Jane walks down the hall towards the elevator down to the lower sub basement levels, to the restricted labs, when someone bumps into her from behind, making her spill her energy drink down her shirt.

"Hey!" She shouts at the soldier rushing towards the lift and he glances over his shoulder.

"Sorry!" Turning, she recognizes the man as one of the soldiers in Lieutenant Commander Alenko's group. She can't remember his name as he slows and begins to walk backwards. "Did you hear?! They're going to finally cut that alien freak open!"

It feels like her stomach falls to the floor as her eyes widen. It's by sheer luck that she doesn't drop her drink all over the floor and gain herself even more suspicion from the soldier as he already stops and lifts his brows in surprise.

"I… They never said anything to me…"

The man shrugs, spinning to tap the elevator call impatiently as if it would speed up the process. Jane is still frozen in place, worries and horrors running through her mind of what she knows can happen to this 'alien freak' in the hands of her own people.

How could she ever save Garrus from that? If only she were stronger.

"Hey," the soldier says, snapping her attention to reality. He stands in the lift cabin, holding the door. "You coming?"

"Y… yeah. Hold up," she responds, her voice barely audible as she fights not to run to join. Tossing her drink in the disposal by the doors - her appetite completely gone - she rushes to the back of the lift immediately, crossing her arms and impatiently tapping her fingers on her elbows.

"Don't worry. I'm sure the doctors and General know what they're doing."

She looks over in confusion, seeing his encouraging smile, and it takes a moment before the words sink in. Once she understands, Jane smiles and nods as she forces her shoulders to relax. She offers a smile in return, nodding in false thanks.

"So… You've been working with that thing, right?"

His words almost make her flinch, almost cause her tongue to slip and demand he not treat her friend like a monster and with some humanity. Instead, she merely bites her lip and nods. She cannot change the views of her very people any more than she can devise a way to free Garrus or protect him.

"What's it like?"

"What's what like?"

"The alien," the man whose name she can't recall and whose clothes do not wear a name tag that she can see. "Is it like they say? Long claws, sharp teeth, roars and growls? You know… like a movie monster."

"H - It," she quickly corrects, inwardly kicking herself for being so stupid as to blatantly reveal her knowledge, to break the trust Garrus has put in her by giving her a translator. "It isn't like a monster. It can understand us, you know."

He nods, frowning a bit. "The Commander told us about when they brought it in. Of how it was able to nod and react to orders." Snorting a laugh, he shrugs and gives her a grin that makes her skin crawl. "The thing's pretty damn stupid when it just gave itself up."

"Maybe it was trying to be peaceful." Her frown is deep as she stares at the floor of the slowing elevator and whispers, "And we imprisoned it." When the door opens, her head rises and she storms from the lift and, as she hears the confused, wordless grunt of question from the soldier, looks back over her shoulder. "I got to go," she explains with a fake smile. "I want to see if I can be there with Doctor Lawson!"

Jane's fingers tremble so much at the keypad that she is sure she's bound to mistype her entry code, but muscle memory seems to have taken control. For that she is grateful, but she lifts up thanks to the sky as she finds the lab to be completely empty save for her dear friend Garrus. She runs to the glass and slaps her hands against the glass, panting and throat too dry in panic to speak.

Most of his day was spent with working out to kill time… once again. He knows that he has to get out of here, rather sooner than later. Not just for his own sake, because being caged like this really starts to mess with his head, no but also for Jane's sake. He doesn't care about humanity, when the turian forces strike, and the spirits know they will soon, every human fighting will die and the rest… this world will become a prison world. And he can't let that happen to Jane. No way.

Garrus is just done with a set of sit-ups when he hears the lab door open and causes him to instantly spin around and see who entered. A soft purr of happiness escapes his throat as he recognises Jane, but something is off. Before he's able to say anything she slaps the glass, her face red.

"Jane… what's wrong?" Garrus asks with a tilt of his head.

"They're going to do it!" She shrieks, making his ears ring, as her eyes begin to shine with the threat of tears. "Oh, Garrus… I'm so sorry!"

She begins to sob as her words sink in.

"Do what? Why are you crying? Jane please talk to me… What's going on?" His voice changes as he becomes seriously worried about his friend.

Hiccuping, she buries her face in her hands. How can she be the one to give him the news that could possibly end his life? How can she stomach the fact that, just when she started to know him, he will be tortured to the point of death? And how can she be so selfish in thinking of her own pain when this means the end for someone she cares so much about?

"They…" She tries to collect herself, swallowing thickly and sniffling. Wiping her nose with the back of her hand, she looks up into his beautiful eyes and whispers, "The okay to experiment on you has gone through." She chokes on a sob and gasps for breath. "I'm so sorry."

Garrus hums and closes his eyes for a moment, holding back a chuckle over his thoughts.Huh… you were waiting for this all the time. You thought about how it'd make you feel and now that the time has come you feel nothing? Congratulations… stupid turian. Now focus on her…

"Jane… it's okay" his voice is soft in an attempt to calm her. "It's not your fault. I… I'm sure they won't kill me, I mean… the living specimen is more worth isn't it?" He chuckles softly as he looks right in her green eyes.

But if…

Tell her to hide.

Hide. Yeah. Good idea. Where? She doesn't deserve…

Shut it! As long as you're still alive you can make it out of here.

And what then? Take her? Yeah I bet the Council would be excited about that decision.

Saren…

Stop thinking so far ahead. Focus, you plated idiot!

Jane is completely unaware of his inner struggle, and doesn't even speak as she walks to the cage's console. Garrus trills in surprise and confusion as the door slides open and she quickly closes the first door to release the inner airlock door. If it could slam open, it would, as she storms into his glass quarters and runs to him, throwing her arms around him as she sobs against his chest, body trembling.

"Uhm…" Garrus is completely thrown off as Jane hugs him. He was never prepared for that and now he's standing there like a fool, arms hanging as his mouth is open, mandibles twitching in confusion.

She smells good.

Thanks for that insight, idiot…

She's soft!

Just look at her of course she's soft!

I need to get out of here. Being stuck with me drives me crazy!

Yeah, but now hug her back, you spiky moron!

With a hum his long, strong arms wrap around her, hands rubbing her back soothingly. "Calm down, Jane. Everything will be fine."

"You suck as a liar," she snaps, angry that he doesn't care more. How could he not feeling anything? Sadness, rage, fear…

Stepping back, she looks up to him with a deep frown. "I wish I could free you, somehow. Get you out and somewhere safe." Sniffling, she lays her head against his chest and breathes deep of his smell, thinking of how comforting and calming it is despite the horrendous circumstances.

"I'm not lying, Jane. I really think that everything will be fine." The look on her face, her voice and her tears are what makes this so incredibly hard on him. A deep rumble causes his chest to vibrate. "Have some faith. And Jane, this isn't your fault okay?"

Do it! Tell her now!

"Jane… if anything happens… can you get something to record a voice message?"

She frowns in confusion, but nods. Stepping away from him and missing his warmth, she sits through the slow decontamination process before going to the cabinets, searching.

"I think we have… Aha!" She pulls out a small recorder Lawson likes to use when he runs tests and examines results from her own work. Checking to make sure it has an empty disk, she returns to the cage and slides it under the wall before moving to sit through the airlock cycle.

The message he records is short and he's already done as Jane steps in again. He smiles at her as he hands the recorder back. "Jane… if I die or if I don't make it out of here within the next 3 days… you need to hide" he frowns in worry for her. For what might happen to her. "My people… they will come. And they will attack. You won't stand a chance, Jane. Hide and when they find you ask for Saren or Nihlus. And give them this. It will ensure your safety"

"Please," Jane whispers, blinking away tears, and covers his hand in both of hers, holding the recorder against their shared palms. "Don't talk that way. I-"

The doors hum in preparation for opening and she jerks her hands away from his, hiding the recorder. She quickly rushes to the airlock and jerks the door closed, the process starting as Doctor Lawson steps in with armed soldiers.

"Ah, Jane," he says as he walks towards the glass wall and smirks as Garrus growls softly. "I'm happy you're here." He looks her way just as she steps out, head down and praying he doesn't suspect anything. "There's no need for samples today." Grinning with a leer, he adds, "We'll be getting plenty now."

"So… it's true," she whispers, knowing he can't hear her as he waves the soldiers towards the door to Garrus' cage.

"Now, 575. It would be in your best interest to cooperate," Commander Alenko says as two take guard outside of the door and the rest enter the airlock.

"Jane," the doctor says, motioning her over. "You have a repertoire with the creature. Make sure it obeys." With that, he turns to head towards the exit. "I must prepare for the surgery. Oh… And get ready to assist."

Her eyes widen and skin goes pale at his words. Surgery? Assist? Laying her hand on the glass, she sways as her legs tremble and heart races to a frantic beat.

"It's on your best interest to never cross my path again or I'll rip your throat out and make you eat it!" Garrus growls low and threatening but otherwise doesn't make a move, his eyes locked with Jane's. "Don't worry Jane. Have some faith and confidence"

She scowls at that, not understanding how he can be so calm. It must be either a Spectre thing or turian thing. Or maybe it's just a Garrus thing. Still, she gives a slight nod as she takes a deep breath and leaves him to quickly hide the recorder in her locker.

Alenko and his three men approach Garrus, guns raised, and slowly enclose him in all directions. "Nice and slow, alien," one says as Alenko shoves the barrel of his gun against his waist.

"You heard him. Move."

Without any emotion Garrus leaves his cell, not quite sure where to go he just steps into the airlock and after the decontamination process stops next to the cell door for further instructions.

Jane moves to the door, ignoring the two guards' skeptical look, and taps the open command. As the doors slide open, the first guard aims his weapon at her, startling her into jerking her hands up and Garrus snarls. Knowing the mess that would cause if he reacts more than that, Jane lowers her hands and gives the slightest shake of her head. Please don't react, Garr.

"Weapon down, you fucking idiot!" Kaidan shoves Garrus aside and storms to his soldier, jerking a finger back. "In the back. Now." When the man steps away, Alenko looks to her with a raised brow. "What is this about? Don't you know anything about protocol and dangerous animals."

"He's not an animal!" The man steps back in surprise at her words and she balls her fists. Hearing a soft chirp from Garrus, she realizes her mistake, but knows she can't take it back, can't create a bigger scene. Instead, she takes a calming breath and looks at the suspicious Lieutenant Commander. "Please, Commander. Let me help you. I've spent the most time with 575. I think it's more comfortable if I were to help."

He hesitates for a second before giving her a nod, smirking inwardly as he sees that as an opportunity to get closer to her. "Yeah… okay. Do what you can." Kaidan steps closer to her and, as Jane walks past him he moves fast, squeezing her butt before stepping back.

"Don't," she says sternly with a glare before looking to a turian clearly struggling to contain himself. "575?" She pauses and closes her eyes for a moment before looking to him, eyes glistening slightly. "Let's go, okay?"

Garrus nods but stares at her as he starts walking, following Jane to wherever this examination might take place. "If he does that again, he and his little squishy cunts here are all dead."