Garrus walked to one of the krogan bodies and picked up a shotgun. Not his weapon of choice, but handy in close encounters.

He looked back at the female. She was leaning at the crate. Her footing seemed unsteady.

"Katie?"

She looked at him, eyes slightly unfocused, made a step forward, and swayed, almost falling over. Shit. He rushed to support her, hands carefully steadying her shoulders.

"Hey," Garrus said. "Can you walk?"

She leaned on his arm, squinted, and rubbed her forehead.

He needed her to move on her own, at least until he made sure the passage to the communications center was clear. There was no way he could shoot his way through the rats while carrying her in his arms. If they get to the room, there might be supplies that would help her. Something he could give her to… To what? Was his plan to give her even more drugs? He hated himself for even thinking it, but it was the only way to get her out.

"We get to the comms center first. Just two junctions away from here. There, we can catch our breath. Alright?"

She nodded at him but looked very uncertain. Garrus bowed, pressing the side of his head to hears, touching their brows—a turian gesture of encouragement and support. He breathed in her scent and purred.

Engulfed by her smell, he failed to notice the asari, too exhausted and unfocused to react the way a turian should. The second he felt her, Garrus turned around and lifted his rifle in one swift motion. Not swift enough. The air ionized around him, as his body was jolted up and thrown against the wall.

The sound he made was terrible. Katie cried out in dismay, almost toppling over. She watched as the asari prepared for another attack. Theia's eyes were dead fixed on her, cold and merciless. Bright blue explosions of manipulated matter enveloped her shape, biotics charging to unleash another devastating blast.

But then, something happened. It was subtle at first—a flicker in Katie's mind, a brief, almost imperceptible spark. Not a conscious thought or decision, but a momentary glimpse of understanding. She didn't need to make any effort; her body responded instinctively to this newfound awareness.

As Theia unleashed her attack, shock flashed across her features. The biotic surge that should have sent the slave flying backwards faded against an invisible barrier. Instead, she stood firm, feet planted, unmoved by the assault. The asari's astonishment quickly turned to fury. A ghost of a smile touched the human's lips, defiance returning into her eyes. The air seemed to shift with a change in power, the rules of the game were different, and the slaver felt it.

Damn you, Balak! You greedy fool! That's what happens when you let them take off their collars. What are you going to spend all those credits on now? As you lay in the pool of your own blood and urine.

Theia was close, so close with this biotic. The human was perfect, so responsive. And had such an easy trigger. Killing her would be a real shame.

Garrus grunted as he tried to move. His chest was racked with pain. It felt like his rib crest was fractured. If so, then he was totally screwed. He couldn't move, couldn't take a deep breath. All he could do was watch the two biotics.

At first they stood still. It seemed as if nothing was happening, yet he knew that couldn't be further from the truth. Theia was tense as a pulled string—it was obvious by the look on her dark blue face. His human was moving in on her slowly, cutting the distance between them. Yet there was something wrong with this picture. How could Katie gain the upper hand? Even if they matched in strength, which he doubted, the slaver was way more experienced.

He realized the asari was taunting her, luring her closer. Katie had probably never fought someone like that, if anyone at all. Don't get too close, he thought. Be careful. He couldn't see from where he was laying, but Theia was holding something in her hand. Her dark asari eyes were fixed on his human, waiting.

Katie never did this before, never had to actually stand her ground against someone this powerful. But she knew one thing—the asari was holding back. Was she afraid? Or just waited for the right moment to strike? Katie wouldn't give her that opportunity. Not after what the slaver had done to her and the others she had pitted against her in that terrible room…

Her violet eyes narrowed, jaw clenched with determination. She wouldn't back down. Katie raised her arm to squeeze it in a fist and crush the blue-skinned slaver, when a commanding voice echoed in her mind. Like a memory from long ago.

"Stop."

She blinked, her hand faltering mid-air. The asari's wicked smile grew wider, more predatory, as she sensed the human's hesitation.

"Stand down."

The voice resonated through Katie's mind, firm yet soothing. It was a lifeline in the storm of her thoughts, achingly familiar. As the command washed over her, a flood of memories surged forward, threatening to drown her.

Fear and panic gripped her heart, squeezing mercilessly. Her mind became a battleground of sharp, terrifying images—flashes of pain and despair. They clawed at her consciousness, each memory more vivid and overwhelming than the last.

"Come here." The words sliced through Katie's internal devastation, compelling her to obey. It was the only certainty as her reality crumbled around her. Despite the part of her that screamed in protest, she was desperate for the calm the voice promised amidst the storm of her fractured psyche.

Katie's hand dropped to her side and she found herself drifting towards the slaver, biotic field dissipating, feet unsteady. Her eyes grew distant, almost empty.

Garrus watched her in horror, realizing the asari was pulling the human into a trance, making her see things that weren't there.

"Closer," the slaver purred, her control over the biotic tightening.

The asari raised her hand, and Garrus finally saw it. A biotic collar, that's what the slaver was holding. No! His hand went instinctively to his rifle, it wasn't there. He scanned the room and saw the guns in the opposite side of the holding area, tossed away by the blast. Just great. He flexed his arms one more time with a loud growl of pain, pushed himself off the wall and slowly rose to his feet.

His rib crest was not fractured after all, because he managed to stand up. Walking was a different matter. Each step sent jolts of pang through his body, but he forced himself to move, determined not to let the slaver get the upper hand.

Katie moved through the haze, barely aware of her surroundings when, suddenly, something stopped her in her tracks. Something in the asari's hand. This wasn't right. Why would she have it? Confusion washed over her. She recoiled, a shiver running down her spine. Her face spasmed with repulsion when she remembered what it was.

"You need this. It helps with the pain," said the voice.

The collar opened wide, inviting her, urging her to lean into its cold embrace. Katie just wanted it all to stop. The terror had worn her down, each moment feeling like an eternity. She couldn't bear it anymore. She knew if she did what the asari wanted, they would let her finally rest. The promise of relief, no matter how brief, was impossible to resist.

"Katie!"

His voice tore through the connection, violently ripping the human's mind from Theia's grip. The sudden severance of the meld recoiled through the asari's consciousness, causing her to physically jerk backwards. The biotic collar slipped from her fingers, clattering to the floor. Theia hissed at the turian, venom in her eyes. Hasn't she dealt with that one already? She didn't expect him to stand up after that blast, not without his armor.

"Garrus?" human's voice was confused and high-pitched.

"Don't listen to her… Fight her."

He started walking towards the female, his movements determined despite the lingering pain. Suddenly, another wave of the asari's biotics surged through the air. The force slammed into him, invisible yet brutally tangible. Garrus grunted as his legs buckled, bringing him down hard on his knees.

"And who are you going to listen to? A turian?" the asari spat. "Isn't he the one who will try to kill you the first chance he gets, once you are out?"

Katie looked at him, as the asari's words sank in. Was Theia saying the truth? Will he try to hurt her?

"There's nothing for you on the surface."

The asari's influence was growing stronger once again, a soothing whisper that threatened to drown out her own thoughts. But a part of her mind rebelled against those words. No, that wasn't right. The turian had protected her, saved her. He wouldn't hurt her.

Vaguely, Garrus wondered why he was still alive. A biotic as powerful as this slaver could crush him like a bug. Without his armor and weapons he was no match for her. The only explanation was that she just couldn't. Even her powers had limits.

Theia couldn't do everything at once. Melding minds with the human required concentration. As did creation of shields and fields to fend off and attack them both. She brought Garrus on his knees, but played it safe. The asari knew, once depleted, the eezo resource was very difficult to restore. That's the main issue with biotics—if they were not careful, they could go too far and burn out too soon, rendering themselves completely useless. Too unstable, too unreliable.

His human was feeling it too. Her mind was more lucid, more clear. But the way she was looking at him now, made his chest ache even more. Did she think he would try to hurt her? Was she scared of him? Her expression was lost, almost childish, she was being torn between illusions and her fears. Her eyes went to his, pleading, uncertain. He looked into them.

"Katie…"

The sound of her name on his alien tongue made her heart reverberate. He spoke it like a precious, unfamiliar word, each syllable carefully formed. The way he looked at her sent a shiver through her body. There was so much affection in his eyes. So much devotion. As if he was hers.

Theia was losing her grip on the woman. The asari snarled in frustration, as she realized she could not contain them both. She wanted to keep the biotic so bad that got herself into a corner. Stupid whore and that filthy turian—how the fuck did that even happen? Turians do not bond with other species, it's a rare thing even among their own kind. This was just ridiculous. Fucking Balak…

The slaver wasn't toying with her anymore. With barely a moment to spare, Katie threw up a hasty biotic shield as she deflected the asari's blast. The force of it still pushed her back, bare feet skidding across the floor. Desperately, she moved to the side, her eyes fixed on Garrus. He was still kneeling, vulnerable and exposed. She had to reach him, had to protect him as he had protected her. Time seemed to slow as she pushed her tired body forward, praying she could make it before Theia noticed—

The asari's lips curved into a wicked smile. Dark blue gaze shifted to the turian, her face contorting with rage. Katie's heart dropped as she realized what was about to happen.

This ends now, Theia thought, charging her biotics. You two are done.With deliberate slowness, the asari raised both hands, the power building in her palms was palpable, crackling with lethal intent.

Garrus looked up at the slaver. His mandibles were tight against his face, but his eyes remained open, defiant to the last. He wouldn't give her the satisfaction of seeing him flinch.

"No!"

Katie's scream tore through the room. Purple energy pulsed in uncontrollable waves. Not him! The thought blazed through her mind like wildfire. Please, God, not him. She needed him. Like air, like sanity in this nightmare.

The fear of losing Garrus, the white-hot pain of it, dragged her back to that dark place. That corner of her mind where Theia had pushed her over and over, tearing at her defenses, breaking her down. But this time was different. This time, she embraced the darkness, let it fuel her instead of consume her. A surge of dark satisfaction coursed through as the irony dawned. The asari had wanted a weapon, a force of destruction to bend to her will. Katie would give her exactly that.

The violet ignited with an otherworldly purple glow. The dark matter crackled around her, hair lifting in an invisible breeze. Katie's hands clenched into fists, her entire body coiled like a spring about to release. With a scream that tore from her throat, she unleashed her pent-up power, expanding it outward in a devastating shockwave. The space itself seemed to warp and bend as the biotic field engulfed Theia before the asari could even raise her hands in defense.

The slaver's form twisted and contorted unnaturally, her screams cut short as her body began to break apart. The sickening crunch of shattering bones was the most unnatural sound; the dark, viscous blood splashed within the field that trapped her. The body convulsed one final time before collapsing into a grotesque heap.

Garrus watched in stunned silence, mandibles slack, the full weight of Katie's terrifying display sinking in. After a few moments, he shook off the daze and slowly rose to his feet, movements hindered by the lingering throbbing in his chest. He walked towards the human, who stood motionless, eyes fixed on the gory pile of remains that had once been Theia. When he reached her, Garrus touched her arm lightly, talons grazing soft skin. She didn't react, pale face unreadable. The female was magnificent in that moment, a force to be reckoned with. Her delicate scent intertwined with the sharp ozone of raw biotic power. A thin red line ran down her nose, the metallic smell of it sharpening his predator senses, making him instantly alert.

"Katie…"

She was swaying and shivering, but didn't blink. Blue eyes searched hers, but his human looked right through him. The violet was glittering with exhaustion. Garrus reached out for her just in time to catch her fall.

"Easy, easy," he whispered, carrying her to the crate in the middle of the room. He helped her on her feet, leaning her against the cage, as he went to collect his weapons.

His mind was racing. Her blood heightened his instincts and made it easier to concentrate. He was considering their options. The comms room was not that far, and now he had no choice but to carry her there. Garrus had to make this work. He approached the hallway exit, turian senses scanned the perimeter as far as they could. It sounded and smelled clear.

He returned to the crate and handed her the guns.

"You need to take these," he said softly. She didn't understand him at first, then looked down and nodded. The guns were heavy, so heavy. But she took them for him. He leaned into her and wiped a streak of blood that ran down her nose. Would be helpful to smell it on him to stay sharp. Then he scooped her in his arms, wincing through the pain, and walked out of the pen.

She was almost weightless. He carried her through the halls to the junction of the comms center and the sealed airlock. Nobody stopped them. As he had hoped the halls were empty. Judging by the sounds, most of the action was waiting for then on the other side of the airlock. The communications room seemed to be empty as well. His hearing picked up no sounds, no heartbeats. They were lucky this far.

Garrus set Katie down, ensuring she was steady on her feet. He unlocked the heavy metal door using the batarian's omni-tool, the mechanism clicking open with a hiss. The turian paused as he cautiously sniffed the stuffy air inside. Detecting no threats, he gave the human a subtle nod, signaling the all-clear.

He walked inside, she insisted on following on her own two feet. The motion sensors lit the old dirty lamps on the ceiling. Garrus locked the door behind them and looked around. Everything was as he had expected it to be. They were in an old dusty room that clearly had not been used for the intended purpose in decades—all equipment and systems stayed long forgotten. The rats repurposed it as a storage facility.

The turian knew their luck would have to run out sometime, so he'd better hurry. He lifted Katie in his arms once again and carried her to an old dusty terminal, gently seating her on top of it. The terminal was right in the center of the large space, which allowed him to keep an eye on her position. Garrus began meticulously scanning the place, eyes darting back and forth. His armor was the first thing that caught his gaze. It was tossed unceremoniously in the far corner of the room in a crumpled heap. Strange. That was not your standard-issue turian combat hardsuit, but the best captain's salary could buy. He almost felt a pang of regret seeing it discarded so carelessly. And as he looked closer, studying the battered ceramic plates, he understood why. Garrus uttered a low growl of frustration.

"What's wrong?" Katie asked.

"Bastards ruined my armor. Broke the clasps, probably as they were figuring out how to get it off. It's completely useless."

He kicked some wooden cases next to him with an exasperated huff, the containers clattering loudly across the floor. She held back a smile. He sounded like a little boy whose favorite toy was broken. Which was sort of accurate—turians did love their toys, military hardware and gadgets, with an almost obsessive fervor.

His weapons were nowhere to be seen. Not that he expected to find them in here. Too valuable, they were probably instantly appropriated by krogan guards, as the large nonadjustable handles rendered them useless for batarians or asari.

His tunic was in the pile with his broken armor. He lifted it off the floor, but instead of pulling it on, looked back at Katie.

She was sitting on the cold metal of the terminal station, leaning forward, arms pressed against the edges, eyes looking into the floor. She still wore that poor excuse for undergarments which left most of her skin exposed. He knew it made her uncomfortable, as he remembered how much time the human had spent sitting in the cage folding her body in a way that would cover her unplated skin. Plus, there was the night temperature problem that needed to be addressed. His tactical tunic would be perfect for that—lightweight and durable, it allowed for ease of movement while offering some resistance to minor damage or environmental hazards.

Katie's jumpsuit wasn't anywhere around; Garrus figured they had probably torn it into pieces when they had been peeling it off her. While there were more piles of strange clothing gathered from slaves over the years, they all looked too dirty and had a foul smell. He wouldn't let her near those. Garrus walked to the female and offered her his underlay.

"Here," he said. "It's not much, but it will keep you warm."

She examined the quaint dark grey garment that resembled a hoodie. The material was synthetic, textured, with mesh sections for flexibility and breathability. It was his, no doubt.

She carefully climbed down from the terminal, making sure not to lose her footing. Garrus watched as she pulled the tunic over her head, the fabric draping over her form. It suited her so well, he thought with a strange sensation in his stomach, though it was clearly designed for a different physique. The chest area was wide, intended to accommodate a turian's carapace, giving the garment an oversized look on her slender frame. The collar, too, was broad and fell awkwardly across her back, resembling a hood. When she moved, the hem lifted up, revealing more of her legs. There was something disquieting about how it sat at the top—too wide for the human female, it was falling down one of her shoulders, exposing it together with the smooth neckline in such an appealing way… Spirits, she was all covered in his scent now.

Transfixed, Garrus couldn't tear his eyes away from her, feeling his pulse race.

"How does it look?" she asked, a bit self-conscious in that ridiculous alien thing.

The turian cleared his throat. "It looks good on you," his voice trailed off as his eyes kept scanning her human body.

He never actually had a chance to examine her like this before, as they had been cramped in that tiny space of the crate for most of their time together. She looked even thinner in a tunic. Pretty tall for her species, she wasn't too muscular. Her wrists and ankles were narrow. As was her waist that was now hidden by his turian tactical underlay. Narrow waists were something turians found very attractive in their females and instinctively looked for when chasing a potential mate. Same went for their necks—and hers was just so smooth, so… enticing. His body was reacting to what he saw, and he really needed it to stop. It was too distracting and felt wrong.

So he looked away and started gathering supplies. There was a storage rack against the back wall of the room, it had almost everything they needed.

First thing he was interested in was water. Garrus found a unit of small water packs and offered one to Katie. Spirits, she was thirsty! She drained three packs in quick succession, only confirming his earlier suspicions that humans required more hydration than his kind. He quickly decided to take as many of the water packs as they could carry without slowing themselves down.

He found two adjustable cross-body bags used by medics and started stacking them full with water and medi-gel tubes. He looked around some more and spotted levo and dextro-based rations. The fact got him really excited. This was good, very good. Maybe she could eat them better, maybe these won't make her stomach hurt.

No drugs though, of any kind. He found an old med-kit and ripped it apart, hoping to find something even remotely helpful. Nothing. Damn it. He growled in disappointment, his fist slammed at the shelf of the rack, leaving a dent. She jumped, startled.

"I was sure we'd find some meds here. I'm sorry," he answered her silent question.

She walked towards him and wrapped herself around his arm. "Don't worry," she said quietly. "I feel a little better. Just needed some rest…"

Garrus smiled at the fact that she was the one who tried to be comforting. "Sure you can walk?"

"Yes…" she paused. "But can you find me some boots, maybe?"

The turian looked at her surprised. Was she joking? He glanced at her bare feet. Garrus had noticed a while ago they were flat, so unlike turian, not at all intended for sprinting. And those weird looking many toes on them—five, just like on her hands. Beyond alien.

"Cold and painful on uneven surfaces," she explained simply, so he could understand.

"How did humans ever manage to survive?" He looked genuinely perplexed but didn't argue. If she needed boots, he'd find her boots.

He found several pairs, she chose the one that fit her size.

In his last glance over the many shelves and crates of the storage, he spotted something else. Stims! Small syringes with one-dose stimulants.

Without even thinking, Garrus gave himself a booster shot. Unlike the synt adrenaline, the effects were not volatile, but every bit as immediate. He felt his mind sharpening, fatigue and muscle ache growing fainter. This was good. Even his chest pain got weaker, though didn't go away completely. He was contemplating if he should give a shot to Katie as well, but eventually decided against it. Boosters of this kind were unpredictable if mixed with other drugs. He didn't want to risk it. He grabbed the stims and put them in the bag.

"Ready?" he finally asked, when they were all set.

She nodded, but didn't look too convincing. Garrus saw she was not much better, but at least she could stand on her own feet now. There were no other options. They needed to go, and they needed to go now.

"Whatever happens, you stay behind me. At all times. Do you understand?"

She nodded again, her gaze unwavering despite the fear that flickered beneath the surface.

Garrus moved with practiced efficiency, hanging the lighter medbag across her body before shouldering the heavier one himself. He checked his weapons meticulously, improvising two holsters—one nestled beneath his carapace, another at his side. The weight of the rifle settled into his hand bringing the familiar comfort.

"Katie..." he began, mandibles flaring with hesitation. "I don't know what's on the other side of that door. I might need to do things..."

The words caught in his throat.

...that will terrify you.

Before he could continue, her hand found its way to his chest. Her eyes, when he met them, were calm and gentle.

"I know what you need to do, Garrus," she said quietly. "They don't deserve anything less. Besides..." Her gaze shifted to the door, and the change in her expression sent a shiver down his spine. "...it's not you they should be afraid of."

This female, she will be the death of me.

With that thought, he unlocked the heavy door.

She blasted them out of existence. Ripples of manipulated dark energy shook the air around them. The raw force of the mass effect field sent tremors through his body. Garrus had witnessed Katie's biotics at work a couple of times, but the sheer devastation it caused now was something he could barely stomach. The deafening roar of the blast gave way to an eerie silence, only the sound of dust settling in its wake. Their dust! The emergency lighting flickered with an ominous red glow, casting shadows over what used to be a battleground just a minute ago…

The rats met them with everything they got the moment the door opened. Way more of them than he had expected. Our luck had to run out sometime, Garrus thought ruefully as he took in the enemy numbers.

Fuck. They must have realized something was wrong the second the airlock got sealed shut, giving them time to prepare for whatever would come through that door. Almost all of them batarians, a handful of krogan. Bastards stayed in their defense positions, discharging all the fire power they had.

Garrus leaned against the corner of the corridor—the only cover available to them—as he fired round after round. His rifle kicked against his shoulder with each shot, the familiar recoil so calming for his frayed nerves. The human huddled close beside him. Garrus would spare her an occasional glance, then with renewed vigor he would steady his aim and continue to unleash a storm of accurate fire on their enemies.

She stood behind him, watching. It was the most graceful thing she had ever seen—the effortless way his talons pulled the trigger, the fluid motion of his body as he lined up each shot. He was one with his weapon, handling it with deadly precision, never firing if he wasn't sure the bullet would find its mark. He kept track of his breathing, taking shots on an exhale. It was almost poetic, the way he moved.

He'd taken out about half of them when she realized there were way too many. Probably more than he had expected. But he never faltered, never doubted. And as she was looking at him, she knew her turian would never stop.

The sound of gunfire filled the air, a symphony of explosions and impacts. But amidst the chaos, she couldn't take her eyes of him. He was her weapon, her shield. He was hers.

Garrus grunted. They were overwhelming him with their onslaught. He had no spare thermal clips, and the rifle was overheating fast. The shotgun was useless at this range. He was assessing their options, as he ducked behind his cover once again, evading another round of bullets.

Suddenly, amidst that noise, he heard a metal cling he knew too well. A grenade. Fuck. The rats had grenades. And apparently no brains, since they thought it would be a good idea to use them in an underground tunnel. They threw one in the hall, but not far enough to reach the corner Garrus and the human were hiding behind. He moved fast, grabbing her in his arms and pulling further into the hallway, away from the blast wave. The sound was deafening. It stunned the female. Dust and smoke obscured his vision as he left her there in a disoriented state and returned back to his position.

The concrete walls were riddled with cracks now, as was the ceiling. And then, he realized what they were doing. Bastards couldn't get rid of him by firing from where they were. And couldn't leave their positions to move in closer—the hallway was too long, providing no in-between cover, thus making them an easy target for the turian. So they opted for the solution number three. Bury them inside. Make the tunnel collapse on itself. It was risky. Too risky to try it without proper knowledge of structural weaknesses of this place. But that just might work.

He looked behind his cover to see what the rats were up to, their vague shapes moving in the smoke and dust. They couldn't see him either, he decided. Garrus steadied his breathing and scanned the line of sight through the scope. Two more or less distinct shadows. He ventured to take a shot, then another one. Shrieks. His bullets found their targets. Retaliatory fire followed, random and disorderly. Slavers, he snorted with disdain.

"Bury the fucker in there, will you!" he heard an angry krogan roar.

Another grenade spun through the air and landed in the hallway, couple of meters away from his cover. Shit. These walls won't take another blast, he thought looking at pieces of debris that used to be part of the ceiling just a minute ago.

But before he could bolt, he saw the grenade suddenly stop. Stop spinning, stop moving, as if frozen in time. It then lifted into the air slowly and darted back, accelerating as it went.

"Grenade!" he heard a batarian voice, instantly followed by an explosion.

Another wave of dust and smoke made him shield his face. He felt her moving past him before he could see her. She walked slowly and carefully, passing between the chunks of concrete, swaying with every step.

She didn't listen to him. She never listened. She'd been scared and helpless for so long, she was sick of it. He'd done so much for her, carried her this far. It was her turn to help and protect him. And for the first time in a while, she felt like she could. Katie didn't know what that dreadful asari had done to her. Part of her wanted to never know, never remember. What she knew was, when the time came, there was no hesitation, no fear, only cold focus.

His heart stopped in his chest as he watched her. What was she doing? She was probably concussed, had no idea what was happening. Panic set in when he realized she was heading straight at them. Without thinking, Garrus jumped to his feet, rifle ready to fire, and rushed after her.

The smoke was thick and his vision was blurred. As he charged through the debris, he could hear the sounds of gunfire and explosions. He took out two batarians he could see, their bodies falling lifeless to the ground. But she was in his line of sight, blocking his view. Damn it.

The air began to clear, and he saw her. Walking in the middle of the chaos, biotics glowing in purple. They fired at her relentlessly, bullets striking her shield. The force of the impacts sent ripples through the field, causing it to undulate and dance like a water surface. Despite the intense onslaught, she remained completely unfazed, not even flinching as the rounds bounced off her protective barrier. The enemy's shots were accomplishing nothing more than disturbing the calm of her soft purple glow.

"Oh shit! She's biotic!"

More pointless gunfire. Garrus saw she broadened her field, shielding them both.

"Katie!" he yelled at her, his voice cutting through the deafening chaos that filled the tunnel. She didn't respond, her eyes locked onto the rats ahead. Garrus knew that look by now; it was the same trance-like state that the asari had put her in before. He wanted to reach out and grab her, yank her back to their corner where they could regroup and plan their next move. But he knew it was too dangerous. If he broke her concentration now, they would be left completely exposed on the open ground, with no shield and no cover. All he could do was hope that she could hold it together long enough for him to reach the airlock doors.

She did. Spirits, she did more than that. Garrus had never seen anything like it.

When they realized their guns were useless, the slavers started to retreat from the airlock deep into the room. It was a large space, more of a hall. Filled with makeshift recreational areas. The dirty mattress covered with dried blood was thrown in the center of the room. She had seen it before. She knew the smell of it.

They brought her in this room after they captured her. Three of them. She was kicking and screaming, which made them laugh only harder. They threw her on that filthy mattress. She remembered how they hummed and cheered as their hands were grabbing and groping everywhere, ripping her clothes off. They especially enjoyed the last part. She blasted one of them with her biotics, before they could restrain her hands again. They hurt her for it. One of them brought a syringe and stuck it in her arm. She would never forget the pain, spreading through her veins, making her convulse in agony. The spasms were so severe she vomited on one of them and everywhere around her. Maybe that's what stopped them from raping her. She wasn't sure. They started hitting her in disgust, until they finally knocked her out.

She recognized the room immediately.

That's where they did it to so many girls, maybe even children.

They thought that retreating away from her would save them. They thought they could get out. They thought wrong. She wouldn't let them.

It was harder to concentrate, her head was searing with pain, her limbs felt like they were filled with lead. She was wearing thin. And they knew it. They were waiting it out. So she did the only thing she could do, knowing full well the repercussions of it. She could pay the price gladly if it meant they would never hurt anyone the way they hurt them.

The air rippled once more, but this time it was different. The waves weren't moving outwards as they always did; instead, they rushed inward, spiraling around her like an invisible tornado.

"She is going nuclear!" someone shrieked in panic.

Garrus knew what it meant. Is that what it was? He was seized with fear. But not for himself. Could she really do it? She would have to use all of her eezo for that. Did she know what it would do to her? Spirits, he couldn't stop her.

It happened in an instant, though to Garrus, it played out in agonizing slow motion.

Katie's body became the eye of a storm that was her full biotic power. A vortex of purple light swirled around her, the annihilation field gaining its momentum, pulling matter into its grasp and disintegrating it completely.

And then, with a sudden, explosive release, she triggered her Nova. The walls shuddered and space itself seemed to warp as raw, unstoppable energy erupted outward. Within its radius nothing stood a chance. The slavers, their faces contorted in terror, scrambled to escape. But their efforts were futile. One by one, they were lifted off their feet, pulled inexorably towards the epicenter of the biotic storm. Their screams were cut short as they entered the maelstrom.

The vortex ground everything in its wake indiscriminately. Metal twisted and warped before disintegrating. Polymer components of weapons and gear melted away in seconds. Flesh and bone offered no more resistance than paper in an open flame. In a horrifying instant, organic and inorganic matter alike was reduced to its base particles, vaporized by the sheer intensity of the biotic field.

As if the devastation before them wasn't enough, a deafening roar erupted from behind when the tunnel began to collapse in on itself, the tremors from the biotic explosion proving too much for the already weakened structure. Chunks of concrete and metal rained down, sealing off that part of the compound forever.

Garrus's instincts kicked in instantly, and he lunged for Katie, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her down with him. His body curled protectively over hers as debris showered around them. The choking dust invaded his lungs and triggered violent coughs that wracked his entire frame.

Then it all stopped. An unsettling silence fell over the room, the air thick with aftermath. Fine particles—a grotesque mixture of pulverized tunnel debris and what used to be batarian and krogan slavers—settled on the ground with audible rustle in the sudden quiet.

Garrus couldn't process what he'd just witnessed. His mind reeled, trying to reconcile the devastating power with the fragile human in his arms. Still in shock, he looked down at her, hands carefully gripping her shoulders for support.

Katie stood on all fours eyes fixed on the floor below, her body seized with pain, as she realized the extent of the damage she had inflicted upon herself. Strong turian hands pulled her upright despite her weakened state. Garrus's scent filled her nostrils—musk and gun oil.

As he tried to steady her, she looked into his eyes. How were they so piercing blue? She never knew anyone with eyes like that. So full of concern and empathy.

He was saying something, probably asking her if she was okay. She wasn't sure. She knew her eezo was depleted, and the exhaustion she felt was unlike anything she had experienced before. It wasn't just physical fatigue—it was a deep, soul-crushing weariness that left her feeling utterly drained.

Garrus continued to speak, his words coming as if from a distance. Katie tried to focus on his voice. "I need… I need a minute," she said weakly.

He nodded but wasn't convinced a minute would do the trick. Her face was almost white now, blood was running down her nose and onto the tunic. Eyes were glistening, but no water was coming out of them. Maybe she didn't have any left.

They remained locked in that position for her to catch her breath. But Katie knew she was wasting precious time. They were almost at the finish line. So close. Yet here she was, barely able to keep upright, let alone walk. A surge of frustration coursed through her. They'd come too far to falter now. And Garrus... he couldn't possibly manage to carry her and navigate the climb to the surface hatch.

She gritted her teeth. God damn it! She had to move, to find some last reserve of strength. With a determined set to her jaw, she gestured her turian for assistance. Understanding immediately, he placed a supportive hand on her back. Gently, he pulled her up.

"Garrus…" she heard her own voice somewhere far away.

The world around her swayed and went completely dark.

She collapsed into his arms with an eezo depletion shutdown.