The Hybrid | Book 1 | Garrus Vakarian | Mass Effect ✔

The Hybrid: Chapter Thirteen

Shepard was in an all out nightmare. Her mind felt as if it was going to break at any moment. If it wasn't for Garrus, Shepard may have put a bullet in her skull after watching Thane leave with the medical team. Now, on top of everything else, there was an assassin after them. She knew that they worked for Doctor Heart. She wished she could put a stop to the doctor but she was wondering to herself on why she should. The doctor could in fact save the universe. Shepard sighed as she stared off into the distance. She could use a drink, or several. Garrus stayed with her as she walked through the Citadel, making sure the assassin or anyone else for that fact would chase her down.

Garrus opened his mouth to say something, anything, to calm her nerves but nothing came out. There was so much he could say but he knew that nothing was going to help the situation at hand. They were wanted by a doctor they killed a year ago. Not only that but the Council wasn't too keen on what was happening behind their backs with the Turian government. Shepard pushed the button to the elevator causing Garrus to get out of daydreams. He stood there, wanting to give her some comfort. Instead he stood there staring down at her, nervous and worried for the Commander. She stood there with her arms folded across her chest, glaring down at the elevator doors.

"I..." Garrus began but clamped his mouth shut. Shepard shook her head, not muttering a word to him. He cleared his throat, nodding. She wanted silence and he could respect that. He had just wished there was something else he could do for her. Going out and killing this mad man may do more harm than good considering the Council members are on his side. Or at least the Turians.

"I would really like to find whoever is doing this and kill them. Not for the Council, not because of a fucking mission. Just for myself." Shepard said as they walked into the dimly lit elevator. Garrus pushed the button that read 'basement'. There was a good bar there, secluded. Not too loud and obnoxious like Purgatory. It also wasn't a crime scene.

"I know." Was all Garrus could say to her. Shepard stood with her back against the elevator, her mind swirling with new information and her anxiety was getting the best of her. Since she came back from the dead by Cerberus, nothing has been right.

"I bet Cerberus is funding them," Shepard found herself muttering.

"I wouldn't put it past them," Garrus sighed.

"Why..." Shepard's voice trailed off. She knew why they were doing this. They were focusing on saving the universe. Shepard glanced at Garrus, thinking about what the doctor was attempting to achieve. She found herself thinking on the idea. She glanced at Garrus, she has wondered what it would be like to have a child with him. She knew it could never happen but she did find herself wanting to have a child from time to time. But considering all the chaos that has been happening, she was sure nothing like that would happen.

They were all going to die from the Reapers. She knew that there was nothing she could do to stop it but damnit she wanted to. Shepard looked down to her feet, noticing that they were starting to blur. There was so much going on in her head, she felt like she was going insane.

All Garrus could do was put his hand on her shoulder. Shepard stood there, trying her best to stay strong. She sniffles, squeezing her eyes shut as the elevator doors opened. The familiar sound of chatting and the strong sent of Krogen and alcohol came through the doors causing her nose to scrunch. She never did like the smell of a Krogen but after being on the Normandy with them, she learned to live with it. She stepped out of the elevator and made a bee line towards the bar leaving Garrus behind to examine the room for any potential danger. The music wasn't booming so Garrus could hear the whispers and obnoxious behaviors with the customers that littered the area. He noticed a few Asari women dancing, chatting with the customers. Krogen sitting alone or with other Turians, possibly discussing war tactics.

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

Garrus looked over to Shepard who had a cup in her hands already. To think, all Garrus wanted to do was admit his feelings for her and now they were trying to stop a ghost from creating a horrible mistake for the future of the universe. A human and Turian hybrid? Even a Turian and Krogen hybrid? Garrus shuttered at the thought. Garrus was starting to wonder how long this had been going on. Surely creating hybrids would have taken years.

Garrus shook his head, he couldn't think about this anymore. He needed a drink, or several. He made his way over to the bar, taking a seat next to Shepard. She slammed her glass down, demanding for another. The bar keep didn't hesitate to pour her some light blue liquid. Garrus takes a strong Turian drink. Shepard and Garrus sat there drinking their pains away.

"Why stop them?" Shepard asked.

"Excuse me?" Garrus snapped his head towards her direction. He frowned, wondering if he had heard her right.

"They will do everything to stop us." Shepard frowned, "Thane nearly died from that damn assassin. The council is at each other's throats because of..." Shepard sighed.

"The council has always been toxic and you know that. For fuck sake they never believed you about the Reapers. They wouldn't know a war was happening if it bit them in the ass."

Garrus slammed a shot back, his throat burning as the liquid hit his stomach. He was already starting to feel something. He could feel his problems melt away which felt relieving.

"I wish I could run away," Shepard frowned.

"Stop." Garrus muttered, "just... stop." He shook his head.

"Fuck off." Shepard muttered.

Shepard and Garrus sat there in silence, staring at their empty glasses. Not a moment later, Shepard got up from the bar and walked away from Garrus, wanting to be left alone. She made a choice to leave the bar and check into a hotel room. That way she could be left alone and take a long, hot shower, to try and cry the pain away.