Samara

Illium was certainly testing her dedication to the mission. Every time she turned a corner, Samara saw some deplorable act that the Code required her to intervene. Morinth chose an excellent planet to hide, using the Justicar Code to slow Samara's pursuit. She always was the most brilliant of the three.

Still, the Code was clear.

Even with the delays, Samara was able to track her daughter's last known whereabouts. She left many victims in her wake. Her addiction and overconfidence would be her downfall.

She found where Morinth lived but arrived too late. All that remained in the lavish apartment was a note she left for Samara, taunting her. But she was not deterred. Her target was not as covert as she assumed. The justicar would find some clue as to where she had gone.

Samara returned to the official, an Officer Dara, with whom she registered as the Code dictated. The younger asari was quite helpful. She pointed her to a local band of Eclipse mercenaries and their base at a commercial spaceport. They were well-known for smuggling people off world and were exclusively asari. Morinth reveled in using her condition to intimidate and coerce other asari into helping her. It was the strongest lead she had.

Once she arrived, it did not take her long to find where to go. Two asari officers stood in front of an alley way, a police line blocking the entrance.

"Jus-Justicar!" one of the officers stammered, and both women straightened.

"What has happened here?"

They did not respond right away. Their eyes and mouths stood agape. Samara was used to this reaction from police forces.

Eventually, one nudged the other which spurred her into speaking. "A-a volus was killed in the alleyway. We think it was the local Eclipse, but we haven't found anything substantial."

"What makes you suspect the Eclipse?"

"Because they have a small warehouse back there. We never could get a warrant to search the place, but everyone knows where it is."

This may work to her advantage. "Are there members back there now?"

The asari shrugged. "Probably. They're a cautious group. Don't like to keep things unattended."

"Then that is where I must go," Samara said as she moved to pass the barrier.

The officer held up her hand and stepped between Samara and the alley. "Wait."

"Do not attempt to stop me."

"Wouldn't dream of it, justicar. I just wanted to let you know that I will have to report your involvement in this. If I had to guess, the higher ups won't want you snooping around, and they might try to detain you."

"They will do what they feel they must. Just as I will do what the Code demands."

The asari nodded and stepped aside. "Good luck, justicar."

Samara walked past the two and through the barrier. In the alley, there was the heavy stench of cleaner. The murder must have been messy and fairly recent for her to smell the lingering vapors. She pressed on, eventually coming to a warehouse that obviously belonged to the Eclipse. A mercenary dressed in their yellow gear was guarding the door.

"Stop!" the maiden yelled. "Not another step. Who are you, and what do you want?"

She didn't stop moving, but the justicar did answer. "I'm in pursuit of a dangerous criminal. It would be wise not to hinder my search."

The Eclipse was not impressed. "Well, they ain't here. And don't try to intimidate me with your fake justicar getup. Move your blue ass along before I have to – ARGH!"

Samara lifted the overzealous woman with her biotics, pinning her legs together and her arms to her sides. "You will answer my questions. Where is the Ardat-Yakshi?"

There was fear in her eyes, replacing the arrogance before. "I can't. They'll kill me."

"I will kill you. I will not ask again."

The mercenary paused for a moment, weighing her options. "She's gone. She got on a ship yesterday."

"What is the name of the ship?"

"I don't know. I only overheard that we smuggled an Ardat-Yakshi. That's all I know. I swear."

There were tears in her eyes. Samara let her down slowly and released her biotic hold.

"You may go. I suggest a change in careers."

The young asari didn't answer and ran down the alleyway. She hoped she had altered the course of the maiden's life for the better.

Samara pushed the thoughts from her mind and brought her focus back to her target. She heard commotion come from inside the warehouse. They may be able to provide answers. The doors opened, revealing four more asari dressed in Eclipse gear situated on a raised platform.

"You're supposed to be guarding the door, Salira," one of them said as she turned. "What are you- wait. Who… Shit, you're the justicar, aren't you?"

"She warned you about me. Tell me, where did you send her?"

"Why the hell should I tell you anything?"

"Because it is your only option if you wish to leave this room alive."

"We don't know where she went!" another yelled before the apparent leader could answer.

"Shut up!"

"We just gave her a ship," the informant continued.

"I said 'Shut up!'"

The young asari was not finished, however. "She's a justicar! We don't stand a chance!"

"I would listen to the maiden. She is the wisest one among you. What is the name of the ship she departed on?"

"It's-"

She was interrupted by a hard biotic blast from the leader. It sent her careening into boxes, and a sickening crack sounded. She didn't move afterwards.

"That's all you're going to get from us, justicar. We would rather die than betray the Eclipse."

The remaining three readied their weapons.

"So be it."

They opened fire, forcing Samara behind crates.

"Flank her! We outnumber her!"

One remained on the platform, keeping her pinned with shotgun blasts. Samara took care of the problem with a pull field. The shotgun sprang out of the leader's hand and clattered uselessly next to the justicar.

The other two were not stealthy in their movements. It took moments to decipher their position. One swung out from behind her cover and took aim. She was blindsided when Samara slammed her with one of the heavy crates, crushing her between it and her cover. She let out a surprised yelled before being silenced.

Samara lifted the other. The weightless asari tried to grab at the crates around her, hoping to find an anchor to keep herself from spinning widely. The struggle was more taxing on the justicar than she was willing to endure. She tossed her against the wall next to the opening door.

She was aware of the new arrivals, but her focus was on the remaining Eclipse mercenary.

"Those were my best troops."

"Tell me what I need to know, and I will be gone from here."

"Do you think I would betray her? She would hurt me in ways you can't imagine."

"A name of a ship. Your life hangs upon the answer, lieutenant."

"You may kill me, but one of us will take you down, justicar!"

She raised her submachine gun, forcing Samara to act. She lifted the asari off the ground and tossed her across the warehouse. She made sure the impact would be enough to stun and not kill the mercenary. The justicar jumped off the platform herself, using her biotics to steer her toward the down asari and slow her descent. She put the heel of her boot squarely on the Eclipse's neck.

"What is the name of the ship she left on?"

"Go to hell!"

Defiant until the end. "Find peace in the embrace of the goddess."

She twisted her foot, crushing the asari's windpipe. Samara turned to face the new arrivals that had approached her while she dealt with the last mercenary.

"My name is Samara, a servant of the Justicar Code. My quarrel is with these Eclipse sisters, but I see three well-armed people before me. Are we friend or foe?"

Their leader (according to the three's body language) answered. "That merc was wounded and helpless. You just kill anyone who won't help you?" He spoke with fierce intensity.

"If my cause is important enough, yes. Are you any different?"

He crossed his arms. "I've killed enemies but not without reason."

"I answer to a code that is clearly defined," Samara explained. "If my actions are true to that Code, I am just. If they are not, I am unjust. I don't pretend it is a simple matter or that it seems right to everyone. But I sleep well at night, and that is more than most can say. How may I be of service to you?"

"I'm going up against suicidal odds, and I need the best. That's you."

She was taken aback by the frankness of his words. Few were willing to be so blunt. Samara briefly wondered if it was some ruse but quickly dismissed the thought. He was too sincere.

"I sense the truth in what you say, and it humbles me. But I seek an incredibly dangerous fugitive. I followed her here, but the Eclipse sisters smuggled her off-world. I must retrieve the name of the ship she departed on before the trail goes cold."

"I wish you were willing to go with the human, justicar," an unknown voice said from the door. "I've been ordered to take you into custody if you won't leave."

"You risk a great deal by following your orders, detective. Fortunately, I will not have to resist. My Code obligates me to cooperate with the local authorities for one day as long as they are assisting. After that, I must return to my investigation."

"I won't be able to release you that soon."

"You won't be able to stop me."

"Wait, wait, wait," the man interjected. "The human is a little lost."

"I'm trying to get the justicar to go with you," the detective clarified.

"She has been given orders to detain me. I must cooperate for a day. After that…"

He nodded. "You kill everyone trying to stop you as go back to your investigation. Maybe there's a way everyone can get what they need. How 'bout I figure out what ship this fugitive left on while you are with the detective there. Afterwards, you join me on my mission. I might even be able to help you catch whoever you're chasing. If you need the help that is."

Samara thought over the proposal. "Yes. The arrangement would satisfy the Code."

"Great. Grunt, Jacob, let's find that ship before Samara is forced to kill half a precinct."

While she was in custody, Samara took the time to inquire about the human that came for her. Detective Anaya was extremely surprised to learn of her ignorance about the man before agreeing to his conditions. She did not realize the knowledge one could gain from a person without knowing who he or she was.

"That was Commander Shepard. You know. The first human Spectre. Savior of the Citadel."

Samara merely nodded as a response. It would be interesting, working for a man so esteem. She wondered what the exact objective of his mission was as she meditated behind the detective's desk.

She didn't have to wait long for an answer. Shepard returned within an hour.

"I got the name of the ship. Your fugitive left here two days ago on the AML Demeter."

"Shepard, you've impressed me. You have fulfilled your part of the bargain, and I'll fulfill mine." She hoped down from the ledge and turned to the detective. "I am ready to leave immediately if that will satisfy your superiors, detective."

"You're free to go, justicar. It's an honor to have you at my station. And it's nice you didn't kill me too."

"Well, let's get going then. We have a lot of work ahead of us."

"One moment, Shepard," Samara said, stopping him before he turned to leave. "By agreeing to follow you, I am compelled to swear the most difficult of Justicar Oaths, the Third Oath of Subsumation. After I do, your orders will override the Code."

She knelt then and recited the Oath. "By the Code, I will serve you, Shepard. Your choices are my choices. Your morals are my morals. Your wishes are my Code." She pulsed with biotic power to seal the pact.

"I appreciate the trust you put in me, Samara. I will do everything I can so that you aren't in violation with your Code while we are working together."

"I am grateful, Shepard. I would hate to be forced to kill you once I am released of the Oath. Shall we return to your ship?"

"Absolutely. On the way, can I ask you a few questions about this Code and your Order?"

"Of course."

The majority of the trip back was spent in conversation with Shepard about the justicars. Samara explained that the Code was morally unambiguous. There were no grey areas. Either a person was innocent or guilty. While not every offense ended in the death of the perpetrator, the Code allowed for little mercy in its sentencing.

She also clarified that there was no governmental entity that controlled them. They lived by the Code, and it was sacred to them. If a justicar broke the Code, it was another's duty to see that justice was served. Such an occurrence had only happened twice, their names stricken from the records for their offense.

Samara also drew comparisons between justicars and the knights-errant in Medieval Christendom or Japanese samurai. Shepard seemed impressed by her knowledge of humanity's history. She explained that she found other alien histories interesting, and she endeavored to learn all she could once humanity secured their place in the galactic community.

She was about to continue her explanation of the justicars when Samara noticed a human rapidly approaching them. The woman seemed to be in quite a hurry, so it surprised the asari when she stopped in front of Shepard.

"Shepard, I need to speak with you immediately. And alone."

He looked worried about the urgency in her voice. "Jacob, take Samara, and make sure she gets set up with a room. Grunt, you go with them."

Samara watched the two for a moment as they moved back toward the trading floor. The woman spoke rapidly and anxiously, and the concern was evident on her face. Shepard was doing his best to calm her down, but it seemed to be ineffective.

"Justicar Samara," the man named Jacob said. "If you will please follow me."

She gave one last glance at the two to find they were gone. Samara searched briefly for them, worrying about what the woman wanted with Shepard. He was obviously drained and could use rest, not another mission.

Yet he knew his limits better than she. Samara turned back and followed Jacob to the ship.

Author's Note:

Sorry about being a day late. Wrote myself into a little corner there and couldn't find my way out for awhile. Hopefully it won't happen with the next chapter. I'm excited about it so that should prevent any big roadblocks from happening.

Samara is an interesting character. She is completely dedicated to Code, yet she still cares deeply for her daughter. I enjoy weaving the dichotomy in and forcing her to fall back on the Code to admit what she is doing is right.

Thanks for reading and please review!