This is the first chapter about my new character. Mia is a character with a lot of dark secrets and tortured enemies, but she is incredibly gifted in combat. She is barely more than a child, some say she is still a child, but she bring out the most in the crew, Shepard especially. Shepard will definitely have a very special bond (not romantically) with her later on. So please tell me what you think! Review please!
Speed was my friend, agility my gift, and combat was my lover. As another bullet flew by, I sprinted on my toes, diving onto an abandoned stone and rolling behind boxes for cover. I normally knew how to stay out of these situations, but it only takes getting caught picking merc's pocket once before they want your head on a platter. Stingy bastards.
The thing with these mercs though is that no one notices when one goes missing especially on Omega, granted I'm sure they could say the same for a small time pickpocket, but that's just the way life worked.
"Come out girl! You pick fight with Blue Suns! You die!"
I ducked behind a crate and muffled my laughter by biting my lip before glancing over the top and launching the stone at the Vorcha's hitting it spot on. Immediately he stumbled backward before straightening up and taking an angry charge after me. But I was too fast for him, as I rounded the corner into Afterlife laughing at the brainless creature.
Twenty-five credits! That was enough for some food for tonight, maybe something actually half way appetizing.
My day dream was quickly interrupted when I felt someone slide an arm around my waist and a hand over my mouth. Immediately I fought, ready to remove myself from their grip, but much to my surprise it held tight.
"Listen!"a voiced hissed almost snake like in my ear. "I hear you are the person to talk to if "
Finally the grip loosened and I spun out of the grip, my already pulled knife pressing into my arm read for attack. A creature, covered from head to toe in a black cloth stood before me. I was sure it was human, but in all honesty I couldn't even tell if it was male or female. It kept calm body language even though it was seemingly unarmed.
"Who are you?" I snapped angrily.
"Merely an interested party," the airy voice continued as I stood straighter. "I have come to offer a business proposal.
I crossed my arms but still kept my knife ready for an attack. Quite the welcoming committee for a business proposal. "I don't do business. I work alone."
This didn't seem to even faze the creature. Instead it offer a piece of paper from a heavily scarred hand. "This is your payment for accepting the reward. You'll receive twice that if you are successful."
I took the paper from her, my mouth dropped at the number. Suddenly I cleared my throat and stood taller. "What do I have to do?"
If possible I think I actually felt the creature smile, the sinister evil rolling off of it causing chills to run down my spine. There was something dark about this being that I didn't like, but I didn't care. If I accepted this opportunity, I would definitely not have to eat cold slum again, or hot slum for that matter. Something more along the line of getting out of the piss poor atmosphere of Omega.
"There is a cure for the plague. Your mission is simple: destroy it."
My jaw dropped open in shock. The plague? The cure was what Omega had been hoping for as it claimed more and more lives each day. Even though I hated the planet, as well as the creatures on it, I wished no one to die a death such as that. More than that, I wasn't going to live with knowledge of how many people's blood I had on my hands if I did.
Immediately I shook my head. There was no way I was going to aid this plague any further along than it was already. Yes, I was a criminal, but I was not a cold blooded killer.
"Keep your credits, that's not my type of job," I snapped turning away from the canister, heading back the way I came. Slum suddenly sounded good again, not wanting to taste the food bought with blood money. But only a few steps in I felt something push against my back, just between my shoulders. The oh too familiar feeling of a gun being shoved into your body. Where they hell do you keep pulling these things out of?
"Let me rephrase. You will accept this task, or you will die." The gun dug deeper into my back as the hissing voice came closer. "You do not want to piss off me or my employers. And trust me, we're everywhere."
I was about to make a witty retort about being fearless when I felt a hand cover my eyes. Visions of me screaming, begging for mercy, begging for death flashed in my eyes. Some I was connected to a machine that sent electric volts through my body, others I was just being beaten by men or all races. Krogans trampling me… All of the visions felt so real that when the hand lifted from me, I fell to the ground gasping for breath.
"You will do as I say!"
Too say the least, I accept the task. But accepting it also came with twenty-five thousand credits. So yes, I may have sold part of my soul but at least I was well set for quite a while. For someone who knew how to get around armed mercs without being caught, sneaking into the quarantined area was not in any way difficult.
The requirements of the job seemed simple enough: come back with the cure destroyed or don't come back at all. Death didn't really seem too appetizing so I decide that I was just going to live. As though it was that easy.
I rounded another corner, I was getting closer to the clinic, where the cure was. But just as I did so I heard the familiar cracks of gun fire.
Though, I suppose I should have spent some credits on a gun because when fire erupted around my head, I realized I had brought a knife to a gun fight. I had appeared somehow behind a group of Blue Suns as watched as stray bullets wizzed around me. Immediately, staying well hidden, I evaluated my options. There was always the option of staying hidden, but what fun was that?
Slowly I crept up behind the nearest merc and strategically placed my hand on his chin and twisted quick and hard. With a snap that was unable to be heard over the gun fire he feel too the ground. My body moved along with it, sliding into cover behind a wall, ready for the next one. A few more mercs fell before I finally rolled onto the ground, ignoring a bullet that came so close I felt the wind on my ear, and knocked another one off balance, finishing him off with my knife in his chest.
I felt the heat of eyes falling upon me as I realized I had been exposed. "They're coming from behind!" the creature hissed as his gun suddenly pointed at me. He raised up as I jumped over a storage container and took cover.
Cracks exploded as I groaned. I peered over the edge and waved my hand through the air sending another merc flying. Two more turned to me and I jumped onto the storage containers, skillfully sprinting at them, taking one out with a hard kick to the wind pipe while the other caught my thrown knife in the chest.
That was the last of them. Finally I stood and immediately check their pockets, mostly out of habit. I also didn't mind taking one of their pistols with me as well. I had nearly completely forgotten about the other half of the fight until I heard a gun lock onto target.
"Stop!" a harsh voice barked, immediately making me freeze with both my hands out, even though I was still holding the gun. I felt the gun be ripped from my hands as someone forcefully spun me around.
I found myself staring at three well armored humans. The red head in the middle seemed to be in charge. I didn't see a whole lot of humans, well humans like these, around Omega. Sometimes I wondered if they even existed.
The woman on the left seemed almost confused by my appearance. "She's twelve," she snorted waving her hand as though dismissing me completely. What the hell was up with her accent and her prissy clothing? They hardly looked like fighting material compared to the other two.
"Fifteen," I snapped defensively. Realizing that they weren't going to shoot me, I crossed my arms in front of my chest and glared at her. "Besides, I think I proved my skill."
Without another word I walked over to the vorcha and pulled my knife out of his chest, tucking it into my boot where it usually resided. I groaned irritably as I realized my brown jacket was now spotted with blood. My dismissal seemed to through the others off.
"The name's Mia, by the way," I offered as politely as I could, not exactly used to having to use my minimal knowledge of manners. "Are you guys Alliance?"
The question wasn't supposed to be taken badly, but when the leader tightened I regretted my words. Body language, though sometimes conflicting, was something I had grown very used to reading. It often told me who a good target choice would be and who would be more trouble than they're worth.
"We work for Cerberus," she said coolly, as though it was supposed to mean something to me. All I could do was nod in reply as I continued glancing around the room for a casual escape. Of course, there wasn't one.
The leader put away her woman and the others followed. "I'm Commander Shepard, that's Miranda," she motioned to the priss who seemed to be less than pleased with me then motioned to the man on her right that seemed to be watching me with some suspicion, "and Jacob."
"Is it really necessary to be kind to strays?" Miranda snapped again making me want to push her face through a wall.
"What bring you to a place like this Mia?" Shepard asked kindly, ignoring Miranda's smart remark. Jacob dark eyes didn't leave me as I paced the room.
"I suppose you could call it business," I muttered with unhidden distaste. Shepard watched as I nervously reached for my knife. I need to hold it. It calmed my nerves.
The sharp eyes of Commander Shepard studied me. "I take it you don't care for business."
I shot her a look of surprise, but quickly wiped it away and replaced it with a cool heir. "I'm just looking for the clinic."
For the first time Jacob spoke. "You seem to be rather sure of yourself on the battle field, and your biotics are impressive."
All I could do was shrug, there was no point in denying it. Yet why tell him the story that I had to learn to fight and control my biotics to survive. Not all of us were handed straight-laced life like the princess over there who still seemed to be disgusted with every part of me.
I walked over to the group and pulled the pistol out of the man's hand. "I have a job to do," I snapped walking past them into the next corridor.
"I think you and I could help each other," Shepard called. I turned around and raised an eyebrow at her. She smirked a little, obviously pleased she caught my attention. "We're both headed to the same place. There's more than likely going to be quite a few merc's along the way so why not assist each other?"
I smiled. She had a point, taking out a bunch of mercs alone wasn't an easy task. Now having three others at your side, that could be a bit more interesting.
I dove into cover as I watched the sheer energy of Shepard biotic power throw three vorchas into a wall. My pistol was aim and quickly took fire at another's head. Unlike the others, I didn't have shields and armor, but I had my agility and stealth to fall back on.
It was nearly an hour later when we finally hit the clinic. I heard the turian guards order the others to stand down at the sight of Shepard. Silently I took note of the power she held. She walked with great authority, but with grace as well. The way people looked at her made me envious. Admiration from strangers merely because she seemed as though she disserved to be admired. But when people saw me, all they saw was a pathetic kid who wore stained clothes.
Part of me hated her, the rest of me admired her like the rest.
Without a word I separated myself from them, heading straight towards the back where the salarian doctor stayed. But apparently my attempt to part from them was in vain, as they also entered the room.
Miranda eyed me suspiciously as I fell in behind them while the other two merely took mental note of it. The salarian rambled on about nothing I particularly cared about, in fact I found myself off in space until I realized the scientist had just handed Shepard what I needed… the cure.
"Take it to the air vents. The vents will distribute the cure throughout Omega. The infected will be cure," the salarian said in choppy sentences. All I could do was blink at his curious speed before realizing the commander was already heading out the door, dismissing the ending of the scientist blabber.
I stared at her. "He just gave you the cure?" I said dubiously. "Just like that?"
Jacob smirked over his shoulder at me. "That's what happens when you're Shepard. People trust you."
I blinked at them. Shepard seemed to be completely ignoring the conversation but I could sense she was completely aware of every minute detail of her surroundings. I though carefully. My best chances of destroying the cure and surviving was staying with her.
"Care if I tag along?"
"We're not babysitters," Miranda snapped sending a heated glare over her shoulder. I clinched my fist in order to keep myself from hitting her.
Shepard just looked over her shoulder. "Keep up and keep your head down. Basically don't get killed."
I chuckled slightly at her choice of words. Simple and to the point. But before I could respond the doors opened and enemy fire hit. Shepard took point and the others dove behind the walls. I on the other hand sprinted across the room to the west wall. The enemies were coming from the north.
Quickly I pulled my gun and slid into position, much closer than the others. With ease I took out three mercs, using only four shots. I thought this was going to be easy, right up until a krogan appeared.
I muttered a few curses under my breath and retreated back. Jacob smirked as I dove next to him.
"Krogan's aren't any fun without armor?" he joked as I raised my hand, forcing the krogan into the air with my biotics.
With a loud thud the beast slammed into the ground. By the time the battle was over I mentally took note that shields would be a good investment for any future battles, along with weapons that can hold more than nine bullets.
We all followed as Shepard carried the cure up to the air vents, but immediately I drew my gun and pointed it at her. Just as I knew would happen, two guns were now aimed at me. So, in reality, death would be my only choice, but I would rather be killed there than be killed at the hands of the sinister creature that put me on this job.
"Give me the cure, Shepard," I snapped with false confidence. In fact it wasn't even false confidence since my fear and desperation was obvious.
Shepard actually looked momentarily surprised, not by my request but most likely my sudden outburst of stupidity. She took a step towards me, unfazed by my weapon in my hand. "This is the cure to the plague. It will save all these people, why do you want to keep it from them?" Shepard asked with an oddly harsh tone.
My hands shook as the fear began to consume me. "I don't want to die! They'll kill me if I don't destroy it!" A lump grew in my throat. Suddenly I threw down the gun and lunged for the cure, hoping to knock it out of her hands, but Jacob's arms caught be before I could get anywhere.
"Kill me!" I suddenly screamed. "Don't let them have me! Kill me!"
Sobs broke from my chest as Jacob let me slide to the floor. I was trembling images ran through my head. The images the creature had forced into my mind as well as real memories from my own past. Steal, fight, live.
A hand lifted my chin making my eyes meet the deep green eyes of Commander Shepard. "You're safe with us, kid. We're going to cure these people, Dr. Mordin is going to join our group, and then you'll come on the Normandy with us."
"You have to be kidding me? She's a kid. She'll only get in our way!" Miranda growled. "The Illusive Man would not want-"
"Miranda, you saw her fighting skills. She was taking out the vorcha without armor or shields with nothing more than a pistol and a knife. She's proven her skill," Jacob snapped as I wiped my eyes, embarrassed by my outbreak of weakness.
The small argument continued, completely ignoring the subject of their argument that was standing right in front of them. Finally, Shepard waved her hand to silence them both, glaring at them both irritably.
"This is my call, and I say she goes. We could use her skills," she explained.
"Shepard, she's a teenager! She's unstable," Miranda snapped as though me being a teenager was the source of more than just my instability but the only reason.
"Miranda, we could use her." The ice in Shepards tone could freeze hell over and it was enough to silence Miranda. We all knew the conversation was over and I was a part of the team. Yet, I was still afraid.
As the cure was released and the Blue Suns killed, I kept holding my breath, waiting for the shadowy creature to appear and take me away. The entire time I followed the group, I found myself only listening. I rarely spoke unless asked a direct question, all of which I tried to avoid.
When the mission was completed I followed Shepard silently onto the Normandy. She had been watching me much more closely than she had the salarian, yet I wasn't completely sure why. Many of the crew's eyes fell on me as I walk past them, tugging nervously on my clothing. Suddenly I was self conscious as these well dressed, highly educated people watched me trail behind their ground team.
I followed close behind Shepard even though Jacob and Miranda seemed to have disappeared, leaving on Mordin and myself.
"Shepard, you realize you have a keen observer?" the salarian comment as though being followed by a small human intrigued him.
She only nodded as doors slid open revealing some sort of lab. The salarian blinked and smiled. "Well set up. Well set up. Expect nothing less from Cerberus."
His rambled continued with his speedy talk and choppy sentences. Shepard glanced over to me and exhaled a patient breath. Finally she jumped in as he briefly to a breath to punctuate a fragment.
"I need to go," she said simply, though it seemed rushed, probably because she felt like she was worried he would cut her off with another rant.
Much to my surprise he only nodded. "I'll get to work."
For a moment I watched as the skinny creature continued to work, rambling aloud. A hand fell onto my shoulder causing me to jump slightly and spin to see a gentle look in the commander's eyes.
"I'll show you to your quarters," she said gently already turning to lead the way.
I blinked at her. Quarters? Part of me was very shocked, I didn't actually expect her to allow me to stay. But I remained quiet and followed her obediently to the elevator.
As it opened my eyes darted around, instinctively seeking out hiding places and easy targets. Immediately I picked up on a poorly lit corner, but everything else seemed overly exposed. If needed, I suppose it would have to work.
Shepard watched me closely. I could feel her mentally building my profile for her own private knowledge. The way I moved and jumped at sudden movements, how my eyes caught even the slightest motion. Perhaps I worried her with my quick, jumpy nature, it may have made me seem unstable. Which I most likely was.
"You're safe here."
I was shocked by not just her words but by her tone. It was warm and comforting, something I wasn't used to. She was attempting to calm me.
"Commander Shepard, your new recruit's heart rate is dangerously high. Perhaps you should have Dr. Chakwas check on her," an electronic voice chimed from above.
"Thank you EDI, but I don't think that will be necessary," Shepard said calmly guiding me to a room across the hallway.
It was a primarily small area, but it was more than I ever had. A bed with a black comforter was place in the middle with a window staring out onto the deck of Omega. It was so empty, but it felt right.
Slowly I stepped inside, running my hand over the sheets of my new bed. Bed… I've never had one of those either…
"Welcome aboard the Normandy," Commander Shepard said with a very businesslike tone, making me turn back around to her. She was leaning against the door frame seeming very relaxed. "Rest up, I think you will be a great asset to the team tomorrow when we meet Archangel."
I smiled at her. She was offering me a place on the ship, a place to live and work. A place where I wouldn't starve or have to steal for food. A real chance to live. That was, of course, if the shadow creatures didn't catch up with me.
So there you go. What did you think? Review! Love always, Marilynn
