Chapter Text
She was alive.
Primarch Adrien Victus could barely believe it. Even though he had seen her not even an hour ago.
Raylin Shepard was alive.
Victus took a sip of his turian brandy, barely hearing the beeping of an unread message at his private terminal and the rain outside. In his study he contemplated what this truly meant. What it meant for the rest of the galaxy.
The past year had been both interesting and difficult to say the least. The after effects of the war were many. With the help of the scientists who had dedicated their selves to the Crucible, they were able to get the mass relays working. It was not easy but they managed the seemingly impossible task.
During the time the mass relays were down all the races came together to help in the recovery. Between many being stranded in different systems, that togetherness was crucial. The turians had to lean heavily on the quarians for food since dextro rations were scarce. But they all managed and made the start to start sorting the mess.
There were many dead and many more counted missing. Many clung to the hope of finding a missing loved one and have yet to find them to this day. Amongst the missing was Shepard.
The Alliance, as did many, refused to believe she was dead. So they kept her eternally MIA, that was until now.
Victus finished his brandy in one gulp and stood up. He needed to make a decision soon. The ramifications if he kept this to himself would be horrific. But the other option…..
The door to his study pinged.
“Enter.” He called out. Victus’s personal aid, Sentra, walked in.
“Primarch, Garrus Vakarian is here to see you,” she said handing him a data pad. Victus took the pad and nodded.
“Let him in. That will be all tonight.”
“Yes, Primarch,” Sentra said as she turned to leave. Not a full minute passed when Garrus came into the room.
“Primarch Victus, you said it was urgent?” Victus took a deep breath and moved to the mini bar, refilling his own glass and pouring brandy into another. He nodded to the empty seat across from his recently vacated one.
“Take a seat, Vakarian. What I’m about to tell you isn’t easy,” Victus said while handing Garrus the glass. Garrus acted as he was about the refuse the offer but the look on Victus’s face seemed to think different. Garrus accepted the glass and sat. Victus returned to his chair. He took a big swig of the brandy.
“Garrus, I have known you and trusted you for some time now. What I’m about to tell you does not come easy, even though it should,” Victus said. He motioned to the glass in Garrus’s hand. “Drink. You’re going to need to for what I’m about to tell you.”
“Primarch...”
“Victus,” Victus interrupted. “I need you here right now as a friend.”
“Okay…Victus,” Garrus said. He took a sip of his drink and put it on the table between the two chairs. Garrus moved forward, sitting at the edge of the chair.
“If there’s something going on, tell me. I haven’t seen you this nervous since you became the Primarch.” Victus sighed loudly.
“You’re right. Garrus, you’ve always been by my side. Supported me even when I felt I could never handle this role. What I’m about to tell you will have some serious ramifications if not dealt with correctly. And I fear I may not be able to keep this secret for much longer. “He placed his now empty glass on the table next to Garrus’s unfinished one. “Commander Shepard is alive.”
Commander Shepard is Alive.
Those words repeated inside Garrus’s head. It had been over a year since the end of the Reaper war. Over a year since she was declared MIA. Over a year since he lost his other half.
Garrus jumped out of his seat.
“Where is she? I have to see her!” Victus jumped up, grabbing Garrus by the shoulders, preventing him from moving.
“Garrus, before I take you to her, I need you to hear me out. The situation….Shepard….things are complicated.”
“What do you mean? Is she alright? Garrus asked. He stilled in Victus’s grip. Shepard’s alive. There’s no way that anything could be wrong. He needed to see her now. To hold her. To have her reassure him that everything would be okay. There is no Vakarian without Shepard.
“She’s fine physically. But, Garrus, emotionally....” Victus trailed off. He closed his eyes and shook his head. “Maybe it is better that you see her. But just be careful.” Victus moved away motioning for Garrus to follow him.
Victus led Garrus from his study to an elevator. He punched in the floor number as soon as the doors closed. The ride was a silent ride. Garrus noticed that Victus only stared straight ahead. What was going on that had Victus like this? Was Shepard in a bad condition? Garrus felt his heart speed up. A dozen of horrible scenarios began forming in his mind.
He shook his head. No, not his Shepard. Ray Shepard was strong. Not even death could stop her, and it had tried. Whatever had Victus worried was probably nothing.
When the doors opened they stepped out into a nicely decorated hallway. As they walked down the hallway, Garrus noticed that on the walls hung portraits. Each portrait was of a Primarch of time past. Where were they going?
"Ah...Victus? Where are we?" he asked when they reached the end of the hallway, in front of a closed door. Victus shook his head and punched in another code on the door.
"These are my private quarters. Come, I'll explain things more after you see Shepard," Victus answered while opening the door. Garrus followed the Primarch through a very cozy decorated sitting room to another hallway. "This is my guest wing," Victus said, answering the unasked question.
They stopped in front of a closed door. Victus knocked once before opening it and entering the room. Garrus followed closely behind.
The room was another sitting room, though smaller than the main one. Across the room was another closed door. The bedroom was Garrus's guess. Garrus then noticed the turian sitting at a desk. Judging by the way the turian was dressed, he was a doctor. He stood up as soon as he noticed Victus enter.
"Primarch," the doctor said. He then noticed Garrus, as if not expecting anyone else. Victus seemed to notice. He turned to Garrus.
"Garrus, this doctor Terus. Doctor, Garrus Vakarian," Victus said, introducing the two turians.
"Right. Honor to meet you," Terus said to Garrus.
"Doctor, how is she?" Terus turned his attention back to Victus.
"No complications, Primarch. She's been quiet. This is one of her better days," he answered.
"Good. I brought Garrus here to see her." The doctor gave a hesitant look.
"Primarch, are you sure about this? I know her progress has been good lately. But I'm not sure if she's ready."
"I'm sorry, but we're running out of time. I brought Garrus here to help," Victus said, shaking his head. The doctor nodded.
"Yes, Primarch. Though I would advice going in alone. Talk to her a bit before you bring in Garrus."
"Of course." Victus turned to Garrus. "Allow me a few minutes and I will call you in."
Garrus could only nod. As Victus moved to the closed door, knocking gently, Terus motioned Garrus over to the desk. Garrus then noticed the monitor. What he saw on the screen stole his breath.
Shepard. Ray Shepard. His Shepard. There she was! Alive and sitting on a bed, writing in a book. He needed in that room. Garrus was about to turn when he felt the doctor grab his arm.
"I know what you're thinking and I advise against doing it. Let the Primarch in there first. You’ll see the Commander shortly."
Garrus gave a small growl, wanting to throw the doctor. Logically, he knew he should listen to the doctor. But it was hard given his mate was just in the next room. Okay, she technically was not his mate, but after all the times he had lost her before....Garrus feared he never would find her again. There was no way he was ever going to let her go. Never again.
"Okay, doctor. But he has five minutes. No more."
Victus knocked lightly on the door and opened when he heard the soft voice say the door was opened. He stepped into the room.
The Primarch could not fight the grin as he saw Ray Shepard, sitting cross-legged on her bed, writing in a book. She looked so tiny, especially in her hospital gown. Turians lacked a lot of clothing for other species even in the hospitals. Even more so now since the Reapers. The only clothing they could find for her were all either too big or too little.
Ray looked up from her writing when Victus approached her bed and smiled.
"Primarch! It's good to see you. Isn't it a little early for your visit though?" Ray asked, frowning a bit. Victus merely shook his head.
"How many times must I tell you, it's Adrian?"
"Fine, Adrien," Ray said reaching out for his hand. Victus took her smaller hand and held it. He nodded at the book in her lap.
"What are you working on?"
"Recipes. I had some ideas of things to try. So I don't want to forget them." Ray tensed a bit when she looked at his face. "But that's not why you're here, is it? Something tells me this isn't social." Victus shook his head and sat on the bed.
"I'm afraid not. Ray, I know we've discussed this before. But I think it's time,” Victus said. He noticed the way she froze, and the grip on his hand tightened. He feared this was going to be as bad as expected. But he could no longer put it off. “I brought Garrus here.”
Ray released his hand and jumped from the bed, backing to the corner of the room. Though many human expressions were still hard for Adrien Victus, the fear on her face was obvious.
“He’s here? No, no!” Ray covered her face with her hands, falling to knees. She sobbed. “I can’t!”
Victus stood back up. He slowed approached her.
“I know this is difficult. But you two are close. You need to talk to him,” he explained.
Garrus watched the scene unfold on the monitor. When he heard her yell, he jumped up, pushing off the doctor. No more waiting.
Garrus rushed into the room. He stopped when he saw her. She was there in front of him. But the look on her face…. It was like someone punched him in the stomach. She let out another yell and ran over to the Primarch, putting him between the two.
“Not yet! I can’t! I can’t!” Shepard kept repeating. What was wrong with her? Why would she not be happy? In all the scenarios that Garrus imagined for finding her again, this was not it.
He was about to move forward to his hiding mate when he was pushed to the side. He then saw Terus rush to Shepard. The Primarch turned and was holding her by the shoulders. The doctor pressed something against her neck and she collapsed. Both turians easily caught her, with the doctor placing her on the bed. After covering her he turned to address the Primarch.
“Sir, I understand what needs to be done. But give me some time. We can try this again, but let me handle this,” he said. Victus nodded.
“Thank you, doctor. I suppose I pushed too far. Please let me know when I can speak to her again.” The doctor nodded and left the room Victus turned to Garrus. “I had hoped this would go better, especially with seeing you. I gather you have a lot of questions now?”
Garrus nodded, too shocked to speak. Victus gave a small scoff. “Understandable. Please join me in my private study and we’ll speak more.”
End of Chapter 1. Next chapter, we'll get some actual answers and an idea of what's going on.