Lazarus Project: Mass Effect 2 (Shenko)

Chapter 67

Milky Way/Ismar Frontier/SSV Normandy SR-2

Earth year: 2185 CE --- October

Callie was still in the airlock when she paged him on her comm. "Garrus.Meet me in the Port Observation room."

"On my way Shepard."

"Joker, get us out of here. Plot a course for Zorya, Ismar Frontier."

"Aye aye, Commander."

Kasumi wasn't in residence when Callie reached the Port Observatory where Cerberus had installed a small bar. Sighing relief, she checked the liquor stores for suitable drinks. Garrus arrived then, seating himself while she filled two glasses, handing him one before settling into a chair opposite.

"So?" He asked, noting her tension. "How'd it go?"

Callie grunted, taking a huge swallow of brandy. There was none of her favourite Peruvian whiskey to be found, so she'd settled for Chakwas' Serrice Ice Brandy. It was smooth, yet burned as she swallowed, leaving behind a warm tingly sensation on her tongue. She knew it wasn't a dextro-based drink Garrus could share so she'd poured him something she knew tasted similar.

"Shepard?"

"I don't know." Callie whispered. Much of her anger had burned off while she'd been in the elevator . The adrenaline had left her in a rush, leaving her feeling cold and shaky. "She confessed to everything Garrus. Promised to do what I asked."

"Which is what, exactly?"

"Tell Kaidan the truth. Get me his extranet address. Apologize to you and Tali."

"Mmm. So she lied about you not being dead. About not going undercover."

"She did."

"Dammit Shepard. I'm sorry, I should never have believed her. I should have trusted my instincts."

"It's not your fault Garrus." Callie reminded him.

"I know. Just.. I can't begin to imagine what Kaidan went through. That Liara deliberately kept this from him, just seems so..."

"Cruel?"

"Exactly. I never thought Liara could do something like this."

"Everyone has secrets Garrus. Some people are just better at hiding it than others. She did say she thought about telling Kaidan the truth."

"So why didn't she?"

"She said that after keeping it secret for so long and not hearing from Cerberus, she thought it would be too little, too late. Giving him false hope for something that might never happen."

"I suppose." Garrus conceded. "But I still think she should have told him. A small hope is better than no hope at all."

Callie said nothing. Would she have wanted hope if it had been Kaidan who had died? Yes! Yes, she thought. Even imagining she might never see or speak to him again was sending waves of panic through her body.

"Shepard?" Garrus prompted, seeing her shiver.

"You're right. A small hope is better than none."

"So what happens now? What will you do if Liara keeps her promise?"

"First I'll need to write to him. Apologize for not contacting him."

"You can't possibly think you need to apologize for that Shepard. You were unconscious!"

"But I do Garrus. He was right to be angry about that. I didn't try to contact him. I questioned Anderson, but when he wouldn't tell me, I didn't pursue it."