** Garrus POV **
Garrus headed out of the apartment toward Councilor Sparatus office after receiving his notification. Although he did have better things to do than be the Councilor's personal errand boy, he knew he had to still play his part and be in the Councilor's good graces.
Without the Councilor, Garrus wouldn't have access to the A.I case files. His personal feelings didn't matter; he had to show up. Garrus hurried over to the Presidium. Whatever the Councilor had to tell him must be important since he had sent the notification directly to him.
As Garrus entered the Presidium, he checked the assignments on his omni-tool and saw that not only had Councilor Sparatus sent him an assignment, but Councilor Valern had also sent him an assignment.
'This is odd,' Garrus thought. 'Why would both Councilors send me priority missions at the same time?'
Garrus sent a quick message to Nihlus asking him if he had also gotten multiple assignments. He waited for a few minutes but didn't receive a reply. After much deliberation, Garrus decided to go speak to Councilor Valern first. He headed to Councilor Valern's private office to speak to him.
'This must be a mistake,' Garrus thought, taking the elevator. 'No Councilor has ever assigned two top priority missions to one Spectre.'
"Spectre Vakarian," the assistant said as Garrus entered the office. "What brings you here?"
"I've received an assignment from Councilor Valern and would like to speak to him about it," Garrus answered.
"I'm sorry, but the Councilor is in a meeting at the moment," the assistant replied. "I can tell him you stopped by."
Garrus nodded and headed to see Councilor Sparatus. When he arrived, the Councilor's assistant rushed him inside the private office. There was no waiting around, this time.
"Garrus Vakarian," the Councilor greeted.
Garrus was quick to notice the Councilor's subvocalizations were different than before.
"Thanks for coming in such a short time," the Councilor continued. "You did some great work closing that last case on Juxhi."
The Councilor continued. "Your track record is impressive. You've been completing a lot of the cases we're assigned for you."
Although Garrus was listening to the Councilor's words, he was also hearing his subvocals, and they were warning him of unknown danger.
"I try my best at completing what was given to me," Garrus replied, unsure if his sentence even made sense given the circumstances, but he made sure his subvocals voiced his concern for the Councilor.
Garrus wasn't sure what had the Councilor so worried, but it had to be something important if he needed to see him.
"Which brings me to my next point," Councilor Sparatus said. "This top-priority mission that I have given you, where are you with completing it?"
"Sir, the video's authenticity has been questioned," Garrus lied, but kept his subvocal neutral. "I've spent plenty of resources and have used all of my contacts; no one can find the video's location. I asked the Shadow Broker to find the location, and they were unable to do so."
"You think the video has been altered," Councilor Sparatus stated thoughtfully.
Garrus nodded.
"Take a look," the Councilor continued, activating his omni-tool.
A few moments later, Garrus's omni-tool pinged. The Councilor had sent him the video. Throwing caution to the wind, Garrus opened the video and ran it through his program automatically. Minutes later, full of anxiety, the program completed.
Garrus glanced at the results, his heart beating frantically. The video had been altered. He glanced at the Councilor.
"I've confirmed the video has been altered," Garrus announced. "Someone sent this video to frame the female Shepard. How do you want me to proceed? I can find the source of the video and catch the culprit."
Councilor Sparatus nodded slowly; all the warnings the Councilor had been giving Garrus through his subvocals were no longer there.
"I'll send you an updated mission task," the Councilor finally said.
"I understand," Garrus replied. "I'll take care of it."
The Councilor thanked him before dismissing him. Garrus wasn't sure what exactly was going on with the Councilor, but something was not right. Garrus thanked him and headed out.
Garrus was torn. He couldn't choose between the two missions. The two assignments were given to him directly by the Councilors.
I need to speak to Councilor Valern. Maybe I can convince him to assign his mission over to someone else...
As Garrus headed out of the office, Councilor Valern's assistant was waiting for him.
"Councilor Valern would like to speak to you," the assistant informed him.
Garrus followed the assistant to a side private office near Councilor Valern's main office.
"Councilor," Garrus greeted. "Your mission assignment-"
"I apologize for my rudeness. I'll get straight to the point," the Councilor interrupted. "We don't have much time.
"Udina had been using his authority to move vast sums of money for unspecified purposes. I need you to investigate these activities. I've sent you the data files.
"This needs to be taken as our top priority. Udina shouldn't have the access he has now, and I'm afraid someone may be helping him. You need to find out who is behind it."
Garrus was speechless; he couldn't believe that Udina would do something like that. Garrus activated his omni-tool and saw that the Councilor Sparatus mission was no longer available.
"I'll look into it," Garrus replied.
Garrus quickly left and sent an urgent message to Nihlus asking him to be on the lookout for anything odd.
On his way home, Garrus decided to stop by the small pastry shop near the apartment. Soon, he found himself standing outside "The Sweet Spot," a colorful holographic sign depicting a swirling croissant flickering above the entrance.
He pushed through the door. The air inside was thick with the scent of sugar, warm butter, and something vaguely fruity.
Mina is definitely going to like the food from here, Garrus thought happily.
A young Asari behind the counter offered a cheerful smile. "Welcome to The Sweet Spot, Spectre!"
Garrus cleared his throat. "Uh, yes. Hello."
He surveyed the glass display, filled with an array of vibrant, often baffling, confections. There were delicate-looking tarts, glistening cakes, and an assortment of tiny cakes with elaborate swirls of frosting.
"My… my wife," he started, feeling a little awkward. "She enjoys… the pastries." He gestured vaguely at the display.
The asari's smile widened. "Ah, your human wife! She has excellent taste. Is she a fan of our chocolate eclairs, perhaps? Or the lemon meringue?"
Garrus's mandibles twitched in consideration. "The… chocolate one, I believe. And… something else. Something… with berries?"
The asari, clearly accustomed to such vague requests, expertly packed a small box. "Two chocolate eclairs and a mixed berry tart. An excellent choice, Spectre."
Clutching the delicate box, Garrus continued his journey home, a different kind of satisfaction settling over him.
His good mood, however, was stolen from him as he opened the door to his apartment. He pushed the door open further, and his mandibles tightened.
His and Mina's apartment was a warzone. Furniture was overturned, cushions ripped, data pads scattered and snapped, and personal effects strewn across the floor like discarded memories.
A low growl rumbled in Garrus's chest. This wasn't a random break-in; this was a message. And he knew exactly who sent it. Only the Council had the authority, the audacity, to authorize a raid on a Spectre's domicile. A raid on his home. On their home. His blood ran cold, fear warring with a simmering rage. Where was Mina? Was she safe?
He placed the box of patries on a nearby surface, spun on his heel, his omni-tool already activating, bypassing the apartment's comms, trying to reach his wife. He had to find her. He had to know if she was okay. He stormed out of the trashed apartment, his long strides purposeful, each step echoing the fury building within him.
As he reached the main corridor, a wall of blue and white materialized before him. Three C-Sec officers, fully armored and weapons at the ready, stood blocking his path. Their expressions were grim, apologetic even, but unyielding.
"Spectre Vakarian," the lead officer, a stern-faced turian, began, his voice devoid of any warmth. "We have orders to detain you."
Garrus stopped dead, his head tilting. "Detain me? On what grounds?" His eyes scanned the hallway, searching for any sign of Mina, any hint of what had happened.
"You're being brought in for questioning, sir. Regarding your recent activities on Omega investigating A.I allocations."
Omega. Of course. The Councilor Sparatus was the only one who knew he had gone to Omega to track down Aster.
"This is ridiculous," Garrus spat, but he knew resistance was futile against C-Sec on their home turf. He clenched his fists, forcing himself to breathe, to think. He needed to play their game, for now. For Mina. He needed to know if she had been caught.
Garrus sat in a C-Sec holding cell for about two hours until Nihlus showed up to pick him up. The lead officer on the case didn't say anything as he unlocked the cell.
Garrus growled at the officer on his way out and followed Nihlus out of C-Sec.
"Thanks for the warning," Nihlus muttered in a low voice. "Councilor Valern and Tevos stepped in when I barged into their conference. They had you released immediately.
"Solana's apartment was also raided. Before you ask, she's fine, she's staying at a friend's place."
"Do you know where Mina is?" Garrus asked; he needed to know if she was safe. "I didn't see her when I arrived."
"No, let us hope she's somewhere safe," Nihlus said. "Councilor Valern pulled me aside and told me you might need help on an assignment. Let me know what it is."
"I'll send you the information," Garrus promised.
"Good, I'll leave you here. I need to take care of my apartment." Nihlus quickly took a transport home.
Garrus also took a transport home, hoping he would find a clue about where she went.