"That was endearing." Aria's lips pursed in a harsh, sinister smile. "Mommy coming to get you?"
"Shove it, Aria." Cass growled. "And she's not. Like you said, we don't need her."
"I'm glad you agree. Now we should get moving. Nyreen has all but vanished."
"Figures." Cass snorted. "You need to stop being so… prickly."
"Prickly?"
"Well, you care, like, about stuff, so you're not all bad." Cass explained. "You're just prickly."
"Let's just keep moving." Aria rolled her eyes, shoving the teen ahead of her into the tunnel.
"That wasn't very nice!" The teen whined.
"Well, I'm not nice, I'm prickly."
"Point taken." Cass huffed.
"What's the deal with the Talons anyway?" Cass frowned. "I thought they were small time."
"Well, your mother's involvement during the Plague, when she took out over half of the other gangs left a vacuum."
"Of course she did." Cass rolled her eyes.
"Their commander, Darius, took advantage of the situation and carved the talons a bigger piece of the local drug trade. " Aria explained; pointing the girl up the ladder at the end of the hall.
"So, that begs the question." Cass began to climb. "Are we using them because they're actually good, or because we need numbers?"
"They're cannon fodder." Aria spoke shortly. "We're using them because they're the only game in town."
"That's a little harsh, but what they don't know won't kill them, or perhaps it will." Cass looked down, trying gauging the Asari's reaction.
"Relax, Cass." Aria replied. "This is how it works on Omega, or has your time gallivanting with your mother made you forget."
"No." Cass shook her head and continued to climb. "I remember."
"Then you're saving us both some trouble." Aria stated. "Just let me do the talking and-"
Aria's omni-tool began to flash. "Commander, looks like Cerberus is headed to attack the Talons, and it looks like their primary leader is in the area."
Aria sighed with a grunt of displeasure. "Looks like we'll be fighting through Cerberus to get there."
"Good." Cass simpered. "There will be less of them to drive out later."
"Positive thinking." Aria's lips turned in a crooked smile. "Maybe you're not so hopeless after all."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence." Cass rolled her eyes, as she pulled herself up onto the floor. "Means a lot."
"Last chance, Talon!"
Cass held up a hand as Aria appeared behind her; rounding the corner silently, six figures could be seen. Three red-clad Talon mercenaries kneel on their knees; unarmed with hands above their heads, the remaining men clad in Cerberus garb; weapons waving threateningly.
The girl raised her weapon, keeping step with Aria as they slowly went forward.
"What the?" A Cerberus officer grunted upon notice of the two women. "Back off!"
"I don't think so." Cass growled; eyes gleaming as she raised her weapon, ready to fight.
A shot rang out, fired into the leg of one of the Talons, just as the executor went to fire once more and as Cass readied to shoot, a familiar shadow dropped from the ceiling. Nyreen's foot connected with the jaw of one unsuspecting man, as her weapon fired into the belly of another and the remaining was thrown off guard by a wave of biotic energy.
Aria stepped forward, lowering her shotgun, the teen doing the same.
Nyreen glanced briefly at her previous companions and then turned to the red-clad mercenaries. "Take care of the wounded and scavenge what you can. I want us out of here ASAP."
"You heard the boss." A Turian mercenary grunted at the now many appearing mercenaries. "Move it."
"Looks like we found the Talon leader." Cass mumbled.
"My, my," Aria shook her head and walked toward Nyreen slowly. "Nyreen, aren't you full of surprises."
"Aria." Nyreen seemed to sigh. "The deception was necessary, I needed to figure out what your plans were. The people of Omega depend on us. I couldn't risk compromising our operation."
"You're a drug cartel, a street gang- this isn't normal behavior." Cass scowled.
"When Cerberus invaded, the Talons were a mess; I brought-" Nyreen seemingly paused. "New direction."
Cass paused, sharing a look with Aria before they followed the female Turian.
"The General has been hunting us ever since. He's attacking one of our outposts as we speak; that's where I need to be." Nyreen explained, then abruptly turned to face the duo. "Aria, and Cassandra, whatever you're here for the answer is no. Kindly escort yourselves off Talon territory."
"What if we help." Cass stated, stepping forward; making eye contact with the Talon leader."We can talk about if after we reach your outpost."
"That, is, a generous offer." Nyreen's eyes wandered back to Aria. "Aria, does the child also speak for you?"
"Not the way I would have put it." Aria lowered, sending a glare toward her young companion. "But that's the idea."
"Alright then." Nyreen nodded. "Come with me."
"Well, that was fun." Cass spoke dryly. "Especially the glowy, blue tentacle monster they let in, so much fun."
Aria scowled and gave the girl a shove before sauntering over to Nyreen. "You've done an excellent job, Nyreen, but I will be taking over now."
Nyreen's arms crossed defensively over her chest and Aria's lips curled into a sinister scowl. "You know what happens to people who argue with me." Aria spoke dangerously as she passed the Turian on her way to the ledge of the hanger.
"And if I say no?" Nyreen pursued after the Asari. "You'll just kill me and take over? My people won't stand for that."
"Yes, they do seem nauseatingly loyal." Aria's lips pursed. "But the truth is I always get what I want."
Cass rolled her eyes and sighed annoyed. "You both have the same goal, why can't you work together for now and then kill each other later? Besides, at this rate if we don't work together, we won't stand a chance."
Nyreen's eyes dropped to the girl. "You might be right, but the people of Omega are my priority."
"You take over one gang and you think you're ready to decide what's best for Omega?" Aria spoke softly. "Nyreen, watch and learn."
"People of Omega, I have returned…"
As Aria began her speech, Cass sighed and leaned against the railing off to the side; the Turian companion at her side, clearly watching the Asari with disdain.
"What's with you two anyway?" The human girl turned to Nyreen; elbow resting on the rail. "Like what happened to make you two so- well, you know."
"Know what?" Nyreen spoke sharply.
"Do you want me to say it?" The girl rolled her eyes. "Bitter and resentful, indignant, angry; a stick shoved so far up your-"
"Stop."
"You're the one who wanted me to say it." The teen shrugged. "So what's your beef with her?"
"Don't you see what she's doing?"
"What?"
"She's making her little speech and it's going to cost innocent lives."
"What's the alternative, then?" Cass spoke grimly. "These people can help us push Cerberus out of Omega, or they can stay where they are and eventually be killed anyways. Either Cerberus will do it or the Reapers, at this point."
Nyreen shook her head at the girl and turned to Aria who was now finishing her speech.
"That's your plan? Throw civilians at Cerberus?"
"I just explained it to you!" Cass groaned, throwing her arms up in frustration.
Ignoring her young companion, Aria's spoke. "Anything is being better than being locked up like mindless animals awaiting slaughter."
"I know what you're doing, Aria, and I don't like it." Nyreen scowled heavily as she began to walk away. "I have civilians to evacuate; I'll deal with this later."
Aria headed back toward the rail, Cass on her heels.
"So what's the plan? Is this it?" The teen asked.
"The people of Omega, my people are always ready for a good street fight; they'll be ready when the time comes." Aria spoke, looking at the girl. "Nyreen's code of ethics won't let her sit by if civilians are exposed; its what makes her utterly predicable and therefor easy to manipulate."
"Cerberus is staging another offensive." A Talon member ran up to Aria; Nyreen close behind.
"Looks like Cerberus didn't care for your speech either." Nyreen stated angrily.
"But I got his attention." Aria said lightly, almost playfully as she pulled out her weapon.
Cass rolled her eyes and followed the two women down the stairs for yet another fight.
As the fighting subsided, the girl drew in a deep breath; looking around she could see there were a lot of injured. Approaching Nyreen, the girl folded her arms over her chest defensively, as the Turian turned to her.
"You can tell Aria the Talons are going to join your cause, somone's got to make sure you don't run rough-shot over our people."
"You see, babe?" Aria appeared behind Cass, surprising her; her tone clearly one of amusement.
The girl frowned and looked to her pseudo-mentor.
"I bet she said I predictable and easy to manipulate." Nyreen directed toward the girl.
"Um, no, no- why would you say that…" Cass rubbed the back of her head sheepishly, obviously lying.
"I see. Nothing has changed." Nyreen said lightly, quickly becoming serious. "One thing though: I retain command over my people, this is not up for debate."
Aria's lips pursed before nodding. "Just have them ready."
Nyreen nodded and returned to some of her awaiting mercenaries. Cass watched her walk away before running to catch up with the already retreating Asari.
"So now we just have to take of the force fields?" Cass asked, falling into step with Aria.
"Precisely, the Talon's are our front line fodder and once the shields have dropped Omega's people will be released. Cerberus will have a million fires to put out."
"Nyreen's going to be pissed." Cass commented.
"I wouldn't be too worried about her." Aria replied. "Once this is all over, she'll see it was for the best and, if not, well, it's not really my problem."
Cass nodded, her lips moving downward into a frown. Was she really okay using all of these people as a distraction, knowing that many of them would die. But then again, wouldn't they die anyways; the Reapers were still a threat and Cerberus would likely kill them all eventually. Maybe Aria is right? Better to be used for something greater and die fighting than be killed by something else later. Either way, she may be dead by the end of this anyways; either by Cerberus' hand or her mother's…
Cass stood near the med-bay of their little command center; she was eyeing Nyreen warily, avoiding the wandering green eyes.
"I know Aria has to be ruthless." Nyreen spoke.
"What?" Cass frowned, not entirely interested in having a conversation with the stand-offish alien.
"I said I understand that Aria has to be ruthless, I'm not trying to undermine her."
"Fine. Then let us have revenge."
"Us?" Nyreen questioned with a grimace.
"Cerberus is going to pay for everything they've done, starting here."
"And this is a path you want to take?"
"I get that you're trying to protect the people."
"Then you understand why I'm doing this, not for myself, or for what Aria and I had once." Nyreen explained. "Someone has to be their voice in all of this. Two incredibly powerful forces are about to collide and they'll be caught in the middle."
"I know." Cass swallowed. "I get it, but what happens today decides whether or not they will live. If we don't free them today Cerberus will kill them eventually or turn them into something horrible; and the Reapers will do the same."
"I understand that, but once the barriers drop and we go to war, my hope is that we keep them in mind."
Cass nodded; knowing full well that even if they kept the people in mind and did what they could to protect them, a lot of people are going to die by Cerberus' hands anyways and Pretovsky is going to pay for it.
"We're going to have to pry the door open." Aria stated.
Cass stepped forward. "I've got it."
Aria chuckled and looked to Nyreen.
The Turian shared a fleeting glance of amusement with the Asari and pushed the teen out of the way to do it herself.
"I could've done it!" the teen grunted; folding her arms with a pout.
"Sure you could've." Aria replied with an eyeroll before ducking under Nyreen's outstretched arms.
The girl followed with a scowl, and flicked the light on her gun as she entered the darkness; the beam illuminated numerous mauled Cerberus clad bodies, the sight surprising them all.
"Fuck." Cass breathed. "They've been torn to shreds."
"Well, at least they're Cerberus." Aria commented, pulling out her shotgun.
Nyreen scowled and did the same. "I don't like this."
"Well, mangled bodies and dark rooms are never a good sign." Cass deadpanned she followed Aria and Nyreen. "Why would this entire area be powered down anyway? To keep everyone out?"
"Or to keep something in." Nyreen whispered.
"Oh shit." Cass breathed with a huff. "Hear that?"
"Yup."
"Just keep moving." Aria commanded. "The noise is receding."
"Maybe it doesn't like it's odds." Cass commented.
"Don't kid yourself, I've seen one of those things take down an entire squad of soldiers." Nyreen replied.
"Here." Aria stated, coming to a halt. "Down this ladder."
Cass nodded and slid down. As Aria's boots hit the ground, the girl walked over to the control panel and hit the glowing, red, power switch.
"When this is over, there will be a lot of repairs to make." Aria commented, looking around now that the light's were back on.
"I hope you'll focus on the civilian areas first." Nyreen replied.
"You are relentless." Aria grunted.
"That's one thing we have in common-"
The glass shattered from behind the bantering women. The adjutant crashing through wall, it's blue eyes fierce and unwavering as it began to fire from its monstrous cannon-like hand.
Cass whipped out a biotic force, knocking the monster back as Aria and Nyreen unloaded their weapons on it; once the black blood was pooling around the mass; Cass walked over and poked the body with the two of her boot; the form quickly dissolving after.
"God, don't you just love those things; kudos to Cerberus for making them." Cass' tone dripping with sarcasm.
"I hate those things." Nyreen shuddered.
"Hate should make you deadlier; that looked like fear to me-" Aria commented.
"Let's just get back to the door before more show up." Cass interrupted, beginning to move, the two others on her heels.
"Look alive!" Nyreen called. "There's more!"
Cass growled and departed from the other two women, charging the beast biotically and thrusting her fist into adjutant's body; leaving it to crumple into a heap and dissolve away as it had before.
The girl shook her hand; the black blood shaking onto the floor and dissolving away a moment later. Falling into cover, blue shot of energy went flying past her head.
"There's more!" Cass yelled, as she ducked behind a half wall; the girl fired her gun at the incoming abomination watching as it fell during it's charge.
"I think that's the last of them!" Aria called over to her; the Asari had just finished off the mutant attacking her and Nyreen. The trio made their way over to incoming elevator, one step closer to reaching the general.
"There's the reactor." Cass pointed. The purple pulses of energy flashing out of the machine and down long pipes and cords across the station. The entire reactor went from the ceiling and downward, seemingly going the entire distance of the station, the menacing booms and clatters could be heard as the lights flashed erratically.
"We're so close, once those shields go down, the war finally begins." Aria said.
"For some of us, it started months ago." Nyreen remarked.
"That wasn't war, babe. That was just warm up."
"Either way, it's happening now." Cass spoke; following the women to the reactor controls; only steps away from shutting down the force fields, one appeared around them; the low hum now very apparent as the red glow encircled them; trapping them in a large circle. "Crap."
"I commend you, your plan of attack was impeccable." Petrovsky's voice was heard as a tiny, blue drone appeared; the general's hologram now standing before them.
"Looks like we were expected." Cass scowled, glaring at the offending man.
"More like lured." Nyreen sneered; turning her eyes on the hologram as well.
"I knew the reactor would be the hard target; I gave you no choice but this route." Petrovsky's arms folded behind his back; eyes alight and possibly amused.
"Why don't you do this in person, asshat? Afraid of getting your own hands dirty?" Cass growled. "Think you can sit behind a desk and play your little game? You're going to fucking-"
"I take no pleasure in any of this." The general cut the seething girl off; and turned to Aria. "You're the ones trying to start a war, for the glory of Aria. But now, well, now it's over."
"This isn't over until your next of kin can't identify you!" Aria snarled.
"I love your bravado, but have the sense to know when you're beaten." Petrovsky began to pace; arms still resting behind him. "You're neutralized and I can leave you there to rot; you might as well give up."
"Never!" Aria roared; and stomped over to the red, glowing barrier between them and freedom.
"What are you doing?" Cass' eyes widened as the Asari thrust two glowing blue hands into the force field and began to pry the wall apart.
"Aria!" Nyreen exclaimed.
"What the hell is she trying to do?!" Petrovsky's relaxed position disappeared as he watched the Asari take action; huffing with anger, the hologram turned away. "Damn it, Aria. You're forcing my hand. We'll do it your way then."
As the general's form disappeared with a flash; Cass watched with horror as Cerberus mechs began to appear, coming in from all sides and above. She continued to fire and throw them aside with her biotics, but more kept coming; she backed her way toward the Turian and Asari to help provide support while noticing that Aria's shield began to fall.
"No!" Nyreen cried; dropping her rifle and using her biotic abilities to shield the Asari; taking out the closest robots with only a pistol.
"CASS!" Aria yelled. "I can't hold this much longer! Go!"
Cass ran toward the opening and fell through seconds before Aria released it. The girl sprinted toward the control panel; Petrovsky's glowing, blue image waiting for her.
"You can't do this, Cassandra." Petrovsky stated; his image standing only a step away. "There's more at stake then you know. That reactor powers life support systems for dozens of wards across the station. Shut it down and thousands of people perish."
"Aria?" Cass questioned into her communication system.
"Yes!" Aria replied. "And I don't care! Shut it down!"
"Cass!" Nyreen's voice came in a second later. "Don't! Try rerouting the power away from the force fields!"
"Damn it!" Cass exclaimed. "Hold on!"
The girl's hands began to work furiously; the beeping of the keys repetitive and erratic.
"Rerouting the power to power to maintain the other systems…" The general trailed off.
"Damn it kid! Are you crazy! We're almost spent down here!" Aria exclaimed. "Nyreen! Watch your flank!"
"This is who you're working for, Cassandra. She doesn't care who gets hurt." Petrovsky stood behind the girl.
Cass ignored him and continued to try and reroute the power. She only had moments; could she overload the reactor and kill hundreds, maybe thousands of people to save Aria, or would she end up killing the woman she's been loyal to all of this time to save the lives of strangers? Was Pretovsky right?
"What are you waiting for? Overload the Reactor!" Aria's voice rang out once more.
"She'd just throw all of these lives away!" The man spoke into her ear, leaning over the girl.
"Cass, Nyreen's down; I'm stabilizing her." Aria spoke. "You can't reroute the power in time, hit the fucking overload, now!"
"This shouldn't be that hard." Petrovsky continued to speak. "Maybe something inside you is holding you back, maybe deep down, you're starting to think that the galaxy will be better off without her. She's never going to learn. She'll never change. Even if you win, Omega loses."
"SHUT UP!" Cass growled; whipping around to face the general's image. The controls behind her turning to green and blue, the power successfully rerouted. The teen pulled out her pistol and turned to run past the Cerberus, but stopped in front of him; glaring darkly, a sinister smile playing on her lips; the teen spoke. "Check mate."
The teen ran off toward her companions, leaving the general watching in horror as the reactor finished rerouting power.
As they made it to safety, Cass turned to Aria. "Are you okay?"
"Despite your efforts to kill me, I'd never thought you jeopardize the mission like that." Aria spoke with menace; Cass winced and took a step back.
"Quiet Aria, it worked. Give the kid a break. I applaud her." Nyreen stepped in between the Asari and human. "She saved us without sacrificing innocent lives."
"When are you going to learn?" Aria asked, frustrated. "There are no innocents on Omega."
"Aria." Nyreen warned.
Aria shook her head and continued. "You fought bravely against those mechs in there, Nyreen. It was impressive…"
"But?" Nyreen's arms folded over her chest.
"Why can't you bring that same grit when adjutants attack?" Aria shook her head angrily. "It's pathetic. You tense up at the mere mention of those abominations-"
"Lay off, Aria. You're being a bitch." Cass growled.
"Don't get started with me, babe." Aria turned to her protégé. "It's called tough love, clearly I haven't been tough enough on you either."
"Clearly." Cass' voice dripped with venom.
Aria huffed irritably as she began to walk away. "The war is starting and I don't mean to miss it."
"Well, she's never been big on thank you's" Nyreen shrugged, following after the woman.
"Of course not." Cass snorted and followed after them.
"Damn it! Engage them, Bre. Delay them as long as you can. We're coming." Aria voiced into her com system. "If they detonate the main column they'll cut off the way to Afterlife and stop the Talon offensive cold in it's tracks."
"Then we'll need to split up." Cass added.
"Precisely." Aria nodded. "Nyreen, lead the frontal assault, Cass and I will meet you in the markets once the bombs have been taken care of."
"Of course, but don't expect me build your memorials if you get yourselves killed." Nyreen stated, moving to the elevator's control panel.
"I like it when you're feisty." Aria winked.
"Um, ew." Cass whined.
Nyreen shook her head with an eye roll as she opened the doors; Aria and Cass stepping out, weapons drawn as they began to fight alongside Bre and Aria's soldiers against Cerberus officers and incoming mechs.
"So, are you going to get back together with Nyreen when this is all over?" Cass asked as the gunfire subsided.
"What?"
"Oh come on, Aria." Cass grinned. "If I wasn't in that elevator you two would've boned right there."
"If you value your life, you'd stop talking."
"Like you would kill me."
"Omega only has one rule, must I remind you?"
"It has something to do with fucking, right?" Cass smiled slyly; earning herself a slap across the back of her head. "Ow!"
"Keep your mouth shut and start shooting." Aria growled as oncoming footsteps could be heard.
"Yeah yeah." Cass replied, swiftly jumping into action and removing two Cerberus mechs. "I've got this."
"You shouldn't be so cocky." Aria scolded.
"A lesson on cockiness, coming from you? A bit hypocritical, don't you think?"
"What did I say?" The Asari growled.
"Shut up and shoot."
"Good. Now keep moving."
"Well, that was fun." Cass spoke sarcastically. "Disarming bombs is so much fun."
Aria rolled her eyes, clearly annoyed. "We need to get to the rendezvous point."
"And how do you propose we do that?"
"I'm thinking the direct way for once." Aria stated, a blue ball of energy forming in her hand; striking the massive fan with it, the rotating came to a stop and the door was exposed.
"Finally!" Cass exclaimed. "I was getting sick of crawling through the tunnels."
"Hey, It's Nyreen," The Turian's voice came onto their shared channel. "Something's not right."
"Of course something's not right! Cerberus is still on my station, that's not right!" Aria grumbled.
"I'm going radio silent to check it out." Nyreen replied.
"What the hell is she doing?" Aria groaned.
"No idea." Cass shrugged; and rested against the elevator wall. "But it can't be good."
As the moving came to a stop and the doors glided open, three Talon scouts came into view, a Turian male stepping forward.
"Where's Nyreen?" Cass asked; stepping over the threshold of the elevator.
"She's scouting ahead; we have our hands full holding this area."
Cass' eyes widened in a moment of realization; sharing a mirrored look with Aria.
"She's going on to Afterlife!" Aria bellowed with frustration.
Cass nodded and began to run with the Asari in the direction of the night club. The girl jumped barricades and continued to run alongside Aria. Bodies littered the walk way; a mixture of Cerberus, Talons and citizens; but the way was clear. As they came to the door; the girl slammed her hand against the panel, the barrier flying open; exposing multiple adjutants and Nyreen. The Turian had them contained in a biotic shield, the abominations were surrounding her.
"Nyreen!" Cass yelled as she and Aria continued to run forward.
The Turian looked over to them and held gazes with Aria; a loud boom resounded as the contained shield filled with fire and smoke before disappearing, releasing the cloud of black fog and ash.
Cass and Aria dashed over to the site; where fire continued to burn and the floor was scorched, but whatever bodies were within the blast area were obliterated and nothing remained.
Aria's fist began to glow a bright blue; the energy forming around her entire body.
"Aria?" Cass questioned, somewhat tentatively.
"Tell your boss I'm coming for him!" Aria ignored the girl and shot forward in a fierce ball of energy; one the knocked the girl backwards in some rubble. The Asari decimated the remaining forces between them and the club and left the girl behind.
"Damn it, Aria!" Cass growled; placing a hand on the back of her neck; her fingers came away red. "What a bitch."
Cass staggered to her feet and began to run after the Asari; opening the doors to the club; the teen caught up. Aria was surrounded by Cerberus officers and Cass was nearly knocked back again by another biotic blast.
"Petrovsky dies now." Aria growled.
Cass nodded, her lips thinning into a grim line as the Asari opened the final door into Afterlife. As they stepped forward, the General stood on the upper platform, arms folded comfortably behind his back.
"Nyreen Kandros was a good soldier; it's too bad she had to die for your petty ambitions." Petrovsky spoke clearly and confidently.
"You're a dead man!" Aria roared; running forward in a wave of blue.
"No!" Cass cried, observing the contraption between them and their prey. "Wait!"
The girl's warning was too late; as the Asari was entrapped in energetic bindings in the form of an X. Her hands and feet were stretched to the furthest degree as the machine siphoned her biotic energy; leaving her completely subdued.
"Now what, Petrovsky?" Cass growled; her eyes narrowing menacingly
"Divide on conquer, Cassandra." Petrovsky nearly laughed. "Nyreen may have killed the remaining adjutants that were being experimented on, but these-"
Cass nearly growled in frustration as more of those beasts appeared from the door underneath the upper platform.
"Are fully under our control." The General leaned over the rail, almost excitedly. "These are the prototypes for our future army."
As a shield flew up between Cass and the general, the teen drew out two pistols and ducked down into cover. Cerberus officers began flying in from above, while the adjutants began to circle toward her. Cass breathed a shuddering breath. It would be now or never.
The girl charged forward; forming a biotic shield around her; The Cerberus officers guarding the power outlets were her first priority. Ducking through the fire; the girl tore through one of these men; throwing him into the wall before hitting one of the releases on Aria's imprisonment. Making her way around the club, the girl slid down behind a half wall, and fired repeatedly into one of the pursuing adjutants and watched as the black blood splattered around it. The girl then killed the trooper guarding the controls, and hit the second release.
"You know, Petrovsky!" Cass yelled as she continued to fight."That you're next, right?! That I am going to rip your heart out! You aren't safe!"
"I'll believe it when I see it!" The General boomed in response.
"Those are big words coming from a dead man."
"I could say the same about yours."
"You think-" Cass growled as she released yet another control. "You think that you can play your little game and taunt and use people like pieces on your chessboard; you can't! People are not pieces in the game! You're on the wrong side of the board; and you're going to pay dearly."
Cass threw herself into the remaining adjutant and killed it like the one she had earlier; using her black blood covered fist, the girl hit the last release and watched as the smug expression on the General's face disappeared
"Attention all Cerberus forces, Surrender." The general spoke with a sigh as his shield dropped and Aria fell to the floor beneath the machine. "Cease and desist all aggression, it's over."
"You're damn right it is." Cass growled, looking like a nightmare; covered in the blood of her enemies and appearing right behind the Cerberus general.
"I'm surrendering." Petrovsky put his hands up.
Cass snarled unintelligibly and fisted the white material of the General's shirt in her hands; biotically forcing him to his knees.
"I've surrendered!" The General repeated; as the girl stood over him; glowing with biotic energy.
"You think you can align with Cerberus and surrender?!" The girl laughed wildly. "You think after turning this place into a prison and turning it's people into monsters, you can just surrender? I thought you were smarter than that! You're pathetic!"
"Your mother surely wouldn't approve!" Petrovsky exclaimed; his hands wrapped around the girl's wrists, trying to muscle her away, but the vibrating biotic energy kept her in place and control.
"Well, my mother isn't here, is she?" Cass sneered, drawing a hand back, readying to strike.
"Stop." Aria appeared behind the girl, a hand curling around her fist. Cass' head whipped to the side, Aria's presence breaking her out of her angered state. "This part is my job."
"Let me do it." Cass barked.
"No." Aria spoke clearly, almost gently. "You're not the executioner; that is not why you are here."
"Let me have this!" Cass cried; her grip releasing slightly.
"No." Aria pulled the girl from the man; and pulled him up, her hands wrapping around his neck. "He is mine."
Cass dropped back onto the floor with a nod; watching as Aria's finger's curled around his neck.
"Stop her!" Petrovsky choked. "I can give you intel on the Illusive man- I can-"
"You'll say anything to save your own skin!" Aria thundered.
"I let you escape Omega-"
"He did?" Cass stood, watching with a degree of horror; the realization that she was willing and wanting to commit this act, sinking in.
"Inexplicably, I think now he would agree that it was the biggest mistake of his life." Aria whispered ominously.
"But- this- this is- murder." Petrovsky sputtered and coughed.
"That's right, cold blooded murder. No less than you deserve." Aria spoke softly, her head lowered next to the general's ear.
As the general coughed and gasped for air, the teen turned away and walked over to the controls, releasing some of the last of Cerberus defenses.
"No. Not yet. You don't deserve a quick death." Aria said darkly.
Cass shuddered and hugged herself tightly; trying to push away the choking sounds. The girl's eyes flashed to the sound of footsteps where Bre appeared. The Batarian seemingly unphased by the act that was currently taking place.
"Your mother is on the station; she's been here for a while fighting their way through Cerberus to get to you." Bre explained to the girl. "She'll be here soon."
Cass rolled her eyes. "I told her to stay away."
"And did you think that would work?" Aria asked, her voice nearly cheerful.
Cass frowned, just noticing that the choking sounds had subsided and the generals body lay splayed out across one of the control panels; forcing her eyes away, the girl turned to the Asari.
"No." The girl sighed. "But I thought Cerberus' defenses would."
"Hmm." Aria hummed, before turning to Bre. "Clean up this mess."
The Batarian nodded and hefted the body into his arms and carried it away, much to the relief of the girl.
"You know." Aria mused, "I never thought I would enjoy having a partner."
Cass half laughed at the Asari's sentiment, but then was forcibly grabbed by her shoulders while Aria's lips were smashed into hers. The teen sputtered and stumbled back in surprise as she was released from the kiss.
"What the hell?!" Cass exclaimed.
"Thank you." Aria said simply; turning away from the girl and resting her elbows on the rail.
"WHAT THE HELL!?" Shepard nearly screamed; an obvious witness of the kiss that just occurred.
"Oh shit."
AN: Sorry I am late with this, but it is much longer than any of my other chapters, so there's more there :) Please review!