A/N: I hope you read my first story, Lost and Found. If so, you will recognize some of the dialogue. I borrowed a scene from a movie called The Network in 1976. Damn Faye Dunaway was a good looking woman and a damn good actress. Anyway, this time it is from Aria's perspective. Not to insult your intelligence, but I hope you can tell this story is not being written in linear form. Think of it kind of like the show Lost, at least before it got stupid. In this chapter I have also broken up present and past with Italics. I hope you enjoy. ~STP
"I found her."
Aria had come to appreciate Sidonis' brevity. Especially when it came to this very urgent task. She internally breathed a sigh of relief, which was quickly replaced with frustration. 'Curse the gods who implanted her mother's temper and stubbornness within this child,' she thought to herself. "Does she know that you are looking for her?"
"I don't think so." Aria could barely understand him above the background.
Aria excused herself from a meeting with Eclipse leadership and moved to a far corner to take this call on her private connection. They were seeking permission to reside on Omega momentarily to avoid the anger of a Citadel council member. Unbeknownst to the Eclipse sergeant, an up and coming Turian councilman's pregnant mistress just happened to be on board a ship they boarded and subsequently destroyed. She was on her way to a luxurious colony in the far rim to give birth to their child. Omega seemed like a perfect location to stay out of sight, and perhaps make some money as well. Normally Aria did not care about such trivial issues, but the Eclipse power seemed to be increasing on the Citadel, and she decided that it was far better for them to be indebted to her than the other way around.
Aria stole a glance around the glassed room and saw that no one was looking at her, which precisely meant everyone was indeed looking at her, and decided her office was a better location to take this call. "I pay you to know, not think, Sidonis. Where are you? More importantly, where is she?"
"We are on Sur'Kesh. I caught up with her at a museum where she stayed for six hours, and for the last 6 we have been in dance clubs. Currently she is preoccupied with several salarian suitors."
"Sur'Kesh?" Her scowl returned. The door closed behind her and she sat at her desk. 'Why Sur'Kesh?' Aria wondered. Young asari maidens usually looked for excitement and entertainment and Sur'Kesh was as far from entertaining as she could imagine. But then again this asari was never described as typical. What would salarians have that she might want? Think Aria… Think! "What was the name of the museum where you found her?"
"Galactic Mythological Museum," he replied.
Immediately information began transmitting on her terminal. "You will find a handsome amount of creds in your personal account, Sidonis. Use some of it to buy disguises and friends on that planet. Change your appearance often and use your new friends to track everywhere she goes. Have no contact with her. Oh one more thing, DO NOT LOSE HER!"
Before he could respond, the call ended. He found a quiet corner that seemed to overlook the dance floor, but more importantly, gave him direct line of sight to his target. This assignment was by far different than all others. Typically when the Pirate Queen sent an employee to "find" someone, they are subsequently "lost" without a trace by unspoken order. As was her custom, Aria did not offer much explanation or reason, but she did emphatically instruct him to track this mark with the utmost discretion, and most importantly see that no harm comes to her, either by his hand, or by that of another.
'Who was this girl and why does she want her alive?' It was a question that Sidonis had plenty of time to contemplate during his 18 month galactic scavenger hunt. Although she was very young for an asari, the maiden was very bright and very eager to learn how to stay alive. Indeed her mistakes were coming few and far between. And it was the last mistake that drew him here: leaving her salarian transport captain alive. A mistake that Sidonis kindly corrected for her.
He sipped a Turian whiskey and watched the young girl dance, her long legs moving within the crowd like the ocean current. Her movement, her mannerisms, the strong jawline, the tempest raging behind her eyes, all of it was mysterious, seductive, and beautiful. And though he had never met her, somehow it was familiar. She was familiar. A gnawing dread crept up his neck. Was this be the reason he had not been tasked with a kill order? Had he had been tasked with guarding Aria's daughter?
Faster and faster her blue eyes scanned the information looking for the answer. Almost by accident an obscure description caught her eye. An entire wing was dedicated to asari history and mythology, specifically the worship of Ardat-Yakshi. As she skimmed the artifacts and articles, her breath suddenly caught in her throat.
"As the asari culture grew in technology and science, increasingly old customs and tradition were replaced, including the views of the Ardat-Yakshi. In 4335 s.c, an asari scientist discovered that long lines of "pure-blood" copulation between asari caused a potential genetic mutation that manifested in the pair's offspring. The nervous system of the effected child overpowered and extracted the life force of the other creatures in which they attempted copulation. Eventually the Asari government classifed the once god-like creatures as a dangerous disease that needed to be purged from their society and history. After millennia of being gods, the proud and powerful Ardat-Yakshi became regulated to nothing more than murderers. Some sympathic Athame priestesses petitioned the government to allow willing Ardat-Yakshi to volunteer exile inside the Temple organization, where they would live a life of quiet solitude and service instead of annihilation. Those that refused would be classified as traitors and were captured and put to death. Initially, the Asari government had very little success in exterminating the once famed demi-gods. Many military personnel died while attempting to apprehend the fugitives. Eventually Justicars were called upon to capture or kill every known Ardat-Yakshi in what became known as "The Purging". The most famous Justicar assigned to oversee this order was the famed Verilu Ritina. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT JUSTICAR VERILU, PLEASE CLICK HERE."
"Samara," Aria closed her eyes at the unexpected heartache. It visited Aria less and less over the years, but when returned, it was just as powerful as it was in the beginning of their end. And with the ache came the tortuous memories.
She remembered their last…everything. The last argument. The last kiss. The last time they made love. And the last time she fought with her.
"You need me, Samara. You need me badly because I am your last contact with reality. I love you, even now, and that painful decaying love is the only thing between you and the shrieking nothingness you'll live with for the rest of your life. Everything you touch will die with you. But not me. Not as long as I can feel pleasure and pain… and love for my daughters." The room was thick with tension. Neither moved, both waiting for the other to break. Finally Aria spoke both a threat and a promise, "Samara, if you leave… if you do this… I will not be here when you return." It was a false threat, Aria knew. But what little choice did she have? Every attempt failed up to this point. Desperation screamed inside her heart. Samara paused momentarily as the weight of her choice weighed heavily upon her. But then one small step, then another, then another, until Samara was hidden from her vision completely. "Endless grief awaits you, Samara!" Aria cursed. Yet she knew the curse was now hers.
Slipping. Her existing was slipping, fading into shadow.
Silence pummeled her as she staggered through their home. No amount of self-control could barricade the oncoming tsunami of rage threatening to overwhelm her consciousness and devour her sanity. Her body was aglow with the heat of her biotics, an eerie contrast to the oppressive darkness around her. All at once her body exploded, unleashing on anything in her vicinity. Photos, awards, furniture, artwork, walls, doors, clothing… the entirety of her life was disintegrating under her feet.
The physicians told her they were not sure how long she had been unconscious. The medical tests did not reveal any cause or explanation of the substantial amount of brain trauma. The initial assumption was that Aria had undergone psychological torture of some sort while on assignment. The police were investigating a possible crime, but had difficulty extracting any evidence. Over the course of the next few days, Aria slowly began to regain consciousness, and despite her desire to do otherwise, she could not help but remember that she was terribly alone.
One night, in what seemed to be her darkest hour, Aria finally spoke. She tearfully begged the Goddess to let her body die and join her heart that had already passed away. The response she received was not expected, a warm hand embracing hers. She closed her eyes more tightly, squeezing out tears from the corner of her eyes. "Please," Aria pleaded, "I want to die."
"Aria, you must return to us," a familiar voice spoke from the darkness.
Slowly she opened her eyes. Even though her vision was still blurry from grief and medication, the face in front of her was unmistakable. "I cannot," she swallowed as the tears flowed again, "I cannot do this alone."
"Aria…" the voice was calm and her eyes were beautiful.
"Who am I without you?" Aria asked.
The morning sun began to peek into the room and danced across the beautiful face in front of her. "You are Aria T'Loak. You are the mother of daughters, and a daughter of the Goddess. And the strongest woman I know. You can do this. You convinced me long ago that you could do anything." Her eyes shone brilliantly. "You are not alone. I will always love you."
Instantly her torment quieted and she fell into a deep and healing sleep. The next day the doctor commented on the remarkable improvements and decided she could be discharged. Strangely, no one could recall seeing her wife, or any visitors during her stay.
"That is simply not possible!" As quickly as they left, the tears and demons of despair returned. The medical staff immediately called for a priestess and quickly moved to support her, fearful that any further agitation could relapse any fragile emotional recovery.
An old and petite asari dressed in unremarkable temple robes entered and quickly swept everyone out of the room, save the distraught patient. Calmly she approached the maiden. "Aria, my name is Maya." She waited until Aria lifted her eyes and then continued, "I am called to serve those who have been afflicted with injuries both seen and unseen, and I have been asked to visit you. Please consider sharing your burdens with me, child, and let us pray the Goddess gives us understanding."
For the next 4 hours, Aria purged her soul until she was emotionally spent and lay in the priestess' lap. The matriarch held Aria's head and caressed her forehead while they both cried softly. Only after a great deal of time passed did Maya finally whisper. "With all their knowledge of science, the doctors were not able to see all this damage was caused by a broken heart."