A/N - Australian / British standard English. There is a good chance of reading the following: lots of profanity, characters drinking, typos, and bad grammar at times.
Proofreading and editing suggestions provided by OhDave1. Any mistakes are still mine.
Comments are appreciated as always.
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Shepard helps Samara with a centuries-old problem.
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Most of the crew, even some of my ground team, hadn't had the opportunity to get off the ship during our time in orbit around Tuchanka. To be honest, the planet hadn't been particularly hospitable. And it wasn't exactly conducive to tourism, shopping, going out for dinner or even having a stroll about. Not when nearly everything on the surface was capable of killing you.
Once I told the entire ship that we were going to Omega, I received plenty of requests for shore leave, even if it was only for a few hours or so. Given that I was already planning on being on Omega for more than one night, depending on what happened, I made an announcement that all crew would be given time ashore though that could be rescinded quickly depending on what happened.
Samara was eager to get off the ship and begin her investigation. I did suggest that she speak to Aria T'Loak. Samara shook her head and told me that she could not speak to Aria considering her Code. I needed information from Aria regarding my last recruit so offered to speak with Aria about it. Samara thanked me, letting me know that she would keep in touch.
Omega was somewhere that I wouldn't get off the ship without armour and weapons. I would head to Afterlife with anyone interested in letting their hair down while we were docked. Samara would do her own thing though would keep in touch with me about her progress. I was hopeful that Aria would have information for me.
We were still a couple of hours out from docking on Omega when EDI asked me to visit Samara in her quarters. She based herself in the lounge opposite Kasumi. The door opened automatically as always when he approached, finding Samara sitting cross-legged on the floor. She shimmered with a biotic aura though it disappeared.
"Shepard," she stated.
"EDI said you wanted to see me."
"I do. We need to talk." I watched as Samara rose to her feet. The red suit she wore was moulded to her body. A reminder of Miranda's suit in some regard. Samara walked to the window that provided such a wonderful view of space. Millions of stars twinkling in the distance. "Shepard, before we arrive on Omega, I must be honest with you about this fugitive that we're chasing. There is more to this than I've told you so far."
I walked forward and stood next to her, glancing at her out of the corner of my eye. She reminded me of Benezia in many ways though I was already aware of the power and talent at Samara's fingertips. She noticed my glance and returned a smile. "I'm guessing it's something big," I said.
"The asari that I've been hunting... I've been chasing her for four hundred years." She looked away and took a deep breath. "I have three daughters, Shepard. Falere, Rila and Morinth. All three are what we call pureblood..."
"I'm aware of the stigma. Liara... Well..."
"I am a pureblood, Shepard. My partner was not. But when she learned that we had three pureblood daughters and all of them were Ardat-Yakshi... She could not handle it. The stigma of being pureblood alone is difficult for many to accept though my partner and I were in love, and we wanted a family together."
"Which one are we chasing?"
"Falere and Rila understood what they were and live in isolation and comfort at a monastery. Morinth... She was always the smartest and the bravest of my daughters. She refused to follow the example of her younger sisters. She has spent the past four hundred years causing destruction wherever she has ended up. This is the closest to her that I've been in decades. I know she would have come to Omega to do what she normally does."
"Do you intend to kill her?" I had to ask.
"Unless I'm presented with a different option, the only way to stop her will be to kill her." Samara sagged and lowered her head. "Even after four hundred years, to realise that the only way to stop my daughter is to take her life..."
"I can't even begin to imagine."
That's when she turned to face me. "Will you help me, Shepard?" she asked softly.
"I'll speak to Aria about a few things. I'll mention that an Ardat-Yakshi has been tracked to the station. Maybe that'll help make her a little more cooperative."
"Or you could use your other charms," she stated rather mischievously.
That made me chuckle. "We don't have that sort of relationship. I'm not sure she even likes men. But we manage to get along."
"Helping me with this, Shepard... It would mean..."
When I grasped her hand, I felt her gently squeeze it in return. "I'm sure you've done some reading up on me since you arrived on this ship. I will help those in genuine need. And it's obvious that your daughter is dangerous. I'll do whatever I can to help."
"Thank you," she said softly.
The
Normandy
docked a couple of hours later, most of my crew and some of the staff eager to get off the ship for a few hours. I stood in front of them and gave them the usual warning whenever we found ourselves on Omega. Have a little fun, get drunk and laid if that's what they wanted, but be mindful of their surroundings and don't fuck around with the locals. Most of the women from my team were heading out together. When I noticed that Miranda and Jack were part of the same group, I almost smiled. I knew they wouldn't actually talk to each other, but seeing the change in Miranda was a pleasant surprise. I noticed that Chakwas and Kelly were both talking to Miranda, and there appeared to be real comradery between all of them.
I watched them all saunter off the ship with Samara alone as she approached me. We exchanged a glance and a nod. Samara was already in what I called 'Justicar Mode'. Nothing was going to stop her now. All her focus would be on locating her daughter.
"Going to get off the ship, Joker?" I had to ask before departing.
"Hell no, Commander. I'm going to stay here in my comfortable chair and not get my arse shot."