Note: I must apologise for the hiatus in my chapter postings, Obviously Christmas has been here (hope you all had a fab one!) and im in the midst of preparing for my wedding day, so as you can imagine, MEGA RUSH! anywho, back to it...Enjoy ^_^ x

Chapter 9: This ends… NOW

"Alright Garrus, I have access to his phone number for you. I just hope the connection stays with you. Everything's still a little shaky after that...tremor, wave, whatever you wanna call it" Bailey spoke in his dry tone "S'there anything else I can help with? I'm sure I owe you guy's more than one favour."

"Actually" Garrus mused "Anything on Blue Suns dealing with anything on Earth or even within Sol as a general thing would be good?" Bailey laughed like it was a stupid question.

"They're always up to something everywhere, funnily enough though the stuff they normally deal with there is minor compared to up here and Omega. It's normally illegal scraping, metal theft, the odd red sand dealing obviously all 3 gangs have a bit of a penchant for that. But they also do their 'security' stuff as they did so heavily on Omega"

"Ah OK, so probably not hard to find here then huh?" Garrus asked, his C-sec head was on.

"Not really, they are a bunch of idiots. Look for warehousing, docks, anything that looks like an ex or abandoned warehouse, factory"

"Right, thanks Bailey. Do you mind putting me through?" He needed answers and fast.

"No problem, good luck Garrus, I hope she's OK, I can imagine she's giving as good as she's got though" he grinned as he ended the call and transferred him to Sidonis' number. The wait for him to answer became unbearable, ring after ring blended into a drone for Garrus he stared at the vid screen with intense concentration. Dornak was sat in the corner of the room feeling very sorry for himself. Vega, Liara and Javik were also there, Liara was in deep conversation with Hackett and Miranda trying to narrow down anywhere that fit Bailey's description.

"Hello?" A worried Turian finally popped onto the screen. Garrus could see the Turian locking onto Garrus' clan markings and his eyes widening into a stiff panic. "Vakarian" He almost shrieked, the muscle that hid underneath his carapace turned somewhat paler than standard.

"Sidonis, this may be out of the blue" Garrus began – oh god I really need to think before I speak – "I need your help."

"Err, s-sure" His face contorted into someone extremely confused. Garrus signalled to Liara who then came over to the screen to join in the conversation.

"I'm sure you know who Shepard is. If you don't she's the one who made me spare you your life" he began, he tried to take the venom out of his voice when saying those words. "We have Intel that Blue suns are involved in this, now given your links with them I thought you could throw us a bone… or four" Sidonis became slightly shifty looking, he wasn't comfortable with it all, he hadn't willingly set out to do what he did. He was forced and the whole episode was traumatic for him to say the least. Liara tapped away on her Omnitool.

"Had any phone calls lately?" She asked, her tone was somewhat suspicious. She intended that, her eyebrow arched highly and voice low and slightly seductive to lure more out of Sidonis, she knew a fair few Turians had a weakness for Asari and since after working on Illium she gained the confidence to use her 'tools' to help get more information if possible.

"Err, yes" he gulped "But it wasn't Blue Suns" he looked confused. Liara and Garrus exchanged glances.

"Then who was it?" Garrus asked

"A guy called Fade. He helped me hide away after all the stuff before" his voice began to tremble at the end of his sentence "He's been threatening me, offering me protection or else…"

"It's that bastard Harkin" Garrus snapped slamming his fist onto the table in front of him "or else what?" he looked back to the vid screen concerned.

"I don't know" Sidonis shrugged "He just keeps saying or else, I'm worried because Blue Suns are everywhere. I should probably get off here in case they trace me or something" Garrus nodded nonchalantly.

"Keep safe Sidonis" Sidonis looked remarkably surprised and nodded his appreciation before the call cut. "That bastard, I knew I should have killed him" he sneered "Well now we know our target" he then focused.

"Good, then hopefully this matches up with my latest Intel" Hackett held his data pad up. "I've just had some soldiers report activity in a small derelict hospital just on the outskirts of the city. Only thing is, no evidence outside of red sand or any stolen goods. But plenty of bodies inside securing the place up"

"Think it's good to go in?" Garrus looked at Hackett then Miranda in the following order.

"Definitely" Miranda agreed. "I want to go with you" she enforced, her brows furrowed with concern.

"Hey uh, it might be an idea to have two groups" Vega interjected from the corner of the room, he then looked to Dornak who by this time had fallen asleep in his chair.

"Why's that?" Garrus questioned.

"Well if the place is full of em, we can have a group go in the front, one in the back and whittle them off like head lice with a nit comb" he pointed on the map for reference as he spoke.

"Sorry what?" Liara looked baffled, Garrus matched her expression. Miranda simply shook her head as she didn't think whatever he said had made any sense at all - alien or no alien.

"Basically kick the idiots from both sides! Much easier" he nodded his head impressed with himself and folded his arms.

"It's not a bad idea" Liara looked to Garrus.

"Alright…Well who goes with who?" he shrugged.

"Ah! I have that sorted too" Vega beamed. "It'd be good to have one soldier and one biotic on each team no? So how about you and Liara, and me and Miranda" his grin was cheesy, this wasn't him thinking tactics despite it making some sense. This was him thinking with his groin. Miranda shot a look at him, she already had his number.

"Ok, let's get this going then. Admiral Do you mind if I download this map?" Hackett nodded his head to allow Garrus to continue.

"So now what do we do with this lazy Volus? In my time we would have rolled his body into a cooking apparatus, it would have fed us for weeks" Javik finally spoke looking at Hackett with the most serious face he ever did see. Hackett had no idea on how to even approach the Prothean.

"Let's…Just leave him be" he answered uneasily.

"Seems like this never ends does it?" Cortez spoke up as the crew suited up in the back of the Kodiak at their destination.

"I would say no rest for the wicked" Miranda began

"No its rest in peace for the wicked" Vega replied, impressed with his awful 80's action movie comeback.

"There won't be any peace for them when I'm done" Garrus bit as he finished calibrating his sniper. Vega looked at him like a teenager who pretends to be frightened of a teacher who threatens detention.

"Look let's just get this going. James and Miranda, you enter through the back" Liara began. Vega snorted, Miranda glared at him "And pick them off to what looks like the basement, I can only assume they would hide in the lowest part of the building with Shepard. Should she be here of course. Then me and Garrus will enter from the front providing all goes well, there is an upper balcony to the 'Basement' where Garrus can snipe from. Then I will meet you both on the basement floor and help battle through anything that's there. It could be incredibly fortified with mercs."

They all nodded, the plan seemed good plenty of room for leeway and communications between the four would be left open should anything go wrong. Cortez opened the Kodiak doors and the four disbanded to the plan.

Vega snuck around to the back entry way with Miranda, Miranda being stealthy like a cat looked around everywhere and noticed Vega didn't exactly share the same tact she did.

"Shh you need to be stealthier" she shushed as he knocked what looked like a spanner across the floor. He frowned at her then looked her up and down.

"Oh you wanna get all spy miss right now huh? Kinky" he joked.

"I'm being serious fuckwit" She spat "And don't think I don't know what you're up to" she continued.

"What ever could you mean?" Vega sarcastically began "I just thought your biotics might come in handy"

"So Javik's couldn't have too?" She raised her eyebrows questionably.

"Someone's big headed no?" he answered mimicking her eyebrow expression. They both stood by the door waiting for Garrus and Liara's confirmation to enter.

"I didn't say that" Miranda stuttered.

"Didn't say what?" Vega shuffled closer to her, Miranda felt herself become weak-hearted. What the hell Miranda get a grip she began to look awkward. He smirked and neared his face to hers.

"Lost for words?" his voice full of flirtation sent Miranda's heart a flutter.

"N-no" She replied deep and breathy before clearing her throat and straightening herself up "I'm waiting for orders, so sort yourself out" she dusted off her leg as a distraction.

"Ah I see" Vega nodded grinning and turned away. He turned back to look her up and down again "Y'know that outfit…" Miranda rolled her eyes.

"Yes?" she asked. Why she bothered, the amount of times someone said SOMETHING about her attire, if it paid she could easily have retired by now.

"It doesn't look very protective, maybe you'd better hang behind me should that pretty little face of yours otherwise get hurt" she cut her eyes shaking her head and tutted.

Liara and Garrus approached the front doors crouching guns at the ready, Liara peeked her head up slowly and peered through the frosted glass to try make out anything.

"Looks clear" she started, then began tapping on her Omnitool setting her combat sensor to 'on' "Yep clear" Garrus nodded and spoke to the other two simply dubbed 'Beta'

"Ok Beta it's clear from our side, just make sure your combat sensor is on, we're entering now"

"Roger Alpha" Miranda confirmed as she and Vega also entered.

Miranda spotted a mech and signalled Vega to stay low, upon closer inspection it wasn't armed but probably used to move heavy loads. She looked at Vega

"Should I overload it?" she seemed unsure what to do.

"Yeah, they could easily program it to turn" Vega whispered. Miranda overloaded the mech, its circuits fried quickly then she looked back to her combat sensor.

"Seems we're pretty much clear to head down"

"Wicked" Vega answered.

Garrus heard something in the distance and crouched down, Liara followed suit her sensor buzzed with 6 little red dots all together in one spot.

"Guards?" she whispered

"Most likely, not on duty I think, having a joke around" Garrus pondered, he looked at Liara, "Singularity after I throw a prox mine into the area?" she nodded in agreement, he flipped out a mine from his hip and skirted it across the floor a few feet away from them, not one noticed the small ball sat on the floor waiting to greet them with a bang. Liara then pulled her singularity just before the mine as not to trigger it straight off, one by one the guards got pulled into it a chorus of swear words and fumbling for their guns, Garrus began to count it down.

"3…2…1"

BOOM guards went in various directions and Liara watched the red dots fade off her combat sensor. Grinning she pulled up a map and pointed towards the staircase.

"A direct route down"

"Got it." Both of them began for the staircase. Liara started to get somewhat reminiscent to pass the time, albeit short on breath.

"Remember that time you told Shepard if she felt lucky we should head over to flux?" She began to giggle. Garrus had a slight chuckle, although he was in serious mode he appreciated Liara trying to lighten the mood, she was a good friend to him and Shepard both.

"Oh yeah, losing 1000 credits in one go and making me do 100 press ups IN full armour is funny"

"Oh she was so flirting with you" Liara laughed. Garrus glared at her.

"No she wasn't" he replied.

"She was" she laughed "But you were so much more in awe over her as a commander, spectre, she never thought you were interested"

"Well what explains Kaidan then?" Garrus asked.

"Hey sometimes we women get taken away in the moment…she did tell me how awkward things felt with him after…"

"After?" Garrus waited on her lingering word

"Erm Horizon." Liara cleared her throat. "Let's just say after it things seemed… weird"

"Right" Garrus drew out. "I don't think I want to know anymore" Liara laughed awkwardly.

"Sorry Garrus. She really likes you though."

"I would hope she does, she told me she loved" He shook his head to correct himself quickly "…loves me" saying those words felt like a hammer to his chest, in a good way of course.

"Something she truly meant" Liara hoped would glaze over it all. Garrus merely nodded as he checked his Omni tool constantly.

"Ok we're nearing the balcony I can only assume we saw on the layout. Plenty of heat detection."

"She must be here then with that many mercs…" Liara mused

"We don't know but can hope" Garrus reached to his ear. "Beta what's your position?"

"We're at an opening, in cover, looks like a bal-"Miranda stopped herself as she saw Garrus and Liara meet up. "Ah perfect timing eh?" Miranda made her eye contact with Liara it becoming glaringly obvious that she was happy about the reunion as Vega had done her head in. Garrus' eyes focused on a great spot of cover up to the left of the balcony. Vega raised his hand to point at an attack spot, Garrus motioned him to put his hand down and started to speak, Vega's face not very happy with it.

"I can take cover up there and pick a hell of a lot of 'em off" his eyes focused on his visor "in fact it'd be ideal for me to go there, then you three work through the bottom, it's mapped like a maze, if you spread it will panic them and I can take a lot of heat off." Liara started to nod in agreement, Miranda looked disgruntled but shrugged it off, Vega however.

"Who made you 'Shepard'" he snapped. Garrus looked surprised and somewhat offended, Vega had become a good friend with plenty of banter to share.

"This isn't exactly the time" Liara interjected.

"Well he thinks he's running the show" Vega threw his hand up annoyed.

"Look I'm sorry ok? I just want Shepard to be safe" Garrus enthused. Vega's face softened after realising him bucking heads over being alpha male right now wasn't the best thing to do.

"Ok let's just-"he hesitated as he set his assault rifle up "get on with it" Nods were exchanged and everyone took positions. Garrus set himself up on the balcony and scanned about before radioing to the three below him.

"Ok there's about 30 guards the majority of them, around 20 are focused towards the right side of the warehouse, the other 10 are hovering around the centre by a large room with frosted glass…I can only assume and hope she is in there."

"Ok Garrus" Liara confirmed "I'll singularity the 20, Vega you grenade the 10, Miranda any stronger ones take down with warp and lets do this"

"Err ok" Vega stuttered

"On it" Miranda confirmed and within seconds the place became a well mapped out battlefield, Miranda turned to help Liara finish the guards floating around with her pistol as Vega went for the door, it swung open before his hand could reach it and out stepped an extremely pissed figure. Garrus pupils constricted and angered. HARKIN, he clenched his teeth together, Vega readied his gun.

"Well come on then, where's the fucking bird brain?" He slurred, he wreaked of alcohol once more. Garrus zoomed his sniper in, focusing on his head placing his shot. "Huh? Tell me beef head" Harkin spat to Vega, Vega jerked his head away offended by the stink. Liara and Miranda now focusing their guns onto Harkin. "Oh well looky here, two more beautiful babes. This Normandy ship ain't short on space beauties eh?" his eyes wandered drunkenly. "Say, how about you join Shepard in the back and lets have some fun huh?" he sleazed. Vega got angry-

"Don't talk about them like some trashy meat" He thrust his gun into his face, Garrus felt his own blood starting to boil.

"Hey hey only saying what us men think!" Harkin ended. "The real issue is... Garrus, where is he?" He asked again it almost looked as if he sobered up but no.

Vega didn't know what to say and looked to Liara.

"We're not with Garrus" she began

"Oh really?" Harkin knew better, he looked around above him to see if he could spot him "Well he can't care much about his girlfriend then" He became louder trying to entice Garrus away from his spot "Doesn't matter though, she'll be staying with me-"

"To hell she won't" Vega snapped.

"Oh trust me, she will. We had some… fun" His words filled with lies and poison made for uncomfortable listening "Told me how she liked it and I gave it her. She's good to go that woman" he guffawed slapping his hips in a very pig like way. Garrus snapped, he began for the stairs but a different route drawing out a pistol and clenching it into his fist.

"Why did you take her?" Miranda spat

"Why wouldn't I?" he began "It was too easy and for someone of your" he looked Miranda up and down "hmm, credentials. She should have been made more secure in that little bed back there"

"But what was the motive?" Liara frowned

"Let's just keep that between me and Garrus huh?" he became louder again "Just so he knows, I had my way with his bitch and she enjoyed it, I hate him so much I thought I'd piss him off before I kill him" Garrus marched up behind him anger burning vividly behind his eyes

"Not before I kill you first" he shouted and aimed for Harkin's head, Liara quickly grabbed his arm, it was like Shepard always interrupting when he wanted to lose it through the red mist. He yanked his arm away and locked onto Harkin again.

"What's the matter Garrus? Another bitch telling you what to do? You're under the thumb old guy" Harkin sneered. Garrus' eye twitched before he lowered his pistol, He fired one shot at his remaining 'good' knee.

"GAAAAAH" Harkin collapsed grimacing with pain, blood going everywhere.

"Firstly, I'm not old" another shot fired Harkin screamed with pain again, tears coming from his eyes, whimpering like a puppy dog. "And secondly, fuck you" he went to pull the trigger again before Liara tugged his arm yet again and managed to pull him away. "What? I didn't kill him!" he retorted.

"You nearly did" she snapped.

"Err guys?" Vega butted in

"What?" the both snapped looking at him

"He's skulking off" he pointed behind him.

"Not anymore!" Miranda shouted, with him in a biotic hold struggling and cursing, "We'll hand him in, see how he gets on in prison with those poor poor knees" she teased nastily adding more pain by giving the shot one a light biotic pulse. Immediately, Garrus went for the door and peered inside. It was dimly lit and he squinted his eyes to try make anything out, Liara turned her pistol flashlight on-

"Shepard!" she screamed running over to her, followed by Garrus. Miranda got her Omni tool up checking her vital stats.

"She's got a pulse, just unconscious" she frowned and tapped more and scanned over her body "One of her torso stitches have torn, that's not good we need to get her looked at as soon as possible" she rushed herself "id probably assume the shock of that happening and blood loss may have been the reason why she's out cold, along with what looks like a nasty bruise to the head" Garrus used his blade attachment to cut the rope from Shepard's feet and wrists, he looked concerned as to how red they were and ran his thumb over them affectionately before picking her up into his arms, her body limp and heavy, lips almost turning blue.