Human rituals

Chapter 7

“So…”

“I don’t wanna talk about it.”

“That can only mean that things didn’t go so good.”

Garrus did his best to focus his attention on the task in front of him. He was tired and frustrated, finally aware that everything was taking its toll. Dissimulating in front of Shepard after what happened in her apartment wasn’t easy at all, and he had ended up deciding to avoid her. It wasn’t something that made him feel any better, but at least that way he wouldn’t do anything stupid that could make her feel uncomfortable. He had to get himself back together, he definitely had more important stuff to worry about, but his hormones didn’t seem to agree with that.

“Nothing happened between us, Tali.” He replied lifelessly, without even looking at her. He knew the moment of interrogation would come sooner or later, but unfortunately, the quarian didn’t catch him in the best mood. She leaned towards the handrail before talking once again.

“Avoiding her is not your best choice, Garrus. Shepard is not stupid. She will notice it” She tried to convince him with a serious tone, something unusual in her during those types of conversations.  The turian finally stopped what he was doing and rested his arms on the keyboard, letting go a little sigh. Tali talked again, “Don’t give up so soon” Said before finally getting out of the Main Battery.

He turned to watch her leave, but just in that moment his attention was captured by something else. In the end of the hall, Javik was firmly holding Shepard by her arms. He could notice the Commander staring back at him just before the doors got closed, and he had to contain the strong impulse of wanting to go there. Why would they do that? He knew Javik was reading her thoughts, he had seen the process before. But why did Shepard allow it? Until that moment, they had only talked when it was strictly necessary, and something deep down made him feel this interaction was not.  He cursed his own thoughts. Since when did Javik start being a threat to him? It didn’t make any sense. There was absolutely no reason why they could get interested on each other in more than a professional way, but even aware of that, the terrible feeling didn’t seem to go away.

He spent the next hours focused on what he did best in the Main Battery, getting lost in his own tortuous reflections. The situation was starting to clarify that the time was running out and the moment of the final battle was closer every second. That, of course, if they managed to get to it alive, of course. He stopped his task abruptly, realizing he needed to act now. He had to put his fears aside and take the chance while he still got it.

With that on his mind, the turian left the place to search for the Commander.

-o-

“Doctor T’Soni, our networks have detected some information that could be of interest to you.”

The asari got close to the screen full of curiosity and she started investigating the archives that were there right away.  She saw an audio recording and a few short messages from the few contacts she still got on Omega. She clicked the audio.

“Sir, Aria T’Loak is trying to pass through our defenses.”

The skeptical laugh of a man was heard right before he answered.

“I want to see her try.”

The woman from the start talked once more, but this time with a nervous tone.

“There is a problem… Sir. She’s not coming alone. She’s getting aid from…”

Some interference didn’t allow her to hear the last words, and the recording ended. Liara had a terrible hunch.