Unseen: Mass Effect FanFiction (ReWritten)

Chapter 22

**Garrus POV**

"You want me to do what?" Garrus asked in disbelief.

'Does Solana know what she is asking for?'

"We need you to pull Captain Aster Shepard's file," Solana repeated like it wasn't a big deal.

"Her file is sealed," the human said as a matter of fact. "I can't access it without raising any alarms."

Garrus didn't answer and grabbed one of the drinks that Nihlus had brought over. He headed toward the living room and sat down. Solana and the human followed silently behind him. They took a seat in front of him.

"Why do you want to access her file?" Garrus asked, looking at the human.

"I know she is innocent," the human answered. "I heard rumors that additional evidence surfaced incriminating her after the Council cleared all charges."

Garrus mandibles twitched in disbelief. He was speechless.

'How can this human know all this? Does she have insider information?... Is she a reporter?!

"Who exactly are you?" Garrus asked suspiciously.

"I'm a concerned party," the human replied, smiling.

"But you can call me Mina," she reminded him.

"That information is classified," Garrus growled, shaking his head to ward off the scent that was too intoxicating. "I won't help you."

"Garrus," his sister exclaimed. "We're just trying to help."

"I don't need your help," Garrus growled.

"Captain Shepard is innocent," Solana continued. "They are framing her for no good reason, and we know we can clear her name. We just need you to pull her file."

"Give me a reason," Garrus stated.

Solana launched into the explanation, detailing some bullshit the bureaucratic roadblocks Mina had encountered trying to access certain records. Garrus listened intently, his mandibles twitching, his eyes constantly drifting back to Aster. He couldn't shake the sensation that something was profoundly wrong, a dissonance between what he saw and what his instincts screamed.

"Why are you so concerned with what happens to her?" Garrus asked. "You barely even know her."

Garrus took another sip of his drink, racking his brain, trying to recall when and where he could have possibly marked her. He didn't recall anything, but there was no way he could have marked some random human.

"She's my friend," Solana replied. "Friends help each other if and when they can."

"What about you, Mina?" Garrus asked the human who hadn't moved from the chair. "Why do you want to clear her name?"

"My fate is tied with hers," the human replied cryptically. "I need her name cleared so that I can walk around without being shot."

"You don't even look like her," Garrus started giving her a once-over. "You have an arm, and she doesn't."

At this point, Garrus knew he was spouting nonsense. Even though she didn't look like Aster, the scent she carried was driving him insane.

"You sure about that?" the human asked, smiling. "She could have gotten an implant or cybernetics."

"She's fine the way she is," Garrus growled. "There was nothing wrong with her."

The longer they stayed, the more difficult it was to control his instincts. Instincts he hadn't known he possessed began to flare, demanding recognition. Demanding he claim her, now.