This is a cross post of a fanfic series I'm writing at archiveofourown.org. It's something of a time travel fix it of the Canon storyline, albeit from a different perspective. With the story involving soulmate elements throughout it.

If you want to follow the story on archiveofourown.org, here's a link to my page of fanfics: https://archiveofourown.org/users/S.....ightclaw/works

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Chapter 3: Possibilities

"Josh...h..how do you...know the code to get in?"

Hard as he tries to think about it, all he could really offer in response is, "..I don't know."

Not a moment later, he felt his arms getting tugged behind his back while something cool and metallic being snapped around his wrists. A quick glance over his shoulder shows the Turian C-Sec officer behind him with what could only be described as an overly stern expression on their face. While Josh should've felt surprised, arms already tugging at the sudden restraints by reflex, he couldn't exactly blame the guy for cuffing him. His boss, however..

"The hell do you think you're doing?", Talreal exclaims. A glance at the Turian shows he's glaring at the officer behind him. Oh, he looks pissed.

"What do you think? I'm restraining him because he's obviously had dealings with the gang. How else could he have known the code to get into their omni-tool?!", comes the gruff reply from behind him. With Josh finding himself wincing as the cuffs are tightened further to the point they're pinching at his wrists harder than would otherwise be warranted. Arms yanked backwards by the Turian when he'd flinched and tried tugging reflexively.

"That's circumstantial at best, and you know it!", Josh's boss barks back, taking step closer to the C-Sec officer. There's movement behind him. A quick glance over his shoulder has him seeing the other Turian resting their hand on his pistol, an obvious warning that Talreal shouldn't get any closer. But with how pissed his boss looks to be, it almost feels like they're on a knife's edge. Worrying as it might be for what could happen, or whatever's going through the officer's mind, Josh can't help but feel a bit touched that Talreal's worked up this much on his behalf.

Still, it'd be best of he could defuse things so they don't go further than it should. "Er...like I said, I'm not sure why I know the code. But don't you have more important things, like looking for whatever information you were so desperate to get that you'd gone around whatever official channels there are? In fact..wouldn't it be more beneficial to you, that I got in with the code? Since you could simply claim that the gangsters, traffickers, or whatever they are, had forgotten to lock their system when you'd seized it?", the human remarks.

The C-Sec officer's withering gaze has him wincing internally when it's turned to him. But then, he sees him blink a couple times, apparently starting to think over what Josh had said. Until, with a gruff huff of breath being exhaled, the Turian simply pushed Josh's chair out of the way so he could get at the omni-tool screen. The chair's movements halted by Talreal's hand settling onto his shoulders, giving them a reassuring squeeze as he did.

They watched in silence while the C-Sec officer pulled up various files, until they'd apparently found what had been required, if the way he'd scanned said file with his own omni-tool was anything to go by. Then he'd stepped outside of the room, likely to contact whomever he needed to speak with about getting a move on the gang before they can realize that anything untoward might've occurred.

Talreal and Josh are left in silence for some moments, until it's broken by his boss' soft, flange tinted voice murmuring into his ear, "I'm sorry that idiot's put you into cuffs. While I can understand his concern, you've always been polite and professional, even when it's obvious that some..customers, are less than happy about humans.".

Really, all that Josh could do was just give a slight shrug underneath Talreal's hands. Tilting his head back so he could peer up into his boss' gaze, "Thanks...hopefully we'll be able to get it cleared up quickly. I am a bit concerned though...'cause how the hell does a code for something I've never seen until this day, just pop up in my memory?", he mutters. Letting his gaze drop back down to the work bench where the criminals' omni-tool continued to rest. The C-Sec officer leaving it unattended like that isn't particularly professional, he'd want to say. But then, going around whatever rules and regulations they have, all to get into the omni-tool quickly could hardly be considered normal.

The C-Sec officer returns with what could only be described as a determined, pleased smile, with how the brow plates are furrowed forwards while his mandibles seem snugged back a touch. Or at least, that's the impression he's getting from their facial features, anyways. Maybe he should try and find some informational guide on the Extranet that'd help explain how to read Turian facial expressions better. Hell, with living here for several months, that really should've been the first thing Josh did. But..well, his mind had been stuck on other things at the time.

"Things are in motion, now that we've got what we had needed. However, I am going to need to take you in with me. Do an in-depth security check on you, see if we can find any red flags that might give us a clue as to how the hell you knew a code for what one could describe as a highly secured gang omni-tool.", is what the C-Sec officer grunts to Josh and Talreal. Judging by how he'd reacted to seeing the human tech unlocking it, Josh supposes it's not out of left field that he'd be taken in.

Talreal seems to be of a different mindset, however, "What the hell do you mean you're going to be taking him in?! Look, I get that you're feeling highly suspicious because he's a human. But you've gotta have more than just a suspicion to be taking someone in!"

"My suspicion arises from the fact he knew what was surely a highly protected code for accessing a heavily encrypted omni-tool. Besides, why the hell would there be a human in the Bachjret Ward?! They all keep their monkey asses over in the Zakera Ward, and do everything in their power to avoid Bachjret. So why would a human willingly move out here, if not for something suspect?!"

"If I might interject..", Josh interrupts, letting out a soft sigh as the officer's glare turns his way. "Had I intended to do anything malicious, or there were anything to be found with background scans, it'd surely have been found by now. Seeing as I usually get stopped and my ID scanned by multiple C-Sec officers every week.".

Josh has to give the officer credit at least, for how their ire turns to surprise, then confusion. "Wait..what do you mean by how often your stopped?".

He probably would've laughed if not for how serious the situation is. Was the guy for real? He was just bitching about it being suspicious for there to be a human living in the Bachjret Ward not even a second ago! With how Talreal's looking at him in surprised confusion, however, just makes him feel a bit depressed now. Were they really that clueless?

"I'm a human, living in the Bachjret Ward, just like you said not even a moment ago.", he states plainly to the C-Sec officer. "Of course I'm going to be stopped by any number of Turian C-Sec officers who are as suspicious as you are. Hell, I probably average about thirteen stops each week for an ID scan, checking for any warrants, or anything they can use.", Josh continues. Giving a slight shrug to simply reinforce that, yeah, he's gotten a bit used to these stops by now.

Talreal's wide eyed stare, mouth dropping open, mandibles spreading a little, has Josh blinking. Given that the C-Sec officer is nearly showing the same expression is a little bewildering, honestly. The guy had been bitching about wanting to take him, yet now he's stunned? Seriously, what gives?!

"That...that's not normal, for anyone to be getting scanned that many times..", is what the officer eventually comments. "If I may...I'd like to scan you, so I can take a look at the record for your previous scans."

To say that Josh is surprised would be understating it. Heck, he's feeling like he has whiplash from just how quickly this guys' brusque attitude is going to professional, or some where in between. Seriously, first he's wanting to scan the human, see if he's some sort of..what, spy? Saboteur? Serial killer, even? At this point, he'd probably even say that the C-Sec officers may well be expecting to find all of those, plus more. But given how the guy at least seems to be more contrite after hearing that the human has been getting stopped on such a regular basis, that maybe it wouldn't hurt to have him pull up his record this time. Besides, maybe they'll be able to help put a stop to the absurd number of stops he's been getting subjected to?

"Alright, fine. It's been getting rather tiring being stopped so many times.", is all that Josh replies with. Watching as the C-Sec officer nods agreeably, opening up a program on their omni-tool and doing a quick scan of the human. All that's needed to pull up whatever records on him that C-Sec, or whatever Citadel department, maintains. He sits there quietly, watching the officer's eyes moving across the screen, poking and scrolling here or there. Until they apparently find what they're looking for, if the way his eyes widen slightly is any indication. Given that Josh has lived in the Bachjret Ward for several months now, getting stopped about thirteen times a week...oh, that would be quite a few times, wouldn't it..?

His attention is brought back to the two Turians in front of him when the officer clears their throat, apparently having closed out their omni-tool at some point when the human had lost themselves to their thoughts. "From what I see in the records, you've been stopped at a significantly higher rate than what any patrol officers should be performing. If it's alright with you, I'd like to take you by our offices so we can have a supervisor address this issue.", the officer remarks. Which is a significantly nicer surprise for the human, who figured that maybe at best, they'd just put a note or something on his file that the patrol officers need to knock off harassing him? Then again, whose to say the supervisor wouldn't be doing that?

With a slight shrug, he simply nods his agreement, "Yeah, that sounds good to me. Though I'd appreciate getting to head there, y'know, not in cuffs?", he remarks, tugging at his wrists a little.

"Right..yeah, let me just, get those off of you.", he hears the officer comment, shortly followed by a slight pulling as the cuffs are undone and removed from the technician's wrists.

"Take long as you need, Josh. I can take care of things here while you're out.", Talreal states, seeming a bit more satisfied that the officer is at least being more cordial for Talreal's employee than he'd been initially. "After you're done, feel free to head home if you want. You've already gotten further ahead on the client requests than I'd expected today."

Now sans handcuffs, he rubs at his wrists a little, more to feel flesh on flesh than the cool metal that'd been nestled against them moments earlier. "We'll see, boss. If it's quick, I'll probably come back here. There's nothing I need to do at home anyways. Though speaking of something to do.", Josh comments, scooting his seat forward closer to the bench. Where he picks up the case that'd been set aside from the suspect's omni-tool, making short work of getting it reseated and screwed back into place. Afterwards picking up the omni-tool and handing it over to the officer. "It was sure lucky those suspects had forgotten to lock their omni-tool, right?", he remarks, raising an eyebrow with a soft smirk up at the officer.

Said officer accepting the omni-tool, one brow plate raised, before they give a slow nod. "Indeed..quite fortuitous for us, and very unlucky for the criminal organization.", is all they say. Leaving it unsaid that there will be who knows how many, or what rank, or criminals that'll be getting arrested on this very day. "Now, if you're ready, lets head to my branch of C-Sec.", they comment, gesturing for the tech to follow him out the door.

With a short wave to Talreal, Josh readily follows the officer out of the building, climbing into the blue and white sky car that had been parked out in front of Talreal's business. Once the officer had gotten themselves seated and omni-tool securely stowed away, they were off into the air, heading to C-Sec.

In a short while later, they were parking next to other sky cars with the same color scheme as what they'd driven in. With Josh clambering out once the vehicle had been turned off, head on the swivel as he glanced around curiously. Finding himself noticing what he'd surmise would probably be a few of the patrol officers that had stopped him in the past. Not that they seemed to notice him, engrossed in their own conversational group standing off to the side.

Not wanting to draw their attention, seeing as he's had too much of it in the past already as is, Josh quickly makes his way around the sky car. Walking alongside the officer towards the building housing C-Sec. Josh's eyes taking in the gleaming metal facade with C-Sec's logo painted prominently above the entry way. While he would be inclined to call this place C-Sec headquarters, the human's not altogether sure if that's the terminology he should be using. Would they consider it a branch of C-Sec? A departmental building? While he could probably ask someone, it'd surely get some odd looks, maybe. So it's best if he just keeps quiet on that particular curiosity. Instead drawing in a breath of the cooler air inside once the pair had walked in through the front door.

"Narl! How'd it go?", a voice calls out. Josh's attention quickly being drawn to a female Turian approaching, her face appearing nearly bare, if it weren't for the slight differentiation in coloration when she passed underneath a light. That gleam allowing the human to realize that her facial markings were likely a shade of silver or gray, nearly indistinguishable from from her face plates. While her build would likely be a bit more lithe than that of male Turians, her C-Sec armor easily hides that demeanor. Giving her the same strong, commanding presence as all the other C-Sec officers around the room.

"Sir, I was able to provide the necessary intel to our team in the field and they're commencing the operation currently.", comes the C-Sec officers' reply. Which has Josh raising his eyebrow as he glances up at them.

"Narl?", is all that Josh remarks upon.

Josh's use of the Turian's name has the effect of getting them to glance over, blinking a little at the human. "Yes?", is all he asks. The human's remark catches the officers' apparent superior's attention as well, with how her violet gaze swings over to the human. Apparently surprising her, if how her mouth opens for a moment before closing. Maybe she hadn't noticed that there was a human next to Narl?

"Oh, nothing, I suppose. You just had neglected to introduce yourself to me earlier, and maybe my boss?", he comments with a slight shrug. Given how the Turian seems to grimace a little. Likely realizing that yes, he had very much forgotten that particular nicety. Something that Turian and human society seem to have in common at the very least.

"My apologies..I suppose I'd gotten a bit..stuck in my thoughts, with everything that happened earlier. Speaking of which..", the trail off, turning their attention back to his superior. "Lieutenant, I had brought the device to an omni-tool shop. Where it was..discovered, that the suspects had neglected to lock the device. While there, I, being surprised at seeing a human in an environment that they tend to avoid, had made some inquiries.", Narl states to the other Turian. Whose attention had readily turned away from Josh, listening with what he could only say was a rather rapt attention. Likely looking to get her unspoken questions about why there was a human at their headquarters answered. "With Josh's permission, I ran a scan on him and reviewed their records. During my inquiries, I'd learned that he has been stopped and scanned an excessive number of times over the past several months, bordering on if not outright harassment. Reviewing their records provided proof of what they had remarked upon during my inquiry."

Narl seems to be bit of an interesting guy, to say the least. From how brusque he'd been with the human earlier, to polite, then straight to professional when reporting to their superior officer. This would certainly classify as an example of how a person might show different faces, or masks, to society and those in it, Josh would say. From how more relaxed and open a person might be with their family, to polite with strangers, and professional with colleagues.

The lieutenant seems straight forward enough at least, with how she simply makes a quick, short nod, "Do you have his records open still?".

"Yes, lieutenant. I kept the link for Josh's records with the anticipation that you'd like to review them yourself.", Narl replies, shifting the suspect's omni-tool to under his arm, then opening up the display of his. A few quick motions of Narl's fingers, and whatever link he has seemed to have been transferred over to his superior's omni-tool. Her eyes quickly latching onto the information to be gleaned from Josh's records, fingers twitching as she delves further through.

"It would seem that I'll need to have a word with these patrol officers. A couple of them even ran a comprehensive scan of Josh's background, biological scans, just about every scan they'd have access to.", he hears her murmur, probably speaking more to herself than necessarily speaking to Narl nor the human in question. Eventually, she gives a slight nod, raising her eyes to meet Narl's. "Good work, Detective. I'll deal with this.", she comments to Narl. Her attention then shifting over to the human standing off to the side. "I'd like to offer my sincerest apologies for the harassment my officers have been rendering to you. I'd like to assure you that I'll be having some very strict words with them, and they'll more than likely be getting some manner of punishment, which I'll have to determine."

Josh's mouth opens, getting ready to reply, when he hears a smooth, raspy voice he's heard in his dreams. "What's going on, Lieutenant Rivas?". He turns his head, breath catching in his throat, eyes falling on what could only be Garrus Vakarian. But...they're just a figment from his dreams...aren't they? He's wanting to scrub at his eyes, as if it'd do a reset or something. Anything that might help him make sense of what he's seeing, and hearing.

"Detective Vakarian, I didn't realize you were in our area.", the lieutenant replies, seemingly just as surprised to see Garrus Vakarian there. Though for vastly different reasons, to say the least.

"I stopped by to bring some confidential information regarding a case to Vissera here, for something they're working on. I'm rather curious as to what you were mentioning though, harassment?", Garrus replies, his attention apparently keenly focused on what he'd say is a curiosity.

Seeing as the lieutenant got her curiosity satisfied, she seemed quite ready with satisfying Garrus', "Narl ran into a human earlier today when he stopped by an omni-tool shop, and learned that the individual was getting stopped an exceedingly large number of times. Basically harassment with the sheer number of times they've scanned him.

He could practically feel when the Turian's cool, sky blue eyes turned, taking in the human's lithe stature. While Josh is sure it was a simple look, more of a curious glance over someone they likely didn't expect in such a Turian centric ward. For the human, it felt as though his gaze was peering into his soul. Taking in everything about the human, dissecting it, analyzing the very marrow of his being. Then the gaze shifts away, turning back to the lieutenant. "I see. I'm sure you'll have some punishments in mind for them already. But I'd say take them off that patrol route, assign them to the least desired patrols and patrol times, have them review operational procedures regarding professionalism and speciesism, for starters."

Given how the two apparently know each other, in what Josh can only assume is a professional capacity, the lieutenant nods agreeably. "I'll take your advice into consideration. I will need to review the records of their patrols to see what other inconsistencies or abuses. But yes, I do believe re-assigning their patrol routes would provide immediate results, and put them into areas they can't cause problems."

Seeing as the issue was resolved, or would be addressed satisfactorily, Garrus gave a short nod. "I'll be heading back then. Until next time, lieutenant.", comes Garrus' reply. With said Turian strolling right out the front door, presumably headed to whatever sky car he'd taken to come out here.

Despite how quickly Garrus had come and gone, Josh couldn't help but keep thinking about that insanely vivid dream he'd had. Any sane person would've just brushed it off as a dream, much like how he had been. It was virtually a nightmare scenario far as what happened in his dream. Yet, he'd somehow known a code to an omni-tool he had never seen, much less touched prior to today. Then not even an hour later, he's finding the Turian with such captivating eyes really did exist. From the blue bar markings on their face, the casual demeanor they present, right down to that vivaciously luscious voice.

"With the officers that had been harassing you now going to be reassigned to different patrol routes, with additional punishments being determined later after their records have been resumed. Is there anything else you'd like us to address while you're here, Josh?", he hears. It takes his mind a moment to reacquaint itself with the present. Blinking once or twice, before looking back up to the lieutenant.

"I...yeah, that'll do just fine, for dealing with the harassing officers.", he finally manages to say, after opening and closing his mouth a few times, until he'd found his voice. With the relative shock that, yes, his dreams might well have something to them. He's finding his thoughts going in a direction he'd certainly not expected. "Would either of you have a...well, training facility, for civilians, where I might learn self defense? From hand to hand, to learning firearms?", he finds himself asking next. With his brown eyes glancing between the two Turians, who seem surprised by the direction his question went.

Eventually however, Narl finally gives a nod. "Yeah, there's a place I can show you, and even introduce you, if you'd like that?".

Drawing in a slow breath, Josh nods agreeably, feeling decidedly relieved that they didn't really question his sudden interest in self-defense. Thank goodness for Turian culture and their strong drive on behalf of society, plus their mandatory military enlistment. "That would be great, if you could introduce me there, Narl? Just to ensure there's no misconceptions or misunderstandings.".

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