Kaidan received a message on his omni as he was finishing up some reports to Hackett that he and Garrus had worked on earlier, the news was not good but it was better than bad news he supposed. It had been a week and a half and he had not heard much from Shepard and that concerned him more than he had been willing to admit. Instead he had done what she always did and burry himself in his work.

"Major, Adlers has asked me to inform you that whatever she and Shepard had been working on will launch tonight. Liara has also asked that you view it with us. She has offered to play chaperone. I hope you will also tell me what that human term means since neither she nor Traynor will tell me. I think I have become the butt of a joke. –Plava

Kaidan dashed off a reply, chuckling. He and Plava had developed a more open working relationship since she had given him information about the underbelly of Omega. Apparently she was also working well with Samara and Falare and Kaidan had been more than willing to scale back his own involvement . By their own estimates they first round of soldiers (not Commandos all Asari had insisted) would be ready for deployment within a few days.

The younger Asari Shar had also taken to spending all her free time with either Liara or Tali so was constantly somewhere on the Normandy when she wasn't being ground into the snow by Plava. It was interesting to see Tali treat the Asari as a little sister considering that is what so many of the crew had once considered the Quarrian. This war really was making them all old.

He actually had a meeting with the two in the afternoon. He liked that the Commando kept meticulous records even sending him a message request when she was going to see him in a few hours anyway. He wondered if that was for his or her own benefit.

Standing up and feeling his shoulders pop Kaidan can hear Karin scolding him for abusing himself . Or neglecting himself more truthfully.

Communications has been a mess. Honestly it was a blessing and a curse. The snow had keep up on and off since they had first arrived and while it helped hid their rapidly growing base camp it wrought havoc on EDI and Liara's correspondence. Tali and Gabby had requested Shar's help and it might have been the one disagreement Kaidan and Plava had had since her promotion.

Heading down to the Mess Kaidan wonders how Shepard is holding up. She had sent him a quick message letting him know she was still alive and on Omega a few nights back. The news that they were getting out of the Terminus was all bad but he knew worrying or worse telling her he was worrying would not help situations any.

Stepping out of the lift Kaidan notices the port observation door open and is surprised to see Samara sitting lotus style on the floor apparently meditating and watching the snow.

"You would think you would be sick of looking at it already." He chuckles as he comes up alongside her.

" Kaidan I have lived almost a thousand years. Many of those were going from colony to colony without taking time to admire the beauty of the worlds we live on. With the Reaper threat I find myself becoming more aware of what we have to lose. That or perhaps it is just my old age." She gives a light smile and motions for him to join her.

"So I had a curiosity and Dr. T'Soni was kind enough to look into it for me. Something I doubt you are aware of."

"Oh? Falare is going to start a Justicar appretence program for all biotics who leave here?"

"No. I know my way of life is dying. As far as either myself or Liara know I may still be the only full fledged Justicar left." She gave him a knowing look.

"I'm not sure I follow. Honestly I don't know that much about Asari culture aside from your order is one of the most respected in the galaxy."

"True enough. The trials of the Justicar are kept secret to prevent duplication in other races. Consider it another show of Asari ethnocentrism. But before one becomes a Justicar you must be a Commando. That I assume you know." He nods and she goes on.

"The training process has a 40% death rate. That is not something many know going into the order. But after you finish your training and before you take your final vows you are sent on a mission to test your knowledge of the code. Many Justicars choose where they wish to go."

"And I assume that leads to more deaths."

"That or what we call Initiates, those who were considered for the order but never took their final vows to the Code."

"Plava." Suddenly it made sense. Something about Plava had irked Shepard but Samara had not shyed away from the Asari. She must have seen something that made her wonder and asked Liara to look into.

Samara nods and takes a sip of tea before going on. "I am sure it is nothing of consequence. The woman has of course not said anything to me about it. But I thought you should know."

"I appreciate it. But tell me what would make someone spend all that time for training and then not become a Justicar?"

Samara gives a sad smile. "There are many things that a Justicar can't do under the Code Major. The Code is detailed but also very rigid that is why we are sent on a mission before taking our vows. One cannot harm an innocent, one cannot accept worldly possessions, one cannot have a family ."

"Where was her mission to? It was Omega wasn't it?" Privatly Kaidan had always wondered why a Commando would stay under Aria T'loak, now he was wondering what she had lost or gained on the station that made Plava think staying in that hellhole was a better alternative then returning to Asari space.

A/N Sorry for the long delay! I have been crazy busy and the muse has been running me all over the place. I decided I needed to flesh out my OC's a bit before the story goes on. Not sure how the younger one Shar will play out but all feedback is MUCH appreciated! -Raven