Delayed Translation

Part 11: Her Background

It was harder than he had expected to keep an eye on Scion. The black turian seemed to manage to vanish around corners or behind doors. Garrus had almost considered asking Sidonis for help but had decided to keep it to himself.

At least he had succeeded in making sure that he was present during every interrogation of the human.
He snorted in frustration; the interrogation had swapped from physical violence to verbally. Saren had not laid a hand on her but he always taunted her by describing how he killed humans, how she was lower than a pyjak and how he knew how the real commander had died. She would respond by simply hanging her head low like abused varren with the dark fringe covering her face. He had also started to deny her sleep by keeping guards in her room to wake her up.

Garrus wanted to kick himself for feeling sorry for the human and still not stand up for her. Could he not just pick a side and stick to it, why did he have to swing back and forth?
He scratched the back of his head a bit annoyed over that they also had not gained any new information about her. She still clung to her claim that she was commander Shepard, captain of Normandy. He had a nagging feeling that Scion probably had been able to coax more information from her.
A small beep from his omni-tool reminded him that it was time for yet another interrogation.
He made his way too the room as quick as he could. At first he thought he was the first one but whispering voices from the other door said otherwise.

He thought about eavesdrops but decided to just walk in, as the human's voice was too quiet for the translator.
He was met with a pair of green eyes as he opened the door. He noticed that the human's nose were now completely healed and guessed that Scion had smuggled more medi-gel to her. Her eyes did not look as tired as they had last time so he assumed that she had managed to get some rest.
Scion sat crouched next to her back turned against him.

" Aaaah Garrus, what happen to knock knock." Scion asked and pretended to be angry as he turned around.

" Not like Arterius would knock."

The atmosphere in the room tensed when Garrus mentioned the ship owners name. He expected to hear Scion accusing him for killing the mood, but he stood up without a word.
The female remained sitting on the floor, she no longer looked towards him.

" You have not told anyone, right?" Scion asked in such a hushed tone that if not for his subvocals the message would had been lost.

" No, I keep my word when given." Garrus answered and felt a bit offended that the other turian thought otherwise.

He was about to voice his thoughts when Scion gestured him to be quiet.
Surprised he complied and did not say anything and lucky that for the door opened and Saren paraded in with his guards.

" Aaaah it seems like you two started earlier, I hope I have not missed anything. " Saren said as he saw them.

" No sir, we have not got anything new from her. " Scion answered and straightened up.

" If so then I bet you will love to hear what my contact provided me with." The hooded turian mused as he clicked up a screen in his omni-tool.

Garrus saw how green eyes narrowed in what he guessed was suspicion.

" I pulled a few strings and found some interesting things. Like how this human was forced onto the Shepard family." He said with a purr as the female widened her eyes.

" What is the term again... oh yes, adopted. Or in this case picked up from the street and forced onto a family. Hannah Shepard widower, mother of John Shepard... owner of Haniel Shepard formerly known as Jane Doe. " The word owner was dragged out and dropped of venom as Saren looked at the human.

Garrus winched inside over the words, it made it sound like she was worth less than a slave.

He could see that the words had affected her as he looked into her eyes, he expected sadness or guilt in her but found anger.

" The only thing that surprises me is that it seems to be true that you are a commander."

Haniel said nothing, even thought it looked like she was struggling to keep her tongue. Scion had placed a hand on her shoulder and Garrus assumed that was the only thing keeping her from lashing out.

" I wonder, how did an unwanted thing become a commander? I bet you jumped at the opportunity when the real commander, your brother died. You must have hated him for always having it better than you. " Saren continued as he was relishing in the moment.

Her lower lip started to lose colour from her biting hard into it.

" I'm sure you were happy to finally get rid of ..."

That was it for Haniel, Garrus watched how something visible snapped in her and she flung herself forward trying to land a hit on Saren. Scion and Garrus hastily restrained her, keeping her arms behind her back and her legs from kicking. He tried to convince himself that it was not for her sake but for his fellow turian.

" SHUT UP ! You know nothing about us!" She screamed and tried to get lose.

" Oooh but I do. You good for nothing, street rat that no one wanted. I know that brother was a rash, bashful, ignorant and incompetent meat sack. And your dear mother always favourite him while she detested you. You were always in his shadow. " Saren answered with a sickly triumphing voice and used the words brother and mother with dripping sarcasm.

Haniel let out an impressive snarl and tugged her arms in an attempt to get free.

" So why don't you make yourself useful for once in you short lifetime and tell me. What and where is Cerberus? " He said with a colder tone in his voice and leaned in closer.

Suddenly she stopped struggling; instead she gave him a blank stare. Then she did something Saren was not prepared for. She leaned her head back to gain momentum and then spat at him.

" To hell with you. " She said with a icy voice.

Garrus felt like the time was about to stop, he saw everything in slow motion. He saw how the hooded turian's mandibles tightened around the jaw in disgust and fury and how his digits twisted. Garrus suddenly found himself between him and the human.

" Sir, let us handle the punishment of the prisoner. " He heard himself say in a distant voice.

Saren straightened his posture and gave him an observing glare. Garrus expected to be denied but Saren turned around and left the room in cold silence.

A/N: The part about adoption is not my own opinion and was not intended to offend anyone. It simply fits her background/character and the story arc.