Shepard's eyes slowly opened; but not too quick to draw attention. She stayed as still as possible, only opening them a fraction of an inch to see a leather cushion in front of her. The redhead took in sounds next, listening to the hum of an engine and the clinking of ice in a glass. Wherever she was, was entirely too quiet for a hospital. And it certainly wasn't as bar-like she imagined heaven to be. There was no warmth of Garrus beside her, no cat sleeping entirely too close to her face, and the angle she was laying in made her hip hurt.
"You're a hard woman to find, Shepard." A familiar voice said softly, with a little bit of a stiffness to it. She sat up slowly, looking at none other than Aria T'Loak sitting across from her. Her purple hue sent a glow over the inside of the vehicle. The seats were plush facing each other, a window for the driver to speak to them was behind Aria's head. It was shut and Shepard definitely noted it this wasn't the same vehicle she'd been shoved into earlier.
She had questions, but didn't ask them yet. Perhaps she didn't want to know the details. The bits and pieces she remembered were unpleasant enough. "Always dramatic, Aria." She rubbed the back of her neck, looking up at the Asari with only mild apprehension. "How'd you find me?"
"My men found you about to be in a shallow grave on this god forsaken planet. I've had them watching you since you walked out of Durmic Hospital. Vakarian has been ripping apart the city sense you went missing. Besides…." Aria drank out of her glass, some sort of neon green liquid that hissed as it moved around with the ice. "You don't keep in touch already; I wanted a meeting face to face before Oseser's stragglers got away with murder." Her eyes stared into hers, voice soft and deadly- as always. Both of them ignored the very literal pun for the moment.
"I didn't know you cared that much. You knew Oseser?" Aria snorted at her, uncrossing and recrossing her long legs. A flash of teeth behind her smile made the uneasiness grow ever so slightly.
"Eclipse was sent out to take care of a problem that has been a thorn in my side. Not only are they dead, for the most part, but also the issue. Now here you are, in the middle of things as usual." She looked like a predator staring at her. "I want to know everything that happened in that hospital."
A fraction of a second before Shepard leaned back, she crossed her arms. "Why do you want to know? The team you sent was an army, Aria. You seem pretty concerned about it."
"Mel'Jam Oseser was as much as a bastard as he was a business partner. Before he stabbed me in the back. Literally." Her voice seemed almost romantic at the thought, "I wanted to choke the life out of him myself, but that wasn't an option this time with how heavily guarded he was. His operation wasn't only killing my business but causing a stir among my gangs. The Legion are problematic in general for my empire."
It seemed a good enough reason for Aria to get involved with something; so Shepard told her what happened like she asked. The Eclipse that had tried to kill her, the explosions, the reapers, torture and the hostages, anything that Aria seemed interested in she stored for examination later. Aria always had a reason for paying attention to someone or something. When she finished, Shepard asked questions in return. "Why are you here on Palavin?" If they were even still on Palavin; she couldn't see outside and had no idea how long she'd been gone. Garrus was probably worried out of his mind. "Oseser is dead. I helped take off his head with a grenade myself."
"Business, if you must know." Aria's voice was stiff again, ending that line of questioning before it went any further. There was a sick smile that curved her painted lips, "Music to my ears about Oseser. I couldn't be sure when they showed the body on the news. At least I can trust you to be honest. I have been… concerned, with Oseser's love with the Reaper tech."
Shepard snorted, staring at Aria for a moment. "I heard about them harvesting but I haven't gotten a chance to look into it. What do you know about it?"
Aria's lips pulled back again, something cross between a snarl to a sneer graced her features for a moment. "Harvesting? He was nauseatingly adamant on recreating reaper weaponry and more mutated freaks. Not just harvesting. If he could, he'd probably make himself into one." Her eyes focused on something outside but Shepard didn't look away from her. "They found something- I'm surprised you haven't heard of it yet. A reaper relay gate- and they wanted it. Oseser used to bitch about not having the means to go through it. So he harvested the reaper ships for 'keys'."
"Keys to heaven?" Shepard's voice was soft, remembering what Hacket had told her about the gate. The Normandy's mission just got more complicated it seemed. "I have heard of it. No one even knows what's on the other side. Or how to get it working. He have any idea what was on the other side?"
"Resources, the chance to bring them back. Hell, a home world of those bastards. I'm not sure and neither was he. Oseser bet everything to take fallen Reapers apart. On Palavin, on Thessia, Earth…" She shook her head, "I might applaud him if he wasn't such an idiot to think he could control them. The Illusive Man had the moment and failed… thanks to you." Aria tapped her fingers on the glass, "Oseser had business partners and I personally plan on having them meet a very bloody end. The Legion have no leader now, and serve anything that has a flea bitten maw and a sharp tongue."
"I don't plan on getting in your way." Shepard told her calmly, "I had my own investment, or else I wouldn't have known anything about this. I'm guessing they're going to have an opposition near the gate too. I might take a look myself and see what all the fuss is about." She wasn't about to share she was going on an Alliance mission to the place- at least not yet.
"Fine by me. At the rate your settling my scores for me, I won't have to invest any more of my men." Her eyes flashed, "Speaking of which, next time my men are around could you try not killing them all?"
"They shot at me first." Aria chuckled to herself as the vehicle pulled to a stop. The door opened and she could see the steps of the police station she had been to days ago at this point.
"It was good seeing you again, Shepard. Keep in touch." The door shut when the redhead got out. Still missing one foam slipper and in borrowed hospital clothing, she marched up the steps of the police station. She sighed through her nose, nothing like nearly getting buried alive and then rescued by a gang leader who made out with you once.
xXx
"Shepard?"
Relief flowed through her as Garrus' voice tensely came over the phone. She'd been at the police station for an hour at this point. Talking to several different officers and being stuck in an interrogation room for the most part of it. She had a headache from whatever chemical that Oseser's men had used on her earlier and was trying to fill in the blanks of how she got from the hospital into Aria's lap. At least this time she hadn't been incredibly drunk. "I'm okay… I'm at the police station."
It had taken some time to find Garrus. The hospital hadn't seen him, and Castis had spoken with her briefly. The man had grown on her in such a short time. He had been the one to find him and get him to call her. "Thank you, spirits…" There was a sound of a relieved breath, "I'm on my way there now. Are you in one piece? Are you safe for now?"
She nodded to herself, "Yeah, I'm safe. I ended up getting some help from a… friend. I'll tell you later. They're holding me here for questioning though. How's everybody?" She was referring to the Vakarian family.
"Worried about you. Dad's been pacing a hole in the floor since you called. Mom's still asleep, but her heart stopped swelling…" There was a quiet pause before he said softly, "Someone anonymously donated to pay off her entire treatment and her hospital bills here. Not to mention any other's that might come up in the future."
A smile ghosted her features as her fingernail went over a spot on the table she was sitting at. "Sounds like something good finally happened to good people." Another pause.
"Thank you." He whispered it, and felt her eyes start to water a little. She was fine. Vetra was fine. Garrus was coming. He seemed to hear the hitch in her breath and his voice was a little brittle. "You okay, honey?"
Her voice took a moment to even out again, "Yeah… Yeah… I'm just really glad you're alright."
There was a breathless laugh, "Me? What about you? Gave me a heart attack. I'm ten minutes out."
She shook her head a little, "I'm fine. A bit of a headache but no new bruises surprisingly. Just get here soon, I've pissed off enough cops today I might need back-up."
"I'll be there. Promise."
xXx
Shepard looked up at the door opening to her interrogation room. Her eyebrows shot up as Primarch Victus stepped in with an aide and the chief of police behind him. "Commander." He greeted and she stood, taking the hand that he offered. "Good to see you in one piece."
"Not as much as I am. I didn't expect to see you here, Primarch. I hope you weren't on my emergency contact list." She smiled at she said it, making the older Turian chuckle.
"I'd get too many calls if I were. No, but someone claimed to be from my office earlier trying to pull information on an arrest. When I found out it was Garrus Vakarian I felt the need to do a little investigating myself. Turns out you've had one hell of a vacation."
"I can assure you that this wasn't planned ahead of time."
Victus was at least good natured about it, "Garrus explained already. I'm launching a full investigation into this precinct." He glanced at the police chief, who practically shrunk under his gaze. "And into whatever the Legion was doing here on Palavin. Reports of Eclipse are flooding in as well."
"I might be able to shed some light on that." Shepard sighed. "You're not going to be happy about it either." Victus let her explain what she meant and a few minutes later he looked twenty years older.
The Primarch stepped aside, "Meet me outside in the lobby once you've been approved to leave. We have much to discuss. Garrus is waiting for you there. They wouldn't let him in without ID and I think he's about to scale the building to get to you." Shepard agreed and he left the room, his aid and the chief following behind him without a word. At least the police force was going to be checked into.
xXx
Not five minutes later she was being escorted through the precinct from the interrogation room to the lobby. At least they had given her a pair of spare boots and a jacket. Even if both were a little big on her still. Seriously, how hard was it to find her size?
It was just by chance that she looked in their direction, and stopped short when. There were two kids sitting on a bench. Shepard recognized them both like they were burnt into her memory. They were hostages from the hospital that had been one of the hardest groups to evacuate.
Eclipse had them pinned down in a hallway after Castis had had the ceiling come down on him. She half shielded the kids with her body as a grenade bounced off the wall and she deflected it with a flare of what had been left of her shields. It was bloody… but they had survived to see another day. Now here they were here in front of her.
A Turian boy, probably a teenager from his size, and a human girl who was just barely old enough to be a toddler sat on a bench together. Both were wrapped in a policeman's jacket that was big enough to cover their shoulders. She slowed and the officer escorting her did too. It had been days since they were rescued. "What are they still doing here?" Shepard asked, a little demand in her voice.
The officer looked taken aback for a moment, "Only two kids that haven't been claimed. All the other kids have been picked up by family or friends. No next of kin. Social services are coming to get them when they can, but they are so back-logged from the war… still it has been a bit." A frown appeared on Shepard's face, "Kinda of sad really, the little girl doesn't even know how to speak." The said girl looked right at Shepard, her hazel eyes drew her in from across the room. Shepard stepped away from the officer and went toward them, ignoring the looks she was getting.
The teenager was missing his right leg at the knee, but when she grew closer he sat up straighter; putting a protective arm around the toddler. A growl came from the back of his throat, "We've answered your questions, leave us alone!" His voice had a flange to it, not yet deep enough for an adult but still had force behind it. She slowed her approach, but didn't stop completely until she was close enough to talk to them.
"I'm not with the police. Do you remember me?" The teenager narrowed his eyes at her; arm still around the toddler who now had two of his fingers in her tiny hand and was squeezing them; her thumb in her mouth. She didn't make any noise at all. It was hard to recognize Shepard without the bloody wounds and the armor, but finally he nodded.
"You were at the hospital." The teenager realized, but still seemed stiff. He glanced at the girl and then back to her, "What do you want?"
Shepard had had friendlier greetings but smiled anyway. It's not like they hadn't been through a lot, "To know your name… and if I can do anything to help." The Turian cocked his head at her, glancing behind her at something she didn't turn to see. Someone had come up behind her.
"You already helped though." He shrugged one shoulder and Shepard understood what he referred to.
"What's her name?" Again a shrug and Shepard looked at her. "Hi." She said and the little girl did the same head cocking gesture that the boy did. It must have been a Turian trait, since she had seen Garrus do it too.
"She's deaf." He said and Shepard turned to look back to him, "She didn't get a name so I named her." At her name, or at least the vibrations of his voice, the toddler looked up at him expectantly. "Nova."
Shepard felt her chest tightened, "What do you mean she didn't get a name?"
The Turian sized her up. She got that look from high ranking military officials, not teenagers. He seemed to decide he could tell her, "Her mom was… with me there. Died before she got to give her a name." His voice muted itself as he pulled the little girl closer. She cuddled up to him and Shepard swallowed. That was a horrible thought that this near toddler had practically been raised in captivity.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that. She looks like you've taken really good care of her." He puffed up a little at that; Shepard couldn't help but find it endearing.
"She needs me." He commented and his entire body went rigid as he returned his attention to those around them. His eyes looked at the officers walking around and seemed to sink back further in the seat. Either out of fear of them or protection for Nova, Shepard wasn't sure.
"Do you know anyone I can try to find for you? Family or friends?" He shook his head.
"There isn't anyone." The teenager muttered, looking up at her. His eyes were a startling green when they caught the light. "She doesn't have anyone either… I know what's gonna happen. You don't have to lie."
Shepard rose an eyebrow and he growled at her, as if she was purposefully playing dumb. "We'll go to a home. I've been to them before… before all that. I'm not going back. I don't care what I have to do, I'll take care of us both." The teen puffed up again and she glanced at his leg. He wouldn't get very far with that. She knew about that life too; the words he said were familiar to her about never wanting to go back from where she came from.
She heard a throat clear behind her and she turned to see Garrus there. His eyes were on her, a soft look that was a mixture of relief and understanding. He glanced at the two kids sitting on the bench and then back at Shepard. He came closer, looking between the two. She didn't know how long he had been standing there, but he looked at them the way she had.
"How'd you get that, kid?" He asked, gesturing his chin at his leg with the massive scarring and the boy looked at it himself. The Turian looked up at Garrus, narrowed eyes. Just daring him to say something off about it though Shepard knew he wouldn't.
"I kicked that guy who got his head blown off as hard as I could in a bad spot. Then I kicked him with the other leg too but I hopped too fast for him to get that one." It would have been funny if it hadn't had such heartbreaking results. Garrus looked at Shepard, a new expression on his face.
"Got a minute?" He asked Shepard quietly. But before she could get too far, the teen piped up again.
"Tera." He clarified at the look of confusion she gave him, "My name. My name is Tera." She didn't skip a beat after that.
"I'm Commander Shepard. It's nice to meet you, Tera. Give me a minute and I'll be right back, okay?" She took Garrus by the hand to step a few yards away out of ear shot. As soon as they were out of the way, Shepard took a moment to squeeze the fingers wrapped in hers. They could only allow this much of a reunion for now. Later they would be all over each other- celebrating another victory. A victory where they both made it back in each other's arms.
"I know what you're going to say." He whispered to her, eyes still on the kids sitting on the bench. The teen was still staring at them, as was the toddler. He only broke his gaze to level with her's.
"Do you?" Shepard said softly, looking up at him. "It's sudden. With no thought or planning. We're not even married yet. I have absolutely no training in this. Don't forget we still have that mission and-." She listed off the reasons why it seemed like a bad idea… but couldn't deny it felt right.
Garrus bumped his head gently into hers, quieting her. "Love, we can handle anything. It'll be bad just as much as good at times. Neither of us are trained- or wired, for this kind of thing. But I'd want no one else by my side to experience it with. And hell, I've always wanted kids."
