"Thank you again for agreeing to come with me, Tali." Jane said as the two spoke in Engineering. "I know you don't like Cerberus."
"Of course! And I work for you, not for them. If and when they betray you, I'll be ready with my shotgun." Tali told her.
"Thanks. I'll hold you to that." Jane laughed.
"So, no Kaidan? I figured he'd be with you." Tali asked.
"No. We ran into him on Horizon.." Jane sighed as she remembered the encounter. "It uh, it didn't go well.."
"Oh no. What happened?" Tali asked.
"Well, he seemed okay at first, then he figured out I was working with Cerberus and he went ballistic. Called me a traitor and said he was done with me, among other things." Jane informed her.
"That bosh'tet! I'll make him regret that." Tali said, infuriated.
"No need. Garrus already told him off. They actually almost got into a physical fight." Jane told her.
"Keelah! They did? Why?" Tali asked her.
"I'm not sure. They said some things I didn't really understand. But I'm thankful for Garrus." Jane said as she smiled.
"You still like Garrus!" Tali exclaimed.
"Shh! Don't tell the whole ship." Jane whispered as she looked to make sure Donnelly and Daniels weren't listening to them.
"You do. I knew it!" Tali giggled.
"Well, it's…yeah. I do. I thought it was a silly crush after taking down Saren, but then I ran into him on Omega and he almost died.. I'd never been so scared in my life. And he's been a rock for me this whole time. I don't know what I'd do without him." Jane confessed to her. I have to admit that it's nice to finally talk about this to someone, Jane thought to herself.
"You should tell him. Just go for it." Tali told her.
"I don't know. I mean, he's a turian and I'm human. Turians don't think highly of humans…" Jane said as she rubbed the back of her neck.
"Oh, come on. He could've left at anytime. He stuck up for you against Kaidan. He always goes to comfort you when you need it. I heard about your dog tags and I'm sorry. And I'm pretty sure those flowers and the stuffed varren were from him and not C-sec." Tali scolded her.
"Wha- really?" Jane said, confused.
"Yes! You should've seen his face when he saw Kaidan in your room. He looked crushed. I didn't think anything about it at the time, but now it all makes sense." Tali told her. It was enough to make Jane think about his demeanor after the battle on the Citadel.
"Okay. Maybe you're right. I'll at least try to talk to-" Jane started but got interrupted by Kelly informing her that Garrus wanted to see her.
"Now's your chance. Go." Tali told her and gently shoved her out of Engineering.
Sheesh, she's gotten pushy. Okay, Jane, you can do this. Just go in there and tell him you have feelings for him. Jane told herself as she made her way to the Main Battery.
As soon as she walked in, Garrus immediately told her that he got a lead on Sidonis, the turian that betrayed his team on Omega. She asked him what exactly happened with him and Garrus told her he had lured him out with a false job and gave the gangs their hideout location. She asked him what he was going to do when he found him and he told her he heard of the human saying "eye for an eye" and he was going to collect on the ten lives Sidonis owed him. She asked if he was sure that's what he wanted and he just replied with she didn't have to agree with him but he could use her help. She wasn't sure it was the best way to go about it but knew he was trusting her and agreed to do it. She told him they should talk to Captain Bailey in C-sec and arranged for them to leave. What I had to say can wait. I just hope I can make him see reason before he does something he'll regret. She thought to herself before getting ready to arrive at the Citadel.
They arrived at the warehouse Bailey told them about when they ran into a volus.
"Are you Fade?" Jane asked him. She doubted it, but she knew things weren't always as she expected.
"Which of you.. are looking to… disappear?" He asked them, taking breaths between using his respirator.
"I'd rather see you make someone reappear." Garrus told him.
"That's not… the service… we offer." The volus told them.
"How about you make an exception?" Garrus asked as he pulled out his assault rifle. Which caused his krogan guards pull out their guns. Guess we're not using finesse, Jane thought with a sigh as she and Grunt pulled out their weapons as well.
"Why don't you guys go take a break?" Garrus said to the krogans and they left.
"Cowards.. you're not.. getting paid.. for this. Fine. I'm not.. Fade. Just a.. contact." The volus admitted.
"Figured as much. Who is he?" Jane asked.
"Ex C-Sec… Name's Harkin." The volus said.
"Harkin? Really?" Jane was surprised. She had hoped she'd never see him again.
"You know him?" Garrus asked her.
"Unfortunately. I met that lecherous asshole back when I was looking for you to find evidence against Saren." Jane told him. She saw him tighten his grip on his gun and wondered if maybe Tali had been right. The volus told them where to find Harkin and they went on their way.
Once they reached the factory district, Harkin saw them almost immediately.
"Shepard?! But you died!" Harkin yelled out, surprised.
"I got better, princess." Jane said to him.
"Ugh, why you- kill them!" He yelled to his Blue Suns mercenaries before running off. They quickly dispatched the mercenaries when Garrus turned to Jane.
"Princess?" He asked her.
"Long story." She told him as she reloaded her rifle.
"Right. Let's go." He said as he ran ahead.
After a few more fights, they reached an office and Jane opened the shutters to the window as Garrus looked out of it.
"I guess he's gone completely bad now." Jane said to Garrus.
"He was always a pain in the ass and I'm in no mood for games. I'm going to beat him within an inch of his life." He told her, angrily.
"Garrus, you seem tense." Jane said worriedly as she reached to touch his shoulder.
"He may know why we're here and I don't want him tipping Sidonis off." Garrus said angrily as he brushed her hand away. Jane just sadly stared at him for a moment.
"What exactly are you going to do to Harkin when we get to him?" She asked. She knew he was angry because of what happened to his team, but it still stung.
"He's a real criminal now so I should just shoot him on sight, but I need him so I'm just going to loosen his tongue a bit." He replied.
"You don't need to hurt him to get what you want." She tried telling him. This isn't the Garrus I know. I want him back, she thought to herself.
"He's a coward. He'll talk long before I can really hurt him." Garrus told her as he continued looking out the window.
"Are you still planning on killing Sidonis?" She asked, concerned.
"It'll be quick and painless, unlike my men's deaths were. It's more than he deserves but as long as he's dead, I'll be satisfied." He said without even glancing at her.
"Satisfied? Garrus, do you really think killing him will make things right?" She asked him.
"I know you don't like it, but I have to do it. Let's go." He said then went out the door before she could say anything else.
They finally fought their way to where Harkin was. Jane and Grunt went through the front door as Garrus circled around the back. She held her pistol on him, then when he tried running the other way, Garrus smashed his nose with his rifle and pinned him against the wall. I just have to make sure he doesn't grievously injure or kill him, Jane thought as she watched the two. Harkin started pleading they could work something out. Garrus told him he was looking for someone as he let him go. Harkin tried to smugly say they both needed something which caused Garrus to knee him in the gut. Jane winced her face a bit then told him they weren't there for favors. Harkin said he needed more information and Garrus started telling him about Sidonis and Harkin interrupted that he knew who they were talking about, but he wasn't going to tell them anything. Jane told him not to make it harder on himself. He looked her up and down and said she was fine with a great ass but it was bad for business to give away client information.
"Pig." Jane whispered to herself right before Garrus kneed him again and put his foot on his throat.
"Know what else is bad for business? A broken neck!" He said as he held his foot down.
"Fine. I'll tell you. Omega really changed you, Garrus." Harkin struggled to get free from Garrus.
"It just opened my eyes, now go arrange a meeting." Garrus said as he released him and pointed at the communication console. Harkin made his way over and set up a meeting for them in the Orbital Lounge before turning back to them.
"It's done. Now if you don't mind.." He said as he turned to leave, but Garrus grabbed him by the collar.
"I don't think so. You're a criminal now, Harkin." Garrus said as he held up his gun. Shit, Jane thought.
"You wouldn't kill me. It's not your style." Harkin panicked.
"No, but I don't mind slowing you down." He told him as he aimed at his knee. Dammit, Garrus. Jane thought as she ran and grabbed his arm which caused the rifle to discharge in the air.
"You don't need to shoot him. He can't hide from C-Sec now." She told him as he shook her off his arm.
"It's your lucky day." He said right before he head butted him then turned so they could leave and just remarked that he didn't shoot him.
"You should've let me shoot him." Garrus told Jane as he drove a sky car to the meeting location.
"I'm worried about you. You went a bit hard on him back there." She told him.
"You think he didn't deserve it?" He asked her.
"No, he did. It just isn't like you, Garrus." She said. She was secretly glad he was put in his place, but she didn't want to tell Garrus that.
"What do you want from me, Jane?" He asked as he turned his face away from her. "What would you do if someone betrayed you?"
"I- I don't know, but I wouldn't let it change me." She admitted.
"I would've said the same thing before. No one else is going to bring Sidonis to justice. No one knows what he did, no one cares." He told her.
"I care. You don't have to go through with this, let me talk to him." She pleaded with him, hoping to get through to him.
"Talk all you want, but I've made up my mind. I don't care what his reasons are, he deserves to die." He told her.
"I understand, but are you really sure this is what you want?" She asked. I'm not going to give up on you, she thought.
"I appreciate the concern, but I'm not you." He told her.
"This isn't you either, Garrus." She replied. She saw his expression soften but then he went back to being angry. He told her he always hated injustice and he couldn't let him get away with it. He told her ten good men laid in unmarked graves and Sidonis was still alive. He apologized then said words weren't enough this time. She could hear his voice breaking but he told her he needed to find a spot to set up before she could say anything.
"I'll have a good line of sight right about there." He told her as he pointed at a balcony near them.
"What do you need me to do?" She asked, feeling defeated.
"Just keep him talking and don't get in my way. I'll let you know when I can take my shot." He told her. She quietly turned her head away when she realized he wouldn't listen to her. She didn't want to do it but she couldn't say no to him.
"I have to get ready." He told her as he got out of the car. She just shut the door and drove to the meeting place.
After few moments, Garrus told Jane where Sidonis was and told her to wave him over and keep him talking.
She did as he asked and Sidonis seemed nervous. Garrus told her to move because she was in his shot. I'm sorry, Garrus. You may hate me but this is for your own good, not his. She thought right before she told Sidonis she was a friend of Garrus'. Sidonis asked if it was a joke and Garrus angrily told her he's taking the shot as soon as he moved. Sidonis cursed and told her to tell Garrus he had his own problems before turning to walk away. Fuck, Jane thought then grabbed his arm to stop him. She told him not to move and when he struggled to get free of her grip, she told him she was the only thing standing between him and a hole in his head. If you wanna shoot him, you're going to have to shoot me first, she thought to herself. She wasn't sure if he would shoot her in his rage, but she trusted him not to. Sidonis started saying how he didn't eat or sleep, and wished he was dead. Jane followed as he walked, making sure to stay in the scope's view. Garrus told her just to give him the chance and she told him that Sidonis had suffered enough. Garrus said he hadn't because his men were dead and Sidonis was still alive. She told him he wasn't living and he was dead inside already. Garrus was quiet for a moment, then told her to tell Sidonis to go. She told Sidonis he was getting a second chance and not to waste it, he thanked her as she walked away.
Jane drove the sky car to where Garrus was waiting.
"I know you want to talk about this but I don't. Not yet." Garrus said as she walked up to him.
"You did the right thing." She told him, relieved he didn't go through with it.
"Maybe, but my men deserved to be avenged. I had him in my sights but I just couldn't pull the trigger." He admitted as he hung his head.
"The lines between good and evil become blurred when we're looking at people we know." She told him.
"Yeah, there was still good in him. I saw it. Things are easier in black and white. Grey, I don't know what to do with grey." He told her.
"You've got to follow your heart and go with your instincts." She told him.
"That's what got me into this mess, Jane." He said, looking up.
"Don't be so hard on yourself." She told him as she gave him a hug. No matter what, you'll always have me. I promise. She thought to herself as she let herself get enveloped in his hug. He thanked her and they made their way back to the Normandy.
Later, Jane made her way to check on Garrus. He thanked her for her help and told her it was strange getting ready for a high risk mission on a human ship. She told him she thought he'd be used to it after Saren. He told her they just went with the flow then and didn't have the type of information they did now. She then asked how they got ready for such missions on turian ships and he told her with violence, usually sparring. She questioned him about them letting crew fight each other. He told her the superiors made sure no one was seriously hurt and told her about one time he and a female officer were at each other's throats and decided to settle it in the ring. She asked if he had gone easy on her and he told her they were both ranked the best hand to hand combatants and they had ended up in a tie. He told her he had reach and the other officer had flexibility. He then told her they held a tie breaker in her quarters and repeated he had reach and she had flexibility. He said there was more than one way to work out stress before cutting himself off and looking embarrassed. Well, it's now or never. This will either go the way I hope or I'll be rejected and embarrassed, Jane thought to herself while steeling her nerve. She stood up from the crate she was sitting on and told him he looked tense and she could help him work it out, trying to sound as smooth as she could. He told her he didn't know she was interested in sparring. She told him she was thinking about skipping to the tie breaker, that they could test his reach and her flexibility. She tried her best to hide her nervousness as she slowly walked by him and leaned on the console right across from him and smiled. He told her he didn't know she had a weakness for men with scars. She just kept smiling as she nervously waited for his answer. He stumbled on his words a bit, but told her he respected her more than anyone else and told her if they could figure out a way to make it work, then definitely. She winked at him and told him that was great and she'd see him later as she sauntered passed him and left.
As soon as the door shut behind her, she leaned against it and let out a sigh of relief. I can't believe I did that and he said yes, she thought with a smile.
"Shit! I have no clue what to do now though. I need to talk to Tali." Jane said out loud as she decided to go back to her cabin.
