The war was over, the galaxy was united, saved. The Reapers were destroyed and all was beginning anew. Ships were being repaired and driver cores were coming online after weeks of being shut down. Bodies were rushing back and forth so as to make sure everything was in order for their departure and arrival on their homeworlds. Earth had become quite the interesting place since the Reapers were destroyed; especially for a particular turian.
For the duration of his life, Lieutenant Colonel Verus Theron had always been skeptical but open-minded with the human species. However, after witnessing how much ground they had managed to keep control of even after the Reapers had decimated many of their cities, there wasn't a whisper of doubt in his mind that the human race was capable of many great endeavors.
He had met numerous people who were as he was, battleworn and tired; ready to call it a day and go home. Fortunately for him, it was his time to return to Palaven and begin to repair his homeworld. He did have other plans before that, however. There was one order of business that was able to take the place of his homeworld's well being. And he couldn't wait to return home. The turian looked around to see biotics and others working together to clear debris and people running in the streets, crying and laughing.
His mind took him back in time, long before any war with a sentient synthetic species broke out. Three turian children playing on a cool Palaven spring day, his leg being pulled on by a small body atop his own. He felt his mandibles twitch into a soft smile; the first since receiving word that he was needed for the attack on Earth. At first it felt almost foreign, but the longer it stayed on his face, the more accustom it became.
Verus was pulled out of his daze by a tap on his shoulder. "Lieutenant," a familiar voice sounded and he spun around. Before him was a man declared MIA for about a week and a half after the destruction of the Reapers.
"Vakarian," he nodded as he spoke in an even tone. "Just as I was thinking you weren't going to join the clean-up crew," Verus chuckled and gripped his friend's shoulder firmly. Garrus returned the favor and they each gave a single affirming nod. Simultaneously, they released the hold that they had and shifted in opposite directions.
"I thought you would have been back on Palaven by now," there was a hint of skepticism in Garrus' voice, his eyes partially narrowed.
Verus raised his hands a bit and clicked his mandibles. "I'm going back today, actually. They couldn't raise my CO, so it had to go through Primarch Victus. And well, you know how busy he is, Garrus. The man went from commanding a platoon to being in charge of an entire people," he explained and folded his arms across his chest.
"Well, if it makes a difference, there's a certain someone back home who hasn't stopped asking about you. I almost hung up on her last time she called," Garrus snorted sarcastically. Verus felt a slight stir in his chest.
"So, Solana doesn't know that I'm returning to Palaven, correct?"
Garrus nodded slowly and flexed his mandibles in attempts to hide his amusement at Verus' sudden change of mood. "She doesn't even know if you're alive or not. And you know how Sol is. Best not keep her guessing."
The marine grinned before decisively clenching his mandibles close to his face. "You're right," he replied before he redistributed his weight. "Aren't you coming back with us?"
Garrus shook his head slowly. "No, I think that...Shepard needs me here," he kept his voice monotonous and calm but Verus could easily see past it. He read into what the other really meant. He needed Shepard and she needed him; and Verus understood.
"Just tell her not to dig up anything else, alright? I think I'm retiring after this," Verus said in a tone of jocularity.
"Yeah, and I'm going to adopt a pet pyjak and take up writing Children's Novels," Garrus retorted as the marine began to walk past him.
"I would pay to see that, Garrus. And you've made your point," Verus called over his shoulder before entering the docking bay. He looked around the station to see a countless mass of people from every species all around. Most were talking among one another. However, he didn't have time to take in the sites of reunions. For now, he could only think of his own.
As Verus went through the scanner before boarding the shuttle, his omni-tool lit up and informed him that he had received a message from Garrus. In it, he gave Solana's current address along with the pleasant reminder that if he were to ever hurt her, his being would be reduced to subatomic particles.
He thanked the woman working at the identification station and boarded the shuttle. The marine wasn't at all surprised when he saw the ship, finding that it was a simple battle cruiser that had been stripped of its weapons. He was just thankful that it was in working order and that he was going to be on his way to Palaven...to Solana.
