MASS EFFECT WINTER EYES: CHAPTER 28

THE AGENTS

The mixture of sweat, bodily fluids and alien pheromones was overpowering to Avery as she stepped off the transport onto the designated dock for their arrival on Omega. Scrunching her nose, she pivoted on her heel to look behind her. Perez eyed the nearby travelers cautiously with his hand instinctively resting on the pistol that was strapped to his side. "I hate this place," Avery muttered to him as he took her side. The pair began their course towards their place of interest: Afterlife. Both donning Eclipse merc light body armor with temporary tattoos on different places of their neck and face. Avery dyed her hair to a light blue with streaks of pink at the tips. Perez had his dyed blonde and he took pigment capsules to alter the color of his skin from his light brown to more of a Caucasian white. The capsules were only good for eight hours so they had to move fast to ward off detection. He brought a couple of extra just in case. Their roles were fairly simple, but appearances were altered just in case they had to be scanned. Charon task operatives already placed fake identities for them in the system. For now, Perez was to be called Brian Edwards and Avery was Monique Spencer.

Perez whispered her way, "Just don't act like you feel out of place here. Play your part and we can get what we need." Avery nodded her head. Their sleeper agents could not obtain information on Bray's departure. Oddly, the information was kept very secret, even from Aria's men. All the agents could unearth was that Bray had not been seen for many days and there were so many transports that left Omega on a daily basis that it would be hard to narrow down the list without some type of lead. This mystery would not elude Erinyes. She began to wonder if Aria took Shepard off the station to a remote location and that's the reason why Bray was gone. A strong possibility. An assault on the station may not fruit any leads, but now things were personal. Erinyes held a grudge against the pirate queen since T'Loak's past dealings with the Illusive Man. Just like Shepard, Aria was blamed for the quick downfall of Erinyes' father and the desperation he was placed in. Attacking Omega was not out of the question no matter if Shepard was on the station or not. Aria's betrayal was salt to the wound and she could almost feel the asari's finger pressing deeper to provoke pain. Still, Omega was the first place to look to find her lost asset and wiping the station clean before obtaining this was ill advised.

Getting into Afterlife after standing in line for two hours was easy and paying the fee of five thousand credits each. The elcor working the crowd reminded them in a dry manner that the fee did not cover any expenses inside the club. Once inside, Perez separated from Avery. She went to the left towards one bar manned by a salarian while he diverted to her right where a group of fellow Eclipse mercs were. It was not uncommon for mercs to be showing up. Aria didn't seem to care who she entertained as long as they paid the chosen daily fee and didn't cause trouble. A burly krogan pressed up against the bar eyed Avery with interest and suspicion. Once he established, she wasn't a threat, he gave a slight wink to her. She held in her natural defense to come at him with a knife and threaten to kill him then and there. "Want a drink?" He asked.

Taking a breath inside her lungs, Avery feigned a smile at him. "What's good tonight?"

The krogan chuckled. "Something that you squishy humans can't handle."

Avery sized him up and smiled again before turning her attention to the awaiting orange hue salarian bartender. "Hard liquor…off-world."

"Torsk." The krogan gave his name. "Urdnot if you humans care about our clans."

Avery picked up on the clan name and by her knowledge, one of the strongest on Tuchanka and also led by Shepard's teammate, Wrex. "Thought the krogan were expanding to worlds," She pointed out as she picked up the glass the salarian slid her way containing the dark liquid that she ordered.

Torsk shrugged. "Most are. Too much competition now. The females want more of a say," He grunted. "It was fun and all making kids once again…have a lot now of my own." He gave another wink. "Been looking to expand my horizons."

Avery couldn't refrain herself from nearly choking on the liquor. She spat out the beverage onto the floor and wiped her mouth off with the back of her hand. She knew what he was hinting out and she couldn't tell if he was clearly in the right mind to suggest having sexual relations with a human. It wasn't taboo, but biology kept reproduction from happening. The image of her fornicating with the reptilian alien popped in her mind and she suppressed it further. Aggravated, she slammed down her glass and stormed off. Role playing or not, she wasn't going to go any further with the drunk krogan. She eyed Perez chatting it up with the mercs. "Hurry up...," She grumbled to him fairly loudly in her approach. She could tell by the slanted glance he gave her, that he wasn't too please of her actions.

"Another one?" The amphibious Eclipse salarian blinked his midnight black large eyes at her. He scoffed, "Ilium not cushy enough?"

"Got tired of red sand," Avery shrugged nonchalantly.

Perez took out a cigarette from his pocket and lit up. "Omega seems different."

"Aria still runs the show," A male compatriot grumbled from where he sat at the table. He didn't sound too thrilled by the notion.

Perez picked up on the cue and smiled inwardly. The conversation was going in the direction he predicted and hoped. "Her staff has changed since I was last here."

"Yeah? How long ago was that?" The salarian seemed to doubt his statement. "I was here during the whole Cerberus takeover. I don't recall seeing you out there with the rest of us." Avery froze as she listened in, hiding her surprised expression. She could see the gears grinding in Perez's head. He seemed calm and cool as the other spoke.

"That's because I left right after Archangel hit. Got out while I could. Why didn't you do the same?" Perez fired back quickly. "Things were spiraling already. Shepard hit the station soon after and look what happened."

The mercs remained silent as they mulled over the answer. The salarian nodded his head in acceptance. "Damn right. Aria should never have trusted her. It's bad for business."

"If you hate this place so much, Edwards. Why come back?" A female merc in the back spoke up. She seemed to listen quietly to the others as she processed it all.

"Hoped it would change." Avery answered for her counterpart, sounding confident in her own words.

This didn't faze the dark-haired woman. In fact, she seemed almost annoyed by Avery's chime in. "I didn't ask you." Her words sharp like rocks.

"Ease up, Veronica." The salarian rose up in their defense surprisingly. "We are low on men so if they want to come back. That's fine. The boss will be glad of it."

"Whatever happened to Bray? You know that batarian that followed Aria around like a lapdog." Perez slid in the question of the hour. "Last time I saw him, he gave me a black eye."

This aroused a chuckle from the salarian. "Sounds like him. I haven't seen him. No one knows. He went off-world I heard."

"Where to?" Perez dug deeper.

The salarian grimaced by the priding and narrowed his eyes at the pair in annoyance. "What does it matter to you? You got it out for him or something?"

Perez chuckled. "Thought I would return the favor to him. It's long overdue."

The same human male merc shrugged. "No one is talking about it. Figured a bad breakup. Aria kicked him out. Simple as that."

"I would have just shot him. Why the secrecy?" The dark-haired woman added with suspicion.

"Could have slept together." The male suggested.

"Gross."

"Hey, Monique and I are going to grab some drinks down in the lower bar. Check this place out again. You want anything?" Perez switched topics as he nodded with his head towards the door that would lead down to the lower part of the club. That was Monique's cue to start making her way. They had all the information they needed. Nothing. With the mercs declining the invitation, Perez quickened his steps to catch up to Avery. Once, they were deep within the crowd and out of sight, they deviated from their path to exit the club. "That was a waste of fucking time," Perez grumbled.

"You did good in there. Glad you did all the talking." Avery brought up with a slight smile.

"Practice working undercover. You will get used to it." Perez smirked at her. Avery could feel herself blush by his flirtatious smile. Her uniform started to feel much warmer than before.

"What do we now?" She felt her lips trembling.

"We lay low until Erinyes sends us the signal. Then we hit the security room. Our sleeps already sent me the schematics of the station to my omni. Taking down the defense canons will be our priority. The sleepers will be our diversion as we infiltrate. Still may be a fight. You up for it?"

Avery nodded her head as she patted her sidearm. "Oh yeah."

"Heard you took down Zaeed. Crazy bastard. But going up against krogan are much worse. I'll use my biotics so stay close and watch the charge."

Avery waited several minutes to continue the conversation until they were a good several blocks away from the club towards their hideout. "It's weird that no one at this place has any idea where Bray went. Something is not right, Brian." The different name was foreign to her and she struggled to remember to call him that while they were on Omega. Anyone could be listening in to their conversation. Spies were everywhere.

"I agree. Rumors could be true. Maybe Aria kicked him out." Perez kept his voice low as he glanced around at the citizens as they walked. "Bad breakup after all."

Sidestepping at the last second, Macha evaded the turian's advance and extended out her omni blade. Tilting the deadly end upwards, she used the turian's momentum to plunge his middle torso straight into the weapon. The blade pierced his armor and struck vital organs. The turian's eyes were wide in surprise as a loud groan escaped his lips. Blood trickled down from the corners of his mouth as he moved his head to look at Macha. Shepard kept her fist in place as she held onto his arm should he find the strength to recover and release a counterattack. Gritting her teeth, she twisted the blade, severing tissue and arteries, hearing a sickening rasp come from the turian's mouth. Feeling his body going limp, she released her hold and removed the blade quickly in one swift motion. The turian fell to the ground, holding onto his exposed torso as blood gushed out.

Wincing hard, Macha felt a sharp ping in her back as her kinetic barriers took a direct hit of gunfire. The impact nearly pushed her on the ground. "Damnit!" She cursed as she allowed the melee attack to cause herself become exposed. She leaped over a counter and looked towards the direction of gunfire, suspecting it was Bray. Instead, it was the remaining asari.

"I got you now, bitch!" The asari screamed as she unloaded her sub machine gun in Shepard's direction.

"Try this on for size." Liara launched a singularity attack that caught the asari off-guard. The dark energy lifted her helpless into the air as Kaidan picked her off with several rounds from his rifle.

"Fuck!" Bray growled from where he was hunkered down, holding onto his own rifle. His teammates were all killed and their bodies were displayed at several parts throughout the holding bay. He eyed his ship and debated if his shields would hold up to a huge assault from enemy fire before he was able to close the docking tube's door in time.

Macha panted as she stood up to face where he was, keeping the bead of her rifle on his location. "Bray, you are the only one left."

"No shit," The batarian grumbled. He could hear her team's weapons poised on his location as well. "I'm not going to be your damn prisoner, Shepard."

"Then we may just have to kill you." Kaidan spoke up as he kept his weapon trained.

Macha motioned for them all to lower their weapons. "Bray, I'm not your enemy. I'm not Aria's enemy. I want to know why Aria has it out for me."

"You pissed her off, Shepard. What did you expect?" Bray noticed their weapons lowered and he slowly rose up from where he was crouched down. His weapon still at the ready should their demeanor change. "Someone has it out for you."

"Did Charon contact you?" Liara asked.

"Maybe." Bray said. "A woman."

"Erinyes." Macha narrowed her eyes at the mention of the name. "You are being played, Bray."

"Aria knows that." The batarian swatted away the warning. "Aria is not going to give you to her. Like I said, you pissed her off."

Macha watched from the left corner as Tali helped Garrus up. Thankfully, he didn't need immediate attention and the round only impacted on the surface of his body armor. "Did Aria make a deal with her?"

"I'm not saying." Bray shook his head. "That's her business."

"Listen. Charon is dangerous, Bray. More than Cerberus. Aria already was a target of their attack. You think Erinyes would just give up on it?"

"Why does she have it out for you that bad, Commander? Or for Aria." Kaidan shook his head as he listened to the exchange. "It doesn't make sense. I know Charon is part of Cerberus, but there were other splinter groups following the war. Why this one? Why Aria? Aria has nothing to really do with you."

"I agree. I can't follow this with Shepard." Miranda walked over to take Macha's side as she watched Bray's moves.

"Am I free to leave?" The batarian held Macha's gaze.

"Just let him go, Shepard." Garrus finally spoke up from where he stood. "He's not worth getting involved with."

"You won't shoot me in the back?" Bray countered.

"That would be up to Shepard."

"You are not going back yet, Bray." Macha stepped towards him. "I have had one hell of a resurrection for the second time. Not only did Charon control me and now it seems that Aria wants me dead. I know Aria works all the angles and does what she believes is right in her best interest. Messing with me right now is not wise."

"Whatever deal she made with Charon needs to be off." Alenko popped back in.

"I agree." Tali added next to Garrus. "Tell Aria not to be stupid."

"It still pisses me off that Aria would attack a station that houses children…" Macha hissed lowly at Bray as her hand moved to her pistol.

"Aria doesn't care- "

Before Bray had a chance to finish his statement, Macha's clenched right first impacted his jaw, sending him reeling backwards and onto the floor a few feet from his previous location. With his face throbbing in pain, Bray glared angrily up at her and moved to grab his rifle from the floor. The weapon was quickly shot out of his hands by Garrus. Macha extended her omni blade again and held the pointy tip right at his neck, causing the batarian to hold both hands up while he gritted his sharp incisors. "Guess you are no better than Aria after all…" He winced as he felt the razor edge tip of the blade press up into his skin, breaking the flesh slightly.

"I guess she rubbed off on me when I was there." Macha kept her blade on his neck. "Bray, you and I fought along side together on Omega. You are one hell of a fighter. I saw it. Don't waste your talents for her. "

"Fuck off, human. I'm only loyal to Aria," He seethed.

Macha glared at him and pressed the blade more into his skin, hearing the satisfying hiss of pain come from the batarian's lips. He would not cower like others that she had threaten in the past. "Stay with Aria. I still want answers. You were on that call with Charon. What did Erinyes say? Any clue on who she is?"

"She wouldn't give us her real name. Any idiot would know that." Bray stated matter-of-factly. "I know who she is though."

His statement caught Macha off-guard and she felt herself untensing her muscles. "Who is it?" Liara broke the silence.

Bray felt the blade removing from his skin and he turned his head to face the asari. "You haven't figured it out….," He chuckled. "That's amusing."

"Quit playing games, Bray." Macha snapped at him to grab his attention.

"Aria sent me a message while I was on my way here. Seems though Erinyes feels betrayed by Aria and blames her for past betrayals to her father."

Shepard's eyes widened. "Her f-father?"

"Kee'lah…" Tali's voice whimpered across the room.

"That can't be…" Liara stated in disbelief. "There is no record of this…"

"Has to be." Macha returned her focus back to the batarian. "Bray is right. It makes perfect sense. Me…the assassinations…why else would Erinyes be so hellbent to take me down and anyone along with me who she thought did the Illusive Man wrong. His demise was his own. No one is to blame but himself…" Removing her blade finally from Bray, she stood back up, disgusted with the discovery with her fists clenched at her sides.

"What are you doing now? Hiding here?" Bray looked up at her.

"Preparing for a full assault on Charon. No other lives will be lost by Erinyes' order. The krogan are itching for battle as it is." Her gaze dropped to where he was and she offered her hand. Feeling the batarian taking it, she pulled him up to look at him directly in all four of his eyes. "Omega owes me, Bray. You and I both know that."

"Maybe." Bray grunted. "That would be up to Aria."

"Damnit, Bray. Speak up. No wonder Nyreen didn't seem to like you."

"Shepard," Liara walked to the center of the group with worry in her ocean deep blue eyes. "We all assumed that Charon would attack the station. Either they are slow in coordinating their efforts or…."

Macha's emerald green eyes widened in horror as she followed her friend's thought process. "They were not planning on attacking this station all along…"

"What do you mean?" Bray inquired.

"You said Aria was making a deal with Erinyes. You were sent here to get me." Macha explained. "My location was unknown and the only possible place to start would be Omega."

"Shit…you saying that Charon is going to attack there?"

"Makes perfect sense." Macha rushed to the communications room of the school once more with everyone following her. "Kaidan and Tali, reach all of our allies. Tell them to move to the Omega relay and wait for my signal."

Glyph hovered into the room. "Dr. T'Soni, urgent message that needs your attention."

"Go ahead, Glyph." Liara addressed her personal VI.

"I have lost contact with our agents on Omega. Communication lines are down. Should I try another request?"

"Goddess…." Liara gasped at the report. "It's already started."

"What agents?" Bray asked her in bewilderment.

"I'll explain later," Macha tugged at his arm to move him towards the terminal. "Help Kaidan and Tali. We need to gather our forces while we can."

Bray bit his lip as he looked on, then shook his head. "Screw this. I'm going to my ship."

"Where are you going?" Miranda called after him as the batarian took off down the hall to the dock.

"I'm going to Omega! Aria will need me there! I'm not on your side!" He shouted back as he broke into a sprint.

"Should I get him?" Liara asked Shepard.

Macha shook her head. "No, let him go. He's right. He's not on our side," Disappointment filled her words. "He never was."

"There could be a blockade waiting for him. That ship won't hold up against any type of fleet that Charon has," Kaidan argued. "We can't let him go."

Shepard remained still as she listened to her friends' protests. In hindsight, they were right. However, the decision was his. He was not part of the team and Aria was more important than anything else. It seemed as if the batarian would die getting back to her. Despite his attack on the station, Macha felt sad at his inevitable defeat should their fears be true. Resisting the natural tendency of her goodwill, she turned her attention back to the terminal in front of her. "Let's get the damn krogan."