How deep can you go before you can't figure out which way is up? It was a question that was asked at their psych screening, it was meant to be rhetorical but Kiyomi still felt she had to answer it. She had brilliantly stated that she would always know which way is up; it's whatever direction the Agency says it is. That was the military doctrine answering for her. That, along with all her other answers went down in as a scribble on her sheet. That day happened six years ago and since then she had become part of the Infiltration and Intelligence Team. Which begs the question, in the 22nd century how do you spy on someone who isn't even your species? Kiyomi could only wager that you needed to be trusted, only then could you manipulate them.
Kiyomi Ito was born on Mars around the same time the Prothean ruins were discovered. Her generation was the first to grow up in a galaxy where aliens existed and space travel was easy. Technology came easy to her generation and it was shown that they were the smartest generation yet of the century. Babies were being born all the time with "special powers" that enabled them to warp physics with their minds. Kiyomi's generation was one of public service, meaning the Alliance grew by 400% when the first of the generation turned 18. If you had "special powers", which were later dubbed biotics, you were sent to camps and schools on different stations. If you showed an aptitude for understanding technology, you would be contacted by different agencies during high school and college. If you didn't show any potential or aptitude for anything… you could still pull a trigger. Kiyomi was lucky, or unlucky, and was gifted with biotics. They had become apparent before the Alliance truly understood what they were.
As with most biotics, one day after high school an Alliance recruiter came to her family's apartment. He had brochures and statistics about where Kiyomi could go with the Alliance career-wise. What had interested Kiyomi from the start was espionage; she could be just like the sexy women in the vids. She too could stand on a roof somewhere wearing a sexy outfit and blast a hole in someone's head a mile away. Mars was nice, but Kiyomi wanted to see the galaxy at its nastiest. She had completely tuned out what the recruiter was saying and was unaware that he had asked her a question. She had stared at him blankly and he repeated,
"So do you need time to think or have you made your decision?" Kiyomi looked at her parents, who just stared at the floor unsure of what to think. She got up and looked across the red expanse of what was known locally as the Great Desert. She was ready to leave, ready to move beyond this small city, and do big things that changed the galaxy. It wasn't enough to be a biotic kid from Mars; she wanted to be lethal and worldly. She felt it in her bones and in the bowels of her soul, she needed to travel and make more of her life, this was her one ticket there.
"I have made a decision." She took in a deep breath, articulating each word perfectly,
"I want to do this." The recruiter smiled broadly and beaming announced,
"You have made all of us very proud!" He turned to her parents and was telling them where to sign. Her mother was crying softly and her father had the same stoic expression he had been wearing as he signed the paperwork. Realizing that she might never see her parents again made Kiyomi a little depressed. After all she did love her parents, Kiyomi cleared her throat,
"I have one question, when do we leave and will I see my parents again?" The recruiter smiled,
"We leave now and you will see your parents once you graduate from BAAT." Kiyomi nodded and left to pack her clothes. Her eyes only moistened once as she looked at a note her mother had written her more than ten years ago. She put the note in her pocket and put her bag over her shoulder.
"Miss Ito are you ready to depart?" The recruiter smiled as he asked her. Kiyomi nodded and hugged her parents and turned to walk out the door into the hallway. That was the last time she saw them again and she didn't even tell them she loved them. As they traveled to the military base Kiyomi looked at the recruiter,
"I must admit I am a little nervous… do you know what station I will go to?" The recruiter laughed,
"I have no idea, you will either be assigned to the Gregarin or Jump Zero, but that's all I know." Kiyomi nodded and hugged herself as she looked out the window.
His eyes flicked over the data pad as he read her file.
Name: Kiyomi Ito
Gender: Female
DOB: 03 26 2158
Profession: Freelancer
Psychological Findings: 08 22 2176: Anti-Social/ Sociopathic tendencies. Displays a deep aversion to authority and general paranoia. Has expressed multiple advanced disillusions regarding the Alliance and the Council. Claims to have insider knowledge of "inner workings of the government". Biotic L1 implants are causing massive migraines and may be contributing to her skewed view of reality. Is using prescribed narcotics to help with pain and flare-ups.
He sighed changing the screen to her holo. She was a tiny little thing, standing at just about 5 feet. She had Japanese characters on each vertebrae of her spine, some sort of tattoo under her bottom lip and he could see characters running down from her naval to... he could only guess where. Her hair was jet black and short; it came to her jaw and was shaggy with patches of bright purple and red. Her dark eyes glared at him and her mouth was set in a permanent smirk. She was dangerous and was just what he needed to add to the team.
He woke up and shaved. Today the team was being brought in together so everyone could meet face to face. This was going to be fun… not. He looked in his closet and picked out his nicest suit and shoes. He needed to identify himself as the one with the most money and the one in charge. He picked out his most boring tie, flat black. It was a Versace tie so at least it was expensive, but he still hated it. He walked to his balcony where his chauffeur and car were waiting. Nodding at the chauffeur he slid into the back seat. Looking out the window he watched as the modern buildings disappeared from view and were replaced by buildings that were at least 10 years old. He hated this section of town; it reminded him of all the homeless beggars that choked the slums. He looked up at the sky; it was cloudy but would most likely not rain.
"What a shitty day!" His driver, Putnam looked at him in the rearview mirror,
"What did you say?" He sighed,
"Here I am in a nice suit, tie, and shoes… and the sun doesn't even have to decency to come out and shine on me! Talk about depressing…" Putnam laughed a rich earthy tone,
"I think that the sun shining on you would maybe have them think you are too good for them? Maybe this is showing your darkside, which is after all what is needed I think?" He snorted back,
"Yeah, I guess you're right. I should show up all gangster with my gun hanging out and my 5 o' clock shadow. Then I'll walk over and be like, 'Whada fuck you here for bitches?'" Putnam shrugged smiling,
"Maybe that will work. Who am I to judge?" He gestured at Putnam for him to pull over,
"Here is fine, I'll walk in. I'll catch a cab home." Putnam nodded asking,
"Are you sure sir? I know you hate cab drivers…" He waved his hand to silence Putnam's concerns,
"No, no. I'll be fine. You take the day off and spend it with your family." He got out on the sidewalk and waved at Putnam as he drove away. The street was mostly silent as he walked towards the warehouse that they would be using. He entered the building and took the lift up. As the door opened he saw Kiyomi sitting on the table. She was wearing a mini-skirt and fishnets and her torn top revealed most of her torso. She looked rough, sporting a swollen jaw and black eye. She needed work, but she could pull it off. He put his hands behind his back and greeted her,
"Good Morning Miss Ito. I'm assuming you're ready to begin your assignment?" Kiyomi looked at him,
"Yes I guess I am. What exactly is required of me?" He sighed,
"You my dear are going to be our eyes and ears of this operation. You will be the pretty face and the distraction…" Kiyomi's interest was piqued. Even with her grunge appearance, the glamorous life had always appealed to her,
"Okay… I'm listening. So who is the rest of the team?" Smiling he answered,
"Glad to hear it. The team will be meeting us in about an hour. Until then I will be briefing you on the mission." Kiyomi nodded eager to start. He began,
"I am Mr. Figuero. I am funding this mission wholly. So it is my prerogative to pull you out if I don't like how you are doing your job. You will receive your creds throughout the months that you are working; however, you won't need them until the job is complete. Anything you need to complete your job will be provided. If there is something that isn't already provided, let me know and it is yours. Any questions on that matter?" Kiyomi shook her head, wanting to speed this along as much as possible. Figuero started up again,
"You are part of an operation to infiltrate a government. This government is… Omega. The galaxy's dirtiest money moves through there and I want part of it. You all have fake identities. I know that it's not simple when it comes to getting information past Aria, but I have money and brains. This means that I have well thought out plans and unless you screw up… it will work fine." Kiyomi interrupted before he could continue further,
"What is the plan exactly?" Figuero spoke,
"I was getting there. When you're given your new identities, I want you to use it for everything. Make sure you use your credit chit and not cash. Make sure you buy things that would fit your new personalities. If it's in your personality to get arrested then so be it. Use your imagination and make all of this seem as real as possible. I believe in you, this will work." Kiyomi interrupted again,
"I'm sorry sir but I just don't understand why I am so important?" Figuero started again,
"Once again, I was about to get there. You my dear are the missing link. Like I said you are the pretty face, eyes, and ears. Without you my team's cover would be blown and there would be no recovery. You have special talents and aptitudes to be exactly what you need to be…" Kiyomi looked expectant.
"You are going to go in as a hard on luck woman. You need money and you need it however you can get it. You will probe the underbelly of Omega and learn as much as you can, from whoever you can. You will be in such deep cover that you won't be able to figure out which way is up. However, you my sweet are a smart, capable individual." Figuero looked at his watch and heard footsteps in the background,
"They should be here shortly. So that is the basic briefing, you will be given more information as the mission progresses. In the meantime I want you to meet a good friend of mine, Mrs. Capella. She will be training you on what you need and how to be your new person." He turned and walked away and Kiyomi called out to him,
"So who exactly are you training me to be?" Figuero called over his shoulder,
"My daughter of sorts!" Kiyomi looked at his back confusedly and turned to Mrs. Capella, who spoke to her in a matronly voice,
"Hello Miss Ito. So, would you like to get a coffee this afternoon after you're done with the introductions? I would love to get to know you better…" Kiyomi smiled warmly, Mrs. Capella reminded her of her mother already,
"Yeah, that would be great. I guess I can ask you all of my questions then." Mrs. Capella nodded,
"When you're done, meet me here, I'm sending you the address to the café." Kiyomi bowed her head slightly as Mrs. Capella exited. Kiyomi leaned against the table thinking about what had happened. As she was mulling it all over, the lift opened again revealing several men. Standing up straighter she watched as they approached her. Some of them were wearing armor, others were in their civvies. Some were dressed nicer than others, their wealth becoming apparent. The first man to reach her spoke up; he was tall and heavily built,
"So you're the new chick. Welcome aboard and I hope you got what it takes. The name's Pancho." He held out his hand and Kiyomi shook it,
"Hello, my name is Kiyomi." She looked around at everyone else; they were obviously sizing her up and wondering what she could do. She also remembered that she had a black eye and swollen jaw. Pancho spoke up,
"So, I'm the so-called leader of this team. I handle all the ground plans and all the bull-shit that Figuero shouldn't have to hear about." Kiyomi smirked; she was already beginning to like Pancho. He continued on introducing everyone. There was Chris the Intelligence Officer; there was Joe and Caesar who were gods among the techie world; there was Mambo who was also an Infiltrator; and then there was her. She had no idea when she signed up for the job what it would actually entail… and so far it was a lot more than she had expected from your basic follow-someone-around-the-galaxy job. After the further briefings on what was expected from her by the team, Kiyomi began walking toward the coordinates in her omni-tool. She needed some caffeine, definitely.