The air was thick with tension in Afterlife. A muscular, famous figure walked through the door, and several turned to see him, then turned just as quickly back to their drinks, women, or both. Commander Shepard was now renowned for his temper.
Shepard wore his best business suit, his skin pale and his eyes full of a determined flame. Mr. Lawson had been killed, and Miranda had blamed him. He was supposed to be the hero that saved everyone, the hero who couldn't die. The Reapers and Collectors were extinct from trying to break Shepard, while Miranda thrived.
Shepard, however, was now dedicating the rest of his life to finding the Illusive Man. He had more underground contacts than the public would admit, and more enemies than ever before. Shepard didn't care, though, and would continue on his path until the Illusive Man was in a shallow grave or behind a thick cell door.
Shepard walked directly to Aria, breezing past anyone who got in his way. Immediately, the guards pointed guns at Shepard. One particularly bold turian put his gun directly up to Shepard's neck.
Shepard immediately used CQC, taking the gun from the guard's hand and knocking the man down. Shepard pointed the gun at the fallen turian's head, his foot on the guard's chest. Even though Shepard had been trained for years, he barely kept his finger from pulling the trigger. Not due to nerves, but from rage.
Shepard chuckled in his head. 'Rage at the galaxy. Just like how Jack was.'
"Calm down, Shepard." Aria said, smiling at the Commander.
Shepard dropped the gun beside the turian, and it went off. While everyone else ducked, Shepard kept walking to Aria's side, and sat beside the Asari.
"Getting rusty?" Aria asked, putting her legs on the Commander's lap. Shepard barely kept himself from pushing her legs off of him. He didn't want to be touched by anyone or anything. What he wanted was the Illusive Man's head.
"I didn't kill anyone." Shepard said.
"You put a hole in the wall."
"I need information on the Illusive Man."
Aria smiled deviously. "I've heard about you and your obsession with that old human. And I might know something about it."
"I need to know it." Shepard said.
"'Need?'"
"I have no reason for living other than to end the Illusive Man's life."
"We both know what happens when you want someone dead, Shepard. Nothing can stop you from killing them. I'm surprised the Illusive Man hasn't put a bullet in his head. So to speak." Aria said.
"What do you want me to do for the information?" Shepard asked.
"I can think of a few things." Aria said. "I need an invincible man to pick something up for me."
"Where, when, and who?"
"I'll have a driver, as soon as you agree, and a Batarian slaver."
The old Shepard would've winced, would've said 'I don't deal with slavers.' This Shepard, this rage-filled beast of a Commander, said "Get your driver. If you don't have this information, though, this floor will be coated in blood. None of it mine. Got it?"
Aria flinched, then said "Don't worry. You know, you're a lot meaner than I remember."
Shepard stood. "Who is the driver?"
A human stepped forward, his knees shaking. "Me."
Shepard looked over him, then said "I'll follow."
The turian guard before stepped forward.
"We still have some business, human," the guard growled.
Shepard's cold eyes looked directly into the turians. Immediately, the turian reached for his gun. In the blink of an eye, however, Shepard had the hidden pistol tucked in the back of his belt out, and shot the turian in the stomach. Turian blood splattered the floor, and the guard fell to his knees.
The turian looked up at Shepard, who still had his gun drawn. Shepard kicked the turian to the ground, and put his foot on the wound, applying pressure.
The turian shouted in pain, then said "Human...Leave..me..be..."
Shepard looked into the turian's pained eyes, and put a gun to his head.
"We still have some business, turian." Shepard said, and then pulled the trigger.