(HK)
Five days had gone by, and everything began to die down a bit on the Normandy. I still got teased on occasion by some crew member about the incidents with Jack, but that had gone down a lot, too. And no one had dared to mention the whole Abby-Sarah rumor, lest Abby reap some kind of just revenge on them. Not to mention, Kelly was still embarrassed and guilty about the whole thing, to some extent.
There was also something that happened in Miranda's quarters that was linked to the scale-itch break out, but I didn't care to know much about that, especially after the little explanation Mordin gave on what that did to a person. Why in Miranda's quarters? No clue, and again, didn't want to find out.
Otherwise, things had been silent, for once. Abby and Sarah had both gone back to sleeping in the quarters that the three of us shared, and there had been no more incidents with any of us. All that had happened was just mingling, basically.
Every day that went by, tensions were slowly rising. Everyone kept a calm face, sure, but we knew that we were getting down to the wire. Tali was still reeling from her father's demise, and I couldn't tell whether she still harbored any anger towards us or not. Grunt was being a krogan, and Zaeed was getting anxious to finally kill Vido. He also mentioned that Jack was getting more and more ready to blow up her old home on Pragia.
Also, Samara had such a calm aura about her, but I knew that she was more than ready to kill Morinth. The asari Justicar was very hard to read, and she no doubt had accepted that Morinth had to die. She probably did that a few hundred years ago, but I knew that she had to have some reaction to the fact that the time was nearing.
And now, it was closer than ever. I stood in the cockpit, by the airlock, as the Normandy docked with Omega for the second time. Shepard and Abby were here, like always, and Samara was with us as well. Miranda was with us, too; she hadn't been out in a long while, much like a few people on board, so she was coming along.
"I really hope this is the last time we visit this place, Commander," Joker muttered underneath his breath.
"Unless you want to just pay the place a visit," I said, looking at Shepard. "I think it will be. At least, that is what my visions tell me."
"Okay, we should be good to go," Joker announced, as the Normandy finished docking with the massive space station. Omega truly was the Citadel of the Terminus Systems; the huge, center of everything.
In truth, it did give me the creeps. I hoped not to come back to it, either.
"We should make haste," Samara suggested, heading for the airlock.
"Agreed," Shepard said, motioning for all of us to follow her.
All five of us stepped off of the ship, and into that usual entry passage of the station. "Before EDI says it," I started, knowing full well that the AI could hear all of us through our comms. "We need to start at Afterlife. I know it isn't the best place in the world, but Aria can help us."
"No problem," Shepard murmured. "I've been in there before." I saw her checking over her weapons for a moment, as though wanting to make doubly sure they were loaded and ready to go.
"Aria is the leader of Omega, is she not?" Samara asked.
"Something likes that," Shepard replied as she finished checking her weapons. "She's more like a self-proclaimed pirate queen than anything, but if you want to know any of Omega's deep and dirty secrets, she's the one to go to."
"Then we should speak to her indeed," the Justicar agreed.
We all didn't waste any time, immediately heading through the usual areas of Omega. We all passed the waiting line, as people continued to complain about not getting let in. Interestingly, but not surprisingly, there was another human complaining, instead of the one that was always complaining in the game. However, the elcor's message was basically the same.
Shepard paused at the top of the stairs leading into the club, much to the outrage of those standing in the long, snake-like line behind her. "Don't drink anything," she warned us, "and don't go off without one of us."
"The last thing we need is for one of you to die from liver failure," Miranda remarked stiffly.
"No ryncol, no turian specialties, no beer, no ale," Shepard continued. Abby opened her mouth, but Shepard cut her off, saying, "And absolutely no margaritas or anything else that would have an adverse physiological effect on your body. There, I've spelled it out for you."
"I wasn't going to argue," Abby said, throwing a glance over her shoulder. "Just that there's a batarian bartender there that poisons the drinks of every human that walks in. So don't you guys drink anything, either... though you both will probably survive."
"Understood," said Miranda.
We were able to walk in without anyone else questioning it. I knew no one would question Shepard walking in, but no one even seemed to care that Abby and I looked to be minors. Though, this was Omega; it probably didn't matter one bit. It seemed as though the incident with Sarah was far, far away.
"Remember how worried we were about being underage here?" Abby murmured to me as we advanced through the brilliant fiery hallway, picking up on my thoughts.
Despite how vile and disgusting the club was, I couldn't help but marvel at Afterlife as we walked into it. It was one of the few central places that I had not visited, nor had Abby. Sarah had, and she had her first crazy incident here: She drank some krogan ryncol and tried to come on to some random turian.
Thankfully, none of that would be happening today. Except for when Shepard seduced Morinth, and vice-versa.
We walked into the club, which was so much louder in real life than in the game, I could barely hear anything else. It was also a bit more lifelike; people were dancing and drinking all over the place, and I even stepped over a few passed out guys on the floor. I thought I heard Abby say something, but couldn't hear it for all of the music.
Shepard, having been through all of this before, simply led us towards the ramp that led to where Aria was perched. I felt some slight nerves well up inside of me; we were getting ready to meet the great and terrifying Aria T'Loak, and I had no idea what would come from it. However, I tried to keep my composure as we followed Shepard right to the crime lord herself.
Aria was lounging in the middle of the long couch, staring intently at a datapad in her hand. She spoke briefly into her omni-tool-I could hear her voice speaking loudly to be heard over the general noise of Afterlife. "Well check into it-and don't let either of them slip off of Omega unless I say otherwise." She switched off the communication link without waiting for a response.
"Problems?" Shepard asked as she neared her, also speaking up to be heard over the loud music.
Aria glanced up almost casually. This made me realize that she'd known Shepard was there all along-maybe she even knew the Commander was here from the moment she stepped into Afterlife. Not much seemed to slip past the Pirate Queen.
The asari "queen" nodded toward the couch on the other side of the perch, and Shepard walked over and sat down in the middle of it. This was obviously a way that both of them could speak and look each other in the eye, yet neither were two close to the other for comfort.
"Let's just say there are a couple of salarian snoops outside of Afterlife," Aria finally said, answering the Commander's curious query. "Apparently they're trying to dig up information on one of my men. I plan to put a stop to it before it goes too far."
"I see," Shepard said simply.
"So what do you need?" Aria asked, turning the subject of discussion back to the purpose of the Commander's visit.
"An asari fugitive is hiding out here. She's an Ardat-Yakshi. We need to find her," Shepard explained, leaning forward intently.
"I knew it," Aria said. "Nothing leaves a body quite so-" her eyes narrowed, "empty... as an Ardat-Yakshi does."
Samara took a couple of steps up the stairs. "You haven't taken steps to kill her?" she asked intently.
"Why would I?" Aria replied crisply. "She hasn't tried to seduce me. Her last victim was a young girl. Pretty little thing, lived in the tenements near here. That's where I would start looking."
Shepard nodded and then rose. She took a couple of casual steps toward Aria-though not too close. "Thanks for the help," she said.
Aria nodded in kind. "Good luck finding her. Better luck catching her."
"Thanks," Shepard murmured, and then she began to move down the steps-indicating to the rest of us that it was time to go.
I didn't bother to give one glance to Aria as we left. Okay, I'd seen the powerful woman, now it was time to get the heck out of here. "That was interesting," I muttered to myself. "Now, we just need to go to the apartment where that girl lived. Everything will speak for itself there."
We made our way toward the entrance/exit of Afterlife and out into the streets of Omega once again. This was where Abby excitedly took the lead, saying she knew exactly where to go. Shepard cautioned her, telling her not to get too far ahead, but then we simply followed her. Shepard kept a sharp eye out, making sure to stay within arm's reach of Abby.
Finally we made it to the tenements, although there were a few more there than we had seen in the game. In fact... there were five doors.
"So which one is it?" Shepard asked, eyeing both myself and Abby.
Abby looked toward the doors... then shrugged. Shepard turned to look at me.
"...well we didn't see this in our vision," I replied in shock. I looked around, examining all of them closely. "Um, from the position I remember it being in the game... I think it would be the right or second-to-right."
"We need one, HK, not two," Miranda snapped.
"Okay, uh, let's try the second-to-right one," I replied nervously. Gash, we didn't have time for this.
"Left," Abby put in. "It's the left."
Shepard took the initiative and walked up to opposite door I indicated, knocking on it, but the person who answered was obviously not Nef's mother. It appeared to be... a very drunk krogan. He reeked of what I guessed MIGHT have been ryncol-I had never smelled the stuff before so I could only guess-and he scowled at us.
"What?" he slurred.
I scowled myself, marching up to the door and making a bold move: Just slamming the door in his face. I looked at the others. "Okay, so I was wrong. Let's just hurry into the right door," I said, gesturing to the one beside us.
An instant later, the door I'd just closed opened again and the outraged krogan stepped out, scowling. "What's the big-" He didn't get to finish that sentence. His drunkenness overcame him and he fell face-first on the ground with a heavy thump that seemed to shake the ground right around us.
"...yes, let's just go inside now," I advised.
Thankfully the second door I'd chosen was the right one. There was a red-haired woman inside, sitting on the couch. She glanced up as we entered, her eyes widening in surprise. "Are-are you here about my Nef?" she whispered.
Shepard stepped in, seeming to take in the entire scene with one sweeping glance-the tissues on the counter, the teapot heating up on a second-hand stove, the three rooms opposite of the tiny sitting room, the nearest of which was open and displaying its contents. It was Nef's room, I remembered. "I'm so sorry to hear about your daughter," Shepard said, taking a few slow steps to the couch. She sat across from the woman with the air of somebody paying a visit to a person on their sickbed.
"Did Aria send you?" the woman asked a hopeful edge to her voice. "I don't care who sent you-there is nothing more you can do to hurt me than what has already been done."
"Aria did send us, yes," Shepard said. "She wants to make sure that the woman who killed your daughter is taken care of."
"Then take care of her," Nef's mother whispered harshly. "Make sure that no other mother has to go through what I am."
"The woman your daughter was seeing," Shepard said, "do you know her name? What can you tell me about her?"
"The woman-this Morinth-met my daughter and everything changed. Nef was suddenly going out to parties, coming home late..." Her voice hitched for a moment. "And I think she was given drugs. Hallex. I know the signs. Nef's eyes would light up when she talked about Morinth... she became a zombie until Morinth called, asking her to go see something, to go somewhere."
"Did you ever see Morinth for yourself?" Shepard asked softly.
She shook her head. "No-no."
"Tell us about your daughter," said Samara, turning the woman's attention from the Commander. "It may help us."
"My Nef was always a free-thinker," she whispered, broken-hearted. "She was into sculpting from such a young age. She had this dream of selling her work, gathering enough money to get us somewhere nicer. One of the border colonies, maybe. Anywhere but Omega. A few people... they bought her work. She was so, so proud... Always a good girl. Always a wonderful woman."
"And how old was she?" Abby asked gently.
"She was nineteen," her mother promptly answered. Her lower lip twitched. "I'm sorry-I-I-"
This was, much like Tali's mission, a part in the game that broke my heart.
Shepard reached out and touched the woman's shoulder with a gentle hand. Tears flowed freely down the mother's face for a moment, until she regained control of herself, blinking the tears away. Samara's face twitched with grief and empathy; she lowered her gaze toward the floor momentarily. "Thank you," the mother whispered softly to Shepard. The Commander nodded at her slightly, and then slowly withdrew her hand.
"We'll find the one who did this," Shepard told her sincerely. "You have my word."
"You have my oath as well," Samara added. "And... I know what it is like to lose a daughter."
"Thank you both," the woman said. "Please, if it helps you find her killer, look through her things."
"We will be respectful," Samara promised.
"I'll examine her things," Shepard said, and we all turned, heading into Nef's room. It was almost cramped, being a room fit for one but having five steps inside of it all at once. I examined the surroundings, and I could see what her mother was saying; Nef was very creative. Most of the things in here looked to be some form of art.
It was sad that she had been taken just because some asari craved sex.
"There are a few things of interest that we should look at," I whispered to Shepard and Samara. I dared not let Nef's mother hear me, or she'd probably have a breakdown at the fact that Abby and I knew her daughter's killer and how to catch her but didn't say a word. "A note from Morinth, the logs, and the statue. They'll help, trust me."
Shepard examined the small statue for a moment, taking note of the unique style and intricate details, and then she moved on without touching it. Indeed, she had promised to be respectful.
She picked up the note and read it briefly. "Looks like Nef and Morinth liked an Elcor artist called Forta," she commented.
"Morinth always did have... robust tastes," Samara remarked.
Shepard then moved onto the recorded diary logs. She opened it up and then spoke aloud, "Read the oldest entry."
Nef's teenaged face appeared on the terminal screen. In some ways, if I didn't know any better, I would have thought she could have passed as Shepard's younger sister.
"Hey Diary," she said-and I began to feel like I was listening to something from beyond the grave, "Cycle 34, orbit 671. There's a lot to talk about!" Her voice sounded so enthusiastic. "I dropped Jaruut's name and they let me into the VIP room at Afterlife. I was sure everyone was staring at me. Then the most beautiful asari starts dancing near me. She moves like water, form and volume but shifting, changing." Her eyes glazed her at the memory. "I'm in a trance," she continued dreamily. "Then I'm dancing with her! Later we went for skewers, and I'm supposed to see her again tomorrow."
The entry ended. Shepard was silent for a moment. She cast a brief glance at Samara, and then said, "Play the middle entry."
Nef's face appeared again on the terminal. "Cycle 36, orbit 671. Am I a freak? Morinth is a girl just like me, but she's definitely not human. Just... when we dance, and the Hallex is flowing through me... The way she looks at me... with a hunger, a longing... no one's ever looked at me like that." Even though this was just a recording, I could definitely see the affection-and lust-in her eyes. "We kissed tonight."
"Read the newest entry," Shepard said as that recording ending.
"Cycle 42, orbit 671. She's going to take me to her apartment tonight! Whatever happens, I want to be with her forever." There was definitely something different about Nef in this recording; she looked as though she were under some kind of enchantment. "She can sell my pieces and we can live somewhere glamorous, like the women in Vaenia, that vid Morinth likes. How did this happen to me? I'm just dumb trash from Omega." She smiled, and the image froze-with an expression of adoration and longing played out on the girl's face.
"Close the holo-journal," Shepard told the device.
There was a moment of silence in the room.
I sighed. Nef's death truly was devastating, especially when you listened to her talk like this. "So now we know the password. We should try and get there as soon as possible to stop her before anything else happens," I suggested.
"Agreed," Samara said. "This is Morinth's work. She is attracted to artists and creators. Someone with a spark slightly isolated from their peers. She impresses with sophistication and sex appeal. Then she strikes. The hunt interests her as much as the conquest."
"Anyone who's hunted sapient beings for 400 years warrants caution," Shepard agreed.
"Morinth speaks to you on many levels. Her body tells yours that she'll bring unimaginable ecstasy. Her scent evokes emotions long hidden," Samara explained to all of us, but mainly Shepard. "Her eyes promise you things you were always scared to ask of another. Her voice whispers to you after she is done speaking."
"She sounds more like a highly evolved killer than a genetic defective."
"The condition has been present since my people huddled around fires at night. Perhaps it is symbiotic, rather than defective," Samara clarified. "Storming her den will be a mistake; she'll have a hundred escape routes planned. She will go to ground and disappear for fifty years or more. This is the closest I have ever been."
"So we have to lure her out," Shepard finished. She had already caught on.
"Exactly! Shepard, you've read my mind. Afterlife's VIP section seems her preferred hunting ground. You have to go there alone and unarmed."
Shepard glanced at us. Not for approval, but more so wondering if we had anything to say about this, from the look on her face. I remained silent for a moment; I certainly didn't want to go into the VIP section of Afterlife, despite all the fun that went on there. However, while we would have to keep our distance, we may have to help Shepard.
And Samara's loyalty was vital. We also owed it to Samara, and to Nef's mother and any other person that she had ever killed, to bring Morinth down. The risk would be too big.
"We need to go in with Shepard," I finally said, gesturing to Abby and myself. "Miranda can stay behind or go back to the Normandy or wherever, and Samara can stand outside, but we need to be close to Shepard."
"No. Shepard will only draw out Morinth if she is alone, and while I trust your knowledge of the future, any type of strange activity would alert Morinth. For all of the atrocious crimes that she has committed, she is a smart girl," Samara immediately, though calmly, protested.
I nodded. "I understand, and we'll keep our distance. In fact, we'll all go in one at a time as to not tip Morinth off at all," I continued, looking at Abby one more time. She didn't seem to disagree. "But drawing her out is a delicate process. We know exactly what Shepard has to do to get her attention. You know this, too, Samara. If Shepard makes one mistake, we've blown our chances."
"I don't know whether this is a good thing or a bad thing, but I'm following your guys' lead on this one," Shepard said to the three of us with a sigh.
"You have a valid point. However, I cannot condone sending young children into Afterlife. We all had to go in earlier, but this is unnecessary," Samara argued.
I shrugged. "Maybe, maybe not. However, Omega as a whole is dangerous. I doubt that the VIP section of Afterlife is that much more dangerous than standing out on the streets," I told her.
I didn't like doing this, but the idea of Morinth getting away just gave me a sick feeling. I also hated going back into Afterlife, but I had to. I just wanted Samara and everyone else to be at peace.
"Alright," Samara finally conceded. "Just be careful. However, none of you will be alone, this I swear. I will be watching at all times.
All three of us nodded, and with just a little more discussion, we were on our way. We said goodbye to Nef's mom, and once again promised her that we would bring Nef's murderer down. It only made me feel more obliged to help Shepard stop Morinth. It couldn't be too bad, after all; not many had access to the VIP section, and Shepard just had to do a few little things, and boom. Morinth would want her. From there, it was up to Shepard to remember what we had learned.
Since we'd already told Shepard about heading into the dragon's lair unarmed, she'd brought a small bag with her that held her dress and shoes that she'd worn during Kasumi's mission. She, Miranda, and Abby disappeared into one of the cleaner-looking restrooms to get set up locking the door behind them. Samara and I waited outside, keeping a lookout, and when Shepard reappeared she was still wearing that grouchy, I-cannot-believe-you-forced-me-into-this look on her face. "Okay," she said, stuffing her pistol into the small beaded bag that was the finishing accessory of her outfit. "Let's go."
We split up just like we'd planned, with Shepard walking alone at the far point, Abby and Samara mingling in the middle, then me, then Miranda. We all kept within eyesight of each other, but it was slightly difficult to keep up with Shepard's fast, brisk pace.
Samara disappeared from Abby's side, ducking into the shadows. I soon lost track of her, but figured she'd gone up ahead to follow Shepard in her own unique, mysterious way.
Soon enough, after a bit of walking, we got to Afterlife. Shepard, obviously still in front of us all, dropped Jaruut's name and we all got in to the VIP area. We headed for the entrance to the actual VIP part of the club, and like always, Samara hid behind those boxes. We all stood with her as she and Shepard went through everything one last time.
After they were done, I took a deep breath, nodding at Shepard. "You first, Commander."
Shepard nodded. "Understood. I want everybody to stay in radio contact-you two especially," she warned, pointing to Abby and me. "Don't take risks."
"Don't worry," I assured her. "I think we will just stay around and...Observe you. Maybe throw a glance to us once in awhile before you do something, and we can make some kind of motion explaining if it is good or bad or not?"
"I think I can handle that part," Shepard said gently, a hint of a smile on her face. She took a deep breath. "Okay... let's go see if I can pick up a date."
"Good luck," Abby whispered, backing up to make room for Shepard to head out. Shepard disappeared, leaving us all in silence. Miranda paced a little bit, but Samara stood perfectly still. Finally, Miranda nodded at us to let us know that we should head in.
"No risks," she reiterated. "No drinks. No drugs of any type. Don't go off with a stranger, and-"
"Relax, Mom," Abby said with a grin. "Don't worry about us."
"If you are to go, do it now," Samara said.
Abby and I entered the club. We immediately split up, as to not raise any suspicions, and I simply took a seat at a secluded table. No sign of Morinth, and I tried not to turn my eye to see what Shepard or Abby were doing. Not for a few minutes, at least.
I sat there for a short period of time, occasionally trying to look for Shepard, but I couldn't find her. I imagined that she was taking her time with this, as she should. Who knew what Abby was doing?
I continued to just sit quietly and keep to myself.
(Abby)
Too many strippers. There were just too many strippers.
Did they have to dress in that... clothing? I could see things I did not want to see, especially right now! Or, well, ever! I went on my way, blending within the crowd as best that I could. It was larger than it was in the game, though somehow a bit more subdued than the Lower Levels. There were less people, for one, and the entire middle seemed to be devoted to dancing only. Around the circle small booths had been set up just like in the game, though I could see a quasar machine and other money-makers in another corner off to the side.
But still. Too many strippers. Just too many strippers.
I'm fourteen! I thought, edging away from the male strippers. I do not want to see this!
A man's cojones looked as though they were going to flop out of whatever small thong thingy were holding them, to the delight of many drunk women clustered around him. I took one look, sure that my eyes very much mimicked the "o_O" expression we sometimes used on the internet, and walked in the other direction.
I caught sight of Shepard taking a sip by the bar, talking to the bartender. She was the epitome of charming, all smiles and easy grace. I had to admire the change that had come over the woman, but then again I wasn't too surprised-she was, after all, the highest-ranked Special Forces operator there was. N7 wasn't just a title.
I decided to go help her out a bit. If the strippers were gone, I might've actually tried to flesh out the time we spent here a little longer (since it was probably my first and last nightclub... ever) but we had a schedule to keep. I took a seat, a smile on my face, well aware that Shepard was probably wondering what the heck I was going to do now.
"Do you have any light beverages?" I asked the bartender.
The man raised an eyebrow as his eyes searched me over, as though trying to determine just how old I was. "Well we don't serve soda pops in here, or things for little girls," he sneered slightly. "Or do you want something fit for a woman?"
I chuckled. "Fit for a woman, of course," I said smoothly. "What do you think I am, fourteen? The thing is, I don't want to be going around the place drunk off my ass. Just something to take the edge off is all I would like... Perhaps more later."
"Well, as long as you have your credit chit on you..." the barman said indicatively, then he stooped down behind the bar counter to grab something. A second later he rose and began to pour a long, thin cylinder-shaped bottle into a small, clear glass. Then he shoved it toward me.
"And what's that?" Shepard asked, seemingly intrigued. I could feel her wrath beginning to boil, though.
The barman looked down at the glass he'd given me, and then he looked back at Shepard. "It's blue," he said with a slight shrug of his shoulders.
Despite her belief, this was actually a very well-thought out and organized plan. I had actually thought this through three seconds longer than I normally did. "Well that's not much of an explanation," Shepard said, raising one eyebrow. "How much business you get around this thing, anyway?"
"Plenty, lady," the barman said. "I get fewer people in here than the more public areas of Afterlife, but anyone who comes in here has money to throw around. And I always get a good amount of it."
"I bet I know how you could get more," Shepard said archly.
The man looked skeptical, but he was at least curious enough to ask, "Oh yeah? Like how?"
"Offer some people a free round of drinks," Shepard suggested. "It'll put out a good example, let people know you care. More business for you."
His brow furrowed, and he seemed to think about it for a moment. "Not a bad idea," he commented. He stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Well, it's worth a shot, at least. But you better be right about this."
He then cleared his throat and raised his voice. "Hey everyone, listen up! We really appreciate your business, and we appreciate you being here. So the next round is on the house!"
A collective murmur of approval and a few cheers sounded throughout the entire area as people began to crowd around the bar counter. I grinned at Shepard, winked, and slid the drink towards her without taking a sip. She raised one eyebrow, a smile tugging at the corners of her face, and brought it to her lips. I melted back into the crowd.
There certainly seemed to be ample enough opportunity to have fun in this crowd. "Hey!" somebody called, tapping my shoulder. I turned around, surprised to see a twenty-something man with a light brown beard bobbing to the music beside me. "You wanna dance?"
Uh, could somebody say 'pedophile?' "I'm good!" I told him, raising my voice a bit so he could hear me over the loud music. "I'm heading over to a friend of mine."
"Dance with me!" the man said with a large grin, gripping my shoulder.
I nearly did something. Nearly. "I'm a lesbian!" I told him.
"Even better!" he crowed. "I wouldn't mind meeting your friend!"
"I think its best you went away, now!" I informed him. I gripped his fingers on my shoulder with a charming smile, and then placed him into a nikkyo that would have made my old Sensei proud. I moved away before he could regain his bearings, putting my hair up into a ponytail, and then mingled with the rest of the crowd, making sure to keep an eye on both Shepard and HK.
(HK)
A couple of minutes passed and I saw a figure moving in the general direction of my table. I looked at the person-and suddenly realized that it was a turian. Not just any turian though, a female turian. I knew Sarah had been dying to know what one looked like, and she would be envious if she knew I had seen one.
The turian looked as though she was simply going to ignore me-and everyone else in the club-and simply walk on by. Yet when she glanced in my direction, she raised a curious eye-ridge. "Waiting for someone?" She asked aloud.
So this was what they looked like. Wow. "Um, no," I simply replied, momentarily distracted by how a female turian actually looked. One had never been seen in the Mass Effect games, or up until now during our time in the actual ME universe. Only in books, and briefest mention of Garrus's mother.
She made a noise, something that sounded like "humph". "Been waiting for my date to arrive," she muttered, placing a hand on her hip in a very human-like fashion. I wasn't sure if that was normal for turian females, or if she'd picked up the habit somewhere. "You haven't seen a dark-skinned turian with white facial markings similar to mine, have you?" She indicated her own face with a single clawed finger.
I shook my head. "No, I don't think so, sorry. There are a few turians in here, like that one that is hitting on that asari over there, but I doubt that it is him," I told her.
She looked sharply in the direction I indicated-then did a double-take. "That is him!" she exclaimed, her voice full of outrage.
"Oh my," I muttered. "Um, I apologize."
"That's it," the female turian hissed, shaking her head venomously. "I've given him every chance-far more than he deserves-but if he wants to pal around with every pretty face he sees whenever he's drunk." She shook her head again. "I'm done with him."
"Oh dear," I said, almost starting to feel bad for her. And I also didn't want some kind of situation to erupt. I also felt like I was sitting here like some idiot. "Would you like me to do anything?"
She glanced at me, and then resumed her stare in the direction of her boyfriend and the asari. After a moment I saw the male turian's eyes dart in our direction-then they focused on the female turian.
For a moment she looked conflicted. It made me wonder if she still had some sort of feelings for him, in spite of what she'd said a moment ago. Then she muttered, "Yeah," and then she moved toward me. Next thing I knew she was leaning over me and putting an arm around my shoulders-then she rested her forehead against mine, much like I'd seen Garrus and Shepard do in Mass Effect 2 if they had their romantic encounter in the captain's quarters.
"Just stay still," she hissed at me. "Just want to see if this makes him jealous or not."
Heck no. No, no, no. Not after Jack. I was not going through this again, and I felt my blood boil. When asked if she wanted any help, I more so meant... well I wasn't sure, but nothing like this. Not to mention, female turians were not even all that cute.
"Hey," I snapped, immediately grabbing her arm and shoving her away. "Get away."
She stumbled back a little, and then scowled. But before she could say anything both of us heard the sound of shouting-we both turned just in time to see the turian male being slapped by the asari he was hitting on. In turn he grabbed her wrist and her waist-then that was when she kicked him in the midsection, causing him to stagger-and then she punched him in the jaw. He fell on the floor in a heap and did not move.
The turian female growled softly, obviously frustrated with the entire situation. "Thanks for nothing," she finally spat, and then she stormed off with her head held high.
I sighed. Okay, I did not like shoving anybody away. Although I killed people so much while serving under Shepard, it didn't feel right to do that. However, I was not going to let anyone randomly start trying to make advances towards me like Jack did. I had quite enough of that.
I leaned back in the seat, exhaling a deep breath.
A few moments passed. I saw a couple of people come in from the direction of the door-obviously they'd just arrived. One of them was a krogan. He headed directly for the counter where the man who worked in the VIP club was taking orders and giving out drinks.
The krogan ordered a large glass of something-the glass was obviously meant for krogans, because it looked almost like a tall vase, at least by human standards. Then he began to look around, as though trying to find a good place to sit.
He walked past several tables that were occupied by a few individuals, and then he glanced down at mine-then looked at me-and scowled. "Move, human," he growled. "I'm taking this table."
I blinked. Okay, I was not one to assault a krogan...heck, I wasn't one to assault a turian! And I knew fighting skills, but they were against people like Jacob. The few times I had fought Grunt were... unpleasant.
But I didn't want to get up and start walking around aimlessly, either. Although a lot of people were, any wrong move could ruin Shepard's chances. "Umm, there are plenty of other tables around," I replied softly.
What had gotten into me this evening?
"I want THIS table," the krogan insisted with a snarl. Then he grabbed the back of my chair and threw it backward, sending me crashing to the floor. "It's quiet, in the corner and it's got a good view. And now," he said, sitting down in one of the chairs that was still standing upright, "it's mine for the night." He took a deep drink from his tall glass and then set it down on the table, staking his claim.
I scowled. This was all we needed right now, a bar fight to break out between anyone other than Shepard. However, I couldn't just sit back and take this and show my fear. I also couldn't make Shepard or Abby come running towards me when I wasn't the objective.
"Hey," I snapped as I stood up. "Where do you think you get off?"
The krogan simply laughed and took another long sip from his tall glass. "Piss off, little boy."
I glanced around. Good, neither Shepard nor Abby seemed to be near me right now. "I'd say it's you who should do that," I growled underneath my breath. I was usually not this assertive, but I wasn't one to take this kind of treatment, either, and with krogan, you couldn't just go 'Please leave, dear sir'.
He looked at me again. But he seemed almost bored. "What're you going to do about it, insect?" He finished his drink.
"You'd be surprised," I replied simply. I really didn't have anything else to say other than that.
He set the glass down with a heavy clink. "So you want to try and do something about it? This should be amusing." He casually rose from his seat and glowered at me, daring me to try something-it was as if he was challenging me to do anything at all but walk away.
I crossed my arms. I had to be tactical, not act like an all out idiot. I definitely couldn't attack him, but I couldn't stand around, either. "What clan are you, whelp?" I asked, saying the first thing that came to mind. "Gatalog, maybe? Weyrloc left over? Because people from clans like Urdnot don't act this stupid and mindless."
Now he actually began to look angry. He growled loudly and then walked around the table, grabbing my arm in an iron grip. "You're young and unarmed," he growled. "You're not worth the effort it would take to crush you. I suggest you leave the building, now." He released my arm, but did not back off. He folded his arms.
I felt myself tense when he did grab my arm, but I tried to conceal it. I could not let any fear show. Though, I felt like I was acting pretty suicidal right now. "Bully, hmm? Originates from childhood memories? I imagine that you were one of those that always had the other krogan picking on him because he was such a wimp. You'd try to head butt them but it wouldn't make a mark, right? Then you'd get thrown into the varren pit so they could watch you squeal and run? Sounds about right."
Now the krogan roared and charged. His head butt against my chest and sent me flying right into the middle of one of the closest tables. Three people who were seated at the table stiffened and straightened, their expressions ranging from shock to outrage. Then they looked in the direction where I had been a moment ago-and when they saw the angry krogan, they promptly abandoned their seats and began to run.
That left me lying flat on my back on the table, with the krogan coming toward me. He stopped beside the table and glowered down at me.
I tried not to let the obvious pain show on my face, and briefly cast a glance to see if Shepard or Abby had noticed. Thankfully, so much was going on in this club that it was hard to. I looked back at him. "Pft, some krogan. I know a couple of real krogan who could show you how to actually fight, or is that why you left Tuchanka? Too many krogan that could kick you to the ground? You wanted to go some place where you could feel like you were wearing big boy pants."
Now he raised his large, heavy fist-thankfully I was able to roll out of the way before it came down. I landed roughly on the floor as his fist smashed through the wood and metal, cracking the table right in half. Then he roared and began to lunge at me-
But he didn't get to take more than a single step toward me. Blood suddenly spurted out of the side of his humped back, and he went down with a groan.
I turned to see what appeared to be an armed guard approaching. It was a stern-faced turian, armed with a heavy rifle. "Everyone knows the rules," the guard said stiffly. "Start a fight, and we'll hurt you." He pointed the gun directly at the krogan. "Get out of here before we throw you out... or worse."
The krogan grunted as he got to his feet. He glowered at the turian-but the fact that the turian was well-armed, and quickly joined by another well-armed turian and an asari commando, quickly made him back down. He began to move toward the exit.
"Thanks," I said simply, quite relieved to have that krogan gone. I would probably have been dead if it hadn't been for the guards... though in a weird way, taunting him was weirdly enjoyable.
Maybe I won't sit at that table anymore. It just seems to attract attention, and I'd like to get a good eye on where Shepard and Abby are, anyway.
As I walked across the floor several paces, trying to find another place to sit-and keeping my eyes peeled for Abby and Shepard-I suddenly noticed an asari stepping out of the shadows. She eyed me curiously, and there was something... intense about her gaze, almost like a longing.
"Hi there," she said to me, leaning casually against the wall-one thing I noticed was that her outfit seemed to cling to every curve of her body, accentuating it. "My name is Morinth. What's yours?"
...EXCUSE EFFING ME?
It took me a few seconds to regain my bearings. This was not how it was supposed to work. Morinth was supposed to want Shepard, not me. How the heck did this happen? Surely the incidents with the female turian and the krogan didn't attract her...or were they the type of incidents that Morinth liked?
However, she had chosen me tonight...and...oh Lord, I couldn't let that opportunity slip away. I wanted to just run for the hills and let Shepard continue to try to woo her, but Morinth seemed to want me tonight.
"Hey," I said, trying to sound calm, and not like I had just freaked out at staring a killer in the face. "I'm HK."
Her dark-colored lips moved into a smile. "I've been watching you tonight," she said. "You're one of the more interesting people in this place. I've got a booth over here in the shadows, why don't you come sit with me?" She indicated the direction with a tilt of her head-and a suggestive motion of her shoulders.
I gulped. I didn't want to do this, but I pretty much had to now. This was what I got for trying to act like a tough guy and even wanting Morinth to be brought down so badly. "Sure, lead the way," I answered, beginning to follow her.
Her teeth flashed like pearls when she grinned, then she began to move like a smooth ripple of water through the club as she approached her table. I noticed a couple of envious stares as a couple pairs of eyes locked onto Morinth's attractive form-although she had obviously chosen her place well. There weren't many onlookers in this area for some reason.
It also disturbed me deeply that I was actually finding Morinth very... nice to look at. Was this the effect she had on people?
She lounged casually-almost lazily-on one of the soft, cushioned seats. She allowed her lithe body to sink into it-her entire form seemed to relax invitingly, all except her eyes. Those remained focused on me, very intently. "Have a seat," she said, indicating the chair on the other side of the table. "I'm lonely tonight, and I want you to keep me company."
I nodded slowly, taking a seat. "That is alright. Not too much to do in this club, other than deal with idiots," I commented, trying to keep her interest, and start all of this off somehow. We needed to get to the normal game conversation. Then I could talk better...maybe.
"Sometimes there's not much to do in a place like this," she replied smoothly. Her voice was soft and alluring. "And some nights there's no one interesting to talk to. Some nights there's just one." Her gaze intensified; I knew she was implying that I was interesting without actually saying it.
All at once, there seemed to be a buzz of radio chatter in my ear. "HK's got the bead on Morinth," Abby hissed. "Shepard, back off and melt into the crowd."
"You're probably one of the youngest people I've seen in here," she went on. "Tell me about yourself. What kinds of things do you like?"
Okay, I had to try to align it closely with what Morinth liked. "A lot of...unique things," I answered, which wasn't a total lie. "Art, music, stuff like that. Lately I've been curious about a band called Expel 10."
"How the hell did that happen?" I heard Shepard snap after a moment. Then she said a very unladylike word and continued, saying, "Abby, keep your eyes on him, understand? I'll take the left side of the room-no, I would not like a strip tease, thank you."
"Ah," Morinth preened. "Now there's an interesting taste in music. That band can get into my head and tear it to pieces." She scrunched up her features and shivered ever so slightly, as though reliving a memory that was both pleasant and painful at the same time. It was strangely... encouraging, and I felt my mind beginning to respond to that little motion. Her voice just added the finishing touch to a beautiful act. "They're playing in concert soon," she went on, locking her gaze onto me again. "Maybe we should go together."
"No," Samara interjected. "Do not focus all of our attention on him, or Morinth will become uncomfortable enough to leave. Commander Shepard, you have a personality too intense to pull this off. You should come back."
"Acknowledged."
"I have HK, don't worry about it," Abby said calmingly. "Now stop talking, HK needs to concentrate."
Yes, HK really needs to concentrate!
Morinth was still eyeing me carefully, and now her eyes had narrowed a little. "Come on, aren't you going to say something? I don't like carrying on a conversation by myself, you know."
"I'm sorry," I said with a light smile, trying to figure out something to say. This conversation was definitely not progressing exactly how it did in the game. "I am just...well, I don't know how exactly to describe it, but I'm different. I can make conversation, but I feel like some kind of outsider. Don't have that many friends where I am at all the time."
In a way, it was true, I supposed.
There was a slight break of the crowd; just enough for me to catch a glimpse of Abby lounging lazily on one of the booths, an ice blue drink in her hand. She saluted in my general direction and settled in for the overview. I tried not to pay much attention to her.
Morinth seemed to consider my words for a moment, and then she chuckled softly. "Well you don't need a lot of friends, trust me. Sometimes you just need one friend." Her eyes locked with mine and I felt a shiver go up and down my spine at the intensity I saw there. "We could be... friends."
I was scared in a way, and yet in another way... I felt almost... comfortable. However, I knew that it was just Morinth's effect on me; I had to remain sharp and clear-headed. I knew what she did to people, what she'd try to do to me. "I think that would be nice," I told her. "I've always had a hard time with friendships. I've had a few close ones, but it has always felt like that any friends I've had always have someone or something else. It feels like everyone else is so much better at being social."
She nodded-it was as though she understood exactly what I saying, and what I meant. "It's hard to be social, especially when you're trying to find the right kind of person to be with," she told me sincerely. "But there will always be someone who finds you interesting." Her lips spread into a delicious smile. "I think that might be something we share. We... don't quite fit in with the normal crowd of people." Her eyes seemed to twinkle slightly in the dim light of the club. "And I can tell that you're shy. I'll bet you've never done more than hold hands with a woman, or kiss her at most."
"I have kissed one," I admitted, in reference to that little fiasco with Jack about a week ago. "But it wasn't exactly my choice. I've had a fair amount of romance in my life, but it has never been anything too substantial. It has just furthered how outside I feel."
"So, do you think you would like to experience more with a girl someday? If you found the right one?" Her words sounded even more alluring, and her skin actually seemed to have a slight... glow to it? Yet no one else was looking or paying any attention. I couldn't help but notice how... pretty she was. I was almost starting to sweat.
I tried to stay perfectly still, and not fidget at all at the thought that this woman was actually attracting me. "I would, definitely," I replied. And it wasn't a lie; I was not craving for a relationship, but I would like to have romance in my life again someday. "I just have never found the right one. I've liked a lot, and I've developed feelings for a few, but it was never right. Maybe it was me, I don't know, but it never worked out."
"Tell me about them," she purred. "What girl captured your heart the most, and why didn't it work out?" Something about her face, and her eyes, seemed to suggest that she was genuinely interested in me as a person. And somehow... I actually wanted to believe it.
"I...I don't know. There were a few that I really genuinely liked a lot," I replied. I was beginning to feel like I wanted to answer her, instead of just doing it to seduce her. "But I can never be certain about these things. Feelings and I have a very on and off relationship."
"Then tell me what you're feeling right now. Do you see something you like in me?" She was still smiling-and something about the way she looked at me made me want to smile at her in return.
"I...do," I admitted honestly. What was I doing? "I feel okay with you. I feel some kind of...security that I've never felt before. You are treating me a lot better right now than most have. There's a sense of care in your voice that I have not heard for a long time."
"I like you," she told me-and everything about her voice made feel that it was true. "I think I can tell some things about you, too. Are you an artist?"
I nodded. "Yes, in a way. I don't paint, but I like to write, which is an art in its own way," I told her. "I've always liked to do it, so I guess I've always been an artist."
"Ah, writing," she murmured. "Usually I enjoy looking at artwork and sculptures, but I have enjoyed a few pieces of literature now and then. What kinds of things do you write?"
"Many genres. Drama, fantasy, sci-fi, even comedy," I answered, constantly feeling compelled to respond now. I felt like I was being drawn into something comfortable and wonderful. "It really is a broad subject, and I like all of it."
Wait, I couldn't do this. I had to trick Morinth, yes, but I couldn't get drawn in by her. It was just a trick, a ruse so the people who didn't have resolve could have sex with her and die. Did that mean I had no resolve? I couldn't let her do this to me. I could not let her bring me into her web and trap me in it, and...dang she was hot.
"I enjoy works of fiction that are, shall we say, descriptive and erotic. Perhaps I could show you some of my favorite links on the extranet sometime. Some authors have the talent of giving you a visual imagery with mere words, describing in detail how a knife blade to the chest feels as it plunges through your flesh and makes the blood gush out... or how it feels to have someone's hands caress certain areas of your body."
"Oh, I know exactly what you mean. You can see it perfectly. The scene playing out in your mind, just like on a screen. You can feel the emotions of the characters, and everything that is going on," I told her, completely agreeing with what she said. And I had never even been that much of a book reader. Not too much, anyways. "It truly is amazing."
"Especially when you can put yourself in the place of the characters you're reading about, in your own mind," Morinth acknowledged. Then she made a face as a thought came to her. "Some works of literature are just horrid, though. I hope you stay away from Twilight."
...that existed here?
"Don't worry, I hate it. That kind of stuff is a bit too crazy for me. Not into the whole gigantic vampire love story thing," I assured her, and again, it was the honest truth. Twilight had never been to my liking.
"I see we share similar tastes," she said in a tone of approval.
She inhaled deeply, as though enjoying the general atmosphere of the club. She didn't seem overly relaxed though; she seemed invigorated. "I've always enjoyed the music here," she finally said. "When I focus on it, it just seems to speak to the darkest places in me. But there are ways to enhance that, if you're interested." She smiled at me again-I was growing to love that smile in spite of myself.
It took me a moment to remember the dialogue from the game. Ah, yes, Hallex was next. "What do you think of Hallex?" I asked, swallowing hard. This woman was getting harder and harder to resist.
"It slithers into my soul," Morinth replied eagerly, her tone getting huskier. Her face lit up in delight as if we were discussing chocolate. "Somehow I didn't think you would have tried any... or have you?"
"Actually, I've heard of it, especially lately. I was a little...curious about it," I replied, trying to stay on track. However, Morinth's question was unexpected, but she was seducing a sixteen year old. "I was just wondering if you knew anything."
"Yes, it's an excellent mood and sensory enhancer," she replied. "I have some back at my apartment-it's not far from here. Would you like to go over there with me, right now?"
Oh boy. Here we were...after a bit of a discussion, she was ready to head back to her apartment. I could feel my nerves increase, slightly, but at the same time...not as much as before. I felt almost like I wanted to go over there, for reasons other than to just kill her. I felt safe and secure around Morinth, I felt like I was with some great person. I felt like it was impossible to refuse.
"Yes," I answered sincerely. "I'd love to go there this instant."
She beamed-and the way she looked, for a brief moment I felt as though I wanted nothing more than to be alone with her. "Let's go," she replied, and then she rose. Then, just as I stood up fully, she walked around to my side of the table and touched my hand, grasping it lightly.
Even touching her hand gave me a sensation I thought unimaginable. The closer I got to her, the better I felt. I clutched her hand as I turned to walk out of Afterlife with her. I knew, in the back of my mind, that Samara and the others were watching right now, but that didn't matter so much anymore.
All that mattered was Morinth.
Morinth's apartment was very nice and very spacious. This was one of the more expensive apartments and obviously well-suited to her tastes. She had the walls and furniture decorated with things she'd no doubt gotten from her past lovers... souvenirs-or "trophies", perhaps-from her hunts.
She locked the door once we entered, saying that she didn't want to risk any uninvited guests coming in. I knew that the door wouldn't be a problem though; Samara always got in okay in the game.
Though part of me really began to feel... sad, even a twinge of anger, at the fact that she needed to die at all. She seemed... sweet in her own way, and she was so beautiful. Surely she wasn't all that bad...
I realized I was beginning to feel confused.
"You have some nice stuff around here," I said, admiring the fancy items around the room, trying to distract myself from the inevitable. This was all way too complicated. "I like it."
Morinth sat down on her large couch, leaning back against the cushions and placing her hands on her lap. She then crossed her legs. "Feel free to look around if you want," she said, looking at me intently. Part of me felt repulsed-she was looking at me as though I was a piece of juicy meat. Yet at the same time... I found that part of me definitely liked it-and that part of me was growing.
I began to look around the room. I glanced at the Hallex on the small table beside the couch. "So that's what it looks like," I murmured.
"Have one if you want," Morinth told me, still watching me from the couch. "But wouldn't you rather have your senses sharp right now? I know I do." Her voice was low, soft and enticing.
I nodded in agreement. "Probably for the best. This feels...too great to mess up with a drug," I remarked, actually sincerely. I tried to turn around to look at the other things, but I could not turn my eyes away from her. I just...no, no, I had to try to break free of this. I turned around, and looked at the sword on the wall. "Nice sword."
"I used to go for dueling matches," she murmured. "There's something... enticing about seeing the look in your opponent's eyes when he knows he's about to die."
Like the look in my eye you expect to see?
I glanced at her again, and knew I needed to go look at the other items, but...there was something so seductive about her. I couldn't stand to get away from her to bother with everything else; she was so beautiful and even...kind. I slowly walked over to the couch, taking a seat close to her.
"This is our chance to be alone together," she murmured with approval as I sank down next to her. "I've always loved clubs; they are a wonderful place to meet new people-and interesting people. I think I can guess that's why you were there." She inched closer to me, extending her arm-but she didn't put it around me, not yet. She simply rested it across the top of the couch, behind me. She did lean toward me a little, though. "I'm glad we were both there tonight, otherwise we wouldn't have met."
I nodded in agreement. "Yes, otherwise my life would have continued on its...almost boring journey," I said, even if that wasn't entirely true. I stared long and hard at Morinth. "You've treated me better than almost all of the people I've ever known. People like us are...misunderstood."
She leaned ever closer to me-and now she allowed her arm to slip down and around my shoulders. She looked directly into my face, and somehow her mere presence seemed to suggest she could give me anything in the world-and right now I felt like the only thing I wanted in the world was Morinth herself.
"You want me, don't you?" she asked, and her eyes began to glow. Her face began to shine with an odd, almost mystical light-yet somehow it only made her look more... human. Like the most gorgeous human I'd ever seen-except she was more than human. She could be more than a human girl ever could.
No, I...wait, I...I didn't know. Morinth had been so smart and kind in her words, in how she explained her interests. She made me feel comfortable and safe; she gave such a sense of security without doing anything. And she was so beautiful and attractive. Even more attractive than someone like Miranda or Jack.
"She impresses with sophistication and sex appeal."
Samara's words radiated in my mind. I had to get a hold of myself; Morinth was a disgusting predator who killed anyone she could sleep with. She ruined so many lives. Just like she had ruined Nef's and devastated Nef's mother. Or those quarians on the Migrant Fleet or that tribe that she made worship her. Yet at the same time, she was irresistible. She had just so understood. She was like me. She talked so smoothly, so sweetly.
"Then she strikes."
Was I just falling into Morinth's trap? Part of me wanted to say yes, but that part was diminishing. Why would she be so nice to me, impress me so much, if she just wanted to kill me? Maybe Samara misunderstood Morinth? Maybe she wasn't that bad.
"The hunt interests her as much as the conquest."
No. Just no. This couldn't actually be some game to her; she had almost helped me. I intended to lie my way through my conversation with her, but I didn't. She helped me put how I felt into words...I did feel isolated. I did feel like I didn't have that many friends and it got to me sometimes. I could never figure out how to be personal and not so business-like on the Normandy, but with Morinth, all of that faded away. And I had never been more attracted to someone in my entire life.
"Morinth speaks to you on many levels. Her body tells yours that she'll bring unimaginable ecstasy. Her scent evokes emotions long hidden."
I couldn't do this. Samara's words kept creeping back into my mind, and while I liked Samara, I had to listen to what I was truly feeling. And I felt like Morinth was what I wanted. Morinth was what I needed. Morinth could give me so much.
I finally snapped out of my thoughts. "Yes, Morinth, I want you, so badly," I replied, staring at her utterly sexy body.
"Shhhhh, darling," she whispered to me as she moved her lips closer to mine. "Stay very still." She then kissed me. The moment between us lingered... a long, savory moment.
This felt so great. I gave into the kiss, unlike when Jack kissed me. It felt just amazing in so many ways. Morinth was far better than I thought she was, and I couldn't resist her any longer. I was ready to give myself to her at any moment.
She began to slide her arms around me and our lips broke apart as she looked into my eyes again. I found myself longing for what she was going to do next...
Just then her head snapped up. She gasped softly and pulled back from me so suddenly that I ended up falling backward against the cushions. Then there was a bright flash of light and Morinth was suddenly plastered against her own window. Cracks had formed all around her body, and she squinted as she looked across the room at her attacker.
"Wha..." I began, almost forgetting that Samara would be paying us a visit. I turned around to see the Justicar, ready to kill her daughter. My eyes darted back to Morinth. No more than an hour ago, I wanted her to die so badly. But now, I felt like I didn't. I needed Morinth. I wanted her. "Samara, wait, no!"
Samara barely cast me a glance-her attention was focused on Morinth.
"Mother," Morinth said her tone full of bitterness and animosity.
"Do not call me that!" Samara's cold, firm voice cut through the room. Her entire body was glowing with raw biotic power.
"I can't choose to stop being your daughter, Mother!"
"Samara!" I called, trying to stand up, though I felt slightly unstable. It was probably from being yanked out of what almost became sex with Morinth. "You have to understand! I know what you think, what we all thought. But it is different! She's different!"
But she ignored me. "You made your choice long ago!" the Justicar said, staying focused on her daughter.
Just then a brilliant burst of light exploded from Morinth's form, sending Samara staggering backward a few steps. "What choice?" Morinth yelled as she hopped down onto the floor, landing cat-like on her feet. "I was only born with the gifts YOU gave me!" She used her biotic power to throw a footrest in the direction of her mother, who promptly ducked it-it went sailing over her head.
"ENOUGH, MORINTH!" Samara yelled, sending the younger asari crashing into the floor so hard that she rolled a few feet.
Morinth was up on her feet in the next instant and both women began to glow brightly. Their biotic power glowed and swirled from each other's hands into a powerful biotic globe that formed between them-their stance made it so that their powers intertwined and merged together, making it so they were using up their energy and creating a temporary stalemate where neither had the advantage, but neither could let up.
I watched both, my eyes wide with worry. I couldn't lose Morinth...she and I could be happy together. She was just misunderstood, but she and I understood each other. She was enormously beautiful on the inside and outside, she couldn't die now.
And I knew that this was the scene in the game where Shepard made her choice. However, I liked Samara. I couldn't just kill her...but did I have to? For Morinth's sake?
"HK, grab her," Morinth snapped. "Keep her distracted for a moment-then I can be yours forever!"
"You know what she is and what she's done, HK," Samara shouted. "Let us finish this!"
This obviously wasn't going to end diplomatically. Someone was going to die, but I couldn't kill Morinth. I hated the thought of killing Samara, it repulsed me, but Morinth could take her place on the Normandy, just like in the game. We could be so happy. She'd understand me, I'd understand her. It could be just like her and Shepard, but better. Her smart mind, her sultry, hot body could all be mine, and I could be hers.
"You and I can share something so intense, so deep that it will change your life," Morinth calmly said.
Those were her words to Shepard on the Normandy as they discussed this. She could say that to me, and then we could be together. She could share something so deep with me, and our lives would be changed forever...
I looked up at the two. I had an extremely difficult decision to make, but I knew which one I had to choose. For my own sake.