I Do Not Own Mass Effect Or any of its characters

Chapter Eighteen: Something More

Garrus was half way done with his morning jog. He passed by a couple of turian women. They had eyes for him. The mandibles said it all…the mandibles…Garrus felt a slight ping of anger as he passed over a small bridge that ran across one of the Citadel's artificial ponds. Looking downward he ran his hands against either side of his face and then extended his jawline. We look nothing like that! Stupid movie… Returning to his run Garrus passed by a small café that Commander Shepard frequented and noticed a couple of familiar faces. Mordin and Dr. Chakwas were sitting in one of the center tables. Both were splitting a slice of cake and enjoying a cup of tea. When they saw Garrus both nearly jumped and parted their seats from one another.

"Dr. Chakwas, Mordin, good morning." Garrus called out. The two waved to him as he drew closer.

"This is kind of a surprise, seeing you two out like this I mean." Garrus admitted while jogging in place. Mordin sheepishly waved him off and said quickly.

"Not really wanted to spend some time with Karin before leaving Normandy…best way to spend it." Garrus taken aback even more questioned.

"You're leaving?" Mordin nodded vigorously.

"Yes, yes, after fighting and surviving suicidal run to Omega 4 Relay, I must return to clinic, people need me…will be leaving soon." Garrus nodded slowly and said his farewells before heading off. His run lasted another ten minutes or so until he came upon C-Sec. Old habits…when Garrus was part of C-Sec he would make a point to drop by on his days off. Now everything was different. Large parts of the building were still being repaired from the damage by Sovereign, Keepers were scurrying everywhere and a construction crew was in the middle of it all.

"That's strange." Garrus said in a low whisper. Whenever a part of C-Sec needed work it was done by a Citadel based construction company but this company was foreign as far as Garrus knew. Overly curious Garrus made his way through to the entrance to find out was going on. Inside he navigated around until he found Bailey's office. He was just about to knock when Bailey opened up the door.

"Garrus didn't expect to find you here." Bailey said before closing the door behind him. Garrus nodded and asked

"Been awhile since I've been here, thought you'd be down in Zakera Ward. I'm glad I was able to catch you." Bailey indicated for Garrus to walk with him and replied.

"I caught a break today, had some paperwork here at C-Sec Command, been stuck at my desk all day and was just about to take a break."

"So what's up with the construction? I thought we didn't hire outside of Citadel operated companies. Who are they?" Garrus asked as the two reached the cafeteria coffee machine. Bailey poured himself a cup and remarked.

"That's actually what I was working on before you arrived. They're called Olympus Architecture. Some outer rim contractor and I don't like them." Garrus gestured to an open table and sat down.

"They have a dirty record?" Garrus questioned. Bailey stirred sugar into his coffee and replied.

"It's more like no record. I'll admit a lot of outer rim companies are clean but I also know how dirty they can be and that's why I did a background check. This one, Olympus Architecture is just there…nothing dirty or clean." Garrus rubbed his chin and rested his hands onto the table.

"Why did C-Sec hire them? How did they even find them?" Garrus asked. Bailey offered a faint smile. He sipped his coffee and replied in a matter of fact tone.

"They found us, offered to help fix up C-Sec and any other part of the Citadel, free of charge." Garrus scoffed.

"That's mighty nice of them." Bailey agreed and added.

"When I first heard it made curious but when the Capital of every known species on the Citadel is attacked there are bound to be generous types. Except when they rolled in something wasn't right. No outer rim outfit would have the amount of high level gear they're toting around. I think someone's backing them with a lot of credits, it's the only way. Add in the fact of their record, damn right I get a little curious." Garrus felt his brows furrow. He was with Bailey on this one. Something was weird.

"Have you tried bringing this to anyone's attention?" Garrus asked.

"I tried and I'm trying again but nobody will listen. Garrus, you used to work for C-Sec and know when something smells. My hands are tied and I can't investigate these guys. Mind doing me a solid and looking into this for me?" Garrus agreed in a heartbeat. After that Bailey went back to his office and Garrus returned to his jog.

"That took me off guard seeing Garrus this early." Karin said as she took a dainty sip from her herbal mint tea. Mordin agreed under his breath before taking a small bite of the cake. He moved his chair back next to Karin and added.

"Must make note of this café, they have excellent cake…we should come here more often." Karin offered a light smile and agreed. Reclining back she looked to Mordin with a mild admiration in her eyes. He took notice and started dabbing his face with his napkin. Karin laughed and assured him there was nothing there and said happily.

"That would be nice to come here again." Mordin nodded and placed his napkin onto the table. He clicked onto his Omni Tool and tinkered around with it for a bit until Karin asked.

"Mordin, why didn't you tell me you were planning on leaving?" Mordin jumped at the question and assured.

"Was planning on telling today…had meant to. Was the reason I brought you here." Karin let out a silent sigh and leaned back in her chair. She sipped her tea again and remarked happily.

"I believe we were talking about how we grew up before Garrus interrupted us." Mordin smiled and added wryly

"Yes, you were telling me about your time at your vacation home." Karin laughed and corrected.

"More precisely, the first time I had tried Serrice Iced Brandy. I was with a boy I had known from my high school and he brought the drink. We had a couple of shots and went cruising in his dune buggy…it didn't end well. God, Mickey was so crazy at times. If not for me I don't know what would have become of him after college and high school." Mordin imagined Karin joy riding and let out a quick laugh.

"Sounds like you two were close." Mordin remarked before sliding the cake back to Karin. She took a quick bite and readily nodded.

"Mickey was a good friend and my first boyfriend, possibly the first man I'll admit that I loved."

"Where is he now?" Mordin questioned. Karin looked to the sky. There was something in her eyes that Mordin had never once seen in her. She seemed to smile but he couldn't quite tell. If she was smiling it was filled with melancholy.

"He developed a tumor near his heart and there were complications… He passed away. I still remember the first time we met and every year since then. We made it a tradition to share a drink every summer." Mordin stiffened and let out a heavy sigh.

"I'm sorry." He offered quietly.

"It's okay. I'm just happy I was able to know him and truthfully I don't think he ever really left. You'll think I'm funny for saying this but I see a lot of him in the Commander. I think that was the reason I chose to stay with him despite that he was working for Cerberus."

"Again I am sorry for asking, he sounds like a very good man." Mordin remarked. Karin nodded and stood. She pushed her chair in and said with a smile.

"Come on Mordin, there's still a lot around town we can do." Mordin followed closely behind Karin. They went from shop to shop looking through various odds and ends. Until they came upon a small jewelry stand. Karin stopped and gazed at a set of turquoise earrings. She looked at the price gave a light pout and walked away. Mordin glanced to the earrings then back to Karin

"How much?" Mordin indicated to the pair of seashell earrings. The vendor, an Asari Matriarch dialed in the price on her Omni Tool and replied

"Forty five credits." Mordin thought on it and rubbed his chin. He looked back to Karin and back to the earrings.

"Buying it for your girl?" The Asari asked with a bored expression.

"Yes…I mean we're not dating..." Mordin remarked before transferring over the money and pocketing the earrings.

"Those will look really good on your girlfriend." The asari stated as she handed Mordin the receipt.

"She's not my…never mind." Mordin uttered under his breath before catching up to Karin.

Liara and Wayne were down at one of the artificial ponds with their shoes off and their feet soaking in the cool water. Liara nudged closer to the Commander and offered him a sip of her cola. He declined.

"Do you remember our time on Benla?" Liara asked quietly.

"Our last vacation together, how could I forget that." Wayne replied quickly. Liara pulled her knees closer to her chest and said.

"I still have the tapes of us." Wayne felt himself starting to blush and remarked.

"You do? Thought I deleted those." Liara laughed and fired back.

"From my computer." Wayne hung his head low in defeat and slowly started to applaud.

"Well played, Liara, well played." Liara chuckled and rubbed Wayne's back.

"Don't feel bad, I always outsmart you." Wayne gave a light pout and grumbled.

"Not always..." Looking back to the pond he recalled all the good they had together and all the bad. Wayne wanted to wrap his arm around her but refrained. Instead he reached into his pocket and pulled out a cigarette. Big mistake.

"You told me you quit." Liara declared as she snatched the pack from Wayne and proceeded to crumple them with her biotics.

"Liara, those were vintage smokes!" Wayne called out. Liara fired back.

"Even so, I know how dangerous those are." Wayne picked up the crumpled up box of American Spirits and murmured.

"These cost nearly seventy credits at best…" Throwing them into a nearby trashcan Wayne grumbled silent curses…he had forgotten how Liara detested his bad habit. Now he was out of his smokes and out seventy credits. Releasing a grated sigh Wayne rejoined Liara. She grinned lightly and rubbed his back.

"Don't pout."

"I'm not." Wayne defended. Liara lightly prodded her finger to his forehead.

"Don't lie."

"I'm not…" Wayne griped. Liara prodded his nose.

"And don't get angry." Wayne grumbled something under his breath and leaned his head forward into his arms.

"I'll show you angry!" Wayne suddenly called out as he leapt toward Liara. He playfully tackled her to the ground and started to feverishly tickle her. Wayne knew her weaknesses…every single spot. Liara burst into a fit of giggles as she tried removing the Commander from her form but couldn't, not with him tickling her ribs…it was too much. She kicked and squirmed continually calling out mercy to no avail.

"Vengeance!" Wayne called out before Liara mustered up the strength to flip him over onto the grassy field. Her hands explored under his shirt until Liara found the one spot…the one only she knew about and started her relentless attack.

"Whose vengeance now?" Liara asked sinisterly. Wayne tried to roll Liara over but he was pinned down by her biotics.

"Hey, that's cheating!"

"Maybe…" Liara smirked. Her hands rifling through Wayne's most ticklish spot. As he squirmed Wayne was trying his hardest not to laugh but his defenses were failing him. Momentarily Wayne was able to break free and rolled her back to the ground. Liara looked up to him her eyes filled with passion. Before Wayne knew what had happened Liara planted a light kiss on his lips…and for the briefest second he returned it. After the haze left their minds both broke away. Wayne collapsed away from Liara and started wiping his lips trying to erase what had just happened.

"I'm sorry." Liara croaked with her back to the Commander.

"No, no…don't. This is my fault." Wayne reprimanded as he got up to leave.

"I'm heading back to the Normandy…I have to…" Liara cut him off.

"Commander…Wayne, wait." Wayne stopped in his tracks and growled.

"We should just put this behind us, this isn't anything." That was what aggravated Liara. She held onto his broad shoulder and hissed.

"I said wait!" Wayne didn't listen and pulled his shoulder away. Never once looking back. Liara collapsing onto the grass.

Tarak monitored the various security feeds that ran throughout the Citadel. He clicked his teeth as he kept track of every detail. Some would call him a man possessed. Gru watched with a slight uneasiness. Turning back to his set of monitoring screens he couldn't shake what Tarak had said from before. As he continued watching the camera feeds someone tapped at his shoulder. Thinking it was Tarak he snapped.

"What."

"Easy kid just wanted to ask you a question." Sharn, one of the older mercs replied levelly. Gru looked back to the screens.

"What is it?" Sharn let out a low growl and lightly tilted his head to the right.

"Why are you being so disrespectful to Boss?" That hit a nerve. Gru felt his eyes narrow and his shoulders tightly tense.

"He chose me as a second and yet…" Sharn placed a hand on his shoulder and corrected.

"First of all you pretty much forced yourself into that position. Second you really aren't his second." Gru let out a low growl and formed tight fists, challenging Sharn directly. The elder ignored the kid's threat and continued.

"Come on, let's grab a smoke." Sharn gestured to go outside. Both men left the makeshift trailer and onto the construction platform. With the sounds of heavy machinery droning into the background Sharn lit up and offered a smoke to Gru. He declined and asked lowly.

"What is this about old man?" Sharn took a light drag before flicking his cigarette to the ground.

"About you, not respecting the Boss." Without missing a beat Gru fired back.

"He chose me to…" Sharn stopped him and replied levelly.

"Like I said, you forced yourself into that position…and Boss doesn't believe in that. Tarak follows The Old Ways." Gru's brows furrowed and he silently asked.

"The Old Ways?" Sharn grumbled something under his breath and leaned his back against one of the heavy loaders.

"Best way to put it, Tarak follows a code that not many batarians adhere anymore...The Hegemony outlawed it years ago. That's beside the point…you see the role of Second isn't just a title, to Tarak it's a way of life. In The Old Ways the role of Second was sacred. It was a bond between two, where one went the other went…what one did, the other did and when one died…you get the idea." Unimpressed Gru countered.

"Just because he follows some old way doesn't mean he can…" Again Sharn cut off Gru and corrected.

"The Old Ways…just listen. I've served with him the longest and I have a good understanding of him. Just respect him and drop whatever shit you have against him." Gru instinctively fired back.

"Then he should respect me!" That made Sharn laugh a little.

"Why do you think he's kept you around for so long, Kid?" Sharn offered before heading back inside.

A/N

Sup Peoples! Sorry for the delay! I was looking for a new job and found one! Now to rest up...staying up twenty four hours is no bueno...Remember Constructive Criticism is not only welcome but free, good for your colon and prevents tooth decay...well at least it's free...