Mass Effect Andromeda Series II:
Chapter 31
Garrus kept looking at the terminal in disbelief, reading each line over and over. Sidonis got help from someone named Fade on the Citadel to help him disappear? With all his connections into C-Sec, he never heard of a "Fade." The name eluded him. Apparently, this character showed up after he left the force. He wasn't too sure on how long Shepard, and his team were on the Derelict Reaper that they discovered. Minutes? Hours? He remembered Joker announced their docking next to it and then he opened the message. He also didn't like the term, "derelict." That didn't seem right beside "Reaper." Cerberus giving the missions was not right either. He didn't trust them. For all he knew, this Illusive Man could be working with the Reapers, but why would he put innocent human lives at risk? That didn't make any sense.
Over hearing a conversation outside in the Mess Hall, he looked out to see the Shepard was back. How long had it been since he returned? He seemed to be in a heated discussion with Andromeda. Stepping forward, he went to go see what was going on, but then saw the dark-haired man turned his attention on him. "Garrus, Chambers said you had some news?"
The question caught him off guard and then his mind flashed back to the traitorous Sidonis. Sidonis…the name made a bad taste in his mouth. He then thought about his men…his dead men at the warehouse. He motioned Shepard to follow him back to his station to get some privacy. This was between him and his friend, and Cerberus wasn't going to listen in. Unless of course they tapped every room on the ship, which was quite possible. "I need to talk to you," Garrus shut the doors after John entered.
"I removed the bugs, Garrus," Shepard seemed to almost read his mind as he sat down in a chair. "It's just you and me. What is going on?"
"Tali, take Andromeda back to C-Sec and then meet us back on the Normandy. Garrus and I need to find someone," Shepard stood at the doorway as the Quarian waited for Andromeda to come out. Garrus looked over at her. Her blue eyes looking at him with sadness. Was this finally it? The Commander did say that once they returned to the Citadel, then she was to remain there. He wanted so badly to arrange a meeting time with her, but Shepard was here on business, business for him. Hoping that he would get back the time, Garrus headed out to the Wards with Shepard in tow.
"Where is this Fade at anyway?" Shepard caught up beside Garrus, matching his pace.
"I spoke with Bailey before we arrived. Apparently, he has a contact down at the warehouse. Hopefully I can find him there. C-Sec knew about him before…doesn't make any sense." Garrus was very troubled. Just what all was C-Sec hiding?
"You really think they were perfect?" Shepard asked. "Everything is corrupt now."
"I don't know what information C-Sec had with Fade, but after I'm done, they will have to look somewhere else," Garrus said matter-of-factly. He passed two Krogan that were talking amongst each other. He overheard one asking about where to find fish on the Presidium. That was sort of odd. A smile crossed his face as he thought back to the time Wrex was asking for chicken wings in the Mess.
"I thought we were here to find Sidonis not to launch a war on every corrupt group on the Citadel," Shepard shot back in annoyance. "This isn't Omega, Garrus."
"I know I know," Garrus sighed hard. The Commander was right. He had to remain focus on the task at hand.
Reaching the warehouse, they noticed that no patrons were around and inside were two Krogan bounty guards who were taking a break. The Krogan noticed their approach and stood up, grabbing their weapons. Garrus made move for his weapon in return. It was complete suicide sparking Krogan tensions this close. A volus stepped out to greet them. Shepard scoffed as he looked down at him. "This is Fade?"
"Looks can be deceiving," The volus rasped. "So, which one of you wants to disappear?"
"I'd rather you make someone reappear." Garrus tried to remain calm. Another dead lead he suspected.
The volus was taken back by the question. "That's not the service we provide."
Becoming impatient, Garrus pulled out his hand gun. "Make an exception, just this once."
Alarmed, the volus motioned for his guards. "Quickly! Shoot them!"
Before the Krogan had time to react, Shepard and Garrus shot in unison taking both Krogan down in an instant. The volus covered his head and then looked to see the dead bodies. He rasped harder as fear overcame him. "Why do I even bother?"
"We need to find a client of yours," Shepard put his side arm away as he moved closer to the Volus. The round species was clearly no threat on his own.
"Wait…I'm not Fade,"
"I knew it," The Commander sighed as he looked back the Turian.
Garrus knelt down to where he was eye level with the Volus. "Then maybe you can tell us where to find him."
"Of course!" The Volus talked faster as he knew his life was no more at risk for the present moment. "He's in the factory district near the prefab foundry. He's got a lot of mercs there. Blue Suns. Harkin thinks they are protecting him."
"Harkin? What the hell is he doing as Fade?" Shepard asked, he knew the name.
Garrus clenched his fists. Harkin? That drunken asshole was now Fade. It didn't make any sense, but now was not the time to figure it out. He just needed to find him and then find Sidonis. "I know the place," He stood back up to join his Commander.
"Then let's go pay him a visit."
They took a skycab over and outside waiting for them were several Blue Suns mercs and one very familiar sight, Harkin, himself. Harkin looked like he completely shit himself when he saw Shepard arrive with Garrus to his right and Zaeed to his left. Shephard asked Zaeed to come along after finding out they were going up against the Suns. He figured the ex-Suns leader would like a little payback. "Shepard?" The bald man looked over to the mercs beside him. "Just don't stand there! Stop him! Stop them!" He ran towards the door.
"Run all you want, Harkin, we'll find you!" Garrus yelled out after him as he took out his hand cannon. He would have to take down the approaching mercs first.
"This is going to be sweet," Zaeed unleashed fire first.
"Excuse me. This area is off limits," A Loki mech approached the trio as they made their way deeper inside the warehouse. The place was crawling with Suns and mechs. So far, they had little trouble.
Shepard didn't bother with a rebuttal as he fired and tore the mech apart with shredder ammo. "The son-of-a bitch will have to do better than that."
"Ah crap," Garrus saw two large heavy mechs being hauled in by ceiling cranes towards their location.
"Switching to heavy weapon. Stay out of their fire!" John yelled as he switched to his collector rifle that he picked up on Horizon. Garrus stayed down to his right as Zaeed moved over to another set of crates to get out of the incoming fire. After one mech stopped firing, Shepard leaned up and used the rifle to nail the mech, taking down its shields. Steam came out of the damaged mech until it couldn't withstand the assault any longer and exploded. The second one aimed at Shepard, making John duck back down. Large ammo whizzed over their heads from the mech's machine gun. Zaeed opened fire nearby and drew the mech's attention. "Garrus, double team," Shepard leaned back up and opened fire with Garrus joining him. Before the mech had a chance to reset its sights on them, it exploded.
The warehouse became quiet with just the normal sound of machinery working. Harkin had cornered himself in the management's office up nearby. He could see them down below from the office's window. "You will never get me, Garrus!" He yelled over the loud speaker as more Loki mechs started downwards.
"He's through," Shepard jumped over the crates and shot up one mech before ramming another with the butt of his gun. Garrus took out the last one. The squad made their way up to the office. It was time to get Harkin.
When Garrus came through the office's side door, he saw Harkin backing up away from Shepard and Zaeed who approached at the front. Before Harkin had a chance to turn his direction to head out, Garrus struck him hard with the side of his gun, fracturing his nose and several small bones in his face. Harkin cried out as he cupped his nose with his hand as blood poured. Before giving him a chance to speak, Garrus grabbed Harkin tightly by his shirt collar and pulled him over to the console. He was not going to waste any time. He had to get to Sidonis and this little shit was not going to stand in his way. He pinned Harkin up against the neck with his arm. "So, Fade," He taunted. "Couldn't make yourself disappear, huh?"
"Come on, Garrus, we can work this out. You know me?" Harkin smiled as he tried to wipe the blood from his face. "What do you need? We use to work together, you know I'll help you out."
Garrus released him and stepped back, "I'm looking for someone."
Harkin grinned at him as he cleaned up his face, "I guess then we both have something the other one wants." Garrus growled by the comment. He stormed back over and kneed Harkin hard in the groin causing the one to double over and fall to the ground. Harkin grabbed his groin trying to ease the pain.
Shepard walked up beside Garrus. "Just tell us. Quit screwing around."
"You helped a friend of mine disappear. A Turian named Sidonis."
Harkin shook his head, "I can't give out client information. It's bad for business."
Garrus was done. Anger poured over him as he knocked Harkin swiftly to the ground and placed his foot hard against the man's neck. "You know what's bad for business? A broken neck!" Harkin desperately clawed at his foot as Garrus pressed harder intentionally cutting off the man's airways.
"Alright! Get off me!" Harkin managed to cough out. He felt Shepard come over and pull him off Harkin. "Terminus really changed you, huh, Garrus?"
"No, but Sidonis opened my eyes. Now arrange a meeting. Quit messing around," Garrus said. Harkin moved over to the console to contact his friend. Garrus felt the satisfaction of ending his at the tip of his tongue. He looked at his gun and envisioned the thought of finally putting a bullet to Sidonis' head. One bullet was all it took to avenge his men's deaths.
"Okay. It's done. Now if you don't mind, I need to go," Harkin announced as he moved back away from the system.
Fire filled Garrus' eyes as he heard the bald man speak again and he moved quickly over and jerked him closer to him. "I don't think so, Harkin. You're a criminal now."
"So, what? You just going to kill me? That's not your style, Garrus," Harkin looked into his eyes, calling his bluff.
Garrus released him. "Kill you? No, but I don't mind slowing you down a little," he aimed his gun at the man's leg and fired. The man cried out as he gripped his leg and rolled around on the floor.
"You shot me!" Harkin screamed.
"I'll give C-Sec a blood trail to follow," Garrus moved to follow Zaeed and John out of the office. "If Sidonis is not there, then I'll be coming back after you."
The Orbital Lounge was packed with patrons as Garrus moved to the catwalk to get into position. The plan was simple and Shepard agreed to it while they were making their way from the factory district to the Lounge in the skycab. Zaeed would remain in the car while Shepard would talk to Sidonis and draw him out. There was no point in Garrus making contact, as soon as Sidonis would see him, he would make a run for it. He wasn't going to let Sidonis get away this time. Garrus saw Sidonis sitting alone in a booth near the outside of the lounge. The Turian saw Shepard looking his way and got up to approach him. "There he is," Garrus spoke to John over the comm. He aimed his rifle as he saw Shepard's head coming into the scope.
"This won't take long at all," Shepard said over to the comm, speaking to Sidonis.
"You one of Harkin's men? I don't remember you at all," Sidonis looked nervous.
"That's it. Just keep him talking a few more seconds," Garrus zoomed in on Sidonis' head.
Suddenly he saw Shepard sidestepped to reveal a clear shot to Sidonis. The frightened Turian was looking right at Garrus. Fear was swimming in his eyes. Sidonis tried to move away without making a sense, but that would be his downfall. Garrus squeezed the trigger and within seconds, the hit made its mark and the bullet struck him in the head, killing him instantly. The Turian fell to the floor dead and several patrons screamed from the terrifying sight. Garrus smiled as he looked on. "Betrayal repaid, Sidonis."