Wowy zowy, holy cowy... Already this story has so many little stalkers and it's just getting going. You guys make me feel all tingly in my toes and in my nose. Thank you to all of you who have already said you will still around to see what happens. It makes my creative juice flow thicker and faster, in a non sticky nasty way.
For those who have not read my other story you are not aware of the fact that I am looking for a beta reader but while they are alluding me I will still do my best to post stories that make since and have the least amount of error to them. SO bare with me until I find a crazy side-kick.
Disclaimer: I have asked Bio-ware for the Mass Effect rights for my birthday. Cross your fingers for me.
If a varen took a shit and let a pyjak roll in it, then the pyjak was chewed and spit out that is what Garrus felt like as he sat up in the med-bay. A groan was the first means of communication he could muster as he looked around the families yet new med-bay. Had he died? Is heaven really some form of the Normandy remade new? He sighed as a hand came to his face timidly, lightly touching the bandage and scarring that felt like it was barely hanging on. He bit back a hiss as the pain registered. If this was heaven then they had one hell of a humor, making him feel pain and being this banged up.
The past day events hit him like a krogan doing a belly flop on a hanar. The memory of his team lost. The betrayal of once of his most trusted team mates. How he had been ready to join them in a last fight of blazing glory. Then John Shepard appeared like a vid hero, back from the dead. The datapad that seemed to be connected to John in a deep way. Then the last thing he remembered was the gunship launching a rocket straight to his face.
With a glance around he pushed himself off the med-bay bed and made his way towards the door. Pausing he looked over himself and determined that other than his face he was in perfect health. Well as perfect as one could be after days of no sleep or food on top of exhaustion. Looking towards the door again he gave a small nod. "Now to find Shepard..."
"Commander Shepard is currently in the debriefing room."
Garrus had to admit he was a little taken back by the voice that echoed out of no where. Looking around he determined that he was indeed still alone. "Thank you random voice..." He shook his head slightly as he made his way out of the med-bay. Pausing in the hall he realized there were no stairs to lead him upwards. Turning his head he looked to the elevator for a second before pushing the summon button.
Once the lift arrived Garrus stepped in and looked over his options for his destination. Finding CIC he aloud the ever so slow lift to take him up a floor. He really believed their was some galaxy wide code that all elevators were to take more time than needed to reach the next floor. He could have claimed the outside of the ship quicker than the elevator.
As he stepped out of the elevator at his destination he was greeted with a whole mass of humans, most turned to look him over. And with a small cringe he noticed they all sported Cerberus logos. His was about to step back into the lift to go hide out somewhere less... overly human, when a small red headed human stepped up with a large smile. The way she looked him over made him feel like a dish of some rare human desert, it was slightly disturbing.
"Officer Vakarian. I'm Kelley Chambers. If you are look for Commander Shepard he is juster this way. She held her hand out to the room to her side. "If you go straight through there and take the first side door you find you will be an a small hallway outside the debriefing room. You will find him there." She offered him a small smile which he returned, but not as excitedly.
"Thanks for your help." Turning away he followed her defections and found the small hallway, but from Johns raised voice he was sure he could have found it once he neared the hall. Stepping up he listened to the conversation before he entered.
"Commander we have to go after the doctor now. He is a key to our mission and we need his help. It was unwise to let you go after Archangel first. It is even more unwise to put it off further." This was the woman that John had brought with, the Cerberus fan.
"Miranda if our guess is right they are talking about Jane. I can't leave her in their hands any longer. As soon as I know Garrus will be okay and he can tell me how to get there we will be on our way." There was a pause in Johns firm rant and he was sure that woman was about to protest further but her first word wasn't even finished before John cut her off. "And that is my final word Lawson."
The pause seemed like a good one, so Garrus took the opportunity to step through the door. He was greeted by not only a fuming Miranda and a grinning John but another Cerberus fan, a dark skin man that looked to him with what appeared to be amazement.
"Damn, he is one tough son of a bitch." Garrus could help but chuckle slightly at the dark skinned mans comment as he looked up to John who in turn looked him over. He knew John looking him over to make sure he was in fighting condition but was also making sure he was alright as a friend. Once John was sure he gave him a nod and smile as he moved over to him.
"Alright buddy. Once you tell me how to get into the Blue Sun base I want you to rest and be ready for the next mission." As John stopped in front of him Garrus gave a small chuckle as he rolled his shoulder.
"Sorry Shepard but I'm going with you. I'm sure you took out that danm gunship down but there is a bit more payback I need to offer. I'm going to help you get in there and cause some real hell. Besides if you can come back from the dead, I can take a rocket to the face and still be ready to fight."
John laughed as he clapped his friend on the shoulder. "Yeah but at least I had two years sto recover from my death. You've only had an hour or so." It was Johns way of giving him one last out if he wanted it. To bad he didn't.
"Yeah well we can't help the fact that I'm more of a bad ass than you are." He chuckled and regretted it as soon as he did. Placing a hand on his face he settled for a smirk. "Just don't make me laugh Shepard and we will be just fine."
John laughed as he returned the smirk and crossed his arms. "Well I may not be able to avoid that.. But if we keep you away from any mirrors we may be able to keep you from laughing at your ugly mug." They both shared a laugh before John looked over towards the dark skinned man. "Jacob, get ready. We are heading out as soon as we get Garrus his gun back."
A few hours later found the three men outside of the Blue Sun's main base. It really wasn't that hard to find, anyone on Omega could point you towards it. It was just that no one really wanted to. It was foolish to try and take on the base on any normal day. But today wasn't any normal day. Garrus had taken out a majority of the gang and with Shepard's help had taken out the Omega leader. So to say they were understaffed was an understatement.
So it was almost to easy to get inside and start to clear out those that stood in their way. Garrus almost smiled at how easy he feel into that same old pattern with John. Back on the SR-1 John had taken him on almost all of his missions, always there to cover his back from a distance as he charged in to take on the enemy head on. Here they feel into the same song and dance and Garrus was relieved as well as slightly surprised by how well Jacob slipped into the dance as well. Almost like he had been there, taking Ash's or Wrex's spot with easy.
As they made it to the their floor of the base they found a hall of doors, all heavily locked and plenty of bodies already dead. John raised a brow as he looked over the bodies, Blue Suns as well as what looked to be civilians. "Looks like someone took all our fun..." He looked to be mockingly disappointed but Garrus could see the worry hidden beneath his humor. John moved closer to look over the bodies then gave a small nod.
"Spread out. Garrus start at the other end. Jacob stand watch at the door. We don't need any surprises." Both men offered a nod and a reply of their own.
"Right away Commander."
"Sure thing Shepard."
Garrus made his way down the hall slipping his sniper rifle to his back, switching it for his assault rifle. With it at the ready he started at the furthest door back. He kicked the door open, it being one of the doors still locked. He panned his sight around the room, his gun at the ready. Nothing. Stepping back he moved to the door across from his current door. This one was already slightly opened so no kick was needed as he gently pushed the door open with the barrel of his gun. Once more a great big nothing. The rooms were all alike, bare spaces with only a small mat on the floor with a blanket tossed on top.
The three rooms he check after that were the same as the first two, just as bare and just as empty. He was begging to wonder if maybe the Jane person was even here anymore. The order may have been sent before the final push on him and the girl could already be dead. He didn't want to dwell on what that would mean for John. Whoever she was she was very important to him.
As he neared the sixth door he noticed that it was another broken door. So he gently pushed the door open and took a step into the room, his weapon trained on the floor. His eyes scanned the room and noticed that this one was slightly different than the others. While it did have the mat on the floor the blanket was tied around the neck of a dead merc in the middle of the ground. Against the wall by the mat hung a chain with an open cuff laying on the mat. He took another step towards the body in effort to examine it when he heard a click and felt cool metal against the side of his face.
"Another step and I'll blow the fuck out of your face."
Well fuck. Garrus paused in his step, hold his hands up, moving his finger from the trigger of the rifle. Tilting his head slightly he tried to see the person behind the voice but could only see the gun, the figure to far behind him.
"Your buddy didn't stand a chance, what makes you think you will fair better?" Garrus realized suddenly that this prisoner thought him a Blue Sun. And who could really blam them. From the back a turian in blue armor did look a lot like a member of the merc gang. He let out a small chuckle as he tried to look again.
"Sorry to disappoint you but I'm the exact opposite of a Blue Sun. See? No logo." He slowly raised his hand to tap the front of his armor. He wondered slightly if he should tell this person that he was Archangel, just to establish some credibility but then thought against it. That life was dead now, the news that Archangel had been killed already spreading through Omega.
He heard steps as the figure moved around towards his front to look over his armor. As they came into sight he let out a small gasp at what he saw.
Although the figure was a female which caused her to be far smaller she shared so much of the same appearance as John. Her eyes, although were narrowed, were still the same wide and full eyes. But where Johns were a honey gold this girls were a light blue, almost gray color. Her hair was pulled back from her shoulders, with a small amount covering her forehead, and was that color between blonde and red just like Johns. Her face and the half of her arms that were not covered were covered in dirt and blood, some of which was her own from a few cuts over her eyebrow and on her arms. This had to be who they were looking for.
Garrus offered her a small smile as he tilted his head towards the door to call out for John. "Shepard." The girl narrowed her eyes more and trained her gun back to his face.
"How do you know my name, if you aren't with the Suns? They are the only ones that knew my name." Garrus's eyes grew once more as he looked to the girl. He was right, this was who John was looking for. Footsteps brought their attention towards the door.
"Garrus what the hell is taking you so long. You didn't find any new mods did you? I always told you wait until-" He stopped his sentence as he rounded the corner to a gun that was now pointed at him. The two Shepard's eyes meet for a second before the female lowered her gun slightly.
"John... Is that really you?" She took a step forward letting the gun point to his feet, a sign that she didn't fully trust the situation yet. John laughed As he held out his arms to her.
"Do you really think an imposter would have my dashing good looks? Or a clone have my daring wit?" He chuckled as he watched the girl for a second. Her eyes looked him over a few times before the gun clattered to the floor and the launched herself around Johns neck. He smiled as he returned the hug.
"I missed you Jane..." She laughed slightly as she pushed away from him and punched his shoulder lightly. "Missed me? You ass, you've been gone for two years. You have a shit ton of explaining to do..."
John laughed again as he nodded. Garrus took this moment to step over towards them slightly raising his hand up in front of his chest. "I would like some explanations as well." John looked up and nodded to his friend with a smile.
"Let's get back to the Normandy first, then we can sit and braid each others hair and swap gossip." His laugh was shared with the girl as well as Garrus. John kept his hand around the girl as he held out his other hand towards Garrus.
"Jane this is Garrus, my best buddy. Garrus this is Jane, my sister." Name smiled as she nodded towards Garrus in greeting, which he returned.
"It's nice to finally meet you Garrus. John use to talk about you all the time in his letters. I felt a high amount of bro-mance coming from it." She laughed slightly as John bumped her with his shoulder and rolled his eyes. Garrus chuckled as he shook his head.
"I would love to say the same but this is the first time I have heard about you." She nodded as looked over towards John, who seemed a little embarrassed.
"That's pretty normal. With mother and John being so high up in the Alliance I didn't want their standing to effect any of my training or placement. Its hard to prove yourself in any situation when everyone compares you to your brave Commander brother. So I simple used another family name." She raised her shoulders slightly as she looked up to John who gave her a cheeky grin. It almost seemed like he wanted to say sorry but really didn't feel that way. John was proud of his task and would never take them back but Garrus was sure he didn't want to make things hard on his sister.
Steps behind them caused them all to be ready for trouble but relaxed as Jacob came into view. He looked at John with a nod. "We better move out Commander, unless you want some Blue Sun company." He paused as his eyes feel on Jane. A smile grew one his face and he held out a hand. "Hello, my name is Jacob Taylor."
His grin was very leering as his eyes looked Jane over. She returned his smile with one of her own as she leaned forward to shake his hand. "I'm Jane Shepard. Nice to meet you." Garrus watched John as his eyes narrowed slightly as he pulled Jane back towards him. Garrus laughed to himself as he looked over the pair. A protective older brother John. That was something he had never seen before. Jane looked to her bother then rolled her eyes and held out a hand.
"I agree, we should get our asses out. But before we do, anyone want to lend me a gun?" She tilted her head towards the one on the floor. "That one is out of clips..."
Garrus just barely kept his mouth from falling open as he looked from the gun back to the woman who was accepting her brothers hand gun before she looked it over. "You threatened me with an empty gun?"
She chuckled as she looked down the sight before letting her eyes drift towards him, pure tease in her eyes. "It's not always about having more firepower. Sometimes it takes an act and a little lie to scare the shit out of your opponent."
Garrus stared for a minute before his mandibles twitched into a smirk. He watched as John moved out of the room with Jacob on his heels. Taking somewhat small steps he feel in beside Jane as they moved down the hall, eyes on their surroundings.
"Just so you know, I wasn't scared... I could have taken you down if I really wanted to." He smirked as he chanced a glance to her. She returned the glance, letting her eyes meet his for a moment before she laughed and looked back to her front.
"We may just have to test that theory someday soon, turian. Well will just have to see about that." She laughed slightly as she took a step forward and he dropped back to guard the rear. He really hopped that she would come along with John. Because if she was anything like John, which Garrus could tell she was, this suicide mission just might turn out to be entertaining along the way.