"War is so unjust and ugly that all who wage it must try to stifle the voice of conscience within themselves."
-Leo Tolstoy

I

She will return


The lift stopped with a ding. The tune that had been playing in the car as it had traveled downwards faded away. Shepard's eyes shot up. They read the little display indicating which floor the car had stopped on. They returned to their earlier position, looking forward, a little more relaxed but no less focused. Shepard couldn't help being nervous. She was alone, meeting someone claiming to be Aria T'Loak, unarmed, and unarmored. Not that Shepard couldn't handle herself. As the last two years had proven it was quite to the contrary. Shepard had in that time managed to bring to justice not one but two rogue Spectres, go through the Omega 4 relay, and kill a Reaper with a pistol.

A few hours ago Shepard had received a message from a certain infamous asari; Aria T'Loak. The message was headed, It's Time, and contained instructions on where and when to meet the ousted Queen of Omega. In nearly every encounter Shepard had had with the Aria, the asari had made it painfully clear that she was not the amicable sort. That was why the message struck Shepard as suspect. Traynor, with help from EDI, had confirmed the message as authentic but with everything that was happening throughout the galaxy, Shepard wasn't fully convinced.

Shepard stepped out of the elevator, sweeping her head left and right. She half expected to see a familiar black, yellow, and white color scheme to jump out at her. The hallway was clear. Shaped much like other portions of the docks, the left hand wall consisted mainly of wide windows. Through them Shepard could see the Wards and their inwards curving skylines laid out before her. She recounted a similar view from much closer to the Presidium ring. The Wards looked different from the docks. They seemed, smaller.

Shepard continued down the hall, eyes darting around like those of spooked pigeon. Doors lined the hallways, each leading to a different number dock. 40, 41, Shepard counted silently to herself. 42. Shepard shook her head, half amused. Of all the numbers. On the other side of the door was a batarian, standing arms crossed. He turned the moment the doors slid apart.

"Are you Bray?" Shepard asked sizing up the batarian. He had on a suit of armor, though no visible firearms. Still, Shepard dug her heels into the floor, preparing to fabricate an omni-blade and charge him.

"Ah, the great Commander Shepard." The batarian slightly tilted his head to the right. "And me without my autograph book."

"Save it," said Shepard, switching her posture to spar with her words rather than her fists. "Just take me to Aria."

"Follow me."

Bray led Shepard through a door and past a security grid. It beeped twice. Once for the human and once for the batarian. It didn't seem to take note of the fact that Bray was wearing a suit of combat armor. Shepard made a mental note to discuss with C-Sec later of a possible breach in security. They walked onto a small footbridge leading to another door. Bray stopped halfway across and leaned against the railing. Shepard stopped the moment Bray did and got ready to flip out an omni-blade.

Shepard inspected her surroundings, careful not to give away her suspicions. "So, where is she?"

Bray didn't answer. He simply crossed his arms.

From behind Bray appeared an aircar, its arrival heralded by the whine of its legally mandated noise emitter. It came up alongside the footbridge. The aircar's canopy flipped open. Behind the wheel was another batarian and in the backseat was Aria.

Aria looked up at Shepard and said, "Get in."

Shepard raised an eyebrow and looked at Bray. The batarian nodded in the direction of the aircar. With a small shrug Shepard took the seat next to Aria. Bray got in the front. Aria gestured to the driver and the aircar started off. The canopy shut and the vehicle began its descent.

Shepard looked around the inside of the aircar. "Well this is an interesting bit of theatrics."

"Purgatory is home to too many prying eyes and ears." Aria leaned back in her seat. "If that means I have to be dramatic, so be it."

The buzz of the aircar turned to a high-pitched whine as it merged onto one of the Citadel's speedways. The whine soon ceased and all that could be heard was the whoosh of air as it flowed past the aircar.

"I take it you've finally got a plan to take back Omega."

"You're a perceptive one aren't you. Yes I have a plan to retake Omega and before you ask, yes I need your help."

Shepard put a hand over her mouth to hide the smirk on her lips.

"If all you're going do is gloat then get out." Looking Shepard in the eye, Aria handed over a datapad. "Now, pay attention."

Shepard immediately recognized it as an Alliance personnel file. It was an old one too, pulled from the archives. Shepard could tell by the dress whites being worn in the photo id. She hadn't seen anyone wear those in an official capacity in years. The last time was during the ceremony when her mother made captain.

"That's Oleg Petrovsky," stated Aria. "The Illusive man's top military strategist and best kept secret, other than you. He's cunning and ruthless."

"Sounds familiar."

"Don't make any mistake Shepard. Petrovsky isn't as cuddly as I am. Given the chance he would kill you in a heartbeat."

Shepard shook her solemnly. "Never would have pegged you as a cuddler."

Aria glared at Shepard. "Petrovsky's got Omega locked down tight. Used to be Omega was still Omega, just with new management, but then something happened and Cerberus clamped down hard. Traffic still moves through Omega but it's highly regulated. A frontal assault would be suicide."

"And you need me because you need Normandy's stealth drive."

"You think too highly of your toys Shepard," said Aria with a condescending tone. "Omega is a space station. Space stations have windows, as do all the Cerberus ships patrolling it. Your 'stealth' ship won't make it past the relay. I already have a way of getting in. What I need is someone who can fight and you fit the bill."

"What's this way in?"

"You'll find out soon enough."

"Fine. Give me a time and a place and I'll meet you there with my team."

"No," said Aria. "Just you."

"My team is the best out there."

"Your team doesn't fit into the plan. You'll understand when you get there." Aria gestured to the driver to stop.

The aircar slowed. The air ceased to whoosh and then the whine and the buzz returned. The aircar ascended and its canopy opened.

"Bray will send you the details."

Both Shepard and the aforementioned batarian stepped out of the aircar.

"Oh and Shepard, try not to blow anything up while you're still aboard the Citadel. I don't want any more attention on me than I already have."

"I make no promises."

"Didn't think you would."

The aircar descended, disappearing from sight.

"Aren't you a bundle of fun," said Bray. "The only other person I've seen rile up Aria that much would have to been the General."

"It's a gift," Shepard replied. "Now about that time and place."