**Updated**
I do not own Mass Effect nor any of the characters. They belong to Bioware.
Warning: Strong language and sensitive scenes.
Chapter 6: The Anti-Citadel
Built from the mined out husk of a giant asteroid, Omega has served as the seedy capital of pirates and bandits for centuries. There may not be a more bloody history in the galaxy than that of what many have dubbed the anti-Citadel. With no official ruler, the management of Omega has been left to the various gangs and mercenary groups that inhabit the rock. However, that all changed with the arrival of one Asari.
I speak, of course, of Aria T'Loak. The Boss, Queen, CEO, if you're feeling dramatic. And with her arrival came the establishment of Omega's one rule.
"A Traveler's Guide to the Galaxy; Omega, and why no one visits" by Kalor Sarn. Year 2158.
-Line Break-
"I'm sorry…did you say Omega?"
The mismatched team was 'enjoying' their lunch in the small Mass Hall on the ship's second level. It wasn't so much a Mess Hall as a single table just barely able to seat all of them. Garrus had a wide eyed, incredulous look on his face as he stared at his new leader. He had just informed them as to their destination.
"Yes, Omega." Shepard responded calmly while he chewed quickly on his food. It's not like this was the worst food he had ever had, but it was definitely up there. "Seriously, I'm the first freaking human Spectre and they have me choking down this shit?"
Kaidan nodded his head, face scrunched up in displeasure as he ate as quickly as he could, trying to taste as little as he could. The others had already given up on finishing, instead choosing to focus on the confrontation between Shepard and Garrus.
"Look Shepard, I really don't want to start this mission by second-guessing you", Garrus said. "But I really don't know if going there is a good idea."
"Um…excuse me", Ashley interrupted, a fork full of food on its way to her mouth. "Does someone want to explain to me what the big problem is with Omega?"
The room fell deathly silent as every gaze in the room turned towards her. She suddenly felt very self-conscious, a feeling felt only by those who realize they are the only one in the room that doesn't know something. Even Tali was looking at her, or at least she thought she was. It's hard to tell with the helmet.
"What?" Ashely asked. Her voice was slightly muffled with the food that was still in her mouth. Everyone looked at each other before Kaidan decided he would have to answer her.
"Omega may be the most crime infested place in the entire galaxy", Kaidan explained. "It is often described as the anti-Citadel. There is no law, the only thing that matters is money and who can take it."
"And we're going there because…", Ashley asked. Judging by what Kaidan had said she failed to see the advantage of going to this place.
"Because in a place like Omega, the only thing more valuable than credits is information", Shepard explained. "If there are any rumors going around about Geth movements someone will have heard of it. After that, it's all about getting them to release that information."
"Something tells me you already have a plan, Shepard", Wrex guessed.
"Nice guess", Shepard responded with a wry smile. "There's a person of great importance on Omega that happens to owe me a favor. Trust me, if anyone would have some information about Saren or the Geth, it's her."
"And who is, her?" Tali asked.
"You'll see when we get there", Shepard responded. "Until then, just relax and try to recover from this slop the Alliance somehow dares to call food."
Shepard rose from his seat and walks towards his new captain's cabin. One of the things he was looking forward to the most about being in control of his own ship had to be having his own room. It allowed for several luxuries he didn't get when being a simple soldier or even an XO.
Shepard entered his room and allowed the door to hiss shut behind him. They were still several hours from their destination which allowed him time for one of his favorite hobbies. Crossing his room he opened one of his cabinets and withdrew the contents from within. He had an impressive collection of liquor he had stashed on the Normandy when he was first assigned to it however having his own room meant not needed to keep it stashed down in the hull.
He had only just taken the first sip of his beer, a classic from Earth he was fond of, when he heard a knocking on his cabin door. He gave an annoyed sigh and went to see who was bothering him. He wasn't really worried about anyone seeing him drinking and reporting him in to the Alliance. They were currently on loan to the Council and he was, in fact, a Spectre. Meaning it was a little hazy as to what rules he needed to follow.
He was expecting it to be Ashley coming to ask him something about the new crew he had recruited for this mission. It was still unclear to him whether she was actually racist against aliens, but she was definitely close. He could clearly detect some resentment, a fact she had made clear in a conversation they had had when just after the Normandy left the Citadel. She assured him it wouldn't be a problem so for the moment he had no choice but to believe her. However, he would be sure to keep an eye on her going forwards.
The sight that greeted him instead was that of a nervous looking Quarian standing in front of him. She was anxiously shifting from foot to foot, her hands wringing together. Shepard raised an eyebrow before greeting her.
"Hey Tali. Come on in."
He turned around and headed back for his bed, sitting himself on the edge and watching as the young Quarian hesitated for a moment before entering his room. He might need to do something to improve her confidence, nervous squad members did not have a good history of making it on his team.
"I am sorry to bother you like this Shepard", she apologized.
"It's no problem", he responded, "I wasn't doing anything important. I'd offer you a drink but I don't think I have anything dextro so…"
"Oh, it is no problem", she responded.
Shepard waited a moment to see if she would tell him what she was doing here however she continued to stare around the room. He wasn't sure what it was that fascinated her so much but he figured she had had a long enough look.
"So…was there something you wanted?" He asked her.
She started slightly and moved her gaze back to him. Or, at least, he though she did.
"Yes Commander, sorry", she said. "I was wondering if you would mind letting me work with your engineers down in the hull. I grew up repairing ships with the migrant fleet, I know what I am doing."
"I don't doubt it", Shepard responded. He took another swig of the liquid in his hand, grimacing slightly at the taste. He may be partial to the taste, but this was one of the stronger brands that came from Earth and packed one hell of a punch. "Sure, go ahead if you want to. I'll send a message down to engineering and let them know you have access. Just do me a favor and don't cause too much trouble. Otherwise they'll call me to deal with it and I really don't have the patience."
"Thank you, Shepard. You won't regret this."
"Good. Now go get set up because you're coming with me onto Omega", he responded.
"Of course, Shepard", Tali replied.
With that she turned around and exited the room, the door hissing shut once again behind her. Shepard took another gulp of his drink and contemplated what may be waiting for him. He had not left things on the best of terms with her. He could only hope she gave him a chance to speak instead of shooting him on sight. She may owe him a favor, but she was unpredictable at best. Shepard could never predict how she would act. Shepard went to take another drink only to find the bottle empty when no liquid hit his tongue. He pulled the bottle away from his face and peered inside. Nothing.
"Why is the alcohol always gone", he asked himself, exasperated. He chucked the glass against the far wall and collapsed on his bed with a sigh. This was going to suck.
-Line Break-
"Commander, we're approaching Omega. Ten minutes out."
Shepard stirred awake at the sound of Joker's voice coming through the speakers. He groaned as he sat up, a pounding ache in his head. Looking around he saw several discarded bottles lying around the room, a reminder of how he had spent the last several hours.
"Commander…", Joker's voice insisted.
"I hear you, Joker", Shepard responded, irritably. He clutched his head again as a fresh wave of pain moved through his head. "I'll be up in a moment."
"Aye, aye Commander."
Shepard rose to his feet and checked his reflection in the mirror. He looked ruff but not too much worse than usual. Clearing the blurriness from his eyes, he left his room and headed up the stairs to meet Joker on the bridge.
Omega was coming into view as Shepard joined his pilot. It did not have any actual ruler or rules of any kind which meant you didn't need to ask permission to land. However, it also meant there was no security so you had best leave some men behind to guard your ship.
"Well, there she is. The biggest dump in the entire galaxy." Joker commented.
"It's all about how you look at it", Shepard responded. Joker turned to look at him, amusement lighting up his eyes at what he saw.
"Seriously, Shepard. How much did you drink, it was like the middle of the day?" He asked.
"Not another word, Joker", Shepard responded. The pilot simply sniggered and began to pull the ship in to an open dock. The rest of Shepard's team members joined them as Joker settled the ship down.
"Wow, this place really is a dump", Ashley commented.
"I'm pretty sure that's what their postcards say", Kaidan joked. Shepard gave him an annoyed look out of the corner of his eye that no one saw. In all honesty he didn't mind the Lieutenant, but he had a bad habit of telling awful jokes.
"I'm pretty sure any postcard sent from Omega has the same message. 'Someone stole all my credits, please send some so I can get the hell off this rock'," Shepard commented dryly. Ashley snorted in amusement. Kaidan sent him an annoyed look of his own. Shepard guessed he wasn't happy that he got a laugh while Kaidan didn't.
"So, what's the plan here skipper", Ashley asked. Shepard looked at her skeptically. When did she start calling him skipper?
"The plan is for me and a small team to leave the ship while the rest of the ground team stays to guard the ship. And I mean guard it, because it will get stolen", Shepard responded. "Ashley, I'll take you, Garrus, and Tali with me. That leaves you and Wrex to guard the Normandy", Shepard nodded to indicate he was talking to Kaidan.
"What about Jenkins?" Kaidan asked. Shepard had been hinting since they left the Citadel that Jenkins would not be joining their new additions on the ground team. He had yet to say anything officially, but it was something Kaidan could see coming. Jenkins had not performed well on Eden Prime and the commander was not one to give second chances.
Shepard gave a sigh as he thought of the young soldier. Based off Jenkins performance in his first ever mission, he didn't give Shepard a lot of reasons to trust that he would keep his head when things got crazy. But that wasn't the biggest reason Shepard was taking Jenkins off his ground team. The simple truth of the matter was, compared to the new additions such as Wrex and Garrus, Jenkins just didn't stack up.
"Tell Jenkins he's off the ground team indefinitely", Shepard said in the emotionless voice he typically adopted when giving orders. Kaidan had taken to calling it his 'commander' mode.
"He's not going to like being confined to the ship", Ashley commented.
"I don't really care", Shepard responded indifferently. "He can't compare to squad members like Tali or either of you. He's more likely to get himself killed than he is to be any kind of a help to us. With a rogue Spectre threatening the galaxy with the return of the most destructive force the galaxy has probably ever seen I can't really concern myself with the feelings of one unhappy crew member."
"I'll go let him know", Kaidan said. "Ashley, you should come so we can round up the other squad members and let them know their assignments."
Ashley nodded her head in confirmation. The two set off, leaving Shepard with the sarcastic pilot watching as the mined-out asteroid grew closer.
-Line Break-
"Alright, now I'm serious", Shepard spoke sternly to the two members of his team that would be remaining with the ship, "you need to keep an eye on the ship. Some of the best thieves in the galaxy live on Omega."
"Relax Shepard, we got this", Wrex said smugly. "I would love to meet the thief that believes they could steal a ship from me."
"Whatever you say, Wrex", Shepard replied with a sigh.
Shepard led the team he was taking with him through the tunnel and towards the heart of Omega. Ashley scrunched her nose as she was assaulted by the unfamiliar foul air around her. Exiting the tunnel they all looked around, beholding the unpleasant sight that was Omega. Everything they could see was dirty and dim, the only pleasant colors coming from across the 'street' in front of them. The sign glowed a neon orange, portraying the word 'Afterlife'.
Ashley noticed his gaze had locked onto the club. She turned a pleading gaze towards him in protest.
"Please tell me we're not going in there", She pleaded.
"Sorry Ash", she colored slightly at the nickname. "My source likes to hang out at the club. In fact, she owns it."
Shepard led his group over to the entrance before they were stopped by an angry looking Batarian.
"Names", he asked.
Shepard stiffened. The other members of his team noticed his hands clenching into fists down by his side as he answered the question.
"The name's Shepard, and I suggest you step aside and let me pass", he responded. His voice adapted a low, threatening growl that the Batarian either didn't pick up on or ignored. Instead he checked the screen that was in his hands before looking back up and giving an arrogant smirk at the commander.
"I don't see your name on the list, human", the Batarian sneered. "Get in line with everyone else."
The bouncer turned around and began to walk away from them before a human hand gripped his forearm and turned him around forcefully. The Batarian stumbled as he came face to face to the human he had just dismissed. He was surprised by the strength he had displayed.
"I said let me through", Shepard growled. This time the Batarian payed attention to the threat that was in the human's voice. Reaching to his side he drew his side-arm and pointed it at the human's head.
"And what if I don't?" The bouncer asked.
Faster than any of the guards could follow Shepard's hand snaked up and grabbed ahold of the gun, moving it away from his face. Before the Batarian could react he twisted slightly and delivered a wicked strike with the back of his elbow to the bouncer's head. Said Batarian released the grip on his gun and clutched at his face. The next he knew he was starring down the barrel of his own gun.
The guards around them finally reacted, drawing their weapons and pointed them at Shepard and his crew. They, in turn, pulled their own weapons and got themselves ready for a fight. They may be outnumbered, however they clearly had the advantage in skill. Shepard's crew were all trained, in some form or other, in combat while the guards in front of them were mostly local thugs that barely knew one end of their weapon from the other.
The tense standoff continued for several seconds, neither side so much as blinking. Shepard's crew waited on his signal while the Afterlife guards were waiting for their own orders. All the patrons that had been waiting in line to get in to the club had fled, more interested in staying alive than keeping their spot in line. Just as the tension was reaching a breaking point the doors of Afterlife opened with a hiss. Every eye slid towards them.
Walking out of the club, looking very dangerous and very much in charge was a young, light skinned human. He appeared to be no older that nineteen or twenty years old. His black hair was slicked slightly back and to the side. He had an interesting tattoo going up the right side of his neck and stopping just short of his cheek. A jagged scar, light against his skin, just below his temple on the left side of his face. The thing that caught Shepard's eye, as well as the rest of his team, the most was his eyes. They were a piercing purple.
'I didn't even know purple could be an eye color.' Shepard though to himself.
"Does someone want to tell me what's going on out here", the strange man said. He sounded casual however he was clearly ready for a fight should it come to that. This man was not like the other guards. He clearly knew what he was doing.
"This human and his group are trying to force their way into Afterlife", responded the Batarian. Shepard still had the gun right in his face.
"And who is he?" The man asked.
"He said his name was Shepard", the Batarian responded again. The human's eyes widened slightly at the name. He descended the steps until he was standing next to the two of them, pistol out.
"Is that so", the man said. He studied the fellow human's face for a few seconds before aiming his gun and firing…into the leg of the Batarian. Said Batarian dropped to the ground with a scream of pain. His fellow guards started and looked on is shock but made no move to go help. The human then addressed the commander.
"My apologies Shepard", the human said. "He's new, but should have recognized the name. Needless to say, he won't be back here. Please follow me, I'm sure Aria will want to speak with you."
Shepard gave one final glance at the Batarian writhing on the ground and clutching his leg before following the man into the club. Behind him his team glanced at each other uncertainly but followed after a second's hesitation. They proceeded down a long, dimly lit hallway. Already they could hear the pulsing music through the door at the other end. It only took them a minute to go from one end to the other however their nerves made it seem ten times longer. Tali glanced at Shepard to see how he was reacting. The commander looked to her as if he was right at home. Finally the door opened and they were met with a blast of pulsing music that nearly deafened them.
They could all see what made Afterlife so popular the second the door opened. It was much larger than any of the clubs on the citadel. In the center of the room was a pillar that glowed with a neon purple light. It appeared to go through the floor, apparently the club was multi-storied. Off to the sides there were several tables and bars with people of every species serving drinks to patrons of every race. Then, of course, was the clubs main attractions. Half-naked woman were dancing in every area of the club. On tables, where patrons could sit down and watch as well as on platforms that hung from the ceiling in the center surrounding the pillar.
"Welcome to Afterlife", the strange man said with a chuckle. "Now follow me, I'm sure Aria would like to speak with the people that caused such a disturbance at her front door."
As they walked, Garrus inched closer to the commander so he could whisper in the human's ear.
"Is Aria the one we came here to talk to?" He asked. His voice came out louder than a whisper so the human could hear him over the music.
"Yes", Shepard responded however offered nothing further. Taking the hint Garrus dropped back with the rest of the squad, leaving Shepard alone at the front, just behind the guard.
As they walked through the club they could see another reason why it was so popular. There were dozens of guards stationed throughout the club, and that was just what they could see. It had to be the safest place on the entire station.
Reaching a set of stairs, the group ascended until they could see who they assumed had to be Aria. She was an Asari, sitting sprawled out on a couch. The couch was on a small platform several steps above where they stood. It looked as though she had taken the idea from the olden kings that would sit on their throne and look down on those they were speaking to. From there she could keep an eye on the club and all its inhabitants. Standing on platforms to either side of the couch, on the edge of the balcony so they could also be seen by those below, were two very talented dancers. One human and the other Asari.
She appeared very nonchalant at first, however when she caught sight of the commander she straightened up and her eyes narrowed.
"Well, well, well. Look who it is", she said dryly. "I was beginning to wonder when you would return."
"It's nice to see you too, Aria", Shepard commented sarcastically. Meanwhile several of the guards next to them had begun scanning each member of his team. However, when one stepped up to scan him Aria gave a quick shake of her head to warn said guard to back off.
"So, what is the reason for your return to my station", she asked.
"Your station? I thought Omega didn't have any sort of governing party", Tali asked.
"Officially it doesn't. In practice however, everyone knows who's in charge. It's not official, I am simply the most powerful being on this rock, therefor I run it", Aria responded. "I must say, we don't get many Quarians here, apparently even those on their pilgrimage have been warned to stay away."
"I'm here because I need to cash in that favor you owe me", Shepard interjected. "I need some information."
"Of course, you do", Aria said laughingly. She went back to lounging on her couch, nudging her head to indicate he could take a seat on one of the seats that branched from the couch. Shepard nodded his head in confirmation and did just that. The human who had showed them into the club followed behind him. He took a seat next to Aria, where the Asari immediately stuck one hand in his hair and started to pet him. It was a move of power, leaving no doubt who was in charge. The act, while intimate, was also very controlling, though the human didn't seem to mind all that much. He was more than likely used to it.
"Now, what can I do for you", Aria asked once Shepard had gotten settled. "What does humanity's first Spectre need from the Queen of Omega, hmm?"
Shepard started slightly. He wasn't aware that fact was common knowledge yet, though he shouldn't have been surprised. News of his new position had probably spread across the galaxy by now. If she knew about his appointment to the Spectres then she also, more than likely, knew about his mission. Which meant she was toying with him, something that he hated with a passion.
"Cut the crap Aria", he said. "If you know that I'm a Spectre then you also know about my mission, which means you know why I've come. Normally I don't mind playing along however I'd like to be off this station before the Alliance or the Council figures where I've gone. I don't want to have to explain this."
Aria's face turned emotionless, a sight he was used to seeing on her.
"I assume you've come to ask me if I have any information on the former Spectre Saren Arterius or his Geth. The answer is no", Aria said. Shepard's mood darkened. If she didn't have any news then there was nothing he could do but patrol the galaxy and wait for him to attack another colony.
"Well this was a waste of a trip", he commented, annoyed. As he was about to rise from his seat and leave, Aria's next words stopped him.
"However, I may have a lead on the Asari Matriarch following him, Lady Benezia."
Shepard's head snapped back to look at her. In response she smirked, knowing she once again had his full attention. Her hand was still playing with the hair of the man beside her.
"Benezia has a daughter. I am told she is an expert in her field, despite her young age. Well, by Asari standards that is", Aria said.
"And what is her field", Shepard asked, curious.
"She is an expert on the Protheans, not a very popular field for Asari." Aria said. She smirked when she saw Shepard stiffen, meaning she knew his mission was connected to the Protheans. Shepard was reminded once again of the dangers of underestimating this Asari. There was a reason she had ruled over one of the galaxy's most dangerous places for centuries.
"Do you know where she is?" Shepard asked. He wasn't sure if the daughter was connected to her mother and Saren's plot however having an expert on the Protheans might be useful. Having leverage on Benezia could be even more so.
"As a matter of fact, I do. She is currently on an archeological dig at an old Prothean site. The location is a small, uninhabited planet called Therum in the Artemis Tau cluster of the Knossos solar system. Her name is Liara, Dr. Liara T'Soni. However, I would advise you to hurry. An hour before you arrived we detected an emergency beacon launched from the planet. No telling what's going on."
Shepard's eyes widened. Saren was going after his best lead. If he was searching for the Conduit he would need an expert on the Protheans to do so. They would have to hurry. Shepard stood to leave however was once again stopped by Aria. It was amazing how she could get chatty at the absolute worst times.
"This is an interesting team you have put together. And I thought you didn't play well with others?" Aria said in amusement. Shepard shot her an annoyed looked, however Aria didn't even blink. Sighing, Shepard turned back to answer.
"When you're a part of the Alliance, you learn to work with others. I didn't really have a choice in the matter. And besides, at least this team knows what they're doing. I don't have to worry about a bunch of amateurs screwing things up", he responded.
"Indeed", Aria replied. "Though I must question how far you are willing to go to fulfill your death wish."
"For the thousandth time, I don't have a death wish", Shepard said, annoyed. He wasn't sure how long ago it was that she started saying this, her way of calling him reckless. At the time Shepard had thought it was her way of saying she was worried about him, but that had been squashed quickly.
"So, what is this then?" Aria asked. "Are you getting ready for one of those complicated games you like to play?"
"You know me", Shepard responded. "Every strategy can be translated into a game. If I can figure out what game Saren is playing, I will be able to predict his moves and beat him."
"Well, I've never believed in that theory of yours but it's hard to argue with the results", Aris said. "I assume we are even now?"
She may have phrased it like a question however it was more of a demand. Like Shepard, Aria hated owing anyone favors.
"Not quite", Shepard replied. Aria's eyes darkened in anger and the man beside he shifted slightly, sensing his bosses rage. The tense atmosphere was being noticed down the steps where Shepard's crew were observing the exchange between the two dangerous individuals. They were not sure what they were hearing however they were able to discern one thing. Those two had a longer and more complicated history than they originally believed.
"And why not", Aria asked. Shepard knew he had pissed her off and would need to proceed with caution. It had been a while since the two had last fought so he wasn't sure if he would be able to take her yet. However, they were on Omega. If anything went down, it wasn't just the Asari he would be dealing with. But he couldn't allow her to use her advantage and cheat him out of his favor, who knew if he would ever get one again. She had helped him, yes, but it was a small help and he would need her going forward.
"I'll call things even if you promise to forward any information you hear regarding Benezia, the Geth, or Saren himself", Shepard responded. "I don't care if they're only unverified rumors, if you think they are credible send the information to me. I assume you still have my private channel network, you can reach me there. Do we have a deal?"
If this were anyone else, he would have stuck out his hand to shake. He knew Aria was not fond of physical contact unless it was something more…pleasurable. He was slightly shocked by how she was acting with the man that had brought them in. Sleeping with him was one thing, but she usually wasn't as public with these kinds of things. Even after all these years she could still surprise him. Shepard also had a feeling this man was not one of her usual 'use them for a few days then toss them away'. He was dangerous, and one thing Shepard knew Aria valued was a good ally.
Aria glared at him for a few more tense seconds before nodding her head in acceptance. Turning to the man beside her she addressed him for the first time since he had brought them to her.
"Scott, show the Spectre and his team back to their ship", she instructed. "And make sure that troublemaking Batarian is no longer outside my club, I have no time to deal with simple trash."
The man, now known as Scott, nodded his head and rose from the couch. He gave a small bow and led Shepard down the steps to his team. Behind him, Shepard heard Aria call out one final thing to him.
"Don't die out there Shepard", she called. Though this sentence would normally be taken as a sign of concern Aria made it quite clear that it wasn't. "I would hate to have to put up with Geth incursions for the coming years. Who knows when Saren will turn his eyes to Omega. And as for those Reapers you mentioned. I very much hope your wrong, but just in case…don't let Saren reach the Conduit."
Shepard's team tensed up when Aria mentioned Reapers and the Conduit. Apparently, Shepard's thoughts were right, Aria knew all about the mission. She must have someone on the Citadel reporting to her, showing that nothing is as secret as people like to believe. Without turning to face her he followed Scott out of Afterlife, his team and a small party of Aria's guards following them.
They had exited the club and were on their way to the Normandy when Shepard decided it was time to annoy the man in front of him a little.
"How does it feel to be Aria's little plaything", he asked. "Or maybe plaything isn't the right word. Pet? Sex toy? Bitch?"
To Scott's credit, the only reaction Shepard could see was the clenching of his hands.
"Very funny", Scott responded. "Aria never told me you two knew each other. It's impressive that you actually got her to owe you a favor."
"If there's a question in there I'm not answering", replied Shepard.
"Of course not", Scott scoffed. After that there was no more conversing until the group was approaching the Normandy. Seeing Shepard returning with an armed convoy, Garrus and Wrex lifted their weapons. Shepard calmed them with a hand gesture, they had gone this long without triggering a fight. He hoped not to start one on his way out.
"Well, thanks for the escort. You should probably run back to Aria before she replaces you with a cat and her hand", Shepard mocked. Scott chuckled a little, but not at the joke.
"Aria did tell me you were an asshole", he commented. Shepard laughed as well. Most people would not speak to him that way, his reputation serving as a deterrent. He was beginning to see why Aria liked him, as an asset at least.
"Not bad kid, what's your name anyway", Shepard asked as his team started boarding the ship. Scott hesitated for a second before shrugging.
"It's Ryder, Scott Ryder."
-Line Break-
Author's Note:
Sorry for the long wait between updates. Between finals and the holidays, I have not had much time to write. I hope to get back to my schedule of updating every week or two. As you can tell this is mostly a fun filler chapter that moves the story for next chapter and gives us a little more of an insight into Shepard's past.
I'm curious who could pick up on the man's identity before I revealed it and at what point. In case anyone was wondering I am considering making a story for Mass Effect Andromeda however it will not be for a while and will be dependent on what you guys think. As you can see, much as I have done with Shepard, Ryder would be more hardened and badass. One of the things I was most disappointed about Andromeda was he getting rid of the Paragon and Renegade. I always like to play renegade because it's more fun that way.
As always, let me know what you think. Follow, favorite, Comment. Your interest is what inspires me to write. The more interest, particularly comments, the faster I'll update. I know this one took me a while but it wasn't because of lack of interest, as I said life got crazy.
See you all next time.
