A/N: Hi Everyone, sorry about the long break. And thank you so much to everyone who is still reading, and thanks to those who take the time to review, it means a lot. A special thanks to SherryE who seemed to be the only one reading at one point haha
Once they were heading back up to the main levels Omega Nyreen spoke, "I'm getting reports sent in. It looks like all the force fields are down. The civilians are taking to the streets in droves. Cerberus troops are pulling back…" Shepard scoffed before muttering, "That won't last." Hearing the human's words, Nyreen nodded; "The people don't have the training to go up against Cerberus front lines. They'll be wiped out." Aria still seemed to be deep in thought over her earlier emotions, but she still commented, "Civilian casualties can't be avoided. You'll have to accept this." Glancing over to Aria, Nyreen could tell that her mind was elsewhere; "Say what you will Aria, I won't allow senseless deaths." The red head was leaning against the wall of the elevator, staring into Aria's back. She was still hurting after the Asari had accused her of trying to get her killed. "The people are meant to distract Cerberus, not us. But the sooner we get rid of the enemy, the safer it will be for the citizens." Nyreen nodded once more, "I know what to do commander." From her side of the elevator Aria rolled her eyes at the pair, she just had to get Afterlife back; then maybe she would start feeling herself again.
A voice in her comms interrupted her thoughts, "Aria? Bray here." Concern flashed across the Queen of Omega's face; "Report." Bray's voice continued, undeterred by the stiffness in Aria's voice. "My team is scouting the maintenance tunnels. We've encountered Cerberus forces escorting engineers. They're moving gear. Look to be setting up explosives to the stations central support columns" Aria's eyes widened at the implication, "Bray, engage. Delay them as long as you can. We're coming." Aria quickly made her way to the command panel of the elevator and changed their destination; "If they detonate the main column they'll cut off the way to afterlife. The talon offensive will be stopped cold." Shepard pushed herself away from the wall, straightening her shoulders, "So we split up." The Asari was beginning to pull out of her own thoughts, the news giving her a temporary distraction from her feelings. Nodding at the human she gives out her orders, "Yes, Nyreen you'll lead the frontal assault. Shepard and I will meet you in the markets after we've taken care of those bombs." With that said the elevator doors opened, Nyreen worried for the two's safety had the last word, "Of course, but don't count on my building your memorials if you get yourselves killed." Shepard stepped out the elevator but Nyreen stopped the Asari for a brief moment. "Don't push away that human just because you're scared of what you are feeling." With the doors about to close Aria quickly steps out the way, leaving her no time to answer the Turian. How was she always so damn observant?
A few metres out of the elevator they came into contact with Bray and his men who were firing wildly against a dozen rampart mechs. Aria strode forward past her men, "The only route to the centre column is through these tunnels, Bray; cover us." The pair rushed out and into cover, the mechs were persistent but no match for the combined fury of the two biotics. Ahead of them was a large bang as the path ahead of the collapsed. Aria closed her eyes briefly sighing, "They took out the catwalk but we can extend the dam in the control room. That should get us across." Shepard moved to the control room without a word and soon the dam rose up, giving them a clear path to the door. Crossing the dam, Shepard glanced downwards; "Aria?" The Asari turned to the Commander and followed her gaze downward, "Is that my couch?" Shepard laughed loudly as Aria muttered under her breath what she would do to the General when she got hold of him. As they reached the door Nyreen reached them through their comms, "Nyreen here, we've engaged Cerberus and cleared our first target. ETA to the Gozu district is on track." Aria smiled, "Excellent."
Bypassing the door, they are met with several Cerberus soldiers guarding the only exit. The Asari looked almost bored at the small number of troops in front of her, and with a lazy flick of her wrist their way was soon cleared. "Shepard we need to get to those support columns before Cerberus set off those bombs." Nodding, the Commander quickened her pace but they were soon met with a dead end. Noticing a small hatch to the left of the door, Shepard nods in its direction, sliding down the small slope. The slope took them directly in front of the support columns, with just a large fan in their way; luckily the fan control switch was on their side. As the fan slowed, Shepard rolled through into the wide room. Nyreen was in their ears again, "We're hitting less resistance; I think they're sending forces your way." As the Turian finished speaking they were met with a few Cerberus soldiers and an engineer. Quickly throwing them out of their way, Aria yelled, "They're going to have to do better than that!" as she rushed to the centre of the room to the access panel controls. They needed to get the columns open before they could disarm the bombs. Opening the panels didn't take long, however the announcement from above didn't sound very promising.
Aria groaned in annoyance, "Those bombs just went live. The console is locked. We'll have to manually disable them." It was then that dozens of Cerberus landing from above, "Take care of the bombs Shepard, I'll handle Cerberus." Nodding her agreement Shepard began to run to each column, quickly disabling the bombs with her omni-tool. Upon reaching the last one, she found it surrounded by Cerberus, charging in the middle of them she left of a powerful nova, scattering them and allowing the Asari to pick them off as she disarmed the final bomb. With the last bombs rendered harmless, Shepard stood to find Aria right behind her, a smirk upon her face; "What took you so long?" Turning away with a sway of her hips Aria led them towards the exit.
"Nyreen, things are under control here. What's your situation?" There was the sound of heavy gunfire coming from their comms before Nyreen's voice rung out, "We're advancing through the Gozu district, we're holding our own but Cerberus has starting targeting civilians. Reports of casualties are coming in from all sectors." Aria shook her head, knowing what was coming, "Just get to the rendezvous point that's all that matters." Hearing a short scoff was all they needed to know before Nyreen answered a final time, "Not in my world. Nyreen out." Shepard shrugged her shoulders at Nyreen's comment, there was no way to stop her from making her own decisions; they just had to hope that she would be there in time for the final push against Afterlife. "So how exactly do we get to Afterlife from here?" Aria rolled her neck around from left to right, stretching out her muscles. "I'm thinking the straightforward approach, for a change." Smirking again to herself, Aria summoned up her biotic energy and threw it towards the large spinning fan that was blocking their exit, the force knocking off a few of its blades, stopping it in its tracks. Shepard let out a low whistle, "That will never get old."
Through the door and up several ladders, the noise of gunfire was getting louder. "Cerberus." Aria looked up at Commander as they made their way up another ladder, "How do you know that? It could be the Talons-" Just as she spoke a Cerberus trooper flew through the window ahead of them, Shepard turned to the Asari looking smug. Aria just rolled her eyes, "Never mind." Behind yet another door they could hear Cerberus screaming, and it soon became obvious why. "Damn it. Ahz, there are Adjutants here, check our progress and seal the rooms behind us." Grateful that the adjutant was behind thick glass and was yet to see them, they made their way quickly into the next room. The large room the found themselves in seemed to be some kind of lab, there were dead Cerberus everywhere. "Looks like they bit off more than they could chew" Shepard looked around grimly at all the blood, "We should get a move on." Moving down the stairs they are met with more dead bodies, surrounding what looks like a containment tube and a log entry that was playing on repeat.
The first generation adjutants have been transferred to the containment area and are being outfitted with the implants. The previous batches have been processed and moved to the storage area. We can now control when and where the adjutants convert their victims. Initial testing on various species provides ample proof the virus can adapt flawlessly, regardless of the host used. With the civilian population contained we should be able to initiate the next phase of the project on schedule. Before host conversion, we should begin the process of infusing the control implants to the subject's nervous systems. With the current success ration, we project being able to surpass demand by 300 percent.
"Those idiots were doing experiments on adjutants." Shepard shook her head at Cerberus' stupidity, they had gone too far with Reaper tech; "That explains the ones we saw earlier, looks like they escaped." Leaving the room behind them they move through a door leading them to civilians fighting against Cerberus. Cheering as they see Aria at their side, their joy is cut short as an atlas mech drops down, firing a missile at them. Aria luckily escaped the blow, being pulled aside by Shepard, but the three civilians were not so fortunate. "Focus fire on the Atlas!" Aria sent shot after shot into the glass casing protecting the Cerberus soldier within. Shepard used this distraction to grab one of the grenades that had been discarded by the dead civilians, and threw it into the smashed glass of the mech, "Get to cover!" After the explosion, Shepard stood, her armor now also covered in dust, adding to her own blood and that of the adjutants. "I really need a shower when this is all over" Shepard muttered to herself. Aria, back at the human's side, smirked; "Shepard, if you help me get back Afterlife, I will give you whatever you want." The red head blushed at the thought that came to mind and quickly shook her head, "Well we better get moving then."
The next room Shepard recognised instantly, "This looks familiar" Aria smiled with a nod, "I liked it better when Mordin Solus was shooting up looters." The walls around them were lined with wanted posters, Aria and Nyreen's faces on them all. Shepard paused momentarily, sounding disappointed; "Hey, where's my wanted poster?" Aria almost laughed at the woman next to her but managed to cover it with a more suitable smirk. "Obviously you're not as much of a threat, Commander." Shepard glared at the woman even though she knew she was teasing, "Let's just go." Through yet another door they finally entered Talon territory. They were greeted by a large Krogan who informed them that Nyreen was waiting for them at the markets. Nodding they continued through, not taking a chance to catch their breath. "We are so close now; I can almost feel my hands around Petrovsky's neck." Before leaving into the markets, they pass a Batarian preaching to a small crowd of civilians, "Of course he'd survive…"
In the elevator leading them upward and closer to Afterlife, Nyreen makes contact with them once again, "Nyreen here, something is not right." Aria rolled her eyes, "Cerberus is still on my station. Of course something is not right." You could hear the frustration in the Turian's voice as she replied, "Not quite was I was talking about. I'm going to check this out, going radio silent." Aria looked at Shepard, "What the hell is she doing?" The elevator door opened up to the first line of Talon defence, "Where's Nyreen?" A Turian merc shrugged, "She said she was going on ahead, we were having trouble holding this area." Aria froze, "She's going on to Afterlife!" With that realization the two women began to run in hopes that they would catch up to Nyreen before she got herself into any trouble.
The path in front of Afterlife was covered in Cerberus, however civilians had built up a defensive in front of the nightclub and were holding their own. From behind the civilians a door opened, what came through it had terrified the Cerberus soldiers who were quickly making their retreat. A human man turned in hope to see more Talon mercs, but what he saw made the blood drain from his face. Adjutants.
Nyreen ran through a side door and was met with a horrific sight; adjutants were slowly making their way to a group of civilians. Swallowing back her fear she sprinted towards the foul creatures, firing shots into their backs in an attempt to distract them from the powerless humans. From behind her, three more adjutants had arrived, she was now surrounded. Thinking quickly she grabbed a grenade belt from a deceased Cerberus soldier, releasing their clips and throwing them to her feet before throwing a biotic barrier around herself and the adjutants. Hearing hurried footsteps to her left she turns just in time to see the Commander and Aria running through the door towards her. Giving them a small smile, she holds her head up high in determination, she wasn't afraid anymore. Just as the adjutants were inches away from her, the grenades exploded within the biotic bubble, killing Nyreen and the creatures instantly. Shepard came to a halt, shocked at what she had just witnessed. The cloud of smoke dispersed showing nothing more than a scorch mark on the floor. Aria stopped breathing for a moment. Nyreen was a friend, a very good friend; despite all of her tormenting over her being weak, she was one of the bravest women she knew.
Suddenly, realization hit Aria; clenching her fists her body glowed bright blue and she began to run. "That's it. Tell your boss I am coming for him!" Sprinting towards the door of Afterlife and into a crowd of Cerberus, Aria didn't pause once, her biotics flaring around her, pulsing and pushing away anyone near her. Shepard who was still at the spot where Nyreen had died could feel the force of the Asari's power as it caused her to stagger backwards. Aria was already heading through the doors of Afterlife when Shepard righted herself. Rushing forward towards the closed doors, Shepard hurried to catch up to the Asari. Opening the doors she ran through in time to see Aria bursting with power, throwing everyone in the vicinity into the surrounding walls, once again Shepard was blown back by the intensity. Aria continued to sprint forward, "I will kill you all." Finally the Commander caught up with Aria as they made their way into Afterlife's main hall. Aria stopped, panting; searching for a sign of the General. From directly ahead of them, he appeared on the balcony that had once belonged to Aria and her infamous couch. Shepard did not think it was wise for him to be baiting the Asari any further, but still he spoke out; "Nyreen Kandros was a good soldier. It's a shame she had to die for your petty ambitions." Glowing brighter than before, Aria began to sprint towards him yelling; "You're a dead man!" She was about to run straight through a large contraption in the middle of the room in her haste to get her hands on the man she hated. Shepard tried to warn her, "Aria, wait!" But it was too late, they machine came to life, and the Asari was trapped inside, hovering in a containment field.
Shepard glared at the man above her, "What now Petrovsky? Let her go." The menace in her voice was clear. "Divide and conquer Commander. Kandros killed the adjutants we hadn't finished experimenting on. These however, are under our full control. The prototypes for our future army." From below him, a door opened, several adjutants walked through joining them in the room. Without another word from the General, the adjutants were joined by Cerberus. Giving them no further thought Shepard ran up to the console nearest her and began to override it. Once that was complete she turned, pushing her biotics into the nearing adjutant, before running back to where Aria was captured. Shooting the generator twice with her shotgun it collapsed, lessening the hold on Aria. Aria glowed with energy as she sent her biotics out into the room knocking back the Cerberus troops as they began to surround the Commander. "Watch out! Aria is trying to overload the generators!" Came Petrovsky's voice from the relative safety of the balcony above. Shepard took that moment to shoot the downed Cerberus soldiers in the head before sprinting to the next console. With the pattern set, she was down to the last generator. Most of the Cerberus troops were dead thanks to Aria's biotic pulses and Shepard's quick shooting. Firing at the last generator Aria dropped free.
"I'm back you fuckers." Aria sent out another powerful wave of biotics, sending the Commander stumbling in front of the remaining adjutant. Shepard fired up into its stomach as she lay on the floor before it. As it was about to pounce the adjutant found itself caught in an impossibly strong biotic field, before it was flung to its death against a wall. Shepard pushed herself up off of the floor in time to see Aria standing behind her, concern written across her face. The concern was quickly replaced with fury directed at the general as she turned and made her way up to her old balcony. Petrovsky's voice sounded out from above them, "Attention all Cerberus forces, surrender."
As they joined the General on the balcony, he announced to his forces, "Cease and desist all aggression. It's over." Standing upright the General turned to face Shepard, "Commander Shepard, I surrender myself into your custody" Aria walked up to the man's face, her body still glowing with biotics. "That is the most pathetic thing I have ever heard" raising her hand, she slapped him hard across the face, her biotics sending him crashing backward into his chessboard. As he began to pick himself up, he spoke directing his words only to Commander. "Shepard, I am unarmed…And I can give the Alliance intel on the illusive man!" At hearing his feeble words Aria grabbed the man by the throat, and began to place steady pressure, "You'll say anything to save your skin!" Petrovsky's face began to turn red, choking he tried to get his words out, pleading; "But…I let you…escape Omega. I deserve…mercy." Shepard looked between Aria and the man, and then thought back to Nyreen's senseless death. His words meant nothing to her. "Is this true Aria?" Aria didn't loosen her grip from the General's throat. "Inexplicably. I think he'd agree now that it was the biggest mistake of his life." The man's voice grew fainter as he still tried to plead his case, "But…this…is…murder." Aria nodded, her face close to his, "That's right. Cold blooded murder. No less than you deserve." Realizing that Petrovsky was about to pass out, she lessened her grip, "Oh, no- not yet, you don't get a quick, easy death." Shepard walked away to meet Bray who had just joined them on the balcony, shaking her head as he opened his mouth.
Aria could feel the man's life ebbing away at her finger tips, as he drew his last pained gasps of air; Aria's eyes went black. She searched the General's brain, gathering information and finally feeling for herself, his life leaving his body. It was exhilarating. She felt justice at taking away this man's life, for he had taken so much away from her. First Omega, then a good friend. He got what he had deserved. Stepping over the body on the floor, she nods towards Bray; "clean up this mess." Then she made her way to the Commander's side, who was looking out over Afterlife.
"Shepard, I…never thought I'd enjoy having a partner." She looked away from the woman who was looking at her so intently, she couldn't deny the feelings that the woman gave her. Even Nyreen had seen it, and urged her to take action. She was Aria T'loak, and she took what she wanted. Turning back to the woman she grabbed her around the waist and pulled the Commander into her. Shepard's eyes widened at the shock; but soon closed at feeling the Asari's lips upon hers. Having recovered from the initial surprise, Shepard pushed Aria back against the railing of the balcony; her hands braced the rail either side of the woman as her tongue brushed along the purple lips begging for entrance. Aria groaned at the feeling and welcomed the Commander's tongue; moving her hand from the comfort of the woman's hip and into the shaggy red hair, grasping at it as she pulled Shepard in closer. Aria never was one to be submissive, but being pinned into the railing with the humans strong arms either side of her, she couldn't hide the excitement she felt as she pulled the woman further into her; leaving no space between their bodies.
Shepard couldn't believe the sudden change in events, but she relished in the softness of the woman against her. Her senses were overwhelmed with the Asari. Each groan Aria let out into her mouth brought her closer to the point of no return. She knew they had to stop, a crowd was gathering below the balcony; waiting for Aria's announcement. Taking a small step back, the two women gazed into each other's eyes, gasping for much needed air. Aria's eyes had begun to darken and Shepard had to take another step back to stop herself from diving in for more. Now with a safe distant between them, the Commander cocked her head to the side giving the Asari a lopsided grin; though her eyes betrayed her as they darkened with lust.
Aria watched the human step away from her with some disappointment, her cheeks were flushed red and her chest heaved slightly; she found herself again wanting to reach out and feel the warmth of the blush upon the woman's face, but now was not the time. Tearing her gaze from the woman before her, she prepared herself to face the crowd below them. Turning on the console to broadcast her announcement throughout the station, she took a deep breath; returning her Queen of Omega façade. "Citizens of Omega, hear me. I, Aria T'Loak; have given you back your lives."
Shepard leant against the railing of the bannister once more as she watched Aria address her people. The crowd had fallen silent as their ruler had begun her speech, not a sound was heard other than that of her voice. The human couldn't help but be drawn into the spectacle that was Aria, her powerful presence was undeniable.
"My rule is reignited. My hand is on the controls once more, and I will not let go again." From below her the crowd let out a cheer. "Each of you owes a debt. Gain my favour by rounding up the remaining Cerberus invaders and…" Her speech falters slightly as she remembers her fallen friend. "-and we will take our revenge. It's their turn to tremble, their turn to bleed. Going forward your lives will be hard. But the price you pay is for your freedom. Only I can protect that. And hear this. I will make Omega impenetrable. No one will ever threaten my domain again. From this day on, the galaxy will know one hard truth; don't fuck with Omega."
Aria turned off the console in front of her, and closed her eyes for a brief moment; relishing in the cheers before her and in the knowledge that her domain was once again under her influence. She tensed slightly as she sensed a presence close behind her; she could feel the woman's breath on the back of her neck. She ached to feel the woman against her, to take control of the situation, to forget for a moment the helplessness she had felt as she watched Nryeen disappear before her eyes. Her back still facing the woman behind her, she begins to talk; "Thank you…for not interfering earlier. Killing that man was deeply satisfying. And thanks to you, I have Omega back."
Shepard nodded solemnly before realizing that the Asari would not be able to see her, so instead she placed a comforting hand on the exposed purple skin of the woman's side; "So what's your plan?" Aria crossed her arms as she looked around at the destruction in front of her, "There's a lot to rebuild, starting with this command centre. It may take some time to remove the Generals stink from my throne. I wonder if I'll ever really enjoy the pole dancing in here again…" Aria could feel as well as hear the Commander's soft chuckle at her words. "Looks like you have your work cut out for you, but for now I could really use a shower." Aria turned around at the Commander's words, looking the woman up and down, taking in the blood and dirt that covered her armor. "I am sure I can arrange something, Commander."