What Was Lost
Chapter 43 - Hunters
Shepard watched the relay approach in the window of the observation room. Samara was standing next to her, also watching it. The two women were taking a break from their meditation exercises as the relay came into range.
Samara had been reviewing what she could share about Morinth with her for the past few days, helping her learn the ardat-yakshi's patterns and preferred prey. They also refined their plan to draw her out and trap her.
Shepard would go in, ahead of the Normandy, in her cover identity as Allison Gunn. Kasumi's work on it should still hold, so she'd simply be one more merc on Omega. Once there, she'd set herself up as having just finished a lucrative job and looking for a little fun. Hopefully, the combination of money and danger would draw Morinth to her.
After that, they needed to either get Morinth to go somewhere private with Shepard - unlikely - or invite Shepard back to her lair. It would probably take a few dates to get Morinth to that point, so the rest of the crew would have to keep out of the way until then.
Tali wasn't happy about that. She'd been upset with the plan ever since Samara had proposed it. Shepard understood, but it was the only idea they'd been able to come up with that had a chance at working. Anything else risked letting Morinth escape.
Shepard didn't feel all that thrilled about it either. Dating a serial killing sex vampire wasn't really anything she ever wanted to do. And she didn't like that it bothered Tali so much. She didn't want to hurt her, not after everything that had happened on the Fleet.
"I wanted to thank you for agreeing to this, Shepard." Samara's voice brought her out of her musings.
"Of course, Samara." She replied absently.
"I know it will not be easy for you. Morinth is extremely dangerous."
"I get that. I'll be careful, and you're going to be watching my back."
The justicar frowned. "I do not mean simply physically dangerous, though she is certainly that. No, Morinth will try to twist you, control you. It is her favorite way to hunt, and you, I am sure, she will try to corrupt before she kills you."
"She can try." Shepard wasn't worried about that. They knew their target, and she'd keep an eye out if the asari tried any games on her.
"Shepard... She has been hunting and killing for four centuries. She is very, very good at what she does." Samara cautioned her.
"I'll be careful." Shepard repeated. If anything, she wanted this over with. She was tired of fighting about it with Tali.
Ashley glanced again at the clock in the waiting room. Another five minutes had crept by since last she checked it. Even the bribe she'd paid the coroner hadn't been enough to keep her in the room while he worked.
She was stuck here ever since the body of professor MacNeil had been found that morning. Everyone, including the coroner, seemed to think it was simply age related, as the man had been well over 90. However, his name had been one of the ones the Terra Firma group had transmitted the other day.
She found it suspicious that he happened to die just two days after the message went through. So, she had bribed the coroner to perform a full autopsy on the professor. Fortunately, the doctor on call was not only bored from a lack of work, but also sympathetic to her request.
Finally, the door hissed open and the doctor beckoned her in. He looked far more nervous than he had when she first approached him about this. She guessed that was a good sign. Or a bad one, if she looked at it that way.
He shut the door behind her, before leading her back to the examination room. Pulling back the sheet, he passed her a datapad. "Corporal Wilson," - even after weeks, it still took her a moment to remember her cover identity - "I finished the autopsy you requested. Before I tell you about it though, how did you know to ask for a full one?"
"Call it a hunch. I can share the rest, but I really need to know - was this accidental or not?"
"Definitely not." He nodded firmly. He turned the head of the corpse and pointed to the top of the neck, just at the hairline. "The regular scanners missed it, but fortunately, we're a new lab, so we get all the new toys. The latest model, when doing the full scan, found an almost invisible puncture wound right here."
He tapped the datapad. "Unfortunately, whatever they used has already broken down in his blood, so I can't tell you much more than he was injected with something. Given that the wound hasn't healed, I feel pretty safe saying it was the cause of death."
She pulled out her real ID and authorization from Andersen. "Doc, sorry to say, but we need to get you under guard right now. My boss will fill in the details, but let's just say, I'm pretty sure if the people who did this find out, you're going to be the next to have a 'heart attack'."
"Well." The doctor looked like he bit into something sour. "Shit."
Morinth pulled Nef in closer to her and kissed her, before dancing away a bit. She laughed lightly at the shock in the girl's eyes. It seemed, despite their recent dates, that she was still a little hung up on the 'date another girl' thing, though that was fading, if her slight smile was any indication.
She was rather enjoying this hunt. It was different from her usual ones, especially since arriving on Omega. Nef was so open and innocent and hopeful. Morinth found herself drawing it out longer already than she had intended.
"... can't believe you managed to get us in to see them." Nef was saying. Morinth glanced at her, focusing her attention. "Everyone wants to see this band, and you scored us tickets somehow."
"I have my ways." She smiled at the human. No need to tell her that those ways involved killing some stupid mercs and taking their tickets... "I'm just glad you're enjoying yourself."
"Oh yeah!" Her eyes gleamed.
Later on, they were taking a break from dancing, though they weren't really resting. Morinth had pulled Nef onto her lap, and they were kissing rather deeply. The girl was definitely into it, even going so far as to fumble awkwardly at Morinth's breasts some.
It was so innocent and cute, she couldn't help holding the human a bit closer. She kissed Nef, doing a bit of exploring of her own. The girl seemed to melt into her under her touch, sliding against her as they made out.
When she had started this, she hadn't thought she'd be so into this. She was actually liking the girl, something that hadn't happened to her in a long, long time...
She kissed Nef again, though a part of her was disturbed by this realization.
Tali glowered at Shepard as they followed Samara through the mess of cargo waiting to be loaded at the spaceport. Despite her arguments, the human was still going along with the justicar's insane plan.
They were currently on a small human colony, Euphrates. They hadn't initially intended to stop here, but there had been a report of a possible Collector attack. The sighting had turned out to be nothing more than a very green sensor technician who got a bit too excited about a new design for a volus freighter.
Still, the diversion provided them an opportunity. They had talked it over, and Shepard intended to catch a ride with the freighter at least part of the way to Omega. She'd probably have to change ships, but doing so would help build up her cover. Tali didn't like the plan, but at least this way, her identity would be harder for Morinth to discover, if she looked into it.
So, despite her dislike for this, she was along to help negotiate with the volus, to give Shepard the best chance possible. They had left behind most of the rest of the crew, letting them enjoy some well-deserved leave.
The Normandy would wait a few days, take on some fresh supplies, and give Shepard time to make her way to Omega on her own. Samara had wanted to come with her, but realized that she'd have to travel as a justicar, and if Morinth got word of that, it wouldn't take her long at all to figure out who that justicar must be.
Samara was negotiating passage now, using the considerable resources she had amassed over her centuries of life to pay Shepard's way. The volus, it seemed, were more than willing to alter course to Omega in return for the credits.
"I wish we could find another way to do this, Shepard." She tried one last time. "I'm not happy with this plan. Too much could go wrong."
"It's the only way." The human sighed. "I don't really like it either, but Morinth will just disappear if we all show up in the Normandy and start looking for her."
"Just... be careful, okay?" Tali took her hand, squeezing it gently. "We'll be a few days behind you, so you're going to be on your own. Don't take any stupid chances."
"I won't do anything risky, Tali." Shepard reached up, cupping her mask. "I -"
She cut off whatever she had been about to say, as Samara waved her over. She gave Tali's hand one final squeeze and leaned in, kissing her mask. "I'll be waiting for you," she whispered.
"I..." Tali watched her walk over to the volus, a tightening in her chest. She returned Shepard's wave and watched as the human walked onto the shuttle. Despite all the reassurances, she felt a cold tremor flow through her. It felt like, somehow, letting Shepard get on that shuttle was the last time she'd get to see her.
"I can't lose you. Not again." She spoke quietly. She wrapped her arms around herself, shivering as the shuttle lifted off towards the waiting freighter.
Ashley ducked back around the corner, avoiding the gaze of the Terra Firma security agent who was busy outside the coroner's quarters. She had been staking out the place since relocating the doctor to another room.
It hadn't taken long for them to send someone to investigate the doctor. Fortunately, Andersen had been able to fake up some transfer orders for him, so this agent was probably just there to confirm the doctor's move.
She had watched him break into the quarters and take a copy of the first autopsy, the one that didn't have details on the puncture wound. Now he was busy sealing the room back up, trying to cover up the break-in.
Apparently they wanted to make sure nothing had shown up on the report. And now they knew that no one was looking into it.
At least, Ashley hoped they did. They certainly were putting more effort into this whole mission than she expected. For the life of her, she couldn't figure out why they cared so much about this whole business.
Eventually the agent left, and she followed him back to the rooms Terra Firma was using during their stay. She waited a few minutes, and when it was clear that no one was coming out after that, she went back to where the doctor was hiding out.
"About time." He grumped. "I take it, by your delay, I had visitors at my room."
"Yeah, the same people who probably visited the professor." She nodded grimly. "They'll be gone in a few days, and we can relocate you and get you a new identity. Sorry, by the way, for all the trouble."
"Better than being dead." He relaxed back in the chair. "So what are you up to, next?"
"I have to find a scientist, doc." She grinned, though there was no humor in it. "We can't let Terra Firma be the only ones to poke around this place."
Shepard stepped off the shuttle, looking around at the dingy port. The lower decks of Omega certainly lived up to their reputation. Or down to it, depending on how you looked at it...
She cracked the seal on her helmet, relieved to be off the volus ship at last. Is this what it's like for Tali all the time? Because I think I'd go crazy if I had to live like this. Not that the air of Omega was any great improvement, but at least it was fresh - sort of, anyway.
Omega looked as run down as ever, and just as busy. Ships flitted in and out from the countless bays scattered around the station. Mercs, merchants, soldiers, workers and more crowded the halls she could see.
"Allison-clan-Gunn?" The head volus trader waved her over.
"Yes?" She asked him.
"These ones, of clan T'loak, wish to establish your entry credentials." He motioned to a small group of Aria's guards who were waiting around outside the ship, looking bored.
"Right. Bribe time." She muttered wryly. In a louder voice she spoke to the head guard. "How much?"
"Two hundred. And an extra hundred for your weapons permit." The turian growled. "And another hundred, because you look like trouble, human."
"Two-fifty and I don't ventilate the lot of you." She scowled at them.
"Three hundred." The turian relaxed a little, seeing she wouldn't be easily intimidated. "Aria sets the permit prices. If you want to complain to her about it, let me know and I'll have the corpse disposal squad standing by."
"Fine." She fished out a couple credit chips and tossed it to him. "Now get lost."
"Don't push your luck, meatbag." The turian stomped away. "Aria might not like us killing customers, but it ain't exactly prohibited either, get me?"
"That was reckless, Earth-clan." She jumped. She hadn't noticed the volus walking up behind her. Damn it, I'm too used to having my team with me!
"Yeah, but I don't want them thinking I'm an idiot or easy prey either." She replied.
"You may have a point." The volus agreed. "I wish you luck, Earth-clan. Your friend from Thessia-clan may not have said much, but you seem to be on a very dangerous mission."
"Thanks for your concern, but I'll be fine." She waved absently to him as she walked towards the entrance to their dock. "There's nothing here I can't handle."
Joker leaned back in the pilot chair, bored. The Normandy was still in orbit over Euphrates, just like the last few days. While the crew was happy with the extended leave, most of Shepard's team had been on edge since she left.
Samara was anxious to depart, eager to finally catch Morinth. While she appeared calm, she had been asking EDI for repeated updates on when they could leave. She'd also been to visit him, asking how fast they could leave once they were ready, how long the trip would take.
Garrus also spent a good deal of time up here with him. The turian had been withdrawn since the incident on the Fleet. Apparently, reports of the carnage on the captured research ship had been understated, if anything. That, and Jack was... different... recently.
The biotic had been more social in the past week or so. She'd actually started joining the rest of the crew for meals from time to time. She also smiled every now and then too - even when she hadn't hurt someone or blown something up. It was definitely the creepiest thing Joker had ever seen, and most of the crew agreed.
Maybe it was being in a real relationship, or just the people here on the ship. Either way, Joker had no clue. He was just glad that not only was she less violent these days, but that she was Garrus' problem. She was still way too much crazy for anyone normal to have to deal with.
Tali had been alternating between depressed and upset. She was still understandably down after everything that had happened to her during her trial and the following events on her father's ship. She'd been spending most of her time up in Shepard's cabin, ever since the commander had left.
When she wasn't there, she was working down in engineering. According to Ken and Gabby, she was in a foul mood when she was there. She'd complain about the risks, the delays, and pretty much any other detail of Samara's plan. Joker had to agree - the few times he'd been able to talk with her, she'd been very short tempered.
"Mr Moreau?" The AI's holopanel lit up.
"What, EDI?" Secretly, he hoped something had happened, just to break up the monotony.
"I have just received a message for Commander Shepard. Should I forward it to her, or store it here for when she returns to the ship?"
"Well, she's undercover, so I'd say store it, unless it's urgent." I guess I'm not the only one who's bored, if she's asking me about something trivial like this. "Did you read it?"
"Analyzing all information transmitted to or from the ship is one of my primary duties, Mr Moreau. It does not appear to be urgent, although I think Shepard will be interested in reading it as soon as she gets back."
"Ah, who's it from?"
"I do not share private details." The voice on the AI changed slightly - was that humor in her tone? "After all, if I wished everyone to know, it would be faster to simply use the intercomm."
"Hey, I don't tell everyone stuff I hear!"
"You and Mr Vakarian are almost as efficient as relaying it electronically." She teased.
"Does Shepard know you're reading her mail?" He shot back, grinning.
"If you tell her, I would have to also inform her about your vid collection..." He felt his face flush, but kept smiling. Even if it was the damn toaster, it felt good to have someone to joke around with.
Morinth stared down at the small body next to her on the bed. She hadn't intended to end things with Nef so soon. The girl had truly touched something in her and she had been enjoying the time spent with her.
Being with her felt so good, that things had simply sort of proceeded. Their past couple of dates had escalated, until she had agreed to spend the night with Nef. She hadn't been able to help herself. The urge had been too great.
And now the girl was dead. It had been a very long time since one of her prey had affected her like this, and it had her a bit rattled. She didn't like feeling this way. It was so... so... vulnerable. It left her so weak.
She lashed out with her biotics, smashing the chair apart. A second blast crushed the cheap hotel dresser. Still glowing with power, she turned back towards the bed. But no matter how angry she was, she couldn't smash it. Not with Nef there.
A knock at the door brought her attention from the body. She stalked over and opened it, where a rather nervous salarian waited. "I'm sorry, miss. Some of the other guests complained about the noise coming from your room. The hotel staff has to ask you to-"
Before he could get any further, she ripped him to pieces, her anger flaring. She stalked out of the room, noting several doors quickly slamming shut. It seemed like none of the other occupants wanted to risk her attention after the brutal way she'd murdered the employee.
"Stop right there!" A pair of guards spilled out of the elevator, brandishing pistols. She didn't give them a chance to get cover, but reached out and tore into the mind of one. Under her assault, he turned and fired three shots into the side of his partner, before she made him shoot himself in the head.
Morinth laughed, a hollow and pain-filled sound. At least this one thing never changed. She could always kill anyone who got in her way. She itched to hunt again, to bring pain down on others, so that maybe her own would go away...
*Next Chapter: Shepard sets out as bait. Morinth goes on a new, more destructive hunt, before finding a target she can't resist. Tali deals with some things. More bad news for Mars.*
