Mina stared at the door, unable to understand Garrus's behavior.
'SAM, do you know what's going on?' she asked.
'Probably the mark,' SAM replied. 'You're mostly human, so you won't be able to tell the difference, but to a turian, your scent is amplified when one of you approaches.'
'Oh, that explains his behavior,' Mina said. 'He basically can't be near me without losing control.'
'Yes,' SAM confirmed.
Mina chuckled. 'Is there a way to help him?'
'Sensory suppressions or bonding,' SAM suggested.
'Hmmm,' Mina was thoughtful. 'I'll have to bring it up to him. We can't have him distracted during the heist.'
SAM agreed and promised to look into helping Garrus with his sensory problems.
*
Mina was coming out of the shower when the apartment's door burst open.
"Solana?" Mina called out cautiously. "Is that you?"
"Yeah, it's me," Solana called out, slamming the door behind her. Wrex walked in behind her.
Mina walked into the living room, drying her hair.
"What's going on?" she asked. "You're home early."
"Something came up," Solana replied, throwing herself on the couch.
"What's going on?" Mina asked this time, addressing Wrex.
"Solana and I were just talking," Wrex said, also taking a seat.
"About what?" Mina prompted.
"About what will happen once we retrieve the files," Wrex continued. "I don't think we discussed the next steps."
"We won't have next steps until we find the origin behind the video," Mina replied.
"What if we're caught before we can review the video?" Wrex challenged. "What then?"
Minastayed quiet; she didn't have an answer for him. She hadn't considered the possibility that they could get caught before they could review the video. Or the possibility that their plan could leak and be caught before they could even try to grab the file.
'We won't get caught,' SAM assured her. 'I'm monitoring all streams of communication for possible leaks.'
'Thanks, SAM.' That made Mina feel a little better.
"We won't get caught," Mina assured him. "We've been careful and have been covering our tracks. We'll be fine."
"Fine," Wrex mummbled.
"Solana, what's wrong?" Mina asked.
Solana moaned but didn't reply.
Mina looked at Wrex and made hand signs are him asking what was wrong.
Wrex shrugged. Mina pouted.
"Solana?" Mina asked, waiting for an answer.
"Have you thought about what you will do after all of this is over?" Wrex asked Mina. "Once you're exposed and exploited, I doubt the Council will take you back."
'He's right,' Mina thought. 'The Council won't take me back.'
"You can come and join me," Wrex continued. "With your skills, we can be the best bounty hunters there are."
"That doesn't sound like a good plan," Solana interjected, finally sitting up.
Solana looked upset.
"It's called freedom," Wrex replied. "Something that Aster doesn't have at this moment, nor has she had in the past, working with the Council."
"Too much red tape," Wrex mumbled to Mina so that Solana wouldn't hear.
'What do you think we should do?' Mina asked SAM.
'You do know that there is no way for me to be removed from your nervous system without it killing you, right?' SAM asked.
'I am aware,' Mina replied. 'I gave up on that fantasy when we went to see Professor Solus.'
'I don't recall him saying anything to you about it.'
'He didn't,' Mina said. 'He didn't have to. After I got the implants and the bionic arm put in, I got a glimpse of the scans that the Professor took.'
SAM stayed silent.
"It does seem to be the best course of action at the moment," Mina said softly. "I'm not saying no, but I do want to know how all of this plays out."
"Say no more," Wrex replied.
"This is where I leave you," Wrex said louder, standing.
"Leaving already?" Solana asked. "Why are you here?"
"I won't be keeping watch," Wrex replied. "I came to say goodbye. I have a few contracts that are about to be past due that I need to take care of."
"So you're just going to leave us then?" Solana asked. "Just like that?"
"You'll be fine," Wrex replied. "Turians aren't known for their cowardice. I'm sure you can take care of yourself."
"I would rather Mina were not by herself," Solana replied softly. "I know I can take care of myself, and so can my brother and Nihlus, but what about Mina, huh?"
"She's not helpless," Wrex said growling.
"She's a wanted person," Solana stated. "No one on the Citadel would ever help a wanted person, regardless of whether they are known. If C-Sec is after them, no one would help."
"No one knows it's her," Wrex said. "They can't possibly know. Your fear for her is misplaced."
"You're talking about me like I'm not here," Mina said, interrupting their conversation. "I'll be fine, I have several contingency plans in place just in case something were to happen."
"It'll only be for a few days," Wrex said. "Besides, if you're worried about her during the day, she can stay at your brother's place until you get back."
"He won't know I'm there," Mina promised. "I've stayed hidden for so long, he won't know I'm there."
"If anything happens," Wrex began.
"Don't worry, I know how to get in contact with you," Mina answered. "I'll keep you updated if anything changes."
"I'll be back soon," Wrex said, taking off. "Don't die."
"She won't," Solana said.
"Are you sure you're going to be ok?" Solana asked, rubbing her face. "I'm home early because we caught a break on the pheromone case, and C-Sec wants a medical expert on the team until the culprits are caught."
"How long do you think it's going to take?" Mina asked.
Solana groaned, "I don't know. I think Nihlus is being assigned to the team as well."
"Is it really a big deal?" Mina asked, surprised that they were asking Nihlus to help.
"I probably shouldn't tell you," Solana began. "But we learned that it's a drug that affects several alien species.
While it amplified a human's sexual drive, the impact on turians, asari, salarians, volcha, and other species is about 50% to 65% based on the time and length of exposure. So when Garrus said he didn't remember marking you, memory loss is part of the side effects.
The Council wants us to remove the drug from the streets as soon as possible. Several interspecies relationships have been brought to light, and the majority of them are a result of being affected by the drug.
C-Sec doesn't believe this drug is legal."
Mina was speechless; she never thought a sexual drug would cause so many problems.
"What will the Council do regarding the new relationships?" Mina dared to ask.
She had to know because she and Garrus were supposed to be in a causal relationship, not end up married.
"It's still being discussed," Solana replied. "Some of the couples don't mind. But the ones who do are causing a lot of trouble."
Mina nodded; it was understandable.
"I don't want to leave, but I have to," Solana said. "Are you sure you will be ok?"
"Yes, I'll be fine," Mina answered. "I'll speak to Garrus, even if I can't stay with him. I'm sure he can help me find a place."
"Will you be ok?" Mina asked, then went into the kitchen and grabbed two beers for them.
"No, I'm not ok with this," Solana replied. "I know Garrus is around, but I would rather Wrex be here, keeping an eye on the place."
"He wouldn't leave unless he had to," Mina replied, handing one of the beers to Solana.
"But I get the feeling that there is more going on than you're telling me," Mina continued.
"Solana," Mina said, touching Solana's hand to get her attention.
"I'm worried about you and Garrus's relationship," Solana admitted. "Mom and Dad mentioned stopping by to celebrate the Turian New Year. Things could get really messy if Dad hears about it.
I'm sure Nyreen will be invited since Dad is adamant about having her as a daughter-in-law."
"We'll figure something out," Mina promised. "If we need to blame the drug, then that's what we will do, since that's the only reason Garrus marked me. As long as the relationship isn't exposed to the turian hierarchy, then it'll work out."
Solana chugged her beer.
"Fine, we'll do that," she said, wiping her mouth. "I should pack."
"When do you leave?" Mina asked, sipping on her beer.
"Tomorrow morning," Solana replied.
"Then you'd better get packed," Mina said. "I'll pack my bags and head toward your brother's apartment."
"Please be careful," Solana said, standing up and heading to her room.
"I will," Mina promised.