CHAPTER TEN
FLAMES BETWEEN US HAVE EXTINGUISHED
Don't give into fear at all. Instead Embrace it for what it can be. Something more than you.
Flames can shift a quick erupting change in its own environment. Things show what is not.
Things can show what is correct. But few can understand the meaning of what comes along.
What makes us more to understand a few?
We understand by what we can believe.
By sight or by touch.
We understand in different ways. No one is the same. Everyone has their own realities of understanding
Make the choices that no one else could before...Make the toughest choices that shape history…
-Marcie Shepard, ALLIANCE MILITARY MEDIC IV
-I-
Garrus walked into the weapons room. Overlooking various things about them. Seeing it.
The massive guns he admired and loved. Slowly sneaking into the room. Behind him.
Resting her shoulder on the doorway. Celestina "Lucy" Shepard. She smiled at him.
Garrus reached out with one hand trying to touch the panel.
"AH! UH! AH! Garrus, my love no" said Celestina
She broke out laughing. Garrus looked at her with a stupid sad face.
"Awww honey I know the chance they got the Normandy guns were fucked up"
Rannoch was massive, the world was occupied now by both Geth and Quarian. All around.
Normandy had arrived for a quick stop. Garrus was walking down the ramp with Celestina.
Only to see her run behind Ashley, both girls rushing in a sneaky motion. Garrus stopped walking.
Seeing with a smile, James bumped his right shoulder.
"What do you think? I say my best guess 34" said James
Garrus nodded with James. Javik was at far back with his arms crossed over one another.
"What? No. No way...Tali? Maybe around 27 now" said Garrus
James chuckled at the joke and bet they did.
"If I win, you have to hug Wrex" said Garrus
Garrus smiled at James, looking at Tali and the quick surprise about her birthday.
"What!? He will eat me" said James
Javik walked away heading passed other Alliance Marines onboard.
"I'm game, if I win you have to admit to me that I'm the best shot and! And! Hand over that new sky shuttle you and Celestina are getting"
"Hahaha You're on bro" said Garrus
His constant thoughts had died out. His memory had died away. He could see blurry for a little.
Smooth sounds of a running river. Slow light winds blowing as much as they brought leaves.
Slowly breathing he opened his eyes. Staring at the ceiling. Seeing the thin color lines of light.
"…. Celestina…"
Garrus sat up slowly. His body ached in pain. His wounds had been healed. Garrus sat up with a struggle.
His body ached more as he moved. He didn't scream or curse. Instead he stood up straight. Limping.
The bedroom he was at, was a Japanese like room. Stylish and cozy even much more relaxed.
His eyes could see it all. The markings of Prothean symbols and paintings all around. Images of Marines.
Drawings of past battles and a Reaper statue as a trophy. Garrus peeked out the room.
Garrus was in a home he had realized who's it was. He didn't think much of it. Besides why here.
Walking with a limp. Garrus moved through the long hallway. Heading to the back yard of the home.
Garrus stood there. Watching from the back-end porch.
The back yard was much like a traditional Japanese home. The plants all from earth.
The yard and the water lilies. Even the Sakuras trees with pink leaves. Garrus gritted his teeth.
"You should be resting…Its only been 2 Days since the incident" said Javik
Javik was meditating. In mid-air he floated above the water pond. Javik with his body steady.
His legs crossed over one another. His eyes closed. His hands at the center.
His clothing was more traditional. Garrus looked away from him. Not taking this in too easily.
"If you're curious...Ashley and Miranda brought you here" said Javik
His hand touched the wooded pole that was holding up the roof of the building.
"I know your wanting answers but wait, rest to calm yourself" continued Javik
Garrus stopped walking. He didn't have a shirt on at all. His pants were new.
His wounds left stains of markings. Horrid scars. Garrus didn't mind them.
"I couldn't shoot her Javik" said Garrus
Javik stared at him over his shoulder.
"How could you…Not possible when you have lived and been in love" he answered
Garrus looked at his hands, seeing the parts that were shaking. He didn't know what to feel.
"She's Alive…Javik…I just- "
Javik didn't respond to that at all. Knowing this was difficult.
Scared or shocked. His emotions were running wild. Javik felt the shifting change within Garrus.
Looking up into the clear skies of EDEN PRIME. Javik breathed in the air. Feeling the winds blowing by.
Javik had achieved a new line of peace. Leaving the war after the reapers all died out.
Giving him a second chance to live a life worth living. Garrus understood why he chose this new life.
"Go back to bed Garrus, rest to regain your strength let the sedatives do what they do"
Javik ended his meditation. Standing on his feet he stretched his arms and moved his body.
Giving Garrus a serious look. Garrus looked at him mad. He punched the wall with his left hand.
"I have to go back Javik, it's the only way" said Garrus
"She's not herself…Not at all...Celestina Shepard died 2 Years ago" said Javik
"You don't fucking know that she isn't her!" yelled Garrus
Javik stood there watching Garrus. Taking a few steps forward. Javik felt something coming from Garrus.
Garrus was a little afraid of this moment. Seeing Javik with a will to face his issues and problems.
Something Garrus still hadn't understood how to let go. Not even for his late beloved.
"Don't be blinded by the image that was cloned...Understand what reality is and fake" said Javik
Garrus didn't like this kind of talk. Javik felt it necessary to be done now. Otherwise Garrus could die.
"You weren't fucking there at all!" he yelled
"How would you know! You don't know her at all Javik" said Garrus
Javik felt the rage within Garrus. Feeling the motion moving through and out with his words.
Situation was bad for Garrus, Javik looked above to his lovely tree. The tree he planted a year ago.
"You of all people should know the feeling when losing what you love Javik" said Garrus
Javik opened his eyes looking to Garrus.
"I have found peace, knowing that I value life now makes it worth it in the end" said Javik
Garrus shrugged it off, walking little few steps away from Javik.
Javik shoved his left hand forward as his green biotic energy glowed.
Gripping onto Garrus's entire body, Garrus gritted his teeth and struggled.
"By my words you can't understand. Your blinded rage will tear you apart" said Javik
Javik was still far away from Garrus. Leaves slowly fell around him. Javik held onto his grip. His hand.
Closing ever so slowly on biotic energy around Garrus. Holding him tightly. Garrus could barely breath.
"Come-Come on Javik-Do it!" yelled Garrus
Garrus struggled to look back to him.
"You want to die don't you...You just continue to pursue those around you only to die one day"
Javik pulled back moving his arm. Garrus was pulled back in the same motion. His feet dragged.
Not knowing what was next to happen. Javik took a slow stroll through the small river like waters.
His feet lightly touching the water. Sinking them in. Pulling Garrus towards him. Face to face.
"The Pain you endure isn't real enough" said Javik
"I will show you True Pain that can cause you to die" he continued
"Bring it Javik" said Garrus
"As You Wish...I will Show you Garrus!" he yelled
Garrus's body tightened more. He yelled as his own eyes went glowing solid green.
Javik linked minds with Garrus within that moment. Garrus was being held in a floating state.
Living Garrus's own nightmares, dreams, even memories.
Garrus was in the water, glowing light of running water. Massive open pond.
Land was at walking distance. He could see the line of statues away from him.
"STAND…STAND ABOVE WHAT YOU KNOW" echoed the voice of Javik
Inside Garrus's own mind, his thoughts, and personality. Garrus walked through a vast large.
Open field of broken walls, large concrete like walls of various people. The long line of friends he had.
Many of them were broken and scattered. Walking down the middle of the dirt like path. Above him.
Garrus looked up seeing the distant world of PAVALEN. High above from where he was.
The ceiling meant various things to him. At far behind him. No body was around.
"Mind tricks…Fucking Javik." Said Garrus
Garrus didn't care about this trial or whatever it was. He believed it was a waste of time.
Looking around he waved his arms in a disrespected way to the statues.
"My Life…My burden…. Not any of yours at all!" yelled Garrus
Turning around Garrus could see at the distance, Celestina Shepard standing. Her back to him.
Garrus stopped talking trash only stared with shocked eyes. He was slowing himself down.
"Garrus…You Promised…I know you Promised to save me" whispered Celestina
Garrus dropped to his knees. His hands as he looked down to them. Were stained with blood.
Her own blood was on his hands. Garrus was shaking at this point. Not understanding this at all.
He closed his own eyes not looking to her. Whispering to himself.
"No..No..No.."
"I-I-Celestina…I tired I swear…We looked for you for those last days" said Garrus
Opening his eyes Garrus could see the statues around him pointing at him. Blaming. Aiming.
Celestina didn't look back at all, only forward to the distant emptiness of a mind.
"You never closed yourself from anyone before, not even me" she continued
"I can't! I can't feel anymore!" yelled Garrus
Lighting came striking down at the ground ahead of Garrus.
The lightning bolt was powerful shattering the statues all around. Tearing through the ground.
Celestina didn't look back at all. Her hair moved only so.
Garrus had covered his eyes from all the dust and rubble. Through the powerful energy came standing.
Javik along with a katana extended out. Celestina turned to stare at Garrus.
"Look at yourself on your knees like a Dog…How weak you've become Garrus" said Javik
Garrus was frightened by this. This wasn't a normal version of what Asari could do.
"Garrus!? Garrus!? Please save me!" yelled Celestina
This was prothean's own way of dealing with trouble or issues within themselves.
Garrus wanted to cry at the same time. His lower abdomen ached in pain. The pain here was real.
"You hesitate because an Image of her exists in this reality?! Understand it!" he continued
She took a few steps forward. Walking beside Javik. Standing along side him. Celestina was mad.
Javik only gave a powerful look to him. Garrus could see her hand touching the blade. Javik tossed it.
"No-What are you doing?!" yelled Garrus
As the katana dropped into the ground it cracked it loudly. Garrus could see the dust flying around.
Landing into the ground between her feet. Javik turned looking away from her.
Turning his back to Garrus. He didn't like this at all. Knowing she was touching the sword handle.
"Garrus you fucking lied to me!" yelled Celestina
Pulling the sword from the ground. She raised it above her head. Walking up to him.
Garrus closed his eyes. Knowing this was his own end in a way. He dies here he dies.
He wasn't fighting anymore he was accepting this end. Dying at her hands than anyone else.
Javik saw this knowing this was his own way of saying he was done with everything.
Javik's hands gripped hard. His teeth gritted as he remembered a time where he was wanting it.
"DON'T GIVE IN! STAND UP GARRUS!" yelled Javik
Javik was furious at this. At him.
"JUST BECAUSE ONE LEAVES OUR REALITY! DOESN'T MEAN IT'S THE END!"
Garrus could feel the words.
"FIND YOUR OWN HAPPINESS! LVIING WITH HATE IS MEANINGLESS!"
His memories of his loved ones. His sister, his Father. What would they say to him?
"LIVING WITH HOPE AND PRIDE MEANS MORE THAN ANYHTING!"
Garrus could even see him. Elroy…What would Elroy his nephew think of him now?
"BE MORE THAN WHAT YOU ARE NOW! LIVE GARRUS FOR YOURSELF"
Garrus opened his eyes shocked, his body was kicked into gear.
Garrus dodged left sliding out of the way. Standing up, he looked down at his own hands.
The blood was gone, Celestina's image was shifted into Venom's image.
Garrus ran forward avoiding the katana. He returned with an elbow to the face. The helmet cracked.
Another left then right punches of combinations. Moving through his opponent.
Venom dropped the sword. Stumbling back, his image shifted once more back to Celestina.
Garrus turned away reaching for the katana. Looking at the sword. She looked up to him.
Javik could see Garrus finding it. The reason. To stand tall to continue.
"I'm sorry for failing you Celestina, but you died your final death"
"Years ago…that was it…Nothing will bring you back this time…"
"I will see you at that bar I swear"
Celestina stared at him with closed eyes. She didn't move at all. On her knees.
"I ALWAYS WILL LOVE YOU GARRUS…LIVE YOUR LIFE…DON'T HOLD ONTO IT" said Celestina
Garrus was crying hearing her speak to him. Javik listened to what was being said.
"YOU ARE SO MUCH MORE…. HATE DON'T LET IT LIVE OUR LIFE…GO BACK HOME"
"I-I'M- "
Garrus swung with a heavy blow. Celestina's body shattered into smoke vanishing.
Garrus dropped to his knees screaming.
Crying, letting everything out from his heart. Just allowing himself to become vulnerable.
-I-
Clouds of white were about. Clear skies were everywhere now. Things were coming back to him.
Wind blew lightly passed both. Both were sitting on the grass. In meditating positions. Garrus blinked.
Not only once but twice. Breathing in slowly and out. His eyes were his own now. Sitting next to Javik.
Javik breathed at the same time as Garrus. Both energies around both entities were flowing.
"Javik...I'm sorry" said Garrus
Javik looked to the ground. The dirty feet of Garrus. He could feel a change.
"Now you understand…What you must have and what you must let go" asked Javik
Garrus didn't smile at all, instead he looked up. Seeing the pink colored tree high above his head.
Wondering about its beauty and how lucky Javik was to have something like this.
"Your teaching of how to let go is amazing" said Garrus
Javik stopped channeling his energy around Garrus.
"While back on the battlefield we trained in our own minds" said Javik
Now Garrus was now much calmer. Relaxed. Standing up he struggled a little.
Javik looked to him, seeing him standing on his own this time. His body still needed rest.
"I know what I have to do Javik, thanks a lot for this" said Garrus
"You have blamed yourself for years now Garrus. It is time to put the past behind you" said Javik
"Do what needs to be done" said Javik