Chapter 7

The room was dark only lit with a few lights with some smaller dimmer red ones giving things a reddish tinge; the main light was just above the door casting tall shadows acrossed the room.

The console stood out before the turian as he walked slowly toward it, the holographic display appearing as it activated.

Garrus stood there placing a hand on either side of the keypad, letting out a heavy sigh.

'What just happened out there?'

The event was replaying itself over and over again in his head, and yet he still could not comprehend it. Garrus decided just forget about it for now as he brought his hands to the keypad and brought up the program he had been working.

The firing program calculations for the Normandy's new Thanix Cannon, it had been just recently installed. Remembering how Shepard had come to him and inquired about possible upgrades to the ship; to aid in the upcoming fight they would no doubt find themselves in once they passed through the Omega 4 relay.

His talons stopped in their tracks, at the thought of Shepard, images replayed in his head. How he stood there, the pistol pressed to the Commanders forehead, but most of all his eyes!

The look in his eyes, the glimmer hidden deep inside. The meaning of it eluded all his logic, he felt like he was grasping at a cloud trying to restrain it his bare hands.

The turian paused looking straight at the bulkhead across from him. Wrangling with his emotions, he could feel them even now swirl around inside. Bubbling, rolling, building before they crashed down like a wave upon a rocky shore before ebbing away drawing back out to build once again.

Talons curling into fists he raised them and brought them back down onto the console with as much force as he could muster. Mandibles flaring as he opened his mouth, chest reverberating as Garrus unleashed a terrifying primal roar.

In that moment Garrus felt as if the knot in his gut had been untied, his emotional baggage severed from him. He became aware the dull painful ache in his hands, relaxing his fists feeling the muscles and tendons as they flexed beneath the gloves.

Turning he walked away from the console, into the shadows leaning against the cold alloy of the bulkhead wall. Slowly the turians body slid along its surface, armor squealing bit as it forced its way against the hardened structure. Garrus sank downward sitting he drew his knees up resting his arms on them as he stared out at the empty room.

Reclining his head, he closed his tired eyes, with all his willpower he tried to stop his mind from going backward. Back into the recent events, back into the darker past that he wished he could just forget about for now.

It all seemed in vain, as things crept slowly into his head forcing him to remember. The events on Omega Station and before seemed so distant now.

Fear ran through him to his core as an unknown assailant attacked the Normandy. Its advanced weaponry slicing through the ships armored hull like a plasma cutter.

Alarms were blaring, lights flickered as their power flow was interrupted and the crew was running about in complete disorder. It was even more hectic here in the CIC people shouting, going from station to station trying to do whatever they could to aid the situation. Garrus had made his way up here in such a rush that he had left his helmet on a crate in the cargo bay.

"How did they find us with stealth systems engaged?" someone had shouted

"It doesn't matter now, the damage is done. Joker, can you get us clear?" Shepard's voice rang out over the cacophony of sounds.

"That's a negative Commander… Their locked on… to us somehow," static cut into the intercom before clearing out "Shit, hang on. Brace for impact!"

The ship shuddered violently and jerked about as the alien weapon once again struck it. It was shredding through the kinetic barriers and the hull beneath opening up another area to space beyond.

Flames erupted from the electrical conduits, as they would overload the lights would explode with the massive dose of power. Screams erupted from those who were burned, or hit by flying debris.

"Multiple hull breaches in progress, we are venting atmosphere. Kinetic barriers are down!"

Garrus hung onto the railing trying to keep himself upright as Joker piloted the ship through every evasive maneuver he could possibly think of. Sparks showered down on him as nearby console blew out. Looking up he saw a structural beam slip as it sheared itself free from its brackets.

The turian threw himself forward at a female crew member in its path, tackling her as they rolled to the side avoiding the falling beam.

"Are you alright?" Garrus just about shouted to her, all the young woman could do was nod frantically

"Good, now get out of here!"

She needed no further prodding as she stood and took off as fast as her legs would carry her.

"Distress beacon ready for launch. All crew evacuate immediately!" again the Commander's voice over the speakers rang forth.

The smoke in the room grew thicker as the fires spread consuming anything flammable in their path causing the turian to cough hard in attempt to clear his lungs and get some of the remaining oxygen. Standing on unsteady feet Garrus made his way to the stairs leading down the crew deck and to the escape pods below.

He could hear the hull groaning, as the stresses it was being forced to endure were beginning to overwhelm it.

Garrus was forced to hold on the side rails or tumble down the stairs. He made his way down helping fellow crew, as they needed. The smoke hung thick in the air; it was burning his eyes and throat, as he ducked under the plethora of cables and wires hanging from the ceiling. There in the galley fighting the fires that had broken out, trying to clear the way for the crew were Chief Williams and Commander Shepard.

Shepard looked up to see the turian leaning his shoulder against the wall through his helmets visor; he quickly dealt with the fire before him. Dropping the now empty CO2 canister the Commander made his way over to his friend.

"Garrus, are you alright?"

"I am fine Shepard…" he could not control the tremendous cough that followed "just a bit shaken up"

Wrapping an arm the Garrus' waist while pulling an arm over his shoulders, Shepard hauled Garrus along with him.

Making their way to the pods, they past several bodies of crew members they recognized. One had been crushed by debris from that had fallen; a metallic rod that had apparently become airborne propelled by an explosion it had impaled another.

Ahead they spotted a man running just in front of them suddenly sail sideways through the air as a conduit exploded sending shrapnel everywhere. The body colliding with the bulkhead with a sickening cracking sound before collapsing to the ground, Shepard and Garrus looked the body over the shrapnel and severe burns to the face made it hard to identify whom it had been.

Garrus could hear Shepard saying something but couldn't make out what it had been over the ambient sounds.

"You hang in there! That's an order." Shepard said turning to look over at the turian hanging off him.

Finally, they could see the doors to the pods, some the crew were leaping into them. Quickly seating themselves as they pulled the harness down locking them in place.

Carrying Garrus inside, Shepard placed him down on the first empty seat by the pod doors locking the harness down on him.

"Ash report… Is everybody out?" he asked of his helmets radio glancing around the remaining crew funneling in.

"Joker is still in the cockpit! He won't abandon ship."

"Damn it to hell Joker," Garrus could just make out the muttering coming from the Commander's helmet, "Roger that Ash, I'll get him out. You take care of the rest of the crew."

The human stood looking at those in the small pod he turned his attention back to Garrus. Shepard tilted his head placing a hand on the turians shoulder.

Garrus only looked up at his friend in a silent acknowledgment of what he was about to do. The figure turned exiting, the doors sealing behind him. Then came a sudden lurching as the pod was jettisoned into space, its engines kick firing as it began its programmed flight path.

Looking out the small rear window he could see the Normandy its hull riddled with large gaping holes. The edges giving off a dull red glow from the heat of the beam used to cut the plating. Moreover, behind it the attacking ship silhouetted by the rising sun of the planetary system.

Garrus awoke with a start, as the memory faded as his senses began to return to normal telling he was still in the same darkened room as before. Looking around he did a double check about making sure nothing was out of the ordinary.

He rested his head back again, thinking about the memory that just played out in his dreams. That had been the last time he had seen Shepard alive before they met again on Omega.

His thoughts turned to the aftermath of that terrible event, to when he learned that Shepard had not made it off the Normandy.

The pods had been adrift for two hours before an Alliance Cruiser, flanked by a Turian dreadnought and Asari Frigate had responded to the original Normandy distress call. The Cruiser, SSV Stalingrad, moved in to scoop up the pods while the other two ships kept on alert incase this was ambush.

It was once aboard, he and all the others were taken to the Med bay, where he spent the next few hours with medical personal poking and prodding at him. They kept him from moving around a lot as they treated him for smoke inhalation with a few other scrapes and minor cuts.

It was an hour later when a turian military squad came aboard the ship. One high-ranking officer and four security personnel flanking him, they came to visit Garrus as the officer began to ask questions.

What was the enemy number, what were the capabilities of the vessel, did they make contact before opening the attack, etc.

It reminded him of his time in C-Sec. The red tape that covered just about everything, always having to endure the questioning looks of his superiors as he debriefed them.

He felt a sense of elation when the Officer stated they had what all they needed, with that turned and left with his escort close behind him.

From there wasn't much to do other than listen to coughs, moans, and groans coming from the patients around him. His mind drifted to what had recently happened, as all manner of thoughts crossed his mind.

Garrus spent the night in the infirmary trying to sleep as best he could though it did not come easily to him.

All too soon it seemed, his slumber was brought to an end. as he awoke to the sounds of medics moving about, cleaning and changing the dressings of the wounded, checking on the vital signs of those still in for the more severe injuries.

Sitting up in the bed, he noticed a nurse making her way over to his bedside she was flanked by another human in uniform. She paused a moment reading over his information on an omni-tool.

"Officer Vakarian, how you feeling?" the older woman spoke looking up to him.

"Good to go" stretching his muscles turning his attention to the shorter woman.

"Things check out here, you're free to go," She said cheerfully as she turned and moved onto the next patient.

As he stood, the other human came toward him, "I am Officer Stewart. I am here to inform you the ship has docked with the Citadel and your attendance has been requested by the Council" the man handed a datapad to him.

Taking the pad, his eyes scanned over what it contained. Sure enough, it was a summons as part of the Council investigation about what had happened to the Normandy and he was being called on to give testimony about the event.

With a quick nod, Garrus stood and made his way out of the room. Upon reaching the corridor, he looked around seemingly lost on this new human vessel.

Blindly he began walking down the corridor following the twists & turns as it meandered about the ship, pausing at an intersection he looked about looking for any kind of sign of where each hall might lead.

One the human passing by was kind enough to see if he was in need of assistance. The directions he was given were easy enough to follow.

He walked taking several turns and proceeding up two decks, admitting it all to his memory for future reference as he went. Making it to an airlock, he departed the ship and stepped out on the docking platforms.

Looking about he spotted an RTV sitting at its docking station.

"Please select a destination," the electronic voice instructed as soon as he entered the vehicle.

Looking over the locations available, he selected the Presidium level, and then chose Citadel Tower. Slowly the craft rose upwards into the air before it moved off to his set destination.

The trip was a short one taking only mere minutes to complete. The RTV set down just acrossed from the tower, there was already a new set of passengers awaiting it.

Garrus strode across the bridge glancing about, the Citadel had not changed all that much. The damage done by Saren's geth attack had been slowly wiped away and covered over with repairs.

Though the elevators were as slow as he remembered them, seemingly taking their time as it traveled from the tower base to the Council Chambers.

The Chambers were as elegant as ever, the tranquil fountains giving off their soothing sounds, the trees in full blossom. Representatives arguing about anything and everything they could.

Approaching the main circular fountain Garrus reflected back to the argument he had Executer Pallin just before his first introduction to Shepard.

Heading up to the Council's audience chamber he spotted Chief Williams leaning against a wall and Joker sitting on one of the benches beneath the cherry tree.

"Chief Williams?"

"Huh…ah" the woman paused looking about to see who had called her name, "Garrus? Here for the Council summonses as well?"

"Yes"

Ashley pushed off the wall walking to meet Garrus half way to the stairs.

"Is Shepard with Anderson and the Council already?" he asked looking toward in progress meeting.

Ashley paused her train of thought seemingly derailed as the question blindsided her. Joker looked up a sorrowful expression taking over dominating his features.

"Mean no one has told you, yet?!" Joker exclaimed throwing his arms up.

Garrus looked over to the human seated on the bench, his interest visible.

"Commander Shepard…" regret and sadness etched into each word as Ashley spoke up "didn't make it off the Normandy."

The turian was taken aback by the statement as he tried to let it sink in, it seemed impossible. Garrus had witnessed the Commander take on squads of mercenaries, legions of geth, rogue spectres, and even the Reaper Sovereign, a 2-kilometer long self-aware battleship.

Each time he had come away none the worse for the wear, but now from a cowardly surprise attack by an unknown ship had done what all those others had failed to accomplish!

Turning he walked away from Ashley to the side of the atrium. Crossing his arms Garrus tilted his head down as he eyed the ground as if it had suddenly become the most interesting thing imaginable.

Turians were not able to show sorrow as other races could. Their faces did not contort or flex as easily, and though they possessed a lacrimal gland, it did not function like that in humans. Were he in a more personal environment he would have given voice to his grief, but in a public setting like this he held back.

Shepard had been a good teacher, and loyal friend, he had learned much. Now that feeling of comradeship was taken away from Garrus, leaving him feeling vulnerable and seemingly naked. There was hole in his gut and it would take a long time to fill in.

'Though Shepard may have been a human, he was perhaps the closest friend I've had in my life.'

Garrus was not aware of the fact until learning of from Ashley, but he seemed to have been trembling as if he had been standing out in the cold for too long.

He had listened from his distance to Joker explain what had occurred. How the Commander had gotten him to an escape pod when the Normandy was hit again, an explosion rocked the ship knocking him away from the pod entrance.

Before he could make it back, the alien beam had cut through the hull blocking his path, and how Shepard had pressed the launch button sending Joker off to safety while he stayed behind.

Garrus could remember how he had felt anger toward the human pilot, he had blamed him for Shepard's death.

"If you had abandoned station when Shepard had ordered it, he would not have had to go back for you!"

He had said that to Joker at some point later, lifting him clear into the air.

Slowly things grew sharper as his eyes began to focus on his surroundings. Garrus groaned it seemed his mind would not obey, all these memories flooding back.

He was beginning to grow aggravated by his apparent lack of control.

'I have to clear my head; I have to get off this ship,'

With a check of his omni-tool he found that were still five and half hours left of shore leave before the Normandy was to ship out again.

'Good I can head out and have plenty of time to drown out these memories before the I have to report back.'

With that the turian locked down his console before he turned and left the room. The galley as well as other areas were empty as a ghost ship, as he made his way through the innards of the vessel.

Retracing his steps from earlier he made his way to the deck above. On the Command deck he passed some of the crew had been present to see the altercation between Shepard and himself. They tried to stay out of his way and avoid making excessive eye contact.

He reached the main airlock soon enough, attempting to proceed further he surprised when the doors refused to open for him.

"Where are you off to Garrus?" the boastful voice spoke up from the cockpit.

"I am going out, that is all you need to know Joker."

"Don't tell me, you're gonna run out on the Commander. Tisk, tisk I didn't figure you for the type to do such a thing. I always figured you for the rough and tumble type to stick by your partner." Jeff Moreau offered up placing a special emphasis on the last part as he swiveled his chair around, annoying people with his jokes was something he seemed rather fond of doing

The turian stood his ground staring down at the pilot; a short growl resonated from Garrus as his mandible quivered.

Joker's expression changed losing his levity and relenting he reached over to his console bringing up and unlocking the hatchway.

A snort and curt nod was the turian gave as a reply as he left the ship.

Author note: Longest chapter yet. Hope everyone reading is enjoying the story so far.