7.1 Earth Alliance HQ
"Admiral Anderson, sir. We received the notice that the Normandy SR-2 has been assigned to you and that you are to approve all repairs, retrofits, improvements, and personnel. We sent you a list of needed repairs and retrofits, if you could look those over and approve those, we can get started on those right away." the aide said.
"Of course," Anderson said.
"We are preparing a list of personnel to handle the retrofits, do you have any suggestions?" he said.
"Yes, see if you can get Engineer Adams, he was on the SR-1. Also, there was a pilot, I think his name is Cortez, Lt. Steve Cortez, see if you can get him for the shuttle, I mean cargo bay retrofits, armory. And a Specialist Sam… Samatha Trayner or Treynor, anyway, she's in R&D, I want her on the ship. She can handle software, communications."
"Yes, sir." He said. "Are there any modifications or improvements you'd like?"
"Yes, I want to turn this into a mobile command center. I want plans for a QE communications room, war room, conference room, every kind of communications, software, hardware we can stuff into this thing. I want it better than state of the art." Anderson said.
"Yes, sir. I will get them working on plans right away." He said.
"She's going to need all the help she can get," Anderson said.
"Sorry, sir?"
"Nothing, anything else?" Anderson said.
"Yes, we are having trouble with the VI. It seems to be hardwired into every system on the ship. We tried to disengage it but all systems went down. We tried getting around the VI but it went into lockdown and now it's telling us that it needs a security override which, of course, we don't have, without that, it is instructed to only take orders from Fl. Lt Moreau. We're afraid that if we try to uninstall it, we might have an expensive piece of junk on our hands. We can keep trying to get around it, or we can work with it. In that case, we need authorization to bring Moreau on board the ship." he said.
"Granted but I want guards with him at all times," Anderson said.
"You think he will try to escape?" He said. "With all due respect, I'm pretty sure we can handle someone with brittle bones, sir."
"No, I'm more concerned that Cerberus will try to kill him," Anderson said. "So unless you all feel like fighting off Cerberus assassins, get him armed guards."
"Yes, sir."
7.2 Earth Alliance HQ
"Do you have a preliminary report on Shepard?" the Head of Alliance Board said.
"As per instructions, she has been taken off MIA list but not reinstated, officially per the investigation into the Alpha Relay incident. We had her detained in the Detention Wing as it is the most secure place in the compound and close to the medical facility in case of emergency. Obviously, we have concerns about the cybernetics installed, if there is a timer, kill switch, homing device, mind control chip, etc. All are prototypes, illegal and expensive. We estimate there is at least one billion credits of hardware in her body. We have reviewed all information about the cybernetics we received from the ship and are in the process of verifying it. So far, it appears to be accurate, but we aren't taking any chances."
"Is that what's keeping her alive?" he asked.
"No, while they did help revive her, it seems they are now serving monitoring and backup functions. In case of certain types of trauma, say cardiac arrest, they can restart her heart. This makes her harder to kill, even poisoning would be hard to do as the network can take over functions till toxins are cleared."
"It is, of course, possible they could cause death, by sending a pulse to her heart to stop it, for example. However, while they do send out information, medical and diagnostic, there doesn't appear to be a way to communicate with them. They act independently or in conjunction with other cybernetics. We are still investigating if there is a way for them to be remotely triggered to kill her. However, even if there was, they are so integrated into her system that trying to remove them would in all probability kill her." he said.
"We have analyzed the signals sent out and they are all local and only pertain to diagnostic and medical information. There doesn't appear to be any way to use them to track her location outside of five meters. Finally, while there are cybernetics in her brain none appear to be any kind of control chip."
"We have her under constant surveillance not only to watch for any problems with the cybernetics but any signs of conditioning, suggestion, subliminal or hypnotic, or brainwashing. So far there have been no indications that this is the case, but as such things can be very subtle and hard to discover, we are going to move to a second stage consisting of psychological tests which are designed to reveal any such conditioning or suggestion. We will update as we make progress." he said.
"We had her recount everything that had happened since she woke up several times in a great deal of detail and then answer a litany of questions regarding those events. All her recounts of the events and answers regarding them have been consistent and indicated no false memories or induced amnesia or any deception on her part regarding any of those events, especially concerning the relay incident. As far as we can tell, she has been completely honest and forthcoming about everything except the identities of her squad." he said.
"This is the only point where she has been uncooperative. She admits that she knows their identities but has refused to divulge them or any information about them, even at the suggestion that it may help her case. She also apparently had nearly all surveillance footage, transmissions, audio, records and reports, and anything else that might reveal personal information about them erased. Any references we have to them only reference their code names. Even Fl. Lt Moreau has refused to divulge their identities claiming that he doesn't know and that they were only ever referred to by their code names. We doubt this is true but he has not budged from that assertion. Despite this, we have gleaned a few details and together with our own intel have with varying levels of certainty determined the probable identity of most of the squadmates, see attachment A-12."
"We also have concerns about assassination attempts. Ad. Anderson installed Lt. James Vega as her personal bodyguard. So far there have been no confirmed attempts. There have been few questionable hacks of security which were thwarted, and a few people attempting to get into the base, but none we could directly link to Cerberus or to the batarians." he said. "We will provide updates as any new information becomes available."
7.3 Attachment A-12
Listing of all known squadmates, information regarding them, and our assessment of probable identities.
Cerberus Officer: known information: human female operative, highly intelligent, biotic and tech training, was in charge of the project to revive Shepard.
Probable identity: Miranda Lawson, she is a known Cerberus agent.
Cerberus Operator: known information: human male operative, ex-Alliance, biotic, had previously worked with the Cerberus Officer.
Probable identity: Jacob Taylor, quit Alliance after Eden Prime, had previously worked with Miranda Lawson.
The Professor: known information: male salarian scientist, trained as a doctor, was on Omega.
Probable identity: Dr. Mordin Solas: he ran a clinic on Omega and disappeared from there soon after sightings of Shepard on Omega, cured plague in slums, also known to have worked with STG as science expert.
'Archangel': known information: lead a small mercenary group on Omega which was reportedly wiped out by an unprecedented alliance of the three major gangs on Omega. There were some reports that he is turian but those were unconfirmed, there is no other information regarding his true identity. He was severely injured during the fight on Omega, all details were deleted, but surgery and cybernetics were used to save his life.
Probable identity: Garrus Vakarian: this is based on the unconfirmed reports of Archangel being turian, that they possess a similar skill set, his previous association with Shepard, and the fact that he reappeared on the Citadel after disappearing for nearly two years right before Shepard returned to Earth. He appears to have recent and significant injuries to the lower right side of his face, right side of his neck, and right shoulder. There are no medical records of this injury or any treatment received for it. From surveillance footage, it appears that he has full functionality which given standard treatments would be nearly impossible with such a recent and severe injury. C-Sec scans indicated the presence of advanced unregistered cybernetics consistent with the ones used on Shepard and which would account for his quick recovery. Also, Dr. Karen Chakwas, who was known to be on the Normandy, is one of the few human doctors capable of treating that severe of an injury on a turian.
Convict: female human, powerful biotic with a criminal record, was freed from the private prison ship 'Purgatory' before it was destroyed, unconfirmed reports are that she was raised at a Cerberus facility.
Probable identity: Subject Zero, aka 'Jack': there were unconfirmed reports that she was on Purgatory prior to its destruction.
Warlord: known information: Okeer, however, he died before he was able to join Shepard's team but his project, a cloned krogan, did join Shepard's team
Probable identity: Urdnot Grunt: it is unlikely that a krogan clan would accept a cloned krogan, however, Shepard's prior association with Urdnot Wrex the leader of Clan Urdnot makes it possible. Urdnot Grunt joined the clan during this time period, passing his rite of passage with a krant made up of non-krogan, at least one of which was a human, and then was allowed to serve under an unknown battlemaster.
Assassin: known information: male and has some type of incurable medical condition.
Speculative identity: Thane Krios: he was seen on Illium about the time Shepard was seen there, medical records on Normandy consistent with Kepral's Syndrome.
Justicar: known information: asari.
Probable identity: Justicar Samara: she is the only known Justicar to travel outside asari space and was on Illium about the time Shepard was seen there.
Quarian: known information: female quarian.
Probable identity: Tali'Zorah vas Neema: given the hostility quarians have for Cerberus she is the only likely candidate based on her prior association with Shepard.
Geth: known information: a terminal of the geth that was able to operate independently outside of geth controlled space. No other information available.
Veteran: known information: a high-priced mercenary and bounty hunter.
Probable identity: Zaeed Masonini: few independent mercenaries live long enough to be considered a 'veteran.' Cerberus one of few organizations that could afford to pay him to join a suicide mission.
Thief: known information: female
Speculative identity: none
7.4 Citadel Lower Wards
This was one of the seedier bars he'd ever been in and that was saying something. He looked around and saw a woman sitting at the bar, shaved head, tattoos over 95% of the skin he could see doing an impressive number of whisky shots. Had to be her. He walked up to the bar. "You Jack?"
The woman looked over at him, she was surprised by the Alliance uniform. "Who wants to know?" she said.
"Major Zachery Jones, Alliance Biotic Division," he said. "We heard that you helped Commander Shepard take out the collectors."
"She sold me out?" Jack said.
"Commander Shepard sell out one of her squad?" He said. "No, we only had general information about all of the squad but here in the Alliance we're not as dumb as we look, usually when we put two and two together we get four, or I guess in this case zero."
"You think you're funny?" she said.
"No, I'm not," he said. "and that was one of my better ones."
"So what do you want?" she said.
"To recruit you for the Alliance," he said.
"I didn't think the Alliance took people with criminal records," she said.
"They usually don't, but biotics are an exception," he said. "Most biotics who aren't in training programs from a young age have some sort of issue. It comes with the territory. Now they're normally not as extensive as yours, of course, but if they show promise, talents, skill. The fact you were on Shepard's team, is enough to get you a tryout, plus the fact that you blew up a space station. I mean that's impressive."
She turned back to her drink and slammed the next shot, then carefully set the glass down. He had been doing this long enough to know when he had someone's attention.
"It's not a bad life, you know, better quarters than this although the food probably isn't much better. Lots of combat, put some of that talent you have to good use. You might even get to save the galaxy, well, again. Something to think about." he said. "Here is my contact information, if you want to talk some more let me know." he started to leave.
"Hey," she said and stood up.
"Yeah," he said, worked every time.
"You guys still run the Ascension program?"
7.5 Grissom Academy
"Are you crazy?" Kaylee Sanders asked him. "She's got a record longer than this room. You can't have her teaching children."
"She was raised in a Cerberus facility, tortured, experimented on," Zach said.
"I know, I feel sorry for her but that doesn't mean…"
"She knows better than anyone else what these kids need. She wants to make sure they get a better shot than she did. That's got to be worth something." he said.
"That doesn't make her a good teacher." she said.
"Look, here," he typed into his omni tool, "this is her lesson plan for a course. 'Tactical Use of Biotics in Combat.' It's good." he said.
Kaylee downloaded the document and read through it. "Okay, I admit that does look pretty good."
"So let her teach one class, special guest lecturer, and see how she does, see how the kids respond. If she's horrible then at least you've got me out of your hair." he said.
Kaylee looked over the lesson plan. "Okay, one class."
7.6 Palavan
Garrus was standing outside his parents' home. He had thought about calling once he decided to come back to Palavan and then before he left the Citadel and then once he got to Palavan and then before he got a taxi to the house but hadn't. Now it was a little late.
He grabbed his bag and gun case, walked up to the door, and rang the bell. The vid camera came on.
"Garrus?" Castis Vakarian said.
"Yeah, dad. It's me." The door opened and he stepped inside the house. It had changed but not much. A couple new chairs, new shades on the windows but otherwise the same as the last time he was here. His dad came down the stairs.
"Garrus, why didn't you… spirits! What happened?" he said.
"It's a long story. I'll tell you later." Garrus said.
"Alright." He said. "Sol is at the store. She should be back any minute."
"I thought she'd be at the clinic with mom," Garrus said.
"They sent her home," Castis said and shook his head. "They can't do anything more for her."
The door opened and Solana walked. "Hey, I found that tea mom likes..."
"Sol," Castis said.
"...had to go to a specialty shop since it's imported," Sol said.
"Sol." She looked up at him and he looked over at Garrus.
"Garrus! What are you... Spirits! What happened?" she said. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." He said.
"You're not fine!" She said. "Half your face is burned off! No wonder you didn't want to do a vid chat. You need to see a doctor."
"I will." He said.
"One of the guys I went to basic with is a specialist at the burn center," Castis said. "I can contact him for you."
"Thanks, that'd be good," Garrus said. He turned back to Sol. "How's mom?"
She shook her head. "They said it won't be long, a couple more weeks. The neural degradation was too far along for them to do much, but the treatments worked wonders. She still can't walk without help and can't use her hands much but the shaking has nearly stopped and she's not in pain like she was. She actually sleeps now. She still doesn't remember things and gets confused but she's not nervous or agitated like she was. Sometimes you'll talk to her and she's almost normal, you know." She looked over at Castis and then back to Garrus. "The clinic was expensive as hell but worth it."
"Expensive?" Garrus said. "That was supposed to be paid… damn."
"I told you," Castis said. "Too much of a coincidence."
"What did you do?" she said. "I know how much that cost just for her and everyone in the trial group was paid for. You rob a bank or something?"
"No, it's nothing like that," Garrus said.
"It has to be bad or else you wouldn't be trying to hide it from us," Castis said.
"It's not, I didn't tell you because I knew that you'd want to know where the money came from and I couldn't tell you then," Garrus said. "I was on a mission with Commander Shepard to investigate the human colonies that went missing."
"Commander Shepard? I thought she was dead." Castis said.
"She's not," Garrus said.
"So that's where you've been this whole time? With Shepard?" she asked.
"Yes," he said. "We found out the colonists were being taken by the collectors. I didn't say anything because I wanted to make sure you were safe. The clinic was offering a bounty for collector samples. I arranged to have them delivered to pay for the trial group. One of the other people on the mission made some calls to help."
"So, you just happened to be on a mission and collect samples of something the clinic just happened to need, and just happened to be on this mission with someone who just happened to be in a position to just make some calls to get everything paid for?" Sol said.
"Here's the letter," Garrus said. He typed into his omni-tool. Sol pulled up the screen. Both she and Castis read through the message.
"Spirits, Garrus, I'm sorry." She said. "It just seemed too easy.'
"Trust me, it wasn't." He said.
"Sol, why don't we go fix dinner and let Garrus get some rest and clean up," Castis said. "We'll call you when dinner's ready."
Garrus took his bag and gun case and headed upstairs. He went to his room, which was exactly as he had left it. Completely cleaned out, only bed, chair, desk, shelving unit, and wardrobe. He put down his bag, opened it, took out the medication for the burns, datapad, and suit of clothes. He slid the gun case under the bed and laid down.
7.7 Palavan
After dinner, Sol said that she needed to take their mother her medicine and some tea. She told Garrus he should come up and see her. Garrus followed Sol upstairs. By the window was a woman he barely recognized. His mother was in her seventies but looked like she was almost twice that or older. She was thin and frail, skin an ashy tone.
"Mom," The woman opened her eyes. "Here is your medicine and some of that tea you like."
"Thank you." She said, her voice weak and unsteady. The medicine was liquid as it is nearly impossible for turians to swallow pills. She drank it and then took hold of the tea in both hands, there was just a trace of shaking in her left hand. She took a sip and another then looked out the window.
"Mom, Garrus is here to see you." The woman looked over and then at Garrus but she looked confused. "You remember Garrus, don't you, mom?"
"No, I… I don't." She said.
"Mom…"
"No, it's okay," Garrus said. He sat in the chair next to her. She looked at him but her eyes were unfocused. She looked out the window and took another sip of tea.
"I'll go get that other blanket for you. It's going to get cold tonight." Sol said and left the room.
"How are you?" He said. She looked startled as if she had forgotten he was there.
"Better." She said. "The doctors, the... salarians, they made things... better."
"That's good." He said. She took another sip of tea, then with a great deal of effort, she set the cup on a small table.
"Garrus…" she said. "...that name sounds familiar." Her eyes seemed to focus as she tried to remember.
"I think you have a son named 'Garrus," he said.
"I do?" She said as she tried hard to remember. After nearly a minute, her face brightened. "Yes, I do." She said. "He's a good boy, so smart and so tender-hearted though he wouldn't want me to say so. I worry about him."
"Why?" he said.
"He is stubborn, nearly as much as his father." She said. "He has to do what he thinks is right no matter what... that can be hard."
"Yes, it can," he said. A few minutes passed.
"I know... I won't be around much longer. They won't say but… I don't remember things like I should. I hope he gets to come home, I'd like to say goodbye." she said. "If he gets to come home and I forget, will you tell him I love him and how proud I am of him."
"I will," he said.
"Thank you," she said relieved, "I want him to know that."
"I'm sure he does." he said.
"You know, you remind me of him." Then she looked confused. "Where did you get that visor?"
"From you." he said "when I joined C-Sec, you had to special order it for the left side, took out the targeting, since I didn't need it, added magnification, sonar, LADAR, thermal imaging, measure kinetic and biotic fields, added processing power so I could modify it, even added in an audio link. You wanted me to have every advantage because you said you knew me and that I'd be right in the middle of the worst fights."
She looked at him then down as she tried to remember. Then she looked up, "Garrus?"
"Mom?" he said.
She reached out her hand and took his, gripping it as hard as she could. "Oh, my beautiful boy," she said "Goodbye,"
"Mom," he said.
"It's okay." she said, "it's okay." She reached up and touched the right side of his face and then leaned forward. Garrus touched his forehead to hers. After a few seconds, she leaned back. She looked confused, her eyes unfocused. She pulled her hands back. She turned back to the window. After several minutes she turned back to him.
"I'm sorry what was your name, again?" she said.
"Garrus." He said.
"No," she said. "that... doesn't sound familiar."
7.8 Palavan
Castis took out two glasses and poured some brandy in each. As Garrus walked into the room he handed one to him. Garrus realized this was the first time his father had ever poured him a drink.
"So, what happened?" Castis said.
Garrus took a drink. "I guess I should tell you everything, starting at the beginning."
Two hours later the moons were rising, much of the brandy was gone. Castis hadn't said anything since Garrus started talking. Now that he was done, he picked up his drink and went to the window. He just stood there, staring out into the night sky.
Garrus waited. He had told him everything, from Saren, the geth, Sovereign, Virmire, Illos, then about the collectors and their connection to the reapers. He had left out the Archangel bit and never did exactly say when he got the injury but hopefully, his dad wouldn't ask.
Several minutes went by and then several more. Castis just stared out the window.
"I know it's hard to believe," Garrus said.
"Almost impossible," Castis said.
Damn it. Garrus thought. He should have known better. Well, he had but didn't have any other options.
"But I do. Every word of it. It all fits together. Spirits help us!" Castis said. "I'll talk to the Primarch. He won't believe this but if I stay on him, he'll have to do something. But we need a plan."
"I've been thinking about that," Garrus said as he took out a datapad.
7.9 Palavan Hierarchy Headquarters
Garrus had been given a small office in the hierarchy headquarters and some token resources, but it was something and he was going to get the most out of it and more than that if he could get away with it. As he started setting up there was a knock.
"Come in." He said. Primarch probably changed his mind already.
Three turians walked in, the first one said. "Are you the one running the Reaper Task Force?"
"Yes?" Garrus said.
"Do you need some help?" He said.
"Help?" Garrus asked.
"Yes, we want to volunteer, if you need help," he said. "We were on the Citadel when that thing attacked. We don't care what the Council says, if more of those things are coming, we better be ready."
7.10 Palavan
Garrus woke up late. He was heading out the door, when Solana came downstairs.
"Hey," he said. "I gotta go. I'm already late."
"Garrus," She looked shaken.
"What is it?" He said. Solana shook her head and then put her head in her hands. Once Solana had calmed down, he went upstairs.
Castis was sitting next to her, his hands over hers. She looked peaceful.
Garrus sat down next to him. "At least she's at peace," Castis said. "That's what you say. Why doesn't that make it feel any better?"
"Because you shouldn't be grateful someone died," Garrus said. "What happened to her wasn't right, wasn't fair. She deserved better."
"Yes, she did." Castis said.
7.11 Earth Alliance HQ Detention Area
Shepard paced in front of the window in her room. It wouldn't be fair to call it a cell, although it was in the detention wing. It was comfortable, the food was good. It was more like being confined to a nice hotel room. There was a gym, training room, shooting range, she could even go outside as long as James was with her and as jailers went he was pretty good. He even snuck her alcohol. But after having the ability to fly around the galaxy, it seemed oppressively small.
It seemed like she'd been running ever since Eden Prime, the geth, Saren, Sovereign, and then at least to her it was right to the collectors. And now, she was just waiting. She'd done some reading, leveled up her Galaxy of Fantasy character, watched Vaenia, Asari Confessions, and Blasto 1-4, at least twice. But it was tough. Before she'd been in command, surrounded by her team. Now there were days when the only person she talked to was James and she had to ask permission to go to the gym.
In the beginning, she'd had to go over everything that had happened since she woke up. She'd told the story over and over. Then there was a battery of tests, some she didn't even understand the purpose of, perhaps it was just to keep her busy or give them something to do but now the days dragged on. She was lonely. It wasn't a feeling she was used to. She missed all of them, worried about them, wondered what they were doing; how Thane's health was, if Jack was staying out of trouble, if Grunt was getting along in clan Urdnot, how Liara was managing as the Shadow Broker, how Miranda and her sister were doing and so on.
Of course, she thought about one of them more than the others. There were days and so many long nights where she would give anything just to hear him say her name. So many mornings before she had completely woken up that she reached over to the other side of the bed just to find that he wasn't there. No doubt that had gone in some report somewhere.
She looked out the window. Palavan was that way. He said that he was going to try the council and if that didn't go anywhere, which he didn't expect it to, he would go back to Palavan. Maybe he was there now, maybe he had met someone, someone with more flexibility than she had or who was just more turian. She couldn't blame him, they had left things open but still... she knew it was selfish but she hoped he hadn't, that he missed her as much as she missed him, that even now on the other side of the galaxy he was thinking about her too, and somehow that made everything more bearable.
7.11 Palavan
"You've been at that all day. You need to take a break." Sol said.
"I will... soon." Garrus said without looking up.
"Why don't you come to the store with me? We can go by the park, get some lunch. It'll be good for you." Sol said.
"Maybe another time, but we do need some brandy." he said.
"You only get brandy if you come to the store with me." she said.
Garrus looked up. "That's playing dirty."
"I know. So, you coming?" she said.
"I guess I have to." He said.
They walked to the market. As Sol got food, Garrus went over to the alcohol section and bought two bottles of turian brandy and a bottle of imported dextro compatible champaign. Afterward, they walked through the park, got food from a cart, and sat down to eat.
Sol looked through the bags. "Imported dextro compatible wine, huh? Who's that for?"
"A friend." He said.
"A friend? You expect me to buy that?" she said.
"No, but I was hoping you'd drop it." he said.
"Right, like that's going to happen," she said. "Who is she?"
"Sol,"
"Asari?" Sol said. "Come on, tell me. Look if my brother is involved with someone I want to know."
"It's not like that… exactly," he said.
"Then what is it like?" Sol asked. "You don't buy wine for a casual hookup, so you might as well tell me or I'll keep on it till you do."
"I know," he said. "I just don't know when I'll get to see her again."
"So, you're buying wine just in case. That's oddly optimistic of you. You must really like her." she said. He didn't say anything. "So who is it?"
"I'd rather not get into it," he said.
"Okay, I'll drop it." She knew her brother well enough to know when not to push. She took out the bottle. "Very nice. You're really trying to impress her but… this isn't asari wine, this is… human? A human?"
"Sol,"
"Wait, it's not Shepard, is it?" she said. "Garrus, come on. I know you've had a crush on her forever but she's human, Alliance, a hero, you really think she'd be interested in…
"...me?"
"...a turian?" she said.
"She said she was," he said.
"Nut you know how humans are," she said.
"You don't know her," he said.
"No, but a turian and a human, does that even work?" she said.
"Yes, it does," he said.
"Oh, I… oh… I didn't… I see… Wow." she said. "So, you two are serious?"
"Maybe, we left things open," he said. "She's back on Earth."
"When's the last time you talked to her?" she said.
"When she left for Earth," he said.
"You haven't talked to her since then?" she said. "That's not a good sign, Garrus."
"No, it's not like that. She's got some things to work out with the Alliance. She can't talk to anyone right now." he said.
"Is that what she told you?" she said.
"No, that's what I know," he said.
"Okay, just you know it's one thing when you're around someone, especially on a ship and another when you go home and have other options," she said.
"I know," he said.
"I'm not trying to…" she said "I just don't want to see you get hurt."
"You know me, I always expect the worst anyway," he said.
"So that's why you're buying wine?" she said.
"Doesn't hurt to be prepared," he said.
7.12 Turian Space Station
"These new long-range detection protocols are a waste of time." the lieutenant said. "I spent an hour yesterday verifying an asteroid."
"What? You got something better to do?" the other lieutenant said. The serviceman was barely paying attention to the conversation when something came up on the long-range scanner.
"Just about anything would be a better use of time." the first one said. "We only have to do this because Vakarian's dad is friends with the Primarch and he needed a job after he got fired from C-Sec." The initial scan came back as unidentified, normally they would mark it and follow up later. But with the new protocols, he had to do more detailed scans.
"He resigned." the other one said.
"Yeah, that's what they say when they fire you." the first one said. "What does he know?" The more detailed scan also came back unidentified but whatever it was it was large. Normally, they'd check back when it was within range. He checked the new protocols. They called to check speed and direction.
"Right, the man who was on the Citadel with Commander Shepard during the geth attack," he said. "Yeah, I'm sure he has no idea what he's talking about." Whatever it was, it wasn't acting like an asteroid or junk. It was traveling at great speed and it was getting closer and there was something else. He ran one last scan.
"Council said these 'reapers' don't exist." the first one said.
"You believe them, you're dumber than you look." the second one said. "If he says more of those things are on the way, then I say we better be ready."
"Sir, I have something." the serviceman said. The lieutenant came over.
"What do you have?" He said.
"I don't know." He said. "But it's big and fast and heading this way and whatever it is... it's not alone."
7.13 Palavan
Garrus was sitting at the small desk in his room, typing into a datapad.
"Garrus, it's late you need to get some rest," Castis said.
"I will," Garrus said. "I just wanted to finish this."
"How are things going?" He asked.
"Making progress," Garrus said. "We got the backup communication systems online, increased stockpiles, reinforced supply lines, changed the long-range detection protocols…"
"I didn't think you had the authority to do all that," Castis said.
"I don't," Garrus said. "But by the time they figure that out it will be done and it will cost too much and take too much time to put it back."
"Garrus,"
"You said it yourself, the Primarch doesn't believe the reapers are a threat and he's wrong," Garrus said. "By the time he realizes it, it will be too late to do anything about it."
"But he's still the Primarch, Garrus," Castis said. "There are rules and procedures and good reasons for them."
"Maybe, but those reasons apply to normal circumstances and this isn't a normal circumstance," Garrus said. "I'm not playing by the rules, not this time. There's too much at stake."
"Not like you ever follow the rules," Castis said. "What happens when they find out and they will find out?"
"Worried it will make you look bad?" Garrus said.
"I'm worried about you," Castis said, "Going outside your authority, disobeying orders, that's insubordination."
"I'm doing what's right, no matter what. Humans call that integrity." Garrus said. "This is still my home and I'm going to do everything I can to stop it from being destroyed by the reapers and if that means violating regulations or going outside my authority, then that's what I'm going to do."
They held each other's eyes for a time till Castis looked away. "Get some rest," he said and left the room.
There was an alert that someone was at the door. It was too late for this to be anything other than an emergency. Garrus went downstairs.
Solana came out of her room. "Who's at the door?"
On the screen were two men in uniform. "Hello," Castis said.
"Mr. Vakarian, I am General Bratis and this is Lt. Gaeser, we apologize for the late hour but we need to speak to Garrus immediately." Castis opened the door. The two men stepped inside as Garrus came downstairs. The general walked over to him.
"Vakarian, sir, we have been instructed to bring to the Primarch immediately." He said.
"Why?" Garrus said.
"I can't say, only that you must come with us, sir." He said.
"Garrus, I told you," Castis said. "Is he under arrest?"
"No, Mr. Vakarian but he has to come with us now." he said.
"I don't under… I need to get my files and a few things." Garrus said.
"Do so quickly, sir." the general said. Garrus ran back upstairs and started downloading files onto datapads and putting them into a bag. Castis and Solana came into the room.
"Garrus, what's going on?" Castis said.
"Dad, that's a general downstairs," Garrus said.
"Yes, I know, what does that..." Castis said.
"He just called me 'sir" Garrus said.
"Spirits!" Castis said.
"Wait. What? What's going on? Why is a general calling you 'sir'?" Solana said. "You can't be higher than a general. It takes weeks or months for someone to get raised up like that."
"Sol, the Primarch can raise someone to whatever level he deems necessary," Castis said, "if we are at war."
"War! With who?" She said. "Spirits! No. No! Spirits!"
"Sol, go pack Garrus's personal things and make sure you get the salve for his burns," Castis said. Sol left. He reached under the bed, pulled out the gun case, and took it downstairs.
The lieutenant put the case into the waiting car. Garrus came down, Sol handed him a bag. "Here's your stuff, clothes, salve, and that… some of those treats you like." He took it and then took her hands in his, they touched foreheads. "What do we do, Garrus?"
"I don't know," Garrus said. "Just be ready."
Castis put his hand on his shoulder and touched his forehead with his. "Be care…" He stopped and looked him in the eye. "You were right, at least this time. I'm... I'm proud of you."
"Thanks, dad." Garrus followed the general outside and into the car. As they drove away, Garrus looked back to see his father and sister standing in front of the house.
He turned to the general. "How long do we have?"
"Not long." he said.