MASS EFFECT 3: ANDROMEDA SERIES
CHAPTER 21
It didn't take Andromeda long to get up to the Embassies after seeing the news vid on the Presidium. Bailey had just finished his morning reports when she stormed into his office. "I need access to Colonial Affairs."
Caught off guard by her sudden change of demeanor, Bailey leaned back in his chair, "May I ask why?"
"Personal, sir," Andromeda replied back quickly. Her eyes darted over to his terminal. "Only you have the authority and I need to run names."
"Andromeda…" Bailey stood up from his chair and walked around his desk. "Because of all the political b.s., I would need to document what case this is being used for. However, I know why."
Becoming taken back, Andromeda gave her commanding officer a hurtful look. Not only was Garrus keeping Eden Prime away from her, but also him?! "Sir, this is important," She painfully expressed, her fists becoming clenched at her sides. She didn't care what repercussions it would have against her for using the access for non-business use.
"As soon as the report came in, I already ran the names and compared them to the ones that were on Eden Prime when you lived there. I'm sorry….none of them checked in with Colonial Affairs yet." He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"They-they could still be alive!" Andromeda shot back with tearful eyes. "Shepard and his team didn't hit all the establishments there…they could be pinned down by Cerberus!"
"I simply don't have the man power to send anyone out there," Bailey sighed. "It's damn hard enough knowing that my family is on Earth and I'm stuck here.
"Then I'll go," Andromeda stood straighter and squared her shoulders in a more militaristic stance.
"You against Cerberus?" Bailey lifted an eye brow. "I know you held your own with your biotics but no amp can give you that much power. I can't let you leave here." He scratched his head. "Maybe I can try to get a message out through the comm buoys. I'm sure someone will pick it up."
"Sir, that's not good enough!" Andromeda protested. "Where's Colonial Affairs at?!"
"The executives there are running scared," Bailey returned to his desk. "Everyone went to take care of their families…the colonists that are still alive are on their own. I hate to say it, but it's the sad truth."
"Any spare ships on the Citadel?"
"Alliance owns most of them. A few merchants here and there…but no one will leave the Citadel. No one wants to go back out there. They are too afraid of being attacked by the Reapers. I don't blame them…"
"I'll talk to some to see what I can come up with. Someone will take the money to fly me out."
"Andromeda, that's crazy. What do you think they will do when Cerberus shows up? You'll be stranded there just like those colonists. I'm sorry…but C-Sec needs you here. I'm losing able bodies as it is…even worse after the deaths from the attack."
Lowering her head, Andromeda closed her eyes for a brief second as she pondered what she needed to do. It was pretty obvious and a very difficult choice to make. Sighing, she reached into her pants pocket to retrieve her badge. "I'm resigning."
"You sure you want to do that?" Bailey looked up at her.
"Yes…I'm sorry, sir. I need to go out there and you can't stop me." Tossing the badge on the desk along with her sidearm, she turned around and left the office quickly before her mind could beg her to rethink her options. There was no turning back now.
Her next stop was her apartment to gather what belongings she could take with her. She made fast work to get there as she pulled out her small duffle bag from the closet shelf. She took along a small medigel pack, a change of clothing, with a few personal items and then quickly zipped up the bag. Alarming her apartment, she hurried back down the hallway and waited for the elevator. When the elevator doors opened, she heard a very familiar voice talking…
"So, everyone lives together here, Turian? There is no separation of species?" Javik asked as he observed his new surroundings on the Citadel. The Prothean recently joined up with Shepard and his team after the mission on Eden Prime. On the planet, they brought Javik out of a 50,000 year old stasis.
"Yeah, pretty much. Didn't you guys live the same way? With the people you conquered?" Garrus replied as he led Javik from the Normandy towards the docking bay's elevator. He intentionally poked at the Prothean's history of how his people would dominate other species to adopt their culture and religion. If the others did not submit then they would face death by the "empire." This aspect didn't sit too well with Garrus. Throughout his own kind's history among their battles, they never try to subject another species to become like their own. Unfortunately for him, he became stuck as being the escort that day for Javik. He wasn't too sure how he was picked…but it certainly wasn't going to be Liara. Ironically, after meeting her idol, the Asari seemed rather depressed. She locked herself on her side of the ship and spent many hours examining documents. Trying to piece together the Protheans' true history laid out by Javik and compare her research notes. Apparently, everything she knew about the Protheans throughout her studies was wrong….all horribly wrong.
The green skin tone alien next to Garrus blinked his eyes and then gave a casual glance over at with two as they walked side by side into the elevator. "No," Javik replied sharply. "We didn't want to become weak."
Garrus just about had enough…selecting the floor destination, he stood back beside his companion once more. This was going to be a long elevator ride he figured. "But that is what makes us stronger…learning from one another. I believe that is what is going to help us push the Reapers back into dark space and that is why the Protheans lost." He pointed out matter-of-factly.
Javik remained silent for a few moments as the elevator continue to ascend up into the Upper Wards towards the Embassies and Presidium level. "Vengeance will be mine, Turian, and I won't need an Asari's, Turian's, or Human's help."
"You forgot the Salarians, the Elcor, Volus and the Hanar." Garrus countered…he was becoming too amused with the current conversation.
"The Hanar…" Javik scoffed. He then noticed the Turian reaching out to select a new floor destination. "Where are we going?" He lifted an eye ridge in an accusatory manner.
"Oh, just to meet someone," Garrus grinned and then heard the Prothean sigh in displeasure.
Moments later, the elevator slowed down to their floor destination and the doors slid open to reveal Andromeda standing there with a duffle bag.
Instantly Garrus noted the duffle bag slung over Andromeda's shoulder. "Where are you going?" Garrus asked as he and Javik stepped off the elevator.
"I'm leaving," Andromeda shot back coldly as she walked forward.
Garrus' arm shot forward to block her path. "Tell me what is going on."
"You know damn well what is going on, Garrus Vakarian!" Andromeda snapped back tearfully. "How could you?!"
"Human…what is the matter?" Javik jumped in, tilting his head curiously by the strange event that was unraveling in front of him.
"Javik…I got this," Garrus looked over at the Prothean and then sighed. "Andromeda…I'm assuming it's about Eden Prime…look I didn't want to alarm you unless it was necessary."
"Unless it was necessary?! That's my family there!" Taking a step back to distance herself, Andromeda clung onto the bag tightly. "How long did you know about the attack?"
"I-uh…"
"Even before you…." Her voice trailed off painfully. She eyed the Prothean beside him, deciding on what facts she should actually disclose to him.
Garrus also eyed Javik before confessing, "Yes….I knew what you were going to do and I-"
"Human…Turian..." Javik finally spoke up, interrupting the two. "Are you both joined?"
Garrus cleared his throat, "I-…I mean we…"
Shaking his head, Javik stepped forward and grabbed Andromeda by the shoulders. Suddenly she felt a powerful surge coarse through her body up into her mind. She could see flashes of her memories becoming visualized to her and then the feeling dissipated. She opened her eyes and saw Javik standing there looking at her with the same expressionless look. "What in the-"
Pushing Javik away, Garrus protectively held Andromeda until she seemed to be coming to her senses. "Andromeda? Are you okay?"
"She is fine, Turian," Javik instructed. "I merely read her thoughts…" A smile spread across his lips briefly. "I was correct," He laughed.
"How did you know that we-"Andromeda grabbed Garrus' arm, keeping him from moving as he saw the Turian clench his mandible in frustration.
"Your pheromones." Javik pointed out. "Human, do not grieve for the ones on Eden Prime. They are already lost to the indoctrinated ones."
"How can you say that? There might still be a way to save them."
"They are lost." Javik walked back into the elevator, leaving Garrus there.
"Who was that?" Andromeda asked out loud after the elevator left.
"Our newest teammate and he doesn't appear real friendly, does he?"
"Well I don't care what he says. I'm still going. My family may still have a chance off Eden Prime."
"You don't stand a chance alone against Cerberus…and you know I can't go with you."
"What about your family on Palaven? Don't you want to be there helping them?" Andromeda pushed the elevator call button again.
Garrus remained silent at her words. She was right. Ever since he had to leave Menae to follow Shepard in helping building alliances to stand against the Reapers, he had been wanting to return to Palaven to help his father and sister make it off world. Transmissions every few weeks were not enough and all he knew at the last conversation was that his sister broke her leg. No matter how much he loathed the idea, he couldn't blame Andromeda for wanting to go to Eden Prime and he couldn't stop her. "Alright…." He motioned her to follow him into the elevator. "If you're going, then I want to make sure you survive."
"I'll be fine…" Andromeda's voice softened as she placed her hand comfortingly on his arm, then nuzzled his shoulder.
Turning to her, he cupped her face gently. "I don't know what I would do without you…"
"Your squad needs you, Garrus." She rested her head against his own as her fingers delicately stroked the side of his face to where the scar was.
"I need you…" His avian eyes looked into her own. The two were so caught up in their private moment, that they didn't realize that the elevator had already arrived to the Holding Bay destination and that a confused but amused Zaeed Massani stood there with his arms crossed.
"Garrus, couldn't wait until you got back I see?" The mercenary teased interrupting the two.
Andromeda quickly stepped out of the elevator with her duffle bag in tow, her face flushed. "Zaeed, what brings you down here?" Garrus coughed in embarrassment and followed suit.
"Was about to head up to the bar for a few drinks…waiting for my next orders. You?" He grinned. "Or were you getting to what you wanted."
"Orders?" Garrus laughed, trying to shrug off the last comment. "Since when does an ex-Blue Suns leader take orders?"
"Since those bloody bastards started to attack everywhere. Not many jobs right now. Plus Shepard needs me. "He turned his head and gazed over at Andromeda for where she stood, patiently waiting on Garrus. "One hell of a girl, Garrus. Didn't think you had it in you."
"Well I guess sometimes you get lucky." Garrus waved him goodbye and walked over to join Andromeda. "I'll get you a ship off the Citadel…and a present before you leave." He eyed her clothing.
"You really think the Turians will take me there?" Andromeda assumed that's where Garrus would be taking her.
"No…not many Turians here are able to go anywhere too far. A lot of them are in bad shape. Shepard just made a new alliance and I figured we could use their help…with your diplomatic abilities."
"New Alliance?"
Garrus stopped just outside the Batarian refugee encampment. "Here we are."
Andromeda's jaw dropped as she saw Sh'sk approaching them from inside. "You here for the ship you asked me about?" Sh'sk grunted.