„Khalisah al-Jilani, Westerlund News. Thank you for your time, Miss T'Loak." Said the reporter in a silvery voice while activating her camera.
„Just Aria." Remarked the intimidating Asari next to her.
Al-Jilani nodded fast and started noting something on her Datapad. „Okay, Aria. Since most of the criminals in the galaxy start their way here on Omega, especially in the mercenary organizations called „Blue Suns", we are all extremely interested in the new way you see for this establishment. I guess there will some changes since you are their new leader."
Aria laughed and folded her hands in her lap while glancing in the camera. "Actually, the blue suns were mine since I am Omega. They did what I wanted them to do. To be honest, for me it is not a big change in leadership as I will give the orders, just like before they all went crazy."
A perfect peg, as planned. Aria knew how to deal with annoying reporters.
"They went crazy? Could you explain that, please?" She moved closer on the couch. The VIP area in the Afterlife, Omegas biggest nightclub and Areas office, was way too loud to clearly understand the mysterious woman.
Again, this cold laugh.
"Well, usually power and force keeps them restrained. Until someone thinks he is stronger and smarter than me. They gain followers, they start to revolt and then they die. It happens all the time, but usually not in the upper echelons."
"So this time was different from other … revolts?"
"Ecplise, Blue suns, Blood pack… they all had their wars and tried to make a change. But they mostly failed. I didn't care for who leads the groups as long as they followed the first rule."
"Which is…?"
"Don't fuck with Aria."
The reporter stared at the asari in disbelief while she noted something. Aria guessed it was the word "fuck" she erased.
"So, you want to say that you killed over 70 mercenaries that night because you wanted to save the hierarchy? You alone?"
Now the look an Arias face became serious. In cold and harsh words she started to explain:
"That night was tragic, but necessary." Now she smirked again. "And lets say I had some help from … a very human friend."
Her eyes wandered to the darkest corner in the club to a silhouette Al-Jilani couldn't see.
"What friend?" , she asked while trying to catch the hiding person with squinted eyes.
"She wanted to be a hero, you know. When she arrived at Omega she wanted to be the one that ends the corruption, the killing… Eden Prime was destroyed, her home and family vanished while she was still in this world. Alone and full of dreams she stranded on Omega. But this ain't no place for no hero, you know."
"What happened to her?"
"She… changed."
"What caused it?"
"This place is what's causing it. Omega changes people."
The reporter sighed and deactivated the camera with one touch.
„To be honest… this is not what I hoped for, Aria. I know you want to save her, but if Valerie Santiago is a part of this, we need to know. You are hiding a wanted criminal."
Slowly Aria stood up and signed her men to guard Al-Jilani to the door.
"This is Omega, human. Not your tiny, polluted earth with all its laws and prisons. And now leave. And do yourself a favour and never come back."
After she left, Aria sat down again und closed her eyes while tilting her head. "They are looking for you, Val."
A silent whisper from the shadows. "I know."
"What are you going to do?"
"Well, you said it. This aint no place for no hero."
"True."
"Good thing I became the villain by now."