A/N:

All ME characters belongs to Bioware and EA.

I don´t own anything, except Garth.

No money are being made here. Writing this story just for fun.

Special thanks to phnxgrl for being helpful and simply just awesome as always.

Enjoy the story and tell me what you think. :-) It helps me to improve things overall.

...

I never thought I say this but not for the first time in my life I felt this small. The fact that I'm admitting this openly hopefully gave me some plus points. I'm not one of those people who get easily intimidated. The fact is I was hurt, frustrated and basically running on the adrenaline. Combing this with extremely annoying memory blocks so yeah, life was good sarcastically speaking.

"Gentlemen, could you please gives us reasonable amount of privacy?" according to my memory Asari can be very pervasive by nature, but Aria T Loak managed to raise a bar significantly higher.

Guards obediently obeyed her orders with the mix of fearful respect flashing in their eyes. I have to admit, if I would played only the watcher's role in this situation I would probably be impressed. This time I tried to make some sort of even ground or at least I don't present myself as an incompetent warren (which in this point and time I clearly was).

"Do you want some water? It's a custom on business deals to make a guest comfortable and I'm a proper host when I want to be." The voice was still melodic and playful yet the eyes were looking straight into my soul.

I did my best to hold my grounds but inside I was quivering. This was the second time for me to be in an unpleasant situation. I got a sense that it won't be the last time either. At this point all I could do was to suck it up and go with the flow. Something told me that this lady was not playing around. She gets what she wants one way or the other eventually.

As much as the pain allowed me I took the glass of water. I still had the Queen at my sights as I took the sip. However, none of it changed the outcome. The second I took the glass I felt a breakable sound and unexpected pain of my injured hand. I nearly spit the water back.

'What is with people throwing distraction towards me?' I mentally groaned.

"Well, at least you're not a total wuss," She delightfully said as the playful tantrum was starting to irritate me. "Now that we have some middle ground, could we go straight to business mister Andrews?"

I shouldn't be surprise that she knew about me already but as matter of fact I was. I only arrived hours ago. I get that Aria knew everything about everyone. But considering my origin it raised my alarms to an extent. On the other hand there was Lara. My mind was working on high gears at that moment.

'Was it possible that the girl somehow planed this?'

It made sense as far as I knew I was just a pawn in the bigger game. And I did accept that role in a moment when I decided not to get blown up. So, perhaps my guide knew things. That didn't mean I don't have to make my own choices. If anything I decided to take it as a practice round.

"I guess we may," I said with my voice sounding little more raspy than usual.

I didn't take Aria for a type who would care that much.

"What do you want from me?" I quickly added.

"You have quite interesting background mister Andrews," noticing slight change in her tone I braced myself. "I have one time proposition for you. I'm starting the new project called The Arena. It's basically a fight club with multiple races. Since you are currently unemployed and you made quite an impression by taking care of lieutenant Rawel. I suggest you're perfect candidate for manliest entertainment."

My mind was spinning. This couldn't have been a coincidence. I could take the easy road or hard road. The problem was that both two roads could easily switch. I take a risk with something that's familiar to me and risk a death penalty over quick bug or I'll be homeless by the time the rent would be up while looking for a decent job in a swamp. I was practically screwed either way.

'Lara is trying to prepare me for a war, so I guess I have to start somewhere.'

"It seems clear to me that I don't have much of a choice in the matter." I said with my voice sounded even and calm but inside my soul I was terrified.

"You are a bright one, I give you that," She smugly said.

I wanted so bad to rip of that smug look from Aria's face but that time I had two flaws to that option my lack of skill and most importantly common sense.

"You will receive your instructions by the end of week. In the mean time, you should start practice a lot." She suggested staring directly into my eyes and with a wave of her hand dismissed me.

…

Once again I've been thrown on the street.I was more than glad that I was excused via back entrance. At least even slightly I hurt I was more than happy when being saved from the humility and for that I was thankful. Feeling little lightheaded and finally able to bring myself to bring to the apartment and find myself a couch.

"So, how did it go," a cheerful voice woke me up a while later. "Did you establish your club dominance?"

That comment made me make an annoyed grunt my eyes still closed.

"Lara you are one very lousy information broker you know that?" I commented.

"I only know that you're one big whiner" Lara quipped back with her voice teased me and I could only imagine her smug face towards me.

It was probably the most disgraceful thing towards my masculinity and ego. It was also the most rewarding thing to my humanity. Though, then again, I didn't have the time for philosophy too much. I was fully woken up by a sharp pain of my left hand.

"WHAT THE …!" I screamed out in pain.

As I left a cry of pain I looked down to only see Lara had applied medi-gel to it.

"Just like I said you're a whiner," she song me. "Now get cleaned up, get breakfast and we need to get going."

"You probably not noticed, but I suffered an injury." I intoned trying to buy some time.

"Sweety…" my guide pulled herself towards my ear. "You'll be probably dead next week anyway, so suck it up if you want live."

I visibly cringed.

"Okay, so now you ruined my childhood like massively." I lamented.

"You're still alive let's focus on that." Lara said while looking over her medi-gel supplies.