Goodbye, My Love
Disclaimer: Bioware owns all.
Chapter 2: A New Challenge
The Normandy docked with Admiral Hackett's ship with a slight jostle. The ramp lowered itself into the airlock. As the pressure escaped from within, Garrus, followed by Shepard's crew boarded. Admiral Hackett was first to greet Garrus, he shook the Turian's hand firmly.
"I can't express the honor it has been to work with you Mr. Vakarian."
"It's been a long, hard fight. We couldn't have done this without you, sir." Hackett smiled. His scars bending around the edges of the grin. Garrus' mandibles flared with thought, he spoke slowly, "Could I ask you a favor?"
Hackett's eyebrows raised, "Well, you just assisted in the saving of the entire galaxy, I think you deserve a few favors."
Garrus chuckled, "Well, Athe- Commander Shepard and I were close."
Hackett nodded his head, "Much more than close, you two were a something as I recall."
Garrus nodded his head as sorrow bit into his heart. "Yes...yes we were. The Prothean gave Shepard his memory shard and told her to leave her memories there for other cycles to discover. If you find this shard, I would like to have it. She might have something on there for me."
Hackett crossed his arms, "Yes, I think we can do that for you. Shepard was a loss to everyone, but she was special to you, I'm sorry for your loss."
Garrus dropped his eyes, "Thank you, sir. I'm sorry for the galaxy's loss."
Hackett spoke again, "We lost Anderson too. Shame, but it seems fitting they made it to the Citadel together. This all began with Anderson recommending Shepard, it was those two that really got the ball rolling at Eden Prime with Nihlus."
Garrus rubbed the back of his neck, "Yes, it is. It would have been better if both could have survived. Once I get a hold of that memory shard, I can see exactly what happened up there. We'll find out why the Reapers aren't dead, but instead of helping us rebuild."
"That sounds pretty good to me. Return to Palaven for the time being, your people need you."
Garrus nodded his head as he gripped the railing with his talons. "They do. Thank you, sir. You'll notify me if they find anything?"
"Absolutely."
They gripped hands briefly and shook before parting ways. Garrus' eyes returned to the command center. He kept expecting her to walk through those sliding doors, wondering why everyone was moping in a time of such victory. He smiled despite his misery, she was truly an incredible being.
Six months after the defeat of the Reapers most everything was operational again. The Reapers assisted in the rebuilding of every home and mass relay. The entire galaxy stuck together as they helped rebuild. There were Turians on Tuchanka assisting in the rebuilding of the Krogan's old homeworld.
Asari were with several races helping them rebuild whatever it was they lost. The Geth were wide spread, but a lot were on Rannoch assisting the Quarian's. With Shepard's death, she brought an era of peace into the galaxy. Everyone mourned her loss, but everyone held together in the pact she created.
Garrus hadn't quite gotten used to everyone's new look. Green eyes, and green strands within everyone's skin, armor, and body. Multiple scientists studied it, and after months they finally declared that everyone's DNA had been altered. The synthetic beings even had DNA, they were living breathing beings, not just machines.
No one could explain it, but it definitely had something to do with the blast from the Crucible. It didn't matter though, it caused no harm to anyone, and the peace throughout the galaxy was worth it. For once in the bloody history of all civilizations, there was no war or disputes.
Garrus also hadn't quite gotten used to his new position as General either. He had received several medals of valor and even an invitation to becoming a Spectre. He accepted, much to his father's dismay. As Spectre and General of the Turian Military, he visited all the worlds that had been hit and helped organize the rebuilding process.
With his help and the help of the Reapers the rebuilding process had been increased 100-fold. In just six months time, everything was nearly new again. It was almost as if the war never happened. Almost.
With his new found purpose in life, the Turian had something to do at all times. He liked it this way. No time for reflections or mourning the loss of his love.
Of course he had several offers for new bond mates, but he simply couldn't. He was a one woman Turian until death. He would wait for his death eagerly so that he and Shepard may be together once again. Grim outlook, but until then he would make use of himself.
He would do the most good in the world he possibly could until it was his time. This was his purpose.
Garrus hardly believed it when his omni tool pinged from Admiral Hackett. "We've got something."
He was gone just as quickly as the message came, he was on the first shuttle to Earth. When he arrived, he was in awe. London had been completely rebuilt. It was almost brand new again, cars whizzed around and people strolled.
His heart gave a lurch as he saw couples walking hand in hand, children running around their feet. That was supposed to be him and Athena.
Garrus shook his head out of thought as he approached Alliance headquarters. He entered the building and shock seeped through his skin as the soldiers at the door snapped to attention. Saluting him. People stared in awe as he walked in. What the hell was going on here?
Hackett spoke up beside him, "You're the hero of the Galaxy Mr. Vakarian, everyone recognizes that you along with Shepard saved all of their lives."
Garrus chuckled, "Well, I'm not quite used to this attention."
Hackett slapped him on the back, "You're a General now I hear, and a Spectre, congratulations."
"Thank you, sir." He replied with a smile.
"You said you had something?" He started slowly.
Hackett smiled, "Yes, follow me."
Garrus followed Hackett quickly, excitement roaring through his veins. It was time to see Shepard again, his love. He wished he could run his talons through her hair, and feel her skin against his. He wished and wished and wished for more, but the Prothean's words rung clear. They had more than millions of species before them.
They entered a plain room. The walls were grey, the floors were grey, and in the middle sat a little metallic table with Shepard's helmet. His heart lurched again as he drug a talon carefully on the surface. He almost laughed despite the melancholy in his body, Shepard hated that helmet with a passion. She hated helmets period. Like she used to say, "Not everyone is as gifted as you Garrus, not everyone can convey their emotions with just their voice. I like to see faces, so I know exactly who and what I'm dealing with."
He never could understand her fascination with his voice. They would sometimes lay in bed together and Garrus would keep talking and tell her story's of fantastic heroes with wonderful and sweet endings as she drifted off to sleep. She loved that.
He wished the story's were real. He wanted a sweet ending with Shepard for the rest of his life. He wanted her so desperately.
Beside her helmet was a metal shard that levitated. Green blazed through it's crevices. The memory shard. His body raged with excitement. They had found it. They called him. He looked up to Hackett's face scrutinizing him. "Sir, I can't even express- you found it. Thank you."
Hackett smiled, "Happy to offer a little bit of closure to a friend Garrus."
Garrus smiled. Hackett then turned to his guard, "Alright, everyone out of here. Garrus needs his privacy."
The door closed behind them. Once again, he was alone. Not completely. Shepard was within that shard, he would see her again. Garrus sat down in the chair and reached for the shard cautiously. Hesitating as if it would explode into a million pieces in an instant. His talons wrapped around it, and suddenly the world began to spin.
Garrus didn't let go as everything began to turn green around, a whirling sound rushed through his ears and whistled all around him. Then everything stopped.
He opened his eyes slowly to find him standing over Shepard's still form. Her armor burned and her body bloody. He cried out, desperately wanting to help her, save her. Slowly she stood, her eyes burning with determination, she staggered and stumbled towards the beam. Her body weak and battered.
Garrus wanted to be with her, he wished for the opportunity to fight to the beam with her. He growled in anger as husks charged her. Like the marksmen she was, she dispatched them even though being near death. She cried in pain as she stumbled and fell.
Garrus' heart bled for her as the pain of knowing how she suffered rampaged through his mind and wracked his body. A Marauder jumped out and shot her in the shoulder. She screamed and fell to the ground, not before laying a few many bullets into the Marauder's head.
She muttered, "Can't stop- have...to..." Her breathing was labored and heavy, she stood once more. Garrus admired her will and determination. She was unlike anyone he had ever met. She could have lied down and given up, but she refused, she kept going with the tenacity of a thousand angry Krogan. And suddenly everything went white as she stepped into the beam, he felt the rushing return, the whirling and whistling as he flew through the air.
And once again, it all stopped with a rush and a body pounding the floor.
Another chapter! Yay:) It's going to be a short story, just an FYI. Please review!