| abstract
| - It was a warm evening on the homeworld of . Two powerful asari, Matriarch Ranassa and Priya Herania, stood at the top of the Republic Convention Tower and watched as the sun set over the great city of Serrice. It was once something that the two of them always did but this was the first time the two of them met one another at the tower in over 300 years. Priya Herania had only recently returned to Thessia; since the start of her matron stage of life she's been travelling the galaxy and mustering a collection of experience and stories to last several () lifetimes. Now nearing the stage of matriarch, Priya made the decision to return to her birth place and prepare herself for her final years. Ranassa: "I'm happy to learn that you've finally decided to settle down here on Thessia, Priya." Priya: "Of course, Ranassa. I'm nearing a whole new stage in my life. As a matriarch, I should always be at the heart of my people's society." Ranassa: "I wish more asari were like you. Most are nearly my age yet pretend to still be in their 500s. I see great things ahead for you, my child." Priya: "Hopefully. I'm definitely behind in life so far. I haven't had a child or even found a suitable mate. What does that mean?" Ranassa: "It only means that you haven't found anyone good enough yet." Matriarch Ranassa and Priya were close friends, or more like family. Ranassa has been a mentor to Priya, in matters of both society and combat. Not only was Matriarch Ranassa a famed speaker and debater in the legislature but she was also a very powerful biotic and a well-trained huntress. She taught Priya everything she knew before she left on her travels, to prepare her for her new role as a matriarch and for the dangers that would surely follow her through her life. As the two asari reminisced about the past and discussed the future, another unknown made her way up the tower. The asari was clad in dark, black-and-red robes and a large hood which masked most of her face. Any attendants that attempted to speak with her received only cold glares from her bold, blistering eyes. The asari slowly yet steadily made her way up the large building, navigating corridors and elevators along the way. In a matter of time, the asari made her way to the balcony area and spotted Ranassa and Priya from a distance. After observing them for a few moments, the shadowy asari decided to make herself known. With one hand, the asari launched a massive mass effect field at the two of them. Ranassa quickly picked up on this and after pulling Priya behind her, she fired her own smaller but more concentrated field, splitting the opposing blast in two and causing it to disperse. A blue aura grew around Ranassa as she charged her power. She shouted at the hooded figure, demanding she reveal herself or suffer but the asari said nothing. She only removed her hood and when she did, Ranassa reacted strangely as if she knew the asari. Priya came to the side of Ranassa and entered her fighting stance, preparing to help her combat thise foe, but her mentor had other plans. Ranassa: "Priya, don't stay here. Run, now!" Priya: "What? That's insane, I'm not going anywhere." Ranassa: "I'm serious! She's too powerful! I'll hold her off but I won't last for long!" Priya: "I don't understand. I'm stronger than you think." Ranassa: "So is she, she's an Ardat-Yakshi and one who's mated a great amount by the feel of her power." Before Priya could make a rebuttal, the Ardat-Yakshi sprinted toward the two of them, hurling as she did. Ranassa Priya away and reflected the blasts with her bare hands. The Ardat-Yakshi closed the gap between herself and Ranassa and unleashed an onslaught of rapid jabs and kicks against the old matriarch, who effectively blocked and countered each one. By this time, Priya had drifted into the nearest elevator and Ranassa, noticing this, used her biotics to force the elevator downward as quickly as she could. Ranassa returned her attention to the Ardat-Yakshi; the was startled by her strength but not necessarily surprised by it. In an attempt to end it quickly, Ranassa summoned a massive , as did her opponent. As the two opposing shockwaves collided with one another, the two caused a a massive explosion. Dust and debris flew in all directions and the windows of the three floors closest to the top-floor shattered. The balcony of the tower caved in and caused a large crater in the roof. Even with all of this, the Ardat-Yakshi was unscathed, protected by a powerful . Ranassa, on the other hand, had scratches on her face and blood trickling from her nose. Ranassa: "It seems I'm not as strong as I used to be, especially if you've managed to injure me. What are you doing here, Nadia?" Nadia: "You know exactly why I'm here; a family should be together." Ranassa: "I won't let you get to her!" Nadia: "What choice do you have?" Ranassa sent two biotic waves at Nadia, which the Ardat-Yakshi simply brushed aside with one hand but Ranassa followed this up by her opponent and striking her with augmented strength, sending Nadia through the air. Nadia recovers before she could go too far and unleashes her own assault, creating a and ensnaring the matriarch within it. Debris consisting of metal scraps and shard of glass are sucked into the vortex and as Ranassa struggles to create and maintain a barrier around herself, she is slowly torn apart. The singularity finally bursts and leaves behind a cloud of dust and glowing particles. In the aftermath, Ranassa is left in a small crater nearly unconscious. Her dress has been shredded and her body became covered in gashes and blood. She struggled to stand on her own but her body would be ensnared in a field by Nadia and lifted. Nadia looked in Ranassa's eyes as the matriarch struggled to stay awake. Nadia: "So, that's all you have? I will admit you've taught me well but it's all obsolete now, master. I've become too strong for you. I didn't even need all of my power to deal with you." Ranassa: "How dare you? You better no your place, demon!" Nadia: "Is that why you and my mother left me to die but kept her around?! Do you really think she is so much better than me?!!" Ranassa: "I do... You will never amount to who she is." Nadia: "...What an odd choice for last words." Nadia lifted Ranassa's limp body higher up into the air and lifted a large broken pipe. With all her force, she launched the pipe with her biotics and impaled Ranassa in the abdomen then, to finish her off, Nadia hurled the body off of the building with a single . Nadia looked over the side of the balcony and watched Ranassa plummet for a few moments before recloaking herself in her dark robe and slipped away from the battle-scarred rooftop as local law enforcement closed in. Meanwhile, Priya attempted to return to the top of the tower but none of the elevators worked; the shockwave blast had cut all elevators from the top floor and the three floors under it. Priya had no other choice: if she was going to make it to the top floor in time to help her mentor, she would have to take the stairs up 80 floors. Before she could even get to the stairwell, however, she could hear a loud thud come from outside and a subsequent series of loud screaming. She ran outside of the building and witnessed her mentor, Ranassa splattered on the ground with a broken pipe stuck inside of her. Instantly, she broke down in tears.
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