Mass Effect Andromeda Series II: Chapter 39
It had been over a month since Garrus left Palaven. EDI was able to transfer live military feed to where he hunkered down in the Normandy. Still no word from his family. On the plus side, after their brief shore leave on Citadel, he managed to find Andromeda there safe and sound. Apparently, she was working down in the Holding Bay with Turian refugees. She was exhausted but determined to remain at her post, despite his request to take a break. He couldn't blame her. The war was impacting everyone it seemed and even while he was on the Normandy, he found it difficult to sleep. His mind was plagued with nightmares about the fate of his family and what could happen to his friends or even her.
He managed to get some rest while EDI and Liara accompanied Shepard to Grissom Academy. A message came through that the biotic academy owned by the Alliance was under attack by Cerberus. It made no sense why the organization would be targeting kids. Just as he started to doze off where he was sitting in the lounge, he felt someone tap his head. Becoming startled, he instinctively reached for his side arm, but nothing was there. Liara's smiling blue face looked down at him. "Are you okay, Garrus?"
"Yeah…I-I guess I was falling asleep," He rubbed his eyes. "Made it back in one piece I see."
"We were lucky that we were able to get to Kahlee Sanders when we did. I guess you haven't heard the news," She took the seat next to him.
"Oh?"
"Apparently, Shepard is preparing to host a summit between the Turians, Salarians and the Krogan. We are heading to the rendezvous point now."
"I just hope they can work it out," Garrus muttered as he yawned.
"Yes, well the Krogan delegate is on board now. We picked him up after Grissom. I thought you may want to meet him and introduce him to Victus." Liara stood back up as he walked back to the lounge's door.
"I wonder who they got to represent the Krogan," Garrus went to go follow her.
Liara led him up to the conference room. "A very 'articulate' one," She replied slyly.
"Liara…" Garrus looked over at her with a smile. "What are you not telling me?"
"Hey, I'm the Shadow Broker. I have to keep some secrets," The Blue Asari smirked back as she kept walking.
Putting two and two together, the Turian's eyes went wide. "You don't mean….?" There was no way it could be Urdnot Wrex. But then again he was the Krogan clan chief on Tuchanka….
They moved closer to the conference room to see Victus up ahead shaking hands with the Krogan delegate while Shepard stood to the side. "Primarch Victus. It is an honor to meet you."
"Urdnot Wrex," The Krogan accepted the shake. "We have a lot to discuss." The yellow skinned Krogan then looked past the Primarch to see Liara and Garrus coming into view. With a chuckle, he moved past the delegate to approach them. "Just the two I have been wanting to see."
"Wrex. Good to see a friendly face." Garrus nodded at him. "Thought you were going to sit this one out at Tuchanka."
Wrex eyed Victus walking on to the conference room and then lowered his voice, "We have a lot to discuss. I need you and Liara with me on this one."
"Of course, Wrex. You know we are here for you," Liara looked at him in confusion. "What's going on?"
"Best that we discuss that later. I'll give the word to Shepard," He then turned to look back at his former commander.
"We are waiting for the representative for the Salarians, Wrex. They should be arriving shortly," Shepard gestured him to move into the room.
After their friend left with John, Garrus looked over at Liara in confusion as they made their back down to the Mess Hall level. "What was he talking about?"
"I'm not sure."
"You mean the Shadow Broker doesn't know everything," Garrus teased.
"Hey, I have been busy scrubbing data on Archangel. I could always share what I have still."
"We are almost near Surkesh, Wrex," Shepard was standing behind Cortez's chair as he was monitoring any type of communication.
"And getting closer to the females," Wrex loaded his shotgun. "I still don't trust a word they say."
"Let diplomacy play out, Wrex, you will get what you want."
"These females are the best and probably the last hope for my people."
"We'll bring them back, Wrex. Don't worry," Liara soothingly said as she walked up to the burly Krogan.
Wrex smiled, "I appreciate it, Liara. I wouldn't want anyone else along for the ride." Garrus cleared his throat to get the Krogan's attention. He looked his way. "I suppose I can make room for you too, Garrus."
"Figured you gone soft. Sitting on your throne. Forgetting how to hold a gun," The Turian grinned. "Besides you asked me to come along. I think you actually needed me."
"Uh, Commander," Cortez called from his pilot chair, interrupting the banter. "The Salarian Ground Control say we do not have clearance to land."
Wrex growled loudly as he bared his teeth from the news. "I knew they wouldn't keep their word." He lumbered past Garrus, knocking him to the side. "Let's see they stop a Krogan airdrop." He took the butt of his shot gun and pounded against the door to manually open it.
"Wrex, please. We should try not to provoke them," Liara ran up to grab his arm.
"Sorry, Liara," Wrex jumped out of the shuttle to the landing zone that Cortez was hovering over.
Seeing sniper sights on Wrex below, Garrus jumped out first to assist. They had to cool down the Krogan or Shepard may lose both Salarian and Krogan support. "Commander Shepard, control your colleague. We only found out about this transfer a moment ago," A brown toned Salarian ran up to them.
"I'd like to avoid a diplomatic incident," Shepard motioned for Garrus and the others to lower their weapons.
"So would we."
"You have something that's worth dying for," Wrex snarled.
"I can handle this, Wrex," Shepard turned back to address him squarely. He stepped forward to speak with the Salarian, who addressed himself as Padok Wiks.
"Let's go over here, Wrex, while Shepard plays diplomat for a bit," Liara suggested as she beckoned for Garrus to follow them.
While walking behind them, Vakarian studied the upset Krogan in front of him. Years ago, he would never think this merc would end up being a voice for the Krogan people. He chuckled lightly thinking how things have changed. "Hmm?" Wrex overheard him as he turned his head to look back. "Something funny, Vakarian?" His words were harsh but Garrus could understand why. His people were dying and these females could be the last hope they had from total extinction. He couldn't imagine what life would look like once all the Krogan died off.
"Sorry. Reflecting on how we all changed over the years," He spoke out honestly.
Wrex pondered the thought for a moment and then turned his head back at him. "You sayin' I'm old?"
"Of course not," Liara held his arm in assurance. "Krogan do live a long time. You are just the same now as you were before."
"Probably smarter," Wrex suggested.
Garrus noticed a lot of the Salarians were eyeing them carefully and muttering amongst themselves as they descended down the steps to the area that Shepard was following Wiks. "Can't say too much about the locals…I get the funny suspicion that they don't want us here."
"That's too bad," Wrex huffed. "I'm not leaving until the females are safely with me so they better get used to a Krogan walking around." He paused at one Salarian who was glaring hard at him. "I like my Salarian raw," He licked his lips loudly. The bugged eye species in front of him narrowed his brow from the comment.
Gingerly urging him on, Liara, pulled his arm. "Thank goodness, we fed you then."
"Well, well! Garrus Vakarian! It's good see you again!" A green skinned soldier called to them below.
Looking his way, Garrus saw a familiar face, it was Captain Kirrahe. The same leader of the group on Virmire. "Good to see you too. Glad you and your men made it off Virmire safely."
"I had no doubts. It's Major now. ," Kirrahe beamed proudly. He then looked over at Wrex. "Glad to see you again."
"Sure you are," Wrex snorted as he crossed his arms. "Just quit stallin' and take me to the females."
"Wrex, Wiks is granting us access to the lab down below. He's waiting on the clearance. Be patient," Shepard walked over to the group.
"Clearance is good. We should go," Padok Wiks came back over. Suddenly the area's perimeter alarms started to sound off.
"Sir!" One soldier ran over to them. "We have multiple bogeys inbound."
"Wrex, get to the shuttle and tell Cortez to stay sharp. Liara, Garrus and I will head down." Shepard looked back at the way they came.
"No way," The Krogan growled. "I'm not letting those females out of my sight! If the Turians want us on Palaven then the Salarians need to give them up."
"I am working on it, Wrex," Shepard's voice strained with frustration. "You trusted me on Virmire, now trust me here. I'm on your side. Remember that."
Giving his former Commander a hard stare, Wrex finally sighed hard, "Shepard, I trust you. Just do the right thing." He turned and ran towards the shuttle.
"We'll get them, Wrex!" Garrus called out after him. He followed John and Liara in the elevator with his mind racing. Who was coming to Surkesh?
Another familiar face greeted them down below in the lab. "Shepard, good to see. Eyes sight still sharp. Surprised to be back," Mordin walked up to the elevator.
"You're back with STG?" Garrus lifted an eye ridge. After Mordin's involvement on Tuchanka and Maelon's work, he figured the doctor would change his ways about the genophage.
"Had to be me. Someone else may have gotten it wrong." The scientist looked around to make sure no one was paying attention to him and then leaned in closer. "We need to get the Krogan off world. Not safe here. Fed information to clan Urdnot. Side effects of Maelon's research caused weakened immune systems. I lost two with only one left," He led them over to where one female stood in a glass protective shield container. "She's immune to the genophage. I can synthesize cure from her tissue."
"By the goddess…" Liara looked on at the solemn female before them. The Krogan showed no emotion as she stared down at her visitors.
"She's the last hope for the Krogan. If she dies, then genophage will be….problematic." Mordin went onto say.
"Can she hear us?" Garrus asked as he looked up at her.
"Yes, but she's slow to trust."
"I don't blame her…after all she's been through."
Shepard stepped forward to speak to her. "I'm Commander Shepard with the Alliance Navy."
"Are you here to kill me?" The female spoke back.
"We are here to take you home with Wrex," Garrus urged gently.
"Why?" She turned and looked squarely at him. "Why would a Turian help me? Don't you want my kind extinct?"
Thinking back to Wrex's talks to him aboard the Normandy when they were hunting Saren, Garrus shook his head. "No. You're the future of the Krogan race. I'm in to help."
"So am I," Liara chimed in with a warm smile. "You have to believe us."
"Sir!" One Salarian raced up to them. "The base is being compromised! We need to evacuate!" Several others spoke out in alarm as they raced to initiate their protocols. Alarms blared throughout the designated area.
"Then I hope you brought an army," The female looked down at them.
Shepard pulled up his omni tool as it chirped to indicate an inbound communication from the shuttle. "This is Shepard."
Wrex's face came up on the holo screen. "It's Wrex. Cerberus troopers are swarming the place. Get the females out now!"
"Only one survived, Wrex. It may be safer down here."
"What?!" Wrex was agitated. "So the Salarians can kill her like the others?" He shook his head, "No deal. If you still want this alliance then get her out of there!"
Garrus exchanged a silent expression with Liara as they took out their weapons. They doubted it would spark alarm. Hard to tell how long they would have before Cerberus cracked any of security codes and gained access to their point. He shot a glance back at the female Krogan who stood there in no state of panic whatsoever. It was as if she was already defeated and was just going to accept her fate of being slain by the oncoming horde. "We will get you out of there."
The plan was that Mordin would move the female's pod out of quarantine through the checkpoints to get her out. Shepard and his team was tasked with making sure that Cerberus would not intercept the transfer and keep the female alive. Hopefully if all went well, they would get the female back to the shuttle still alive. With her immune system, Garrus wondered if she was just as susceptible to any type of wounds like a Quarian. He didn't want chance it even if the Krogans were known for their thick hides.
The fight top side was a block almost every way. Cerberus forces landed in with their jet packs with their guns blazing. Seeing an engineer setup a tripod, Garrus charged ahead hoping to catch him off guard before the weapon was complete. He was out of time and the tripod's barrel aimed directly at him. "Oh crap!" He jumped out of the way behind a column just as the tripod unleashed. Its barrage pinned Shepard and Liara down a few yards away from him.
"Garrus!" Shepard yelled as loud as he could over the noisy gunfire. "Divert its attention! We need to attack on different fronts!"
"Roger." Garrus looked around trying to find a way to safely maneuver without being hit by the turret. He could hear the rounds hitting the column relentlessly causing him to clench his teeth. Suddenly he saw a blur dart out near the turret.
The weapon stopped momentarily as it tried to adjust its sights on its new hostile. Looking around the column, he saw Kirrahe shooting the turret with several spheres from what appeared to be a white pistol. He then aimed and fired two more at Cerberus troopers. "Stand back, Garrus Vakarian!" Kirrahe yelled back at him and the others.
.
Standing there in bewilderment, Garrus saw the troopers looking down at the spheres attached to their bodies in confusion. Realizing their presence was not good, they began to scramble to try to claw it off. But within seconds it was too late, the spheres exploded ripping their bodies apart then the turret blew apart. "How come I don't have one of those?" Garrus looked over to John and Liara who was running up to their location.
Kirrahe grinned big and kissed the gun. "One of the perks of being with STG."
"Thank you again, Major," John nodded and then ran ahead to get to the next checkpoint.
"Good luck!" Kirrahe called to them.
Up ahead, they came across one of the labs that was exploding into fire. A yahg creature roared as it charged from the lab and looked at them. It then moved ahead seeking its freedom. "I could have sworn I heard it mutter, "T'Soni," Garrus gave a smile over to Liara remembering back to their encounter with the Shadow Broker on Hagalaz.
"Not funny," Liara gave him a frown.
"Up this way," Shepard ascended up a ladder. "We are almost there."
"Last checkpoint. Just need clearance," Mordin said through the pod transfer chamber.
Garrus examined the dead Cerberus troopers that littered the area that they were at. "These guys put up one hell of a fight."
John ran over to the control panel to initiate the clearance. "Hang on, Professor. Almost got you."
"Uh, what's that?" Liara noticed something in the sky that was getting larger.
Garrus looked up to see what appeared to be a large mech falling down to their location. "Um, Commander."
Becoming startled, Shepard moved away from the panel just as the mech landed near them on the steps. A Cerberus trooper inside the mech's cockpit looked their way and then at the female. "Shepard! The female's venerable this close!" Mordin screamed through the protective shield.
"Then hit the bastard with everything we have!" The Commander yelled as he lifted his assault and switched to disruptor ammo. Liara and Garrus followed suit.
The mech stepped back as it raised its arm to fire at them. "Look out!" Garrus shoved Liara out of the way as the mech fired at the same spot she was at a moment ago, charring the flooring. In pursuit, the Trooper began to move closer to their location and further away from the female.
"Keep moving back!" John shouted noticing the Krogan's safety.
"I think you don't have to tell us," Garrus clenched his mandible as opened fire once more nailing the mech squarely in the chest.
"Shields are down!" Liara triumphantly exclaimed. Seconds later, the mech began to short-circuited and collapsed before shattering into pieces. Seeing the carnage, Garrus didn't want to think about its occupant.
Running back over to Mordin, John initiated the safety protocols and the chamber opened. They could hear the shuttle landing nearby. Wrex must have watched the whole display. The Krogan wasted no time in walking over to where Mordin stood beside the last fertile female. "Thank you for the assistance, Wrex," Garrus sarcastically called to him. However, this time there was no petty comeback. Wrex's mind was on one thing. Garrus didn't blame him. After all if his race was dying, what would he do? He then thought about Andromeda. With them being different species, if this war ends with both of them still alive, how would it work out?