Lazarus Project: Mass Effect 2 (Shenko)

Chatper 63

Milky Way/Omega Nebula/Sahabarik/Omega

Earth year: 2185 CE –October

Samara, Zaeed and Callie were back inside Aria's club. Callie really didn't want to be there, but Aria was the only one who might know how to find Morinth.

"Look who's here." Aria purred. "Have a seat Shepard. What do you need?"

"We're looking for Samara's daughter, Morinth."

"And why would a Justicar be looking for her?"

"She is an Ardat-Yakshi." Samara replied.

"I knew it." Aria spat. "Nothing leaves a body quit so... empty, as an Ardat-Yakshi does."

"If you know she is here, why haven't you taken steps to stop her?" Samara demanded.

"Why would I?" Aria breezed. "She hasn't tried to seduce me."

Callie gritted her teeth. "That's cold Aria. Where can we find her?"

"Talk to the mother of her latest victim, lives near the tenements. That's where I'd start."

Callie stood, not bothering to thank Aria whose lack of concern and compassion grated on her nerves.

"One more thing." Aria called. "I met your old boyfriend Shepard. Nice enough, if you like that sort of thing."

Callie froze, turning to face Aria with as much calm as she could muster. "What are you talking about?"

"Commander Alenko of course. He was here not long ago asking about the Collectors and the plague. Seemed a bit upset when he left though."

Callie dug her nails into her hands, fighting to keep her voice even. "I see. You have any idea why he was upset?"

"I dunno Shepard. Maybe it had something to do with the company you keep these days. Hard to tell with humans."

"And how would he know anything about the company I keep?"

"Maybe a little bird told him." Aria suggested.

"I have to go Aria." Callie hissed, tiring of Aria's games. Turning, she stalked off before she did something very stupid.

"You should find yourself a nice young man to keep you warm at night Shepard." Aria called. "You seem tense."

"That cold-hearted snake of a woman, bitch!" Callie swore as they left the club.

"Shepard, I know you would really enjoy killing her, but there are better ways to get revenge." Zaeed cautioned. "Sometimes death is too easy."

Callie laughed, the tension easing at Zaeed's words. "Thanks for the reminder Zaeed. I needed that."

"Anytime Shepard."

Having questioned the victim's mother, it was decided that Callie would draw Morinth out by pretending to be the perfect bait. Samara would follow them out of the club and take Morinth down after they were safely away from potential civilian targets.

Callie hated being bait, but she hated the dress she was wearing even more. It was tight, short and black and she felt naked as she walked the streets of Omega to the private club where Morinth spent most of her time. Despite her misgivings, Morinth fell for Callie's pretended interest. In no time at all, they were in Morinth's apartment where Callie did her best to stall the charismatic murderer.

Samara arrived just in time and following a heated exchange and an impressive display of biotic strength Morinth was dead. Callie changed back into her armour before leaving the apartment and stopped to pick up supplies before returning to the Normandy.