Chapter 18: Aftermath
Normandy SR2. Aftermath of the aftermath of Priority: Horizon. Published 7/22/22, last updated 7/22/22.
For the first time in recent memory, Garrus woke to the sound of his 05:00 alarm.
He groaned, rolling onto his back. He'd set it months ago on his omnitool, a failsafe against the slim possibility that his body would ever let him sleep in.
Apparently, housing a full bottle of whiskey in a single sitting would be the thing to break his streak.
He looked left. At some point Shepard had tidied up and gone back to her quarters. Possibly gotten him onto his bunk, given that last he remembered they'd been on the floor. Both bottles sat on his shipping container, alongside a full beaker of water and a tray.
He sat up. His head pounded in protest against the change in elevation and orientation, against the impact of every footfall on the deck as he dragged himself across the battery.
Thermos, canned tomato juice, double dose of painkillers. A short stack of sealed containers. The one on top said 'huevos rancheros.' He unscrewed the thermos and steam curled out. Coffee, still hot.
Huh. Breakfast. Which either meant she'd slept on the deck and left this morning, or left last night and returned to drop off food without him so much as registering the presence of another person in his quarters.
He wasn't really sure which of the two was less concerning.
He paged her, taking a long swig from the beaker of water and a second from the tomato juice. His head cleared a little.
She answered after four rings, sounding out of breath. "This is the CO."
"Did you sleep on the deck?"
"Garrus?"
"Yeah. Did you sleep on the deck?"
"No?"
"Oh. Good." He drank a little more juice. "You brought me things."
"Didn't look like you were gonna be upright any time soon."
"Thanks. Do I snore?"
"Not that I noticed. Can turians snore?"
"I don't remember right now."
"Hydrate and refuel. Take those pills. You've got some time before we assemble."
"Right," he said automatically. "Will do."
"I gotta finish this set, Vakarian. You good?"
"Yeah. See you in a bit."
He hung up.
Assemble for what?
An hour later he was in the comm room with the other officers, dossiers for a contract assassin, a justicar, and Tali'Zorah vas Neema thrown up on-screen. Shepard had killed the lights, which was a small mercy, and there were plenty of opinions in circulation, which made his relative silence less noticeable. Hopefully.
"So we're agreed. All three would be valuable assets," Taylor was saying. "Who do we approach first?"
"Miss Zorah will likely agree to join us, but I'll need time to stock medbay with the necessary supplies for care of a quarian shipmate," Chakwas informed them. "The SR2 isn't well equipped for non-human medical needs, particularly those of the immunocompromised."
"Concur." Mordin nodded. "Quarian-specific supplies available on most major worlds due to minor demand created by Pilgrimages, but not in significant quantities. May need to back-order. Assemble piecemeal."
"All right." Shepard crossed her arms. "Further thoughts?"
"We already have a master of infiltration in Goto, a long range specialist in Vakarian, and a CQC expert in Shepard," Lawson offered.
"I'm good, but I can't claim the moniker of 'best assassin in the galaxy,'" he objected at the same time as Shepard said, "Think it's one thing to be able to take down a combatant at close range and another to make it your calling card."
"What I mean is that Krios's skillset is useful but not immediately necessary," she replied. "In my opinion, Commander, our ground team would most benefit from the addition of another biotics expert. We have a number of teammates who utilize precision strikes against single targets, but lack multiple people with the training and biotic ability to perform large-scale crowd control."
"Justicars work alone," Taylor added. "It'd be a skill she'll have honed to stay alive this long."
"Also consider operational discipline," Mordin said. "Justicars a monastic order. Customarily trained to exercise patience, equanimity under pressure. Tendency towards lifelong missions requires sustained application to operations. Of the three, may hold up best to passage of time, delays, while other assignments are completed."
"Samara's last reported location is Illium." Shepard looked at Chakwas. "Think you can get what you need there for Tali, Doc?"
Karin was checking her omnitool. "I believe so. Yes, it shouldn't be a problem, Commander."
Shepard nodded. "So we're lookin' at Samara, then Tali, then Krios, with additional stops as needed to address personal affairs you bring to my attention." She looked around the table. "Any objections?"
No one spoke.
"Dismissed. EDI, notify Joker of our next destination."
He slipped out as Taylor approached to request a private word with the commander.
Painkillers were wearing off. He could feel the beginnings of the migraine it'd been keeping at bay, the light and aural sensitivity that accompanied the throb.
Damn, he was getting old. Time was he'd have been up and running in a matter of hours after a night like that.
Shepard, on the other hand, appeared to be fully functional. Figured.
He nodded as Chakwas and Lawson joined him in the elevator, hoping he seemed professional and laconic instead of like an asshole or the sack of shit he was pretty sure he'd turned into overnight.
The elevator rocked into motion. The shuttling of the cables sounded like the firing of a commercial jet engine, and felt like a dozen knives being sharpened on his spinal cord.
This was going to be a long shift.
A hand touched his arm. He jumped and winced. Chakwas was peering at him over her glasses. "Garrus, you don't look well. How are you feeling?"
Like crap, but no way in hell was he telling the chief medical officer that he was hungover.
"I'm fine, Doctor," he said. "Thanks for the concern. Just a little worn out from yesterday's mission."
"Hm. Your eyes are swollen, and you're moving rather gingerly for a turian of your years. Are you experiencing any pain or fatigue?"
"It's my fault," Lawson said. "I requested that the Gunnery Officer check up on Shepard after his shift ended yesterday, due to the incident on Horizon I forwarded to you. I understand they were up late talking."
"I see." The doctor stepped back as the door cycled open. "Well, I appreciate your combined efforts to look after the commander. Garrus, please confine yourself to light duties today if you can. Shepard will want you cleared for groundside work when we reach Illium, and I will only sign off provided these symptoms have subsided."
"Yes ma'am. Nothing strenuous today and an early turn-in, I promise."
Chakwas went into medbay.
"Thanks, XO," he said. "Some things the doc doesn't need to hear."
"Any time." She eyed him. "Rest up, Vakarian. You really aren't looking well."
"This is your fault, you know," he pointed out. "Shepard could drink a krogan under the table thanks to those mods. Why don't you want her intoxicated? Is this part of some grand scheme to kill me and install an imposter?"
Her mouth twitched. "It's just a side effect of her accelerated metabolic processes, which positively impact her body's ability to heal. I regret that it's had an adverse effect on you, though."
"Seriously, omit it in the next rebuild. I could have died last night. I still might."
"I'd rather not reprise the Lazarus Project, but I'll see about getting you a commendation for your bravery. Would that help?"
"It's fine. All in the line of duty. Though I won't say no to a sticker."
Miranda went into her office shaking her head, and Garrus retreated to the battery and the blessed darkness that awaited.
Shepard, in case you've been worried, we're fine 10:45
I mean. I'm not fine, physically. But we're good. 10:45
Nothing about yesterday warned me off you, except maybe your ability to metabolize alcohol. 10:45
Feel free to do feelings around me again at some point. No judgment. 10:46
[ . . . ]
10:47 That honestly better have been a one time thing
10:47 I've hit my quota on feelings for the fucking year and then some
I'll bet. 10:47
10:47 Appreciate the check in though
10:47 Know where to go if another goddamn thing happens
Glad to hear it. Here for whatever you need. 10:47
10:48 If you say so
10:48 Wouldn't blame you if that scene scared the hell out of you
I think you'll find I'm pretty hard to spook. We turians don't scare easily. 10:48
Anyway, there's never a time when you're not a little terrifying, Commander. 10:48
In a good way, of course. 10:48
If it helps to assuage any concerns, seeing a glimpse of vulnerability only made you more intimidating. 10:48
10:48 Good
10:48 Reputation to uphold
10:50 You need anything? Fluids? More painkillers? Meal dropped off?
Just to drink water and lie here for a few more hours, probably. 10:51
I may or may not be coding horizontally right now. 10:51
10:51 Leave you to it then
10:51 Good luck, Vakarian
Thanks. I'll be operational by the time we hit Illium. 10:51
10:51 Sleep tight
Don't tempt me, damn it. 10:51