Mass Effect Andromeda Series II

Chapter 25

Looking to make sure no one was around, Garrus walked into the male designated restroom and stopped at the sinks and mirrors. He gazed hard at his own reflection paying special attention to the scar that now resided on his face. Gingerly, he touched the soft, sensitive tissue and tried to trace an outline. He then glanced over to the untouched side of his face and tried to think about how he looked before leaving Omega. He then remembered Andromeda's eyes when she first looked upon his new appearance. The horror on her face. It was bad enough for her to find him attractive without being human and now he had this to bear? Angrily he sighed and gripped the sink's edge. "What was wrong with me?" He lifted his head again to endure the reflection once more. "What would she see in me? Now?" Shaking his head, he closed his eyes. "What am I saying? I-I…Turians and Humans?"

"Garrus, you in here?" He could hear Shepard's voice call out to him outside.

Clearing his throat, he hustled out to greet the Commander. "Sorry, Shepard…I-…no one would give me a mirror. How bad is it?"

Shepard took a moment to look at his colleague and then crossed his arms with a silly grin. "Hell, you were always ugly, Garrus."

"Some women like scars…granted those women are Krogan," Garrus gave a lighthearted chuckle. He then coughed and straightened up. "I'm fit for duty whenever you need me."

"Good. That's why I came here," Shepard relaxed his composure

"You need me to go to Ilium with you?" Garrus tried to answer the request. He remembered the Commander say that they were going there next. He knew of the place but never went there himself. It was in Asari space but was just as dangerous as Omega.

"No," John waited a moment then smiled once more, "How do you feel about Omega?"

The question threw the Turian off guard. Omega? Did he hear him right? The one place where everyone wanted him dead and the Commander wanted him to go back? "I guess I really didn't get to say my goodbyes." He knew that even if Aria found out that Andromeda went to Archangel and Shepard recruited him and possibly have taken her, she would never go after him. At least not now. That wasn't her style. He could relax a little. Andromeda was safe onboard despite the Commander's true wishes. However, he could see why Shepard really didn't want her there and he proven it on Omega. Garrus was so worried about her well being that he put his life at stake and his squad's lives.

"Good. While we are here, I think we should go ahead and recruit the Salarian doctor, Mordin Solus. We may need him to go up against the Collectors. You heard of him?"

"A few times yeah. He has a clinic in the slums. Not well liked with the mercs. Heard that he's a bit….feisty."

"Then we will need him. I want you and Miranda to accompany me. You know the backstreets of Omega and I'm not here to see the sights."

"I'm ready when you are."

"Commander, I have updated your nav system on where to find Mordin Solus. Reports are coming in that Archangel has been killed and the mercs are no longer looking for him." EDI came over the team's comm as they exited the ship.

"Works for me," Garrus smiled.

"Looks like company up ahead," Miranda pointed to the entranceway to see a man with his back turned who appeared to be kicking someone.

"Trouble." Shepard motioned his team to approach cautiously.

"Commander, I think that is our dossier that the Illusive Man contracted," Miranda was the first to recognize the man as they got closer.

Shepard nodded his head in agreement as he stopped a few feet away behind the man who stood over a Batarian with several wounds to his body. "You Zaeed Massani?"

The man turned to address him. He had a deep slash scar down the length of one of side of his face and a glass eye on the same side. "You must be Shepard. I heard we got a Galaxy to save."

"We paid for your services, not for two," Miranda was irked as she pointed to the Batarian who accompanied the hired contract.

"Paid?" Garrus lifted his eye ridge. "How come-"

"Not now, Garrus," Shepard's face remained firm. The Commander was definitely not in the joking mood as he kept his eyes on the man in front of him. "Miranda's right. I have limited space on my ship."

"He's a Batarian delinquent. Pissed off someone rich enough to hire me to go after him."

"Please…" The Batarian begged to anyone who would listen. "I didn't do it."

"Shut it!" Zaeed kicked him hard in the chest knocking the wind out of his lungs. "These people always run to Omega."

"So what happens to him next?" Garrus flinched seeing the kick.

' "Why the hell do I care? I turn him in for the bounty and that's it." Zaeed holstered his weapon as he reached down to roughly grab the Batarian by the arm.

"So you know Omega?" Shepard looked on with interest.

"Yeah. No one can hide here. I manage to always find them."

"Leave him here. Miranda, go back to the Normandy. Zaeed's coming with me."

"Leave him?!" Zaeed looked appalled. "Now wait just a damn minute. I have a reputation to maintain."

"Commander, you can't be serious? You sure you want him now?" Miranda became offended for the trade. Garrus felt a bit relieve by John's decision. He really didn't trust Cerberus and now he could ask more questions about his friend's interest with him without their lackies lurking beside him.

"Look," Shepard pushed the Batarian away from Zaeed. "I'm here to do a job. The galaxy and humanity is at stake. If that isn't worth more than creds then we do not need you. But Cerberus paid you and probably paid you more than this damn bounty. If you refuse my order, I'll have them cancel the contract. Is that clear?"

Zaeed fumed quietly as he debated the conundrum. Growling in aggravation, he kicked the Batarian away. "Piss off. Once this mission is done, I'll come back for you so don't have me chase your ass too far." The Batarian scrambled frantically to get away once more. The now angered hired mercenary turned around to address Shepard and his party. "This will cost you double. I spent a lot of resources on him."

"Double?" Miranda angrily stepped forward to take matters into her own hands for Cerberus.

"Miranda, stand down," Shepard remain calm as he stood firmer to Zaeed. "Your pay will be the same. I read the briefs on you. Be cooperative and I'll help you with your mission when I can." This made Zaeed smile, Garrus sighed in relief. The tension was over. Miranda pouted as she stormed back to the Normandy to take her place until they arrived.

"What are we waiting for," Zaeed motioned for Shepard to start off first. After he passed, he turned to follow him and Garrus. "So just where the hell we goin'?"

"We are here to find Mordin Solus. Garrus said he was in the slums."

"I would be careful there, Turian," Zaeed eyed Garrus with his good eye. "Heard bad news about the slums lately."

"What bad news?" Garrus questioned as they made their way to the lower markets. He was not up to current events on Omega after being sieged by all three merc groups.

"The plague is overrunning the slums and killing everyone."

"Killing?" Shepard paused and turned to face his new member.

"Well except for the Humans and those damn Vorcha," Zaeed mused. "Don't know how the Vorcha are immune."

"Except? So let me guess this plague kills Turians?" Garrus didn't like the sound of where they were going now.

"Turians and Batarians mostly. The Blue Suns use to control the area. Now it's infested with the Blood Pack. That's how I caught my Batarian friend. He realized where he was going and double backed. But I was waiting for him."

"Commander, I understand you need me, but-"Garrus turned to look at John who was pondering the same notion that Garrus was thinking about. If he entered the plague zone, would he fall victim to it?

"Garrus, you said Mordin's clinic is in the same area, right?"

"Yes."

"Garrus, if you feel that you need to get back to the ship, then-"

Looking at both of them, Garrus shook his head. "I'm right behind you, Shepard."

"We'll hurry to the clinic. If you get any symptoms then perhaps Mordin can cure you."

"Let's hope. I really didn't want to come to Omega to fall victim to the plague."

So far the slums were quiet. A few empty apartments that were abandoned and raided by mercs. Piles of corpses burned up ahead. The horrible stench of charred flesh was overwhelming and nauseating. Garrus fought back the urge to throw up. Zaeed spat on the floor as he paused with the others to see the gruesome sight. "Burning bodies in the streets?"

There were several shot up merc bodies on the ground as well on different sides. Zaeed walked up ahead to scope out for any hostiles. Garrus knelt down to check on a Blue Sun male human that was near him and Shepard. Several bullet holes were in his chest and his eyes were rolled back. "I thought I was done with them," He said quietly to make sure Zaeed didn't hear him. He didn't want everyone to know that he was Archangel.

"All clear," Zaeed waved to them from his position. Garrus started to follow but suddenly he felt his entire body go cold. He shivered as he felt an irritated feeling in his chest. He began to cough, then another. Shepard and Zaeed stopped to look at him.

"Crap," Garrus coughed harder. "That's not good."

"We're almost there, Garrus. Hang in there."

After fighting rounds of many members of the Blood Pack, they were able to find the clinic. Just in time, Garrus felt his head sweating and his whole body ached. Several ill patients were sitting down waiting inside to be seen by the good Salarian doctor. As they entered the room where Mordin was, the Salarian paused in his conversation with his assistant and turned to address his guests. He quickly looked upon Garrus and scanned him with his omni tool. A warm sensation flowed through the Turian and he felt himself feeling somewhat better. "Turian physiology resilient with simple immunobooster. Should be fine now," The Doctor spoke.

"I'm Commander Shepard. I'm here on a critical mission and I need your help," John cut to the chase.

"Mission?" Mordin blinked. "What mission? No. Too busy." He bent down to continue his work. "Clinic understaffed. Plague spreading too fast. Who sent you?"

"Ever heard of a group called Cerberus?"

Mordin instantly stood up as if he recognized the name and narrowed his eyes. "Crossed paths on occasion. Thought they only worked with humans." He moved away from Shepard and stared squarely at Garrus as if he expected the Turian to defend his presence. "Turian involvement surprising. Racial tension with humans. Unlikely to help a human-centric organization."

Garrus shook his head. "This mission reaches far beyond mere human interests, Professor. We all have to work together to stop the Collectors."

"Our goals must be similar," Mordin thought out loud. "Plague appears to be engineered. Could be by Collectors. Vorcha are blocking the way."

Zaeed groaned. "This sneaky bastard wants something in return."

"Life is a negotiation," Mordin lectured the disgruntled merc. "We all want. We all give to get what we want."

Suddenly the noise of fans stopped. Mordin appeared panic as he looked up. Garrus followed him. "That's not a good noise."

"The Vorcha have shut down the systems. They want to kill everyone off."

"Then we are going. Let's go," Shepard motioned them forward. He turned his head to look back at the Salarian who was watching them. "Make preparations to leave, Professor."

"You think Aria would care about the people down here," Zaeed grumbled as they made their way to the opposite side of the clinic to head to the environmental plant.

"Are you kidding?" Garrus asked in disbelief. "Unless it is to benefit her, I don't think she would ever care."

It seemed like hours as they went from level to level, apartment to apartment, from the clinic to the environmental plant. With the many encounters with the Blood Pack, Garrus began to wonder whatever happened to Horde that one night he left her outside the storage facility. Did Garm try to press information from her about what she knew about Archangel? How much did she know or remember and would she willing to just let it go? Then again she was a hired merc at one point. Hired mercs did anything for creds. Though, Garm didn't seem the type to be a willing paying customer. Fellow Krogan or not.

"We are getting closer," Shepard commented as they trudged on up the stairs.

"Bout bloody time," Zaeed added.

A pack of Vorcha was waiting for them on the other side of the doors. One of them ran to address the group. He hissed through his razor sharp fangs. "You no come here. We shut down machines, break fans! Everyone choke and die! Then Collectors make us strong!"

"You will die now!" Shepard fired, hitting the talking Vorcha square in the forehead. The being was unable to utter another single word as he fell over dead. The others behind him howled in anguish as they opened fire. Garrus jumped to cover and looked over to see Zaeed raising up to fire. One Vorcha ran across the upper level lifting up a rocket launcher to fire at the merc. Garrus raised his sniper rifle and quickly killed the Vorcha making him fall over the banister. Shepard pressed ahead to shut down the fans. Garrus was not too far behind.

After managing to get rid of all the Vorcha vermin and turning on the fans, Shepard and the others went back to the clinic. Just as he promised, Mordin Solus joined their crew. Now the foursome was heading back to the docking station. Looking to his right still in the Lower Markets, Garrus caught the glimpse of someone familiar. "Commander, go on. I'll catch up." He walked over to a Blood Pack member who was heading to a food vendor. This time, he knew which Blood Pack Krogan it was. It was Horde! Garm didn't kill her after all. He bumped into her intentionally.

She whirled around to confront whoever was bothering her, but then her facial expression softened when she too recognized him. "It's you?"

"Yeah," Garrus grinned. "Glad to see you are still in one piece."

Horde shrugged. "Why? You should be worried. I am part of the Blood pack, you know?"

"And they like most mercs think I'm dead," Garrus nonchalantly said as he sat down on the stool next to her. A Batarian cook came over to take their order.

"Meat stick," Horde said without waiting for the question. The Batarian walked over to his grill and came back with a not so appetizing piece of meat on a stick and handed it to her. He then turned to take Garrus' order.

Garrus felt pale as he watched Horde tear into the meat delight, slurping happily. "I'm not hungry." The Batarian grunted and walked back over to tend to other customers.

Horde licked her lips to get all the sauce off and rubbed her mouth with her free arm. "But you're not dead." She went back to their previous conversation.

"And you're not a male," Garrus watched on, finally understanding more about Horde even though she didn't seem to share. Just like Urdnot Wrex on the Normandy.

"What are you talkin about?" Horde blinked.

"I hardly see any female Krogan walking around as mercs…gang members…or posing as any. Not sure if that profession is more for males. However, you seem to get away with it. You may act like a male Krogan, but you are not fooling me."

Horde stared hard at him, then smirked, "Careful, Archangel. I'm sure there's still a bounty on your head."

"Touché," Garrus kept his voice low as he cringed hearing his alias. He cautiously looked around to see if anyone picked up.

Horde watched with interest. "Relax. No one heard us. You only know I'm female because of your friend on Noveria."

"Wrex," Garrus corrected. "You resorted to the Blood Pack, really?"

"It pays well."

"I know what would be better off for you."

"Why do you care? You don't know anything about me."

"You could go back to Tuchanka and team up with my old friend, Urdnot Wrex. He's trying to help the Krogan."

Horde chortled. "Help us? Help us do what?"

"Reunite his people and try to cure the genophage."

"Why do I want to cure that? Besides he's an Urdnot." Horde put down a credit chit to pay off her tab and then got up from the seat.

"So? Why does that matter?" Garrus was puzzled as he watched Horde simply walk away from the conversation.

"Because I'm clan Weyrloc!" She yelled back to him.