OMEGA
The minute Miranda, Arelia and Liara land on Omega and leave their docked ship; a Batarian approaches them informing them they are to see Aria T'Loak immediately.
"Well you weren't kidding," says Arelia. Her bondmate Miranda filled her in on the Queen of Omega.
"Typical Aria," says Miranda. "I remember when Shepard and I were here she was such a…" Miranda feels Arelia's hand on her arm which makes her stop speaking. She looks to Liara who has a sad look on her face but then quickly masks it. The human stops talking. It was not a good time for Shepard and Liara back then. Liara was trying to track down the Shadow Broker and Shepard was trying to come to terms with being alive after two years of being in a coma. The reunion between the savior of the galaxy and Liara was not the best.
"It is quite all right Miranda. I am aware of what transpired here without me," says Liara.
Omega looks about the same as Miranda remembers. People loitering in the alleyways probably making secret deals, people begging for work or for a handout. When they turn the corner they see the same entrance to the bar Afterlife, the headquarters or command center for the Pirate Queen herself. It's like the attack on Omega by Cerberus years ago when General Petrovsky took it from Aria was never there. Some signs and signage look new, but that is about it.
"Are the lines always this long?" asks Arelia. She steps behind the last asari in line. Miranda lightly grabs her arm.
"We don't stand in line," says the human in a very serious tone.
"Aria is expecting us," says Liara when two armed Batarians step forward.
"Hey they can't cut! No fair!" yells a person in line.
"This way," says one of the Batarians. They follow him through a long hallway with screens that don the upper half of the tunnel. They are showing off asari dancers. The poses are enough to make Arelia blush. She looks away and notices that Liara has a cold hard stare on her face. Her eyes do not waiver, they look straight ahead.
When the double doors slide open the constant thrumming of the beat grows loud. Loud enough where they need to shout to each other to be heard if they wanted to talk.
The Batarian continues to walk toward the back. Liara's eyes look upward. There are a line of tinted windows overlooking all of Afterlife. She knows Aria is watching them. She knows she is up there right now licking her lips wondering why the three of them dare come to Omega in the first place.
"Stop," the Batarian says. He starts to run a scan to see if the three are armed. When his device beeps he approaches Liara. "Hand it over."
Liara leans closer to him.
Arelia is a little nervous. It is not her first time in a so called bad place, but she knows nothing of Aria T'Loak except her reputation. She has never met the asari and never really wanted to. She looks at Miranda who winks at her which helps the nerves a little.
The Batarian leans closer to Liara so he can hear her. When he does Liara is swift. Her hand connects with his throat and she helps the Batarian stay standing when he wants to go down on one knee. "You will open the door or you will die. Your choice."
Arelia in all the years that she has known Liara has never seen her like this before. The asari looks at her bondmate wondering if she is dreaming, it's like watching a vid or something. Miranda has a slight smile on her face as if she is not at all surprised by Liara's actions. In fact she looks like she is enjoying the show.
Liara helps the Batarian to the door. He punches in a code then Liara lets him go when the doors open. He drops to the floor clutching at his throat hoping it will help get him some air.
Two more armed Batarians approach with their weapons drawn. Liara continues to walk forward. The look on her face is sheer determination as if nothing will faze her. She ignores them and walks toward them.
"Lia…" Arelia stops talking when Miranda touches her arm. The human gives her a shake of the head.
"Stand down."
The head of the commandos does not see who said it, but suspects it is from the Queen of Omega herself.
The two Batarians lower their weapons and without stopping Liara walks between them as if she never saw them in the first place. She ascends the five stairs that lead up to an open area that overlooks the Afterlife floor.
"Well, well, well who do we have here?" A violet asari with black half leather jacket appears from shadow.
"Aria," says Liara.
Aria looks between the three standing before her now. She approaches Miranda first. "You have a lot of balls coming onto my station Cerberus."
"Ex-Cerberus," says Miranda. The human does not bat an eye.
"Oh who is this beautiful thing?" Aria directs her attention to Arelia. "Strong." She trails her fingers down the commando's toned arm.
Arelia swallows but does not break eye contact. Miranda warned her about Aria. Do not show weakness or look nervous. Easier said than done. At this moment Arelia feels like she has been behind a desk far too long, her commando training did not exactly train her for this.
"I heard you settled down Miranda." Aria keeps her eyes locked on Arelia's. "When you tire of the human feel free to look me up."
"Are you quite finished posturing Aria?" asks Liara. She is losing her patience.
"Touchy, touchy blue. What is your hurry?"
"Something tells me you already know."
Aria sits down on a long black couch and spreads her right arm along the back of it while the other arm is up waiting for something. A Batarian quickly hands her a drink. Aria rattles the ice against the glass before she takes a sip. "Something to drink"?
"No thank you," says Liara. Another thing Arelia was told, Liara will do the talking. Miranda was surprised when the former Shadow Broker insisted she handle the meeting. When Arelia asked her about Liara's plan Miranda was not sure how Liara was going to get Aria's help.
"Can't your friends talk?"
"You know why we are here Aria."
Aria takes a slow sip of her drink. Her eyes never leaving Liara's. "Tuchanka."
"Yes."
Aria stands with drink in hand and looks out at the Afterlife floor. "Don't you love what I have done with the place?"
"I need your mercs Aria and they need to be able to leave within the hour."
Aria laughs. She tilts her head back and laughs. She turns toward Liara. "You must be joking."
Liara steps forward, "You know that I am not."
"You don't just come to my station and give me orders Liara. The last man who tried to take my station is dead. You see those scorch marks down there?"
Liara follows where Aria is pointing. There are scorch marks by the doors exiting the club. When the different colored lights hit it just right Liara can see them.
Aria walks over to the wall next to the row of windows. "See here? This is a reminder Liara. Whenever new mercs come to my station or someone who thinks they are hot shit wants to dethrone me, I show them this. They do what they can to try to out maneuver me. They try to come in here and give me orders. ME! This, Liara, is the last thing they see before I put a bullet between their eyes and that is if I am feeling generous. So do NOT come to MY station and give me orders."
Arelia cannot believe the composure she is seeing in Liara. The asari didn't even blink. Arelia slowly makes her way closer to Miranda.
"I do not have time for this Aria." Liara turns to Miranda and Arelia. "Will you two please excuse us?"
What! Arelia cannot believe what she is hearing. They cannot leave Liara in a room alone with the Queen of Omega. She looks at Miranda who looks just as shocked, but the human quickly puts on her game mask before shock can be seen.
"Please," says Liara again. Arelia and Miranda slowly walk backwards at first then turn around and leave Aria's private office. The two armed Batarians also leave with them when Aria nods to them.
Out of earshot of the guards Arelia asks Miranda, "What is she doing?"
"I have no idea."
"This wasn't part of her plan?"
Miranda looks at her, "I just told you I have no idea."
"Sorry."
The human touches Arelia's arm, "Sorry."
"Is she in danger?"
"Normally I would say yes, but I am not so sure."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Liara has something up her sleeve, otherwise she would not have talked to her like that."
"What is it?"
"I have no idea."
"I have never seen her like that before." Arelia is nervous. She cannot help but pace back and forth as they wait.
"I have," Miranda smiles.
"What is that?"
"What?"
"That?" Arelia points to Miranda's lips. "Why are you smiling like that? You know something."
"It's all right Arelia." The human places her hands on each of the asari's arms. "I am reminded of how Liara can be that's all, that is why I am smiling. I almost forgot how frightening she can be."
"You're telling me. I mean if looks could kill Miranda. Did she take lessons from you?"
The human smiles at her and gives her lips a quick kiss. "Nice one."
"So you don't think we need to worry? I mean they are taking a long time in there."
"I don't think we have to worry no."
"Are you sure? I mean…" Arelia stops talking when she sees the door slide open.
Liara, determined as ever, turns to Aria. The two nod in respect to each other.
Liara approaches, "Let's go, we leave in two hours."
Miranda and Arelia practically do a double take. They look between Liara who is walking away to Aria who looks pissed and pleased all at the same time. They finally move their feet and follow the former Shadow Broker.
"Mind telling me how you managed that?" asks Miranda as she and Arelia catch up to Liara.
"Not here. We don't have much time. We need to resupply and get to Tuchanka. I will update you when we are in flight."
THESSIA
Valya is rethinking her decision to leave the hospital. She and Dara are sitting at her desk at the police station. They just got done visiting Dava. Their daughter has no memory of hurting her father or of nearly hurting Mia. When they told her about Mia she started to cry. There was no comforting her. She kept saying over and over again, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I don't remember.
"Thank you Naava," says Dara. The visit and the walking and being out of bed has exhausted Valya. She needed to sit down and rest before making it to the sky car and going home. "Here honey." Dara hands Valya a glass of water.
The detective, sitting with her elbow on the desk and her head resting on her hand, lifts her head slowly to see what Dara has. She takes the glass and drinks the water.
"We have to go," says Sara to her partner Naava.
"What's going on?" asks Valya.
"Not sure," says Naava. "The boss wanted us in her office for some big announcement. I think they have someone coming in to help with the investigation."
"Who?"
"Don't know. You look like shit Valya. Go home. I'll call you with an update." Naava turns to head toward Meryl's office when she sees an asari Matriarch, blue in color with what looks like a red headband of some type. "Goddess."
"What?" asks Dara. Her eyes follow Naava's.
"I think that might be her. I'll be back." The detective quickly heads to her boss's office.
Dara touches Valya's face, "She's right you know. You look like shit."
Valya smiles a little, a gesture that hurts her pounding head. "I'm just tired."
"You are not the only one. Can we please go home?"
Valya looks at her bondmate. Her eyes are red from crying. Dara looks as bad as I feel. "Yeah okay."
"We will discuss getting an attorney for Dava when we both have had a chance to rest." Dara helps Valya to her feet. The detective sways a little but Dara is able to catch her and keep her upright. "Goddess Valya, I think you should go back to the hospital."
"No." She places her arm around Dara for support. "I'm okay."
"I don't believe you."
"I'll be fine. I just want my own bed with you in it." She squeezes her shoulder.
Dara starts to lead her out of the office when the detectives start to return to their desks. "Well that was a fast meeting," Dara says to her bondmate.
"Wait."
"We need to get home Valya."
"Please."
Dara turns and sees Naava approaching. When they make eye contact the detective hurries over.
"Oh my Goddess, oh my Goddess, I totally didn't think any of them existed anymore."
"What are you talking about Naava?" asks Valya, fighting off the nausea she suddenly feels.
"It's a Justicar, a real life in the flesh Justicar."
"You're kidding," says Dara in a loud whisper. "I thought they all died off during the war."
"That's what I thought, but this one said they have nearly a dozen now."
"What else did she say?" asks Valya. "Why is she here?"
"To help find the Ardat-Yakshi of course."
"What?" asks Dara.
Naava looks at Valya. Valya cannot believe the big mouth on her fellow detective.
"Uhhh." Naava looks around. "Oh, uh looks like Sara needs me." She quickly walks away.
Valya wants to scream at her. She cannot believe she just gave out police information and now she scurries away leaving Valya to explain everything. The former commando never told Dara that she suspected their own daughter.
"What is she talking about? Ardat-Yakshi? They still exist?"
"Can we talk about this when we get home?"
Dara looks at her bondmate. It is almost as if Valya can see the gears turning in her head. Dara's eyes widen. "You think Dava is an Ardat-Yakshi?"
"I didn't say that."
"How could you keep this from me? How dare you Valya! She is my child!"
Valya winces at the loudness of her voice not because she is drawing attention but it is amplifying her headache.
Dara lowers her voice when she sees everyone looking at her, "You are unbelievable do you know that? I should leave you here. Make you sleep somewhere else."
"Dara, I can't share information regarding an ongoing investigation."
Between clenched teeth Dara says, "Don't you give me that bullshit. I am your bondmate and she is our daughter. How could you? How could you do that to me?"
Valya is about to answer when they are interrupted by her boss she didn't know was approaching.
"Detective?"
They both turn to see Meryl and an asari they have never met.
Valya stands up a little straighter trying to look better than she feels. "Yes boss?"
"I know you are on your way out, but I wanted to introduce you to a Justicar who will be aiding the investigation." Meryl looks at the unknown asari then gestures to Valya. "This is Detective Valya. She works with lead detective Atalia, the one I told you about. Vlaya has some history she can share with you when she is back to work which will be in a few days."
The asari Justicar turns her attention to Valya. She bows her head in respect. "Your Captain told me what transpired. I hope you are not severely injured."
"Is that right?" Valya looks at her boss. She wonders just how much she told the Justicar. Valya does not know a lot about their code, but has heard about it. She does not want her daughter in any danger.
"Just that you were injured while on duty and are going home to get some much needed rest," says Meryl.
"Yes that's right," says Valya.
"Though I appreciate the need to recuperate, I do wonder if I may receive background from you sooner rather than later. Waiting a day or two for information that may prove vital is simply not good enough."
Valya can tell Dara is about to say something, but she stops her by squeezing her shoulder and speaking over her, "Of course Justicar…"
"Samara. You may call me Samara."
EN ROUTE TO TUCHANKA
Miranda takes the ship out of its dock and heads toward the relay that will get them to Tuchanka. They are being followed by over a dozen merc ships. They are to follow Liara's orders no questions. Miranda puts the ship on autopilot after going through the relay to join her bondmate and Liara in the kitchen.
"I hope I haven't missed anything," says Miranda.
"Who is flying the ship?" asks Arelia.
"I put it on auto. I wanted to hear the story."
"What story?" asks Liara.
"I want to know how you got Aria to give you what you wanted."
Liara looks at both of them. They have such expectant looks on their faces. "I simply asked."
"Oh come on Liara. You can tell us," says Miranda.
"I assure you, there is nothing to tell. I simply asked."
"You don't have to tell us Liara. We will stop asking," says Arelia as she holds Miranda's hand and gives it a squeeze.
"You did not just simply ask Liara."
"Let it go Miranda," says Arelia.
"No. What's the big secret? Why won't you tell us?" Miranda crosses her arms and cocks her hip.
"There is nothing to tell Miranda." Liara returns to the work of making dinner. "We need to make preparations. Once we enter Tuchanka space we cannot hide our ships. We need a plan and I must speak with Shepard."
Miranda just stares at the back of Liara's head.
Arelia is not sure what to say, if anything.
Liara turns toward them again. She sees Miranda staring. "What we spoke about stays between us."
"Of course. We won't tell anyone," says Miranda.
Liara furrows her brow. "You misunderstand me. It stays between Aria and me. I cannot discuss it."
"Why?"
"Miranda." says Arelia. She uses a warning tone.
"It is the arrangement we agreed upon. Surely you can understand the need for discreetness."
Miranda continues to stare as if the answers will just pop out of Liara's head. "You knew going in there that she would give you what we needed. How? What do you have on her?"
"As I said, there is nothing to tell." Liara turns her back on the pair and returns to making dinner.
"Remind me never to get on your bad side Liara," says Miranda. She pats the asari on the shoulder. "Well done, I'm impressed."
"Where are you going?" asks Arelia.
"To fly the ship."
"Miranda before you go?" asks Liara.
The human turns, "Yes?"
"The program for Shepard's omni-tool, it hasn't completed yet. Could you look into it?"
"Sure."
"Thank you."
Miranda disappears into the elevator.
Arelia turns her attention to Liara. "You okay Liara?"
"Fine thank you."
Arelia starts to cut up items for a salad. "You worried about Shepard?"
"Among other things."
"Anything I can help with?"
With tears in her eyes Liara turns to Arelia, "I could use a hug."
"Oh of course Liara, Goddess." Arelia holds her close. "Everything is going to be all right. I am sure Shepard is fine you'll see. And you did it Liara. I don't know how, but you did it. We will help Shepard and Wrex, we will be victorious."
Liara does not reply. She was not expecting to be so emotional but after her meeting with Aria the past just rushed up at her like an ocean wave sucking you under letting you go in time to gasp for air before the water sucks you under once more. The only thing Liara could think about on her way back to the ship was Shepard and her children. She misses her bondmate terribly and hopes that she will be reunited with her soon. She hopes no harm has come to the human. And her children, with Dava's attack and the fact that she wasn't there, Liara hopes that nothing more occurs at home while she and Shepard are away. She didn't realize how worried she has been until this moment.
"I am sorry Arelia." Liara wipes at her face with a towel.
"Don't be."
"It's just with everything going on, it all sort of hit me at once."
"I understand. What can I do?"
"You are already doing it." Liara gives her a small smile, washes her hands and then returns to preparing dinner. Arelia stands by her side helping with the preparations.
