Chapter 3

Like Mother Like Daughter

Black high-heeled boots with gold trim walk slowly up dark-lit vibrating steps, as thick armor plated black boots follow next to the heeled feet. Two figues walk towards the door of the VIP section of Afterlife, a large, seedy club run and owned by Aria T'loak on Omega. The figures are both of slim build, one slightly taller than the other due to the heels and their regal posture, the other more relaxed and tense. As they stop by the door and the merc guarding it looks up from his dirty magazine with half-naked women on the front of it and is immediately startled.

"I am so sorry ladies, nice to see you back again so soon. I presume Aria is expecting you?" The merc asks.

"Quite so, young man." The taller Asari replies, an unnervingly cool and regal tone escaping her purple lips as she speaks. She turns to the other Asari next to her and places a hand on her shoulder as she reassures her.

"Morinth, I strongly recommended you relax. I know you are angry and I understand how much these tasks get you... Well... Excited. But if you wish to succeed you must learn to control your impulses."

Morinth looks the older Asari in the eyes and nods her head sincerely. "Yes, Mother. I understand. I just can't wait to get that son of a bitch. But, I'll stick to the plan." The merc by the door tries his best not to eavesdrop on their conversation but can't help overhearing.

"Excuse me, sorry. Morinth? And this is your mother? Samara? Aren't you, um... Associated with Pandora's Faction? I've heard all about you two! You're legendary around here!" The merc asks excitedly.

Samara glares at him with her deep, reflective blue/grey eyes and nods, Morinth placing a finger on his lips, "don't go telling your friends, buddy" she orders in a stern tone, her mother curling her lips into a small smirk.

"O-of course, Miss. Heh, well it was great to meet you both, e-enjoy your visit to Afterlife!" The merc stutters, feeling intimidated. The mother/daughter duo walk into the dim VIP area, flowing through the dancefloor like liquid, making their way to Aria's booth.

Deep, thumping dance music with heavy bass plays throughout the room, through the floors and the walls.

They approach Aria in her booth, who has her arms around two scantily dressed women, one young Human and one Asari, chatting away to them both as they giggle. A young beautiful Asari on her knees on the table in front of her dances sexually for her enjoyment, until she notices two figures behind the dancer, between her parted legs. She sits forward and peers through the dancers thighs to see Samara and Morinth.

Aria uses her hands to show the ladies and the dancer away as she invites the two other Asari to sit with her. Morinth sits forward, rubbing her hands together, "So, Shepard tells us the asshole we're after is some merc?"

Aria takes a sip from her drink and replies "Precisely. But he's not like any other merc, he used to be on my side, but now he's broken off from the Blood Packwith a few of his pals to lead some sort of rebellion movement against me. Any negative propaganda he spills out about me is more than likely going to affect The Faction, too. He's got history with both of us."

"What kind of history?" Samara asks.

"Hmph. Bad history. Shepard hired him specifically after seeing his skills in action to do an escort job for one of your agents and it backfired. He was getting paid well but he was too big for his boots. Wanted more money. So, he took the agent hostage and ordered for more money for his safe release. I kicked him out but didn't bother wasting time on killing him because it wasn't my responsibility. Shepard said she wanted to handle it." Aria takes another sip of her drink, "and here we are, handling it. This is him, leave his associates alone unless you run into real trouble." Aria hands Samara a photograph and co-ords for his last known location.

"So, where do we come in?" Morinth asks as Samara listens intently.

"He's officially on my shit list. That's not a nice place to be. Thankfully we were... Close. I know what he likes. Two sexy Asari? Oh yes. You're going to fuck him up. By that I mean fucking murder him. He's paranoid, and a pain in the ass. Best of luck."

Samara glances at Morinth who glances back and they both smirk. "Yeah, we can do that. Thanks for the information, Aria. We appreciate it." Morinth thanks.

They say goodbye to Aria and assure her the job will get done. The older woman leads the way as they leave the VIP area and over to another section of Omega. Morinth taps at her omni-tool attempting to hack into comm channels to see if he is nearby. "Got him. He's not far, looks like he's going into this club." Samara agrees and they proceed towards another nightclub not too far from Afterlife. It's smaller but looks just as lively as Afterlife.

"Morinth, we shall linger in the shadows and observe for any patterns in the women he looks at and approaches. Then, we shall make a decision on who will seduce him. Whoever has to do it, signal the other without him knowing when they are leaving with him." Morinth nods along in agreement, "then we can follow in the shadows and break into his apartment and tag team him. I know the drill, mother."

They enter the crowds, dancing and looking around for the merc. Samara spots him and alerts her daughter. They keep an eye on him, stalking after him separately in the dark and unremarkable areas of the club.

"Are you seeing this shit?" Morinth asks over her earpiece. Samara replies "the trend? Yes, I am. He appears to be attracted to the older women. Are you jealous, Morinth?" Morinth makes pretend gagging noises, "not at all. I am, in fact, offended that he would find you more attractive. I'm supposed to be the irresistible one, mother!" Samara laughs a little, trying to stay in cover, and alerts Morinth that she is going to initiate contact.

The merc sits at a table with a couple of other mercs. He chats to them as his eyes glance at all the women, appearing to be finding someone to hit on.

Samara was dressed in a black skin tight one piece suit, with gold trim around the hips and on the large v-shaped dip over her chest, showing off hefty cleavage. The Matriarch had to alter the outfit when she came of age and her breasts enlarged. She also sported a gold biotic crown on her forehead. She walked toward the bar, swaying her hips with every step in synchronization with the beat of the music. Morinth kept her distance but close enough to keep an eye on her mother and not draw attention to herself.

Samara stopped at the bar near the mercs table, facing away from them. The ringleader whistled as he spotted her tall, toned figure. Samara rolled her eyes before turning slightly to see the merc checking her out. He stood up in awe at her beauty and approached her. "Hey there, beautiful." He started. Samara smiled a little at him, looking at him up and down.

5 minutes later of chatting, Samara had him wrapped around her finger. She convinced him to take her home. "Excuse me just a moment, I need to pay for my drink." Samara said as she approached the bar again, the merc beginning to walk to the door.

Morinth stood making small talk with the bartender as she stopped for a moment, Samara saying slyly "we're leaving, track my co-ordinates to his apartment but stay in cover." Morinth begins to follow Samara and the merc to his apartment. As soon as they walk in, the door shuts and Morinth stalks after them, hacking into it.

The metal door slides open after a good few minutes to reveal the merc kissing Samara's neck who saw Morinth stroll in. Samara uses the incredible force of her biotics to put the merc into a trance, unable to move his body in any way. She lifts his lifeless body off of her and throws him to the ground across the room.

Morinth runs over to him and straddles his body, taking his face in her hand, squeezing his cheeks, his eyes panicked and confused. His words muffled as he was crushed under the biotic weight of the Asari succubus on top of him.

"Proceed." Samara grants permission to her daughter to do what she does best. Morinth grins and closes her eyes briefly, "Embrace Eternity" she whispers as her eyes open, completely black. Images flash before him as he screams in pain. Samara walks over calmly, Morinth moves her hand away but keeps a firm grip on the man's shirt, frying his nervous system and his brain slowly. Samara kicks him hard in the face and crouches down, pulling a finger to her lips to tell him to be quiet. He screams again as a rush of burning coarses through his brain and body, just as Samara was walking away slowly. She quickly returns and steps on his throat, applying pressure.

"Enough, Morinth. We still want him to feel exterior pain." Her hand throws him into the thick paned window in a biotic field. He falls to the floor like a ragdoll, barely alive.

Three well-armed mercs rush in with their weapons drawn and find their ringleader on the ground in pain. They begin to shoot at Samara and Morinth, Samara jumping over his bed and taking cover behind it, Morinth taking cover behind the couch.

Samara creates a field around her to protect her from a shower of bullets as she rushes to Morinth, protecting her from any bullets. Morinth throws a Singularity at the group and grabs a pistol from a small table. The mercs drop to the floor and try to scramble to their feet as Samara holds up a biotic field and Morinth points a pistol at them.

"Put your weapons on the floor and kick them over here NOW!" She orders. They comply and kick over their rifles, putting their hands in the air. "On your knees, all of you." They drop to their knees with their hands still raised. Morinth picks up two of the Locust submachine guns they kicked over and points them both at the mercs.

"Listen up. We're here to do a job and send a message." The younger Asari paces back and forth as Samara drags the barely conscious leader over in front of the other mercs. She holds him up on his knees by his hair.

"That job is to kill this man. That message, is to tell all three of you... Don't fuck with Aria. And most importantly. Don't fuck with Pandora's Faction, or any of their associates. Because we love the thrill of the hunt. The blood. The tearing of muscle. The breaking of bones. And we WILL kill you."

Morinth shoots through one of the windows in the apartment. "How far up do you think we are, boys?" The mercs all shake in fear and shake their heads in confusion. "SPEAK UP." Morinth yells at them and pushes a gun against one of their heads. "I-I... Don't know... Floor 103? I-I d-don't know..." Morinth whispers in his ear "Correct. You win. Now throw him out of the window."

The merc looks into her eyes in fear, pleading no. "Do it or I'll throw you too." She orders. He stands up slowly and drags his almost lifeless body to the window, tears threatening to break out. He tosses him out of the window, looking out of it at his falling body in fear, holding the window frame.

Samara walks up behind him, takes his head in her hand and slams his face into the glass-shattered frame. He cries out in pain, and Samara kicks him up and out of the room and Morinth orders the others to leave too.

"Well done, Morinth. I'm proud of you. Ruthless, just like your mother." She pats her daughter on the back and they leave together, taking some weapons with them for the armory.

"Thank you, mother. We should head back to see the boss." Morinth says.

"Agreed." Samara calls a hovercar around, they step into it and drive away.