Survival of the fittest
Chapter 8
A shrill beeping echoed through the darkness of her room.
Aki awoke to the panel on the door to her quarters flashing brightly at 2-second intervals.
She squinted against the bright light and headed to the door pressing the panel open, the extremely irritating beeping stopping.
She tilted her head sleepily as Garrus crossed by her and into the room, pacing wildly, she watched as he walked muttering angrily, "hey"
"fucking bastard- I found him" he growled not looking to her.
Aki frowned crossing to where he paced in front of her bed "who? Sidonis?"
"yes" he snarled turning furiously only to begin pacing again.
Aki watched as he came to a sudden halt turning to her his eyes wild, furious, "you're going to help me, yeah?"
"with anything you need" she nodded "you got a location?"
"Citadel, a guy named Fade helped him disappear"
"okay- have you spoken to Jane?"
He nodded once sternly "immediately- we're heading to the Citadel now"
"okay- then just try and contain yourself till then. Don't worry Garrus- it'll be over soon" she soothed
"Aki- about before- I didn't think about the-" he ran his eyes over her, only now noticing how revealed she was. The camisole she wore barely concealed her breasts, her legs were bare, the smallest amount of material covering her sex.
Aki caught his line of sight and swallowed hard she wasn't expecting a 2am wakeup call and so passing out in her vest and knickers was her go to, he tore his eyes free and averted his gaze, "differences between us" he finished.
She waved a dismissive hand, her skin still hot from his stare, "I've felt this way about you for a long time Garrus, since back when you first joined the Normandy. If you are sure you feel the same, I can wait- for as long as it takes for us both to be comfortable"
He wanted to reach out but did not trust himself to stop at just holding her, instead he walked past her and lingered at the door glancing back to chuckle, "I've never met a human who has even been remotely interested in my kind- but you're unlike anyone I've ever met, thank you"
Aki blushed "for what?" she asked hesitantly
"for being you" he stood for a moment before pressing the door panel "I'll see you at the airlock when we arrive"
"you will" Aki assured him, he nodded once and left.
The Normandy docked at the citadel.
Aki, Garrus and Shepard went to Captain Bailey to inquire about Fade.
He informed the trio that some of Fade's contacts worked at a warehouse in the marketplace so that would be the best place to find out more.
Aki glanced to Jane who chewed on her lower lip as she watched Garrus place his weight on one foot then to the other his hands balling and un-balling, he was raring for a fight.
"you alright Garrus?" Jane pressed to his back "calm down- we'll find Fade"
"oh, I know we will" Garrus almost growled as the elevator came to their floor.
They found the warehouse Bailey mentioned quickly.
They walked in and noticed two Krogans leaning casually against crates.
They immediately took notice of Shepard and brought themselves to attention, wary of the trio.
A volus walked around the corner and approached Shepard, please don't let it be another biotic god her mind whispered.
"Fade?" Jane pressed, "You're not quite how I imagined you."
"Looks can be deceiving. So, which one of you wants to disappear?"
"I'd rather see you make someone reappear." Garrus stated coolly
"Ah, that's not the service we provide."
"Make an exception," Garrus replied as he quickly drew his pistol pointing it at the Volus, "Just this once."
Aki smiled sadly at Garrus's back, the hurt had turned itself to hatred, with the mindset he had right now nothing would stop him from getting to his goal. She'd been here- she knew why he would want revenge, she knew what that dark pit of despair of necrotising hate felt like.
"Shoot them!" the Volus commanded to his Krogans.
Two shots rang out, Garrus took them out before they could even draw their weapons. Aki's hand twitched around the hilt of her sword, she was holding herself back, this was Garrus's revenge, he needed this closure- although admittedly his speed did surprise her.
Jane was less impressed with Garrus's attitude, she didn't like this side, his hostility radiating Garrus i'm sorry.
"Listen, we need to find a client of yours. It would be in your best interest to tell us what we need to know." Jane stared pleading; she was afraid he'd torture the Volus for the information
"I'm not the one you need to talk to. I'm not Fade!" he shouted clearly fearful of the Turian who loomed over him.
Garrus walked towards him and knelt to his level, aiming the gun firmly at his chest, "Well then, maybe you'd like to tell us where to find him." He spat
"He's in the factory district. Works out of the old foundry." The volus rambled quickly, clearly terrified.
Garrus looked back at Jane and nodded once, "I know the place."
The Volus backed up making room between himself and the Turian, "He's got a lot of mercs there, Blue Suns, Harkin thinks they're protecting him."
"Harkin?" Shepard asked, "Harkin that works for C-sec?!" fucking hell! Harkin is Fade
"No, no, no, he got fired from C-sec a while back, but he still knows the systems."
"Interesting," said Garrus sternly, "But it doesn't change anything. We still have to find him in order to get to Sidonis."
"Okay, so where do we go from here?" Jane asked Garrus softly, "we're right here with you"
"We need to get to a transit station - I can get us where we need to go from there."
"then let's go" Jane prompted.
The Volus spoke now hesitantly, "So..uh..I can go?"
"Sure," Garrus said sneered, "But if we don't find Harkin, we'll be back for you"
"Oh…..good," he replied quietly as he walked off.
"nearly there Garrus" Aki stated with a nod.
They fought their way through the Blue Suns, trying to get to the office where Harkin had holed himself up.
He was desperately sending out all the mercs he had at his disposal along with two heavy mechs. Nothing that was thrown at them could stop the trio from advancing, they moved as one, lethal in their movements, the rage building up inside of Garrus evident with every step. With the mecs down it was an easy route to him.
They snuck up to the room where Harkin was hiding in- Jane took the front, Aki and Garrus the back.
Harkin looked up and saw Shepard approaching – gun aimed directly at his face. Harkin backed up, heading towards the back door hoping to make a break for it,
"You were close but not close enough," he said as he turned around to run out the door, only to be greeted by Garrus's gun smashing into his face.
Aki watched as the man clutched his nose blood gushing out from between his fingers.
Garrus grabbed Harkin by the arm, pulled him back into the room and slammed him against the wall with enough force to wind the man.
"So-Fade-couldn't make yourself disappear, huh?" The tone in Garrus' voice was venomous, acidic to Jane's ears, what had her friend become, she loved him with all her heart but right now in this state he was crazed, and she feared for him.
"C'mon Garrus, we can work this out. What do you need?" Harkin bartered
Garrus backed off a little, "I'm looking for someone."
"Well, I guess we both have something the other one wants." Aki grimaced at Harkins tone, Garrus kneed him hard in the stomach causing Harkin to double over and fall clutching his guts.
"Harkin," Jane pressed trying to diffuse the situation a little before Garrus beat the answers he wanted from the man, "maybe you should just tell us what we need to know."
"Maybe," he replied still gasping, "I still haven't heard what you want."
"You helped a friend of mine disappear," Garrus stated again in that venous tongue, "I need to find him."
"I might need a little more information than that." Harkin sneered he's not going to give in easily Aki noted.
"His name was Sidonis, turian, came from…"
"I know who he is and I'm not telling you squat!" knew it
"Harkin, this doesn't have to be hard," Jane frowned "just tell him what you know, and we'll be gone"
"Screw you! I don't give out client information – it's bad for business."
Garrus punched him in the stomach hard, causing him to fall to the ground again audibly gasping. Garrus then put his foot across Harkin's neck pressing down, "You know what else is bad for business- a broken neck!" he pressed harder now.
"Alright! Alright!" said Harkin struggling to breathe now, "get off me!" Garrus continued pressing, Harkins face reddening with the strain.
He was losing it, Jane could see it, if he kills him now Garrus would never find Sidonis.
She tactfully approached Garrus and reached out to touch his arm softly before giving him a small stop nod.
It was an effective enough reminder to Garrus that he had other business to deal with not just this arsehole, he took his foot off Harkin and stepped back.
"Terminus really changed you, huh Garrus?" Harkin said when he got his breath rubbing his neck.
"No, but Sidonis... opened my eyes. Now arrange a meeting." Garrus voice was low and husky, Aki wanted to hold him, to stop everything that had led to this point.
Harkin walked over to his console.
He called Sidonis, "Yeah it's me, there's a chance your identity has been compromised. That's why I'm calling. I'm sending an agent. Where do you want to meet?"
Harkin got off the comm, "It's all good. He wants to meet you in front of Orbital Lounge in the middle of the day. So…if our business is done, I'm going to get going."
Harkin turned to walk away but not before Garrus grabbed him by his shirt lifting him slightly, "I don't think so…you're a criminal now Harkin."
"So what? You're just going to kill me? That's not your style Garrus."
Garrus let go of Harkin and pushed him back a few steps the malice evident in his eyes, "Kill you? No…but I don't mind slowing you down a little." Garrus pulled out his gun and aimed at Harkin who squirmed on the floor, Jane's breath caught.
Garrus needed this, he needed his closure, and this guy was a piece of shit she turned her head only glancing back at the sound of an angry grunt.
Jane frowned lightly at the scene. Aki had grabbed the barrel of the gun and was shaking her head at Garrus, she took it from his hand and turned on her heel, nodding to the door, he snarled from between his clenched teeth but didn't argue, she watched him for a second and inhaled deeply, Garrus was an innocent, she wanted no more blood to stain his hands other than sidonis's.
She looked back at Harkin, "I guess it's my lucky day eh" he chuckled lightly
Aki fired a round into his knee and another into his shoulder to ensure he didn't go far his screams piercing before she radioed bailey to collected the piece of crap.
Jane looked to Garrus as the shots rang out at his determined angry features and inhaled deeply, he looked from the door Aki emerged from, she passed his gun back to him and nodded "c-sec is on their way, lets go"
Garrus took the gun and ground his teeth together "should've killed him" he hissed
"C'mon, let's move." Jane sighed
Garrus spoke back at Harkin as they walked away together, "Sidonis better be there…or I'll be back to finish the job.".
Garrus drove to the location, he parked the transit at their destination and took a moment before he eventually spoke, "We shouldn't have just let Harkin go. He deserved to be punished."
"I'm getting a little worried about you Garrus" Jane frowned, her eyes scanning his angry features. Aki sat in the back glancing to Garrus as he ground his teeth together.
"You don't think he deserved it?!" he shouted his mandibles flared.
"It's just not like you." Jane breathed with a thoughtful frown "in think you would've actually killed him if Aki didn't take over"
"What do you want from me Shepard? What would you do if someone betrayed you?!" he growled "yes i wanted to kill him"
"I'm not sure…but I wouldn't let it change me." She retorted "you're a good man Garrus"
"I would have said the same thing before it happened to me." Garrus looked out of the window then back to her
"It's not too late…you don't have to go through with this." Jane almost pleaded, Aki could hear the desperation.
"Who's going to bring Sidonis to justice if I don't?! Nobody else knows what he's done. Nobody else cares. I don't see any other options."
Aki sighed softly, today was not a day she wanted to repeat, "Let me talk to him." Jane offered
"Talk all you want but it won't change my mind. I don't care what his reasons were, he screwed us – he deserves to die."
"I understand what you're going through, but do you really want to kill him?"
"I appreciate your concern, but I'm not you."
"This isn't you either."
"Really? I've always hated injustice. The thought that Sidonis could get away with this…why should he go on living when ten good men lie in unmarked graves?! I'm sorry Shepard, words won't resolve this problem. I need to set up." He looked around, scouting out the area, "I can get a clear shot from over there."
"What do you need me to do?" she asked, there was no way to get through to him now, the anger was too much, too much hatred to put aside.
"Keep him talking and don't get in my way," he said coldly. "I'll let you know when he's in my sights. Give me a signal so I know you're ready, then I'll take the shot. You better go – he'll be here soon."
Aki and Jane nodded once to each other understanding what was expected of them.
Garrus got himself set up and looked around for Shepard and Aki though his sniper scope.
"Shepard, can you read me?"
"Loud and clear."
Garrus spotted Shepard and then quickly scanned the area for Sidonis, bastard!
"Alright, there he is. Wave him over and keep him talking."
Aki looked around nudging Shepard to point the direction of the on edge Turian, Shepard did as instructed, Sidonis saw the wave walked over to her.
"Let's get this over with," Sidonis said. Aki noted how nervous he was, quickly scanning the area, damn it looks like he's about to run, he knows how guilty he is.
"You're in my shot," said Garrus, "move to the side."
Shepard felt herself flush. Garrus needed this, he needed the closure, this chapter needed to be able to heal.
She swallowed hard; Aki frowned wondering whether she'd actually allow this to happen.
She stepped to the side, "oh don't worry, this won't take long at all"
"are you one of Harkins men? I don't recall ever seeing you"
"that's it just keep him talking a few more seconds" Garrus focused on lining his shot perfectly,
"I was told Harkin was one of the best- this better not happen again"
Shepard stepped to the side again "it won't, don't worry"
Garrus snarled, his eye firmly on the scope. Sidonis turned to leave clearly spooked, "what oh shit- " the bullet whizzed past, perfect head shot.
Sidonis was dead before his body thudded off the floor.
"betrayal repaid sidonis".
Garrus breathed, his hands were shaking... it was the first time he'd ever killed in cold blood killed for revenge not just survival; he was unarmed but the pain, the anger... it was too much to ignore, he deserved this.
They met Garrus back at the shuttles.
Aki noticed how the strain had slightly lifted from Garrus's shoulders, the anger dissipating the hurt however would take a lot longer to heal.
"that was easy enough"
Jane nodded "yeah-clean and simple, good work Garrus" she frowned "please-don't make me do this again"
He nodded "thanks for helping me, both of you, let's get moving I need to get away from here"
Aki nodded "had to do what you had to do" she whispered following after him and Jane.