AN:- Let's round up some mercs!

Chapter Seventeen: Purgatory

Her next stop was at Purgatory, where according to an e-mail Aria T'loak was waiting for her. She couldn't quite imagine what the crime boss was even doing on the Citadel, but she wasn't going to ignore such a summons for very long.

From the outside Purgatory looked no different to any other building on the Citadel. It was very smooth and sleek and clean. Aside from the flashing sign giving the name it could have been an office building. There were clusters of people around the outside, all different races. She saw one group of well-dressed humans vomiting over the railing. She didn't envy whoever was dozens of stories down.

She stepped into Purgatory and frowned a little. She wasn't a fan of dive bars, for all that she had found herself in a few of them over the years, but Purgatory was a little too clean. To some extent she expected clubs to be slightly dirty. The clean polish of Purgatory wasn't what she wanted from a clubbing experience. Nothing like the inch of grime found in Omega, but she remember Flux and Chora's Den. Just the right amount of dirt, but not being so filthy they made her want to take a cold shower.

As she scanned the club she saw Aria, having taken over an entire couch and significant section of the floor. She was lounging, gazing impassively up at a human woman who was lecturing her about something. Shepard trotted over, hearing frustration in the woman's voice.

"So you admit you and your thugs are here illegally?"

"Yes," Aria said. "And it only took C-Sec three weeks to figure it out."

The human bristled. "I don't care who you are. You're required to go through processing like all other refugees. Come with me."

Shepard winced a little. This couldn't go well.

"I don't think so." Aria snapped her fingers and

"Sheerk." A human male stepped smartly up to the couch. "Get me the asari councillor."

The C-Sec agent sneered as Sheerk brought up his omni-tool and keyed in a command. As the asari councillor materialised before them the C-Sec lost all her bluster at once. "Greetings Aria, is there something you need?" The councillor asked.

"I'm being asked to submit to immigration processing."

"Of course you are." The councillor reached off screen and Shepard quirked an eyebrow up, meeting Aria's eyes. "Done. What else can I do for you?"

Aria looked back to the C-Sec officer. She had barely even looked at the councillor. "Nothing," she said. "Thank you."

"My pleasure." The asari councillor faded from view and Aria turned back to the C-Sec officer, who was thoroughly humbled.

"I think we're done here," Aria said. As the C-Sec officer beat a hasty retreat Aria shifted her gaze to Shepard. "Enjoy the show?"

Shepard sauntered over, lowering herself onto the couch next to Aria as deliberately as she could. "I guess there's one rule on the Citadel huh?" She said.

Aria noticed the sarcasm. "I guess so." She looked over at the crowds enjoying themselves. "I hate this place, so sickeningly uptight."

"Then why are you here?"

She stood and began to pace. "Cerberus stole Omega from me." That was a shock. "The Illusive Man is now squarely at the top of my shit list. He will pay for every second I've spent in this bureaucratic hell hole."

Maybe be more worried about losing a space station than having to be stuck on the Citadel. "How did Cerberus defeat you?"

"Deceit, distraction and a big fucking army. They lured me away from Omega and ambushed me, I escaped but Cerberus had already laid siege. By the time I could launch an assault, they were too entrenched."

"At least you escaped to fight another day."

"And that day is coming. I'll take Omega back, but I'll get to that." She came back to sit on the couch next to her. "You're here because I have a proposition."

"I'm listening."

"The way I see it, if you don't defeat the Reapers, we're all dead." Shepard quirked her eyebrow up. It was odd to hear someone so automatically accepting and helpful of her problems. "Won't matter where I'm sitting. It's in my interest to help you."

"What are you offering Aria?"

"On Omega, I kept the Blood Pack, Blue Suns and Eclipse in check. Now they're running amuck. Nobody wants that. Unite them, under my rule, and you'll have a powerful and ruthless force for your war. I've laid the groundwork with all three groups. I just need you to close the deal."

She should have known any proposition from Aria would make her question her morality. "Give a criminal a gun, he'll shoot you in the back."

"They already have guns Shepard. I'll make sure they point them at the Reapers." That at least was tempting, assuming Aria wasn't the one shooting her in the back. "I'm trying to help you. Why don't you think it over? Meet with Narl, my agent who's dealing with the Blood Pack. The Blue Suns leader is incognito here on the Citadel, he'll be expecting you. And I already have a deal with Jona Sederis, the Eclipse leader. You just have to get your friend Commander Bailey to let her out of jail."

"You obviously don't know Bailey very well."

"Bailey respects you. Lean on him. I think a united force of professional mercs is worth it, don't you?" Shepard got up, fully expecting Aria to say something else. "It's always a pleasure Shepard, let me know if you want to talk later."

Always has to get the last word in.

She didn't look back as she headed over to the bar, spotting Vega standing there as she came up.

He glanced at her over his shoulder as she walked up, smiling and nodding. "Hey Captain, nice to see you down here in the dirt with us grunts."

She frowned, leaning up against the bar. "You think I don't like getting dirty?"

"Whoa now, come on… I didn't mean anything by it Lola."

"Uh huh." She folded her arms and glared at him. "What did you mean then?"

He nodded again. "See those marines over there?" He jerked his thumb and she saw a small group of marines. She had clocked them as she walked over, when they had been drunk and wild. Now they were all seated again. "None of them officers, just soldiers fighting the war."

"Yeah?"

"They've been buying me drinks all night. You know why?" She shook her head. "Same reason they got all quiet and serious when you walked in."

So he'd noticed as well. "You don't seem intimidated by me in the least," she pointed out. "In fact you could use a little more deference."

"Ha… sure. But I've fought with you. I've seen you in action. Don't get me wrong, you're good. Probably one of the best."

"Probably?"

"And you fill out a uniform like nobody's business." She frowned and he shrugged. Clearly he was a couple of drinks down already. "Just saying. But I know you're human. Just like me."

"But not them?"

He shook his head. "Nope. Hell I still remember the day they made you the first human Spectre. I watched it on the vids, just like all of them. But to them, you're still larger than life."

"I've seen a hell of a lot, but I'm still just a soldier. I'm still one of them." Even as she said it she wondered. She had never gone drinking with Anderson. When she had been promoted to Lieutenant Commander she hadn't gone out drinking with the privates anymore. Maybe James was right and this was more hero worship, or maybe somewhere along the line she had turned into Command without ever realising it.

Vega was nodding. "Sure, but they don't know you. They just know what they've been told. Listen… you want 'em to see you're one of us, right?"

"Maybe."

"Then buy 'em a round."

She folded her arms and shook her head. "Let's not overdo it."

"Well, you could at least buy me a round."

"Tell you what." She turned round and waved the bartender over. "A round for any military personnel here." The bartender nodded and headed off to announce it.

Vega was staring at her as she turned back to him. "Yes?"

"You're not going to join us Lola?"

"They're just trying to enjoy their shore leave. No need for the brass to get in the way of that." She accepted her drink and held it up for him to toast. He downed his in one and then straightened, saluting her.

"Thanks for the drink Captain."

"Thanks for the advice Vega."

She was slightly surprised, as she walked away, to find that she was alright with her realisation. As she got onto the shuttle, heading for the coordinates Aria had given her, she reflected that she was wearing her casual uniform. Another thing she had never seen Anderson in. He had always worn his officers uniform. Maybe it was time for her to think about that.

She pushed that thought away. No need to dwell on that while she still had mercs to recruit.

She headed for the embassies again. The easiest of the mercenaries to recruit ought to be Jona Sederis. She trotted up the stairs to Bailey's officer, nodding to him as he looked up and smiled to her.

"Shepard, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I'm here to talk to you about releasing Jona Sederis."

The smile quickly vanished. "Damn, you too? Somebody got the Council to order her release." Shepard cocked an eyebrow up. If Aria was getting her to do it then why would she put pressure on the Council as well? Unless there was more than one player with a stake in the game. "I'm delaying as best I can. What's your stake in this?"

"It's classified." She winced a little as she said it. She had always hated when people pulled that on her.

Bailey saw clean through her, of course. "That's a fancy way of saying mind your own business." He sighed and shook his head. "Look there's no way I'm letting that psychopath out. The woman's unstable and a clear public threat."

"What makes you think she's crazy?" His instincts were usually good. If he thought the woman was dangerous it was worth it to listen, she didn't want to be letting a complete loose cannon out.

"She was a ruthless sadist before she got caught. Her imprisonment has cracked the shell off the nut."

"Maybe freedom will improve her." She didn't hold out much hope for that.

"She rages day and night Shepard, calling for the deaths of all Eclipse enemies. No. Freedom will only give her the chance to kill."

"I'd like access to her to judge for myself."

"Sure thing." Bailey pulled up a file and tapped in some commands. "I'm sure you'll agree, then maybe the Council will listen to you and rescind the order." He transferred a file to her and nodded. "Go to the C=Sec outpost, my assistant will connect to Sederis' cell from there. Then call me back."

"We'll speak shortly."

The C-Sec Station was on the Presidium Commons, along with her contact for the Blood Pack. She had also received a message from Liara letting her know that she was at one of the café's.

One thing at a time.

She headed for the C-Sec Station first, figuring that it would be rude to keep the officer waiting. As she came into the station a turian desk officer stood and saluted. "I've connected with Jona Sedairs in her cell, Captain. You can speak with her via my console."

"Thanks, we'll need some privacy."

"Of course. When you're done you can also contact Commander Bailey from that terminal." He marched smartly from the room, leaving her with the open comm link.

"Who's that spying on me now?" An asari leaned into view of the camera. "Ah, I see. Good." She stepped fully into the screen, staring Shepard down. "Aria's indentured servant has finally come to deliver me to freedom."

If she was looking for a fight she wasn't going to get one. Shepard sat down in the desk-officer's chair and kept her voice carefully level. "I want to talk with you before I secure your release."

"Bullshit. You have no choice. And when I get out, heads will roll." As she ranted, Shepard watched her closely. She was clearly very mad. She also didn't blink, something Shepard had only seen once before, when Morinth was trying to seduce her. She wondered if it was an asari thing. "Oh yes. You've killed a lot of my people. Don't think I've forgotten that."

"You have to move on."

"And I will. Once my enemies are dead. I love holding all the cards. Even in here you must deal with me. I have all the power!"

Shepard had met this sort of maniac before. She would reveal her own weakness if just given a chance to talk. "Is that right?"

"Yes. Sayn, my second in command, is a weak-willed toady. If he had balls, he'd leave me to rot and take control himself. But he won't defy me, he knows better. Now get me out of here Shepard. Tell Bailey to release me."

Shepard cut the connection without another word, calling up Bailey, who responded immediately.

"Bailey I've seen Sederis."

"So she's crazy right? It would be ridiculous to let her out."

Shepard nodded. "She's a menace. Let me try to make this problem go away."

"Sounds good, I'll hold the line until I hear from you."

She pushed away from the desk, nodding to the turian waiting outside, who came back to sit at the desk. Leaving the station Shepard called up the Spectre surveillance logs and found that an alias of Sayn had been documented using one of the ATMs at the Docking Bays. It looked like he was hiding out amongst the refugees who were beginning to pour in. According to Aria Dorner Vosque would be there as well.

She headed for the apartments in the Commons, where her Blood Pack contact should have been waiting. She opened the apartment and at once a batarian yanked her inside.

"Quick," he growled. "hands behind your back, they'll be here any minute."

She shook him off and held up a finger. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"Kreete. Blood Pack's leader." Shepard frowned, she had thought the meeting was going to be with their leader. Clearly Aria hadn't told her everything. "Aria brings him the great Commander Shepard, Kreete pledges the gang to her. We're just luring him into the open so we can take him out."

Or Aria promises Kreete me and gets control of the Blood Pack after I'm dead. "Not the best start to our friendship Narl."

"He's coming! Put your hands behind your back and uh, try to look like I beat you up or something."

She frowned, but hearing the voices coming up the hall she couldn't think of a better option. All she could hope was that Aria wanted her alive and helpful more than she wanted her dead and out of the way. "This better be on the up and up."

Narl nudged her shoulder. "Quiet!"

Shepard did her best to look defeated as three vorcha strolled into the office, looking entirely out of place on the Citadel at all. "Aria T'loak even more powerful than Kreete thought." The vorcha at the front said, sneering at her. "Her instruction on boarding Citadel undetected were one thing. Now this! Commander Shepard." He leaned in close enough that she could smell the sour tang on him. Clearly Kreete didn't believe in bathing. "Want you to know. Your head will be hood ornament on my personal shuttle."

Narl put a hand on Kreete's shoulders and shoved him back. "Keep your distance Kreete. So, do you agree to Aria's terms?" Shepard felt a compact pistol being pressed into her hands.

"Most definitely. Aria can use the Blood Pack as she sees fit,"

Narl grinned. "Wasn't talking to you Kreete." He looked over Kreete's shoulder to the green vorcha. "Gryll?"

Kreete looked between the two of them. "What?"

The green vorcha nodded. "You have my word, now open fire!"

Shepard whipped her hand round and pulled the trigger, sending a bullet into Kreete's head. At the same time Narl pulled a pistol and emptied half a dozen bullets into the final vorcha, dropping him.

Shepard snapped her gun up to the final vorcha, covering him before he could draw his gun. Narl jumped forwards quickly. "Not him! Gryll's next in line to take over. Aria's deal is with him."

"Yes?" Gryll looked to Narl, then nodded at Shepard. "Yes. I'm Aria's mole. Shepard. You've scratched my back, now I'll scratch yours."

Shepard collapsed the pistol and handed it back to Narl, giving Gryll a glare. "Word of advice. Don't double cross Aria."

Gryll shrugged. "I may be ambitious, but I'm not crazy."

"Uh huh." Gryll headed for the door, leaving her with Narl.

"Good work Narl," she said. "Thanks for the gun."

"Anytime Shepard. I'll let Aria know the light is green."

She nodded and left the room.

AN:- One thing I did find odd about ME3 was the removal of neutral options. Like there has to sometimes be a happy medium in situations. I don't want to necessarily go full renegade, but equally full paragon is just too goody goody. I can buy a group of marines a drink without being a hardass oo rah jarhead. Though this does tie in to things like Shepard getting her promotion in this book. She's been talking the talk of being in command for all these years, now it's time to actually walk the walk, for all that means, and sometimes it means not being able to get down and dirty with the privates like she used to (stop snickering)

Not much else to say, all pretty much just follows the game.