AN: Again my apologies for the delay. My time is very restricted at the moment.
Chapter 10: Practice.
Halfway through the morning Abby found that she could not contain her curiosity anymore. So when Mordin left to oversee a few things in his own clinic she closed all the doors, carefully secured the muzzle over a very complaint varren's head and let him out of the cage. She felt like a child again, full excitement and trepidation over what might happen. She had released the door lock pulled it open a little and then stepped back to see what the newly named Oz would do.
He had watched her with bright curiosity as she settled on the other side of the room and pretended to continue packing out boxes as she had been doing all morning. She kept an eye on him but tried not to show any signs of anxiety. The varren sniffed the air and tried to open his mouth but the muzzle prevented him from doing so. Not that it would save her if he did attack, Abby decided. With the varren's claws and sheer size he'd be able to tear her to shreds. Luckily it didn't look aggressive at all as it finally pushed itself up onto its remaining three legs and cautiously limped out, pushing the gate open as it did so. Abby stopped what she was doing and watched Oz as he first rubbed his head against the crate and then moved to the left of the room to investigate the contents of some empty boxes. When he was satisfied he turned and peed against them. Abby got up to protest but then settled back down immediately when the varren's attention snapped to her. It made a throaty rumble and limped over to her, its head high and its eyes alert. Abby felt a moment's trepidation but quickly calmed herself and gave the creature a smile.
"Good dog," she murmured. "Happy to be out? I certainly would be if I was you. Come on Oz." She held out her hand, encouraging the animal to come closer if only to make sure that it understood it was approaching her on her terms. The varren didn't seem very bothered as it pressed its head into her hands and then moved it until her fingers brushed the muzzle straps. She gave it a half-hearted smile and shook her head.
"No lad," she said. "Not yet. Small steps alright? There's a good Oz." The varren settled down when it realised she wasn't going to remove the muzzle and put its head in her lap as it had the previous night. Abby snorted at the gesture, smiling when she realised that she was being manipulated. None the less she dropped her hand to the varren's face ad caressed its ridges. She allowed herself briefly to wonder about her own dog that she had left in her previous life but quickly pushed those thoughts away.
This is home now and my life. The other does not exist here.
She sat with the varren for a bit then moved out from underneath him and carried on with her sorting, glancing at him every now and again to make sure that he was still alright. When Oz got up and started fussing again she took him by his muzzle and guided him to one of the larger enclosures in another room she had put in for her future patients. He was relatively compliant though he stopped to mark his territory against three more of her walls. Watching him finish with the last one, Abby found herself wondering how on earth she could house train an animal that was the size of a pony. And where for that matter. It wasn't as if Omega had lush garden for him to frolic in. It might prove to be a challenge but Abby was happier now that she had decided to keep him. Mordin's insistence that he might protect her made her feel even more comfortable with the idea. The varren did not appear dangerous and seemed quite obliged to let her take the lead. She risked letting go of him to open up the door and took a moment to study him and see what he'd do now that he was free. Oz sat down at first in what she gathered was an attempt to get some weight off of his remaining hind leg. He breathed heavily for a moment, tried to open his mouth again and then pushed himself up, moving past her to the reception area. Abby watched him leave before she smiled to herself. She decided to leave him and quickly prepared an enclosure for him, putting down food and water.
She was about to call the varren back when she heard him snarl. A second later, her omnitool beeped, signalling her that the door was opening. Startled, Abby rushed to the reception area, not even bothering calling the varren back but yelling a warning to whomever was at the door.
"Get out! There's a varren..." She was cut off when she saw a flash of biotics which made her heart froze. She could think of only one biotic that would have free entry to her clinic and seconds later she found herself remembering how Asura could tear organics apart with her power. The thought made her yell in alarm and she pushed forward quickly.
I just saved him, she found herself thinking. Please...
"Asura..."
Abby stopped and blinked. The asari standing in her doorway was not Asura and the vet took a step back even as Oz started snarling in fury. The varren was suspended in the air at an awkward angle, still alive. For now. Asura stood close by, her face tense. She had made to touch the other asari but her hand hovered in mid air.
"Please Phora," she was saying, her voice calm. "Please, that... This is one of Dr Gable's patients. I don't understand why he's out but... Abby?" Her indigo eyes turned to Abby and the emotion in them frightened the vet. She could tell that beneath her calm exterior, her partner was terrified of this newcomer.
Seeing that Oz wasn't in any immediate danger, Abby took another step back, remaining behind the counter that would eventually serve as the reception desk once she managed to find someone. The other asari turned, her gaze sharp yet filled with curiosity as she studied first the varren and then Abby.
"Do you think that you can restrain this creature before it attacks us?" The stranger demanded, her tone not leaving any space for nonsense. "I don't feel comfortable with letting him go. Nor, I suspect, does your lover."
Lover? Abby wanted to deny it but then looked at Asura again. She didn't know how to respond though she found herself gravitating towards the struggling Oz none the less.
"Put him down," she said, her mind beginning to catch up again and get over the shock of this sudden appearance of a strange asari. A part of her could never fully trust the race. Lenelle's attack on Omega had taught her to fear not only biotics but also the complexity of these aliens' intelligence. Asura was relatively easy to understand but even Abby could not always comprehend how her mind worked. She felt that the longevity of the asari gave them a perspective that very few other races could fathom. Or trust.
"I'll hold him."
Abby could tell that the asari doubted her words but she did not let that deter her as she stepped within arm's reach of the varren. She purposefully ignored both with her but focused all of her attention on Oz, trying to get the creature's attention. It was furious, she could tell and she was glad suddenly that she had decided to leave the muzzle on. His claws bothered her but she hoped that he would not turn them against her. He had seemed very placid in her company and a part of her was almost willing to believe that he was putting up this big show to protect her. She heard someone shift behind her and felt Asura come closer, it could be no other.
"I'll help," her supposed lover whispered but Abby shook her head determined.
"I'll do it," she said without looking behind her. "He's my responsibility. I let him out." She glanced back then, not at Asura but at the strange asari. The strangers gaze was on both of them and Abby could tell immediately that she was dangerous. There was no other way to describe it, her eyes were too bright. Too eager. In some ways, she reminded Abby of Lenelle.
"Well then," the asari said pleasantly. "Let's do this. You should probably grab him by that... collar. The field is very weak it won't harm you."
Abby looked at Oz and, ignoring Asura's whispered protest, reached out and grabbed the muzzle as tightly as she could as the asari lowered the varren completely to the floor. She could feel the power licking around her fingers but, as promised, the field was quite weak. None the less, Abby found herself shivering, again thinking about Lenelle and that desperate fight that they had had in the alley when she thought that the Ardat Yakshi was going to kill Jack before her eyes. She forced the image from her mind, worried that Oz might pick up on the impression of her fear and gave the asari a curt nod, signalling to her that she could let the varren go completely.
Oz strained against her the moment her barriers disappeared, nearly yanking Abby off of her feet, but she had planted her weight firmly and pulled his face to the side, urging him to stay with her. When he didn't listen immediately, she barked a sharp command and threw her weight back. She managed to turn his head but he kept attempting to move forward. Abby strained against him harder, then her knee and ankle buckled without warning and she lost her footing. Before he could yank her off of her feet, Asura grabbed her and reached out to take the varren as well. Abby didn't protest but moved with Asura in order to get her balance. Now that there were two of them at his head the varren seemed to lose his focus and finally allowed himself to be moved and manoeuvred out of the room. Asura didn't say anything as the varren grudgingly started moving with them, limping more prominently as they dragged it down the corridor. Realising that she was of almost no help, Abby let go of her hold on the muzzle and moved ahead, opening the door again and showing Asura the enclosure she had prepared for the varren. It was only after the asari had put Oz into the cage that she turned to Abby, her eyes bright with what the vet suspected to be anger.
"Why is he out?" She hissed under her breath. "He's dangerous Abby!"
Abby immediately rounded on Asura. "Not as dangerous as your companion!" She retorted in a hushed whisper, in mo mood for a lecture. She motioned out the door. "At least he's muzzled! Who is she Asura? What is she doing here?"
Asura frowned at her and double checked the enclosure's lock, giving the varren a warning look as she did so. It snorted at her and moved to the corner where it lay down.
"She's a Justicar, Abigail."
Her words made Abby go cold and all of the anger and irritation that she had felt vanished. Abby looked at Asura, unable to think of what to say.
"What?" she whispered and felt stupid. "Why?"
Asura, who was normally so cautious about touching her without permission, reached out and took her arm, pulling her closer so that they could speak even softer. "Aria sent me to investigate some murders," she whispered. "According to her, Phora just showed up and offered to help. We want to ask you some questions. Nothing else."
Abby shivered under Asura's touch and felt her hands twitching. She thought of her leg that had almost given way, then realised that this wasn't the time. A Justicar... Save us... She swallowed and looked out of the door again, wondering if Phora was close by. Wait... murders? She turned back to Asura. "What would I know if these murders?" she said. "I didn't kill anybody."
There was a pause as Asura blinked at her, then barked a laugh as she squeezed her shoulder. "Of course not," she said. "Of course you didn't. I know that. This is about the way that they were murdered." She paused then grimaced and said the last quite quickly. "The bodies look like Ardat Yakshi kills. You can understand why a Justicar would be interested in that."
The news was startling. Abby looked at Asura then at the door. The gesture prompted Asura to move towards it, pulling her forward. She didn't say anything else; didn't defend herself or proclaim her innocence. Of course she didn't do it. Abby shook her head and pulled out of Asura's grip when they exited the room.
The Justicar was still standing where they had left her, her eyes amused as her gaze danced across the room. Now that Abby knew, she could pull up some similarities between Phora and Samara. The way they carried themselves, the judgement in their eyes and the unmistakable air of power that hung around them. Yet, there were definitively some differences as well. Samara had always looked kind and introspective, as if she cared because she could see into the soul of you. Abby knew she was a hard woman but the life that she had chosen had not stopped her from seeing others. Phora, Abby suspected, was exactly the opposite. She reminded Abby of a hunting dog, her eyes bright with delight as she pursued her kill.
Abby shuddered at the image and schooled her features to calm as they approached Phora. She held out her hand and smiled politely, trying to wrap around her a professional air that she usually kept for new clients. The asari looked at her hand with curiosity, then at Asura. At first, Abby thought that she did not understand the gesture, but then Phora reached out and took her hand, not shaking it but swiftly enclosing it with both of hers.
Her hands were ice cold.
"May the goddess shine on your establishment," the Justicar said fluidly. "And I ask, in her presence, for you to grant me leave to enter." She smiled amused, her gaze meeting Abby's. "And may I beg forgiveness for my rash actions; I was under the impression that the varren was dangerous."
Abby found herself in the unique position of finding that she did not like the asari's tone of voice. She did and said everything right, her eyes were alert and friendly and her tone of voice held just enough respect as one would show to a stranger . Still, there was something that made her skin crawl.
An Ardat Yakshi herself? Abby wondered suddenly and then shook the idea away. The justicars would never allow an Ardat Yakshi among them. Or, so she thought anyway. She could not claim to have any in-depth information about the asari.
"It's my fault," she said. "I shouldn't have let him out. He made a mess of the place as it is so I apologise for the smell." She glanced at Asura, unconsciously seeking some reassurance. "Asura tells me that you need my help?"
Phora smiled at her and looked around the room. "So she says," she pointed out. "I'm curious about it myself." The asari turned her polite smile on Asura and Abby was relieved to see that she wasn't the only one negatively affected by the woman's tone. She didn't think that Phora could see it but knowing Asura, Abby could tell that she was secretly grinding her teeth.
Asura nodded tightly and turned to Abby, motioning down the corridor. "Is your office ready Abby? Can we speak there?"
Abby quickly confirmed with a nod and headed toward it immediately, wishing to break away from the Justicar's gaze. Her office wasn't entirely sorted yet. It was more of a storage space than an office anyway, but it had sufficient room for everybody to sit down. She kept trying to imagine what they would want from her, but her mind drew up a blank. Obviously Asura had thought of something that she couldn't. In the office, she took the furthest chair available; slipping in behind her desk to give some semblance of authority. Asura motioned Phora to the only other chair in the room and she herself pulled an unopened crate closer.
There was an awkward silence for a few moments which only seemed to touch Asura and Abby. Phora looked around the room with interest, her eyes bright as she surveyed the medical cabinets that Abby had put in where she could place her controlled substances.
"How long have you been in Omega?" The justicar finally asked, turning her gaze back to Abby. "You seem to have a lot of work to do still."
Abby crossed her fingers in front of her and shrugged, glancing at Asura. "We've been here semi-permanently for a month or so," she replied. "I've had to get my license to practise here and getting everything in place takes time."
Phora nodded, still smiling. "And why did you decide to practice here?" she queried. "Omega's not a friendly place."
Again, Abby found herself looking towards Asura, wondering what she had told her. The line of questioning felt irrelevant to why they had said they wanted to see her. Asura's face gave her no answer as to what she should say, so she sighed and settled the easiest explanation.
"Aria said Omega needed a vet," Abby pointed out. "And I didn't have any other options at the time she presented the offer. It felt like a good place, a good choice." She thought of Oz and smiled slightly. "This is a terrible place, I know that – but I can make a difference."
Phora nodded with interest, then glanced at Asura. "What have you told her?" She queried, getting to the reason they were there. It wasn't hard to miss that her partner was uncomfortable under Phora's gaze, but she sat forward and gave Abby an apologetic look, the type she normally did when she was about to bring up an uncomfortable topic.
Like intercourse...
"I told her of the murders," she said. "And how they were presented. As I told you, Abby as some experiences with Ardat Yakshi as she encountered both Lenelle and to some extent, Morinth."
Both names chilled Abby, but it was the latter that unsettled her. She had not encountered Morinth personally, having only 'experienced' Samara's fight with her daughter through a television set. She could not stop herself from frowning at Asura, wondering why she brought it up. Through the sharing of their memories, she was the only one who knew the full truth of Abby's existence in this world. She and Aria of course, but Aria didn't know the details.
"I did not encounter Morinth," Abby said defensively. "I never met her."
Phora's sharp eyes turned to her immediately. "But you know about her," she said. "You knew what she was. I can't imagine that a lot of humans know of Ardat Yakshi."
Abby made to answer but Asura interrupted her.
"Abby was on the Normandy during that time," she said. "And that is the conundrum that we're facing. Abby, we believe that the bodies we saw were made to look like Ardat Yakshi kills. As Phora said, not many humans and very few other species, for that matter, knows about this... subset of the asari. We want to know if you have any thoughts on who might've had some inside information. It's vital that we find these killers quickly."
Still uncomfortable, Abby made sure to give Asura a dirty look, not caring whether Phora saw it or not. She did not like recalling the information that she had gathered on the Mass Effect universe in her previous life. It was easy to just accept that her life had started on Banrio.
"I still don't know how I can be of help," she pointed out coldly but could immediately tell that Phora did not think the same. The justicar leaned forward eagerly, her eyes bright as she studied Abby.
"You knew Morinth," she said. "And, of course, you know Samara."
Abby nodded, unwilling to comment as she remembered the first nightmare that she had had. She had come to her senses in the justicar's arms, the safety in that embrace grounding her to the world and memories that were her own. Their interaction had never been easy, but after the initial mishap of their first meeting, Samara had always treated her kindly. People have more patience with those who are dying slowly...
"And what did you know about Morinth?" Phora persisted. "What happened in that time?"
Feeling a touch of stubbornness, Abby shrugged and looked away. "I don't see how that is relevant to now," she said and did not miss the way Asura groaned softly. "It was a trying time for Samara. As you two know each other, I believe you should take it up with her."
Phora's look became dangerous. "You cannot judge the relevance of my questioning," she said. "If you yourself does not understand what we want from you. The smallest detail can lead to a clue, a location, and identification of the one responsible."
Abby didn't comment immediately, but looked at Phora, once again trying to control her memories of Lenelle. She had the sensation of white noise in the back of her mind and she remembered watching Samara as she killed her daughter. Find peace in the embrace...
She shivered and sat up. "I don't know what I can tell you that will be of value," she said again. "All I can say is that Samara had approached Shepard in private, asking her to help her find this Ardat Yakshi called Morinth. Later, she revealed to her that it was her daughter and that the transport she had left Illium on had put her on Omega. She hunted and killed here. A young girl called Nef was one of her victims and that caught Samara's attention. I know that the Normandy received Nef's autopsy report because they..." She trailed off, not sure whether she should bring herself into it. They had used the autopsy report to compare the damage after Lenelle's attack to the symptoms she was showing. She had to drop her head for a moment and rub her brow, feeling the impression of the dead Ardat Yakshi's hand on her throat.
You will not enjoy this.
"The Normandy has Nef's autopsy report," she said again. "So... If you want to know who might know about Ardat Yakshi, I'd say start with Cerberus. You never know what they're up to."
Phora studied her for a moment longer then sat back, her features becoming calm and distant. "Cerberus you say?" she queried. "Not the Normandy?"
Abby nodded with conviction. "Yes," she said. "None of Shepard's crew would do this and they have been busy elsewhere. Save for Miranda Lawson and a young human woman called Jack, they do not have any biotics on board. Or. They do, Jacob's there as well but he's the weakest of the lot. And they only docked today, your bodies showed up earlier, yes?"
Phora nodded slowly and looked at Asura. "Have you had any experience with Cerberus before?"
The Ardat Yakshi didn't turn to look at Phora but kept her gaze on Abby, her eyes unreadable. "No," she said. "But, I can second what Abigail said about the Normandy's crew. I have met Shepard and none of the people she associates herself with would do this. Cerberus? From what I've heard, they are quite capable. I forgot of their association with the Normandy." Abby could hear her regret and knew why. If she had thought of this earlier, she would not have had to bring this woman here.
"Interesting," Phora murmured. "You have to wonder whether they have shown any interest in Ardat Yakshi after their encounter with Morinth." She looked at Abby. "Can you answer this?"
Abby did not flinch when meeting her gaze. "No," she said coldly. "But Cerberus is not above experimentation on living subjects. And they are forever looking for ways to forward the human race. It's not hard to imagine that they couls see great merit in the potential of Ardat Yakshi's as, to my understanding, they can be among the strongest biotics alive."
Phora nodded and glanced at Asura, a gesture that Abby didn't particularly like. "Indeed," she said. "But they have to be monitored closely."
Abby frowned at her. "You mean killed," she pointed out a bit defensively and was surprised when Phora's amusement returned to her.
"No," the Justicar pointed out. "I myself don't fancy killing all Ardat Yakshi that I meet. You two should know, having encountered them yourself in some form of another, that we do show mercy. The Justicars, in conjunction with the asari high council run a sanctuary where these... victims of their own genetics can go to be rehabilitated."
Unable to help it, Abby felt an uncontrolled wave of anger flare up in her and she could not keep her mouth shut. "And what do you mean by rehabilitation?" she said, thinking of all the meetings that she had had to attend when she found out she had Huntington's Disease. They had called that rehabilitation as well. "Do you brainwash them until they are compliant in accepting their fate and the way of life others try to choose for them? Or do you actually try and cure the disorder..."
"Abby," Asura said suddenly, interrupting her tirade. "Please."
Abby blinked at Asura and realised that she was standing up right with her one hand pressed firmly against the table for balance and the other one trembling in the air, frozen in a gesture that was directed at Phora. She blinked again and clenched her hand into a fist, slowly lowering herself to her seat. She didn't dare look at Phora but chose to look at her lap instead, studying her hands under the table.
They're not trembling now...
"I'm sorry," she said. "That was... uncalled for. I've had a long day." It was all she could think to say as her cheeks burned with embarrassment. She heard Asura take a deep breath and suddenly, cold fingers touched her chin. Phora had stood up and leaned forward across the table, her fingers caressing Abby's burning face.
"No need to apologise," she whispered, her warm breath touching Abby's nose. "It is... invigorating to see such passion. Quite invigorating." She smiled at Abby and leaned forward, brushing her hand backwards into Abby's hair. Abby shivered as she felt the woman's fingers curl into her hair. She sensed Asura shifting in her chair, but the Ardat Yakshi was frozen by her own fear and caution for the justicar. Abby closed her eyes in an attempt to still her rising unease and shuddered when Phora pressed her lips against her forehead.
"The goddess smiles upon such passion," she whispered, her lips moving against Abby's skin. "And will bless you for it if you implement it correctly." She pulled away a little so that she could meet Abby's gaze. "Fear me not, for I serve the code and it's justice." She let go of her abruptly and pulled bag, turning to look at Asura.
"Are we done here?"
Asura nodded, her eyes wide with fear. She did not look at the justicar but at Abby, who still sat as she was, frozen and terrified. The vet met her partner's gaze and had to stop herself from getting up and going to her. She shuddered when Phora's gaze returned to her, its strength so powerful that it felt like a rope pulled across her bare skin.
"Do you have any suggestion as to where we might go to get more information on Cerberus's activities?" she queried. "The Normandy perhaps?"
Abby shook her head, struggling to formulate a sentence. "I don't know," she said. "I can go to them an ask. But they're not associated with Cerberus anymore. I told you. Aria perhaps. She knows of everything that happens here."
Phora gave Abby a kind smile. "Then we will do that," she said. "And I would appreciate it if you go and speak to your friends. As I said, you never know where information might be lurking." She turned to Asura. "Do you want to stay here or are you going to accompany me back to Aria?"
Asura started to shake her head but Abby met her gaze quickly which made her nod slowly. "I'll... come with you," she said. "Abby... Will you be alright?"
Still trying to gather herself, Abby tried to give Asura a light smile. "I have a varren to keep me company," she said. "And tons of boxes to unpack. So, I'll be fine. Hear what Aria says." She hoped that Asura would understand that she did not want the justicar and the de facto ruler of Omega to converse on their own. She had no idea what Aria was planning when she decided to throw Asura and Phora together. And a part of her couldn't help but wonder whether it wasn't Aria herself who planted those murders, just to draw a justicar's attention to Omega.
Phora was already by the door and watching the two of them with a now vague curiosity. All the sharpness that she had shown before had disappeared and Abby could not help but think that the asari might be a little crazy. Or, not crazy but fanatical. She reminded Abby of a religious zealot. Still watching Asura, Abby got up and moved to her partner, pulling her up and giving her a hug, not caring what the justicar saw. She hoped in fact that the justicar would see what she needed to see in order to realise that Asura was not a threat.
Asura was surprised by the gesture but soon returned the hug, the warmth of her embrace steadying Abby and dispelling her unease. It also awakened that primal longing that she always felt for the Ardat Yakshi whenever they touched but she took firm control of her emotions and dared to press herself up onto her toes and plant a light kiss on Asura's cheek.
"Be careful," she whispered. "I'll let you know when I go to the Normandy. Maybe you can come along." She felt Asura's own need as the Ardat Yakshi traced a pattern over her back. There was a shift from the door and Phora left the room and the moment she did so, Asura's hand found its way underneath Abby's shirt, her finger tips gently caressing the bare skin of her hip. The promise was there, the hint that she wanted to do more than just visit the Normandy. Abby closed her eyes and allowed herself to feel Asura's need and to admit hers to herself. Yet, she still took her own hand to Asura's and carefully removed it, not wanting to get carried away.
"Maybe," she whispered. "First, Aria. And Phora." She put her lips to Asura's ear, first kissing her cheek and then whispered softly her dire warning that stemmed from a suspicion she could not shake.
"I think she knows Asura, be careful of her."
To Be Continued...