Tela liked the sparrow. As far as Rigel could tell at least. It was hard to be impressed by something until you saw it in action. The Spectre's hasty departure after a rather vocal call with Councilor Tevos didn't exactly help.

Khalisah's interview had already been eaten up by just about every news outlet in Citadel space. The reaction was mixed, but the through line was Rigel and Tela had more questions to answer. Tela said she'd get out of it by claiming to be a danger to herself and those around her. Her biotic outburst during Khalisah's interview, while minor, was still visible enough on the video to allow her to ignore anyone wanting to talk to her. Rigel, for his part, decided to get out of the area. It was hard to talk to him if he wasn't in a civilized setting. Since he needed credits anyway, it was killing two birds with one stone.

The trip to Omega took a short two days. And it only lasted that long because Rigel wanted to sleep before docking.

You know, every time we come here it just gets more disappointing. Nova idly commented as the Blind Well lifted off, having dropped Rigel on Omega.

We know what to expect now, so it's less interesting and the flaws are more apparent.

Are we sure it isn't just one giant, glaring flaw?

Considering the kinds of interactions we've had with the citizenry here, you might be onto something.

Rigel walked up to Afterlife and was slightly disappointed to see a batarian guard scramble out of his way, eyes wide. The krogan was missing.

Rigel moved on quickly, ignoring the debauchery openly displayed on Afterlife's dance floor. He walked straight towards the stairs leading to Aria's loft, pleased to see the salarian guarding them hastily shuffling out of his way. The less fights he got into with Aria's people the better. That was why he'd come here first after all.

"If it isn't the headache." Aria greeted, lifting a flute of champagne in greeting. "You're pretty popular these days, Risen. I'd have expected you'd outgrown our humble company."

"One interview with an overzealous reporter isn't going to alter my character."

"Not willing to take advantage of all the goodwill you've accumulated?"

"That would involve talking to people."

"You're talking to me."

"Only so I don't accidentally piss you off. I don't want to have to blast my way off this rock."

Aria sighed, setting her champagne down on a side table next to her couch. "I infer that means you're here to blow up more of my station?"

"I'm only after some resources and credits. If the people who had them before me want to stop me, stuff will probably blow up, yes."

Aria shot him a dry look. "People tend to resist when you try to steal their things."

"Good thing I'm apparently scary enough that people don't want to fight me. Neither of your guards even pretended to hassle me on my way in here."

"That's because I told them not to mess with you or they'd wind up dead. I can't afford to have my people randomly thrown off of large structures every time you or Vasir come around. Speaking of which, where is your Spectre friend?"

"Citadel last I heard. Her bosses were chewing her out for letting me run my mouth."

"Unsurprising. Like me, they know the value of secrets. Something we obviously don't have in common."

"Or, and hear me out here, I know exactly how valuable secrets are, so I direct everyone's attention towards something they believe to be secret so they all bite each other's heads off fighting over that while I hide the things I actually value."

Aria's eyes narrowed as she studied Rigel. "I'd suspected as much. I have more supplies and credits than I need right now. How about I give you what you came here for. In exchange, you don't make a mess of my station and tell me something interesting about yourself that no one else knows."

"Interesting offer, but I'll have to pass. I'm not afraid of a little legwork, and you don't seem the type who keeps a secret unless it benefits her."

Aria crossed her legs and retrieved her champagne flute. "I can't say I expected you to take me up on my offer, but it would have made less work for me in the long run. Stay away from the Eclipse presence here. Without their leadership, Archangel's people tore them to shreds before they were taken out. I'm in the process of assuming control over everything. The Blood Pack, Talon, Hegemony, the Blue Suns? I don't care about them, but Eclipse is mine."

"Archangel's dead?"

"Can't say for sure. I know the merc groups banded together and ambushed his crew a while back, but I don't know if they got them all or if he himself is still alive."

"Shame. He seemed like a decent guy." Rigel brought his hand to his eyebrow and gave her a two finger salute. "I'll stay away from any Eclipse facilities, but you're probably going to have to clean up whatever else I find to loot."

"Wouldn't have expected anything less, Risen. Trouble seems to follow you around."

"Enjoy your drink." Rigel turned around and walked down the stairs.

As Rigel was walking out of the entrance to Afterlife, a single human drew his attention. He was a man with slick black hair. Cybernetic implants were fixed to his jaw and affixed to two points on his forehead directly above his eyes. A pair of sophisticated cybernetic goggles covered his eyes. The man wore nondescript black armor. A pistol and a ninjato were affixed to a belt around his waist.

"Rigel." the man called out as he approached, walking purposefully towards him.

Do we know this guy?

He's ex-Alliance. Former N7 released for unspecified reasons.

I don't feel like talking to the Alliance again.

Then don't.

Rigel gave the approaching man the same two-fingered salute he'd given Aria then leaned back into the rail behind him and spun over the edge.

He plummeted towards the ground, catching himself moments before impact with his glide.

Find anything interesting around here? Preferably something that Aria won't get pissed at us for blowing up.

There's a couple Eclipse facilities in the process of evacuating. Other than that, there's also a Hegemony warehouse like the one we ran into the first time we were here. They just received a shipment of human slaves.

We really need to get around to dismantling that government soon. Rigel said, eyes narrowing behind his helmet as he made for the waypoint Nova set on his HUD.

X

These idiots don't learn do they?

They're trying to. Nova said, giving them the benefit of the doubt. It's not like we're making it easy for them by controlling everything they see or hear about us. For all they know, taking hostages will work.

"I'm not bluffing, Rigel!" the batarian that appeared to be in charge bellowed, a remote dead-man switch clasped in a death grip above his head. "Either you leave now or these pathetic dogs die!"

The human slaves corralled in front of him and his gang of slavers reacted differently to the declaration. Some started sobbing. Some begged Rigel to leave so they wouldn't die. Some fixed Rigel with pointed, meaningful looks, silently conveying a thousand words.

Rigel stared directly at the leader, ignoring the dozen or so other batarians set up in cover around the area and the six he had with him. "Counter offer: Drop your weapons, remove your armor, and take off their collars. Do this, and I'll let you leave without shooting you."

"Coth!" the leader yelled.

Cover front row middle now! Nova screamed in Rigel's head.

Reacting instantly, Rigel disappeared in a flash of white energy, reappearing directly in front of the indicated woman. Rigel shoved her down and covered her with his body. The whole movement took less than a half a second.

Rigel felt a high caliber slug shatter against the shields covering his back.

You've got the signal, right?

Yes. Feel free to go crazy.

Not needing further prompting, Rigel teleported away from the wide-eyed, shaky woman beneath him, appearing directly behind the batarian's leader. Ace flew from his holster, its muzzle pressed firmly against the leader's head. Ace barked and the leader went slack. The dead-man switch was dropped, prompting screams from several of the slaves…but nothing happened.

Good work, Nova.

Please. Have I not already said the cybersecurity here is laughable? I could do this in my sleep.

You don't sleep.

It's an expression, Rigel. Stop focusing on it and start shooting things.

Yes, ma'am.

Rigel holstered Ace, simultaneously drawing Quickfang. He darted between the batarians around him, Quickfang dancing between them like a striking viper. The batarians had been confused and panicked when he'd teleported, allowing Rigel to mow through them without resistance. As the last one fell, the batarians who had positioned themselves around the area began to open fire.

The slaves!

Rigel's head snapped to look at the human slaves at Nova's prompting. Two of them had fallen to the ground with bullet wounds in them. They weren't life threatening, but they would only get worse as the batarians all focused on them.

Unable to think of any other way to protect them, Rigel grit his teeth and teleported once more. This time, the energy that carried him away was not a milky white. It was a pulsing violet.

Rigel reappeared a short distance in front of the humans and threw his arms forward with a yell. A brilliant, domed shield of violet light sprung to life in front of his hands, devouring the batarian's bullets before they could impact the humans further. As the domed barrier deflected and absorbed their fire with ease, several batarians screamed in terror, dropping their rifles and fleeing. A few, still terrified, changed targets and unleashed hell towards Rigel.

"Get to cover." Rigel saidin a clipped voice to the frightened humans behind him, protecting them with his shield until they were out of danger.

It's safe to say the secret is out now.

Would you have preferred I let them die?

I didn't say you messed up. I'm just saying we'll need to plan for it in the future. We might actually be able to play this off as biotics if you're clever. Now stop talking to me and kill those assholes.

Rigel blinked out of existence in a burst of violet energy. He appeared in between two batarians and a violet sphere of destruction exploded out from him. He teleported again, this time to the large, overhead door he'd entered the facility through.

A group of batarians skidded to a halt, some tripping and falling over as Rigel blocked their escape.

"Plea–" one began, only for the batarian next to him to raise his pistol and squeeze off a round at Rigel's head. The bullet was eaten by the Void before it made contact and another sphere burst into being around Rigel, devouring the batarians.

Rigel felt his light draining and lowered his floating body back down to the ground, drawing Vouchsafe from where it hung over his shoulder as the Void retracted into him. He shouldered the rifle and rapidly swiveled it between the few remaining batarians in the facility, popping off snappy shots as he maneuvered between targets. Soon, the roar of gunfire faded to an eerie silence.

All clear. You got them all. The only organics I'm picking up on my scanners are the humans. They're behind that crate on your left.

Rigel slung his rifle over his shoulder and walked around the large shipping crate. The sight before him summoned his fading, battle-born adrenaline back.

"Hold on, Michael!" one of the women sobbed, both of her hands desperately compressing a stomach wound spurting crimson blood onto the ground.

The wounded man coughed, trying but failing to speak. His hand weakly closed around the forearm of the woman holding his wound, his eyes fearful, sad.

A well can help him, but do not summon a Well of Radiance. I don't want to go through that again. The batarians probably had some medi-gel around here. Send them to grab it while you work on stabilizing him.

"Don't let up pressure." Rigel said, pushing through the small ring of humans as they numbly watched the scene before them. "If you're injured, get close to me. If you're not, go search the batarians for medi-gel." At several confused looks, Rigel snapped, "Now!"

The humans who weren't hurt scrambled to obey him, eyes darting around as they scanned the crates and bodies for medi-gel.

We really need to stock up on that stuff for people other than me. Either that or we need to start making some cytomachines.

We'll get some medi-gel before we leave. Well. Now.

The injured slaves, one with a wound in her shoulder the other having been grazed in his thigh and sported a limp, shuffled closer to Rigel uncertainly, shooting questioning glances at each other as Rigel inhaled deeply.

"This is going to feel a little weird." was the only warning Rigel gave before a swirling vortex of brilliant, opal energy flowed out from him.

The humans on their feet gasped, taking several scared steps back from Rigel before their eyes widened, snapping to their injuries as they slowly knitted themselves back together.

"My god…" the woman tending to Michael breathed in amazement and exaltation as the wound she was compressing started to heal before her eyes.

Rigel focused on his breathing. Minor wells like this were easier to maintain but not as restorative as the Solar variety as a tradeoff.

"I found medi…" a man screamed triumphantly as he ran around the corner, holding a small square case with a red cross on it above his head. He trailed off as he took in the sight awaiting him. His arms went numb and the case slipped from his hand to fall on the ground.

"Please retrieve that and administer it to Michael." Rigel said, his breathing growing more uncontrolled. "I can't maintain this much longer."

The man jolted as if shocked. He stooped down and grabbed the package, taking an experimental step into the Well. When it didn't adversely affect him, he hurried over and knelt near Michael, opening the package and beginning to administer it.

That's enough to save him. Nova said in Rigel's head. He's not going to die now. The medi-gel will make sure he stays healthy.

Rigel exhaled long and slow through his nose, the Well fading to nothing as he did so. He'd always been better at destroying than healing. Summoning Wells was more difficult for him than other Risen.

Michael, the man who had been mortally wounded, watched as the medi-gel sealed over what was once a gaping chest wound. He looked numbly between his healing wound and the woman hunched over him with tears in her eyes.

The woman collapsed onto him, throwing her arms around him and sobbing into his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her uncertainly, eyes still wide.

Start deactivating their collars please. Rigel said to Nova while he stepped into the center floor of the warehouse to track down the rest of the humans.

Already on it. They're tied to the same frequency the ones from before were. I think it's so that each Hegemony outfit is able to activate the collars of anyone brought in by any one of their kidnapping teams.

We really need to dismantle that government soon.

We'll worry about it after we get these people back to the Citadel.

"What…what was that?"

Rigel turned and found the man who'd found the medi-gel staring at him like he was a mystery more unknowable than the origins of the Darkness and Light.

"Experimental healing tech." Rigel answered firmly. "It's not ready for field testing and I'd rather non-humans didn't learn about it until I can mass produce it."

"That's how you saved Tela Vasir!"

Rigel turned and tilted his head at the new speaker, one of the women who had gone running off in search of medi-gel but had returned when she'd heard shouts that it had been found.

"You know about that then?"

The woman nodded. "They…they only grabbed me yesterday." she said, rushed, eyes darting to the ground as she rubbed her arm anxiously. "I saw your interview. You…you're actually real." Her lip quivered and tears gathered in her eyes as she stared at Rigel.

"…Why wouldn't I be real?" Rigel asked, hesitant.

The woman inhaled a shaky breath. "A l-lot of news agencies think you're…an actor the Council paid to make the situation sound better than it was."

Rigel tilted his head, utterly perplexed. "That is…something I can unpack later. Your collars are all deactivated." he said, turning to address the small crowd that had gathered around him. "I'm going to take them off then we're going to go to my ship so I can get you all to the Citadel."

"What if there's more batarians?" a frightened man at the back of the group asked.

"If they leave us alone, I won't care. If they try something, I'll kill them." Rigel said, tone deadly serious. "Everyone just stay close to me and don't wander off. I have plenty of food and beds on my ship. I just need to loot this place for more medical supplies and we'll be on our way."

People started to look at something behind Rigel with varying expressions of disbelief and wonder.

Rigel followed their gazes and saw Michael walking towards the group unassisted. The woman who'd held his organs inside of him followed behind him, relief and elation apparent on her face.

Michael stopped directly in front of Rigel and said, "Are you an angel?"

Rigel blinked behind his helmet. "Not that I know of, no." Risen had been compared to angels in the past, but they weren't biblical like this man seemed to think.

"You unmade those batarians and restored me. Are you an angel?"

Ooo, say yes! It'll be funny!

Rigel had to hold back a sigh at Nova's advice. "No. I am not an angel. My biotics were enhanced in the same episode that Spectre Vasir's were. The result was just different. And the healing was tech I'm planning to implement at some point in the future. It's currently unstable, but I had no choice so I used it anyway."

Michael just stared at him. "I don't believe you."

This time, Rigel couldn't hold back his sigh. "Believe whatever you want. Let me take your collars off and get you all back to my ship. There could be more Hegemony agents heading here, so we need to move."

Nova, grab what you can from their servers then wipe everything.

Already done. It's weird, they weren't going to send these humans back to the Hegemony.

Then where were they going?

Don't know. The log just says they had a contact that was going to trade some tech for them and to wait until they showed up.

If that's the case, we need to get these people out of here. I don't want to have to fight whoever their mystery contact was.

I'm bringing the ship back to the docking bay. Get everyone there.

On it.

X

Luckily for Rigel's sanity, the freed slaves complied when they heard more slavers might be on their way. There were no more angel comments as Rigel pulled their collars off, looted a small amount of medi-gel from the warehouse, and led them back towards the hangar Nova was landing the Blind Well in. Ever the proficient multi-tasker, Nova drained the Hegemony facility of all its credits as she brought the ship down to dock.

On the way to the hangar there were a few vorcha that tried to jump the group of seemingly poorly defended humans, but Rigel dispatched them with Ace. Aside from that singular, scream-evoking event, the freed slaves weren't affected by anything other than suspicious and curious glances from Omega's populace.

When they arrived at the hangar the Blind Well was docked in, Rigel was surprised to find someone there waiting by his ship.

"Rigel." the cybernetic, sword-adorned human he'd met outside Afterlife greeted neutrally, sparing a moment to glance apathetically at the slaves behind him. "I'm here to give you this." He held up a small communicator.

I'm not seeing anything nasty on it. It's not a bomb at least. Nova said, having looked over the suspicious device offered by a suspicious man.

Cautiously, Rigel stepped forward and held out his hand, ready to draw Ace at a moment's notice.

The man dropped the communicator in Rigel hand then walked away, charting a wide course around the humans huddled behind Rigel as he left the hangar.

"Everyone onboard." Rigel said distractedly to his charges as he watched the man leave.

Why is a former Alliance N7 giving me a communicator?

We can call whoever is on the other end and try to find out. Worst case-scenario, they figure out we're on Omega which they already know because they have an agent here. And even that much would require them to get through me. Just see who wants to talk to you.

Rigel waited until all of his charges had climbed the loading ramp before initiating a call to the only profile on the communicator. Almost immediately, the call connected.

"Rigel I presume?" a male voice said in a cordial tone.

"Who is this?" Rigel said with narrowed eyes.

"Many have called me The Illusive Man. I believe that should be enough for you."

"Pretentious."

"Perhaps, but a man who doesn't exist can understand that anonymity has its uses."

"You went through some effort to talk to me. Why?"

"Because I believe we can help each other, Rigel. The actions you have taken illustrate your need for resources – something I have in abundance."

"What actions would those be?"

"Everything from your most recent assault on a Hegemony slaving facility to your initial sale of a large Minagen X3 shipment to Eclipse."

Rigel's grip tightened on the communicator in his hand. "If you're threatening me then I should–"

"It is not a threat." the voice cut in, placating but no less firm. "It is a simple observation. I have what you need. We could become very good friends, Rigel."

"My patience is rapidly evaporating. What do you want?"

"To work with you. You have in your possession something of immense value. Not only that, but you have demonstrated an effectiveness nearly unheard of."

"If you're after the biotic enhancer, I don't have it. I erased everything."

"Yes, you said as much to the press. I don't believe you to be so naive as to destroy what could ensure humanity achieves its proper place in the galactic hierarchy."

"This place being?"

"The pinnacle. It is our right and destiny to ascend above the other denizens of this galaxy. In our brief time spent spacefaring, we have already caught up to civilizations that were wandering the stars before our ancestors had learned to harness the power of agriculture. We have the drive and capability to rise above the rest."

"You sound like a zealot." Rigel said, his grip on the communicator returning to normal as he realized he was talking to a crazy man.

"If my belief in our race makes me a zealot, then I will gladly accept the title. I need your help, Rigel."

"Even if I had the biotic enhancer, I wouldn't give it to you or anyone else."

"…A pity, but that is not what I am most interested in, Rigel. I have recently found myself researching certain individuals for a project my organization is involved in. I have been surprised to discover that the most ingenious and innovative beings in the galaxy tend to also be among the most deadly. A man who can single-handedly fight his way through a heavily-fortified Hegemony slaving facility and discovered a way to create light-weight, liquid, universal ammunition like yourself has merely confirmed this phenomenon."

Figure out who this guy is now. Rigel thought to Nova. His ghost didn't answer. She was presumably already diving into the Extranet to figure out how this "Illusive Man" had learned about the Omolon ammunition Rigel had given to Davon Fyster.

Davon's friends were more competent than Rigel had anticipated if they'd already cracked the Omolon ammunition. Time would tell if they could determine other uses for it. Presently though, Rigel was more concerned with how the man he was speaking to knew of his gift to Davon.

"It's time for you to start speaking directly. What do you want?" Rigel said, his voice cold.

"Admiral Fyster named you a person of interest. The Alliance's official policy regarding one Rigel is to quote, 'strongly insist on your cooperation and ensure you are accompanied to the nearest Alliance fortification'. My agents tell me that Fyster believes you have far more than you gave him. The sample you provided has the potential to revolutionize warfare. I want you to come work for me. To have developed something as potent as a revolutionary ammunition that makes thermal clips obsolete, you must be capable of further advances. I will supply you with everything you require. Credits, materials, facilities, subjects – you will have all this and more. Help me elevate humanity, Rigel. Our people need men like you."

Got him! Nova called triumphantly in Rigel's mind. The Illusive Man is rumored to be the leader of the human-survivalist paramilitary group Cerberus, but that hasn't been confirmed because of how little is actually known about him. Cerberus has been labelled a terrorist group by both the Alliance and the Citadel. They specialize in assassinations, questionable experiments, and sabotage. There's some rumors of them being involved in experiments on their own people and projects worse than what Eclipse was doing with the Minagen X3, but I can't find any solid proof for that.

"It's hard to take a terrorist's word seriously when his organization is rumored to be involved in illegal experimentaion on his own people. Especially when he claims his goal is to see his people prosper." Rigel said, his voice devoid of emotion.

"Sacrifices must be made for progress, Rigel. A man such as yourself must understand that."

"Thank you for calling, Illusive Man. I wasn't aware of you before because I'd never thought to look you up. You're on my radar now. Stay a small fish and I'll deal with you after I take down the Hegemony. Prove you're a big fish, and I will deal with you first."

There was a marked silence before the Illusive Man responded.

"Those slavers have contributed nothing to the galaxy but ruin. I can assure you, though many may disagree with my methods, I am devoted to our race's future. I wish you good luck in accomplishing your stated task. Whether you complete it or not, I will likely contact you soon. There is another issue I believe you could assist our people with in the near future."

"I'll await your message with baited breath." Rigel said, voice flat.

"Should you require any resources to further your research, you need only to contact me with the communicator my agent provided. Until we speak again, Rigel." The line went dead.

Rigel dropped the communicator on the ground and crushed it with the heel of his boot. Rigel didn't think he'd ever be so desperate for credits that he'd indebt himself to a shadowy terrorist organization, and if he was, Nova had the frequency. She could put a call through without the communicator. Leaving the shattered fragments where they lay, he spun and strode up the Blind Well's loading ramp.

"Everyone brace yourselves as well as you can." Rigel said to the freed slaves shuffling uncertainly around the cargo bay. "We'll be lifting off soon and heading directly for the Citadel. I have a contact there who can arrange for housing and other aid until you get back on your feet."

The humans did as Rigel bade, and soon the ship was lifting off Omega.