Out For Karma: Mass Effect

[Book Two] Chapter 14: Demon of the night winds

Chapter 14: Demon of the night winds

Samara’s quest being time sensitive, it has been the one Shepard decided to tackle. When the asari explained that she was after an Ardat-Yakshi, the commander had an in depth lesson on Asari’s culture.

“And there is no cure?”
“None, commander. The asari have been trying for several millennia to find one without any success.”
“That’s terrible.”
“A hardship of life.”
“And the asari kills them all?”
“Goddess no! The innocent ones are sent to live in some remote monasteries. Far away from any population. There, they meditate and learn to control their urges. It’s a strict life but it’s for everyone’s good, Ardat-Yakshi included.”
“And the one you’re after?”
“She’s… the worst.” Samara answered in a subtle painful tone that Shepard caught.
“Samara?”
“That Ardat-Yakshi… She's my daughter.”

That piece of information startled Shepard a lot. She couldn’t imagine what the justicar in front of her was thinking or feeling at the knowledge that her own child was a monster that she had to put down.

“Don’t underestimate her, commander. She’s been escaping me for 400 years. Her cunning is only equal to her savagery.”
“She’s the reason you became a justicar, isn’t she?”
“Not the only one. I have three daughters, all of them are Ardat-Yakshi. When we discovered that fact, I took them to a monastery where I intended to live with them in peace. But Morinth was too willful and too old, she didn’t accept our new life and ran away. I joined the justicar to have the means to chase her and put an end to her evil deeds.”
“Your three daughters are… How come? I thought it was a very rare genetic mutation.”
“Have you ever heard the term pureblood, commander?”
“Yes and not in a good way.”
“Because it isn’t. The gene responsible for the Ardat-Yakshi condition appeared from pureblood Asari. It’s a mutation. While not all purebloods have the mutation it only appears with them. Though the mutation is benign as it is a recessive gene. However when two purebloods with the recessive gene have a child together…”

“The gene becomes dominant.”
“Yes. My bondmate and I are both pureblood and none of us knew that we had the gene. I didn’t even know she was a pureblood until I found out about my daughters' condition. She had long passed away by then.”
“Didn’t the asari find a way to screen for this mutation?”
“We did but… Purebloods are very rare Shepard. One in a million or more perhaps so it’s not a standard test. Furthermore the prejudice against pureblood is very high. In the end the matriarchs chose to not enforce a mandatory test for their protection, after all they are innocent of their status and were born from love. That would have gone against the fundamental precepts of Asari's culture.”
“I see. Does Rick know?”
“He does. While he never encountered Morinth, he promised to help me if he could.” Samara answered with a smile.
“Good. It will make things easier, Morinth being on Omega.”
“How so?”
“Rick and Aria are close.”
“Aria T’loak? The crime boss?” the justicar asked in surprise.
“You didn’t know? While he’s tight-lipped about their relationship, I know they’ve known each other for years.”
“He never mentioned anything like that.”
“I can see why, with you being a justicar and Aria the head of a crime syndicate....”
“I don’t see Rick as a part of something like that.”
“Me neither but I don’t think he’s a member and he’s just helping Aria personally.”
“That’s more like him.”

____________________________________________________________


“I can find another place to sleep, you know.” Rick said as he carried Tali to bed. She couldn’t stay awake anymore, too tired.
“This is your room, I can’t really kick you out of it.”
“You only have to ask.”
“I know, and I won’t. That wouldn’t be right. If anyone should sleep elsewhere it should be me. I’m the guest here.”
“Non-sense, that room is as much yours as mine.”

Tali didn’t have an answer to that and just yawned as she positioned herself in a sleeping position. When she didn’t feel Rick joined her in bed behind her, she turned around and saw him changing his clothes and not readying himself for bed.

“What are you doing?”
“There is something I want to test with my biotics. Like a secret training, now that everyone is going to sleep, it’s the right time to practice.”
“I see. Good luck then.” Tali said as she yawned again.

When Rick left  the room she had already fallen asleep. He felt bad for subjecting her to his own problems, that’s why he was staying up longer. If he went to sleep at the time he usually wakes up for the past week and half by the time he had nightmares Tali would be probably up. That was not a full proof idea. After all he would still be lacking sleep, but at least his friend would have a complete night of it. That’s what really mattered to him. As for dealing with bad dreams… He refused to acknowledge the solution to the matter. He considered the alternative, going to sleep with Miranda but there was no way she could handle him every night so it wasn’t really an option.

It was a matter he will have to deal with another time however. Right now he was focused on perfecting his control of his biotics through his feet. Using the four hours of missing to train for the past few days has been beneficial. Since the exercises were more or less the same as the ones for his hands the only thing he really had to train was his aim. That had not been difficult and as of this morning he estimated that he was more than good enough at hitting a target. A stationary one though. Only three things were left for him to train, first the curve shot, then moving target and finally to use them proficiently in an actual fight.

The curve shot was a pain in the ass. The ankle was not an articulation with the same movement that the wrist. After an hour of stubbornness and unproductive results he took a moment to think on how to resolve that particular problem. The only joint in the leg that could was the hip joint which had even more movement than the wrist. However it was far more distant from the point of release which forced him to change lots of things, that and the existence of two other joints on the way. Understanding that he couldn’t just adapt what he was doing with his hand to his feet he spent some time on the extranet trying to find fighting style focusing on the use of feet.

He saw many different martial arts, savate, capoeira, taekkyeon and much more but the one which he thought fit the bill the best was taekwondo. It requires a lot of flexibility which wasn’t a problem, as Aria made sure of that during his training and presented the opportunity to use a lot of circular movements with the legs. It wasn’t the only one of course but for the basics that’s the style he was going to begin with. He spent time studying the basic kicks one after the other. What part or parts of the body moved and how it moved. Once he had enough information began testing some of them on the dummy and had the bright idea to ask EDI for help. She could compare what he was doing with the martial arts masters on the videos he watched. The perk of having an AI supporting you was that she was deadly accurate in her correction and didn’t miss anything. 

Spending the last hour practicing he tried again the curve shot. The result was completely out of the field but the feeling he got was right. From there he practiced even more until EDI reminded him that if he wanted to catch a bit of sleep now was the time. Thanking her, Rick took a quick shower and went back to his quarters. Tomorrow they were arriving on Omega and he needed to be at his best to catch Samara’s daughter. He had his own plan, reaction for action thanks mainly to Mordin’s help.

____________________________________________________________

“I’m really hesitant to have you accompany us. In fact I’d rather go alone.” Rick said to Samara as they made their way to the afterlife.
“I promise you, that unless she does something which is against the code in front of me, I won’t do anything.” the asari answered genuinely.
“... Alright.”

Shepard wondered what he would do should such a thing happen. She was pretty sure that he’d put himself in the middle but who he’d choose if it came down to it, was what she had no clue.

Entering the nightclub they went straight to Aria’s room. Rick promptly sat beside her as if he owned the place, removed the jax part of his helmet and kissed her cheek before closing it back. The asari immediately dismissed the sycophant petitioning her who had the stupid idea to begin to protest. Begin as he immediately stopped, when every guard in the room and Rick pointed a weapon straight at him. He was out in no time. Both their eyes were fixed on the man’s form up the monitoring screen.

“A tourist for business?” he asked.
“No, he’s been here for a few months.”
“And he doesn’t know his place?”
“Apparently not.”

The man sat in a booth and began to ruminate in anger.

“Want me to have a few words with him?”
“That’s not necessary.” she replied and lowered her gaze to look at Shepard and Samara. “What do you need?”.

The commander turned her head to face Rick and in response, leaned to whisper in Aria’s ear.

“There is an Ardat-Yakshi on the station.”
“I’m aware.”
“And you’re doing nothing about it?” asked Samara, moving forward a few steps.
“Why should I? As long as she doesn’t go after me I have nothing against her.”
“One of these days, that outlook on life will cost you.” Rick patronized with a shake of his head.”
“Perhaps, but that day is not today.” Aria answered him. “And who’s your friend?”
“Samara.”
“Your justicar friend I presume?”
“Yes.”

Samara was surprised that Aria knew of her. She has never acted on her territory before and not even close to it. That she knew meant that Rick may have told her. Behind her Shepard took in that new information and didn’t know quite yet what to do with it.

After a moment of reflection in silence Aria spoke.

“Two days ago, the body of a young human woman was found not far from here. Her nervous system was completely fried. Her mother lives not far from the elevator to the lower level.”

Samara thanked her and left the room, followed by Shepard giving one last look at Rick. She herself was followed by everyone else present in the room at Aria’s snap of her fingers.

“I can see why you like her.”
“She’s like the good version of you.” he joked, making her scoff.
“Please, we’re nothing alike.”
“You’re both gorgeous and lethal badasses who inspire respect.”
“Must have been hard to travel with her for four years if she was dressed like that.”
“My balls were bluer than you are. I swear I have a gift to meet and escrow myself with this type of woman.” he replied, making her laugh.
“That you do.” she smirked.
“Well, I survived you, there was no way I couldn’t survive her.”
“I guess only maidens and Matriarchs with huge tits can put you down.” she joked.
“Is that jealousy that I hear?”
“Why would I be jealous?”
“Because I found two pairs of tits better than yours?” he replied in a smug tone.
“I don’t care, besides my best asset is my ass.”

The narrowing of her eyes and the slight tick of one of them showed that she was actually annoyed at the notion.

“Which is only second in the Galaxy.” he teased her more. It was too much in fact as Aria drew her gun and put the barrel right onto his crotch.
“You were saying?”
“Of course I can only judge with my eyes. Since I never saw yours nor Tali’s naked ass nor copped a feel, I can be wrong.”

He knew she was joking and would not shoot his manhood off but still find a way to appease her. It worked as Aria pulled back her gun and tapped affectionately the side of his helmet.

“Good answer. Anyway, what news do you have to share?”
“I’m shagging the Illusive Man’s right arm.”
“Really?! Good job! Do you think you can get anything from her?”
“No. Or at least not right now. She still believes in the man, but there is so much shit being revealed that she will turn his back on him. And no I won’t use her like that. I’m not that kind of man and she’s a good person and a great big sister.”

At that last piece of information Aria knew that no matter what she said he wouldn't budge one bit so she took the loss.

“Anything else?”
“Bankrupting the Alliance?” he answered as he displayed the schematics of his anti-recoil system. “If we can get a patent for the system, the guns and find a way to make them ourselves, they’ll cough up as much money as we want.”

Reading the data that he was showing her, Aria had to agree. Sadly there was no way for her to have the monopoly of manufacturing those guns. It would cost her too much resources and assets. They had a war to prepare against the reapers after all and diverting any more money to it from her current operation would end badly.

“We can’t.”
“I know but it’s good to dream.” he said and sighed in defeat.
“It’s still a good deal of money.”
“That it is.”
“Anything else?”
“Well…”


____________________________________________________________


He regrouped with Samara and Shepard outside the apartment of the grieving mother. Not far away a batarian doomsayer was preaching his fire and brimstone spiel and it took every ounce of self control for Rick to not shoot the guy.

“So, have you learned anything?”
“Didn’t you listen?” Shepard asked.
“No, I couldn’t divide my attention.”
“She’s fond of Forta, an Elcor sculptor, Hallex and Vaenia.” Samara said.
“Movie or novel?”
“The movie. I’m surprised you know it was originally a novel.”
“What’s Vaenia?” the redhead asked curiously.
“A romantic movie between an Asari and a quarian female.” replied Rick
“Oh. And how do you know that? I don’t think it’s your kind of movie.”
“I was forced to watch it when I was a kid. Damn embarrassing. Anyway, anything else?”
“She’s hunting in the VIP section of the afterlife.” the justicar replied.
“She’s really good at manipulating people if she got the password for there after being on station less than a month.”
“One time she brainwashed an entire village to worship her as goddess. She sent them to their death when she ordered them to kill me.”
“Damn…” let out Shepard.
“What’s your plan?” Rick asked his asari friend.
“I was hoping you would make good on your promise and play the bait. I can’t do it myself, she’d run away immediately.”
“Can’t Aria help?” the commander asked.
“In your dreams, perhaps.” he replied to the redhead then turned to Samara. “What do you want me to do?”
“Make yourself visible, catch her eye and her attention.”
“People know who I am around here.” he said, tapping his helmet with a finger.
“Did you find the leak by the way?” Shepard asked, remembering that being Aria’s fear man was supposed to be a secret yet everyone seemed to know.
“It was plugged. Or rather unplugged if you want to be literal.”
“You’ll have to go unmasked, your unique appearance alone will draw her in.” said Samara.
“Unique appearance?”
“... Samara, I don’t remove my helmet, you know that.”
“Unique appearance?”
“And yet I know your face.”
“Unique appearance?”
“So do four others, that doesn’t mean I’ll show my face to anyone. And red be quiet, it’s not your business.” he stated as he was getting tired of trying to ignore the woman.

Samara took his hands in hers and looked at his covered face with a look of begging.

“Please.”
“... Alright. Only because it’s you.”
“Thank you.”

He agreed because he felt for her. Samara has been chasing her daughter for 400 years, 400 years of being confronted to her crimes, to her madness, she was tired and wanted it to end once and for all. Rick understood and respected that.

“What about me? What should I do?”
“Nothing, there is nothing for you to do. So do what you wish, go shopping, write back to people, train your biotics, whatever you want.” he said as he walked down the way towards the normandy leaving a pouting Shepard behind.

____________________________________________________________


While Rick was out with Miranda, of all people, to shop for clothes currently in fashion for his mission Shepard dealt as the man advised and wrote to people she should. Mainly her mother who had sent her an incendiary message about not telling her she was alive. She wanted nothing more that ignored it but it wouldn’t do anything good for their relationship, so she wrote back. She also wrote to Hackett and Anderson about the anti-recoil system. From what Tali had said, she’d be done soon with the guns in a bit less than two weeks. Time wise it was perfect as they needed to go back to the citadel to procure the last model of kinetic shield for the Normandy. After that the ship would be fitted with the last and best upgrades available on the market. Dealing with the Collectors’ ship would not be a problem hopefully.
With nothing much to do she chose to go down the gym and practice with her biotics. She now has more than a good grasp on them. She had mastered the basic skills and was on her way to master the physical enhancement, the only thing for her to do for that was to be able to do it during a fight instinctively.
Exiting the elevator she saw Grunt lifting weight on the side and Jack aiming some biotics at a dummy which, for reasons she didn’t know, was wearing a helmet.

“Why the head protection?” she asked the bald woman.
“It’s easier that way for me to imagine Dickhead.” Jack replied, making Shepard snort.
“Still having problems with him? I thought you were good since you cooperated to teach me.”
“Meh, we’re fine, he just has a punchable head.”
“I know what you mean. I admit I punched him plenty of times at first.”
“Yeah. He was a real asshole of the highest order.”
“I can imagine that.” she said with a knowing smirk.
“Are you free for a spar? I’d like to practice my biotics, the enhancement ones.”

Jack nodded, always down for a fight. Especially since it was a teaching moment. She really took a liking to that.


____________________________________________________________

“Bubble, I only need one outfit, no more. So just pick one.”

His words fell on deaf ears as Miranda kept piling clothes in his arms. Taking a big breath Rick regretted asking her for advice.

____________________________________________________________


She was spent. Her spar with Jack has been a good outlet. After a good shower she lay down on her bed, bored. She had nothing to do but wait for Samara and Rick to come back. Her messages were dealt with, she was too tired to do a second round of training, there was no matter, urgent or not, that required her attention and the other members of the team were busy doing their own things. She had absolutely nothing to do so she let her mind wander. Towards Rick.

The conversation he had with Aria has been revealing. She was almost certain that he knew her before he met Samara. Meaning he had encountered Omega’s queen before even being sixteen. Knowing what she knew about him, which was not that much in truth, she started to find connections that she hadn’t thought of before but ended up empty handed.

One of the three mysteries surrounding the man named Rick Wald.

Knowing that Samara was one of only five people knowing what he looked like under his helmet brought forth a feeling of jealousy, she didn’t know where it came from. She swore to herself that one day she’ll be in the know too. Not for the alliance but for herself.

____________________________________________________________


“I’m ready.”
“Not yet. You need to remove your helmet.”

Rick sighed in defeat and unlocked his head protector via his omni-tool, revealing his short blonde hair and more importantly his face.

“You became a really handsome man.” complimented Samara.
“Thank you.”
“It’s a shame you’re hiding it.”
“It’s better that way. Unless it would help seducing you, in that case…” he joked.
“Not a chance. Had I known you 500 years earlier, maybe you’d have had your chance.” she joked back before turning serious. “Remember…”
“Display strength, of muscles and character, be knowledgeable about her hobbies and keep being mysterious but not overtly much.”
“Good, you’re ready.”
“Please take good care of it.” he said, handing her his helmet.
“I will; now go. I won’t be far.”

Turning around he exited the small dark alley they were in and made way towards the VIP section of the afterlife. Giving the turian guard the password  he was let in without any problem. Walking down a small corridor he quickly reached the actual VIP quarters. One condescending death glare sent away the human male who accosted him for something he didn’t even bother to listen to. From his standing point he looked around, analyzing what was happening and how it could use the different drama happening to his advantage. Among the many situations he noted three that would help which among them two would probably help Aria too. Two birds with one stone.
Walking forward he decided to start with a drunk turian harassing an asari dancer. One broken hand and a kneeling bird later and he was sure that his call was the right one as dozens of people around looked at him. Chasing the turian away, he decided to take care of his second objective. He had noticed a face he recognized as an editor of a news journal, who kept on looking at a woman in the entourage of a known gangster chief. Talking a bit with the man, he was tasked to help an undercover journalist whose identity has actually been compromised by the gangster she was spying on. That was an easy situation to deal with and he just slipped the code phrase indicating the journalist must bail out asap during the conversation with the gangster. He actually got some prospect for a deal that could interest Aria out of it, and consider it a double win.

Two down, one more to go.

He finally went after his last goal, an agitated krogan who as he got closer was disparaging humans. Words were exchanged and a proposition to resolve the conflict outside in the back alley came up. Once again giving his best condescending death glare proved to be useful as the krogan backed down, quite intimidated.

As Rick ordered a drink from the bartender, a beautiful asari introduced herself. He felt shocked for a moment as turning his face to face the woman he saw Samara’s face. Thankfully he had made the resting bitch face an art.

Gotcha, bitch.

____________________________________________________________

Shepard was discussing with Joker when the Normandy’s sas opened, letting in Rick carrying a body draped in a white sheet followed by Samara. The atmosphere was somber. Without any form of acknowledgement the duo walked towards the elevator.

“Damn. Can’t imagine one day killing my own kid.”
“Me neither, Joker, me neither.” she replied as both were looking at retreating backs. Turning back to her people she gave him his new orders “We’re leaving for Tuchanka tomorrow morning.”
“Understood, commander.”

____________________________________________________________

They were both in the cargo bay, alone, where they had laid Morinth in a coffin they had taken from some crates that were on the side. Something that Rick had always found weird, having coffins on board, ready to be used in case it was needed.

“Why?”
“... I couldn’t let you do it.”
“She was my responsibility.”
“She wasn’t. She was an adult, she made her own choices.”
“She was a child when she left! I was responsible for her actions. It was up to me to…”
“It would have destroyed you.” he interrupted her.
“I made my peace with the need to take her life long ago.”
“A parent should never have to take their children’s life.”
“The code…”
“Fuck the code! None of the asari that wrote it were ever in your situation.”
“The code taught me how to prepare for it, how to overcome…”
“Accepting the need for her to die and doing it yourself are two different things, Samara. Trust me, it would have destroyed you. Sure you would have learned to smile again, perhaps even laugh, but inside… Inside the light would be gone. You’d spent the rest of your life faking it to everyone around you when in truth you’d only be a broken corpse walking.”

He turned around and began walking towards the elevator but Samara caught him by the arm and went around him to face him. She had noticed, those were the words of experience that she heard and that brought forth a question she needed to ask but dreaded doing so.

“What truly happened on Eden Prime?”

He looked at her in silence for a long moment, until he removed his helmet.

“Have a look for yourself.”

Putting her hands on the sides of his face she looked him in the eye and melded. It was brief but what she saw confirmed what she had been suspicious of. Putting a stop by breaking the link, she tried for a moment to deal with the knowledge she got while Rick put back his helmet on.

He was right. It would have destroyed me.

“She didn’t suffer. I used a modified version of the paralytic agent the Collectors’ swarm uses that I created with Mordin and then one projectile to the head. Quick and painless.”

Samara in an out of character way for her, hugged Rick, as a thank you but more as a support, understanding now why he was having nightmares. She would have too in his place.
Glancing one last time at her daughter’s coffin she walked by his side towards the elevator, thanking the Goddess for having put him on her path.


____________________________________________________________

The skeleton crew was already half way through their shift when Rick took the elevator. He didn’t have bad dreams this time, no this time he simply couldn’t sleep. Melding with Samara made him relived the events of Eden Prime, something he wished he could forget for good. He knew that would happen and did it anyway for his friend but now he was at the end of his rope. He had only one choice left and with everything at stake, he couldn’t deny and ignore the solution that he knew would work. Silently entering the room he made his way towards the bed. With one last moment of hesitation, he slithered in and cuddled to the warm body occupying it.