MASS EFFECT ANDROMEDA SERIES II: CHAPTER 14
"This is bullshit," Shepard was still grumbling as they made their way up to the Upper Markets in the Wards. "After all the reports and they still do not believe me about Saren. I'm not sitting here playing politics like Udina wants while any minute Saren will reach the conduit."
The grounding of the Normandy felt like a flashback to Garrus to when C-Sec stopped him pursuing Dr. Saleon. This was a greater concern and it almost seemed like the Council wanted Saren to get away. Did they still trust one of their own agents despite the clear evidence against him? He became concerned that even if they did catch Saren, would the Council just let him go?
"If you ask me, let's just screw them and get out of this place," Wrex added nonchalantly. "Never liked it here anyways. Too….happy."
Garrus eyed a large crowd of humans near the middle of the market chanting and drawing attention to themselves. "What is this now?"
"I don't know, but let's just move around them," Shepard seemed agitated since the crowd seemed to have formed right where they needed to go. Once they had reach the docks, Shepard and Ash along with Liara went to Citadel Tower to see what plans the Council had for them. Garrus was tasked to drop Andromeda off. Shepard was pretty much clear that he did not want her on the ship despite being cleared from indoctrination. The commander felt that she was too much of a distraction especially to Garrus. Things were tense and they didn't need any distractions. There was too much at stake.
Unfortunately, a famous face like Commander Shepard's was hard to block. "Hey, Commander Shepard!" The man that seemed to be leading the group, waived to them.
Garrus could hear Shepard curse under his breath as the well shaved man turned around to address the other. "Can I help you?"
"It is an honor to speak with you," The man made a slight bow gesture and smiled politely.
"Cram your honor," Shepard dismissed him. "What is this riot about?" Clearly he was irked that they were stopped from reaching their destination. Garrus noticed while the two men spoke that the now quiet crowd eyed he and Wrex distrustfully.
"I'm Charles Saracino of the Terra Firma party. With Armistice Day coming up, we are making our voices heard by the alien-appeasers on the Presidium."
"Remember Shanxi!" A woman shouted with her fist in the air proudly. Garrus silenced the urge to roll his eyes. This again? How many years had it been since the Relay Incident?
"So this is a matter of race?" Garrus asked.
"Pretty much sounds like it," Wrex grunted.
"Excuse me," Charles snapped back. "I don't think aliens should have a say in a human party's beliefs."
"Turian space borders yours. Of course we are concerned," Garrus argued back.
"We need to stand up for ourselves. Earth will always stand alone. I want to better humanity just like you do, Commander. Can I have your vote for candidacy?"
"I'll consider it."
"Thank you. Remember Terra Firma on Election Day because Terra Firma will remember you." Charles gave a weary glance one last time to Garrus and Wrex before he turned to readdress his crowd of followers. "Earth first!"
"Let's go," Shepard motioned his comrades to follow him up the steps that led to their destination, Flux. "I just hope Anderson is still there." Garrus and Wrex exchanged quiet looks as made their way up to the Flux club. Clearly, Shepard was not pro-human since he reluctantly agreed to have aliens aboard the Normandy in his quest to stop Saren. Shepard not once made any discriminating remarks against them during their missions. Did he tell Charles that he would consider endorsing them to just appease him to move on or was he serious in standing alone with humanity? This concerned Garrus, he sought inspiration about becoming a Spectre like Shepard and his time with Wrex eased his mind about Krogan. But was Shepard any different than Saren? Or were they the same? Clearly, Saren was pro Turian and despised human expansion in the Traverse. He locked his thoughts away but made a mental note to address the commander when the time was right. Because right now, they had to get off this station.
Inside Flux, they eyed Anderson sitting at a round table near the bar. He made no hand gesture to them but solely eye contact. Less attention to him. He was wearing his dress down clothes. Shepard sat in the chair across him and looked across at the brown skinned man. "I'm glad you came, Shepard, I heard what happened," Anderson sincerely said.
"Damn blind bastards grounded me," Shepard growled through clenched his teeth, trying his best not to raise his voice in frustration.
"I know. I tried to warn you before you docked, but didn't get a chance to. I know you are pissed off right now. But you can't give up!" Anderson leaned in closer, his words full of encouragement. "You have to go to Ilos. You have to stop Saren."
Garrus looked over at the nearby bar to see a volus behind the counter along with a red head serving girl. He nudged Wrex to follow him over. If they were just standing there while Shepard and Anderson came up with a plan, it may draw attention to people they didn't want to know about this secret meeting. A large Krogan may stand out since they were rare on the Citadel. The volus waived up from the counter, his head barely could be seen. "Good day. Care for a refreshment?" He said through his envirosuit.
"Got something strong?" Wrex inquired.
"Wrex…you sure that is a good idea before we head out?" Garrus was actually amused that his compatriot was going to be drinking while they were technically on duty with the commander. That's all they needed; finding a way to drag a heavy drunken Krogan to the Normandy. Like that wouldn't draw attention.
"Hmm, probably don't have anything strong for me. The good stuff is on Tuchanka." The Krogan commented much to the volus' displeasure who was already trying to find something in his stash to accommodate the request.
"My apologies, "The volus politely said. "I'm afraid I'm not stocked to handle any requests from Krogan. We don't see you a lot on this station. I could add it to my order list if you are going to be on the station in the next few cycles." Spoken like a true salesman.
"That's ok," Garrus interjected. "We won't be here long." He could hear Wrex huff as the Krogan turned his attention to the surroundings in the club. Garrus noticed the red head again next to the volus merchant. Her hair color and style strongly resembled Jenna's. "Jenna?"
"Oh...I'm her sister, Rita," The woman smiled. "I know we look alike."
"Sorry. You really look like her."
"Everybody says that. I wish my sister would come here, but she's too involved in a job assignment right now."
"Rita," The volus sternly cut her off. "I told you it was already out of my hands."
"Sorry, Dorin, it's just I don't like-"Rita then paused as she remembered she was in mixed company. "Never mind. I shouldn't be complaining to you guys about my problems."
"Quiet alright," Garrus chuckled. "I know her. She works in Chora's Den with someone I know."
"Your girlfriend," Garrus heard Wrex lowly corrected under his breath.
"My friend." Garrus emphasized the last word but felt his face grow hot from the accusation. "I think she may be there for awhile."
"I know..."Rita sighed sadly.
Hearing the Shepard scoot out from his chair, the pair turned to see their leader standing up as the dark haired man kept his gaze on Anderson. "So you will go to unlock the Normandy controls?"
"That place is restricted with armed guards. You won't be able to get to them." Garrus became alarmed of the danger the older man was going to place himself into. Even if he managed to unlock the Normandy from its restraints, C-Sec would be on Anderson within seconds and even with his status on the Citadel, he would not be forgiven for going over Citadel Security.
"I'll do whatever it takes to stop Saren," Anderson straightened his jaw. "Get on board and I'll get down there as soon as I can. Wait for the signal of the release."
"Good luck, Anderson. Thank you," Shepard gave his previous commanding officer a nod and then motioned Garrus and Wrex to follow him back out of the club. "Let's get on board. It's time to take the fight to Saren directly. I'm tired of getting there right when he leaves. He won't be ready for us."
"I never did like him," Wrex added.
"You dealt with him before?" Shepard raised his eyebrow as they made their way down to C-Sec.
"Once. He hired a bunch of mercs to go after this ship for unknown merchandise. We could loot any of the bodies on board the ship. We just had to make sure the cargo, whatever it was, was secure. Saren came onboard once the slaughter was over and never said a word to any of us. Something didn't feel right so I left. Found out later all the mercs who came looking for their payment from the job all ended up dead."
"Did you ever find out what the cargo was?" Garrus tossed out the question.
"Nope. Never did and don't care. I normally don't skip out on a job and not get paid, but I'm glad I did." Wrex reflected.
"Well, Saren's butchering days are over with." Shepard paused at the C-Sec Elevator that would lead them up to their ship. They eyed a few officers standing around watching them.
As they stepped on board, the officers' eyes never left them until they were no longer in sight. "That felt odd," Garrus let out a sigh of relief. For a moment, he feared they were going to be detained.
"I get those looks all the time when I'm here," Wrex shrugged.
"The Council is made up of a bunch of fools and they will regret if we do not get to Ilos in time," Shepard punched his fist into the palm of his other hand. The elevators seemed so slow on the Citadel to get anywhere.
Once on board, Garrus and Wrex went down the staircase that led to the Mess Hall floor and the elevator to the engineering level while Shepard went to the cockpit to talk to Joker and wait for the release signal. Wrex paused at the elevator and suddenly turned to move towards the kitchen area of the Mess Hall. Garrus curiously followed. "Hungry?"
"Thought I would get a snack before I head down," Wrex approached the on duty cook who kind of eyed the approaching Krogan cautiously.
"I wonder how the wait it would be till we get out of here."
Before giving the officer a chance to ask what they wanted, Wrex sniffed and then looked behind the counter as best as he could. "Got any varren meat on a stick?"
The officer blinked by the request. "Um…no…"
"Pyjak dumplings?"
"No…I-I don't even know what that is."
Frustrated, Wrex sighed. "The food here stinks. Well what do you have?"
"On stock, I have chicken wings or vegetarian burgers if you are vegan."
"Vegan?" Wrex looked appalled.
Garrus couldn't help but to laugh. "Have you ever seen a vegan Krogan?"
"Well no-no, but I just have to-"The officer stammered to explain his words.
"What are chicken wings?" Wrex curiously asked.
"It's chicken but just the wing part." The young cook replied back in confusion.
"What is chicken?" Wrex asked again.
"I think it's that human food to where it's some sort of bird that is cooked." Garrus tried to refresh what he learned on the streets of the Wards since he encountered many eating spots that trended mostly to human cuisine.
"That puny thing?" Wrex thought for a second. "I'll have six chickens. I don't want just the wings."
"But I-"The officer started, then stopped as he tried to size up the burly customer. "We are rationed to only 3 wings per customer tonight."
"Fine," Wrex sighed in defeat. He waited as the cook fetched his order.
"I know it will take a bit to get use to staying on a human run vessel even though we have been on here for some time." Garrus diplomatically tried to consul his friend.
Wrex made his way over to the tables to wait on his order. "You think by now they would get some food for Krogan."
"Maybe we can put a requisition in on our next shore leave," Garrus hopefully suggested. "Of course after Ilos."
"Alert!" Joker's voice hailed through the ship's intercom speakers. "Prepare for take-off! This is not a drill. We are moving out of this place in 5 seconds!" As soon as the announcement stopped, Garrus could hear the warming of the Normandy's engines as the warp core sprung to life.
"Finally," Garrus sighed with relief.