The hellish part of my week is finally over, which means time for a new chapter! Thanks to everyone for reading, and enjoy!
Omega's Queen
Miranda
Omega: a pisshole if ever I saw one. Everything on this rock is dirty, from the walls to the actual people. I was beginning to doubt whether the apartments here actually came with a shower already installed. The worst part was the smell that hung in the air. It was a mixture of dust, sweat, blood, and body odor, and the stench practically rolled into my face the moment I stepped off the Normandy. I instinctually rubbed at my clothing and my face, expecting there to be a layer of grime. Of course there wasn't, but it didn't stop me from trying anyway. It was no use; the atmosphere of Omega claims you the minute your toes touch the grating. I wasn't surprised our mission took us to the breeding ground for unsavory people, but I just hoped it was worth it. Aria, the illustrious Pirate Queen of Omega, was not a big fan of mine and we were going to need her help to find Archangel and Mordin Solus.
Well, speak of the Devil, and he will come. Not two seconds after exiting the Normandy, we were met by one of Aria's men requesting that we go 'introduce' ourselves. On Omega, that was a polite way of saying, "get your ass to Afterlife or Aria will shove her boot up it." Luckily, I had expected the welcome. Aria always did have a flair for the dramatic, from her popped red collar to the four-inch heels on her boots, and she liked to remind newcomers about who really controlled Omega. However, in hindsight, I probably should've warned Shepard, whose jaw instantly tensed at the command. Before Shepard could open her mouth to tell the batarian to fuck off, I told him that we would be there shortly, and Shepard's hatred towards me darkened her eyes. I knew I should feel worried that I would be going into multiple life or death situations with a woman that obviously hated me, but I wasn't. I, possibly irrationally, still trusted in Shepard's greater nature, and I thought the soldier in Shepard recognized that I was valuable to the mission, if nothing else.
Though Shepard's ever-present scowl re-adorned her face at my interruption, she pushed past me without another word to make her way to the end of the hall. Waiting for us stood Zaeed Massani, infamous mercenary and bounty hunter. He was not a gentle soul, by any means, but I found that he grew on me as the conversation went on. Shepard was naturally all business, but Zaeed wasn't intimidated by her in the least, which slightly endeared him to me. I was certain if her anger was ever directed at him he would piss his pants like the rest of us, but for now he was holding his own. We needed at least a few people that Shepard couldn't walk all over. Shepard waved for Zaeed to fall in line behind her and sent Jacob back to the ship on some excuse to get quarters fixed up for Zaeed. I smirked; I got the impression that Shepard just didn't like Jacob. She probably wanted to freeze him out the minute he admitted to leaving the Alliance willingly to join Cerberus.
Shepard led us through another door and Afterlife's neon lights burned our eyes the minute we walked out of the docking area. It was impossible to miss, and I could feel the bass of the club speakers through the soles of my shoes, though we were still meters away from the entrance. The line of pathetic nobodies trying to get into the club wound away from the door, and an obviously drunk man was trying to convince the bouncer that Aria herself had invited him. I watched as Shepard, never one for waiting in lines, marched straight up to the doorman and tapped her foot while he found her name on the list. I wondered what name the batarian had on his list. I somehow doubted Aria would put down "Commander Shepard," and her doorman still be able to remain calm. It was even stranger that the batarian was looking for a name at all when Shepard hadn't bothered to give it, instead choosing to stare at him until he opened the door. Maybe Aria had simply told the bouncer that an armored, angry woman would show up at the door, and to let her in. I stayed close on Shepard's heels as she made her way through the club, bee-lining for the stairs on the back wall. She observed everything around her as she went and only paused a moment when her gaze fell on one of the asari dancers whose skin was lovely shade of blue as she wriggled through the air. Shepard gave a sigh before quickly walking away.
Any regret Shepard might have been feeling was quickly wiped off of her face as we approached the staircase. I nodded my approval at her back where she couldn't see me; we would need to be on our game when dealing with Aria T'Loak. Fierce, beautiful, and incredibly dangerous, Aria ran Omega with a tight fist. She wouldn't necessarily involve herself in the day to day running of gang activity and the like, but woe to the gang leader that didn't pay out her cut of the profits. Some liked to view her as a type of mafia leader, but I thought the Pirate Queen title more accurate. Her leadership worked with a type of tribute system, where money was given to Aria simply for being the leader. In return, Omega's inhabitants were safe because larger enemies didn't dare go against Aria. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement and the asari lorded over her kingdom from a private loft looking over Afterlife. I saw her watching as we approached her domain.
Guns were immediately drawn, but the motion was more of a formality, a curtsy before a unique brand of queen. I watched Aria feign disinterest as one of her men confirmed Shepard's identity. Aria's smooth violet skin went on for miles, covered by skintight leather that left little to the imagination. Small swatches of skin were left completely bare, tantalizing you with the prospect of revealing more. Her shoulders were covered with her trademark white jacket that only reached down to her waist. Aria had chiseled features, dark eyes, and a slight pout that easily transformed into a predatory grin; everything about her projected an aura of power, sex, and death, something that made her ridiculously attractive in a twisted sort of way. Despite my rather indifferent sexual interest in asari, it was hard to prevent a physical reaction to the sight that was Aria. I was already feeling my pulse start to speed up and the bottom of my stomach grew warmer. Aria knew the effect she had on others, and she gave me a smirk before settling her attention back on Shepard.
Shepard was doing her own assessment of the situation, albeit without the physical appraisement of Aria, like I had done. I knew her mind was working to turn this situation to her advantage, a situation where Aria clearly had the upper hand. Every scenario was a battle, and Shepard was always the tactician; she particularly hated to lose. I saw Shepard note every guard Aria kept around her, lingering on the ones staying closer to Aria's person. She shoved one of these said guards out of her way and my mouth dropped open when I heard one of her armor clasps click. Fingers moving nimbly across the junctions, Shepard swiftly removed the armor plates off of her torso and arms, but left the plating on her legs and the accompanying ammunition belt. Underneath Shepard wore only her form hugging underarmor, which showed every ripple of muscle over her stomach as she moved. The smell of almond mixed with a dark earthy undertone and a hint of vanilla washed over my senses, making me forget how to breathe, but Shepard ignored the gasp I involuntarily made. Damn it, Miranda, stop blushing like a schoolgirl and pull yourself together. You rebuilt that woman; you've already seen her naked for goodness' sake, I thought. But thinking of Shepard naked was exactly the wrong thing to do, and I cast my gaze around searching for anything that could pull my mind to where it belonged. I latched on to Aria, who surprisingly seemed to be having a similar reaction to Shepard as I was.
Shepard leaned the armor pieces against one side of the couch and took a seat much closer to Aria than where the Pirate Queen had motioned. I watched in envy at how well Shepard's power play had worked. Aria sat, looking slightly amused, immediately to the left of Shepard, who had staked a claim to the couch instead of allowing herself to be directed. It was very gracefully done, and I think I even saw Aria smile before schooling herself back into her relaxed and languid posture. Aria let Shepard ask all the questions she wanted, but I found her to be unusually helpful. Shepard was attractive and had one-upped her in the previous game of wills, but I knew Aria never gave anything away for free, no matter the person. I continued to wait for Aria's requital, but it still hadn't come when Shepard shifted on the couch to leave. Suddenly, Aria had moved closer to Shepard and wove her fingers into her auburn hair. The gesture was intimate and I saw Shepard's face freeze, the bridge of her nose twitching as she forced herself not to push the hand away.
Aria's voice was low when she spoke, practically whispering in Shepard's ear. "You know I met that little girlfriend of yours, Liara T'Soni. I would have fucked her myself if she hadn't been all worked up over finding your dead body. I find it curious that you're here without her, seeing what she did for you. I even watched her crush a batarian with her biotics in that very corner. A maiden running around with that kind of anger, well, she must have one hell of a story, or perhaps one hell of a heartbreak. Which one do you think it is?"
There it is, I thought. A strange sort of payment.
Shepard moved her face closer to Aria's, her cheeks flushed with anger and her jaw tight. "Don't you dare mention Liara to me," Shepard growled through gritted teeth, giving Aria her answer. She tried to stand up off the couch, but Aria tightened her grip in Shepard's hair and pulled her back. She boldly ran a hand across Shepard's stomach, eliciting an actual growl from Shepard's throat. Aria made no answer, but seemed to understand that she was about to push Shepard too far. The hand locked in Shepard's hair pulled her face to look at her again.
"Don't fuck with me, Shepard. Your little pureblood crossed a lot of lines, and she's making enemies too big for her. Call this a friendly warning," Aria stated, untangling her hand from Shepard's hair and pushing the human away. Shepard immediately stood up and ran a hand through her hair, trying to smooth away the invasion to her space.
"Why the hell do you care, Aria?" Shepard asked. Aria looked up at her and rolled her eyes as Shepard began to fit her armor back on. I strode silently to her side and helped with the harder clasps, a movement I know Shepard only allowed because she wanted away from Aria as quickly as possible.
"Maybe T'Soni grew on me," Aria replied.
"Liar," Shepard said scowling. We had finished the last of the armor clasps, and Shepard brushed my hands away. I walked back to stand next to Zaeed, who winked at me, and I gave him an arrogant sneer that only made him chuckle.
"I certainly don't see why my motivations matter. We're done here; you can leave," Aria waved her away.
Shepard frowned, but didn't wait to be told twice. She ambled quickly down the steps, and Zaeed and I fell into step behind her. I threw one last longing look over at Aria, who was smiling on her couch, before I realized that Shepard was heading straight for the mercenary recruiter standing at the side of the club. He was our way to Archangel. I threw an arm out, stopping Shepard's advance.
"Shouldn't we be heading to the quarantine zone first? Having the professor to create a countermeasure for the seeker swarms should be our top priority; Archangel can wait," I said.
If eyes could burn through flesh, I would no longer have an arm; such was the intensity of Shepard's glare for touching her. "Last I heard, Lawson, the salarian is safe in his clinic. Archangel, on the other hand, has three mercenary gangs actively trying to kill him. If he's been holed up in that building for as long as Aria thinks, he likely hasn't had enough food or water either. My professional opinion is that we go save the one who is more likely to die in the next few hours," Shepard scorned, waiting until I dropped my arm to continue walking.
"You know, I have a first name," I muttered.
"I know, Lawson," Shepard called over her shoulder.
*Original chapter updated 2/20/15