The Captive

Disclaimer: Bioware owns all.

Chapter 12: Tribute

Garrus awoke to a stirring. His eyes opened slowly, he straightened out, stretching his muscles satisfyingly. Shepard was frantically getting dressed. He blinked, "Wha's goin' on?"

He rubbed a hand over his face as her head snapped up, her skin was pale. "I-I keep hearing things."

The turian sat up quickly. "Do you need help?"

The frightened woman shook her head, but suddenly cried out. She collapsed to her knees, covering her ears. Her body shook in tremors and sweat beaded across her forehead. Garrus threw on a pair of pants and picked her up gently.

"It's okay, we're going to get you to the medbay." He paused as she whimpered again. Her eyes were smashed shut. "It's okay. It's going to be okay."

His voice merely whispered as he carried her through the halls. "Please be okay."

The door to the medbay whirred open, he set her down on the bed. Garrus murmured, "I'm sorry, I have to do this-"

Her eyes opened, the brilliant steel gray glistened in the light. He strapped her arms and legs down and sprinted from the room the find Mordin. He slowed slightly as a horrific scream guttered from the medbay.

Garrus turned as doors began to open. Turian's peered out to see what was going on. Mordin appeared,

"The Commander?"

He nodded weakly. "Yes, she needs the shot."

Mordin's face seemed to tighten. "The antidote. Useless after too long. Jantor and Treynnus- dead."

"What?" He felt as if his whole world was crashing down upon him. They jogged down the hall towards the medbay.

"The infection destroys brain capacity after too long. Antidote cures infection, but not brain damage. Body shuts down."

"So, this antidote could kill her?" Mordin began to reply but was interrupted by her horrible scream again. Her back arched as she tore at the restrictions violently.

"Probable. Only chance. Must do it."

Mordin locked the door behind him, leaving Garrus in the hallway. He stared through the window helplessly.

"You heard about Jantor and Trey?" Nihlus spoke softly.

Garrus hadn't even seen him approach. The turian nodded his head stiffly. "Yes."

"Unfortunate. They were good men. Fought for this ship selflessly just to die from what they saved us from."

His brilliant blue eyes held contact as Mordin slid the needle into her arm. His voice was barely a whisper, "And now we could lose her."

There were several long seconds in which everyone held their breath. Shepard's body stopped trembling, her back lowered against the bed. Her eyes closed and her body slumped.

Mordin's posture seemed to slouch, his shoulders drooped. He turned to the window and shook his head. Garrus slammed a fist against the window, crying out. "No."

In an instant, the life returned to the Commander's body. A scream of pain left her mouth as her body arched again. She fell against the bed, her breath was heavy and laden and she jerked in confusion. Her eyes wide with fright as she looked around.

Mordin spoke quickly, "Shepard!"

"Mordin?"

"You survived. Interesting. Must begin to analyze."

Shepard blinked, "What happened?"

"You don't remember? Hm." The salarian doctor paused, his fingers held to his lips. "What is the last thing you do remember?"

Shepard's mind whirled as she tried desperately to think back. Her brain hurt. It felt swollen against her skull. "I was with-" She stopped shortly. A look of embarrassment crossed her face. "I remember last night."

There appeared to be a hint of amusement on his face. She couldn't be so sure though. "Hm. Very interesting, will begin analysis as soon as I medicate your allergic reaction."

Her face twisted, "Allergic reaction to what?"

"Interspecies mating. Sometimes provokes allergic reactions."

Her face paled ten fold. Shepard's eyes connected with the desperate, but now very humiliated blue ones of her turian. Garrus leaned his forward against the glass, groaning. Nihlus sent him a sly grin. "You."

The turian punched him in the shoulder playfully. "I knew it!"

"Knew what?" Vitani asked venomously.

Garrus stiffened, Nihlus said nothing in response to her. Mordin spoke from the medbay room. "Will need you soon, Garrus. Allergic reactions not fatal, but should be tended to."

The turian woman looked between him and Shepard. She gave a predatory growl. "You and that?" She advanced on Garrus. He stood unflinchingly. "What kind of turian are you? It's like a pet-"

Garrus growled, "Don't talk about her like that. She's twice the woman you could ever be."

Vitani yelled angrily as he turned to leave. "Sometimes I think that this was a mistake."

"I've always thought that."

"What?"

"I've always thought that you were a mistake." He repeatedly vehemently.

Nihlus gave a loud, bark-like laugh. Vitani turned on him, her eyes wild with rage. He laughed again. "Spirits. This week is great."

Victus nodded his head. "Good to see you've recovered, Commander."

"Thank you, sir. I'm fit to fight."

"Excellent." He paused and looked at the hologram of the ship. He looked around, his eyes connecting with the eyes of Garrus, Nihlus, Vitani, and Shepard.

"I'm not going to lie. This is going to be one hell of a mission for the four of you. I'm confident you all will be able to handle it though."

He began to pace, his talons clasped behind his back. "We've begun our approach. We should be there in a few hours. I suggest rest, grab some chow, enjoy the time you have."

Victus faced them again. "I want you to know, I am proud of all of you. You're some of the best the galaxy has to offer, and I can only hope that you will all return." His eyes directed towards Shepard. "I know you will do everything in your power to ensure everyone's safety."

Vitani's voice cracked like a whip on the room, "She's the team leader?"

The General turned his back to them. "Yes, Vitani."

"This is a turian operation and you're putting the enemy-"

"She isn't the enemy, Vitani. Shepard is a part of this crew and has saved countless lives in her stay here. She led Treynnus and Jantor through the assault of the Batarian base, and it was a success."

The turian woman spat. "A success? Treynnus and Jantor are both dead, while she still lives. Hasn't anyone else found this strange?"

Shepard hissed, "I did everything I could for them!"

Victus whirled around, "Enough!"

Mordin cleared his throat, "If I may offer an explanation. Human's have lived their entire lives living and breathing the pollution of their world. In short, the filters and lungs of their body are heavily resistant to toxins."

Vitani growled, "So, she only lived because her species doesn't know how to take care of their world?"

"Yes." The salarian nodded his head in the affirmative.

She threw up her hands. "Typical." The turian woman paced angrily. Victus spoke again, "I trust you will put aside your differences for the mission, Vitani."

"Of course, sir." She replied through gritted teeth. Her eyes glaring into Shepard's.

"Good. Dismissed."

"How do you know when a turian runs out of ammo?" Shepard asked, a grin dancing on her face and in her eyes.

Nihlus and Garrus paused between cleaning their guns. They both asked in unison, "How?"

Shepard gave a restrained laugh as she tried to get the answer out. The amusement on their faces was clearly evident. "Because he switches to the stick up his ass!"

Her laughter burst clear and loudly in the room. Her leg brushed against Garrus' as she rest her foot on the table, just under his.

Nihlus and Garrus gave a chuckle.

The dark turian smiled slightly. "As far as turian's go, I think Jantor had the biggest stick."

Garrus laughed, "Spirits! He did."

Nihlus grinned in thought, "I remember when he first arrived on the ship, I sent him to retrieve my data pad. He saluted me and said 'yes sir! This trainee accepts your honorable mission, sir!' He then sprinted off and returned not even thirty seconds later with my data pad."

They all burst out laughing. Shepard smiled, "He was a good turian."

"Great man." Nihlus echoed with an agreeing nod.

Garrus gave a small smile accompanying his chuckle, "Spirits, do you remember when Treynnus pulled that prank on Jantor?"

The turian laughed, "Shit. I forgot about that." Nihlus' eyes pierced Shepard's, "Trey was not a very disciplined turian. But, damn was he one of the best."

Shepard smiled, "What happened?"

"One day, Trey got it in his head to mess with Jantor. He stormed his barracks, trying to appear alarmed and grabbed hold of Jantor. 'The General! He needs you, now!' Jantor was so confused and replied 'It's lights out-' And Trey cut him off, 'Are you going to argue, he probably needs help!'"

Garrus paused laughing, Shepard grinned as she saw where the story was headed.

"Anyways, Jantor picked the lock on Victus' door, totally convinced the General was in dire need of his help. He rushed in there while he was using the restroom, busted open the door, yelling at the top of his lungs, 'Sir! Trainee Jantor at your requested service!'"

Nihlus busted out laughing, Garrus chuckled, "Shut up, let me finish."

His chuckles subsided as he continued with a grin, "The General was so surprised, he fell over and knocked his gun to the floor. The gun went off and Jantor leapt on top of Victus and started firing his gun at the doorway, yelling, 'SUPPRESSING FIRE!'"

Shepard clutched her stomach as she laughed- tears rolled down her face. Garrus was smiling, his eyes twinkled in thought, "As you can imagine, Victus was not pleased. His room was totally destroyed."

"My God. That is too funny." The woman broke out in fresh giggles.

The room became quiet as they cleaned their weapons in silence. Smiles fresh on their faces. One glance at each other and the room became filled with laughter once more.

Nihlus lifted his glass, "To Jantor- may you work that stick out of your ass wherever you may be."

Garrus echoed, "To Trey- may you give them all hell."

Shepard repeated the movement, a sad smile crossed her face, "To both of you- Thanks for the memories, boys."

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