<b>Omega</b><br/><br/>Every world has its scents, its unique flavor to the air. The heated, heavy air of Illium carried with it the faint hint of lavender and ozone. The breezes of Thessia carried the light touch of dewdrops, of mist and eezo.<br/><br/>Colorfully named the 'heart of evil' in the Asari tongue, Omega smelled mostly of old metal, the sour tang of too many people in a confined space, the scent of burn-off from the eezo refineries, and the stench of filtration systems pushed to their limits.<br/><br/>And then there were the sounds. The bass thumping of heavy machinery. The humming of electric signs. The roar of flames. The quiet pings of sun warmed and space cooled metal. The tired and yet peaceful quiet of residential sectors, only rarely broken by shots and screams. And the pulsing, thrumming music of Afterlife, the beating heart of what passed for the high-life here.<br/><br/>The desperate, the wanderers, the hopeful, the downtrodden, rich and poor alike travelled here. Some to pass through, some to stay, some to disappear. Even in the chaotic Terminus Systems, there were pockets of stability, of something passing for civilization, almost of government.<br/><br/><b>Afterlife</b><br/><br/>Milenya wasn't wearing a business suit this time. Not for this visit, not for Afterlife's lower bar. Distinctly different from the scantily clad dancers, she was wearing a bodysuit covered in tiny black diamond-shaped scales that reflected the lights in iridesent blue twinkles. A half-sash of deep red draped at an angle around her hips, and her neck bore a simple but elegant torc of gold and steel, sculpted in the smooth curves of asari fashion.<br/><br/>She sat, observing the crowd and listening, catching snippets of conversation while idly browing an issue of "Starships Monthly."<br/><br/><span style="color: crimson">"God, I love this place!"</span><br/><span style="color: fuchsia">"Uh, oh yeah, baby, like that.."</span><br/><span style="color: goldenrod">"Hey, hey YOU! Yeah, YOU! Comereand lemme buy you a driiink!"</span><br/><span style="color: forestgreen">"I can't even hear myself think!"</span><br/><span style="color: purple">"No, no, you need to understand. Secret meetings invite curiosity. For this, you want a public...</span>" The voice of an old krogan faded away as the conversation drifted, literally, out of hearing range.<br/><br/>The turian slipping onto the stool next to her, uncomfortably close, distracted her. She gave him a look, eyes glittering in the flashing lights.<span style="color: #6495ED">"You're in my light."</span><br/><br/>The turian just chuckled, voice buzzing with gruff harmonics, and leaned towards her.<span style="color: gray">"You're cute and classy, not like most of the girls. You can do better than this. Try the VIP club. Tell 'em Jaruut sent you. And when you're there, ask for a Prothean Swirl. I hear they're very comfortable."</span><br/><br/>With that, the turian shrugged, lifting his hands as if to say he didn't want any trouble, and melted into the crowd.<br/><br/>She would have dismissed the turian's words if she hadn't caught one of Aria's uniformed Batarians looking at her. His look wasn't one of bored admiration for her curves, but something more intent.<br/><br/>While she browsed her vid-mag, she considered the turian's words until she came to a conclusion.<span style="color: #6495ED"> 'Someone wants a meeting, they're important, and they want it quiet.'</span><br/><br/>She thumbed her reader to the next page, nonchalant, before she turned it off and let it collapse, tucking it away in a small concealed pocket. She got up, leaving her drink abandoned on the small table, and made her way down to Afterlife's secondary entrance. The guard who'd been watching her nodded as she passed, adding<span style="color: gray">"Good choice</span>" in a voice that barely carried far enough for her to hear.<br/><br/><b>Afterlife VIP Lounge</b><br/><br/>Dropping Jaruut's name got her in the door. The room was smaller, focused on the dance floor and the elevated platform above it.<br/><br/>The music only slightly softer, the harmonics sometimes shivering through her bones as she walked to the bartender. A human, unusual here.<br/><br/><span style="color: gray">"What'll ya have?"</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #6495ED">"I hear you've got a specialty, something called a Prothean Swirl?"</span><br/><br/><span style="color: gray">"Ah, yeah, go to the box. Ramp behind the dance floor. It's got a great view, and you can get one there."</span><br/><br/>Milenya nodded, and left a few credits on the bar.<br/><br/>The ramp itself was screened, a narrow curving aisle barely enough for two, or one krogan, to traverse. At the top, another of Aria's guards nodded her towards the doorway.<br/><br/>The box itself was luxurious, if dark, tiny lights in the ceiling making it appear as if it was open to the skies of Thessia.<br/><br/>Dim wall lights illuminated the wood panels well enough to outline the furniture, and the occupant of the sofa.<br/><br/><span style="color: #9400D3">"I like this room. Sometimes I come here and look up at the sky, and think to myself, 'That's the only thing I miss.' You're prompt. I like that. Sit. Have a drink."</span><br/><br/>Milenya tensed slightly on seeing the other asari.<span style="color: #6495ED">"Hello, Aria. I have to admit, I wasn't expecting you to take an interest." </span>Nevertheless, she settled onto the sofa, and picked up the offered glass.<br/><br/><span style="color: #9400D3">"After your last memorable visit, why wouldn't I? Especially since you're free of your indenture. What do you think of Omega now?"</span><br/><br/>Milenya sipped, taking the distraction to think of her response. The liquid itself was cool going down, blossoming into a pleasant heat in her stomach.<span style="color: #6495ED">"It's still as much of a hole as ever,"</span>she said boldly,<span style="color: #6495ED">"A profitable one for some."</span><br/><br/>Aria's smirk was palpable as she responded,<span style="color: #9400D3"> "And pleasurable for yours. I see you've traded in your old... necklace. I presume you're looking for work?"</span><br/><br/>Milenya, uncharacteristically, blushed.<span style="color: #6495ED">"Ah. Yes. Work, making a living."</span><br/><br/>Aria idly questioned,<span style="color: #9400D3">"Shuttle pilot, erstwhile bodyguard, maintenance tech? Or perhaps something more in line with your education, Doctor?"</span>She subtly emphasized the last word, studying her own glass.<br/><br/>Milenya looked up, sharply.<span style="color: #6495ED">"Perhaps."</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #9400D3">"Here's some advice, since you're new to Omega. Right now, as far as Omega is concerned, you're just another asari maiden, out to make money with her body. But the longer you stay, the more Omega gets curious, and the Council doesn't have a monopoly on Prothean artifacts. An archaotech with a doctorate from Thessia might be an irresistible, valuable acquisition. People disappear all without someone to protect them. Which brings me to my offer."</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #6495ED">"I see. What kind of offer?"</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #9400D3">"It's simple. Many things come through Omega's markets. Most of it is crap. Overpriced, low-quality knockoffs of already substandard garbage. Sometimes it's not. Something shows up that's rare, strange or powerful. Something that could possibly change Omega. When something like that shows up, I need to know what it is. You work for me, and tell me what those things are. In exchange, I protect you, and you get paid."</span><br/><br/>Milenya nodded, looking like she'd just swallowed something sour, processing what Aria said.<span style="color: #6495ED">"And in the meantime?"</span><br/><br/>Aria smirked, a finger tracing the rim of her glass.<span style="color: #9400D3">"I enjoyed the vid Vessira sent. The look on your face was almost adorable, and you begged so sweetly. I was amused, and that gets my attention, my protection, and enough time to decide whether to join me, stay and take your chances, or go. It's your risk, so it's your choice. For tonight, why don't you keep me company and listen? You might learn something useful."</span><br/><br/><b>Omega residence block</b>, near Afterlife<br/><br/>Once the door slid shut behind her, Milenya sagged against it. Aria had informed her that she'd been moved to one of the better apartments, like it or not. This one had a window, thick transparent panes that let her look out onto the inverted cityscape that exemplified the asteroid station. Her footlocker was here, prominently left in the middle of the floor, the bed already made. The hint of disinfectant in the air told her it had been recently cleaned, too.<br/><br/><span style="color: #6495ED">"Goddess."</span>She muttered out loud.<span style="color: #6495ED">"I didn't think. Why did I come to Omega? I could've gone home, or stayed with Vessi, or found something with the Council. Aria's probably right. If I don't find something soon, I'll have to sign up with her. And I'm not ready to stay on this rock."</span><br/><br/>She looked around for the bathroom, and headed there to refresh herself. Splashing water over her face, she looked in the mirror, contemplative.<span style="color: #6495ED">"I should check for ship arrivals, see if anyone's hiring."</span><br/><br/>But it wasn't long before the faint thumping of the music reminded her that local night was still young, and drew her away from the room's terminal. Back to Afterlife.<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>