ENJOY!

POV: AedBearEyes

It's been almost two months since Morinth came onto Omega. I don't think she knows she's being watched but either way she hasn't done anything that warrants our attention to go after her. She's been a good girl so to say and Samara hasn't even been a minor blip on our radar.

Other than Morinth we have had an interesting development. Besides the fact that in these two months it's been the same as the three after my rampage. Boring paperwork and giving the easy assignments to people who needed the experience. Besides that we were given a rather nice surprise.

Our efficiency as a group in riding our section of Omega from the pests caught the eye of a few companies and governments. I had been officially approached by Delumcore Systems for providing a security detail on a couple shipments of their tech that had been raided by pirates had approached me only two days after I got back from my hunt.

Talking to Nyreen and Garrus about this they agreed that we should take the job and Nyreen would send one of her agents with the security detail. Her agent had the job of looking for any information leaks. Two weeks later we got the details on the job and how it went for the people I sent.

That being said I was never worried to begin with. I had sent Vrul, Yete, Pamo, and Patus*. As close to an elite squad we could get, that wasn't my squad. Vrul was in charge and as a result we did get some of our money taken away for damages during the fight. The shipment was indeed attacked by pirates and Vrul's Claymore destroyed some sensitive equipment; otherwise that side of the deal went well.

As for Nyreen's agent, Faif, she got us a bonus. She was able to find the person who was selling the location and path of the shipments to the pirates. Guy had apparently been passed over for promotion too many times and wanted some extra money. He got greedy though and decided to try his luck with us. It didn't work out and he was now in a prison on Illium.

That was how our first job as professional mercenaries went and we had been getting offers non-stop since then. Most of them I gave to Kelli to sort out because most were simple escort or investigation requests for Nyreen. For the ones that weren't I personally went over them.

These types were the ones that were more akin to when I started out. Assassinations, kidnapping requests, drug smuggling, traficking among other things. For the ones that crossed my desked that involved kidnappings or trafficking I personally went out of my way to inform the 'authorities' of where those companies were located.

I was not going to involve my people in that type of shit. We were not going to fall down the rabbit hole that the rest of the merc companies had. As for the drug smuggling and assassinations I was okay with it on a certain level. I didn't accept every request but some requests were given the green light. It really depended on the research I would do on the people.

If it was for something as petty as a jilted lover or because they were interfering in business I didn't accept the request. The ones that did were legitimate hard targets and were usually protected. Rapist Pirate leaders, murderers who got off on technicalities, and my personal favorite; greedy company staff. The type that ruined lives so that they could get more money for themselves.

There were two of those ones. I personally took a quick trip to Illium after doing my research on the guy. Laid off 10k people who didn't need to be so he could give himself a raise. Took me 15 hours after I landed on Illium to kill the human. I got into his apartment before he got home from work and set up a trap on his front door. As soon as it was opened a shaped charge blew out at him. Cut the man in half.

As for the other one, I sent Ilok after her. The Asari took the retirement of half her staff before fucking off to the Terminus Systems. A single call to Liara and we knew where she went. After that Ilok got to work and sent me a picture of her dead body two days later.

As a side note the call to Liara to get the information on the Asari cost more than the client was paying. I didn't care though and paid for it regardless. It wasn't about the money, it was about sending a message.

As for the rest of the assassinations it was a mishmash of people I would send on the jobs. Sometimes it would be a squad and sometimes only a singular operator. Either way we haven't failed a job yet but we have had a few fatalities. All of them being on protection details but that didn't make it any better. It hurt to find out my men had died, whatever the reason.

Still, no one broke and they kept working to get better. Every single one of the 300+ I was in charge of wanted to be better. I was proud of them though they did need to be reminded they weren't invincible every now and then. Which brings me to the war games we've been playing as training.

Essentially just live fire exercises. The only caveat was that if I felt that they were getting a bit too cocky I would take the field. Which did make me wonder as I dismantled professional mercenaries just what Frank and his group had gone through to get where they were. I could take on a squad of my soldiers, including my lieutenants, and come out on top 8/10 times but I couldn't win 10 out of 50 against my mentors.

Ceelo made sense because he was quite literally a God of software and hacking but the others I was curious on where they got so good.

Either way I would take the field when they would get cocky but if they got arrogant or needed a lesson in humility my squad would take the field. All of the people under me were good but my personal squad was something else. I would be confident in betting on us against any special ops group in the galaxy.

Now, for the drug smuggling we did I made sure that it was never anything hard. You couldn't stop drugs or their smuggling so it was better to get a profit off of it. That being said I outlawed it amongst my people. I didn't need druggies working under me and the only thing they were allowed to have was the hybrid drug in it's one-hitter form.

Only one person has used it while we've had it in our teams. Guy was separated from his group during a pirate raid while they were the security. Used it and ran absolute rough shot through the pirates but died from his injuries. From the autopsy though he should've died a lot sooner than he did but the drug kept him in the fight.

That was about it for the two months since I had gotten back from my hunt. As of right now I was finishing up breakfast with Girl who was patiently sitting at the dinner table waiting for me to finish. Speaking of Girl she spends most of her time with her friends from the orphanage. When she isn't around them she's working on weapons, she had a gift with them.

Finishing up breakfast I brought it to the table and gave her some of the food before putting the rest of it onto my plate. Breakfast was a quiet affair as usual with small conversation with Girl. Once we were done though she cleared her throat to get my attention as I cleaned up our plates.

"What's up?" I asked her as I put away the dishes.

"I picked my name," I stopped everything I was doing and turned to look at her. She was giving me a small smile and it was one I returned. I was happy she finally picked her name.

"Well, don't leave me waiting."

"Iris. My name is Iris," I gave her a bright smile and she returned it.

"A beautiful name for my beautiful girl," I ruffled her hair at that. She tried to swat my hand away and escape but I grabbed onto her and started tickling her when she tried. She devolved into a fit of giggles and a bright smile as I reciprocated. A few minutes of this and we were done.

"You have a meeting today dad?"

"Yeah. You got tutoring with Camile today?" Camile was the tutor for the orphan kids teaching them everything they might need. She was a godsend to us, a former teacher from Earth.

"Yes," she sighed out slightly dejected. She liked Camile but she didn't like the studies. She thought that they were a waste of time. When she had said that I smacked her lightly upside the head and told her that all types of information were important. If you only focus on one area you will become stagnant. Learn as much as you can.

"Make sure you pay attention Iris. Knowledge is power," she beamed at me using her name before she responded.

"I know dad."

"Good. I gotta go, be safe and call me if anything comes up."

With that I got dressed into my armor and left with my weapons on my back and thighs, left the grenades behind though. Once out of my apartment I made my way over to my office and entered the small building. Passing by the few secretaries we now had I went straight to my office. Went over some small details and looked at a few jobs that were offered to us.

Of those few I sent some to Kelli for her to divvy up to my men. They were all protection details for a few shipments and high profile people who wanted some added protection. None of those people registered with me personally but looking them up showed they were either politicians or company leaders. Didn't matter to me, as long as they paid.

After doing that and the paperwork associated with it I left my office and went straight to the meeting room where Nyreen and Garrus were no doubt getting situated already. Arriving at the room I was proven right as they were both going over some pictures Nyreen had strewn across the table.

As they noticed me we went straight into the meeting. Basic shit as usual; who needed what. What was going where? Who looked like they deserved a promotion and what idiot deserved to be demoted. Other than that it was about our operations on and out of Omega. Most of which were under my jurisdiction. Of the few that weren't they fell to Nyreen.

Nothing really happening on that side however. Just a few minor operations going after someone who was poking at our perimeter. Most of the time we didn't kill those people. We just sent a message that we weren't to be fucked with. How the operators went about it was up to them as long as it wasn't a slaughter. There was no reason to unless we were given one.

Once we went over that Nyreen took over. That never boded well when she took over meetings, something was always wrong when she did so.

"As you know we have been constantly monitoring Morinth since she arrived on Omega," both Garrus and I nodded our heads with mild apprehension, if she started like that we both knew where this was going. "Recently she has started seeing a human girl by the name of Nef. Nothing nefarious yet but we are now monitoring Nef as well."

"What's the problem?" just from the way she was talking I could tell something was off.

"The problem is that Nef is in Aria's territory and Morinth, for the past couple weeks, has only been in Aria's territory."

"You think she made your people?" Garrus asked, bringing a hand to his chin.

"It's either that she's afraid of you Wynne."

"I doubt it. If anything she would want to prove that she could get me. If anything, she's afraid of you Nyreen. If she indeed knows she's being watched than she has to know that if she went into our territory we'd be watching her every step. Especially if she started going after our people."

"While Aria doesn't really care that much. If she knows about Morinth she won't do anything unless she goes after someone close to Aria," Garrus stated.

"And Aria doesn't have anyone close to her in that way. And Aria is much too hard of a target for Morinth," Nyreen filled in for Garrus' unspoken question.

"The real question then is there anything that we can do?" I ask.

"Not really. However, from what I've been able to gather on Nef she still lives with her mother, Diana, and if we get Diana to move to our territory we could say we were acting on her mother's behalf," Nyreen said as she sent us Diana's data.

"How old is Nef?" I asked as I started to go over Diana's data.

"Nef's 16, almost 17," I could feel the Nyreen's face cringe as soon as she said those words. That was all I needed to hear; Nef was still a kid and I'll be damned if I'm about to let her fall prey to a predator.

"I'll go talk to the mother. See if I can get her to move to our territory," as soon as the words were out of my mouth Garrus and Nyreen exchanged looks before looking back to me.

"I don't think that's the best choice Wynne," Nyreen stated. They couldn't see my facial reaction but from how they reacted I could tell they were on the same wavelength.

"Why," I growled out. On some level I did understand where they were going to go with this. By no means did I agree but I understood.

"Because if we move them and Morinth wasn't sure she was being watched then she'll know for sure she's being watched. She'll probably go to ground and disappear," Nyreen stated and Garrus picked it up from there.

"And then we'll completely lose our opportunity to do anything. I don't like it and I know you don't like it either but if we want to do anything we have to at least somewhat monitor Morinth," I was seething at their explanation. To put a teenager at risk for this. Like I said earlier though I did understand. Which was the only reason I wasn't arguing with them; instead I took off my helmet and rugged my face knowing the headache was coming.

"There has to be a better option than using a teenager as bait."

"Unless you have the contact information for Samara…" Garrus began before we shared eye contact and a lightbulb went off in our heads. "You think Liara could get it?"

"Better than using a teenager as bait," I stated. Nyreen looked between us mildly confused. I guess Garrus didn't tell her.

"Call her then," I gave him a nod before stepping out of the room and began to call Liara.

Before I finished putting her contact info in I stayed my hand. If I went through with this would Samara be available for the Suicide mission? I honestly didn't know and that brought up a whole new dilemma. Do I save the girl or do I let her die to keep Samara on the Suicide Mission.

Fuck it. Jack can be used in her place if it comes down to it. I'm not about to sacrifice an innocent girl just to have Samara on the team. If we lose someone then that's on me and will forever be on me; as long as we succeed though it'll be worth it in my mind. With that I finished calling Liara, she answered after three rings.

"What can I do for you Aedon?" Liara looked like she hadn't been sleeping lately. She looked terrible.

"Can you get me the contact information for Justicar Samara. She should be on Illium," Liara seemed to think it over for a few moments before responding.

"I don't have her information but I can get it. When do you need it?"

"As soon as you can get it to me," Liara hummed to herself and looked away from the screen for a moment before looking back to me.

"Why do you need it?"

"Her daughter is an Ardat-Yakshi who's on Omega. She's hunting a 16 year old girl and we can't act because she's operating in Aria's territory."

"And if you do act Aria will take it as aggression," I silently nodded to her. "I'll have her info to you within the hour."

I hung up and went back into the meeting room. Garrus and Nyreen gave me curious looks and I told them that Liara would have the info to me within the hour. When I got the info then I would call Samara and get her here. Once she got here than we'd fill her in on everything else. Both Garrus and Nyreen accepted this and I grabbed my helmet before putting it on and leaving frustrated that even though I could help I couldn't do anything myself.

I went straight to the training area and got on the range. Thing about this range was that it is as close to a video game one as it could get. Targets would pop up everywhere in front of you and you had to hit the target as fast and accurately as possible. Looking at the Leaderboard off to the right with all the scores I held the 3rd, 7th, and 9th place spots. Considering I had only used it three times and the 1st and 2nd holders had been in her 15 plus times it was a good score.

Today though, I wanted to let off some steam. I started up the program and set to work. I went on complete autopilot for the duration of the program. Hitting every shot I saw, not hesitating or letting up at all. Fire, adjust to new target, fire again; rinse and repeat. Endlessly until the program blared that it was done.

Looking to the Leaderboard I got to see my score go up and up all the way to the top. I took over the number one spot by a good margin. As my competitive side gave a smug grin at that I still needed to blow off steam. I was still frustrated.

Going to leave the area, Kelli was at the entrance of the range waiting on me. We exchanged looks and she knew what I wanted. With no talking or preamble we went straight to the sparring ring and set up ready to fight each other. Neither of us said a thing as we started our fight.

It was a quick ten bouts. Both of us going at each other with ferocity only pulling back so much so that we didn't seriously hurt the other. With my augmetic though that was hard and I left several large welts on Kelli's side, legs, and arms. She took it in stride and gave as good as she got giving me just as many bruises with her biotically encased hands.

Kelli was one of the few people I had working under me that if we fought hand to hand it would be a toss up on who would win. With knives or guns I'm confident I could beat just about everyone, except for Garrus on the gun side. Hand to hand though was something else, I was now top tier after training with Ashley for months and the brutal beatings of Omega but I wasn't the best. I was still confident in myself to win but it was hard to tell without actually trying to kill the other.

We went at it until my omni-tool started beeping for an incoming call. Kelli and I were grappling at the time when Liara called. I answered as soon as we untangled from each other and Liara saw both of us sweaty and panting. She quirked an eyebrow at me and I responded with a simple 'spar' before Liara talked in earnest.

"I got her contact info. Sending the info now," I got a separate ping on my omni-tool signaling I got the information.

"How much do I owe you Liara?"

"A favor," oh I did not like that. Liara was a friend but I hated owing favors, shit always went sideways. She's been faithful so far though… damn it.

"Deal. If you pimp me out though I'm taking a part of the cut," I joked trying to lighten the mood. She gave me a small smile at that.

"I wonder how much someone would pay to have you for a night. Thoughts for another time. Be safe Wynne, Kelli," and then she hung up. With that Kelli got up and left and I didn't waste any time and called Samara.

"Who is- Torchbearer," her eyes narrowed at me but I couldn't give a shit. She opened her mouth to continue but I cut her off before she could.

"Morinth is on Omega. She's hunting a 16 year old teenager. Your daughter just went from a murderer to a pedophile murderer," I stated staring Samara in the eyes. For the briefest moment there was shame and sorrow in her eyes and if I hadn't been looking for a change I never would've caught it. It was immediately replaced by a steely visage of a Justicar on the warpath.

"May I inquire as to why you haven't done anything."

"Morinth is operating in Aria's territory, we can't do anything without instigating a turf war. Something that would get far to many civilians caught in the crossfire."

"One life for thousands. The price is always harder to pay when you're the one paying it, isn't it," she gave me that look I saw on Frank sometimes and on Shepard when we were dealing with Cerberus. A look haunted by the past.

"Yes… When can you be here? I want Morinth either off Omega or dead as soon as possible."

"I will be there in 36 hours," and then she cut the link. I breathed out a sigh and stood up. I still had a few things to do today.

The rest of the day went smoothly and night even more so. I made dinner for Iris and myself and then passed out. Waking up the next morning I went about the same routine as always. Breakfast, gear up, paperwork, training, more paperwork, leadership shit. It wasn't that hard but waiting for Samara was getting annoying.

Though, at the end of the day as I was finishing up going over reports with my lieutenants I got a visitor. Which was impressive to be honest as they didn't announce themselves, they got passed every single one of our security and made it to my office. At almost the exact time that everyone had left and I was going over the finishing touches for the day.

The only indication that they were even here was that my augmetic started humming like crazy before they even started to open the door. Not knowing who it was I grabbed my pistol and leveled it at the door waiting for them to come in. When they did come in I kept my pistol trained on them until they sat down at the chair in front of my desk. A cocky smirk born of confidence from years of being the predator.

"Hello Aedon," Morinth sighed sultrily. I was having absolutely none of that and kept my pistol trained on her forehead. Her barrier was completely up so the bullet wouldn't do anything to her but the sound would alert everyone that something was happening. In these close quarters though I held the edge, her biotics meant jack shit to me. She was cocky, way too cocky; guess the cat was still in the bag that I could negate biotics.

"Morinth," that was all she got out of me.

"Aww, don't be like that. Imagine what we could do together. The infamous human Ardat Yakshi and the most powerful one together. Just imagine it, everything that we could accomplish," her eyes started to go black and I could feel her trying to worm her way into my head. It was just like how Samara described it in the game. That she could manipulate you with just her look and body; her Ardat Yakshi physiology making her a master manipulator.

The thing is too I could feel it start to work. I could feel myself starting to agree with her. She was just as strong as Samara, maybe even more so. She could get even more powerful the more people she consumes… and so would I. The taste of draining someone was always euphoric and powerful. No drug could ever compare… We could save the galaxy together by draining the ones that weren't useful.

We could start with some of the civilians who weren't worth shit. The lawyers, the homeless, the greedy CEO's. Then we could move onto the ones that got in our way. Force the galaxy to bend to us and save it by doing so. No one would oppose our power, and the galaxy would be better for it. We would be so fucking prepared for the Reapers they would never have a god damn chance… Iris, Tali, Garrus, Kelli, Liara, Nyreen, Shepard.

Ohoh, you bitch. Okay, back from the depths. That was fucking scary. My answer was to pull the hammer back on my pistol. She didn't like that, she snarled but didn't make a move.

"I could've killed you if I wanted to."

"Your point? Anyone else could, a varren could, so could a dedicated duck. People have been trying to kill me for years, you aren't special and you sure as shit aren't the one who has gotten the closest," a flash of a drug lord putting the barrel of his pistol between my eyes went through my mind.

"You're lucky we haven't found out where you live," that was a lie but I could still see the cockiness in her eyes. She still believed she was the hunter and not the prey. Be careful what you fish for girl, sometimes the fish will kill you.

"And you never will."

Before I could say anything in response Morinth acted and so did I. As soon as she moved I pulled the trigger of my pistol. The loud bark of the 1911 alerting everyone near me that something was going on. However, like I guessed, her barrier held and she was able to throw something biotic at my wall away from my augmetic so I couldn't intercept whatever it was.

As soon as it hit the wall it exploded outwards sending me flying, she threw a fucking Flare. A powerful one at that. Shaking myself off I looked up from where I had been thrown looking for Morinth. She was nowhere in sight and had probably ran off through the hole the Flare had made.

Pushing myself off the ground Garrus and Mordin ran into my office.

"Morinth," I got out to Garrus, the air was still knocked out of my lungs. He simply nodded and started speaking into his omni-tool putting the guards on high alert. I tried to start moving but Mordin grabbed me and put me back onto the ground. I wasn't about to argue with the doc, our people were working on it but I doubted they would catch her.

"Hmm, Flare hit, close proximity, shields and armor took brunt. Paranoia again works in your favor… Organs okay, no internal bleeding. May be stiff and will bruise but nothing else," Mordin stated as he finished up his exam and stood up offering me a hand. I took it and hauled myself up.

"How the fuck did she get here?" Garrus stated more to himself than anyone else.

"She's extremely dangerous Garrus," I responded.

"I know that," he snapped in frustration. It was his job to stop this and he failed, he's rightfully pissed.

"Garrus, she can enthrall people. Almost worked on me, she probably just walked up to the guards and screwed with their minds until they let her pass," Mordin jumped in to back me up there.

"Ardat Yakshi physiology rumored to have that effect. Half the reason Asari put them in Sanctuaries," Garrus let out a sharp breath before he walked away. We didn't stop him. He had a job to do. At least we got good news a few minutes later from Nyreen, Samara had landed an hour ago and was already in Morinth's apartment.

At that bit of information I no longer cared for borders. Besides, if we didn't answer this right away then we would look weak. And there was no way Aria wouldn't try to capitalize.

I grabbed my Mattock and shared a look with Mordin. He gave me a nod, grabbing his smg from his leg and we both took off through the opening in my office.

Neither of us said a word as we sprinted to her apartment not bothering to take our time or be subtle. Morinth had enough of a head start where she probably thought she had lost us. Even if we didn't know where her apartment was no one hides from me for long if I want you dead. Though, thankfully Samara was here otherwise I would bet that Morinth was going to grab a bug out bag and leave.

It took us almost a half an hour to get to the building from where our base was and that was with us taking every single shortcut that we knew about. Going in the front of the building the attendee, a young human man who looked to be barely 20, took one look at us before activating the elevator and looking away. Silently thanking him for his prompt action we rode it all the way up to the 9th floor out of 12.

The sounds of a biotically enhanced brawl were evident. Stacking up at the door to Morinth's apartment I hacked the door open and charged in. What greeted was the same exact one from where you make a decision in Mass Effect 2. I didn't care though and charged at Morinth.

As I charged I felt and saw a Incinerate program fly over my shoulder directly at Morinth. It forced her to take her attention off her mother but instead of Samara's attack hitting her I caught the biotic power with my augmetic and threw a haymaker at Morinth. She tried to shield herself with her biotics but my fist tore right though her barrier and connected with her chin. Her jaw shattered like a saltine cracker against my fist sending her sprawling backwards.

Heedless to anything else that was being said or happening behind me I walked up to her as she slowly tried to crawl away. Grabbing the back of her head I slammed it into the ground face first not once or twice but three times. With her sufficiently dazed I grabbed her shoulder and forced her over onto her back before grabbing her face with my augmetic.

"Goodbye," were the only words I said before I started the process.

I don't know what it was about draining her but as I did so I felt so much more powerful than ever before. Like I could take on a Reaper by myself and the power only mounted as I continued to drain her until nothing was left. I stood and stared down at Morinth. Her eyes bloodshot and wide, a look of horror on her face, and blood coming out of her nose and mouth. At the job done I felt nothing of the power that was there, only satisfaction at a completed job.

There wasn't a sound in the apartment as I stared down at the body until there were soft footfalls coming to me. I didn't look around knowing it was Samara and stayed still. She stood next to me and looked down at her errant daughter.

"I wonder if I could have stopped her if I had been a better parent," were her words. There was no emotion in her voice which made her seem all the more broken.

"The parent is the starting and beginning of the race of life for the child, how the child finishes is not up to them. A parent can only do so much."

"Yes. You are right. Ultimately it were her own decisions that brought about her end," we lulled into an awkward silence until Mordin broke it.

"Do you want her body? Could use for study, get deeper understanding of Ardat Yakshi," Samara seemed to think it over for a few moments moving aside to let Mordin have a path to the body. He spoke quietly into his omni-tool for a few seconds before walking forward and picked up the body. Walking straight out of the apartment with a dead body like it was the most casual thing in the world.

"Now, onto you," Samara spoke calmly and I had to resist the urge to just attack her. She let Mordin take her daughter's body so she could have me alone. Smart.

"What?" I asked, turning to square up with her, she did the same.

"You are an Ardat Yakshi. You cannot roam free."

"One second," I could fight her and I felt pretty good about my chances of killing her unless she got back up. Knowing she probably doesn't have any I thought about taking the fight but decided not to. She might no longer be available for the suicide mission but she would definitely still help with the Reaper War. She was, as I said when she first got to Omega, a frighteningly powerful biotic and would save a lot of lives. So instead I called in my favor already with the Matriarch.

"Matriarch Raros. Would you kindly tell Justicar Samara that I am exempt from all Ardat Yakshi stipulations within their code," she understood the play and filled in.

"Justicar Samara. Stand down," the amount of authority she voiced in those four words was astounding. It was like she was the queen of all queens. I was… surprised and aroused. What can I say, I like dominant women. Moving on after she spoke those four words she hung up, her favor paid.

Samara, simply looked at me betraying nothing in her features before turning and walking away without a word.

As much as it pains me to say this I will be going on a, at bare minimum, 2 month hiatus. I have bootcamp and after that technical school for my job. I don't know how long it'll be in all honesty but I promise that ALL of you will have a chapter as soon as I get time.

This story has been amazing to write so far and I will fucking finish it. Y'all deserve a complete one and you will get it.

Much love, DD signing off for now.

*1: Krogan, Drell, Batarian and Turian in that order for species of the people named.