Garrus was pacing around the Main Battery. He had told Kelly Chambers that he needed to talk to Jane and was impatiently waiting for her. After what seemed like forever, he heard the doors open and immediately turned around.
"I'm glad you're here. I've got a lead on Sidonis and I could use your help. There's a specialist on the Citadel named Fade who helps people disappear and word is he did just that for Sidonis." He told her before she had a chance to say anything.
"You never told me how he betrayed you." Jane spoke up.
"He told the mercs where our base was and lured me out with a false job. By the time I got back, only two of my team were left and they didn't last long. By the time I figured out he betrayed us, he was long gone." Garrus told her. Just the thought of that traitor makes my blood boil, he thought to himself.
"And what do you intend to do when we find him?" Jane asked him.
"Well, humans have a saying. 'An eye for an eye'. Life for a life. He owes me ten and I intend to collect on it."
"Are you sure that's what you want?" Jane asked. She looked worried but Garrus ignored that.
"Look, you don't have to agree with me, but I could use your help." He told her. Part of him was worried she'd refuse.
"Of course. Captain Bailey might have some information on this Fade guy. We should go talk to him first." She told him, then radioed Joker to set a course for the Citadel and to have Grunt meet her and Garrus at the airlock.
When they got to the Citadel, they made their way to Bailey's office.
"Hiya, Commander. What can I do for ya? Scanners giving you trouble still?" He greeted Jane.
"No. I'm looking for a guy that goes by the name Fade. Know anything?" She asked him.
"Aye. I know the alias only. He's been a thorn in our side for awhile. Works with the Blue Suns." He told her.
"Where is he?" Garrus asked. He didn't want to waste time with small talk.
"If I knew, he'd be locked up. He has some contacts that work in the warehouses. You could go ask them." He said before looking at Jane. "Gently, of course." He added, sarcastically.
They made their way to the warehouses on Zakera Ward and ran into a volus. Jane asked if he was Fade and he asked which of them were looking to disappear. Garrus told him that he'd rather see him make someone reappear and the volus told him he didn't offer that service. Garrus pointed his gun at him and told him to make an exception. The volus then signaled his krogan guards who pointed their guns at Garrus. Jane and Grunt then put their weapons up. Garrus told the krogans to go take a break and they left. The volus cursed them and told them they weren't getting paid. The volus then admitted he wasn't Fade, just a contact. Jane muttered that she thought that was the case and asked who Fade was. He told them Fade was an ex C-Sec officer named Harkin. Jane voiced her surprise at hearing that name and Garrus asked how she knew him. She told him she had the unfortunate fate of meeting him when she was looking for Garrus back when she was trying to get evidence against Saren and called Harkin a lecherous asshole. That made Garrus hate him more than he already did. The volus told them they could find him in the factory district. They went on their way after Garrus threatened to come back for the volus if Harkin wasn't there.
When they arrived, Harkin saw them and voiced his surprise at seeing Jane. She greeted him by calling him princess right before he ordered his Blue Suns mercenaries to attack them. Garrus yelled that Harkin couldn't hide from him. After they took out the guards, Garrus questioned Jane about her "princess" comment and she told him it was a long story. Garrus already knew Harkin's reputation with women and had an idea what she meant. I know it happened before I even met her, but he's going to pay for that. Garrus thought to himself as they made their way forward.
They reached an office after fighting through more Blue Suns. Jane opened the cover of a window that looked out into the factory and Garrus immediately started to look around for signs of Harkin. She made a comment about Harkin going completely bad and Garrus said he was always a pain and he was in no mood for his games. He then threatened that he would beat him within an inch of his life if he wouldn't cooperate. Jane expressed concern and said he seemed to be getting tense. Garrus didn't like the worried look on her face, but he was too angry to let himself worry about it. He told her that Harkin may have known why Sidonis wanted to disappear and didn't want him to tip him off. She's probably going to hate me after this, but I have to do it. I have to for my men. Garrus thought to himself. She asked what he was going to do to Harkin and Garrus said he should shoot him on sight since he was a real criminal but he needed him, so he was just going to loosen his tongue. Jane tried telling him that he didn't need to hurt Harkin to get what he wanted. He told her that Harkin was a coward so he'd talk before any real damage was done. She then asked if he was still planning on killing Sidonis and he told her he was and that it would be quick and painless, unlike his men's deaths. He said it was more than he deserved, but he'd be satisfied as long as he was dead. She then questioned if he really thought if killing him would make things right and he told her that he knew she didn't like it but he had to do it.
They fought their way through more Blue Suns and a couple heavy mechs. Garrus normally enjoyed his fights with Jane, but he was preoccupied on getting to Harkin this time. They finally got to where Harkin was hiding. Garrus went the opposite way of Jane and Grunt. Jane opened the door and aimed her gun at Harkin. When he tried to run the other way, Garrus slammed his rifle against his nose then slammed him against a wall.
"Garrus, we can work this out." Harkin told him. His fear was visible.
"I'm looking for someone." Garrus told him as he backed away and let him go.
"I guess we both need something then." Harkin replied, smugly. Garrus then went up and kneed him in the gut, which caused Harkin to fall to his knees.
"Not here for favors, Harkin." Jane interjected, annoyed.
"I need a bit more info than that." He told them. Garrus started telling him the guy was named Sidonis and that he was a turian.
"I know who you're talking about and I'm not telling you shit." He told him.
"Don't make this harder on yourself." Jane told him.
"Screw you, sweetheart. You're fine and have a great ass, but it's bad for business to give away client information." Harkin said as he looked Jane up and down. That was the last straw, bastard. Garrus thought as he kneed him again and put his foot on his neck when he fell to the ground. He told him that a broken neck was bad for business. Harkin told him that he'd tell him and said Omega changed him. Garrus said it opened his eyes and demanded he arrange a meeting. Harkin reluctantly made his way to the communication terminal and told Sidonis his alias may be compromised and told him to meet one of his guys on the Orbital Lounge. He hung up and told Garrus it was set up then turned to leave. Garrus grabbed the collar of his shirt and said that he was a criminal now. Harkin remarked that killing him wouldn't be his style. Garrus then pointed his gun at his knee and said he didn't mind slowing him down. Right before Garrus pulled the trigger, Jane grabbed his arm which caused his gun to discharge into the air. She said he didn't need to shoot him because he couldn't hide from C-Sec now. Garrus angrily shook his arm free from her and told Harkin it was his lucky day. Ugh, I doubt anyone else could have stopped me. Maybe my soft spot for her is getting in the way, Garrus briefly thought before he turned around and head butted Harkin.
"I didn't shoot him." Garrus remarked as they made their way out of the warehouses.
They made their way to the meeting spot in a sky car when Garrus told Jane she should've let him shoot Harkin. She told him she was worried and he was a bit too hard on him. He asked if she thought he didn't deserve it. She agreed he did, but remarked it wasn't like Garrus. He could see the worried look on her face. He couldn't stand the look on her face, so he turned his face away and asked what she wanted from him and what she would do if someone betrayed her. She said she didn't know but she wouldn't let it change her. He said he would've said the same thing before and that no one would bring Sidonis to justice and no one else cared. She told him he didn't have to go through with it and to let her talk to him. He told her to talk all she wanted but his mind was made up. He said he didn't care what the reasons were, that he deserved to die. She said she understood and asked him again if he really wanted to kill him. He told her he appreciated the concern but he wasn't her. She told him it wasn't like him either. Her words were starting to get to him but then he remembered his squad dying in front of him.
"I've always hated people who did injustice. Just the thought he could get away with this.. ten good men are in unmarked graves and he's still alive. I'm sorry, words aren't enough for this." He could feel his voice breaking and quickly told her he needed to set up. Dammit, this isn't the time to get emotional. He thought as he looked around. He found a spot and told her he could get a good shot from where he pointed at. She asked what she needed to do and he told her to just keep Sidonis talking and not to get in his way, that he'd signal her when he had his shot. She quietly turned her head away and he told her he had to get ready before getting out of the car.
"I'm sorry, Jane. Guess I'm not the turian you wanted me to be." He sighed quietly to himself as he watched her make her way towards the spot.
He set himself up and told her to wave Sidonis over and keep him talking. He watched as she did as he asked.
"Okay. Now move. You're in my shot." He told her as he saw the back of her head in his sniper scope.
"Sidonis. Don't move. I'm a friend of Garrus'." He heard her say. No, what are you doing? He thought to himself.
"What? Are you joking?" He heard Sidonis starting to panic.
"Dammit. I'm taking the shot as soon as he moves." Garrus said, angrily.
"Screw this. Tell Garrus I had my own problems." Sidonis said as he turned to walk away. Just a little more and you're done, Garrus thought as he waited for his shot.
"Don't move." Jane said as she grabbed his arm. Damn, she knows I won't shoot her.
Sidonis told Jane to get off him and she told him she was the only thing between him and a hole in the head. He cursed then started ranting how he didn't want to do it and they threatened to kill him. His excuses just made Garrus more angry and he once again told Jane to move and said he was a coward. Sidonis kept talking and said how he felt guilty and he didn't sleep, barely ate, and sometimes wished he was dead. Jane followed close as he walked to a railing, staying in the scope's view the whole time.
"Just give me the chance, Jane." Garrus said to her.
"He's suffered enough." She replied.
"No. He's still alive and my men aren't." Garrus told her.
"Look at him. This isn't living. He's already dead inside." She pleaded with him. Sidonis then said there was nothing he could say to Garrus to make it better.
"Go..just tell him to go." Garrus told Jane. Dammit, her influence still has a strong hold on me. He sighed as he lowered his sniper. Jane told Sidonis he got a second chance and not to waste it before she walked away.
When they met up again, Garrus told Jane he knew she wanted to talk about it but he didn't want to yet. She told him he did the right thing and he told her maybe but his men deserved to be avenged. He admitted he had him in his sights but he couldn't do it. She told him good and evil were blurred when it was people they knew. He agreed and said things were easier when they were black and white, that he didn't know what to do with grey. She told him to follow his instincts and he told her that's what got him into that mess. She told him not to be so hard on himself and gave him a gentle hug. He softly patted her back and thanked her. Maybe it was worth it. At least you don't hate me. I don't think I could handle that. He thought before letting go and saying he wanted to get back to the Normandy.
Later Garrus was in the Main Battery when Jane showed up. He thanked her for her help again and told her it was strange getting ready for a suicide mission on a human ship, that it was different on turian ships. She said she thought he'd be used to it after tracking down Saren. He told her it was different because they made it up as they went, that they didn't have all the information like they did now.
"What do you think of our chances?" She asked him.
"Well, the collectors killed you once and only managed to piss you off." Garrus laughed. He was still amazed she was brought back and he got a second chance to be around her.
"Well, how did they do it on turian ships?" She asked as she sat down on a crate.
"Violence, usually. Commanders know when the crew needs to blow off steam and let them exercise and even do full on sparring sometimes." He told her.
"They let you fight each other?" She asked, surprised.
"They keep watch and don't let us seriously injure each other. One time, we were waiting for a high risk operation and me and this recon scout had been at each other's throats, so we decided to settle it in the ring." He told her.
"Did you take it easy on her?" Jane asked.
"Actually, we were to two highest ranked hand to hand specialists. I had reach but she had flexibility. It ended in a draw with lots of unhappy betters. We decided to hold a tie breaker in her quarters. I had reach and she had uh flexibility. More than one way to work off stress…" Garrus said before stopping himself. Shit, why would I bring that up? Garrus panicked.
"Well, you seem tense. I could help you work it out." Jane told him as she stood up.
"I um didn't know you were into sparring." Garrus said, nervously. He didn't want to get the wrong idea about her offer.
"Not exactly. How about we skip to the tie breaker. We could test your reach..and my flexibility." She said coyly as she walked by him to lean against the console and smiled at him.
"I uh, well, I didn't know you had a weakness for men with scars." Garrus replied, nervously. She just kept smiling at him. "Yeah, you know, sure. I don't respect anyone more than you and if we could figure out how to make it work.. Yeah, of course." He stumbled his words a bit as he watched her saunter past him.
"Great. I'll catch you later, Vakarian." She said with a wink as she walked away.
"Spirits. Am I imagining things? That actually happened?" Garrus said to himself as he felt elated. He then realized he had no idea what to do or how things worked with humans. Shit, I need to talk to Joker.
