Chapter 45: Ardat-Yakshi
Ardat-Yakshi (meaning 'Demon of the Night Winds' in an old asari dialect) is a rare genetic condition in asari, specifically affecting their nervous systems. Although the condition does not harm the asari, during mating the Ardat-Yakshi's nervous system completely overpowers and dominates that of her mates, causing hemorrhaging in the victim's brain and ultimately death in extreme cases. As a result, the Ardat-Yakshi becomes smarter, stronger and deadlier after each encounter. Ardat-Yakshi also has the innate ability to dominate the minds of others. However, less severe cases are supposedly more common, including up to 1% of the population.
The condition is impossible to identify until the asari reaches maturity, by which time it is too late to correct. Ardat-Yakshi is a disgrace to the asari culture. It is suspected that this condition is what lies at the root of the asari prejudice against purebloods.-Codex
Shepherd went down stairs to see Samara, as she wanted to see him. During her stay on the Normandy, Samara had taught Shepherd how to improve on his biotics, the training at first was more than he could handle, at first, but eventually he saw his skills improve, and a new ability was born, Dominate. He went into the justicar's room, usually she was on the floor meditating, but not this time, she was standing up staring at the stars in front of her.
"Ah, Shepherd, good to see you" Samara greeted. "Have you been practicing with your biotics?"
"Every day, much to Tali's complaint, it seems biotics training is pretty noisy, and a Quarian that's had no sleep is scarier than any collector" Shepherd joked as came to her side.
Samara chuckled a little and then grew serious. "I must ask for your help and that is not easy for me" she said.
"What is it?"
"When we met on Illium, I told you about the dangerous person I was pursuing. I've found her" Samara said. "She's been going by the name Morinth. I would like to apprehend her before she disappears"
"How important is this?" Shepherd asked.
"Killing her has been my focus for four-hundred years. It is the most important thing in my life, it is the reason I became a Justicar"
"Okay where is she?" he asked.
"Omega. A night club called afterlife, the perfect place for her to hunt"
Shepherd frowned. "Hunt? Who is she?"
Samara sighed and lowered her head. "She is an Ardat-Yakshi"
"Yeah I heard one of the mercs on Illium talk about them" Shepherd said. "What are they?"
"It is a term from an old asari dialect. It means "demon of the night winds" she said. "But she is simply a very dangerous woman who kills with no mercy" Shepherd had to fight the urge of pointing out the irony of what she said, but he bit his tongue and continued to listened to the asari. "She suffers from a rare genetic disorder. When she mates, there is no gentle melding of nervous systems"
"She overpowers her victims, burns it out, and hemorrhages their brain"
"That's….a nice thought" Shepherd said disturbed.
"It manifests with maturity. When one diagnosed, she is give two choices, and only two: seclusion or death"
Shepherd was taken aback. It seemed kind of harsh, considering the peacekeeping reputation that the asari are known for. "Can't she abstain?" Samara looked away, and shook her head.
"It's addictive; once she melds there is no going back" She said. "And there is no redemption"
Shepherd lowered his head. "Is that the reason, purebloods are so hated among your people?" he asked sadly. Samara looked at him with surprise. "An old friend of mine is a pureblood"
"I see, yes it is why purebloods are so unwelcomed in asari culture, despite our inclusive nature, the condition only occurs in purebloods"
"Alright, I'll tell Joker to head for Omega" Shepherd said walking away.
"Wait, this creature...this…monster…is my daughter" Shepherd looked back at her.
"You said this is genetic, how many?"
"Three, and there a three ardat-yakshi in existence today. Two stayed in seclusion, while Morinth fled"
Although, he had known Samara for her cold, calm personality, Shepherd couldn't imagine hunting down one's own family for something they couldn't control. Samara didn't show it, but she must have felt some pain. "I'm sorry…" Samara shook her head.
"Please don't pity me…just help me find my daughter and kill her"
Shepherd nodded. "Understood" He walked out of the room to prepare. Hours later, Samara and Shepherd arrived on Omega, to search for Morinth. Samara explained that a Morinth was paranoia as she was dangerous, finding her would not be easy. Not only that, to not complicate things it would be the two of them for the search, it was safer that way. EDI spoke up.
"The daily death count on Omega is too high for me to pinpoint an Ardat-Yakshi's location"
"I'm not surprised, she wants to hunt in peace" Shepherd said.
"However, given the reputation of Ardat-Yakshi among the asari, Aria T'Loak may have tracked her movements"
Shepherd sighed. "As much as I don't want to owe her anything, we have no choice" Shepherd said annoyed. They went over to Afterlife, to meet Aria. She was sitting on her 'throne' overlooking the crowds. Shepherd made his way to the couch on her left, a place for 'honored' company, though Shepherd was not stupid it was to keep an eye on him for when he did something to the warlord.
"Shepherd, can't keep away I see" she said with a smirk.
"Unfortunately, we seem to cross paths…a lot" he said annoyed.
"And here I thought, you get off on seeing a scantily clad asari"
"No thanks, taken"
Aria snorted. "Keeping with your own species?" she asked. "I didn't take you for boring, Shepherd"
"No, she's Quarian actually"
"A man who likes a challenge, a shame you're taken" Aria said with a smirk. Shepherd rolled his eyes. She looked at Samara and frowned, Aria tolerated Shepherd, a spectre in her kingdom for the fact she somewhat respected him, but justicar were another matter they were worse than a vigilantes and spectres. "I hope you're not here to cause trouble, justicar that would be a mistake…"
Aria men's gun clicked a common intimidation tacticm Samara was unfazed by the threat. Shepherd chuckled lightly, he knew first-hand what Samara could do, Aria was good but he had a feeling if her and Samara fight it would be pretty one-sided and he hoped Aria had lots of bodybags. "I will deal with you in due time, criminal, but we have more urgent matters to deal with" she said. "An asari fugitive is hiding out here. She's an Ardar-Yakshi. We need to find her"
Aria frowned. "I knew it. Nothing leaves a body quite as…empty…as an Ardat-Yakshi does"
"You haven't taken steps to kill her?" Samara asked.
"Why would I? She hasn't tried to seduce me" Aria said with a smirk. "The bitch know better"
"Yeah, say that when the reapers hit…" Shepherd muttered. "Can you put on the path?"
"Her last victim was a young girl, pretty thing. Lived in the tenements near here. That's where I'd start looking"
Shepherd got up. "Thanks"
"Good luck finding her, better luck catching her." Luckily they didn't have long to find the victim's apartment due to it being close to the entrance to the former quarantine zone. The apartment was small but was kept up well, they felt a feeling of home, and much different from the rest of Omega it felt safe. In the living area, they found a woman greying blond hair on her couch sobbing, in her arms was a halo-picture of her and a little girl, her daughter. Even though they've seen people mourning a loved one before, it never got easy.
"Samara, let's try to make this as quick as possible…this woman been through a lot"
Samara nodded. "Understood"
The older woman looked at them come in, tried to get herself together. "Are you here about my daughter? My Nef died a week ago, and no one seems to care" She said sadly. "The medics said it was a brain hemorrhage, but that's not true. It was murder. Someone killed my Nef, my baby"
"I think she was killed too, we're looking for her killer" Shepherd said. "My name is Shepherd, this is Samara" Samara nodded, the woman got up and grabbed Samara's hand, her face with a look of gratefulness. Samara flinched a little she wasn't used to such emotion, her training and her code taught her to keep her emotion in control.
"Oh thank you! It's so hard when no one believes you. I'm all alone now" she said. "My name is Diana…"
"If you don't mind me asking, Diana, what is Nef short for?" Samara asks.
Diana smiled sadly. "Neferti, an old Egyptian sage from earth, known for being wise, just like my Nef" she said. "I truly thought she would be the one to get off this hellhole station, and make a good life for herself…"
Samara put her hand on her shoulder. "I see, I sorry for your loss"
She wiped her eyes. "Thank you; are you one of Aria's people?"
"We're here to help, does it matter who sent us?" Shepherd asked.
"If you can do something about it, I'll help anyway I can."
"What kind of girl was your daughter?" he asked.
"My Nef had a fire in her. She was shy, but she was creative and driven, and…the best girl a mother could hope for"
"Creative? How so?" Samara asked with a frown.
"She was a sculptor. Several galleries were interested in her, said her work was fresh"
"Did she have a lot of friends?"
Diana shook her head. "Not a lot, no, she was shy. Spent most of her time making sculptures, not hanging out with friends" She said. "But that all change a few weeks ago, she was talking about an asari. Morinth…"
Shepherd and Samara looked at each other. "I see…"
Diana frowned. "I didn't like her, she kept dragging Nef off to clubs and I'm pretty sure she gave my daughter drugs."
"Samara, does Morinth control her victims with drugs?" Shepherd asked.
"No, she doesn't need it, the drugs are a lifestyle. She loves the club, loves the bass. She's hedonist."
Diana's eyes went wide. "So this Morinth did hurt my mother? Is she the one that…that…?"
"I will bring justice to the one who did this" Samara said.
"Count on it, Nef will rest easy soon" he said.
Tears flowed from her eyes. "I hope so, I hope so. Oh my baby…" she choked.
"Did Nef hang out anywhere in particular?"
"No she was always quiet, working at home, then a few weeks ago, she started to go out all the time, to the VIP area of the club down the street" she said. "I think you need a password or something to get in there"
"And she just did this?"
"Yes, it was so sudden, she just seemed…tired and distracted when she wasn't around Morinth"
"I know it's painful, but do you mind if I examine Nef's room?"
"I didn't want to disturb anything. Her clothes, her art, her sculptures" Diana said sadly. "Everything is the way she left it. The way it will always be, my baby is gone. She's gone and nothing will fix that" She breaks down and cries. Shepherd puts his hand on her shoulder.
"We know how it feels to lose family" Shepherd said sadly.
"Thank you, I'm sorry. I just miss her so much"
"We will avenge her, you have our word"
"Thank you. Please, if it helps you find her killer, look through her things."
Shepherd and Samara nodded. "We'll be quick and respectful" They went inside Nef's room for clues. The room was again small but well kept, it was full of sculptures, art books and supplies, some paintings some of which were incomplete. Diana was right, Nef did have a fire, if she was anywhere else she could have made it big, but now she was just another statistic in the long list of live lost on the station. Shepherd and Samara searched for clues on the whereabouts of Morinth. Shepherd looked at the statue and the woman spoke up.
"Nef made that. A man from some gallery offered me four years' salary for it" Diana said.
"That's enough money to get you off Omega…" Shepherd said.
"It is, but I can never part with, it's all I have left of my daughter…" she said sadly. Shepherd nodded in understanding.
"Shepherd I found something…" Samara said. She held up a data pad. Shepherd took it and read it.
"Nef, I'm sending you this hologram by the elcor artist Forta. His work is sublime, but don't stare at it for too long, or you may go mad." He read. "I don't want anything bad to happen to you love. Can't wait to hear what you think of Forta"
"Morinth, she is attracted to artists, perhaps we use this to lure her" Samara said. Shepherd nodded. He looked to her bed, and saw a laptop.
"Her diary, she would talk for hours about her day." Diana said. Shepherd opened the diary. A hologram of Nef appeared, Aria was right, she was pretty.
"Read the oldest entry"
"Hey, diary. Cycle 34, orbit 671. There's a lot to talk about" she said. "I dropped Jaruut's name, and they let me into the VIP room at Afterlife. I was sure everyone was staring at me, and then the most beautiful asari starts dancing near me. She moves like water, form and volume but shifting, changing. I'm in a trance"
"Then she's dancing with me. Later, we went for skewers, and I'm supposed to see her again tomorrow"
"She entices her victims with sex appeal, once her victims is entranced, she then works to break down defenses"
Shepherd frowned it was love at first sight for Nef, to her Morinth was the one, her soulmate. Morinth twisted the poor girl's feelings for her and used it to kill her. He clenched his fist; the asari deserved whatever she got. "Read the middle entry" The hologram changed, but now Nef looked worn down.
"Cycle 36, orbit 671. Am I a freak? Morinth is a girl like, and she's definitely not human" she said. "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. We kissed tonight."
"Read the newest entry"
This time Nef looked pale, with dark circles around her eyes. "Cycle 42, orbit 67. She's going to take me to her apartment tonight. Whatever happens, I want to be her's forever" she said. "She can sell my pieces. We can live somewhere glamorous, like the women in Vaenia, that vid Morinth likes"
She smiled. "How did this happen to me? I'm just dumb trash from Omega" Shepherd closed the diary, he had seen enough.
"This is definitely her work; she is attracted to someone with a spark, slightly isolated from her peers." Samara said. "The hunt interests her as much as the conquest"
"She kills with sex and I have no plans to sleep with her"
"Perhaps you have a right to be glib, Shepherd, but caution is wise here" she said. "Morinth speaks to you on many levels. Her body tells yours that she'll bring unimaginable ecstasy. Her scent evokes emotions long hidden"
"Her eyes promise you things you were always scared to ask of another, her voice whispers to you after she is done speaking"
"Anyone whose hunt sapient creatures for four hundred years warrant caution" Shepherd said.
"Storming her den would be a mistake; she's likely to have hundreds of escapes routes planned." She said. "She will go to ground and disappear for fifty years or more. This is the closest I've ever been"
"Then we trap her like the animal she is" Shepherd said.
"Exactly" she said. "Afterlife's VIP seems to be her preferred hunting grounds. You must go there alone and unarmed"
"I'm walking into a nightclub unarmed, about to face what is probably the most subtle and lethal predator in the galaxy... lovely" Shepherd said dryly.
"I will be in the shadows, Shepherd. You will never be alone…this I swear." Samara said. "Morinth is far too cagey…she'd simply disappear. This is a subtle, delicate act. Trust me"
"How do you know she will be attracted to me?"
"You are an artist on the battlefield. You have the vital spark that attracts her. That will draw her in"
"Right, well time's wasting. Let's get over there" They left the apartment, and went back to the Normandy so Shepherd can change into something that would blend in. They travel to the VIP section of Afterlife and use Jaruut's name to get in. Samara and Shepherd then discuss their plans to trap Morinth.
"Morinth will be watching, like any predator, she is cautious. You must pique her interest enough that she will approach you" Samara said. "When you are face to face, subtly encourage her to invite you to her apartment. I'll follow discreetly and when you are alone, I'll spring the trap"
"Know this; you will be in great danger until I get there. She will be planning to inflict horrors on you, if you are not careful, you will want her to"
"I can take care of myself"
Samara smiled. "I know, thank you Shepherd. I do not share this burden easily, and you are the only soul I can imagine sharing it with"
"No problem, you are my teacher after all" he said with a smirk. Shepherd went inside the club, the music was pounding, the energy was flowing, and there were lots of dark corners Morinth could use to look for the most promising prey. This was going to be hard, there was simply too many distractions to for a normal search, plus that would make him look suspicious. A man came up to him, Shepherd backed away from the man, he looked rough, his nose was red probably from red sand.
"Hey, do you know where to get tickets for Expel 10? I heard this amazing asari say they were her favorite band" he said. I want…I just want whatever she wants. I got to find tickets! Expel 10 is playing tomorrow"
"I don't have tickets"
"If you find some, there some credits in it for you" Shepherd rolled his eyes and went through the club until he saw an asari and a turian arguing. An asari in a pink dancer suit was being harassed by a turian with read markings, obviously drunk off his ass. He grabbed the asari's arm.
"Come one baby. I can pay. I'm a good tipper, too." The turian said lewdly.
"Fuck off, asshole!" the asari said disgust. She her arm away, but the turian was persistent.
"Don't be like that, I got creds. We'll go back to my place. I got simple tastes." He said sliding his talon down her ass.
The asari, all of a sudden slapped the turian in the face. "Back off, you dick! I'm a dancer, not a hooker" she said.
The turian rubbed his face and then gave a feral grin. He grabbed her arm and pulled her to him forcefully. "You got a mouth on you! I'll enjoy watching you use it!"
Shepherd walked over and pushed the turian on the floor. "Hey numb nuts, the lady said she wasn't interested" Shepherd said. The turian glared at him as he got up.
"Fuck you ape! You don't tell me what to do!" he growled. "I'll teach you your place" He tried to punched Shepherd, but the spectre grabbed his arm and slammed his head into the pole. The bouncer came to the scene of the fighting, and carried the unconscious turian out of the club.
"He shouldn't be a problem anymore" Shepherd said.
"Thanks for that, security was asleep" she said. "You know, you're pretty cute, wanna dance?"
Shepherd blushed. "Ah…well…I" Shepherd stuttered.
The asari smirked. "That's ok, I would probably be too much for you" she then walked away. Shepherd breathed a sigh of relief. 'Good thing Tali wasn't here, that little Quarian is sweet, but man does she have a jealous streak' he thought with a shudder. He then went to the bar, feeling a thirst.
"What'll you have?" the bartender asked.
"These are good people, but they look bored. Bored people don't spend much"
The bartender scoffed. "And you got an idea for how I could fix that"
Shepherd smirked. "A round of drinks shows that you appreciate their business. Your rep will improve and you'll make more money in the end"
The bartender snorted. "Maybe worth a try once. You better be right" He said. "Listen up, everyone! We love having you here, so a round of drinks on the house!" The crowd gave a huge cheer and went to the bar.
"You're welcome by the way" Shepherd said with a smirk. He walked across the club, until he heard a couple of turians talking.
"Lots of money on display here tonight"
"We got to hit some of that later"
"Not so loud, we'll hit it…don't worry" Shepherd frowned and confronted them.
"Good cred-hunting tonight. We'll hit'em in the alley; long as it isn't Aria's people, we're good"
"We got to get enough creds to keep Hink off our backs"
He then looked at Shepherd. "Hey! What are you looking at?"
"A pair of sad fuckers who thinks they're something and are about to find out they're not" Shepherd said with crossed arms.
One of the turians laughed. "Who's going to show us? You?"
"Human thinks he's tough"
Shepherd smirked. "Tougher than you" one of them went to grab Shepherd, but he grabbed his arm and kneed him in the stomach. The other one went with a cross hook, but Shepherd ducked and hit him with a bioticly charged punch to the chest. "And that's enough cleaning up for tonight"
An asari came up to him, when he saw Morinth he had to go a double take, her resemblance to her mother was striking. "My name is Morinth, I've been watching you. You're the most interesting person in this place" she said with a smirk. "I've got a booth in the shadows, why don't you come sit with me?"
"Don't mind if I do" Shepherd said with a fake smile. Shepherd was then guided back to a shadowy rear booth. The pair sat talking for excruciatingly long minutes talking; the girl knew how to talk a guy's ear off, kind of like his cousin and Lia on the Normandy. More than half an hour passed, until she says those fateful words.
"Do you want to get out of here? My apartment is nearby, and I want you alone"
"Good I was thinking the same thing" He said. The two went back to her apartment, with Samara following closely.
The walk back was strange to say the least, the way Morinth and Shepherd looked; you would think it was a casual date between lovers. The asari that walked beside him could easily have passed for her mother with only the smallest of changes and she possessed equal grace. Her voice was rich with inflection; tone thick with the promise of untold pleasures, Shepherd knew he had his work cut out for him to resist her. Finally they stopped and the asari tapped at a door that slid open to reveal a spacious apartment.
The place was clean, well as clean as you can get on Omega. Her apartment had an interesting assortment of items decorated Morinth's home, from a rifle hanging on the wall to a large ornate looking statue of a krogan warrior. A rack holding a number of what were likely fine wines rested near the entrance to the kitchen while large, plush couch occupied the majority of the main living area.
"You know how to live in class"
"I like the finer things in life, I suppose most us do" Morinth said. "Why don't you sit with me? I think you'll find it quite comfortable."
Shepherd hesitated a bit, but then remembered his role and sat down. "So what do you like?"
"I love clubs…people movement, heat. I can still hear the bass, like the drums of a great hunt, out for your blood" she said. "But here, it's muted and you're safe. Is that what you want, Shepherd?"
'Better do my best Jack impression' he thought. "I rather fight than hide"
Morinth smirked. "Yes, better to take control of your fate" she said. "I never understood the fascination with safety. Some of us choose differently." She then came close to Shepherd, too close for comfort.
"Independence over submission, I think we share that, you and I"
Shepherd snorted. "You compare us, but you're nowhere near my league"
"So strong, I need this" Her eyes then went black. "Look into my eyes and tell me you want me, tell me you'd kill for me. Anything I want"
Shepherd smirked and pushed her face back. "Sorry, but I'm taken"
Morinth eyes went wide. "How can you resist me? No one's will is that strong"
"I got a good teacher"
She blinked at him in surprised before realization finally dawned on her. Morinth frowned."The bitch found herself a little helper"
The door blew open and Samara appeared glowing with biotic power. "Morinth, its over" Morinth moved to rise but the justicar lashed out, a blast of energy slamming the younger asari into the glass window hard enough to send cracks streaking across the pane. She hissed in pain, locking eyes with the justicar.
"Mother" She said with venom.
"Do not call me that!" Samara said applying more pressure.
"I can't choose to stop being your daughter, Mother"
"You made your choice long ago" She glared at Samara, her eyes held so much hatred for the older asari
"What choice, mother?" she snarled and lashed out with a wave of biotic power of her own that was enough to knock Shepherd off the couch on onto his back and stagger Samara. "My only crime was being born with the gifts you gave me!"
She picked up a table and threw it at Samara, but the justicar crushed it with a wave of her hand. "Enough, Morinth!" she said pushing her back. Mother and daughter both sprang to their feet at the same time and unleashed the full force of their abilities, Shepherd painfully tried to get open only to be sent sprawling by another wave of power. A singularity crackling to life in the middle of the room where strength met strength. Shepherd got up, barely keeping his balance and witnessed the spectacle, it was quite the sight, well, it would have been if the spectre wasn't so busy dodging floating debris from the two asari's power struggle. The biotic storm only got more intense as the steel floor and the windows were giving way from the power, Shepherd didn't know how long this was going to last but he hoped it was soon.
"I am the genetic destiny of the asari, one that they fear and are unwilling to admit so they decide I must die!" the younger woman yelled and looked to him. "I'm as strong as she is. Let me join you!"
"You are a disease to be purged, nothing more" Samara said and looked at Shepherd. "I am sworn to your service, Shepherd. Let us finish this." Shepherd nodded and struggled to get to the young asari almost collapsing to his knee when he got close. The spectre grabbed Morinth's arm. The swirl of biotic power stopped and everything that was flying soon dropped on the floor with multiple thuds.
"It's over" he said.
The younger asari scoffed. "And they call me a monster"
"I am a monster, but even a monster has their limits" She tried to struggle, but without her biotics, Morinth was as strong as an ordinary person. Samara glowed and flung her daughter across the room.
She struggled to her knees but couldn't rise further, leaning forward on one hand. When she looked up at Samara the anger was pouring out her. "All of this….is your fucking fault…all I wanted was a life and you took it from me, before I was even born" she growled with tears in her eyes. "I hate you!"
Samara's voice was quiet when she spoke. "I know, child. I know," Samara replied. "Find peace in the embrace of the goddess."
Her fist glowed with biotic power and loud dull thud echoed in the sudden silence and the Ardat Yakshi was finally gone forever. Shepherd just stared as Samara stood wordlessly, glancing a final time down at Morinth's limp form before meeting his gaze.
"Samara…" Shepherd started. She just raised her hand.
"Don't, what would you have me say, Shepherd? I just killed the bravest and smartest of my daughters. There are no words, not now. Show mercy on a broken old warrior and let us leave this place... I am ready to go." Her voice held the centuries of regret she held for so long.
"I understand" he said somberly.
They left; there was no fanfare, no crying, only a fallen asari and a depressing silence.
Samara has dealt with the Ardat-Yakshi. She remains loyal to Shepard personally. Loyalty of the justicar beyond question, given apparent bonds of oath rendered to Shepard. Better than hoped. Cerberus activities will not be affected further by presence of Shepard's team. Relieved to have justicar's mission completed. Unfortunately, body of Ardat-Yakshi could not be taken for study. Genetic abnormality could have been useful. Subject's expertise would have made her a valuable team member if sociopathic tendencies were mitigated.- Mission Summary
