Garrus

Spirits, he hated the Citadel. It was still the bureaucratic nightmare that it was before Saren's attack. Nothing changed here, not really. Even with the new protocols C-Sec had put in place, Garrus could still see cracks in the system. Thane agreed with him, counting fourteen exploitable flaws, eight of them remained from ten years ago.

"I've spent too much time in C-Sec to think it's the best security force in the galaxy," Garrus commented.

The Citadel tried to put on an air of sophistication, that it was the epitome of class. It was a lie. This place attempted to sell its shit as perfume. It made him miss Omega. It may be a hive of lowlifes and criminals, but at least it was honest about what it was. He just wanted to find Sidonis, put a bullet between his eyes, and leave.

The trio made their first stop to speak to Captain Bailey and get any information they could. Garrus liked the human. He followed the laws up to the point where it got in the way of helping people. Garrus thought he wouldn't have hated his job so much if he had a captain like Bailey and not the one he had.

Of course, the thought of the former superior officer, his dad, made a flood of memories come back. He wondered what the grizzled turian would think about his mission here. He didn't have to stretch his imagination far. His dad would condemn the entire thing, pressuring Garrus to give up his vendetta. It wouldn't have worked, and the result would be an even larger wedge forming between them.

Garrus was glad he didn't know. They were finally on speaking terms again and only because Garrus had a near death experience. He didn't want to tempt fate with another one if their relationship went sour again.

He must have got lost in thought for Shepard was thanking Bailey for the information and leaving the security gate.

"So we have a factory a level down to check out for Fade, and a kid named Mouse who may or may not know something about Thane's son."

"Shepard, if you do not mind, I would like to search for this Mouse while you and Garrus handle the other problem."

Shepard looked at Garrus. "It's not up to me."

He realized the man was giving him the option to do what he wanted. Thane's sniper rifle and biotics could prove very useful. Garrus doubted this Fade would reveal Sidonis' new identity just because he asked nicely.

But this was also personal. While he was fairly positive the drell wouldn't interfere, Garrus didn't feel comfortable sharing this mission with the assassin. He got the feeling this particular hunt would leave him raw.

"Go ahead. Shepard and I should be able to handle this ourselves," Garrus answered, glad he had an easy out.

Thane nodded and headed into the crowd. He wasn't five meters away when he disappeared from view. Garrus couldn't help but be impressed with the drell's ability to vanish in plain sight.

He turned to head in the opposite direction, toward the factory Fade was using as a meeting place. He felt a strong grip on his arm before he got far.

It was Shepard. Of course, it was Shepard. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"I've never been so sure of anything else in my life," Garrus answered gruffly.

He still wasn't letting him go. "I don't want you doing something you'll regret later."

The turian yanked his arm free, letting his growing anger get the better of him. "I won't."

He stomped off. Garrus had been so worried about Thane causing complications, he forgot to think about Shepard. The human may be loyal and trustworthy to a fault, but he was also incorruptible and noble. He would do everything he could to keep Garrus from killing Sidonis in cold blood.

He started to wish that Thane was here instead of Shepard.

They made it to the factory. Shepard kept quiet the entire time, making Garrus worry that much more.

"Leave the talking to me," Garrus commanded.

Still, he challenged. "Maybe you should let me talk."

"No. This is my fight. Let me handle it."

"You're too close to this. You're letting your emotions-"

"You're damn right I'm letting my emotions get the better to me," he nearly yelled as he invaded the human's personal space. "Sidonis betrayed our team. There are ten bodies back on Omega because of him. So, when he's dead, my only regret is that I won't be able to kill him another nine times."

"Garrus-"

"Don't, Shepard. This is happening. If you don't want to be a part of it, fine. You can go back to the ship. I can do this alone."

He didn't wait for a response. He walked into the warehouse, searching for this Fade. A moment later, he realized Shepard had followed him.

"I'm not going to make you do this alone," he whispered.

Garrus didn't look at the human, but he was relieved and yet wary. Someone needed to be with him if only to cover his back when this broke out into the inevitable firefight. But he also got the feeling it wouldn't be the last time he challenged his goal.

Then, a volus sauntered out from behind a crate, flanked by two krogan who would be intimidating if Garrus was a fresh recruit off of Palaven.

"So… which one of you… needs to disappear?" the volus asked, pausing for deep breaths like all volus do.

"I'm more interested in you making someone reappear," Garrus answered.

"Uhhh… That's not a… service I offer."

"Make an exception."

The short alien turned to his bodyguards. They stepped forward, probably to remove the two. Garrus wasn't in the mood to be polite by giving them a warning. He unholstered his pistol and shot twice, once in each krogan's crest. They slumped to the floor.

Garrus leveled the pistol at Fade. "Like I said, 'make an exception.'"

The volus was breathing hard now, rapidly taking large gulps from his tanks. "Wait!" he cried. "I'm… not… Fade. I'm just… a go-between."

"Then start talking." He knelt down next to the squat man, playing with one of the external pipes of his suit. "Or I'm going to start disconnecting these tubes until you pop from decompression in that suit of yours. It'll be far less messy for me and more excoriatingly painful for you."

Fake Fade's breathing picked up. "I… I don't… know… who… Fade is. He… is… secretive."

Garrus wrapped his finger around a tube and tugged on it, not hard enough to pull it free but enough to make the volus aware of the movement. "Not the answer I was looking for."

"Wait! I… don't know… who he is… but I… know where… I send… the clients. I'll… tell you… if you… promise… not to… kill me."

"It won't hurt your chances." Garrus wasn't about to promise anything.

It was good enough for the volus. "He's in… a factory. I'll… give you… the coordinates."

Garrus tested the tube's fastening once more, making the volus whimper. Then, he let go and stood up.

"Does this… mean I can… go?" Fake Fade asked, sounding very hopeful.

He nodded. "But if Fade isn't there, I'll be back for you. And we'll have an in-depth discussion of everything you know. It won't be pleasant."

"He'll… be there. He doesn't… like to… leave his… sanctuary."

Garrus turned to leave the factory and grab a cab for this factory. Fade, whoever he was, was going to tell him exactly where to find Sidonis. How painful the interrogation was would be up to him.

He caught a glimpse of Shepard on the way out. His face was hard and didn't betray any emotion. Still, it was enough to tell Garrus that he didn't approve of what just occurred, but he was also going to try his best to stay out of his way. Garrus hoped it would be until after this messy business was over.

The car ride to the factory was quiet, awkwardly so. Garrus could feel the lecture Shepard wanted to start. Their destination couldn't come fast enough.

When they stepped out of the car, a surprise was waiting for them. A man was walking up to greet them but stopped in his tracks when he saw his visitors. Garrus knew his face.

"Harkin?" Shepard said.

"Shepard?" He looked to the Blue Suns mercs that were acting as his guards. "Don't just stand there! Shoot them!"

The two took cover behind crates as the mercenaries opened fire.

"Harkin is Fade?" Shepard yelled.

"Looks like it. He must use his C-Sec clearance to make people disappear. I knew he was dirty. I just didn't think he would go this far."

They made quick work of the guards Harkin left behind. They moved to the door to manufacturing portion of the factory.

Garrus swore. It was big, too big. He wanted Sidonis. He didn't want to be wasting time running around, chasing some inconsequential lowlife.

"You can run, Harkin!" he yelled, his frustration evident. "But you can't hide! I will find you!"

Harkin must have heard him for he sent a small army to try to stop them. Garrus didn't waste any time showing that he meant what he said. He pressed forward, ripping through anyone who stood in his way. He vaguely registered the sound of Shepard's sniper rifle behind him, probably protecting his flank as he charged.

"Garrus, you're over-extended," Shepard yelled through the comms. "I can't cover you. Fall back."

He didn't heed the warning. Garrus continued to press forward.

"Garrus! Damn it!"

He was just about to fire on some LOKI mechs when his shields suddenly dropped to twenty percent. Warnings blared, and he was forced to stay behind cover. He brought up his omnitool, trying to figure out what the hell just happened when he caught sight of Shepard. The human's shields were flaring, showing signs of overcharge.

Once the room was quiet again, Garrus rounded on him.

"You siphoned my shields?!" he accused.

Shepard barely reacted. "It was the only way I could get you to slow down and let me catch up. If you pressed any further, those Blue Suns would have flanked you."

"I know how to take care of myself, Shepard."

"Usually, yes. Usually, this wouldn't have been a problem, and I wouldn't have to use my tech on my own squad mates. But right now is not the usual. You're not thinking straight, and it's going to kill you if you don't start. If you want to get to Sidonis, then you better start using your head."

He didn't have an answer for that. Garrus knew Shepard was right, but he didn't care. His anger and lust for vengeance was all that was sustaining him right now. So he turned away, eager to find something to shoot at or hit. If someone didn't come soon, it might just be Shepard.

Fortunately for both of them, Blue Suns quickly came and made a futile attempt to stop them. Garrus stayed closer to Shepard this time, still probably a little farther than the human would have liked, but he didn't say anything.

After dozens of mercs, three YMIR mechs, and countless LOKI's, they were finally storming Harkin's office. Shepard entered from one side. The coward saw him and bolted to the other exit and into Garrus' waiting arms. He punched him in the nose before wrapped his hand around the scrawny man's throat and slammed him into the wall.

"Told you I'd find you, 'Fade.'"

"Come one, Garrus. I'm sure we can work something. Whatda need?"

His mandibles flared. "I'm looking for someone."

A smug grin appeared on Harkin's face. "Well, I guess we both have something each other want."

Garrus let go of the man's neck and drove a knee into the man's gut. He wasn't here to play games.

Harkin doubled over. "All right fine," he coughed. "Who are you looking for?"

"His name was Sidonis, turian. He came from-"

"I know who he is," Harkin interrupted. "And I'm not telling you anything. I don't give out client information. It's bad for business."

Garrus kicked him, this time putting his food squarely over the man's neck when he was on the floor. "You know what else is bad for business? A broken neck!"

Harkin struggled for a second before the turian put more pressure on his windpipe. "All right, all right! Get off me!"

But he didn't. Garrus continued to push. After the dirty cop gasped a few more times, Shepard was there, putting a hand on his arm. Garrus lifted his foot after that.

Harkin stood, rubbing his reddening neck. "Something changed you, Garrus."

He didn't bother to respond. Harkin moved to the console, made up some bogus excuse, and set up a meeting with Sidonis. He gave Garrus the coordinates.

"So we all good?"

Garrus grabbed him. "I don't think so, Harkin. You're a criminal now."

He sneered. "So what? You going to kill me now? That's not your style."

"You're right. It's not." He leveled a pistol at his leg. "Doesn't mean I can't slow you down."

Just as he pulled the trigger, Shepard pushed the gun away. The bullet lodged itself in the wall.

"C-Sec will know about Harkin now. He won't be able to get away. You don't have to shoot him."

Garrus pulled his arm out of Shepard's grip, angry he didn't let him put a bullet in Harkin's leg. "I guess it's your lucky day," he told the cop.

"Yeah. Let's do this again real soon."

Garrus gave Harkin a going away gift. After Shepard had turned, the turian slammed his forehead into the man's nose. He heard a satisfying crunch. Then, he caught up to Shepard.

"I didn't shoot him," Garrus said innocently.

The car ride to the meet point was just like the one to the factory. When they landed, Shepard must have found it impossible to hold back what he wanted to say.

"I'm worried about you, Garrus. You were pretty hard on that volus and even worse on Harkin."

Garrus turned to him. "You don't think Harkin deserved it?"

"It's just not like you."

He sighed and looked out the window. "What do you want from me, Shepard?" he whispered.

"I want you to leave. I want you to see that killing Sidonis won't make the others come back."

"I know that!" His anger flared but then died just as quickly. "What would you do if someone important to you, someone you trust, betrayed you?"

"I don't know. But I wouldn't let it change me."

Garrus laughed joylessly. "That's what I would have said. Before Omega. Before all this." He looked out the glass and found a good vantage point. "I'll set up there. When Sidonis is in position, I'll let you know."

He got out of the car before Shepard could say anything. He didn't want to talk about this. He wanted to get it done so he could move on.

Garrus unloaded his sniper rifle and found Sidonis through the scope. Shepard was waving him over, hopefully getting him into position for the shot. He really hoped the human wouldn't stand in his way.

He should have known better.

He watched as Sidonis strode over to Shepard. The betrayer's head was pulled back high and proud. His clothes looked expensive, and the cane he was carrying was ornate. Garrus' mandibles flicked in barely contained rage.

"Let's get this over with," Sidonis said. His voice was aloof and cold, like his new found wealth didn't come from the death of ten of his friends.

Garrus adjusted his scope. "You're in my shot. Move to the side," he told Shepard.

The human did not.

"Listen, Sidonis. I'm here to help you."

"Don't ever say that name again," Sidonis hissed.

"I'm a friend of Garrus," Shepard continued. "He wants you dead, but I'm hoping that's not necessary."

"What are you doing, Shepard?!" Garrus yelled into the comm.

"Garrus? Is this some kind of sick, twisted joke?" Sidonis asked, oblivious to Garrus' outburst.

Shepard was going to mess it all up for him. He was going to stop Garrus from getting revenge. "Damn it, Shepard. Move out of the way!"

"You're not kidding, are you?" Garrus heard Sidonis say. "Screw this. I'm not sticking around to find out. Tell Garrus I got my own problems."

The betrayer moved to leave, giving Garrus a clean shot. But just before he squeezed the trigger, Shepard pulled Sidonis back, protecting the turian with his body.

"Don't move," Shepard hissed.

"Get off me!"

"Listen, Sidonis. I am the only thing standing between you and a bullet in your head. Literally."

Garrus growled. Shepard just gave away his position.

"Fuck. Look. I didn't want to do it, I didn't have a choice."

"Everyone has a choice," Garrus growled.

"They had me for three days. They tortured me. I still held out. But then… they showed me a video. It was my parent's place. They told me they would die if I didn't give up Archangel."

"He's lying!"

"What was I suppose to do?" Sidonis continued. "I know what I did. They died because of me. I barely eat. I can't sleep. I can barely shut my eyes without seeing them, accusing me. Sometimes… sometimes I wish it would all end."

"Let me end it for him, Shepard. Move out of the way," Garrus commanded, punctuating every word.

"Listen to me, Garrus. He's already paying for what he did."

"It's not enough. It'll never be enough."

"Look at him, Garrus." He stepped to the side. "Really look."

He almost pulled the trigger as soon as Shepard stepped out of the way, but the view in the scope made him stop. Those expensive clothes Garrus noticed were ragged and hanging off Sidonis as if he were a skeleton. His face was gaunt from malnutrition. Several teeth were missing, and his entire right mandible was gone. There were cracks in his carapace and even a whole plate missing. And the ornate cane was holding up a mangled leg, twisted in all the wrong ways.

Shepard was right. He was paying for his crimes. Something stirred in him, an emotion he thought was burned away by what happened to him on Omega. It was sympathy.

"Just go. Tell him to go."

Garrus didn't hear the rest of the conversation. He was too wrapped up in himself. He was waiting in the car when Shepard got back.

"You did the right thing, Garrus."

"Did I?" Garrus wasn't so sure. He didn't feel any better, letting Sidonis live. Now that it was over, he didn't think he would have felt better if Sidonis had died either.

Shepard didn't answer, keeping his eyes on the skylane. It was just as well. Garrus didn't really want to talk.

Thane called them just as they were landing. He had found Mouse and wondered if Shepard could help him.

"Go on," Garrus told him. "I'll be fine."

"You sure?" Shepard looked worried.

"Yeah. Want to be alone anyway."

His friend nodded and put his hand on Garrus' shoulder. "Let me know if you ever need to talk."

"Will do." He turned and walked in the direction of the Normandy, his head buzzing with too many ideas to be able to concentrate on just one.


Author's Note:

This chapter. This is the chapter has been giving me all kinds of grief. I didn't know how to start and I couldn't figure out where it should go. In the end, I just started to write, and this is what came out. Hope you like it.

Thanks for reading and putting up with me. And please review!