Chapter 21

"Say, Shepard, Tali and I want you over. Everyone's in town. Why not have everyone over?" said Garrus's image on the desk's terminal.

"Turien Day of Comradery," Tali added ducking her head briefly in beside Garrus's on the screen.

"What?" Shepard said leaning back in her chair at the desk.

"Turien holiday," Garrus explained. "Militant like they all are, of course, but this one's fitting."

"Yeah?" Shepard tapped her fingers on the arm of the chair and checked the time. Meetings, meetings, meetings. "Okay, so tell me, what does ones do on the Day of Comradery?"

Garrus shrugged. "What does any species do on a holiday, Shepard? Drink, eat, talk, drink."

"That's it? Just a party?"

"There's more to it than that, of course, but I'm expecting you to add to your facial tattoo or sing the Palavian Battlesong."

Shepard smirked. "I've seen you drunk enough. I might know it."

"You can lead us off then. Might be the most entertaining part of the night, depending on if you go dancing."

"Oh, ha ha, Garrus. You're the only one obsessed with my dance moves."

"The rest are too polite to say, but Shepard, you and me, we say it straight."

"So, speaking straight, nothing else I need to know? Just a party?"

"Well, not just a party per se. Someone's usually nominated for a speech at the end."

"Hey!"

Garrus rolled his eyes. "You're just assuming it's you."

"I'm going to be campaigning all night that it's you," Shepard said.

Garrus grinned. "I've given my fair share. I could recycle one from a few years back. I got a few head bobs from my father's friends in the Hierarchy."

"Depending on how much you serve,I'm betting you can get more than head bobs from our group. Maybe a hoot or a holler."

"Oh, I'm hoping," Garrus said. "You're supposed to end the speech with gunfire in the air."

"I'm liking this holiday."

"It's a loud day on Palaven. Or used to be." Shepard eyed Garrus, but he pressed on. "So come armed, Shepard, if I didn't already need to tell you that."

"You have kids at these parties?"

"Every Palavian home has an arsenal. You're shooting your rifle before the age of eight. Children younger than that, well, they don't usually get anything to fire."

"Usually?"

"Toys," Garrus said. "Also, for the speech, there's something you should know."

Shepard tipped her head back to the ceiling. "Garrus. Do you know how many speeches I've already given?"

"Then it should easy, Shepard. Now you need to know, each speech ends with saying 'Die for the Cause.' Cue gun fire."

Shepard narrowed her eyes. "If they don't like the speech, that gun fire …"

"Oh, it's rarely not up in the air."

"Better make sure I'm on good terms with everyone at this party then."

"Already given up campaigning for someone else to give the speech?"

"That's plan A. Sometimes plan A's don't work out."

"So true, Shepard," Garrus said. "And wear blue. Or … hmm, maybe red would be better."

Shepard leaned forward on the desk. "Garrus, I know you're worried about my fashion sense but show some trust here."

"It's the holiday, Shepard. It's traditional to wear blue."

"Why red, then?"

"Blue for turien blood spilt. It's a holiday commemorating the sacrifice one for another in war, sacrifice one for the all, that sort of thing. Right up your alley."

"And yours."

"And all of ours. Thus, the party."

Shepard grinned. "Sounds like a good reason to get together. I'll come, and I'll wear blue."

"Human blood is red."

"But this is a turien hoiday." Shepard held up a finger.

"Then, good. Tali …" Garrus turned as a shadow passed the screen. "Shepard's coming. She'll give the speech. No worries."

"Good, good." Tali's masked face leaned into the screen again. "Just long as I'm out of the running."

"Hey!" Shepard said. "Maybe I'll campaign for you instead of Garrus."

"Now, don't split the votes," Garrus said. "You're a better politician than that."

"I am not a—this exchange is going downhill."

Garrus whistled. "A dig at your dancing and I set you up for the night's speech, but it's calling you a politician that riles you. Interesting. I think I just found a button."

Shepard gave him a tired look but smiled. She pushed back in her chair and stood over the terminal.

"Okay. I'll see you in a few nights."

"I'll send out the messages. Think they'll all come?"

"Advertising my dancing …"

"And you'll sing the Battlesong?"

"Whatever it takes to sell, Garrus. Sell it too good though, you'd better have enough space."

"Oh, we do. Enough for everyone and their date too. Bring someone, Shepard," Garrus said.

"Things fell through with the vorcha, sad to say."

"Seriously though, Shepard. Think about it."

Tali nodded into the screen. Being in love must make them think everyone else should be too. Shepard smirked and rested her hand on the off button.

"Got some meetings to attend. See you later."

"Vakarian out," Tali said.

Garrus's head turned to her. "Stop stealing my closer." He looked back into the screen. "vas Normandy out."

"See. I'm fine with that," Tali said.

Shepard rolled her eyes. "Garrus, don't make me use 'cute' on you. Talk to you both later."

She pushed the button and their faces blinked out. She checked the time again and hustled out of her barracks.