A/N: Somehow this chapter wound up being a lot different than I thought it would be... dunno if that's good or bad though. The beginning I wrote when I was half asleep and out of it on my meds, so XD Yeahhhh. The rest has a lot of canon dialogue (sorry) and some random parts I kinda sorta added, I guess. It came out pretty damn long, not sure how though O.o oh well, heh.

I'm not sure how far this is going to go. I was going to have it go until they at least get together, not sure yet though. What do you think?

Onward!

Chapter Eleven

The alliance between the geth and the quarians seemed all the more amazing than the one between the krogan and the turians. Either way, though, they were all working together right now, toward a common goal, helping each other…

He wasn't sure how Shepard did it, but he managed it and here they were.

Kaidan couldn't stop smiling as Tali gushed over the help the geth were giving her and her kind, after she finally returned to the ship. She said she would be joining them until the Reapers were gone; then she would focus on her home world. Protect it first, then help it.

The geth wound up being very helpful in rebuilding Rannoch. From he'd heard, in the span of a few days they'd already made tremendous progress in creating homes, getting food, etc.

Kaidan was happy it all worked out. Legion was gone, but not really. He gave up his… soul? His what? He didn't know. Anyway, Legion sacrificed himself so that he could transmit the free will to all geth around them, make them true intelligences. It killed him in the process, and Kaidan felt bad about not trusting him before, but they gave him a proper burial.

Shepard certainly made sure of that.

So, yes, things worked out for once. It was shocking, in a way. Things never went right for them… but this time… maybe…

"Kaidan," a feminine voice said, causing him to stiffen and glance over to find EDI approaching him. He still wasn't used to that body. It tried to kill him.

"EDI," he replied, the two of them now sitting in the mess. It was empty save for them. She sat across from him. "Something on your mind? Is that the correct way to ask you?"

She smiled. "There is no precisely 'correct' way, Kaidan. And that is not why I am here."

"Alright… why are you here? Shepard okay?"

"Yes," EDI said, and Kaidan felt himself relax somewhat. "He is fine. In fact right now I believe he and James are 'dancing'."

Kaidan blinked. "Dancing?" he echoed.

"I do not know what they call it that. All they do is try to punch each other."

Kaidan shrugged. "It's a marine thing. What did you want?"

"Oh, right. I believe someone has feelings for me but he has yet to act on them," she said, sounding somewhat puzzled. Meanwhile Kaidan just stared at her, confused. "I spoke to Shepard about this and he told me to do something we both like. I have tried this but he does not like to leave the ship for any length of time. It is hard."

"What are you talking about?"

She frowned. "Shepard did not tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"I see," she said. "I believe that Jeff has feelings for me yet he has not acted upon them."

"Joker?" Kaidan asked. "You… want to be in a relationship with Joker?"

Joker was a nice guy under all the snark and sarcasm, but still. What the hell?

And things just get weirder and weirder.

"If that is the correct terminology, then yes," EDI said. "How did you enter into one with Shepard?"

That caught him off guard. "What?"

Did she just…?

What the hell…?

"You and Shepard," she said, like it was simple. Maybe it was in her super brain but Kaidan was pretty damn confused. "You two are not in an amorous relationship?"

"Relationship? What?"

"Kaidan, please do not attempt to lie to me. You aren't very good at it."

"I'm not lying," Kaidan said, staring at her.

"You two like each other," EDI said with a shrug. "It's simple. Everyone knows. I thought even you had figured it out but perhaps Jeff is right – humans in love are among the most dense."

And then she stood and walked away, like she was never in the first place, like she didn't just shatter his reality for the time being.

What the hell was that all about?

He had little time to dwell on her words, though, because before too long, they were heading back to the Citadel. They needed to check in with the Council, according to Shepard, and get some supplies, and everyone could use a little break.

Break, huh?

Kaidan thought back to EDI's words. Normally he would have denied them, but suddenly it all made sense. The way he felt so torn when he was around Shepard; why he felt more than a little upset at the fact it looked like Tali and Shepard were together on Rannoch...

It made sense in a way it hadn't before. Kaidan would never lie to himself and say he didn't have feelings for the commander, but that did not mean he had to openly acknowledge them. After all, there was no way to act on them. While technically Shepard's superior in rank, Shepard was in charge of this crew and thus in charge of Kaidan as well, and there were a million regs against fraternization.

A thousand reasons not to try anything with those around you, those you work with because if it ends badly…

If it ends badly people could really die.

And that was why he was left in a place of confusion. Yes, he acknowledged the existence of these feelings, realized they must have been around for a while now, but that did not mean he had the power to act on them, nor the authority to do so. It was no his place to say anything to the commander about this, act on those feelings in any way. The two would simply continue to be friends.

He could live with that.

He was startled from his thoughts as the door to his room whirred open and Shepard stormed in somewhat angrily. Kaidan jumped to his feet.

"Commander," he said.

"I'm gonna kill him," Shepard fumed.

"Kill who? And why?"

What happened?

"Vega! He…! He's a dead man."

"What happened?" Kaidan asked as the commander paced back and forth in front of the large window.

"He apparently made some kind of bet!"

"What kind of bet? Maybe you should sit?"

"I'll sit when I feel like it!" Shepard snapped, and then stopped pacing and frowned at him. "Sorry, Kaidan. Yeah, I'll sit." He sat down and Kaidan sat next to him, wondering what the heck was going on.

"What kind of bet are we talking about?" he asked.

"He's making bets with Cortez about how long it will be until I get laid," Shepard said, gaze downcast, words almost a whine as he all but pouted. Kaidan fought the urge to laugh.

And how long will that be?

Hey. Shut up, Mind.

"I see… and why is he doing this?" Kaidan couldn't help but ask, unable to fight off the smile on his face.

Shepard tossed him a quick glare. "Don't enjoy this, dammit."

"I would never dream of it, Commander."

"I hate you."

Once upon a time those words would have hurt, but Kaidan knew where they stood, at least for now. They were friends, and those words were not true, merely a joke of sorts, because of his smiling.

"No you don't."

Shepard groaned and leaned back into the couch cushions. "I told him he was on clean up duty for a week."

"Ouch. How'd he take it?"

"He said Cortez was winning their bet because I haven't apparently been laid yet."

Kaidan couldn't stop the laugh this time. And then he couldn't stop. He laughed until his stomach hurt, and it felt so damn good to just laugh for a while, instead of worrying about the future, about this war and everything in it.

Shepard smirked at him. "I thought I said not to enjoy this. My suffering."

"Not enjoying it," Kaidan said. "Just appreciating it, sir."

Shepard groaned. "Sir? Really, K? I thought we moved past the titles."

Kaidan smiled. "Sorry, Ryan."

It's just sometimes hard to know when it's okay to call you what.

The two sat in silence for a moment, looking out the large window into the vast emptiness of space. Some would find it daunting, but Kaidan found it relaxing and peaceful. Each star represented a system with who knew how many worlds around it, and there were thousands of them off in the distance, twinkling back at them.

Even in space they weren't alone. No one was ever really alone, were they?

Shepard stood, drawing Kaidan's attention back to him. "I should go."

Kaidan nodded despite the fact he felt the urge to say something, do something, though he had no idea what. There was a flutter in his chest when Shepard looked at him and now that he understood it, it just put him a little on edge. Yes, he cared about that commander, but so did a lot of people. He could not, would not, act on those feelings. It would only lead to trouble in the long run.

But what if there isn't a long run?

Kaidan often ignored those dark thoughts from the negative part of his mind, but now he listened, and chewed on his lower lip as he watched Shepard leave the room.

What if there isn't a tomorrow? What if something happens? Would you be okay if this was all there was? No regrets?

What are you saying?

If you died tomorrow, would you be satisfied with how things are?

Why wouldn't I be?

You want something more. Don't deny it.

Alright. Then he wouldn't.

But he also wouldn't act on it. He was happy being friends again, happy to not be alone…

"Alright, people, change of plans," Shepard said while down in the shuttle bay. "We've been asked to investigate an asari monastery. We're not sure what to expect."

"Well, you know I'm in," Garrus said.

Shepard smirked. "Of course. Something might need calibrated while we're there."

That caused a few laughs from the crew.

"You laugh now," Garrus said, "but one of these days calibration is going to save you."

"Uh huh," Shepard said somewhat skeptically. "Anyone else?"

"I'll go," Kaidan said.

Anything was better than waiting, after all.

Even if they were going in blind again. It would give him something to think about other than…

Well. Other than a lot of things.

Ardat-Yakshi.

The word seemed to have meaning to Shepard, who stiffened at the mention of it, but Kaidan was confused.

What the hell is that and why does it sound bad?

Whatever the reason, this monastery was full of them. Apparently there was a bomb here, which needed to go off as a last resort. Ardat-Yakshi must have been very dangerous, then. He wasn't sure what to think about that.

They landed and made it into the elevator shaft. Screeches could be heard in the distance, more than one of… whatever it was, making the noise. Kaidan's spine stiffened at the sound, the screech seemingly ripping through him. Maybe his biotics enhanced it, or something, but he left his ears ringing and his head throbbing. Judging from the way Shepard stiffened and muttered something under his breath, it seemed to be affecting him, too.

Messing with biotics, then. Garrus seems fine.

I have a bad feeling about this.

He had a lot of bad feelings and often times they proved right. He just knew something was going to go wrong here.

But he followed after Shepard nevertheless.

If you're going through hell, keep going.

Shepard was the light in the tunnel of uncertainty. He was in control, calm and collected as always, the picture of ease as he moved through the darkness. Kaidan tried to copy that but wound up knocking his knee against something on the ground, which almost made him fall over.

"I heard something," Shepard said.

"I, um, tripped… sorry," Kaidan said sheepishly.

Garrus clapped him on the back, nearly causing him to gasp in shock because he was a little on edge here, with the screeching all around them. "Nice one, Kaidan."

"Shut up," Kaidan said back. "It's dark."

"And loud," Garrus agreed as they continued following after Shepard, who was looking around the dark room as best he could. This area was large and open and yet also strangely empty, which didn't seem right at all.

"What's an Ardat-Yakshi?" he finally asked.

"Asari mutation or something like that," Garrus replied from next to him. "They're almost overpowered. They kill whoever they sleep with. Shepard here almost learned that the hard way."

"Shut up," Shepard said from somewhat ahead of them. "I wasn't going to sleep with her, I was luring her into a trap. Big difference."

"What was it you said? 'I can't think'?"

"Garrus. You want clean up duty with James?"

"Right, sorry. Shutting up now."

Kaidan shook his head, still uncertain about the situation. So, Ardat-Yakshi were asari mutations, of some sort, and were considered dangerous. Thus the monastery, apparently, and Shepard faced one before. That was all he'd managed to gather from this conversation.

There would be time for questions later, though. Right now they needed to focus on the job at hand.

Right. Focus. I can do that.

They came across a body on the ground.

Kaidan walked around it and picked up the data pad next to it, wondering if it held any possible answers.

"Reapers," Garrus said quietly, looking at another dead body further away. "Looks like we know why the commando teams went silent."

"This monastery's out of the way," Shepard said. "What do the Reapers want with Ardat-Yakshi?" He shook his head and looked at Kaidan. "Anything useful?"

"A floor plan marked with the nav point location of the bomb," he replied, putting the data pad back down. "It's inside the Great Hall."

"Commandos want this place gone pretty badly," Garrus said, and Kaidan nodded.

Looks like it.

"Ardat-Yakshi or not," Shepard said slowly, "evacuating this place would have saved a lot of lives."

Kaidan looked down that the body on the ground, the asari who tried to run but didn't quite make it.

"Yeah… a lot of lives."

"If there's not survivors let's get to the Great Hall and set off that bomb," Shepard sighed, walking away from the body, through a doorway. Kaidan and Garrus followed after him.

They made it to a door they had to bypass. When it finally opened they walked through and heard bodies drop on the floor below, as they were on the balcony. They walked to the edge and found an asari standing down there, looking up at them.

"Very good," she complimented them, eyes focused on Shepard. "I almost didn't hear you."

"Samara," Shepard said with a smile.

Samara. I know that name. She was with him when they attacked the Collectors.

"It has been some time, Shepard," Samara said, watching him. "You are a most welcome sight. The corruption here runs deep."

"What brings a justicar out here?" Garrus asked.

"My daughters have lived here for centuries, Garrus," Samara replied.

Her daughters are Ardat-Yakshi?

"I've come for them," she continued. "Unfortunately, the Reapers had already infested this place by the time I arrived."

"Let's go together," Shepard said. "Maybe your daughters can tell us why the Reapers hit this place."

"I suspect they will have much to tell us," Samara said with a nod. "It has been centuries since I last saw them."

Centuries? How do you go so long without seeing your kids?

A loud screech echoed off the wall. Samara frowned at them even as Kaidan and Shepard stiffened, biotics flaring to life around them. They both had the unique ability of barrier, and thus their biotics wrapped around them like a welcome, protective blanket.

"We're out of time," Samara said.

They drew their weapons.

Biotics flared to life around the asari justicar. "We'll meet again. I will draw these creatures off," she said as she walked under them, toward a doorway they couldn't see.

"Wait!" Shepard said, but it was too late. She was already gone through the door way and they were stuck up here. "Let's go."

The three hurried off to the side and through a doorway, finally down some stairs.

"I haven't seen any survivors," Shepard said quietly as they walked down the stairs, around a small corner.

"Me neither," Kaidan murmured. "I bet most of them were civilians."

Why's it always civilians. They didn't ask for this.

A loud screech echoed around them. Something appeared in the distance on the far side of the room, beyond the mild bits of shrubbery in the center. Kaidan's eyes widened even as his biotics flared around him, almost like the creature was calling to him though he wasn't sure how or why.

Focus.

"What is that?" he asked as the… thing used a biotic jump to pretty much teleport toward them, jump by jump.

It moved quickly, whatever it was, and had a powerful barrier which was hard to break through, especially with it jumping everywhere like it was. It raised one of its claw-like hands and shot some kind of energy orb at the commander, who jumped out of the way. To Kaidan's shock the orb actually followed him, chased after him, and managed to hit him.

Bits of the energy sparked to life around the commander, causing Shepard to growl under his breath. "Don't let it hit you," he warned.

"You okay? What happened?" Kaidan asked.

"It's… degenerative," Shepard replied, gritting his teeth.

It… almost looks like… reave?

Reave was an ability he'd finally mastered, but he knew its affects. Degenerative, as the commander said, draining health from the target and disrupting their resistances to incoming attacks.

"Commander?"

"I'm fine." Finally the telltale signs of the energy died away and the commander relaxed a little before he settled Kaidan with a glare. "Don't let it hit you."

Right. Okay. Dodge the thing that wants to chase you. Got it.

It took a while, and a few of Shepard's biotic charges combined with novas – definitely berating you for that later, dammit – but finally the… thing collapsed and faded to ashes, dead. It released one final screech as it all but vanished from in front of them as though it had never been there to begin with.

The three surrounded the ashes on the ground.

"What the hell is that?" Kaidan asked.

"No idea," Shepard said. "Almost looked like an asari…"

Kaidan frowned and thought about it. "Yeah, kind of. Mutated."

"Alright, so… the Reapers are here to… what? Make mutated asaris?"

"We can worry about that later," Garrus said. "Isn't there are a bomb we should be worrying about?"

"Right," Shepard said. "Let's go."

He led the way toward the doorway, where they were trying to go in the first place.

They made it through the doorway and saw an asari running from something. She turned, breathless, and used one of her biotic abilities against an incoming cannibal but there were a lot and she appeared exhausted. Samara dropped down in front of her, though, and finished off the cannibals.

"Mother," gasped the other asari. "You came!"

"As soon as I was able," Samara said, looking back at… her daughter. "Shepard. This is Falere. My youngest. Her and her sister Rila are Ardat-Yakshi."

"Mother, they have Rila!" Falere said, eyes wide with a hint of desperation. Asari could act all high and mighty all they wanted but fear was universal, especially when involving loved ones and family.

"What?" Samara asked.

"I saw some of those creatures take her into the Great Hall," Falere said. "I've been trying to get there."

"What are the Reapers doing here?" Shepard asked.

"Harvesting us," Falere said quietly, leading them toward the body of one of those… things. "Turning us into… into those. Monsters." She looked back at Shepard. "Please, you can't let that happen to Rila."

Poor thing. She's scared.

Who wouldn't be?

"We need to find Rila fast," Shepard said. "The bomb we're looking for is in the Great Hall."

"A… bomb?" Falere asked, frowning. "What…? Didn't you come to rescue people?"

"We'll try," Shepard said calmly. "But we can't leave this place standing."

"You sound like the commandos," Falere accused. "They didn't stop to help anyone."

"Falere," Samara said in that 'mind yourself' tone mothers often had.

Falere looked at her and sighed. "I'm sorry," she said sincerely, before she turned and jumped off the edge of the balcony they all stood on.

How many levels does this place have?

They watched her float down using her biotics.

Why can't I do that?

He looked at the commander.

Can you?

He doubted it. The commander liked using his biotics in combat – if he could levitate and float like that he would have done so by now. There were plenty of places it could have come in handy.

"The Great Hall," Samara said, biotics glowing around her as she moved toward the edge. "She's looking for Rila."

And over she went, too, floating down.

"We'll meet you there," Shepard said, shaking his head as he moved to go around the normal way, using stairs like a normal person.

"Please be swift," Samara said before she turned and left the room, heading through a doorway on the ground.

There was a door off to the right. They went through it and were confronted by reaper forces, cannibals and mauraders.

After that battle, they finally made it downstairs, and through the doorway, into an elevator.

Goddamn elevators.

They took it up and finally made it into the Great Hall. At the far end, leaning against a podium of sorts, leaned a motionless asari, with Falere and Samara leaning over her.

They moved toward them.

"Rila? Rila, can you hear me?" Falere asked.

Rila opened her eyes, looking groggy and a little out of it, but alive. Falere smiled and stood, grabbing her sister's arm and hauling her to her feet.

Good. Something went right for once.

Rila scrubbed her hands over her face. When she removed them, her eyes were now nothing but big black orbs, like she was possessed.

Or not.

Rila surged forward and wrapped her hands around her sister's neck. Falere responded by shoving her away violently, causing Rila to topple to the ground.

"Why did she do that?" Falere asked, confused.

Oh no.

"They had already begun to turn her," Samara said calmly.

How can you be calm about this? They basically brainwashed your daughter!

There was no way to un-brainwash them, was there? At least not that Kaidan had seen thus far, there wasn't. Anyone who was 'indoctrinated' remained that way until they were killed. There was no hope. There was…

"I'm sorry," Shepard said quietly, coming up behind Samara, who stood next to Falere.

There was a moment of silence before Shepard turned back toward Kaidan and Garrus.

"Can we set off that bomb?" he asked.

Tough call. What now?

"Not without a detonator," Kaidan said quietly.

"Commandos would have had one," Shepard said. "We've got to find it."

Kaidan nodded and began looking around the bomb, trying to find anything that resembled a detonator, while Shepard did the same a few feet away.

Screeches cut them off. Kaidan's head snapped up, ice coursing through his veins as two of those creatures appeared from across the room, using biotic jumps to close in on them rapidly.

The next few minutes were a blur of action, those odd biotic orbs being shot at them as the two creatures closed in around them. Their barriers were high and they had an army of husks with them as well.

"What's the plan?" Garrus asked.

"You two focus on that one, I'll focus on this one," Shepard said, gesturing at the two creatures. "Keep the husks off you."

"Commander-" Kaidan started but was cut off as Shepard shoved him one way while he dove another as one of the creatures jumped toward them, sharp claws slicing through where they previously stood.

He lost sight of the commander in the next few minutes, focusing on the creature coming after him and Garrus. While it focused on Garrus Kaidan shot the hell out of it, and it grew angry and turned toward him. In the face of its anger and its jumps nothing he did seemed to work. One of those odd orbs hit him and he groaned, pain echoing through him as it began to eat through his armor.

Is this what Shepard meant?

It did finally stop, though, just in time for another orb to be shot at him. This time he managed to duck behind cover at the last possible second, causing the blast to miss him. Garrus continued firing at it from behind, getting in close to set up a proximity mine. The creature rounded on him angrily and picked him up, lifting him off the ground.

Kaidan knew nothing good could come from that.

With a growl he charged forward from his cover, using reave and whatnever else he could to attack the creature, get it to put Garrus back down. His bullets seemed to stagger it enough that it dropped him and Garrus scrambled for cover as it turned back toward Kaidan.

Angry claws wrapped around him, lifting him into the air, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. Pain sparked through him, the claws crushing in their might, biting through his armor as though it were nothing, cutting into his flesh, crushing, biting, burning-

And then suddenly he was on the ground, dropped from the creature's grasp. Gasping, he wrapped his arms around his middle, feeling blood ooze through the cuts. His vision blurred but he managed to drag his gaze around enough to see Shepard standing in front of him now, having used a biotic charge to dislodge the creature's hold.

"Get him out of here," Shepard growled to Garrus. "To the barrier."

"Shepard-" Kaidan tried, but wound up coughing for his efforts. Everything ached and it was surprisingly hard to breathe.

"Now, Garrus!" Shepard snapped, using a nova to push the creature back. From around the corner appeared the second creature, appearing at least mostly dead, thankfully, but still moving nevertheless.

Garrus grabbed Kaidan and hauled him to his feet, leading him away from the battle.

"Wait-" Kaidan tried.

"Shh," Garrus said as he led him away, leaving Shepard behind to take care of those things.

Outnumbered. Two of them against one.

"I'm fine," he said despite his wheezing breaths as everything spun around him.

"You will be," Garrus said, sitting him down next to Rila and the others, inside their little biotic bubble barrier which Samara was holding up. The turian knelt next to him, waving his omni-tool over him, checking the damage.

"Bruised ribs and some cuts, you'll be sore but fine," he said.

Kaidan gritted his teeth as the medi-gel began to take effect, ice over burns, his sense of pain dying away. "Shepard?"

There was the dying screech of one of the creatures, and then silence.

Kaidan scrambled to sit up but Garrus pushed him back down.

From around the corner appeared Shepard, leaning heavily against a pillar, sweat and blood dotting his brow but he was alive and the creatures were dead. He limped toward them, holding a hand firmly to his side.

"You okay?"

Kaidan scowled. "I'm fine."

"He will be fine," Garrus confirmed. "How are you? Manage to get hurt in my absence?"

Shepard rolled his eyes. The simple act caused relief to echo through the sentinel, because it was a normal act, meant Shepard was okay enough to act normally. He was okay. They were all okay. Still alive and able to fight.

Kaidan followed Shepard's gaze toward Rila, who was resting peacefully on the ground for the time being. She seemed to be waking, though. Falere hovered over her worriedly. Kaidan pushed himself to his feet and was surprised no one stopped him this time. Instead Shepard simply tossed him a semi-stern look before returning his focus to the down asari and the bomb.

Rila woke and got to her feet as though nothing happened. Falere stood at her side.

This time when the asari opened her eyes they weren't black, but the blue from before.

"Falere, go," Rila said hurriedly. "Take the elevator."

"Rila, what are you…?" Falere started, but was cut off as Rila grabbed for her sister's hands, showing her the detonator she held in her own.

"It's too late for me," Rila said quietly. "There are hundreds coming. Just go!"

Falere stared down at the detonator and shook her head.

Jesus. She's really going to do it, isn't she?

She was going to sacrifice herself, lure the creatures toward her and them blow them all to hell while they got away.

Samara looked at her daughter for a long moment before she nodded and turned, walking away. Shepard was left to grab a reluctant Falere and haul her toward the elevator while Garrus helped Kaidan toward it despite the fact the sentinel was fine.

"No!" Falere cried, struggling against Shepard.

Is it safe to have him haul her around? She is a powerful biotic…

Shepard seemed to have it under control though. A part of Kaidan couldn't help but think it should have been the mother's job to draw her daughter away, instead of Shepard.

"I love you," Rila said quietly.

Jesus, she's really doing it.

They climbed into the elevator. Shepard punched the button and the doors closed just as Falere broke free of his grip. She stumbled against the doors and pounded at them with open palms, staring at them in disbelief.

A few seconds later there was the telltale sounds of an explosion somewhere below them. The elevator shook. Kaidan looked around, wondering if this elevator was sturdy enough to hold them but it seemed like it was because they kept moving.

Falere cried against the doors. Shepard put a comforting hand on her shoulder while Samara remained oddly quiet.

Kaidan didn't know what to do or say so he did nothing and remained quiet, averting his gaze toward the ground. It was not his place to look at others' pain.

Finally the elevator stopped and the doors opened. Falere and Samara stepped out, Shepard following after them. Kaidan and Garrus brought up the rear, mostly staying back toward the wall. It was not their place to intervene here.

Kaidan wasn't paying attention to the conversation – it wasn't his place, after all – until Shepard lunged forward and pulled Samara's hands behind her back. She'd had a gun to her temple for some reason. Kaidan pushed away from the wall, ignoring the small burst of pain, and stepped toward them.

"Let go," Samara said, the promise of lethality in her voice.

Shepard didn't waver, though. "What are you doing?"

"Fullfilling the code," Samara said like it was simple.

"By throwing your life away?" Shepard asked incredulously.

"I will not kill my last daughter."

What?

"You won't have to," Falere said quietly, stepping forward, toward them.

"Falere?" Samara asked.

Shepard released his hold on her arms, seemingly satisfied she wouldn't try to shoot herself again. Kaidan watched, curious, confused and worried all in one.

"I'll stay here," Falere said slowly. "Home. No matter what's become of it."

"Without a proper monastery…" Samara said.

"I could have left at any time," Falere said sincerely. "I don't need a building to honor my own code. And if the Reapers return… they won't take me alive. I promise."

What kind of persuasive speech is this?

He didn't understand it, but it seemed to have meaning to both Falere and Samara. That was what mattered here, not his understanding of it.

"Then…" Samara said finally, quietly, "the code permits you to stay. As you are."

Falere moved in for a hug, wrapping her arms around her mother. Samara stood there, rigid as ever, before she finally brought her arms up around her as well.

"Once this war is over," she said calmly, "and if I am able… I will visit. As a justicar should."

Not as a mother?

"I'd understand if you wanted to help Falere rebuild a home here," Shepard said, stepping toward the two of them as they stopped hugging.

"It must wait, now that I can help oppose the Reapers," Samara said, like it was all so very simple. "I'll speak with Falere… then join your forces. If you'll have me, of course."

Shepard nodded. "I'd be honored."

"The honor is mine," Samara said. "My friend."

Then she turned back toward her daughter and Shepard turned toward Kaidan and Garrus.

"Everything's taken care of down here," he said into the comm link. "Bring in the shuttle."

They were leaving here, finally. If Kaidan ever saw one of those mutated asari again… it would be far too soon.

The Reapers were ingenious and ruthless in their work at the monastery.

Poor Rila.

Genius and ruthless.

I'm sorry.

A/N: And there's that chapter. Like I said, it came out kinda long and probably ramble-y, I dunno XD Let me know what you think? Thanks for reading and please review!

~Muffy the Dough Slayer~