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Black and White	By : CyberII Category: +M through R > Mass Effect Views: 8146 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Do not own Mass Effect or characters, writing for fun, but not profit.

Chapter List
- 1-Pt.1
- 2-Pt.2
- 3-Pt.3
- 4-Pt.4
- 5-Pt.5
- 6-Pt.6
- 7-Pt.7
- 8-Pt.8
- 9-Pt.9
- 10-Pt.10
- 11-Pt.11
- 12-Pt.12
- 13-Pt.13
- 4
- 5
- 6
Solus came the next day, more nervous than usual. Much to Garrus' relief he brought some turian clothes too.

"Must be you size, approximately. Patient, victim of new virus," the salarian sighed, "Didn't make it, vaccination late, cure imperfect. Need more time to improve, epidemic quite probable."

He jerked his hand, pointing at the heap and his coat.

"Sterilized, autoclave, not risking, medically fragile state at this stage of recovery. To avoid further risks, won't be able to come often. Message me if needed."

The salarian doctor examined the most severe injuries hastily, added some more repair ointment, smiling every time he glued another clean wound. He scanned the whole turian frame once again to ensure all physical damage taken is under control.

"Any foreign feelings? Hand-eye coordination working well? Cerebral commotion, high probability…"

The salarian snapped his fingers at the corner of Garrus' sight to check reflexes.

"Thanks for worrying, Mordin, but I think my brain can take one concussive. Or maybe I've got not much to rattle in my head."

Dr. Solus stretched his lips in a smile.

"Still joking. Lucky, Red Sand doesn't affect turians as much as humans. Cerebral hemorrhage, death preferable, permanent disability not uncommon."

The turian grinned.

"I wonder if the rumors are true, and Red Sand really gives some biotic abilities. It's a pity things became pretty hectic and I hadn't time to figure it out. Hah, I bet it would scare the shit out of them, as if Archangel wasn't bad enough to deal without the biotics!"

Mordin sighed, took Garrus' hand and put something in it.

"Keep it. Hope, you won't need it."

Garrus looked at the small container on his palm. It was sealed and had some kind of label with unfamiliar hexagonal logo. He believed it was in human, the shapes of letters a bit familiar, but he couldn't read it anyway. No sign of other languages or omni-pidgin.

"What is it, Mordin? All I can figure out is this thing was made by humans and never supposed to fall in hands of any other race."

"Good observation, cogitative faculty functional," Dr. Solus narrowed his eyes, "Secret project, pro-human organization. 'Cerberus'."

"Oh, I know them. They hadn't this fancy logo though back in the days we crossed paths."

Solus nodded.

"Omega-Enkaphalin. Biotic suppressor. Ardat-Yakshi, more dangerous than you think. No foolishness, minimize the risk."

When Mordin left, they both were quiet for a while.

"Well, that was very… Mordin style," Garrus sat on the couch, examining the gift, "He just walks in and drops a sample of experimental drug developed by terrorists to help you dealing with some mysterious asari serial killer. And, well, you can't even ask him the stupid questions like how did he know or where did he get it."

"You're acquainted with this 'Cerberus' organization?" Samara asked politely.

"Oh, yes, it was about… a year and a half ago. 'Cerberus' wasn't our main concern even. We just secured a couple of their bases when we were chasing Saren across the galaxy. Even if we didn't – I'm pretty sure they would find a way to screw it up. These guys cannot cook their breakfast without it backfiring hard."

"You have an adventurous past," the Justicar smiled.

"Nothing comparable to yours, I guess. But, yeah, I wasn't always drudging away the best years of my life wrestling krogans and sniping mercs in a shithole like Omega. I worked in C-Sec once…"

"What happened?"

He jerked his shoulders.

"A lot of things. I've got sick of a critical amount of red tape, felt a real difference between searching for evidences in office and chasing a rogue Spectre with his army of geth and a real Reaper included for free."

"I must apologize," she spoke softly, "But I'm rarely leaving asari space and secluded life of a Justicar made me inattentive to global news. But I'd love to hear your story…"

…He lost track of time, retelling Samara the story which took place more than a year ago. Despite the time had passed he almost felt it again – cold of Noveria, pleasant warmth of Virmire turning into scorching hell with a little help of a nuke, vertigo after a trip in 'Mako', Sovereign pieces landing almost on their heads…

"…I tell you, it wasn't just geth attack. I was there, I saw Sovereign, I heard what indoctrinated Saren told Shepard. I put a bullet in his skull to be sure he's dead. He was dead, really dead, I've seen lots of dead people, I made people dead a lot. I can tell when someone's dead. And then he… changed and attacked us."

"It's hard to believe, but I believe you," the asari nodded, "I couldn't judge, all I've heard was a brief official report."

"Yes. And they blamed it all on geth," his mandibles twitched. "It became even easier after Shepard's death – no one to talk about the Reapers anymore. Sometimes I wonder wasn't the destruction of Normandy set up for politicians to stick to their safe 'geth' version. You can never tell with politics."

"You weren't there?"

"No, I left after we defeated Sovereign. I was a Spectre candidate once, set my mind on reapplying, believed I could do more good without the red tape… Most part of the crew stayed with Shepard, but no one was taking risks to assign her to any notable mission anymore. She's been doing some routine patrolling; it's… degrading for a hero."

He breathed deep to recollect his thoughts, it stung to recall those days.

"And this particular Galaxy hero no one wanted to keep talking gets killed on a routine patrolling. Damn it, even the cripple pilot makes it. I don't understand it."

Garrus gritted his teeth.

"They didn't even bother to find her body. The casket was empty, and everyone was fine about it. I don't understand humans."

Samara stared through him with her usual cold expression.

"She meant a lot to you?"

He cast up his eyes on her.

"Yeah. Sometimes… we had a disagreement on some things, when she sounded too much like my father, but she showed me it is the right, quick and just way to solve problems without the paperwork. She pushed me towards continuing with the Spectre training."

"But you didn't become one?" the Justicar asked.

He nodded.

"Too much politics and bureaucracy after the attack on the Citadel. Just as I've said, no one wanted to take risks anymore. I think the fact that I was with Shepard when we brought down Saren didn't help me to get into the white list. So I just let it go, used a bit of my C-Sec skills to disappear and… ended up on Omega. Everything's so simple here, no red tape, no politics and just one rule…"

"I fought a Spectre once," Samara looked away from him, "A turian named Nihlus."

"Hey, I knew Nihlus," he tilted his head curiously, "Saren shot him on Eden Prime. A low trick, he made Nihlus drop his guard and shot him in the back."

"He killed an innocent and unarmed civilian before my eyes, my Code demanded to attack him," the Justicar frowned, "He escaped, using my Code against me. He was a man of great tactics and adaptability, and I hardly can imagine he was killed with such ease…"

"Saren was his mentor and friend," Garrus explained. "Would you mind if I ask? Nihlus fled unpunished by your Code, but ended up killed by a traitor. What does your Code say about this situation?"

Samara liked his curiosity. That was something they didn't share, but it wasn't a critical difference. He gave right answers, asked right things, made right decisions.

They were on each other's wavelength.

"My Code says that there's no job for a Justicar anymore," she smiled at him gently. "Saren's crimes were incomparably worse, but both evil doers are dead."

He rubbed his browplate.

"So – it's all about the end? At all costs?"

She let out a sight.

"As long as it doesn't place the innocents under unnecessary risk. Sometimes… even I can do nothing about the casualties…"

His inquiring look indicated he caught the grieving tone in her voice, but hesitated to ask what it was about.

"I had to destroy an entire village, while chasing Morinth… that Ardat-Yakshi I need you to help me with. She made all population idolize and worship her, sacrifice young asari for her to sate her lust. And when I tracked her, they bought her time to flee… with their lives."

"We fought hordes of husks, but it's not quite the same, I guess," Garrus jerked his shoulders, "Even for our human squad members. She's pretty powerful, I assume? I'm not scared; just want to be prepared properly."

"She is," Samara nodded, "She gets even stronger with each victim. But… I'm sure we both possess the strength to end her spree."

She told it just hoping the keen turian hearing caught no suggestion of uncertainty in her voice. Right now he needed to be positive they can do it. His will power was the only hope to stand against their foe; she shouldn't let him have any doubts.

She'd hate losing him because of carelessness.

She'd hate Morinth to have him.

Garrus was glad his visor survived; it would be way more boring without it. He sent a brief note to his men earlier this day, assuring them he's alive, still in one piece and rather safe; already got a reply with more curses than subject matter. The thought of someone caring and worrying about him uplifted his spirits. Now he was scanning his armor for damage, humming the tunes of tracks from his playlist under his breath. Samara was away for half of the day, so he feared not to interrupt her meditations with some metal clanging.

He's been tinkering at his chestplate for a few hours. The helmet took the worst damage, and he had no tools with him to repair it, so he worked on planishing the minor dents and setting the in-built electronics back online.

Staying with Samara was more interesting than he expected. Working with Shepard was a totally different experience. Her actions were drastic, heroic, but… inconsistent and spontaneous. It was hard for a turian to understand her human logic, so he watched, listened and learned from her. Sometimes he thought she couldn't explain her own actions even. That was something about the human trademark improvisation and adaptability, something he felt he could turn into his strength if learned to use it well.

He was glad she figured out soon that he's had enough of his father tutoring him. Garrus would never say it in her face though even if she didn't. It just made him… feel better around the human ship, knowing Shepard listens to his opinions too, not just keeps him for a spare rifle. But her logic was unpredictable sometimes.

Samara had answers.

And her answers were so alluringly simple and understandable.

She was uncompromising and inflexible. Sometimes it disturbed him a little, a thought that he could be unworthy and invoke her wraith. He had no Code after all; he was just doing what seemed the only right for him. He might be pretty self-confident, but never thought of himself with enough pompousness to pretend he's got the ultimate rectitude. Even his grandiose alias wasn't his idea, it just stuck to him. It made little sense in turian actually, human inhabitants of Omega came up with it a while ago, and he suggested it had something to do with their religions. He wasn't an expert. Maybe he'd look it up in the Extranet when he's going to have fewer things to shoot.

But the Justicar showed no signs of disapproval. She kept her distance but kindly joined the conversations every time he was up to. He tried not to abuse her kindness, but she visibly enjoyed it. She didn't try to hide the inner sorrow in her eyes and voice, and he wondered was it a result of the things accumulated during her long life, or some major disaster; he couldn't ask her bluntly anyway. He just figured out it wasn't his presence or words he told which upset her.

Shepard would lecture him if disagreed. Just like the time they met at Dr. Michel clinic.

She wouldn't disintegrate him with biotics beyond belief.

Samara wouldn't bat a silvery eye if she has to do it. It made the value of her approval incredibly higher.

He thought he was proud to go all the way after Saren with Shepard. Now dealing with a bearer of millennium wisdom and righteousness he wasn't so sure if every Shepard's action would be accepted by Justicar.
- 4
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- 6
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