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three: out-stubborned death

In the end, Shepard rips part of Antilarax's jacket and constructs a makeshift sling. Two other hostages — tall human men — support Antilarax by her shoulders; the pregnant turian dwarfs both of them. Maybe Antilarax is tall for a turian woman, or maybe the women are only slightly shorter than the men.

Not something she's got too much time to think about. She hands two packs of medigel to Antilarax and says, "In case that leg wound opens again."

::: Shep, my camera loop just shorted.

That makes Shepard look up, scanning the walls for cameras. If they're lucky, there won't be any in this hallway. But of course they're not lucky; she's just going to have to hope the mercs don't have an eye on the security system.

Garrus's breath hisses through his teeth. The sound vanishes beneath the report of the Vindicator.

He only fires once. The camera's light dims.

"This day just gets better and better. Next time, tell Bailey no."

They both know she won't. She doesn't even grace that with a response. Instead, she says, "We need to move forward. They'll be swarming all over us soon."

Garrus's mandibles flare. He sucks in a breath, eyes narrowing. "Right. Just stay behind me."

"Not my style."

"Humor me."

"Not this time, Garrus." She cocks the Eviscerator, just to make her point, and takes a few steps forward. "One of us needs to stay with the civilians."

"Obviously, that's you."

"Except they don't trust me. You used to be C-Sec. And you're a trustworthy, likable guy."

"You want me to let you play vanguard? With no cover at all? Not happening."

"I don't remember that being up to you."

"It's. Not. Happening," he says, and the under-echo makes his voice grate on her ears.

"You're picking one hell of a time to get squeamish."

"I'm not going to let you get yourself killed again."

"Do you have a better plan?"

He's silent for a few seconds, mandibles twitching as he stares evaluatingly at her. "I can't convince you to stay back, can I?"

"If you try, I'll laugh at you."

"Then we go together. Do all the cleaning up before the civilians even need to see it."

Alright, fine. An acceptable plan, no matter how much she hates compromising on orders. "Then turn on your count sync, Garrus. Let's have some fun with this."

"Right, Shepard. Fun."

Shepard opens the link and says, "Kasumi, Garrus and I are going to push. You're still on rearguard."

::: Can do. Keep turning out the lights and locking the doors?

"That's the idea."

And then they're off. She storms past him, half an eye on her HUD. Behind her, he growls something about crazy human women who are squishier than they think they are, but she hears his footsteps behind her. She picks up the pace rather than reply.

She doesn't keep the lead for long. Garrus pushes past her. She's fast, but he's got the longer legs.

He's always been a stubborn shit — too stubborn to die, just like she's been most of her life, and she wouldn't have him any other way — but this protective streak is new. Shepard isn't sure whether she wants to headbump him or smack him.