The next day, Garrus received message from Lantar that he and Dartus were ready for departure from Illium. Garrus went to give them escort because none of them knew what ship belonged to Garrus. Lantar and Dartus didn't take anything with them. They had only their omni-tools with some credits in case they would have to buy something. Together with Garrus they arrived on board of his ship. Garrus took seat as a pilot and Dartus with Lantar found some seats in the back side of the deck. Soon the group of three turians left the atmosphere of Illium and headed for Palaven, the home world of turians.
"I don't know what to think, kid. They haven't seen me since they were three years old." Dartus said, twiddling his thumbs. Lantar placed his talon on Dartus' shoulder, "Dartus, you never know. What if they were asking for you? They maybe wish to see you after all those years." Lantar asked, "But if they asked for me, why didn't they try to contact me? I can understand they don't have much credits to spare for ticket but they could find contact on me." Dartus said and Lantar knew this could be hard to answer, "Maybe they just don't have time. They are 34 so possibly they need to care about their families." Lantar explained, Dartus nodded as it could be one possibility, "You didn't tell me much about them." Lantar said, "There isn't much that I could tell about them. I had one daughter and one son. Daughter's name was Pekma, boy was Sirtax. Both of them inherited majority of my appearance. Both of them have red eyes so I guess they will look almost the same as me, especially the boy." Dartus explained and Lantar nodded to him, "Never heard about your family either. What are they like?" Dartus asked Lantar who tried to find a good answer, "My family… I was their only kid. Had older brother and sister, they both died when I was little so I became the only kid in our family. Dad was still somewhere so most of my time was spent with mom, nice woman. Usually turians reaching their 15 are applying for turian hierarchy military, I didn't. Thanks to the fact I was majority of my time with mom, I learned to hate conflicts, wars and so on. Other turians didn't like me because of that, called me coward, which I am basically all the time but I just try to avoid conflicts where I am no use." Lantar explained but Dartus had to smile, "Coward doesn't join the law reinforcements. If you were coward, you'd be rather happy flipping burgers somewhere, but you decided to join C-Sec and then the police on Illium." Dartus said and Lantar smiled back at him. They intertwined their talons together.
Their trip was taking three hours to get from traverse to the turian space. Palaven was on their sight and all of them could feel tension building within them. Meeting with past was not easy for anyone of them. The ship finally landed on the planet, in the capital of Palaven, Cipritine. Dartus looked at Lantar and Garrus, "Hmm… there is one problem. I've heard only that they were working in this city, but I didn't get the concrete data about their residence." Dartus said and Garrus pulled out his omni-tool, "This shouldn't be problem. I'm connected to the database of Shadow Broker. I may find the right location… there!" Garrus said and showed Dartus the address, "I know that place. It's not far from here. Come." Dartus led Lantar and Garrus through historical center of Palaven. The buildings were in contrast – modern metallic buildings met old fashioned residences made of stones. Some turians were rather comfortable with those houses than living in metallic cube. The three turians stopped at one house with the address Garrus' found, "Whose address is this, Garrus?" Dartus looked at him, "This address should belong to Sirtax Raidat." Garrus answered and Dartus took a deep breath, knocking the door. Garrus and Lantar were standing on the pavement while Dartus looked at them. The door opened and some young turian opened the door. Dartus looked down, "Eh… hello, boy. Is your dad at home?" Dartus asked, "This must be his son…" he thought, "Who's asking?" the boy looked up and asked Dartus rather insolently, "I am somebody who knows your father I…" Dartus said but turian woman stepped in the door, pulling his child back, "How many times did I tell you not to open door to foreign people?!" the woman said and stepped in front of Dartus, "Are you wife of Sirtax Raidat?" Dartus asked, "Yes. Valena Raidat. What do you need from my husband?" she asked, "It's a personal matter. Is he at home? I uh… need to talk to him." Dartus explained, "Sirtax should be at home soon. Do you wish to wait for him?" Valena asked and Dartus beckoned at Garrus with Lantar to follow him, "I hope you don't mind my friends coming with me." Dartus asked and Valena shook her head. Lantar and Garrus followed Dartus inside, making comfortable, sitting in armchairs. The young turian boy went in the room to those three turians and noticed Garrus, "You… you're Garrus Vakarian!" the turian boy said and Garrus rubbed his back of head, "Man you've got to come with me! You need to see my room!" the turian boy said and pulled Garrus out of the armchair and out of the room. Lantar had to laugh, "Looks like Garrus has a fan base!".
Few minutes later, another turian entered the house. Lantar looked at him. He looked almost like Dartus, only younger. Dartus and the turian looked at each other. Lantar realized this was the right moment to let them be alone, "I'll go and help Garrus…" he said and ran out of the room. Sirtax was stunned, it was like looking in your own reflection in the mirror. He sat down to the armchair that Lantar just left, not leaving his gaze from Dartus "This can't be possible…" Sirtax started, "I wish it was impossible. But… here I am." Dartus said, "I have received some intel about you, but never thought that it could actually be true." Sirtax said, "Why did you come, dad…" he continued, avoiding his father's look, "I came to see how my children are doing after I left them." Dartus said with difficulty, hoping for his son to understand, "I am doing well, dad. Can't say the same about Pekma." Sirtax lowered his voice while talking about Pekma, "What do you mean?" he asked, "Pekma died six years ago. Some Geth invaded Palaven and it was slaughter." Sirtax stated drily. Dartus looked down to the carpet, "Oh… I didn't know. I'm sorry, Sirtax." Dartus said and Sirtax looked at him, "You don't need to be sorry, dad. You were gone. You practically didn't even know us!" Sirtax attacked him with words. Dartus felt himself hurt, "How… how can you say that, Sirtax? I was gone, yes, but I never forgot about you!" He explained, "We were fucking three years old when you left. When we grew up with Pekma and saw how other kids can be with their parents, we wondered why didn't we have parents! When we asked our tutors, they said you both died during the First contact war! I, however, didn't give up. I searched for information in military archives and saw that only our mother died, not you!" he pointed at Dartus who seemed dejected, "I did what I had to, son. Try to think as me. Try to get in my position. How do you think I would explain that your mother died? How do you want to explain that to a kid? I loved you both and I didn't want to see your faces once you would find out…" Dartus said, his voice vanishing in sadness that was building up in his voice. Sirtax seemed to be touched as well, "So… so you arrived after 31 years because you couldn't sleep or some shit… I was doing just fine, dad. You don't need to come here and bring back old memories! I know how you must feel, but 31 years without sending a fucking message… how could you do that?!" Sirtax said, not able to talk anymore as the cry was taking over him as well, "I am sorry, son. I'm so sorry! It wasn't easy for me… to come here and talk to you. I just want you to know… I still love you, my boy." Dartus said, stopping his talk and hiding his face so Sirtax couldn't see him crying. Sirtax tried to process his thoughts, then he raised from the armchair and sat to his father between his legs. Sirtax wasn't crying, he managed to push it back, but Dartus needed him. Sirtax pulled his dad closer for a hug. Dartus hugged his son back. They remained in this hug for five minutes before Dartus was feeling like he could let Sirtax go. It was time for them to separate again. Dartus, Garrus and Lantar headed back to the ship. Dartus didn't talk on the way back, but it was evident he was feeling better.
Their next stop was a small settlement near the capital. It was place where Garrus grew up and where Solana with his mother should be by now. The ship landed near the settlement, but inhabitants were surprised to see a spaceship flying over their heads. When Garrus and the other two turians escaped the ship, the turians around started to recognize Garrus as they knew him from his childhood. The inhabitants were surrounding Garrus, asking him various questions such as if he remembered them or how he has been all the time. Garrus didn't know who to answer first, it was getting rather uncomfortable but then somebody dissolved the crowd, "Hey! Give him some space!" exclaimed a turian woman who managed to calm the crowd down, "Garrus! You came!" it was Solana. Solana said and Garrus hugged her, "Sol! Does mom know?" Garrus asked, "No, but it will be surprise! Come!" Solana said and he and his friends followed Solana to the house where Garrus grew up. Solana opened the door to the house and Garrus, Dartus and Lantar entered, "Feel free to make yourself comfortable." She said and older voice came from other room, "Solana? Did you find out who was flying that ship?" it was a voice of woman, Garrus immediately recognized his mother, "Mom…?" he said quietly, "Yes! I'll be with you in a moment" Solana said and grabbed Garrus' talon, "Come on, Garrus!" she pulled Garrus to another room to his mother, "Well, we're alone now." Lantar smiled at Dartus.
Meanwhile, Solana and Garrus were standing behind door to room of their mother. Garrus stopped himself aggressively as Solana pulled him, "Garrus! Come on! What's wrong with you?" Solana asked, "I… I can't do it." He said, "What are you talking about?" she frowned at him, "I just can't! I don't think I'll handle seeing her. Maybe I'll make it even worse!" Garrus looked to the ground and Solana placed both hands on his shoulders, "Garrus. There's no going back now. She is affected with disease, but would it really hurt to let her see her son she loves? Don't you think it would make her pain more bearable?" she asked. Garrus was thinking and gave her nod. Solana smiled and opened the door to the room of their mother, "Mom?" Solana asked as the older turian woman looked from her data pad as she lied in her bed, "Solana, who was piloting that ship?" their mother asked and Solana stepped aside as Garrus entered the door, "I guess that was me." Garrus said, smiling. He spotted his mother lying in the bed. She didn't look that bad. Garrus thought she would look worse, but she looked quite well. Perhaps because when salarians wanted so many credits for surgery it would better be damn worth it, "Garrus…" she opened her mouth in shock, but in nice shock, "Is that you?" she asked and Garrus approached her, "Yeah. Solana told me how you were holding and I was thinking how bad you could look, but damn you look good, mom." Garrus smiled at her and sat next to her bed, "Oh, Solana. You always tend to be a drama queen." The mother shook her head and laughed slightly, "I had to, mom. Garrus wouldn't come otherwise!" Solana explained, taking seat next to Garrus. "Well, you don't need to be so worried about me, Garrus. Salarians may be expensive, but they are good in medicine. Also, I am not fragile. I served in military myself when I was young." She explained, coughing a little bit, "I came because there was an opportunity. I had a shore leave and also, I had support from my… friend." Garrus explained, meaning Lantar, "Oh, who is this friend of yours? I'd like to meet the man who pushed you to see your old mother." She said and Garrus laughed, "His name is Lantar Sidonis. We were working together for a while, but now we are independent on each other." Garrus said, "Garrus, keep connections with these people. You never know who'll be the last person listening to you." His mother said wisely, "What about your military life? I was reading galactic news. People are saying that you are hero, that you helped to defeat the greatest threat of organic life, the Reapers. Is that true?" the mother asked and Garrus nodded, "Then I'm proud mother to say that my son is hero. Solana told me you are also member of the Alliance, the humans' organization. I still think that hierarchy needs turians like you, Garrus, but with my age I realize that our future lies in cooperation with another species so I am happy for you. You'll do great things in your life, son." She smiled at him and Garrus smiled back. Their conversation continued with other topics. Garrus also explained how he loved Jane Shepard. His mother laughed because she was aware of incompatibility of their bodies. Turians were based on dextro-amino acids while humans were levo-amino acids so it wouldn't work there well. Garrus' mother also had the option to meet Lantar since he was there. She also met Dartus and was amused by the fact that Lantar and Dartus were together.
The last one to be done was Lantar. Garrus said good bye to his mother and Solana and the three turians headed for their next destination, "Alright, Lantar. Time for you to show us your family." Garrus said and Lantar got the unpleasant feeling of his neck tightening again, "You know, Garrus… put there an auto-pilot. I'll forward the coordinates to it." Lantar said. Garrus found that strange, but Lantar seemed to know what he was doing. The auto-pilot flew to the coordinates that Lantar put in the console. In the meantime, they all sat to the table. Garrus and Dartus were both thanking Lantar for organization of this trip. They seemed to be less tense. On the other side, Lantar was feeling shit inside, even he tried to smile. He was feeling even worse when the ship landed on the coordinates, "Alright! Let's go!" Garrus said and Lantar was the one taking lead. The airlock of the ship opened, revealing something that Garrus and Dartus didn't expect, leaving them frozen "But this is… cemetery…" Dartus said. Garrus looked at Lantar who was with his back to them, "You mind explaining, Lantar?" Garrus asked while Lantar gestured them both to follow him. The turians went in between graves, patrolled around with Lantar but followed Lantar because he was obviously the only one who knew how to orientate himself. Soon, they found a grave with two names on it, "Urika and Deterus Sidonis. It's been a long time." Lantar said quietly, "Lantar, why didn't you tell us that your parents are dead? We didn't need to go here if I knew." Garrus explained, "Well, I wanted to go here." Lantar said, Garrus didn't seem to understand, "Even it doesn't change anything, I didn't have time or credits to go back here and visit grave of my parents. Now… I could." Lantar explained but Garrus only frowned, "What Lantar wants to say is that from time to time, we all should see the grave to remember about our ancestors." Dartus said, looking at Lantar, "But you didn't need to lie about this, Lantar. We would understand that. You didn't have siblings either, their names would be on this grave." Dartus said and Lantar sighed, "Lying was unnecessary, I know. Sorry about that, guys… I am not used to sharing my personal things." He explained, "They died when I was 18. That was the time when Saren's Geth attacked Palaven. My parents got involved into that attack and they both died. I managed to hide so I survived, but they didn't. My father never forgave me that I refused to join hierarchy. Now I know that if I joined army, maybe their chances of survival would be bigger." Lantar rounded his fists. Garrus noticed that and placed talon on Lantar's shoulder, "Nobody could have survived that attack, Lantar. Your parents died, but you worked yourself to get on Omega and we met there, don't forget about that. Sometimes, things happen for a reason." Garrus explained. Lantar looked behind and saw Garrus giving him a little smile, "You're right. I am not glad that my parents died, but it definitely allowed me to become independent and get in touch with you, guys!" Lantar smiled. Dartus put his talon on Lantar's head, rubbing his plates, "Alright, kid. I think we could go home. What do you think, Garrus?" Dartus asked, "You don't even know how much I need my bed on Earth…" Garrus said and Lantar had to laugh. They left the cemetery, got in Garrus ship and returned to Illium. From there, Lantar and Dartus waved Garrus as he left towards Earth.