AN: My deepest thanks to all who have returned.
Chapter 38
When they left the Normandy, Asura wanted to go by Mordin's clinic to see how Samara was, as Abby had told her that Jane wanted them to keep an eye on the justicar. They didn't make it all the way there though as a large krogan crossed paths with them, flanked by both Anto and Grizz – Aria's two personal bodyguards. The krogan Abby didn't recognize, however he was quick to explain what had brought him to her.
"Aria believes that you have an appointment with her," the krogan rumbled as he towered over both her and Asura. "I would suggest you honour it."
Abby, trying to place the krogan's voice, put a hand on Asura's arm as the ardat yakshi stepped forward to place herself between them.
"Dr Gable is..." Asura began, but stopped when Abby tightened her grip. She glanced back at her, frowning when she saw the expression on Abby's face.
"Asura," Abby said slowly. "My... love..." She couldn't help but try out the term of endearment and she could feel the slight thrill that passed through Asura. "Why don't you go on ahead?" She was studying the krogan, still trying to place him. "I am sure mister...?" She trailed off and the krogan did as she hoped.
"Patriarch," he said. "You can call me Patriarch." His voice was so deep, Abby could almost feel its vibrations in her chest.
"Patriarch will ensure that I get to Mordin's clinic safely, after I have spoken to Aria," Abby finished.
Asura stiffened a little at the name, glancing down at her then up at the large krogan. He was very calm, but Abby didn't miss the way he looked at her. The conversation might have been directed at her, but everybody's attention was focused on Asura and both Grizz and Anto had their weapons out. The batarian made Abby nervous as she wondered how he would take to the news that his people on the other side of the relay had most likely been left to genocide.
"I will indeed," the krogran rumbled. "You can be assured; no harm will befall her while in my company. She is of Shepard's which means, she is of mine."
Oh yes, Abby thought suddenly. The mission in Afterlife.
Shepard had been tasked to save Patriarch from mercenaries sent to kill him, thinking – if she remembered correctly – that it would cripple Aria in some way. There were various ways Shepard could have handled this mission, one of them being to gain the respect and loyalty of Patriarch. It made sense to her that Jane would have taken that route. Which meant that he was probably one of the few people on Omega she would be safe with.
"Abigail?" Asura turned to her, worry clear on her face, but Abby smiled at her and nodded slightly.
"It's okay," she said. "I know he'll do as he says. Please, go to... to the clinic. I will meet you there." She gathered her courage as she turned to the large krogan. "You can... lead the way." Her stomach turned in fear as he bowed his head at her and then turned slowly taking a step forward before waiting for her to fall in. Abby swallowed, gave Asura a shaky smile and followed him slowly, ignoring Grizz and Anto who moved instep behind her. She didn't dare look to see whether Asura was going to the clinic of following them, knowing that some of her courage would leave her if she saw the asari's face.
And, if she showed that she was scared, Asura would take her from these folks.
The krogan walked a few yards, the area around them surprisingly quiet suddenly. Omega was never really quiet, with the various inhabitants living according to their own time. Shops were open at all hours and Abby had found that various species kept time according to what it was like on their homeworld even though the asteroid had its own calendar. Both she and Asura tended to stick to an earth clock of twenty-four hours though the time was less strict and more there to aid in a routine.
So, the absence of the usual hustle and bustle made Abby nervous, her stomach turning and clenching with anxiety till it forced her to take a deep, steadying breath. Patriarch heard it and stopped walking, glancing back at her, his reptilian eyes moving to the crutch she used to keep her balance. She was surprised when he stooped a little and offered her an arm.
"Can I assist you, Dr Gable?"
Not wishing to show how nervous she was, Abby smiled at him as she shook her head.
"I am capable," she said but slipped her arm into his. "But, I'll never say no to some courtesy." He didn't wear armour and Abby, who had not had a lot of interaction with krogan, was surprised at how hard the skin she could feel through his shirt was.
"Of course," Patrairch said, his eyes bright with amusement. "This way." While they stopped, Abby had seen a group of salarians come down the corridor where they were, but when they saw the group, their eyes widened and they disappeared from sight.
So, she thought. Not quiet. Everybody's just scared of these people.
It was certainly a show of force and Abby wondered who was protecting the Queen of Omega. Aria was... benevolent in her absence. She kept the various mercenary factions in line and ensured that the people of Omega weren't exploited because, Abby was sure, she felt that there was no money in it for her. Unhappy people meant nobody would come to settle here, which meant that the choice of inhabitants that the universe offered shifted to only those who had little other choice. There were more than a few like Abby who were there because living on Omega presented some kind of opportunity. If money was to be made, it was made quickly, but never without the shadow of Aria moving over it and reminding them of her one, ultimate guideline, rule and law.
Don't fuck with Aria.
And, in the absence of Aria, the people who represented her as these three did. The crowds only started to thicken again when they reached Afterlife and even then Abby caught a glimpse or two of a few sympathetic or curious glances shot in her direction. Her hand had started trembling on Patriarch's arm and nothing she did could stop it.
I must look a sorry sight, she thought as they climbed the steps leading into the club, Patriarch taking some care to help her navigate it. The club's music soon spilled over her as they went inside and headed for Aria's private balcony. Abby stopped them at the stairs and glanced back at Grizz and Anto.
"Can I... speak to her alone?" she asked. "I am unarmed." When Anto's eyes glanced at the crutch she couldn't help but roll her eyes. "I'll leave it."
The batarian didn't look convinced and abruptly closed the distance between them, doing a thorough search of her person. Abby couldn't really blame him for his caution. In one of the first meetings she had had with Aria alone, she had threatened the Queen of Omega with a knife. In hindsight, Abby realised that that moment should have scared her a lot more than it should, not for what Aria's people would or could do to her, but because of what this world would drive her to and what sort of deeds she would willingly expose herself to.
She left the crutch under Anto's watchful eye and carefully ascended up the stairs herself, taking extra care to place her feet correctly. It was arduous and she wasn't surprised to find Aria at the top waiting for her when she finally reached its end. Her eyes were harder than usual.
"You should really meld with that ardat yakshi of yours," Aria sneered as she turned on her heel to go and sit on her couch. "This state you are in is inefficient and unbecoming."
Abby had to take a moment to compose herself, realising very quickly that she shouldn't let Aria bate her. Instead, she fixed the asari with a look and carefully moved over to the couch beside her, not waiting for her permission to sit down. She noticed that there was a flagon with water on the table but didn't dare reach out to get herself a glass, even though she felt as if she could do with one to cure her dry mouth. When she didn't speak immediately, Aria frowned at her impatiently and crossed her legs. Having opted for a shorter dress option, it showed Abby quite a lot of leg.
"Dr Gable," Aria spoke. "I am not going to underestimate your intelligence by asking you to speak of matters. You know what I want to hear. Speak."
Closing her eyes, thinking about what Shepard had told her, Abby took a deep breath and grimaced.
"Shepard doesn't want to me to speak of Ba'hak," she spoke quietly. "She trusted me with this, but it shouldn't go further."
The asari snorted, her expression becoming more patient as she studied Abby's trembling hands. To Abby's surprise, she leaned forward suddenly, poured a glass of water and pressed it into her lap, only letting go of the glass when she was sure that Abby had a good hold of it.
"And?" Aria intoned. "I'm pretty sure you didn't come here just to tell me that."
Abby shook her head and was grateful Shepard had given her permission to speak because she didn't want to know whether or not she would have considered betraying the commander's trust. This conversation would have happened regardless of whether Abby had Jane's leave or not. And maybe... just maybe then she would have found the same words as she did now.
"No," the vet said, inclining her head in Aria's direction in silent thanks for the water. She took a sip then had to clear her throat.
Not water. Of course. This is a club.
"But then again, Commander Shepard didn't save me from Phora. Or send her daughter to rescue my partner."
Aria's mouth thinned at her choice of words, her eyes a little more dangerous.
"Her company was simply the closest," she spoke in a low voice. "And you would do well to understand that if you speak of her again, I won't be merciful. Keeping that secret is more valuable to me than my curiosity around your origins. You will not speak of her again."
Abby was grateful that Asura wasn't near because the ardat yakshi would have sensed the sliver of fear that passed through her soul immediately.
"I won't," Abby said. "But... but I will speak of Ba'hak." Aria sat back, relaxing visibly. She didn't say anything but waited patiently now that she knew she was going to get what she wanted. It was a commonly held belief that Aria always got what she wanted, though, Abby thought of Patriarch who had flipped some of his loyalty to Shepard, not always...
"Jane was contacted by the Alliance to rescue a scientist called Amanda Kenson who had been captured by the batarians." She paused when Aria's attention peaked at the name. She watched as the asari's brow furrowed for a moment, the tattoo between her eyes drawing a stranger shape.
"She was arrested here a few days ago," Aria murmured, clearly drawing the name from memory. "Batarian authorities followed her through and found her in possession of equipment that could possibly be used to fashion a bomb. You know batarians, they are quite an anxious lot when it comes to explosives and humanity. So the Alliance acknowledged her as theirs?"
Abby shook her head. "No, Jane went in... as a favour to one of her superiors." She felt a little heat in her cheeks when Aria chuckled at this.
"Yes, when the varren shits on the carpet suddenly nobody wants to acknowledge that it was theirs. Tell me, this officer – was it Admiral Steven Hackett? Commander of the entire alliance fleet?"
Abby hoped her face remained neutral. "I'm not sure of the logistics," she confessed then slowly, after some consideration brought the glass back to her lips, this time expecting and savouring the taste of alcohol. It was strong, but had a slight aftertaste that was pleasant enough.
"How much do you need to hear from me? Everything...?" When she saw Aria's nod she sighed. "Right. Ahm. This is all I know. Kenson was building something in Ba'hak but it wasn't a bomb. They had found a reaper artefact..." She told Aria as much as she thought was safe, still mentally trying to edit how much she thought Jane would want her to know. But the matriarch was good at spotting when she held back and got as much out of her as Abby could give her.
"The Normandy left here after..." Abby continued, having told as much of Jane's side of the story thought left out Samara. "But they were too late. Jane had to set the asteroid on a collision course with the relay." Her eyes found Aria's who was looking at her in mute anticipation. "The relay was destroyed right after the Normandy rescued Jane."
Abby wondered if Aria even tried to hide her shock, or knew that she showed it.
The asari sat back, her mouth slightly agape as she let out a breath Abby realised she must have held throughout the tale.
"Impossible," she breathed. "The relays cannot be destroyed."
Abby's mouth thinned and she didn't humour Aria.
"I don't think anybody ever tried," she said. "The calculation was that... its destruction would destroy everything near it. Including Aratoth, the prison planet. Jane estimated that the immediate death toll was about..."
"Three hundred thousand," Aria breathed, not looking at Abby as her eyes stared off into the distance. The shock was passing quickly and in its stead was cold calculation. "That was the population on Aratoth. The official one. Don't look so surprised at my knowledge Dr Gable, if you have a prison colony only a jump away from your asteroid in space you tend to take an interest." Her mouth thinned when she turned to Abby, giving her a piercing look.
"And you say these reapers were... there. She has actual proof."
Abby didn't really know.
"I believe she does," she said. "They didn't share their data with me."
"Pity," Aria snorted, her eyes narrowing. "And the justicar? She was brought to Mordin's clinic, severely injured if my source is correct." Abby would have hated to be the person who had given her that information if it wasn't. "Was she present?"
Abby didn't think that she could have lied.
"She tried to stop Jane." There was no use denying it, if Aria knew who Kenson was she would most certainly have kept tabs on the movements of all the justicars on her asteroid.
Can Omega be used to destroy a relay?
Aria's snort was sharp as she made a dismissive wave with her hand as she still studied Abby intently. Throughout her talk, the vet's body had twitched occasionally and she had ceased drinking from the glass because the third time she tried to take a sip she had spilled half the contents on her lap.
"She couldn't have tried very hard," Aria pointed out. "Jane Shepard is still alive."
Biting her lip, Abby reminded herself that she had to protect the justicar. That Jane had requested it from her personally.
"I think her feelings towards Shepard interfered," she spoke quietly. "And think about it, Aria, her code... I... I don't think it would speak against killing thousands to save millions. The reapers were there."
"That's what Shepard says," Aria's tone was noncommittal as she leaned forward, enfolding her hands before her. "Interference. Of course. It won't be the first time that happened; your partner is walking proof of it. Interesting that the justicar's Third Oath of Subsumation is so strong." Her mouth narrowed and she sat back again, processing. Abby waited because she knew she couldn't simply leave without the asari's permission. She felt a distance between them in that moment, Aria's eyes becoming ageless as the weight in her hundreds of years of life settled around them. Abby wondered what it must feel like to have such a lifetime of experiences to draw upon. And what it must have felt like when she was so surprised about the fate of the Ba'hak relay. It had thrown Aria a little, she was sure but the asari was also recovering very quickly.
She saw this when Aria sighed deeply and then focused back on her.
"So," she murmured to the empty room around them, not quite addressing Abby, but musing aloud, probably for Abby's convenience, or because she expected the vet to give up more information. "The line has been drawn. The relay must be destroyed, what else would be the reason for the lack of travel between the two stars? Ba'hak is far, probably the furthest system accessible by a relay." She clicked her tongue. "Do you have any idea how many batarian refugees will be spilling into Omega? The Citadel? I will have to prepare for that. Don't want too many of them onboard the station, it might tip the balance of power."
Her words hit Abby hard for they were cold and calculated. She stared at the asari in shock, who smiled at her, seemingly taking delight in her confusion.
"Speak your mind, Dr Gable, as you know I have always put value into your honesty."
Not quite true, Aria had always used her honesty as some sort of currency to buy her freedom.
Abby sat back and wondered how to respond. "I... You..." She struggled. "People died, Aria. Many. Many more are dying now, I would venture a guess. This isn't about power. This is the beginning of an attack."
The asari snorted and leaned forward again to pour herself a drink which she lifted to her lips and savoured.
"Isn't it about power?" She asked. "Commander Shepard destroyed a system to keep the power from the reapers. My... power kept you and your partner safe this past week. Everything in this struggle is about that. Even Shepard was resurrected by Cerberus because they wanted more power than the Alliance and the Council. They wanted the upper hand on the Collector situation and that gave them power. Do you know that they came to me a few weeks ago, asking for rights to move more of their people here? No? What do you think I said?"
Abby shifted uncomfortably. "No," she said. "They hate aliens."
Aria's smile wasn't kind.
"Those who came here pleading their case weren't of the extremist sort. They were willing to play within my rules, respect my people. They offered me a substantial amount of credits, which I declined because I wanted more. I wanted information on what they are working on beyond the Omega 4 Relay." She moved abruptly, raising from her own couch to come and sit beside Abby, taking the vet's hands before she could pull away.
"And in saying yes to them, Dr Gable, I now hold some power over even the Illusive Man himself because he needs me and what I have to offer here."
Abby tried to pull away from her but Aria's grip was firm.
"Power is the only thing that changes the landscape in this world, Dr Gable. Even Asura's power saved your life. It's the reason you went against your very nature to be with her."
Uncomfortable with the asari's presence, Abby suddenly regretted that Asura wasn't there, but was also relieved because she knew her lover might well have killed Aria for what she was doing.
"It's not the same," she said. "It isn't."
Aria chuckled softly, her one hand still enfolding Abby's while the other reached up to trace a line across her cheek.
"If you say so," she murmured almost intimately, her eyes locking with Abby's.
"Tell me something else, Dr Gable. Did you see this coming?"
Feeling a small build up of panic in her, Abby quickly shook her head.
"No," she said quickly. "How could I?" Aria's thumb found a line down her neck and moved to the hollow by her throat before it traced a line on her collar bone.
"Well, you believed that you played some sort of game with this future plotted out like a story," she pointed out. Aria was one of only two people in this galaxy who knew Abby's true past. The original boon Abby had promised her in order to be able to save Asura's life when Lenelle was trying to take her away from Omega.
"Did you see any of this happen? Did you play the future in your mind?"
Abby shuddered and tried very hard to shift away from Aria, feeling and older fear take hold in her. She loved Asura, but there was a part of Abby that feared asari and their power. Her first few moments in this world was dominated by Asura's first melding, an act that had been an intimate invasion, an assault on her body and mind. The ardat yakshi had meant to kill her, but she had lived and it had enabled her to forgive Asura understanding that at that time in her life, she was just as scared as Abby was. Then of course there had been her encounter with Lenelle and that should have killed her. The asari had overwhelmed Jack and herself in a frightening display of power.
And then there had been Tela Vasir, an asari Spectre who nearly got Abby killed, yet whose death still kept her up some evenings when sleep was distant.
Asari were dangerous and she never forgot that. Their longevity allowed them look at the galaxy differently and perhaps enabled most of them to make the same kind of calculation Aria had just made.
Power.
Abby tried to pull away from Aria again.
"I didn't," she breathed for she had only ever played the second game. "If I had, I would have warned Jane in advance. I would have tried to spare her... all of this."
Aria's laugh was genuine.
"You would, wouldn't you?" She crooned. "I have told you this before Dr Gable, you are too naive for this galaxy. That alone tells me you don't come from anywhere near here. But..." her eyes sharpened. "Indulge me your fantasy for a moment. How would you understand this in context of the life you lived before? What would have been our fate there? Come now, Dr Gable, you have an imagination."
She was trembling now and wasn't sure what it was from. Fear, the realisation that Aria could do anything with her in this moment. Worse, she was indulging her. Why me? I mean nothing here. Nothing. But she indulges me. I am nothing. But I am real... I am real... I have to be. That wasn't a dream, that was my life.
"I don't know," Abby breathed and knew that for the first time since they started talking she showed Aria how scared she was. "The reapers are real and they will come here. And Jane is so important to it all. She will win, she has to. That would have been true in my future. When the third game came out, that would have been the goal. She would have won." Her throat tightened unexpectedly. "They owed her that much."
She felt Aria measure her as the weight of the asari's ageless eyes rested on her. Her hand had come back to Abby's cheek while her other let go of Abby's hands so that she could cup her face. There was a flash of comprehension as Aria seemed to realise that she had pushed her too far. The asari sighed and let her go abruptly, sitting back to give her space.
"I guess it would be too easy to know what the future holds," Aria sighed and reached out for Abby's glass, topping it up and pressing it into her hands before she took up her own glass again. She raised her drink to Abby and drained it in one gulp. "Truth be told, I will believe in Shepard's reapers when I see them with my own eyes. She is a powerful woman herself, clearly capable of shaping many lives and forging very futures. But I struggle to wrap my head around the truth she speaks and this... this act of genocide. I know enough about her to know that she wouldn't have done so lightly, if she was of sane mind." She refilled her own glass again, but didn't drink from it this time. "I'd be a fool however if I do not prepare as best I can." She clicked her tongue and looked away, tapping her finger against the rim of the glass.
"Do you think she will claim responsibility for this?" Her tone was lighter, less pressing and Abby knew that Aria would have forgiven her if she didn't answer. But she had understood some of what Aria had tried to impress on her and it reminded her that this asari was now the only thing standing between her and whatever danger was out there.
As long as she made it worth it for her.
She gulped down a drink from her glass and blew out a hoarse breath to try and steady herself.
"I think she will. She sees it as the only recourse to make the universe see what she believes she is up against."
Aria's eyes turned back to her and this time Abby was surprised by the openness she saw there.
"Then you have to prepare yourself for that, Dr Gable," she said. "The world will call her mad and in an act like this, punishing one person is never enough. They might well go after all who are associated with her. Showing loyalty to her here might become a dangerous pass time. My eyes can't be on you all the time."
Breathing out again, Abby closed her eyes.
"I... believe I showed my loyalty to you now," she whispered, not looking at Aria as she wondered how she would ever get her pathetic carcass of a body off of this couch in the state she was in.
"I hope that that will be enough."
Aria's eyes drifted to her again, her face unreadable as she made a sound deep in her throat. She rose off of the couch and put her glass back on the table, reaching her hands out to Abby in the process. Her expression had changed now and Abby was startled to realise that the asari actually showed her age. She appeared older for a moment and tired, a feeling that Abby understood deeply. Realising that she was being given a chance to leave, Abby reached out and slipped her hands into Aria's, allowing the asari to pull her to her feet. She was grateful for the way Aria held onto her, giving her all the time she needed to find her balance. There was nothing more that they could say to each other, or so Abby thought.
"I am going to warn Councillor Tevos of this though I will refrain from mentioning Shepard's involvement for now," Aria spoke in an even tone. "So that they can prepare for all the destitute that will come their way because I'm not going to accept all suddenly without a home to leap to. It will be a good exercise for the council. I think we should all prepare for matters to change. Wars... change landscapes. It's rare that we have warning." She sighed. "Even if it proves to be a fruitless exercise." She made eye contact with Abby and held her gaze. "I am sorry if I upset you, Dr Gable, I am unused to dealing with those that have a constitution as weak as yours. You are quite unspoiled in comparison to the other scum I deal with day to day." For once, there was no judgement. "You are, of course, correct. You have shown me your loyalty. And I don't want you to think that I am ungrateful for this act." She reached out and ran a hand through Abby's black hair, her fingers rubbing the strands between them as if she was curious about the texture. Abby didn't move, but felt her own anxiety finally give way to exhaustion.
She had never thought that a single conversation could take so much out of her.
A price has definitively been paid.
"I have never seen the appeal of your kind," Aria spoke and this time she was amused again. "But, I have to say I believe that your pet ardat yakshi doesn't simply keep you around to be a next meal. You are... something else, Dr Gable. A breath of fresh air..." She trailed off and shook her head. "Just before it is spoiled by the foul odour of life." She let her go and went back to her couch, her hand tracing over the omnitool she kept on her wrist.
"Patriarch will take you to Mordin's clinic. If the salarian is leaving Omega soon... Tell him to come and say good bye. I have always enjoyed his company."
Abby didn't want to think about it and didn't move until Patriarch came up the steps. She thought she saw sympathy in his eyes when he looked at her, but then she decided that she had simply imagined it. He came to her without a word, slipping her crutch into her outside hand as he took her other.
He helped her turn her back on Aria and the words that they had spoken, leading her down the steps carefully as he allowed her to move at her own pace. He was a stranger to her and his presence a reminder that she had lived another life in Jane's shoes, bearing witness to what was the beginning of the imminent arrival of the reapers.
She was glad suddenly that she and Aria had spoken of it because she knew now that, unless something else came her way or Jane somehow managed to get out of this and still be a part of her life, she would never have to see Aria T'Loak again.
There was nothing else she could give her.
The End of Chapter 38
