I Do Not Own Mass Effect or Any of its Characters
Chapter Nineteen: Exodus
Wayne sat at his desk cradling his picture of Liara. He ran his fingers down the frame and then to his lips. Liara's lip gloss had etched itself onto Wayne and refused to leave. No matter how many times he brushed or used mouth wash that taste was still on his lips. That delicate yet powerful taste of strawberry and vanilla still lingered. That delicious taste he had nearly forgotten…
"God damn it!" Wayne barked slamming the picture down onto the desk and rushing back into his bathroom. He methodically brushed his tongue, gums and lips with dial soap. A desperate last resort that landed him coughing and sputtering over the sink basin.
Returning to his seat Wayne forced his desk drawer open and thought about locking the picture out of sight. Instead he propped it back next to his computer screen. Wayne slowly ran his hands through his lightly matted hair and licked his lips. For a second he thought he could still taste that sugary tang. Wayne leaned forward and rested his head onto his shoulders how was supposed to handle this. For starters he had to tell Tali. She needed to know. Just thinking of the repercussions made Wayne irritated and made him want a smoke. Rifling through his chest pocket Wayne let out a low grumble and was about to check his pants but then remembered what Liara did. Letting out silent curses Wayne dug through his bottom drawer where he kept spare cigarettes. None were there. He forgot to stock up when he bought the last pack.
"Son of a bitch." Wayne called out, lightly slamming the drawer shut. He dug his nails into his desk before kicking open the bottom drawer where he stored his liquor. A small collection nothing like he had back home. His hand trailed across the various bottles until finding his choice poison of Jack Daniels "Gentleman Jack" Whiskey. He pulled off the shot glass that rested on the neck of the bottle and filled it nearly to the brim. Just as he took his first sip his elevator started to whir and was soon joined by Tali. He didn't try covering up what he was doing and continued to sip from his glass.
"Wayne?" Tali murmured as she watched him finish off the glass. The Commander didn't say anything as the sting of the alcohol itched at his throat. He let out a low laugh before placing the booze and shot glass back in its home. Tali could see it in his eyes that something was wrong. Her eyes danced around him until they spotted the picture of Liara. She let out a low grunt and took a seat on the couch, gesturing for Wayne to join her. He took a bit as he trudged over to her with his fidgeting hands tucked into his pockets.
"Wayne, what's wrong?" Tali demanded in a stone like voice. Wayne chuckled again and leaned back resting his head on the back of the couch. Damn…Wayne mused. Looking to Tali and seeing his reflection in her face plate he muttered.
"I lied before." Tali reeled back a little at this abrupt statement and questioned.
"What about?" Wayne sucked in a small amount of air and suddenly took Tali by the hand.
"Before when we were talking about Mindoir and when you asked if there was someone else."
"Wayne, what's bothering you?" Tali asked worry laden in her voice. Wayne lightly licked his lips wishing he had a smoke.
"Mindoir is not an easy thing for me to talk about. So I lie and make it sound like I didn't lose as much as I did to help it stop hurting…but that's just it. I lie."
From there Wayne conveyed to her all that had happened on Mindoir, of Syla…everything. It was not easy. He was trying to find a way to tell her what was really on his mind. He never found that moment. Instead, he stood and flew through his drawer until finding the lock box with his personal memories.
"I don't know what to say about Syla I never really talk about her. Truthfully you're the first person outside of my shrink that I've told." Tali clenched at the pillow in her hand with a swell of emotions ranging from anger and pity. She examined the picture for a while until finally gaining her voice.
"Why are you telling me this?" Wayne's only answer was to return to his seat next to Tali. Not much was said after that. The only interaction between the two was Tali cradling the Commander in her arms…painfully unaware of what was really on the Commander's mind.
Tarak picked the last of the chew away from his gums and rested his hands on Jentha's knife. He sat with his legs crossed and his bottom set of eyes closed. In the hull of the cruiser he could hear the click of the engines, the hum of the drive core. There was a serene peace in accepting what was about to transpire. With one final breath Tarak lowered the knife to the ground and whispered prayers of forgiveness to a holy charm from his youth. Something he had not done since he was a young boy in the Temple or "Gro'Than" in Batarian. Midway through Tarak was interrupted by Gru.
"Boss, we're ready to move." He called as he poked his head out of the elevator. Tarak acknowledged him and quickly finished his prayer before joining Gru. He was silent as he stepped onto the elevator with an uneasy feeling washing over him. Tarak had fought all his life and now he was at that edge. The one every warrior both feared and respected. Without thinking he blurted out.
"Have you ever been afraid that you would die before your time?" Gru was honestly shocked and took a couple seconds before replying.
"That's unexpected, Boss. I guess…I mean in our line of work, who hasn't?" Tarak nodded and murmured.
"Gru, you did do a good job…with that data of C-Sec I mean, a really damn good job." Gru had to take a double take. He edged away from Tarak and quipped.
"Boss?" Tarak rested against the back of the elevator and continued.
"Sharn told me about your talk. I'm not surprised you don't know of The Old Ways. The Hegemony is good at making people forget."
"What's going on?" Gru questioned.
"Gru, I want to ask you, why did you join us?" Gru was silent. This was the most Tarak had spoken to him. It was a little unnerving. Gru gathered his thoughts and replied levelly.
"I know you dug my files, why ask?" Tarak smirked. The kid was sharp after all.
"Not many know that women and children were present during Torfan." Gru let out an exasperated chuckle and growled hoarsely.
"They wouldn't would they."
Tarak nodded his head once before the door to the elevator opened to the command deck. Most of his crew was gathered, the others were at the staging sites preparing for war. Before stepping out to greet his men Tarak murmured under his breath to Gru.
"All men have a reason for living and for dying, Gru. No matter how insignificant it may be. They were born and have a destiny they must face. One day I hope you find yours." Gru tried stopping Tarak but he wasn't fast enough. He was never fast enough…back then on that war torn moon…and now when he wanted to know why Tarak was so patient with him. Now all he could do was watch Tarak prepare his men as a monitor broadcast his speech to the other mercenary teams.
"I want to thank all of you for sticking with me until now. Some of you I know…some I've only recently met. However we all have two things in common. The Archangel and Commander Shepard. First it was merely business. They fucked with us and our business. We retaliated…and we lost…we lost friends, comrades…and hell who knows family. We can't let that sit…Everyone here knows what exactly is at stake. I won't lie when I tell you we're all probably going to die a horrible bloody death." All of the men remained silent some of the young bloods even grimaced.
"But hell that's the life of a mercenary right?" All of the men chuckled, some even clapped. Tarak then pulled up the data of C-Sec. All of the routes his men were to take were outlined in red and blue X's where they were to plant explosives.
"Sharn will lead the advance teams and set up the preliminary charges. Meanwhile, during the confusion the Kid and I will lead team two to alpha point. Once the charges have been detonated team three will wait for my signal to head to bravo point. During that time Sharn's team should be dug in far enough into C-Sec that Archangel and Shepard won't be able to break the hold…at least not easily. Once teams two and three complete their respective missions, we will link up at C-Sec and wait for transport. Everyone got that?" There were no disagreements. It was just silent. It was like a funeral…in a way it was. Tarak smirked. Almost wanted to call in air support for good measure…one good look at his cybernetics told him otherwise.
For most of the day Garrus had been on a café terminal. It was the best place to do investigative work. It was the hardest to track someone from one of these places and hell cheap bad tasting turian caffeine was always a plus. Working on his fourth turian coffee Garrus ran that name again "Olympus Architecture". On the surface everything was solid. They had their own extra-net site, previous work areas and a number…a number was always good…if it actually linked you to someone. With several calls only one went through and the guy sounded nervous…like no one was actually going to call the damn thing. Maybe it was the coffee, maybe it was the guys first day and he was shy…Garrus hated dealing in maybe and just assured himself his hunch that this was foul was a good hunch.
He didn't just come here for the terminal and crappy coffee. No, it was actually mild surveillance as well. One of the workers from the construction crew frequented here. A batarian. Garrus felt himself get a little agitated. C-Sec never listened and now it might be putting people in danger. Garrus looked to his Omni Tool clock. Twelve forty five. The batarian's lunch break and there was the man right on time. Garrus wasn't alone in this. He didn't survive Omega alone after all.
"L, is the feed working?" Garrus whispered into his throat mic." There was a brief static before she responded.
"I got him on visual, G." Code names…a precaution she insisted on. Being the new Shadow Broker Liara had to be cautious. Garrus naturally went to her. With her vast data gathering capabilities it was a no brainer. Normally Garrus would have asked her to look directly at the company itself. However, after calling their help line he didn't want to risk exposure. So he went down the ladder.
"What do you got?" Garrus murmured.
"Brix De'serf, age thirty five, ex-convict. Did some time on a Thessian prison world for smuggling and attempted murder." Garrus felt his teeth itch. He had a record…never a good sign.
"Ready for the interesting part, G?" Liara asked pensively
"Go for it, L."
"He had connections to the Blue Sun's prior to his imprisonment…he was a lieutenant under Tarak Grellin" Garrus dropped his coffee. His eyes rolled over like that of a shark on the hunt. One of the waiters tried to talk to him…all he heard was warbled speech.
"Dig up everything on Olympus Architecture!" Garrus growled as he slammed credits on the table and sped out of the café.
"But what about…" Garrus cut off Liara and barked.
"Forget what I said! Make this your priority search!" There was a pause.
"What are you going to do?" Liara pleaded. Garrus clicked on his Omni Tool and scrolled in his list of contacts until finding Bailey's personal number.
"Warn someone." Right as he said that there was a thunderous boom. Shortly after several others followed…then screaming, constant screaming.
Sup Peoples! Sorry for the long wait but this chapter was being mean to me! i blame my lack of coffee...im trying to stop caffeine consumption...it's not going well...Anyways you knows the drill! Constructive Criticism is Welcome! (P.S, if you just beat Durial in Diablo 2...don't accidently turn off your computer without making sure to leave the area...for Diablo fans you know what i mean...sad face)