Omega Chronicles -31- The Hunter and the Hunted

She was wearing a black evening dress, it hugged her hips and fell softly around her legs all the way down to her ankles. The top part of it was definitely less chaste. It opened in a neckline that describing as deep would have been the understatement of the century. It went all the way down below her belly button, in the front, and it stopped a breath short of her buttocks in the back.

She examined herself in the long, sleek mirror, appreciating her own looks. She gave herself an approving smile. She walked out of the apartment and headed for her coveted destination. She was hungry. Her hunger never stopped, never gave her time to appreciate being sated, not even for a short while. She always needed more, and was always on the hunt.

The red lights of Omega were a welcome, enticing sight as she rode in the self driving cab all the way to Afterlife.

A soft, almost imperceptible, little voice half meowed, half yawned in the dimness of the room. Curious dark eyes darted here and there, trying to focus. Her tiny hands were clutched in equally as tiny fists. She was bored, that much she knew. And so she did something about it. She drew her breath and let out a call, shrill, precise. She had done it before, of course, and it had always worked. But, just to make sure, she decided to let out a couple more.

A groggy, angry voice mumbled from across time and space, and Shepard was woken by its unflinching tone. "-Your- daughter requires your attention, Commander. Again." Aria was profoundly unhappy that she hadn't had a continuous night's sleep for... how long had it been?

The human stirred, she turned belly up in their big bed, stretched her arms above her head and forced her naked body to sit up, eyes still shut, almost unwilling to accept the reality of having to get up once more. It felt like she had only been asleep for five minutes. "Damn. She's almost as demanding as you are, Aria. Almost."

A grin opened on the Asari's face, in spite of her bad mood. "I told you you would have plenty of chances to make it up to me after she was born, now, did I not? Now get to it, I would love to get some proper sleep, if you don't mind."

As the Commander was about to fling her legs out of the bed, the Queen's hand grabbed her wrist. "Aren't we forgetting something? You know how I hate being woken up. And you also know you can help with that."

Shepard smiled and lowered her face to meet Aria's, whispering on her blue lips. "Oh, I do know."

She placed a soft kiss on the Asari's mouth, ready to roll over and get up. If only it hadn't been for how delicious the Queen felt... She let herself be caught by her own desire. Their lips parted and the kiss deepened, their breaths mixed, they became heavier, hungrier as their tongues danced together. Shepard shifted her body to be on top of Aria, just as the Asari opened her legs invitingly, allowing her to settle between them. The human's teeth were now on her neck, biting eagerly the soft flesh of her lover, a short moan of pure pleasure escaping the Queen's throat roughly, just as her nails bit slightly into the muscles of the human's back. Their skin melting together, the Commander delighted in the silky textures of the Asari, every inch tingling with lust.

"AaahdahdahDAH." The silvery little yell was like an alarm clock going off in the middle of the best dream you were having in ages.

Aria stopped moving and breathing altogether, hoping it would just go away. Shepard raised her face and looked her bondmate in her electric eyes. She chuckled, low in her throat, as she took in the look of bewilderment on the Queen's beautiful face. "It's alright. I will take care of her, and then I will also take care of you. Not to worry. There's plenty of Shepard to go around." She gave her a short wink and jumped out of her arms and out of the bed.

Aria's voice was dripping sarcasm as the human was quickly moving across the room. "Since when have I lost my status as your absolute priority, Commander?"

Shepard replied in a happy heartbeat, without so much as blinking. "Since I have to make it up to you for getting you pregnant, remember? Your rules, not mine."

Aria groaned and turned over, making herself comfortable on her side. She muttered to herself, but loudly enough to be heard. "Still."

The human approached the baby bed they had installed on one side of their room, and smiled as she saw their daughter wide awake and ready to mingle. A sweetness in her voice betrayed how much she loved her. "Aren't you ever tired, Princess?" She picked her up and hugged her, pirouetting briefly, one hand holding her tiny neck. She started humming a melody and then she added the words, playfully dancing with little Metis in her arms.

Caviar and cigarettes
Well versed in etiquette
Extraordinarily nice

She's a Killer Queen
Gunpowder, gelatin
Dynamite with a laser beam
Guaranteed to blow your mind
Anytime

Recommended at the price
Insatiable an appetite
Wanna try?

Aria instantly sat up and turned around, her voice barking an order to the ambient AI. "Lights!" She stared at Shepard for a second. "... What in the blazes...?"

The human laughed, her baby immediately responding to it with a big smile. "What? She likes it. It's classic rock. Human rock. Besides, you should be flattered."

The Asari walked to where they were standing, her eyes turned black in an instant as she entered the mind of her child effortlessly. A few moments passed and she retreated from the meld just as quickly as she had established it. A suspicious frown was gracing her flawless face. "Mh. So it appears." Satisfied with the mental well being of the baby, she made her way to the bar and poured two drinks, the ice cubes tinkling in the low glass as the bright blue liquid filled it. "Catchy song, by the way."

She brought the other glass to the Commander, who had now settled on their red sofa. She was holding Metis up on her uncertain legs, her tiny feet shifting on her naked skin, trying to stand on her own in an instinctive, continuous motion. Shepard sat the child down for a second to grab her Serrice Ice Brandy, she took a long sip before putting the glass on the low table in front of them. Aria sat right next to her and crossed her legs elegantly, her arm coming up and around the human's shoulders, her fingers gently, casually gliding on her pale skin. "Your daughter needs to learn the difference between daytime and nighttime, otherwise you are doomed to many months of sleeplessness."

The Commander turned her head and look into the Asari's eyes. "Surely you mean -we- are doomed..."

Aria grinned devilishly. "Oh, but I have many places to go to spend the night in peace, Commander." She sipped her drink, her eyes never faltering.

Shepard smiled in defeat. "I see." She picked up the baby again and rubbed their nose tips together for a moment. She added in a mockingly silly voice. "Then -we-, pretty Princess, really need to learn to sleep at night. Because I certainly refuse to miss precious time with my beloved Queen. Understand?"

Metis smiled again and cooed, her feet pushing down strongly. The human sighed. "Good. Then -we- have a deal, you little earthquake."

The music was pulsating in her veins as she was dancing by herself, for the time being. She panned the dancefloor, looking for something... appetising. She spotted it. A young human was timidly shifting his feet just a few steps from the bar, a drink in his hands, he looked a bit out of place, but thoroughly yummy. She moved like a panther to approach him, a grin on her face, a spring in her step.

As she got closer, he noticed her. He looked baffled and quite confused for a bit. Why was this celestial being wanting to even talk to him? No matter, he couldn't believe his luck. He squared his shoulders and prepared to spout a few well chosen pickup lines and compliments. He was not going to waste an opportunity like this.

Her voice was silk as she grabbed his drink and shamelessly took a sip. "Are you here by yourself?"

He mustered all his balls to reply without stuttering. "Uhm. Yes." Then he decided to push the envelope. He flashed a smile. "You?"

She smiled back, and in her eyes glinted a light that should have been the loudest warning, but it went unnoticed.

"You need to step back and let me pass." The Asari had a tone that Garrus did not like one bit. There was a presence to her, halfway between commanding respect and terrifying. But it wasn't enough to just make him back down.

This had begun as a job for him, but had turned into more of a calling, even a pleasure, as time had gone by. He stood tall in front of her, tried to ignore the bright red suit with golden inlays that seemed painted on her curves, which accentuated her perfect body and ample bosom, and he delivered his final answer. "No. If you do not have an appointment you cannot see Aria T'Loak. It may seem strange to you, but that is basically the law. And I am here to enforce it."

She sighed. She could have just obliterated him with her biotics, but he was not a criminal that she was hunting down, at least for now, so she had to uphold her own code. She tried a different approach. "The law, you say? Very well." She clicked a few holographic buttons on her omnitool and brought up on its screen a few chosen images.

Garrus flinched. Not too visibly, or so he hoped. A young man, or what was left of him, was lying on a non-descript couch, his eyes empty, his features empty, his body empty. He just looked empty. Not so much physically, but it was exactly what he looked like. And dead. Very very dead. He asked without hesitation. "Who is he? When and where did this happen?"

She turned the omnitool off and stared at him. "This is what I am here for. Who did this is here, on Omega, right now. I was promised cooperation by Aria. I need to confer with her regarding my next moves. Now will you let me pass?"

His reply was met with a blink of disbelief. "No, I will not."

His mandibles flared for a second, as if he was enjoying the moment of pure frustration on the Asari's face. Then he added. "But I will escort you."

She almost snorted at him. "Turians. I was never able to read your faces. Nor to understand your sense of humour. Not in a thousand years I have lived. The Goddess has apparently denied me this much needed talent."

They walked quickly up the stairs to the Queen's private balcony. Aria was not there, but Shepard made sure to welcome their guest. "Samara. I was beginning to think you would never show up. Please, have a seat. Would you care for a drink?" She gestured with a hand towards the couch perpendicular to that where she and Aria usually conducted Omega's business.

"Thank you, I do not need a beverage at this time. I am here because I need to step up on my investigation. There has been another victim and I need to secure the killer as quickly as possible. You understand."

"I do. I remember the explanation you gave us while you were, quite generously, flying us back to the station on your ship after our most unfortunate... forced detour, shall we say?" Shepard sat down and made herself comfortable, ready to listen to the demands of the Justicar.

Samara sat with a straight back, her hands on her legs, no sign of discomfort, but no sign of relaxation either. "This Ardat-Yakshi is a... particularly cunning and powerful one. I have been following her, trying to capture her, for years now, with no success. She seems to always be one step ahead. This is the first real opportunity I have. I must not fail. Otherwise she might just disappear again, and I would be back to square one."

"Of course. If this is the kind of homicidal wake she leaves behind, I can see why you want to stop her. So. How can we help?"

"I happen to have devised a plan. Allow me to illustrate it to you. And your role in it."

The Commander was still not very convinced about the sheer audacity of Samara's plan. She was not fond of having gained the necessary role of the bait. She was hanging around the lower level of Afterlife, presumably where the Ardat-Yakshi had found and beguiled her latest victims. She decided to enjoy the music and she realised she hadn't been dancing in the club for some time. She let herself be transported, lulled, elevated by the beat. She had missed it.

And just like that, seemingly out of nowhere, appearing out of thin air, there was a beautiful Asari dancing next to her, and smiling voluptuously. There was indeed something magnetic about her.

The Ardat-Yakshi had noticed the woman dancing from across the room. She had quickly made her way across the small crowd enjoying their night and she had decided to join her. Her last metaphysical meal had left her even more hungry than before. As soon as she had stepped close to her, she had smelled right away the pheromones belonging to another Asari, who had clearly marked her. She had been uncertain about what to do for a split second, then the hunger had taken over again, overriding any and all instincts to turn around and look for someone else. It seemed to be a slow night, and she was eager to just seal the deal and secure some sustenance for herself. She considered this could be her last meal, so to speak, on Omega. The following day she would just buy passage on whatever transport out of here, headed to a new hunting ground, after all, so why not indulge herself with the property of another Asari. Besides, it would probably be a bit of a challenge, and she did love challenges.

The human seemed to be responding quite well to her presence anyway. They danced together for a short while, exchanging seductive smiles and sinuous moves. Then she made her intentions abundantly clear. "I like you. Would like to share a drink with me, at my place?"

Shepard felt a chilling wave move down her spine, perfectly aware of how dangerous this creature really was. Nevertheless, she was here for a reason, and she was not going to jeopardise the entirety of Samara's mission just because she knew how risky it would be for her to put herself in the grasp of this monster. She flashed her best smile. "Sure. I would love to."

The place was as anonymous as could be, just one of the many apartments constantly being rented out to dubious people flowing in and out of Omega on just as dubious business. The human made herself as comfortable as possible, waiting for the Asari to come back to her with a sparkly, colourful drink.

The Ardat-Yakshi sat on the couch next to her, way closer than she should have, and handed her the glass. "I hope you like your drinks strong. I like everything strong."

Shepard gave her a lop-sided grin. "I most certainly do. And I do like my partners strong."

"Is that why you bear the marking smell of an Asari?"

The Commander had already thought of a proper answer to such a question, never wanting to be caught unprepared during what was technically a mission. "I'm afraid I must have developed a sort of... fetish, for the Asari." She sipped her drink graciously. "And I mean no disrespect by saying that, of course."

"Of course." The Ardat-Yakshi put down her glass. Her hand came up to Shepard's face, drawing her jaw line in a motion so tender it could have fooled anyone who was not aware of her true nature. "So why is it you are not with her tonight?"

The human leaned into that caress, even as her entire body was screaming to get away from it. "She tends to be rather busy, for long periods at a time. And I, on the other hand, tend to get lonely. And needy."

The Asari smiled, almost viciously, her curiosity satisfied. "Makes perfect sense. Such a beautiful specimen as you should not be left unsupervised, nor left to her own devices. But I can definitely help with that."

"I would certainly hope so." The Commander's reply was a sensual whisper hanging in the air as their faces drew closer. She did try to put all of herself into that kiss, even though it was making her sick to her stomach.

That, thankfully, was when Samara blew the doors to the apartment open with a well placed shockwave.

Shepard jumped up and behind the couch to put some distance between herself and the two biotics, knowing full well that the battle about to ensue was going to potentially wreck the place apart.

"Justicar! I should have foreseen your appearance! Too bad for you, this will be your final stand."

Samara did not reply as she attacked mercilessly. The fight was gruesome. And unfortunately came to a standstill rather quickly. Their bodies enveloped in half-spheres of sheer power, they appeared to be equal in force and determination. Seeing as this was not going perfectly according to plan, Shepard acted. Their attention completely focused on themselves, she took advantage of the Ardat-Yakshi's momentary vulnerability. She moved with agility behind her, where her shield was not even present, and put her strong arms around her neck, catching her in an unshakable necktie. It was enough to give Samara the upper hand she needed. It was over in a heartbeat.

The Justicar took control of the criminal, throwing her to the floor easily. Shepard got out of the way as she watched the final act of this hunt unfold before her eyes. In a voice that changed from confident to pleading, the Ardat-Yakshi was muttering her last line of defence.

"Wait. Wait. Please. Mother. You cannot possibly want to do this. Not to me."

The eyes of the Commander widened visibly at that remark, but she did not interfere. Her questions could be answered later.

Samara's reply didn't leave any space to debate, nor to prayers. "You have taken countless, innocent lives. I have made an oath to stop you, like I have stopped many like you before. My heart bleeds, but my code is untouchable, unbreakable, and I will abide by it. Find peace in the embrace of the Goddess, my child."

And just like that, in a blue explosion, it was all over.

Shepard finally allowed herself to let out the breath she had been holding. She stepped close to the Justicar as she finished what seemed to be her rites after a killing. She did not know whether it would be appropriate to address her right now, but the Asari answered her unasked questions willingly.

"I am sorry I have not been completely transparent with you, Shepard. You must have heard her words. So yes. I am her mother. She was indeed my daughter. Telling you wouldn't have changed anything about my mission and my duty. I hope you can see that."

The Commander took a few seconds to consider her words. "You're right. But that doesn't make me feel any better. I know she had to be stopped. I cannot fathom how you must feel right now, but know that, as a matter of course really, you have my deepest sympathies, Samara."

The Justicar was gracious in her response. "Thank you." She turned around and made to leave, she took a few steps before stopping. She gave the human a meaningful look behind her shoulder. "Your help was invaluable. If there is anything I can do to return this favour, to you and Aria, please do let me know. I always keep track of, and fully pay, my debts of gratitude."

Shepard nodded as she replied. "I will certainly keep that in mind, Samara. Safe travels to you."

"You did -what- while I was catching up on my sleep?" Aria was positively mad. And that was always a bad thing.

Shepard grinned and tried to contain the damage. "We made a deal with the Justicar, Aria. You're the one always saying you don't break deals. Well, unless you really really have to, that is. But still. The fact remains that we had a deal. And far be it from me to disturb your beauty sleep, especially these days..."

The Asari was very close to exploding, and it was perfectly visible on her stunning face. "You risked your fucking hide to catch an Ardat-Yakshi. Of all things! Are you even aware of the power they yield? She could have sucked your soul out of you! Literally!"

The Commander's voice was as soothing as it could be, and just as velvety, as she closed the distance between them and placed a soft caress on Aria's cheek. Looking deeply into her impossibly blue eyes, she almost whispered her reply. "Indeed. And guess what. I am still alive and well. And we have nonetheless than a Justicar owing us a favour. A big one at that. How many can claim that, and survive? Do you really think that it will not come in handy at some point?"

The Asari seemed to mellow just a tad at the realisation. She crossed her arms and stared at the human for a few seconds. Her voice was low and still quite angry. "I honestly do not know how I am going to cope with these shenanigans of yours until the day you die. Because some day you -will- put yourself into something too ugly even for me to handle."

Shepard's eyes did not leave hers. She put her arms around the Queen's waist and drew her close in a tight embrace, revelling in the heady, delicious perfume of her blue skin. "Do you remember what I told our daughter? That I do not want to miss any precious time with you? I will never, let me underline, -never- risk making you an inconsolable widow, my Queen."

Aria felt her lips grinning on the sensitive skin of her neck as her lover uttered those words. "You are a scoundrel worse than I am, Commander."

"That's why you adore me." Her lips slid up the Asari's neck, caressed her jaw, and found her hot mouth for a hungry kiss.

Aria indulged in that pleasure thoroughly before pushing her away for a moment. She let the thought out under her breath. "Fuck you, Shepard."

The Commander bore holes of passion into her eyes before her lips assaulted her again. "Oh, I love you too."