MASS EFFECT ANDROMEDA SERIES II: CHAPTER 35
It had been weeks since helping Liara take down the Shadow Broker, and Garrus tried to get several messages over the QEC. No response back. He didn't know if Ilium ended so badly that Andromeda ignored them or if in fact something happened to her that quickly. When he first met Wrex on the Citadel, the Krogan was on a contract with the Broker to take out Fist. Hard to tell how many mercs were on the Citadel. The Broker paid handsomely. Lately, he found himself at his post at the Forward Battery pacing and calibrating. Every now and then he would check up with Yeomen Chambers but still no messages. He desperately wanted to get back to the Citadel, but the request most likely would be denied. Shepard didn't like her interference with the mission anymore. In his mind, she was not needed. The Commander had a point. Garrus would lose focus if she was around. Growling in frustration as he paced, Garrus slammed the console with his fist. Why was he acting this way? He wouldn't lose focus. There was nothing going on between them….so why was he so damn worried?
"Hey, Garrus," Joker came over the room's comm. "You busy?"
"No. Just in the middle of some calibrations."
"Sure, you are. Shepard needs you for the next mission. I thought I would let you know that we are here."
Deciding against asking why Shepard didn't bother to come down and ask him, Garrus waited until he arrived on the bridge to see the Normandy's pilot. He stopped when he looked out the window to see the familiar red glow from the Omega station.
"Why are we coming back here?" He felt pale.
"Samara needs us to find her daughter. I need an expert on Omega," Shepard answered for him as he came up behind him, adjusting his armor. "Sorry, Garrus. I was having a conversation with Jacob."
"Heard about his dad. Has to be rough," Joker sighed. "Finding out that your dad made everyone crazy and you have no choice but to make him kill himself? Wow…"
"Jacob did the right thing. His father deserved that after what he put those people through."
"You know that Mordin ran a clinic on Omega in the Lower Wards," Garrus suggested. With his mind still on the Shadow Broker, he didn't know how safe it was for him to tromping around the streets on Omega especially with a bounty still on his head.
"Mordin is well known and didn't hide his identity while running the clinic. You, on the other hand, are not known. I'll have EDI trace any communications nearby and keep me alert. If anyone comes forward to collect the bounty based on the Broker's information, they will have to get through me and an Asari Justicar."
"That…sounds hopeful," Garrus gave a sloppy grin.
"Besides I picked up a data pad that Miranda's contact, Ish, wanted me to retrieve. Some very useful information that would interest Aria. If I keep her on our side, the mercs can't touch you."
"Information?" Garrus followed Shepard as they went to the docking port while Joker descended the Normandy deeper into Omega's space. He looked back to see Samara coming from the elevator.
"Looks like one of Aria's closest advisors has been plotting a coup. A Batarian named Anto. I'm going to confront him with the information instead of giving it to Ish. Miranda said not to trust that weasel."
"Oh?"
"For creds…lots of it," Shepard smiled as he crossed his arms. He then looked over to Samara. "We'll go to Aria and see what information we can find about your daughter's whereabouts. If she's on Omega, Aria will know about it. Especially if it's an Ardat Yakshi.
"Thank you, Shepard. I'm truly in your debt," Samara looked over at Garrus. "And to you, Garrus. I look forward to working with you."
The familiar sights, smells and sounds of Omega hit Garrus as they neared Afterlife. He stood there looking at the glowing club. His mind flashed back to when he first arrived to meet up with Sidonis. Then it switched to when he and Sidonis were waiting in line to get inside to find Andromeda. Two Vorcha walking by snarling at one another made him jump back to reality. He noticed the pair continued to walk on, not paying him attention, while Shepard and Samara made their way up to Afterlife. After surveying and noticing the coast was clear, Garrus hurried to catch up. So far so good. He was jumpier now than when he was battling the mercs.
Shepard made a beeline to a Batarian that stood near Aria's platform. It had to be him: Anto. The four eyed Batarian straightened up when he saw them approaching. Garrus noticed that this Batarian, even though the majority looked the same, resembled one he met earlier on, but he couldn't remember who. "What do you want?" Anto asked as Garrus noticed he tightened the grip on his assault rifle. Like anyone would cause trouble in this place with Aria nearby.
"You know a Salarian named Ish?" Shepard asked casually.
Scratching his head as if he was trying to recall the name, Anto replied," I know of him."
"He's collecting information on you. Planning on selling it to the highest bidder."
"I have no secrets," Anto shook his head defiantly.
Shepard took out the data pad and held it up mockingly. "Oh, really? It's not the way it looks to me. I have recordings here. Should I play them out loud?"
Frightened, Anto glanced up to where Aria was to see if she had taken notice to the conversation. Luckily, for his sake, she did not. "No, no, human."
"Could be bad for Aria if the information is leaked."
Wiping the sweat off his brow, Anto, released the grip on his rifle. "Could be bad for me yes, but not for Aria."
If one of her top lieutenants is this willing to give out information, it could show a major flaw in her organization," Garrus chimed in.
"What do you want from me?" Anto was becoming scared now as he took another look up at Aria.
"I'm feeling awfully talkative. Especially around, Aria," John grinned.
Flustered, Anto, took out his credit chit and handed it to Shepard. "This out to do it." He then cracked his knuckles as the Batarian seemed to plan out his next move to address the situation, "Now get out of my sight and don't go looking for Ish. You won't find him. Thank you for the heads up, human." He moved around to leave the club.
"Interesting outcome. I would have turned the information over to Aria for proper judgment," Samara looked on.
"That's where you and the Commander differ," Garrus admitted. "Thought you were going to use to get leverage with Aria, though."
"I felt generous so I changed my mind. Besides, I still have the information. I copied it if I need to show her as well." Shepard moved up the steps to approach the pirate queen.
Aria was lounged back on her couch with her entourage when she noticed Shepard walked up with them. Her eyes flashed over to the Justicar and suddenly even she felt uncomfortable. "Here again, I see, and you brought more company. Better than the Cerberus pair you had last time. I didn't like them," She scooted over to allow Shepard room on the couch.
John declined the invitation, which Aria, didn't like, Garrus noted. "I'm on business."
"Always are. You seem a little cold. Why don't you try to find a girl to warm you up?" Aria took a sip out of her drink.
"I received word that Samara's daughter is on this station. She's an Ardat Yakshi. We need to find her."
"I knew it," Aria narrowed her eyes. "Nothing leaves a body so cold than an Ardat Yakshi."
"You haven't taken steps to kill her?" Samara stepped forward to join in.
"Why would I?" Aria shrugged. "She hasn't tried to seduce me. Her last victim was a young girl. Pretty thing. Lived in the tenements near her."
"We should probably start there, Shepard," Garrus suggested. He wasn't up to speed on the history of Ardat Yakshi's but it sounded pretty serious despite not being a concern to Aria.
"Good idea. Thank you, Aria," John turned to leave.
"A pleasure," Aria grinned. "You know I have been helping you a lot. Perhaps one day, you can return the favor when I need it. By the way, heard Mordin is working with you. Pity. He was a very interesting doctor."
"His knowledge will help us take down the Collectors," John stopped to address her.
"Looks like you took care of the Archangel problem as well. I guess I should be thankful. I was getting tired of the merc groups coming to me with their problems. Some say he's dead, others think not," The purple skinned Asari paused.
Shepard gave Garrus a silent look. "I'm sure the poor bastard's dead," Garrus spoke up. "No one could survive against that many merc groups at one time."
Aria remained quiet and then dismissed the conversation with her hand. "Omega doesn't care. He didn't try to interfere with my business and it's over with." Her words lingered as if she wanted more explanation.
"Didn't know you were so talkative, Aria," John turned around to face her. "To keep my attention this long, you must need something. Which is surprising. Aria of all people needs my help on Omega."
She scowled hard at him, "I don't need anything. You can go on. Just remember the favor you owe me."
After leaving Afterlife and being blocks away, Garrus finally allowed himself to breathe. Things were getting tense inside the club. "I think you pissed her off, Shepard."
"She was asking too many questions. Did you really want her to call you out there for everyone to hear?" John gave a half shrug.
"Point taken."
"We are near the apartments. Let's see what we can find out." Shepard rang the door chime.
Moments later, a woman in her late forties, opened the door and looked at them with sad, swollen eyes. She had been crying, Garrus noticed. Her eyes were still red. "Are you here for my Neph? "Are you one of Aria's people?"
Days later, they reached the Citadel around o-two hundred hours. Shepard was going to head out that morning later with Thane to see Bailey about Kolyat. Garrus took the opportunity to check in on Andromeda. He figured she may not be on a late shift, and went directly to her apartment. He had to talk to her. His heart and mind were racing. He needed to know she was safe from the Broker's agents and any bounty hunters and needed to make her aware. When he reached her door, he wasted no time in pressing the chime, in fact, he did it several times and then knocked on the door repeatedly. She had to be there…just had to be. "Who is it?" Her voice called out from the other side.
"Garrus."
Later that morning near midday, Garrus received a call at Andromeda's from Shepard. He completed his mission with Thane and Kolyat was safe and in C-Sec's custody temporarily. The commander obtained communication from the Illusive Man stating that a derelict reaper was located with an IFF on it that was needed to get through the Omega 4 Relay. Shepard was calling everyone back to the Normandy to get that IFF. Once they had that, they could head straight to the Collector base and take them down.
Giving her one more look, Garrus forced himself to exit the apartment. Glancing cautiously to the left and then to the right, he kept his head down to avoid any eye contact as he made his way down the nine hundred block of the Ward. Rounding a corner, he bumped into a male of Asian descent who apparently was taking a break and reading what appeared to be the morning news report on his tablet. "Excuse me." Garrus apologized as he sidestepped and quickened his pace to the loading dock.