I do not own Mass Effect or Bioware.
Prologue
"Evil is always devising more corrosive misery through man's restless need to exact revenge out of his hate." -Ralph Steadman
It was quiet. The many luxurious rooms that made up the VIP sections of the Afterlife were insulated well to cancel the roaring music just outside. The furnishings were similar though the lighting was almost too dim to appreciate them.
As I was escorted in by the two large krogan sentries they separated left and right revealing the only seat at the table. A single light shined right over my head much like an interrogation room. My interrogator sat opposite of me. The light, still dim, was purposed to hide her identity, but everyone in that room knew who she was. There was an uneasy pause before she spoke.
"Do you know why I brought you here today?" she questioned.
"No." I answered simply.
"You have been creating problems here on Omega and while they are directed at the Eclipse, they still affect business for everyone, which includes me. So you can choose to continue your 'business' with the Eclipse under my strict supervision and employment, or your little war will end here today."
I reach for my jacket pocket but suddenly stop as the sound of two heavy krogan shotguns are raised and pumped.
"If I may?" I ask with caution.
I hear a small grunt of disappointment as Aria gestures for her guards to lower their weapons. I procure a small medallion from my pocket. The high polish finish reflects the intense light from overhead. The twisted chain link neck piece twirls the medallion in place displacing the light across the room.
"If you were to take one word that describes your entire species what would it be? Honor, wisdom, longevity, pride? All of them are accurate. You asari embody all of these qualities do you not?" I could tell her mind was already working ahead trying to figure me out. "I mean you have proven time and again this is true. Asari Commandos are highly disciplined and very deadly. You have many of the galaxy's brightest scientist and greatest thinkers. You are masters of diplomacy and some the greatest leaders and orators of our time are asari, would you agree?" Aria simply nods in agreement.
As the medallion slowly loses its momentum I squeeze it tightly in my fist. "Now what word would describe my species?" The anger and venom in my tone are clearly present. "I'll go ahead and tell you…HATE. That is what we are, that is what we take in with every breath we breathe. Our first and strongest emotion is hate. It is our sickness and it is our strength. We hate all other species, we hate our brothers, our sisters, ourselves. Every technological advance we make, its first purpose is for warfare and death." In my rage I rise to my feet and gesture to the two guards behind me. "Don't compare us to Krogans! Yes, they have a heritage of violence and war! It courses through their veins as well, but our violence extends beyond war, we murder for pleasure and little gain! When we do not have a common enemy we turn and kill each other! We murder our friends, our loved ones, and our family!" Again I can hear the guards starting to get anxious as they raise their weapons at my outburst.
I slowly sit back down in my chair. My tone is more collected and calm as I redirect my thoughts. "The reasons vary from victim to victim, some are for revenge others for no reasons other than jealousy. We do this day in and day out. We commit horrible crimes against ourselves, we exterminate each other because of our views and opinions. Our history is splattered with the blood of every generation since our origin and we are complacent with it. Wars upon wars have been fought for land, for material, for God, for everything, and for nothing. From our ancient ancestors to our present we have killed and killed and killed." I pause again thinking of her. "Genocide is our way of life. We are masters of this craft." I look at the medallion one last time. "I am on her side and that is the only reason I am still here." I lay the medallion on the table and slide it towards Aria. "Once I see to it that everyone responsible has paid then, and only then will I go. So with that said…are you willing to go to war with me?" I can tell that Aria is unmoved by my words as she remains motionless and ready to give the kill order to the krogans behind me. I again reach for my jacket and slowly pull it away from my left side to reveal a small transceiver surgically implanted into my heart with a remote independent kill switch.
"If this is removed or my blood stops its flow… you, me, and everyone on this station dies."