Shepard hadn't known what to expect as she, Grunt, and Ashley had stepped into the proving grounds, but fighting a thresher maw hadn't been on the list. Varren, yes… weird giant bug things that exploded and breathed fire, not so much, but definitely not fighting a thresher maw.

Neither had killing it.

But after dispatching it, Uvenk, and his men had been such a rush that she and Ashley had had adrenaline fueled sex in the back of the transport all the way to the Blood Pack stronghold where Mordin's associate was being held, and cutting through the mercs had had Shepard contemplating even more sex afterwards.

But the good vibes died once they were inside and saw the horrific experiments and their results. In fact it shook Shepard to her core.

As she stared at the body of a young Krogan female Kelly chimed in through the radio, "Hurry up with this Allison, get out of there before you have a breakdown."

"Agreed, let's go guys," Shepard said to Mordin and Ashley who were discussing the ethics of what they were seeing.

After killing their way to Melon and Mordin almost killing him, they left Tuchanka and then left the system, heading to Omega to help Samara.

This was the mission Shepard was dreading the most. First off, she hated Omega. She hated how crime ridden it was, she hated how Aria somehow ruled with an iron fist, how everywhere one went you could somehow hear the club music booming out of afterlife.

But most of all was their target. Morenth. Samara had told Shepard of her victims and how merciless she was, but what scared Shepard the most about her was that she basically killed using the meld. Something that in Shepard's mind was a sacred act done between an Asari and her lover, something that should be respected, but now seemed slightly violated by the fact that, for some Asari, could be used to kill.

She had discussed the problems Ardat Yakshi had with Mordin and he had said that he had heard of them and had traveled to one of their monasteries to discuss studying them in hopes of finding a cure but the nuns there had said, and he quoted, 'that it was the burden of the Asari to bare.'

He had scoffed at it and their closed minded way of thinking about it and had admitted that he had secretly scanned a few willing Asari maidens to study in hopes that one day the Asari government would change its mind and thus use anything he may find in their search.

"As you can see here," Mordin said, bringing up a hologram of an Ardat Yakshi's brain along with a normal Asari brain, "The problem is said to be the fact that their biotics make the meld dangerous, but due to the fact that they're needed for the meld we can't just implant something to effectively shut them off. I propose instead that one should start with seeing if lessening the power of the biotics would have an effect. If so then that could start the research in the right direction."

"Sounds as good as anything," Shepard said, pushing away from the table and began to move out of the lab.

Mordin gently grabbed her arm, "Shepard, this next mission may… disturb you. Considering your past and the fact that you're going to have to speak calmly to a sexual predator I would actually suggest using Ms. Lawson as the bait instead of yourself."

Shepard sighed, "I would, but Samara asked me to do this and I agreed to help her. It's my responsibility."

"And what if you mess up and get killed!?" Mordin said, raising his voice, "You want Lieutenant Williams and Dr. T'Soni to have to mourn you because you broke down during a mission?!"

"Do you think I don't know that that's a possibility?! Do you think I'm doing this out of pride?! Because I'm not! I'm doing this to face my problems! I'm doing this to grab that bull by the horns and rip its fucking head off!" Shepard roared, "I'm tired of being a soldier in a fragile scared little girl's body! When we hit the collector's home world or base or whatever the fuck they have, I want the crew to know that they won't need to worry about their commander having a meltdown due to some bad memories! I want them to know that I'll lead them to victory!"

Mordin was silent for a moment before letting go of her arm, "Very well then. But at least let me give you something to-"

"No! I'm not going to rely on meds to solve my problems anymore! I'm tired or needing meds to sleep, and I sure as hell am not going to become dependent on meds to do my fucking job!"

"Ok, then might I suggest having several team members tail you and to watch your back?"

"Now that I'll agree to."

After a quick talk with Aria, and an even quicker investigation of the last victims house that ended with Shepard buying a piece of the last girl's art, Shepard, Samara, Miranda, Jack, Thane, and Ashley all headed down to the VIP section of afterlife. While in the elevator Shepard changed into her dress and strapped a pistol to her thigh.

Samara turned to her, "Are you ready for this Shepard?"

"I'm willing to go instead," Miranda said.

"I'll be fine. I want to do this. Just be sure to keep me in your sights, and above all else, if Samara is at all delayed getting to me in Morinth's apartment then shoot the bitch through the window."

"Got it." Everyone said.

Shepard sat back from her desk. In front of her lay a model of an Asari cruiser only partially assembled.

Tricking Morinth into taking her to her apartment had been easier than they had all thought. And through it all Shepard had squelched her fears and had pulled through in taking down a monster.

Ashley sidled up behind her and wrapped her arms over her shoulders, "I think after that performance, you deserve a trip to Liara's place for some RnR."

"It would be nice, but I promised Samara that we'd visit her daughters first."

"I take it you're wanting to inform them of their sister's death."

"It's only proper since I help kill her."

"Well I'm still impressed at how you managed yourself and haven't broken down yet."

"I'm sure that by time my 'I did it' feelings wear off, I'll be a shaking crying mess."

"Well then you'll have both Kelly and I to help you through any problems."