Unseen: Mass Effect FanFiction

Chapter 26

After Mina, Solana, and Wrex were gone, Nihlus had stayed afterward wanting to speak to him. Garrus had known Nihlus long enough to know that Nihlus had something to get off his chest.

"What's going on?" Garrus asked as he went into the kitchen and grabbed them both a beer.

"How much do you know about the human, Mina?" Nihlus asked grabbing one of the beers from him. "I did a background check and she has no history up until 6 months ago."

"Not much," Garrus replied. "Solana introduce her to me after we got back from Omega."

"So what's your deal with her then?" Nihlus asked taking a swing from his beer.

"What do you mean?" Garrus asked confused. "I don't have a problem with her."

"A blind human can see that you do," Nihlus replied chuckling. "Even the thick-headed krogan knew something was up between the two of you."

"She helped me get in contact with Aster," Garrus replied reluctantly.

It's best that I tell him now before he finds out from another source, Garrus thought.

"What?! When?" Nihlus asked. "How long ago? When were you going to tell me!?"

"The human and Solana asked me for help," Garrus said. "I spoke to her shortly afterward. She's alive and looks well for a woman on the run."

"Did she say anything about who may be accusing her of treason?" Nihlus asked. "Anything that might give us a clue?"

"We didn't talk much," Garrus admitted. "I've only spoken to her twice."

"Do you know where she is?" Nihlus asked. "We may need to get her to the Citadel if she's isn't here already."

"No clue," Garrus answered. "She hid her location well and I couldn't trace the call or anything."

"So the only person that knows how to reach her is Mina," Nihlus concluded, shaking his head. "If anything happens to her, we may not know how to reach Shepard when the time comes."

"I'm assuming that the main reason the krogan has been around and spying on the apartment," he continued. "He sure is smarter than he looks."

"It's an added protection for Solana as well," Garrus inputted. "With Mina around, I get the feeling that Solana may get dragged into whatever trouble may be following Mina."

"It can't be helped," Nihlus replied. "I'm more curious to know how they both met and became close enough that they would ask you for help."

Garrus grunted but didn't reply. He didn't have an answer for him. Garrus had been mildly surprised that Solana would bring anything to him for help. Especially knowing that he was after the same person she had been wanting to help.

Had it been anyone else, Garrus knew that they would do anything to bring the fugitive to justice. The Councilor's orders were absolute. If he was a good turian, he would tell the Councilor what was really going on, make Mina tell him where Shepard was, and then use that information to find Shepard and have her face judgment. Let the Council decide if she was innocent or guilty.

However, Garrus was not a good turian and he knew that the Councilor was being led astray. Until he knew what was really going on, Garrus planned to feed the Councilor as little information as he could, enough to get him off their backs.

"Have you contacted Shepard's brother yet?" Nihlus asked out of the blue.

"According to Aster," Garrus said. "She doesn't have any family."

"Well I should get going," Nihlus said finishing his beer. "Don't forget that I'm taking the week off starting the day after next."

"Yeah, I remember," Garrus replied standing up and finishing his beer. "Where are you going anyways?"

"Special assignment for the Binary Helix company," Nihlus replied. "Retrieving some data from one of their outside research colonies."

"Binary Helix?" Garrus asked confused. "Isn't that the company Solana is collaborating with?"

"Yeah," Nihlus agreed. "Some of us turians will be going just for security. We're not expecting any trouble but your father rather have someone competent looking out for his daughter."

"So who's going to be watching Mina?" Garrus asked as the information sank in. "The krogan?"

"I don't think so," Nihlus replied as he got up and headed toward the door. "Solana sent me a message, the krogan will be gone for some time. To get ready, Solana said."

"I'm sure they'll figure it out," Nihlus called out as the door opened and closed behind him.

Garrus mentally cursed. Nihlus had been right about one thing; Mina was the only one who knew how to get in contact with Aster. If anything happened to her, their investigation would come to a complete stop, and clearing Aster's name will be impossible.

Garrus found himself in a usual situation. What was he to do? If he asked someone to watch over Mina, Councilor Sparatus would most likely be informed. He would want to know why the human was under watch. The Councilor would most likely ask questions that Garrus couldn't answer.

He obviously couldn't let her stay here, people would talk, and if his father were to find out...It wouldn't bode well for anyone. Garrus had to chuckle to himself, his father had been trying to set him up with Nyreen for so long that Garrus was still surprised that his father still had hopes that they would end up together.

Garrus had not only rejected her multiple times but had also informed his father that he didn't want anything to do with her. Although his efforts were slightly diminished, his father was still trying. He wanted Garrus to marry Nyreen which, in turn, would help his tier progression and stabilize the Vakarian line further.

Garrus was deep in thought thinking of a way to solve the problem that is Mina when there was a soft knock on his door drawing his attention away for a moment.

"Enter," Garrus called out opening the door with his omni-tool.

It must be Nihlus, Garrus thought standing up. Probably forgot something.

"Do you have room on your couch?" a voice said from the doorway, a voice Garrus couldn't help but cringe too.

Of all people, it had to be Mina, the human.

"What are you doing here?" he asked a civil as he could be.

"I'm taking your couch," Mina replied smiling as she grabbed her bag and headed over to the living area. "Solana is leaving and I need a place to stay."

"So you're just going to impose on my hospitality?" Garrus asked.

Mina stopped and gave him a long look, her smile still on her face.

"You've changed haven't you, Garrus Vakarian," she said in a small voice. "There was a time when even you sought refuge in the wrong home and weren't turn down. I had thought you would return the favor."

Garrus looked at her in confusion. He never sought refuge with anyone.

"Never mind," she continued. "I'll see myself out. Have a good night."

Without another word, Mina grabbed her bag and headed out the door.