Author's note:
Sorry for the slow update. Well, slow for me. Been writing furiously on another story for a few days and forgot to go over this chapter and put it up. Working 36 hours over a span of 60 also takes it out of you. Hoping to write a chapter today and tomorrow, and a couple on my 3-day weekend next week.
It's fun to have a chapter with a lot of dialogue. Shepard and Garrus will punch anyone who uses the word 'bromance', though.
Shepard stared up at at the stars through the skylight, hands folded behind his head upon the bed. Though Garrus had left when they both began yawning, he'd found the prospect of sleep less alluring than it had been a half hour ago, despite the cello solo that calmed his nerves. Learning about Garrus' year of frustrated wanderings had been harder to hear than he'd imagined, until he talked about the team he'd assembled. They were starting to become something almost akin to a family when Sidonis' betrayal shattered it all, and Garrus' pain and rage were obvious when he spoke about it, despite his practiced calm exterior. Now his thoughts were on the other members of his previous team. Wrex, he knew, always made do: the krogan was a force of nature. He was surely fine. All he'd been able to dig up on Ashley was that she'd recently been promoted to 1st Lieutenant and had graduated ICT but was off on special assignment for Anderson. Even Cerberus, it seemed, had its limits. But she was a survivor, and seemed to be doing well for herself. Tali had told him some of what she'd been up to over the past two years, but Liara was the one that worried him. But contacting her over the extranet didn't strike him as a good idea, and they had no real reason to go to Illium at the moment, so he pushed the thought aside with a sigh and pulled up his omni-tool, going through the checklist he'd made of items on the agenda.
Upgrade their provisions. Research weapon and defensive upgrades. Do some mineral scanning for resources for said upgrades. Recruit the thief, warlord, and the convict. Spend some time getting to know the crew. See Anderson. Contact his mother. And oh, yes: find the Collectors. Shaking his head, he sighed and sat up, sliding up the bed and tossing back the covers and yanking off his shirt. Frustration was beginning to set in again, despite the fact that he had Garrus back, Tali would be returning, and Joker and Chakwas were here. The cause eluded him, though he racked his brain while he slid into the bed and checked the pistols he'd hidden between the bed and each nightstand.
The fact that I feel the need to have guns by the bed might be cause enough.
The day hadn't gotten off to a good start when he awoke from a nightmare the prothean beacon had been kind enough to give him, but finding Garrus and Joker at the mess table had immediately brightened his mood, aided by the hot tea and fresh bagels Gardner brought him. Joker's snide remarks about his choice in beverage while the pilot sipped coffee had earned him a slap on the back of the head from Chakwas, who sipped her own tea while giving Shepard and Garrus smirks throughout breakfast. The turian was all too happy to accompany Shepard and Mordin back out onto Omega, if just to get away from the doctor. They were quite certain she was planning something that involved cold metal and a thorough examination of one orifice or reproductive organ or another. Mordin, however, reassured them that she would only do such a thing while they were under an anesthetic. Though it might be a mild one.
Their wounds healed, Zaeed and Jacob quickly caught up, but Shepard sent them on to browse the market while he met with Aria. This time, when they passed through the dim corridor leading to the bar proper, the five wounded batarians on the couch were careful not to meet his gaze as he shot them a smirk. The reception they got from Aria was more friendly, though she'd had a tight smile on her face when she greeted Garrus by his alias, to the turian's dismay and Shepard's amusement. It turned out that the data they'd found regarding the Blue Suns' intentions was worth the location of a cache of mineral supplies, and they returned to the ship without incident and a crate of armor and weapon upgrade mods. Garrus, Jacob, and Zaeed went immediately to work adapting them to their weapon inventory under Mordin's direction, leaving Shepard free to tour the ship. It was a blissfully quiet day, despite the glares he got through the medbay window every time he passed by. Small wonder Garrus avoided returning to the main battery until Karin was off duty.
"Aaand we're docked. Welcome home, Commander!"
Shepard chuckled and gazed out the cockpit window at the familiar sight of the Citadel docking bay. "I'm amazed my Spectre authorization code is still valid."
"That's bureaucracy for you."
Shepard glanced back at Miranda and shrugged, tugging on his gloves while he walked with her to the airlock where Garrus was waiting. "Keep Joker out of trouble, and make sure Zaeed doesn't put holes in something important. Hopefully once I talk to Anderson, I can get some reassurance that C-Sec won't trouble anyone who wants to disembark. You're lucky the damn Cerberus logo on the ship isn't recognizable to traffic control."
Miranda chuckled. "I'm not sure what the construction crews were thinking. Good luck." She returned his tight smile and turned her attention to the eavesdropping pilot, who quickly turned around and started whistling innocently. She could only sigh while the airlock slid shut behind Shepard and Garrus, wondering what kind of trouble the day would bring.
"I was wrong. Some things do change," Garrus remarked dryly while they exited the C-Sec substation. Their first taste of the Citadel had been a very bureaucratic clerk arguing with an unfortunate turian, and it seemed proof enough of his friend's theory. Until they met the human Commander Bailey, who didn't seem to have objections to a little five-fingered persuasion. Not that Garrus or Shepard had a problem with the man who had little taste for red tape or bullshit. Now they walked through the bright ward toward the transport designated for the human embassies, taking a look around at the unfamiliar surroundings.
"Well, at least we're not being ambushed by a rogue spectre's untrained goons or being begged by a smelly krogan who wants to join our crew." Garrus returned the grin of his friend and shrugged.
"I wouldn't mind the untrained goons part. Some target practice would be nice. Especially if you got to rescue another quarian damsel in the process."
"Give it a rest, Garrus." Shepard chuckled and typed in his authorization code on a console and an aircar beeped and opened its doors. The damned turian had turned into a high school girl when it came to inquiring about his personal life, though he didn't mind. It was just too much fun leaving him wondering.
All right, here we go. Shepard took a deep breath and tapped the panel. The door slid open with a quiet and polished hiss, revealing a large office seemingly lit by sunlight, with an expansive view of the Presidium. It was an awe-inspiring sight, but Shepard's eyes went straight to the figure leaning on the balcony railing, who looked as if he was lost in thought or memory. It was strange seeing Anderson in civilian clothing, but he cut the same figure of noble authority. The older man's head shook slightly at the sound of the door and he called back without turning. "Udina, I said 'tomorrow', not 'in ten minutes'."
"I know it's been two years, but you can't seriously be mistaking me for Udina, can you, sir?" Shepard couldn't help making a joke, grinning at the way Anderson suddenly stiffened. It was a moment before the older man slowly turned, brown eyes wide at the sight of the armored figure that was walking toward him ahead of a familiar turian.
"My God." Anderson was staring, his expression caught somewhere between shock and suspicion while Shepard came to a stop a meter away, expression softening to a slight smile. There had been dozens of reported sightings about Shepard since his death, and he gave the most recent ones from Omega no more attention than he had the others.
"I guess I wasn't done yet, though I'm sorry to say your present to me went down with the Normandy."
Anderson had been eying him carefully, but at those words a smile found the human councilor's lips and he chuckled softly, shaking his head. "I guess not. Good thing, too, because I owe you a kick in the ass for doing this to me."
"Yeah, you're welcome." Shepard flashed him a grin before he stepped forward and gave his old mentor a handshake, followed by a tight hug.
"Damn, son, take it easy on an old man!" Anderson slipped away with a laugh, setting his hands on armored shoulders and giving Shepard a once-over. "So, do I get to know how you came back from the dead? Where the hell have you been?" Garrus coughed suggestively, earning a smirk from his commander and a grin from Anderson. "Garrus Vakarian. You've been MIA almost as long as Shepard."
They exchanged a handshake while the turian's mandibles twitched. "Yeah. Just don't tell Executor Pallin I'm on board. I'd rather take another rocket to my face."
Anderson's brow arched at that, and he took a good look at Garrus' face as their hands separated. "I suppose I shouldn't complain about my life." He gave Shepard a wry smile and examined the faintly glowing scars on his old XO's cheek. "All right, now tell me what the hell happened." He led them toward the chairs around a small table while Shepard sighed and began recounting how he awoke five days prior.
"That's... quite a story." Anderson held up a hand when Shepard frowned, shaking his head. "I believe you, don't worry. But Cerberus?" He rose and began pacing, his concern evident on his face. "I'm not sure if it's a mistake or an opportunity. Hell, maybe it's both."
"My thoughts exactly," Shepard agreed, glancing over at a nodding Garrus. "I don't trust the Illusive Man, but I can't help feeling that he's right not to put any faith in the Alliance or the Council, after what I've read in news articles over the past two years." Anderson turned and frowned with anger, but this time, Shepard held up a hand. "You know I'm not including you in that group. But it seems as if everyone was all too happy to label Sovereign a freak geth creation, as if the truth isn't glaringly obvious." The commander scowled, but Anderson was forced to nod his head and sigh, dropping heavily back into his seat.
"I'm afraid you're right. But that doesn't mean Hackett and the Council shouldn't be made aware of what's going on. Officially, you're KIA to both the Alliance and the Spectres, but I'm sure we could get you reinstated."
Shepard paused for a long moment and mulled it over. Being an Alliance soldier had pretty much been his identity for over a decade, and induction into the Spectres had been an honor, and a useful one, but would subjecting himself to others' orders be a good idea with the current state of affairs? He rose and walked over to the balcony, gazing out at the Presidium lake below while Anderson and Garrus traded glances. They'd both expected him to agree without hesitation. Finally, the silence was broken. "Spectre reinstatement would be fine. But if my dealings with Cerberus end up making a stir, I don't want the Alliance officially exposed to the fallout. I can live without the back pay." He turned and gave Anderson a wry smile. "Besides, you and I are going to be saying goodbye on bad terms. I'll be pissed off at the Alliance for ignoring the threat, disbanding my crew, and using me as a recruiting tool. It ought to make the Illusive Man a little happier."
Anderson's face had been tightening into a frown, but it softened as Shepard explained and he finally let out a quiet laugh. "I should have begged Hackett to order you to take this job instead of me. But I see your point, even if I don't like it." He rose and walked over to set his hand on his old XO's shoulder. "Be careful. The Illusive Man isn't just some terrorist thug. If you're not careful, you might find yourself in a very bad spot when you're no more use to him."
Shepard clapped the councilor's shoulder and gave him a wry grin. "Don't worry. Joker's got my back."
Garrus coughed while Anderson's brows shot up, but the humans ignored him. "Joker? He resigned and vanished off the grid a year ago! Don't tell me he joined Cerberus!"
Despite the way the brittle pilot had annoyed Anderson during his tour as the Normandy's CO, the pained betrayal on the councilor's face was obvious, but Shepard squeezed his shoulder and pointed him back to the seats. "Long story, and your first bit of intel." The two men sat back down while Shepard told him what he knew about Joker's employment by Cord-Hislop Aerospace.
Anderson was troubled by the implications of having such a large and well-connected human company being owned or at the very least manipulated by Cerberus, and frustrated that the intel couldn't be used without implicating his former pilot or XO. It didn't compare to the apprehension he felt at the revelation that humanity's most advanced warship had been replicated and substantially improved by the terrorist organization. Only the Alliance Navy and the Turian Hierarchy had been involved in the SR1's design and construction, and the implications of where Cerberus had acquired the designs were even more troublesome than the thought of private companies being in the pockets of the Illusive Man. The veteran soldier was no stranger to combat, but it suddenly felt as if he was engaged in a war on two fronts while a third army was on a slow, inexorable march. The only comfort to be found was in the confident eye of his protege, even if he knew him well enough to recognize the tension that returned when he gazed distantly out at the Presidium.
When the artificial sunlight began to slowly dim, Anderson had to frown and turn his attention to the three holographic projectors on one side of his office, rising. "We should contact the Council before they retire for the night."
While the councilor put through the request for a meeting, Garrus' mandibles twitched from his spot beside Shepard. "Remember what I said about preferring rockets over speaking with the Executor? I'm starting to have that same feeling."
"Coward." Shepard chuckled, but straightened and put on an impassive face while he clasped his hands behind his back as the Council's images sprang to life.
"It's late, Anderson. What do you..." The turian councilor, Sparatus, was as arrogant as ever, but his voice trailed off when he spotted Shepard. The shock on the painted face wasn't as delightful as the sight of glimmering eyes behind a purple visor, but it was certainly a memorable moment.
Shepard stepped forward and nodded to the councilors. "This meeting was by my request. Anderson told me I'm officially listed as KIA, but I felt it was best to report to you before the media caught wind of my return."
The asari councilor, Tevos, had always been the most unflappable, but even she was staring at him with the others, though she found her voice first, a smooth and diplomatic tone despite her surprise. "Your 'return'? Shepard, all reports were that you were killed in a surprise attack by an unknown vessel in the Omega Nebula."
"I was. Cerberus recovered my body and spent the last two years reconstructing me. I woke up five days ago in one of their facilities."
His calm response drew another round of surprised stares, but this time Sparatus was the first to find his voice, and it wasn't happy. "You expect us to believe that you were dead for two years and Cerberus returned you to life? You must think us fools. Walking out on your responsibilities without even a resignation! We should-"
"Enough," Shepard interrupted with a cold voice, pulling up his omni-tool and the medical reports from Mordin and the two quarian doctors. "Just be quiet for a moment and take a look at the medical reports I'm forwarding you. Assuming you can get over your racism long enough to actually read something from quarian and salarian physicians." He'd never admit to anyone but Garrus and Tali just how good that felt. He'd always been diplomatic and respectful toward Tevos and the salarian councilor, Valern, but Sparatus had quickly run afoul of Shepard's sharp tongue. He could swear he'd seen Tevos' lips twitching against a smile a few times in the past when the two males were sparring with words.
Tevos and Valern were shocked, but Anderson and Garrus had to fight chuckles at the sight of the fury in Sparatus' eyes and the sputtering twitch of mandibles. "How dare you!"
"Just read, Councilor. We'll be here when you're finished." Anderson interjected, winning the battle with his face to keep it locked in a neutral diplomatic expression.
"Are you sure he knows how to read?" Garrus whispered sidelong at Anderson as the councilor came up to stand beside him. To their credit, neither laughed, but Shepard gave them a sharp glare while the three councilors scanned the report and the attached images. The commander was impressed that Sparatus actually remained silent long enough to read the document. Valern, with her quick salarian mind and more substantial scientific experience, finished first and digested the information more readily than her counterparts. After pulling up some information on her terminal, she gazed at Shepard curiously.
"It is plausible, but I would like to meet with Doctor Solus and discuss this with with him."
Shepard nodded and gave her a warm smile. "Of course."
Mordin had been irritated over the interruption, but he'd made his way quickly to Anderson's office and briefed the councilors in private while Garrus and Shepard were excused for the evening. After getting some food from a small asari cafe in a quiet corner of Zakera Ward, they walked side by side while Garrus sighed. "You've typed more words out on that thing than you and I have traded since we met on Omega. Who are you talking to?"
Shepard laughed while he kept typing, updating Tali on their meeting with the Council. She'd be leaving for her mission in a few days and would be out of contact for perhaps a week, and they were both determined to make the most of it. Hopefully, he could find a quiet spot where he could ditch Garrus for half an hour and talk with Tali over a live connection, something he couldn't do on the Normandy without being recorded by that AI, or one of the damned bugs that was probably installed in his cabin. "Just keeping Tali updated."
Garrus grinned and pointed him toward an interesting prospect dubbed 'Rodam Expeditions'. "Let me know if you do the same for Liara and Ashley. And let me be there for any reunion. I haven't bet on a fight in a long time."
"Oh? In that case, remind me to tell Zaeed and Jacob to put a wager on the two of us. I haven't kicked a bony turian ass in a while."
Garrus chuckled at the expression on the face of the shopkeeper behind the counter. Clearly the man had overheard Shepard's comment while the human was distracted and buried in his little love letter. "Careful, Shepard. I think you offended the management."
"Hm?" Shepard glanced up from his omni-tool and saw the unfamiliar turian face go from angry to curious to shocked when dark eyes scanned the armor, the N7 logo, and finally the face. "Oh, sorry."
"Shepard? The Shepard? The one who put down Saren Arterius?" The turian shopkeeper suddenly looked elated, spreading his arms wide. "By the spirits! Shepard, in my store!"
The human glanced around at the other staring shoppers, and a few passersby who were at the door, gazing in with wide eyes. Uh oh.
"Looks like you have a fan club, Shepard." Garrus grinned at the glare his friend shot him.
He was content to let Garrus distract the crowd, regaling them with a tale about the battle of the Citadel that was at least three-quarters invented fantasy while he browsed the shop's inventory. There were a few nice mods and some armor upgrades, and even a semi-automatic sniper rifle. When he put the requisition through, to be delivered to the docking bay, he turned to see the crowd entranced with the story while Garrus explained how he ripped off one of Saren's mandibles with his bare hands and punched him off the petitioner's stage into the garden below. Shepard chuckled, remembering how Saren had instead put a bullet into his own head and fallen, but he folded his arms across his chest and gave inquisitive eyes a small smile. For the few days they'd spent on the Citadel after the battle, they'd become instant celebrities and had reporters and fans on them when they stood still for more than thirty seconds, but it was strange and uncomfortable to be under the scrutiny with the knowledge that the true nature of the threat had never been made public. Fortunately, Bailey came along and gruffly reminded the crowd of station rules against loitering and Shepard and Garrus escaped with a grateful glance, resuming their tour through the ward.
"Who knew people could be so gullible?" Shepard quipped while he resumed typing out his letter to Tali. "I mean, a turian beating a krogan's body count? A C-Sec washout defeating a Spectre?"
"Yeah, that's like saying a quarian could fall for a human."
"Remind me to tell Tali you said that. After I give her one of those new Eviscerator shotguns."
"Forget I said anything."
Despite the glamored image that the Alliance had used him in recruiting ads that had become the public face of the deceased hero, it didn't take long for word to spread and for the human to begin attracting whispering voices and stares while they made a sweep of the ward. Fortunately, Garrus was a fine distraction, allowing his friend to purchase over a hundred thousand credits' worth of food, drinks, clothes, and assorted upgrades... and even a few fish and a hamster. The bubbly asari behind the counter, elated at her new advertisement, had mentioned something about it being a miniature giant space hamster, but all Shepard cared about was that it was small and furry. It reminded him of the social rodents that had often come up to Lisa and him when they were sitting by the lake on Mindoir, sniffing at their clothes and eagerly snatching the little scraps of fruit she always brought with her. Garrus gave him a few amused words at the purchase, but he didn't laugh nearly as hard as when his friend pawned off one of the fish to a particularly gullible krogan who was obsessed with the thought of fish in the Presidium lake.
"A hundred credits versus three thousand credits. Damn right I'm evil." Shepard pocketed the chit and grinned, gesturing toward the transit terminal. "Come on. Let's get back to the Normandy. There should be a couple of crates of dextro-friendly liquor waiting for us outside the airlock."
Garrus' face brightened. "Perfect. While we drink, you can tell me where to find a decent grip on an asari."
Shepard sighed and raised his eyes to the ceiling. "Garrus, how many times do I have to tell you that Sha'ira and I just talked?"
"Uh huh. And what about that time Liara and Tali spent the night in your quarters? Embrace eternity, Shepard."
"Shut up."
Author's note:
Valern's gender was always a bit confusing to me, since lore says the female dalatrasses were the politicians. So in this one, Valern's female.