(Phew! This has taken long enough, hasn't it? Although it's not the longest, it's got some of the best writing in it so far. Also, who would like me to do a remake of chapter one? It wasn't a good chapter, so I'd figure it might be good to give this fanfic the opening it truly deserves. Twenty thousand words, 11,000 views! Thanks guys for all the support.)
Chapter 10: An Eye For A Lost Cause
The shuttle pulled in lazily to the citadel, its weight lessening as the three heavily armoured figures strode out in confidence, walking towards the entrance to Zakera Ward, getting looks from all around them. Some whispered the name of the leading figure, others stared at the alien. Most stared at the giant in green and golden armour, proudly puffing out her chest as they walked. The three entered through the doors, passing the security checkpoint with ease. Garrus was the first to speak up.
"Thanks for coming along Linda. We can use an extra pair of eyes," he said, glancing around. She had only basic information about the mission, and so, was inclined to believe that Garrus had a personal agenda that needed solved. It seemed reasonable enough. Garrus had a bad history from the stories he told Linda.
"This looks like the place," he finally said, after they had walked for a few minutes. "The forger's men should be inside." It wasn't an amazing place, just a door set into a wall in a cuboid like fashion, with some crates out in front. Most likely storage Linda assumed, but she had been wrong before.
When they entered, her suspicions arose. The area was mostly crates, with a flat open space in the middle. Leaning on two different sets of crates were two Krogan, both of which wearing light clothing. They both got up, walking towards the group. A Volus emerged from the shadows, walking with a confident step. Shepard spoke first.
"Fade? Not exactly how I imagined you," she said in a patronising tone.
"Looks can be deceiving," he countered.
"Know that feeling," Linda murmured.
"So, which one of you wants to disappear?"
"I'd rather see you make someone reappear."
"Uh…that's not the service we provide."
Garrus and Shepard drew their guns, and Linda cracked her neck. The Krogan drew their own as Garrus snarled. "Make an exception."
The Volus backed off slowly, raising his hands.
"Just this once," Garrus finished.
"Quick, shoot them, shoot them you lumbering mountains!" The Volus yelled at the Krogan.
Linda appeared behind the Krogan, brandishing an Executioner pistol. She looked at the handle absent minded, as the Krogan shrugged and began to walk away. The Volus threw his arms up in annoyance.
"What? Just like that? What's the point in hiring protection if they won't even protect you…?"
As Garrus continued interrogating the Volus, Linda left the room. She waited at the entrance; ignoring the stares at her while she stood quietly in her MJOLNIR armour. At one point, a C-Sec officer walked towards her, before walking away again. She smirked. The Citadel was busy at this time, with families and single people going around their everyday shopping. It felt weird to watch them, when had she seen others like this? Not for a long time. Before she was accepted into the Spartan program. She only had flashes of her childhood, but she remembered it as a happy time. As a time of peace. But she was glad to be taken. She knew her homeworld was glassed. She knew she would have been as dead as all the others had she not been selected. Why her? That was a question the Chief always raised during their rest. During R&R.
"Why were we selected Spartans? C'mon Linda, you know the answer."
"Because we're the best Chief."
"Wrong. We're lucky. Spartans don't rely on luck, we make our own. We made this our own reality, and the Covenant are going to be pissed to realise we volunteered."
It was only recently she realised he didn't mean they volunteered as in sign up, he meant they volunteered by creating the luck that got them picked. They got themselves noticed, and they made sure it was them leading the charge. That was a Spartan's job. Fight. How they survived was determined by them alone.
Her thoughts were broken by Garrus and Shepard exiting the building. Garrus looked pretty pissed off, and she felt a pang of regret. She didn't usually see him this angry. The mission was serious to him. As Shepard walked to the car, she gripped his arm lightly, and he gave a small nod in return. He was saying he was alright. Universal language, but…a child could see he was eager to kill someone.
They ran from cover to cover, dodging fire from Mechs, exchanging blows as Garrus ran straight for the open area near Fade. Linda fired another round from her sniper rifle, impacting a Mech in the chest, watching as the circuits blew up in a frenzy of sparks and fire. Garrus fired two shots from his avenger as the nearest Mech fired back, hitting him in the leg. He fell over, rolling into cover to hide from any further blows. Shepard ran to him, as Linda provided covering fire.
That was when the YMIR Mech arrived.
The thing was taller than Linda, and had more ordnance. That didn't stop her from running at it full pelt, rolling out of the pathway of a missile it fired. She could see another one inbound, and a crazy idea took place. She ran to the first one, rolling under its arm, hitting the joint with her fist. Knocking the arm away, she watched as the missile hit the second mech. She then proceeded to kick the first one backwards, chucking a grenade at the now weakened arm. She jumped as the ammunition inside of it caught fire and exploded, a piece of shrapnel impacting the other mech. She drew her pistol, firing the one round of the Executioner at the Mech, causing it to buckle from the impact, exploding in a shower of parts, sparks and fire. She walked over to Shepard and Garrus as Harkin started stammering over the ceiling speakers.
"N-n-n-no! How did she do that goddammit?" He muttered, sounding fearful.
They approached the door to the control room, which he had locked, Linda strode up to it, kicking down the door with her leg, watching as Harkin almost tripped up on the floor. He gazed in fear at the gold visor, gulping as he made a run for it. He was about to make a snarky remark before he felt a vice-like grip on his shoulder, and turned to see the Spartan. She picked him up, slamming him against the wall, just lightly enough to jostle him. He froze on the spot as Garrus approached him.
"C-c-c'mon Garrus, we can work this out," Harkin said, sweating as Linda watched him impassively. "What do you need?" He managed, not taking his eyes off the massive giant.
"I'm looking for Sidonis," Garrus growled, scoffing at the cowering ex-officer.
"Well then, looks like we both have something the other one wants," Harkin replied smugly.
His grin disappeared as Garrus rounded on him, but Linda pushed out a forceful hand. She shook her head slightly, indicating that if Harkin stepped out of line, she'd stop. Garrus obviously disagreed, but he wasn't in the mood for sparring with Linda, so he shut up and looked at Harkin again.
"You helped a friend of mine disappear, I need to track him down."
"I'll need some more information than that," Harkin replied glumly.
"His name is Sidonis, Turian, came from-."
For the first time, it seemed like Harkin tried to struggle against the Spartan's grip. He looked paler and a bit more determined about the topic of Sidonis. "I know who he is and I'm not telling you squat!" He stated, looking down.
"C'mon Sidonis, it doesn't have to be like this…" Shepard said slowly.
"I'm not giving out client information-."
Linda slapped him. It was light by Spartan standards, but it looked pretty painful. That woke Harkin up. He remembered he was being held by a 6-7 feet tall walking tank, and tried to make up for it.
"Alright, alright…look, I can set up a meeting with Sidonis. Just, please let me go."
Linda did so, and watched as Harkin approached a nearby terminal. The three of them stood idly as he talked into the screen, having a conversation with what must have been Sidonis. She watched him idly, but her eyes drifted to Garrus, who was brandishing his pistol, and looking at Harkin with murderous intent. Why? Surely, with the way things work with Shepard, he'd realise that he shouldn't kill Sidonis. Linda placed her hand on his arm, pulling the pistol down. If he shot Harkin, she knew it would be on his conscience later.
Harkin approached them again, grabbing his shoulder where the Spartan had gripped him. He rubbed it awkwardly, as if it hurt. "The meeting's all set up. You can head down there now, Orbital Lounge, middle of the day. And if uh, our business is done now…"
Garrus clenched his fist, and nodded. Harkin immediately started running away, probably hoping to never see the armoured giant ever again. Linda gave Garrus a nod, but he didn't return it. She knew what part of the mission this was now.
Assassination.
"Food has no taste. Some days, I just want it to be over."
Garrus fumed silently, watching as Shepard tried to block the shot, Linda was beside Garrus, watching intently. She could tell he would do it. He was going to do it. His finger on the trigger and all, she could see him conflicting with the decision. Knowing he would do it or he wouldn't. A Choice. A decision. An eye for an eye.
She took off her helmet and gently pulled the sniper away from its aim, much to his surprise. He stared at her hard, eyes full with grief and pain at the man who took away what he cared for. His men. His responsibility.
"Let him go," she whispered, her hand on the barrel.
"He's a damn coward," he sobbed, his voice breaking slightly. "Why should he live?"
"He's a dead man walking. You can hear him. He doesn't care anymore. He can't."
"An eye for an eye Linda. An eye for an eye! He doesn't deserve the right to live, the right he took away from my men."
Linda stroked a hand against his face, which he found himself slightly frozen to. He just lay there, watching as Shepard waited for his response. Shepard. His friend. His drinking buddy, stopping his shot. Shepard knew Garrus the most, was he right about blocking the shot?
"C'mon Vakarian. It's not an eye for an eye. That's revenge. That's tipping the scales. This? This is just making things worse for yourself. In the end, everything will be weighed against you. A lost cause."
He nodded slowly, taking his hands away from the rifle. Linda keyed her comm as Garrus sat against the wall behind him, head in his hands.
"Shepard, it's alright. Sidonis can go now."
"What did you say to him?"
"What he needed to hear."
She sat down next to him, her hands clutching each other, as Garrus had both of his on his face. He looked up, with what looked like recognition in his eyes. He looked over at Linda, and managed a weak croak.
"I don't regret the night on the citadel. I think it got me closer to you," he managed.
"And how's that?" She replied, confused at his statement.
"You said it yourself. An eye for an eye. You owed me one from the Reaper IFF mission, remember? Believe it or not…you just payed me back."