Branden was stuck here. That was the conclusion he had drawn after living on a space station built into a planetoid. Said station, and planetoid, was named Omega.

Omega was a cobbled together work that was built out of an ongoing mining operation deeper into the actual rock. It was also a favoured spot for low-life's, mercenary organisations and criminal overlords. The toughest of them all, was a blue lady named Aria T'Loak.

Right now, Branden was sat opposite of the self-proclaimed Queen of Omega. The thumping bass and flashing lights somehow only seemed to heighten her presence, even as she just sat there, basking in the glory of all she had built and acquired.

Truth be told, whilst Branden often found himself in such places, the loud bass gave him a headache that rivalled when his Titan takes a rocket to the cockpit. Feeling the sound beating him into submission, he put a gloved hand to his temple to try and soothe the oncoming aches.

"So if I were to believe the Blood Pack and the Eclipse, which I hate to do by the way, some random Human drops right into their deal and killed both parties in less than thirty seconds." Aria stated, not taking her eyes off the pulsating Holo-screens that flared along with the music, below the screen sat a digital timer that was frozen. Then she turned her attention to him and smirked. "That only came in a minute ago. A few seconds later, I get reports of the same human running on the walls of Omega, only for them to stop directly in front of my club."

Aria's smirk grew into a full blown grin. "You certainly work fast, Mr Wards." She gently jerked her chin at the now lit up timer. "Two minutes and eleven seconds. I believe that is a new personal best." Her grin slowly died down as she realised that Branden had kept quiet during her entire speech. "Don't be like that," She demanded, snapping Branden to attention. "Be happy, right now the dozen witless idiots that you rescued are celebrating that they won't be used as training dummies for the Blood Pack's Vorcha."

Branden scratched his ragged beard and sighed. "It's not that." He swept his gaze over the club, the numerous party-goers moving their bodies to the rhythmic bass. The scantily clad waitresses holding shiny metal trays with glowing drinks going between the bar and tables. They all knew that being in this building was a risk. Yet at the same time it was probably the safest damn place on the entire station. "I've been here for what, five-six years now and I'm still no closer to what I need than when I first showed up." His steel eyes met her piercing gaze. "I'm starting to think that you like my company, Aria."

The Queen of Omega's smirk returned, but she didn't say anything. For another fifteen seconds, both of them stared at each other, silently daring the other to make the first move. In less than a second, Branden could have a bullet flying towards her head. In that same second, Aria could rip his arm from its socket with her mind. In the end, Branden broke the stare, scooping up his helmet from the leather lounge.

"If you need anything else, you know how to find me." Wards lifted himself from the lounge and began lazily strolling towards the exit, only for him to find his body locked after taking a single step. The tell-tale ethereal blue glow around his body told him what happened.

Aria sauntered into his view and put a finger under his chin, nudging his head until he was staring straight into her eyes again. Through her carefully school figures, he saw her tongue dart out of her smirking lips for a brief moment. Then she drew herself uncomfortably close to him, draping her arms around his neck and pulling him down until she whispered something into his ear. Before she unwrapped herself, Aria gave his ear a little nibble, sending an unwelcome shiver down his spine.

The moment she got comfortable in her seat again, his body was freed. Branden stumbled a little before he glanced back at her over his shoulder just long enough to see her smirk turn into a grin, complete with a glimpse of her tongue running across her teeth. Feeling his face heat up, Branden tugged his helmet on, ignoring the amused chuckles of Aria's guards as he made his way out.

When the door to Aria's club closed, he ripped his helmet off and slammed it into his forehead. The action was futile as he recalled sensation of her breath tickling his ear and the ache from her teeth biting his flesh. It wouldn't leave from simple blunt trauma, he knew that but he still hoped as he head-butted his own helmet again.

'Next time… my place… anything-' Bang!

Branden's memories were interrupted by a nearby gunshot, quickly followed by more weapons fire. Before anything else happened, he yanked his helmet on and dove off a nearby railing, letting the rush of wind and the loud gunfire guide him.

Like a viper striking its prey, his arm snapped out and his grappling hook lodged into a wall, reeling him in. At the apex of his swing his boosters fired off, propelling him onto a flying taxi where he slid across the smooth roof and boosted off towards an open window. Through it he could see three figures; one huddled behind an overturned table and the other two pushing through a doorway firing submachine guns at the table.

It wasn't even second before he identified the two pushing in as Blue Suns and the one behind the table a Turian. The next moment he had his pistol drawn and dialled in on the two Mercenaries.

Bang! The first Blue Sun was shot in the chest, sending him reeling as his shield kicked in, mitigating the damage. The second one had foolishly decided that it wasn't worth wearing a bullet-resistant helmet. Ba-Bang! The first shot flared the bright blue shields and the second pierced his skull.

By the time the second Blue Sun had hit the floor, Branden had cleared the window and was sliding through the apartment. The first Blue Sun was currently flush against the door frame when Branden boosted into the air, his left fist coming into contact with the Mercenary's chin with enough force to actually lift them into the air.

His left arm still extended, Branden's grappling hook shot out and latched onto the Blue Sun's neck. A sudden pull from Branden was all it took to send the mercenary face first into the floor at literal break-neck speed.

Retracting the hook and letting out long breath, Branden almost relaxed before he heard the click of a gun aimed at his head. Slowly he turned to look at the Turian he just saved holding an M-3 Predator.

"Really? You're doing this now?"

"I-I have to make sure you're not another one." Branden could see the Turian nervously swallow.

"Isn't that proof enough?" He gestured towards the dead bodies.

"That's a good point." The Turian folded his gun away and holstered it. "Sorry for that, but I can't be too careful at this point."

"Don't worry. You didn't pull the trigger so we're good." Branden holstered his own gun and nudged one of the dead mercenaries with his foot. "If these guys are doing home invasions then you must have really pissed them off."

"You don't give me enough credit. Piss them off is the least we've done."

"We?"

"A friend and I." He started rifling through a drawer. "Look if you ever need a hand with any of the outfits around Omega just give this number a ring, we'll pay back the favour I owe." The Turian handed Branden a small plastic card.

"Got it, see you around-" Branden looked at the card. "-Sidonis."

Giving a final wave to his new friend, Branden Wards leapt from the window into the chaotic city that was Omega.

Short update, Timed around just before ME2 takes place.

Sorry for the delays, it's hard to make myself write these days.