This will not be complete retelling of ME3. It starts off after the coup attempt and will continue on from there. Hope you enjoy, love to hear what you think. I tried to add as much of the in-game dialogue as I could.
Bioware owns all, if I did there would have been a better ending.
Chapter 2: A Chat with Aria
Approximately 3 years after the Normandy was destroyed. Eight days after the coup attempt on the Citadel.
Tara exited the elevator onto dock 42. A batarian, who Tara assumed was Bray, stood next to stalled cab. Tara approached and the cab opened to reveal Aria T'Loak inside. Tara took a seat in the back next to the former queen of Omega.
"Aria. How dramatic," Tara greeted. The merc queen huffed.
"There are too many eyes and ears in Purgatory." The cab took off. Tara studied her hostile ally.
"I assume this about retaking Omega." Aria continued to look forward.
"This is about your war, Shepard. Since taking Omega, Cerberus has spread through the galaxy. Surely the Alliance has noticed."
"Cut to the chase. What's your plan?"
"Kick them out," Aria replied. "I have amassed a fleet of merc ships. We're going to punch through enemy lines and invade."
Tara smirked. "Sounds easy enough."
"It's not that difficult. Once we're on Omega it's a ground war. That's why I want you. I only accept the best."
"Aria, in case you didn't notice, there is a war going on with these big ass machines called Reapers. I don't have much time to spare." Aria did not respond right away. She simply opened her omni tool.
"The leader of the Cerberus occupation is General Oleg Petrovsky. He's the one who..ousted me."
"Don't know him."
"He's the Illusive Man's top military strategist and best kept secret. Think of what he could tell you about Cerberus if we capture him. Think of what information he knows about the Illusive Man. Are you not tired of him always being one step ahead of you?" Tara looked away; Aria's statement hit too close to home. Her latest battle with Cerberus had resulted in the escape of Kai Leng and the painful loss of Thane. Tara was still having nightmares about it.
"Alright, Aria. If I decide to help you I need more information. What Intel have you got on the occupation?"
Aria leaned forward. "Petrovsky's army is massive and he's got Omega locked tight. The information stops there."
"So what? Are you just going to wing it and hope for the best?" That won't end well.
"Not at all. There are secrets on Omega only I know, secrets that will provide us a foothold."
Tara still was not sure. This was no simple mission. Aria was talking about starting a miniature war.
"When Omega is mine again, I'll give you everything. I've got ships, mercs, eezo-all yours for the big ass reaper war." Tara did not reply, still not sure if helping Aria was a wise decision.
Aria stared out the window at the passing cabs speeding by. "Look Shepard, there is another reason i'm asking you to come along." The asari opened her omni tool again, shuffling through it quickly. "My people are having difficulties handling the Adjutants."
Tara frowned slightly. "Adjutants?"
Aria nodded. "They are freaking terrors that Cerberus created by using reaper tech."
"Cerberus is making their own reapers now?" Tara asked. Upon Aria's repeated nod she replied, "Well that's just great."
Aria scanned her tool again. "The adjutants carry some sort of virus that infects their victims and turns them into more adjutants."
Tara cringed in disgust. "They sound like husks."
"Sure, except that they're bigger. And have more teeth." Aria held up her tool for Tara to see. On it was a massive creature standing over six feet high. It had claw- like- hands and multiple eyes and thick black skin. The most gruesome part was the bulbous head and tubes coming out of its chest that were glowing a luminescent blue.
"Oh," Tara said simply. "I can see why that would give you pause."
"They have been a major pain in the ass and are becoming more than a match for my men."
"I guess that's why you need me."
"Yes and no." Tara looked at her in confusion. "It's the adjutants' handler that we need to be concerned about."
"You mean Oleg?"
Aria shook her head. "Oleg lost control of them shortly after the first generation was released onto the station. My spies say that Cerberus could not stop them so they sealed the adjutants in the mining tunnels."
"Have they gotten loose again?"
"No. The Illusive Man sent some kind of biotic prodigy to deal with them. The second generation of adjutants is more advanced and the biotic has been able to control them completely. The first gen is still in the tunnels."
"So you need me to deal with the biotic?"
Aria nodded. "That's the idea. With adjutants on his side, Oleg will be near unstoppable."
"Well I'm not a biotic so I can't control the adjutants but I can deal with the biotic who is."
Aria glanced at her sideways, studying her closely. "There is one thing you should know." Tara looked at her curiously. "The biotic is a child." The commander leaned back in surprise, trying to process the information.
"How old are we talking? Twelve? Fifteen?"
Aria replied blankly, "Three." Tara stared at her hard trying to figure out if the asari was serious. She was.
"I didn't know biotic potential could surface at such a young age."
Aria shrugged, nonchalantly. "It's rare but not unheard of. Besides, this is the Illusive Man's work. You know how much he loves his biotic projects." Tara did know. She thought back to the horror stories Jack had told her about her captivity in the experimental base funded by Cerberus. Tara shivered involuntarily. She felt pity for this biotic child and whatever tortures the Illusive Man put him through.
"Shepard, I am a ruthless bitch. I accept this and exploit it." Tara did not have to be told this, it was pretty common knowledge. "It would be difficult to kill a child but I will not hesitate if that's what I have to do." Tara opened her mouth to argue but Aria stopped her. "Relax Shepard. This is why I am asking you to come along. You are too soft hearted for your own good but this kid shouldn't have to die because he under the Illusive bastard's control."
Tara smiled. "Sounds like you've gone soft, Aria." She received a glare in return.
"Don't read too much into this. I hate Cerberus and taking their prized biotic will be a pleasure." Tara shook her head, bemused.
"It might be difficult to find the child."
Aria glanced at her smugly. "My guess is that we look for the glowing boy about three feet tall." Tara rolled her eyes. "More than likely Oleg will have him. If not, my spies managed to get a picture of him; it's not a good one though." Aria held up her omni tool again. The picture was blurry but Tara could see it was a little boy with thick black hair and tan skin. She could not make out any specific features though, because he was enshrouded in an electric barrier. She could see his eyes however and she felt a hint of recognition that she could not place when she noticed that they were a familiar shade of blue. It was clear the boy knew how to use his biotics and Tara was concerned about the danger he could pose. She did not want to have to harm any innocent much less a three year old. Aria needed her help and Cerberus needed to be stopped. Tara would help the merc queen retake her home and hoped she could rescue the boy as well.
"Count me in, Aria." The asari did not smile but her eyes glowed. The cab slowed down and stopped at the spot they picked her up at. Tara stepped out and looked at Aria who remained seated.
"Bray will send you the coordinates of the fleet's location. When you are ready to go, message him." Tara nodded and turned to leave but Aria spoke again.
"I have objections to some of the company you keep, so you'll have to leave the Normandy and its crew behind."
Tara's eyes narrowed. Yeah right. "My crew are professionals."
"Let's just say..I want you all to myself."
"Fine," Tara ground out tightly. Aria dipped her head as the cab door closed and sped away from the dock. Tara planned to meet up with her soon. She needed to take care of a few things first.
Tara walked through the embassies towards the Spectre's office. A guard saluted her before she entered. The office was unsurprisingly empty except for the sound of gunfire coming from the firing range adjacent to the office. Tara stepped up to the comm and punched in Jack's signal. Moments later the 'psychotic biotic' appeared.
"Hey Shepard," Jack greeted excitedly. "Everything ok?"
"Everything is fine, Jack. I just had a question for you if you can spare a moment."
Jack's image flickered slightly. "Shoot."
"When Cerberus retreated from Grissom academy I know they got away with a few students." Jack's face clouded with pain and Tara felt horrible for bringing it up. The attack on Grissom Academy had happened almost a month ago but Jack was still reeling from the loss of those students she couldn't save. Tara almost dropped the subject but she needed more information on the biotic boy on Omega.
"Where any of those students young children?"
"How young?"
"About three."
Jack whistled under her breath but shook her head. "No. The youngest biotic we had here was ten but she went home before Cerberus attacked."
Tara's eyebrows furrowed in thought. She had been hoping the boy had a family that he had been taken from and not raised in the Illusive Man's care. Unfortunately that was not turning out to be the case.
"Why?" Jack asked, curious about the seemingly random question. Tara told her about the biotic boy that could control reaper creatures and Jack was naturally appalled.
"Shepard you have to get that kid out of there. Do you remember what they did to me?"
Tara nodded. "I know, Jack."
"But imagine if I hadn't escaped. What if Cerberus had managed to turn me into the super biotic they wanted?" Tara shuddered to think of the damage and death Jack could have caused under Cerberus's control.
"The boy could become unstoppable if left with the Illusive Man."
"I agree, Jack. I will do everything I can to get him out alive."
"Good." Jack leaned in closer. Tara could see the fire burning in her eyes. "No one deserves to go through my hell."
After a few more minutes of conversation Tara said goodbye and shut off the comm. Her omni tool beeped alerting her of an incoming message. Miranda had finally sent her the Citadel coordinates for where they could meet safely. Tara followed the coordinates to the Presidium, her concern for her former XO grew steadily. The last time they had spoken, Miranda had still been on the run for her life and was afraid to come near council space. For her to come here now meant she was truly desperate. Tara walked past several C-Sec officers and repair workers attending to the damage caused by Cerberus troops. She rounded the corner to the apartments and slipped in the one Miranda had mentioned.
The former Cerberus officer stood in the corner of the room, glancing out the window anxiously. Tara had never seen her so worried. Even the suicide mission to the Collector base had not broken her steely resolve.
Miranda saw her approach. "Shepard, I need your help."
"What's going on, Miranda?" Tara walked over to her friend, concern written on her features.
The other woman turned away, stepping closer to the window. "I can't tell you. But I am getting close to finding my father. I do know that he is researching something for the Illusive Man."
"That can't be good."
"No. And I still haven't found Oriana." Tara stepped closer to her and put a sympathetic hand on Miranda's shoulder. "If he has done something to her I will destroy him, Shepard."
"What can I do to help?" Miranda looked at her gratefully.
"I need access to Alliance resources. I have used all of my contacts and I have nowhere else to turn."
"Miranda, you know you can trust me with more than just resources."
The ex-officer raised her hand. "I wish I could tell you more but the less you know the safer you are. I'm sorry to bring this to you now. You have enough on your plate with saving the galaxy."
"I will help however I can." Tara smiled encouragingly and Miranda returned it.
"Thank you, Shepard. You have been a better friend than I deserve. But I have to go before anyone discovers that I am here." Tara watched her head towards the door before remembering her recent talk with Aria.
"Miranda, before you go." The older woman turned back around. Tara pulled up the picture of the biotic boy. "I know you are not with Cerberus anymore but I wanted to know if you had any information on this boy. He is supposedly another of the Illusive Man's biotic projects." Tara held up the picture for her to see. Miranda studied it for a moment before her eyes widened in surprise or maybe shock and she gasped, "Oh my God!"
"What is it?" Tara demanded gently. Miranda shook her head mutely, still looking at the boy. "Miranda, do you know anything?" She finally looked at Tara in despair.
"I'm so sorry, Shepard," she whispered.
"For what?"
Miranda pointed to the boy with the blue eyes. "This boy...is your son."
Dunh dunh dunh…
