Mass Effect: Another Chance at Love

One week after the Collectors have been destroyed

Although Samara was in her cabin she wasn't in the position she normally was, she couldn't concentrate on her meditating which was a rare occurrence for her, for 400 years nothing had truly fazed her but last week it took just one man too turn her world upside down; then again John Shepard was no ordinary man.

The atmosphere on the Normandy SR2 was an ecstatic one, everyone was happy that they had gotten out of the Collector Base alive and relatively unharmed but no-one was happier than Commander John Shepard, those doubts that he had had before going through the Omega 4 Relay had now completely evaporated and consequently had inspired him with enough confidence to tackle the next challenge; the Reapers hadn't come round that quickly; it was him confessing his feelings to Samara.

Shepard was becoming increasingly ambivalent at what he was about to do, he was happy that he could finally tell Samara about how he felt and hoped that she reciprocated those feeling, however he was becoming increasingly nervous due to the fact that there was a very big chance that he would get turned down.

Samara was a Justicar, someone on top of the plinth in Asari society, revered as beautiful as they were dangerous they upheld true moral values and carried swift justice and a sense of fear wherever they went, Shepard had gotten to know Samara deeper than anyone else on his ship bar Garrus and Tali; but he felt the feelings he felt when with Samara towards her and her alone. However despite getting to know her so well, Samara still shut herself from everyone holding a cold exterior to even those closest to her; Shepard was very worried indeed.

Standing outside Samara's quarter's Shepard knocks on the door before entering.

'Why the hell did I do that? I'm Commander of this ship and I've never done that before'

He was greeted by Samara sitting peacefully on the floor with her eyes closed and the same biotic orbs in her hands as always.

"Hey Samara"

"Greetings Shepard"

"Got a minute to talk?" Shepard's voice wavered slightly; he hoped that Samara hadn't noticed.

"Of course"

Samara exited from her Zen-like state and revealed her gorgeous azure eyes to Shepard; Shepard had attempted to prepare for this but was caught off guard allowing a small smile to appear on his face.

'Goddammit Shepard, keep yourself under control!'

A small silence had occurred while Shepard was mentally slapping himself to get himself under control; deciding that Shepard was waiting for Samara she spoke first.

"I must congratulate you Shepard, you have a pure heart and mind for destroying that Base, you were presented with everything your species wanted, power and dominance, yet you chose to destroy it." Samara paused for a second "May I ask why?"

Snapping back out of his mind battle Shepard replied.

"In the end it wouldn't have helped humans gain an advantage or even anyone else for that matter, the Reapers would have found out how to bend the technology to their will anyway so it wouldn't have mattered. "Besides" Shepard added after a brief stretch "We won't able to win against them if we are all divided".

"A truly noble gesture Shepard, in time the Galaxy will thank you; is there something in particular you wanted to talk about?"

"Actually I did Samara" Shepard summoned up all his courage that had been leading to this moment.

"Samara over the time period that you have been on the Normandy we have become very close"

"Indeed we have Shepard" Samara replied remembering all the times Shepard had visited her making sure she was ok, then when she confessed to him about Morinth he immediately went and sorted her problem out putting himself in great peril whilst doing so; a small smile now appeared across her face as she marvelled at the loyalty that Shepard had provided her with.

'Hey look! A smile, can't be doing too badly then!'

"Well I felt that a special connection has grown between us…" Shepard trailed off

Samara now understood what Shepard was implying, she knew what she had to say too him would hurt him greatly; goddess it hurt her too.

"Shepard you must put that thought from your mind; it can never be"

It felt like a tonne of lead had just dropped into Shepard's stomach, the great euphoric feeling he had just a moment ago evaporated like the air inside a balloon being popped escaping never too be brought together again.

"But we have a connection" Shepard's voice was now starting to crack, he moved forwards towards Samara and she did the same; linking hands Samara was incredibly surprised.

"I have never dreamed that one so young could touch me; but Shepard please put the thought from your mind"

"Samara please, all you have to do is open your mind"

"Shepard, I serve a code stronger and deeper than any feelings, now that your mission is finished I am bound by the Code again; it would make a relationship impossible"

"You have kept tight control for so long, but your burden is too much to carry alone; I can help you"

"I think I could find more than happiness with you John"

John was taken aback; Samara had never referred to him by his first name before.

"Then let it be Samara"

"I am sorry Shepard" releasing his hands from hers she sees a face that she has never seen on Shepard before; an expression of deep sorrow.

"Please excuse me" Samara gracefully exits from the room as though nothing has fazed her.

Shepard stood there for a considerable amount of time, he had faced the Collectors a week previous and had almost died but nothing had prepared him for this, he had lost part of his heart, a single tear appeared from the Commander's left eye which he didn't bother to wipe away as he just stood gazing at the spot where Samara was a few minutes ago.

"Commander I have detected that your heart rate is dangerously slow and your sugar levels are rock bottom; I suggest you head to the cafeteria promptly so as to avoid collapsing" EDI had been watching the Commander since Samara had left, "she" scanned her memory banks but could find not find any other situation in which the Commander had reacted like this.

"EDI" Shepard replied his voice now completely changed from the happy-go lucky personality that suited him, it was full of pain and worry. "I'm fine, I'm heading up to my quarters; I want no-one disturbing me ok?"

"As you wish Shepard; logging you out"

It had been an entire week since Shepard had disappeared into his quarters and still hadn't come out, Samara was now pacing in her cabin, what she had said to Shepard had come out completely wrong, she didn't mean it to come out in the harsh way it had; in fact looking back on it she wished that she had said the complete opposite.

She had spent the past week mainly attempting to meditate but she couldn't focus and when she did manage to she only came to the conclusion that what she did was wrong which made her sick with worry for Shepard, she wanted to go up there and confess that she hadn't been thinking properly and to let Shepard hold her in her arms telling it that it would be alright but Shepard had locked the door to his cabin and told EDI not too let anyone in.

He had told the crew that it was because he wasn't feeling well and needed to compile reports for the council to see and that it would be preferable If he wasn't disturbed; Samara knew deep down that it was her that had caused his sudden reclusive nature.

Samara had no real idea why she had said no to Shepard and in such an abrupt manner, her Code did allow relationships, it just discouraged them because of the dangerous tasks being a Justicar had to deal with, however she knew that Shepard and her would work because he had experienced the same if not worse in his small amount of time alive compared to Samara's.

'By the Goddess, how could I have been so stupid!' Without warning Samara's rage bubbled up to the surface and she threw the sofa against the wall with surprising biotic force; EDI's avatar blinked into view from her hole in the wall.

"Justicar Samara, it appears you are greatly stressed, is there anything I can do to help?"

"EDI I would like to see Shepard, I am becoming increasingly worried about him"

"Samara I am sorry but Shepard has requested tha…."

Samara cut across the hologram.

"I realise this but I know what has caused this sudden reclusiveness and may be able to help him"

EDI paused for a brief moment before delivering her verdict.

"Very well Justicar, I will dis-engage the lock on Shepard's door however you must "take the flak" so to speak if you are not met with a warm reception; is that clear?"

"Perfectly"

Finally knowing what she must do Samara steps into the elevator and presses for Deck 1.

'Fear not Shepard; your soul searching will be over soon'