Truth Without
-On the Citadel-
Mikazuki and Kiyoko had been quiet the entire trip to the Citadel. Shia'va knew that it meant they were upset. They left their father behind. How could she tell her children that it was because Garrus was most likely going to kill his own father? She wanted to stop Garrus, to take the time to figure this out. But the look in his eyes told her that this was something that wasn't going to be fixed by diplomacy or offers of friendship. Garrus' own father had basically spat in the face of their family. And to Garrus, that was the biggest insult. As the Vakarian family stepped off of the transport, Brad and Marcus moved quickly and scooped the two girls up, grabbing Shia'va by the arm.
Shia'va blinked at how fast they got to them and were already spiriting them away. "Marc, Brad, what are you…?"
"Don't stop walking, sis. It's not safe for any of you here on the Citadel. Our contacts have told us there are hired mercs looking for you and the girls. They found out about your connecting transport from Thessia." Marcus looked behind him to make sure they weren't being followed.
"Mom's got an Alliance transport waiting to take us to the Normandy." Braddock kept Kiyoko held close to him. The girls just looked at one another, not sure what to make of any of this.
As the family got near the shuttle bay, two Asari Eclipse mercs stepped in their way, weapons drawn. "This is as far as you go." The lead Asari started to charge her biotics. But as she did, her head exploded from a shot somewhere off to the family's left.
Marcus and Braddock shielded the girls' eyes from the site. Shia'va took the chance to act while the other Asari was distracted. With graceful movements, she stepped behind the Asari, grabbing her arms holding the weapon and twisted it, causing her to drop the weapon. She then swept the legs of the Asari out from under her, sending her to the ground. The Asari had no time to react. Shia'va's movements were so fast and fluid the Asari never saw her until it was too late. The advantages of keeping up with her Tae Kwon Do training ever after the girls were born. Shia'va drove her fist in a fast movement and knocked the Asari out. She looked up to see a Drell perched overlooking the path to the shuttle bay. He leapt down and ran over to the family. "Is everyone alright?"
Shia'va smiled. "And here your father and I tried to keep you from following his path, Kolyat."
Kolyat smiled. "I didn't entirely follow his path, Shepard. But I couldn't ignore what he knew either. It's the only way I can honor his memory."
Shia'va shook the young Drell's hand. "It's good to see you."
Kolyat looked back into the main area of the transport hub. "We shouldn't stay here. Let's get everyone to the Normandy, we can talk more later."
-New Hiroshima-
Garrus had spent some time tailing his father from different positions. He never told his father everything he did. But he supposed he got that from his father. He stared coldly at the Turian who he looked up to. How could he do this to his family? The human he loved? The children that made him the proudest father this side of Watson? 'No more.' Garrus thought. 'This isn't C-Sec, and he's got no right to interfere.' Garrus thought back to when Shia'va asked about his father.
-Garrus had been happy to be out of C-Sec. Out from under the shadow of his father. They had just left the Citadel not long ago and he had been working on the Mako. He looked up to see Commander Shepard walking towards him. "Commander. What can I do for you?"
"Why did you leave C-Sec, Garrus?" It was an honest question.
"I figured working with a Spectre would be different. Spectres do what they have to when the need to get the job done. My father wouldn't like you, Commander." Garrus stated matter of factly.
"What do you mean, Garrus?" Shia'va asked.
"My father is a C-Sec man through and through. Do things by the book or don't do them at all. And he didn't like it when I was chosen to go through the Spectre training. He thinks Spectres shouldn't work outside of the law. But I think otherwise." Garrus and Shia'va had continued to spend a few more minutes talking about how they were going to take on Saren.-
Garrus narrowed his eyes. "Are you going by the book now, father? And if you are, whose book are you going by?" Garrus moved his position to another building rooftop, using his sniper rifle to keep an eye on his father's movements. He watched as he saw his father enter an old building, one that was condemned from the attack on New Hiroshima. Garrus knew he had little time to waste. He slid down the fire escape ladder of the building he was on. He put his sniper rifle away and drew his assault rifle. He would give his father one chance to explain and only one. He leaned against the door frame and heard his father talking to someone. And the voice sounded damn familiar.
"That human bitch and those two brats escaped our trap on the Citadel. Someone tipped them off. That wouldn't be you, would it, Vakarian?" Jorum Talid growled at Garrus' father.
"I've done everything you've asked, Jorum! I didn't tip anyone off! You swore that the children wouldn't be harmed!" He shouted back.
"If I didn't know better, Vakarian, I would say that you are starting to reneg on our deal. Just remember, if Shepard isn't dead by day's end, well…I'm not sure what'll happen to your daughter and wife." The image of Jorum Talid faded from view.
Garrus had heard enough. He kicked in the door and leveled the assault rifle at his father. "What the hell have you done?" Garrus roared.
His father turned to see his own son ready to kill him. "Garrus, you don't understand!"
"I understand enough to know that you have sold out…"
"Dammit, Garrus! He will have your mother and sister killed!" Tears streamed down his father's mandibles. "I begged Talid to leave the children out of this."
"Those are MY children, father!" Garrus' own anger mixed with his paternal instinct was setting in fast.
"And they are my grandchildren! My blood…" His words trailed off in the tears.
"So now instead of just killing my bondmate and my children…you'll have my whole family killed, just because you believed a lie. A small hope that you could have fixed just by talking to me." Garrus put his assault rifle away. "You better pray to the spirits that I can save them all in time. Because spirits help you if I can't." Garrus swung and caught his father in the side of the head, sending him to the ground, unconscious.
-Aboard the Normandy-
Shia'va couldn't believe how different the Normandy looked. Her crew was very diverse. Salarians, Asari, Turians, Humans and Quarians all working together as a crew. She was even very surprised when EDI walked over in a new body. "Welcome aboard, Shepard." The now embodied AI smiled.
"EDI?" She had to blink a few times to make sure she wasn't seeing things. "EDI, how did you…?"
Joker walked up to EDI. "Long story, Commander. It's good to see you again." He carefully shook Shepard's hands.
Mikazuki and Kiyoko stayed very close to their mother. This was all new to them. But what they did know, was that THIS was their mother's ship. Kiyoko looked up. "Mama, are you still in command of the Normandy?"
Shia'va smiled and chuckled at her youngest one, brushing her hair with her hand. "Not anymore, sweetheart. I haven't been Commander Shepard since long before you were born." She looked at Kolyat. "But what I want to know, is who is trying to kill my family?"
EDI moved to a console and started typing on it. "We've intercepted many transmissions coming from the Citadel. But the one name that has come up more than any other is Jorum Talid. In those transmissions there is mention of hiring mercenaries. Mostly to stop you and your family, Shepard."
"But what about Garrus' father?" Shia'va asked.
"It seems he's being coerced. I found this datapad on a merc I was trailing and it seems that Jorum Talid is using Garrus' mother and sister as leverage to get Garrus' father to separate the two of you. To take you and the children out of the equation." Kolyat handed the datapad to Shia'va. "And if we don't get to Garrus' mother and sister first, they'll be killed. I already have some friends waiting on Palaven to move in and get Garrus' family out of there."
Shia'va nodded. "Then we don't have any time to waste."
"You were never one to sit behind and let people die, Shepard. Good to see that hasn't changed." Kaiden Alenko stepped off the lift and into the CIC. He walked slowly to within a few feet of Shia'va and her daughters. "It's good to see you again. It's been a long time."
Shia'va just stood there, almost frozen as if she was standing back on Horizon. Mikazuki tugged on her mother's arm. Shia'va snapped out of her thoughts and nodded to Kaiden. "You're looking well, Kaiden. The years have treated you well."
"You too, Shepard." Alenko shook his head. "I'm sorry, I should call you Vakarian now. And these must be your two little ones." He knelt down. The two girls hid behind their mother. "Hey there. I'm Kaiden Alenko. A Spectre, and a friend of your mother."
Shia'va put her hands on her daughters' backs. "Kaiden, it's been a long and stressful day. The girls could use some rest."
Alenko nodded. Maybe this wasn't the best time. "Of course, Commander. The loft is still open. We've made sure to keep it free for you if you ever were aboard the Normandy again." He turned to EDI. "Can you make sure that the Commander and her family is settled in, EDI? Then report to me when you're done."
EDI nodded. "Of course, Spectre Alenko. Shepard, if you would follow me?"
As Shia'va and the girls got on the lift, she gave Kaiden a hard look. After everything that's happened over the past few weeks, the last thing she wanted to do was open old wounds. And this wound is one that hurt the most.
A/N: I'm going to make a confession. I bought the Collector's Edition of Mass Effect 3, but I haven't played the game yet. And after what I've been reading, I really don't know if I'm going to unless Bioware does something. I'm going to be honest with those of you reading my story. I am not going to play something that is going to harm the integrity of my story. I've put too much into this story to have it ruined by playing a game that may be great for most of it, but completely FUBAR'd at the end and have me feel disconnected from Shia'va Shepard. And I'm not going going to ruin the story I'm giving to you, my readers. Sorry if the chapters are coming a little slower. But they will keep coming.