CW: Brief discussion of war crimes and the holocaust
Chapter 59
Unloading the supplies and showing the medics to their new work area was a simple matter for Shepard. Omega had ample space for them to work and the living accommodations were quite good for med staff, so it was less than an hour later that Shepard with Tali, Dr. Chakwas, Dr. D'inan, and Kurg found themselves standing patiently in Aria's reception area at the back of Afterlife. Bray politely introduced them before stepping back and awaiting Aria's orders.
"You may leave." Aria told the room. Her entourage, minus Bray made haste to leave without a fuss, having learned long ago the price to be paid for irritating Aria.
"Commander Shepard, I presume?" Aria said, turning around to look her guest in the eye.
"Yes Ma'am. Commander Urdnot Jane Shepard Vas Normandy at your service." She said, standing at attention. Aria's left eyebrow raised almost imperceptibly.
"Krogan and Quarian names as well?" Aria asked, her voice and expression neutral.
"I bear them with pride and the love with which they were bestowed." Shepard replied, also neutral in voice in expression. She was not challenging Aria, nor was she backing down.
"As well you should. From what I hear you have done much to have earned honor amongst all peoples of the Alliance." Aria said.
"We all have, I'd be nowhere without my crew." Shepard said, gesturing to her colleagues whom all unconsciously stood slightly taller at that.
"Indeed. And I would not have my daughter if not for the efforts of you and your crew." Aria said.
"It was a pleasure. Is she here? She was close with Dr. Chakwas here, she was hoping to catch up.
"Yes, Liselle has taken a role teaching some of the children of Omega, once she is free I'm sure she'll come straight here looking to meet you." Aria said.
"Oh I do hope she is doing well." Dr. Chakwas said.
"She is doing better than could be expected." Aria said. Shepard could tell something was wrong with the pirate queen, like she was struggling with something.
"Commander... I am deeply grateful for the efforts of you and your crew in returning my Liselle safely." Aria said, once again seemingly struggling with herself. Kurg went to say something, but Shepard glanced at him and tightly shook her head.
"You're welcome, Aria." Shepard said. Aria's posture immediately relaxed, gesturing for everyone to take a seat.
"So commander, what do you and your people think of my humble little station out here?" She asked, her tone a disturbing departure from the sharp restraint before.
"The Alliance considers Omega an independent entity with you as its head of state, and we've been instructed to treat you as such." Shepard said.
"Should I be concerned? The last Asari head of state you encountered pissed herself in terror in front of the whole galaxy." Aria asked, grinning slightly.
"Not unless you try to commit genocide." Shepard said, grinning.
"Genocide is hardly profitable. Now if you have the time I have a few points of business to discuss." Aria said, settling into her seat and crossing her legs.
"Of Course. Everyone, if you'd like to explore the station go ahead, just make sure to respect the local laws. If someone tells you to leave, then leave, got it?" Shepard said. Kurg, and D'inan nodded, then left. As they made their way out, Liselle walked in escorted by Bray.
"Liselle, darling, how are you?" Chakwas asked.
"Karin! I'm so glad to see you!" She said running over to the woman and hugging her tightly.
"You look well, dear, and I heard you've taken up teaching?" Karin said, leading Liselle out of the room to continue their conversation in private.
"Commander, as I said, I had a few matters of business to discuss." Aria said. Shepard nodded and gestured for her continue.
"The Council, as well as the non-council races, in addition the unaffiliated groups in the Terminus systems are known factors. None would dare make an attempt on the station for fear of war with the others. In fact I frequently play each group against each other to my benefit, like playing a strategy game. However, your Alliance introduces variables on which I have not planned." Aria said.
"What have your sources told you about us?" Shepard asked evenly.
"Your people seem on the surface to be mostly benevolent. Your actions thus far since your introduction to the Galactic community have faithfully reflected that. You've saved the Quarians from starvation and their weak immune systems, cured the genophage for the Krogan, reunited the Quarians and the Geth and returned both to their homeworld, and you free slaves, including those of the same race that attempted to enslave yours." Aria said.
"Yes. Now have they told you about our history? About the wars, the child soldiers, the nuclear horror?" Shepard said. Aria nodded.
"We've worked hard, Aria, very hard to become better than that. My great grandparents were both soldiers in the great war, they told my mother horrible stories, things she won't even tell me to this day. The old regime was so desperate to cling to power that they resorted to conscripting children as young as 12. They tortured captured enemies, including civilians. Including children. There are unverified stories of them torturing literal babies in front of their parents to get them to give up information on troop movements. They teach us this when we're in primary school. We see vids of the bodies, piled up and burned in public squares, camps full of emaciated prisoners of war, and that was just after the great war a hundred years ago. A hundred years before that we did the same damn thing, herded people into extermination camps, no matter how old or young, because of their ethnic and religious backgrounds. After the first day of recent history class when I was 14 I didn't speak for two weeks. Each and every human learns these things and burns them into our brains, not to punish ourselves, but to remember what our ancestors fought for. That's why it seems so easy for us to make the right decision, why it seems like we have impeccable consciences. Why we're always apologizing, or trying to be understanding and accommodating. We are terrified of becoming the monsters our ancestors fought and bled to put down. We have learned instead to love hard and easily. " Shepard said.
"Goddess." Aria whispered, her skin pale and her hands shaking.
"I understand that nobody's history is immaculate. Every sentient species, even the Hanar have committed atrocities in their pasts, and everyone seems to want to bury them or forget them, and that just inevitably leads to them happening all over again every few generations. So yes, Aria. We helped the Quarians, and the Krogan, and the Geth, and the Batarian slaves and your daughter, we did so not only because we are afraid of the monsters that lurk inside our own hearts, but because of the love that fear has taught us to embrace. We are not exaggerating or joking when we call the Quarians, Krogan, Geth and Rothschild our brothers and sisters. We love them deeply and unreservedly." Shepard continued.
"I am sorry then that I have misjudged your intentions." Aria said, slowly regaining her composure.
"Don't be. You don't know us very well, for all you know I could be blowing smoke up your ass. Only time will prove that I'm not. However, aside from the impromptu history lesson, what did you wish to discuss?" Shepard asked.
"Truly, I wanted to gauge your people and the impact they may have on Omega. This station and its people my responsibility, and I take that responsibility very seriously." Aria said.
"As would I have were I in your position. The Alliance uses antimatter reactor technology, the incredible amount of energy we can harness using it allows us to travel faster than the speed of light without the use of element zero to reduce our mass. We only use small amounts of it for artificial gravity and a few other systems and research projects. In fact the miniscule amount of eezo we discovered in the asteroids of our Shanxi system are more than adequate for our needs. Furthermore with the Krogan, Quarians and Geth joining us we have more habitable planets than we know what to do with. Well I'm sure most of them will be crawling with Krogan pretty soon." Shepard said, grinning at that last bit.
"Long story short, we have absolutely nothing to gain from making an attempt on your station. We'd love to engage in mutually beneficial trade, cultural exchanges and offer medical and food assistance to the residents if they need it, in fact in addition to the medics we just brought here I've been authorized to offer you a dozen medigel dispensers and information on how to synthesize and use it. They automatically dispense it tailored to the species entered on the touch screen. We even managed to snag some Vorcha DNA, not that they really need any help regenerating or healing." Shepard said.
"Well this is all terribly disappointing. Here I was expecting to have a screaming match, and end up having to intimidate you into leaving and now I find myself liking you." Aria said with a theatrical scoff.
"I could throw a punch at you if you'd like." Shepard said, smiling.
"Oh you could certainly try. Tell me, have you ever seen a trained Asari commando in action?" Aria asked. Shepard's smile turned predatory as she removed her overcoat and cracked her knuckles.
"Oh, I am really starting to like you." Aria said, removing her own leather jacket.
Liselle led Karin down the corridor towards the residential wing of Omega where she had set up a school in an unused conference room. The dingy, partially corroded walls were adorned with artwork of varying quality, as well as alphabets in several languages the only one Chakwas recognized was Asari from Dr. D'inan teaching her.
"So how old are the students you teach here?" Chakwas asked.
"Anyone old enough to walk and talk all the way up to those just a year or so before adulthood. I also teach literacy and basic math to adults at night who have for whatever reason missed the opportunity for childhood education. A lot of people on Omega are freed slaves, or people from the terminus systems." Liselle said.
"That's amazing. I'm so proud of you, darling." Chakwas said. Liselle blushed, she was unused to praise.
"I do what I can. How are things going on the Normandy?" Liselle asked.
"Well it's a little quieter than when you were there, but the Krogan try desperately to make up for it. I swear if the Krogan didn't regenerate as fast as they do, Grak and Kurg would never leave the medbay. A Batarian shot Kurg right in the heart and he literally shrugged it off. He got into a verbal pissing contest with the commander while I was up to my wrists in his chest!" Chakwas said laughing. Liselle laughed as well.
"I'm so glad the Alliance were able to do what they have for the Quarians and Krogan." Liselle said.
"Oh it's such a joy to have them. It feels like reuniting with lost loved ones you never knew you had. It's startling how well everyone works together too. Humans, Krogan, Quarians, Geth and Rothschild all from completely different cultures and backgrounds and it's like we all grew up together." Chakwas said.
"I envy you. All I have is a pirate queen for a mother, and a dead father who spent my entire youth lying to me." Liselle said, her expression forlorn. Karin placed a hand on her shoulder to get her attention.
"You also have all of us love. You know I'm just an extranet call away if you ever want to talk, and I suspect if things go well with the Commander and your mother, we'll probably find ourselves visiting Omega quite often." Chakwas said.
"I would love that. I still need to thank Commander Shepard for her help." Liselle said.
"I seem to remember you thanking her several times." Chakwas said.
"Well once or twice more won't hurt." Liselle said smiling. Chakwas' expression turned serious.
"Liselle, there is one thing I wanted to ask. I won't ask for details, but did you ever see that mind healer we talked about?" Chakwas said. Liselle smiled still, though slightly sadly.
"Yes, I've been in touch with one on Thessia. It was strange, but when I asked Mother if she knew of any, I could tell she was upset but she simply nodded and gave me a list of contacts, and told me she didn't care how much they charged that she'd cover the cost." Liselle said.
"Jesus, your mind healers charge? Why on Earth would you charge for vital health services?" Chakwas said.
"Your people don't pay for health care? Even elective stuff like mental health?" Liselle asked.
"Firstly, there's nothing elective about mental health. It's just as vital as any other branch of medicine, and requires swift, thorough and competent care. Secondly, no, anyone, citizen of the Alliance or otherwise in need of medical care of any kind can walk into any Alliance clinic and be seen no questions asked." Chakwas explained.
"Seriously?" Liselle said.
"Yes. A Batarian with a a rifle could walk into an Alliance clinic and as long as he relinquished the weapon he'd be treated with the best care we could provide. " Chakwas said
"Goddess. It's amazing your people have only been flying through space for two hundred years and in some ways you're millennia beyond mine. Any chance I can convince you to hide me in the cargo hold and bring me to Earth?" Liselle said grinning again.
"If you want." Chakwas said completely seriously.
"I was joking. Besides, I love what I do here." Liselle said.
"The offer stands and listen, for mental health we haven't studied nearly enough about Asari or really any species other than those of the alliance races, but if you or any of your students ever find yourselves in need of medical care, tell me and one of my colleagues will be here within a couple of days and will help without charge. I wonder if your mother would let us set up a fully staffed and equipped free hospital here." Chakwas said.
"Oh I can ask her if you'd like. She's actually really open to helping the people on the station out." Liselle said.
"The rumors I'd heard about her were less than flattering, but I didn't want to judge until I met her." Chakwas said.
"Good call. They're mostly bullshit. Mother likes to project a tough, unflappable exterior but once you get her out of that awful night club and into a private suite she's a total pushover. She truly loves the people of this station and fights hard for them. That's when she gets actually scary, when someone threatens the well being of the people here. She even asked me to set up this school and insisted I told everyone it was my idea. Um, you will keep that to yourself won't you?" Liselle said, suddenly remembering that her mother might be less than pleased with her ruining the pirate queen shtick.
"Of course dear. I'll be happy to begin writing up a plan on how to get the materials and staff to the station. I doubt we'll be lacking for volunteers. Our population has increased exponentially over the last few years." Chakwas said.
An hour later, Chakwas bid Liselle farewell, she had to prepare for her adult students, but she promised to visit again before they left. Chakwas opened the door to the Aria's room at the back of Afterlife and was greeted by a sight she had half expected to see. Aria and Shepard, their clothes disheveled and torn covered in bruises, Shepard bleeding from a small cut in a swollen left eye and Aria bleeding from a cut in her lower lip both laughing like a pair of teenager that got into their parent's liquor cabinet.
"So then I downed it all in one go and woke up in the medbay puking blood and setting off the radiation detectors!" Shepard said laughing uproariously.
"You dumbass I'm dextro and I still won't drink ryncol!" Aria said laughing so hard it looked like it hurt.
"Why am I not surprised?" Chakwas said, already rummaging through her portable medical kit