**Garrus POV**
Garrus waited patiently outside as Dr. Megan came to see Aster for the last time. The doctor had been notified of the earlier incident with Dr. Chakwas and Aster's family. It was duly noted that Dr. Megan was not pleased with the event.
Aster's recovery depended on her getting rest and staying stress-free so that the implants could fully be integrated into her body. An argument wouldn't be beneficial for anyone. Aster's family and Dr. Chakwas were blacklisted from seeing Aster until further notice.
Garrus had asked Solana to stop by and check on her using the excuse to inspect the implants. He wasnt allowed to move from his post until after his shift had ended. He wanted someone to check in on her. Solana complained several times but otherwise stopped by and chatted with her.
To say the least, Garrus was shocked at how everything occurred. He thought that Aster would like to see her soon-to-be step-mother given the circumstances, but he was wrong. He couldn't believe that Aster would lash out the way she did..then again it wasnt like he known Aster for long.
It had been his idea to take Aster to Pavalen for emergency surgery. He'd known that Solana was the best in the field of implants. Once the sirgery was completed, the headed straight to the Citadel. As soon as they docked, four turians he hadn't seen before boarding the cruiser and tooking her away. Nihlus and the asari headed straight to the Council chambers. Nihlus wouldn't elaborate on why but Garrus was used to following orders without question.
Later, Garrus "learned" that Aster was Dr. Lang, he had to pretend that he didnt know to keep up appreances. Nihlus was also shocked, he had heard of Aster Shepard but he'd never met her. The file that Dr. Lang had given the asari was put on display, shedding light on the mission. The Council was shocked, to say the least. They never suspected that Alec was the Director of the Science Academy or that he had already built the A.I in secret. All the previous agents sent to investigate never returned with any useful information, well not until Aster was sent.
A arrest warrant was issues and Alec was quickly caught. His trial started immediately. During the "trial" Alec revealed that he knew that Dr. Lang was sent undercover, he claimed to know everything about Dr. Lang and proceeded to tell the Councilor everything he knew about her including her real name.
It took everything Garrus had to stay still, he knew that Aster was no traitor. To make matters worse, Alec said he used Aster to help him attach the A.I to a human. He wouldn't say who that human was but they would never suspect it. Councilor Tevos took action and Alec Ryder was persecuted without hesitation. Now the search for the A.I was underway and Aster was their main suspect and intel.
Councilor Sparatus had appointed Garrus as Aster's "personal guard", to keep her from harm was what he had said. Garrus knew that what he really meant was for him to keep an eye on her just in case she was a traitor and tried to flee. Even though Garrus didn't know Aster that well, he just knew that Aster would never turn her back on the Alliance or the Council. He felt it in his gut, as humans like to say.
Garrus was ordering dinner for Aster and himself when his omni-tool ping. A quick look told him that Councilor Sparatus wanted to video chat.
"Councilor," Garrus said in greeting. "What can I do for you?"
"I hope I'm not interrupting," the Councilor replied seeing his location.
"Of course not," Garrus hurriedly replied. "Just taking a short break."
"Good," the Councilor replied. "Come to my office."
"Right away," Garrus replied, the Councilor nodded and the chat ended.
10 minutes later Garrus waited outside Councilor Sparatus office waiting to be called in. His assistant was more than happy to keep him company and bring him a dexo brew coffee.
'Polana,' Councilor Sparatus called from the intercom. 'Send Spectre Vakarian in,'
'Yes, Councilor,' She replied, standing up from her desk. "If you'll follow me, Spectre."
"Vakarian," the Councilor said as he entered. "Take a seat."
Polana excused herself, and Garrus did as he was told. There was obviously a reason why the Councilor wanted to see him, he just couldn't put his finger on why. With Aster dismissed from services and the Alliance, he had thought to get back to working alone.
"I have a job for you," the counselor said when he was sure they were alone. "I need you to kill Shepard."
Garrus stared at Councilor Sparatus, speechless. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Kill Aster? Why? Who wanted her dead? For what reason? Or was it to kill John Shepard?
"Which one?" Garrus asked, regaining his composure.
Councilor Sparatus looked at him for a few moments. It looked like he had forgotten there were two Shepards.
"Aster Shepard," he clarified.
"What changed?" Garrus asked.
"New evidence," the councilor replied, handing him a datapad. "Everyone is sympathetic toward Aster at the moment. They think she's a hero."
"If we do something against her now, publicly," he continued. "There will be too much backlash. This needs to be kept quiet."
Garrus looked through the datapad, surprised at what he was seeing: Aster attached to a machine. She wasn't struggling or being restrained; it appeared as though she walked up there and laid down willingly.
"That globe thing you see in the corner," Sparatus pointed out. "That's the A.I."
"How do you know?" Garrus asked replaying the short clip.
He could barely see the globe thing the Councilor was pointing out. In his eyes, the clip was too short to determine anything and it looked very vague. It didn't show how she got there just that she was laying there with cables attached to her head.
"The informant wants to be kept out of this," Councilor Sparatus said suspiciously. "They don't want to be involved."
"How did they come upon this video?" Garrus asked. "I thought we didn't have anyone on Junhix. Is there something you're not telling me?"
The Councilor didn't reply. It didn't look like he had an answer.
"Councilor, this video," Garrus began. "This video doesn't prove anything. I'll lose my status if-"
"This video is all the proof we need that Aster lied," Sparatus said cutting him off. "I trust you'll be discrete. I wouldn't worry about your status; I can take care of it."
The Councilor was acting as if he had already agreed to it. If Garrus was a good turian, which he didn't think he was, he would have accepted no questions asked. But something about this was wrong. He needed to get to the bottom of this before the contract was given to a mercenary.
After speaking to the Councilor and reluctantly accepting the contract, Garrus made his way straight to Aster's apartment. He made sure not to forget the dinner he bought along with him. He needed to speak to her and warn her about the contract. Together, he believed they could figure out who was behind the video and who wanted her dead.
Garrus quickly entered the apartment.
"Hey-" Aster greeted.
Garrus held up one finger and went to check the apartment. He activated his scanner to detect any hidden bugs. Only when the scanner showed no surveillance devices nearby did he allow himself to relax a bit.
"Everything alright?" Aster asked, grabbing the bag of food.
"You need to leave the Citadel," Garrus said in a hushed voice. "As soon as possible, preferably."
Aster froze and looked at him with wide eyes.
"Councilor Sparatus," Garrus began, going to the bedroom. "It's not safe. Dont tell me, don't tell anyone where you are going, but you need to leave."
"Garrus, what's going on?" Aster asked, following after him.
"Someone wants you dead," Garrus replied, as he began helping her pack. "Some bullshit video is incriminating you as an accomplice, and the Councilors won't investigate it.
They gave me a kill contract for you. You need to leave and disappear until we know who is behind everything. I won't let the contract go to a mercenary."
"You accepted my kill contract?"
Garrus stopped his packing and slowly turned to face her.
"Yes," he confirmed. "I can't have some random mercenary take it. I prefer you alive."
"You won't act upon it?" she asked, narrowing her eyes at him.
"Of course not," Garrus said, offended by the idea. "My sister and I like you too much for you to die."
Aster slowly smiled at him, "That's sweet, I didn't know you liked me."
Garrus scoffed at her, "Yeah, well, we do. So you need to leave until we can figure out what's going on."
Aster nodded and began helping him pack.