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Marked Effect (AFF Edition)	By : unrealuniverse Category: +M through R > Mass Effect Views: 22185 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Mass Effect characters, species, locations and the universal setting are owned by Bioware and not myself. Any other brand names mentioned are property of their respective owners. This work is and always will be free for anyone to read.

Chapter List
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Chapter 19 - Nothing New
Tuesday 17th January 2017
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"Councillor, we have received news that one of Adastra's commandos has been injured."
"Will there ever be a dull day with Adastra on the Citadel. I will go to see them this morning and find out what happened".
-----
Sam had been awake for several minutes just looking at the back of Adastra's head, studying the purple marking from the burns on the tips of her folds. Adastra stirs and turns over giving Sam a smile.
"You are going to sleep in your own bed tonight."
"Do I snore or something?" Adastra wondering why Sam wanted to get rid of her out of his bed.
"No, it was a joke, but unless you agree to keep to your own side and shower before bed you really are on your own tonight."
"I smell?" Sam sighs at the fact he should not have to spell out the obvious.
"No your flaky blue skin will make me look like a glitter ball." Adastra lifts up the sheets and looks down at the not insignificant amount of blue-grey skin flakes.
"Oh," Putting the sheet back down and smiling. "I can do that."
"You seem much happier this morning." Sam noting that she is actually talking and smiling unlike yesterday evening.
"Apart from feeling like I am bruised all over, I am. I do not blame you for not seeing me for a third time in engineering yesterday."
"It was difficult looking at you unhappy and in pain. I am still a little surprised you have not asked me about when I helped you out of the maintenance area yet." Sam trying not to give any hints as to what did happen.
"It is all a bit of a blur." Adastra pauses to think back. "I was... oh."
"Quite why you were so reluctant to show me the entirety of your rather wonderful markings I cannot understand Adastra. I still cannot work out how you have not had people falling over themselves to be with you in the past to be fair."
"I am not quite sure what to say Sam. Getting praise and not teased or verbally abused for my markings is, well I have never had it before from anyone else. Even my mother disliked them even if she did not dislike me as an individual."
"There must be some Asari out there who find them attractive, even if it is a minority."
"I feel so much happier about my mistake of not locking the door now. I appreciate, and am truly grateful for your kind words. I would just like you to promise not to tell anyone about them."
"So it was just a mistake when you left the door open Adastra?" Sam still trying to get to the bottom of was it really a mistake. "Adastra, I will be less unhappy at you telling me the truth." She sighs.
"I knew Shiala would not go anywhere unless she knew where I was and Kate was still asleep. I may therefore have felt it was unnecessary to do so but it was not my intention for you to see me."
"I appreciate the honesty. I will also promise not to tell anyone what your markings look like." Adastra shuffles over in the bed and gives Sam a short kiss before a hug, her skin feeling noticeably rougher against Sam's cheek than usual today. "While I understand the reason for the kiss, can we at least try to keep it to hugs as we both know Sha'ira's advice?"
"I will try but sometimes it is not enough Sam."
"I know what you mean Adastra and I understand. We best be getting up as Kriana will have that immersion heater for us to fit." Sam looks at the bed where Adastra had shuffled over to. "If anyone asks why I have blue skin flakes on me you are doing the explaining." Adastra smiles before she gets out of the bed revealing her body that looked like some sort of modern art.
"You could always have a shower?" She jokily says just before she closes the shower door.
"It is not worth looking like an ice cube." Sam shouts towards the shower, laughing to himself as he leaves the bed.
-----
Sam and Adastra leave the room together and walk down the corridor towards the "seating" area.
"Morning everyone. Someone seems to have been busy." Sam noticing the lack of furniture and how much bigger the space looked now.
"Imphaya smashed everything that was not previously broken so it was just a case of putting it in one corner." Shiala pointing to the rear starboard side of the ship where there was a large stack of flat packed bits.
"I am sorry everyone about everything that happened yesterday, especially to yourself Imphaya. I did not intend there to be so much damage."
"I think everyone got your assignment choice wrong Adastra as you are a very different person than your profile suggests. After having the bit of stress relief this morning I sat down and thought about what happened. It is clear you did not want to deliberately harm Maritha but you were just overly frustrated. I have a friend who has just finished an assignment who I think you would get on with if you would be happy with keeping me."
"Imphaya, I would appreciate it if you did stay. What is her name?"
"Aumarva." A couple of the other commandos mutter something which seems to bring a little smile to Sam's face.
"I get the feeling she would be a good choice for Adastra Imphaya."
"Sam, why do you have blue bits all over your face?"
"Adastra decided it would be fun to get rid of the flaky bits of skin in my bed Emala." The mix of ewws, raised eyebrows and laughs was broken by the Councillor appearing from the lift.
"I have heard there was an incident last night. Would anyone wish to inform me what happened." `Clearly no nonsense this morning, possibly lacking in caffeine`, Sam thought to himself.
"Councillor, The top and bottom is Adastra got the wrong kind of person for her detail. That person treated Adastra differently to everyone else and got three broken ribs and a broken arm for the effort, not to mention the large amount of bruising. Adastra got badly burnt." Shiala being spokesperson.
"At least Adastra got hurt this time."
"That is not very nice of you Councillor." Shiala defending Adastra's corner.
"Councillor." Imphaya cuts the Councillor off before she can reply to Shiala. "I have spoken to Maritha and she did not hit Adastra. Adastra burnt herself." The Councillor seemed to have not have expected that revelation. "Adastra has agreed to have Maritha replaced with a friend of mine, if that would be ok."
"You will have to come with me to sort the paperwork out for that Imphaya." She nods. "Adastra you are to remain on the ship until Imphaya returns."
"Not this again. This is what started this whole problem. Selayla, would you look after Adastra until Imphaya returns?" Fosanta thinking no one ever seems to learn. Selayla nods the two look towards the Councillor.
"I give in." The Councillor not understanding why everyone is trying to help Adastra. She leaves and Imphaya just about manages to get into the lift before the doors close.
"Right, breakfast." Sam says getting up.
-----
Sam had brought Adastra something to eat too and the pair had not long sat back down after clearing away their plates when Kriana got a message.
"There is a package upstairs for you Sam." He nods before looking towards Kate and Fosanta
"Would you like to help us Fosanta, Kate?"
"Sure Sam, I am bored here." Kate talking whilst Fosanta thinking action might be just as appropriate got up and stood with Sam and Adastra by the lift. Kate quickly joined them and they all went up in the lift.
-----
"This is going to be fun as Turian and Asari electrical designs are different, although it does look like a new part." Adastra said carefully looking at the label on the moderately sized box.
"It is an immersion heater though?" Sam not able to read the label as it's in Turian.
"I did say to Kriana an immersion heater." With that news from Fosanta Sam lifts the surprisingly heavy box and walks to the lift annoying Adastra slightly as she was still studying the label.
-----
Kate and Fosanta seemed to work well as a team getting the heater in as Adastra and Sam brought power from a nearby junction box. It only took them twenty minutes to safely fit everything and watch the heater do not much.
"When you said about the power differences, by how much are we talking?" Kate noting the lack of a temperature increase yet after looking at the temperature readout for ten minutes. Adastra picks up the box to read the label again before throwing it back on the floor.
"Well this is meant to be a thirty kilowatt heater, usually used in shuttles for hot water and heating. I recon we will be getting about seven kilowatts out of it." Adastra added staring through the hole in the top of the tank with a torch.
"Great, so it's going to take all day to heat this tank." Sam added disappointed in that fact he will not getting a shower till later.
"A watched pot never boils so we should leave it for now."
"In this case Kate I doubt it will ever boil anyway, but I get the point." Sam walks away from the tank towards the lift. "Adastra. If I get blue flakes coming out of my shower I will not be happy." Adastra looks up after having her head over the tank and smiles before joining them.
-----
The four head out of the lift to see a new face on the deck.
"I was about to send someone down to see if you needed saving." It must be a really boring day if Shiala is resorting to jokes. The new Asari, obviously a commando given the weaponry and clothing walks towards them.
"Greetings Adastra, I am Aumarva." Adastra bows her head; Sam was starting to twig now that must be the equivalent of a handshake. "Do you mind if I ask a few questions. I am sorry to be inquisitive but I have not seen a file on you." Kate and Fosanta go and sit down on the floor.
"Sure Aumarva." Adastra giving a slight smile, glad that unlike Maritha she is talking and seems interested.
"I have heard rumours about you, are they true?" 'Straight to the point' Sam thought.
"If by rumours you mean the no one remembering and the person disappearing ones then yes." Aumarva didn't seem too phased by that response.
"So why did Maritha get the display as she categorically denied seeing your body?" Sam facepalms.
"It is good to meet you Aumarva, I am Sam. The problems occur when Adastra is treated differently because of who she is or feels threatened. The body falls into the latter, Maritha fell down on the former." Sam trying to solve all the problems before they could happen. Adastra nodding in agreement to what he said.
"That makes sense now, Thank you Sam." Sam bowed his head slightly. "I have one more question. Do you two trust each other?"
"Yes." Adastra and Sam say almost at the same time. Aumarva just smiles as Sam and Adastra look at each other and laugh.
"Is there an empty space on this ship we could go to?" Aumarva being a little cryptic.
"There is a space where four shuttles used to be on deck three if that would be big enough?" Adastra couldn't think of a larger area.
"That will do." Aumarva removes her pistol and assault rifle and leaves them by the wall. "If anyone so much as touches these you will be sorry." She shouts to the rest of the room, most of them giving a nod in response. "We should go." The three of them get in the lift.
-----
"I am confused. Why would you want to take us to a large empty space?" Sam confused as hell.
"You will see shortly. You will probably be pleasantly surprised."
"You are not exactly making me feel comfortable." Adastra added.
"You must trust that I will not harm you. I did leave my weapons behind to help." With that the lift doors open on to a large open area with a flat floor and no obstructions. The three of them walk to the middle of the empty space.
"Sam if you could stand behind Adastra but where you can see me clearly that would be great. Adastra, can you stand opposite me." The two do as they were told wondering what the hell was going to happen.
"Adastra, using biotics try and hit me." Adastra looked shocked at that.
"I cannot do that, Aumarva." Adastra getting a little flustered.
"I will be fine. You are free to keep it weak if you wish to start."
"I would be impressed you could if she is that confident Adastra." She nods to Sam before releasing a weak biotic throw straight at Aumarva. It seems to gain a slight bend about half way though its flight path and it ends up travelling past her on her right. Sam getting a grin on his face as he can see the energy turning behind her.
"I said." Aumarva says in a slightly mocking manner just before the energy hits her back and she hits the deck face first. Adastra and Sam jog over, Sam giving Aumarva a hand up.
"I hope I did not hurt you." Adastra looking a little upset with herself.
"I am fine Adastra. I had a talk to Maritha and she said she could not hit you. That is what made me realise what might have happened and I wished to find out for myself."
"Aumarva, I have been messing with people for decades with that. It takes a lot of strength out of you though."
"If you practice it enough it is not too bad." Aumarva still trying to shake off the impact.
"Sam, I hope that you tell no one about what has and is about to happen." Sam nods and Adastra turns to Aumarva, "Aumarva, try and hit me with the hardest throw you can give." With that she starts walking back to where she was before. Sam jogged to catch up.
"I hope you know what you are doing." He did not seem entirely happy about this but trusted her judgement.
"It was this skill that caused last nights accident. I will explain it entirely soon, as I am sure you will have a number of questions. Just let me show you this before you ask anything."
"I will do my best Adastra." Adastra checks to see where Sam is stood and then nods. Aumarva glows blue and a biotic throw not much stronger than Adastra's previous is sent straight towards Adastra. Sam could feel time start to slow and all he could see was Adastra stood there with a weak blue glow around her. To Sam's surprise the single throw seemed to divide into eight smaller parts, pairs of which pealed off and slammed into each other neutralising the energy and creating a loud explosion. The last two did not curl around and hit each other like the previous three pairs, instead they just seemed to run out of energy and die just before they hit Adastra.
"That was highly impressive; I can barely manage a four way split." Aumarva seriously shocked. Adastra staggered a little as she tried to regain her balance as the blue glow dissipated.
"I do not have a yardstick to know how impressive it was but it looked a suitable candidate for impressive status." Sam having a grin on his face as he walks towards Adastra.
"It is just the amount of calculations and how quickly you can swap between controlling fields that limits what you can do. Although that throw was weak. Was that really all you can give Aumarva or did you chicken out on me?" Adastra taking a few deeper breaths to steady herself.
"That was the best I could do Adastra. I have certain restrictions placed upon me in Council space and certain locations outside of as well. All this was after I thought it would be fun one evening to chase people through the streets with biotics on Thessia. Since then I have been arrested many times for flouting my restrictions, usually for failing to adhere to the time limitations." Adastra looked worried at this news.
"What kind of restrictions are we talking about?" With that Aumarva reaches around the back of her collar and pulls out a black device that looks like two flexible, ~15mm diameter, interconnected tubes. Each tube sits either side of the spine and goes the full length between the bottom of the neck and the base of the spine.
"This, Adastra" Aumarva holds it up "limits my biotics enough so what you saw before was the absolute limit of what I can do. It is also impossible to learn your way around it as it is a passive device, the stronger you get the stronger it gets. It also cannot be confused unlike some active devices."
"How do you get arrested for flouting the restrictions if you need to essentially have it on you all the time?"
"That is easy Sam. You need to use a holder if you do not have a sleeve in your clothing or your clothing is not tight enough. It is therefore easy to accidently leave it in one set of clothes or in the holder when changing."
"Right. I have another question. Is this biotic manipulation not common amongst the Asari then?" Sam trying to sate his curiosity in one go since Aumarva seems to be a bit of a chatterbox.
"It is theoretically about thirty percent of the population that can split and control multiple fields."
"You say it as if you do not believe that is correct Aumarva."
"I must explain everything for it to make sense Sam." He gestures Aumarva to continue. "While most biotics can put a single simple bend into a field as I did it is in my experience only a minor few who can split and control multiple fields."
"I am guessing there is a reason why there is such a difference between theory and the real world?"
"There is but it is highly controversial amongst the Asari. Convention says we gain nothing from the father species and yet there is a minor correlation between this ability and having a Salarian father. People have argued that sample sizes are too small or the selection process was not random enough. The data seems to always have this slight bias however the sample is chosen, so the data tends to get buried."
"So they do not believe you get anything from the father at all?"
"Well we do not take any of the father's genetic material when reproducing so it seems most logical to conclude that. It could however be something which triggers a certain random mutation more often with a Salarian partner."
"That makes sense but you have not explained the disparity."
"I apologise. Of the theoretical thirty percent, twenty seven use pulses instead of a steady charge for their biotics. This pulsing can be divided up across multiple fields hence the control. The remaining three percent are standard biotics such as myself. Usually people who can control fields are naturally weak biotics so they feel training is pointless and hence do not bother. This coupled with the fact that the skill needs to be learnt before the individual is twenty, or so, means amongst people who use biotics regularly this group is woefully underrepresented."
"Right so over a quarter of individuals could do this but since they do not conceder it either worth it or do not learn about it young enough it is not that common?"
"Yes Sam. It is possible for individuals to learn it later in life but it takes tens of years of constant daily practice to pick it up. Since most individuals have a job they do not have the time to put in this much effort. The later it is left the harder it is to pick it up."
"Thank you Aumarva for explaining it." She nods.
"I need to thank you Adastra for trusting me, Sam just keep this quiet it can unnerve people a little, especially commandos." Aumarva starts threading the device back into the sleeve in her clothing.
"I understand. Is that why there were murmurings when your name was mentioned by Imphaya?"
"Probably as they no doubt know about my Thessia incident, although I doubt they know of the restrictions. I have tried to keep it quiet in the commando circles for obvious reasons." Sam nods.
"I hope that I do not get one of those after last night."
"I doubt it Adastra as it was self defence. We best be getting back." With that the three of them walk to the lift and head back up.
-----
Kriana was just about to walk out of the ship when three figures caught her eye on the camera monitor. The resulting display shocked all three of them. It was a pity the recording system was not working for playback and evidence purposes.
"I did not expect quite that much control." Shiala seemed a little shocked but could at least confirm her assumption from the incident with Maritha that she may have some biotic control.
"How come we are not told that is possible?" Emala still looking at the screen to see if they will see any more.
"You are taught how fields interact in school Emala, it is just people who cannot learn the skill do not usually put two and two together." Shiala seemed to have a little experience of this.
"We could do with informing the Councillor at least about this." Kriana noted as she sent a message to the C-Sec officers on the lower deck that they wish to leave.
"Kriana, has she ever hurt you or attempted to? I do not mean the first morning after Sam boarded either as that was you threatening her."
"No Shiala but she did hurt Maritha last night and what we have seen explains how."
"I hate doing this but I cannot see any other way. Kriana, if you inform anyone of this then I will not be overly willing to help you with any fallout which may occur." Kriana seemed to quickly weigh up her choices.
"I understand your reluctance but I must do this." Shiala does not look convinced but the C-Sec officers walk out of the lift and so they all head to the airlock to leave the Enlighten.
-----
Sam, Aumarva and Adastra walk out of the lift to only find Kate, Fosanta and the seven other commandos sitting down.
"Kriana left with Emala and Shiala. I do not know where they went to." Kate deciding it would be best to update the three of them as to what had happened while they were away. Aumarva carefully eyed up where her guns were before picking them up from exactly where she had left them.
"You look a little tired Adastra?"
"I am fine Fosanta. I just need a quiet afternoon." Fosanta was getting a little suspicious at that response but decided it would be best not to push.
"Could that quiet afternoon include a chat?" Sam wanting to get to the bottom of what has happened.
"Of course Sam." Sam and Adastra walk down the corridor to her room.
-----
"I am sorry for wanting to talk now but that display has left me with a number of questions."
"I said it might. What would you like to know Sam?"
"I know I asked Aumarva but where would you see these individuals?"
"Most people who are biotically strong and have pulsed biotics become commandos for obvious reasons. I heard somewhere that about five percent of commandos can manipulate multiple fields."
"So why did you not become a commando?"
"I went to the academy for two weeks before I "voluntarily" got booted out. The insults and derogatory comments from the instructors and other recruits got to the point where it was unbearable. When someone caught sight of my markings and unceremoniously got their memory wiped for the privilege of calling me an unnatural freak, I got called to the office. I was informed then to either walk out or be thrown out."
"So what did you do after that?"
"I went to the University of Serrice to take advanced flight control. That was a much friendlier environment in which I did well. I did find the lack of biotics classes a bit annoying though so I spent many an evening on my own just messing around with biotics."
"Did you get this job through the university then since they helped fund the project?"
"Yes. They were basically looking for a good pilot who people would not mind disappearing for five years. Which does sound a little mean but I had little else to do so I accepted."
"So how did you get those burns last night, other than the obvious?"
"I suddenly realised after Maritha's accident, that it should be possible to control a plasma stream given that it can be affected by a field. I went down to engineering to have a play with a spare plasma injector used for the fusion core. I failed to calculate correctly how instable the flow was given my exhaustion from the effort of the previous confrontation. I therefore accidently directed the jet at myself, setting my clothes on fire. The rest you know."
"So from that accident what did you learn?" Sam hoping she learnt to keep herself safe.
"That I was right?" Sam shakes his head "I know what you were thinking it looked like last night Sam. That would be why I was so upset. I felt ashamed for putting myself before anyone else."
"What about today's stunt?"
"I knew I could manage that as that was I did last night with Maritha. Aumarva forced my hand to showing you which I would have had to have done soon anyway."
"I appreciate it but can you at least have someone else to keep an eye on you in the future when trying something new?"
"I have you after showing you now."
"I feel a bit happier now about all this. How about we go to that restaurant?"
"Good idea." Both of them walk out of the room and back down the hallway to commando central.
"Is anyone not happy about us getting some food." Sam eyeing up each commando in turn and seeing no sign of anyone saying yes.
"I talked this over with everyone while you were gone earlier and Fosanta made a reservation at that restaurant. I thought it might be good." Kate looking forward to something decent to eat.
"They were a little nervous at allowing eight commandos in but they relented when I said the two humans are in the group."
"Thank you both of you. I was looking forward to seeing their reaction when we walked up to the restaurant unannounced though. Ahh well." Adastra looking a little disappointed and tired but sill smiling.
"When do we have to leave?" Sam asking the most important question of the evening.
"Well, we could leave now and take it easy getting there." Sam and Adastra strolled towards the lift forcing Fosanta and Kate with their security to wait for it to reappear.
------
There was a mass of journalists waiting as the twelve of them exited the Enlighten all seemingly more interested in Adastra and not Kate and Sam. Sam decided to switch to English so he did not help the reporters who were following.
"Are they going to follow us everywhere?"
"I doubt it Sam especially as I doubt they will know where we are going."
"I am not so sure about that Adastra." Fosanta looks at her Omni-tool, a quizzical look on her face.
"What is wrong?"
"It seems that our reservation has been amended for a guest Kate."
"Can you tell who added themselves?"
"No Adastra, they only left `I already knew` as their name." With that Adastra smiles seemingly knowing who it may be.
"Do you want to tell us or should I just wait and see"
"You already know Sam." Sam raised his eyebrows trying to think who it could be as they all piled into a lift to go to the Presidium.
"Can you not just tell us?"
"No Kate, as that would spoil any chance of a surprise." Adastra still got the smile on her face as the lift progressed slowly.
------
Notes.
I am sure you can guess who the additional guest will be in the next chapter so it is not really a cliff-hanger.
I assume some of you may have a couple of problems with me rewriting biotics a little. Changes have been made between ME1 and ME3 some of which make little sense unlike my addition of splitting and controlling several fields so I think it is perfectly plausible. This will get expanded upon over the next few chapters.
Thank you all the regulars for continuing to read and to all the new readers for picking this story up.
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Marked Effect (AFF Edition)