*NOTE: I just updated the chapter today! (Oct. 24th) Please read in if you haven't already!

Tensions are boiling, some crazy stuff is about to go down

* And thank you Euromellows, you are most welcome! I will continue this fanfic if more people continue to read/review!

Chapter Six: Enter Omega

Mess Hall. Crew's Cabin. Miranda Lawson exited her office with a datapad in hand and a mug of coffee in the other. EDI had just forwarded her Chakwas' report on Shepard. She took one last swig on her stale coffee before placing the glass on the sheen metal table before her. The kitchen of the crew's cabin was empty, except for Garrus, Thane and Samara. They sat together at the table, speaking in hushed tones but halted themselves at the presence of Miranda.

"No need," Miranda said breathing in a deep sigh. She leaned her back against the Normandy's hull wall, placing one heel against it. "I'm sure you've already heard of what's going on."

For a moment, no one spoke. Thane sat motionless with his eyes fixated blankly against the wall, knuckles folded under his chin. Garrus sat casually, focussing on Miranda's mug. The tall Justicar sat cross-legged, eyes in meditation, body emitting an eerie blue glow.

"Shepard is strong, but what she is going through right now may be beyond her physical and mental control. Has she mentioned anything about this to any of you?" Miranda spoke. She watched in disappointment as the three shook their heads.

Samara raised her head. "I could sense a great deal of negative energy emitting from her quarters, a type of aura that seemed to manifest itself in the dead of night." Samara's eyes resumed back to their pooly blue irises.

"Yes, it seems that Shepard has been having recurring nightmares, and according to Chakwas and Mordin it is most likely PTSD," continued Miranda. "Many soldiers endure such hardships that the repercussions come back to haunt them."

"But what I don't understand is that why does this happen now? I know Shepard's military past has been quite traumatizing, I'm sure those burdens haunt her too," inquired Thane.

"But we are dealing with a threat that is incomparable to typical enemy soldiers, geth, mercs, guerrilla fighters, assassins," responded Miranda firmly, "we're dealing with the Reapers here. That threat is beyond even placing your finger on."

"Yeah. I just hope Shepard is is okay, the Normandy won't be the same without her here," Garrus added. He noticed that Samara and Miranda quickly glanced at him before turning away. Thane sat motionless still, not willing to take one look at the turian.

"Anyway," Miranda announced, breaking the silence. "We're going to touchdown at Omega's station very soon. Any type of business you need to get done, just sign out before leaving the Normandy." She slid her heeled shoe down from the wall and turned back towards her office.

Thane stood up and left to the Life Support room, without uttering a single word. Garrus and Samara were left sitting alone at the table, in the dim silence.

Samara's eyes lit up once again. "I feel that Shepard is going through a great deal of pain, it's more than just her own personal obstacles that she must overcome. Whatever it is, we cannot experience it ourselves, she has seen things beyond our greatest fears, who knows how stable she is mentally."

"Ghosts of the past," Garrus agreed. "She has taken a great deal of mental trauma. Like the Prothean beacon back on Eden Prime and that cipher." He paused for a moment to think about what had happened when they went on pursuit on Saren. Sighing, he stood up.

"She still has inner demons of her own to battle with, and it looks like they're winning," added Garrus in contempt.

"They're not just her inner demons," corrected Samara briskly. "My greatest fear is that Harbinger could be manifesting itself in her mind…he will continue to live in her dreams."

Garrus shuddered at the cold truth in Samara's words. He turned his back against the bold Justicar, and made his way back towards the steel doors of the Main Battery. The thought of reliving the collector experience made him feel uneasy. But at the same time, he wanted to mine his way through Shepard's dreams, Shepard's thoughts. Even though she kept hidden the fact that she was having these nightmares, he felt obligated to help her and comfort her. After all, he devoted his life in helping the oppressed, and going against the corrupt. But fighting an entity that wasn't tangible in someone else's mind was something that deep down inside, made him feel fear.

(*OLD UPDATE Oct. 18, 2010) :

"How is she," Miranda asked EDI as she typed furiously away in her office. The translucent glow of her private terminal screen glowered back at her.

EDI's pixelated orb shape flashed into life nearby.

"Her life signs are stable now, and the sedative has already worn off. She should be awake and fully functional now," EDI responded. "I have filed Dr. Chakwas' medical document on Shepard, and will forward it to you if necessary."

Miranda smiled at EDI's shape and nodded, mauve lips pursing. "Yes, please do." A bright orange flicker flashed in the corner of her screen, indicating EDI's immediacy in her tasks.

There was a loud click as the static on the Normandy's intercom paved way.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have just touched down onto the O to the M to the E to the G to the Aaaayyeeahhh! OHH-MAGAAAAAAA sha-sha!" rapped Joker very obnoxiously. In the background you could hear a crewmate trying to wrestle the intercom from his hands.

"What are you trying to do?" cried a distant female voice in the background.

"I've always wanted to do that," responded Joker as the intercom shut off.

"That was...interesting," commented Miranda, raising an eyebrow. She continued to tap away at the orange screen that she spent most of her time buried in.

Commander Shepard winced slightly as she slipped into her pearly white N7 exogeni suit. Her throat tasted stale and her muscles released itself from its soreness due to her prolonged sleep. She briefly preened her hair with her fingers and turned to the display of weapons on a wall near her bed. They had recently been cleaned and reloaded.

The black grip on the bottom of her gloves smoothed its way over onto the narrow base of her favourite weapon- the M-97 Viper. Retracting out the long black barrel, she gently placed her fingers on the trigger, giving it a light squeeze. She adjusted the scope, aiming comfortably at random objects in her room. These were her tools, her instruments of destruction. They were the things that helped her carve her way through her missions, even without her squad's help.

Feeling content, she retracted the sniper rifle and clamped it onto her light-weight carrier pack. Suddenly, EDI's translucent blue orb illuminated itself into life on the glowing panel beside her fish tank.

"Shepard, Thane is waiting for you at the Normandy's airlock system," informed the A.I.

"Right," responded Shepard immediately before checking to see if her weapons were all in place. She summoned the elevator lift and waited until she arrived at the control centre.

Across the narrow room from the galaxy map and the several mining and research stations, Thane waited, arms crossed, head down. His body straightened as soon as he took notice at his commander heading towards him.

"Shepard, I hope you are feeling better," Thane said reassuringly, as Shepard adjusted her comm.. "We still have a lot to do. I suggest gathering intel before we do anything hasty."

"Agreed. We should start at Afterlife and ask Aria T'Loak about this whole Blue Suns business...without being too conspicuous of course."

Before the two could leave the airlock, EDI appeared beside them on a monitor. "Shepard, Garrus would like to speak with you."

The commander stopped in her tracks and faced the ship's AI as if she were a real person. "What is it? We are about to leave...like, now."

"See for yourself," EDI responded before disintegrating.

A turian in chipped blue armour marched down the deck, HUD light flashing and mandibles tensed.

"Garrus," Shepard said in surprise as her comrade stopped before her. She wasn't expecting anyone to come on this mission except for her and Thane, for she made a promise to her friend that recovering Kolyat would be personal business.

Garrus was not smiling. "You are off to find Synn, aren't you?"

Thane glanced at the tense turian, and back at his commander, confused.

"What?"

"The turian warlord, you are going to him, aren't you?"

"We're on personal business," Shepard answered strictly. "Whether Synn has anything to do with it or not."

"Hmm...I'd take that as a yes then. Do you know how dangerous he is? If you are going to start looking for him, so will I. You know I've been hunting that bastard on Omega," his blue eyes glowed with contempt. "I respect that you two are off to settle something on your own, fine, I won't pry. But I could probably help you since I have more insight on him."

Shepard turned to Thane and shrugged slightly. "I think we could use all the help we can get, especially since we don't have that much information."

The drell took a minute to think. "Alright, we will go then."

Shepard nodded and shut the door from the airlock to the Normandy and waited for the main door to the docking port to open. Shepard glanced at the drell from the corner of her eye. She could tell he was not impressed.

A hiss of steam and warm air strung through the equalizer pipes hit them like an invisible wall of heat as the Normandy's main exterior doors slid open.

A dank, empty hallway dripping with leaky pipes greeted them as they step foot on Omega's docking port. The faint echo of a batarian's voice through the static of a broken news terminal chimed alongside the irritating noise of incessant dripping sounds. Shepard bounded down the hallway, squinting slightly as the dented ceiling rafters shone bright artificial light onto her exogeni suit. She looked out the grimy window. Long narrow-like structures resembling the architecture of apartment buildings stood tall like dark giants, hundreds of them. Shepard was not surprised when she heard the sound of a shotgun in the distance, followed by the droning of a machine gun.

The sounds- the leaking, static, steam, gunshots, and faint echoes from soulless creatures were all drowned out by the distant but deep bass of club Afterlife's signature tune. Shepard summoned open the entrance door that paved way to the heart of Omega- Afterlife Nightclub.

The tall broad structure towered over them had a blood red neon light flashing the words AFTERLIFE at them. It was accompanied by flashing, loop images of dancing asari strippers in their ethereal blue nakedness. The faces of the asari never stared out of the screen, just downwards with eyes closed or face contorted in some seductive pose, hoping to further entice the patrons waiting eagerly outside.

"Club Afterlife," Garrus's voice cut through the deep bass of the club music. "Almost all mercs or people with shady characters go here. It's literally a cesspool of filth, but it's your best bet of having some sort of start."

"We're going to talk to Aria," Shepard responded as she bypassed the line-up heavily enforced by a weary elcor. The bouncer took notice of the commander and let her in.

The large entrance doors snapped open, revealing a long pathway towards the club's inner doors. Digital flames lit their way as they entered the main floor of the club.

The warm smell of sweat, blood and alcohol permeated the atmosphere before them. Drunken voices, loud laughter mixed in with many voices seemed to be meld into the music.

Embellishing the main floor on a raised platform were the figures of elegant blue dancers. They moved simultaneously, each possessing faces of inebriated ecstasy. They moved like water, drawing the attention of many delighted patrons. Most of these asari dancers were so drugged up on hallex that they could barely hold a proper conversation.

"Come on," Shepard urged as she milled through the crowd and past a bar filled with loud-mouthed patrons. One of Aria's guards, a batarian named Anto eyed them as they walked past.

The renowned queen of Omega sat smoking, casually seated in a broad leather couch that overlooked the main floor of the club. Her outstretched arms recoiled as soon as she saw Shepard's white suit flash at her.

"Shepard," Aria called out, waving her in. Two batarian guards standing before her shook their heads at Garrus and Thane who were slowly retreating down the steps.

"We'll be around," announced Garrus as he and Thane vanished into the sea of patrons. Shepard stood there as the batarian scanned her to verify her identity.

"Shepard," Aria said again, this time with a grin. She let out a chuckle, then a full-hearted laugh. "So the saviour of the galaxy returns, this time to the heart of Omega...what brings you here?"

Shepard sat down cross-legged and shook her head as Aria offered her a drink. She poured herself something small and mixed it.

"I'm looking for someone again," Shepard stated firmly, so her words could be heard through the loud background noise.

"Who isn't nowadays," responded the asari equally. Her facial markings glowered menacingly at her, boasting her authority. She stirred her drink contently. "So who is it this time?"

"Synn," whispered Shepard. Her hiss made Aria's dark eyes light up.

She lipped her drink before letting out another chuckle. "Synn. That turian."

Shepard waited for the asari to gather herself and tried to maintain her composure.

"Look, even though I run Omega, it doesn't mean there aren't any huge players out there. Synn is one of them, you can call him a business regulator. He is what feeds Omega. Weapons- conventional or non-conventional, biotics, drugs, armour, you name it, he has it flowing through Omega like poison in a bloodstream. He's like a ghost, you can say, he barely makes public appearances and when he does, people make it look like a big deal."

"Interesting. So he's Omega's big corrupter," commented Shepard.

Aria laughed. "Omega was already corrupt since day one. Synn just fuels it." She took another sip of her concoction. "But if you're looking for him, you will almost never find him here. However, you can find some of his hoodlums hanging around Afterlife's basement floor in one of the private rooms."

Shepard leaned inward. "Where can I find one of his henchmen?"

"There is a turian named Tyhrrus who is down there tonight with some batarians I believe. Whatever they are doing is none of my concern. You can find out yourself," answered the asari wisely.

"Is he some kind of dealer or member of the Blue Suns?"

"He is one of Synn's right hand men. Then again, he has many right hand men. Tyrrhus usually helps him confirm deals and regulate large shipments. He may even be personally dealing some Hallex himself." She turned to Shepard, narrowing her eyes slightly. "As for Blue Suns, I have no idea, usually they all are."

"Have you also noticed a drell that has been hanging around?"

Aria shrugged. "I am Omega...I don't have time to pay attention to every petty detail."

Shepard notice that Aria's batarian bodyguard was listening in on their conversation. She wondered if Aria knew.

"Alright, thanks for the information anyways. Maybe I'll pay him a visit, maybe not," Shepard said before standing up.

Aria stood up with her, and turned to face the floor of the nightclub. The white collar of her jacket stood up high that it shadowed half of her face. Shepard quickly glanced at the large symbol of Omega emblazoned on the back of her coat.

"I should go," informed Shepard as she turned away from the ledge.

Aria nodded, and smirked. "One more thing." Shepard turned halfway and faced the asari. At that angle, a bright white beam of light from the club's light shone down on half her face and her shoulder, illuminating her skin and making her HUD light invisible.

"Don't try to take Synn down. If you are looking to change in Omega," Aria advised in a mocking tone. "Don't bother. You can never change the foundations of a structure, once it is what it is, it always is."

Shepard stared at the asari, as if she were still absorbing her words.

"If you take him down, someone else more powerful will take his place, and you don't want that to happen." Aria gave the commander one last smile before turning to face the main floor like an empress beaming down upon her worshippers.

Shepard smirked at the batarian guards before heading down the steps back down to the main floor. She noticed Garrus waiting for her near the bar.

"Did you get what you needed?" he asked, leaning against the table.

"Yeah. We have to meet with a turian named Tyrrhus," Shepard said, looking over his shoulder, scanning the crowd. "Where's Thane?"

Garrus shrugged. "He slinks away from time to time. He's probably watching you from somewhere."

Shepard summoned Thane's contact on her HUD light and placed her fingers on her comm. link.

"Thane, can you hear me," shouted Shepard over the loud blaring of the music and the chatter.

There were several clicks on the other end. A firm drell's voice responded. "Yes, I am still here. I am at the basement floor, between the dance floor and the lounge."

"Okay, stay there," ordered Shepard. "We're coming. Aria said to meet with a turian named Tyrrhus. He should be in one of the private rooms with some batarians."

"Copy. See you here."

Shepard and Garrus pushed past the crowd of patrons and descended down a few steps to the second floor. Several tables filled with different species were chatting exuberantly as they walked past. Shepard noticed that they bore the symbol of the Blue Suns, indicating they were mercs.

The pair continued down a long flight of steps towards another large room. A faster more energetic beat greeted them as they entered the foyer of the lower floor. In front of them was a large bar. Shepard immediately remembered when a batarian tried to poison her the last time she visited this dreadful place. In his spot were human and salarian bartenders. Shepard spotted Thane in a darkly lit spot near the dance floor.

Finally regrouping with him, she briefed both him and Garrus about what Aria had told her.

"So she hasn't seen a drell," commented Thane solemnly.

"But she pointed out someone who may have connections. I guess we have to talk to him or squeeze some answers out of him," replied Shepard as she scrutinized the lower club level for the private rooms.

"I prefer the second choice," added Garrus.

They followed Shepard towards two batarians talking to each other outside of a locked room.

(* NEW UPDATE Oct. 24th, 2010)

"Excuse me," started Shepard over the loud music. "But do you know if a turian named Tyrrhus is in here?"

The batarians glanced at each other and whispered something in their own language.

"Yes he is. I guess you want some of his stash too," said one as he unlocked the door.

Shepard smiled at how quickly they were to act. The room inside was dimly lit and filled with smoke. Shepard waved her hand in front to clear some of the smog. There were several seats surrounding a small coffee table covered in half empty drinks and cigarette trays. In one of the seats, a turian dressed in black and red armour sat smoking with two asari by his side dancing. His face was marked with white markings, indicating the clan he descended from in his homeworld. Across from his table were a group of batarians drinking. It didn't take Shepard long to notice two weary looking krogan standing on either side of the door wielding shotguns.

"Our sales of hallex are up a significant 40%," noted Tyrrhus as he read from a data pad before picking up a translucent blue bottle from the table filled with pills.

He touched one of the dancer's backside with his long fingers.

"You want some more? Looks like you need it," insisted the turian as he popped the cap off the bottle.

Garrus watched in disgust as the turian placed a pill in the half naked asari's mouth before continuing to dance lifelessly beside them.

"Boss," came the deep throated growl of one of the krogan standing behind them at the door. "There are some...people here to see you."

The distracted turian removed his gaze from the dancing asari and rested them on the three guests that stood, unimpressed before him. Shepard's eyes narrowed when she noticed that Tyrrhus as scanning her up and down.

"Well well well," he said cooly, placing his hands on the armrests. "Are you here for some of...my euphoric services?" He took a bottle of Hallex and shook it at Shepard.

Shepard took a bold step forwards. "No."

The turian slunk back down in his chair, mandibles grinning. "I see, if you're not here for the hallex, then you must be interested in some of the finest firearms." His gaze slowly dropped from her face and down to her legs. "No, that's not possible. You're way too...graceful to be a soldier, and dressed too finely to be a merc. Are you looking for work here on Omega sweet cheeks?" The batarians sitting around him clutched their drinks, chuckling.

"Hell no, I wouldn't dare sell my soul to you filthy vermin," hissed Shepard as she drilled the smug looking turian with sharp eyes.

Tyrrhus laughed at her surprisingly angry retort. "Wow! This one's a hot pistol, better watch out." The batarians around him continued to laugh.

"Cut the crap. We're looking into the Blue Suns," Shepard began in a dark tone. "I know that one of your gangs have recruited a drell. We're looking for him."

Tyrrhus glanced up at Thane who stood on a calm composure, but his eyes looked relentless. Slowly his hands curled into fists.

"What's it to you?" spat Tyrrhus. "Who cares if we've recruited a drell. He's just doing business. If you're here to stop him babe, you've gone to the wrong place."

Garrus eyed the batarians. "We know you're dealing a hell load of Hallex and illegal arms. We can cut those ties anytime we want. If I were you, I'd choose my words wisely."

Tyrrhus leaned forwards from his seat and took a sip from a drink on the table. After lipping the glass, he turned to Thane. "I don't suppose that you are related to this drell?"

"Possibly," Thane responded calmly. Shepard noticed he drew a deep breath.

"If you want to play threatening games, fine. We could easily have the drell killed anytime we want," said Tyrrhus as he snapped his finger to one of the krogan guards. "Skarr, call the Blue Sun's squad delivering the shipment tonight. Tell them to kill the drell at the storage facility."

Shepard suddenly stepped forwards. "No...don't." The krogan fumbled with his comm. link.

The dark turian ignored them and focussed his attention of the two dancing asari.

Shepard quickly retrieved her sidearm, pointing the pistol's head straight between the turian's eyes. Like a reflex, the two krogan guards readied their shotguns and closed in on Shepard. Garrus and Thane withdrew their weapons, aiming tensely.

"Think again," Shepard said, glaring straight into Tyrrhus' face.

The two dancing asari screamed and fled, exiting out the back room. The batarians stood up, slowly retrieving their assault rifles.

Tyrrhus stood up, and walked right into Shepard's pistol. "Don't even try, you'll get your entire crew killed." He pushed Shepard's hand away. Shepard stared at him, shocked. Her finger came a millimetre away from squeezing the trigger.

"Don't look surprised babe," Tyrrhus said, holding Shepard's gaze. He then turned around and returned to his seat. "You've scared away my dancers."

"Let's go," Garrus said, slowly reclining his assault rifle. He glared at the smug looking turian. "We'll nail this scumbag later."

Shepard glared at Tyrrhus. She was that close from popping a cap into that bastard. She shot Garrus an angry glance.

"Fine," said Thane as he drew in his coat. "Let's go." The krogan bodyguards gave Shepard menacing glances as they opened the door.

"Omega could really use some human dancers," shouted Tyrrhus from his seat. He snickered. "I have my eye on you." The doors closed behind them as soon as they had stepped out.

Amidst the dancers, the flashing red and white lights and the putrid air, Shepard turned to Garrus, furious. "Why did we leave? We just let our chance slip away!"

"Cool it," Garrus said authoritatively. "It's not as bad as it seems."

"My son is going to be killed, and Shepard is right, you just made us leave our window of opportunity," Thane added angrily, inching up to Garrus until they were nose to nose. His sudden pent up fury had released itself like a pressured valve, it was an unusual sight.

Garrus raised his head at Thane. "Back down Thane, let me explain myself."

"I am an assassin, I don't take orders from anyone," he hissed back, dark eyes attacking Garrus.

For a minute they looked like they were going to murder each other, until Garrus focused his attention on Shepard. "Tyrrhus. He's bluffing. Kolyat isn't going to die."

"What?" Shepard asked, shocked.

"I'm a turian, I know exactly when another turian is bluffing. Besides, it is in a turian's personality to not be able to lie successfully. Trust me, I am one, I know," Garrus explained. "Besides, a drell working for the Blue Suns is a bonus for them, they cannot easily dispose of him. He is far too valuable."

Thane continued to glare at Garrus. "Tyrrhus made the order. That krogan, Skarr, he is going to notify the others of killing him tonight."

Garrus sighed. "The krogan's comm. link wasn't even turned on. I saw, it was broken. And I know that Tyrrhus knows it, he's trying to scare us."

"So what you're saying is that Tyrrhus is trying to instill false fear in us, knowing that we'd walk out?" asked Shepard, suddenly feeling foolish.

"Exactly."

Thane finally relaxed, chest rising and falling calmly. "Now we just somehow need to infiltrate one of their deals, or at least acquire intel on the whereabouts of Kolyat."

"Yes," Garrus responded. "And in Omega, information is easily passed around by everyone. It just takes some work getting it out."

Thane turned away from the bright lights that showered upon the dance floor. "In this case, we better split up. I will try to find some information, on my own."

"Be careful," warned Shepard.

"Don't worry about me. We will keep in contact, via comm. link," the drell responded before dissolving away into the shadows of the club.

Garrus took Shepard's arm and led her towards the wall of the club, away from the bright lights and the emanating noise.

"You need to be careful," Garrus said in a serious tone. He looked down at Shepard's unhappy looking demeanour. "Like I said before, I know turians. Don't double cross him unless you know you can handle it. We are a strong bunch, but we aren't immortal."

"I kno-"

"And Tyrrhus likes you. Watch your back, now that he has you registered in his mind on Omega, he won't want you to leave, especially if he knows you're after a drell. They're going to fortify their security on him now. We need to be extra careful," warned Garrus again. He searched Shepard's eyes for a sign of acknowledgement.

The light in the club reflected off her eyes, but bathed the rest of her body in darkness. She nodded slowly, watery irises taking Garrus' words into consideration.

She swallowed hard, suddenly sounding weak when she spoke. "Okay. We should start searching."

Garrus nodded. "Yeah. We should start at the marketplace. There are plenty of inhabitants there that have raw information."