Everything blurred around her, her heartbeat a drum in her ears. People watched as she ran, whispering wondering questions. She fled from fear, from the past that always seemed to show up at the worst times. Jane didn't know where she was running to. She knew that Nihlus was probably dead by now, laying face first into the wood floor of her apartment, and that Saren was definitely looking for her so he could finish what he started. Her lungs burned and the taste of salt filled her mouth from the tears that ran down her face. Damn Saren, for making her act like this. What would her employees think of her now? Their big, bad boss crying over things that happened years ago.
Still running she brought herself back to reality, realizing that while she ran she attracted unneeded attention. She slowed, wiped the tears off her face and turned into the nearest store she could find. Turning and planning on going through the shop's door, she hit something hard. The impact made her fly backwards onto her ass.
"What the hell!" She yelled from the floor.
She looked up to see what she had run into. Looking down on her was a turian C-Sec officer; clad in blue armor, gray plating with a brown undertone and eyes bluer than the artificial sky. The turian cleared his throat.
"Are you alright ma'am?" He asked, mandibles flat against his face.
She stood pulling her dress down as it had risen to show her lace, black underwear.
"Yes I'm fine." She answered, irritation showing.
Her cheeks turned beat red with embarrassment. The turian, walked over to help her up but Jane refused his offer.
"I said I was fine." She hissed.
The turian's posture stiffened.
I know, I was just-"
Jane stood, not wanting to hear the officer's apology. The turian watched her as she shoved her way past him into the store, Jane hoped Saren hadn't been around to see what had just happened.
...
After spending hours visiting endless shops and finding something else to wear besides the dress she had on, Jane's empty stomach reminded her that she could no longer run on the drinks from the night before. She stopped at the famous Roman noodle place in the Zakera Ward. It was owned by an earth born human who had dreams of one day opening another restaurant back home, he would often shout out at those who walked by to try and bring in business.
Jane sat at the bar style counter and ordered, giving the waiter her usual charm that always got her discounts. Once the noodles arrived she sat happily eating, not even thinking of what happened a few hours ago. She was just about to take one of the few mouthfuls left when the TV was turned to the evening news.
"Tonight on TCNN, news channel 2. Well known and respected spectre Nihlus Kryik was found by partner Saren, critically injured in one of the many Silverstrip apartments. He was moved to Heurta Memorial Hospital, where he remains in the care of the best doctors on the Citadel. So far we have no info on the perpetrator or how he ended up in the apartment. More on this story and other news after these messages. "
Jane swallowed her noodles and sat in awe. She was sure of one thing, she was in deep shit. She left the bowl of noodles, leaving enough money to cover her bill, grabbed her things and headed towards the little park near the presidium. The one place she could think.
...
Once again sitting in her favorite spot in the small park, Shepard gazed at the false sky. Nothing ever changed here and she liked it; the same fake breeze, the same sky, the same benches and trees. It gave her a sense of solid ground. Something she never had before. Thankfully, she bought her apartment under a false name, so they couldn't link her into Nihlus's beating. She lowered her head to the side seeing once again the cloud shaped like a bunny. Her thoughts still caught up with her though.
What if Saren blamed it on her like he had before? What if when Nihlus recovered, if he recovered, he told the authorities what Saren did? Then the mess would get even bigger. Tomorrow was Monday, so that meant falling back into the same endless cycle of crap and she didn't need this to add to it. She brought her knees to her chest and hugged them. It was starting to get dark, she hadn't realized she had been sitting there for that long. She also hadn't noticed the other people that had joined her in the park. An asari-human couple with their child and an older women sitting on a bench knitting. Very few C- Sec officers ever patrolled this area, so it also surprised her when she saw, the blue eyed one she had run into earlier.
He walked left to right, right to left through the middle of the park; Kicking a pebble that stood in his way from time to time. He looked so bored, it made Jane laugh as she once again turned to watch the sky.
...
She stayed at the park until the outdoor lights came on throughout the park and streets. She really wished she had left while it was still daylight, as images of Saren crept into her mind. She could imagine him jumping her from an alleyway or some shadowed corner, tearing her clothes of and beating her into submission. No. Fear again made its way through her body. NO. She stood, grabbed her things and remained still, afraid to take any steps. A deep voice brought her out of her trance and she was once again met by incredible blue eyes.
"Are you ok?" The turian C- Sec officer once again asked her.
She tried to speak. She opened her mouth to lie but nothing came out. She instead nodded. The turian nodded in return but did not move.
"You can at least try and lie better." He grinned at her the best he could, with him being turian and all. Jane looked at him passively.
"Maybe I'm still upset about you running me over earlier today." She halfheartedly joked.
He laughed. "I knew you looked familiar, and I'm truly sorry about that. I always knew humans were smaller than us but I didn't know they could fly." He smirked at her again.
Jane laughed; genuinely laughed. She liked this turian, and believe it or not, not in a way that she wanted to go home and just fuck him. She liked him in a way like she had known him forever, like they were friends.
"What's your name officer? So I can tell your boss how you took out an innocent bystander and then laughed about it?" She said while grinning.
"What makes you think I'd tell you now that you've threatened me?" He joked.
Jane crossed her arms, bags in hand.
"Fine. I'll just find out your name another way"
The turian tilted his head and snorted.
"How? Are you some super crime boss?You gonna have your men beat the answers out of me?" He laughed.
It wasn't funny to Jane. If he actually knew who she was, he would be running away from her by now. The turian's grin fell as he saw her look.
"I was just kidding, no need to look like you're about to murder me." He said.
The turian put his hands up to show his playful surrender. Jane snorted, shoved her way past him and walked towards the nearest transit. The officer followed closely behind.
"I was just kidding ma'am, I'm sorry if I offended you" His face showed truth.
"It's fine" Added Jane.
She then noticed a name on his badge she hadn't seen before.
"Ah. So you're a Vakarian?" She asked.
Garrus tilted his head in question.
"What?"
He looked utterly confused, unsure of how the woman learned his name. Shepard shook her head and pointed to his badge.
"Oh! This? You must have heard of my father then. "
Jane nodded her head and laughed.
"Who hasn't heard of the famous detective? I had no idea he had a son."
"Sounds like you know him personally." Said the turian.
Jane's smile faded and she looked to her shoes.
"No. I just. Watch a lot of TV. Gotta love them reality gossip shows."
The turian looked at her with some weirdness.
"Right." He smirked. "Anyway... you can just call me Garrus. Vakarian makes me feel like my father."
"Am I sensing some bitterness there?" Asked Jane.
Garrus shrugged it off.
" Fine. If you'll leave me alone, I need to get home "
Jane turned and started walking away.
"Nice meeting you-" Garrus yelled from behind her.
"It's Jane." She yelled back over her shoulder.
Jane imagined him nodding and smiling behind her, before she ordered her taxi for her backup apartment in the commons of the Citadel.