A/N: I want to give you all fair warning: this is going to be a dark story. There will be mature themes in it and all sorts of twists and turns. I'm open to your feedback and always love comments, favorites, follows, PMs, etc.
Special thanks to Bebus for editing and helping me develop the ideas for this story!
Chapter 1: The Demon of the Night Wind
"What are those things?! What are they doing to us?" Aven Calantha desperately held the hand of her lifetime friend, Perah. Both asari had never seen destruction like they had witnessed in the past few hours. They had known only a life of peaceful seclusion, shut off from the rest of the galaxy and taught by priestesses who showed them how to be content with their lives and live independently off of the land. But a day prior, a large and terrible ship appeared in the sky above the monastery that the asari called home. Mutated creatures landed and quickly overtook the once peaceful haven. The monsters started rounded up the unsuspecting inhabitants and quickly changed them into twisted, evil monsters that were no longer recognizable as asari.
Nearly 100 asari called the monastery home. For many, they had been there since maturity and were uncomfortable among any others but their own kind. Some had never even met aliens. Xalantia was a beautiful planet, covered in 85% clear, tropical water, lush with primitive life-forms and dense plants growing to form a rain-forest over most of the land. The monastery sat next to the banks of the sea on the north and west and the forest on the south and east.
Xalantia was one of the hidden sanctuaries for the Ardat-Yakshi, pureblooded asari that harbored a horrible neurological condition that caused them to be incapable of melding with others without risk of killing them. Once an Ardat-Yakshi experienced the rush and emotions associated with the meld and complete domination of another's mind, it became an addiction that required more and more minds until the Ardat-Yakshi became a predator and consumed with killing. The disease was a result of genetics and chance, was incurable and left the one labeled as such with a choice: death or seclusion.
The intruders seemed to be targeting the Ardat-Yakshi, turning the unsuspecting asari into mindless monsters capable of killing anything in their path with their enhanced biotic abilities. The creatures, once beautiful and vibrant asari, were drained of their blue color and unique features, becoming ghost-like creatures with dead eyes and long claws, even horrifically distended bellies, as though completing the perversion of the genetically sterile Ardat-Yakshi. Their only form of communication were shrieking calls that rang throughout the once peaceful monastery as more and more of the inhabitants were transformed into the true corporal form of the Demon of the Night Winds.
The two asari had remained hidden in an unused wing. They had been in special classes aimed at making them assistants to the head priestess. Both had excelled in learning the native life on Xalantia and demonstrated kindness and patience to their 'sisters'. They were as yet undetected, but they could hear the screams of their possessed sisters approaching. With tears streaking down their faces, Aven and Perah clung to each other for what they realized could be their last chance for compassion and companionship.
"I am so afraid, Aven… What are we going to do?" Perah looked around in desperation, but there was nowhere left to go.
"We need to get out of here… we should try and get outside. Maybe they have not searched the grounds yet. We could hide in the rainforest… we've been taught how to live there and have even gone for trips there." Aven's mind started racing, trying desperately to think of a solution that could save their lives. "We just need to get to the exit. We can do this Perah… we just need to be quiet and no one will miss us."
The two held each other and then nodded their agreement. The back entry was not far and the howling calls were coming from the other direction. It was time for them to make a break for some sort of freedom.
"Come on, now!" Aven grabbed Perah's hand and the two took off running for the door that would take them to the back entryway.
"Looks clear… We should go." Perah dashed ahead, she could see the light of the sun shining in through the window. The day looked beautiful, with the sun shining brightly and the chirping sounds of the various life-forms calling to each other, the beauty perversely mirroring the horrors behind them. She reached for the door and opened it. Warm air greeted her skin and the tropical, earthy smell of the forest wafted into the room. She looked back to make sure that Aven was still following her, and fear swept through her as she saw a look of pure horror on the face of her friend.
"No…"Aven cried out as the claws of a demon lashed out and picked up Perah like a doll. Aven's instincts overtook her conscious thoughts and she ran at full speed into the forest. She did not look back or stop to see her friend slowly be transformed into a monster, but the screams followed her all the way to the tree line and beyond.
Aven ran until her muscles burned and her breath would no longer fill her lungs. It had seemed like hours and she was miles away from the structure of the building that had been her home. She was alone and felt exposed and afraid.
Those things just came and killed all of my sisters. Yesterday we were worried about how to tie the proper knots for our fish nets and today everyone is gone. They are monsters… those shrieks… I will never get them out of my mind… Why did this happen? Perah…my friend, I am so sorry. I did not know what to do except run… Why did those things get you and not me?
Tears streaked down the cerulean face of the asari. Her robes were torn and stained with sweat and dirt from the jungle. Insects swarmed around the sobbing form of Aven, but she hardly noticed.
Focus… you must focus on what is around you… Crying will not make this better… I must be ready to survive on my own… I must know my surroundings and take stock of what I have.
The need to survive was a strong one for Aven. She knew the jungle and was not one to shy away from it, but she had never been in such mortal danger before. They were not even allowed to watch violent vids in the monastery, and she had just witnessed horrors not even the most gruesome scary story told by her sisters in the dead of night could come close to. She trembled helplessly as she imagined what would become of her if she was found… before she shook herself. Forcing herself to think about familiar things that she had some control over gave her comfort and a task to keep her mind focused on.
Looking up to the sky, she could still see the form of the enormous ship hovering over the atmosphere of the planet itself twisting around the unnatural form. It looked like a giant creature, looming in the sky, about to land on the building below. From her vantage point in the jungle, Aven could see smaller ships that seemed to be shuttling back and forth from the ship to the monastery.
For two days, she hardly moved. Aven watched the coming and going of the smaller ships and lived in continual fear of being discovered, forcing herself to stay awake. On the morning of the third day, the asari watched as one final ship seemed to leave the grounds. The larger vessel engulfed it and then a red light brightened the sky. A beam came from the intruder and targeted the monastery. Aven watched in horror as her home was reduced to scrap metal as the beam ignited it. The destruction took less than 30 minutes and when it was over, a smoldering pile of rubble and exposed beams were all that was left of the once peaceful monastery. The ship, its task completed, turned towards the sky and left her world.
Tears returned to the eyes of Aven as she realized that she was likely the only living survivor of the monastery. Grief, exhaustion and lack of nourishment overtook her, and she collapsed in her hiding spot within the jungle.
The jungle sounds were soothing and familiar. It was a warm day, slightly humid and the smells of the living wilderness filled the air. Aven knew the scent and the feel; they were her home and a piece of normalcy. For just a moment, the realization of what happened only a day ago was not taking up her thoughts. Aven focused on a more primitive urge, food and water. The flush of emotions and adrenaline had left her system and now the pangs of hunger were taking their place. Her survival instinct started taking over as Aven used her eyes to scan for the familiar sight of kobi fruit, a greenish-blue skinned fruit that was commonly found growing in the jungle. Within minutes, her attuned senses were able find a dozen of the fist size edibles. She wasted no time in peeling the skin and devouring the fleshy, sweet nectar of the kobi fruit.
An acidic smell tainted the normal scents of the jungle. It was heavy and left a distinctive taste in the asari's mouth and throat, almost like a burn. Aven had never been exposed to the sensation before and she started looking around for the cause of the noxious smell. In the distance, she could see faint wisps of smoke rising from what had once been the monastery and her home. The realization hit: the smell was coming from the smoldering remains of the structure. Curiosity and horror both snuck into her thoughts.
I must go back. I need to see if anyone else escaped or if anyone is hurt. She trembled at the thought of facing those… things again. Deep inside though, she needed to know if she was truly alone. The idea of it shook her to her core, but she was compelled to know the fate of her friends.
The trek back to the monastery took hours. Aven moved slowly and gathered supplies as she made her way homeward. At any noise, she stopped and held her breath, waiting for the wail of her deformed sisters to overtake her senses, but none were heard. The horror now lay in her mind, as her imagination played all sorts of evil tricks on her. When she finally arrived, the sun was starting to sink below the horizon. Shadows were stretching out, adding an eerie feel to the tomblike state of the monastery.
I should have left sooner! It's almost dark and I don't want to be looking around without the sun up. I was stupid to come back! No… I need to know… I need to see what is left… I have to…
Aven made herself stop and breathe. She used the calming techniques that had been part of her daily life for the past 375 years. Mediation and clarity, those were what the priestesses always taught: calm your mind and a path will appear… to walk it or not becomes your choice. She counted to 10 and then exhaled deeply. The fear was still there, but she knew she needed to face the ruins of her home.
The destruction was unthinkable and the monastery was completely unrecognizable. The final shot from the ship as it left orbit had caused the roof to implode. The internal structures looked melted and the many levels looked like they had collapsed in on themselves. There was nothing left but total and complete ruin.
There were no corpses or even evidence of the invaders except for the wake of destruction that they had left behind.
My home… Tears filled her eyes and the memory of Perah came back to her and her cowardice at running away. "I am so sorry… Why did this happen?" Her voice was full of anger and fear as she yelled her admission and question to the wind. Think… I can't stay here… There is nothing here for me… I must find a way to leave…
As tears fell and anger coursed through her, Aven walked around the perimeter of the smoldering debris. Her mind was racing, again trying to deal with the guilt of surviving and the hopelessness that she now was feeling.
Her trek had taken her to a forbidden section of the monastery's grounds. These were tucked back into the jungle and there were a number of smaller structures that were still intact.
What are those? Maybe someone is hiding inside?
Approaching the buildings, trying to cast off the decades of conditioning that she was forbidden from entering the place, Aven looked for signs of a door. It took some exploration, but she finally found an entrance tucked away. It was obvious that no one had used the building for some time. She had to call on her strength and her natural biotic abilities to open the door. The effort pushed her past fatigue and she was running on pure adrenaline.
I hate the dark…
The fear was irrational, but had always been part of her ever since she was a child. The dark brought feelings of isolation and her mind used it to create all sorts of unknown horrors that could lie in wait for her. The sight of the wailing banshees that had once been her friends was now forefront in her mind. She held her breath and shut her eyes, hoping that the quiet would allow her to focus on whatever might be waiting. There was nothing… just more blackness and questions.
I cannot see anything and it does not look like anyone's been in here. I should find a place to curl up and rest. Once the sun rises, I will be able to better look around.
Though the idea of rest in a building was somewhat reassuring, the darkness still harbored ill feelings in the asari. She found a spot that was against a wall and made herself close her eyes. She was tired and the use of biotics, coupled with the hike and all she had been through let her find sleep.
Daybreak was a welcome sight to the asari. Rays of light streamed into the building and Aven could see that there was a large control panel just to her right. She moved closer to inspect it. At her touch, lights flickered and within minutes, the darkness of the room was filled with the lights from an overhead source. Aven had activated the automatic power generator and now could properly explore her surroundings.
"Greetings, madam." An artificial voice made the unsuspecting asari nearly jump out of her skin. A small, circular drone appeared before Aven and was the source of the voice.
"What are you?" Aven asked inquisically.
"I am Alpha 21385, a VI drone." The mechanical voice answered matter of factly. "I am automatically programmed to come online when the emergency power has been activated. Please enter your identification."
"My name is Aven Calantha and I am… or was a resident at the monastery."
"Searching…" The drone was quiet as it attempted to retrieve whatever data it was looking for. "I am unable to verify… It seems that the main computer is not functional. Activating emergency mode."
"Can you help me? I need to get out of here!" Aven asked the drone, desperation tainting each word.
"I am in emergency mode. I cannot allow for Ardat-Yakshi to leave the monastery, it is against my programming. Since I cannot confirm your identity, you will not be allowed access to anything more than medical supplies and food rations."
Aven's stomach sank and panic started to overcome her again, "Wait… there are supplies? Please help me… Please show me where they are…"
"Follow me…" The drone started moving away from the entrance and the control panel and led Aven to a back stairwell. At the bottom, the drone seemed to key in some code and the door opened.
Aven's breath caught in her throat as the lights came on. A large warehouse was before her with all sorts of supplies, enough to last for years if she needed them.
"You are free to look around and make use of whatever food or medical supplies you need. There are also clothes and other supplies for basic living that you may access." The drone stopped, looking like it was thinking, "Other items, like weapons and the ship will not be accessible until I can confirm your identity."
Ship… there is a ship? Aven did not speak out loud, but forced herself to remain controlled and nonreactive. She needed the assistance of the drone for now, but realized that she would need to locate the ship and figure out a way to access it by herself. They would take great measures to make sure that any Ardat-Yakshi would not escape the monastery.
She proceeded into the warehouse to fully assess what she had in the way of food and potential shelter. Things were organized and labeled and within an hour, Aven was eating her first real meal since the attack. She also set up an area that would serve as a bed, complete with sheets and pillows. But the whole time she kept her eyes open for the mystery ship and her way to get away from the destroyed monastery and all of its evil memories.
Weeks went by and Aven decided to spend her time either looking for the ship or meditating on how to make her escape. The drone left her alone, unless she called upon it for companionship. Her time alone made her feel more like a prisoner and for the first time in her life, she started to understand that the monastery was just that, a prison. The realization that the monastery was a place to lock away the feared Ardat-Yakshiand keep them all together, away from asari society, hiding their shameful existence from other species was a hard thing to think of.
I am seen as a monster, but the asari have never experienced the horrors of what happened here. They are cruel to keep us so hidden and doomed to a life alone. Mediation and peace, ha! I will never know peace again!
She had been wandering around to a part of the warehouse she had not explored yet and there it was… a sleek shuttle that looked large enough to seat a half dozen asari. Looking around for evidence of the drone, Aven stepped closer to get a better view of the shuttle. Without warning, an alarm sounded and the drone appeared before her.
"Please step away from the shuttle. You are not authorized to be in this area. You have 30 seconds to vacate and return to approved sections. After that, the automatic defenses will engage." The drone was silent and then a countdown could be heard.
Aven did not hesitate; she ran back to her makeshift camp, grabbed a package of food and headed out into the jungle.
Even with no one else alive, I still have restrictions. I do not understand why I am so feared and hated by my own people. All I can ever remember from my youth were my parent's faces, they looked terrified of me and I could tell that my existence caused them both pain. Father would not even see me off when mother took me to the shuttle. I was still so young and I had no idea what was happening to me. I was called Ardat-Yakshi and cast away from everyone… Aven started crying at her memories. "I have always been alone… I will always be alone…"
Emotions started overtaking the asari, anger and pain ran through her. Without the guidance of the priestesses, Aven's biotics flared. A blue light encircled her being and a surge of power ran through her. She could feel the charge and wanted nothing more than to aim her fury at something… the drone.
Walking back inside the building that had become her home, Aven narrowed her eyes and an evil grin swept across her face. She saw the control panel before her, it was fairly large and even someone that had not had much training in the use of biotics offensively, could hit the target. Fury and rage - at the monsters that intruded, at the short sighted views of her people, and the overwhelming desire to be free of her gilded cage - swept through her, and she grasped the burning feelings, turning them against the only target she could find: the drone's control panel.
Aven let out a wordless cry as the biotic power flowed through her and finally burst from her outstretched hand, reducing the control panel into nothing more than shrapnel. Pieces of the panel flew away from the asari, as her biotic spark faded. She felt invigorated at the rush of energy that she had been able to summon and control, and felt more empowered than she had since she had come to this forsaken place.
"I don't need you… drone! I don't need anyone!" Aven screamed at the destroyed piece of machinery. Adrenaline was surging through her and she focused her thoughts on the ship… on leaving the damned planet and the smoldering ruins of what had been her naive life. With the drone gone, the ship was waiting.
Aven took her time in assembling the supplies that she thought she might need: food, water, medical supplies, bedding, and extra clothes. She found the small arsenal of weapons and decided that a large machete and a smaller utility knife would be helpful. Looking over the assorted guns, she held a predator pistol in her hands and decided that the simple gun might also be useful; she had no firearms training, and did not trust herself to operate anything more powerful. She loaded the ship and then called up the control panel.
What do I do? I've never piloted a ship before… I haven't gotten this far, just to be trapped again.
The bridge was small and designed to seat two people. The panel appeared to be all touch screen… Another computer… The asari reached out and ran her hand over what she assumed were the pilot's controls. A holographic menu appeared before her: Manual Control or Autopilot.
She pressed the Autopilot option and a sub menu displayed: Star Map. She pressed the Star Map option and a large display of the galaxy appeared before her. The size of the map took her by surprise, causing her to take a step back. Her eyes were drawn to a flashing arrow, indicating their present location. Where should I go?
Seeing a small planet in a nearby solar system, Aven touched the display of the little blue and green world. A description of the planet appeared: Class M, primitive humanoid life present, various resources, drinkable water and edible food. It would take a few weeks to make the trip, according to the display. I suppose this is as good as any other…
Looking over her inventory one last time, Aven went back to the cockpit and selected her destination. The shuttle came to life… "Departing in 60 seconds, all occupants must secure themselves…" Aven took her place in the pilot's chair and buckled herself in. She inhaled fully and held her breath as the autopilot made its final countdown. "Three, two, one… Firing thrusters and preparing for atmospheric exit… Standby…"
Aven could feel the ship maneuvering and readying for its departure. There was a display screen before her that she could look out of. A sudden firing of the ship's thrusters and a roar of the engines echoed through the ship. Aven could see daylight shining down on her and realized that the roof of the building had opened to allow for the shuttle to take off. She could feel the ship rising and saw the clouds quickly starting to get closer.
This is it… no turning back now… I am free!
The sight of smoke still rising from the remains of the monastery was still visible. From above, it all looked so small… her former life was over; it was time for a new chapter to be written.
Goodbye… I will remember you all… I will never forget what happened here… Never…