A/N
I wish to extend once again my never ending gratitude to my editor SyketheWolf. Thanks Bro.
Thanks as well to all you guys reviewing the story or those just reading in general.
I do not own this in any way all charachters and such belong to Bioware and EA.
Enjoy.
Chapter 14: N7
Shepard's POV
"So Luke, where the hell did you get that shotgun?" asked John holding the massive double barreled Claymore in his hands. John was astounded by the pure destruction it had wrought at the Academy. Luke was sitting across from him in his cabin smiling.
"I bet a Krogan that I could take down five of his Krant with only my combat knife, three bullets from a pistol, and something else of my choosing. The Krogan agreed…they lost" smiled Luke. Shepard smiled at his old mentor.
"You never told us that one in training" said John only for Luke to laugh.
"I didn't want you idiots to think you were but so special, that's my job!" said Luke. Both men shared a laugh. John flipped the heavy shotgun in his hands only to find five names machined into various areas of the gun.
"Were these the old team you always spoke of?" asked John. Luke nodded as he read the names. First was Han'Gerrel, then Rael'Zorah. Next was Samuel Syphe, Boomer's father followed Benalia'Tayo. The final name didn't ring a bell. Amelia O'Hare.
"Who was Amelia?" he asked out of curiosity.
"Her last name changed to Sorley when she got pregnant" said Luke. Shepard understood at once so he dropped it. They sat in silence for a few seconds before Luke got up.
"Well John, I'd best go make myself useful for the time I'm here. I'll go bother Garrus for a while! Ha!" said the old Marine as he grabbed his gun, he left leaving John with his thoughts.
"This is such a crazy existence…" he sighed as he leaned back in his chair. Before Luke, he had been talking with Mordin. He had just gotten a tissue sample from Wrex to further work on curing the Genophage. Eve was handling things pretty well. She was conversing with the crew and answering questions. Something Wrex was not known to do.
Victus was also playing nice with others. He was helping where he could with small relief aids for fleeing ships from Earth. It wasn't much but it helped. He was about to check in on Victus when a knock on his door brought him back from his thought's.
"Come in" he said. Vega walked into the room.
"Hey Loco, quick question" said James. He nodded.
"Do I have to bring Kyson along if I go off the ship still?" asked James with a neutral expression. John just began to laugh, from the sour expression James's face; the younger marine saw little humor.
"Yep! Trust me, it's a good idea" said John with a smile. Vega nodded as he walked out of the cabin without a word.
"EDI, if Kyson tries to call up here, tell him I said he has no choice, he has to go with James" said John who continued to laugh.
"I will Commander" said EDI.
Kyson's POV
"I'm telling you man, Cerberus is up to something creepy!" said Kyson. Garrus was sitting on a stool next to Kyson. Both were working on a third FISH bomb.
"Anything having to do with 'phantoms' doesn't sound good" agreed Garrus as he finished the last wire on the bomb before Kyson placed the top plate with a finished trigger on it.
"It has to be some sort of Reaper tech mutated soldier, hell we're already fighting zombies. Zombies Garrus! That's one of the best apocalypses, but no, we have the whole machine overlord part too…" Kyson rambled. Garrus shook his head.
"Sorry for your fantasies being ruined" muttered Garrus.
"I know right?" laughed Kyson.
"So I hear you like my sister…" said Garrus with another evil look that matched the Frappuccino incident. Kyson snorted.
"Ha! She wishes…I'm done with other species man. Too much drama for me" said Kyson who leaned back in his chair. Garrus just smiled even more.
"Don't tell Javik, he'll be upset" chided the Turian.
"Oh don't get me fuckin' started! I don't trust him on the basis that he can move faster than me" laughed Kyson.
"Kyson, almost everyone can move faster than you" said Garrus with a wry grin.
"Yep" was all Kyson replied. He was staring at the workbench trying to hide his smile but it wasn't working.
"Oh, so no love for your Turian friend. Where's the trust? We had worked hard on that, I thought we had something special…" tapered off the distraught Turian. The two friends glanced at each other before they burst out laughing like idiots.
"HA! HAHAHAahahahahah! Wha…what are you? Ha! Hahaha! My wife?" stammered Kyson as he struggled to breath. Garrus just kept laughing. Kyson just rolled with it. He would take any reason to laugh at this point.
"Damn it, I had the wrong assumption all along!" shouted Garrus only for more laughter to fill the space of Kyson's room.
"Aw hell, don't take it the wrong way baby, you know you're my solid number two gal" laughed Kyson. Garrus had a mask of pure shock on his face. The Turian brought a hand over his heart acting wounded.
"You bastard…I loved yooouuu…" Garrus went silent as he looked past the bench. Kyson wondered what the hell had stopped the jokes when he saw Vega with the oddest expression he had ever seen standing over them. James held up his hands quickly.
"I don't wanna know…Kyson, I need to go to the lower wards" said Vega trying to sound calm. Kyson glanced at Garrus who was still frozen in his last expression.
"Uh, why do I need to know this?" asked Kyson.
"Cause Shepard hasn't told us we are lifted from our punishment…" said James.
"EDI! Can you get John for me?" asked Kyson.
"Sorry Kyson, the Commander has told me not to inform you that you have to go and that it is not an option" said EDI. Kyson looked up at Vega.
"Fine, let's make this quick" grunted Kyson as he got up to leave the room.
"But…but this means James is your number one girl? John! How could you condone him cheating on me!?" yelled Garrus to the room. Kyson looked at Vega who was at a complete loss of words.
"Cause its funny!" laughed Shepard over the comm. Kyson nearly fell over laughing as Garrus huffed past the two Humans without a word. Kyson's chest hurt as his lungs struggled to get air.
"What the fuck was that?" asked Vega shaking his head.
"Nothing, just some shenanigans" said Kyson.
The two left the ship heading directly to one of the taxi terminals. Kyson stayed quite as they descended to one of the many wards of the Citadel. Kyson hadn't a care in the world for whatever it was Vega wanted to do but he would listen to John. He had gotten himself into this after all. One the two crewmates got to the lower wards, James led Kyson through the densely packed crowds. Kyson saw every single race he knew of in a matter of a minute. This was the true Citadel. It was a mish mash of everything trying to compete to survive just like everywhere else in the galaxy. James stopped to lean against a wall next to a backwater bar. Twenty minutes passed by in complete silence.
"So, you just wanted to get away from things?" asked Kyson who had just lit a cigg.
"Meeting two friends, one of them is the guy who reminds me of you" said James as he studied the crowd. Kyson had been busy looking at the shoddy craftsmanship of the ad hock buildings crammed in every little space possible. It's just like Omega…
"Here is one of them…" said Vega. Kyson looked around seeing only one person sticking out.
"Let me guess, the nicely dressed Asari hottie who looks completely lost? He hehehehe" snickered Kyson only for said Asari to walk right up to them. Kyson bit his tongue, but his shoulders were still twitching.
"James…I…" she began in a sad, soft tone. Kyson stopped laughing. He knew the report. He looked to Vega who had a hard expression, it reminded him of John after Menae.
"Treeya, how are you?" asked James. Treeya wasted no time jumping into Vega's arms making Kyson very quiet. The amount of pain those two had been through was astounding. Vega with his small team had single handedly taken out a Collector ship as it tried to abduct the colony of Fehl Prime. Vega had made a choice. He could have saved the colonist, or as the presence of Treeya showed, saved a cache of data to fight back against the Reaperized Protheans. Save one to save millions, or save a couple hundred for millions to perish.
"I'm, coping. How are you?" asked Treeya. James just looked away. Kyson could practically see the ghost in the marine's eyes.
"Same" was all James said. Treeya nodded before looking at Kyson.
"Who might you be?" she asked letting go of James. Kyson ran a hand through his hair not sure if he should just leave.
"His name is Kyson, he's an engineer on the Normandy" said James. Kyson reached out to shake Treeya hand. She had a strong grip.
"It's a pleasure" she said formally.
"Likewise ma'am" he replied. The group was led in by James into the small bar. Despite the busy streets, they had the place to themselves. Kyson sat opposite of Vega. This was one for him to sit quiet.
"So, you got to work with Shepard after all?" asked Treeya.
"Yeah, he's a hell of a man just like I knew he was" said James with a smile. Treeya smiled back before she leaned over to look at Kyson.
"How did you get on the Normandy Kyson?" she asked. Kyson shrugged.
"By being good with tools" he said simply. Treeya nodded. James glanced at Kyson oddly before continuing.
"I wanted to talk to you about something important, a project you might like" said James cryptically.
"Such as? I might not be able too, with the war I'm helping design better alert systems…" she said. Vega held up a hand.
"I know I can trust you, so I'm sending you the file" said Vega as he lit up his Omni-tool. Treeya began to read over the file only for her to put a hand over her mouth.
"The crucible…this is absolutely amazing! How far did the Protheans get…" she stammered in shock only for Kyson to slap the bar. Treeya jumped.
"Keep it to yourself. Until you agree it doesn't exist, right?" he asked his stare bring into her. Treeya nodded slowly.
"Yes, you are right. Please forgive me" she said nodding to Kyson.
"So you in?" asked Vega. Treeya wasted no time in agreeing. Kyson just kept his mouth shut. I'll be damned, Vega doing more than waving a gun. He gets a cookie.
"Seriously though, it's good to see you James…I've, missed you" said Treeya who had placed a hand on James knee.
"I've missed you too" the group fell into silence once again. Kyson felt so awkward it hurt. He remembered all the times he had been cock blocked on the Normandy, now he was the one doing it. It was so wrong.
"Holy shit! Look who it is!" said a voice behind Kyson. James whipped around.
"Milque, glad you could make it!" said James as he got up to welcome his old squad member. Treeya also got up to give the new guy a hug. Kyson just stared at the news on one of the holo's. He was busy listening to the reports.
"More refuges come pouring in from both Palaven as well as Earth, the most common question asked by these battered people is the same. 'Why didn't anyone listen to Commander Shepard'" said the female ANN reporter. Kyson shook his head as he sipped his beer. It was a question people had been asking for three years now but it was too late, as always.
"So yeah, I'm now fully N7 now! Can you believe that? Me! I thought it was a fluke but no!" laughed the new guy called Milque. Kyson turned back around only for his jaw to drop.
"Alpha?" asked Kyson in shock. The other man who had black hair that looked just like Kyson six months ago. It was like staring at himself, something he had made note of when he first met the man.
"Kyson? You're alive?" asked Milque with honest shock. Kyson jumped out of his seat bringing the other man in for a bro hug. Both men patted each other on the back as if it was a fraternity meet.
"Shit how've you been man?" asked Kyson with a broad smile. Milque rolled his eyes.
"Ah, you know. Epic shit and stuff" both men laughed.
"Whoa! How the hell do you two know one another? Did you just call Milque Alpha?" asked a very confused looking Vega. Kyson saw Treeya listening intently.
"Well, I never knew him as Milque; He was in the same training squad for N7 as I was. We did several missions together" said Kyson shaking his head. Milque laughed.
"Yeah, this asshole never paid any attention to anyone. He just called me Alpha cause 'first in the alphabet always gets killed first'…which is bullshit" said Milque.
"It really is a small galaxy isn't it" said Treeya with a slight smile. James rolled his eyes.
"Just great, two Kyson's…just what I need" he said causing the two N7 operatives to laugh. Kyson called for a round of beers for everyone as they all sat down at the bar.
"So what was it like working together?" asked Treeya to Milque. The sharp shooter shook his head.
"Absolutely insane, Kyson here would just ditch us to go and boss his way through every scenario, who does that remind you of?" asked the sniper. Everyone looked at Vega.
"What? It works alright?" said James defensively.
"Uh huh, just remember who has saved you're ass several times over" laughed Milque leaving Vega smiling in silence.
"Yo James, did he ever graze you with one of his shots?" asked Kyson. Milque threw his hands in the air.
"It was only once! And it wasn't even my bullet that did it!" yelled Milque.
"No, he never missed a shot that I can recall…" said James. Kyson sighed as he looked to Milque shaking his head.
"Okay, so this asshole…" stated Kyson only for Milque to hold up a hand.
"No, Sir' Asshole" said the operative with a dramatic bow in his seat. Treeya snickered with Vega.
"Oh, right. So Sir' Asssssssshole over here missed a shot. It's why I have this scar running down my face" said Kyson with a toothy grin as he traced the scar running from his temple running straight down over his left eye onto his cheek.
"We were trapped on a derelict ship over run with Batarians. They had lured us is for it was a colonist ship bound for a new moon on the fringes of alliance space. Well, ever since Shepard blew the Viper system Relay, we have been in a proxy war with the Batarian Hegemony. We were looking for survivors when we were locked in the engine room. Triple encrypted locks" said Kyson before taking a deep swig of his beer. Milque picked up the story.
"So I had been scouting ahead a bit. I was already checking behind this massive Eezo core when I noticed the trap on an opposing door" said Milque.
"Triple encrypted is overkill" said Treeya with a frown.
"I know right? Well we had been after this covert Batarian pirate group for two weeks at this point, always a step behind but messing up their plans along the way. They knew we wanted them. They set us up" said Milque. Vega was the next to speak up.
"Pirates? Why would they be working with the Hegemony?" asked Vega. Kyson sighed.
"What genius is trying to say is 'privateers' or government sanctioned pirates, anyways. So we were ambushed with the opposing black ops team coming up from under the grates. We didn't lose anyone but it was close. The captain had rigged the whole place to blow if his heart stopped beating. I was trying my damnedest to get past the locks when the terminal I was working on blew up in my face sending a piece of shrapnel along my face. I was partially blind when a second explosion of Batarian brain matter dumped all over my armor. Milque here had missed the Batarian the first time to shoot the panel I was working on…" grumbled Kyson at the end of his long explanation. Treeya and Vega just looked silently at Milque.
"What? Kyson was supposed to be watching my six, I was lucky I cut that Batarian who snuck up behind me in time!" said an exasperated Milque. Kyson slapped his buddy on the back causing the other sniper to almost spill his beer.
"It was because of my bloody face we survived bud!" laughed Kyson who turned to Treeya.
"We still weren't out of the fire yet. We were still trapped. I had all these exposed leads but no way to jump the wires. So I slathered my hand with a pool of my blood only to get shocked shitless in return. But I got the door open in time for us to dip out!" said Kyson proudly. Milque just threw his hands up again.
"Hold up now, we got a badass over here!" yelled the now laughing operative. Everyone laughed for a few.
"I had no idea you weren't pulling my leg back on Menae…" said Vega with and incredulous expression.
"Yup, I'm just that good" chided Kyson causing Milque to snort.
"That is an impressive story, but do you mind if I borrow James for a few minutes?" asked the demure Asari. Kyson nodded as well as Milque. Vega nodded to Kyson mouthing 'thanks' before walking to a dark corner in the bar. Kyson understood. He would leave them be. He turned to Milque who had a dirty look as he stared at the two friends walk away from the bar.
"I have waited for almost three years to see those two holding hands…" said Milque. Kyson shook his head before he caught the happy go lucky sniper's attention.
"You never said anything about Fehl Prime Alpha…" said Kyson with a dark tone.
Vega's POV
He had been caught completely off guard by Treeya. She had grabbed his hand that was hidden from the two showboating N7 operatives. The entire time she had been squeezing his hand while tracing a finger on his wrist. James enjoyed the story but was relieved when Treeya asked for a few minutes alone. Now that he thought about it, if he could have been alone like he wanted, he might have choked when making a move.
Ever since that wretched day on Fehl Prime, that decision he made to leave the colonist who trusted him to die, nothing had ever been the same. He found that life had more dark shadows than rays of light while monsters lurked all around him. He was alone now, except the crew of the Normandy, Milque, and Treeya. James looked into her eyes as they sat down. He could tell she was thinking of the people she had come to love on that colony. She had asked him why he had chosen her, how could he do such a thing? Deep down, he knew he made the right choice. Shepard had helped him see that but now, he needed to help Treeya. He brought the Asari under his arm holding her close. He watched as a few tears dropped onto his shirt causing dark wet spots.
"It's going to work out, we did the right thing" he said softly so only she could hear. Treeya nodded rubbing her cheek against his chest.
"I know, it still hurts James, every single day it burns my mind" she sobbed. James held her tighter knowing she had probably held it in for the past eight months. It had been that long since he had seen her. The two had mixed feelings for each other. Where Treeya made James feel calm, James made Treeya question her existence and its worth. They were caught in a maelstrom of 'what ifs'.
"We need to move on. We need to live not survive anymore" he said softly while rubbing her back. Treeya looked up into his eyes. James found so much pain, unbearable misery.
"How?" she asked completely beaten by her own mind.
"We start fighting harder than we ever have before…" he started. He saw a spark of hope in the Asari's eyes.
"We fight for those who gave their lives, but more importantly, I…I will fight for you" said James strongly. He felt Treeya tense against him.
"For, me?" she asked not sure how to react. He saw the doubt in her eyes.
"Yes. We survived to fight on. You and I, we are here, alive but not living. That stops now" he said with finality as he pulled in Treeya for a kiss. As their lips met, he felt her relax in his grip. She grabbed him behind the neck pulling him in for an all-consuming kiss that buried all doubt from both minds. She broke away from him long enough for a breath.
"You're right" was all she was able to say before he lost himself in her once again.
Kyson's POV
"Aaaaaaaaaaannnnd there it is…" chuckled Milque as the two friends watched Vega make his move on Treeya in the distance.
"I had no idea you guys had been through all of that. I owe Vega an apology, not one of my bullshit ones either" said Kyson as he pounded down another beer. Milque had filled him in on the events of Fehl Prime. What they had to do. The lives lost.
"Yeah, you are an asshole, but bating Vega on like that was a dick move man, don't worry, I'm guilty of it myself" snickered the sniper. Kyson rolled his eyes.
"I bet" said Kyson as he ordered another drink. He looked over to the two broken hearts in the corner while lighting a cigg. They will make it. Tali and I always did.
Garrus' POV
Garrus walked along one of the causeways of the presidium with tiered feet. He had been walking around with Teagann all day helping the Turian refugee's down on the docks. Supplies were holding up at the moment but, it was only a matter of time. He had tracked down some crazy nut poisoning Medi-gel designed for Dextros. He had beaten the bastard to within an inch of his life. But in the end he held off. It was he, who had to stop Teagann from putting a bullet in the asshole's head. It was nearly half a day later now when the two had decided to take a break.
"I can't take another step" he mumbled as he stopped halfway across the bridge crossing the continuous lake that ran the entire circumference of the Presidium ring.
"Agreed" said Teagann tiredly. They found a comfortable bench to sit on while they sipped on their waters.
"I can't imagine this place being overrun with Reapers, it ain't right" said Teagann with her southern twang. Garrus snorted.
"I can, cause I've seen it…when Sovereign and Saren attacked with the Geth" he replied with a sour tone. He turned to Teagann who was rubbing her temple. It meant another migraine was building.
"You know what; I've had enough fucked up for a life time. How bout we do something fun for a bit. This place wants you to forget so badly, why not let it for once?" she asked with a weak smile. Garrus groaned.
"We can both barely stand" he mumbled now rubbing his claws over his face only for Teagann to lean against him. He looked down to see what humans called 'puppy dog eyes' with pleading. He tried to keep his resolve. But, just like in the human movies, he caved.
"Oh alright, so what did you have in mind?" he asked. Teagann jumped up with new found vigor while trying to get the weary Turian to stand.
"I have no idea! But let's go looking" said the excited woman.
"More walking…" groaned Garrus but he yelped as he was dragged along the causeway. It wasn't ten minutes later that she found something. It was an ice cream vendor. Teagann ran off ahead of him returning with two cones full of the cold mush. Garrus had tried the stuff before, something about pistachios that made him gag…
"Which one is mine?" he asked skeptically.
"The chocolate one, it's flavored with a chocolate from some place called Invictus" said Teagann. Garrus nearly did a backflip. He snatched the cone taking a full bite. He ignored the numbing cold as the taste of the rare Turian based chocolate touched his palate. Invictus was one of the most dangerous planets ever settled by Turians. Invictus had insects that carried several horrible diseases that wreaked havoc upon Turian biology. The colony still thrived after moving to the arid deserts but settlers still risked their lives after discovering a local strain of chocolate that was highly sought after.
"Ohhhhhhh that is amazing, I don't want to know how much you paid for this…" said Garrus as he took another bite causing his eyes to roll back in his head. Teagann laughed causing her ice cream to leave a white mustache on her upper lip.
"Who said anything about paying?" she teased. Garrus shook his head. How could I forget? I'm dating a criminal…oh the irony.
"Well, I think I can overlook this one…" he sighed. Teagann gave him a hug before grabbing his hand taking him along the store fronts once again. Garrus just smiled as he let himself be momentarily taken away by the peaceful setting he was in. He looked around at the society he was protecting. Kids were running along with their parents. Couples were looking over the beautiful flower arrangements while whispering sweet nothings to each other. How different from just a year ago.
He was trapped with no way out as almost a hundred gang members sought to kill him. He had two thermal clips left, his entire team was dead; it was only a matter of time before he was taken out too. He remembered the last call he had made. It was to his father.
One year ago, on the mining station Omega-
I'm out numbered, out gunned, damn near out of ammo. This was inevitable. I never listened well. My father's words still ring out in my head. 'If you're going to do something, do it right or don't do it at all!' That line might as well be my name. Well, only one loose end left to tie.
Garrus patched a call to his father, Sotorios Vakarian one last time.
"Hello?" came the harsh voice of his father.
"Dad…"he replied as he rolled out of cover to lay waste to six more mercs that were closing on him.
"Garrus? Is that you? What's that noise?" asked his father with irritation in his voice. Garrus smiled as he shot two more targets.
"Justa a little target practice" he said with a grimace.
"Then call me back later!" shouted his father over the comm.
"I don't think I'll be able to do that. Too many targets" he said calmly as he took out a Batarian. Garrus heard a pause on the other side of the line.
"I see…" his father said quietly.
"I just wanted to hear your voice. Wanted to know how retirement is treating you, you good?" asked Garrus. He looked at the bridge he was pinned across. More Mercs were coming over the barricade.
"I'm fine. Forget about that" said his father with a firm voice. Garrus slid back into cover.
"Listen, I don't have a lot of time. I wanted to say, you were right…about things. A lot more than I gave you credit for" he said to his father honestly.
"And, I'm sorry we butted heads so much" he said tiredly. He could hear the shouts of the men who wanted him dead, so many wanted him dead.
"I said don't worry about that. These targets you're practicing on, they're moving fast?" asked his father. Garrus popped out of cover to fire another devastating salvo ripping through another squad. Before another hail of bullets forced him back down.
"So far…not fast enough. But they're learning" he said.
"How are you're thermal clips?" asked his father causing him to focus a bit more.
"You know how it is, could always use a couple more" chuckled Garrus. This really was the end of the line for him. At least he would see his dead team. He could see his old friend again. John.
"Work with what you've got. Then you don't stop pulling that trigger until it clicks son" said his father. Garrus smiled as he sighted down the bridge for more targets.
"No matter how bad things are falling apart around you, as long as you have one bullet left, you can still get the job done. Understand?" asked his father keeping even and calm as always.
"You finish up what you have to do there, and then you come home to Palaven. We have a lot to sort out" finished Sotorios Vakarian. Garrus got up to sight down his barrel for probably the last time in his life. He focused on the torso of a man only to have joy an elation flood him. It was an N7 emblem he knew all too well. It was Shepard.
"Yeah we do. Thanks, dad. For everything. I have to go now don't worry about me…I'll make it home when I can. The odds just got a lot better" he said as he watched Shepard with two people he had never seen before run into the building underneath him.
"Oy!" said a voice causing Garrus to jump a bit. He blinked twice as he looked around the presidium. No blood, no dead team, just peaceful water falls with the scent of perfume.
"I lost you there for a bit…" said Teagann with a worried voice. Garrus tried to shake the memory but it wasn't working. As he looked at the shorter human female, he remembered all too well that her father, Luke, was just like his. Career military or law enforcement. Luke just like Sotorios drove people to the absolute brink of their sanity. Many would call it cruel how they treated their subordinates but, if you couldn't handle their tactics or upbringing, you weren't meant for the really hard things in life.
"Just thinking too much, sorry" he said as he began to come back from his thoughts.
"Well, you can stand there or you can come in the store with me?" asked a bright eyed Teagann. Teagann never pulled the bouncy girlfriend…unless…
"You are up to something, I'm not sure what yet but…" he smirked as Teagann's smile faltered a bit.
"I was just going into the clothing store is all" she said defensively with a pout. Garrus looked up to see a 'lingerie' store with many couples going in or out with scandalous grins. Garrus looked back at his fiancé.
"Um…I think I'll just let you surprise me" he said as he leaned back against the rail to the lake.
"Aw, I didn't know you were bashful…" said Teagann laughing as she whipped around into the store. Garrus quickly lost sight of her. He felt awkward standing in front of a woman's store. He looked to his right so see a Human male doing the exact same thing. The Human must have sensed the movement, for he looked at Garrus with the same forlorn expression.
"One of those days pal?" asked the Human. Garrus sighed before nodding.
"Yeah…can I ask you a question?" asked the bewildered Turian.
"Go for it, nothing else to do right?" laughed the human.
"So, why do they bring us to these skimpy clothes stores when they know we'll piss and moan? Then, when we stand outside, we look like pervs...what are we doing wrong?" asked Garrus. The man next to him began laughing his ass off. The Turian couldn't help but join in. It didn't matter what race they were, this was a common dilemma.
"Garrus! What do you think?" shouted Teagann from the front of the store. She was holding a skimpy black set of clothing. She winked at his shocked expression before she dipped inside again.
"Holy Christ, where did you find her?" asked the Human. Garrus laughed.
"She found me…" started Garrus until a Turian female ran out with a sexy dress of her own.
"Hey Dean, what do you think?" asked the female Turian with a lecherous grin. The Human named 'Dean' apparently was shocked due to his hanging jaw. The Turian disappeared into the store. Garrus looked back to the Human.
"Let me guess, she found you?" asked Garrus. The Human just nodded with a distant smile. Garrus was yanked away by a laughing Teagann.
"What's so damn funny?" he yelped.
"That Turian and I had so much fun with that little bit!" laughed Teagann.
"I knew it was planned" he mumbled. Teagann hailed a cab just moments later.
"Where we going?" he asked.
"Dancin'" was all she said.
"Uh huh" was all he replied.
"You are such a bummer today; I just bought some sexy time clothes, got you ice cream…" Teagann began ticking off her fingers.
"Alright, alright let's go" he grumbled a bit causing Teagann to clap her hands letting out a squeak of excitement. It wasn't ten minutes later that they arrived at Purgatory. Garrus found it amusing how they always seemed to gravitate towards this place. It was fitting, just as Kyson had pointed out once before. The couple found a place to sit on the lower tier of the club inside for only a brief moment. Teagann knew a place to stash her stuff so they could roam about. She has to be taking tips from Kasumi.
Garrus headed through the crowd turning heads no matter where he went. It came with having some notoriety among those on leave from the war. He checked behind to make sure Teagann was behind him. The flashing lights of the always thrumming club danced across her jeans leading up to her black shirt. The only weapon she carried was that infernal sword. People had been giving her a wide berth wherever she went. They had been stopped many times but Teagann just showed her registry with the Turian hierarchy as well as her registration aboard the Normandy, both of which Garrus had no idea she had.
"So we going to have fun dance time nowz?" she asked in a comical kiddie voice. Garrus stopped.
"I have never seen you like this before, ever. What gives?" he asked. He had never seen the normally blunt woman so excited before. Teagann dropped the façade pointing to the upper bar with a scowl. She ordered six shots. Three were Jack Daniels while the others were his favorite.
"Down one" she said gruffly. Garrus knew shit was about to hit the fan as he slammed down the first shot. He gave a questioning look.
"I don't think Tali is dead" she said with a stern look. Garrus couldn't believe what she just said. Both slammed another shot of booze.
"How do you know this?" he asked. She would never say anything unless she had good evidence. Teagann was a perfectionist, even when she ate.
"Came across a fragmented transmission, it could be my mind playing tricks but I heard the name 'Zorah' and 'admiral' used many times" she said. Garrus furrowed his brow. The implications of her still being alive…
"Have you told Kyson?" he asked quickly. Teagann shook her head.
"It was a fragment, all patchy no matter what EDI and I did. You know how signals can get screwy in space. I don't want to give Kyson false hope" she said as she took the final shot of Liquor. Garrus twirled his drink in his hand for a few more moments before he looked up at Teagann. She looked disappointed.
"So why the peppy mood then?" he asked. Teagann shrugged.
"Like I have been saying all along, I just wanted to forget for a while" she said. Teagann had never once said anything about how she felt about how things were going. She had spent every single waking minute fighting or helping the 'fight'. Weather it was in the war room with Victus or the main battery patching data to the holo she had set up with fleet movements. She had only talked when it was needed. Garrus took her by the hand.
"For someone who has never fought in a war before, you are remarkable at it…" he said awkwardly. Teagann rolled her eyes.
"Not something I aspired too" she said coldly. Garrus understood. Teagann despite having very similar traits as her brother, was very different. She had only experienced small fights with her work, not full scale atrocities. She never had the traumatic experiences her brother had. Kyson was broken, Teagann…was breaking.
"I know, I wish you never had to see what you did on Palaven…or anything to do with this war" said Garrus angrily. He was no different from any other guy. He wanted to protect the ones he loved from harm. But things didn't always work that way. Teagann leaned her head on his chest armor.
"I know…" she said just loud enough for him to hear.
"I love you" he said as he brought her in close. He could feel the people staring but he ignored them.
"I love you too" she said as she look up into his eyes with a strong smile. Amazing how strong the word love is.
"So, shall we dance? That's what we're here for right?" she asked with the easy smile returning. Garrus nodded. [Deadmau5: Animal Rights] The next song came on causing Teagann to laugh as she dragged him into the middle of the dance floor.
"I love this song!" she shouted as the bass began to ramp up.
"Why?" he shouted before the main melody came on.
"It's called 'Animal Rights'!" she shouted. The main melody started causing Teagann to move her hips in ways a Turian could only dream of. Garrus let himself move in time for a bit letting her show off before he began to match her intensity. He shouted over the music.
"You trying to say something?" he laughed as they danced.
"Maybe!" she yelled. Garrus rolled his eyes as he twirled her around.
"Then say it! You think I'm an animal don't you?" he yelled back. Teagann laughed.
"Only in bed!" she shouted as the song peaked in the melody once again. All he could do is laugh and agree. They danced for a few more song just enjoying the mood until they went back to the booth on the lower tier. They simply sat in each other's arms enjoying the anonymity the crowd gave them. They were enjoying some beers when they head someone close to them shout over the music.
"Shit, did you say N7? That must be Commander Shepard!" yelled a Turian to his Asari friend. Garrus looked between the two patrons to see both Shepard with several others. Garrus threw up an arm flagging them down. John had Liara in tow by the hand. Both were in casuals. So was James. Kyson brought up the rear with an amused look upon his face. Uh oh, there's a smile with that amused look…shit all of them have shit grins.
"Garrus, Teagann! What's good?" said John with a loud voice. He had a broad smile. Garrus frowned.
"Why do you all look like a bunch of grinning idiots?" he asked bluntly.
"Yeah, you high or somthin'?" asked Teagann who was just as wary as he was. They were equally paranoid, perfect for each other. John shrugged his shoulder.
"Meeting someone for a dance" said John. Garrus was in the middle of drinking his beer. He nearly choked on it.
"Wha…*coucg cough* you can't dance John!" shouted the shocked Turian. Teagann laughed.
"You remember the Flogging Molly incident, you almost knocked out Liara" laughed Teagann. John laughed along. Liara didn't. Garrus looked to Vega who was just listening. Someone was missing.
"Where did Redneck Extraordinaire go?" Garrus asked James. No sooner had he asked did he see a small fight break out behind the marine. Garrus shook his head. Kyson hand found Jack. Bother were punching their way back to the table. Once the two had arrived, both were laughing like little kids at the park.
"Damn good to see you can throw a punch now Sorley!" said Jack with a smile. Garrus watched as Kyson bowed in response with an evil smile. He still wore those infernal goggles down even in the club. John got up to face Jack.
"Ok, you ready for this?" he asked bluntly. Jack held up a hand trying to catch her breath still.
"I…I don't know, you can't dance Shepard…I'm laughing too hard to go through that just yet. Garrus laughed causing John to glare at him, making Garrus laugh harder.
"Well, it's time for all of you to learn why I don't dance" said John with a smirk. Garrus knew that look. It was the same one before he blew up big things…like space stations.
"Oh yeah?" said an amused Teagann.
"Yeah…I hang" said John. Garrus looked to Teagann who face palmed. He had never heard that term before. He looked to a laughing Vega. No help there. Liara looked just as confused but it was both Jack and Kyson's expressions that scared him. Jack looked like she had seen a ghost while Kyson, Kyson looked like he was going to cry.
"Anything but rap!" screamed Kyson.
A/N
:D
Getting a bunch of back story done. I did say I would reveal whay Shepard couldn't dance...
Review as you will and untill next time!