To Find The Sea

Part I: The Cruelest Month

Headline Tonight, Alliance News Network

Following Parliament's plenary session today, Terra Firma party leader Nicolas Nikko announced he will seek a criminal investigation into the Council regarding the lead up to the Battle of the Citadel. Nikko alleges the intergovernmental body's failure to disclose details of Saren Arterius' history is evidence of gross negligence of galactic security.

It's been three months since the Battle, still nearly nothing is known of how Arterius managed an alliance with the Geth, with the help of the asari matriarch, Benezia T'Soni.


Zakera Ward, Citadel

"Would you believe I'm an honorable, self-sufficient, all around bad-ass police detective in the prime of my adulthood and that my mother still packs my lunch?" quipped the turian holding a cracking acrylic container fresh from the microwave. The smoky aroma of the meat and vegetable casserole drifted alluringly to Garrus' flat nostrils, tempting him away from his greasy food stall sandwich.

"Is your mother single?"

"She's a retired drill instructor with failing eyesight," she laughed.

"So what you're saying is that she's not picky?"

Pelas threw a roll of paper towels at his head. Garrus feigned a mortal injury and then returned to his own colorless slop. His colleague grabbed a pronged utensil from the break room drawer and proceeded to impose her commanding figure into the solitary sphere he had been trying to build around himself.

"Good to see you've still got your wildly inappropriate sense of humor. Was beginning to think you might not be the real Garrus Vakarian."

His initial departure from C-Sec had not been pleasant, and he could not escape the rumors that his powerful new friends had been behind his welcome back to the force. Executor Pallin, feeling his own turian honor challenged by the insinuations, had made it clear to the detectives that it was Garrus' extraordinary service in the Battle of the Citadel that had warranted the second chance. Perhaps Garrus should have apologized to the force for the way he had insulted them. If he expressed his admiration and respect for their perseverance in the long, demanding hours of reconstruction—

He cursed himself as he realized was anticipating what Shepard would have advised him to do and then preparing to carry out her imaginary orders. But was it really her voicing those commands? Or was he starting to think that way for himself?

"How is Dolon these days? Your mother still giving you a hard time about dating a lowly mechanic?"

Pelas' gray eyes glistened as a sigh washed over her elegantly angled features.

"Dolon is one of the top engineers at his company, not a mechanic." She raised a gloved talon to the white markings on her left mandible. "We're bonded now. Mama said she was getting too old to keep rejecting my chances to give her grandchildren. She did insist he take our name, though. Now Mama's moved in the condo next door, and brings us a new fertility charm every week."

"Well damn, I guess that means I owe you both a very expensive bottle of wine," he said leaning forward and grasping her by the forearm. "Congratulations, Pelas. I wish you two the best of happiness. And just enough screeching little brats to keep your mother off your case."

Pelas was a good officer and a good friend. They had been partnered together when he had first reached detective. In those days, when he couldn't get his warrant or was forced to let someone out of interrogation before they had what they needed, he would rage and think of all the ways he could break regulations. Then Pelas would call him an idiot, knock him upside the head and come back an hour later with the exact paperwork they needed. But what he really appreciated was that never once did she ever throw his father's legacy in his face.

"Your Commander Shepard was on the news last night."

He was sure she noticed the way he shifted uncomfortably at the mention of her.

"Said there's a growing movement in her government calling for the Council to be investigated over Saren."

"Yeah, Terra Firma. Ignacio over in vice says their 'humans for humanity' bullshit is getting popular. Bet they're itching to play judge, jury, and executioner too."

"Rumor is some of those officers you worked under during your investigation into Saren are being forced to resign. Without pension."

Good, he thought. Those blind, lazy, sycophants deserve – oh, no. Shit. Shit, shit, shit.

"Councilor Sparatus, too. Part of a deal Shepard came up with. Humans get to officially blame someone and the Council gets to deflect some of the nastier questions."

If people had any real idea what had happened, what was still happening, there'd be a lot more than just questions.

"If you're asking me if it's true, I –"

"Mistrust of humans runs far and deep, not even Shepard can turn it around that quickly. We're spread thin enough as it is. When this thing happens, truth won't matter."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"There's a firestorm coming your way, Vakarian. I don't know if I can protect you this time."