Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from the Mass Effect universe. They belong to Bioware and EA. No money is made from this. It's been made solely for the entertainment of fans and casual readers alike.
Author's note: I wanted to try something different this time so I gave the Mass Effect universe a shot. I've been a fan ever since the first Mass Effect game came out. I hope you will like it. There will be another author's note at the bottom, explaining a few in-game things, like where the story would fit in canon, should you be interested. Enjoy!
Garrus takes charge
„So, how did the mission go?" Shepard asked, pouring some drinks for both of them.
„Well, we got out alive. But it was a hell of a mission" answered Garrus, rubbing his forehead.
Shepard came around with two glasses and handed one to the turian, saying:
„I heard. Jack seemed to be in less of a foul mood than usual."
He took a seat after Garrus took the glass from him.
„Care to tell me what happened?"
Garrus swirled the glass for a bit, then drank deeply from it. Satisfied, he looked at Shepard and answered:
„I think it's best if I start from the beginning."
24 hours earlier
„Wait, you want me to do what?" Garrus asked, a bit taken aback by the request.
„I understand this isn't easy." Miranda replied, as she explained the situation. „But seeing that Shepard is away on a mission with Mordin and Grunt and me and Jacob have to go to an urgent Cerberus meeting within the hour, you're our only viable option. That distress signal could be genuine or it could be an ambush. In either case, we think it's worth investigating."
The turian had doubts about leading a team so soon after the events on Omega, which could probably be seen on his face. Miranda continued:
„Look, you don't have to accept. Think it over, we still have 30 minutes before we need to leave. You can give me an answer by then."
She started to walk away but turned back after a few steps.
„Just so you know, we consulted Shepard on this and he believes in you, that this is something that you can handle."
With that, she left him alone. His head filled with thoughts of his old squad, he went to the gun battery, so that he could process this development.
15 minutes later
„I'll do it." Miranda turned to see Garrus standing in the middle of the corridor, a determined look on his face.
„Glad to hear it. What made you change your mind?" she asked, coming closer to him, a datapad in her hand.
She was in the middle of a discussion with a few crew members when Garrus had arrived.
„Like you said, this could be a genuine distress signal or an ambush. In any case, someone needs to look into it. And…" he took a few moments to gather his thoughts. „I can't hide from this forever. It's not who I am."
Miranda smiled and handed the datapad to him. „You'll find all the information for the mission here. Since we're short on personnel at the moment, you'll only have Zaeed and Jack available."
Garrus took the datapad, sent the necessary intel to his visor and then handed it back to Miranda.
„Nobody said it was going to be easy" he said with a sigh. „I'll go talk to them."
„I saw Zaeed going to the cargo hold a while back. Said he wanted to do some target practice."
„Thanks."
With that, he went to find his teammate.
„Good luck out there!" Miranda called out.
5 minutes later
„I'm sorry, you want me to do what?" Zaeed asked incredulously. He had been firing his machine gun for the last minutes, a slew of targets on the floor, waiting to be used again.
„Look, I know it's not ideal..." Garrus started to say before he was interrupted.
„You're goddamn right it's not ideal. She's fucking mental and you want to take her with us? I'd sooner trust a drunk volus to have my back."
„She has issues, I can't deny that but she can also bring a lot of firepower to the table, in case this turns out to be an ambush."
„Oh, piss on that. We can take a few of the lads from the crew, if we need extra bodies."
„No!" Garrus said firmly. „Shepard trusts Jack, so we trust her too. If we treat her like a ticking time bomb then don't be surprised that she'll blow up sooner or later. So far, she's only been with the Commander and one of us on missions. It's time to show her that she can rely on us too, even if Shepard isn't there."
„Well, I still don't like it." Zaeed replied and turned his back to Garrus. He pushed a button which made the targets rise again. Just as he aimed at the farthest target on the course, he heard a loud „Boom" behind him and the target fell down.
He looked back and saw the turian with his sniper rifle trained on the target, smoke coming out of the barrel.
Garrus retracted his rifle and addressed Zaeed:
„I'm not asking you to like the situation or even like her. What I'm asking is for you to behave like the professional that you claim to be. Can you do that?"
A few tense seconds passed, the two staring at each other. Then Zaeed started to laugh.
„Alright you crazy bastard. If that's what you want, that's what we'll do. But mark my words, if she does anything to betray us, I'll shoot her without remorse."
„Fine." Garrus said with a sigh. „I guess that's the best that I can ask for. Alright, I'll go talk to her."
„Good luck with that," Zaeed said, turning back to his targets.
10 minutes later
„You want me to fucking what?" she asked furiously. „That's not the deal that we had. I only go on missions with Shepard, end of discussion."
„Come on, Jack." Garrus replied in a frustrated tone. „I was there when we broke you out. Your deal with Shepard was about joining the team in exchange for Cerberus information."
„Oh, look who's got a perfect fucking memory. Well, maybe, I changed my mind and I only want to go on missions with him."
He was watching her pace up and down, thinking what would be the best way to convince her. There was no way to reason with her when she was in such a foul mood. Trying to use a more authoritative tone, maybe? No, she had no respect for authority. Brute force? She would probably blast him through the hull. Only one way came to his mind, that might have a chance.
„Fine," he sighed. „You don't have to come with us."
She stopped at that, a bit surprised at him giving up so easily.
„But let me ask you this. How are we supposed to show you that we have your back, when you won't give us a chance?"
She scoffed at that and said:
„I don't need your help, Scarface. I've been doing just fine so far."
Garrus frowned a bit at the name, unpleasant memories from Omega coming back to him. He pushed those thoughts aside. He didn't have time for this, his priority was to convince Jack.
„You've done well to survive so far on your own, but do you want to be looking over your shoulder your whole life?"
She paused for a few seconds, thinking things over. Garrus saw his chance so he turned around and took a few steps away. He stopped and half turned, telling her:
„We're going to leave in 30 minutes. You can stay here, if you want, or you can decide to take a chance with us."
With that he left her, a storm of thoughts going through her mind.
20 minutes later
„Doesn't look like she's coming." Zaeed said, checking his rifle for the final time, to make sure everything was alright.
„She still has 10 minutes. I'm sure she'll join us."
Garrus was saying that more for himself, rather than trying to convince the old bounty hunter. Ever since he left her, he was turning the conversation over in his head, trying to see if there was something that he missed.
„Want to place a wager? 20 credits says she's not coming."
Garrus thought about it for a few seconds and then shrugged.
„Why not? Make it 50 if she comes within the next five minutes?"
Zaeed couldn't help but smirk a little.
„I see you like to live dangerously. You're on" he said with glee and raised his right hand. Garrus shook it and then they went back to waiting.
Two minutes later, they saw the doors open and Jack was making her way to them.
„Bloody hell!" the mercenary couldn't help it.
„Glad to see you decided to join us." Garrus addressed her when she reached them.
„Whatever. Just so you know, you owe me one for this" was all she said before boarding the shuttle.
„Oh this will be good," Zaeed said. He then turned towards Garrus.
„Shall we?"
„Sure. As soon as you pay those 50 credits."
The mercenary just grunted and fiddled with his omnitool. He then boarded the shuttle as well, the turian right behind him, a small smile on his face.
15 minutes later
„So, now that we are clear on what the mission entails, I think it's best if we form a plan of attack. I'll take point, Jack you're behind me and Zaeed will cover the rear."
„Fine" was all the reply that the bounty hunter gave, glaring at Jack, who noticed.
„What's that supposed to mean?" she asked, already pissed off.
„It means that I won't have to worry about what you will do when I'm not watching."
„Listen, asshole..."
„NO!" Garrus interrupted abruptly. „We are not doing this. We are a team on a mission and that is how we will act. Whatever issues there are, they can wait until we are back on the Normandy. I don't know about you but I don't want to get shot if you start arguing in the middle of a firefight. So Zaeed, you keep your comments to yourself and make sure to cover our backs. And Jack, you keep your temper in check and make sure to blast whoever is dumb enough to attack us. Is that clear?"
Neither one answered, preferring to glare at the other.
„I didn't hear you. Is that clear?" Garrus repeated, leaning forward.
„Loud and clear," Zaeed answered, turning his head away.
„Crystal" Jack confirmed as well, doing the same.
„Good!" said the turian. „We still have some time left so I suggest looking over the map of the location. It might come in handy later."
Both members started doing just that, much to his surprise. He was expecting this from Zaeed but not from Jack. Then he remembered her past and realized that she was also looking for possible escape paths, in case things got hairy.
„Let's hope it won't come to that," he thought to himself, starting to check the map as well.
1 hour later
"How many of these fuckers are there?" asked Jack in an angry tone, sending a biotic wave towards a shooter.
"Got one," Zaeed shouted among the shots that were flying around them.
Garrus's sniper rifle boomed a few seconds later. "Enemy down."
They were taking cover among debris from an old ship, the source of the signal coming from inside it. They had been attacked a few minutes ago by about a dozen enemies. So far they managed to take down one each.
The firefight was intense but they were holding their own through teamwork, experience and in Jack's case, a lot of swearing. However, the bloodlust was getting to her and she was taking more and more risks. She was trying to kill one particularly annoying sniper and she hadn't noticed that her shields were almost out.
"JACK, GET BACK IN COVER!" Garrus shouted, as he was trying to get into a better position, too far to be able to help her.
But she didn't hear him and the last of her shields broke under fire. Luckily, the enemies that were focusing on her were reloading at that point. Unluckily, the sniper had her in the crosshairs. Just as he fired, Jack was tackled out of the way by Zaeed, who then carried her into cover, his shields taking the brunt of the damage.
"Goddammit, don't you ever do that again. Are you trying to get yourself killed?" he shouted.
"Shit, let me go. Why did you do that? I had things under…"
"Don't you dare say "under control". That was far from any possible control."
"You didn't have to do that."
"You're bloody right I didn't. But you're not dying under my watch."
"Why? Why do you even care?"
A loud "Boom" was heard right next to them. Neither had noticed that Garrus came to their side. He looked at both of them and said to Jack:
"Because you're part of our team. That's enough for us to have your back."
"What he said" Zaeed interjected. "I don't have to like you in order to work with you."
Jack was left speechless, looking from one to the other. Then the enemies started shooting again, cutting their chat short.
A few more minutes of intense firefight followed, with neither side managing to hurt the other.
"Dammit, this is hopeless," Garrus growled, in a frustrated tone. "Every time we manage to reduce their shields, someone else covers for them."
"I might have a plan," Jack said.
"What have you got?" Zaaed asked, while reloading his rifle.
"Well…"
2 minutes later
Garrus and Zaeed got out from cover and started shooting their rifles at the enemies in short bursts. This continued for a bit until the enemies saw that they weren't returning to cover, no matter how many shots their shields were taking.
When the two ran out of ammo, they switched to their sniper rifles. During that time, the people above also got out of cover, in order to aim better and started firing at them.
Just as Garrus and Zaaed's shields were about to run out, Jack rose up and with her biotic powers, created a biotic field, big enough to protect the two and absorb all the shots.
The enemies paused for a few seconds, seeing that their shots had no effect. At that time, Jack stopped her shield and the old mercenary and the turian fired their weapons, scoring two headshots and killing two more hostiles.
Shocked, the rest of the enemies returned to cover with the three teammates doing the same.
"Great plan, Jack!" the turian congratulated his teammate.
"Heh, course it was. I tried it before, you know" she scoffed although there was a smile on her face.
"You also said some of your team that time didn't make it" Zaeed scoffed back.
"Don't be a pussy. Those guys didn't have your armor and I've gotten better since then."
At that point, they heard some shouts among the mercenaries.
"What do you think they're arguing about?" Jack asked while peeking around a corner.
"If we're lucky, terms of surrender. But I very much doubt it so I say that we reload and find some better cover" answered the old mercenary.
Garrus nodded and thought that it was good advice. It turned into great advice when a minute later, two YMIR mechs rounded the corner, guns at the ready.
"Bloody hell!" Zaeed couldn't help but swear at the sight of them. He ducked behind cover as soon as both the machines and the enemies started firing in their direction. "What do we do?"
"I can take care of the mechs," replied Jack without hesitation. "I just need a bit of time to rest."
"Define a bit" the turian said.
"Fuck, I don't know. About a minute? I've been throwing biotic blasts everywhere since this shit started and that forcefield was no picnic."
Garrus looked her in the eyes and replied:
"Alright, I'll get you that minute. Zaeed, you stay with her and cover her. Make sure those mechs doesn't get in too close. Both of you cover me while I change locations. I'll draw their attention after that. Any questions?"
"Just make sure you don't die" was Zaeeds's answer.
"Let's do this," answered Jack.
As soon as they started shooting, Garrus ran to higher ground, where his sniper rifle could be of more use. Once he reached his desired location, he took aim and landed a headshot on one YMIR. It took a significant part of its energy shield and more importantly, its attention was now focused on him.
"Perfect" he thought, as he saw the mech take aim at his position. He had fought enough of these things to know that it was going to shoot a rocket at him. He took a deep breath and aimed the rifle directly at the opening where the rocket would shoot from.
For many, that shot would have been impossible. For him, it was target practice.
As soon the rocket was launched, he fired. An explosion occurred and the mech was launched backwards, his left side a mess of contorted metal. It was such a sight that no one fired for a few seconds.
Before it could recover, Jack was on the other machine, wailing on it with biotic augmented punches. Zaeed also took that time to shoot and kill another enemy, which made the others realize that they were out in the open, so they quickly scrambled for cover.
Garrus was surveying the battlefield, ready to fire as soon as an enemy would peek from behind cover. Nothing was heard except the hits from Jack and an occasional rifle fire from Zaeed, who was lazily making sure that no one would disturb her handiwork.
At last, with an audible crunch, she punched the mech so hard that its head flew off. She then went to it, picked it up and raised it high, with one hand.
"IS THAT ALL YOU GOT?" she screamed, still high from the adrenaline.
Thirty seconds passed and no one answered so Garrus shouted: "IF YOU SURRENDER NOW, YOU WILL BE SPARED. CONTINUE AND WE WILL SHOW NO MERCY."
A few more seconds passed and an enemy appeared from behind cover, shouted at the top of his lungs and started firing wildly towards them. His act of bravado was quickly cut short as he was shot simultaneously by Garrus, Jack and Zaeed. This convinced the other enemies to lay down their guns and beg for mercy.
15 minutes later
After a thorough search of the place, they found a lot of weapons (mostly handguns and a few shotguns) and plenty of supplies but no hostages.
Garrus and Zaeed returned to the place where the prisoners were guarded by Jack and began interrogating them about their operation. They found out that the mercenaries would send a fake distress signal and capture (preferably) or kill whoever showed up to help. The hostages would then be sold off to batarian slavers, along with any guns or supplies they deemed worthy.
Once the interrogation was over, Jack asked:
"So, what do we do with them?"
A disgusted Zaeed answered: "I say we kill'em. Only scum deal with the batarians and sell off their own."
Jack turned towards Garrus and said: "What do you think? For the record, I'm all for killing them too."
The turian was thinking hard, both at the situation at hand and his experiences on Omega. It was tempting to just kill them and make the world a better place. But he knew it wasn't that easy. These were just thugs, doing the job for money, thrills or both. The ones who would do the dirty work so those above them could claim innocence.
And then he thought about what Shepard would say. While he wouldn't blame him, he knew for sure that Shepard would be disappointed in him.
He finally answered: "No! We'll hand them over to the proper authorities."
The mercenaries breathed more easily and some started to thank him.
"Save it," said Garrus bitterly. "You'll repeat to the authorities all the relevant information about your operation and the people you were working with. I'll keep a close eye on your case and if I see that you didn't fully cooperate, me and my friends will come for you. Trust me, you won't like how it will end. Do I make myself clear?" he asked in a menacing tone.
The mercs could only nod, intimidated by the turian.
"Good. I'll call the shuttle."
He moved away to make the call and didn't notice the frown on Jack's face, who was thinking about what he said.
"Friends, huh?" she muttered to herself.
She thought that she said the word quietly but Zaeed heard her.
Back on the "Normandy"
It had been a quiet ride on the shuttle, especially since they had to watch the prisoners. Once they reached the ship, armed guards took the prisoners to the brig.
"Well, I guess with this, the mission is complete. Good work, team!" Garrus said and gave them a thumbs up, like Shepard taught him.
"Finally, I can rest! I'll be in my room" said Jack while going towards the elevator.
"Well hang on, now" said Zaeed. "We finished the mission, no one that didn't deserve it got hurt, I'd say this calls for a celebration".
Seeing them look at him with doubt, he continued:
"How about it, Garrus? I hear some new parts for your sniper rifle, with better adjustments, are set to come off the assembly line in a few weeks. I might know a guy that can get them sooner."
The turian perked up at that, his interest piqued.
"Yeah, no way am I going to spend my time listening to you two gun nuts."
As soon as Jack started to walk away, Zaeed called after her.
"Even if I bring a crate of Denorian beer to the table?" At that, she stopped and turned towards him, took a few seconds to think and asked:
"You got any vodka or bourbon with that?"
"Wouldn't be using my bounty money wisely if I didn't" he said, a ghost of a smile on his face. He then turned to Garrus.
"And don't think that I forgot about you. I got some turian brandy stashed somewhere".
In Shepard's quarters
"So a few drinks and interesting stories later, here we are".
"I'm impressed they didn't go for each other's throats once the alcohol kicked in" Shepard commented.
"So was I. Don't tell the others but I had a stun gun on me the whole time. Glad it wasn't necessary."
They both chuckled at that for a few seconds.
Then the turian said in a serious tone, his gaze fixed on the floor:
"Thanks for believing in me, Shepard. Ever since Omega, I didn't want to even think about leading others."
"Just so you know" Shepard replied "I knew you were going to make it. You just needed a mission to remind you of who you are."
Garrus thought about that for a few seconds.
"I suppose." He added with a smile on his face. "You could have given me a less rough crowd, you know."
"Heh, now you know how I feel most days. Besides, I softened them up for you."
After talking a bit more, especially about their newest member Kasumi, the turian rose to his feet.
Well, I better get going. I need to get some sleep."
"Sure thing, Garrus. Get some rest. I have some work to do for a while."
Once the turian reached his room, he took a quick shower and then he went to bed. Thoughts about the mission and his celebration with Zaeed and Jack started to form in his mind. Just before sleep took him, he realized that he was happy with his decision. That's all he could ask for.
Author's note: In case you're wondering when this fic would happen canon wise, I decided to place it before the journey to Horizon (not that it would have been hard to guess). The only loyalty mission that Shepard had time to do was the one for Zaeed, which explains why he is a bit more willing to create a bond with Garrus and Jack. I haven't played the games in a very long time so I had to check on the Mass Effect wiki for the names of some of the drinks and pretty much took a guess at what the characters would like.