Chapter 22.5

Toombs was making him wait on purpose. He wanted to check for an ambush and determine if the man was sincere.

It was an hour after the appointed meeting time when Toombs finally sat down across the table.

The man smiled. "I'm glad you came."

"Almost didn't."

The man didn't immediately respond. Instead, he took a moment to look over Toombs. "I see you're ready for a fight. Was the armor necessary?"

"I need to be ready for anything."

"I would never attack you, Toombs."

"I used to believe that, Commander Shepard." He spat out the name. "I also used to believe you would never join Cerberus. Things have changed."

"I didn't join Cerberus."

"Then why do I keep hearing about you flying around on a Cerberus ship?"

"People are disappearing. I'm using Cerberus resources to figure out why. I didn't join them."

"I don't see much of a difference."

Shepard leaned over the table. "I'm doing everything I can to disrupt them from the inside. You said you have a crew, right? Hitting Cerberus wherever you can?"

Toombs nodded.

"Let me give you intel: operations, research outposts, supply routes. Places you can hit."

It was a gold mine, but he didn't know if a traitor could be trusted. "How can I trust you won't be leading us into traps? You turned your back on everyone that died on Akuze, people you called your family."

"Don't you think I know that?" he hissed. "I hate Cerberus for what they did to our squad. But this is bigger than us, more important than us. Humans are vanishing into thin air. I need to stop it." Shepard sat back and exhaled loudly. "I hope they would understand my reasons and not condemn me for them."

Neither man spoke. Toombs studied Shepard. The man looked haggard, and there was a pain in his eyes he hadn't noticed before. Toombs saw how much it hurt Shepard to do what he had to. And he had to; Toombs saw that. He would be saving countless lives if what he said was true (and Toombs honestly believed him). "They," the members of their squad that died on Akuze, wouldn't blame him for what he was doing.

Toombs couldn't either.

He stood. "I'll take whatever intel you can give me. Just promise me one thing."

Shepard visibly brightened. "Anything."

"Promise me we'll grab a beer when you're done with Cerberus. It'll be nice to remember."

Shepard smiled. "Deal."