Chapter 2 – Another chance

A day came and went and Aria could not stop thinking about the girl who had wanted to kill her. Lucia had been so angry but still filled with so much courage and life, even when she was dying. Aria couldn't help but feel that the girl had reminded her of herself. Angry and determined.

As much as Aria was sad about the fate of Lucia she still felt that Omega was perfect. It was the only place where people could be truly free, even though it came with a cost. Aria was a firm believer that one had to choose between freedom and security and Aria would always choose freedom. Both for herself and her subjects.

Aria gave herself a moment of weakness. Leaned forward and put her face in her hands. Breathed in, breathed out, felt the beat of the music in her bones. The pulse and beat usually made her feel safe and alive, now it felt as if every tone was hitting her, slowly creating a headache. What is wrong with you? Aria thought to herself. She swallowed her confusing thoughts and sat up straight again, plastered a confident smile on her lips and motioned for her underlings to bring her a dancer. Aria was in desperate need of entertainment.

…

A knock on the door made Aria look up from her place between the young asari's legs.

"What?" she said in an annoying voice.

It was Anto's voice.

"We have found something… I believe that you should see it."

"Go away," Aria said in a dark voice, wanting to resume the more pleasant activities that had been making her forget about little girls and people hurting them.

"Sorry, Aria," the voice continued, "I'm afraid I have to insist."

Aria sighed once more, wiped her mouth and stood up. Threw the dancer her clothes and picked up her own jacket. She never got naked. After putting her jacket on she opened the door and walked out.

"What?" She said in a dreary voice when she was face to face with Anto. The batarian was clearly uncomfortable about something, almost pacing on the spot. The queen of Omega almost rolled her eyes again, she was sure that whatever Anto had to tell her was tedious and not at all exciting.

"There has been complains of children crying."

One of Aria's eyebrows shot up in the air. What the fuck? There had been complaints about children crying on Omega. These complaints had been brought to the queen of Omega. And Aria had thought yesterday had been weird!

"So? You are only supposed to interrupt me with important matters, Anto."

"Well… these children, they were in the house where we killed a few men yesterday."

Aria's eyes went wide but she tried to not show any emotion.

"Children?" She asked, "plural? Lucia's sisters?"

"Yes Aria." Anto nodded, "One asari infant and one human girl. The asari infant is alive and well but the girl… well, she appears to be in a coma."

"Where are they now?" Aria asked.

"Well, the infant has been taken in by the asari family that found them but no one wanted the girl. I was advised to just leave her where she was but I thought… well, with the events of last night you might want to… well, bring her here."

Aria forced herself to laugh even though her insides were boiling.

"You thought you would bring her here? What do you think of me? I'm not some soft matron who just has to help every kid who crosses my path. But sure, bring her here, she in a coma anyway. How much trouble can she cause?" All that had been said with no emotion, but Aria had to admit to herself that she was indeed feeling something, even if this something wasn't something that the queen of Omega could put into words.

…

Later that evening Aria made sure no one noticed as she slipped into the room that the little girl was resting in. She had now been seen by physicians and was indeed in a coma even if the doctors weren't sure why. Physically the girl was fine, sure too skinny and not in prime health but they couldn't find anything wrong with her. She was not hurt like Lucia had been.

Aria walked up to the bed. The girl appeared younger than Lucia had been; otherwise she was just as tiny, undernourished and dirty. As soon as she wakes up, I will make sure she gets a shower; Aria thought to herself but didn't know where the thought had originated. Surely, she was not keeping the girl?

The asari sat down next to the girl and stroked some black hairs out of the face. Had Lucia died to avenge this little creature? Without thinking Aria reached out, touched the girl's cheek and initiated a meld to figure out why the girl wouldn't wake up.

At first Aria experienced nothing, just a sad emptiness. Then she felt a presence and suddenly it was as if she heard a voice.

Who are you? It was the girl's voice, small and frightened. Some part of her was still conscious.

My name is Aria, what is yours? Aria thought towards the girl, her own tone softer than she had managed in years.

My name is Lakshmi

Lakshmi, Aria tried, are you Lucia's sister?

A warmth flooded Aria's brain, brought on by the happy feelings the mentioning of Lucia caused the girl.

Yes… where is she?

Damn, Aria couldn't answer that right now, she just wanted Lakshmi to wake up.

Lakshmi, will you wake up?

Where is my sister, Aria? Is she here?

No, she is not.

Oh.

Aria almost swore under her breath. The conversation wasn't going the way she wanted. She could feel the girl withdrawing even deeper.

Lakshmi, that's a nice name. The queen of Omega was trying, but fuck, it was difficult. She had no experience with children. She just needed Lakshmi to wake up; she didn't even know why. The girl didn't answer. Aria had to keep trying.

How old are you girl?

I am six years old. I think. Lucia used to celebrate my birthdays.

Lakshmi, why are you asleep?

Because it is dangerous for me to be awake.

Will you wake up if I say I will protect you?

Maybe…

Aria had to breathe; she severed the meld for a few minutes to anchor her own thoughts. But after just a minute she put her fingers on Lakshmi's arm and went into the girl's mind once more.

Aria? Is that you again? Why did you go? I got scared.

It is me again.

Good. Where is Lucia?

I can tell you later, but first you have to wake up.

If I wake up the bad men will get me.

No, they won't. I killed them. For Lucia and for you. They will never hurt anyone else again.

The girl remained silent but then Aria felt, in the physical world, how the girl started to stir. She let go of Lakshmi's unconsciousness and opened her eyes. Lakshmi was indeed waking up. The girl groaned and then opened her eyes carefully.

"Aria?" She asked in a voice that was more childish in the real world than it had been in the meld. Her eyes were black like Lucia's but her vision wasn't dead. There was still some innocence in her, innocence that Lucia hadn't had.

"Yes," Aria said, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. She had had a goal, to wake the girl up. Now when that was achieved, she wasn't sure what to do.

"Will you take care of me now?" Lakshmi asked, her question asked with an innocence that made Aria's heart ache.

The queen of Omega swallowed a couple of times. This was out of her comfort zone. But there was only one answer she could give.

"Yes I will take care of you."

I'm basically just trying out an idea. Still not sure how the story is going to go. Let me know how I'm doing or if anyone has any suggestions!