I do not own Star Wars, Mass Effect or Halo.

Aria T'Loak sat waiting in her booth overlooking the interior of the Afterlife club.

Omega was running smoothly under her rule since the Reaper War had ended years ago, her influence once again encompassed the Terminus Systems and Citadel Space, and business in the criminal underworld was good.

However she was worried that was about to change: A few days ago, Darth Maul, the head of the multidimensional crime syndicate known as the Shadow Collective, requested a meeting with the ruler of Omega to discuss a business proposition.

The Shadow Collective had their hands in criminal operations all over IDA territory, and now it seemed they wanted Omega.

Aria had agreed, but knew that she really had no choice in the matter, because Maul could take over the station if he really wanted to.

Despite their recent actions betraying the Flood, the Shadow Collective still had a military large enough to warrant considerable concern from the IDA (though not enough to warrant the full attention of the other two superpower galaxies), and although Omega had upgraded defenses, courtesy of Cerberus during their brief time in control of her station, the Shadow Collective could take control or destroy Omega if they put everything into the effort.

"And from what I've heard of Maul, if he wants this station, he certainly would order an all-out attack on Omega."

That's why she had agreed to a meeting with the Sith Lord on her station; he'd have to come into her territory, and if negotiations went south, she would be in a position to dictate terms, or eliminate him.

Plus, she was curious to hear what the proposition was, and you could learn a lot about someone through a simple conversation, since she wanted to know what Maul was like.

At that moment, one of her lieutenants approached and informed her that Maul's fighter had docked with the station, and a fleet of Shadow Collective ships were hanging back a considerable distance from Omega.

"He's smart enough to bring reinforcements, I'll give him that," Aria said, and waited for Maul's arrival.

She didn't have to wait long; 10 minutes later, the door to the interior of the club opened, and the delegation strode through.

Two humanoid figures, with a crown of horns on their heads, strolled through first. One was two meters tall, covered in black armor, had a cybernetic left arm, and his face was covered in yellow and brown tattoos. This was Savage Opress, Darth Maul's brother and second-in-command.

In front of him was a shorter figure, wearing a black and brown tunic that exposed a strip of his bare chest. His legs and lower waist were clearly mechanical and his face and body was covered in red and black tattoos. Despite the brute standing behind him, he carried himself with an aura of authority and fear, leaving no doubt that this was Darth Maul.

Following the two Zabraks were a pair of Mandalorian bodyguards, with their armor painted in shades of red and black, that were no doubt members of Maul's elite Death Watch forces.

Most of the people on Omega had seen weird species and individuals from all over the multiverse but this group was so bizarre in appearance that most of the people in the club turned their heads when they saw him... and the ones who recognized them backed away in fear, thus Maul was unimpeded as he walked up the stairs into Aria's booth.

She sat on her couch looking away from the group as her guards scanned them; they were carrying weapons, which was no surprise as all customers were allowed to enter the club armed, but the scans proved they were who they said they were.

Aria gestured to Maul, who walked up the short incline to the sofa.

"Aria T'Loak," he said by way of greeting.

"Lord Maul, have a seat," she replied and as he silently took a seat across from her, she said,

"Let's talk."

I might end up making this into a series, and incorporating more franchises into it, so stay tuned for more.