The End
He was the unseen, the silent blade. She was the protector, the shining lance.
Together, they will fight.
Right and wrong are more often shades of gray than black and white.
Can they change the fate of the galaxy?
Can they save each other?
Cloth rustles, wakes me from my sleep. Sly hands fumble along my neck. Eyes still closed, I buck my hips and roll, pinning the invader to lie helpless and gasping beneath my weight.
"Shepard," I greet her gravely, opening my eyes.
Her mouth parts; she laughs at me in delight. "I'm getting better, I almost had you that time!"
"'Almost' will not give you the victory, siha," I say as I lean down to kiss her willing lips.
She nips at me, the taste of her tongue in my mouth sends desire coursing through my mind. My body presses her into my bed. The conflict between desire and duty flits across her face but she sits up with a regretful sigh. "One of these days, Thane...You can't keep your pants on forever."
I smile and fondly caress her hair. "I make no promises I can't keep and keep well."
She snorts an indelicate laugh that she tries to muffle behind her wrist. "I'll believe it when I hmmmm...see it. Come on, charmer, I really did come here for more than a necking session." She straightens her rumpled clothing. Her face turns serious. "We have a mission."
Thane sat in the cramped shuttle with the rest of the squad, the thirteen of them crowded into a space meant to hold perhaps eight people at once. The only benefit to this arrangement, he reflected, was that Shepard had managed to cram herself against his right side, and was sitting with her hand resting possessively on his knee. Grunt, seated on his left, was..not as pleasant. He didn't think his and Shepard's growing relationship had been a secret to the crew so he was relieved to notice that there were no resentful looks. Instead, the faces around him were expectant, waiting for an explanation as to why they needed to leave the Normandy during a critical systems test. Shepard was giving her final instructions to Joker and EDI.
"Joker, contact me on channel seven when the Normandy is ready for pickup." Shepard finished setting their autopilot and shifted in her seat to address the squad.
"Understood, Commander. Normandy out."
"All right, everyone, here's what's going on. EDI needs to finish integrating the IFF with the Normandy's systems, and she doesn't want any of us interfering with the datastream. So we're going to start up a little pet project of mine. One of our biggest weaknesses so far has been our lack of information on the Collectors and the Reapers. We didn't find out that the Omega plague was Collector created until one of their pet vorcha blabbed it. I plan on remedying this lack, starting today.
"Each of you is specialized in a different field of influence. I need everyone to go to their contacts. Omega is the biggest information center in the Terminus Systems, and the Terminus Systems are the gossip hubs of the galaxy. We can't form a strategy without information. Even the smallest fact may become important. Find out everything you can. I want you to go in teams of two or more, no one goes anywhere alone.
"Miranda, Jacob, I'd like you to hit up Ish and his friends. Put a little pressure on them if you need to, but find out everything they know. Please do the same for any other Cerberus contacts you have. Jack and Kasumi, use those feminine wiles on the patrons in the VIP section to see what the elitists know. Garrus and Tali, I'd like you two to hit the tech sector. I'm sure some of Archangel's contacts are still willing to talk. If not, Tali can find a way through their security.
Mordin, go with Zaeed back to the clinic and see what your assistant and patients have heard, if anything. Grunt, please go with them. There may still be Blood Pack and vorcha hanging around and you're the best at taking care of any resistance.
"Legion, Omega is hooked into the Extranet pretty well, and you've told me how geth monitor organic communications. Tap into that and find any references to Reapers, Collectors, their targets, plagues, or any anomalies. It'll be a lot of information, so I'll need you to filter it as best you can. Our goal is to stop the Old Machines.
"I know 'anything unusual' is a broad area, but do what you can. Any grain of information that could possibly relate to the Collectors or the Reapers. I'd like to put the Shadow Broker in there as well, since we know he's worked with the Collectors before.
"Thane, Samara, and I will tackle Aria.
"Once the IFF is installed, we're going after the Collector base. Don't get distracted but I won't mind if you take a moment for yourselves to blow off steam. The Normandy won't be back for hours. Don't waste time."
Noise, the deep throbbing of drums and the shrieking of supposed singers, pounded into his head from every direction. Unwashed bodies twined in hopeless desperation, seeking for fulfillment that would not come. This was Afterlife, the heart of Omega, where Aria T'Loak ruled. The sanguine lighting splashed scarlet over their bodies to give ordinary forms sinister casts.
Instinctively, Thane searched for a corner to put his back against; the club whispered of wanton abandonment to his senses and his body reacted accordingly. "I dislike this place, siha. Those here have given over their bodies to mindless desires. I would prefer that we complete our business in short order."
"I don't like it much either," Shepard admitted, rubbing nervously at her sidearm. "But Aria knows Omega best of all, if there's anything here, she'll have the intel. We may also need to use Omega as a fallback point if the Collectors manage to send ships through the relay, so I'd like to get that negotiated beforehand. I've worked with her before and she is above all things a survivor. I think we can come to a mutually beneficial arrangement." She flicked a glance at him. "But if it were to become necessary...what would your plan be for killing Aria and escaping afterward?"
"Hmmm. Aria is vigorous about her personal safety, but this club is her weakness. She surveys it as a queen on high. A proper distraction to draw her attention would be simple to manufacture. Once she is exposed, a person positioned there," he pointed at one of the shadowed balconies, then at the myriad scaffolds supporting the huge central hologram, "Or up there would have a clear shot. Alternately, she keeps only a few visibly armed guards around her. The sniper positions are quite obvious. I could...remove..the hidden gunmen. By the nature of their position, Aria wouldn't be able to tell that they were missing before I reached her as well."
"And what would be our out strategy?" Shepard asked, looking impressed.
"In a place like this, we can simply blend into the crowd and leave."
Samara nodded in agreement. "I believe that once the queen has been removed, the workers will be so busy fighting over the remains that we shall pass by unnoticed, Shepard. If we flee like any other civilians, we'll make it back to your ship without further notice."
"Hopefully, it won't be necessary, but we'll do what we have to. Samara, stay down here and get ready to provide a diversion. Thane, find your position. I'll leave my comm on. If things go south, the signal will be 'sunset.'"
When Shepard would have started forward, Samara delayed her with an uncertain gesture. "Is it wise for you to confront Aria alone, Shepard? Her minions would not hesitate were she to give the order."
"No less wise than some of our other plans." She grinned reassuringly. "Don't worry, I really don't think that Aria will try anything, and if she does, we're ready. Thane, a moment?"
"I shall await the conclusion of your negotiations, Shepard." Samara bowed and made her way into the thickest of the crowd, leaving Thane and Shepard alone.
She guided him into one of the shadowed alcoves that littered the edges of the dance floor. "Are you okay, Thane? You seem uneasy."
"I am...perturbed, siha. This place, the atmosphere, the music..." He threw her a glance that was full of fire. "It is stirring things best left silenced."
She read the look in his eyes and her irrepressible smile spread across her face. She stepped closer to him. "Indeed? And what sorts of things would those be?"
He chuckled slightly as he turned her to stand with her back against his chest, protected in his arms. "Perhaps we should concentrate on the job at hand instead. I wouldn't want to...distract you."
"Now you've made me curious. Tell me."
His smiled broadened at the frustration in her tone, his discomfort diminishing. Shepard, he thought, would find a way to tease him even if they were knocking at death's door. He rested his chin on her shoulder and tilted his head so that he could nibble at her earlobe. "If you must know, I see you twining around me to the beat of this song," he purred into her ear. "I see myself laying you down on one of these tables, stripping you of your clothing and armor. I see us joining together in full view of all of Omega."
He felt her body tighten at the image that he painted; the feeling of her pressing into his hips made him breathless in turn. "And they would be jealous of our ecstasy," he finished in a whisper.
"What a..fascinating..idea.." He heard her swallow before she continued faintly, "Thane...can we find that leisure time soon?"
Carefully, he released her and stepped back to press against the cold metal behind him, letting it leech away the tingling desire he still felt. "I too hope that it will be soon, siha." He managed to insert a teasing note into his reply. "You are the one who determines the order of our objectives I believe."
"Point." She sighed wistfully, longing coloring her voice. "Good thing we're planning on going through the relay next then. Much more of this waiting, and I might be the one throwing you onto a table. Aria would probably disapprove."
"She would more likely record it and use it as leverage." That quickly, they were back to the business of completing their mission. Would they ever find the time for themselves, he wondered? A kernel of his earlier anxiety urged him to caution as well. "Be wary of Aria, siha. She is not to be trifled with."
"Gotcha," She winked at him. "Don't forget to take your gun with you, right?"
Thane laughed, giving her a quick hug. "I stand rebuked. I'll be keeping watch from the darkest corner with the best view, but I will be with you quickly should you need me."
He waited until she had started toward Aria's balcony before making his way to the balcony he'd noticed. It was furthest from the bar and half-obscured by shadows, making it unpopular by the patrons. He crouched between the railing and a nearby table; from his vantage he could make out the back of Aria's head, and both of the outer guards. He could also see Shepard ascending the left stairwell.
"Switching on comm. Copy?" Shepard's voice came quietly.
"I can hear you, Shepard," Samara replied.
"Clear and beautiful, siha."
He heard Shepard clear her throat to cover up her laugh. "Back at you sweet-talker. Alright, here we go."
The top of Shepard's head was the only portion of her that was visible above the sides of extended balcony. Aria was not in sight at all; he would need to rely on audio cues and Shepard to determine his course of action. Her forward movement stopped and he assumed she had come to attention in front of Omega's ruler. Her signal over the comm channel confirmed his guess.
"Aria."
"Shepard, we meet again."
"I've heard you know some things."
"I know a lot of things, Shepard. Try being more specific."
"I'm looking for anomalies. Anything out of place. Strange diseases like that plague, an increase in disappearances or deaths. Excessive financial transfers or widespread technical malfunctions."
"Shepard, have you looked around here lately? People disappear every day and no one gives a flying fuck."
"I know what Omega's like, Aria. I also know that you keep track of everything that happens around here. You wouldn't have lasted this long if you didn't."
He could hear Aria's smirk even over the comm channel. "Say that I did have that sort of data at my disposal, what do I get out of this little transaction?"
"Your life, for starters?"
"Are you threatening me, Shepard?"
Thane tensed, reaching for his rifle. He had not yet drawn it for fear that the long barrel would be sighted. He heard Samara's faint hiss of worry.
"Not at all. I was talking about enlightened self-interest. If the Collectors come in force through the Omega 4 relay, where do you think they'll head first? I'm sure you'd look great in pod-brown. Come on, Aria. You know who I am, and you know what I want-to stop the Collectors and the Reapers after them. It doesn't cost you anything to turn over your information, and it might just save your life. Make up your mind."
"Not bad, Shepard. You know how to pitch a con, I'll give you that. Maybe, if I have time, I could send what I have to your ship. If you ever get tired of being a Spectre, look me up. I could always use another employee."
"You couldn't afford me, Aria."
Aria laughed loudly enough to turn the heads of several of her guards. "We'll see, Shepard. We'll see."
Shepard shook her head wryly. "I appreciate the offer and the information, but I don't see that happening this lifetime. One last thing."
"I can't wait."
"When we come back, we might need repairs. Know some people?"
Comm channel seven suddenly switched on to startle the three of them listening. "Normandy to Shepard, come in."
"Hold that thought, Aria, I have an urgent call."
"Whatever."
He saw Shepard step up to the edge of the platform before switching channels. "Go ahead Joker. You're back early."
"Commander, I hate to interrupt, but something's happened. You need to get back here ASAP. I'm sorry." Joker's voice came over channel seven. He sounded weary, defeated.
"What happened, Joker?"
"Not over the comm, I'll tell you when you get here. Joker out."
She turned to address Aria again. "Looks like I'll have to cut our conversation short. I'll stop the Collectors and save your ass, in return you provide me with information, including reliable repair-docks. Do we have a deal?"
"Very well Shepard, we have a deal. I owe you one for handling that squishy salarian bastard anyway and I always pay my debts. You'll have what you want by the time you get back to your precious ship."
"Glad we could come to an agreement. 'Til next time, Aria."
"Yeah. I get chills just thinking about it."
Thane relaxed his grip on his holster as Shepard came back down to the floor of the club. He joined her just as Samara appeared from behind a group of turians. She gathered them up with a nod of her head and they made their way through the connecting tunnel to the docking area. He was relieved that the turmoil of the club was behind them but it seemed worse trouble was about to crest over their journey.
"All points, check in. Repeat, all teams, respond."
"We're here, Commander. What's the situation?" Miranda and Jacob chimed in instantly.
"Garrus here. Tali and I are just finishing up. Anything wrong?" They could hear Tali giggling in the background of Garrus's reply.
"Shepard, must you interrupt. Important business being attended to." Mordin chattered back irritably.
Grunt responded on Mordin's heels. "Battlemaster, you call. The salarian and the human are comparing scars. Nothing to kill here."
"Jack here. Tell me we can get out of this shithole already? I think Kasumi's about to fry the entire bar. Oops..." Crashing noises mixed with mild cursing came over the channel.
"Sorry to cut the fun short, kids. Rendezvous at the shuttle port immediately. I'm going on ahead. We have a situation."
Shepard sent Legion to pilot the shuttle back for the rest of the crew while the three of them boarded the Normandy. Thane found the lack of any other sounds disturbing. Ominous and hollow, what should have been full of life was instead limping and broken. Joker waited for them in the briefing room; the only living being they had encountered since clearing the airlock. Smears decorated the man's hat. His normally sharp sarcastic green eyes were red and bloodshot, lined with dark nightmares.
"Joker, what the hell is going on? Where is everybody? This place is like a graveyard." Shepard peered around in concern.
"They're gone. They're all gone. Everyone but me. I'm sorry. The Collectors...The IFF was booby trapped and we walked right into it." Joker wiped some of the blood off his face. "I couldn't stop them..."
"Dear gods, what? You're not kidding are you? How di-Okay, wait." She held up her hand, visibly struggling to set her course of action. "Get cleaned up while everyone gets here. You're a mess right now We'll reassemble for a full debrief in twenty minutes. It'll be okay, Joker."
A/N: Has anyone else had days like that? They start out wonderful, and end in terror. Poor Shep.
This chapter was supposed to continue on into post ME2, but it's been split into two pieces, because that many words is too many! I hope I did Aria some remote justice here. Thank you everyone for continuing to bear with my bipolar rambles!
Thank you lyss for helping with Aria, and kiwibliss for, well, everything. Please enjoy and let me know what you wink! ;)