Chapter 9: Her One Rule
Jack went to the cockpit a short time later looking out the larger viewport as they jumped out of FTL. While he had heard a lot about the capital of the Terminus Systems, seeing Omega in person was impressive and rather intimidating. Omega wasn't a planet but the remains of a Prothean asteroid mining facility. What had once been giant drills into the asteroid, were now modified into buildings for the populace. The Prothean technology in the core of the asteroid created an artificial atmosphere and gravity source for the entire base. This allowed the people living on Omega to add to the buildings and make bridges to connect them.
However, because the Terminus Systems were independent from the Council, they didn't have the economy to maintain the station well. Even from here, Jack could see most of the additions were made from scrap metal gathered over the years. The metalic additions were a completely different material and were just bolted onto the older Prothean drills. It didn't exactly look safe to be inside these buildings since they seemingly vibrated from the asteroid flying through it's belt. They looked like they could snap off at any moment but, these additions added literal kilometers of living space, similar to the Citadel's Wards. If he had to guess, Jack would've assumed that something to do with the actual Prothean technology was the only reason Omega held together.
Jack was surprised that the Normandy wasn't getting shot down immediately because of it's famous ID signature, maybe Aria just didn't care. He wasn't the only one that contributed to her defeat on Torfan, and it wasn't like she had been personally banking on a victory. Jack knew that was just wishful thinking, Aria was known to hold grudges. The more likely answer was that she just had her hands full dealing with the assassination attempt. His hope was that she wouldn't be able to connect Cerberus to the attack too quickly, otherwise they were screwed. Maybe he would get lucky and Mordin Solus was near by just waiting for them, he could dream.
Joker docked the Normandy at the center drill in the middle of a cluster of them, "Good luck Commander, if you get shot the minute you leave the ship please don't bleed too much, will you? Would look bad for the ship's resale value."
Jack smiled approaching the airlock next to the cockpit, "Thanks for the vote of confidence Joker, I'll be sure to put it on your next employment recommendation letter."
EDI replied, not understanding the sarcasm, "Shepard, it would be unwise to fire Mr. Moreau, his records indicate he was the top of his class at Grissom Academy. No one else would be better suited for this mission."
Before he could say anything, Miranda stepped up beside him, "Log off EDI." She looked over at Jack and continued, "I have to meet up with the local cell here and catch up on what I've inherited here. I'll follow your nav point and meet up with you when I can."
Jack nodded to her as the door opened feeling uneasy about what she was doing without him, "Oh then, hopefully we'll just have Doctor Solus in hand by the time your done."
Jacob approached him from the other side and pointed out to the port, "After you Jack."
The three of them walked out to the landing port in Omega and separated. He assumed that Miranda was going to see what went wrong with the assassination attempt on Aria that Cerberus clearly orchestrated. It made perfect sense to him as to why The Illusive Man wanted her out of the picture. Before anyone knew that the Reapers existed, Aria T'Loak was seen as Humanities' public enemy number one. It was only a matter of time before she decided another Skillyian Blitz was in her best interest. With her gone, maybe the Alliance could've focused on the real threat of the Reapers. However, with the news hitting the extranet that she survived the attack, it was clear Cerberus had underestimated the Asari's resolve here.
If the exterior of Omega highlighted the technological disadvantage of the Terminus Systems, the interior showcased the true economic hardships they faced. Individuals from seemingly every race were laying in makeshift beds across the docks. The smell from people who hadn't showered in weeks or didn't have access to proper bathrooms filled the air around them. No wonder the Batarians had desperately attacked the Alliance, they had nothing left here. Sure, most of these people had probably done some bad things but, no one deserved to live like this. If he could, Jack would've tried to help as many of the people here as he could but, it would take the Council's direct intervention to have a real impact.
Jacob followed him through the crowd tossing a spare few credits on the ground behind him, "Any ideas on how we find Doctor Solus? I doubt he's going to have a bright neon sign on him."
He was about to answer when a Batarian in full armor walked up to them from beyond the docks, "Welcome to Omega... Shepard."
Jack tensed putting his hand on his pistol, "That was fast, aren't you people a little busy right now with the assassination attempt and everything?"
The Batarian had a toothy grin on his face, "Of course, but we're going to make an exception for you. We had your ship ID tagged the moment you entered the Terminus Systems. Your not as subtle as you think."
Jack was still getting ready for a fight just in case, "What do you people want with me? I thought anyone could come to Omega without fear of the law."
The Batarian also put his hand on his hip, "Aria wants to know what brings a dead SPECTRE to Omega. I suggest you follow me to Afterlife now and present yourself."
Jacob raised an eyebrow obviously feeling just as reluctant as Jack, "Isn't she a little busy right now? We wouldn't want to bother her."
The Batarian had a smug expression, "Things explode around Shepard all the time, last time he was in our space he dropped a literal nuke on Virmire. You can't blame Aria for keeping an eye on him."
Jack couldn't argue with that logic and so they followed the Batarian through the city streets. The landing port looked like a five star hotel compared to how people here were living. Most people weren't even wearing clothes forced to use them for their makeshift houses along the side of the road they walked on. If Jack had any credits he would've bought food for everyone he could but, Cerberus hadn't actually given him access to his personal bank account yet. Hopefully Kal received all of his assets anyways making that an irrelevant option. Even if he had the funds, their Batarian escort kept his weapon close at hand to scare anyone from approaching. It was a good idea really, Jack wasn't exactly popular here and Aria would want to deal with him herself.
When they rounded the next corner, Jack immediately saw where they were headed. The Afterlife club served as Aria's government building, or the closest equivalent, for the entire Terminus Systems. The strip club represented Aria's live and let live philosophy for her entire 'people.' Unless someone was really causing chaos for Aria, like Balak had, she was willing to ignore criminal enterprises. He ignored the loud booming rave music, the many barely dressed Asari spinning around the dance poles, and the bartenders calling out for him to buy a drink and merely followed the Batarian up the stairs to the upper VIP section.
After climbing up yet another flight of stairs, Jack assumed they were entering Aria's office. The room was small with just a single couch in the back of the room to look over the rest of the club. Two more Asari were dancing on either side of the room seemingly for the benefit of the guards stationed up here. Aria herself looked like most Asari with the same feminine almost perky figure but, her purple skin suggested an advanced age. He would guess she was around eight hundred years old but that meant she still had two hundred years to rule Omega. She was wearing a short white jacket with the zipper undone revealing a black combat suit underneath that Jack associated with the under armor for an Alliance uniform. The Asari's back was turned away from them looking at a bullet hole in her window.
Aria waved her hand silently and a new Batarian approached them with his omni tool, "Stand still while I scan you."
Knowing they would eventually find their weapons, Jack just pulled his free, "Not doing a very good job there are you?" Looking over to Aria he said, "Is this really necessary? You have enough guards here to kill me regardless of what I'm carrying."
Aria turned around with her arms crossed taking a sarcastic tone, "Can't be too careful with dead SPECTREs. That could be anyone wearing your face."
Jack raised an eyebrow and tilted his head, "You don't believe I ever died then? I would've thought you'd celebrate the occasion. After Torfan that is."
Aria's foot tapped the floor seeming somewhat distracted, "Your death was downplayed, but hardly what I call a secret. Usually that would mean the Alliance had you doing something classified. After the day I've been having, I had to make sure it was really you. You could be anyone. Anything."
Jack wanted to throw in a little jab while the Batarian kept scanning him, "Getting a little paranoid in your old age aren't you? Worried it's all slipping away tonight?"
Her tone was harsh as she snapped back at him, "You would be a little paranoid too if one of your f... associates tried to kill you over a misunderstanding."
The Batarian gave her the thumbs up, "They're clean. I still don't like this though."
Jack could definitely agree with the sentiment of the guard, feeling tense. They were trapped in a room full of twenty Batarians that probably wanted his head on a spike because of what happened with Balak. At any moment Aria could decide they had overstayed their welcome on Omega and kill them in the process. However, Jack could potentially turn this around into a benefit for their mission. Who knows how long it would take the two of them to find Mordin on their own. Aria could maybe point them in a direction, and they could then get away from here as fast as possible. There was always the possibility that Aria could lead them into a trap but, Jack was willing to take that chance.
Before Jacob could say anything, Jack said, "I understand your in the middle of a situation, help me find what I'm looking for and I'll be on my way."
Aria sat down on her couch looking smug, "Mundane things? You can find those yourself. Take a walk in a back alley, or buy one of the mercs a drink. Better yet, talk to the entertainers. I hear they give great tours. But no, you must need more. Everyone needs more of something, and they all come to me to get it."
Jacob had a skeptical tone, "Your just going to help us after everything Shepard did to you? Why do I find that very hard to believe?"
She actually laughed at Jacob, "You think I'm pissed because of Balak? That little insignificant pyjak forgot one very important thing about Omega. I'm the boss, CEO, queen... if your feeling dramatic. It doesn't matter. Omega has no titled ruler and only one rule. Don't -fuck- with Aria." She looked back at Jack, "What do you need to get off my rock?"
Jack went straight to the point, "Doctor Mordin Solus, he has the scientific background I need for my mission."
Aria took a glass of wine with a bitter expression on her face, "That's going to be difficult Shepard. Last I heard, he was trying to heal people in the bloody crusade Archangel tried to start."
Jack put both of his hands in his lap, "It sounds like Archangel has been a thorn in your side for awhile. Who is he?"
She shook her head trying to hide a blind fury behind her eyes, "I don't know as much as I'd like. He showed up here about a year ago and started causing all sorts of problems. If you make your own laws, which everyone here does, he makes life difficult. He thinks he's fighting on the side of good. There is no good side to Omega. Everything he does pisses someone off, and it's finally catching up to him."
Jack had a feeling this was personal for her but, he wasn't going to poke that hornets nest, "I like the way he thinks, maybe he could be part of my team as well."
Aria chuckled obviously amused by the suggestion, "That's assuming you can get to him. He's in a bit of trouble right now. The Blue Suns, Eclipse, and Blood Pack have decided to take him down." She took another long drink of the wine, "They're Omega's major players... now that the Talons have been wiped out. Unless they're at war, you'll never see them together. But one thing they hate more than each other right now, is Archangel."
Something Aria said triggered a memory for Jack, the Talons were stationed on Omega. Admittedly, Jack didn't know much about the gang itself but, he had known their leader well. Mandaria served on his team during the Skillyian Blitz and was a primary driver in getting Jack to make the first move on Kal. She also saved his life on Mindoir, and for that he was eternally grateful. He thought she had died during Torfan but, during the hunt for Saren they had briefly reunited. They hadn't exactly separated on the best terms but, Jack still hoped the best for her. He wondered if she was ok, or died in the fighting. She certainly was the type to defend something she cared for to her dying breath.
Jacob stepped forward obviously not feeling the same need for discretion he was, "Sounds a bit personal for you. How do we know your not just making us clean up your messes? You obviously hate Archangel with a passion. Did he break your one rule?"
Aria evaded the question, "I don't have time for hate, but I distrust them all equally. For now, I'm happy to just let them all kill each other." She took yet another drink, "More power for me all on my own."
It was very clear to Jack that something was wrong here. From everything he had learned about Aria through intelligence reports on the Everest, she wasn't normally this emotional. Jacob could be right and she could be leading them into a trap but, he had a feeling something else was going on here. Maybe she was just reminded of her own mortality from the assassination attempt. Or maybe she was losing someone close to her because of the attack. He noticed she kept bringing up the Talons, was she going to miss them? It was a strange thought to have given Aria's reputation but, everyone was capable of having compassion.
His own thoughts were bouncing around, trying to decide what the best course of action was. He could potentially let this play out and get Solus after whatever battle was going on with Archangel was over. Since Aria implied the Salarian was just being a good doctor, the mercenary groups would probably let him go after Archangel was dead. However, Jack saw the opportunity Archangel presented him with. Someone with the morals to fight for what was right on Omega was someone he could probably trust against Cerberus. It wasn't likely The Illusive Man couldn't just bribe this Archangel to get the results he wanted out of Jack. It was definitely going to be harder to rescue them both out of a firestorm. He knew though that it was the right thing to do.
Jack shrugged taking a stubborn tone, "You asked what I needed in order to leave. How do I get to Doctor Solus and Archangel through the gangs?"
Aria thought for a moment, "They've started hiring anybody with a gun to help, apparently getting desperate for a win. They're using a private room for recruiting... just over there." She pointed downstairs at the VIP section before adding, "I'm sure they'll sign you up."
Jack bowed his head while heading towards the door, "It sounds like I better get going then. Goodbye Aria."
Her voice called after him as he left, "Shepard, you look like you need to loosen up a little. You should find a nice young man to keep you warm in the meantime."
He gritted his teeth knowing she knew he was married to Kal. Aria certainly wasn't the type to respect those kinds of boundaries but she had to know he was. So it was a jab then? They really must've gotten under her skin if she was willing to lash out like that. He didn't have much time to dwell on it though because they were entering the briefing room for the mercenary groups. A large amount of random strangers were gathered around a Blue Suns affiliated Batarian. He had a holoterminal on the center table displaying what he could only assume was Archangel's home. Jack had to admit it was a nice set up with only one entrance across a narrow bridge.
The Batarian's commanding voice boomed out, answering a question that was asked before they arrived, "Last I heard, they were putting the freelancers into scouting groups; they attack in waves to distract Archangel while we try to get past his defenses. Archangel's held up in his make believe castle at the end of this boulevard. But he's getting tired, making mistakes. We'll have him soon enough."
One of the other volunteer freelancers shouted, "So what's the exact plan sir?"
The Batarian sounded frustrated and exhausted, "A small team is waiting to infiltrate his hideout, but we need to draw Archangel's fire so they can move in. You'll be on a distraction team. Head straight over the bridge and keep Archangel busy so the infiltration team can sneak in behind him."
Jacob called out, "That's suicide, his team will just kill us like fish in a barrel!"
The Batarian's head snapped at him, "If you don't like it, don't sign up! But if you do your job right, it's easy credits." Realizing he lost the room he added, "Besides, what are the odds he can kill all of you? And no, this does not make you a member of the Blue Suns, Eclipse, or the Blood Pack. You are a freelancer. Period."
Jack felt a little curious raising his hand, "Why are we killing this guy anyways? What could he possibly do to all the gangs?"
The Batarian glared at him, "Haven't been on Omega long, huh? His merry band of fuck ups does everything they can to screw with us. Shipments go missing, operations are compromised... every month it gets worse. Tarak and the other bosses are tired of losing credits... and men." He clapped his hands together, "Now if that's everything, just head over to the transport depot outside the club. One of our boys will take you from there."
As the large group of people started marching out the door, Jack could only wonder what the hell had he gotten himself into.