At first he heard mumbling and felt a dull throbbing ache in his neck. He pushed his eyes to open, but they would not move.
"...arrus?" a woman's voice stroked his hearing.
He tried to move his arms but they did not obey. Images rose in his mind like undead and one face burned at him like no other.
"Good work getting him out of there and back here unnoticed." Another woman spoke...
"You asked, we delivered." The voice was female, but different...
Themos. His visage mocked him, belittled him, infuriated him. The face shook his feeble body in to motion, and his eyes began to open.
"Garrus can you hear me?" He heard a human woman speak again.
"Shepard?" He asked his mind was still in a fog and his eyes were having trouble focusing.
A Bright light struck his sights and he let out a growl of discontent.
"A light concussion, some trauma to his abdomen, and a sprained knee, but I think he is going to be fine."
His eyes regained their focus and took in the world. Over him was Dr. Chalkwas.
"Urfff... where am I?" he asked.
"The Alliance frigate Ardennes."
Garrus turned his head and saw Kaidan standing near by, a look of concern on his face. He looked exhausted and out of order, but Garrus wasn't going to say anything about his appearance. It was at least good to see a friendly face again.
But then the memory of C-Sec came back at him and his eyes went wide as he looked around.
"Where's Shepard? Did we get her out of C-Sec?" He looked to Kaidan and Chalkwas his mouth open and mandibles spread wide in hope.
"No. Kasumi had to...put you out so we could get you, and us out of there." Jacob responded from the corner.
"What? NO!" Garrus growled as he strained to get up and quickly found that he was strapped down to the medical bed. Chalkwas stood back letting Garrus get some of the rage out of him.
"LET ME GO! I'm going after her!" He roared.
"You need to cool it Vakarian." A calm but fatherly stern voice called. out.
Garrus growled as he turned his head towards the direction of the voice. He was still straining against the straps the tied him down. But then the sight he beheld caused his rage to subside. In an anti-grav chair sat Councilor Anderson. He wore a pair of white lounge pants with a matching button up shirt that hung open and loosely from his muscular form. White bandaged wrapped around his torso, the image made him appear to be a warrior monk. The look he wore was one of calm and determination.
"Your alive..." Garrus breathed in shock.
Anderson calmly nodded.
But then rage filled him again. "YOU! You brought her here! You killed her!" He snarled.
Anderson crossed his arms and leaned back in to the chair as Garrus continued to growl.
"Garrus calm down and listen to me. Anderson had nothing to do with Shepard being arrested! We can't go after Shepard..." Miranda spoke as softly as she could, but it only served to rile him even more as he turned to her and gave her a flash of his eyes.
"WHY NOT?" His yelled.
"Because this needs to happen!" Kaidan commanded.
If it had been any other Turian they would have just shut up right then and there. Any other Turian wouldn't have argued with a higher ranked officer no matter how asinine the orders were, or insane the idea. But Garrus wasn't like any other Turian.
"What the hell do you mean this needs to happen? Why you damn coward! Your leaving her out to dry...again! It's Acturus ALL OVER AGAIN! This won't be a fair trial! Its a fucking INQUISITION! A WITCH HUNT! No one will even know till its done and she's dead!" Garrus stormed back.
Kaidan's face burned with the verbal slap, but before he could respond EDI came blaring over the comms.
"Captain Alenko, Agent Vakarian, the Council is going to make an announcement. It's currently 1:45pm"
That froze Garrus in place. A midday announcement. These kind of announcements always came at midday...
Oh Spirits, this is it. She's dead, she is gone! I failed her again!
Councilor Tevos' voice rang over the intercom of the Ardennes. Ever soldier stopped and listened. Every bystander turned and listed to the newsstands around the world, and thr Galaxy.
"People of the Galaxy. We, the Council have heard your cries for Justice, and we have vowed not to let wrongs go unpunished."
Justice? You know nothing of Justice! Garrus' thoughts tore at his mind and he closed his eyes wanting to block out the Asari's voice, he didn't want to hear it.
"Last night El'Jaid Shepard was detained by Council Security."
You came for her in the night like the Gestapo.
"We have heard your pleas for Justice to be levied for her actions."
She saved you. She saved ALL OF YOU! You don't even deserve to breathe! His talons tore in to the medical bed.
"There are those who would have endeavored to shelter Shepard for her actions, or retaliate again us for taking the steps that we have."
You mean protect her from your your greed... He shook his head not wanting to hear any more.
"...but to them, we, the lawful say that we will not abide their own interpretation of the law."
Its easy to dictate how to follow the law that YOU write and no jury hears! His growl becoming even more menacing. His eyes smoldering.
"In three days time, El'Jaid Shepard will be held to a public trial by the Council, with a military board. May peace and prosperity be yours." Then the intercom went dead, silent.
Garrus laid there dumbfounded. There hadn't been a public trail held by the Council in hundreds of years, and never a public trial of any kind for a Specter. He looked over and saw Kaidan storm out of the medical bay, Miranda following him trying to catch his shoulder. Others held mixed looks of relief, concern, anger, and sorrow, and slowly filed out leaving on Chalkwas, Anderson and Garrus in the medbay.
"Why...how did that happen?" Garrus asked, he didn't need an answer.
"Chalkwas. I think we can release him now." Anderson said.
Garrus looked over as Anderson and suddenly felt a pang of guilt. "Anderson..." Garrus sounded like he had cotton stuck in his throat. "I saw where Udina has taken your place...I didn't mean..."
"We have all had a trying experience as of late Vakarian. I know you care about Shepard. Doctor, If you need me I will be in the starboard viewing deck." He quietly left the medbay in the anti-grav chair.
"Of course. If you need anything Anderson, please let me know." Chalkwas responded as she undid Garrus' restraints.
Garrus got up and limped around from the lack of blood flow to his legs, and his sprain. "Where is Liara?"
"She is in the port viewing deck." Chalkwas was turned around filling out information on a data pad.
Garrus turned to leave and his ear caught the Doctor's voice again.
"You mustn't come down on Captain Alenko so hard Garrus. He is still a friend."
Garrus turned his head and simply said.
"Its not 'coming down hard' when its true. Sometimes to be a friend is to tell someone they're wrong." With that he left and made his way to the port observation deck.
As he past through the mess area, he saw the Ardennes' crew members look at him with a mixture of awe, anger and suspicion. He knew that they were loyal to their Captain, to the Alliance. But he also knew that Shepard and her shipmates garnered some unspoken respect where ever they went. He wasn't sure whether to feel impressed by it, or ashamed.
He reached the port observation room, Liara's room, and his taloned hand went to open the door, but he retracted it.
Why can't I face her...Shepard treats me as an equal, and Liara has never shown me anything less...but Spirits I can't help but feel less in her presence...
He partially wanted to treat her like any other Turian would treat an Admiral. He would show respect, shut up, and do his duty without question. But he wanted, no needed, answers, or at least an answer.
"Er.. EDI. Is Dr. T'Soni available?" He asked aloud, but before the AI could reply the door rolled open.
Garrus cautiously walked in to the room, not sure what he would find. As he looked around the room he saw data pads and clothes strewn all over the place. He saw Shepard's armor and weapon cases near Liara's bed. The tell tail scratches in the steel floor being the evidence that they had been pushed rather then carried in. These marines really need to learn how to carry a hard case. He thought amused.
Then his eye caught Liara's form holding Shepard's walking cane and looking at a holo. She was wearing her crimson and black trimmed dress, the hood, and gloves gone. The color of the outfit harshly contrasted with her light blue skin. He could tell she was exhausted, leaning back in to her chair, but she clutched the cane with the force of a vice grip. The scent in the room was mixed of relief, fear, and apprehension.
Part of him was to turn right around and walk out. But he balled up his fists to act like anchors rooting him in place. I can't do this! He screamed in his head.
"So it begins..." The words slipped from her.
Garrus said nothing, but looked away lost in thought.
His mind raced back to retrace all of his history with Shepard. The Battle of Haestrome where he, Liara, and Joker had broken every order, regulation, and law of command to escort Shepard as they all outran the ensuing massive-nova. He remembered being with Shepard as Earth crumbled. Being on the Citadel with Bailey and Koylat as Shepard had brought a rag tag fleet to repulse a Reaper assault and evacuate as many people as possible from the stricken station. He remembered hearing of her first trial by the Systems Alliance and feeling so completely worthless in his ability to help her, and when he had lost all hope when she had died the first time...
...that same feeling of hopelessness had crept back in to his heart again. She was facing an enemy he couldn't charge, he couldn't put in to his sights and blow away. I feel as helpless to her as if I'm taking on a Reaper alone. He raged to himself.
He was snapped back to the present by a simple yet complex question.
"Have I doomed her?" Liara asked, her head down, still clutching the cane.
Doomed her? Doom... Garrus had heard of the word many times, but found that it had many different meanings. One would mean an ill end, another way to interpret doom was fate, and another was simply a decision. He couldn't tell which one the Asari meant, or if it was really a question that needed to be answered at all. There wasn't an equivalent of doom in his own native tongue.
All he could do was answer her question with his own. "Why did you do it? Why did you convince the Council to still put her on trial? You could have secured her release or..." He stopped knowing he had nearly over stepped his bounds with words.
Garrus knew the only she had the contacts, the information, and the sheer power of will to stand against the Council and come out with what she wanted. But he could not understand her reason for this, but that was not unusually when dealing with an Asari. They were known for making seemingly brash or ill founded decisions only to have their choices rewarded in the far future.
...But Shepard did not have the luxury of time.
Hell she may not even live to see the end of the next six to seven days if the trial goes towards the Council's wishes! He thought.
Liara looked up at him, her eyes red from tears, but her face formed a kind of eerie peace. The look that said there was no other,' right' way.
"What other choice did we have Garrus? Have the council just release her? Just send her away after they had taken her and done who knows what to her?" Her voice was filled with and icy wrath.
"Or should we have stormed in to C-Sec, taken her and ran? She, and us forced to run and live like outcasts? No. I will not live that way. I will not have her live that way." Her tone unshakable.
Garrus suddenly felt foolish for his previous words. "I...I understand Liara, I know that at least this better than the shadow court the Council was going to have; but this is still a trial. Not an interview by the media or by military brass. The effects of this will be far reaching." Garrus came closer to her.
Liara did not move, but looked back at Shepard's picture, staring in to it as she formed her next words.
"How long has she had to defend her actions Garrus? How long have we had to defend her, and watch the assault?"
Garrus mandibles twitched with outrage as her words cut deep in to him, it sounded as if Liara considered it a burden to have to have to stand by her all these years. To Garrus it was a privilege to stand by Shepard, to fight back all who would seek to ruin her. He would continue to defend Shepard's honor till he died. He could at least do that...
How can Shepard's mate say this... He thought, but before he could say anything she spoke again.
"How long has the Galaxy persecuted her Garrus? Yet at the same time the people have chosen to stay silent about her victories."
Liara's last words poured like cold water on hot coals, sating him. His breath was caught in his mouth. She was right, Shepard had earned a modicum of peace...
He looked dejected at the floor. "So what now? Just let the chips fall where they may?"
Liara turned and looked at him. She had known that Garrus was El'Jaid's closest friend. More like a brother than even a compatriot. She appreciated the fact that he had been there beside her as El'Jaid had fought the Collectors when she could not be at her love's side. Liara got up and stood face to face with the Turian. His scars evident at the burdens he had carried while with El'Jaid. A load he happily bore. His cool blue eyes darting away as she looked at him. She reached her hand up to his chin bringing his eyes back inline with hers.
"We still have a part to play in this Garrus. This is not abandoning El'Jaid to her fate. We keep faith for her."
As Garrus listened to Liara he understood even more deeply why she was Shepard's mate, her other half. Liara was truly the daughter of two Matriarchs. She had a power of vision he had never known anyone else to possess.
"Right." His voice one of conviction as he breathed in. The scent of the room changed to add one more note to the mixture. Hope.
[][][][][][]
Sohmon was fuming. What have those damn idiots done! He screamed to himself. He stalked back and forth in his office like a caged predator looking for a way to escape it's tomb. His gaze fixed on the Terminal screen.
It had just been four hours since Councilor Tevos' announcement, and since then the Capitol had been plunged in to utter chaos. The Council had declared Martial Law. But it didn't do much to stem the rampant looting, riots or unlawful protests that had coursed through the Capitol and Esthasia's other cities.
The city, or very well the entire Galaxy was splitting in two. One faction supporting to free Shepard, the other to kill her.
This was supposed to be quiet, civil and clean! He raged. He couldn't understand it. The Council could have secured their place of power by convicting this one Specter, this one individual, just this ONE! Yet, they were goaded in to seceding their position by an unknown figure. One unnoted being.
Sohmon had even had four Krogan C-Sec Agents go berserk and try to make their way to Shepard. They had laid waste over a dozen offices and detention areas, and taken out fifty C-Sec Agent's before they were put down. By Krogan standards the four had just been simple warriors, nothing unremarkable, except for their unacknowledged loyalty to the one Alien Krogan Warlord.
"I see what you meant now Raskov." He sneered. The thought of the ill learned lesson burned at Sohmon.
Sohmon kept pacing looking for the communication screen to come alive. The smell of smoke hung heavily in the hallway and had made its way in to his office. It was a smell he detested.
How could he have broken out, made it in to my chambers, then slipped away? He grabbed a bookend and was about ready to throw it at the terminal when the voice spoke calmly at him.
"I was wondering when you would call me Themos."
Sohmon slammed the book end on to his desk. "How can you be so calm? Look at what has happened!"
"It changes nothing." The voice said casually.
"Nothing? I have riots in the streets, looters tearing the cities apart. Hell! The entire Galaxy will be this way by the end of the day! Now Shepard will have a public trial! Another chance to play to the weak masses!"
Sohmon pushed back from the desk, his mandibles close to his face, his blood screaming with outrage.
"And tell me Themos. What made you think it was a good idea to bring Shepard in with the device on her, and with her bound in chains? May I remind you that it took time and a great deal of effort to convince the Council that it needed to act. That it needed to bring Shepard to Justice. Your actions could very well have done as much damage if not more to the stability of the cause as that one lone figure." The voice had turned cold and calculating on him.
Sohmon suddenly found himself at the mercy of a far greater predator, his rage turning in to fear. "I...I thought it was best to use the device after what had happened at the..."
"Stop trying to justify your decisions, Themos, it only serves to make the situation all the worse. " The voice stated sharply. "And since you were going to bring up the facility. Has it been taken care of?"
"Ah..I was going...Ah.. have our Agent taking care of it." Sohmon fumbled. He drew closer to the terminal.
"I'm glad to hear it. And I understand that Vakarian escaped, hence your quick departure from the chamber?" The voice inquired.
"Yes, but if he reappears C-Sec will have him..." Shomon offered.
"Don't bother." Voice cut him off. "Vakarian is no longer an issue."
"But what if he tries to go after Shepard? or Interfere with the Trial." Sohmon said. He was shocked. What if he comes after me?
"Vakarian won't." The voice said knowingly. "I would have said otherwise if the Council had not...agreed...to a public trial for Shepard; but Vakarian will not make it a public display to try to free her."
"How do you know?" Sohmon's cold and he stood back with his arms barred across his chest.
"Political wit and prowess you may have, my friend, but the ability to observe, you do not." The Voice mocked. "Vakarian has painstakingly defended Shepard at every turn, in every way. He makes those who try to attack her, angry, which makes Shepard and him have control in the matter. He uses knowledge to make attackers look stupid and foolish. He and Shepard have used this to keep the public's opinion sated or at bay."
"Speaking of foolish. Vakarian didn't have time to make it in to your office and decrypt your terminal did he?" The Voice's tone again mocking.
Heat seared in Shomon's face. He had come back to find that his office had been invaded, and his terminal had wiped itself clean. Luckily he kept a backup of all of important files on his omni tool.
"If he did decrypt my terminal he didn't have enough time to get anything important or it will take him a very long time to glean anything from my files." Sohmon said with certainty.
Quiet filled the room, so much so that Sohmon thought that the Voice had gone.
"Lets hope so my friend. For your sake. Lets hope so." The Voice said indifferently.
A wraith of fear again struck Sohmon, but he shook his head dispelling it. After Shepard is found guilty and executed, anything he finds will be of no use.
"Now how should we handle the trial?" Sohmon asked.
"You have a case don't you?" The voice asked in turn.
"Yes, of course." Sohmon replied.
"Then use it! I'll be sending the best prosecutor I know to help you handle this. From now on, this operation has to be air-tight." The Voice roared and the terminal went blank.
Sohmon clinched his fists. I don't need help in proving how guilty Shepard is! He exhaled. He had a lot of work to do.
His comm beeped and he answered. "Sir, we have processed those medical scans you sent us. You will want to see these."
Sohmon's mandibles flared in to a smile. Maybe this day hasn't turned out so bad after all. Shepard's fate it sealed. He thought. "Thank you Lieutenant Varla. I will be down shortly."
He looked around his office pleased at how orderly everything looked considering all that had happened. Garrus had indeed only come for the terminal. His eyes glazed lovingly at the cases of books along the walls, the rich tapestries on the walls. His eyes then roved out to a small table to where an invaluable Turian piece of art...was gone!
His roar echoed along the hallway as he threw the table against the glass window panes where it splintered into pieces.