Omega Chronicles -16- It's effing cold

"We are here on business from the Omega station, as I said to you three times before."

Relan's voice was starting to sound a bit annoyed as he was dealing with the stuck up landing control team on Noveria. They apparently, finally, made a decision, much to his relief.

"Proceed to docking bay 5, Inanna, but know that your vessel will be impounded and you will be taken into custody if your landing is not cleared by the Administrative Board or their delegates."

Shepard was standing next to his piloting chair, a knowing grin on her face. She shook her head as she was reminded of the same trite procedures used by the human military on planets that had a similar purpose as this one.

Privately owned by a few insanely rich corporations, Noveria was basically used as a giant lab for research that was deemed too dangerous or too controversial to be carried out inside Council space. Here the Citadel had no power. It was all about money, favours, leverage. The only reason why the human would even come close to a place like this was that one of Aria's contacts had found out that Matriarch Benezia was here. Since they had been able to tie her to Saren somehow, they had decided to come and have a word with her about him, the Geth, and these mysterious Reapers, whatever they might be.

"That's fine, just let them spew out their bureaucratic crap, Relan. Don't let them get to you." The Commander patted him on the shoulder before turning to get ready to exit the ship.

As her small team was approaching the exit of the hangar bay, they found themselves facing the welcome wagon. In this case it was a group of well armed private guards, their guns already pointing at their faces. The one who seemed to be in command spoke.

"You may stop right there. I am Captain Maeko Matsuo of ERCS Security, and this is Sergeant Kaira Stirling, my second in command." She brought the attention to a blonde woman standing next to her. "There is a strict no weapons policy here in Port Hanshan, so I will have to ask you to give up whatever weapons you carry. They will of course be given back to you once you leave."

Her speech didn't go down so well with Shepard's squadmates. Jack's hands started to glow menacingly with blue swirls as her angry remark rang in the huge docking bay. "And how do you plan to take off me -this- weapon, you fuckheads?"

Stirling shifted her aim directly towards the biotic. "Just try it, punk."

Garrus' rifle was instantly in his hands, cocked and ready to blow off anyone trying to pry it from him.

Matsuo herself got her pistol out, pointed it directly at Shepard and assumed an attacking position in front of her team.

The Commander and Liselle seemed to be the only two not particularly fazed by this turn of events. They were standing in front of the ERCS officers as if they were having a conversation about a Sunday picnic. The young Maiden gave the Captain her best smile. Shepard did exactly the same as she addressed the head of security. "I am sure we can work something out without resorting to a bloodbath. You seem to be a smart leader, Captain Matsuo, I don't think you have any interest in seeing your squad mercilessly killed so early in the morning."

She barely had time to finish her sentence that another voice, clear, confident and slightly annoyed, came from behind her. "I really don't have time to waste with this. Captain, I suggest you step aside. My business won't take long, I plan to leave by the end of the day."

Coming out of their ship fashionably late, in a few arrogant strides Aria was standing right in front of Matsuo, her finger coming up to the barrel of her gun, casually moving it to the side, a steel look on her face boring holes in the human officer's skull.

Liselle almost rolled her eyes as she murmured in a low voice. "Goddess, she does like to make an entrance."

Shepard had to stifle a snort at the Maiden's very accurate observation.

Just as the situation seemed to be ready to explode, a beautiful woman in a red dress came in running from the landing offices. "Wait! Wait!"

She stopped next to Matsuo and grabbed her gun, letting it fall to the ground, before bending down, one hand on her knee, the other hand clutching her chest, her breathing quite laboured from the fast run. She muttered a curse as she was trying to catch her breath. "Fuck. I hate this job."

She was finally able to stand straight as she addressed the security team, a look of disbelief on her face. "Don't you know who this is?" She then turned to talk to the Queen, in a very apologetic tone. "Miss T'Loak. I am so sorry for all this... inconvenience. Please, do follow me through the landing security gates. My name is Gianna Parasini, I am the assistant to Administrator Anoleis, and if you need anything, I will do my best to make it happen."

Aria's expression was not yet mellowing down. "Finally. Someone who has half a functioning brain."

As they started making their way to the gates she went on. "I know Matriarch Benezia is here. I need to speak to her."

Parasini's voice was pure honey. "Of course. I believe she has left Port Hanshan to reach the Peak 15 research facility. She stated that she is here on official business for one of Binary Helix's main investors, a Council Spectre by the name of Saren Arterius. The facility is located on the other side of the Aleutsk Valley. Unfortunately I need to remind you that only people who are authorised directly by the Administrator can travel outside Port Hanshan."

The expression on Aria's face went from sour to downright aggravated. "Bureaucracy." She spat out the word as if it were the worst of insults, a renewed resolve in her step as her team passed under some weapon scanners that started blaring their alarms wildly before Parasini could enter the command to stop them.

The young assistant motioned with her hand for the visitors to step inside Port Hanshan's Plaza, regaling them with a painfully fake smile. "Please, do enjoy your stay!"

Sitting at a table on the Mezzanine, sipping their drinks, Shepard, Aria and Liselle were trying to think of a way to obtain a Garage pass in order to reach Peak 15.

Having come to what seemed to be an impasse, suddenly Liselle's face lit up with an idea. "Well, if you guys are willing to give me a chance, I might try a little something. I will need a couple of hours."

"You know I hate it when you're so fucking vague." Aria crossed her arms in front of her and leaned back on her chair, her eyes fixed on her daughter's face, sporting a less than amused expression.

The Maiden waved her mother's remark away with her hand. "Yes, yes, I know. Control freak and all that. It's not like we've met yesterday, Aria. In any case. Just let me do my thing. If I don't succeed, then we can just storm in the Administrator's office, blow his head off, get his pass and then go on a run to Peak 15 while the entire ERCS force on the planet chases us."

"I'm willing to bet Liselle's plan is less brutal and less taxing than that second option, Aria. Just let her try." Shepard's voice was cool and even as she laid her hand on the Queen's thigh in a calming gesture.

Aria turned to look into her bondmate's eyes for a few long moments. "Fine. Go ahead. Just be quick about it."

Liselle swiftly got up and walked away, a look of concentration on her face.

Shepard gently squeezed her lover's leg and spoke again. "You know, we could use this forced break to spend some quality time with our daughter. I cannot think of a better way to kill a couple of hours." She gave the Queen a lop sided grin. "In a public place anyway."

Aria's mood was grumpy at best, but she had to find something to do and the Commander was right. Her eyes turned into black infinite swirls and their minds linked, effortlessly, naturally.

Their daughter was getting stronger every day, her little consciousness feeding off all that they gave her, her light was shining so bright as she danced around them, with them, exchanging feelings but not yet coherent thoughts.

This was finally helping Aria relax a little. In their joined minds she talked to Shepard.

'Soon she will start asking proper questions. I hope you're ready, because I'm not in the mood to go over the entire process again. Once with Liselle was more than enough.'

Her voice tried to be stern and cold, but the affection was cracking through here and there, much to the Commander's amusement. Nevertheless, she went along with the attitude, for the sake of the banter. 'If she takes after your social skills, I'm sure I'll have to work ten times as hard in order to give her a chance at least at making friends.'

'Smartass.'

They glowed and melted into each other, exchanging vibes of love that made their little offspring pulsate with happiness.

The Administrator's assistant office was a vast, empty room, with ceilings so high it was dizzying to even look at them. Liselle couldn't help but feel it was all such a waste of space, and the acoustics were something out of an echoing nightmare. But she had her mind set on the task at hand and she walked in with a sexy swing in her hips and an open smile on her beautiful face.

Gianna Parasini lifted her head from her terminal for a second to see who was coming in, and as she recognised the young Asari from earlier her eyes automatically returned to the screen, only to dart back up again in an involuntary double-take. Her mouth opened slightly at the sight of the Maiden, and she thought that that uniform couldn't possibly be tighter on her gorgeous body.

She shook the thought from her head and greeted her visitor warmly. "Hello again. You were at the hangar bay with Aria T'Loak. Are you here on her behalf? If it is about that Garage pass, I have to tell you again, my hands are tied..."

Liselle had to bite her tongue to stop herself from replying with one of at least half a dozen flirting retorts about bondage that came instantly to her mind. Instead she walked around her desk and sat casually on it, crossing her legs in a slow motion, her head slightly tilted as she replied. "My name is Liselle. And actually, I'm here to see you."

The look on Parasini's face was a bit unsure. "About...?"

The Asari gave her a sweet smile as her hand came up to caress the collar of the human's dress. "I just love this dress. You must tell me where I can find one. Although I just know it wouldn't look as good on me. There is something about your complexion and this amazing shade of red. Made for each other."

The assistant thought for a moment that Liselle's voice could possibly hypnotise a Thresher Maw. She could of course see the flirting game the Asari was engaging in, but she decided to go with its flow nonetheless. She put up her best coy face.

"Why, thank you. That is really kind of you to say. But I have a hard time imagining any dress not looking absolutely gorgeous on you." She distractedly caught Liselle's hand, pulling it away from her collar and letting it caress her cheek instead.

It was all the innuendo the Maiden needed. She elegantly slid off the desk and slowly pushed the human's chair away from it, until it was possible for her to straddle the assistant's lap, her arms encircling her neck loosely. "Say... is your lunch break coming up any time soon, by any chance?"

Parasini didn't miss a beat. "I cannot think of a better time to indulge my appetite, now that you mention it."

Liselle drew her head closer and whispered in her ear. "Shouldn't we find a better venue for our... feast?"

"No need. It would take no less than an orbital bombardment to get Anoleis out of his office during the day." Gianna's hands were on the Asari's waist, drawing her even closer. They stared at each other for a few seconds, revelling in the anticipation.

Then the urgency took over. They were suddenly kissing passionately, biting each other's lips, letting their tongues dance and glide in the shared heat of their mouths. Parasini got up from the chair, half pushing half carrying the Maiden with her, lifting her and sitting her down on her desk again, settling between her legs. Liselle's hands came up to the back of her dress and started unzipping it, dragging its shoulders and sleeves down as Gianna was struggling to slide her arms out of them as quickly as possible.

As soon as she managed that, she undid Liselle's uniform, eager to have access to her perfect breasts, her hands immediately cupping them and squeezing them in an almost harsh move, a whimper of pleasure exhaling from the Asari's throat. The human let her teeth graze along the sensitive tendons on the Maiden's neck, and as she got close to her ear she whispered softly. "I know why you are doing this. And I don't mind one bit. Now meld with me. The walls have ears, and eyes, for that matter. I need some privacy to work out a few details so we can both get what we want."

Liselle's eyes went wide at the unexpected surprise of being called out. She quickly decided it was worth a try to see what this human would propose. In the literal blink of an eye she was in Parasini's mind. 'I'm listening.'

'First things first, you better not stop what we're doing, or things would look more than suspicious.'

As she was exchanging thoughts with the Asari, Gianna's hands were working to get rid of the tight pants of her uniform, letting her fingertips caress every inch of Liselle's legs in the process.

The Maiden couldn't help finding all this terribly exciting and her breathing was quick and harsh by now. She somehow managed to concentrate enough to hold the conversation, while her mouth went back to ravishing the human's.

'You know what I want.'

'Yes. The Garage pass. You can have it.'

'What do -you- want?'

'This is getting difficult. Why do you have to be such a good kisser.'

'Look who's talking. And your hands. I want them back on my breasts.'

'Gladly. I want to take Anoleis down. Bite my neck. Like that. Yes.'

'How can I help with that. Goddess. You've made me so wet.'

'My hands can definitely do something to help -you- with that. I need documents to prove his corruption.'

'Ah! Your fingers. Deeper. Harder. Right there. Where do I find the documents you need.'

'God. You're twitching already. That feels so good. Speak to Lorik Qui'in.'

'Faster. Please. Don't stop. How do I recognise him.'

'Turian. On the Mezzanine. You're so tight.'

'I'm so close.'

'So close.'

'Come with me.'

'Now.'

As they convulsed together, riding the powerful orgasm, sharp cries of release erupted from their lips between hot kisses. Their bodies connected, their minds entwined, their pleasure bouncing off each other before slowly calming down.

Parasini drew her fingers out of the Maiden, took a look at the moisture sticking to them and brought them to her mouth. She started licking them one by one thoroughly as Liselle's eyes were glued to the sexy scene. The human's voice was still slightly trembling.

"Damn. You taste delicious."

She felt the Asari retreating from the meld as a smile opened on her flawless face.

"And you are a very talented assistant, Miss Parasini." The Maiden hopped off the desk and they quickly got dressed. Before she left, she cupped the human's face and placed a soft kiss on her lips, her tongue sweetly demanding access and engaging in a luscious but short tussle. "Yep. I do taste delicious."

Liselle made her way for the exit of the office, looking quickly back at the human. "I believe I'll see you later."

Parasini grinned at her while admiring the sway in her hips. "Can't wait."

Lorik Qui'in didn't need much of a push to find it in him to cooperate with this strangely mixed group. His card had given them access to his offices, and downloading the documents they were looking for had been a piece of cake. The only complication had come from a small team of corrupt ERCS soldiers, under the command of that very annoying blonde Sergeant. Shepard hadn't liked her right away upon meeting her for the first time, a few hours earlier, in the hangar bay. What a pain in the ass. A good biotic, she had to give it to her, but no match for Jack, who was ecstatic to have the chance to get rid of her before mowing down her entire squad without breaking a sweat.

There was nothing to do for the Commander, Liselle, and Garrus, except stand back and enjoy the show.

The Maiden uttered a comment under her breath. "Damn. She has so much raw power. It's scary."

Jack's head turned slowly towards the Asari as she let her biotics die down. There was a suspicious look on her stunning features. "I heard that."

Liselle flashed her a smile that could have lit up a dead star, throwing her hands up in a gesture of peace and surrender. "I meant that as a compliment!"

Jack did not seem perfectly convinced, but she let it go for the time being.

"Let's get back to Aria, before she decides she has waited long enough and goes on to do something we will all regret." Shepard's voice didn't allow for replies and they all made their way back to the Mezzanine.

The look on Parasini's face as she watched Liselle walking back into her office was priceless.

"I take it you were successful in your endeavour?"

"You bet. Here are your coveted docs. Now for your part of the deal."

"Fair enough." The assistant got up from her chair and walked around her desk to face her visitor. "Let me introduce myself. Gianna Parasini, Internal Affairs. I was hired specifically to find evidence of Anoleis' dirty deals. So I guess I need to thank you for helping me out greatly. Oh, and on a side note, I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but I hate wearing this dress."

They shared a laugh as she reached behind her and picked up a card from her desk. "Here's your pass. You are welcome to stay a few minutes longer and enjoy the sight of me arresting that worm."

Liselle went to sit down on the human's chair, she brought up her feet and crossed her ankles on top of the desk, a smirk on her face, perfectly at home. "I wouldn't miss it."

Gianna stepped in front of her. "Well, since I won't have time to say goodbye properly after walking in there..." She lowered herself and kissed the Maiden, lingeringly.

Liselle smiled as their lips parted. "It was truly a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Parasini."

The journey across the Aleutsk Valley had been interesting to say the least. By the time they reached Peak 15 they had lost count of how many Geth and turrets had tried to blast them out of existence, and Garrus had proven to be quite the apt Mako driver by avoiding most of the damage. Finally entering the facility gave everyone the chance to take a deep breath and relax.

That was a few seconds before they realised something had gone horribly wrong in here. The place was deserted, and it looked like it had been abandoned in a hurry. There was some damage here and there that had been clearly caused by weapons. Shepard didn't like the look of things at all. "Look sharp people. This is not right."

As soon as she finished talking, they were attacked. "Watch out! Geth!"

She dragged Aria behind the cover of the Mako as her teammates were taking care of their assailers. The Commander couldn't help a sarcastic comment. "Well, this all feels so familiar. It's Eden Prime all over again." She exchanged a quick smirk with the Queen as the sounds of battle died down, the last drone falling under Liselle's precise fire.

They moved out, carefully, and made their way through the empty corridors. They entered an elevator that took them up to the Cafeteria. The silence was eerie to say the least, and nervousness was starting to get to Jack and Garrus. As they entered the new area they heard a noise of rattling metal and they all turned to its source in time to see a huge insect-like creature make its way out of the ventilation system at the end of the room.

The Turian's voice boomed. "What the -fuck- is that?"

Aria's command was kind of redundant. "Just shoot to kill!"

They thought they had made fast work of it until they saw more of the aliens coming at them. Shepard got down on one knee next to the Queen to have better firing precision, Liselle took cover and got her SMG out. Jack's biotics were all over the place, Garrus chose his trusted assault rifle to do the job in a confined space like this.

Aria was standing in the middle of the room, a deep frown on her face and an angry twist on her lips. She brought out her shotgun and started blasting those things into oblivion. Liselle threw up a barrier around her mother and sustained it as best she could.

As the last of the creatures died and silence slowly returned to surround them, Aria cursed through clenched teeth. "Fuck. This is not what I expected."

Shepard stood up and placed a hand on the small of her back. "Something tells me you know what those things are. Care to share?"

The Queen spoke clearly, for all to hear. "I had never seen one up close and personal, but yes, I know what they are. They are called Rachni." Then she added with a lower voice, in a pensive tone. "And they're supposed to be extinct."

Following the directions of the station's VI, they managed to restore power and they made their way deeper into the facility. Once they reached the Science Station, they finally met the first friendly faces. Sort of. Aria decided that she had spent enough time waiting and talking, and didn't even allow the human guard to introduce himself. She killed everyone in the room single-handedly and just kept walking.

Behind her, Liselle had a somewhat startled look on her face. She had forgotten how the Queen could become when she was focused on a goal. Shepard walked past her and gave her a smile. "A sight to be seen, isn't she? Just one of the many reasons why I adore her."

"She just cold-heartedly killed innocent people!"

The Commander had a jaded look on her face as she replied. "Liselle, I'm sorry to break this to you, but no one is innocent. Especially anyone holding a gun. Believe me."

She sped up to reach Aria, following the trail of death and destruction that the old Asari was leaving in her wake through corridors and rooms, a concert of screams and pleads heralding her passage.

The sign on top of the door read: 'Secure Lab'.

Aria had suddenly stopped right in front of it.

Shepard was by her side. "This is it, isn't it?"

"I believe so. If Benezia is beyond these doors, we better go in prepared. She is a powerful biotic, and there's no telling how many are fighting for her by now. Geth, but also possibly Asari. Commandos, Huntresses, take your best guess. I know you're an outstanding soldier and fighter, Shepard, but all the same. Be careful."

The Queen raised her hand and caught the human's chin between her fingers, pulling her in for a slow kiss. As they broke it, they stared into each other's eyes for an infinite instant, before the Commander replied. "You too, Aria." A low, tender note in her voice betrayed all the things she wished she could express.

The noise of weapons getting ready behind them shook them out of the moment. Aria gave the order. "Let's go."

As the doors slid open, they could see a tall figure standing on a catwalk, overlooking what seemed to be an enormous cage.

They made their way to the short stairs as the Matriarch was turning around to come face to face with them. There was a look of slight surprise as she laid her eyes on the Queen and addressed her. "Aria T'Loak. Certainly not the person I expected to see here."

Aria replied in kind. "Neither did I, Benezia. I must say, I have to object to the kind of company you are keeping as of late. A rogue Spectre? The Geth? The Rachni? And to think that you used to be so disgustingly high class."

There was a strange grin on the Matriarch's face as she regaled them with a dramatic explanation. "What you see here is a new dawn, a new beginning for a race we tried to wipe out of existence. Unjustly so."

They all took a good look at the huge creature inside the cage, it looked like one of the Rachni they had to kill earlier, only more so. Much more so.

Benezia went on. "You do not know the privilege of being a mother. There is power in creation. To shape a life. Turn it toward happiness or despair." The Matriarch was evidently oblivious as to the presence of Aria's own daughter in the room. "Her children were to be ours. Raised to hunt and slay Saren's enemies." She came to stand at the edge of the platform, looking down on them and speaking directly to Shepard. "Have you ever faced an Asari Commando unit before? Few humans have."

The soldier was unperturbed as she replied. "If it bleeds, I can kill it. Hell, I've killed things that -don't- bleed."

"Brash. As I have come to know many humans tend to be. I still have to understand why or how you got to be such an annoyingly deluded race. You certainly don't have enough influence or means to sway the galaxy, and you won't for quite some time, I'm fairly sure..."

The Queen rolled her eyes. "Fuck, Benezia, do you -ever- stop blabbering."

"We will see how you fare, then." The Matriarch unexpectedly threw a stasis field that enveloped the soldier and her teammates. Aria was ready for anything as her usual and was able to counteract in time. She immediately jumped for cover as she saw the Asari Commandos running in from the other end of the lab.

As soon as the grip of the field faded, Shepard barked her orders quickly. "Everybody, get away from Benezia now! Garrus, get behind those crates and give us cover fire from the corner. Liselle, give me a barrier so I can run to that position over there and then fill them with lead. Jack, unleash Hell on these fuckers. They don't know who they just pissed off. Let's ruin their day."

Protected behind the Maiden's barrier, the Commander ran to take cover just a few feet away from Aria, who was already firing shots at the Commandos. They exchanged a look of understanding and a quick nod before Shepard started doing what she did best, her trusted Carnifex booming in the huge room.

After a few seconds they noticed the doors opening again and Geth snipers flowing in, with more Asari Commandos right behind them. The Queen didn't like where things were going. "This has just gotten more complicated."

The Commander gave her a grin. "I like complicated. Opens up new possibilities." She shot the light and the life out of a drone the second it got out of cover. She raised her voice so to be heard above the weapons. "Vakarian. Overload these mechanical bastards."

Garrus didn't need to hear it twice. His Tech attack made it easy to destroy the drones, one by one. The Commandos took a bit longer. Aria decided to run to where Benezia was standing, overlooking the action, in the hopes of catching her off guard. Shepard's eyes followed her all the way, she shifted behind her cover to take a look at the Matriarch. She saw her getting out a pistol that had been concealed until that very moment and pointing it at her bondmate. She sprang out of cover and ran fast as lightning, she jumped and tackled Aria to the ground, dragging her out of the line of fire. They rolled against the wall, behind a big crate, half entangled.

Aria had a questioning look on her face. "Shepard. What the fuck are you doing?"

A shot from Benezia's gun bounced off the top of the crate, slightly startling the Queen. She added things up quickly in her head and realised what had just happened. A smirk graced her perfect lips. "Looks like I owe you, again." She noticed a small rivulet of blood trickling down the human's thigh. The Commander followed her gaze and took notice of it herself.

"'Tis but a scratch." Shepard reciprocated the smile. "And you don't owe me anything. Your life itself is my greatest reward. Now go get that stuck-up bitch."

"With pleasure." Aria's eyes were blue glowing fires as she jumped out of cover and made for the platform were the Matriarch was.

As the last Commando fell to Jack's biotics, Benezia already had a look of defeat on her severe features.

The Queen stood proudly in front of her just as Shepard and the rest of the team were joining her.

Confusion was playing on the Matriarch's face as she spoke. "You must listen. Saren still whispers in my mind. I can fight his compulsions briefly, but the indoctrination is strong. The key is Sovereign, his flagship. You must have seen it by now, on Eden Prime. It was not built by the Geth, its technology is way more advanced than that of any known species. The longer you stay on board, the more you find yourself agreeing with Saren's will. I thought I was strong enough to resist, but I was so wrong. I became his willing tool, eager to serve."

Aria was getting impatient again. "Why are you here? What's with the Rachni?"

"Saren wants to find the location of the Mu Relay. The star in its system went supernova thousands of years ago and the position of the Relay got lost. But the Rachni inhabited that section of space, and the Rachni Queens can pass knowledge and memories down from generation to generation. I... took this information from her." Benezia turned her tired head towards the cage behind her. "I wasn't gentle."

Shepard interrupted her. "Why does he need the Relay?"

"He believes it will lead him to something called the Conduit. I do not know any more than this, he wouldn't share his plans or knowledge with me beyond what I just told you. All that I know is that his final goal is to allow the Reapers to return to this galaxy." Her face grimaced in pain. "I can feel him taking control of me again. Take this OSD, all the data I am in possession of is in here. Now please. Help me. I can't get rid of him. This is not my life anymore. Set me free."

Aria and Shepard shared a long somber look, then the Queen just nodded. The Commander drew her gun out and shot Benezia where she stood. As the Matriarch was slowly sliding to the floor and into death she just muttered a few last, disturbing words. "There's no light. They always said there would be a light..."

They just stood in silence for a few moments. Then Garrus noticed a movement out of the corner of his eye and his rifle came up immediately to face whatever threat was there. Much to his surprise it looked like the broken, dead body of one of the Asari Commandos was walking again, slowly, half stumbling towards the cage where the Rachni Queen was. They all just looked at the scene in disbelief. Then the cadaver spoke in the Rachni Queen's stead, telling them of singing, colours, communicating and her children, looking like a grotesque hand puppet.

By the end of her speech, the alien creature posed a very simple question. "You have the power to free us, or return our people to the silence of memory."

As Aria was walking to the control panel, she was joined by the Commander, who whispered to her. "Don't destroy her."

The old Asari had an inquiring look on her face. "Why shouldn't I? Do you have any idea of how difficult it was to fight them the first time around? I wasn't there, but I sure as Hell have heard the horror stories about the Rachni Wars."

Shepard wasn't flinching. "She, and her entire race, could be incredibly useful allies. If we are to fight not only the Geth, but also some unknown, powerful enemy that has access to such advanced technology, we will need all the help we can gather. I don't know where all of this will take us next, but this menace is real, and it won't go away if we just hide inside Omega. Saren's plan seems to involve the entire galaxy."

Aria thought about the human's words carefully. "I hate to admit that you make sense. But I have to." She turned to the Rachni Queen. "We will set you free."

"You will give us the chance to compose anew? We will remember. We will sing of your forgiveness to our children."

Aria entered the release command on the console in front of her and they all watched the huge creature walk out of the cage and out of the lab.

From behind the galaxy map at the CIC, Shepard gave her orders to the pilot. "Plot a course for Omega, Relan."

She turned around to face Aria, who was standing just behind her. The human's arms encircled her waist and drew her close. Their foreheads touched as the Commander spoke to her slowly. "Once I have dropped you off on Omega, there is another place I need to go to."

Aria's expression was a mix of surprise and annoyance. "Is there something I should know?"

Shepard proceeded to tell her about the short, strange conversation she had had with Sila in the restroom a couple of nights earlier.

The Queen listened intently before replying. "I see. I still can't quite understand how the fuck we got involved in all this to begin with, but since we're dancing, we might as well dance. I'm sure you'll be perfectly capable of facing whatever is on Feros by yourself. I will try to find out more about this 'Conduit' thing in the meantime."

"Sounds like a plan. But now." The Commander caught her blue lips in a sudden kiss, Aria's hands immediately coming up to her neck, her fingers entwined in her hair in a possessive gesture. Their tongues started exchanging hot caresses as the kiss deepened, they were so thirsty for each other. With an insane effort, Shepard tore herself away from it, breathing hard, just to have the time to utter a few words. "I do have a cabin, waiting for us on the deck below."

Aria grinned. "You don't say." She got close enough to whisper in the soldier's ear. "And just what do you plan to do in the privacy of it, Commander?"

Shivers ran down the human's spine and into her soul. Her hands glided lightly along the exposed skin of Aria's midriff. "Oh, I will make you -very- happy."

The Queen's voice was husky and hungry. "I expect nothing less."