Mass Effect: Alive

Ch. 4 Story Time

Hazel made her way down to the Main Battery. Why Garrus decided to hole himself up there, she'll never know. She wanted to hear more about what he had been up to during the two years she spent dead.

The door opened and Garrus turned around, slightly relaxing when he saw her. Was he expecting someone else? "Shepard. Need me for something?" he asked.

"Have you got a minute?" She looked him right in the eyes. "You still owe me that story, you know." He chuckled slightly.

"Sure, sure." He smiled. "Just checking the weapons systems. You can never be too careful." He motioned for Hazel to stand beside him. "I thought I'd seen every weapon in the galaxy in our fight against Saren. Mercenary work showed me otherwise." She leaned against the railing as she listened. "And now Cerberus rebuilds the Normandy with a few upgrades to boot. I wish we'd joined up with them sooner."

"We haven't joined Cerberus," Hazel retorted. "They're funding our mission. That's all." He held a hand up in defense.

"Relax, Shepard. Just a figure of speech." He lowered his hand, looking down a little. "I can't exactly doubt your judgement. Not after I got my own squad killed." Hazel cocked her head.

"What did your merc squad do? It didn't sound like you were available for hire."

"You saw Omega- it was full of thugs kicking the helpless." He tightened his fists slightly. "I formed my team to kick back. We weren't mercenaries." He paused. "At least, nobody was paying us." He walked around the area as he continued. "We made money by taking down slavers, pirates, or gangs that went too far."

Hazel bit her lip. "It didn't sound like you made any friends with the gangs." Garrus smirked.

"I got three separate merc bands to work together to take me down. My manager at C-Sec would be impressed. It was simple. We'd hit their shipments, disrupt activities. Get under their skin. Make them angry." He stood straight up. "They'd come charging right into our well-prepared kill-zone. Crossfire and snipers, clean and surgical. They never stood a chance."

"Nice," Hazel complimented, earning a grin from the turian. "Now, I have to know... how did you end up fighting mercenaries here on Omega?"

"I was wondering when that question would come up." Garrus sighed. "I trained to become a Spectre after the Normandy was destroyed, but it didn't work out. Too much politicking at the Citadel. Nobody was willing to take risks. Omega was filled with criminals nobody else could touch, and there was no red tape to slow me down. It was a perfect fit." He smiled at her, which made her eyes widen slightly in surprise and... blush? No way. "People here needed someone to believe in. Someone to stand up to the local thugs." He smirked. "But, not everyone can be that someone like Commander Shepard is for her friends and crew."

Her face turned red. "Flatterer."

"I try." Garrus smiled.

"So, that explains how you started. How'd you end up with a squad?"

"Not too different from how you formed your squad to fight Saren, actually. You prove that you can get things done, and people join up. Mercs who wanted to atone. Security consultants tired of playing by the rules. I gave them hope." He paused and looked away. "And now they're dead. Shows what I know."

"Tell me about your squad," Hazel said before she could stop herself. Shit, would this be too much of a sensitive topic for him?

"There were twelve of us, including me," he began. "Former military operatives, C-Sec agents, the usual. Had a salarian explosives expert. Pretty sure he'd spent time in the Special Tasks Group. My tech expert was a batarian, believe it or not." That caught Hazel's attention.

"Did he hear about the X-51 asteroid where we stopped Balak from destroying a colony?" she asked curiously.

"Yeah, but he didn't care. Said that Balak was an ass, anyways." He smirked. "Anyways, the tech expert. Not the friendliest guy, but he could hack any system ever built." Hazel bit her lip as she began to ask the next question.

"How did those mercenary gangs take down your team?" Garrus sighed and looked down.

"It was my own damn fault," he said. "One of my people betrayed me." He walked into the hall leading from the main battery, and Hazel followed suit. "A turian named Sidonis. He drew me away just before the mercs attacked my squad, then he disappeared." He stopped and turned to Hazel. "Everyone except me is dead because of him. And because I didn't see it coming."

"There's something about him. I just want to hold him close and whisper 'it will be all right.'" Kelly's words echoed in Hazel's head and... for some reason she actually wants to do just that. But she can't. What would Garrus think of that? Would he push her away?

"I'm not sure I understand," she said without thinking. "What happened, exactly?"

"Sidonis asked for my help on a job. When I got to the meeting point, nobody was there. By the time I got back to our hideout, the mercs had killed all but two of my squad. And they didn't last long."

"Do you know where Sidonis is now?" Hazel felt compelled to help him seek the vengeance he must be wanting for this. But Garrus shook his head.

"No. His trail vanishes after he leaves Omega. But I'll keep hunting." He turned his whole body towards Hazel. "I lost my whole team, except for Sidonis. One day I'll find him... and correct that." He looked down, sighing softly and looking back up. "Thanks for coming by, Shepard. I've got some things to take care of."

"Anytime, Garrus." Hazel smiled a little as he walked past her. He stopped before entering the room and turned around.

"Oh, by the way, forgive me for asking, but have you been sleeping alright? You look a little worse for wear." Hazel tensed up a little. Was it that obvious?

"I uh... I didn't exactly get a good night's rest. I might talk to Doctor Chakwas about maybe some medicine for it." Garrus thought for a moment.

"Well... if you ever find yourself in the need of company when you can't sleep, you know where to find me." He smiled and closed the door, leaving Hazel frozen in her spot with a bright red blush across her face.