The spaceport greeted us with noise and hustle. From the cargo bay, they immediately began unloading the beacon remains, and the workers weren't human—they were members of other species who served the Spectre Corps not as field agents, but as support staff. Kryik stayed by the Normandy to supervise. Anderson, Jane, Chifuyu, Rebecca, and I headed to the Embassies, since Udina was very eager to meet us.
The ride to the Embassies was quick and even comfortable, but inside...
"Anderson, you can't be trusted with anything!"
Those were the first words the ambassador greeted us with when we entered his office.
"They gave you the simplest task—help a human pass the Spectre evaluation—and you went and failed it! Do you have any idea how unacceptable that is?! Now even the batarians will laugh at humanity!"
Listening to that man, with every second I wanted more and more to put my fist between his eyes. But I couldn't. So I kept quiet and listened as he tore into Anderson for nothing.
"Ambassador, this wasn't our fault..."
"Yes, yes, of course, it's Saren's fault. I read your report. You know, very fascinating reading—so fascinating that I can already tell you what the Council representatives will say. Or do you think they'll step down from their podium, pat you on the head, and promise to punish the bad turian? Like hell!"
There was a venomous mockery in Udina's voice.
"They'll say it's your fault. And the ones to blame will be you—because John Shepard still hasn't lost his chance to become a Spectre! So get ready—and better yet, write your resignation from the Alliance Navy in advance."
"That's not for you to decide."
Steel crept into Anderson's voice.
"Anderson, you don't understand politics."
Udina sighed, weary.
"Your surname already sounds like a mark of failure to the Council. And honestly, I was against you participating in this operation from the start, but since you're here—rewrite that report. I'm the one who will deliver it to the Council."
"Ambassador..."
"Anderson, don't argue! You're not a politician. You don't know how things are done in our world. So just write a new report where it's all your fault."
"Ambassador Udina..."
God, how badly I wanted to call him Mudina instead of Udina right then, but I held back. There was a cold smile on my lips, and I used it to tell him everything I thought of him.
"I think, Captain Anderson, before you interrupted, you wanted to remind the ambassador that there was a Spectre aboard this ship—and for your information, he knows exactly how it happened, and even before the Normandy reached port, he requested a copy of the report for the Council. No, if you want to disgrace yourself, then Captain Anderson and I will, without a doubt, write a new report, and you'll pass it to the Council... but..."
"Shepard..."
Udina hissed my surname. He'd clearly caught every implication in my smile and the tone I was using.
"...you're meddling in matters that don't concern you."
"I don't give a damn whether it concerns me or not. I'm saving humanity's reputation, because if it turns out that our ambassador is forcing subordinates—and even people who aren't his subordinates—to forge documents..."
I didn't finish the sentence, but my tone and my stare made it clearer than words what would happen in that case.
"Fine... very fine..."
From his voice, it was obvious he wouldn't forget this. I didn't care. We don't abandon our own—and if Mudina needs it, we'll shove a pole up his ass so he stands straighter. My corporation might operate mostly in the Terminus Systems, but we make extremely high-quality weapons, and the military buys them with pleasure. And if it turns out contracts aren't renewed because of one specific Mudina...
Well. He'll have a very bad time.
And no, it wouldn't be petty. Aria taught me a long time ago: power is meant to be used, not sat on while you smile that you have it.
***
"So, boy..."
Aria looked at me with faint amusement.
"...that wasn't a joke."
"No, ma'am."
I looked at the asari who, in my previous world, had been a favorite for many—among asari, she probably held an honored second place with Samara, while Liara was obviously first. Aria sat in my father's chair, and I stood before her. A stunning woman in incredibly luxurious clothing that emphasized her figure.
"So. It wasn't a joke."
"And you're truly ready to hand your father's corporation over to me?"
"Yes."
"Funny..."
Aria studied me from head to toe, thoughtful.
"...and very attractive. But I outgrew the age when I believed someone would voluntarily give up something as tasty as a corporation. What's the catch? Is your father in debt?"
"No."
"Is someone trying to take the corporation from him?"
"No."
"Then what?"
"I just want to preserve it. Preserve it and grow it. And coming to you for help is the most reasonable decision."
"To me?"
There was light mockery in Aria's voice.
"Boy, did you hit your head?"
"Maybe a little."
I allowed myself a smirk.
"But really, I was taught well enough, and I understand the asari have a child cult—and while I'm a child, you won't kill or rob me. No, if we were talking about some failed wannabe gangster, I wouldn't be so sure. But you..."
There was respect and admiration in my voice and my gaze.
"...you're the queen of Omega. You have everything. And while my father's corporation is, without a doubt, a tasty piece, you won't go against an asari's foundational trait for the sake of that piece. So you're my only chance to truly keep the corporation."
"Hm... and what about your father's will? He would've handed it to you... there's something else..."
"I have sisters... and they ran away. I'd like to find them and build a relationship. Though right now I can only do it with the older one—because the younger is still too small. But as long as Henry is in power, Miranda won't even talk to me."
"And did you ever speak with her before?"
"No... we were raised separately. I only heard she existed."
"I see. Still, I don't believe you. Ready for Embrace Eternity? To prove you're not hiding anything from me?"
"Ready."
I nodded eagerly, and Aria beckoned me closer with a finger.
"So... Embrace Eternity..."
Her eyes turned black, and I fell into darkness.
"Ahem..."
I came to in a guest chair. Aria sat in another, staring at me thoughtfully.
"Yes?"
"Tell me, are you an idiot?"
"Excuse me?"
Aria took a deep breath and exhaled very slowly, massaging her temples.
"You remember your past life..."
At those words, I tensed slightly—but only slightly, since I'd assumed from the start she might see more than just proof of no trick.
"...You know asari can read memories and you still agreed to Embrace Eternity. Do you understand that right now, all I have to do is hand you over to Republic intelligence, and I'll live in luxury until the end of my days?"
"I... considered that possibility."
I said it calmly, though I wasn't calm at all—and judging by Aria's mocking half-smile, she saw straight through me.
"But I expected you to appreciate that even with my past life, in front of you I'm essentially a child—by asari standards..."
"You short-lived species are all children to us. But by human law, you're not a child anymore. So that argument doesn't work."
"Well, it wasn't the only one, and it wasn't the main one. The main reason I trusted you was hope for your gratitude."
"Gratitude?"
"Yes. You clearly didn't look through my memory in detail..."
"And what should I have seen there?"
"Memories of a video game."
"A game?"
There was a faint threat in Aria's voice, and her eyes narrowed—telling me now wasn't the time for jokes.
"Exactly. In my old world there was a game called Mass Effect, a trilogy. And in the second game we met a certain extraordinary person who liked to say she wasn't just the queen of Omega—she was Omega."
Aria kept staring at me, but now I saw doubt about my sanity.
"And in the third game, we learned that the daughter of a certain Aria dies."
Aria flared with biotics. I was lifted into the air, my throat squeezed tight.
"Talk. And remember your life is in my hands."
"If you can dig through minds, then look yourself. Because I only remember that your daughter will get involved with a rogue Cerberus agent, and the Illusive Man's people will decide to hit that agent by killing your daughter and making sure you think he's the one responsible. And around the same time, Omega gets attacked and you're driven out."
"Me?!"
Aria's eyes were terrifying and mesmerizing at once.
"I was a fan of the game, but I never paid much attention to lore outside the games. So I might not remember everything. So if you can..."
"I'll look..."
And again those black eyes stared into my soul, and I fell into somewhere I couldn't describe.
"Fine..."
That single word, spoken in Aria's completely calm voice, made me open my eyes.
"...For that information, I'm grateful to you. I won't hand you over to intelligence. More than that—I'll help you. But answer one question: why didn't you mention the Reapers?"
"Because that information is harder to verify."
"But we will have to prepare for their arrival..."
I exhaled in relief.
"...But if Shepard truly exists in this world, and when the invasion begins she announces it at an open session as well, then we'll all hear that phrase: 'Ah yes, Reapers...'"
My eyes must have shown shock and confusion.
"If the Council acknowledges their existence, it will lead to unrest. And yes, if you're hoping I'll do everything now, as the one with power, you're wrong... you'll be working your ass off. But first we need to study the training program Henry made for you and adjust it. We've got... about ten years?"
"I think so."
I nodded slowly.
"Get ready for the next four years to be hell. And then you'll go into the military."
"Huh?"
"You need to use your opportunities and build your own army. And for that, it's very convenient to be inside a state military and recruit the ones idiot commanders throw out over made-up reasons. And in general..."
She looked at me more closely.
"You wanted to be a ceremonial general? Well, tough shit. I'll help with the corporation, but I'm not taking the whole coming headache on myself. Find some other fool. So you'll work like a good little boy. And yes—I'll also show you how to use all the benefits you're entitled to."
All I could do was nod gratefully at Aria's words.
***
"...Then don't count on my help. You'll deal with the Council yourselves."
Mudina's voice yanked me out of the memories that had flashed through my mind in a single instant. His tone was venomous. He was sure we wouldn't be able to handle the Council on our own.
"As you wish. Just don't come trying to attach yourself to our victory afterward."
"Ha! I won't even step out of the embassy! Do whatever you want!"
"John..."
Anderson put a hand on my shoulder, stopping me from saying more.
"...Enough. I'm grateful you stood up for me, but..."
"David, I didn't just stand up for you—I prevented both of us, and humanity as a whole, from being made to look like idiots who don't understand that the Spectre who was aboard the ship will submit not only our report but his own to the Council. And the Council won't review our report separately from his. Anyway, I suggest we take a walk around the Citadel—I haven't been here in a long time..."
"Alright. We haven't been summoned yet anyway."
Anderson shot Udina a not-so-friendly look, and then we all left the embassy.
"You shouldn't have started this... he won't let you live in peace now."
"But I will..."
I smirked viciously.
"...I'll catch up and give it to him again."