A Tale of seven jewels

WHAT'S GOING ON:

This fan fiction is set in an alternate universe where Shepard doesn't exist. The Protheans were the ones who ended the reaper threat but at the cost of their entire race (subordinate races included) Various Protheans who were scattered could not produce a viable population and went extinct. The few scientists that remained uplifted the hanar, studied the humans, Asari, and various other races who would soon discover the beacons (which would seek to guide the races, not warn of impending doom). So there is no indoctrinated Saren, no collectors, the geth stay in the Perseus Veil. Here the Rachni wars occurred because of their completely alien evolution that compelled them to view organics as in the way of them conquering the galaxy. So Krogan were still needed to wipe them out, and genophage is still in effect. In this story, Wrex, Garrus, and Liara are all in the citadel, albeit, for different reasons.

THE CITADEL, the heart of the galactic community, at least to those who are under council authority.

We see Garrus jump down from a platform, presumably a shortcut to get to the wards as soon as possible. He holds his gun close to his chest.

"All right, all right. I'm on it"

"Just make sure you don't break any laws this time Garrus, and please make sure you take the elevators!" explained executor Palin.

"Oops"

Loud screaming is heard coming from Garrus' intercom. It is so loud that Garrus has to move it away from his body, and could still hear it.

"Damn bureaucrats" Garrus mumbles.

THE WARDS, the darker side of the citadel, is also home to a few gangs that like to hang out at Chora's den. One particular gang called The Arches are just a bunch of petty thieves. Never anything too big; to keep under the radar, but they do make a few credits.

"Eh boss, so we just steal that gem thingy from that there Krogan, right?"

"Exactly, that Krogan has drunk so much intoxicants, that he couldn't possibly feel a quick swipe."

"But, boss, don't them Krogans need like, gallons before they get drunk?"

"Don't worry, he's been here for hours, I'm surprised he hasn't been knocked out already!"

The gang prepares to cloak, one member acts as a distraction, pushing a random visitor, who panics.

"What the hell just pushed me? SOMEBODY HELP"

"Calm down you stupid drunk" a drunken dancer shouts.

"I'M SERIOUS, THERE ARE GHOSTS!"

"The glorious Enkindlers perhaps?" a Hanar shouts.

As everyone argues over what just happened, other cloaked members prepare to steal the jewel from the Krogan. As they prepare to take the jewel, the Krogan stares at a cloaked member.

"Don't think because I can't see you I don't know where you are. I know where you are. I can smell your fear." Wrex declares.

"Time for Plan B!" a terrified member yells. A smoke blast is dropped. Shotguns fire.

"I love plan B." Wrex says with a somewhat disturbing tone.

OUTSIDE CHORA'S DEN we see a tired looking Turian running to Chora's. As he runs past a crowd of frightened dancers, and c-sec officers, Garrus shakes his head.

"Damn looks like the fighting has already started."

Garrus quickly runs behind cover, and examines the situation with his eyepiece.

"Bodies, bodies, and more bodies. A lot of causalities. But who could have done this?"

Garrus goes in deeper into the club, he quickly sneaks behind a couch and listens to the conversation, or interrogation really, that unfolds before him.

"Now I want to know exactly what you were trying to steal." The Krogan says with blood leaking down his cheek.

The Drell coughs and spits out blood. Barely audible says "Why does it matter? Were just a pack of no good thieves."

"I see you want it the fun way" Wrex says with a faint smile.

Wrex is about to shoot the Drell's foot, but Garrus quickly sabotages Wrex's gun and comes out.

"I think I heard enough." Garrus says as he walks past dead bodies.

"Who the hell are you?" Wrex asks, while still holding a now unconscious Drell.

"Garrus Vakarian, C-sec. The Drell is telling the truth. He's just a grunt of The Arches, I doubt he would know anything. I received a tip that they were planning something and I was told to investigate, I just didn't imagine it would end up like this."

"Figures. I had to do C-sec's job. Your officers ran out like a bunch of pregnant varren."

"Can you tell me what exactly happened?"

"Heh. Only if I can get a few credits, especially seeing as how I did your job."

"Look, Krogan. You may have 'did my job', but you did it badly. The amount of casualties you caused could get you in serious trouble."

"Did you forget the C-sec pussies who ran out to get 'reinforcements'? The people who died here were unlucky. They had to pay the price to preserve my honor."

"Fine. Whatever, you win Krogan, for now. Just tell me what happened."

Wrex recounts the story to Garrus. Garrus pauses for a moment and then asks, "What were they trying to steal? What exactly do you have that would make them attack you?

"I don't know, I was drunk at the time, still am, I couldn't really tell what they wanted. I doubt they wanted my gun. Or my ancestral ring. Scratch that, maybe they did want the ring, heh. "

"Anything else?" An impatient Turian demands.

"Could they have? No, impossible. Nobody knows about it but me, Urdnot Wrex. There's no way they could have known about it."

"What, known about what?" Garrus asks with renewed hope.

"It's none of your business Turian."

"Whatever it is Wrex, you could still be in trouble. Like you said, there's no way they could have known about it, but they did. Something's up, I can feel it in my blood."

"Heh, you've made your point, you're not as dumb as you look, Turian. It's a jewel, given to me by my father, unwillingly of course."

Ignoring the last statement Garrus says, "Then the answer lies with that jewel, come with me Wrex."

Wrex drops the Drell, as they leave, Citadel security rushes in to take care of the situation. Medics are everywhere. Chora's Den will never be the same again.