SEARCHING FOR THE BROKEN
Aria T'Loak stands vigilant in her place, staring down from an overview at Omega in all its glory. Today is a very special day and Aria must make sure that everything is taken care of before running off. She stares down at the exotic dancers on the giant plate in the middle of the room, then turns her gaze to the various customers littering the halls of Afterlife, then retracting her gaze back to the dancers. Everything seems to be in order. She hopes, and prays to the Goddess, that no one will interrupt today's event in any way.
If someone wants to assassinate her, they'll just have to reschedule.
'Tadus,' Her voice is smooth and demeaning, as usual, but today there's an unusual texture to it. Is it joy? 'I'm leaving Afterlife to you. If I come back tomorrow to find this place trashed, I will fuck you up. Got it?' She turns to give the nervous bartarian the evil eye, earning a low but fearful whimper.
'Y-Yes, Aria.'
'Good.'
Aria then takes a step down from the platform, tearing her gaze away from the dancers, and makes her way out of Afterlife. She has less than thirty minutes to get through the busy traffic to make it to the Galla. And even then, she knows that a bunch of people are going to want to kill her for Goddess knows what reasons. But she made a promise. Even if five dozen Krogans try to take her head-on, she will kill them all just to get home.
She hops into a slick, black shuttle parked behind Afterlife and signals for the Salarian driver to go. The driver nods and leaves the driveway in a hurry, not afraid to take sharp turns and illegal shortcuts to get to their destination.
Aria then stares out of the shuttle window in thought. Her thoughts are interrupted as the view of Omega dampens just mood just slightly. She likes the cold, dirty atmosphere Omega gives. But she knows that this type of atmosphere is not suitable for an innocent soul. She feels a sudden urge to leave this place, to her surprise. She has had countless occupants visit her to enquire about the future stakes of Afterlife. They want Afterlife, they want the ownership, but Aria knows that she can't merely step down like that. So she brushes them away, persuading them that she'll 'get back to them'.
As they cross a narrow street filled with pedestrians of all sorts, her mind wanders to an illusive event that happened 40 years ago, the memory plaguing her mind and stinging her every nerve almost as if it's pinching her very skin. She suddenly feels uncomfortable, and a sorrowful longing fills her gut.
About fifteen minutes later, they arrive in front of a tall sleek, mostly-cleaned building overlooking the entire Omega. It's 30 stories high and has a very modern external form. Aria quickly exits the limo, thanks the driver (rather blatantly) and makes her way into the building, brushing the security guards aside with a flick of her wrist.
She quickly calls for the elevator, and presses the number '30' on the panel inside the elevator. The contraption takes her up, and once she is high enough, the transparent windows allow her to see a full view of her marvellous planet.
'Omega.' She purrs wistfully, smiling.
Once the elevator stops at the highest floor, she steps into a long corridor and manoeuvres her way to the door at the very end. A smile suddenly twists on her lips as the door parts to make way for her to enter the room.
Two Asari's turn to give her a friendly smile and a gentle wave, one human couple watches as she enters and, though nervous, offer her a small smile, a shady-looking Turian gives her a nod from the corner and finally another younger Asari makes her way to Aria as she struts into the room and gives her a nod.
'You're late.' The Asari says, a slightly disappointed frown on her lips.
'I'm here.' Aria emphasizes the words, glaring the Asari down. 'And I want to see her.'
'She's by the window with her friends, cutting the cake.'
Aria brushes past the Asari, passes the countless parents and guardians, and enters the viewing room, where a bunch of younger organic beings of all species gather around a rounded table filled with gifts of all sorts. At the centre of the table, a pretty, slim-figured Asari with light coloured skin and gorgeous pale blue eyes unwraps a red box with an enthusiastic grin on her face. When she pulls out a short but usable grey Razer pistol, she ecstatically hugs a human girl beside her with much joy.
'Thanks so much, Shayre!'
The human looks embarrassed. Heat embellishes her face, and turns her into a walking tomato. She looks in no discomfort when the Asari hugs her.
'I hope you don't plan on using that anytime soon.'
The Asari turns at Aria's sudden arrival. The older Asari has a twisted smug look on her face, whereas the younger Asari brightens up almost instantly. She races up to the taller figure and hugs her tightly.
'You made it!'
'Of course I did.' Aria mutters. She turns her gaze to the kids by the table and shoots them a look. Instantly, they all scatter around, some going off to find their parents, while others merely hang around drinking and eating the cheap cuisine served on the long counter tables by the kitchen.
Aria looks down at the younger Asari and flicks her in the forehead. 'I'm sorry I was late.'
The younger Asari smiles sheepishly and shrugs. 'You're here now. Plus, this just gives me an excuse to BEG for my birthday present!'
Aria raises an eyebrow curiously. Though a playful smile lightens her face, she wonders, deeply, what might this little Asari's wish may be.
'I want... to meet my father,' The younger Asari says, taking a deep, stable breath. 'Mum.'
Aria sits by her apartment window, on a long, extremely comfortable black standard couch that came with two pairs of fluffy white pillows. Her face is pulled into a nonchalant, bored expression. But her eyes speak of something else.
It's been 40 years since she and the great Commander Shepard once slept together. 40 years since Aria last heard her voice. 40 years since Aria gave birth to the most beautiful girl in the whole galaxy; Her daughter, Ariena T'Loak.
Ever since Liselle, Aria felt as if she could never truly move on with her life. She watched her daughter's body get buried, that wasn't something Aria could easily move by. She was ruthless, heartless and stone-cold, but, as the humans would say, 'she was still human'. She couldn't just push past her daughter's death so easily. It had scarred her more ways than one.
But then, in came Shepard.
Aria thought she had built her barriers pretty well. In a world so untouchable, almost perfect, there was no one who could penetrate the safe walls she had put up. Seemingly so, the great Commander still managed to squeeze her way through. And with that bond, with that new love, came a beautiful baby bustling with life and hope.
Aria never thought she could love another daughter like this again. But Ariena is the light and goodness in Aria's heart. She will never, ever, ever let anyone harm her. Not like how Liselle was harmed.
But still,
Aria hasn't even told her daughter about her real father yet. Ariena has no idea that greatness runs in her blood.
She doesn't know if she'll ever be able to face Shepard again. Everytime she looks at Ariena, she sees Shepard's pale blue eyes. Everytime she looks at Ariena, she sees Shepard's shy and cheeky smile. But the thing that probably hurts the most is when Ariena laughs. When that little asari laughs, Aria is taken back 40 years to when she and Shepard touched for the very first time.
She rubs the skin on her arms in longing.
She'd never admit it. But she misses Shepard greatly.
'Mum?'
Aria turns her gaze to the little asari beside her. Her pale blue eyes stare up at Aria's slightly darker blue ones. It wounds her to be having to lie to her daughter. But what'll happen once she finds out Shepard's her father? Aria likes how things are right now. Why must they change?
'Ariena, go to bed.'
'You haven't answered me.'
Aria looks away, and releases a deep sigh. 'We'll talk about it in the morning.'
The little asari frowns . 'No, we won't. You'll be gone by the time I wake up and I'm gonna have that one-sided conversation with Tadus again.'
'Ariena.' Aria's tone of voice changes. It's a warning now. Ariena knows the consequences of pushing past that warning. She's tried once, and it didn't exactly end well for her. After all, her mother's still Aria T'Loak, ruthless Pirate Queen of Omega.
Ariena looks at her mother with a deep plead in her eyes. She has wanted to meet her father for so long now. That's all she wishes for. That's all she's ever wished for. Of course, being the daughter of Aria T'Loak, there were speculations among the people she usually hung out with. Tadus said it has to be someone equally as dangerous and intimidating as Aria herself. Who else could've impregnated her? Another one of Aria's men, Rember, a Turian ex-marine who fled the battle in Palaven to save his daughter and wife who were on the Citadel when Cerberus struck, even went so far as to claim it was a Krogan! It made sense— Ariena had a strong, burning passion for combat. It would be no surprise if Rember's statement turned out to be true.
However Ariena feels as if she's no closer to finding out who her father is. Even after begging for the answer for so long. Even after bearing through all her mothers' orders and instructions and hard-willed complaints. But Aria has made her decision, so the little asari turns away, and shuffles back to her bedroom in disappointment.
Maybe on her 50th birthday...
Aria stares at her daughter's little back as she makes her way upstairs. She knows that it's only a matter of time before her little spitfire gets, well, not so little anymore. Assuming Ariena grows up to be as smart as Aria, she'd be able to find out who her father anyways. When that day comes, Aria hopes she's prepared for the crazy fury her little spitfire's bound to throw at her. There's no harm in having a fun little battle with your daughter now and then. She had them with Liselle all the time before.
But for now, she's satisfied with just watching her daughter grow up.
A ghost of a smile lingers on her blue face as she casts her gaze down to the magnificent view that is Omega. 'Shepard, wherever you are, I just want you to know. You and your daughter have a shitload in common. I hope when you meet her, you'll be able to see that.'
Author's Note: The beginning to, what I hope, will be a successful story that's mainly focused on Aria, Femshep and their daughter, Ariena. Just a note, her name is pronounced 'Ah-ree-na'. Anyways, I know this first chapter is short, but I reassure you further chapters will be much longer.
Thanks for reading!
-K.
