Honor's Boundary Chapter 2: Chance Happenings

Honor's Boundary -
A Garrus Vakarian Tale
By: Kellieqd
Game: Mass Effect
Pairing: Shepard...eventually
Disclaimer:  The Mass Effect universe and it's characters are the sole intellectual property of Bioware and EA. This is simply my interpretation of their story.

Chapter 2: Chance Happenings

Garrus worked to open his eyes as synthesized light flooded his bedroom.  It may have made the Citadel feel more like home but some mornings he wished he had opted for the traditional black void of space to greet him instead of the light pouring over his senses. Every morning at 0600 sharp. Most days he hit the dimmer button on the side table by his bed, but not today. Today he was determined to pin Saren.  

He rolled his long legs off the side of the bed and staggered to sit up. He rubbed his eyes, planted his feet on the ground and made his way over to the cabinet in the corner. He pulled out his plain blue under shirt and plain blue briefs, the same boring outfit he wore every day. He worked to fit his armor on, it was a struggle to assemble the various components before he had his morning cup of turian mogue (the closest human equivalent being coffee, only mogue had a richer flavor. He'd once heard it compared to what human's call a "brazil nut" in taste and it was more of a viscousy gel than a liquid).  Fully clothed he made his way to the mess area.  He still had leftovers from last night and he was going to need them. That Brandy had packed a hell of a punch and he had to be performing at his best today. He threw back a medi-gaurd tablet just in case a full breakfast didn't do the trick. Couldn't have a headache sneaking in and distracting him.  He grabbed his datapad and ran out the front entry.

He left completely engrossed with the data he had collected on Saren, he had read through it a hundred times, but he just didn't have anything concrete. There had been reports of Geth sightings following the Spectre's recent activities. No one had seen Geth outside of the Perseus Veil since the Morning War over 250 years ago. It was just too big of a coincidence, but he couldn't link the two together. What was Saren doing, building an army? To what end? Garrus had met Saren. He was ambitious, maybe even ruthless at times, but he wasn't tyrannical. It just didn't make sense. And it didn't explain why the Geth would follow him. Lost in his own head he failed to see what he was walking right into...

"Hey Vakarian, need a ride?" Chellick volunteered. Shoot! Just what Garrus wanted to hear.

"Good morning," he said dryly. "Don't worry about me, I can catch the next transit, I don't want to impose." He didn't mind Chellick, he was a good guy, played by the rules, he even had Garrus' back most of the time. But he spent most of his time trying to get into Pallin's good graces, glorifying him with an undue amount of reverence.  It rubbed Garrus the wrong way. Not to mention he had always had a thing for Solana. Which Garrus made sure would never happen.

"Don't be ridiculous, we're going to the same place, just get in will you!" It was not a question, so he begrudgingly took a seat. After listening to Chellick drone on and on about his most recent conquest; he had busted a Batarian drug ring operating out of the lower wards.  Garrus made sure to launch out of the car as soon as it touched down.

"Spirits Vakarian, don't hurt yourself, C-Sec can function without you, ya know?" he said with a chuckle.

Yeah yeah, very funny, why don't you run and tell that to your daddy...no Garrus, just be nice...he's just being friendly. "Thanks for the ride, saved me the shuttle fare, I owe you a drink sometime."

"I think I'll take you up on that one of these days, see you later!"

They parted ways. Finally! He needed to talk to the Executor now! He had to make him see there was a real threat here. He burst into his office collecting what meager evidence he had trying to figure out the most convincing way to present it. No matter how he arranged it all, he knew it was going to be difficult. But he had to try! Just as he went to page Pallin's office, the screen on his desk lit up.

"The Executor would like to see you in his office effective immediately," barked the comm.

What? Is he coming to his senses? It couldn't be... or could it?

Pallin's main office was not at C-Sec, he would have to make his way across the Presidium to the Embassy offices in order to speak with him. He decided to walk, he could use the time to collect his thoughts build his case. He alternated between a stroll and a brisk walk as his mind reeled. He approached the entry way and the doors slid open without warning, catching him off guard.

"Garrus, good. Have a seat," said Pallin.

"I'm so glad you called this meeting, I was just about to page you, I am about to break this case wide open, this is big!" Garrus blurted out.

"Garrus, this situation has become problematic for me. The Council is breathing down my neck on this one. You're going against a Spectre, by extension the Council feels like you are questioning their judgement. I must say I agree. I went through your activity logs from the week, you have been trying to access classified information above your clearance. I'm sorry, but this case is no longer your concern. We have real threats to deal with here at the Citadel, we don't need valuable resources wasted on chasing some delusion."

Garrus, turned around quickly to face the door, away from Pallin. He couldn't let him see his face. Keep it together, keep it together, don't do anything rash, what would your father do? Ha, Garrus knew what his father would have done, he would have never looked at the case. Turians must always uphold their Turian fellowship above all else, to turn on your own brother was the worst kind of dishonor.

"But Executor, please. The new Spectre, the human, she is interested in looking into Saren's activities... surely the Council must have some concerns or they would never have appointed her like that. And what about Nihlus?? You can't tell me you believe that sham of a story about him being shot by panicked civilian. There's no -"

"Enough!" Pallin cut him short, "The matters of the Council are not your concern. Are we clear? Or is this going to be a problem? I don't want to suspend you! I would hate for your Father's name to be tarnished like that."

Garrus cringed. He could feel his blood pressure rising. He was becoming frenzied.  How could Pallin be so blind... so ignorant. He was putting everyone at risk by his inaction.

But he paused, took a few deep breathes and replied, "Crystal clear. Permission to return to C-Sec sir?"

"Granted, you're dismissed,"  he motioned for his visitor to leave. Garrus' anger was palpable and Pallin was on edge. He really didn't want to discipline the young Turian agent. He wished he would just fall in line like the rest of the men, the way his Father had done, not causing waves. This path he was on would only get him into trouble.

Garrus attacked the door control as if his life depended on it and bolted into the hall, running head first into a group leaving from the Human Ambassador's office.

"I... I'm sorry... I didn't mean.. I'm just..." he struggled to explain himself, disoriented as he shifted his eyes up to see the witnesses of his embarrassment. Please no. Who else could it be at that moment but the first Human Spectre herself. She was accompanied by a male Krogan and a young human male, judging by his amp a fairly advanced biotic.

"Well, you certainly know how to introduce yourself," she said pointedly.

He couldn't read her, he didn't know if she was joking or irritated by the preceding events. He struggled to remember her name...Sampson, Sawyer??

Breaking the awkward silence she said, "I'm Commander Shepard. This is Staff Lieutenant Alenko and Urdnot Wrex."

Shepard! He had been close. "It is an honor to meet you, I suppose congratulations are in order. Spectre?"

"Whoa, you know about that? Great, the whole Citadel must know!" she shook her head.

He was confused at her response, to sound ashamed of her promotion. Anyone else would kill for that chance, including himself.

"I'm sorry, that came out wrong. Thank you, I am deeply humbled and grateful to be given this opportunity. It's just, it only happened yesterday. I didn't realize it was public knowledge, that's all." It must have been that damn reporter that tried to corner her yesterday, she thought.

"Enough about me, I've met the Executor before, seems nice enough, for a politician. What's got you so worked up?" she prodded.

He was unprepared for her question, he forgot how forward humans could be. But he had never had a female speak to him so directly.  Pallin wasn't a politician... not exactly... or was he? He didn't know anymore.

"Well, actually, it may interest you Commander. I was the C-Sec Officer in charge of investigating Saren, or at least I was, until a minute ago. I know he's dangerous, I can 'feel it in my gut' as your people say. But the Council doesn't take kindly to us delving into their affairs. They shut down my investigation, and Pallin went right a long with them. I want to take him down Shepard, he shames our entire race!" he couldn't help getting worked up again.

"Easy tiger. I agree with you, and I can tell you the Council isn't exactly receptive to my evidence either. If I hadn't bumped into that Quarian, they would have done the same to me!"

Quarian. Who had he missed? He was not happy about this oversight.

"Quarian Ma'am? What did she have? I haven't been able to get anything solid on Saren, everything is buried under miles of red tape, " he said, sounding slightly defeated.

"Yikes, Ma'am? That hurts. I'd even take Sir over that. Tali came across a data disc that recorded Saren having a conversation with an Asari matriarch tying him to the Geth, it was damning evidence. No matter how much they didn't want to believe it, there was no denying the vid. Not even Saren's denial could overshadow it. That's why they appointed me as a Spectre I can handle this "discreetly" and gather a better case against him without the confines of a normal officer. But I am still Alliance first."

Tali, that name sounded familiar. A Quarians, of course, if anyone knew about the Geth and their motivations it would be a Quarian.

"I'm impressed. If I'm not being too bold, I would like to volunteer my services. Like I said, I want to take down Saren just as much as you do. I think I could do a lot more good serving under you." What? What was he saying? It was the adrenaline talking. Abandoning C-Sec, serving under an Alliance Commander. It's unheard of. But, it felt right.

"A Turian volunteer? Didn't see that coming.  Well Wrex and Tali already signed on. What's one more alien face aboard? Besides it sounds like you know just as much about Saren as anyone, we could use your intel. If you're serious about this, I want you at the Normandy's docking bay at 0700  tomorrow. But know that I may be a Spectre, but I don't play fast and loose. The mission comes first, I won't have any one jeopardizing that or putting my crew at risk. If you can handle that, I am excited to have you aboard... uh...?" she fumbled realizing she didn't know his name.

"Spirits, how rude. I can't believe I didn't introduce myself. Garrus... Garrus Vakarian. Thank you Commander, you won't regret this," he said eagerly, yet embarrassed by his lack of manners.

"I hope not Vakarian," she said, but with a playful look in her eye. At that,  her squad made their way out of the Embassy wings.

Did that really just happen? Shepard was unlike any human he'd met before. Sure he'd had his fair share of run-in's with Alliance officers, but they were all so typical - fool-hardy, arrogant, naïve. No, this was different. There was something about her that stirred you to action, he saw that in her squad. He knew the Krogan merc that was with her, Wrex was his name. He had cleared him for partial access to the Citadel when he had arrived last week;  he had been flagged as a potential trouble-starter. He wasn't the type who would follow someone unwittingly, and he knew she couldn't afford to hire him. Mercs of his caliber don't come cheap. No, she was assembling a team unlike any other before. He finally had the chance to bring a little justice to the galaxy, he wanted in!