The Captive
Disclaimer: Bioware owns all.
Chapter 14: Remembrance
Garrus stared at the walls adorning his friend's room. Nihlus' death had hit him hard. At every moment of the day he expected to turn and see those blazing green eyes, those hard, yet friendly eyes. He couldn't believe his lifelong friend had died, and at the hand of of a traitor.
His mandibles fluttered as his hands grasped a picture of him and Nihlus at their graduation. Nihlus was such a jackass sometimes, but Garrus couldn't help but smile sadly. In their earlier days, the turian questioned everything- like some sort of philosopher. The only reason Nihlus ever did was because it pissed everyone off- he loved to get a rise out of people.
Nihlus was never one to follow the rules and traditions. He had his own thoughts of the world and the way people should live. He believed no matter what the hierarchy said, all turians were turians. They were creatures with souls, thoughts, and feelings. Everyone was the same.
He even thought this of every other species in the galaxy. Even humans. He often ridiculed the war. Garrus still cringed when he thought of Nihlus throwing it in the Primarch's face. He could have laughed now, thinking of the reaction from the Primarch.
He was absolutely astounded, bewildered that a turian, a spectre at that, would blame the war on his own race. Nihlus had been the best of them all.
He always chided Garrus for being to stuck in the turian ways.
"Come on, Garrus!" Nihlus prodded the turian. "Have you ever looked at the galaxy, and thought for a moment what it would be like to be a brand new race?"
Garrus stared at him in confusion. Nihlus just laughed.
"Think of it this way. Look at our planet- now try imagining living there for your entire life with no knowledge of the outside world. Right here, right now, we're just seeing it for the first time. And now there are these creatures unlike us, attacking and speaking a strange language. Who is to blame?"
The turian shifted uncomfortably. "Well-"
"No. Don't even try to rationalize. I understand, there was confusion and fear. Simply turian nature. Which, funny enough, the humans have that same nature. Makes us similar, doesn't it?"
"I suppose it does." Garrus conceded slowly.
"Life is so short, and we've become some ungrateful of the lifetime's we have. When was the last time you stopped and just admired the stars in the sky? Or the beauty of a planet? Or the beauty of another species?"
Garrus snorted. "Beauty?-"
Nihlus grinned and chuckled. "Don't make fun." He sobered, while staring out into the blackness of space. "Seriously, life is incredible. We take it without a second thought, just because someone is different. We cut another's life short, just because they don't look like us, or think like us."
The turian stared at him, waiting for him to continue. His mind reeling with the words Nihlus spoke.
"Are the salarian's any less of a living being than us?"
"Well, no."
"Then, why is it deemed that the humans don't have a right to live peacefully along us?"
Garrus hummed gently. "I think you think too much."
"And I think you don't think enough, my friend." His mandibles fluttered as he returned his gaze to deep space. Admiring the glitter of the stars.
"They aren't ready for this."
"They made it here on their own. Just as we did fifteen thousand years ago. They deserve the chance and we are trying to make sure they don't get one. Hell of a first impression."
Garrus laughed. "You have a valid point, but you aren't anyone important to the hierarchy. They don't care what you have to say."
Nihlus nodded his head. "Once this war is over, before I die- I will make sure a human makes it into the spectres. Once the galaxy sees first hand the potential of their species, I'm sure it'll help them into the council."
Garrus frowned. "But, Nihlus-"
"No. They may not be ready yet, but they soon will be. Look at this human, Commander Shepard. She is going head to head with some of our best, including you. They're smart, strong- I even once heard an asari justicar talk of the incredible individuality of their species. To think- of every human being in the galaxy right now- every single one of them is different. With every other species, we typically know what they're going to be like, but you can't ever possibly know what a human will be like."
"I don't know, maybe our species are changing. Look at you for example. If a general heard the way you were speaking, he'd send an asari commando team after your ass." Garrus teased.
Nihlus grinned. "Oh, I'm offended. I think I'm at least worth a little more than an asari commando unit."
Garrus smiled at the memory. He set the photograph down gently. His eyes landed on a data pad. Looking it over, it lit up with the latest entry. His mind realizing it was Nihlus' personal thoughts.
Garrus took a seat on the bed, he flicked through the entries. One caught his eye, it was the year he remembered very plainly. The war had been going for sixteen years, and Nihlus had just been named a spectre. It was the first time the two had been separated. Nihlus disappeared for several months on a mission, that to this day he still had no idea what had happened.
Year 2170, Day 1
For everything I have heard of humans, nothing truly readied me for what I would face. Humans are smarter and tougher than we give them credit for. Especially this one woman here, Sergeant Vance.
She knows I'm here, but she hasn't alerted the rest of her squad yet. She's toying with me.
Year 2170, Day 2
I made the mistake to move in earlier. I underestimated Vance- she's far more intelligent than I could have ever guessed. I feel like I am cattle, and she is herding me to where she wants me to be. Every move I make, I find it is a mistake because it is exactly as she wants it.
Vance nailed me in the shoulder with a concussive round. I think she's giving me a warning.
Year 2170, Day 3
I should have killed her. I had her cornered, and I hesitated and I can't figure out why. This woman is intriguing. She still hasn't alerted her squad to my presence, and I still don't know why. Her hand to hand is incredible.
She kicked my ass all up and down this cruiser. I think I might be in love.
Year 2170, Day 4
I can't get her out of my mind. I am squatting down in the lower decks, and all I can think about is Vance. I wonder what she tastes like, feels like, and looks like under all that armor. Maybe, I am just going crazy. But I don't think I am.
She should have been born turian. Vance is tough, and she has a waist line that kills me. What the hell is wrong with me?
Year 2170, Day 5
I can say for sure, that I do not have an allergy to levo's and neither does she to dextro's. I am not even sure how it happened, we were fighting one moment and then the next- we were fucking in the lower decks.
She makes this sound whenever she's really pleased, and it just sounds so satisfied. It's driving me crazy. I want to hear that sound again and again.
Year 2170, Day 6
Just received a transmission from the hierarchy. They want this ship blown out of the sky. I can't let my mistakes deter me from the mission.
I will regret every day not taking her with me. Maybe it is for the best. The turian's would never approve of such a relationship.
Year 2170, Day 6
I just got clear of the ship blast. I can't say I am particularly pleased. This day fucking sucks.
Year 2170, Day 7
That GODDAMN woman made it! Here I was, mourning her loss and an unknown call comes in. That sweet voice, taunting me, "Nice try, Nihlus. See ya' around."
I could hear the smile on her voice. I won't make the same mistake. If we ever meet again, I will tell her of my love and ask her to be my mate. Fuck the hierarchy and the council. I want Verona Vance for myself, for the rest of my life.
Garrus chuckled weakly. That stupid turian. He was never going to make a move on Shepard, he still loved his Verona. His heart felt as if it were breaking. He gave a shuddering breath and murmured softly.
"Nihlus- why did you have to go?"
Sorry this took so long! I promise the next chapter will be much quicker! Also, the next chapter will be the end of the story. I may continue it on later, but I'm not going to commit myself to something that I can't continue. I don't want to disappoint anyone. So we'll see what happens. I hope y'all enjoyed the chapter! Thank you SO much for reading!