A/N: Next chapter up, enjoy folks.

I don't own Mass Effect

Of Justicars and Assassins

The briefing room was filled with a thick silence. Chase sat at the conference table with Samara right next to him, he had just finished telling the justicar how he had come across the girls and adopted them after their ordeal. Shepard leaned against the wall listening intently. "You really were not aware of this?" asked Samara. Chase ran a hand through his dark blonde hair, "Honestly no. I know a lot about your people, but there are certain things that I guess I won't fully understand."

Samara leaned back slightly, "I must agree. There will always be things a species will keep from others. Unless the proper situation shows itself." Shepard stepped in then, "How do you know Athenas marked to be a justicar?" Samara turned her gaze to the Commander, "The mark on her forehead is only given to a select few Asari at birth. Justicars aren't chosen, they are born into the code."

Chase sat in silence trying to digest everything that he had learned. Athena...his little Athena, was going to be a justicar? "Will she have a choice?" he asked the older Asari. Samara smiled at the young man's obviouse protectiveness of his adopted child. "She will not have to go through the trials until she reaches the age of 150. Like all justicar, she will have to decide her path. If she chooses not to be a justicar, there is a ceremony to have the mark removed." Chase thought about it, he would be happy if his eldest daughter became a justicar. But he wanted it to be her choise in the end.

Samara cleared her throat getting his attention, "With you persmission Chase, I wish to teach Athena the ways of the justicar. To show her what it is like to live by the code and what may be placed apon her when the time comes."

The freelancer smiled, "That would be best. I can only teach her so much, it would be nice for her to learn more about her people and what she might become. But expect Emily to tag along, those two can be inseperable at times" The Asari nodded, "Its understandable. I can sense a very strong bond between them.". "That all you needed Samara?" asked Shepard. "Yes. Thank you for your time." She turned to leave but paused, "One question though. Athena...thats a name I haven't heard before." Chase smiled softly, "Its Human-Greek. It means wisdom."

The Asari smiled, "A fitting name. You have done well as a father Chase, those girls truely are special." She left the briefing room silently. Shepard turned to the freelancer, "You okay?" Chase sighed, "Its a lot to take in. But I'll manage." The Commander rested his hand on Chase's shoulder, "I'll be around if you need someone to talk to." "Thanks Shep." Chase said leaving the room himself.

The doors opened into the starboard side observation room and Chase walked through. Emily and Athena looked up before running up and hugging him. "What did Miss Samara talk to you about daddy?" asked Athena. Chase knelt down to her eye level, "Athena, you know what title Samara has right?" Athena nodded, "Shes a justicar. I read about them. They keep the peace in the galaxy." Chase nodded back, "Exactly. Now, she had informed me that...the mark on your forehead; means that you were born to be a justicar."

In the span of two seconds, a wide smile stretched across her face and she hugged Chase as hard as she could. "Really! I get to protect the galaxy like you!" Chase smiled, "Yes. Not until your older of course, but if you want to be a justicar its all up to you." Athena released her hug, "I really do daddy." "Then I will teach you the ways of the code young one." Chase turned around to see Samara standing in the door way.

Athena walked over to the older Asari, "I want to be a justicar Miss Samara, I want to learn to save people like you and daddy. But can Emily come with us, please." Samara smiled, "Of course young one. Now come, your lessons will begin today." Athena ran over and hugged Chase before grabbing Emily by the hand and following the justicar to her quarters in the other observation deck. Chase couldn't help but chuckle, "Good luck my little blue bird."

Two days later. Liara had contacted Shepard telling him where the Drell assassin they were looking for would be. Thats currently where Shepard, Chase and Jack were headed. "So what will we do when we find him?" asked Jack. "We'll talk with him. Give him a chance to join us or back out. Its up to him." replied Shepard. "And if he attacks us?" the convict asked looking for a fight. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

Jack looked over at Chase who had been pretty quiet since they left the ship. "Hay piss-ant, you okay? Your silent as the grave over there." Chase shrugged, "A lot on my mind Jack." It hadn't taken long for the news about his daughters to go through the ship, and everyone had given the freelancer space to sort things out. But Shepard needed him for this mission.

The transport landed and the team piled out. They entered the main doors into the large building and caught sight of a few security mechs that opened fire on them. Chase pulled out his sniper rifle and picked off the ones at a distance while Shepard and Jack cleared out the ones closest to them. Having fended off the mechs, the group encountered a wounded Salarian that Chase treated without a second thought, The Salarian had told them about how the assassin's target had sent her men out to attack the workers and that she was on the top floor in the pent house suite.

Walking down the following corridor, they encountered Eclipse mercs who opened fire forcing them to duck into cover. "Hay Jack, I gotta game we can play." The convict looked at Chase who had a sadistic smirk on his face. "And what game would that be?" she asked intrigued. "Whos the better killer." was the freelancer's reply. Jack's smirk suddently matched his own. "What are the stakes?" "Winner gets 500 credits from the loser." "Deal."

Shepard fired his sniper rifle taking a merc out with a headshot, "I'm in too. And I'm already up by one." he said grinning. The other two lept up and attacked with a combination of biotic attacks and bullets.

A while later outside the penthouse. A grumbling Jack and Chase sent 500 credits each to the grinning Commander. "I still don't know how the fuck he pulled that off." said Jack. "I think he cheated." said Chase. "Its not cheating if you've had years of military experience." said Shepard drawing his pistol and heading to the door.

The door slid open to reveal dead mercs all over the floor. And the assassin they were looking for standing over the body of his Asari target with his hands together and his head down. "Thane Krios?" Shepard asked. "A moment. I must pray for the wickied." "You pray for your targets?" asked Jack. "Not them...for me." he said looking up at them. His black eyes immediately shifting to Chase. "Wraith, its been a while." Chase depolarized his faceplate, "That it has Thane. Almost a year now."

Shepard looked between the two, "You two know each other?" Chase smirked, "You can say that. About a year ago I was sent on an assignment to take out an assassin who was causing trouble." Thane stepped in, "At the same time I was contacted to eliminate a rouge mercenary who was terrorizing a local colony." Chase started again, "After we nearly killed each other, we realized we were set up. A Blue Sun captain who had it out for us pitted us against each other in the hope we'd take each other out. So, we teamed up and took him and his men out."

Thane turned his back to them and stepped toward the main window. "That wasn't the end of our partnership." He paused a moment as the sun set before him. "I was dying. Chase had used his influence and the resources he had gathered to find a cure for the disease." He turned to the group, "I owe him a life debt. For granting me a full life."

Jack and Shepard looked to the freelancer, "Its what I could do for a friend. But now, we need your help." he motioned for Shepard to take it from there. "We're going after the Collectors. We could use someone of your skill to help us." Thane looked at the Commander, "To go after the Collectors, you would have to pass through the Omega 4 Relay. No ship has ever returned." "We intend to be the first." Shepard replied.

Thane looked back at the setting sun. "The Collectors. They have taken so many innocent lives. And hurt countless souls." He turned to them with his hand raised. "I accept the job. Free of charge." Shepard shook his hand, "Welcome aboard." Chase shook Thane's hand next, "Looks like we're working together again." the freelancer said smirking. "I intend to repay my life debt Chase." the assassin said with a similar smirk.

With their business on Illium settled. The Normandy left the docking port and flew out of the grand city. Breaking the atmosphere, the ship was approached by another vessel that was calling them. Joker answered the line, "This is the Normandy." 'And this is the Shadow, can you guys let me in?' came the reply. Joker chuckled, "Back so soon Luke? Thought you'd be gone longer?" 'Ha Ha, funny. Now let me dock before I plant my foot in your limping ass.' Joker mocked Lukes voice before opening the hatch while the Shadow attatched itself.

In the cargo hold, Chase was leaning against a nearby wall when his partner came in grinning. "Miss me?" "The way you smell? No not at all." Chase replied smirking. "Cold man, very cold." said the pilot as the duo left for the elevator. "So what did I miss?" asked Luke as the elevator lifted toward the CIC. Chase sighed, "I don't even know where the hell to begin man."

The doors opened and he two were greeted by Kelly who was standing waiting for the elevator. When she looked up she was swooped into a deep kiss by Luke which left Chase gob smacked. "When the fuck did this happen?" he asked still stunned. Luke came up for air as Kelly blushed several shades. "We kinda hooked up while I was gone. Sending messages and video feeds back and forth. You know, cyber dating." said Luke grinning like an idiot.

Chase threw his arms up and walked off, "Just when I was starting to understand shit. I get another kick to the head." Luke looked from his partner to his girlfriend confused, "Whats eatting him?" Kelly sighed, "Theres a lot you missed out on."

A/N: You gotta love the plot twists. Review and I can promise a new chapter soon.