The night cycle on Omega is permanent. The oppressive dark and badly recycled air turns the stomach at best. The place hadn't taken a turn for the better since the Reaper War.
It hadn't taken a turn anywhere.
The place was almost timeless. Like Aria's home had absorbed her longevity to a point where signs could be erected near docking gates, stating 'Don't fuck with Omega.'
An alcohol fuelled rock, with enough crazy to power the generators.
A dingy bar called the Firefly sits on one of the lower levels, it only occupants the barkeep, and a dark haired man sprawled over the bar. The liquid from his glass dripping from his over turned glass, only slightly faster than the saliva from his mouth as snored softly. The salarian barkeep, hesitated, ready to wake the man and insist he leave, before he shrugged. The man had payed for his numerous drinks after all, and he was a regular every night.
The man himself was a curious sight to see. The mop of dark brown hair on his head curled down reaching his shoulder's. A single faded red band in place to keep it out of his eyes. His scraggly beard had occasional streaks of gray in it and covered his entire jaw, chin and upper lip. His face was scarred, but lacked a haggard look. Exempting, of course, the two deep circles underneath both of his eyes.
The screen in the far corner of the room.
Flashed the same news story that had been on rotation for the past two weeks. The fifth anniversary of the ending of the Reaper War. Dignitaries and speeches and commiserative vids and series. As if everyone on Omega wasn't too busy trying to survive right now instead of wasting energy that couldn't be changed.
The man snorted awake opening a bleary eye at the wobbly shape of the salarian.
'Another'
The salarian slowly filled up a glass with whiskey, and slid it over to the man.
He drowned it in two gulps.
A news flash came up the screen. An exclusive interview with Captain Ashley Williams and her husband Major James Vega.
The reporter smiles at the screen, stating about just how honoured she had been to sit down and chat with the couple. And the reveal of the pregnancy.
Apparently the running poll was that the galaxy's favourite couple was having a romantic relationship during the Reaper War.
The man stared blankly at the screen for five minutes after the report ended.
He pulled himself back from the bar and stiffly stood. Splaying a hand flat on the table the man pushed off towards the door.
The salarian called after him.
'Reckon I'll see you tomorrow then'
The man's head tilted back toward the salarian with a considering look within his blue eyes.
'I don't think so. It's probably time' came his husky reply.
'Time?' The salarian questioned back.
'Time that I should go.'
Commander Shepard died during the Battle for Earth. He died destroying the Reapers. He did not survive. He was not recovered.
He was gone.
Everything he was.
Gone