CHAPTER 11

World Tour

I find myself in a living room of… I think it was an apartment? What was I doing? How did I even end up here? But where was here exactly? I looked out the window to see a bridge separating the complex from the rest of… Kima District…

Kima District! I'm standing in Omega? AGAIN!

I knew very well we left the fucking station after picking up the parts for the fifth Ark. Why in the fucking hell am I still on Omega?

I heard footsteps from behind, when I looked it was a turian in blue and black armor, he held a sniper in hand…

Off the corner of my eye, something big emerged out of the edge of the window. It was a gunship with multiple barrels and straps of calibers armed and ready to fire. There was a voice in the air, and inaudible to hear what he had said.

I whipped my head at the man behind and I was about to tell him to get behind the high-rise when I saw his face… I was staring into the deep blue eyes of my cousin, Garrus…

At that moment, I got distracted by his appearance as he turned and pointed his rifle towards me.

I had forgotten that the gunship was behind as bullets flew right through me, and yet I didn't feel a thing… The same however was not said for Garrus as the bullets hit him. His shield was eventually disintegrated, his armor got penetrated by one or two rounds causing some blood to erupt and he was on the ground…

That moment I leaped forward towards him. That night when I said "I never wanted to see you again…", when I said to myself that "Garrus Vakarian was dead to me", that wasn't what I had in mind. I wanted distance from him, I didn't want him dead… I was close enough to grab him and pull him out of the way, but when I tried to grasp onto his arm, my hand when through him…

I tried again and I fell right through him. Why couldn't I touch him?

I looked out the window, the gunship descended a little and something emerged out of its right-wing. If I knew my knowledge of fighters from the Undaunted, that ship, besides carrying rapid-fire machine guns, also carried missiles for explosive damage and one flew straight at us.

I looked at Garrus, he tried to move but he unwittingly leaped towards the missile trajectory and exploded at him.

That blinding flash of light sent me upward as I screamed out his name loud enough to exasperate at someone's blinding light of their skycar passing by my quarters…

Damn it! Another nightmare… my head spiked hard enough to prevent me from falling back to sleep…

After taking the meds, I splashed a handful of cold water on my face. It wasn't ice cold like Noveria, but it was cold enough. It was the fifth time I had that particular dream… It started ever since Omega. Normally, now and then, my dreams and nightmares were mostly about my past. From the traumatic events of battles and wars, I was involved. To the gruesome fantasies that follow my life because of my trauma. To all the depressing memories that had occurred in my life… But recently, I keep seeing Garrus getting killed by some badshit nutso in a gunship with overkill weaponry and sending him in an explosive demise… For all I knew, it was just a subconscious selfishness part of me putting me in worry, much like the Vakarians…

My omni-tool bleeped, it was a call. And I answered it.

"Jacen, it's Kayu. Are you all right?" He asked.

I paused that moment, the spike in my head was nullifying until it almost disappeared.

"I… I didn't exactly get a good night's sleep…" I answered as I allowed him in my quarters. "Do you not sleep?"

"After joining the Initiative, I haven't gotten this much sleep in ages." He answered. I took a swig of water, that scream made my mouth dry as the hottest desert on Palaven. "Have any nightmares."

I nodded. "Normally, we turians expect the worst…" I shook my head in disappointment. "I can't believe I wasted a good sleep from that…"

"The sad truth is, everyone regardless of species has nightmares…" He had a point, even the brutish krogan have them, and believe it or not, according to Kayu, even the hanar.

"Even up to this point, no matter how hard I try NOT to dwell let alone think about them… I cannot get over the things I had seen in my life…" From the death I had seen, even those I've personally killed. The two krogan, the vorcha, Babraros, my uncle… Those bastards brought it on themselves for their criminal activity…

As for Faraday… He was part of a fascist organization for human dominance and against the aliens to them. What he did to them, to Maxter… If he had gotten away, he would have killed more and he never regretted any of it. But if I hadn't wasted my last bullet on him, and used it on Mattinus instead… Anlea would still be alive… I muttered that so verbally.

"Maybe…" Kayu sighed. "But the way I see it, you did what you believed was the BEST choice. It wasn't a matter of right or wrong, that human was evil." He exhaled deeply. "I wasn't quick enough, I should have acted sooner that time, I admit that was my fault."

I recalled what Anlea told me before she passed. That she didn't regret taking the bullet for me, and the fact she was disappointed in me that I killed Faraday that day. She told me what I did was wrong… "The best revenge is to be unlike your enemy. Always justice, never vengeance… And that not everything I would come across would be black and white."

My father had always told me to keep my emotions in check and save my anger for when it mattered. On Omega, I was tainted with rage… For all I knew, I was pissed off by the severity. Probably because I was on the bloody station to get the parts. That was because I was surrounded by thugs and criminals at every corner. And the fact Garrus was there, after what he had said to me that night!

"There's no escape from nightmares, is there?" I muttered.

Kayu sat next to me and explained what his former mentor, Thane Krios, once mentioned to him about a few Earth quotes he had learned. He would mention the fate of Rakhana by a quote from Thomas Hobbes. But during his studies, he had learned a lot about other quotes from past celebrities. As his eyes widened and his solipsism took over.

"It's real simple – we all have nightmares, and the idea you can be in real jeopardy in them is a great gimmick. It's universal."

- Robert Englund, actor (A Nightmare on Elm Street)

"I drag myself out of nightmares each morning and find there's no relief in waking."

- Suzanne Collins, author (The Hunger Games)

"Waking among the dead, one wondered if one was still alive. And yet real despair only seized us later. Afterwards. As we emerge from the nightmare and began to search for meaning."

- Elie Wiesel, author and holocaust survivor.

"Nightmares can be an obstacle to your life." He said. "But like any obstacle, they are something you learn from in hopes to benefit for the better of your future."

I shook his hand, and thank him. As he left, I turned in and blacked out.

It had been over a week since our trip to Omega. Garson, Barro, almost everyone else had heard about what had happened. And with Jondum as our witness, he explained via communications from the Citadel about the events. I kept my mouth and mandibles shut about it… But it didn't feel right, but it was a promise that Anlea made to me and Jondum that day… Like it or not…

But overall, all the parts that were needed to complete Ark Keelah Si'Yah's ODSY system were in the hands of Pathfinder Telem'Yered and his Captain Qetsi'Olam. Both of them expressed their gratitude to the six of us, including Jondum, and condolences for Spectre Agent Anlea Falrian. But even though the fifth ark was scheduled for departure after 2185, at least not far behind. But that news was still bittersweet…

Omega had been one hell of a trip. I couldn't get those images out of my head. Learning the truth about an organization of pro-humans that would do anything to conquer the galaxy by any means necessary. Even by killing innocent civilians regardless of species… That moment, I recalled back in my military days, I once overheard a platoon of turians were deployed to Shanxi. There were reports of a pro-human terrorist group attacking a colony during Armistice Day… That was the first time I'd heard of their name, Cerberus…

Later on, I received a call from Erik to meet with him in his quarters. As I arrived, Alar, Kayu, and Jesa were present as well. I took my seat on the sofa as the human approached.

"Okay look." Erik began. "I know we've had one hell of a time on Omega, which has been stressful…" He wasn't kidding when he said we were all stressed out, but not just because of the events on Omega.

Alar found out that his former accomplice, Mordin was on Omega in a quarantine zone trying to create a cure for the plague infecting most aliens. He knew that Mordin, with a hyperactive personality, was smart. He had confidence but was still concerned.

Jesa learned that her friend, Tali'Zorah was under scrutiny by the Migrant Fleet, claiming that she had been working with the geth. Though Jesa knew her friend very well, Tali would never do such a thing, she knew her friend would be in for the shock of her life…

And Erik was concerned, a lot of human colonies were going dark… Fehl Prime, Ferris Fields, and recently Freedom's Progress… The reasons were unknown, but he had suspicions and rumors that either Cerberus Operatives or even the mythological "Collectors" were involved. But who knew?

The funeral for Anlea Falrian on the Citadel days ago, was peaceful as the turian councilor addressed the public about her history, service, and dedication. At the funeral, Calio and I recognized some of our comrades from the Undaunted. Opter, Deceus, Vitia, and Pacia. The reunion was bittersweet, but either way, it was good to see old allies after these several years. Deceus and Vitia were discharged honorably from the military and settled down to civilian work. Opter and Pacia continued with the military life in different vessels across Citadel Space.

These past several months have been extensive training. Militaristic, engineering, medicinal, and agriculture. We've taken a lot of hits, cuts, bruises, at a bullet or two. But after all the hell we've all been through recently. Erik and Alar had one idea in mind…

Since she came up with the idea years ago, Jien Garson held these fundraisers to help with the constructions with the Nexus and the Arks, as well as obtain supplies needed for the century's long journey across Dark Space. These fundraisers would be the last on Earth, but they wouldn't start within two weeks. Even it was only part of their idea, Erik had this idea of touring around Earth.

Visiting several cities around the world, one last time before departure. It was something to boost morality, something to get our minds off of the events that had happened on Omega.

Alar would suggest we visit Sur'Kesh, but there weren't that many big cities like Talat. And the majority of the planet was mostly rainforests with untamed wildlife. Palaven wouldn't be a good option either due to the planet's radioactive atmosphere…

An idea like that would cost a fortune, but Erik claimed to have friends in high places on Earth. He somehow got all expenses paid, staying in certain accommodations from around the world. But mainly we would see what Earth's culture was like.

Considering that these next few months would be the last time we would stay in the Milky Way, we might as well use the time to enjoy what we could. And that gave me an idea…

Two days had passed, Erik was prepping the shuttle for the trip, with his itinerary. Both Jesa and I had our essentials packed (mostly dextro based consumables). At least that way, we wouldn't have to go hungry. But the one thing that was constantly echoing and bouncing in my head… I FINALLY GET TO SEE EARTH!

"Jacen, isn't your companion here yet?" Alar asked me.

"Alar, you need to calm down and have some patience." Said Jesa.

I was about to tell them that my guest would arrive on Luna soon when I heard my name called out. With a familiar voice.

I turn my head to see Solana arrive behind the pair of doors. "Am I late?" She asked.

Solana Vakarian, my cousin, was like a sister to me growing up. I was concerned about her even showing up. When she first heard about me joining the initiative, learning that I would leave the Milky Way forever… Like my uncle, she was surprised… And the same with my aunt… Damn, I never meant to hurt anybody… The initiative saw me as a potential to help settle and colonize our peoples into another galaxy. Almost every week, I keep in touch with my aunt and uncle. Solana on the other hand, the first two months joining up I've tried calling her, but she never answered or returned my messages…

In the third month was when she sent a message to me, apologizing… Truthfully, there was nothing to apologize for. I don't blame her, I was leaving for good, and explained to her that the initiative was my calling. That I could help all the colonists find a home and expand our people…

"Jacen!" She embraced hard on me. "It's good to see you!"

"Same here…" I say and asked. "Is it just you?"

I had also sent an invite for both uncle and aunt to join the tour. According to Solana, my aunt was on board a vessel where she could be better taken care of rather than on a hospital on Palaven. And Uncle Castis, he was on the Citadel working. So it was just, my cousin with her rations and her omni-tool ready for recording.

Our shuttle landed, I was the first to get up and about to step off, but the moment the door opened and the bright light dissipated I got blasted by a cold snap… The scenery was all white, it was blinding and the climate was as cold as Noveria… That was a joke, right?

OUR FIRST STOP… IS SNOW-COVERED?

"Welcome to Toronto, Canada." Erik explained. "I'd figure this would be our first stop, just to get the cold weather out of the way first."

I slowly and vigorously turned at Erik, who was already out of the shuttle. The way he looked at me, although turian facial expressions were hard to tell sometimes, he could tell I was pissed off. "Laharo…" I gasped. "You very well know turians HATE the cold weather!"

"Easy there, tipo grande." Erik sighed with a smirk. "Be grateful that was just a cold snap and a rogue plow driving by." I glared at him with fury, and only grunted loudly hoping this stop would be a short one. "It could be worse, we could have landed in Aspen, Colorado in the Rocky's and ended up buried in an avalanche!"

My eyes widened when he said that, and the look on his face shifted from confidence to fear. Oh, he had to cross that line! I felt my blood boil inside my veins, hot enough, I didn't need warmers to keep the cold out of my carapace. I flinched forward out of the shuttle and ran at him. Erik… he sighed in his second language of Spanish under his breath as he ran down the street.

I screamed at him as I chased him down two to three city blocks. By luck, he slipped on a sheet of ice as I finally caught up to him. When I grabbed him, I shoved his face into a large pile of snow at the corner of the street. Yeah, I showed him an "avalanche." I had heard of that maneuver on the online vids, the humans dubbed that as a "face-wash". But afterward, I felt a thrust at my gut, and somehow, Erik got on top of me. He was angry at first, but then his mouth crinkled upward, he was rolling on the snow laughing…

"What's so funny?" I asked."

"God, I haven't had a good run like that in ages!" Erik snickered. "You, Jacen, are quite the trailblazer."

He pointed behind us, where we ran from. The shuttle port was still in our eyesight, we ran three city blocks. Of all humans I've met, Erik was quite a runner, I almost didn't catch him until the ice below our feet got the better of him.

"You know, for the first turian I've met, you're cool man." Erik smiled as he gazed away for a second and back at me. "No pun intended."

"And you are the first human I've met who claims he's sarcastically funny." I replied. "You are kind of like a brother I never expected…" I wrapped my arms around trying to stay awake. "But seriously, can we go somewhere warmer, it's FREEZING OUT HERE!"

He grabbed my shoulder and pulled me up from the frozen ground. We made our way to the hotel and by the time we arrived, Alar, Jesa, and Solana were laughing at us. Kayu grinned and chuckled. Laughing because Solana recorded that moment Erik made that comment and I chased him down three blocks. It even caught me screaming at Erik, "GET BACK HERE! I'LL SHOW YOU AN AVALANCHE!"

Thanks, Sol, I'll remember this. I said in my mind as I chuckled at her.

Well anyways during our stay, we had visited places around the city. The Toronto City Hall, the CN Tower, and we flew into the sights of Niagara Falls. It was cold and wet, nearing the end of winter on the northern side of Earth. I was wearing warmers in my suit, and Kayu wore a mask due to the moisture in the air. But regardless, the sights were amazing! Even Solana took pictures.

Later that day we flew to New York City. The people called it "The Big Apple" because, in the early 20th century, the humans held racing courses in and around the city, and the winners were rewarded with prizes ("big apples") they were called. Emphasis on the "big", because the city itself was huge, in architect and population, even the park was large. It was no Citadel, but impressive. Central Park, seeing many bridges, memorials, and towering buildings that overshadowed most of the trees.

The next few stops were mostly memorials, adjacent to the One World Trade Center were Ground Zero, the museum, and the memorial. In the early 21st century, two aircraft were hijacked and collided with the twin towers, destroying them. There were a few other aircrafts that were also hijacked but, were destroyed elsewhere (The Pentagon of Washington D.C., and an open field in Pennsylvania). It was considered one of the deadliest terrorist acts in world history…

The last stop in New York was on Liberty Island, where the Second Civil War was instigated by the terrorist group called the Freedoms First. In 2096, they detonated the first and original Statue of Liberty, a few were killed, and others were detained and punished. President Kaitlin Cheung signed an executive order to rebuild the statue, using only a fraction of the pieces from the original, and after five years, it was finished. We witnessed the newer and seemingly improved model after 84 years. Seeing the skyline from the top was amazing.

Over the next few days, we had visited London, seeing Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and Stonehenge. The Eifel Tower of Paris. The Sphinx and Great Pyramids of Egypt. The Taj Mahal of India.

That one day we spent in Athens, Greece, Erik mentioned the upcoming Winter Olympic Games in 2186. And was disappointed that he would miss it during his sleep in dark space.

The Great Wall of China was very long… Never expected the humans had the determination to build a wall to defend their borders centuries ago. Tokyo was Japan's New York City, it was a century or two ago when it was the most advanced country on Earth.

The islands of Hawaii were paradise, Alar felt right at home when he described the island much like Sur'Kesh. The islands were spectacular with their people, the climate, and even the impressive active volcanoes. Rio De Janeiro, was similar to Hawaii, only on a continent. Its culture and landscape were unique, Sugarloaf Mountain, Christ the Redeemer, downtown, and the longest beach line we've seen. And Rio De Janeiro was the home base of the Alliance's N7 Program.

The last few stops were back in the North American continent. In Death Valley, where Kayu took his mask off, the place was hot and arid, safe for him away from exposure to humid environments, away from contracting Kepral's Syndrome. And spending the night in an Oasis Resort, the "lovebirds" as Erik called them, spent their night under the clear night sky.

Our last stop was in a city called Chicago, the humans nicknamed it the "Windy City". The city wasn't as big as New York City, still, the towering skyscrapers were an eyeful. It was here that Erik suggested we took part in the Andromeda Initiative's Fundraiser Fairs around the World. Chicago was one of four cities in North America, along with New York, San Francisco, Mexico City, and Vancouver.

We spent the daytime hours touring around downtown, passing through Millennium Park, the Riverwalk. Followed by Wrigley Field and Soldier Field… Erik… When we passed by the football stadium, he looked intimidated. I have heard that in the past, the humans in the United States play an annual game, pitting two different teams from different parts of the country into open (sometimes closed) stadiums playing gridiron. The American's called it football.

Our last stop for the evening was Navy Pier, the place was a practical carnival. It was where Garson's Initiative Fundraiser was taking place. Erik led everyone into the center of the festival. Along the way, I paired with Solana.

"So, what do you think of Earth?" I asked.

"It's not what I expected." She answered. She was told by our people that the humans were too emotional and unpredictable. But like my parents, she kept an open mind, as did the other Vakarians. She was amazed by in so many ways, though the humans were not as militaristic as us turians, but yet throughout the centuries, they had accomplished so much and lost a few in its history. They had hope, with many cultures, ethics, and beliefs.

My mother and father visited earth a long time ago, they used to tell me everything they had witnessed. Intimidated at first because of the Relay incident, but the leaders were welcoming to them. Even if the people were aggravated by the sight of aliens setting foot on their world. After the peace treaty, only a very-very small handful of turians visit Earth to maintain stability. Advise the militants, and show them that we were not conquerors.

"I wish aunt Vaana and uncle Metias were here." She sighed. "I wish my parents and Garrus were here too…"

Jien Garson spared no expense to have the festivity set up, not just for the humans of Earth, but for all species in the galaxy. There were some alliance soldiers armed with small pistols walking around. I guess they were security detail to maintain the peace within all cultures so that no unrest would occur. We were in front of the festivities, tents, and stands with games and food ready for amusement.

"Well everyone, we're here." Said Erik. "I have invited a few friends of mine to enjoy the fair, all initiative recruits, and personnel. But until they get here, let's have fun!"

According to Erik, Navy Pier used to be small with only a few attractions, but in the last century, it grew larger for more rides and games. We started with the Ferris wheel and some games. Laser guns to shoot holographic targets, we saw a pair of humans play ping-pong. There was a tent full of retro arcade games, Call of Duty, Tekken, Mortal Kombat, Sonic the Hedgehog, Super Mario Bros.

After the arcade, I caught sight of Calio with another turian. I think his name was Darceus Cerus. And it looked like the two were getting along well.

"Erik!" A voice called. It was from a female human. When I first saw her, her skin was as pale as the snow of Noveria, her hair was long and scarlet red.

"Hey, Reggie!" Erik greeted her as he embraced her.

Her name was Reggie Jackson. If I had to guess, there was a thing between the two. So there was another pair of lovebirds.

Erik had introduced us to his other human friends, he wasn't kidding when he said they were part of the initiative. Miles Spaulding, alliance soldier, with some engineering skills. For some reason, he liked to be called "Miller", a nickname after some drink.

And the last human, he looked vaguely familiar, I thought I had run into him once. That was until he revealed his name as Virgil Ervin. He remembered me from Noveria, he even reminded me of that time I shot and "killed three vorcha with one stone". My friends were amazed by that fact but were disappointed because I never mentioned it. I never brag about it like some egomaniac, that and the fact I was lucky that time…

"Lucky?" Virgil asked with a raised brow. "Yo, dawg, be proud of that shot. Back in my time in the Alliance, I was lucky to have gotten that batarian assassin on a human colony several years back." He eyed me with a crooked grin. "What you did was impressive, I call it skill, dude."

Erik sighed at me. "I'll gladly keep that in mind, one day I would like to take that up for a challenge."

I snickered at him. Erik that moment became my friendly rival.

"Oh, Erik." Reggie spoke. "Stuebbs is here too. He with a bunch of security officers playing some games, I think."

Stuebbs… Kyle Stuebbs? From the mission on Mars… I recalled his personality as pessimistic and rude. Even if it was true that his grandfather died during the Relay 314 Incident… He was such a pissant. Erik got up to look for him and Alar followed.

We went on enjoying the rest of the festivities. Both Miller and Virgil were at the shooting range, testing each other's precision. Seeing them blast targets reminded me of my training on Palaven. Even Solana mentioned that trip down memory lane. That and she pointed at the trick and obscure mirrors, somehow I had a bigger waist, but I zinged her back by pointing at her bigger head. She might have shoved me towards a fondue table, but I guessed it served me right when I teased my younger cousin about her appearance.

Solana and I sat with Reggie and the other humans as did Kayu and Jesa. We got to know them well. Miller was from Louisiana, Reggie pointed that out because of his "Cajun accent". Some of his words were… different. He called Reggie and Jesa "cher", at me he said "mon ami". And when he would talk about those times he fought off against pirates in the Terminus Systems he called them "couyon". Even my translator couldn't pick those up… Damn, Miller had quite a… unique vocabulary. Sometimes, I wondered if he was even speaking English. He was almost like Erik with his mixed languages.

He served in the alliance and was stationed on Horizon for a few years. He was discharged honorably and then he returned to Earth when he heard of the Andromeda Initiative and enlisted as part of APEX.

Virgil was born on Earth but grew up on Eden Prime for ten years. His family was fortunate to leave the colony back to Earth years before Saren and the geth attacked. After working with the alliance, he took the security job on Noveria's Elanus Risk Control Services. Sometime after was when our team from the Undaunted assisted and stopped Ganar Srag and the Blood Pack from massacring the hostages, and ransacking all their valuables. It was several months after the hostage situation that he heard of the initiative and resigned from his position.

And lastly, Reggie, in her early 20s and has had military training in the alliance, and some training from the Jon Grissom Academy… My parents once told me about that station, founded in 2176, the Alliance's premier school for youthful humans who had manifested biotic abilities near Elysium. I didn't realize she was a biotic, when Solana accidentally spilled my drink and she manipulated its gravity and placed it back on the table without causing a mess.

"Impressive." Kayu grinned.

She was fourteen years old when she attended the academy and four years later, she graduated at the top of her class and enlisted into the alliance. "They said that Grissom Academy was the better option than B.A.a.T., if it was still around."

She meant the Biotic Acclimation and Temperance training, even Kayu had heard of that program for human biotics. I heard the program was terminated, not sure why though…

"B.A.a.T. was suspended years ago because of an accident." Reggie explained. "Some guy called Alenko power kicked a turian, killing him. From what I had heard, that turian was an ass…" She eyed me out of embarrassment. "No offense."

"None taken." I replied as did Solana. "You must have made your family very proud of your accomplishments."

The reaction on her face shifted from pleasing to grief. And she replied. "I had a family, but now I don't…" Reggie turned away for a moment. "My mother died when I was little, from prolonged exposure to element zero that eventually led to AEND."

I offered my condolences to her and was curious to ask about her father.

"My father is gone…" Reggie paused. "That's it… I don't want to talk about it."

Just gone? I thought. I had a feeling there was more to it than she explained… But that technically wasn't my business to pry. I changed the subject immediately looking for Erik.

A crowd cheered near the arcade tent, there was a stage with two large monitors and a holographic projection of a man, and it looked like he was dancing, as were two other humans, dancing side-by-side on red and blue panels.

I've seen this "Dance Off" game back at Castle Arcade not too long ago. The humans had improved the game off of "Dance-Dance Revolution" with holograms of well-known celebrities of Earth's history, as well as tens of thousands of tracks.

I saw Erik standing on the blue side of the stage and Alar was front row of the crowd. On the red side, I couldn't tell who he was from his backside, but he was good. His score was high at over 60 million with a flawless 300 combo to Erik at 32 million. The holographic idol finished his song by walking forward and yet he moved backward. Someone from the audience shouted "moonwalk!" as the game came to an end.

As Erik descended the stairs, the winning player, who turned out to be Stuebbs, goaded and gloated over his victory. "Oh don't take it personally, Laharo, while you are the virtuoso, I'm the best choreographer." He waived to the crowd as they cheered at him.

Erik grunted loudly enough, but within a carnival with crowds clamoring and music playing loudly, nobody was fazed. "Billie Jean is a hard song to dance to."

"More like Stuebbs has better choreography." Said Reggie as she wrapped her arm around his shoulder.

"I see that Kyle hasn't changed one bit…" Miller replied.

Erik admitted that among the skills he possessed, firearms, combat, vocalizing, and his acrobatics. The choreography wasn't his talent. "Well anyways, free food and drinks to anyone who can beat him."

I reviewed the stage carefully, and it was a similar game and design to that in Castle Arcade. And that was when I figured…

"You know what? I'll do it!" I said coolly.

I noticed everyone turning their heads at me as if I had said something inappropriate.

"Do you know how to use that machine?" Erik asked me first.

"Wait, do turians even dance?" Reggie asked.

I gave my drink to Solana, I wasn't going to spill over sensitive machinery. "You might be surprised of what we are capable of."

As I approached, Kyle eyed me. I saw the look in his eye, he was scornful at first, but when I stepped on stage, his expression shifted into a sinful grin.

"Stuebbs." I greeted.

"Turian…" He cleared his throat. "I mean, Tarren. You're face looks like shit, mofo."

Hm, that smart-ass, he did that on purpose. And I'm pretty sure he referenced that "mofo" phrase from Predator, quoting from that Austrian actor whose name is a mouthful to pronounce.

"I'm game if you are." I replied. "Unless, as you humans say, "you're too chicken to go against a turian."".

"Ah, a real challenge, and with you of all people." Kyle smirked at me as he took position on the red panel and glared and grinned at me. "Hope you're a good looser, Scarface." The crowd gasped collectively.

It took a moment for Stuebbs to pick the music and difficulty level… Of course, he set it to insanity. A lot of game players would choose that option for the challenge of it. I don't mind a good challenge, but I prefer to prepare smarter than be foolhardy. Luckily, back at Castle Arcade, I had played and practiced that game… The object was simply to step on the corresponding arrow the second they ascend and pass through the "buzz threshold" on top of the measure.

I struggled at first, but after the first verse and listening to the rhythm, my feet were in sync with the music. Kyle was noticeably irritated that I matched him step for step. I was catching up, stepping at the right moment I earned more points.

"No one out dances me, Tarren!" Kyle hissed. "NOBODY!"

We'll see about that. I thought and ignored him. There was no way I was going to let him win, not with his crude attitude.

The song nearly ended, I kept my focus on the board without hesitation. The last two arrows, right, and left arose and the song ended. Kyle was exasperated and exhausted, he was trying to catch his wind. It was no surprise that he was so competitive that he tired himself from that song trying to outmatch me. The scoreboard showed that I had won. The crowd was stunned as they cheered loudly, I could hear Erik whistling, Jesa and Reggie screaming, and everyone else was yelling and applauding.

"Damn, mon ami." Miller smiled. "That's one way to tango."

"Nice work." Said Jesa.

Although we turians are a species of discipline, that didn't mean we had to stay in the front lines all the time. I should have known that. And the dance part, I was glad I had a little practice with that game once…

As for Kyle, he staggered a little, exhausted and exasperated, trying to catch his breath. He practically fell on his knee.

I wouldn't sugarcoat it that I didn't like Kyle's attitude towards me. But, I wasn't the type to leave a man down. From the look in his eye, he was hesitant at first, but he took my hand as I pulled him up. "Good game?" I asked.

"I'll admit it, Jacen, you're good." He sighed. "Good game. Let me catch my breath."

He went to the nearest chair and sat down.

Solana congratulated me. "That was impressive. You know if I ever get ahold of Garrus, I should convince him to take lessons."

When she mentioned his name again… My first instinct was to tell her about him, where he had been, what he was doing, everything… But no, I kept reminding myself not to say anything, for her safety and my aunt and uncle. No one should know that Garrus Vakarian was Archangel.

"But seeing your performance there, I'm sure you'd win." She said.

I chuckled a little at Solana's remark and got bombarded by a small human child behind me. When I looked down at him...

"Sorry mister…"

"It's okay kiddo…" I paused as a man grasped onto the kid's shoulder.

"Stuart, I told you not to wander off here." Said the dark-haired man… "Sorry about that, my son here can get a little carried away…" He looked up at me and Kishpaugh took me by surprise… "Officer Tarren."

Kishpaugh… Kishpaugh! Of all the people I've met in my life, why a criminal that sold drugs on the Citadel illegally. I had so many thoughts processed at light speed in my brain, trying to figure out what action to take… with his son in front of him…

And then, I remembered, back in my C-Sec days, I researched his background. He was divorced, his wife raised two boys. This little boy, Stuart, had short ashy-blonde hair, thick glasses, and round cheeks. I remember reading he had problems in school, reports say he had a spectrum disorder.

"Hey pops, sorry, I took my eyes off of Stu for one second and he wonders off…" A teenage boy stared at me. He is the eldest son, the juvenile delinquent that stole a police car and totaled it.

"There you are!" Said a woman as she approached from behind Kishpaugh. "Right in front of daddy I see…" She gazed at me. "Oh, and who is this?"

"Amy, this is the officer I told you about, Tarren."

"You can call me Jacen." I answered. "I resigned from C-Sec to join the Initiative."

"Like a friend of mine here." Kishpaugh blurted out. "He's part of the key leadership behind Garson." He stood up straight and stared at me. "You know, you look so much like that Vakarian guy…"

"So, what have you been up to these days?" I asked the former drug dealer. "The last time I saw you was on the Citadel."

"Yeah." He sighed. "You may not believe me but…" He explained after I released him from C-Sec, he quit selling drugs on the station. He survived the attacks on the Citadel, and a couple of weeks later, he was attacked by "the bastard turian", Garrus. I almost wanted to punch him for that remark, but I wasn't going to fight him in front of his family with an autistic child, let alone a crowd. And what happened that day, I almost didn't blame him. And after that debacle, he returned to Earth, to settle with his issues… He spoke to his ex-wife, and they had surprisingly remarried.

"So I guess, if not for Vakarian giving me a wake-up call, I wouldn't have come back to Earth, get my life back together, and return to my wife and boys."

I wasn't sure if I would put it that way, with Garrus I mean. In truth, he was fed up with rules, regulations, basically bureaucracy. He quit C-Sec to follow Commander Shepard's example as a Spectre, and after the attacks, he brutally attacked Kishpaugh just to get things done his way… by any means necessary. That was the last time I spoke to him…

But seeing that Kishpaugh wasn't causing any problems, and reunited with his family… He can believe what he wanted to believe. To him, the altercation was a blessing in disguise. Without saying a word I took his hand shaking it, congratulating him for cleaning his act.

"Appreciated, Jacen." Kishpaugh smiled.

After that sudden run-in, I wasn't sure how my former colleagues of how they would react if I spoke to a former criminal. Garrus… knowing him, never saw the point of staying quiet and polite when it came to the criminals and thugs, even if they had turned over a new leaf. I didn't even want to think about it.

We were about to leave the fairgrounds, but then that human-woman bombarded me with her microphone and a camcorder hovering above her shoulder. Why the fuck-shit did I have to come across her?

"Jacen Tarren? Khalisah bint Sinan al-Jilani of Westerlund News. I understand that you are part of the Andromeda Initiative."

Great. Just what I needed. A pundit with a somewhat xenophobic personality. "Somewhat", but not fully, she was in for humanity's best interests. But she was still a bitch.

"Can you tell me based on your beliefs why you turians deserve to endure centuries in cold storage just to travel millions and millions of lightyears through the void of dark space to settle your peoples into the Andromeda Galaxy?"

Believe me, nothing would satisfy me to throw my fist into her face. But doing so, on camera, in a crowd, on the human home world of Earth, with my reputation and family history for the humans… That would probably be the worst idea, I didn't want to start another war between our peoples so I gently and politely replied. "No comment." And walked away.

After I walked away, Al-Jilani immediately went to the next person with her microphone thrown into Reggie. "Then how about you, "Miss Reggie Jackson"?" I turn my head at the pair of ladies and witnessed the sudden ambush. "If that is what you like to be called."

Reggie's face was flushed pale, no doubt she was intimidated by Al-Jilani's prosecuting attitude. Al-Jilani was about to mention one piece of her background, when I saw a fist sending the bitchy reporter backward, knocking her down to the ground and out cold too…

DAMN! That had to hurt, and that was a good punch too! I was starting to like her.

"Oh my god, what a bitch!" Reggie sighed under her breath.

We stood outside of Navy Pier our long tour around Earth was over, and it was time to call it a night. Three shuttles were parked next to the curb across the street. Reggie, Virgil, and Miller took their shuttle back to the Nexus for the station's final preparations. The last of us would return to Luna to continue the training.

"Well, I'll see you all back on the station soon." Said Erik.

"Where are you going?" Kayu asked.

"Spending tonight in my former home, one last time." He answered. "I'll tell you about it when I get back." He waved to us as he took his duffle bag to his car. And everyone else stepped onto the shuttle… Everyone, except me. I decided to stay with Erik, I wasn't ready to leave Earth yet.

"I'd figured you could use some company." I told Erik as I stood beside his car door. It didn't take long to talk him into tagging me along to his hometown.

The flight to his former home lasted two hours, I remember he once said he grew up in Milwaukee, I thought that was where we were going… But we passed by his uncle's former condominium not too far from the University. According to Erik, his Uncle Jose was killed on Mars in a mining accident several years ago. He never spoke about it to anyone, not even to his friends. He was training in the Alliance when he heard the news.

"Sometimes, I wonder, if I made a mistake to join the alliance?" He said. "If I hadn't, maybe he would still be alive."

At that point, it felt like he and I had some things in common. That we lost a family from tragic events. But they were different, Erik and his uncle were worlds apart and it was a cave collapse. And he was with me when Micus fired that fatal shot at my father. And I was steps away from him, I wasn't quick enough, and some bad luck along the way.

We flew over a city near a fairly large lake just north of the city. The building we went to was big, two or three stories high if the attic counts. It was pristine with wood and stone, some of the windows were big enough for the owners to see all around. Even the lake behind the house was stunning. It wasn't as big as my former home on Palaven, but it was decent.

The inside of his home was, nice, and large. The atmosphere felt clean, that was because it was empty on the inside.

"Most of my family belongings were sold in an estate sale, in person or extranet. Most but the study room." Said Erik. "I know there are mattresses upstairs, I'll get them set up. In the meantime, Jace, make yourself at home."

Don't mind if I do. I thought as I placed my rucksack on the floor. The entry hall was… empty. As I was viewing the interior of the house, I could only imagine what it was like if the furnishings weren't removed. The next room was probably the living room, I saw shadowed markings of a few tables, a stand, a sofa, and a shelf for printed books. The dining room where a long table once stood and a cabinet for its fancy ceramic dishware and silver flatware, wasn't as big as the dining room back in my former home on Palaven, but it was decent. The kitchen still had its island, refrigerator, and cabinets with unique and ornate designs. The humans have such creativity, compared to us turians. We were all about rules and order, the straightforward approach. As the humans with a variety of personalities, beliefs, and choices, they were free-willed.

Behind a pair of doors, the room was too dark to see what was inside until the lights brighten up. Shelves of historical books, portraits, and a collection of flags. The 20 flags were hung poles drooping downward since there was no draft or breeze to make them fly in the air. Three of the flags were shown on the wall behind a desk. Two flags were binary-colored, white and red, white and blue, and the third flag with tri-colored of red, white, and blue.

I have seen that particular flag once, back when my family was still around, back when I was a kid. My father obtained historical archives of Earth. From biblical tales, the history of King John of England and the Magna Carta, the Revolutionary War between England and the Colonies of America. There were stargazers/astronomers in ancient times, but they didn't explore space until the 20th century.

I remember my father once told me, not every species had the same history as us turians, or the salarians, or the asari. We discovered the Citadel and the aliens 1200 years ago, during the Krogan Rebellions, and we were granted a seat on the council for ending the war. Only because we took the salarian's viral weapon and deployed it to the Krogans. I think the humans had a similar story to that…

"I see you found my mother's memorabilia." Said Erik.

A memorabilia. A collection of items of historical events. Mostly the collective history of the Chinese People's Federation, the European Union, and the United North American States.

"My mother was a historian, and my father was a diplomat." He approached next to me as he eyed the three flags. "My late father and I are descendants of the people of Honduras." He pointed to the flag with the blue and white horizontal stripes with the five stars in the center.

"My mother was born in Toronto, but yet I was named after my godfather." The flag with the red and white vertical stripes with a leaf in the center was the flag that belonged to the nation of Canada.

"And lastly both my parents met, got married and I was brought to the world in the state of Wisconsin, which was one of the 50 United States of America." The last flag was a banner, 13 stripes of red and white ran horizontally with a blue rectangle on the upper left corner and it was filled with 50 white stars.

"Both my parents were "the model citizens of society"." He explained. "They once said that if aliens ever visited Earth one day, they would understand our beliefs, our culture, and our history."

Erik was a descendant of multiple cultures of Earth, yet he only obtain the traits of mostly the North American continent. It's not something he would verbally admit about himself, much like I don't admit that I was a descendant of a turian who helped end the Unification War a long time ago.

We both sat on the back porch, staring at the view of the lake at night. A fire was lit burning cedar pine, and drinks were served. Between the human's Miller Lite, funnily enough, Miles was nicknamed after the beer brand. As for myself, I was glad to bring the Heat Sink in a flask. And then we just started talking… From the people we've encountered, to the days in the initiative, and our histories.

We were talking like old times…

And then, Erik spoke about his life.

"I was 10 or 11 years old when my parents left Earth." He explained. "They went touring around human colonies. As close as Mars to as far as Ferris Fields." His father, Jaime a diplomat representing the governments of Earth, and his mother Sheila a college professor and historian to inspire the humans to keep their histories alive. And his father wanted to maintain stability between the humans and other aliens in the galaxy.

"That sounds like my old man." I replied.

My father, Metias Tarren, was once a major in the turian army turned diplomat for the hierarchy turned peace negotiator. I was surprised Erik remembered that as he remarked. "Negotiator, diplomat, they're the same occupations if you ask me."

He revealed that his father, during the latter stages of our conflict, Jaime wanted to be one of the negotiators to mend relations between our peoples. But, he wasn't experienced enough to that of Quintin Nash, Kari Obama, and Anita Goyle. So, so much for "a small galaxy" quote, it would have been something if our fathers met each other 20 years back.

"It wasn't until after things settled down that my father wanted to explore and have the humans to find places to live across the galaxy." He explained. "By then he gained the experience, our governments allowed him and few other political officials travel across the galaxy to expand our people onto new worlds."

"You didn't go with them?" I asked.

"I wanted to." He started. "But they thought it best that I stayed with my uncle here on Earth." He turned at me as he stared at me. "Did I tell you how I got this scar?"

It was back at Mars when I first met with Alar, Erik, and his team, we were chasing Micus to the Prothean Ruins. I asked both of them how they received their scars, Alar's was pretty straightforward. Erik, all he said was it was a choice he made during high school. But he explained why.

It was during his time in high school, there were these girls, attractive girls with some guys behind them, sure they thought he was a man to join their clique. But he found out, they only cared about their popularity. They had harassed (verbally and physically) the unpopular and those who were "challenged"… After pulling a prank on those bullies, he was attacked by them again. A man, with "twice his muscle mass, and 6 feet tall" attacked him with a knife. Anthony Brockman, was his name, and even though he struck him once, Erik surprisingly took him down and broke his arm in the process.

"I'm still amazed the police arrested them and not me." He chuckled.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

According to Erik, this Brockman human and his girlfriend tried to call the police and have him arrested until a bystander with security footage showed otherwise. Brockman and his friends were the ones arrested instead. "They were expelled and high school was a lot easier after that." His smile crinkled down as his beatitude faded away. "If my parents were here… They might've been mad sure, but I know they would also be proud."

When he mentioned that I had asked him how it happened.

"They were on Elysium in the mid-2170's, they had called me the moment they arrived in their temporary home for a few months." He paused that moment to recall the exact details of their communications. From getting settled in, to being welcomed to their colony. He admitted to mentioning his uncle being "crazy and needed psychotherapy", he said it in Spanish, but he was being sarcastic. It was the latter of his call, just when they were about to disconnect, the scenery got darker and darker and the call got disconnected.

A few days later, a pair of Alliance Navy Soldiers arrived and announced the demise of Jaime and Sheila. They were murdered by a gang of pirates and slavers.

"I graduated high school when they died…" He sighed. "Afterward, I've enlisted into the Alliance Marines, I had excelled throughout the first few years, I toured onto three human colonies, Horizon, Eden Prime, Ferris Fields, and of course we met on Mars."

"I'm sorry about your parents." I sympathized, I knew that feeling.

"Gracias, hermano." Erik grinned. "You know, from two different worlds, you and I have a lot in common."

I didn't think we did… Until I realized, we were both in the military to serve and protect our people. We were the "only child" in our families. We both received facial scars, mine took the bigger hit compared to his knife scar. We were both parentless, murdered by demented killers. And we seek to begin a new life and discover new worlds in Andromeda… Damn, I'll admit it, I never saw that coming…

Erik chuckled at me. "It took you this long for you to figure that out."

I snorted. "I did not realize that… I thought you were just the comedian. And a smartass."

He glared at me with wide eyes. "Damn, you just zinged me, Tarren."

We laughed in hysteria after that.

So we called it a night after that. Where we slept, next to a large window it had a nice view of the lake. He said it was called Winnebago, and we were at the south end of it. And a light shimmering every several seconds. Erik told me that the lighthouse was once just an observation deck, there was NO giant lightbulb to flash in the dark of night or during a fog. But after the Second Civil War, the structure was rebuilt into what it should have been. Like the stars that glimmer in the night sky, like Andromeda in between the constellations, it lights our path.

I DO NOT own the Mass Effect franchise or its content. I DO NOT make any money from the writing of this story. All rights belong to their rightful owners (EA Games and BioWare).