walked a few steps forward and knelt down. He had barely touched the ground.

Wrex walked up and asked, “Something wrong?”

Rin responded, “No,” he then looked back at the trail they had been following, “and that's the problem.” Wrex looked in the direction he was looking in. Looking at the trail they had been following; there was a trench in the earth. A big one that could only be cut by a threshermaw. But for some reason, the trench had suddenly stopped. That meant one of two things; the first which was less likely, the threshermaw had dug deeper. The reason why was because threshermaw's only hunted near the topsoil. If it dove deeper it was for one of three things, hibernation, breeding, death. The other reason for the trail to end was the most likely one. The threshermaw had surfaced, but they did not see it.

Slowly Wrex scanned the area around them; all around them, the winds blew the sand. It blocked out all visibility. Until finally the winds died down and allowed him to see clearly. Clear all of them had driven into an ambush. For he saw the mandible of the threshermaw sticking out of the ground.

Wrex yelled, “Move!”

The ground beneath them began to fall; Wrex and Rin began to run for the edge of the mouth. While the two inside the truck tried to move the vehicle. But, ultimately their fates were sealed. For the truck was swallowed whole by the beast. Wrex and Rin barely made it out of the maw of the beast. The beast raised itself up high and roared loudly at them. Both of the shot a few rounds at it; only to quickly dodge as it launched a ball of acidic spit. Wrex used his carnage mode on his shotgun. Sending a ball of energy into the hide of the threshermaw. While Rin activated his immunity; keeping himself safe from the acid. The two fought the beast for nearly an hour eventually Rin fell victim to the acidic spit. Leaving only Wrex to fight it. He stared up at it in rage; inside its mouth, he saw the sniper rifle Gutgash had. He began to sprint towards the creature as it lunged down at him. As he ran towards certain death; he holstered his shotgun. When he saw the creature's mouth open again; he used his biotic charge. His body glowed in blue biotic power, and then it became a bright blue light. It then shot forward at a fast rate and when he hit one of the creature's teeth. He stopped and grabbed hold; he quickly saw the sniper rifle and grabbed it. He then looked around and saw the truck; he knew its tank was still completely full. He took aim at its tank and fired the explosive round inside.

The threshermaw released one final roar before its head was decapitated by the explosion. Landing a few feet away from its body; some fire still lingered on its head. Its mouth was then violently blown open. Wrex slowly stepped out of it; his body covered in both blood and saliva. As he walked away he took out his shotgun. Turned around and fired three shots into its head. He then gave off a low growl and then began walking back to his clans home. He knew it would take him about four days to reach his home. It sounded like a typical walk among the ruins for him. By the evening he had reached a deep concrete trench. He slid down it and walked in the cool shade.

He looked around noticing this trench was one that came close to the camp. He could follow it all the way to the camp. Staying in the shade and hunting; he then heard a low growl. Causing him to ready his shotgun. He knew what made that growl a varren. He slowly walked up to a small passageway where the growl had come from. He aimed his shotgun and waited for his prey to come out. But, what he saw caught him off guard. A varren did come out of the passage, but it was on fire. It cried out in pain as it ran and thrashed about. A single shot from his claymore ended its pain. Wrex stared for a little while at the burning varren body. His attention then focused back on the passageway. He readied his shotgun and walked to the entrance. He knew one thing that could light a varren on fire like that. A kilxeen an insect that shot fire from its mouth. He then slowly walked into the passageway. Turning on his flashlight attachment on it allowing him to see.

He followed the scorched trail the varren had left; surprised at how far it had run. He took a turn down another hallway. Keeping his eyes on the burn trail; as he got closer to where the varren had come from. He heard movement up ahead; he slowed his walk. And, when he reached the next turn he quickly aimed his gun at the creature.

“AHH!” a creature screamed before a small jet of fire shot out.

Wrex quickly activated his immunity; keeping him from getting burned. But, his shields took most of the damage; when the fire stopped he didn't expect to see what he saw. Cowering in his light was some kind of creature he had never seen before. It had scales like a snake; except they were purple. And, it had green fins on its head. Whatever the creature was it wasn't a krogan. He kept his flashlight on it as he walked closer. The creature tried to move away from him but he grabbed it by its tail and lifted it up in front of him.

“What are you?” he asked as he studied it.

The creature then brought its front claw up in front of his face. It put up a pitiful defense before it spoke, “Please,” it begged, “Don't hurt me.”

Wrex spoke a little surprised, “You're sentient?”

The creature spoke, “I'm what?”

Wrex gently set it down before answering, “It means you have intelligence. You're capable of basic language and thought.” He continued only to see a look of more confusion, “I don't understand it either. I just repeated what I read on a datapad.” he finished.

For a little while everything was silent; with just both of them staring at each other. It was then the new creature spoke.

“Who....who are you?” It asked.

Wrex answered, “I am Urdnot Wrex. Chief of the Urdnot clan,” He then asked, “What clan do you come from?”

The creature grew confused again, “Clan?”

“Yes, your clan.” Wrex looked the young whelp over, “Who are you? I've never seen anything like you before.” He finished.

The creature in front of him brought his claws up to his head. He groaned a little in pain as if he was having a small migraine. He did eventually speak.

“My name is Spike.” He answered.

“Okay, now that I know your name. Tell me about your age.”

Spike answered as another wave of pain coursed through his head, “I....i can't..... I can't remember.” he then started to panic, “I can't! I can't remember! I...I don't remember.” Before he could go into a complete panic attack; he was struck hard in the head. Knocking him down onto his back as he grabbed the back of his head. He then looked back at Wrex, “What was that for?”

Wrex answered, “To keep you from being a pain in the ass.” He then helped him up, “Do you remember the name of your clan?” he asked again.

Spike had to think for a little bit; hie head ached once more. But, this time he remembered a name. A name that made him feel strange; a name that meant a lot to him. But, he wasn't sure why. He then spoke the name, “Twilight.”

Wrex responded, “Twilight? Your clan's name is Twilight?” He asked.

Spike quickly shook his head, “No.” he answered.

Wrex groaned a little in frustration if the whelp was having this much trouble remembering things. It meant one of two things; one the whelp was born with a mental defect. Making it difficult for him to remember even the most basic memories. Or, the whelp had survived the annihilation of his clan and was currently in shock. Either or it was still annoying him to no end. Before he could ask him any more questions; he noticed a look of fear had appeared on the whelps face. He then heard a low threatening growl.

Before he could get his shotgun read; a large alpha varren had jumped onto his back. Normally, a creature like this would be no problem for him. But, it was smart and had waited for the perfect moment to strike at him. He and the alpha fought for a good minute; Wrex had managed to somehow lose his shotgun in the mix. But, he still had his knife. He slashed aimlessly at the varren; while it got a few good bites on him. The varren eventually managed to knock his knife out of his hands. It then reared its head back and prepared to deliver the killing bite. But, a loud booming sound echoed through the passageway. The sound was followed by two loud thumps. Wrex slowly sat up and looked at the varren. A large hole was in the side of it; it was caused by his shotgun. He then turned and looked at Spike. Who had been knocked back down onto his ass by the recoil of the shotgun? Spike breathed heavily as he stared forward; he then looked down at the weapon and dropped it. He felt wave after wave of pain coursing through his body. He released a soundless scream as he began to lay down. Wrex quickly got to his side and picked him up.

Spike spoke in a voice just barely above a whisper, “It hurts.”

Wrex knew that he was in a great amount of pain. A whelp his size firing a claymore shotgun; that would be like a whelp being run over by one of their trucks. He started to check Spike over; he even took out the Omni-tool he kept just in case of an emergency. He then scanned the whelps body; he sighed gratefully seeing the whelp had no broken bones or ruptured organs. What he was surprised about was that he was still conscious. Normally, this shotgun would knock anybody out with its recoil. There were even times that the shotgun had almost knocked him out. He knew he had to get the whelp back to the camp. But, at the same time, he didn't have the patience to deal with a whelp in pain. He quickly administered some medi-gel. And, in a matter of seconds, Spike had fallen asleep.

As Spike slept he saw many things in his dreams. He saw himself staring up blankly into a confused and stressed face. He saw images of his life flash before him; he felt emotions. He felt happy, loved, scared, and then he felt sad. An image began to form in front of him; it was purple in color. It began to take shape; it formed into a unicorn. It then later turned into an alicorn. He wondered what this was? Who this was? The form had no face; he could hear a voice. But, he could not hear the words it was saying. The form then moved closer to him; when it stood in front of him. It leaned down and captured him in a loving hug. It made him feel more love; and then. The form exploded into a massive white light. He then felt himself falling; while his body tingled with a surge of energy. He then saw himself falling down towards a planet.

Spike woke up screaming; sitting upon a piece of cloth. That kept his body off of the dirt-covered ground. He looked around in a panic; wondering where he was. He was then gently pushed back down onto the cloth. He looked and saw another creature that looked like Wrex. Except this one had no scars on his face. And, wore what looked like standard clothing for them. He tried to say something, but then he felt himself growing sleepy again. And, soon he found himself falling asleep.

Wrex watched as his clan's healer tended to the whelp he had found a few days ago. When the healer walked back; he met him halfway. The healer sighed and then smiled.

He spoke “The whelp is going to be okay. He's lucky normally whelps his size end up with serious injuries or worse,” He paused for a moment before he brought up his Omni-tool; he pressed a few buttons on it. And, in seconds a three-dimensional holographic image of its skeleton, “But, this whelp is not like any I've ever seen. I even checked his DNA on a hunch. The whelp shares only a small strand of our DNA code. But, there are significant differences; the biggest one being the whelps scales. They could rival even a starships hull; I also discovered another bladder inside of it.”

Wrex asked, “What kind of bladder?”

The healer answered, “It's a gas bladder, kinda like what the kilxeen use in their lower abdomens. That's how the whelp can spit fire from its mouth,” The image then turned around and zoomed in its back, “I also found some kind of growth growing on its back. I'm not sure what it is but its a little interesting.” He finished.

Wrex didn't care about the science; he was happy to hear the whelp was okay. But, the only thing he was not happy about. Was that they still did not know what he was. The healer said he shared a small strand of their DNA; so what was different with this whelp. Did a group of krogan mate with another species? Was this an attempt to try and fight the genophage?

Wrex asked, “Is he infected?”

The healer shook his head, “No, the whelp does not have the genophage. But, then again the whelp is not krogan. So, it's possible the genophage may never affect him.”

The two got quiet and just stared at Spikes sleeping form. A few days ago Wrex and his hunting party went out in search of a rouge threshermaw. They found it but then he returned with a new undiscovered creature. That meant only one thing; the krogan may have a first contact situation. And, the rule with the first contact was simple and important. Do not make contact with pre-warp drive civilizations.

“Wrex?” The healer asked.

Wrex spoke, “Let's study him,” He then began to walk away, “If the whelp proves to be more trouble than he's worth. Then we'll hand him over to the council.” He finished as the two walked out. Leaving Spike alone so that he may rest and continue to recover.

Author's Note

This story is one I had actually wanted to type last year but never got around to it. I am actually using this time frame. Spike meets Wrex before Wrex meets Shepard. but, the main parts of the story are gonna mainly be side stories to the main missions of Mass effect. cause in my opinion with mass effect's team design. it gives your imagination a chance to play with what the other crew members are doing while Shepard and the other two are on mission. there will even be a few missions that are playable in game put into this story. so advanced spoiler alert. anyway enough of me talking; I hope the first chapter is decent. if anyone has any advice for me; please leave a comment. I am actually looking forward for some constructive criticism. and, if you just like the chapter well then please leave a like and a comment lol.