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Omega
October, 2192

Omega's skyline bled red like a festering wound. The air was choked and filled with dust and ash. Harsh light glared through the gaps of the station's structures, trying to mimic daylight. With residents that would kill you in a flash just for showing them the wrong look. Thieves and bandits thrived while the innocent and unarmed perished. A hell hole straight out of human mythology, a night mare orbiting a star.

Irikah squatted over a small fire built of oily rags and trash. The warehouse she called home had been abandoned by the Talons some 3 months prior. Just days before she had arrived on the station. Days before her life went to hell. Or maybe it had just gone to Omega.

Looking at what provisions she had left Irikah thought bitterly to herself:

[I'm gonna starve if I don't do something soon. Those Batarian bastards, I wish I could kill them twice.]

She extinguished the fire and wrapped herself tighter in the clothes she'd taken from her abductors. She forced herself to close her eyes and sleep. But the nightmares that had plagued her during the months of her solitude had other plans.

xXx

Fire glowed crimson on the horizon, a distant world she knew little of, burned.

The screams of civilians and the hail of gunfire pierced the night.

A river of blood running on the ground.

A tentacle grabs her around the waist and unceremoniously shoves her inside a crate. Light shining through a crack in the side.

More gunfire.

The Hanar wavers then falls.

Movement. Darkness and movement.

The lid shakes and creaks open.

The Batarians smile down at their new discovery. Perhaps to trade, or sell her.

Red.

Red vision, red walls, red hands.

The Batarians are dead in seconds.

The blue glow of her biotics fades.

The Omega skyline welcomes her to her own private hell.

xXx

She wakes to what she assumes is morning. An entire night of horror and gore played out in vivid detail in the inescapable confines of her mind. She had to admit that sometimes it really sucked to be a Drell. Perfect memory has its downsides.

She looks at the back of her hand. Dirt and grime layering over her sandy golden scales. She didn't much care that she was filthy, on the contrary the more grime the better. It covered up the places where blood once stained. Not Batarian blood, but the blood of Hanar.

She shook herself off and pulled herself back from that day. She once again took stock of her provisions then made a meager breakfast out of the food she had left. The rest was medi-gel and other first aid supplies. All of which were of course inedible.

Finishing her breakfast she stored her small cache behind a removable wall panel. No use leaving it out in the open.

She then made her way to the space port. No telling what kind of stuff she could relive newcomers of. After all the black market didn't ask questions, and paid well. She thanked her lucky stars that she had some time to start her training before the Batarians came.

She cupped her hands together and whispered a prayer of success to Amonkira lord of hunters. Then the shadows flickered and she was gone.

xXx

“Ugh this place wreaks.”

Jack's voice was clear and loud in the silence of the small filthy docking port. Shepard sighed and pinched his nose.

“Jack, it's Omega. It always smells bad.”

“Yeah,” Jack said waving the air in front of her dramatically. “That's my point.”

Shepard just chuckled and moved forward.

“Come on, the sooner we deliver this the sooner we can leave.”

“Good enough for me,” Jack shrugged. “By the way what gives? The Salarian died two years ago. Why are we only giving this away now?”

“Mordin left it in a lock back at an STG base on Sur'kesh. They only just now discovered the box, apparently it was collecting dust in storage.”

Jack nodded. As they left the port and approached the entrance to Afterlife. The Elcor bouncer waved them in.

“And the reason you dragged me along?” her voiced raised slightly over the muted base.

“You begged me to take you with me because you were bored out of your mind.”

“Yeah but you agreed,” she said punching his shoulder. “Why?”

“I haven't seen you in a while Jack,” Shepard said jokingly. “I thought we could bond.”

“Screw you Shepard.”

“You'll have to clear that with Kaidan Jack.”

“Speaking of, why didn't he come along?”

“Because the last time we left Ashton unsupervised with his grandparents the house was redecorated, there were half a dozen holos of him in various dress up getup that his grandmothers insisted were adorable, and he had twice as many stuffed animals. And I'm not sure but I think Anderson used our shed for target practice.”

Jack burst out laughing and bent over to contain her glee.

“D-did they make him try a sailor suit on?”

“Three,” Shepard replied mortified.

Jack fell into another wave of laughter. When she finally contained herself she had tear tracks on her cheeks.

“Oh Shepard your in laws are crazy.”

“On that we agree.”

They stepped into the club and were instantly assaulted by the base at full blast. Both were used to worse though,so they moved unhindered up the stairs to the loft overlooking the club.

“Shepard, what brings you to my humble abode?” Aria asked as they approached.

Bray went to scan them but Aria waved them off.

“It's ok Bray,” Aria said calmly. “Shepard is well aware of Omega's rule. I think we can skip that formality.”

Bray grinned and stood aside allowing Shepard to approach. As he sat down Aria looked Shepard over.

“You look good Shepard. Fatherhood seems to be treating you well. How is your little bundle of biotic joy?”

“More of a handful each day,” Shepard said smiling. “But I get the felling you don't want me to pass around the baby pictures.”

Aria smiled.

“I'll pass,” she said dryly. “Your message said it was important we talk face to face. What's up?”

“Mordin Solus died to years ago,” Shepard said solemnly.

Aria's face twitched slightly and only for a second. But Shepard caught it.

“Pity.” Was all Aria said.

“Normally I wouldn't waste your time with it,” Shepard continued. “But a minor development came to my attention.”

Shepard reached into his pocket causing all the guards except Bray to point a gun at him.

“Easy boys,” Aria said.

The guns lowered and Shepard brought out a silver locket.

“Mordin made me the executor of his estate,” Shepard explained. “And the note that was found with this indicated I bring it to you.”

Shepard held out the locket. Aria took it, more gently than Shepard expected. She held it up to the light and looked over every detail as it swung on the chain in front of her. Her face was unreadable. Then she put the locket on and slipped in under her shirt. Anyone who didn't know to look for it would never see it.

“Thanks,” Aria said curtly.

“My pleasure,” Shepard replied. “The note didn't say anything else so I'm afraid I don't have any profound last words from him.”

“It wouldn't have,” Aria said simply.

Shepard stood up and offered his hand out to Aria.

“Well that's all I came for. I won't waste any more of your time.”

Aria stood and shook his hand.

“Nice to see you again Shepard. Good luck with the kid.”

Shepard chuckled. Aria turned around to face the club again. His audience was over.

“See you around Shepard,” Bray said as he and Jack passed him.

“A pleasure as always Bray,” he said reaching into his pocket again. “Here for your autograph book.”

He passed Bray a folded up square of paper. The Batarian laughed and accepted the paper. The pair walked out of the club. All the while being watched by Aria. Her face never showing a hint of emotion, the same stony mask. But her right hand clutched at the locket through the fabric of her shirt.

xXx

Irikah stood still as stone in the rafters above Afterlife's front door. She scanned the line of patrons eager to enter the night club, looking for anything from credit chits, to expensive jewelry.

Two People exited Afterlife. A woman with brown hair and tons of tattoos, the other a man with a shaved head. Both were dressed far to casually to be from Omega. She zeroed in on the gleam of silver hanging half out of his pocket.

[That idiot deserves to be robbed.]

She watched them head toward the space port. She let them get separated enough from the rest of the crowd. Then she got into position and then threw a stasis at the two of them. Quick as thought she dropped and charged the pair.

xXx

“So Mordin and Aria?” asked Jack.

The two had exited the club and were walking away from the bass and noise.

“Yeah,” Shepard replied. “It was just a one night thing in Mordin's younger days. She actually just slept with him so she could kill him the next day.”

“Damn. Talk about a bad romance.”

“Yeah. I doubt there was any actual love between them. Just an enormous amount of respect.”

“Sometimes that's better.”

“You would know Jack. What with all the fuzzy bunny moments between you and Miranda.”

Jack shot him an eat shit and die look as they reached the door to the space port.

“So Jack,” Shepard inquired, continuing their earlier conversation. “You ever think about getting in-laws and kids?”

Jack laughed

“Come on Shepard do I look like the motherly type?”

“I dunno Jack,” Shepard replied seriously. “You painted the walls of Grissom academy with Cerberus blood to protect your guys. Then you led them in a war against enemies the size of skyscrapers and didn't loose a single one. And you've taken good care of Eezo. I'd say your maternal instinct is in tact.”

“Yeah well, I doubt there's a man in the galaxy you'd have balls enough to marry me. Let alone raise a kid with me.”

Shepard mock gasped.

“You mean to tell me that Jack, the mighty Subject Zero, Scourge of Cerberus, Crasher of Space Stations, Defacer of Hanar Moons, and general Bad Ass, needs a man to raise a kid?”

Jack slugged him in the arm.

“Come on Jack. You can always adopt. I mean if the Asari can be single mothers you sure as hell can.”

“I'm telling T'soni you said that.” Jack said smiling and chuckling. “You're alright Shepard.”

Shepard went to return the complement when suddenly he was stopped in his tracks by a glowing blue force. To late to react he realized he'd been put in a biotic stasis. He felt his pockets get rifled through then saw a blur of sandy gold run off to his left. Jack shouted something he didn't catch and was off as well.

xXx

Irikah was on them in an instant. She'd have to remember to pat herself on the back later. She grabbed the silver object and stowed it in her pocket for closer examination later. She then turned to rifle the pockets of her other victim and saw a very menacing and very much undeterred woman reaching out to grab her.

Irikah high tailed it to the left and toward the slums.

“Damn it Shepard,” shouted the woman. “How many times have I said it? Keep your damn barriers up!”

Understanding dawned on Irikah as she ran.

[Damn it. Of course I'd pick the one new comer on Omega that keeps her guard up.]

She ran like hell into the former plague ward. And leaped over plants and ran through doors. All the time her pursuer never broke off.

“Get back here with that or I'll smear the walls with you!!!”

“If you want it that bad,” Irikah shouted back. “You're gonna have to catch me.”

They began exchanging biotic strikes, neither could make their mark. Jack's field experience was more than enough to evade attacks thrown at her over the thief’s back. Irikah was trained to have heightened senses and albeit narrowly she managed to dodge everyone of her chaser's strikes.

They played cat and mouse through out the apartment plazas. They ran through a medic clinic scaring the hell out of patients and causing the doctor to activate the security mechs. Irikah blew two of their heads off and bolted through the opposite door. Her chaser was caught in a 5 way stand off with the rest of the mechs. Seeing her opportunity she high tailed it to an open area with giant fans and lofts and plenty of ducts.

Seeing her chance she climbed a support beam and mad helterskelter for a vent. But just as she reached a landing she heard the doors hiss open. Quickly she hit behind the waist high ledge.

“Alright you little pick pocket come on out,” Jack shouted. “You may as well. I know all about this place. I must have shot a dozen Vorcha in here.”

The fans were going full blast around her but Irikah could still hear her loud and clear.

[I've never seen someone work so hard to get a credit chit back. There must be a lot on here.]

She pulled out her catch of the day and stared at it. It wasn't a credit chit, it was Prothean tech. She mentally fist pumped the air. This could more than pay her way off the station. She could retire on the amount of credits it was worth.

“You took something from my friend,” Jack continued. “You're going to give it back.”

[Fat chance.]

“Alright fine we'll do this the hard way.”

[Whatever you say bitch. I'm outta...]

The thought was cut short as she was yanked into the air by a biotic Lift. Just as quickly she got hit with a Pull. Irikah started to lazily drift down to Jack.

“This is what happens when you don't keep your barriers up. I swear if I hat a credit for every time I say that...”

Irikah threw a load of energy into a burst of biotic power, effectively ending the Pull's hold on her. Then she took a combat stance and drew the knife she had taken from the Batarian leader. The serrated blade winked in the red light of the room. The fact that it could mean life and death on this station far outweighed any sum of credits she could get for it.

“Oh you wanna be a big girl?” Jack taunted. “Well shit, looks like we got a bad ass here.”

“I don't know who you are but I am NOT giving this Prothean tech up.” Replied stony calm and defiant. “This thing is my ticket off this fucking station.”

“That thing belongs to Commander Shepard.”

“That name supposed to mean something to me?”

Jack laughed.

“Shit, you don't know who Shepard is? Well let me put it this way. You feel that air coming in and out of your lungs?”

Irikah nodded perplexed.

“Well you owe each and every one of those breaths to the man you stole that from,” Jack pointed at the memory shard in Irikah's hand.. “He's got so much pull, this entire station would get down on one knee and kiss his damn feet if he asked.”

This time Irikah laughed.

“Well if he's so damn famous then I'm sure he can live without one little piece of Prothean tech.”

“Not the point kid.”

“Whatever. I'm not giving this back. You want it? Then grow a pair and take it.”

Jack smiled. She was starting to like this thief.

“Have it your way kid, but don't say I didn't warn you.”

Both women threw on their biotics and were swallowed in blue novas of power. Irikah flipped her knife around blade facing Jack. Jack clenched her right fist and amped up the biotic pressure for a hell of a punch. Then they charged each other screaming so loud they drowned out the fans.

Right before they made impact with each other both were suddenly and violently thrown in the opposite direction. Both hit the floor and slid uncomfortably to a stop.

“Alright ladies, lets settle down before someone gets hurt.”

Both turned to the door and saw Shepard with the remains of a biotic aura fading and his hand outstretched.

“What the hell Shepard?”

“Jack you were about to hit a kid with the biotic force of a megaton bomb.”

“I wasn't gonna kill her, and she stole your damn memory shard.”

“Be that as it may, you don't blast a kid to bits for stealing. I'm sure she had a good reason.”

“This is Omega Shepard they're all a bunch of thieves and lowlifes.”

“I'm not a lowlife you bitch,” Irikah spat.

“You stole from the fucking savior of the galaxy honey.” Jack replied. “That makes you pretty low.”

“You have NO idea what I've been through just to stay alive and breathing. Let alone put food in my mouth.”

“Awe. You had a bad life? Well shit my heart just bleeds for you.”

“Is everything a joke to you?”

“No sweetheart. Just everything you say. I've got stories that would make you puke before I was even halfway done with one.”

“The only thing that's making me wanna puke is that mistake of a tattoo you got between your ears.”

“That's IT sunshine. Time for your nap!”

“LADIES ENOUGH!” Shepard shouted and they both snapped their attention back to him.

Shepard calmly approached the young Drell, knelt down to her level with a look of endless empathy.

“Tell me what happened.”

Irikah narrowed her eyes in suspicion. She thought about refusing but this man was the first person to show her kindness since she got here.

“I was training to be an Assassin on a Hanar moon.”

“Under the compact?” Shepard asked.

“Yeah,” she said surprised. “How did you know?”

“I traveled with an assassin named Thane Krios. He's a Drell too. He told me about the compact during our down time.”

Irikah nodded.

“Well that was the plan. I was an orphan. My parents died in 2186 shortly after I was born. They both participated in the compact and the Hanar that my mom worked with took care of me. I was training,” she continued face darkening. “Until the Batarians showed up.”

Shepards face darkened too. Memories of Mindior bubbled to the surface. Jack relaxed her posture.

“They like to hit the outer colonies. They came in to raid our supplies. They didn't stop to take anyone as slaves. They killed everything that moved. Celthain, the Hanar that was teaching me hid me in a crate to protect me. The Batarians brought it with me inside to trade on Omega.”

“They sold you?” Shepard asked eerily calm.

“They didn't get the chance,” Irikah replied with a look that defied anyone to refute the obvious stae,ent of her words.

Shepard didn't disbelieve her. Thane had told him that although he hadn't taken his first life until he was twelve, the Hanar had honed the skills to do so into him as early as six. This little girl wasn't a naieve child, she was a killer. She might not like doing it but she was capable of taking a life.”

Shepard mentally decided something.

“”What is your name?” he asked.

“Irikah,” she replied after a few seconds.

Shepard smiled at the familiar name.

“Irikah, that thing your holding is very precious to me. It's got a record of memories that are priceless to me. And I need it back. But I can take you away from this place if you want. Back to Kahje or......”

“No way Shepard.” Jack cut in. “She's not going back to Jelly world.”

Shepard and Irikah both turned to look at her.

“Jack?”

“The Jellies wouldn't know what to do with her. She's got biotics that could sheer off a cliff face. Those Prothean worshipers would send her to kill people they don't like. And I don't like that.”

Shepard was about to argue that they couldn't just take her away from her home, but then he caught the gleam in her eye. And Shepard realized that Irikah was basically another Jack in the making. Less torture involved but they both had learned to kill very early. And he was willing to bet that it didn't sit well with Jack.

“So what do you propose we do?” Shepard expertly feigned annoyance. “She lives on Kahje.”

“I'll take her?”

“What?” Irikah and Shepard asked.

“Yeah,” she said pretending to be indifferent about it. “Why not? You've got skill kid and teeth. I like that. So why don't you come back with me. I'll show you how to really use those biotics.”

Irikah looked at her stunned.

“Or,” Jack continued. “You could waste your time and talents with the Jellies and be a gun for hire your whole life.”

Irikah took the bait hook line and sinker.

“If you think you can teach me better then the Hanar then I want to see you try,” she decided. “And when you fail you take me back to Kahje personally.”

“Kid you've got a deal,” Jack said holding out her hand.

Irikah shook it. Then handed the memory shard back to Shepard. The three of them made their way out of the fan room.

xXx

Shepard and Jack sat in the first class louge of the transport ship. their seats faced each other and they were separated by a table in front of both of them. Off to the right side of the cabin Irikah laid on the couch asleep. Shepard was reading an article on a data pad, Jack stole what she considered a covert look at the sleeping Drell.

“That's the third time you've looked,” Shepard said without looking up.

Jack snapped her attention to back to him. Looking as guilty as Jack could when she was caught.

“I told you you'd make a good mom,” He said looking up to meet her gaze.

“I'm not her mom Shepard,” Jack protested. “The little shit wouldn't last a day on Omega without me.”

“She made it three months,” Shepard argued.

“And she was out of food and had no money. And I caught up to her. Which means other people could have too. I'm teaching her how to survive. I'm not her mom.”

“Whatever you say Jack,” Shepard said smiling and returning to his data pad.

Jack stole another look at Irikah.

“That's four.” Shepard said again without looking.

Jack sent the data pad flying to the other end of the cabin with her biotics. Shepard just looked up and grinned.

xXx

London, Earth
June, 2205

“On your feet Irikah!” Jack shouted. “This isn't nap time. I'm not gonna give you a pass outta pity like your History teacher.”

“Been meaning to thank you for that A by the way,” Irikah said getting to her feet and into a fighting pose. “Exactly how many times did you have to sleep with him to get it for me?”

Jack smiled.

“Big talk for someone who can't even bring down my barrier. Lets hope your warp is as good as your trash talk is this time.”

Irikah went to hit Jack with another warp when both their Omnitool alarms went off.

“Shit!!!” Irikah hissed. “I gotta go get Zaeed.”

“You're flying all the way to Rannoch and back?”

“The damn factory won't ship my gift until next week.” She explained “It's faster if I get it in person, grabbing Zaeed is just a bonus.”

Jack shrugged.

“Just make sure you get everyone to the party on time. I am NOT suffering through another one of “Kaidan's” meltdowns.”

“Why the air quotes around Kaidan?”

“Because it's always Shepard who melts down and Kaidan gets blamed.”

Irikah laughed.

“See you later mom.”
Irikah ran down the stairs and was about to run through the door when she spotted an envalope on the kitchen table addressed to her. She grabbed it and ran out the door.

She hailed a sky car and zoomed toward the spaceport.

xXx

Rannoch
Same Day

“What do you MEAN you don't have it?!?” Irikah yelled at the clerk. “I have the invoice RIGHT HERE!!!”

“Y-yes ma'am but we seem to be out of stock. We're searching in the back but...”

“I was TOLD one would be held in reserve so that I could come pick it up myself.”

“I understand but..”

“So you mean to tell me I flew literally across the galaxy, paid a holding fee, in addition to the actual price of the item in question, and you DIDN'T HOLD ONE?!?!?”

The clerk cowered in fear as the last sentence was punctuated with a biotic flare.

“I swear if I have to come back there I will NOT be neat. His birthday is TODAY sir. I don't have time to wait for you to restock!”

“Well I'm..”

“Hears your order ma'am,” The manager who was not at all afraid of her stated. “I apologize for the delay. Our inventory records seem to have been incorrectly filled out.”

“Let me guess,” Irikah said taking her package. “His fault?”

She gestured with her head to the clerk.

“Indeed ma'am. Rest assured appropriate actions will be taken. If you find your order has been in any way damaged will will credit you a full refund and exchange it for an intact model. And if you would like to fill out a complaint please do not hesitate to do so.”

“That's quite alright,” she said much more calm. “I trust you will take appropriate measures. And if you need any assistance please don't hesitate to all ME.”

The clerk shivered and the manager smiled. Irikah left the store to the sound of the manager shouting out his employee. She opened the skycar door and placed the package holding Ashton's gift in the back. Again she noticed the letter and tossed it on the passenger seat. She then got in the driver seat and zoomed away.

xXx

“Finally!!!” Irikah said exasperated.

“I'm sorry ok?” Zaeed said defensively “I couldn't find the mail. I wasn't about to leave Ashton's gift behind.”

Irikah started the car and rose into the air.

“Wait you brought your car all the way to Rannoch?”

“Yeah,” she replied. “Have you seen the rental fees? It's so much cheaper to get passage on a freighter class transport. I'm not paying all the fees.”

“Why not use Rapid transit then?”

“No WAY!!! Not after the Dekuna Incident of 97.”

“That was one time and it was the other driver's fault we hit that cliff face.”

“I'm not taking rapid transit.”

“Fine,” Zaeed surrendered.

“You had mail trouble too?” Irikah asked.

“Yeah,” Zaeed responded. “Why? What happened to you?”

“Clerk almost gave me a heart attack. I paid for them to hold the damn thing in stock and the guy told me they didn't have it. Turns out he just screwed up the inventory record.”

“Oh no. You didn't get him fired did you?”

“No,” she purred with a sly grin. “Would I do that?”

“Yes,” Zaeed said without hesitation.

Irikah laughed.

“What did you get him?”

“A biotiball signed by the Seattle Strikers,” Zaeed grinned. “You?”

“Kassa Shotgun modkit.” Irikah replied pleased with herself.

“Niiiiiiiiiice.”

“Thanks. You can put yours in the back by the way.”

Zaeed twisted to put his box in the back seat. As he did he noticed the envelope on the dashboard.

“That a card? Can I sign it too?”

“Hmm?” she asked looking over. “No it's something addressed to me forgot it was in my car until I put the modkit in back. Wanna open it for me? I'm driving.”

“Sure,” He began opening the letter. “By the way can I borrow this car tonight I wanna take Ashton to the seashore after the party.”

“NO!”

“Why no,” he pouted.

“You know exactly why not Vakarian,” she said sternly.

“Oh come on that was one time.”

“It took me weeks to get the stains out of the upholstery.”

“Well you weren't supposed to see it.”

“Yeah cuz THAT makes it all better. You and Ashton are not allowed in my car without at least one other person. You can't be trusted. Now what's in the damn envelope?”

Zaeed pulled the letter out and read it.

“Damn,” he whispered. “You got one too.”

“What?”

“The New Dawn Initiative wants you to join up.”

Irikah looks over at him like he's got two heads.

“You serious?”

“Read it yourself.”

Irikah puts the shuttle on auto pilot and reaches over to read the letter.

“Wow, we're gonna be S.T.A.R. Guards”

“Yeah,” Zaeed smiled. “100 credits says Ash got one too.”

“Oh like I'm gonna bet against that,” Irikah rolled her eyes. “Ashton could kick both our asses if he wanted to. And if you tell hi I said that I will end you.”

Zaeed laughed.

“Your secret is safe with me. I'm certainly not going to admit that to him.”

The two friends laughed as the sky car docked in the ship's cargo hold. The ship hit FTL and they were away.