Chapter 12: Aria


Date: December 1, 2183
Location: Omega/Afterlife

Ann looked around Afterlife and snorted as she noticed that some things just never change. Or at least she thought that until she saw a krogan stripper. She heard both Grim and Grunt chuckle and groaned inwardly at the sight. I'm gonna have nightmares of that one for a long time. She then walked up to the stairs to talk to Aria, only to be stopped by two batarians and a turian that she didn't recognize.

"Stop right there human," one of the batarians spoke. His voice eerily reminded her of a high pitched woman who was trying to sing opera.

She smirked at that thought. "Aria wants to see me."

"Says who?" the second said only to get pistol-whipped by the turian behind him.

"Aria," he said before nodding for Ann to follow. "Your weapons have to stay here."

She heard both of her teammates cock their shotguns behind her. "Not happening," was her reply.

"I wasn't asking human."

She then narrowed her eyes at him. "I wouldn't hand over my weapon to a clanless, pompous-assed, faceless turian or his boss's goons no matter who or what they were."

The turians own eyes narrowed at her and was about to retort back when Aria spoke. "Just let her pass Ty'ros." Ann smirked and continued her way up the steps and looked upon Aria the first time since coming to this reality. She looked the same, except this one had a very pregnant looking female laying next her on the couch. Aria was petting the young woman's exposed stomach with what could only be described as loving touch. Aria's eyes met hers and the two didn't speak until Aria nodded to the couch across from her. "So you're the female Shepard I've heard about from my….resources on the Citadel or at least until they vanished like the rest of the galaxy." She cocked her head. "Why are you here?"

"I'm looking for two salarians," Ann stated, she knew the routine: to get something from Aria, she was going to have to do something for Aria.

Aria picked up a glass filled with a purple liquid. "Names?"

"Mierin and Weaver." She smirked when she saw a scowl appear on the asari's perfect face.

"Yeah, I know of them." She smiled. "First I need you take out some trash for me, then I'll give you the location of your two salarians."

"No problem."

Aria raised an eyebrow. "I haven't even told you who I want taken out."

"Doesn't matter." Ann leaned forward. "If you want them dead or whatever you want, it's probably because they broke Omega's number one rule."

Aria began to chuckle. "I think I may like this Shepard." She began to pet the pregnant woman's head in a lovingly manner. "The other Shepard has a reputation of being too much of a paragon." She cocked her head. "You on the other hand have the renegade streak in you."

"When you've seen a world on fire and about to be harvested by machines you kind of just say 'Fuck it' to everything and do what you know needs to be done, no matter the consequences."

"A woman of action." Aria smirked. "I know a few of those." She then paused in her petting and stood up. "There's a group or turians known as the Talons on Omega and I've put up with their shit for the last several months. They do a lot of dealings with slavery and transferring red sand around the galaxy." Ann's eyes' narrowed on this causing Aria to smirk. "However they haven't paid tribute to me in months and there are rumors they're trying to bring about a takeover of Omega. I want you to make sure that not a single one of them is left alive. Kill all of them."

"And when I return?"

"I'll have both salarians right here for you." Ann thought about that deal for about a second before she stood up and walked down the stairs to where Grim and Grunt were waiting for her.

"Well?" Grim asked as they headed out of Afterlife.

"Ever hear about a group called the Talons?" she asked the older krogan.

"Yeah, they were killed by the Blood Pack when they tried to takeover Omega. Their leader escaped though. Aria was pissed, which meant Patriarch was pissed. Heads rolled for that mistake. It was the last mistake that the Blood Pack made on Omega." He paused and the chuckled. "That is until Archangel came."

Ann chuckled. "Yeah everybody made the mistake in thinking he'd go away." She smiled.

"Why are we talking about them?" Grunt asked feeling slightly ignored by his commander since Grim came aboard the Normandy.

"Because we're taking them out tonight in order to get our two salarians."

"About time we killed something." Grunt snortted. "I was beginning to get itchy."

"You're always itchy Grunt." she laughed as they headed down towards the weapons kiosk.


Aria stood up after Shepard had left and turned towards Ty'ros and spoke. "Find those salarians and send several spies to watch Shepard. Make sure she does as I have said."

"Yes Aria." He nodded and quickly left Afterlife to do his bosses business.


M-Angel: I know I could say I was on vacation or wanted ya'll to have a great summer vacation or what not, but that wouldn't be truthful.

xoxoangii: True.

M-Angel: I was having major writer's block. I am now determined to get this story finished so I can begin other projects or finish one I started last year but never finished. So for now I am back and I hope to get a chapter out once every two weeks? Hopefullly. So I hope everybody enjoyed this chapter. The next one will come very soon!

xoxoangii: Please remember to R&R! Hope you guys enjoyed this one :) See you all soon!