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"The new systems went in beautifully," Garrus boasted. "This thing packs a hell of a punch."

"I don't understand. How can you even read this?" Shepard asked, squinting at the Battery console. "It's just a bunch of gibberish."

Garrus laughed as he turned to see who had opened the Battery doors. They were both surprised to see Samara standing there.

"Commander," she said.

"Hey, Sam," Shepard said, turning to lean on the console. "What's up?"

"I'm afraid I have something urgent to discuss with you."

"Oh," Garrus said. "I'll give you two some privacy then." He started to walk towards the door when Samara put a hand up to stop him.

"No, it is alright. Since it is likely that the Commander will have you accompany us to begin with, it matters not if you hear this from her or from me."

Garrus and Shepard shared a glance before he sat down on the crates off to the side.

Samara went on to share with Shepard the tale of Morinth, the dangerous criminal she had been chasing. How she knew where she was, and how she might not get another chance for hundreds of years.

"What aren't you telling me?" Shepard said, crossing her arms. "I know that you are aware how much more important our current mission is than some serial killer. And while I agree that she needs to be dealt with, it's not nearly as high on the priorities list. So there is something else to this."

Samara looked down at her feet, and the shame was apparent on her face. Neither Shepard or Garrus had ever seen Samara show any emotion other than mild amusement.

"This creature. This…monster. She is my daughter."

The only sound in the room was their collective heartbeats, and Garrus saw Shepard tense.

"I do not want pity, and I will not accept it." Samara said, straightening her posture, turning back into the proud Justicar. "My daughter's condition is my fault, and my redemption lies in killing her."

"You're sure? There's no other way?"

"I am."

Shepard sighed. A thousand different things running through her head.

"Alright. We'll head back to Omega."

"Thank you, Shepard," Samara said with a slight movement of her head. "You cannot imagine what this means to me."

Just as quietly as she had come, Samara turned and left. Shepard didn't say anything, just stared at the empty spot the asari had been standing in.

"Well, that was heavy," Garrus said, breaking the silence.

"Yeah."

"How are you going to stop her from killing Morinth?"

She exhaled a long breath from her nose before speaking.

"I'm not."

"What?" Garrus said as he stood.

"You heard me."

"Yeah but…"

"This is a whole different animal than you wanting revenge or Jacob taking his disappointment out on his father. She's not acting on some brash emotion, she's been hunting her daughter for hundreds of years. It's been her only purpose. She doesn't want to do it, but she knows she has to, and it's the only way she'll find peace."

"Yeah I can see how it's different but… You're obviously not happy about this, Shepard."

"No. I'm not. But it isn't about me. It's a whole different culture, a religion. I can't get in her way. Not this time." She sighed and looked down at her feet. "But, I don't know. I'm somebody's daughter, Garrus. And as far as they know I'm as good as dead. Makes me wonder if they wanted me that way, or if they would have changed their minds seeing me now."

Again, the silence that filled the room was unbearable. What could he say to that? What could he possibly say that would take away a couple decades worth of pain and uncertainty?

"Well," She said as she headed out of the Battery. "Let's hope no one recognizes that ugly face of yours."

"You'll have to go in alone and unarmed. She will be drawn to you," Samara instructed.

"No gun?" Shepard said.

"No backup?" Garrus said.

"You cannot enter a club, armored and armed, without arising suspicious. And Morinth will not approach a potential victim that is among company. Besides, I must stay hidden or we risk spooking her."

Shepard exhaled and rubbed her eyes with her fingers.

"This isn't going to be fun."

"You must be careful, Shepard," Samara said. "I do not think you understand just how dangerous she is."

"It'll be fine, Sam. I think I can handle a woman's advances."

"You think incorrectly, Commander. Morinth can enter your mind, make you think things that aren't real. Make you think she is the only thing you have ever wanted. That is what makes her so dangerous. You do not know there is a threat, until she has already taken over your mind."

"I think I'm stronger than to succumb to some kind of Asari mind-melt B.S."

"I can go in," Garrus said. "I'll head in half an hour before you so it doesn't look like we showed up together. And I'll be able to see fine in the dim light so I can keep eyes on you the whole time, just in case."

"I hardly think she's going to go all black widow on me in a crowded club."

"Mr. Vakarian's concerns are well founded. And if you would prefer the extra confidence of having a comrade within reach, that is a satisfactory plan. I merely cannot go in with you. The moment she senses me, all is lost."

"Fine," she said frustrated.

"We will head back to the ship so that you may change."

They headed out of Nef's room and thanked her mother for the help before making their way back to The Normandy.

"I don't even own any club clothes," Shepard said, rubbing her neck. "I guess I'll have to borrow something."

"Yeah, I doubt our military casuals are proper club wear."

Garrus came out of the Battery wearing his workout shirt and slacks. He figured he should at least try and dress like he was out to get laid. For turians, that means showing off your shoulder ridge and arms. The neck of the sleeveless shirt hung loosely across his chest, fixing on a small point on his shoulders. He rolled his neck out and a few of the women in the crew started staring at him. Tali laughed.

"Yeah, yeah," he said stepping into the mess. "I'm not happy about this either so keep it to yourself."

"Is this how turian's go on the prowl?" Tali asked.

"Yes, unfortunately. Though it's not something I generally do."

All eyes turned to the crew quarters on the starboard side of the ship as they heard Shepard yelling.

"No," she shouted as the door wooshed open. "I draw the line at make-up, Kelly. I'm already in this getup Goto-san gave me, and you did my hair. That's enough shenanigans. Keep that garbage away from me."

Out she stomped, shoulders tensed.

The men in the crowd immediately hollered and cheered, thunderous applause pouring from them.

She was wearing a short black dress that was snug against her form and accentuating her curves with black shoes that made her, already toned, legs flex as she walked. The neck of the dress was low and pinned together by a metal piece, making the material hug her chest. The material went around the back of her neck, and exposed all of her shoulders and back. Her hair had been straightened, and it hung, tossed casually, over one eye.

Her face filled with blood as the embarrassment hit her.

Garrus' mandibles fluttered as he looked her up and down. He had never seen her look so feminine. The look obviously didn't suit her, which anyone who knew her personality could tell, but he'd be lying to himself if he didn't admit that she was the only one he'd ever seen make the style look that good. He'd also be lying to himself if he didn't admit that the sight of her bare shoulders and throat didn't make his blood hot.

Get a grip, he said to himself, shaking his head out. This is Shepard you're looking at.

"Yes, yes," she said, trying to get the men to shut up as she entered the Mess. "Very funny, as you were."

"Damn, Shepard," Joker said. "I had almost forgotten you were a girl under there."

"Hilarious."

"Give us a turn, Commander," Jacob said, twirling his finger.

"Shut up," she commanded, that old confidence coming back to her. "Before I kill each and every one of you."

"Oh, Taichou," Kasumi squealed, taking Shepard's hands in hers. "Kyaaa! You look very beautiful! I am so glad it fits you."

"I feel ridiculous," Shepard mumbled, taking her hands out of the thief's.

The applause and cheers slowly settled but everyone's eyes were still on her. The doors to Life Support hissed open and, glad for the distraction, Shepard turned to see Thane coming around the corner, curious about the commotion.

He stopped in his tracks as his eyes fell on Shepard. His hands came out from behind his back unconsciously and his eyes widened, only slightly. It was the least composed anyone had ever seen him.

"Kalahira," he said softly, not even realizing he said it.

The men in the Mess laughed. All of them but Garrus, anyway, who was too busy being irritated.

"Well well, Thane," Joker chirped. "If we would have known your weakness was beautiful women, we would have exploited that a long time ago."

Thane cleared his throat, regaining his composure with a smile. "I hardly find your description of her appropriate, as I've heard you use the term beautiful to describe the ships handling. However," he said, nodding to Shepard. "I would be lying if I didn't admit that you were stunning, Shepard."

Shepards face turned so red, she suddenly wished she had put make-up on.

"Well, thanks, Thane," she said, clearing her throat.

Garrus heard Shepard's heartbeat speeding up and rolled his neck out to distract himself from how angry he was getting. They had a dangerous mission to tackle and Thane was obviously making her uncomfortable, right?

"I see you are ready, Commander," Samara said, stepping out of Observation. "You look wonderful."

"Alright," she said, letting her hands hit her legs. "Enough with the compliments, Jiminy Christmas. I'm going to put pants on."

"Don't be ridiculous, Commander," Kenneth whined. "You look smokin' hot."

"Well I feel like an idiot."

"Man, you're going to have to beat men away from you with a stick in there."

"That's if I let them get that close," Garrus rumbled, going to her side, keeping his eyes on the green crew member in the room.

"You should probably take your visor off," Shepard said looking up at him. "Targeting visors aren't club-wear."

"Ah, yeah. I forget I even have it on."

"Oi. This is such a bad idea," she whined, holding her forehead in her hand.

Without any kind of communication between them, Garrus stayed alert, keeping his eyes on the entrance to the club, watching for Shepard. He was concentrating on looking casual, which usually isn't something you're supposed to concentrate on, when he was interrupted by a half-naked human asking him to dance.

"Sorry," he said, waving a hand. "I'm waiting for someone."

He saw Shepard come in the hallway entrance, all her meek embarrassment gone, taking those same confident steps she always took. She was hard not to look at, and Garrus took note of all the different eyes falling on her as she made her way through the club. He could tell she was glancing around trying to locate him, but couldn't, as he had picked a rather dark spot at the back where he could overlook the whole club. Not only to keep his eyes on Shepard, but maybe help her locate the target, and more quickly put an end to this charade.

Shepard saw a turian holding one of the dancers by her forearm, who was struggling to get away. She didn't hesitate to put herself between the offender and the girl. The turian raised his hand to smack her, but Shepard caught it and quickly jabbed him in the tender, exposed part of his side where there was no plating. He buckled over in pain.

Hah, Garrus thought. I taught her that.

He laughed as he watched Shepard realize she was on the dance floor. She rolled out her neck and leaned against the wall she was near, bobbing her head with the music. Another asari, but not one that worked there, approached her, swinging her hips.

Shepard nodded to her in greeting and the girl quickly took Shepard by the hands and dragged her along the dance floor. He could see Shepard sneering as the girl turned away to pull her.

She obviously was not a dancer. She just swayed back and forth, shifting her weight between her feet. Garrus laughed. This obviously wasn't something she enjoyed. The asari girl said something to her and Shepard laughed, tossing her hair back with a flick of her head.

He told himself that she looked ridiculous, trying to distract from how her shoulders and hips were moving, how she would turn her head and expose her throat, how her smile lit up her face. The moment he realized he had started growling was also the moment he realized something was very wrong with him. This was Shepard he was suddenly thinking about.

He shook his head, trying to snap himself out of it, when he saw her. Morinth, the target. She was a dead ringer for Samara, but wearing all black, and scanning the dance floor. She was leaning against a wall, turning her head this way and that as she observed. When Shepard dismissed herself from the asari's company, Morinth didn't make her move. They needed something to really get her attention so they could get the hell out of here. Garrus decided to step in.

This is a terrible idea, he thought.

God damn it, Shepard thought, keeping her calm demeanor. Stupid blue lesbians. Stupid club. Stupid Samara. Garrus must be, just, loving the spectacle I'm making of myself.

She pushed her way through the crowd, trying to escape the dance floor, when a large hand grabbed hers and pulled her backward hard. She had to subdue her reflexes to punch whoever was pulling her and let them make their move. If she hit first, she would get thrown out and all this torment would be for nothing. So she allowed herself to be pulled backwards, into the chest of a large turian.

"I found her," said a very familiar rumbling voice in her ear. He raised his hand to hold her by the side of her throat and had lowered his face next to hers.

Her heart leaped in her throat and she was suddenly very grateful even Garrus' superior hearing wouldn't be able to hear her heart pounding under the base.

Okay, Shepard, she told herself. Keep it together. Don't lose your shit, god damn it. Keep it together.

"Where," she said trying to look irritated by the advance of, what should be, a stranger.

"Behind me," he said. His mandibles fluttered against her throat and she felt her insides shutter and swallowed down the urge to enjoy the feeling. It was all fake. A means of getting the job done. She took the cue to bat his hand away and turn to face him. She searched the crowed behind him but couldn't spot anything. She spared a moment to try and command her heart to stop beating so fast.

He put a hand on the small of her back and pulled her into him, then turned them both, slightly.

"Your two o'clock," he said. "Leaning against the back wall. Don't look for Morinth, look for Samara."

She shoved him away and pointed at him like she was threatening him. She didn't really know what he meant by look for Samara until she saw her. "Holy hell," she said looking up at him, still maintaining the act. "It looks just like her."

Garrus put his hands up defensively. "I know," he said with a smile. "You've got to get her attention."

"Okay so now what? I get rid of you?"

"That's the idea. Do you remember how to do this?"

She scoffed and tossed her hair out of her eyes, sinking back into a hip.

"Please, if turian flipping were a sport I'd have a metal in it by now."

And with that, Garrus lunged at her, his open talon advancing on her throat. She grabbed his forearm in both hands and stepped over his leg, spinning, and hurling him over her head. She felt him jump, making it easier to lift him, and he crashed onto the flat of his back. A bunch of people around her cheered at her.

"Thanks for the help," she said, smiling down at him.

"I can totally see up your skirt," he shot back. She lightly tapped the side of his face with her pointy part of her high-heel and he winced. The guards came to escort him out and apologized to her. She waved them off and thanked them for their help as she made her way off the dance floor.

"Hey," the asari said, approaching her. "I'm Morinth."

Garrus walked with Samara, following Shepard's tracking beacon absently. They both remained silent and worrying the whole time, though each of them were worried about completely different things. Samara worried for Shepard's safety, worried for the possibility that Morinth might escape again. As for Garrus, well...

He was worried about his sanity.

It had all been an act in the club. At least it was supposed to be. But you can't fake that kind of reaction. He had felt her heart racing as soon as she realized it was him behind her, felt her shutter under his touch. And he could pretend all he wanted, but he couldn't deny the way his body had reacted to the feel of her throat in his hand, against his face.

He needed a cold shower.

Shepard had told the crew they were getting forty-eight hours of leave after they finished Samara's business. It might be a good opportunity for him to blow off some steam. If Shepard was doing this to him, then it's obvious he was more tightly wound than he thought he was.

His omni-tool beeping woke him from his daze.

"I'm as strong as her, I can help you," Morinth said.

"I am already sworn to help you, Shepard," Samara shouted. "Let us finish this!"

"I… Sam I can't…"

"Shepard, you know what it's like to be abandoned by your parents!" Morinth said. "We… We're kindred spirits! Help me!"

That was the moment Shepard truly realized just how dangerous this asari was. She looked over at Garrus, who was standing in the door of the apartment. And in that way he always did, he read her thoughts from her face, and nodded at her.

It's okay, Shepard.

Shepard grabbed Morinths arm, interrupting her biotic stream.

"I'm sorry, Morinth," Shepard said.

"And they call me the monster," was all she got to say before Samara blasted her across the room.

Samara straddled her, saying a small prayer, before firing the heel of her hand into Morinths jaw, snapping her neck. For the first time since she could remember, Shepard looked away as someone was killed in front of her.

"It is finished," Samara said, standing. "Are you ready to leave?"

"I uh.." Sheppard cleared her throat. "Are you okay, Sam? That couldn't have been easy."

"What do you want me to say, Shepard," Samara said looking down at her dead daughter. "I just killed the bravest and smartest of my daughters. It is a feeling that I cannot put into words. Have pity on an old warrior, and let us leave."

Shepard tapped her foot and a shiver went through her.

"You wanna go get hammered?" She asked finally.

Samara turned to look over her shoulder, staring at the Commander, weighing whether or not she was serious.

"Yes," she said finally. "I think I would."

Shepard smiled apologetically and patted her on the shoulder as they left the apartment.