Disclaimer: I don't own Mass Effect. I don't own Crest of the Stars.

Chapter: Completing unfinished work

Illium

'Seed' Bunker

"It hurts, dammit! Couldn't you've done that before awaking me?"

"I needed to wait for you to adapt to current body, before further alternating it." Apex explained. "Now we shall preform a test run. Ready?"

"Yeah."

'How are you feeling?' San'Yaga T'Estari heard voice in her head.

'My neck is still a little stiff. I still cannot believe how much it sounds like an idea taken from "Ghost in the shell".' She responded in her head.

'The idea originated from there. You would be surprised how many of human inventions were inspired by s-f books. Running diagnostics.' Apex paused for a few minutes. 'Diagnostics complete. Operation is a complete success.'

The operation's target was to 'install' a nest for AI inside San'Yaga's body. It would allow Apex to provide on hand support, as well as immediately evacuate (by transferring into T'Estari nest) if bunker would be threatened. Physically there was no visible difference in her look. The nest which would contain AI, was 'installed' inside her skull, right bellow brain. It was connected to her Omni-tool. Additionally a sophisticated system was installed, that allowed San'Yaga a direct communication with nest.

'Have you prepared the documents?'

'Your basic history and false documents are ready. You were born on colony of Selvos. Your mother died right after your birth. Father – unknown. You are an engineer. Age - 319 years. Spend you entire life on Selvos, where you worked on terraforming planet. During one of many accidents, you were injured and heavily exposed to Eezo. Injuries caused you to lose control over your biotics. That forced an operation, and installing an equipment that would "kill" your biotics. If ever turned off, you would kill yourself and everybody around.'

'A little nice cover story, if implant was to be ever discovered. And an good explanation why I can't use biotics.' San'Yaga mussed.

No matter how good they were – her body wouldn't adapt to biotics. When she asked Apex about an effect of operation, she got an answer that there was only 2% chance of it being 'somewhat' successful. Her body was already too much alternated (Apex's exact words were 'pimped up') and it already neared a border of rejecting genetic modifications. With current level of technology – it just wasn't worth it.

'Correct. After discharge, you went out of the scope. After 124 years you return with a new technology. It's a new type of scanner. It works 8% more efficiently than current ones.'

"8% is good. We could rise it by… 67%?"

"72% actually." Apex corrected.

San'Yaga nodded.

"We don't want to uncover all our cards at once. Nor bring to much attention to ourselves. What about witnesses to accident and coworkers?"

"Entire station went down 20 years ago. There were no survivors."

San'Yaga frowned.

"OK. Let's go and sell some tech."

'You could negotiate up to 15 million credits.' Apex stated, as last of her parents descended the stairs of Haerji Consortium.

'12 and half is good enough for now.' San'Yaga answered.

'You could have negotiated more if you put on a dress.'

'…There is no way in hell I will wear a dress.'

San'Yaga was wearing blue pants, white sweatshirt and blue jacket.

'Just pointing that you would be treated more seriously if you wore something more…'

'…womanly?'

'…formal.'

San'Yaga sighted.

'I still wonder who was the one, that thought of creating woman-only race. Was it some pervert with dreams of harem or hardcore female-supremacy devotee.'

'It was Saga Aalberg. According to data she has suffered an abuse from her father during her childhood. She wanted to create a society in which one would not be discriminated because gender or race. Why she choose females instead of males, should be obvious.'

San'Yaga paused.

'I wonder what she would say about, how majority of society threats Ardat-Yakshi.' She sighted. 'I guess that without history reference, they are bound to make the same mistakes as we did. Right. Now, let's buy a ship. And then, course on Rannoch.'

'It actually, is not possible. Traveling routes to former Quarian space are blocked and guarded by C-sec. You need a government level permission to travel there or be from not Citadel- affiliated party.'

'…'

'…'

'…Why it can never be simple.'

After long deliberations the duo decided on plan.

They would create and try to distribute a cure for Ardat-Yakshi genetic disorder . That's something San'Yaga wanted to do, no matter what. To finish a job, that her kind started 50 millennia earlier. The problem were changes that occurred during that millennia. To update the pre-prepared solution, they needed a fresh Ardat-Yakshi specimen.

And they found one.

'Why it can never be simple' San'Yaga grumbled.

'We are lucky to even find a Ardat-Yakshi so fast. Other circumstances are merely an inconvenience.'

'Inconvenience!? First: target is maniacal killer! No, scratch that, she's practically a mass murder! Two: she's closely followed by self-proclaimed punisher – a judge, jury and executioner in one! Three: One of them is equal to Prothean Uedet commando! And they were one of nastiest things Protheans threw at us during war.'

San'Yaga sighted.

'Have you compiled target's complete profile. Do you know where to find her and what her weaknesses are? '

'Yes.'

'Good. We will work out something.'

San'Yaga turned her attention to clerk.

"Excuse me. I wanted to buy security droids. Could you tell me about this units."

"Of course. That are 'Cyl' security droids. They are standard security units, the control VI is up to 4-SMS (Security Measure Standard). They cost 15000 credits each – the price of weapons included."

"Good. I would like to buy some of them."

Young Asari clerk smiled at the prospect of profit. She would finally show her parents that she was capable of being successful trader. That she was a matron that could take care for herself, not a maiden anymore. And the 13% from profit of selling few units would nicely swell her account.

Oh she had no idea.

"Of course. How many would you like to buy?"

San'Yaga smiled.

"One hundred."

Young Asari clerk paused.

15k*100=1.5M

1.5M*0.13=195k

And then, she fainted.

Finding Morinth with Apex wasn't difficult. Preparing a room and droids was easy – it only required some credits for owner of club to not bother her for a few days. Luring in Morinth was also easy. According to her profile, she was attracted to extraordinary. Spreading news of her invention, brought enough attention.

Now, sitting in one room with her, San'Yaga could honestly say that she didn't enjoy the situation. True, if she was still Adrian Wierzbowski, he would have wonderful time with woman and would end up in bed with her. But since she knew what kind of predator that woman… Asari was – things looked completely different.

Now she only hoped that mass murderer would finally drink the spiked drink she was holding and toying with.

"You know" Morinth asked as she got up and walked in the middle of room "I have been around for quite a long time. You are quite a good actor, but small details gave you away… them and the smell of flaxleatherleaf in my drink. I know because I use it quite often." She said almost cheerfully as she slowly poured out contents of her glass on floor.

San'Yaga sighted as she nonchalantly (at least she hoped it looked nonchalantly, she was quite scared) put her legs on wooden table and made herself comfortable on lather chair.

"What gave me away?"

"Overall, it was good performance. I'm just too experienced for you."

"You aren't afraid of me having a gun? Or my biotics?"

She laughed.

"Believe me, I'm more than proficient enough take you down. The question is what do you want… and what to do with you."

That smile didn't forecast anything good. San'Yaga closed eyes.

'Apex, if you would?'

Morinth screamed, as she was shocked by high current flowing through the floor. It lasted few seconds before power was cut off. Morinth collapsed on floor, unconscious.

'Overconfidence… I actually though she would avoid this.'

If that failed they were to gas the entire room (security droid was programmed to awakenT'Estari). If that failed they planned on using security bots.

'Well let's pack her up and go to bunker.'

'San'Yaga T'Estari.'

'Can it wait a moment, I'm about to finish.'

Morinth laid uncurious in medical pod. Last humanwas just finishing procedures for solution – work from before 50 millennia was about to be finished.

'We have intruder.'

Why it can never be simple.

'The Asari Justicar have somehow followed us.'

San'Yaga paused. How the hell someone found their bunker?

'Scan Morinth for any tracking devices.'

'Scanning… found it. Disabling.'

'Good. Have bots stun intruder.'

'She already destroyed 73 units.'

'…you think that clerk would refund me?'

'I don't think they were built to oppose Asari Justicar.'

'Eh… withdraw all… remaining units and guide her here. When this is over – we are going to do some serious upgrading of remaining units.'

'Affirmative.'

She closed the pod containing Morinth and hidden it inside wall. It wouldn't do if Justicar killed her before solution was she waited.

After a few minutes a mature woman… Asari clad in red and black leather cat-suit and wearing a high-heels - entered.

So that's how modern knight-errant looks like. She could get used to it.

San'Yaga sighted irritated.

"You do know that you destroyed equipment worth over 1 million of credits?"

"They were in my way."

"Ever thought about knocking?" San'Yaga asked irritated "Anyway, what brings you here?"

"I'm looking for a criminal-"

"Morinth."

"Yes. I know that she's here."

The idea struck San'Yaga. Why not exploit situation to maximum?

"…I will give you her… if you give me an Third Oath of Subsumation."

"…I'm surprised that you would be foolish enough to even consider asking that."

"I offer a criminal… and cure for Ardat-Yakshi defect." Samara was stunned.

"You do not really think I would believe an obvious lie like that?"

"…You let me finish my work, I will apply Morinth with the solution and allow her to meld with me. If I survive you will give me your Oath. If I die, you will have Morinth. Should you try to take her or kill me – Morinth will be released outside and solution will be destroyed."

The last part was a bluff, but she needed some kind of leverage.

"What say you? One criminal. Or one criminal and many innocents saved? What does your code dictate in this situation?"

Meld was quite pleasant. The look on Morinth's face, when San'Yaga didn't die, was worthwhile.

"You… you aren't Asari… " She started with shaking voice "You're-"

A quick push on Omni-tool and she was out cold, in induced coma. It wouldn't be good for Samara to hear anything about last human's past.

Speaking of Justicar, what was that strange look she was giving her?

"Solution works, as you see. Seems like Morinth was more than surprised with my survival."

"…Swear that you will heal our people." Samara demanded.

"Citadel forbids genetic modifications. I can swear to you that I will not rest until that genetic defect is removed. But it won't happen immediately. It will require some shaking, some chaos and much of law breaking. I will also try to take advantage of situation as much as it is possible."

"…You are strange. One time you practically blackmail me into Oath, other you try to deter me from it." Samara mused.

'I have noticed the same trend in humans. You are so full of contradictions.' Apex agreed. Last human felt offended by notion.

Samara kneeled

"By the code I will serve you, T'Estari. Your choices are my choices, your morals are my morals. Your wishes are my code."

Her biotics flared.

"Should you break your word, I will kill you."

San'Yaga noded. Samara got up and walked over Morinth.

'Morinth is Samara's daughter.' Apex almost shouted. San'Yaga's eyes widen when she heard this.

"Finally, after all this time, the chase comes to an end." Samara's biotics flare "Embrace the Godess-"

A shot sounded through room. Bullet pierced Morinth's head. There was no doubt that she was dead

Samara, enraged, looked at San'Yaga.

The former human looked at her calmly as she lowered gun.

"There is a story, a very ancient one. There was a honorable… warrior, very loyal to his master. One day his master ordered him to kill a criminal. So warrior sought and found the criminal. When he was about to strike him, criminal spit on his face. Warrior sheathed his weapon and walked away. Do you know why?"

"…" Samara was still enraged, but also, somewhat intrigued.

"Because if he would've struck criminal at that time, in anger, it would be an act of vengeance. Not, act of justice."

San'Yaga looked at Samara sharply.

"You may dress this however you want, but she was of your blood. No matter how much you want to deny it with 'she's not my daughter' or 'my daughter is dead' the fact remains unchanged. You are linked to her and would've never been able to strike her unemotionally."

San'Yaga cocked her head.

"Now you can be at rest. Your daughter's blood is not on your hands. It's on mines. So you can hate me as much as you want. And, when - after decades, or centuries – I release you from your oath, you can avenge your daughter. Now, rest… and mourn."

San'Yaga turned and walked to door.

"Death of Morinth's victims, is not your fault." She said, starling Samara.

San'Yaga waited until door closed behind her.

"It's our fault."

'Father…'

'We should have finished and spread that solution millennia ago.' San'Yaga said. 'So much death and tragedy could have been avoided.'

'Protheans occupied planet.'

'Is that supposed to excuse us?' San'Yaga almost snarled. She took deep breath and calmed down. Apex was not at fault here. 'Mothers killing their daughters, 1% of society branded, and feared for something they have no control off. We should have raided Thessia and spread the solution.'

'It would have cost Alliance many lives. Entire fleets.'

'It would be worth it.'

'You couldn't have predicted that. You are not perfect. That was one of the reasons humanity created so many species – in pursuit of perfection, in hope that one of your progeny or theirs progeny would approach it.'

'And what kind of parents that makes us?'

'…'

'Now I need to spread that solution somehow.'

'It is impossible to do that legally in Citadel space. You would need to do that in one of unaffiliated states: Batarians, Geth , Krogan, Quarian or Vorcha.'

'Great… Batarians would suck Asari dry, Geth are unreachable, Krogan watched closely by Salarian black ops, Quarian have absolutely no trust to Citadel and might actually destroy solution out of spite, Vorcha... I can't believe I'm saying this, but they would be the best bet.'

'Vorcha then?'

'No, they might be the best option from existing ones – but they're not good enough.'

'So what do you plan then?' Apex inquired, happy that her companion for a moment diverted from darker thoughts.

'Well, we will create our own option, of course.'