A/N: Hello fanfic readers and welcome to a new chapter!

Before I began I want to give a CW and TW for implied sexual assault. Morinth plays with Shepard's mind in this chapter. If this isn't for you; feel free to skip the part where it starts with," The next couple of days were rough" or just go to the end note that has the pertinent information.

Until then, I hope you feel happy, safe and loved in your body.

Summary

Zenith Shepard had a laser focus. Her mission was to help Samara capture the Ardat-Yakshi Morinth. She was the bait. The facts laid before her; mention the Elcor Artist Forta, the asari movie "Vaenia'' and the drug Hallex. She trusted the Justicar's word to make sure she was safe.

Shepard tried to keep things as clinical as possible but couldn't shake every instinct telling her this wasn't going to end well. She had never heard of an Ardat-Yakshi but she knew a criminal. Morinth had been a serial killer for 400 years and the damage she's done in that span was incalculable. Samara abandoned her life to become a Justicar to capture her daughter and this was no easy task. The Commander had a responsibility to see it through, no matter what she felt.

Shepard took the first step and shifted uncomfortably in her black dress. When Kasumi bought her the garment for a mission to retrieve a gray box, she commented on how great she looked. She recalled flaunting it to Garrus before going to Bekenstein. He looked her up and down and he awkwardly stated, "Your hair looks good and your waist is very supportive. Hopefully that's not an insult in your culture."

She laughed at that last thought, he was so dorky. Speaking of her turian partner, he would not be happy with what she was doing. Omitting the truth from him was not a good precedent for their budding relationship.

Entering the club, she was immediately approached by a man who was very eager to share his knowledge of Expel 10. Initially, she wasn't interested until he had mentioned wanting to garner the attention of an asari. He was in the beginning stages just like Nif had been.

Shepard's mind wandered to the mother, Diana, and how desperate she was to find her daughter's killer. Shepard knew all too well the feeling of not being believed, but adding grief on top of that. It must have been how her own mother felt during her—She shook her head. Now was not the time to get into those thoughts.

Shepard took a breath and scouted out the club. How to get Morinth's attention, she wondered. She could go the hard-core route and start a fight and shake things up. That wasn't Shepard 's style, though. She paced about the club and noticed a turian staring her down, hungrily. There was a familiarity, but his markings were all wrong. He sauntered over to her, dripping with confidence. "Hey human, you look like a fine treat."

She knew that voice, undoubtedly. Garrus grabbed her by the waist, leading her to a corner. "Is that how you charm all the girls?" she said, playing along.

"No, just you."

Just when they were out of earshot she shoved him lightly, "This operation is dangerous enough, what are you doing here?"

"I'm wearing a disguise and I've been careful," he remarked confidently.

"What happened to Zaeed?" Shepard hissed.

"Paid for him to have 'fun'. Listen to me, I've been doing some scouting. Morinth is powerful and dangerous."

Shepard rolled her eyes, "Yeah, I know."

"No, it's worse than the last time Samara found her. She's able to capture a mind almost immediately with her scent alone."

"What are you suggesting?"

"Let me go in your place," he insisted.

"Absolutely not, I made a promise–"

"For Spirit's sake Z, just stop being a good soldier and listen to me!"

She hated when he tried to back her into a corner. She was annoyed because he was right. After everything he'd been through, to sacrifice his life and sanity for her; she wouldn't allow it, not the man she loved. So she had to pull her Commander Shepard voice on him, "Back off, I can handle this and I don't need you protecting me!"

"Z–"

"LEAVE!"

She pushed Garrus hard against the bar and he rubbed his back. Any pity she was starting to feel got squashed with the few eyes that were on her, great; however, it inadvertently accomplished part of her mission.

If the night was going to be like this, she is going to need a drink. Shepard walked up to the bartender and leaned on the counter when an idea struck her. She was going to spend that Cerberus money for this phase. Honestly, she had been looking for an excuse to piss off the Illusive Man.

"Hey, I'm feeling a bit generous today."

The barkeep looked at her incredulously and immediately quirked his mouth into a sarcastic smile, "Don't hear those words on Omega."

"Well, I am Aria's guest, so tell all these fine people that drinks are on the house. Extra tip if you mention Allison Gunn is paying."

She transferred the credits easily to his console. The bartender's mouth dropped and he quickly collected himself. "Hey everybody, drinks on the house courtesy of Allison Gunn!"

The cheers rang out loud over the music.

Still, no sign of Morinth, maybe Shepard could do something surefire to get the Ardat-Yakshi to approach. She spotted a lone asari dancing shyly. Shepard took a shaky breath, her anxious heart beating in time with the music. As long as the movements were simple, no one would notice how awful her rhythm was. She walked toward the asari casually and brushed her lightly. "Hey, I'm dancing. If you want to act like you're dancing with me, that's fine."

The young maiden's eyes caught hers in excitement, "I do want to dance with you!"

The asari's hips were moving in circles toward Shepard . She just so happened to catch Garrus staring with disappointment and sadness, good; it served him right for questioning her. She felt a hand slip across her abs and felt biotics flare and tingle her nerve endings. This asari clearly had plans. Shepard inadvertently let out a low moan. It was as if she was high. This was beginning to get uncomfortable; revenge was one thing but this is bordering on obscene. Before she could turn around a new voice erupted.

"I've been watching you, you're the most interesting person in this place."

A sweet smell of vanilla and coconut cream entered her nostrils; it was her favorite. Shepard 's eyelids felt heavy. Hands graced over her hip and the other on her lip. This ecstasy; she had never experienced anything like it in her life. She wanted, no, needed this feeling. The hand caressing her lips gently turned her around to a pair of light blue eyes. The resemblance was uncanny, no wonder she had evaded capture. The physical similarities ended there; whereas the Justicar held herself in a peaceful and resolute way; Morinth was evil, predatory, calculating and dangerous.

"Why don't you come and have a seat at my table?" It was clearly a question, but in her mind it was a command. Turns out Garrus was right after all, he had every right to be protective. She just had to trust that Samara would arrive before something unsavory could happen.

As she followed Morinth to the table, her faculties began to come back to her one by one. She was lucid enough to remember her talking points. It occurred to Shepard that as the bait, Morinth was giving her a false sense of control. When the Ardat-Yakshi decided she was ripe for the plucking, the control would be ripped away, leaving her bare and defenseless, easy to lure to the apartment. It was a clever technique. With this knowledge, Shepard went through the "conversation" going through her bullet points, sounding as natural as possible. Anytime Shepard would give the right answer, Morinth rewarded her with a feeling of euphoria. She bit her lip to keep herself from moaning obscenely, the Reapers were nothing on this woman. Shepard needed to bring her to justice but she couldn't quite get her thoughts together, and by the looks on the Ardat-Yakshi's face, she knew she had her hook, line, and sinker. "Let's get out of here, I want you alone.


The Commander was trapped in this apartment like a fly trying to flit its wings away from the spider web. Hope of escape was useless. Any thought of excusing herself to go to the bathroom to freshen up as a reprieve were melted away by the allure of Morinth. She tried to distract herself by looking around the apartment, which was amusing to the twisted asari.

Shepard just had to take a few breaths and focus on her feelings for Garrus; those were real and raw. She focused on an intense memory of them kissing in the elevator, the way he grabbed her waist and lifted her up to his height, their tongues dancing and tangled in each other. His teeth grazed her neck as she felt utter ecstasy as he whispered his love to her.

When Shepard opened her eyes, she realized that she was sitting on the couch next to Morinth who wrapped her arm around her shoulders.

"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?"

Shepard 's eyes widened. She knew who she was. "Come on now, everyone knows your face. It's plastered all over those old posters and you've been in the news. No matter, you will make a fine conquest."

She tried harder to focus on Garrus, but all of the memories were being burned away and replaced with Morinth's face.

"You survived Akuze, a prothean beacon, and have come back to life. All that's in the past now isn't it Shepard?"

No, I don't want this! Make it stop! She pleaded internally. "Yes, Morinth," were all the words that came out.

She giggled darkly and straddled Shepard, lips grazing her earlobe. Her hot breath was tantalizing every single nerve in the N7's spine. It was incredibly wrong.

"I saw you earlier trying to hide from me. I've never understood the fascination with safety. Some of us choose differently. Independence over submission. I think we share that, you and I."

I can't think. Help me, Samara, Garrus, anyone please! "Yes, Morinth."

"So agreeable, I need this." She grabbed Shepard 's chin and smeared her deep crimson lipstick. Morinth's eyes turned an inky black and the room became a sick color of burgundy and gray. "Look into my eyes and tell me you want me. Tell me you'd kill for me. Anything I want."

All Shepard 's protests melted away and the sole desire was to please her, "I want you… I'd kill for you… anything you want."

"Shh darling. Just relax and hear my words."

She felt the biotic presence of Samara and watched as Morinth was hurled toward the window. Shepard was frozen in place. She wanted to help her love, Morinth. Defend her against her mother… NO, she loved Garrus! All of her thoughts were jumbled. This was a living nightmare. She closed eyes. Soon this would all be over.


Garrus walked into the apartment carefully and crossed the space to Shepard not caring about the broken glass beneath his feet. There was violet blood on the carpet, a horrid gory stain where Morinth's head used to be. He'd never encountered an Ardat-Yakshi, thank the spirits, but he had witnessed a victim of one. The asari was never found but there was something so wrong about the survivor, a vacant stare, sweaty skin, bloody nose, and immobility. Shepard sat there on the leather couch fitting all of the symptoms.

Garrus crouched in front of her and went to touch her, but she flinched. He had only ever seen her like this when thresher maws were involved. He was usually able to snap her out of it with a few words of encouragement. Samara approached her carefully, which caused Shepard to scream heartbreakingly as fresh tears burst from her eyes.


The next couple of days were rough. Doctor Chakwas kept close tabs on Shepard to check for neurological anomalies. The normally composed Miranda had a long shouting session with Samara about compromising the key person to defeating the Reapers. Kelly Chambers tried to offer therapy, but Shepard was withdrawn.

Despite all of this, she still pushed herself to help Tali with her trial. It honestly seemed like an excuse to keep busy; though, The quarian was like a sister to her. It was an emotional day for all involved. Finding Tali's father dead, well, it reminded Garrus that he hadn't spoken to his own in months. He could only imagine how Shepard , who lost hers in the Skyllian Blitz, was feeling on top of everything else.

Garrus decided to check in on her. He barely made two steps into the cabin before her mouth was on his. She reached for the clasp of his trousers and pulled him to a nearby couch. "I'm sorry, forgive me, let me make it up to you," she said breathlessly between kisses.

Normally he would oblige and melt right into her request. But, something was unusual about the way she moved; it was desperate and insecure. He pried her hands from his torso and looked into her eyes. "No, not like this."

"C'mon, Big Guy, don't you want to feel good?"

"Zenith stop, this isn't like you."

She pulled away from him as if he burned her. "Don't you love me?"

"Of course I do, but you're not doing this out of love or even lust. I know what's going on, I'm here for you," he offered with comfort.

"Nothing is going on, why can't we just have time for ourselves?"

"Alright, say I believe you. Answer me one question, have you talked to Samara?"

Shepard deflated at that name and sighed, "You don't understand, Garrus."

"Try me."

"I just want to feel like it's my choice; that what I feel for you is real. I don't even know if I'm Shepard or some AI who thinks she's Shepard. I just want to feel like me."

He placed his forehead on hers, "Zenith, you're real. A little crazy, maybe, but you are the woman I fell for."

She touched his scarred mandible and looked into his eyes lovingly, "What would I do without you?"

"Let's not find out. Want some company?"

"Yeah, I don't want to talk anymore. Just stay with me tonight and hold me."

He pulled her close on the couch, wrapping a nearby blanket around them. He let out a soothing hum from his subvocals until she was able to sleep. As she rested, he fixed his eyes on the black dress she had worn, ripped in a rage on the floor. He held her closer and kissed the top of her head. He'd protect her at all costs.

A/N

Shepard rips the dress that Kasumi gave her and Garrus comforts her.