John kept himself busy in the cargo bay with moving the things in their proper place. Well the number of crates which survived after his training session with Samara. She has declared that she has nothing left to teach him. John looked at his hand. He clenched his fist and his body begin to glow with unnatural biotic powers. He let it go and the aura around him faded. He did it. Finally. He did it. He has learned to control his powers. He thanked Samara profusely after the training session. She declared that it was her pleasure but then she said something which made him more confused than ever. She agreed that she has taught him everything she knew of, but she also told him that although he has gained control over his powers, he still have to learn about his true power. He asked her for help but she simply said that she cannot because she herself didn't know. She warned him that without his true biotic abilities the galaxy stands no chance against the upcoming crisis. What confused him more was when she told him that he must gain that knowledge himself, because it cannot be teached. He agreed reluctantly but he couldn't understand what he needed to do. Before she left, she made a request to meet her because she has some important things to talk about, to which he agreed. Now, he is almost done and then his destination is to meet his Asari friend.

Miranda was sitting in front of her desk with her head in her hands. It has been over a week and still there is no news of her sister, Oriana. Oriana has never failed to message Miranda, at least to inform her that she is safe and secure. But this time it is almost two weeks now and there is no message from Oriana. At first she tried to assure herself that it's probably nothing but now she is getting a bad feeling about this. She was about to get hold of her secret contacts whom she appointed for the safety of her sister, but the door of her office opened at that precise time. Tali'Zorah walked inside her office.

"What can I do for you, Miss….." Miranda asked but stopped by Tali. "Just Tali will do." Tali replied shortly. Miranda nodded. "If you don't mind I would like to talk with you privately for a moment." Tali proposed. Miranda tensed slightly at the mention of talking privately. "Yes?"

"He told me who you are." Tali said. Miranda understood instantly what she is talking about. She nodded and let Tali speak. "I don't know whether I can trust you because you are Cerberus. The organization has a bad reputation."

"I understand." Miranda said.

"But he told me he trusts you, more than anyone and I trust him and his judgment. So, I will rely on it and watch over you. For now, I cannot trust you. No matter who you are to him." Tali said sincerely.

"It's fair I guess. But I must let you know that Cerberus has….." Miranda was once again stopped by Tali. "I don't care about Cerberus or what they have to say about trust. I will never trust them but I am willing to trust you because he said you are different."

Miranda understood Tali's point. "I assure you Tali'Zorah that I have the best intention in my heart for him."

"It better be. Or I will not hesitate to bomb your sorry ass." Tali said and turned around to leave. "It won't come to that. You have my word." Miranda assured the quarian. "It is to be seen." Tali said and left without another word.

Miranda wasn't angry with Tali. She understood why Tali doesn't trust her but she would lie to herself if she say that she is not irritated at Tali's behavior. Miranda got a feeling that Tali's distrust is based on something more than her being a Cerberus operative. But she cannot dwell on this matter. She has more important things to take care of.

She contacted the people whom she hired to watch over Oriana's movement. It was an encrypted chat channel. She waited for an answer from her contacts. She waited for a few minutes for her contacts to assure her that Oriana is safe and secure. Then after some long waited moments messages begin to appear on her screen.

'ORIANA LAWSON, CURRENTLY MISSING FROM HER ADOPTED HOME. LAST SIGHTED WITH A HUMAN GOES BY THE NAME NIKET. STANDBY FOR FURTHER INFORMATION…' Miranda's eyes widened in fear. This is what she feared will happen. Her sister is missing and she is almost sure that her father, Henry Lawson is behind this.

ELSEWHERE

"You wanted to talk, Samara?" John asked after entering the observation deck where Samara was meditating.

"I am glad you are here." She said after opening her eyes. She got up from the floor and walked up to the glass of the observation deck to stare at the stars. For a moment, she didn't speak. "I must ask for your help. That is not easy for me." She said in a low tone.

John understood why she is hesitating to ask for help. She is an asari justicar, the most powerful of Asaris who can do almost anything without any help but here she is asking him for help. "It's all right. Just tell me what you need."

"Before we met on Horizon, I was looking for a very dangerous person. I have managed to locate her. She's been going by the name "Morinth." I would like to apprehend her before she disappears again." Samara explained.

"You said she goes by the name 'Morinth'. Does this mean she has more names?"

"Yes."

"Tell me about her."

"She is an Ardat-Yakshi. It is a term from a dead asari dialect. It means 'demon of the night winds.' But that is mythology. She is simply a very dangerous woman who kills without mercy."

"So is an Ardat-Yakshi a special kind of murderer?"

"Morinth suffers a rare genetic disorder. When she mates with you there is no gentle melding of nervous systems. She overpowers yours, burns it out, and hemorrhages your brain. You end up a mindless shell, and soon after you are dead."

"Isn't she only deadly to the people she mates with?"

"Each time she kills she becomes stronger, smarter, and faster. And she's been doing this for 400 years. She confuses her victims, twists their feelings. They will do anything for her favor."

John's eyebrows shot up. "400 years? That means she is extremely powerful."

"Yes."

"Why does she kill though?"

"For pleasure. Power."

"We need to stop her. Immediately."

"Thank you, Commander. There are no words to express what this means to me." She expressed her gratitude. "She is in Omega."

"I will tell Joker to change the course and head for Omega immediately." John was about to leave but Samara spoke again. "There is one more thing: This creature, this….. monster. She is my daughter."

"I can understand what you are going through but I also understand what must be done." John said to her.

"Yes. My daughter's condition is my fault. And my redemption lies in killing her."

"How did this happen?"

"I spent my youth on the move, adventuring. I killed people, mated with them, or just danced the night away. I learned so much, experienced so much. And then my matron days came. I could finally sit back, bask, and enjoy my family. But in one moment, it was all taken away." John didn't interrupt. He let her speak. "I sat in a med lab while a nearsighted doctor droned at me and I learned that nothing was as I thought it would be. I gave up all that I possessed. I own nothing, claim nothing. All my knowledge will die with me. Now my purpose is to destroy my own children."

"We will find her." John assured.

OMEGA, A FEW HOURS LATER

"The daily death count on Omega is too high for me to pinpoint an Ardat-Yakshi's location. However, given the reputation of Ardat-Yakshi among the asari, Aria T'Loak may have tracked her movements." EDI informed John.

"Thanks EDI. I will take it from here." John replied.

They went straight for Aria who sat in her usual place. This time her guards didn't stop John. "An asari fugitive is hiding out here. She's an Ardat-Yakshi. We need to find her." He went straight to the point.

"I knew it. Nothing leaves a body quite so…. Empty…. As an Ardat-Yakshi does." Aria murmured to herself.

"You haven't taken steps to kill her?" Samara asked, a little surprised that Aria despite being aware of Morinth didn't take any steps to stop her.

"Why would I? She hasn't tried to seduce me. Her last victim was a young girl. Pretty thing. Lived in tenements near here. That's where I'd start looking." Aria answered carelessly.

"Thanks for the help." John said getting up from his seat.

"Good luck finding her. Better luck catching her." Aria said with a smug smile.

FEW MOMENTS LATER

They reached the home of the victim whom Aria mentioned. No one was there except an elder woman who was the mother of the girl. "Are you here about my daughter? My Nef died a week ago, and no one seems to care. The medics said it was a brain hemorrhage, but that's not true. It was murder. Someone killed my Nef, my baby." She begin to sob as her voice filled with sadness.

"I think she was murdered, too, and I'm looking for her killer." John said.

"Oh, thank you! It's so hard when no one believes you. I'm all alone now." The mother said in gratitude. "Are you…. One of Aria's people?"

"No. I have nothing to do with Aria."

"Okay. Ah… No one else on this hell-hole station gives a damn that my Nef is dead. If you can do something about it, I'll help you however I can."

"She used to meet a lot of people, often?" John asked.

"Not a lot, no. She was shy. Spent most of the time making her sculptures, not hanging out with friends. Something did change in the last few weeks, though. She started talking about an Asari. Morinth." Diana, the mother explained. Samara stiffened hearing the name.

"I see. Please continue." Samara requested.

"I didn't like her. She kept dragging Nef out to clubs, and I'm pretty sure she gave my daughter drugs."

"What kind of a person was this Morinth?"

"I never met her, but Nef talked about her like she was a queen. You'd swear there was no one else alive when she talked about Morinth." John and Samara shared a look. It all fits.

"Do you mind if I examine Nef's room?" John asked politely.

"I didn't want to disturb anything. Her clothes, her art, her sculptures. 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." At this time tears begin to flow freely from the mother's eyes. John took a step forward and pulled her in a comforting embrace. In return she put her head on his chest and sobbed free, letting all her emotions out. "Thank you. I'm sorry. I just miss her so much."

"It's okay. We've all suffered loss." John comforted her.

"I know what it means to lose a daughter. I will avenge her." Samara added.

"Thank you. Please, if it helps you find her killer, look through her things." The mother gave the permission.

"We will be respectful." Samara assured. The mother nodded in return.

The two of them begin to look in Nef's room. There were a lot of handmade sculptures to look at and they were quite beautiful. But when they found Nef's digital diary it became all clear how Morinth seduced her, used drugs on her and finally killed her.

"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." Samara explained.

"Anyone who's successfully hunted sapient beings for 400 years warrants caution." John said.

"Morinth speaks to you on many levels. Her body tells yours that she'll bring unimaginable ecstasy. Her scent evokes emotion 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." Samara explained.

"She sounds more like a highly evolved killer than a genetic defective." John said.

"The condition has been present since my people huddled around fires at night. Perhaps it is symbiotic, rather than a defect. Storming her den would be a mistake - she will have hundred escape routes planned. She will go to ground and disappear for fifty years or more. This is the closest I've ever been."

"So we have to lure her out."

"Exactly! Commander, you read my mind." She paused. "Afterlife's VIP section seems her preferred hunting ground. You must go there alone and unarmed."

"Time's wasting. Let's go over there."

"I agree. We can talk more once we're there."

LATER, AFTERLIFE VIP

"You must go alone. Morinth will be watching. Like any predator, she is cautious. You must pique her interest enough that she will approach you. 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: until I get there, you are in great peril. She will be planning to inflict horrors on you. If you are not careful, you will want her too."

"How can I spark her interest when I'm not even talking to her?"

"Courage or suicidal bravery could attract her. Hurt someone in defense, and she will be excited, but pick a fight, and she'll be bored. Show skill at working smoothly through nightclub crowd. She will be intrigued. She'll want you the moment she sees you. The rest is just a matter of overpowering her caution."

"How do I convince her to take me home?"

"She admires strength, directness, and vigor. Modesty, chivalry, or meekness frustrate and bore her. Violence excites her. You've killed, Shepard, she'll like that."

"Getting her alone, then falling under her sway? That'll require careful timing."

"I will be near, and I will come for you, Shepard. Trust me as I trust and honor you." Samara said.

"I'm not worried about myself falling under her seduction. I'm worried that if she somehow suspects me she will flee." John replied. He knew no matter how much predatory or seductive power Morinth has, she can never seduce him or spark desire inside him.

"Shepard she is very dangerous. You….." John stopped Samara from continuing. This is the first time he has ever interrupted her. "Read my mind, Samara. I know you can do that." He countered. Samara hesitated at first but then she agreed. She placed her hands on both sides of his head and closed her eyes. A moment passed and none of them moved. Samara finally opened her eyes and removed her hands. Her expression was of awe. When she invaded his mind she could only see the face of one woman: Miranda Lawson and there was no one else. Not a single other face.

"You are a remarkable human, Commander John Shepard. You have no danger from Morinth but I am afraid that you must suppress your powers until absolutely necessary. Because if she suspects something she will flee instantly. She must not sense your power. Otherwise she will escape." Samara said. "And Shepard: thank you. I do not share this burden easily, and you are the only soul I can imagine sharing it with." John nodded to acknowledge her gratitude. While she warned him about her daughter, she momentarily forgot with whom she was talking to. The anxiety to catch her daughter clouded her mind. She shouldn't have doubted him, because her daughter can do no harm to him.

John learned from one the human inside the club that there's a beautiful asari there and she likes a band named Expel 10. Then he found one asari dancer getting disturbed by one turian. The turian wanted her for sex appeal which she refused because she is just a dancer. But the turian wasn't ready to let her go. So, John stepped in.

"Don't be like that… I got creds. We'll go back to my place. I got simple tastes." The turian was still pursuing her.

"Back off, asshole. I'm a dancer, not a hooker." The asari dancer warned the turian.

"You got a mouth on you! I'll enjoy watching you use it." The turian said with a smug grin.

"The lady asked you to step away." John cut in.

"What the hell? I'm just looking for a good time - this isn't your business." The turian countered back. John's eyebrows furrowed. In the next second everyone's attention was on the spot where the asari was dancing because of the sound of beating. Momentarily the turian was thrown away.

"Good times are over." John said looking down at the almost unconscious turian.

"Thanks for that. Security was asleep." The asari dancer showed her gratitude.

Then John followed Samara's instruction and instructed the bartender to offer free drinks for once. The bartender agreed and to his surprise the people in the club appreciated it and looked very happy at his generosity.

As he stepped away an asari standing with her back against the wall approached him. "My name is Morinth. I've been watching you. You're the most interesting person in this place. I've got a booth over here in the shadows. Why don't you come sit with me?" She offered. John was alerted immediately. He has found her. He agreed to go with her. Then the two talked for few minutes and with the information he got, he sparked enough interest in Morinth, so that she asked him to accompany her to her apartment.

MORINTH'S APARTMENT, A FEW MINUTES LATER

"I love clubs – people, movement, heat. I can still hear the bass, like the drums of a great hunt, out for your blood. But here, it's muted – and you're safe. Is that what you want Shepard?" Morinth asked.

"People feel safest right before they die." He replied.

"It's true, we're never safe. I've never understood the fascination with safety. Some of us choose differently. Independence over submission. I think we share that, you and I." She smiled seductively at him. He smiled back. Then she came close to him invading his personal space. "Look into my eyes and tell me you want me. Tell me you'd kill for me. Anything I want." Her eyes turned pitch black and John's eyes closed slowly. "Tell me." She whispered in his ears. She drew back to look at his face. Then surprising her, his eyes suddenly opened and they were glowing blue with energy. "Don't count on it." Came the cold reply from his mouth. Then she felt the overwhelming sense of energy radiating from his body. "What?! No! This is impossible! Who are you?" She jumped away from him, ready to strike.

At that moment Samara entered through the door, her body glowing with power. "You are in the presence of a living god, Morinth."

"Mother?" Morinth was surprised. She got no chance because Samara had already used her biotics to slam her against the window of the glass, which cracked on impact. "Do not call me that." Samara warned.

"I can't choose to stop being your daughter. Mother." Morinth countered and with a flash she freed herself from Samara's biotic hold. Then mother and daughter fought each other. John watched.

"I am as strong as she is – let me join you!" Morinth almost pleaded to John.

"I am already sworn to help you, Shepard. Let us finish this." Samara said.

John decided to step in. It was going nowhere. He grabbed Morith's hand in his steel like grip. "End of the line, Morinth." Then he pushed her towards Samara who finished the predator off with a fatal biotic attack. "Find peace in the embrace of the goddess." Samara murmured. "I am ready to leave this place and get on with my life. Are you ready?"

"Do you want to talk about what happened?"

"What do you think I will say? What can I say? I just killed the bravest and smartest of my daughters. There are no words. I will try another time. For now, show mercy on a broken warrior and let us leave." Samara pleaded.

"As you wish." John didn't push her.

BACK TO NORMANDY

John was glad that he was able to help Samara. He cannot even imagine what she is going through at the moment. She just killed her own flesh and blood. A mother killed her own child. But it has to be done and she did the right thing. It was very wise of her.

"Commander, Operative Lawson would like to speak to you immediately." EDI's voice chimed in.

"I will be there in a moment." He replied getting up. He wondered what's wrong now with Miranda. The door to her office opened and he found her sitting in front of her desk, holding her head in her hands.

"Miri. What's going on?"

"John!" She let out a small breath of relief at his presence. "My sister – Ori. She has gone missing. I cannot trace her." Miranda said.

"When was she last seen?" John asked.

"She was last seen with Niket. A few days ago." Miranda answered.

"You trust this guy?"

"Absolutely. He is a good friend. He helped me protecting Oriana from my father."

"Do you have any contacts who can provide more information? Like where was she last seen?"

"Yes. It was one of them who informed me but for the last six hours I am unable to contact with any of them."

"This lack of communication…. Happened before?"

"No. Never. They are very efficient in what they do."

"Then?"

"I am thinking the worst. I think they are all killed." Miranda revealed. She wanted to say something more but a message entered her secure chat channel.

"Oriana Lawson sighted again a minutes ago with the human Niket at Illium docks. Meet me as soon as you can Miss Lawson." – Lanteia.

"She's at Illium, John." Miranda said, looking at him.

"We will go there immediately. EDI tell Joker to plot a course towards Illium."

"Acknowledged, Shepard."

Then he turned his attention towards Miranda. She looked worried and miserable. "Hey, come here." He whispered after sitting down on the sofa. She came immediately and snuggled to his side, placing her head on his shoulder and her left palm over his chest. "We will get her back. I promise." He said, lightly kissing her forehead.

"I know." She murmured. "But I am still worried, John. She is my only sister."

"I am here. Close your eyes for few moments."

"I can't sleep now, John."

"I am not asking you to. Just close your eyes. Give your eyes some rest."

She listened to him and closed her eyes. Within a minute he felt her falling asleep with her head still on his shoulder. He knew how tired she is. She probably spent the last few days without sleep worrying about her sister while he was busy. He placed one comforting arm around her and drew her close. She mumbled something before snuggling closer to his body. "I will get Oriana back to you." He murmured looking at her sleeping face.