Notes:

Ba'egek - A form of cheese, popular among the old Terminus Merchant Colonies, apparently goes well with fresh bread (Batarian/Source: CDN)

Black Tooth - Palma juice with a shot or two of cana (grains-based liquor). Palma juice is very dark, rather sweet, & balances the cana nicely (Source: CDN)

CGC - Center for Galactic Cooperation

As Omega Turns

Batarian Enclave, Omega Station, Sahrabarik – 25 Apr 2191

After taking several sips of the hot tea from her mug, Silahra intently scrutinized her brother as he sat across from her sipping his own tea. An expression of disbelief momentarily washed over her features as she remarked, "I spent an hour before I went to sleep studying the data you sent to my omnitool, Krel, and I have to say – this offer by the Protheans to help us… help our race… with no requirement or expectation of some form of payment, just seems incredible… totally unbelievable, actually!" She sipped a bit more of her tea, set the mug down and continued, "What really surprised me was that a Human… Captain fucking Shepard, of all people, is willing to help our cause, after killing nearly half-a-million of our people on Aratoht. It really makes me suspicious."

Akrelo chuckled, took a bite of toast covered with slightly melted Ba'egek, chewed, swallowed, then took a sip of tea from his own mug before replying. "Suspicious of what, exactly? And the number was 304,942, Sina… not even a third of a million people." Taking another bite of Ba'egek-covered toast, he chewed thoughtfully for a few moments. After a swallow of tea, he continued, "Still a terribly high number of people, of that I won't argue. The Prothean science lead, Arick Vythan, explained everything concerning the destruction of the Bahak system, in a manner that still has me shaking my head in wonder. During my stay, I gained a new appreciation for these people, and not just because they have four eyes."

"Four eyes!? You never mentioned that before," she grumped. "What else haven't you told me?"

"Let's begin with the destruction of the Viper Nebula. It wasn't the act of terrorism the Hegemony made it out to be, Sina. I've since learned if certain instructions were remotely sent to the relay's destination processors immediately prior to transit, that damned thing could send cargo to sixteen other relays! The Hegemony was always well aware of its capabilities, and purposely hid them… not just from our own people, but all the other races as well… especially the Humans."

Her astonished expression gave way to horrified understanding as she asked, "It wasn't paired with only one or two other specific relays?" Sitting back in her chair, she nervously clasped her hands together against her chest and squeaked, "That's why the mechanical bastards were heading there! They had the means to hit multiple systems nearly simultaneously! They'd have covered half the damned galaxy in less time than it would have taken…" her voice trailed off into stunned silence.

Akrelo quietly finished her sentence. "… In less time than it would have taken to jump through multiple relays, Sina." He finished his tea, set the mug gently on the table and continued. "Shepard was almost too late! Most… she believes all… of the people on that damned asteroid were indoctrinated well before she arrived. The Spectre had to fight her way through them all before she could get to the control room to do what she did."

For nearly the next thirty-five to forty minutes, Akrelo calmly relayed all of the facts – as shown to him by Jorè Lentos and Arick Vythan – leading up to the destruction of the Viper Nebula, and the delayed invasion by the mechanized horde through the Harsa relay. He concluded his history lesson with, "Another thing you should consider, Sina… As horrific as it is to contemplate, had Shepard failed to destroy that Relay, the people living on Bahak? They would have ultimately been every bit as dead… or, at the very least, wished they were. The Reapers would have converted those 300-thousand-plus Batarians into husks – Cannibals – just as they did to the people on our home world… and used them against us, right from the start."

He reached his hand across the table; she slowly unclasped her own hands, slid them across the table and grasped the hand offered in brotherly love. "But she obliterated an entire star system, Krel! How can you think that is acceptable? Surely there was some alternative action she could…"

"Everything I just told you? I actually saw it happen, Sina! The Protheans possess a marvelous ability to share memories by touch, just as you are holding my hand. Shepard had shared her memories – everything I just spent over half-an-hour telling you – with Jorè Lentos. By placing his hand on the bare skin of my arm…" he paused to stare for a few moments at his own hand, being gently held by his sister's smooth, supple hands. Returning his gaze to her lower eyes, he coughed, then continued, "It was as if I was accompanying the Spectre – watching over her shoulder – from her rescue of Amanda Kenson on Bahak, to her view of the countdown timer and the AI's population announcement. She tried to warn them, as she activated the propulsion and guidance systems on that stinking rock. I saw her memories as clearly as I was standing in her boots!"

Silahra was not quite ready to believe everything she'd just been told. "They could have been lying, Krel! They could have made all this up just to win you over."

"No!" The denial was immediate. "As I said, I witnessed those events… at least, I saw them in my mind, as if I had physically been there! Memories transferred in that manner – in such painful detail – cannot be staged, cannot be falsified, Sina!" Akrelo leaned forward, his voice ringing with quiet conviction. "You know that Asari can share their thoughts with others; I'm given to understand this is so much more than that. Protheans use this method to teach others. It's really amazing! I am convinced beyond any shadow of a doubt that Shepard acted in the best interests of every race in the galaxy." He gently squeezed the hands he was holding. "Now, you need to decide whether you believe me, or not. But please, Sina? Can you not trust me? What more can I say?"

With his head tilted to the left, he studied her and waited, as she gazed back at him. She took a deep, shaky breath and admitted, "I can't see you coming all this way just to lie to me… and I really cannot imagine you'd dream up such a story just to get me to work with you." With a smirk, she growled, "So, what do we do now? How do we spread the word?" Her facial expression abruptly changed from smirk to worry. "And how do you think Aria will respond to this? If we're successful, I can't imagine she'll welcome a wholesale departure of large portions of the labor force she depends on."

"Leave that to Shepard… or, more correctly, to Doctor T'Soni, as the Prothean Cultural Attaché." Akrelo's expression, mostly his eyes, displayed a hopeful optimism. "If the timing worked out, they should be speaking with Aria this morning, regarding a very interesting trade proposal from the Protheans; the sale of their tech through an Omega-based store front – obviously with a cut for the queen – in exchange for our freedom to leave here and join their colony on Ilos."

Once again, Sina was surprised. "How in the galaxy is that ever going to happen?"

Afterlife, Omega Station, Sahrabarik – 25 Apr 2191

Aria rose from her couch, a scowl forming on her face as she recognized the couple who had just strolled into her domain. What the fuck are they doing here? Immediately turning to her trusted aide, she hissed, "Bray. Clear the lounge. Now."

"You got it, Aria." Without question, Bray turned to the other guards, dancers and servers who were loitering in the area. "You heard her. Move it. Anyone left after my five-count gets a blade up your slow ass."

Aria chuckled, her frown relaxing significantly as all the attendants scattered. "That's why I keep you around, Bray. Always so… elegantly convincing."

"You don't pay me to be nice. You pay me to be effective." Bray hadn't noticed the new arrivals, so asked, "Why the sudden fuss?"

Not answering directly, Aria simply stated, "Head down the stairs and point my newly arrived guests up here. Then, send a request for a tray of eight black tooths."

Without a word, Bray headed down the stairs. "Huh. Look who the Vorcha dragged in." Jerking his thumb in the general direction of the stairs, he added, "Aria wants to see you… and I've become the drink errand boy." A slight, anticipatory smile touched the corners of his mouth. "Don't say anything stupid before I get back. I don't wanna miss the show."

They made their way up the stairs as Bray hurriedly left on his errand, not expecting much less from the queen of Omega. Surprisingly, Aria was standing over at the wall, leaning on the rail with her back to the couple as she looked down at the floor. Speaking over her shoulder she growled, "You always have this habit of showing up uninvited… and rarely with good news." She turned and looked at the new arrivals, adding, "So what the fuck is happening this time?"

"Well, Bray warned me not to say anything stupid before he got back with the drinks…" Shepard grinned as she finished, "but there's no show for him to miss, so I suppose it doesn't matter." She turned and looked at Liara, giving her a mental nudge to take over.

"Hello to you, too, Aria." Liara shrugged as she casually continued, "It will probably surprise you to learn that we come with good news… a business proposition… one we think you will find rather… lucrative."

Aria cocked her hip and crossed her arms over her chest, looking dubiously at the maiden. "What the fuck in the galaxy could you possibly have that I can't simply take for myself?"

"A Prothean technology storefront for your Tuhi District?" Liara simply laid out the bait and fell silent, waiting for Aria's initial reaction.

Even Aria, the queen of control, couldn't keep the surprise off her face. "Why the fuck would you offer that tech to me and Omega, of all the people and places you could take that shit? That tech will be worth a fortune!"

As Aria was asking the question, Bray had returned. "Damn it! All I asked was one simple thing, but you just had to go and start running your mouths before I got back." Shaking his head briefly, he looked at Aria. "Drinks will be up in a minute, boss… they had to run to storage to grab more cana. Not something there's a huge demand for, apparently."

"Might end up needing something stronger anyway." Aria jerked her head toward the couch area. "We may as well sit down. I have a feeling this isn't going to be a very short discussion."

"It doesn't need to be very long, either. The reasons and terms are simple." Liara's feet didn't move as she continued, "First, Omega is the closest secure location for the Prothean's first foray into galactic business and trade… and a lot of traffic comes through here. Second, their tech is extremely valuable on its own, so they won't be extorted for enormous fees. For them, standard Council business fee rates will apply, or they'll make the same offer to Illium and the CGC. Everyone who is anyone is going to want it… and it is very likely they will eventually expand to all three locations."

Shepard was nodding in agreement as she looked at Aria. "And, while you'll likely deny it, I know you and Nyreen have been working on going more legitimate… words that sound really weird coming out of my mouth, even to me."

"Oh, fuck me!" Aria huffed. "Don't say that too damned loud, or every gang boss on this station is gonna be out for my head. Even Nyreen and Bray wouldn't be able to stop a full-up revolt."

"And what if we cut off their legs, by taking away some of the gangs' Batarian fodder?"

"How the fuck would you manage that?" Aria scowled. "Even you don't hate Batarians enough to murder them in cold blood."

"I don't hate Batarians at all, Aria… not unless they're criminal gang members and trying to kill me or Liara." Shepard smiled and huffed, issuing a small shrug before continuing, "Anyway, with the combination of not having a livable homeworld and being scattered across the galaxy, their race is dying, Aria. The Protheans have bio-tech that can help them rejuvenate their genetic diversity… greatly improving their chances of survival… and have made an offer of co-habitation on Ilos. Batarians have been invited to join them in their city… in Oasia. I know you must have heard at least rumors of the Council clemency offer."

Aria sneered, "The gang members make too much money here. They won't be the ones to leave! You'll just be emptying the slums of all my Batarian workers!" The sneer shifted to a growl as she contemplated the likely results. "That's your solution? How the fuck is that good for me?"

"Oh, come on, Aria!" Shepard scoffed. "You know better than that. If you and Nyreen properly utilize your new defense force? Times are changing, Aria, and two of the gangs here, now, are under your control, thus far… three if you still count the Talons as a mercenary gang. With Gryll in charge, the Vorcha Blood Pack is part of your defense force, as is Eclipse, with Sayn. I imagine Darner Vosque and the Blue Suns aren't very reliable, but they won't have many Batarian recruits available to refill their ranks if you opt to take them down. They'll be overrun pretty quickly if you put your mind to it, and Vosque will no longer be that thorn in your side."

Liara crossed her arms, unconsciously coming close to mimicking Aria's pose, as she added, "If ever there was a chance for you to go legitimate… run the terminus as an accepted leader of more than Omega..."

"Enough!" Aria drew a deep breath and blew it out. "You're giving me a fucking headache, T'Soni. Between the two of you and Nyreen…" She never finished her statement, falling silent and shaking her head. "Fuck. Take your Goddess-be-damned Batarians and get the Hell off my station. Everything else, I need time to think about."

"Understood, Aria." Shepard nodded. "Thank you for at least considering our offer… and we won't press the issue. We'll wait to hear from you."

As they walked away and descended the stairs, they overheard Bray. "That almost sounds like a proposal you can't refuse, Aria. Did they really just offer you legitimized leadership of the whole fucking Terminus… as well as an alliance with the Protheans?"

They both honestly expected to hear a gunshot, as Aria would only tolerate so much… even from someone as trusted as Bray, but what they heard instead was more profound – hopeful, even – than any weapon Aria could have possibly deployed. "Shut the fuck up, Bray! I need to think."

Batarian Enclave, Omega Station, Sahrabarik – 25 Apr 2191

It wasn't much later, once Liara and Shepard returned to Aletheia, that Akrelo received the call from Shepard, relaying Aria's words. "You kidding me? She actually said that?"

"Yes, she did." Both Akrelo and Silahra could hear the smile in Shepard's voice. "She didn't like it much, but given what she can gain, versus the opportunity she could lose with a bad decision… well, let's just say she wasn't happy being forced into a corner like that. I imagine she'll be pretty grouchy about the whole thing until she talks to Nyreen, and they figure out a way to spin it, so Aria doesn't look weak, but it's going to happen, Akrelo. The Batarians will be allowed to leave Omega Station."

"So… should we wait to start recruiting, or do you think it's safe to start talking to people?"

"I would start… but start small. Speak to only a few individuals, perhaps those who are trusted friends of your sister?" It was Liara's voice that came over the comm line. "Aria needs to take care of the Blue Suns, first. While she and Nyreen control three of the four major factions here… Darner Vosque, as leader of the Blue Suns, is a big question mark. He never plays along unless he sees a benefit to himself, and I very much doubt he'll find much of anything in this proposal to his liking."

"Four factions?" Akrelo saw his sister nodding to the affirmative as he asked his question, and she answered before either Liara or Shepard could say a word.

"Yes. During the Cerberus occupation, Nyreen Kandros led a resistance group called the Talons. Nyreen and Aria had history, so Nyreen joined the fight with Shepard and Aria to liberate the station. Nyreen is now Aria's mate, and the Talons are now Aria's newest… and primary… personal security force. I imagine they would positively love to see Aria moving in the direction of legitimacy." Silahra chuckled, "Aria must absolutely detest this development… seeing her pirate kingdom going down in flames."

"I wouldn't get ahead of yourselves on that count." Shepard's voice held a cautionary tone. "She'll see the monetary benefits of a Prothean enterprise here but, I imagine, this place will still be an outlaw haven for decades to come."

"Agreed," Liara tagged on. "My guess is she'll turn it into a neutral station… where criminals can still shelter without fear of arrest, so long as they play by her rules and don't interfere with any of her business interests. It will be a fine line to play but, in actuality, she's already been doing it since the war… just not to this degree. And now, she has Nyreen and the Talons to help her enforce the new rules."

"Yes," added Shepard. "Along with Sayn and Gryll. They both know they rule their groups only at Aria's whim. She put them both in power and could replace them with the same machinations that put them in place to begin with… by making a new deal with a potential replacement."

"Well, I'll be damned." Akrelo was honestly surprised. "I never thought Aria would ever dare getting into another relationship after what happened with Liselle. I guess things really are changing around here."

"Don't count on it, brother." Silahra huffed. "It could all be very temporary. My guess is she'll eventually figure a way around it, to get the Prothean enterprise and still manage to keep her kingdom. That Asari has as much chance at redemption as a Pyjak has at learning to fly a shuttle. She will never become a good, law-abiding citizen… never."

At that, Shepard laughed outright. "We don't need her to be. We just need her to not encourage and actually fund the enterprises. Without Omega money, things will quiet down on their own as time goes by. I'll take any moves in that direction that I can get."

Silahra looked at Akrelo and nodded. "Looks like you have yourself a deal, brother… and an assistant to help get this project rolling."

Gurji's Promise, Annos Basin, At Large – 25 Apr 2191

Heading back to Ilos, Aletheia had just reached the relay when a call to Shepard came in. As it was marked urgent, Liara had Lusmeni put the ship into a holding pattern around the relay as Shepard took the call.

"I'm telling you, Shep… Jon seems to be slipping away, and there doesn't appear to be anything I can do to help him."

Samantha could plainly see Kasumi was upset about Bau's condition. "He is old for a Salarian… but are you sure, Kas? It hasn't been that long since I spoke with him. He seemed fine."

She worried her lower lip for a moment or two before answering. "I have no doubt of that, Shep, but you know how Salarians are. They live accelerated lives. Jon recently told me a Salarian living past their forty-fifth birthday would be a biological oddity. He sleeps longer than he used to… nearly five and a half hours each night. And when he's awake, he just seems tired, nearly all the time. He looks thinner, if that is even possible. Maybe because he's eating less?" She 'dry-washed' her hands for a few moments before adding, "Eventually, I will need to go with him to Sur'Kesh. His family lives in the capital, Talat. They've assured him – which assures me – they will take him in, provide palliative care as needed, and look to all the arrangements when his time comes."

"Arrangements. As in funeral arrangements." Shepard's response was a statement rather than a question. She looked down for several moments – moments that seemed like an eternity to the normally unflappable thief. When Samantha tilted her head back up to look at her friend, she said, "I am so sorry, Kasumi. I know you will miss Jon's presence in your life… tremendously."

The master thief blew air through pursed lips. "Pfft. You have a real gift for understatement, Shep." A noise out of the camera's field of view caused her to turn her head. With a smirk gracing her expressive mouth, she motioned with her hand as she admonished her companion. "Don't lurk about in the shadows, Jon. Come sit with me so you can speak with Shepard."

Bau moved slowly into view and carefully took a seat beside her; once settled, he smiled at the monitor as he said, "Greetings, Captain. Good to see you once again, even if only as an electronic image."

"Kasumi tells me she wants to take you to Sur'Kesh," Shepard replied. "And, when the time comes, I think it's a good idea to have her accompany you on the journey. Have you spoken with any of the council members about needing to leave the Spectres?"

The Salarian nodded once with his reply. "Valern only." With a smile so brief, Shepard was not sure she had seen it, he continued, "Valern will present the notification to the full council at their regular meeting next week. My attendance is not required, seeing as my relatively imminent death is a foregone conclusion. The task of choosing and confirming a successor will take a great deal more time. Presence not required for that debate, either, though I have provided Valern with the names of a couple of good candidates."

Glancing briefly at the woman beside him, he concluded, "And I have no issues with Kasumi coming with me on my final journey home. But it will necessitate we dock Gurji's Promise in a secure location on the CGC and use a rented shuttlecraft for passage to Sur'Kesh."

"Why not simply fly the ship to Sur'Kesh?"

Bau looked back to his partner for another moment, replying as she returned his gaze. "Already discussed with Kas. I am giving her my ship, along with everything on board. It is all I own, and I will take the precaution of transferring ownership prior to taking the final trip home. Nephew must not know of this. If my ship is groundside in Talat, can foresee difficulties for Kasumi when she attempts to depart. Better if ship's location remains unknown to anyone else."

"I suppose that's a reasonable precaution. He can't legally take anything you don't own." Shepard leveled the master thief with an intent, emerald-sharp gaze as she asked, "Will you be accompanying Jon down to Talat? And what about after? Any idea what you want to do? Where you want to go?"

She repeated the noise from before and answered, "You know me, Shep. The fewer people that are aware of me… that actually see me… the better." Kasumi turned her head towards her companion. "So, per Jon's wishes, I will not be setting foot on Sur'Kesh… not even cloaked."

The minimal view of her face, in profile for mere moments before she returned her attention to Samantha's image on her monitor, spoke volumes about her state of mind. This prompted Shepard to make an unexpected request, under the circumstances. "Jon, would you mind terribly if I asked you to give us a few moments? I'd like to speak with Kas in private…" she paused for a moment before continuing with a grin. "Just us girls? I promise you and I will speak again, hopefully in person, before you leave us."

The Salarian smiled and blinked a couple of times. "Not at all, Shepard. Pleasure to speak with you once more, as always, and look forward to our next… though likely last… meeting. Do not worry yourself over me, Shepard. I have had a good, productively long life, and have no fear of death. I will see you again, soon." Bau slowly rose from his chair and left the small compartment. The sound of a hatch sliding open, then closed, came to her ears faintly through the comms. Shepard, her head cocked slightly to the left, said, "It's obvious that you're hurting, Kas. I'd like to meet you, either on the CGC, or on Sur'Kesh? If for no other reason than to lend you moral support."

The intense brown, nearly black of her eyes – what could be seen of them in the shadow cast by her ever-present cowl – were as inscrutable and hard as glass. "That's so sweet of you! But you're halfway across the galaxy. I'll be fine, Shep… I always am. Please, don't worry about me."

"Your face – what I could see of it, anyway – told me a different story, when you looked at Jon just then. It's as plain to me as that Athame stripe on your lower lip and chin." Shepard nearly whispered her next few words. "You love him, Kas, and it's breaking your heart that his physiology prevents him from enjoying a longer life with you. I…" Getting a mental tap via the link, she amended her statement. "Liara and I… want to be there for you."

Kas dipped her head for several moments; after silently studying the small desk in front of her, she slowly returned her gaze to Shepard's image on the monitor. Without any hesitation, she used her fingers to swipe at the moisture sliding down both of her cheeks. Embarrassed by her temporary lack of emotional control, she shook her head slightly while replying in a shaky voice, "I haven't shed tears in a very long time, Shep… not since Keiji's… murder." With a slight, self-deprecating chuckle, she finished wiping her face and eyes a bit more before continuing. "I will likely take some time… for a holiday, if you will. Possibly pay a visit to Earth… to Japan, so I can view the progress – or lack of same – being made in rebuilding and recovering from the Reaper's devastation. I think I need a break from the cloak and dagger routine, Shep."

Mindful of Liara loitering in the back of her mind, Samantha replied, "I'm sure you could still have a job as a data researcher, Kas. I know you love working with Jon, but before he came along, you were always extremely effective working on your own… and I can't imagine Barla Von not wanting to retain your services. You must realize he'll do whatever is needed to keep you happy and focused. Would you like us to find a new partner for you? And Liara says to pass on that she'd love to have you on staff here, as a security specialist and advisor."

"Do you think you could persuade Jacob Taylor to join me?" Before Shepard could answer, Kasumi chuckled, adding, "I'm kidding, Shep. I know he's married and has a kid… maybe two by now. He's long since been relegated to my past. Let me think about it, at least until I've paid a visit to Earth… cleared my mind. Thinking about carrying on all by my lonesome? I've actually become accustomed to having a constant companion, so… short answer? I honestly don't know where I want to go from here, but… if I do stay with the Broker, I would prefer to not be partnered with another Salarian, for the obvious reason."

"Understandable, Kas. Liara and I both believe finding a new partner for you should not be difficult. Who in your career field wouldn't be willing to work with…" Shepard's grinned wickedly as she continued, "… an incredibly talented kleptomaniac such as yourself. In the meantime, we'll plan on visiting you and Jon once we have a date for your trip to the CGC."

"Aw, Shep. You say the nicest things. Thank you. I really appreciate…" Kasumi looked down momentarily and coughed softly in an attempt to clear the sudden constriction in her throat. Looking back at Samantha, she continued as if she had not paused. "… your help and support." With a slight shake of her head, she concluded, "I could not have asked for a more steadfast friend in my life, especially since Bekenstein. I look forward to seeing you and Liara."

With a wave, she cut the connection and, leaning back in her chair, thought about everything she had experienced since meeting Samantha Shepard. Seems like another lifetime. There were times, especially during the Collector mission, when I honestly did not expect to greet another day.

After several minutes, she rose from her chair with a heavy sigh. Touching the comms device in her ear, she said, "Jon? We're done in here, if you care to return to the comfort of the lounge."