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“Did you notice any blue glowing?”

He thought for a second. Nothing came to mind.

“I don't know,” he said. “Maybe. I wasn't really paying attention.”

“Hold on a second.” Garrus said.

He opened up his Omnitool and scanned him head to toe. He typed a few commands into the tool then smiled.

“Just as I thought,” he said looking back at the young Turian. “You're a Biotic.”

Garrus sat down in his chair again.

“I'm a what?”

“A Biotic,” Garrus explained. “You were exposed to Eezo, or element zero, while you were growing and developing in the womb. Some of the stuff settled in your nervous system in little nodules. And because of that you can harness and manipulate dark energy with your mind but sending eclectic pulses from your brain into the nodules of Eezo in your body.”

He digested all that.

“So I threw the guy back with my mind?”

“Yeah,” Garrus said. “But don't try to do more stuff like that. With out an amp, Biotics can't do much. You were probably only able to do what you did because of your fight or flight instinct. And since you couldn't run your body focused everything on fighting back.”

“How many people can do this stuff?”

“It's pretty rare in Turians, but we have a few biotics,” Garrus explained. “Nothing compared to the Asari though. Their whole race is Biotic.”

[Great now I'm homeless and a freak.]

He and Garrus went back to staring.

“I'll let you get some sleep,” Garrus said. “I'll be back later to check on you.”

Garrus got up to leave.

“Why do you care so much,” He asked frustrated.

Garrus stopped at the door and looked back over his shoulder.

“Cuz you're a kid who's alone in this world,” Garrus said simply. “And no one should be alone.”

“Alone is how I survive. You start making friends and you have to watch your back in case that friend decides to back stab you.”

Garrus took on a look in his eyes.

“Don't you dare pity me,” he said misreading Garuss's look. “I don't need sympathy not even from you.”

Garrus shook his head.

“I'm not pitying you,” Garrus promised. “I'm just sad, and angry.”

“Why?” The kid demanded. “What could you possibly be angry about?”

Garrus turned away and didn't make eye contact as he replied.

“I'm angry because I fought monsters the size of skyscrapers, and won,” He said. “But even after all that, I'm powerless to help kids like you from growing up alone on the streets.”

That hit the kid like a punch in the gut.

“Get some sleep,” Garrus said. “You must be exhausted.”

He left without another word. Leaving the kid to marvel at the very first person to give a damn about him.

xXx

“I'm sorry Tali,” Garrus said speaking into his Omnitool communicator screen. “This kid needs someone other than doctors looking after him. Besides I think he might bolt if I don't keep an eye on him.”

He was in the little vending machine alcove on the same floor as the kid. The machine had eaten his credits and his snack was jammed in the springs. He spoke to Tali via Omnitool connection.

“Garrus it's fine,” Tali replied exasperated. “You're clearly needed over there. I'm out of my mind with work anyway, you'd just be at home alone and bored. There will be other flights and Rannoch and I will still be here for the foreseeable future.”

Garrus smiled at his wife.

“Any luck on the invetro research?” Garrus asked?

Tali sighed.

“Garrus, I don't think we should have a baby just yet,” Tali sighed. “We're still shifting into new policies and regulations. I'm needed a lot, and I can't take leave for kids.”

“How long should we wait?”

“At least a year. Maybe more,” Tali said sadly. “Maybe we could look into adoption first. We agreed to have Turian kids too.”

“What's the difference between having a Turian baby and having a Quarian baby?”

“Well, we could adopt a child who's old enough to sleep through the night on his or her own, and needs less supervision than an infant,” Tali explained. “I can't take leave to get pregnant but I would certainly have time to be a parent for a young child or adolescent.”

Garrus mulled that over.

“What about repopulating the Quarian race?”

“Kelah,” Tali groaned pinching her nose. “Don't make it sound so dirty.”

“Sorry,” Garrus apologized while grinning.

“Right, of course you are. Anyway there are plenty of Quarians getting busy. We can wait on a Quarian kid. Or if you want to wait all together that's an option too. But I know how much you want to be a father. You're stuck on Palavan for another day or so. Look into some adoption clinics while you're there.”

There was a knock in the background on Tali's side.

“Come in”

A voice spoke off screen to Tali.

“Representative Zora, the Conclave is communing.”

“Thank you Veetor I'll be right there.”

The sound of a door closing reached Garrus's ears.

“I have to go Garrus,” Tali sighed.

“Everything alright?”

“Yeah, it's just Han,” She explained. “He's used to having more say in decision making being the former admiral of the Heavy Fleet. Zal and I are doing all we can to keep him in line.”

“What about the other representatives?”

“Shiala's still new, she's doing her best but Han just ignores her. And Silence mostly keeps quiet cuz Han blows up when he tries to reason with him. He still sees the Geth as enemies to conquer. Only now it's a matter of political dominance instead of physical.”

“Is he going to go Rouge like Xen?”

“Doubtful he likes his position of power too much,” She said. “I should go Garrus. I'll call you when the meeting's over.”

“Alright,” Garrus said smiling. “I love you Tali.”

“Love you too”

The connection cuts and Garrus puts away his Omnitool. He sighs and lets his mind wander on the prospect of adopting a Turian child. He revisits the thought of adopting the one here in the hospital. The boy with no name.

[Why not? His parents are dead, he's homeless, and he's a Biotic. He need's someone in his life that won't extort him for his gifts. And his odds of surviving to adulthood are slim.]

But if Garrus was honest with himself, he was quite taken with the boy. He liked his fire and had a strong urge to protect him. More than as an older brother figure too.

His thinking was interrupted by alarms going off in the room where the kid was staying. His heart lept into his throat as he rushed to the room.

xXx

He watched the older Turian leave the room. Their conversation had shaken him a little. He decided it was time to leave before he got too attached to anyone here.

[I'm getting soft if I'm spilling my guts to a complete stranger.]

He tried to rationalize that the person who saved him deserved a full explanation. But his gut twinged at the thought of becoming attached to someone.

[People always leave. Don't think for a second this won't end the same way.]

He eased himself out of the bed and took hold of the IV pole and walked over to the window. Anyone passing by would think he just wanted to look at the view. He looked out at the city and enjoyed a moment of awe as he had a full panoramic view of Cipritine. Then he returned to his task of scouting for a way out of this place.

[I'd be nuts to try and scale down this wall. I'm way to high up. And I doubt I could use those Biotics things to help me. And the second I pull these tubes out of my arm the doctor will know and come running.]

Fortunately the hospital staff seemed to be pretty busy. So at least he'd go reletivly un noticed until he gave them reason to look at him. He thought about going out the door.

[That's not gonna happen. I have to be 40 stories up. They'd never let waltz out of here in a hospital gown.]

He was beginning to feel trapped. Then his eyes fell on something glorious. In the upper right hand corner of the wall facing his bed was an air vent.

[Perfect!]

He moved a chair underneath the vent and stood up on it.

[Damn bolted shut.]

He tried pulling, levering it with something sturdy, and plain old punching it. All he got was a hurt fist and a barely dented vent. Then his memory turned back to that discussion of Biotics.

[What was it he said? Fight or flight? So all I have to do is be desperate enough to break out of this place. Easy enough.]

Before he tried to break out again he search the room for more suitable cloths. His stuff was gone but in stead he found a set of warm cloths still in the packaging. Along with a fluffy jacket for cold days, and even a pair of shoes.

[Great I'll bet it was that Garrus guy that got me this stuff. I'll never stop owing him will I?]

He grabbed the cloths and pulled the pillowcase off the one he was using. He stuffed the cloths in the makeshift sack. He wished he had time to grab food but the longer he stayed more attached he'd become, and the harder it would be to leave.

He kept that thought in mind to belay any fanciful desires to stay in this warm safe place. And directed his thoughts at the vent. He flexed his talons at the grate and tried to move it. But nothing happened.

[Come on you idiot. You have GOT to get out of here. There's nothing here for you. You need to leave. NOW!!!]

He threw every thought of getting out, every desire for escape at the vent and willed it to move. And in a flash of blue light it crumpled inward revealing a hole. With the adrenaline still pumping he ripped the tubes out of his arm and ran like hell at the chair vaulting into the ventilation shaft. And crawled like hell.

He reached a drop off and slid into the opening. He let himself fall the short drop to the metal floor. And scurried along trying to find a way further down. He caught the smell of fresh air and moved toward it. And began the arduous task of moving down ad out of the hospital. Oblivious to the alarms that were now sounding in his room.

xXx
Garrus rushed into the now empty hospital bedroom. The covers and sheet were tossed loosely to the side, there was a chair against the wall beneath an open ventilation shaft, and on the floor were IV tubes coated in fresh blue blood. The machines screamed at him.

Doctor Vestarus rushed into the room. He looked around and saw that his patient had disappear. He turned off the beeping.

“What the hell happened?” He demanded of no one in particular.

Garrus opened his Omnitool and brought up the call screen and dialed. It rang three times then a familiar face appeared on the screen.

“Garrus,” EDI greeted. “What a surprise. What can I do for you?”

“I'm sorry to call so early EDI,” Garrus said apologetically. “But I need a favor.”

“Of course. I was about to wake Jeff anyway for his bone therapy stretches. I'm sure he'll enjoy getting to sleep in a little. What do you need?”

“I'm sending you a copy Cipritine General's building layout,” Garrus explained while he connected her. “I need you to use the blueprint and chart the quickest route from this room tot he bottom floor through the air ducts.”

“Analyzing,” EDI said visor lighting up. “I've got it. Sending you most probable route and exit point.”

His Omnitool pinged receiving the message.

“Thanks EDI,” Garrus said making his way to the elevator. “I owe you one.”

“It was my pleasure. Do you need any further assistance?”

“Not now,” Garrus assured. “But I'll call if that changes.”

“Rodger that,” EDI acknowledged. “Now if you'll excuse me I need to go wake up Jeff.”

“Good luck with that,” Garrus said smiling.

The connection ended as Garrus got in the elevator. Doctor Vestarus followed Garrus into the elevator.

“What's going on?” he asked bewildered.

“Our young friend escaped through the duct system and is on his way out the building and into the wind.”

“Why though?”

“He's an orphan on the streets who's not used to being pampered,” Garrus explained as they descended to the lobby. “And he apparently REALLY didn't want to stay here.”

“He's a child,” the doctor argued.

“A child whose been on his own so long he's forgotten his own name,” Garrus retorted. “Don't underestimate him doctor. He just broke out of a 50 story building without us being any the wiser.”

The doctor nodded.

“Don't worry doctor I'll find him,” Garrus reassured. “You just make sure he has armed guards when we get back.”

Garrus was only half joking and the doctor knew it. He nodded and when the elevator doors opened Garrus was off like a shot from his sniper rifle. He ran out the door and angled where EDI had mapped the nearest exit.

xXx

He kicked out the grate of the duct, and exited into the fading light of day. He noticed for the first time he was bleeding from where he had ripped out the IV. He tore a strip from the pillow case and wrapped himself in it. The bleeding was staunched but he felt a dull throb.

[Great that's gonna bug me. No time to worry though. I have to get moving. They'll find me if I stay put.]

Almost as if on cue he hears movement to his left. He glances down to make sure he's not leaving a blood trial then takes off down the nearest alley way.

[I've gotta get my barrings.]

He angles toward the sound of traffic. And glances at the street sign.

[I'm not far from home. Good.]

He dashes down another alleyway and the sights start to be come more familiar. He rounds three corners and crosses two busy streets before he reaches his sanctuary. The little pool of calm in the wild world around him.

[Maybe now I can get on with my life. At least now I have better clothes.]

He takes another look at his home then empties the clothes out into his shelter and fashion the pillow case to plug the hole.

[Another bonus. And I can use the gown for the gown for the next hole.]

He takes a step back to examine his home. He smirks at his handy work.

“Well now it all makes sense,” said a voice from behind him.

He whips around to see none other than Garrus leaning against the wall opposite the shelter, not 10 feet away. He had a triumphant smirk on his face, and his arms were crossed. His visor cast a faint eerie blue light on the alley walls.

[SHIT!!! Where did he come from?]

“See, I was wondering why you left a nice, warm, and safe hospital room to go crawling through the ducts and out into the slums,” Garrus continued. “But now I see. It's a nice place.”

He growled at the older Turian's sarcasm.

“Go to hell,” he spat “Do you have any idea how long it took to build this? How many times I have to swap out a part so I have someplace dry and covered to sleep? Where the hell do you get off?”

Garrus took a step back at the tone, and decide to stop busting the kid's balls.

“I'm sorry,” Garrus said attempting to placate him.

“Whatever.”

A pregnant pause settled.

“What do you want?” he asked finally.

“I'm here to take you back to the hospital.” Garrus said as if it were obvious.

“I'm not going,” he said defiantly. “This is where I live. This is my home. I don't need some cushy place where I'll get soft and forget my instincts.”

“Well you're going back one way or another,” Garrus said solemnly. “I'll drag you back if I have to.”

He tensed knowing that the older Turian wasn't kidding. He didn't think he could tap into his biotics either. They were still new. He'd need time to adjust to them. About the only thing he could do was run.

“What do you want?” He asked in attempt to buy time, and also to sate his curiosity. “I mean what do you really want?”

Garrus sighed and went to sit on an over turned crate.

“You're alone,” he began. “And my wife and I are looking to start a family. I want you to be a part of it.”

That took him completely by surprise.

“You wanna adopt me? Seriously? You must be nuts.”

“And you have to be kidding me,” Garrus retorted. “Is that really worse than fighting for your life out here on the streets?”

He glared at Garrus for a minute. Then broke eye contact.

“You wouldn't want me if you knew why I'm an orphan.”

Garrus frowned.

“Tell me.”

He looked at Garrus and took a shaky breath. Then decided to lay all his cards on the table. There was no point in avoiding it.

“I didn't get some of the parts until you told me about Biotics,” he said. “I thought I dreamed someof it up or imagined it or something. But now I get it.”

He dragged another crate over and sat down and looked Garrus in the eyes.

“When I was three years old Palavan was on fire,” He said with a slight fear in his voice. “The streets were crumbling and the smoke was so thick a single breath could choke you.”

Garrus began to see where this was heading.

“But the worst part was the monsters,” he continued. “The huge ones shot lasers and toppled buildings. There were taller than the biggest building here.”

“The Reapers,” Garrus said.

“I don't know what they were called and I don't care,” he said. “They weren't even the worst part.”

He took another shaky breath.

“The worst part were the things in the streets. They were Turians except they were dead and covered in metal, like robots.”

“Marauders,” said Garrus.

He ignored Garrus.

“And they could turn other people into things just like them,” he choked “And, and one got my dad after he shot it. It transformed him before it died. And dad got mom while she was running to get me to keep me safe.”

Tears were running down his face now as he recalled the twisted deformed versions of his parents turning on him. Getting ready to kill him and convert him into another one of them.

“And all I could remember after that was closing my eyes and wishing hem to go away.”

Garrus didn't need him to finish to know what happened next.

“And when I opened them. They were dead on the ground. All twisted up, my dad's ne was snapped, my mom's spine was sticking out of her skull. I use to think I imagined it or that they short circuted. But then I learned I'm a Biotic. There was no one else around. So it had to be me.”

Tears kept flowing.

“I killed my own parents,” he said bitterly. “So you'll excuse me for not wanting more of them.”

He broke down crying.

Garrus came over and hugged him close.

“It's ok,” Garrus whispered. “I'm not going anywhere.”

For reasons he cold not fathom, the young Turian returned the hug.

“Kid listen,” Garrus “Your parents were dead the instant that Marauder laid eyes on them. There's nothing you could have done. And you stopped them from hurting you. That's what matters. You put them to rest with a clean conscious.”

The kid just shook in Garrus's arms from the crying.

“You can stay here your whole life punishing yourself for something you didn't do,” Garrus reasoned. “Or you can you can let me patch you up, and bring you back with me and start over. Clean slate. What do you say?”

He broke off the hug and looked at the kid.

“If you don't like living with me, I'll bring you back here myself.”

The kid weighed his options. And he had to admit spending winter under a roof sounded much better than in an alleyway.

“Give me your word,” he demanded.

Garrus offered his right hand.

“You have my word.”

The kid shook hands.

Garrus lead him back tot he Hospital, this time he didn't let the kid out of his sight the whole night.

xXx
1 week later.

“Thanks again Primarch,” Garrus said.

“My pleasure Garrus,” Victus replied. “And I did offer you a favor anyway.”

Garrus was back in the Primarch's office working on paper work for adopting the kid.

“There's one more thing,” Victus said. “The Certificate needs a name. And frankly so does he. Do you have one in mind?”

Garrus smiled.

“He's quite fond of Zaeed.”

“Zaeed Vakarian,” Victus said smiling. “Now there's a name.”

“Vas Rannoch,” Garrus added. “Tali insisted and Zaeed doesn't seem to mind.”

Victus laughed and finished authorizing the adoption paperwork.

“Well then,” he said. “Everything seems to be in order. You two have a safe flight back.”

“We will,” Garrus promised.

He shook Victus's hand and left the building. At the curb he called a skycar, and set a destination. The sky car rose and zoomed away.

xXx

He landed at the prison front gate and flashed his badge at the guard. The guard nodded and let him in through the gate. Inside the prison another guard met him and escorted him to the meeting room. Garrus sat and waited while the guards wen to fetch his guest.

Two guards came in through the door escorting a familiar Turian. The sat him down in the seat oposit Garrus then retreated to the far wall.

“Oh crap it's you,” the pervert stalker said. “What do you want?”

“We never got to finish out little chat,” Garrus said mirthlessly.

“You called that talking? You've got issues man.”

Garrus just stared at the guy making him uneasy.

“That kid you tried to molest is my son now,” Garrus said. “We've grown quite fond of each other in the last week. But he's still mistrusting. That's partly your fault.”

“Well what do you want me to do about it?”

“Nothing,” Garrus said.

Quick as thought he pulled out his pistol and stuck it snug in the guy's crotch.

“He's my son now,” Garrus said applying a little more force to the pistol. “Which makes, protecting him, and making anyone who hurts him pay, my job now.”

“L-look man. I'm sorry I won't do it again. I won't do anything like that gain!!! I swear.”

“I know you won't” Garrus said coldly.”

He pulled the trigger and a soft putt sound of a silenced shot went off in the guy's crotch. He wailed in pain, but it was cut short when Garrus clapped his hand over his mouth effectively silencing him.

“If I ever hear you've had a relapse on your promise, the next one goes in your skull.”

Garrus stood up and left. The guy collapsed in pain and a pool of his blood. The guards made no attempt to stop Garrus. And they took their time treating the scumbag.

xXx

Garrus walked into their hotel room. It was quiet and deserted. Two bags lay against the wall, packed and ready to go. Garrus look around for his new son. His attention caught on the balcony door cracked open.

Garrus walked out onto the balcony and found Zaeed looking at the horizon, the city was bathed in the last light of day. He came up beside his son and gazed out at the view.

“I always liked this time of day,” Zaeed said without looking looking over. “I liked to imagine that the buildings were getting bathed in gold. And if I reached high enough I could get some. And I wouldn't have to live like I did.”

Garrus listened intently. He leaned in on the railing and spoke back.

“My dad used to tell me stories about my mom when I was too young to remember,” Garrus said. “She loved to watch the sunset. Said that that was why he fell in love with her, the far off gaze the beautiful smile. He said she caught the light on her face like a goddess.”

Zaeed looked over at Garrus, and Garrus looked back.

“She told him: 'The thing about sunsets is they're beautiful for a reason. It's so that we don't have regrets about putting the day to rest. It gives us hope for the dawn. Tomorrows a new day.'”

Zaeed visually struggled to say something. Then eventually he just spat it out.

“Is it ok if I'm not ready to call you Dad yet?” he asked suddenly afraid to be rejected.

Garrus smiled and came over to hug him.

“Take your time,” he whispered. “I'm in no hurry.”

He released his son.

“Thanks.”

“No problem,” Garrus replied smiling. “But fair warning. Tali's going to smother you with affection so brace yourself.”

Zaeed laughed at that. And the two returned into the room.

“You know,” Garrus said. “My mom always liked sunsets, but I'm more of a dawn person.””

Zaeed looked at Garrus confused.

“Why?”

“It's the universal symbol of new beginnings. A fresh start. The beginning of a new day, and a new chance to give it your all.”

Zaeed lowered his head and frowned.

“It also means letting go of yesterday,” Zaeed said softly. “It means changing, saying goodbye.”

“Change can be good you know,” Garrus said. “Just because things around you change doesn't mean you have to. Staying who you are is what life is about.”

Zaeed looked back up at him with an eyebrow raised.

“You can change for the better too,” Garrus added while putting a hand on his shoulder.

“Yeah,” he said softly. “I guess that's true.”

Garrus grabbed his bag. And looked over at his son.

“You coming?” Garrus said cocking his head toward the door.

“Right behind you, Dad.” he replied grabbing his bag.

Zaeed froze when he realized his slip of the tongue. He looked over at Garrus who had raised his eyebrow. Zaeed just shrugged and offered a weak smile.

Garrus grinned, tossed his arm around his son's shoulders and they headed out the door.

xXx

Rannoch
June, 2205

Zaeed Vakarian Vas Rannoch rushed around his house searching frantically. He was dressed to go out and have fun. But he was desperately hunting for something important.

[Oh come on! Today of all days? I will personally hunt down the personal responsible and slap him or her with a biotic field upside the ass.]

“Mom have you seen the mail?” Zaeed called.

“Try the kitchen table,” Tali called from upstairs. “You're father always moves it there.”

“Thanks!”

Zaeed walks into the kitchen to see a brown package the size of a volley ball.

“Perfect.”

As he picks up the box an envelope with a rising sun seal keeping it closed fell on the floor. He bends down to pick it up.

“What's this?” he asks of no one in particular.

It's addressed to him, so he opens it and reads. By the time he's done reading his eyes are as wide as saucers.

[This has got to be some kind of prank.]

The sound of a skycar horn jolts him back to reality. He grabs the letter and runs tot he door. He waves out to the person in the passenger seat holding up three talons to signal he'll be out in a minute. Back in

He goes bolting up the stairs, letter in hand. And arrives in his parents room. His mom is there wearing a stunning purple dress and putting on earrings. His dad is scuffling around in their walking closet.

“Mom, Dad. Irikah is here. I'll see you at the party,” he said breathless.

Tali turns around and Garrus poked his head into the bedroom.

“Alright sweety,” Tali said “We'll bring your dress cloths with us.”

“Thanks,”

“What's up Zai?” Garrus asked. “You look like you've just run a marathon.”

Zaeed holds out the letter.

“I got something in the mail,” he explained. “Could you read it and make sure it's legitimate? I think someone's taking me for a ride.”

Tali and Garrus looked at each other and shrugged.

“Sure kiddo,” Garrus said. “You better get going. Irikah is not a patient woman.”

“She takes after her mother,” Tali laughs.

Zaeed nods and hands the letter to his Dad who gives him a one armed hug. The goes over to hug his Mother who plants a kiss on his forehead. Zaeed endured his mother's fretting then ran down the stairs and out the door.

Garrus takes a look at the letter, while Tali finishes getting ready.

“What does it say?” Tali asks looking over while trying to fasten her necklace

“Apparently,” Garrus said looking up with a mixture of pride and bewilderment. “The New Dawn initiative wants out son to be a S.T.A.R. Guard.”