Mass Effect Andromeda Series II
Chapter 49

Garrus stared at the data pad in front of him, scrolling through all the information that they were able to scavenge on their trip to Sanctuary. The place was nothing like he suspected. He figured it was some "get rich" scheme to prey on those wanting to escape the Reapers, but not a testing facility. All the names of every person being tracked at docking…how many did Miranda's father kill or transform into a husk? This went beyond human species. Jenna…after all these years knowing her and worrying about her running into trouble with Fist at Chora's Den to only fall victim because she was trying to help a friend. He was wrong about her. He felt guilty being relieved that Andromeda was not among the dead there. Even if that meant she was still with Cerberus, at least she was alive. But what did that sadistic bastard, the Illusive Man, want with her?

His mind flashed to the encounter he had with Sh'sk. All thoughts about betrayal with the Batarian plagued Garrus' mind. The whole time he wished that he didn't put Andromeda's life in the hands of this Batarian, but he was wrong. He knew that Sh'sk most likely did what he could to get Andromeda and her family to safety and how would anyone know what Sanctuary actually was? Cerberus sure had a way of hiding stuff right out there in the open. He knew the Illusive Man was obsessed about controlling the Reapers after their discussion on Thessia, but his obsession went to another level. A very dark level. One that Vakarian thought no one would ever take. The Illusive Man was full of surprises.

He was still perplexed on Sh'sk insisting that he leave prior to finding Andromeda. As if his presence on the ship was a conflict. What if Sh'sk loved her? What if Andromeda in turn loved him?

Shaking his head to clear these unbearable emotions, he looked up at the screen where had been keeping track of the Turian's military fleet against the Reapers back on Palaven. Red dots kept disappearing on the map screen in front of him. Dots, depending upon their size, indicating several Turian vessels of their fleet being destroyed one by one. Palaven was falling…and all Garrus could do was stare helplessly. He advised the Primarch at the last call that the time had come to make the difficult decision…it was time to pull the fleets back, save what they could for the Crucible.

A faint voice called out to him in the gun battery chamber. "Garrus?" Liara's softly said through the ship's internal comm system.

"Thousands of lives…." Garrus lifted his hand to gently touch the screen where a red dot once was.

"Garrus?" Liara called out again, with a little bit more alarm. "Are you there?"

Sighing, he turned to walk back over to the console. "I'm here, Liara."

"Scars, you holdin out?" James looked over at his troubled crewmate. He found Vakarian after they got back from the Cronos debrief hunkered in the lounge room's bar with several empty glasses in front of him.

"I like to drink alone," Garrus swirled the glass as his talons rubbed the rim. He didn't bother to look back at the marine. Following their arrival back on the Normandy, he was grateful that Andromeda was cleared of any indoctrination. Fortunately, they got to her before the Illusive Man could finish any of his tests he had planned. He saw terminals with information regarding a man named Grayson and how the Illusive Man was placing Reaper tech inside him. The test seemed to fail. Was Andromeda next in line?

James cleared his throat as he went around the counter to pour him something. "Figured with Andromeda back, you would be kind of busy." He looked up with a playful grin, but it quickly disappeared when the tease didn't really phase Garrus.

"I think she needs time alone," Garrus took a hard sip and felt the burn as the alcohol went down his throat fast. "The war has taken its toll on her for sure. Being used as test subject for the Illusive Man is never a good thing."

James furrowed his brow. "Is that really it?" His voice peaked as if he seemed offended by the comment. Garrus' face remained dark. The man's voice softened, "Look, I know that war can sometimes put a strain on relationships…I for one never did care for the Batarians, but you could just tell her that he isn't dead."

Garrus tensed up. He couldn't hear this. He didn't want to hear the truth. He wanted to tell himself that is what he gets for trying to get involved with another species. How pathetic was he for having such deep emotions…he let the mission into Saren confuse him. That had to be it. He knew the battle tough soldier in front of him was still talking, but he blocked him out. Standing up, he took the last gulp of his drink and slammed the glass down. This seemed to startle James in midsentence. "I have to go."

He made a beeline for his post at the forward battery. His refuge. His own sanctuary. Once the door behind him closed shut, he bawled his fists as the feelings inside him started to boil. Yelling out in aggravation, he shoved everything on his workstation into the floor. Mod pieces flew everywhere. His heart raced as his chest heaved. The act of releasing really didn't help matters. Now the floor was cluttered with pieces of weaponry everywhere. Now he had a mess to clean up. He gingerly picked up his assault rifle and one mod tool and sat back at his workbench. Hearing the door open with his back to the door, Garrus assumed it was Liara coming back to try to approach him again on the matter. "Liara…I really don't want to talk about it yet."

"Then talk it over with me, Garrus," Andromeda answered back as she stood in the doorway.

Hours later, Garrus woke up from his slumber and saw Andromeda sleeping silently in his arms still. Her naked form didn't leave his side. He felt a chill go down his body as the room's temperature struck his hard leathery skin. Reaching down, he grabbed Andromeda's shirt and used it to cover her. Just as he did, he kissed the top of her head softly and ran his talons through her hair. He checked the time on his omni tool. They were near the Sol system. It was time to face the Reapers in London once and for all. He didn't know what they would face groundside but it was going to be rough. There was no guarantee of coming back; of course any mission was like that. Here the chances were less than fifty percent. He never thought of death before. Each race/species had their own speculation about the afterlife. He just hoped wherever he went was not the Krogan version. Shifting his body slightly but making sure he didn't wake her, he sat up and activated the comm on his omni. Most of the fleets were going to meet outside the relay to the Sol system so he was hoping that he would be within range. Seconds later, a familiar face came up in the holo vid. The Salarian grinned big. "Garrus Vakarian. Pleasure to see you again. I got your message. You know I will always help when I can."

Looking back at Andromeda, seeing her stir a bit, he lowered his voice, "Thanks." He knew this was not the ideal place and time to have a conversation, but luckily, he kept the tool's vid parameter tight so his naked form wouldn't be showing to his recipient on the other line. How interesting would that be? "Do you have room for one more on your strike team?"

Kirrahe seemed a bit confused and blinked his glassy round eyes. "I'm confused. I thought you were going to be part of Team Hammer."

"Not me. It's a civilian named Andromeda. She's biotic and has a desire to fight," He anticipated Andromeda's move when she woke up. He knew that once she found out that he and Shepard would be heading to Earth to take on the enemy that she would want to be part of it. He didn't want her to be part of the direct assault. "I can get her to you once we are about to depart."

"Normally protocol prohibits civilians for being with our strike teams." He paused. "Given the circumstances, I think it can be arranged. I just can't promise any type of escort. I will be limited on men as it is."

"Acknowledged. I appreciate it, Major. One more thing." Beat. "Keep her safe."

A cannibal gave a last roar before it fell over dead from Vega's carnage blast. "Hell yeah!" James panted from the adrenaline rush. So far the fight in London was intense. The Reaper forces were coming in numerous waves. Hammer was able to take out the Hades cannon. Now it seemed it was all clear before Major Coates' pickup at the makeshift LZ. Time for a breather…if the Reapers knew of such a thing.

"Easy enough, right?" Shepard gathered his breath as he checked his ammo. "Ammo count."

"Four," Garrus answered first.

"Three," Vega replied last. Garrus turned his head and gave the marine a taunting gesture. The marine shrugged. "I killed more."

"Or missed." Garrus chuckled.

Suddenly several piercing screams filled the vicinity. Their voices sent chills down Vakarian's spine. He closed his eyes and took a breath. Now this was the fight. Not the husks. Not the cannibals. Not the brutes. But the banshees. The Reaperized nightmare of Ardat-Yakshis. He thought he wouldn't have to relieve Thessia.

"Form up!" Shepard yelled as he got into a point position with Vega to his right and Garrus to his left. "Eyes open!"

"My twelve!" James was first to spot the blur approaching as the banshee enclosed in fast. Its dark hollow eyes piercing right through them with its twisted fingers poised. "Holy fuck!" The marine was alarmed by its form and speed and opened fire frantically. He heard the war stories of the banshees but lucky or maybe unlucky enough not to encounter one yet on his missions. The banshee howled as it screamed in rage at its opposition and launched a huge singularity attack. Seeing it coming, Garrus pushed Vega out of harm's way even if it broke up their fortified position. He jumped in to take up the slack to give the marine time to recuperate.

"My four!" Shepard alerted them as he turned to take on the second banshee that was trying to attack on another side. The grotesque creature shrieked in rage. Its sunken eyes glared hard at the trio with almost pure hatred at their existence.

"A little busy here!" Garrus yelled back to the commander over the loud gunfire. He was trying to focus on their first target, who finally vanished into ash just feet away. Sweat poured through Garrus' body. A cold sweat. That was a little close for comfort. There was no time to rest. He whipped to his right and emptied the rest of his clip on Shepard's opponent. Hearing a click, he ejected the magazine and quickly shoved in a fresh one. He felt his fingers shaking from the pure rush. Seeing the Banshee's boney fingers reached out to grab him, he jumped backwards and Vega took his spot and used the butt of his rifle as a club to smack the twisted arm away. The Banshee hissed at the man and James responded in gunfire with incideniary ammo.

With all three, it took a few moments before the Reaperized Asari collapsed and let out a final shriek that seemed to echo in the air. Just in time as the shuttle came up. Coates opened the door and motioned for them to jump inside. The door hissed with the closure once they were inside, Coates turned to address them. He snapped to attention to Shepard. "Glad to have you onboard, sir."

"Thank you for the assist," Shepard saluted back.

"About time you rejoined the fight," A familiar voice called from the front of the shuttle. Moments later out stepped David Anderson. His attire was much different than his last appearance on the Citadel. He discarded the diplomatic wardrobe and now wore ground assault clothes. His clothes and body appeared weary from battle. Dark circles were under his eyes from the lack of sleep. His face was solemn with the reality of the war. No matter what the situation was, his voice was uplifting. He took turns shaking each of their hands. He nodded in appreciation to Garrus. "Glad to see that you are still helping us out."

"Anytime." Garrus gave a warm smile. He still felt his heart racing from the last attack, but slowly decreasing the pace.

"So where we to now?" Shepard took a seat as he examined his rifle. James remained quiet for once as he took the next seat and did the same. James only experienced ground assault mostly on Menae and so far this battle was on a whole another level. The shock still had not worn off yet.

Anderson glanced back at the pilot at the controls. "The FOB."

*********************
The FOB had seen better days. There were walls to surround the makeshift compound but the Reaper forces seemed to attack them constantly. The constant fear was wearing heavy on the soldiers that manned the station. Shepard excused himself from his company as he walked on with Anderson to see what their next plan was for all the strike teams. After checking on Andromeda's location, Garrus met up with the Primarch momentarily who would command the Turian ground troops. He then saw Javik standing near an open space looking out to the beam in the distance that led up to the Citadel. The Prothean remained troubled and didn't say a word to anyone who walked by. "Was it bad like this during your time?" Garrus asked as he looked out to the beam. The sickening sound of explosions, gunfire, sirens and screams could be heard everywhere. How could anyone sleep here or even stay sane?

"I have been hearing the Krogan called Urdnot Wrex talk to his men. In my cycle, the races never came together." Javik sighed hard as he stared out. His eyes showed mixed emotions primarily fear. It was déjà vu for him.

"Listen up, princesses!" Wrex shouted to his men nearby.
Vakarian chuckled softly. Good old Wrex. "Wrex is known for his speeches."

"I envy you." The Prothean admitted.

Garrus was taken back. "Really? There's not much left in our galaxy. Decimation and corpses. Lots of bodies."

"The future is still out there. Something my people could never say. There will be a tomorrow. No one has made it this far. I will finish my mission." He turned around to look at the Turian before him. "Shepard will see it through. Do not waiver. Victory is not won without making difficult choices."

Garrus' mind flashed to Andromeda and the fear of having to choose between leaving her behind for dead among the Reapers or helping Shepard if it came to that point. How could he choose? "What will you do if we defeat the Reapers?" He shifted the conversation.

"Since my birth, my whole life has been war. I want to see what peace looks like."

"It's a big galaxy and a lot of us have not had the luxury to have a Prothean bless us with their presence," Garrus shook his hand.

"I think I will go see the Hanar. I could live like a king," Javik's voice rose with excitement. An emotion that Garrus was shocked to hear. There was a sense of joyfulness and happiness for once with him.

"King Javik?" Garrus laughed softly. "That could be interesting."

Javik's face then turned serious. "Remember what I told you before, Turian. I know that your human bond mate is fighting as well. If she falls to Reaper forces do not try to save her for she will already be gone. You must remain strong. The Reapers will turn her against you. Do not hesitate to shoot."

Dark and morbid once again. Garrus was not surprised, but it was the cold hard truth. Javik was not sugarcoating anything. "Thank you for the advice. See you on the other side." He turned and went back to where the Primarch was. He figured Javik assumed he was not listening but he was. He just didn't want to think about the tough decision he would have to make. Damn war.

"Garrus," John called out to him as he entered the room again. "Getting ready to head up now. I guess it's-"

"Just like old times?" He offered the rest. This made John laugh a little. It's been awhile since the commander really had a good laugh. Then reality hit him. This could in fact being their final mission. "Hmm….might be the last chance we get to say that."

"Think we are going to lose?" John was not being snide nor looking for false hope. He knew Garrus would give him an honest opinion.

"No, I think we are going to send the Reapers back to whatever black hole they crawled out of. Then we are going to retire somewhere warm and tropical and live off the royalties from the vids."

Shepard sighed heavily. Anyone could tell that his mind and body had it from all the combat. "I think I'm done saving the galaxy after this is over with."

"You and me both."