Zaeed's the one to see her off. He gives her extra thermal clips and orders to come back alive. Also to not piss off anyone else on Omega. It's a spot of warmth after their recent coolness and makes her feel a little better. She feels better still, when Garrus appears at the last second to hand off an extra medi-gel.
They dock at Omega and Shepard breathes in the familiar, tepid air. The dim lights, the murmur and smells of unwashed masses, the constant hum of music from Afterlife; it's a hefty punch of nostalgia. Tugs at her heartstrings.
"We should see Aria," says Ash, banishing any warm, fuzzy feelings.
"Fuck," is Shepard's response. The other two look at her and she waves a hand, dismissing the remark.
The Batarian bouncer is the same. If she weren't helmeted, he'd shit his pants seeing the Human he banged once a week in armor alongside the Commander Williams and an Asari Justicar. It's better—for their mission and her safety—for her to go incognito during this first part.
The bodyguards let them into Aria's roost without trouble. Aria herself is unchanged. Her eyes sweep over the trio as she reclines in her usual spot. The ubiquitous datapad is on her lap, filled with open screens and applications.
"The helmet won't hide you Shepard," is her first comment. "I had you tagged the moment you returned to Omega."
"It's not you I'm trying to fool," says Shepard. She takes a step forward, letting her hands rest on her hips. "Good to see you too."
"You two know each other?" Ash looks between the two.
"We've met," says Aria, to which Shepard gives a loud snort. "Justicar. I know why you're here."
"I imagined you would, Aria." At Shepard and Ash's looks, Samara inclines her head. "We too, have met."
"Good. We all know each other. Now ask your questions." Aria frowns. "I have other things to take care of and the last thing I need is a Justicar making the customers nervous."
Shepard knew the mission basics—what an Ardat-Yakshi is, how Samara is connected, what has to be done. She hadn't liked being roped into this once she knew the mission brief. But as they talk to Aria and then to the mother of the Ardat-Yakshi's victim, Shepard's on-board. There are Sidonis' and then there are Garms and maybe it's a bullshit distinction but it makes Shepard feel better.
This Morinth is a Garm. The vids of Nef, so young and vibrant and so goddamned naïve, make that clear. You have to pretty fucking awful to lure away and kill a poor kid like that. If Morinth gets a chance to speak, she doubts the Asari will say anything to change Shepard's mind.
They pass back through the market, past where the Mad Batarian Prophet speaks. His voice rises as he catches sight of Ash; his gesticulations become wilder with a new Human target to rave at.
"Funny thing is…" Shepard says, "Well, two funny things. One is that there used to be a Mission near where he speaks."
This makes Ash pause and give her a long look. "You went?"
"Sometimes. It was a safe place for a kid like me. And comforting."
"I…huh. I wouldn't have suspected you to be religious."
"I'm not really." Shepard shakes her head with a shrug. Samara spares them a glance before moving forward, her pace slowing so they don't lose her. "The place didn't last long for me to get really into it. I don't know what I believe...it's just helpful to think that it all means something in the end. You know?"
"I do, actually. I like to think God's watching over us," Ash smiles.
Well hopefully not all the time, considering the nasty stuff Shepard's done. Really, probably not all the time, considering the shit that's been done to her. But she nods in agreement before hurrying after Samara.
"I'll bite," says Ash as they speed walk through the market. "What's the second thing?"
Shepard jerks a thumb back at the prophet. "That guy? Who just said Humans are a disgusting blight? Fucks a Human once a month."
Ash makes a noise in the back of her throat. "Can you imagine?"
"You'd be surprised," says Shepard.
Samara gives Shepard clear instructions on how to attract Morinth. She listens without comment. Snaring potential fucks is nothing new to her and Morinth's profile matches some Asari Mercs she's known. Hell, it's almost like the old days as she weaves through the crowd. Only difference is that she rarely got into Afterlife's VIP section.
Also, she's got the armor on. Samara insisted it wouldn't hinder catching Morinth's eye. It does throw Shepard off some. Her preferred battle armor for these situations is a black dress and spiked heels.
On the plus side, it shrouds her identity. A former client walks right past her, unused to seeing Shepard dressed for war. Shepard circles, gleaning the latest club trends, getting a reporter out of a bad situation, stopping an asshole Turian from accosting a dancer. It's not long before her actions draw Morinth out.
"I've been watching you," she says. Everything about her is liquid, from the husky purr to the way her blithe form seems poured into her bodysuit. A fire starts in Shepard's belly. Calling an image of Nef to mind puts it out. "Come sit with me."
"Love to." Shepard follows the Asari and they slide into a private booth. Shepard brings up the vids and drugs Morinth had used to beguile Nef, framing them as her own interests. She keeps her posture forward, eyes locked on her target as they chat.
There's a darkness behind Morinth's eyes that sends cold dread through Shepard. It's not enough to counter what the Asari stirs in her though, as Morinth draws her foot down Shepard's leg, strokes her gloved hand. Shepard knows the tricks. She's used them. But she finds herself wanting to haul Morinth to a dark corner. Where do the Ardat-Yakshi enticements end and where does Shepard's libido begin?
Nef, she tells herself. And for extra measure: Garrus.
"My apartment is nearby," says Morinth. "I want you alone."
Relief and unease barrage Shepard as she stands. She takes her time, arching her back in a long stretch before leaning in. "We better hurry. There might be some dark alleys between here and there and I'm impatient."
Morinth's dark eyes seem to pulse with hunger. "Will you ravish me then?"
"It's a possibility." Shepard mirrors the Asari's expression and Morinth's lust grows at the reflection of her hunger. "We'll see who ravishes who first."
Morinth can't get her back fast enough. The apartment isn't far but Shepard's not sure if Samara follows them. The Justicar winked out of sight the moment Shepard had entered the club.
After dragging her into the apartment, Morinth is ready to devour her. Literally. Shepard struggles against the compulsion and murmurs. "Let me slip this armor off. It isn't good for the mood."
"Don't keep me waiting," Morinth replies, running a hand down Shepard's chestplate.
"Maybe I will, maybe I won't." The line's a shitty one but her brain is half-puddle. Morinth's pull weakens when Shepard gets away from her and into the bathroom.
It's still strong enough though, that she's undoing the armor clasps fast as she can. The undersuit is tight and black, showing the deliberate movements of Shepard's hips as she emerges. The effect is lacking without heels but Morinth doesn't seem to care.
"Come here," the Asari orders and Shepard obeys, sitting on the couch beside her.
"This is the best part," Morinth murmurs, tracing Shepard's jaw. "The anticipation. Now…look into my eyes and tell me you'll do whatever I want."
Shepard's eyes are pulled to Morinth's. Her dark eyes have turned liquid and bottomless. She's felt the touch of an Asari mind before. This time, it's like a black hole grazing the edges of her soul. Summoning it into it gaping jaws, to relax in the embrace of death like all the others.
Shepard's hands feel like sludge as they grab Morinth's wrist, the sensation of touch disconnected from her mind. She thinks she's squeezing. "You've picked the wrong victim, Morinth."
"What?" The Asari sneers and Shepard feels the veil lifting. "I see. The bitch has found herself a helper."
Samara makes her entrance. As mother and daughter battle and feeling returns to Shepard, she starts to back away. She has no place in this.
The other two have different ideas. They reach a standoff, their powers battling for dominance in a whirlwind of biotic energy. Samara and Morinth are evenly matched, every bit of them straining for victory.
"Shepard!" Samara calls, desperation in her voice. "Let's end this!"
"I'm as strong as she is. Let me join you," Morinth pleads. She just wants to live. How can Shepard blame her for that? But her eyes betray the satisfaction of imminent victory. None of her other victims resisted. Why would Shepard?
Shepard charges, grabbing Morinth's arm and yanking it behind her. A moment later, Samara's blast takes the Ardat-Yakshi down. There's no triumph on Samara's face as she finishes off her daughter. That fact eases any revulsion Shepard might feel.
"…I am ready to leave this place and move on. Shall we go?" The Justicar turns to Shepard, checking her eyes. Shepard's vision is still a little cloudy. Maybe Samara sees the glaze.
"Are you going to be okay?" Shepard steps over to her.
Samara glances back at Morinth's prone body. "I just killed the wisest and bravest of my daughters. There are…no words. Please, let us leave."
"Alright." Shepard pats the woman's arm once before drawing back. "Let's go."
"While you to go back to the ship…there's somewhere I'd like to visit." Shepard says as they meet Ash outside the apartments. Morinth had a couple of hired muscle on guard duty but Ash disposed of them without trouble.
"You've been confined to the ship excepting this mission," Ash reminds her.
"I know," says Shepard. "But…please. Omega's a shithole, but it's my home."
The Commander glances around the dirty streets before turning back to Shepard. Studies her. "…One hour. If you're not back by then, you'll get left behind."
"Aye aye." Shepard throws in a salute for good measure.
The paths of Omega are unchanged, down to the last grimy trashcan. If Kela's still alive or around, her apartment's not far from Morinth's. Not that she wants to go visiting old clients-turned-enemies. Shepard could get to her own place in fifteen minutes and linger there.
The destination she decides on is Garrus' first base. When she saw it last, the squad's bodies were lain out before it as a warning. Now, the front building is covered with piles of junk. No…not junk, she realizes when she gets closer. Offerings. Synthetic white flowers in bunches and wreathes and cheap vases. Tiny figurines of the Asari Goddess, Batarian deities, Christian crosses, serene Buddhas, Turian spirit altars. Hundreds of notes and letters thanking Archangel and his men.
Shepard kneels before the gifts, stroking the cloth roses on a wreath. Aria allows this to go on, for the same reason she allowed Archangel and his squad to exist. Whatever that might be.
Hope, Shepard decides at last. The Mercs need to feel powerful and know Aria would let them kill Archangel. Everyone else needs to know that Aria would let them have a champion in the first place. And when the heroes die, it isn't Aria's fault. It's the Mercs.
That's the thing she keeps losing sight of. All this shit—Vido, Morinth, Sidonis—it's so they can go after the Collectors. Give hope and safety to the whole galaxy. Never mind that the galaxy's ignorant of the threat and never gives her anything back.
…No. That's not true. It gave her Zaeed and Garrus and Ash and the rest. For all that, she owes it to the galaxy to be it's big goddamned hero.
Shepard stands and leaves the block. Only for a few minutes, till she finds someone with the items she needs. She returns and enters the building, going through the familiar passages and staircases. To the door where Sidonis often stood guard. Into the loft where she and Garrus first…(fucked? Made love?)
It's filthy but someone's cleaned up the gore that sickened her the last time she came. Shepard overlooks the remaining stains. She climbs up to the window ledge where Erash often perched and hacked Blue Suns servers undetected. One of her white flowers goes there.
The rest but one she leaves in the center of the room. That last cloth rose goes upstairs in the shooting range with its sloppy bullseyes and paint clip spatters. For Garrus.
It's a sappy, probably dumb sentiment. And if anyone caught her at it she'd be embarrassed beyond anything. But it feels right to do since the ten bodies are lost to them. Aria might know where the corpses are but Shepard's wary of further business dealings with her. Maybe Ash can get it out of her, if Garrus wants to know the truth.
Her hour is almost up. This will probably be her last visit here. She lingers, soaking the image of the room into her mind
"Safe journey," she murmurs to the room. If Turians are right about spirits, they have to be released by now. To whatever heaven might exist. It's time to focus on the living: her Commander, her squad and crew, her galaxy.
Time to have a talk with her boyfriend.