Chapter 3: Blood Grudges
The smell of stale air, cigarette smoke and misery.
That was the first thing newcomers would notice when they step into the docks of Omega. The second would be that eerie feeling of eyes watching you're every move.
They weren't wrong.
Shepard clicked his tongue as the airlock doors opened, revealing the graffiti that decorated the spaceport docks. Beside him were Jack and Grunt, who nonchalantly followed the commander as he walked into Omega.
Grunt sniffed the air and let out a low growl. "It smells like death in here, battlemaster." He said as they walked down the corridor. "You should've taken me here sooner." He added excitedly.
They turned the corner and entered the main plaza, the After-Life bar looming over in the distance.
Jack merely took out some gum from her pocket and popped it into her mouth. "This place is a shit-hole." She said, blowing a bubble which popped just as quickly. "Bet'cha the drinks are killer, huh Shepard?"
"You can say that." Shepard replied with amusement as he remembered his first time on the station. "Just watch out for batarian bartenders."
"So we are going on a bender later." Jack said with excitement in her voice. She turned towards the krogan next to her, "Sorry kid, adults only."
"I am Krogan!" Grunt replied indignantly. "By krogan law, I am a fullfledged adult!"
"By everyone else's you're a month and a half old, kiddo." She teased, a wry look on her face, making Grunt fume and smack his fists together.
"Don't tease him, Jack." Shepard interjected. "Besides, we got a courtesy call to make first. Which reminds me…" He whipped out his omnitool and spoke into it. "Everyone in position?"
An hour earlier…
"We just went through hell and back." Shepard replied, "I'm not about to get jumped by some mercs looking for a quick buck." He enlarged the holo map of Omega.
"Agreed." Garrus replied, looking over the map.
"So let's summarize…" Shepard began, bringing up different locations on the map. "Garrus; you, Kasumi and Legion are on recon." He looked over as the two others he mentioned walked up next to Garrus. Kasumi had her trademark grin while Legion merely waited for Shepard to continue. "You know this station like the back of your hand, Garrus. I need you to go ahead of us and pick up any chatter about merc movements or bounties on us. "
"Tour guide duty, got it." The turian replied, crossing his arms.
"I hope you know how to show a girl a good time, Garrus." Kasumi said loud enough for Jacob to hear. Jacob for his part merely cleared his throat; the girl was playing dirty now.
"Acknowledged, Shepard-Commander." Legion simply stated.
Shepard then turned to Zaeed. "Zaeed, you take Thane and Samara with you. Your group will shadow ours after we leave the Normandy."
"I got your back, Shepard." Zaeed said.
"You can count on us." Samara began.
Thane merely nodded grimly.
Shepard then turned to Jacob Mordin and Miranda. "You three stay with the ship along with Tali. The moment the Normandy drops off Zaeed's group, I want the ship to go directly to the repair bay Garrus marked on the map."
Jacob nodded and said, "I'll keep this ship under lockdown, Shepard."
"Understand the need for security, Shepard." Mordin said, "Still, would like to visit clinic when things die down. Check in on Daniel and old staff."
"Of course, Mordin." Shepard said, "As soon as we've secured Omega, we'll organize a shore leave."
"I would appreciate that, yes."
"I still don't see why you can't take me, at least." Miranda began.
"Settle down, cheerleader." Jack said with a smug look on her face. "I'll put in a few good hits for you."
"A hit from you is equivalent to 3 of mine." She replied, a smug look on her own face. "So I think I'll pass, thanks."
"Bitch." Jack said, grinning dangerously.
Shepard just shook his head. Jack and Miranda had put aside their differences, but what they had replaced it with was a 'friendly' rivalry at best. "Miranda, I need you here to protect the ship. We're stretched thin as is, and I need someone powerful to make sure the crew is safe."
"… Alright." Miranda said, seemingly content with his answer.
"Alright then." Shepard said, then turning to Tali. "Tali, I don't want other hands but ours to touch this ship." He began. It felt strange talking to her like this, but she had agreed with him that maintaining professionalism during meetings was for the best. "I made it clear to the foreman of the repair bay that we'd pay extra just for the use of their facilities and none of their men."
"I wouldn't have it any other way, Shepard." Tali replied.
"Glad to hear it." He nodded then turned to Jack and Grunt. "You two are with me. If things go ugly in the club, we're going to need some CQC."
"Nice." Jack said, cracking her knuckles. Grunt merely grunted and slammed his fists together.
Garrus scratched his scarred mandible as he went over the plan again on the holograms. "I got to say, Shepard," he began, "You have all your bases covered. I'm almost impressed."
Shepard laughed, "Well, let's all just hope this was all the product of paranoia and we can laugh about it later over a couple of dozen shots."
Present…
"This is Zaeed." Came the voice from Shepard's omnitool, "We have disembarked and the Normandy has departed." Shepard heard guns cocking in the background. "We'll give you a five minute head start."
"Copy that, Zaeed." He replied, then switching frequencies. "Garrus, how are things on your end?"
"We're in Eclipse territory." Came the whispered reply. "Nothing out of the ordinary, same scum, new boss. An asari named Tarrana." There was a tone to his voice Shepard knew well. One that said a pull of a trigger and the Omega branch of Eclipse would have to find a new boss.
"Another time, just stay out of sight." Shepard said. "I need Garrus right now, not Archangel."
"Don't know what you're talking about." Garrus replied, but Shepard heard the regret in his voice. "Will keep you updated, over and out."
He switched the frequency again over to the Normandy. It was EDI who greeted him. "We are approaching the repair bay, commander." Joker's voice then came up, "Smooth sailing so far, commander. Just in time too; Tali's says she's no miracle worker. If we hadn't gotten hear any sooner, we would've had to tow my baby."
"Good to hear, keep me updated."
"Gotcha, commander. Normandy out."
"So what now?" Jack said, hands on her hips. Shepard deactivated his omnitool and started walking.
"Now? Now we head into the belly of the beast and hope it's not hungry."
"Let it be hungry." Grunt said, "I'll give it something to choke on."
Omega hustled as the trio walked on. It was the station that never slept. Neon lights blazed as far as the eye could see. The heavy bass that echoed from behind the closed doors of the clubs that lined the main hub made up her heartbeat; Deadly and erratic. The streets were filled with people looking for a good time. Some eyes lingered on them, but lingered away quicker as they caught a glimpse of how armed his squad was as they walked by.
Soon, they were in front of Afterlife. Shepard stopped as a batarian approached him flanked by a couple of other armed thugs.
"Aria's been expecting you, Shepard." Garka announced gruffly, "Follow me."
"I was beginning to wonder when the welcome wagon would show up." He said as he walked alongside the Batarian.
"We were busy." The reply came in the tone that this topic wouldn't be entertained anymore.
Shepard mused on what he meant as they went past the entrance lobby, standing before the doors of the club floor. The doors opened, and the music came blasting through. The beat was quick and heavy, and the group made their way through a crowd of people, drinking and dancing without a care in the world. On the ledges were asari dancers, twisting and gyrating, almost hypnotically to the beat. They came up to the stairwell going to the vip section of the main club.
Shepard gave the batarian guard, Anto, a nod as he passed by. Anto nodded back, still indebted to him for his help with a salarian called Ish.
Soon, he was in the familiar lounge of the pirate queen of Omega. Aria sat there, one leg over the other, arms resting on the large couch. The trio approached, but Garka stopped them. "Your friends stay here."
"And if I refuse?" Shepard replied, stepping up towards Garka and stared him down. The batarian was able to maintain eye contact for a couple of moments before his gaze slowly drifted elsewhere. Aria then laughed out loud. It has been a while since she saw her lieutenant cower like that.
"Indulge me, Shepard." She said in her usual snide tone.
Shepard looked into her eyes for a moment; all he saw was the usual relax but cunning expression staring back at him. After a moment, he said. "Jack, Grunt, try not to get into any fistfights while I talk to the nice lady, will you?"
"No promises." Jack said cheerfully, Grunt just nodded in agreement.
"Good enough." Shepard replied as he walked towards Aria, who nodded him towards his usual seat. He made himself comfortable. There was silence between them, but Shepard knew how this works: Aria always spoke to you first.
"I hear we have you to thank for our continued existence." Aria said, turning to Shepard lazily. "How does it feel to be the first crew to ever make it back from the Omega Relay?"
"Like hell." Shepard replied, making her chuckle. "I suppose you also know why I'm here."
Aria looked him over then gestured to a pretty asari dressed in something that left little to the imagination. The girl bowed and quickly left downstairs. She turned back to him, "You have Omega's hospitality, Shepard." A moment later, the girl came back with a tray with two glasses and a pitcher containing a purple colored liquid. She poured Aria a drink and handed it to the queen, then approached Shepard who took it with a courteous nod. Aria took a sip, closing her eyes as the fiery concoction went down her throat. She looked at him again, "But I need to ask you a favor to ensure that."
Here comes the catch, thought Shepard. "What's up?"
"You won't have anything to fear from me," She began, taking another sip before continuing, "but I hear you rattled Cerberus up pretty bad."
"Word gets around fast."
"Fortunately for you, I hear it first." She swirled the drink in her glass, "but it won't be long 'til the merc groups get wind. The price he put on your head Shepard? They'd risk my wrath even if I made known you are under my protection."
"And the price doesn't interest you?"
"Cerberus doesn't interest me," She replied. "I've dealt with them on numerous occasions but I don't jump when they tell me to." She took another sip. "The merc groups won't be of the same mindset."
"I don't plan to linger, if that's what you're saying." Shepard said, still not touching his drink.
"No, you won't." Aria said definitively. "I won't have my station be turned into a petty warzone."
They were quiet for a minute as she finished the rest of her drink.
"But." Shepard broke the silence. "I'm not just gonna standby if anyone raises a hand to me or my crew." He said, leaning back on the chair and looking at the ceiling. "If they do so, they're dead."
"Just keep the collateral to a minimum." Aria conceded.
Shepard's omnitool beeped. He bypassed the connection to his HUD, giving a measure of privacy. Garrus' voice was urgent. "You got incoming." He began. "Bloodpack, seven of them. Their leader is one of the biggest Krogans I've ever seen. We intercepted their transmissions too late, they should be in front of the club now."
The frequency shifted, and Zaeed's voice came up "We have a visual. By god, keep your wits about you Shepard, moving in to cover you."
"Copy that." He said as Aria's Turian body guard, Grizz, came flying up the stairwell into another one of her guards.
Weapons were drawn faster than anybody could blink. Aria was flanked by her other guards while Grunt and Jack quickly came up to his side, guns drawn.
"ARIAAA!" The roar belonged to a large Krogan dressed in Bloodpack armor, easily taller by a head compared to his peers who walked behind him. He approached the lounge, walking as if he owned the place, scaring the dancers to hide behind the couches. Bloodpack krogan and vorcha blocked off any escape route. "ARIA, I DEMAND JUSTICE!"
Aria walked up to him unperturbed. "What the fuck do you think you're doing, Zarm?"
"I demand justice for my brother's death!" He looked as if he was ready to swat her aside, but he merely fumed. A clawed glove pointed towards Shepard. "He's the one! The killer of my brood-brother!"
Aria turned to Shepard. "I was going to tell you, Shepard." She began, "This is Zarm, new leader of Omega's Blood pack; you've met his brother."
"Garm." Shepard said, recollecting that day that he had rescued Garrus. "He fought well."
"That he did." Zarm agreed, the blood lust in his eyes barely contained. "But honor dictates I avenge my kin."
"I'm not sorry for what I had to do." Shepard began, walking up to the larger Krogan. He cast a glance towards Aria. "But I won't fight you here."
"You run from me?" Zarm began. "COWARD!"
"I'll fight you outside." Shepard continued. "One on one. No one else needs to die."
Zarm looked him over, for a moment, he looked like he was going to laugh, but rage overrode any other emotion. "Very well. Outside. 15 minutes. If you run, I'll find you and kill you where you stand." With a gesture to his men, they turned and left.
"Hnn." Aria said as she turned and sat back on her spot. The dancers around the ledges of her lounge, who had hid in fear during the confrontation, slowly got back to their spots and danced to the beat again. Several men were lifting Grizz back to his feet. He was winded but otherwise unharmed. A minute later, it seemed like nothing happened. "You handled that well, Shepard."
"I've been on Tuchanka." Shepard admitted as Grunt nodded.
"I got your back, Shepard." The young krogan said, raring for a fight. "I can take half while you and Jack handle the rest."
Shepard shook his head. "No. I don't want any interference unless they make the first move."
"Are you serious?" Jack said in disbelief, "Did you see the size of that thing?"
"Yeah, I'd like to avoid a large gunfight in the plaza if I can help it. But if I can't…" He switched his comm back on. "Zaeed, Garrus, did you get all that?"
"You got a pair made out of steel, Shepard." Zaeed responded, impressed. "We'll be in position."
"I Hope they stick to your conditions." Garrus began sarcastically. "It'd be unfortunate if they didn't."
"EHEM." Aria said, clearing her throat loudly, causing Shepard to turn to her. "The clock is ticking, Shepard. Try not to make a big mess."
Duels were common in the lawless space station, and everybody knew the drill. The plaza in front of the club had been cleared of people, but more than a few hid behind cover and watched eagerly. Tonight was probably the most high profile one in recent history. If the whispers were true, not only was one of the combatants Zarm, leader of the blood pack, infamous for tearing his opponents into pieces with his bare hands, but his opponent was the legendary hero of the Citadel, Commander John Shepard.
The two stood face to face as Zarm's blood pack and his squad cleared off the bystanders.
"I have a request." Shepard began, catching the krogan surprised by his boldness. "My friend over there is a biotic, I want her to enclose us in a biotic field."
"You dare suggest I would run?" Zarm replied, murder in his voice.
"I don't want innocent people to get caught in the crossfire."
Zarm blinked, then nodded, a cruel smile on his face. "Tell her to make it as large as she can; she won't have to hold it for long."
"No, she won't." Shepard replied unintimidated. "Jack, set up a biotic field around us, 30 by 30 feet if you can manage it."
"Can I?" Jack replied with mock insult from the sidelines behind him, "I make larger ones in my sleep." She raised both arms and a bright blue aura engulfed her, eyes glowing nearly white. A moment later, a dome of shimmering energy surrounded them. "Make it quick, Shepard."
Grunt crossed his arms, his gaze wandering to spot Zaeed or Garrus, just in case. He saw the veteran mercenery's group in the sidelines on Zarm's side, a few feet behind Zarm's blood pack warriors. Garrus' group was nowhere in sight. He turned his sights back on the duo in the field. They were on opposite sides of the battleground, far apart. It was about to start.
Zarm roared as he brought out a large shotgun, similar to Grunt's own claymore. He cocked it and ran head long for Shepard.
Shepard reached behind him and pulled out his revenant machine gun. He breathed out slowly as the world seemed to slow down around him. He aimed down the sights at the rapidly closing Krogan, going for his knees. He pulled the trigger, firing in alternate bursts as he hit his marks. He clucked his tongue as it barely slowed down the charging krogan who was almost upon him. He'll wait to be in killing range before firing that shotgun; I have a couple of seconds at least.
Sure enough, he rolled out of the way to the left just in time to see the ground he was just standing on turn into a crater. Getting down on one knee, he banked on the krogan's momentum from preventing Zarm performing any sharp turns. Sure enough, the warlord, ran further, skidding to a halt mere feet away from Jack's barrier. This gave Shepard ample time to switch out his ammo for heat rounds. He looked down the sights and unloaded a full volley on the recovering Zarm, who staggered backwards as he shielded his face from the flames.
One clip, Shepard thought as he swiftly reloaded, slowly advancing on the staggering krogan. Two clips, as that one clicked empty and he slammed in a fresh one. The flames practically enveloped his target as he slammed in a fourth, and Zarm fell on one knee. In his peripheral vison, he could see Grunt and Jack cheering him on. Almost there…
Almost but no cigar.
There was a guttural roar that overcame the crackling fire and Zarm rushed towards him, swatting Shepard aside before he could dodge. "DIE HUMAN!"
Everything was a bright light for a moment as he skidded to a halt almost 15 feet away. Shepard got to his arms and knees , HUD blaring red as that one strike knocked out his shields. His gun had landed too far from him as he noticed two very large feet slowly make his way towards him. He tried to move but his body wouldn't listen. Damn it! Move!
His gaze turned upwards to see the advancing Zarm. Parts of his armor was still smouldering and a part of his face was burned black, but his eyes still held the same killer intent. He cocked his shotgun.
MOVE! Shepard yelled inwardly. He felt his leg twitch, and not a moment later, he rolled out of the way again as the ground he was on blew up, sending steel shards from the floor flying everywhere. He got to his feet and pulled out his Carnifex, aligning it with Zarm's face.
He pulled the trigger twice, sending 2 high powered rounds that took off a chunk of Zarm's bony fringe. Gruesome, but it wasn't a kill shot. Zarm pointed the massive shotgun towards him again and roared his pain as he pulled the trigger. It was too far to be a direct kill shot, but the concussive force knocked him back again. His shields held this time, but just barely. His already war torn armor was now missing a sizable chunk of his right shoulder guard and breast plate. He heard the shotgun cock, and jumped aside, narrowly dodging the thunderous shot that would've killed him for sure. He landed roughly this time, feeling a few of his ribs crack on impact. He bit his lip, ignoring the pain as he and rolled on his back, bringing up the Carnifex again.
Zarm was roaring, reloading the shot gun as he charged towards Shepard.
The world seemed to slow down one more time that day as he aligned it to Zarm's face again as he turned. He only had time to pull the trigger once.
One shot was all he needed.
The bullet went past Zarm's gaping maw, blowing his brains out the back of his head. The large Krogan fumbled in his stance for a bit, walking forward before falling onto his knees, faceplanting inches away from Shepard's feet.
By now, Shepard felt his heart racing a hundred miles an hour. As far as cutting it close came, that was the closest he'd been for the second time in the same week. He lay there, staring up at the far ceiling of the station as darkness encroached him.
Sure enough, at the sight of their fallen leader, one of the Blood Pack suddenly roared. "KILL THEM ALL!"
No sooner as the krogan had said that, Zaeed, Thane and Samara had pulled out their guns and started mowing down the warriors from behind. The surviving warriors turned to face their ambushers, but their heads exploded one by one. Far off in the distance, Garrus and Legion picked off any krogan not within Zaeed's kill zone, Kasumi cheering them on.
Jack and Grunt closed in on Shepard, gunning down several varren who ran headlong towards their commander. With one arm, Grunt grabbed the unconscious Shepard and slung him over his shoulders. Zaeed ran up to them after unloading his rifle on a krogan who was crawling away. "Is he…?"
"Alive, but in a bad way." Jack said, checking Shepard's vitals via her omnitool.
"This is Zaeed to the Normandy! Do you copy?"
"Normandy here, what's up Zae-?" Joker began but was cut off.
"Prep the med bay! Shepard's wounded!"
"Wha-? Got it. I'm sending the shuttle!"
"No need." came the voice of Aria T'Loak. All their guns were pointed towards her before Zaeed told them to stand down. "Smarrt man. I can lend you a ride. Leave as soon as your ship repairs are complete."
"Thank you." Zaeed said as the group warily followed Aria's men who led them to a couple of sky-cars.
Aria watched as the vehicles flew off, then looked around the front of her club with disdain. "Somebody clean up this fucking mess."
