Adult-FanFiction.org : Games

Their Finest Hour	By : draygon Category: +M through R > Mass Effect Views: 8648 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: I do not own Mass Effect or EA, and I do not make any money from these writings.

Chapter List
- 13
- 14
- 15
As the transport doors opened, nearly half the crew of the Normandy stepped out onto the Citadel's Presidium. Most were using the Citadel as a stop off to their final destinations all over the galaxy. Miranda had undergone a radical transformation before leaving Arcturus. Gone was her usual attire festooned with Cerberus logos and in it's place was a rather expensive looking black and red dress that seemed to do more than her skin-tight uniform, if Garrus could judge from all the heads turning her way. Her hair was put up into a loose bun, and was dyed a lighter shade of brown. Both Garrus and Thane had trouble identifying her as Miranda when she had greeted them on the loading platform. The former Cerberus operative seemed to take that as a complement and had been smiling to herself the entire trip.
The only ones not with them were Doctor Chakwas, Donnelly and Daniels, who were being held by the Alliance pending a decision as to how much each had to do with the charges being filed against Shepard. Though since all had taken a proper leave of absence before joining with Shepard's crew, Garrus doubted the Alliance would charge them with anything at all.
Each of what was left of the Normandy's crew stood in the terminal, none knowing what to say. Goodbye seemed too final. "See you," Garrus offered first, clasping hands with Thane.
"Likewise." The assassin bowed his head and strode off toward C-Sec to meet his son.
"Well," Miranda seemed uncomfortable with the parting, her eyes misting slightly as she took a deep breath. "Take care." She smiled at each in turn, not wanting to seem out of place among so many potential eavesdroppers.
"You too, Miranda," Garrus smiled as he shook Miranda's hand. "Say hi to the family for me."
Miranda chuckled, touched by the sentiment and the poignancy of the moment. "I will."
And as Miranda walked away, Garrus had to fight to keep the same feelings from three years ago from over whelming him again. Willing one foot in front of the other, he strode over to the nearest Avina kiosk. "I need to find Barla Von."
The flickering purple V.I. paused for a moment to consult the registry before answering, "Barla Von has relocated his offices to the Presidium Commons. A Sky Car is available 6 meters from your current position."
Garrus had to clamp his mouth shut to keep from thanking the V.I. He chuckled to himself, 'I've definitely spent too much time with EDI.'

It seemed that Von had exchanged his obscure hole in the wall for a prominent store front in the ritziest part of the Presidium. As Garrus approached, the volus excused himself from two two salarian customers and shifted his rotund body toward the far end of his counter. "Ah, greetings Vakarian. What can this humble banker do for you today?"
Garrus gave the two salarians a sidelong glance and the two, sensing his need for privacy, left to look at the kiosk along the wall. "I was wondering if you could help me find someone. He was doing a job for an acquaintance of ours and I need to know where he's gone."
The indicator lights on Von's helmet lit up as he drew in a harsh sounding breath. "No need to say more, Vakarian. My employer has been keeping an eye on him as well. He's currently residing in Bachjret Ward, level twenty-five, apartment 38. My employer made sure he was put to the head of the line when he was relocated from Tayseri Ward after the attack three years ago."
Garrus nodded and started to remove his credit chit to pay. "No need, Vakarian. My employer is sympathetic to you and your Commander's plight." Von inhaled deeply again and lowered his voice slightly. "And do not worry about your Commander. The Hegemony may think it has the upper hand, but I hear from certain sources that she will be well provided for."
Garrus flicked his mandibles in confusion. "Provided for?"
Von shifted his eyes around to make sure they were not overheard. "I can not say anymore, Vakarian. You have your information."
Garrus nodded, knowing when he was being told to mind his own business. He made sure to repeat Chorban's address to himself several times to make sure he remembered it as he hailed a Sky Car at the far end of the corridor.
It seemed that even after all this time, Tayseri Ward still looked like it had been bombed only last week. There were no lights in large sections of the ward and several of the larger structures were still in need of repair, open to the vacuum of space with small bits of debris still orbiting the gaping holes. Bachjret ward, by contrast, was almost pristine. Tayseri might as well have been on another planet.
Level twenty-five was almost a solid block of apartments, mostly one or two bedroom homes interspersed with a few stores selling essentials like groceries and household items. Apartment 38 looked like any of the other homes as Garrus stepped up to the door. His years in C-Sec taught him that even the tiniest detail out of place was as good as a smoking gun. So when he spotted the almost translucent green smudge on the door knob, Garrus had his pistol out and his omni-tool ready to contact C-Sec.
Gently, he pushed the door open, not bothering with the light. If Chorban was injured he would more likely than not be jumpy and liable to shoot Garrus without thought. Garrus could hear the faint hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen to the left of the entrance. A quick glance inside told him the kitchen had likely not been used in several days. In fact, the entire apartment looked as though it hadn't been lived in in some time. Garrus shut down his onmi-tool and crept further into the apartment. The living area was fully decorated as though someone lived here. But the thin coating of dust told him otherwise.
Turing into a doorway to his right led Garrus to the bedroom. This room, too, looked like it had not seen any activity in a while. Holstering his pistol, Garrus felt along the floor under the bed. If Chorban had left anything behind, this would be a likely place. When Garrus could find nothing on the floor, he searched under the mattress. The bedside table or desk would seem like the more logical place to hide things, but that would be the first place anyone looking to pilfer his research would look.
With the mattress coming up clean, Garrus turned his attention to the pillows. There were two pillows, fluffy, dusty and one of them had a hard knot in the center. Garrus tore into this pillow, and came out with a hand full of feathers and a data chip. Where ever the excitable Salarian had run off to, he had left this behind. Possibly for Shepard to find. Now that Garrus had what Chorban had mostly likely been working on, he wondered who could have scared him off right under the Shadow Broker's nose.
Slowly, Garrus made his way out of the apartment, making sure to stick to the shadows if anyone stuck their head in. He waited until a human couple had their back turned before he slipped out of the apartment and into the hallway, taking the nearest Sky Car back to the Presidium.
- 13
- 14
- 15
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Their Finest Hour