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Beta Reader: Marie-Fanwriter


Chapter Four

So They Spun Lacy Webs

Garrus slammed his fist into the nearest surface as a weight in his gut rocketed up into his throat. For a moment he couldn't breathe past the foul rock as acid ate away his insides. He had though he was use failing at this point in his life, with so many examples ready on the tip of his tongue at all times. But this… he has never failed her before. He had always been willing to attest it to Shepard and her own skill at commanding those around her. But he knew that he works harder when she is near. He lets himself think on the bright side without his self-depravation taking over.

She is the color in a life full of black and white that mixes into a muddled grey. The reason he is still alive, both in body and spirit, and failing her was never an option.

The fish tank is splintered where his blow connected; the fractures snaking across the smooth glass and crackling in his ear. The fish inside hover curiously around his hand. The long eel pushes its way between the fish, scattering them before they congregate near him again and wait. They know him. They know his presence mean that they will be fed and not forgotten. And even though the VI now replaces him the fish still gaze expectantly at him.

Garrus Vakarian; reliable, trustworthy, and dependable to the point even the damn fish know it.

So, no, failing is not an option.

He pulls away from the tank and turn just as Alenko yells, "We have to go after them!" He stumbles on the cowl of Garrus' armor as he tries to walk. The sight of the armor piece somehow serves to rile the man up more as his eyes flash with his biotic and he kicks it across the room. It lands near Javik.

"We first need a plan," Javik says as he toes the cowl away from him.

"We need to go now," Alenko is heading for the door but stops as Javik addresses him.

"Regrouping and calling for the aid of the asari-"

Alenko's brow furrows as Javik speaks and he holds up a hand, "I don't know who, or what, you are. But we're wasting time-"

"His name is Javik." Garrus picks up his cowl and places it on the bed with the other pieces of his armor he has already picked up. "And he's a prothean."

To Kaidan's credit he only rolls his eyes and mutters, "Of course. Why not?"

Garrus goes on, "And I believe you've already been acquainted with EDI's body? She was going by the name Dr. Eva last you met, I heard." Kaidan flared with anger but his full attention was now on Garrus. "You're both right; we need a plan and we're wasting time bickering."

"I have recalled the crew from shore leave," EDI informs him and Garrus nods.

"I'm guessing you lost track of the car? Same inference? " He goes on as EDI nods. "EDI, I want you to contact-"

Kaidan cuts him off. "No offense, Garrus, but this is an Alliance ship and-"

"And with Shepard gone you're in charge?" Garrus finished. "Fine by me." Honestly, he does mean it. He isn't trying to take command while Shepard is gone. And Alenko is higher ranking than her (how the hell that happened will forever elude him, even though Shepard herself had said it was well earned).

To this, Javik snorts. "At least the turian knows the crew; their strengths and weakness. Do you believe you will fare better than him? Is now really the time to test it?"

The major's head is high as he meets their eyes with a cooler temper than before and says, "And if word gets out that Shepard is missing, and that someone from the turian military is now the de facto captain, how long do you think it would be before the Alliance charges in? Last thing we need is their red tape stopping us from going after Cerberus and getting Shepard back."

Garrus nods as his own temper cools a bit at the memory of him and Kaidan arguing the merits of the rules and regulations of both C-Sec and the Alliance back on the SR-1. It was easy for him to forget that not all of his encounters with the major have been unpleasant. And there was once a time when he trusted the man just as much as Shepard; maybe more with his friendly nature and Shepard's original aloofness.

It's that old trust he is relying on as he asks, "So what's your plan?"

"Javik's right," he says the man's name slowly as he works out the foreign sound, "I don't know the crew. But you do. Whatever you have planned we need to keep it quiet."

Garrus nodded. "Understood. EDI, is Liara onboard yet?"

"Not yet," she chimes.

"Tell her to meet us in her room when she gets here. I'll meet you all there."

They leave and Garrus rounds up his armor while speaking to EDI. "I need a maintenance crew up here ASAP to fix this hole. This may turn into a chase."

"Very well."

"And clear out these bodies." He rolls a trooper off of one of his greaves.

Garrus fishes out a clean under-suit and pulls it on. The graze on his arm is no deeper than his plating, so he doesn't bother to treat it as he pulls his armor over it. The blue light of his visor draws his attention and he stares at it sitting peacefully on the counter.

In this square of his vision everything looks normal. The stacks of paper and pads on Shepard's desk, and her always lit terminal, are the same as she left it this morning.

"Staring will only get you into trouble."

Her voice surprises him and breaks him from his thoughts.

"Don't flatter yourself. I was thinking," Garrus says as he walks farther into the room.

Shepard leans back in her chair, angling her head to watch him. He stops behind her and looks down. The light of the terminal is washing across her skin and filling her wide eyes as she gazes up at him. The ever present urge to touch her is there, making him pull free one hand from his glove and he graze a finger along the smooth skin of her cheek.

"Too bad." She sighs as rubs her face lightly against his palm, sending little jolts of pleasure through him. "Since I believe you said trouble's my middle name."

He came to check on her. Having watched Thane pass away only hours ago could not be good for her already overworked self. But it looks like she wants a distraction, so he'll give her one.

"I take it back; I was staring." Garrus runs his other hand down the length of her neck and she shivers. "You're too beautiful not to." He knows that that comment is to bold, with how she swallows and her eyes widen a fraction, but he's not sure how much longer he can keep holding himself back from her.

Her lips twitch into a light smile as she pulls the hand cupping her face closer and gently bites down on the tip of his finger. The surge of electricity through him makes him shiver this time.

"Beautiful, huh?" Shepard stands and moves graceful to him, closing the distance between them with a press of her body. "Did I ever tell you it wasn't the scars that drove me wild?" Her fingers trace his jaw. "It's that handsome mug of yours." She cups his face a slowly kisses him, stealing his breath and clouding his mind. "Can't go a day without it."


Panicking turns out to be impossible. For one, the new drug in her system is doing a kickass job at keeping her heart rate normal. And, normally, when she loses her composure it ends with a shootout, which is currently unavailable.

So, she thinks as her eyes stare forward, aware that her view will not be changing anytime soon, How'd they manage this? Bet they just flip some damn switch. No control-chip my ass, Miranda.

Last clear thing she remembers is talking to Garrus and Karin in the med-bay and the torn look in Garrus' eyes. Shepard finds she really misses having control of her body; because mentally acting things out is making her feel a bit crazy. But she still gasps in her head. Oh, no. Garrus, Karin. If I woke up near them… Garrus would never just let me walk of the ship like this. Karin would have tried to stop me at the med-bay.

She tries not to think about it, but thinking is all she can do.

Did… I hurt them? They might be dead. Because of me. They might be dead. These thoughts loop in her head to the point that she's sure they're true. That Garrus and Karin are bleeding out somewhere because of her. Or even dead on the med-bay floor.

The sky car finally slows and drifts into a parking complex. The change in light is welcomed as her eyes adjust to the mellow lighting. The car hovers to a stop and powers down as the doors lift open. A gust of cool air hits Shepard and ruffles her hair. Goosebumps rush across her exposed skin and her body shivers. The others in the car shuffle out but she remains seated.

Whoever has the controls is awfully boring. They have their own 'Commander Shepard' drone and the most they come up with is 'stare out window'? I guess it's a good thing, though.

More footsteps are added to the three from the car and Shepard can distinguish ten sets altogether. All but one is moving with the same programed footfalls and she knows that one will be the person in charge, since they are free of reaper tec.

"How are her vitals?" The voice is slightly excited, and male, she notes. There is no verbal answer but she hears some movement. "Good, good." There is more movement, closer to her this time. Her head is pushed back and a light is shone into her eyes. "How are visuals?" A blob behind the light nods. "Good. Audio on your end? Good." The light is clicked off as the man steps away. Her head turns and follows his movement. It's a Cerberus doctor in a lab coat. Nothing notable about his features, but Shepard still commits his face to memory.

He has his finger pressed to his comm as he talks. "Remember; don't exert her body too hard. Just because you can't feel a hit doesn't mean you're not injured. Keep an eye on the read outs."

The man reaches out and tilts her head up. "Have you tried voice controls?" His hand pulls away and her mouth and tongue flop a few useless times. "Hmm, not enough implants networked in her cords. Alright, figured as much." He motions over to a trooper who sits two large cases at his feet. "You're clear to go." The man backs up and Shepard slides out the car. The ground is cold as her bare feet touch it and breeze is flowing through the complex.

It's… strange.

The foreign way her body is moving and the complete lack of control she has. Her body reaches down and opens one of the cases. Inside is her standard N7 armor and black body suit.

Well, they don't plan on me laying low. That though blazes through her. With her body they can go anywhere they want.

Anywhere.

Not for the first time being, arguably, the most well know being in the galaxy is not a good thing.

She strips off her tank and shorts—her body shivering with the lack of covering—and Shepard finds she wishes she had pulled on some underwear this morning. Hopefully, the bodysuit isn't too coarse against her.

It ends up fitting like a glove and is smooth against her skin. The armor slides on with ease and she notices there is no helm.

The second case has her current favorite weapons in it. The M-98 Widow makes her stomach clench as her body picks it up with ease. Whoever has control of her body is no stranger to the beast of a gun. Shepard knows that soon someone innocent will be dead from her hands. A Particle rifle and M-6 Carnifex are picked up with the same familiarity and attached to her armor. Unexpectedly, there is a fourth weapon sitting in the case.

A Cain.

It too is attached to Shepard's armor.

She stands and she can feel her shoulder ach with discomfort and the urge to roll the joint is strong. Only her host can't feel it and Shepard is left to suffer the ach as she nods her readiness.

From the group of Cerberus agents two of them step forward; both dressed in Alliance gear. One is broad, built like a mini tank, and the other is thin, with tight muscles and a spring in his step.

She wants to laugh at the clear imitations of Kaidan and James. As long as they keep their helms on, she knows, people will buy it.

Her host heads to a new skycar and 'Vega' takes the wheel while 'Alenko' slips into the back and she sits shot-gun. The car takes off and hovers into the glaring light of the Citadel, heading towards the Presidium.