THE QUEEN OF OMEAGA

As the three humans came into the main street outside the docks they saw the building that dominated the area. Great back lit illumination with fire and the words Afterlife glowing large and luminous

"So that's her lair" Miranda muttered not too impressed and Shepard agreed with her "Are we going to see her?"

"Unfortunately we have to." Calen sighed.

Miranda watched her closely and in secret. The Commander was not at all what she expected, she was wondering if the Lazarus Project had failed in that regard. Shepard seemed more, confrontational then history recorded.

Jacob seemed to read her thoughts perfectly and leaning in whispered "She's come back from the dead Miri, she's going to be disorientated, everything she knew has changed." He stood straighter as the Commander headed for the main doors and ignored the queue. "All she knew is gone, and finding out that Cerberus woke her and rebuilt her, well that's just added to the confusion for her"

"Hmm" Miranda scowled a little "There is more to it then that, and I will get to the bottom of it"

"If she lets you in" Jacob warned and followed the Commander to Afterlife, leaving Miranda lost in a moments thought before catching up.

They were let straight in and were making their way along the corridor, the music deadened by the sound numbing walls. A Batarian lounged and catching Shepards eye got up and drew his hand across his throat.

She grabbed him by his collar and cocked her head a little, the gun in her hand "Do you always threaten strangers or is it because I am human?"

He spluttered a little, caught off guard "Errrr no..."

The tattoo on his neck gave her pause, in her mind she saw the raid on her home, the screams of those around her as men with those same markings killed and enslaved. She raised her gun and put it to his head.

"Mindoir" She seethed, her voice shaking a little "Were you there?"

"errrrrr"

"WERE YOU THERE?"

"No my brothers were though human..."

She held the gun to his head for a few moments then stepped back "I suggest you get out of my face before I paint the walls with Batarian blood"

They ran, even one who tried to intimidate her ran when she stuck her gun up. Miranda saw the Commanders arm shake a little and moved to her side.

"Shepard, I think the doctor needs to look you over, this can wait"

"I am fine Miranda" Shepard brought herself under control.

"Clearly you are not"

"And I said I am fine" The Commander snapped and moved on heading into the heart of Afterlife itself.

The noise was thunderous, deafening and the more people the trio passed the weirder the conversations got. Judging by some of the patrons words, a lot of them were way over their limit, there was going to be some hangovers in the morning, that was for certain.

There was no doubt who ran this place, you could feel it in the air, the passion, the drive and the fact that every so often, everyone in the clubs eyes turned to the central dais, here she ruled her domain, here she could see everything. Including the three humans who had just walked in.

Fargut had come back looking a little harassed, but she had waved his protests off, if he could not stand up to a Spectre, a dead one at that, then he was no use to her. She told him to go see to Patriarch, her blue eyes never leaving the woman that now threaded her way through the crowd to where she stood. Waiting.

It was good that she had not showed weakness but here, in her domain, this Spectre would bow down to her and her alone.

The group approached them and another Batarian stepped forward blocking Shepards path and held up a scanner. Shepard snarled a little, she had no time for a pissing contest, she had two people to find. This was way too dramatic for her liking. Calen grabbed him by the scuff as he held up the scanner and pulled him close.

"Try doing that again and the only thing you will be scanning, is the inside of your colon...once I have emptied it across the floor."

The Batarian, Argot looked in fear at the Asari behind him, who laughed out loud. "You know I would actually pay to see you do that" the laughter faded "but you will be scanned, its the law"

"All you had to do was ask" Shepard growled and lifted her arms letting the Batarian scan her. The Asari shook her head and let a smug smile cross her face, more so when Shepard asked her if she was in charge here.

"I am the big boss, chairman, CEO, Queen if you are that dramatic, but there is one thing you need to know" She spread her arms wide "I am Omeaga"

"Very dramatic" Miranda muttered.

"So Droll Miss Lawson, I see you have not mellowed."

Shepard lowered her arms "Anything else?"

"You will learn Shepard, that there is one rule on Omeaga, one that everyone must abide by and that is..." Aria sat down and cross her legs "Don't fuck with Aria" and that smile again.

"I wasn't planning on fucking you, I just need to know how to find Archangel"

Aria saw the expression on her bodyguards faces and smirked a little. "My my aren't we the direct one. Something must have changed you Shepard, the Calen Shepard the Universe has to thank for still existing was never so …. blunt"

Calen said nothing, Aria motioned to a chair across from her and waited. "Archangel, hmm you might have a little trouble there, he has three of the big players on Omeaga ganging up on him to take him down"

"Oh? Under your orders I assume"

"Not at all, I have nothing against the Turian, he's a Turian by the way, he has not interfered in my business, and when he does then he will know it. But the Blue Sons, Eclipse and Blood Pack already know. I rule Omeaga with an iron fist and if he wanted to come and see me then he would be dead."

"Sounds like you have better tactics, so what are you, Matriach?"

Aria glanced sideways at her "Not your typical Matriarch"

"Oh I don't know. Every Matriach I have met is scheming one way or another"

"Then you will know that is how Asari Matriarchs work. If you are digging for information on me, better luck next time"

And just when I thought I was the soul survivor of that fight, I get a message from Aleena...better luck next time.

Wewx's voice rose unbidden into her mind. He had been telling her the tale of one of the few targets he had ever let live. For some reason, her mind finished what she had been reading earlier and a slight smile crossed her face.

"I don't need to dig anything about you. I know more than I need."

"So you think"

"So I know. How do I get to Archangel?"

Aria arched an eyebrow and motioned with her head "Blue Suns recruiting point over there. Anything else?"

"Doctor Solis. I need to get into the Plague district."

"Yes well I am sure they will be happy to let you in."

"Good, then I can do my job and get off Omeaga"

"Oh and here I was enjoying our little chat."

"I doubt that" She got to her feet "I am sure if Urdnot Wrex were here, he would send his warmest regards...Aleena" and motioning to both Lawson and Taylor, she walked down the steps hearing her name shouted behind her and the smile stayed on her face.

Aria was incandescent with rage. She had not seen that Krogan in centuries, damn it, how much more did that human know? Shepard carried on walking away, and Aria suddenly and unexpectedly became fascinated with her.