MASS EFFECT 3: ANDROMEDA SERIES
CHAPTER 4
"Normandy, this is Gamma Squadron. We will be escorting you into docking bay D27. Please maintain flight pattern." A voice came through the ship's transmitter as Shepard and his team approached the Citadel.
"They really think we are going to turn around and take off somewhere?" Joker muttered out loud as he glanced up at the Commander who was walking up behind him.
"Standard procedure…Looks like we are going to be seeing more of it." Shepard speculated as he glanced out the side windows to see the F Class Alliance fighters keeping in a lateral position beside them.
"Normandy, this is Admiral Hackett. Once you dock, prepare for inspection." The transmitter lit up again, but this time it was a familiar voice that Shepard was accustomed to. Although an Alliance soldier himself, there were some people of certain ranks that he didn't feel like explaining himself to. It was bad enough that he had a surprise "inspection" on the Citadel years ago when he was hunting down Saren, the rogue Spectre.
"Like I said, Joker," Shepard leaned down to hit the intercom button on the panel next to his pilot. "Admiral, this is Commander Shepard. It's good to hear your voice again, sir. Will you be coming onboard?"
"Yes, Commander…but don't roll the red carpet out for me. Hackett out."
"Great…I guess that means I'm going to be grounded again." Joker double checked all his systems as the craft began its descent towards the docking bay that was designated for them. The Alliance ships broke off their escort.
"Seems like it." Shepard turned around to get himself prepped. He pretty much knew what was going to happen once the magnetic locks were in place. He noticed that several of his crew members were already making their way up to the CIC level of the ship, both Cerberus and Alien.
"I guess this is going to be it…." Kelly Chambers frowned at her terminal.
"Shepard, what's going to happen to you?" Tali was the first to ask as she stepped out of the elevator.
The Commander shrugged. "Probably arrested and court marshaled. One hell of a way to retire."
"Damnit…we throw our asses on the line to stop the Reapers and we're the ones that they want to slap the cuffs on." Garrus shook his head, but seemed obviously avoiding eye contact with anyone.
"Seems that way. You ok, Garrus? I haven't seen you around for a few days on the way to the Citadel."
"I'm fine, Shepard. Just…." He paused and his mandible twitched slightly, then he cleared his throat. "I don't regret anything for what you did. I hope the Alliance can see that."
"Probably not." Shepard snapped to attention as he saw Admiral Hackett escorted by a trio of Alliance high ranking officials step on board.
Returning the salute, Hackett nodded his head and then glanced around the flight deck. "Commander, I'm sorry…but as of today, you are relieved of command of this ship. You will be transported to Alliance Command on Earth."
"Understood, Admiral, but what about my crew?"
"Cerberus officials will need to be detained for further questioning."
Shepard stood up straighter. "I believe they are no longer part of Cerberus, sir."
Silent for a few seconds, the Admiral looked at Shepard with a guarded face. "Alliance HQ still would like them to be questioned for any viable information they know. Their full cooperation will be looked upon."
"And the non-humans?"
"Since we have no reason to believe that they would be affiliated with Cerberus, they will be released to go as they please. Commander….if you would follow me." Hackett motioned with his head as he went towards the Normandy's main docking entrance.
"That quick huh?" Shepard followed and sidestepped to allow more Alliance soldiers to come onboard. He knew they were probably there for the "processing" of his Cerberus crew.
Hackett led Shepard towards another Alliance Vessel. "It's serious, Shepard. What you found on Aratoht has everyone scrambling."
Stopping in midstride, Shepard looked frustrated at his superior officer then back to his ship. "Now? Now they believe me?"
Cutting off the distance between them, Hackett lowered his voice, "They are interested in your full report, Commander, including the destruction of the Batarian colonies."
"I did what I had to do….for Earth." Shepard clenched his jaw.
"I know that…but the Batarians-"
"I don't give a damn what those four eyes think!" Shepard snapped back defensively.
Becoming weary of the crowd that gathered to listen in on the delicate conversation, Hackett stopped himself from responding further and continued to make his way to their transport. "We'll discuss it later."
Garrus and Tali stood silently as they watched the Alliance handcuff each of their Cerberus crew members to lead them off of the Normandy. The once crowded ship was becoming quieter. "Hey! I can walk myself…ok?" Joker's voice raised from the cockpit as an official came over to escort him out. The disabled pilot limped towards the entrance, but turned his head to give a nod to Tali and Garrus.
"This makes me sick, Tali." Garrus growled through his teeth.
"I know….but Keelah…what can we do?"
"Absolutely nothing." Garrus stomped over to head off the ship himself.
"Where are you going, Garrus?" Tali called out as she ran after him.
"Going to check in before heading out."
"Head out?" The Quarian paused at the door.
Waiting for several Alliance officers to walk by between them, Garrus finally managed to remake his way over to his comrade. "The Commander was onto something….something bigger than the Alliance can handle and they are fools to ignore the situation. I'm going to Palaven…"
"Palaven?" Tali's voice cracked some. It was the first time in awhile since she knew Garrus that he mentioned his homeworld or even made any comments about going back there.
"Yes…to warn my people. I suggest you do the same." Garrus went onto the elevator to head down to the Lower Wards leaving the Quarian standing there beside herself.
The Lower Wards of the Citadel were just the same as Garrus remembered them when he left months ago. This part wasn't one of the safest, but it was a haven compared to Omega. Keeping his head down, he continued his journey till he reached his objective….the door to Andromeda's apartment.
Looking around to make sure no one was watching, he glanced back up at the door then at the console to the right. As he stood there, the thoughts of his "night" with Andromeda flooded his head. He could remember almost every detail…..the way she smelled…the way she felt…the way she tasted. Closing his eyes tightly and turning his head away in a feign attempt to stop the visions, he looked back up and raised his hand up to knock. However, no contact was ever made….as if there was some barrier preventing him…his hand stopped just inches away. Something was holding him back…but what was it? Fear? Angst? Anxiety? Sighing heavily, he turned away from the door….it was time to move on…to face a new fear….his family.
Andromeda sort of lost time on how long she had been on Palaven. The days and nights there were a lot different than they were on Earth. The food was….also different, but luckily Tyran was able to scrounge up non-dextrose food to her liking from a few passing supply ships. Suddenly the cheap delicacies that she ate in Chora's Den were a desire to her.
She also noticed that the Turians were a lot different than what she was use to on the Citadel. There, since it was the hub of all intergalactic life, a lot of the species melded into routines that were considered the "norm." Here their customs were still unique. They were up early before the rise of their sun…perfecting their military skills prior to their required daily tasks. However, she was becoming sort of an informal human ambassador to the Turian people and got to study a lot of their culture during her refuge. Most of it was Tyran who ushered her around to show some of the predominant places that allowed her presence. However, a lot of the central government buildings banned a human from stepping foot nearby. Tyran reassured her during these occasions it was because of the sour notes left by the Relay Incident aka the First Contact War.
Andromeda, herself, was adapting to the new environment. She acquired some loose fitting clothes that were off white in color from a passing supply ship when she picked up her last ration of non-dextrose food. It was a pair of long pants with several pockets along the sides with a matching button up shirt with long sleeves. She rolled the sleeves up to her elbows. She also trimmed her hair to mid neck and decided to dye it a dark red. The overhead sun on Palaven made the new color sparkle in the sunlight, which delighted her.
"Where are we going this afternoon?" Andromeda asked Tyran as he led her through one of the older parts of the city.
"To the temple," Tyran glanced over and then chuckled.
"What's wrong?"
"I still cannot believe that you changed the color of your hair. It's not like Cerberus will notice there's still only one human on Palaven."
Running her fingers through her hair, Andromeda grinned. "I know that…but think of it as….getting my 'fringe' colored. You like it?"
"Humans don't have fringes." Tyran pointed out bluntly.
Shaking her head laughing, Andromeda figured it was best not to argue. She then looked up to notice that some of the infrastructures appeared to have a more elegant architecture than the ones in the other parts of Palaven. "What is this place?"
"This is one of the oldest residences to a lot of well respected families. " Tyran stopped in front of one of the buildings. "An elder lives here….we can talk to him first before continuing on." Stepping up to the door, he knocked a few times before going in. Andromeda followed, closing the door behind her.
Walking down the streets of Palaven towards his family's home was something that Garrus Vakarian thought he would never do before he died or at least retired from combat life. Although he was a Turian like everyone else, he felt out of place. A lump in his chest began to form as he neared his house where his father lived. He and his father never really saw things eye to eye ever since he left C-Sec…even with C-Sec. He had cut off communications until his mother became ill. At that time, he would exchange messages with his sister, Solana, however, the ended in arguments. Sol constantly felt like he was letting the family down by not being on Palaven for them, and even held a grudge against him for leaving C-Sec.
A scent in the air made him stop right below his house steps. Lifting his head he looked around…the scent was familiar….but one that he could not place at the present moment. A flash of Andromeda's smiling face entered his mind and he froze. Were his senses playing a very cruel trick on him? There was no way that she could be on Palaven….
Stepping up to the door, Garrus knocked a few times before entering. "Dad? Sis?" He called out as he went inside, closing the door behind him.
Andromeda casually pressed her back against the wall as she listened to the elder's talk about the history of the Turian and Palaven. Tyran remained tall and straight like a dutiful soldier, nodding his head acknowledging that he was following along the conversation from time to time.
She heard the sound of a door closing outside probably the neighbor's next door. "The temple is a sacred place, Tyran. There is much grief there…and blood. I do not think you should go there." The elder's words made her alert.
Andromeda stepped closer in curiosity. "Why is that?"
The elder….a dark gray skinned Turian with faint facial tattoos sighed deeply as he looked down on the floor. Something was stopping him from explaining his statement.
However, Tyran answered for him, "Rituals were performed during the First Contact War…changing Turians into monsters….or so the legends go."
"What kind of monsters?" Andromeda pressed on. Maybe this place wasn't a dream vacation after all.
"Hollow eyes…these creatures were no longer Turians…but abominations. " The elder finally lifted his head to look at her.
"I heard the story of what Saren's brother did…but everything was destroyed." Tyran argued.
"You have not been to the temple, Tyran…you should not go and neither should she."
"But-"
"No!" The Elder stood up from his chair.
The boom in his voice made Andromeda step backwards. A chill went down her spine causing goose bumps to pop on her skin. "I think we should head back to the library, Tyran, instead." She suggested. There were a lot of texts she wanted to look at.
"Very well." Tyran nodded to the elder respectively before leading her back out. "Library it is." He took her back in the direction they came to the more populated area.
Andromeda turned her head to look towards the distant temple wondering what exactly happened those years ago….did Saren's brother have the same mindset as him? Where was Saren's brother? More importantly, what did the elder mean by Turians with hollow eyes?
13