We were all doing our normal rounds on the Normandy with me beside the galaxy map, making sure the Normandy's programming was in top shape.
"Lieutenant, I have searched the programming 3 times, there are no problems with it" Shiva assured me for the 5th time already.
"Shiva, one thing you should learn about me: I'm paranoid" I stated simply.
"I need to see for myself there are no problems. No offense, but I'm not going to risk the ship's security by trusting a floating glowing ball" I told her, not removing my eyes from the monitor.
I heard Jane chuckle quietly next to me, earning a glare from yours truly.
Suddenly, the Normandy's VI began to speak, which could only mean trouble.
"Sensors reveal three fusion torches propelling Asteroid X57" Normandy informed us.
I turned to my sister, confused and worried.
"Is that good or bad?" I asked her, hoping I was wrong.
"Probably bad" she said, walking down from the galaxy map and into the cockpit.
"I hate it when I'm right" I mumbled as I began to follow her.
"Lieutenant, you haven't finished scanning the programme" Shiva's voice rang out in the room.
"Not now, Shiva" I said as I entered the cockpit, standing next to Joker and Jane as I heard Shiva floating towards me.
"I keep scanning the programme while you're away, Lieutenant" she told me. I nodded at her in thanks before the ship continued to speak.
"At its current rate of acceleration, the asteroid will collide with Terra Nova in approximately 4 hours" the ship continued.
"Analysis: torches need to be disabled to cease the acceleration" the ship finished.
"Shouldn't be too hard, right?" I asked no one.
Immediately after I said that, a transmission began to sound though the intercomm.
"Hello? Hello? I heard your transmission. Can you hear me?" she said.
"They haven't found me yet but I can't talk long" she continued.
'It's not gonna be easy, will it?' I sighed mentally as we flew closer to the asteroid.
"Joker, tell Ashley and Tali to suit up, we'll meet them down there" Jane ordered as we made our way out of the cockpit, into the elevator, and down into the cockpit.
'Wow, they get dressed quick' I thought as I saw Tali and Ashley standing next to the truck. Jane and me quickly went to the lockers and began to suit up. When we were ready, we quickly entered the truck just as the Normandy gate opened.
'Guess I'm driving again' I thought as I quickly took control and drove us out of the Normandy and onto the surface of the asteroid.
We could still hear the transmission from the truck.
"Please. Shut down the fusion torches or we're all going to die," she pleaded.
"God, I hoped you're hearing this" she finished before the transmission was cut off.
"Well, no pressure then" I said sarcastically as I drove in a vain direction.
"Do you even know where we're going, Lils?" Ashley asked me.
"Nope" I said bluntly as I continued to drive blindly along the surface before eventually coming across one of the fusion torches, which to put it simply was not hard to find. The only down side being it was surrounded by turrets, which were not that difficult to be honest.
Eventually the turrets were completely obliterated. Now, onto the torch.
"Okay, so how do we stop it?" I asked the group while staring up at the long red flame bursting out of its core.
"There. I think I see a building to the side of it. It may be where the controls are for it" Ashley suggested.
I nodded in agreement. Seems as good a plan as any.
I drove until the truck was next to the entrance door.
"Aright, let's go people" Jane ordered as we began to exit the truck.
Feeling cautious, I took out my rifle in case. The rest of the group noticed and brought out their chosen weapons as well. Like Jane always says 'It's better to be safe than dead'
Jane was the first to go in followed by me, Tali and Ashley. We walked to the other side of the room and opened the door, revealing a few Varren and some other people. One of them turned around, revealing themselves as Batarian.
"Batarians" Jane said, distastefully. Normally, I'd be against her racist hate against aliens but I have to agree with her on this. I've never met a Batarian who was actually civil to people and not pirates, mercenaries, etc. The list goes on.
Suddenly, the batarian shouted.
"Harak. Chekt! Chekt!" he yelled, sending the Varren towards us.
'Harak-what?' I thought confused as I shouted at the incoming Varren but they just kept coming until eventually one of them pulled my leg and made me collapse.
"Bugger off!" I yelled at it as I tried to block it from biting at my head. Suddenly, the Varren was kicked off me and into the wall where a few shots in the head made it stay there. I looked to my right to see Tali offering a hand.
"Dog trouble?" she joked as I grinned, grabbing her hand as she pulled me up.
"Eh, they're always trouble though I think this one wanted a hug a little bit too much" I told her. She giggled in her mask as Jane got a headshot on the last batarian while Ashley dealt with the second Varren.
"I never was a dog person," Ashley confessed as we regroup in the room. When we all regroup, bullets started to fire as we turned to find more batarians shooting at us.
Even though there were a lot of them, without the nuisance of the Varren, they were much easier to deal with.
Eventually, Tali blew up the last of the batarians in the room. We hope so anyway.
"Alright team. Split up and see if we can find anything that could be the controls of the torch outside" Jane ordered. Jane and Ashley began to search upstairs while me and Tali searched downstairs.
While we were searching, I decided to strike up a conversation.
"So, thanks for the help with the Varren, Tali" I smiled in thanks.
"It was no problem, Lily," she said. They was a moment silence before she spoke up,
"Where's Shiva? I thought she was supposed to be with you" she asked me.
"She on the Normandy rechecking her programming for the 4th time" I told her, feeling a bit irritated. If it wasn't or my paranoia, Shiva could tell if the controls were here in a matter of seconds instead of us searching for them which could take awhile.
"4th time? Why did you make her check it a 4th time? What was wrong with the 1st time?" she questioned me, sounding confused.
"Well, you see I'm very paranoid and I didn't feel comfortable risking the ship's security to her" I confessed. She sighed in her mask.
"Lily, I personally checked her programming myself. She is a great VI If she says there is nothing wrong, there is nothing wrong" Tali tried to persuade me.
I know and I normally I would, but if something was to go wrong and they all asked me what happened I can't go and say 'the ball said it was ok', can I?" I argued.
"Why not?" she retaliated. I looked at her incredulously.
"Why not? Tali, it's an electronic ball," I argued again.
"No, it's a VI, Lily" she countered, making me silent. When she knew I wasn't going to reply, she continued.
"VIs are not just some computer that can take viruses and crash loads of times. VIs are intelligent, efficient, and completely loyal when installed to its programming, which I did. Shiva won't lie to you" Tali continued.
I stood in thought before Ashley's voice broke my concentration.
"Hey, guys. Found the controls…I think," she said. Me and Tali looked at each other before nodding and walking up the stairs and into a side room where Ashley and Jane were now standing, staring at a panel.
"Well, Tali. Let's see if you really do have a knack for machines," I said as Tali walked to the panel and began to press several random buttons.
Suddenly, the woman's voice spoke again.
"I'm reading that the torch is offline," she said.
"Was that you? Can you hear me?" she questioned us.
"I hear you. What's going on? Who are you?" Jane asked her.
"My name's Kate Bowman. I'm an engineer. I was part of the team assigned to bring the asteroid to Terra Nova" she answered.
"We were attacked yesterday by batarian extremists. I've been hiding since they've arrived," she continued.
"I think they know the torch went out" she finished.
'Well, considering the size of it, I even think Joker can see the torch is out' I thought as Jane began to speak.
"Why are they doing this?" Jan questioned.
"I don't know. But if this asteroid isn't slowed, millions of people on Terra Nova are going to die" she told us.
"Cheery" I muttered.
"If I find anything I'll…" she stopped as a noise in the background was heard.
"I've gotta go. Good luck" she said before stopping the transmission.
"Come one, people. We've still got two more torches to blow out," Jane said before leading us out of the room and building.