Chapter 19

"Wow. And I thought Omega was in need of remodeling six months ago."

Shepard couldn't agree more with Garrus's assessment as they looked out over the city from a balcony near Afterlife; Cerberus had done a number on the station. Surprisingly, however, there was a significant amount of construction occurring as far as the eye could see.

"I didn't expect there to be so many people willing to rebuild this place," Shepard commented to his turian friend.

"You'd be surprised at how many people proudly call this place a home." Garrus shook his head a bit. "I was."

"But they don't want to return to their home planet to rebuild?" Shepard glanced to him.

Garrus chuckled. "Most people living in the Terminus Systems have never even been to their 'home' planet. It's less about where you come from and more of what you make of yourself that people value out here." He paused momentarily. "I actually admire that."

Shepard did as well. If every politician in the galaxy had been less concerned about the safety of themselves and their homeworlds and more focused on the galaxy as a whole, the war against the Reapers could have been a whole lot easier. He wasn't naive, though. He knew that perfect cooperation would be impossible from the moment the Council entered denial about the Reaper over two years ago. Shepard shook his head and turned from the railing that he and Garrus were leaned against. He had to stop dwelling on that kind of thing.

"You ready to go in?" Garrus turned with him and nodded toward the door to Afterlife.

Shepard nodded. "Yeah. Let's go."

As they approached the doors Shepard was once again taken by surprise by the number of people either waiting to enter the club or in the entrance hall. He shrugged slightly to himself as they ascended the stairs. People would always need to dance. Shepard and Garrus walked casually through the outer door of the club and down the entrance hall to the door that lead to the club itself. As the doors parted the music, which had been muffled up until that point, filled his ears.

"Glad to see Cerberus had the decency not to destroy Omega's heart of industry," Garrus joked as they looked around the club.

As they rounded the bar Shepard gazed through the crowd of dancing patrons and smiled; there was something reassuring about it. All of these people were at risk of being exterminated only a few weeks ago, but now they were here, living their lives just as they had before. He chuckled to himself as he realized that Omega, of all places, was the one that truly gave him the impression that everything would be okay. Shepard and Garrus stepped up to the stairs leading to Aria's lounge and stopped before a turian guard. The guard raised his omnitool as he scanned their ID.

"You'll have to wait here for a moment. Head of security wants to talk to you," the turian stated as he turned and headed up the stairs.

Garrus crossed his arms. "Come on, Anto doesn't know who we are by now?"

"I think Anto got taken out by Cerberus. At least that's what Aria told me," Shepard stated regrettably.

"Well great," Garrus said with a sigh. "Can't wait to see what green upstart Aria's got running her security now."

As Garrus finished an unmistakable south-London voice spoke from the stairs. "I outta make the right side'a your face match the left for that."

Shepard looked up with a laugh. "Zaeed! What the hell are you doing here?"

The veteran merc stepped off the stairs in front of them and crossed his arms. "Makin' damn good money, that's what. How's it goin' Shepard, Vakarian."

Garrus narrowed his eyes and looked him up and down. "You're playing bodyguard for Aria?"

"If by that ya mean getting paid to drink with gorgeous, half-naked women around me then sure," Zaeed remarked.

Shepard grinned and shook his head. "How the hell did you manage to snag this job?"

"Aria grabbed as many mercs as she could find to take this place back, myself included, and I ended up in charge of most of 'em. You'd be surprised how few of 'em have lead gangs or got work experience with a Spectre," Zaeed let out a laugh. "Thanks for the professional reference, by the way."

"So Aria just let you take over her security?" Garrus asked suspiciously.

"She offered me the job. No one else had the qualifications," Zaeed replied. "And she didn't want anyone who had any loyalties here on Omega."

"You like the job?" Shepard raised a brow.

"Free drinks and dances and all I've gotta do is make sure Aria's mercs stay in check? Best paycheck I've ever made," Zaeed answered with a cocky smirk.

Shepard extended a hand that Zaeed gladly grasped and shook. "Glad to see you're happy, Zaeed."

He stood back from the stairs and nodded. "Aria's waiting. Grab me before ya leave and we'll have a drink on me."

Garrus glanced to Shepard and then back to Zaeed. "I think I'll take you up on that drink now while Shepard has his little date."

Zaeed slapped Garrus on the back and turned him back toward the bar. "So tell me all about how you two saved the galaxy. All I've seen is the vids."

Shepard watched as Garrus and Zaeed walked off toward the bar engaged in lively chatter before starting up the flight of stairs to Aria's lounge. As he reached the top Shepard turned to the balcony where Aria sat looking over a datapad. The commander took a step forward and crossed his arms, waiting for her to look up. Aria's fingers tapped away at the datapad.

"You're welcome to sit, you know." Aria's voice was as cold and calculating as ever.

Shepard lowered his arms and took a seat to the right of the asari. He stretched and put his arms on the back of the long couch. Aria still had not looked up from her work.

"This place is a lot more relaxing when you're not here on business," Shepard commented as he looked around the club.

"I wouldn't know," Aria stated as she closed the datapad and set it aside. "I'm always here on business."

Shepard turned his attention to the asari and raised a brow. "Even now?"

"Do you know how much work I've had to manage to keep the peace around here?" Aria narrowed her eyes. "Turning all these mercs into a security force has been a pain in the ass."

"Zaeed keeping them in line?"

Aria shrugged. "Well enough. He's got a surprising amount of respect from these people."

Shepard nodded thoughtfully. "He's got a hell of a record."

"Mm. Chatting with me about my work isn't why you're here." Aria looked toward the turian guard that had stopped Shepard earlier and waved him over. "Get us each a drink."

"What... what kind?" The turian glanced between the two of them.

Aria rolled her eyes. "I don't care. Something expensive."

The turian nodded and hurried off down the stairs toward the bar. As he left Aria looked back to the commander and stared. She looked as though she was gathering her thoughts.

"So," she started. "How was the fight?"

Shepard raised a brow. "Are you actually asking me about something unrelated to yourself?"

She glared at him. "Don't get sassy with me. I am capable of having a friendly conversation. Finding someone worthwhile to converse with... that's the hard part."

"It was tough," he answered. "Lots of fighting. You probably would've loved it."

"Maybe. If I gave a shit about Earth."

Shepard laughed. "That's what I like about you, Aria. No bullshit."

The asari grinned. "I know when someone appreciates honesty."

As she finished the turian came trotting back up the stairs with a drink in each hand. He slowed his pace as he approached them and held out the drinks. Aria and Shepard grabbed the short glasses of what seemed to be a deep blue liquor. Shepard gave the glass a look, trying to identify the substance.

"It's an asari drink," Aria informed him. "And from my private collection, it would seem."

The turian quickly hurried off to resume his post at the comment. Aria ignored him and held her glass toward Shepard. The commander reached over and clacked their drinks together lightly.

"What are we drinking to?" Shepard inquired as he pulled the glass back.

Aria glanced up as she pondered the question before turning her eyes back to him. "My thanks. I may be able to handle myself against anything Omega can throw at me, but I'm not an idiot. No one else could do what you did. You have my gratitude. And my respect."

She raised her glass to her lips and took a drink. Shepard did the same and raised his brows slightly in surprise at how smooth the asari liquor went down. As he lowered the drink from his lips Aria gave him a sideways glance.

"You know, if you didn't have such a ridiculously straight moral compass I might have made you my bondmate for a while. Your a fucking genetic goldmine." Aria took another sip.

Shepard chuckled and downed another mouthful of the liquor. "As romantic as that sounds, I'm happily bonded."

Aria smirked and looked straight ahead. "Like I said, you're a little too righteous for my taste."

Shepard finished his drink with a deep gulp and let out a sigh. "Well I'm glad things are still holding together here, Aria."

The asari finished her drink and looked over to him. "Omega will always hold together, Shepard."

The commander set his glass on the couch and stood up. "Thanks for the drink, but I've gotta run. Still got business to take care of. You can call us even now."

Aria smirked and nodded. "Come by again sometime."

Shepard turned back to the stairs with a smile. "Maybe I will."

Having found Garrus and Zaeed and joined them for a round of drinks celebrating the "good old days," Shepard was content to make his way back to the Normandy. He and Garrus made their way through the streets of Omega back to the docking bay that housed the ship, reminiscing about the time they each had spent there.

"Are you still self conscious about the Archangel name?" Shepard glanced to Garrus with a laugh.

The turian let out a sigh. "Sounds pretty pretentious when you don't know it was the locals that gave it to me."

As they approached the airlock they were met by Javik, who stood to the side and next to small footlocker. Shepard gave Garrus a quick glance as they walked up to him and nodded.

"Javik. What's going on?" Shepard stopped before the prothean and looked him over curiously.

Javik glanced to Garrus. "I would prefer to speak to the commander alone, turian."

Garrus rolled his eyes and stepped up to the airlock. "Whatever. I'll be on the ship."

As Garrus entered the airlock Javik looked back to the Shepard. "Commander. It has been a privilege to serve with your crew, but I must take my leave."

Shepard blinked in surprise. "What? You're leaving?"

The prothean looked out the viewport to the Normandy. "When we last talked you told me that I must find a new path. My own."

"And that path is..."

Javik turned back to Shepard. "Anywhere." He paused for a moment. "I am ready to lay down my weapon and see the galaxy that we fought to protect."

"Javik, that's... do you know where you're going to go?"

The prothean shook his head. "No. I will go wherever I can find passage to."

Shepard couldn't help but feel concerned. "Are you sure about this?"

"I am. I have only seen a glimpse of what this galaxy has to offer. I wish to see the rest; the good and the bad. I am ready to be free of my past and become a part of the present." Javik looked to the commander stoically.

Shepard smiled lightly and nodded. "I guess I can't argue against that. But what about your book?"

Javik gave a small smile. "I have already spoken with Liara T'Soni. I will correspond with her about my travels and we will continue with our work."

Shepard opened his mouth to speak, but decided that maybe nothing else needed to be said. The commander extended a hand to the prothean which Javik shook firmly. As they released, Javik leaned down and retrieved the small footlocker that contained his limited personal effects and nodded to Shepard.

"I have enjoyed our travels together, Commander. I hope your mission concludes well."

"And I hope your path treats you well, Javik. You've earned it."

Javik nodded and began his walk down the hall toward the street without another word.

Author's Note

Next chapter should come as fast as this one. See you then!