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Mass Effect Written Ownership (Chapter 15)
🕑 Added 2022-10-10 23:09:02 +0000 UTC---
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Detective Lieutenant Avilli Anaya sat in her office. She stared at her terminal and read the precinct's prisoner manifest.
There were far too many names there today.
Tonight was supposed to have begun her allotted time off. As things were going, it seemed unlikely she’d be resting in her own home at all within the next few days.
Apparently, someone had neglected to inform her that in their most recent bust, they had arrested a high-ranking naval officer from the Citadel. A human admiral in the Systems Alliance Navy. She hadn’t believed the woman at first, but a DNA scan along with a few extranet searches had revealed the truth. She could already feel the headache that would surely come when her bosses felt pressure from the Alliance government when they heard about what happened to one of their flag officers, who, if she was to be believed, had been attacked by mercenaries. She just hoped her officers found enough evidence of her self-defense claim to get her released by tomorrow.
Her officers had retrieved a number of bodies from the scene, mostly Turians decked out in hardsuits and with decent weaponry. A few of them had criminal records in Citadel space, but none on Illium itself, which was what mattered to Illium Law Enforcement.
A little short-sighted if you ask me. If we’d been delegated funds to monitor incoming arrivals that have criminal records on other worlds, we might have been able to stop that shootout from happening.
To make matters worse, she wasn’t even the most dangerous, high profile person they’d arrested tonight. Samara the Justicar had her and everyone else in the precinct on edge. Justicars were oathbound to carry out their Code no matter who stood in their way, be they the common criminal or police, and those who stood in their way had a way of dying. Thankfully, the Justicar seemed willing to cooperate and was currently meditating in the office she’d left her in.
She hoped her superiors were merciful enough to order her release before morning came, or she might just try to break out of the station on her own, which was why she’d placed her in an unused office in a section of the precinct that saw minimal foot traffic. If Samara decided she wanted to attempt a breakout, a simple cell door wasn’t going to stop someone with matriarch-level biotics combined with centuries of combat experience and Justicar training. She kept her in one of the vacant offices close to the exit and made sure her officers knew not to use it. In the event of an escape, she wanted Samara to have as easy a time not killing her officers (or, in a twist of fate so horrible as to be absolutely nightmarish, Admiral Hannah Shepard. She could scarcely imagine the political shitstorm that would arise if a human flag officer got caught in the crossfire and killed because of an Asari Justicar) as possible.
She stood and left her office. The door slid open to reveal the main operations room. Putting a calm façade that belied what she really felt, she began making the rounds. Pale white light shined from the ceiling and from the floor along the walls, illuminating the largely metallic and undecorated gray-blue room. While Illium was an Asari world, the corporate nature of Illium and its location in the risk-prone Terminus Systems had forced the city planners to cut corners on aesthetics. She doubted anyone who was used to normal Asari architecture would be able to find the Nos Astra police department’s interiors attractive. Aliens seemed to like it well enough, though.
Anaya caught a few of her subordinates looing up from their terminals as she entered the room. Upon noticing her gaze, they quickly resumed looking down at their desk terminals. She shook her head and glanced in the direction of the office she’d stashed Samara in. Her officers were giving that section of the precinct a wide berth, but still, even though the office was a good distance away from where everyone worked on their desks and terminals, it seemed far too close for comfort.
Her omni-tool chimed, notifying her of an incoming message from one of her subordinates. She accepted the call immediately.
“Go ahead.”
“Hey Lieutenant, this is officer Agria,” Anaya recognized the voice and name. She made a habit of knowing as much about the people who worked under her as possible.
Larna Agria. 312 cycles old. She’s been here for about nine cycles. No disciplinary complaints, a good head on her shoulders, decent at policing. She might make a good sergeant eventually if she keeps up the good work. She’s scheduled to be on the guard shift outside Samara’s cell. Goddess, I hope nothing’s gone wrong. More than it already has.
“Officer Agria. Is everything alright with your detail?”
“Yes, everything’s fine, except, um, the Justicar. She wants to see you as soon as possible.”
Anaya felt her blood run cold.
Shit. Has she already changed her mind about cooperating with us? No. If that were the case, she’d have just “broken” out of that office. Still, I don’t like the sound of this at all.
She gave her omni-tool a level look and pretended not to notice the increased attention her subordinates were paying to her.
“Did she say what she wanted to talk to me about?” she asked.
Larna shook her head.
“No, ma’am. She seemed pleasant enough, but I got the feeling that asking her too many questions would be… unwise.”
Anaya resisted snorting.
Smart girl.
“You don’t know the half of it. I’ll go talk to her. Make sure nobody’s stupid enough to interrupt us.”
“Will do,” Larna replied. The call clicked off.
She glanced around at her subordinates again. She caught at least four of them turning quickly to face their terminals. Sighing, Anaya steeled herself and walked toward the office, where the Justicar awaited.
Larna greeted her when she arrived at the office. Anaya nodded and commanded her to let the Justicar know she was in the hallway.
Upon receiving Samara’s confirmation that Anaya was clear to enter, Anaya nodded. Nodding back, Larna pressed a small icon on the holographic interface next to the door, triggering the door’s automatic mechanisms. It opened with a low swish, revealing a dimly-lit, sparsely-furnished office beyond. The lights were off, and the only source of illumination in the room came in through the windows.
“Make sure no one disturbs us until we’re done here unless it’s urgent,” she told Larna. She took her sidearm off her waist and handed it to Larna.
“Will do, Lieutenant.” The younger officer replied, placing the sidearm on one of her armor’s magnetic strips.
Steeling herself, Anaya entered the office. The door closed behind her.
Despite herself, she found herself drawn to the sight of the sapphire buildings sparkling in the distance. The sun had completely set by now, and the buildings and skycars were wreathed by a background of the eternal blackness of space. She was usually so busy at work that she didn’t have time to acknowledge the beauty of the world she’d settled on.
“A beautiful world, I agree,” an aloof feminine voice spoke from behind her. Anaya spun around quickly, only her years of training preventing her from reaching for where her sidearm normally was. The Justicar stood against the wall, arms crossed beneath her large breasts, which were rather prominent in her low-cut armor. Anaya averted her eyes immediately.
The Justicar’s serene silvery-blue eyes seemed to gaze right through her, and she felt as if her soul were laid bare, and that it was being analyzed and dissected for even the slightest defect or fault.
Anaya maintained her composure as best she could, meeting the Justicar’s stare firmly but keeping her arms clasped behind her respectfully.
“Justicar Samara. You said you wanted to see me?” she said.
Samara nodded.
“I did. We do not have the luxury of time, so I will be brief. You are currently holding me prisoner, and while I normally would be compelled to resist confinement, the tenets of my Code demand that I remain here.”
Anaya blinked.
“I’m not sure I understand. From what I’ve read about Justicars, you people don’t let anyone get in the way of your duties, even law enforcement officers.”
Samara nodded.
“That is true. If my current mission necessitated that I leave this police station, I would, and you would not be able to stop me.”
Anaya felt a chill run down her spine. She kept her voice level, however.
“So what is your current mission?”
Samara uncrossed her arms.
“Tonight, you arrested a person who holds knowledge that is of great interest to my order. He is the reason I traveled to Illium in the first place. I would be questioning him right now if you had not taken him prisoner,” Samara said. “If you would allow it, I would like an opportunity to speak with him and gather the knowledge my order seeks.”
Anaya felt a chill run down her spine.
Shit. The last thing I need is a Justicar with an interest in my prisoners. At least it doesn’t seem like she wants to kill whoever it is she’s interested in. Small miracles.
“Which person are you talking about?” Anaya asked.
“The person I seek is a young human male named John Shepard. He was in the market district during the most recent shootout.”
Anaya narrowed her eyes, information from the prisoner manifest flickering in her mind.
John Shepard. 20 years old. Spent most of his life on spaceships. No criminal record, but we confiscated a firearm and a highly modified omni-tool from him. Isn’t he the son of that admiral we arrested? What could he possibly know that the Justicars would be interested in?
“Yes, we have him locked up pretty tight right now. I have to ask; what could a human spacer know that would compel your order to question him?”
Samara gave her a flat stare.
“If I told you, I would be putting potentially thousands of lives in danger. What I have to ask John Shepard cannot go beyond the two of us.”
Anaya nodded. She’d been afraid Samara would say something like that. She hated uncertainty by nature. Uncertainty led to surprises like the market shootout that had caused so many headaches for her. Still, cooperating with the Justicar might be the lesser of two evils. Better the Justicar obtain the information she needs with Anaya’s help rather than deciding that she’d need to break out of the office to obtain the information herself.
“I understand. I’m going to be honest. This isn’t how I thought this was going to go. I can’t release you or the Shepard boy yet. Not until my officers confirm that you acted in self-defense. But I can escort you to his cell and you can question him privately there. Just… promise me you won’t do anything to endanger my people or any of the prisoners being held here.”
Samara took a step towards her. The woman was only a few centimeters taller than her, but at that moment she seemed to dwarf Anaya. For a moment she felt very young and small.
“I will do my best to ensure that the people in this precinct remain unharmed, including those you have arrested. You have my word,” she said the words softly, but there was a power within them and certitude beyond what should have been possible for all but the most ideologically committed people.
Anaya swallowed.
“Guess that’s all I can ask,” she nodded before moving to the office door. The biometric sensor warbled softly and the door opened. “Hey, Officer Agria. Get over here.”
The younger woman turned to face her. Her eyes were wide with excitement or apprehension, or perhaps a little of both. She kept a hand on the butt of her pistol which hung on a magnetic strip at her armored hip.
“Need something, Lieutenant?”
“The Justicar asked to be escorted to one of our prisoner’s cells. She’s going to question him and find out what he knows about some Justicar business.”
Larna bit her lip.
“You mean, we’re actually allowing her near the other prisoners. Are you sure that’s wise?”
Anaya shook her head.
“Samara’s promised not to put any of them in danger. Just the same, I’d like it if no one came across us on our way there. Send a notification out to the other officers to clear the hallways in the cell block. We’re heading for the cell John Shepard’s locked up in. Make sure that part of the block is cleared first.”
“Will do, ma’am,” the woman nodded and began typing on her omni-tool. After a moment, she looked up. “Um…”
“What is it?” Anaya said.
“Would it be alright if I came with you?” Larna asked.
Anaya shrugged. It was a little surprising the woman seemed eager to be near the Justicar, but she wasn’t about to turn down enthusiastic help.
“I don’t see why not. Come on,” Anaya turned back to beckon the Justicar after her, but the woman was already in the doorframe, mere inches behind her. She felt another chill tremble down her spine.
She was right behind me and I didn’t even hear her. She could have killed me at any moment and I wouldn’t have even seen it coming. Officer Agria would be easy pickings for her, then. Thank the Goddess it seems like she doesn’t have a mind to break out right this second.
“Larna, you lead the way. Samara, follow her. I’ll be behind you.”
The Justicar nodded and stepped in front of her. Again, Anaya had to keep her eyes from staring too long at Samara’s voluptuous body. Her eyes slipped down to the woman’s ass regardless. It looked so round and big and juicy. She bit her lip.
That armor looks way too tight to provide any meaningful protection.
“Sure thing, ma’am,” Larna replied with a smile. “Hey, Justicar Samara. Nice to see you again in person.”
Samara’s lips twitched upward slightly.
A smile. Or least, what passes for one in the Justicar order.
“It is nice to see you, too. Your assistance in contacting your Lieutenant may prove to be of great help to my order. It shall not be forgotten,” Samara said.
Larna’s face flushed bright purple.
“I-it was no problem. Now please follow me. The cell block isn’t too far from here,” the younger officer started walking, carefully sidestepping the hallway that led to the operations room. The Justicar followed her immediately. There was a sense of urgency to her movements that Anaya didn’t like at all. She reminded herself that Samara had had the opportunity to kill her earlier and hadn’t taken it.
She’s probably just eager to hear whatever information Shepard has to tell her.
“Hard to believe Samara’s interested in that human boy we arrested,” Larna glanced back, smirking. “Who’d have thought that cutie would draw the interest of a mighty Justicar?”
“Officer Agria…” Anaya said warningly.
“Ah, sorry, Lieutenant.”
For a moment Anaya thought she saw Samara’s lips quirk upwards, but when she turned to look at the Justicar, the woman’s face was completely impassive.
The Justicar seemed almost glad about Larna gushing over the human. I really need to stop imagining things.
They carried on in silence for another few minutes. No one greeted them as they passed into the cellblock, and the pale blue-white hallways seemed entirely devoid of life.
They stopped in front of a door-sized indentation in the wall.
“Here we are,” Larna said.
Samara stepped past her and stood mere inches from the cell door. She looked at it up and down, like she was contemplating whether or not tearing down the door would get to John Shepard faster than simply waiting for them to open it.
Larna glanced in Anaya’s direction. “The Justicar seems really eager to get started. Am I cleared to open the cell?”
She nodded and turned to look at the back of Samara’s head, silently willing the woman to look back at her. The Justicar stood still.
Please don’t make me regret this.
A quiet trill sounded from the wall. A second later, the indent in the wall opened, revealing the interior of the cell beyond.
A young, black-haired human male sat on the edge of one of the room’s bunks, his hands clasped in front of him. Next to him stood his Asari cellmate, Liara T’Soni. They seemed to have been in the midst of a conversation that ended abruptly when the cell door opened.
Samara pointed at Liara.
“She will have to be removed. What my order wishes to know is not for her ears.”
Shepard glanced at the Justicar and raised his eyebrows questioningly.
“Um, what’s going on here?”
Anaya ignored him.
“Very well. We can move her to another cell,” she turned to face Liara. The Asari didn’t seem affected at all by what the Justicar had said. Her deep blue eyes regarded the three of them impassively, as if they were nothing to be concerned about. “Liara T’Soni. Step out of the cell.”
Liara made no effort to move.
Anaya glared at her, anger brimming in her chest.
I don’t need this right now.
“I’ll ask you again: get out of your cell. You don’t want to make me come in there.”
Liara stared at her evenly. She smirked, crossed her arms beneath her large breasts, and said nothing.
Anaya shook her head and glanced at Larna. The other officer looked confused.
“Looks like Ms. T’Soni isn’t going to cooperate with us. Get your cuffs. We’ll drag her out of that cell kicking and screaming if we have to.”
“Yes ma’am,” Larna’s violet eyes hardened. She grabbed a pair of omni-cuffs from her waist.
Samara stood aside to allow them into the cell. Then, Liara finally spoke.
“That’s close enough,” she said. Her eyes glimmered imperiously. The delusional woman actually thought she had the right to command them. The little shit!
Liara pointed at the wall behind her. Anaya blinked at the gold writing.
“Behold the lettering there. John Shepard owns this cell. That means he is the ultimate authority here, not you.”
“What?” Anaya’s eyes widened as she stared at the writing.
John Shepard’s cell
She blinked again. Larna did, too. Finally, she shook her head and looked at John Shepard. The human hadn’t budged from his seat at the edge of the bunk, but his face seemed far less innocent and questioning now. His lips had curled into a nasty smirk that sent warning bells ringing through her mind.
“Stand still, you two. This is my cell. I make the rules here and the number one rule here is whoever’s in this cell has to do whatever I say. Oh, and you’re not allowed to communicate with anyone outside this cell.”
Anaya’s body locked up almost automatically. Of course, he was right. How could she not have realized before that the cell she’d put him in belonged to him? Shame welled up inside her.
Goddess, and I’ve come in here without his permission. It’s like breaking and entering.
“That’s right,” Anaya nodded, clamping down on her reflexive urge to apologize profusely. She may have committed what amounted to a crime, but she hadn’t known the room was his property beforehand. Surely, he would understand and simply ask her to leave. “Sorry, I should have asked you first before we came barging in here. Is it alright if we take Liara to another cell? The Justicar has some important questions for you.”
Said Justicar had already entered the room. She walked past her to stand in front of John, an uncharacteristic smile on her face.
“Master,” she intoned almost reverently. The Justicar fell to her knees with a thud. She bowed forward, lowering her head and hands to the cell floor, prostrating herself before him.
Anaya and Larna stared at Samara with wide eyes.
Liara watched, a satisfied smirk playing at her lips.
What the fuck is going on?
She’d move or raise her officers for backup, but John had commanded her to stay still and not contact anyone outside the cell, and what he said was law, at least as far as his cell was concerned.
“Good work getting Anaya here, Samara. And you got Larna here, too. Absolutely amazing. You did really well,” he leaned forward to pat her head, like he would a particularly prized pet. Samara lifted her head to gaze at him, her eyes glimmering with reverent worship.
“Thank you, Master. I live only to serve you,” she said.
Anaya really wished she could move.
“What the hell is going on here? Why is she calling you that?” She tried to make her voice seem as authoritative as possible.
The young human glanced up at her. Her eyes roved greedily over her body before switching over to the Larna and doing the same to her.
“Don’t worry about that right now. Just hold out your arms. This’ll all be over soon.”
Anaya and Larna obeyed immediately.
John stood and reached into his pocket, producing a golden cylindrical implement. It caught the light of the room in a way that seemed almost… alluring. She tried to look away from it, but she couldn’t. She stared at it longingly, allowing herself to get caught up in admiring it. What was the harm in staring at it, anyway? It was so beautiful…
Comments
Lol good catch. Fixed.
Revhass
Ah yes goo work, important for any prospective sergeant.
