Disclaimer- I do not own Mass Effect or Bioware
The presence of rage is the absence of fullness in life.-WB
I take one last glance at Tiera as she and her sister head towards the tram terminal that would eventually get them to wherever they were going. I could only suspect it was eclipse controlled territory. As for me I was headed to a residential district that mainly housed batarians and turians, I don't how that works, but somehow they can coexist.
The cab driver informed me it was going to be a fifteen minute ride to my destination. As I climbed into the old clunker there was an unfamiliar odor, something like rotten cabbage or just nasty hygiene. It was nauseating. Unfortunately my cab driver looked like he had put effort into matching his cabs poor state of upkeep. The unhygienic batarian did try to make pleasant conversation and gave me a quick rundown of where we were headed.
"No, there is nowhere petty crime does not exist on Omega so I cannot really say your headed to a good neighborhood." he warned.
"I'll make sure to keep a sharp eye on my things. Thanks for the advice." As we continue traveling I noticed the depraved conditions that exist throughout the entire station. Filth, decay, rust, and wear are everywhere and in every since of the word. I crane my neck left and right peering outside my window looking at this broken place that I'm supposed to call home. It seemed like an endless horror ride as we made our way across Omega.
After what seemed like a brief moment of depression as I took in the landscape the cab begins to slow.
"Very upscale." I remark, still dispirited by my current surroundings. "And what is that?" I spot a section of structures that are clumsily built upon one another and look near the brink of uninhabitable.
"Your new home." The cab driver announced.
I waste no time gathering my things as I exit the cab. Taking a quick view of my surroundings I can already spot a group of sand junkies hanging around the broken down entrance to my living complex. Wonderful I thought. Further down I spot a group of thugs not associated with any of the major players (blue suns, eclipse, blood pack) heading my direction. Just an nascence really.
"That going to be thirty eight for the ride." the cab driver eagerly states as he hands me the hologram pad to authorize the transfer. I reach through the window to sign it quickly and turn to gather my luggage. I carry my standard issue duffel bag from the alliance which contained my clothes and two other packs one red and one white.
Approaching the entrance to my new 'home' a couple of the junkies notice me and ironically give way and let me through un-harassed. My landlord was waiting for me just inside the main entrance. Also a batarian, he seemed to be a little more concerned with his upkeep compared to my cab driver.
"Ethan Bowers?" he asked
"Yeah how'd you know?" I asked genuinely puzzled by his accuracy.
"Cause you don't look like you're high on sand and you just look too…happy for lack of better words." he said frankly.
"fair enough," I replied. "So where you have me staying?"
"Follow me, I got you a spot on the fourth floor." Without pause he turns and starts for the nearest elevator. I follow close behind him. I again check my surroundings and I'm still stunned by the poor living conditions. The walls and other surfaces are caked with dirt and grime. The floor is warped and uneven and I have to put effort into walking upright. Light was also a problem; the lighting had been damaged, shaded, dimmed, or under supplied in some manner making it rather gloomy. Thankfully the elevator proved to be working properly, but unfortunately the fourth floor was in the same condition as the ground floor.
"Second on the right." he pointed as we neared my room. "Funds will be automatically transferred from your provided account after each rotation. Standard security lock on each unit. Only two authorizations exist, I keep one and this is yours." he hands me a FOB which I then encode to my Omni tool allowing me access to my unit without it. The air was stale and stagnant which me made cough as we entered. It was actually not a step down or up from our bunks in the alliance, except for the depressing view from the one small window in the bedroom.
"Room for one. One bathroom, half kitchen, one bedroom, and all fully furnished."
I'm not sure what he meant by fully furnished as it was clearly not. Only a broken sofa or some kind of couch, a bed that could be clean, or not, and a table with one chair.
"What is wrong with the lighting in this place?" I asked somewhat perturbed as I tried each switch in the rooms.
"It has always been this way. If you want to complain you'll have to head that up with Environment & Utilities." he stated apathetically. And before I had time to actually ask him the whereabouts of which he was already out the door. I wasn't going to let that bother me. So I proceeded to unpack my things.
First thing is always security. I'm not crazy, and I'm not stupid. No doubt everyone around here knew I was fresh and I would give it three days before someone tried to break in. And that was white bag's job. The white bag contained all the things that I want to protect and the necessary measurements to do so. First I put a warning on my door: "Warning DO NOT ENTER. Violators will be killed. Lethal security is active." So far that has worked. I have never had a break in but this was a different place and I had suspicions that my system would be tested. I pull out a transparent sheet approximately 75cm by 75cm and a depth of 3cm. I place it on the inside of my door and it quickly adheres to the surface. Next I rig the door control, if it is hacked it will trigger my anti theft system.
It took nearly two hours to setup my security measures but I know it is absolutely necessary to have them in place. It would have taken a lot less time if I had adequate light, but apparently that is an afterthought here on Omega.
That is my next task. I have to get my utilities either installed or at least functioning. I query my Omni tool to the nearest utility district location.
As I am about to leave the apartment I spot the red bag in the corner of my field of vision. Come on Bowers are you seriously about to walk right into the middle of one the most chaotic stations in the entire terminus systems without it? I thought to myself. I briefly weighed the situation out in my mind and closed the door to my apartment.
Again the elevator was the only piece of the complex that seemed to be holding together as I descended. And again I tried my best to dodge all the dips and cracks on the ground, or what's left of it, beneath me. The junkies had move from one side of the entrance to the other which somewhat alerted me as I was trying to anticipate their location. I tried not to make eye contact, but one of the them, a turian, intentionally glared at me.
"Nice backpack. What you got in there?" he stated. His playful tone was obviously laced with threat. As I passed by I could see he was wearing bright orange clothing. I didn't bother to answer his question but continued on my way.
After what seemed like an eternity of walking along filth covered streets my omni tool alerted me that the tram was only one hundred meters from my current location. Thoughts of Tiera scrolled through my mind. I heard her beautiful laugh and saw that remarkable smile again as I entered the tram and made my way to Environment & Utilities.
The ride there was much better than the cab ride. Only because the majority of the tram line ran behind the interior wall leaving nothing to look at but those riding along with you. Which in my case was still…not the best crowd to be seen with. Another load of gangsters, sand pushers, and one lonely drunk, vagrant Salarian. I only assume this because I could smell his intoxication from my seat and his clothing looked as if he had not changed in some time. As I looked at him I could see it was evident he had given up on whatever life he tried to make for himself. I could no longer see any spark of life left in his body. What was left of his mind continually suppressed by drunkenness- no will. I convinced myself that I was never going to end up like that.