Chapter Nine: Archangel II

The pursuit was frantic. The traffic was heavy, and it being Omega, there was nothing ressembling order save for mutual understanding not to push the limits and what side of the air corridors to drive on.

The Ardat Yakshi drove like a demon, weaving through traffic like she didn't care if she crashed... or as if she knew she was in danger of being followed. The gap between her aircar and the chasers was growing, especially as the Justicar and Dhanakk had to pretend they were driving normally so they did not draw attention.

Dhanakk was driving an airtruck unsuitable for crazy manoeuvres anyway, Garrus knew.

The squad was in the cargo compartment while Garrus rode shotgun. The Justicar and the Drell following behind in a high performance Esquiran sporting aircar with the Salarian.

"The bitch is almost out of range," Dhanakk said, tapping the haptic interface that glowed in front of him. The batarian seemed to be watching the road with two eyes and watching the tracking of the target with the other two.

Garrus briefly wondered if that was dangerous, before dismissing the thought as pointless to verbalise.

"Speed up then," he replied, "You're driving like a primarch's second chauffeur, not a professional."

The batarian growled curses in an untranslated regional dialect of his homeworld, and the airtruck moved forwards at a greater pace, overtaking another with a side-swipe. His stomach moving around a little too much as the swerving increasing, Garrus half-regretted his choice.

There was two minutes of silence as the Ardat Yakshi's car took them on a merry-go-round of the Omega sights. If it was an evasion tactic, it was an unusual one.

"She's taking the Butcher on a damn tour," Dhanakk said, "Assuming that it is the Butcher."

Garrus was taken back to the moment he walked into Afterlife VIP.

Dressed up in a demi-tuxedo, his weapons on exposed maglocks around his suit, ready to be chatted up by a 'Demon of the Night Wind'... but more ready to see his old Commander. It took all his discipline not to start shooting when the first thing that happened when he stepped inside was to see the Ardat-Yakshi walking her out of the place, arm-in-arm, laughing loudly at some joke.

"It's Shepard," Garrus said quickly, "And don't call her that."

"Why?" Dhanakk grumbled, "Does it offend your turian sensibilities? If she had done to you what she has done to my people, you wouldn't be so kind."

Except Torfan was what happens when you try enslaving the humans you batarian moron, Garrus thought to himself.

"She also saved your people from the Reapers," Garrus pointed out, "Well, I helped, but still."

"The Reapers, ha!" Dhanakk spat, "I don't believe in them and you know it. You're lucky I consider you a comrade or I'd be gunning for her, not trying to save her life."

"Shepard would eat your liver, Dhanakk," Garrus warned, "After decapitating you with her rifle from three kilometres away."


Eventually, the tour ended and the Ardat Yakshi brought Shepard home. The route swerved between buildings and above narrow alleys, but this also slowed down the movement of the aircar. Dhanakk was better able to catch up, even without following directly. Eventually, the tracker virus on the target's omni announced that it was no longer travelling. They had arrived... which meant the clock was ticking.

Dhanakk pulled over to a parking alcove on a balcony of another building.

They all got out, and went to the railing.

"We've found them," Garrus said pointing at the right place for the Justicar, "Apartment building, one on the right." He opened his mouth to continue with his plan of action... but realised just who he was speaking to; an asari matriarch with a lot more combat experience than he had.

"Samara, how do you want to play this?" he asked, "Keep in mind that I want Shepard alive, and unharmed ideally."

"That may not be possible," the Justicar replied, "But we shall try. Shepard is worthy of consideration, unlike almost anyone else. Morinth is too dangerous, some casualties are to be expected. We do not have much time. Right now, she will be trying to impress Shepard, but that will not last long."

"So we need to go in fast," Garrus said, "Breach and clear, hit your target hard and exclusively. Don't give Shepard a chance to react."

"No, you would get in the way," the Justicar warned, "This will be a heavy biotic fight. Only myself and Thane shall breach the room."

"Then what do we do?" Sidonis replied, "Cheer from here? This isn't a biotiball game. You wanted our help, why are you taking us out of the picture?"

Good point, Garrus thought.

"You are here to make sure we do not fail," Samara said, "After fighting us, Morinth will be unable to fight you effectively."

Redundancy, Garrus thought, who knew being on the B team would feel so bad? He scratched in between his face-plates, mainly because he knew the Justicar was right. In an enclosed space, there was no contest between any of his people and a powerful asari. To say nothing of friendly fire, with biotics whipping around.

"If I might make a suggestion?" Thane Krios interjected, "The building opposite provides an excellent firing position. Use drones to blow out the walls. You will have full visibility of the apartment, and you should be able to pin the target and Shepard."

It was true. The apartment building had a twin, though it wasn't perfectly parallel. Which is why the drell had made the suggestion of blowing out the walls. Nowhere to hide, and nowhere to run. They'd have to be very careful not to hit Shepard, but that was doable.

Surprised, Garrus chuckled.

"Considering you're an assassin, I didn't think I'd like you," he said to Krios, "But that is a very good idea."

"Then it's settled," Krios smirked, "I only pray that the reports of your Commander's fighting ability are exaggerated."

Garrus winced. "Unfortunately not."


Quick chapter out while I write up another one