Chapter 1: Changing the stakes

"Commander if I get back to Vigil's keep alive you and I are going to talk." Dodging the arrows and bolts of Sickly yellow magic the Emissaries are throwing at me. "Alright you want to throw magic fine." Gripping my staff and readying myself I spin around the tree and fire off a Large fire ball it clears the forward ranks but the emissaries and the archers are safe. More arrows and Magic fly at me. A rockfist hits me hard in the shoulder before shattering and cutting me with the minute shards of rock. Another blast of fire and more Darkspawn burn.

"Hurr Hurr." Sounds from behind me I spin and block the sword of a Hurlock with the shaft of my staff. It hisses at me before I push it back and deliver a Walking bomb spell it charges me and I side step letting it run head long into the Mages before exploding. Leaving two magi and one of the strange new Darkspawn. The three of them ready for a big attack and I bring a Barrier to life to hopefully spare my life. I feel the Dark magic crawl across the barrier once, twice then that horrid ripping sensation of a smite. 'It's a Templar!'

"Hurr, hurr hrglk." The Templar like 'Spawn falls back a Dagger stuck in it's chest. Turning to face the Emissaries they stare momentarily before throwing two more blasts of Dark magic one splashes on my barrier removing it the other catches my leg and starts to burn. "Hrghlk!" Looking over my shoulder I see the Templar skilled 'spawn stand shakily raise it's fist in the standard set up for a smite and launch Spinning around and countering with a wall of force magic sets off a blinding flash and sound. The next moment I am standing in a place unknown.

POV Switch Shepard Normandy SR2

{Hey Commander we got an issue in the Cargo bay.} Joker reports.

"What is it Joker? Kinda busy filling out paperwork here."

{Some chick with a wooden staff just took down Garrus, Grunt, and Zaeed.} He answers.

"How in the hell?" Looking at the ceiling. "EDI Where did she come from?"

{An unknown energy surge occurred and when Sensors were back online. She was detected Garrus and company went to investigate. She reacted violently.} The AI responds.

"I'll deal with it." Walking out of the cabin and riding the Elevator down. I step out of the elevator to find the young Krogan frozen in place. Zaeed laying on his back unconscious.

"Shepard a little help?" Grunt asks.

The girl stands there hand extended leaning heavily on a wooden staff. "Halam!" I take another step forward. "Halam!" She barks again turning to face me. I stop. "Weapons off." She orders. Slowly kneeling down and removing the knife from my boot along with the pistol at my hip.

"Easy I just want to talk."

She nods. "Emma Kathari." She points to her self.

"Kathari? That's your name?"

She nods. "Yours?"

"Camille." She motions to Grunt. "Grunt. Can you let him go?"

She lowers her hand and Grunt falls forward. "I think my legs are asleep." He responds. She giggles.

"Commander?" Garrus calls out.

"She's acting in defense Garrus. Back off."

"I would but I kind of can't move." He answers. "She did something and I-" He's cut off by falling forward. A muted thud. "COMMANDER! She dropped."

Jogging over I scoop the girl up. "The hell is she wearing?"

"Leathers from like the human dark ages." Garrus answers. Standing nearby. "Poor kid let's get her to the med bay."

We run to the elevator and ride it to the crew deck. We enter the med bay and Chakwas is ready. "Doc she gonna be alright?"

"She will just exhausted. I would advise checking her pack for anything that resembles food or drink." She answers. Opening the pack I find dried strips of meat, a few flasks of red and blue liquids, and a myriad of dried leaves, and roots. Along with empty glass bottles and vials.

"Mmmh..."

"She's waking up." Garrus calls.

"Oww...Commander I just had the..." Her eyes goes wide at us. "My things."

"Are you feeling alright?"

"My head hurts... One of the red vials." She answers. Grabbing one and handing it to her. She pops the stopper out and swallows it down. The cuts, scrapes, and large burn on her arms and legs fade. "Where am I?"

"On a ship."

"In the Waking Sea?" She asks.

"No idea where that is. But no in space."

"What is space?"

"Shepard I got this." Garrus grabs the girl's wrist and drags her to the observation lounge. "That's Space kid."

"Creators..." She whispers. "May...May I have some time alone?"

"Sure thing Kathari." We step out as she stares out into space. I walk to the elevator and ride it to my cabin before sitting at my desk and opening Security feed where Kathari is. "What's going on in your mind Kid."

{She appears to be speaking in a dead Language from before recorded History.} EDI supplies.

"Hahren na melana sahlin,
emma ir abelas,
souver'inan isala hamin.
Vhenan him dor'felas,
in uthenera na revas.

Vir sulahn'nehn,
vir dirthera,
vir samahl la numin,
vir lath sa'vunin."

Her voice dies out into gentle sobs and even those too fade she climbs onto one of the benches and goes still. {She is asleep commander.}

"EDI turn off the lights in there let her rest." I leave the monitor up but head deeper into my room and grab a blanket and pillow. "No one is allowed in there. Beyond myself for the next 36 hours."

"Yes Commander." EDI responds. I leave my cabin and head to the observation lounge. Entering the room I drape a blanket over her, Lift her head and slip the pillow under it. Before turning to leave.

"Thank you." She whispers. I hear the shift of fabric and look back to see that she has pulled the blanket tight around herself. Leaving the room I reach the Elevator and take it to the CiC. Walking up behind Joker's chair.

"So Commander your letting a strange girl that wears leather armor sleep in the starboard lounge."

"Shut it Joker, she's a kid she was scared and if she can stop three veteran fighters on her own in the condition she was in? Hell she has my respect." Smirking. "Besides she reminds me of myself before I joined the alliance."

"Minus the whole throwing fireballs and freezing krogan's in place?" He jokes.

"Yeah I'm sure she could have done much worse but she seemed pretty tired."

"Commander..." A light voice asks I turn to find the girl standing there. "The voice said I could find you here I was wondering if there was someplace I could Bathe."

"Sure thing." I turn and walk with her back to the elevator. "The women's bathroom is here." Showing her the room. "There are showers inside."

"Thank you Commander." She walks up to the door and it slides open. Before she walks in. Rounding the corner and entering the Main battery.

"So when and where are we dropping this kid off Shepard?" Garrus asks.

"Garrus she has no knowledge of where she is, what technology is. We can't just dump her on the citadel. Besides she did kick around yourself, Zaeed, and Grunt she can fight."

"You are not considering recruiting this kid are you?" He turns from his calibrations. "You are... Cam. Really?"

"She fights like a soldier. And she moves faster than a Biotic in mid charge I know you saw that Vakarian."

"True. But she's just a kid Shepard." He sighs.

"I'm going to make the offer she seems like the type to not pass up a chance for some stability."

"Yeah and this ship is the picture of stable..." He rolls his eyes. "Just don't push her into it Shepard."

The door opens. And I find her standing there hand reaching for the ornate dagger on her hip eyes locked on Garrus. "Easy Kathari. He's a friend."

"Hey kid sorry for earlier." Garrus extends a hand and she looks at him funny.

"Oh right. You can't understand him here." Pressing a Translator disk to the space behind her ear. "Say it again Garrus."

"Sorry for earlier kid, Nice to meet you." His hand still floats in the air between them.

"Yeah, it was my first reaction I was in a fight before I ended up here." She nods. "Your name is Garrus?"

"Yes." He nods dropping his hand.

"What are you?" She asks and I can't help but chuckle.

"I'm Turian." He answers. She glances around. Before spotting his Rifle. She walks over and lifts it. "Easy, I can teach you if you want but..." She places a hand to his chest piece. Her eyes flash with a green light. To which she proceeds to dismantle and re assemble His rifle perfectly. "Wow what did you do?"

"Learned how to use this weapon." She answers. "May I?"

"Let's go down to the range. See what you can do." Smiling. As she turns and runs to the Med bay I see her pick up one of the large Flasks of Blue liquid and downs it before loading the rest into her pouch except for one red and one blue. She picks those up and gives them to Chakwas speaks with her for a moment before nodding and taking the vials back. Garrus and I meet her at the Elevator.

"The Doctor told me to give these to a Salarian named Mordin." She cocks her head a bit. "What's a Salarian?"

"We'll take you to meet him. Have to go near there to pick up more weapons for you to try." Garrus answers.

"Okay." A nod.

"What are those anyways you drank a red one earlier and you healed right up."

"Health potion, the blue one is for my magic." She answers.

"You drank a pretty big blue one just now."

"Needed it I was hit by a Darkspwan's anti-magic attack. Along with the mana I used to fight." She answers.

"Aren't you Human?" Garrus asks.

"Are you?" She retorts a grin in place.

"Oh you have wit." He laughs. "Your a fun one kid."

"Not a Kid." She retorts. "Became an adult two years ago."

"How old?"

"17." She answers. "Passed my rite."

"Your still a kid to us Adult hood is 18."

"Just...don't treat me like a kid. I have fought and bled. I've killed." She clenches a fist as we enter the Science lab.

"Mordin we got some samples for you."

"Our guests miracle drink?" He asks rapidly walking up. Kathari leans back her hand outstretched to him. "Yes, yes good thank you." Mordin fires off taking the vials.

"Red is healing, Blue is mana." Kathari supplies. "If you need more I can make some. Not much more."

Mordin takes a sample of the blue one. "Purified Eezo mixed with reagent. How?" She nods and removes a small packet and places it on the table.

"All I have. Please be careful."

"I will."

"Only Magi, and Dwarves can handle it without issue. Eyes bleed otherwise not pretty." She smirks. She divides the powdered mineral up giving Mordin a decent sample size. "Lyrium is Magic." She gently sweeps the rest of the powder back into it's bag and sealing it tightly. "Ready."

"She handles Eezo without worry interesting." Mordin mutters before taking a syringe and drawing a sample from Kathari. She rounds on him hands just starting to glow with a strange light. "Just a sample."

"I am no blood mage." The growl coming from her throat puts me on edge.

"Good to know, Irrelevant in the long run." Mordin answers.

"Kathari you can stay or we can drop you off but your going to need Modern weapons training."

"I'll stay. With you I have a feeling I can do something good. And the Creators would not have put me here if there was not a reason. Besides my people are gone, my race is dead, Where would I go?"

"Anywhere you want." Garrus answers. "The galaxy has no knowledge of you."

"I'll stay and fight your enemy Shepard." She restates. "Your enemy is mine, Your goal is mine, No species deserves to be hunted and culled like that, No species should be made a slave. After this if we survive The batarian race will find a new Demon to fear..." Her fist clenches and a flare of energy curls around it like fire for a moment before winking out.

"Well if your joining us then you will need armor..." She grins. "New armor."

"Oh sod off just point me where to go." She sighs.

"We may actually have to manufacture you a set and that would require you being down to your underwear." Grinning as she fidgets.

"Shut it!" She squeaks. Her cheeks flushing.

"Joker, Set a course for Omega it's not my first choice but it'll have to do."

{Aye aye Commander dropping our guest off or what?} He responds.

"Getting her era appropriate armor." That comment earns me a glare.

{Yeah I don't think her leather pads come with Shield generation capability. And those tights?} Joker teases.

"You know I can hear you and I am not particularly fond of humans." She calls out.

"Shutting up now." Joker responds after a moment.

Hours later POV Switch Kathari

Exploring the ship I find myself amazed. Rounding a corner I'm grabbed and pushed to a wall. My wrist placed between my shoulder blades. "Who the bloody hell are you and how did you get on the ship?" The smell of Ozone permeates the air. A light buzz in my ear. "Answer me."

"I am Kathari of the Dalish and I do not know." The hand holding my wrist yanks it higher pulling a yelp from me. She releases me after a moment and I vanish into the one place I know. A time later Shepard enters the room.

"I hear you had a run in with Miss Lawson." She states simply.

"That is her name?"

"It is. I forgot to bring you to her attention. Are you alright?" Shepard responds.

"I am, I was exploring getting to know my surroundings."

"The words Shem and Shemlen, What do they mean?" An innocent question.

"Quick and Quickblood. It is...was how the ancients of my people described Humans once we were eternal, never dying. The ancient humans afflicted us with the affect of short lives. Or so the legends go. Not much is remembered Our home was destroyed our history along with it what we know is little and hardly a fraction of what it once was."

"So it's an insult of sorts?"

"Yes... I try not to let my personal losses affect me but people like that Lawson woman push me wrong I am sorry."

"It's alright just do try not to kill my crew yeah?" She smiles.

"Yeah." She stands and goes to leave. "There are men and women who embrace destiny; these are the ones that change the world forever."

"What was that?" She asks.

"Just a piece of advice I heard once long ago from a crazy old woman. She was a mage, Or maybe a Dragon? Not sure, point is she said that to me I thought nothing of it till now." Smiling. "You Shepard are embracing destiny, you are changing the galaxy forever."

"I... don't know how to respond to that." She answers. "See you later."

"Yeah. See you..." Staring out into space. As the door closes.

POV Switch Shepard

The Vid feed from the Observation lounge catches Kathari acting her age she draws her knees to her chest and the Audio pick ups detect a whimper. "Shit EDI Lock the room down let no one in there she obviously doesn't want to be seen like this."

{Yes Commander.} A pause. {Shall I continue watching her?}

"Yes, but extend that watch to the door to her room if anyone tries to bypass the lock I want to know. And let me know if she tries to harm herself."

{Yes Commander.} I watch the girl for another hour before minimizing the feed. {Commander, Garrus is requesting to enter your cabin.}

"Let him in." The door hisses open.

"How's the Kid?" He asks.

"She's been crying for over an hour. I feel for her. She just lost everyone she knew, Her entire race in the blink of an eye. Her friends, her family. It's like Mindoir for me."

"Shit... Are we doing the right thing? Letting her stay on I mean?" Garrus sits heavily in the chair. He brings up the security feed. And stares at it for a few seconds. Before minimizing it again. "Hell this kid is tough. She doesn't show any of that to others just the confident, Kick ass girl."

"She's not trusting of us I aim to change that at least about myself and some of the crew." Looking to the Chrono on the wall. "It's late I'm going to visit her one last time see if she needs anything then I'm hitting the rack."

"Alright Shepard I'm heading back to the main gun, Let me know if she needs anything?" Garrus states.

"I will." Nodding.

Riding the elevator down and walking to the door I tap on it four times. "Come in." A shaky answer. The door opens. "Commander..."

"Hey... Everything alright?"

"Just fine Commander." She answers evenly the emotion I witnessed on camera missing.

"Do you need anything?" Walking around the room. I see her Staff leaning against the side of the window.

"I...I don't understand you." She stands and crosses the room her hands raised. "May I?"

"Sure." Both hands land on my shoulder's and her eyes flicker green then blue before returning to almost yellow catlike color. "Understand me better?"

"No... but I can see that your not just being nice you actually care..." A small sniffle. "Creators I thought I was done crying." Without thinking I wrap my arms around her and the action is returned after a short moment. "I..."

"Shh just let it out. You don't need to be strong all the time." She lets her walls fall and soon I feel my shoulder dampen. Gently pulling her to the couch. I sit with her as she quietly cries for the loss of her people. The loss of her family, and The loss of her friends. She pulls back.

"Thank you Commander." She smiles sadly.

"Camille." Giving her the choice.

"Camille." She nods. "Thank you."

"It's alright. I lost my entire family to..."

"Batarian Slavers at age 16, Then your closest friend during Elysium, You found her later at Torfan, you were forced to kill her due to the fact that the Batarians used her as a Shield."

"How did you...?"

"Magic has many uses Commander and those with the proper training can learn through physical contact." She answers. "Give me your hand." She takes my hand a places it gently against her own forehead. Images rip through my mind in such a way I learn everything there is to know about that particular snapshot of her life. "Fair is fair."

"You escaped the destruction of your clan by luck stumbled into a village half dead a woman found you and cared for you she again saved your life when the villagers wanted to stone you for being a mage, the village was sacked by those things 4 years later you fled with a family from the village." A shallow gulp. "How old?"

"10 it was 6 years ago for me. I lost my clan at 10." She answers.

"Damn." She yawns. "Your tired I'm keeping you up I'll get going." Standing and heading to the door I feel a hand on my shoulder.

"Please Camille stay, at least till I fall asleep." She asks.

"Okay if your sure you trust this Shemlen." Smirking as she rolls her eyes.

"About as much as I trust my magic." She responds. Walking with her the two steps it takes to the Couch. I sit next to her as she undoes the laces holding her Armor in place The shirt underneath is soaked in sweat and plastered to her skin. "Sorry Sleeping in armor leads to uncomfortable rashes even with under clothing." She wriggles the pants off and sits next to me. Before laying down and pulling the blanket over herself. "You must think of me as some frightened kid."

Maybe a little. "No, I don't your acting just as you should for the circumstance."

"Soldiers make bad liars Camille." She smirks. "But thanks for trying." I sit next to her as she drifts to sleep.

"Sleep tight kid." I leave the room and head back to my cabin.