Getting back into the rhythm of programming was easy now. Lost in the new code he was working on, he almost did not notice the door whoosh open behind him.

"Calibrations again, Vakarian? Don't you trust the engineers to do their job?" Garrus could almost hear the sneer in the question, though he knew his friend just enjoyed teasing him. It was Lantar's favorite pastime.

"Don't you have prisoners to interrogate, Sidonis?" Garrus replied, not looking up from the console. He was currently running a diagnostic on the completed algorithms. Almost done…

"You mean your refuses? So I get the riff-raff, while you get the Commander Shepard?" Lantar cross his arms and leaned against the doorframe, a hint of humor in his tone. "You never let me have any fun."

"Not having fun with the krogan?" They had recently captured a krogan mercenary. Why a Krogan Battlemaster like Urdnot Wrex pit himself with the humans didn't require any stretch of the imagination. The animosity between the krogans and turians hasn't disappeared over the centuries. That has been a relatively new tactic of some Alliance splinter groups: hire mercs. Although some of the higher ups think it's most likely a black-ops group. There have been whispers of a group called the Corsairs.

"He's just hired help," Lantar threw back, with mock exasperation. "The best I can probably get from him is the most common location for the mess hall on a human ship."

His train of thought now completely derailed, Garrus closed the program, dismissed the terminal and locked the console. "Maybe if you keep whining, I'll let you in some of the sessions." He turned and leaned back against its cool metal surface, a smirk on his face.

"Ass."

"Actually, I was thinking you could have a go at questioning the Commander first." Lantar gave him a skeptical look. Garrus frowned slightly, continuing, "There isn't much we know about her. You know how I work."

"Fine," Lantar relented, pushing himself off the doorframe. "So I guess you won't be sharing what you're planning either?"

Garrus nodded, the smirk back on his face. "Works better that way." That caused a grumble from the other turian.

A soft beep sounded off the centralized speakers, before a voice came on. "Officer Vakarian, the General would like to speak with you." Although technically a Captain, Garrus currently had no ship of his own after being assigned as the Lead Interrogation Officer, and was only onboard the Resilience for Shepard. There couldn't be two captains and so, as stated by protocol, he was addressed as Intelligence Officer. Another turian was in his place might have taken offense, but it didn't bother Garrus. He was just here to do his job.

At least everyone onboard saluted him. "Patch him through."

Static, followed by General Victus' voice. "Vakarian."

Both Garrus and Lantar stood straight, even if there was no video feed. "Sir."

"We're close to the Resilience. ETA 3 minutes."

"We're ready sir."

"Good. I know you have your methods, Vakarian. Anything you need done?" Garrus enjoyed working with General Victus; no-nonsense and always straight to the point. "I do have one request, sir. I'd like Lieutenant Cartus to take the prisoner to her temporary holding cell."

"Cartus?" Slight surprise with a tinge of worry laced the name. "Are you sure, Vakarian?"

Lieutentant Athixa Cartus was an old acquaintance. They had served on a ship together during his military years prior to C-Sec. She was a spitfire, always causing him trouble. It was no wonder they were always at each other's throats. He hadn't seen her since, but he did hear she was a part of the team Victus put together to capture Shepard.

Garrus successfully ignored Lantar's raised brow ridge. "Yes sir."

A pause. "You know best." The line went dead.

"So… Athixa?" Garrus wondered how long it would take Lantar to start teasing him. He sighed. Lantar got the hint. What happened between the two wasn't unusual, but it was something new to tease Garrus about. Maybe later. "You know that she hates humans, right?"

Garrus chuckled. "I do." Garrus knew that Lantar would eventually figure out where he was going with all this. He just liked toying with the guy. Their banter was just one of the little ways they had to lighten the mood once in a while. The war had easily sucked the joy out of most things, leaving you empty and desolate. They had both seen that darkness in people they knew.

"You win," Lantar said, raising his hands as he turned to leave. "I'll see you at the shuttle bay."

Garrus stared at the door after it had slid shut, his eyes unfocused, and his thoughts far away. He was glad that Lantar decided to join his team. They had gotten along quickly at the beginning. Lantar would always lightheartedly tease or joke about everything, and Garrus would always reply sarcastically. That was their way.

They won't let the darkness take them too.