The larger group dispersed outside the ship, everyone going their respective direction to local hotspots or dealers. Cantenelli departed alone, heading down Omega's increasingly familiar streets to find an old contact. He kept his M-3 Predator in plain sight, like many on the asteroid station chose to, trying to deter any unwanted attention. Cantenelli never particularly liked Omega, it was too dingy, too under maintained. Everyone wanted to be a badass on Omega, and no one wanted to clean up the trash. Much of it had been left to Vorcha scavengers that milled through the debris for useful pieces.<br/><br/>Cantenelli ducked under the hanging banner at a food stall and sat down at the bar. The other three seats were empty. The proprietor, a Batarian, had his back to the human, Cantenelli hoped cleaning something, but he doubted it.<span style="color: Blue">Borkek, whats on tap?</span>He asked, looking around.<br/><br/>The Batarian turned, saw Cantenelli and set down whatever he was working on. He leaned on the bar, looking at the human.<span style="color: DarkRed">Cantenelli. Didn't expect you around here again for a while. Took off in a hurry last time. Something about Eclipse losing your ship?</span><br/><br/><span style="color: Blue">They did. I got it back, no thanks to them.</span>Cantenelli looked at the assortment of drinks in the stall and nodded at one of them. The Batarian leaned over and grabbed it, sliding it across the bar to him.<br/><br/><span style="color: DarkRed">Word has it, that ship turned ghost. Disappeared off Omega. How'd ye find it?</span><br/><br/><span style="color: Blue">Makarot, actually.</span>Cantenelli opened the bottle and took a drink.<br/><br/><span style="color: DarkRed">Makarot? I didn't think you two were on speaking terms.</span>Borkek looked surprised.<br/><br/><span style="color: Blue">Mmm, neither did I. But, I'm not paying dues to Eclipse anymore.</span>Cantenelli set down the bottle and slid it across the bar between his hands.<br/><br/><span style="color: DarkRed">Huh. Well, I'm sure the old bird is happy about that.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: Blue">Yes he is.</span>Cantenelli looked at the Batarian for a long moment, expectantly.<br/><br/>The Batarian chuckled, done with the small talk.<span style="color: DarkRed">Alright, what'll it be? Fences or dealers?</span><br/><br/>Cantenelli shook his head.<span style="color: Blue">Neither, today. Today its mercenaries.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: DarkRed">Mercenaries?</span>Borkek looked at him, once again surprised.<br/><br/><span style="color: Blue">Mercenaries. We're trying a new thing, got a job that needs firepower. I need competent, reliable, and the sort that can keep their mouth shut.</span><br/><br/>The Batarian nodded slowly.<span style="color: DarkRed">Well, mercenaries we've got. Too damn many at the moment. A lot of dumb kids with guns trying to fill empty Blue Sun shoes. But... there's a few interesting ones. An Asari.... Maetha or Maeia or something like that. Notable fact about this one: she's ex-commando.</span>Cantenelli raised an interested eyebrow.<span style="color: DarkRed">She didn't complete her training or some such. But, as far as I see it, any amount of training on that level can't hurt.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: Blue">Where can I find her?</span><br/><br/><span style="color: DarkRed">Same place you can find anyone with a lot of time and nothing better to do.</span><br/><br/><br/>***<br/><br/><br/>Firas never appreciated the lines  for Afterlife. But, flashing their credit chits got them through the line real quick. The usual complaints from others in line followed them in. They just made Firas smirk. He had a Predator that he had grabbed from the armory magged to his hip. He had wanted to bring the Revenant, but it was too heavy to carry without his armor, so he opted to leave it. Sorv, however, had brought his M-92 Mantis. The inner doors opened and they were greeted by the best club on Omega, the beats washing over them while they took in the sights.<br/><br/><span style="color: DarkOrange">Good to be back.</span>Sorv nodded, looking across the floor for an open booth and a good looking dancer.<span style="color: DarkOrange">There we are...</span><br/><br/>Sorv made for a booth on the second level that only had one patron sitting in it, watching the Asari dance. He walked up and looked at the human sitting there.<span style="color: DarkOrange">Hey, you. She said she <i>really</i> likes you and wants you to buy her a drink.</span>Sorv said, pointing to a random woman in the club.<br/><br/><span style="color: DarkGreen">She does?</span>The human asked, looking.<br/><br/>Sorv grabbed his arm and pulled him out of the booth.<span style="color: DarkOrange">Yes she does. So go say hi and have a good time.</span>He sat down, sliding across the semi-circlular booth that wrapped around the table and the Asari dancing on it.<br/><br/><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Hi.</span>She said with a smile at the three, lifting her arms casually above her head while she moved her hips t the rhythm., watching them.<br/><br/><span style="color: Blue">We just got paid, and we're looking to unwind.</span>Firas relaxed in the booth, watching her.<span style="color: Blue">Got any friends? I'm feeling generous.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">I do have friends. Lots of friends.</span>He got down on her hands and knees, crawling toward him, giving him a good view of her cleavage, and anyone behind her a solid view of the rest of her. Firas tapped the edge of his credit chit on the table. The Asari grinned and bit her lip then winked at him, standing she pointed to two other Asari dancers and waved them over, nodding when they gave her questioning looks.<br/><br/>Sorv waved over a dancer holding a drink platter after she finished setting down a round at another table. She approached, swaying her hips with each step.<span style="color: Purple">What'll you boys have?</span><br/><br/><span style="color: DarkOrange">Quarian sunrise, easy on the alcohol, and whatever they want.</span>He said, examining her figure appreciatively.<br/><br/>Once she had collected, the waitress departed and the other two dancers arrived. A pole rose from the center of the table for their entertainment use.<br/><br/><br/>***<br/><br/><br/>Taseer found a cab and after a short ride, she and Kala departed. The area was less populated than Omega's more busy sectors, and the number of neon lights were far fewer. She made her way through the streets, down corridors and eventually opened a door that led out onto a long running wide street that had sharp drop offs on either side, and extended platforms for docking and landing ships.<br/><br/><span style="color: Navy">Come on.</span>She said, motioning for Kala to follow. She walked down the street, passing vessels of many makes and designs, most looking older and beat up, and many had repair crews working hard on them, sending showers of sparks down into the abyss of Omega below.<br/><br/>She paused, and craned her neck, looking at a landed gunship down the row, then grinned. She jogged down the street then broke off, turning and jogging down the short row of steps to the platform. She stopped and set the pack down on the platform, crossing her arms. Standing under the gunship's raised back end, was a Krogan with goggles strapped on his head, using a welder on the ship, blasting bathing him in sparks.<br/><br/>He paused, grumbling at the machine, then looked to his left, spotting the two women. He did a double take then turned off the welder and pried the goggles of his eye sockets, revealing rings of lighter skin.<span style="color: Sienna">Taseer!</span>He shouted and lumbered forward extending his arm. She grinned and grabbed his wrist as he grabbed hers.<span style="color: Sienna">I thought you went chasing after the Acheron, what  happened?</span><br/><br/><span style="color: Navy">We got it back.</span>She released his arm.<br/><br/><span style="color: Sienna">Damn, that was quick. Hey Galuk! Look who's back!</span>He shouted behind him. A Batarian poked his head out from behind the gunship, blinked at them then grinned, displaying his rows of needle like teeth.<br/><br/><span style="color: DarkOliveGreen">I'll be damned. Tasser!</span>He walked up and gave her a rough hug, smearing grease on her clothes from his.<br/><br/><span style="color: DarkOliveGreen">I thought you were looking for the Acheron.</span>He backed off, standing next to the Krogan.<br/><br/><span style="color: Sienna">That's what I said. Who's this?</span>The Krogan nodded at Kala.<br/><br/><span style="color: Navy">Tarchunk, Galuk, this is Kala.</span>Taseer introduced her.<span style="color: Navy">She's Acheron's newest engineer.</span><br/><br/>The two greeted her, the Krogan giving Kala a much longer look than the Batarian.<span style="color: DarkOliveGreen">What happened with the Acheron?</span><br/><br/><span style="color: Navy">We got it back. Where's everyone else?</span>She looked up and down the dock lanes.<br/><br/><span style="color: DarkOliveGreen">Gone. Shipped out over the last few days on new ships. Tar and I have been doing repair work to get some credits coming back in.</span>The Batarian looked out at the other ships docked, dismayed.<span style="color: DarkOliveGreen">None of us thought you'd get the ship back. How'd you manage to find it?</span><br/><br/><span style="color: Navy">Long story. Right now I have business to sort first. We need to refit the ship, top to bottom.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: Sienna">Wasn't that Eclipse's job?</span>That Krogan asked scratching at his face, leaving lighter lines on his skin where his fingers raked off grease.<br/><br/><span style="color: Navy">We bailed on them. I need to get a hold of a supplier. I tried Devik, but he didn't answer.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: Sienna">Eh, he's dead. Yesterday, I think. Don't know what happened.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: Navy">Shit.</span>Taseer sighed.<span style="color: Navy">Well, I guess I'll need a new one then. You guys know anyone good?</span><br/><br/><span style="color: DarkOliveGreen">Good, sure. Ones that will keep their mouths shut about the... <i>unique</i> equipment needs of the Acheron?</span>The Batarian shrugged.<span style="color: DarkOliveGreen">All it comes down to is credits and negotiating. </span><br/><br/><span style="color: Navy">Well, credits I've got. Who's the best place the start, you think?</span>Taseer asked.<br/><br/><span style="color: DarkOliveGreen">What do you think? Olrib?</span>The Batarian asked the Krogan, who shrugged in return.<span style="color: DarkOliveGreen">Gerrard?</span><br/><br/><span style="color: Sienna">He plays it straight enough, but setting up a deal can be a pain in the ass.</span>The Krogan shrugged.<span style="color: Sienna">If you've got the credits and are willing to play hardball, Gerrard's not a bad place to start. You'd probably have more luck with him than we do.</span>The Krogan glanced at Taseer's chest.<br/><br/><span style="color: Navy">Well, its a good place to start. Where's he at?</span>She lifted her omni-tool, and the Batarian did as well, uploading the data to her.<span style="color: Navy">Thanks boys. </span>She nodded to them and turned to leave.<br/><br/><span style="color: DarkOliveGreen">Taseer, why not hang around a while? We've got a few bottles of Serrice Ice and some other shit I've never seen before. Come on, for old times?</span>The Batarian offered. The Krogan looked at her then at Kala.<br/><br/><br/>***<br/><br/><br/>Ashana turned on the lights, let the little two room apartment be illuminated again. It was all still there, like she had never left. On the far side of the room, her bed jammed against the wall, the sheets a mess... the table still had the half empty cup on it that she had forgotten in her rush to get to Kalga's warehouse. Her dresser still had her keepsake issue of Fornax sitting on it, her sitting on the cover, coyly covering herself with that playful look. She hit the dresser's key, and the top drawer slid open. She smiled and looked affectionately down at the folded dancer's uniform. She ran her fingers over it, feeling the material, remembering its caress. It was inviting. The small rooms so familiar and comforting, filled with her memories. It was the world she knew, the world she understood.<br/><br/>Ashana closed the drawer. The galaxy had gotten bigger than her suddenly. So much more in so little time. She needed to get her bearings. She needed to talk to the only one that had always seemed bigger than the galaxy itself, no matter what was in it.<br/><br/><br/>***<br/><br/><br/>Afterlife always brought back memories, most of them good. She had had a lot of fun in this club. She had danced on every stage and table in the place. Even when she had stopped dancing, she liked being there. The beating rhythm like an excited heart, the melodies over the beat serine. It was like afterlife, a place to relax as much as it was to wake up and feel alive.<br/><br/>Firas caught Ashana out of the corner of his eye as she entered. He looked away from the Asari dancing in front of him, watching her.<span style="color: Blue">What are you doing here?</span>He asked himself, watching her look around for a moment then start toward one of Aria's bodyguard.<br/><br/>Ashana walked as calmly as she could toward Anto, Aria's batarian door man in blue and white heavy armor. His four eyes locked onto her as she approached, recognizing her.<br/><br/><span style="color: DarkOrchid">I want to talk to her.</span>Ashana said, feeling the nervous flutter in her chest like she always did whenever she was meeting with Aria.<br/><br/><span style="color: DarkOliveGreen">Ashana?</span>He tried to say more, warn her away, or at least talk some sense into her. But after a moment he just sighed and lifted his omni-tool.<br/><br/><span style="color: DarkOliveGreen">Aria. Someone to see you.</span>He paused for a moment.<span style="color: DarkOliveGreen">Its Ashana.</span>He waited for another moment then lowered his omni-tool.<span style="color: DarkOliveGreen"> Looks like she wants to talk to you too.</span><br/><br/>Ashana suppressed the nervous fear in her and walked up the steps. She tried to walk confidently like Aria had told her to all those decades ago, but there was always an apprehension in her when she climbed the stairs, no matter how hard she tried. She reached the top of the first flight of stairs, and looked left, seeing Aria there, sitting on the black and white wrap around sofa, relaxed as ever, confident in her power.<br/><br/>Ashana took each step carefully as she ascended into Aria's domain. She had two dancers working the throne, and there was her body guard, of course, standing there in camouflaged armor of tan hues. She had a Turian with her today, sitting on the edge of the couch.<br/><br/>As Ashana walked closer she saw the briefest flicker of something in Aria's eyes, of what almost looked like concern as her bruised and discolored features were bathed in white spotlight. But as soon as Ashana thought she had seen the look, it was gone, and Aria was once again cool, collected, any thought behind her eyes inscrutable.<br/><br/><span style="color: Indigo">Ashana.</span>She said, looking at the ex-dancer before her.<span style="color: Indigo">I thought you had left.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: DarkOrchid">I did.</span>Ashana said, trying to play it calm. But Aria's stare kept her nervous. It always had.<br/><br/><span style="color: Indigo">And now your back.</span>Aria stated, looking at Ashana, looking into her. Ashana could feel her eyes on her, looking at her injuries, the slightly off kilter stance due to her ankle, the tightness of the wrap beneath her clothing. After a moment, Aria craned her head to the right ever so slightly, the faintest smile crossing her lips and Ashana knew in that moment that Aria had deduced what had happened.<br/><br/><span style="color: Indigo">You finally found the fight you couldn't win...</span>Aria said so quietly, it was almost a whisper.<span style="color: Indigo">Ashana, sit down.</span>She ordered.<br/><br/>The Asari felt her heart skip a beat. In nearly nine decades, never had Aria invited her to sit before. It was a privilege for only the few Aria wanted to deal with, that she deemed valuable, or that she respected. When Ashana hesitated, Aria craned her head ever so slightly, giving Ashana a demanding stare.<br/><br/>Ashana took a step forward, then another, then turned, sitting perpendicular to the warlord of Omega. The seat was comfortable, but overly so.<br/><br/><span style="color: Indigo">Who saved your life?</span>Aria asked, watching Ashana carefully. She wasn't surprised that Aria knew someone had. Aria always seemed to know. She looked over the edge of the seat, past the giant holographic dancing Asari behind Aria. She spotted Sorv, Firas, and Darion enjoying the company of three dancers.<br/><br/><span style="color: DarkOrchid">Them.</span>She said, letting her gaze linger for just a moment. Before looking back at Aria. The Asari warlord didn't look, she just said to her bodyguard,<span style="color: Indigo">Whatever they want for the day is on the house.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: Indigo">So,</span>she went on, watching Ashana,<span style="color: Indigo">who was it? </span><br/><br/>Ashana dropped her gaze, recalling the event again, feeling the ache in her side.<span style="color: DarkOrchid">I don't know his name, or who he was... we were trying to find out who stole something from Kalga. He... he killed 20 or 30 armed men trying to stop him. I saw an opportunity to close in, to go for the kill and I took it. But... he was better than me, faster. On the ship, they said he was maybe N7... or a SPECTRE. I don't really know.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: Indigo">A human SPECTRE... you have been having fun, haven't you?</span><br/><br/><span style="color: DarkOrchid">I've... I've lost before, but never like this... it was always some misstep, some mistake I made, some fault in me.</span>Ashana said, trembling slightly, barely aware of what she was saying.<span style="color: DarkOrchid">There was always something I could have done to win, some stupid error that I could have avoided... but he... he was just better. <br/>
</span><br/><br/><span style="color: Indigo">Ashana look at me.</span>Aria ordered, and Ashana complied.<span style="color: Indigo">It was going to happen.</span>She said coolly.<span style="color: Indigo"> Eventually we all meet that one bastard that wins, and we lose. When that happens, one of two things follows. Either someone is there to pull us out of the fire... or we die. </span><br/><br/>Ashana stared at Aria, unblinking, feeling the Asari's words sink in.<span style="color: Indigo">We all at some point have to learn to stop fighting the entire galaxy alone. So here's a piece of advice. Say thank you. And then once you've done that, deal with it. You lost. So what. Get over it.</span>She said harshly.<span style="color: Indigo">Get focused, Ashana, and get better. You can either let this destroy you, or make you stronger. But, like everything else, that's up to you.<br/>
</span><br/><br/>Aria nodded for Ashana to leave. The Asari stood up slowly, and started down the steps as ordered, then stopped as she heard Aria speak up again.<br/><br/><span style="color: Indigo">Oh, and Ashana...</span>Ashana turned and looked at Aria, met her gaze.<span style="color: Indigo"> Don't come back.</span>Ashana looked at Aria for a long moment, wondering if this was the last time she would ever see her again, then smiled.<br/><br/><span style="color: DarkOrchid">Thank you.</span>She said and started down the stairs, each step feeling more solid than before, each breath felt lighter.<br/><br/>Firas watched Ashana as she came down the steps. She looked much happier than only a minute before when she went up them. The fact that Ashana had even been allowed to see Aria had surprised him, little alone that she left better than when she arrived. He watched her walk across the dance floor, back toward the exit. She looked at them briefly before disappearing out the entrance.<br/><br/><span style="color: DarkOrange">That was weird.</span>Sorv said, having been able to remove his gaze from the Asari on her knees bending over backwards in front of him.<br/><br/>Another asari in a dance uniform walked up to the booth.<span style="color: DarkSlateBlue">Compliments of the house, boys.</span>She said with a wink.<span style="color: DarkSlateBlue">Everything's on us today. Enjoy yourselves.</span>The dancers nodded their understanding.<br/><br/>Firas looked at Sorv then Darion, surprised.<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>