Total Domination

Kink Meme fill - original prompt at http://masseffectkink.livejournal.com/3083.html?thread=6389515#t6389515

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Ashley Williams honestly tried to give aliens the benefit of the doubt, really she did. As the second-ever human Spectre, she felt as if she owed it to them. But the fact that the human councilor was still forced to make his office in this tiny embassy made her suspect that even though all council races were supposed to be equal, that some were "more equal than others."



Regardless, she kept professional as she stepped inside, Anderson waiting with a warm, friendly handshake while the rest of the Council was holographically displayed nearby.



"Have a seat, Williams," Anderson said, and she settled herself in to the chair opposite his desk.



"We have an assignment," the asari councilor started off the briefing. "One that we believe you are uniquely suited for. Have a look at this."



Anderson pressed a button, and a holograph of what appeared to be a metallic sphere hovered in the air. Ashley let out a gasp as she saw it.



"What is it, Miss Williams?" asked the asari councilor.



"I've seen this before," Ashley said. "Back when I was on the Normandy, Shepard found one of those on Eletania. Some sort of Prothean artifact, I think."



The salarian councilor nodded. "Yes, we have Shepard's report from that mission. Apparently, she had obtained a missing piece of the device that caused it to activate, and give her some sort of vision."



"Oh, so now you believe in Shepard's visions, do you?" Ashley snapped, ignoring the glare she was getting from Anderson.



"We never doubted that the Protheans were able to put ideas into someone's head with their devices," the turian councilor snarled back. "Just that Shepard might have been miscommunicating the message."



"That's total bull..." Ashley started to say, then cut herself off and fell back into her seat. As angry as she was at Shepard for working with Cerberus, she hated letting the Council piss on her former commander's reputation like this even more.



"Well," Anderson cleared his throat. "Regardless, another one of these artifacts has been found. And this is where you come in, Williams."



The holographic display changed slightly. The metallic ball stayed, but now was seated inside what appeared to be an elaborate trophy. A four-legged base of pure gold had been welded around its bottom, while a spiky ring had been fastened around the top.



"This," the asari councilor explained, "is the trophy in a tournament that will be held on Omega in two weeks by Aria T'Loak. While we haven't been able to get a look at the item in person, the few holo-images we have obtained seem to suggest that this is an artifact like the one Shepard encountered."



"Definitely," Ashley said, pointing at a small hole in the surface. "It's even missing the same piece the other one was." She frowned. "So it isn't going to work, anyway."



"We have... some connections that may be able to find the missing piece," the turian councilor said. "But even if we aren't able to get it to function, we don't want this sort of advanced technology being put in the hands of some common mercenary or whoever else might win this competition."



Ashley settled back into her seat, crossing her arms under her chest. "Don't suppose it's a Texas Hold 'Em tournament, if you're calling me in on this."



"Indeed," the salarian councilor confirmed. "From what little we can tell, this appears to be some sort of fighting tournament. What sort of fighting, we're not entirely sure, but unarmed combat is definitely involved.



"Really. Well, no offense meant to your infinite wisdom, councilors," Ashley snarked. "But I'm not sure I'm the best choice for this assignment. I mean, I'm no lightweight, don't get me wrong. But in a fight with the types of men who would sign up for something like this... maybe I'm throwing away my feminist credentials here, but you probably want a man for this assignment."



Anderson cleared his throat. "This tournament is... unique. It's open to women only."



"We don't have a lot of information on this event, to be honest," said the asari councilor. "The tournament is kept under tight wraps by Miss T'Loak. She handpicks all participants and spectators, and we were only just now able to find an informer willing to take the risk of leaking this data."



Anderson pressed more buttons, and an image of a stern-faced asari with a scar running across her left cheek appeared. "This is Rhia Lanus, one of the entrants in the tournament. She is an associate of Liara T'Soni, who contacted us in this matter to make sure the artifact doesn't fall into the wrong hands."



This gave Ashley pause. "Why would she come to the Council on this? Why doesn't this Rhia win the trophy herself if her boss wants it so badly?"



"For the same reason we're asking you to participate in this tournament," the salarian councilor explained. "Because both Liara and Rhia know that Rhia has a very slim chance of winning. With the help of Miss T'Soni's connections, though, we have been able to give you a cover identity, and arranged for you to be entered into the tournament as well. With your Alliance Marine training, we believe that you'll be able to come out victorious, and claim the artifact."



"And what are we promising Liara in return for our help?" Ashley asked.



"If she is able to provide the missing piece of the artifact," the asari councilor said, "We will allow her to take possession of it once we have been able to study any information it contains."



Ashley frowned. There was something missing in all this. She couldn't tell what, but it was eating at her. Regardless, this was obviously an important assignment to the Council, and she wasn't about to turn it down. And, dammit, it had been a hell of a long time since she'd had a good fight.



"Alright, I'm in," Ashley declared. "Just get me passage on a ship to Omega and I'll take them all on."



After the whole mess was over, Ashley would look back on this moment, and curse herself for being so goddamned stupid.