Alarms blaring, glaring red lights, the sound of blasts and gunfire in the background. The time being six o'clock am March 21, Tuesday. A hand reaches to the snooze button on the Omni-clock on bedside drawer. Idly raising her head from a pillow, with a groan gets out of bed. Shaking herself awake, she heads to get dressed.
After finding her black hoodie with the N7 program logo which she was trained in before being chosen as a spectre. She heads out the door, walking through the district to her favorite coffee shop. Hearing the roar of the sky traffic overhead, while walking she remembers today is her best friends birthday. She heads to the gift shop down the way, and browse up and down the store looking for the perfect gift.
Finding a perfect gift for her, she heads to the kiosk. Leaving the store, she continues to where her friend works. Getting to the cafe, Taira sees her come in and an ecstatic look emerged on her face. Hiding the gift behind her back, she orders a peppermint latte with a plain look on her face.
"So… how you been? Got anything planned for today?" Taira asks.
"I'm doing great. I was gonna go to the commons to get some breakfast." Katelin answers. "Have you had breakfast yet? Do you want to go?"
"No, I haven't yet. I was in a hurry and had to leave without breakfast." Taira replies. "I can't leave yet, but could you bring me something?"
"Ok, I gotcha. Want anything in particular?" Katelin inquires.
"Could you get me some of those red nuts. Know which ones I'm talking about?" Taira responds.
"The ones that are only for Turians...I know the ones. Well, I'm heading off see you in a bit." Katelin says.
As Katelin heads to the Commons elevator she sticks up her index and middle finger to form a peace sign. Entering the elevator, she pushes the button to the commons. After what felt like hours the doors finally open to the commons. Stopping at a railing Katelin looks out over the side to see the sky cars, the Presidium garden at the bottom and the ship's engines roaring as the fly above the commons. Still, with a hand on the railing, Katelin makes her way down the stairs.
Reaching the bottom, she observes the arms market. Quickly browsing the kiosk of Kass Fabrications and Nos Astra Sporting Goods, but nothing caught her eyes she makes her way to the Zakera Cafe. Enter the store, a turian looks up behind the store kiosk, the name on her tag reads Citra.
"Hello, Welcome to Zakera Cafe. What can I get you?" Citra greets.
" Hi. Could I get a biscuit with eggs? Oh, and do you have any of red nuts?" Katelin responds.
"Of course. you know that those nuts are for turians and quarians right?" Citra informs.
"Oh I know, there for my friend." Katelin answers. " a friend tried some of the nuts once, he had cramps for days."
" Wow. Sounds painful." Citra replies with a slight chuckle. "Total will be 2.50 credits."
"Cool thank you." Katelin says. " have a good day."
"Thank you. you too and come again." Citra replies.
As Katelin leaves from the shop she heads to the Commons elevator. In the elevator, Katelin rigs the teddy bear to hold the bag of nuts. Exiting the elevator and heading to the cafe. seeing that Taira was busy. Waiting until all her orders were filled Katelin find a place to sit. Taira walks over to Katelin who is sitting at a high table. Exhausted Taira slumps back in her chair.
"Busy day huh?" Katelin jokes.
"You have no idea." Taira weary's replies. " Don't think there's anything in the galaxy to pick me back up."
"Oh really. I think I can of something." Katelin smirks." TAH DAH!"
Katelin pulls outs a teddy bear that says happy birthday while holding the nuts Taira worn out look on Taira's face instantly vanishes and is replaced by glee. Taira hugging the tiny bear giggling to herself.
" Thank you, Katelin. I love it." Taira says.
"I glad...I didn't know what to get you." Katelin responds.
Katelin laughs slightly rubbing the back of her neck. catching a glimpse of her watch, the time reads 8:00 am.
"I'm gonna be late! I need to get to the council." Katelin says.
"What!? but…" Taira starts.
"I'm sorry but I got to." Katelin gently puts. "but don't worry we'll go out tonight when I get back."
"Ok. I'll hold you to that." Taira says defeatedly. " Please, be careful out there."
"Always. hug before I go?" Katelin pleads.
As Katelin stands with open arms. Taira smiles before standing and embraces her friend. As they separate Katelin turns to leave the store and head to the elevator. Katelin gets to the elevator and turns to wave to Taira who is waving back from the counter.
Enter the elevator and selecting the Embassies on the screen. Awhile later the doors open to a sign of the embassies. Katelin exits and heading right, up the ramp and toward the spectre hub. Passing the high-security door and down the hallway. Reaching the terminal that's displaying her name on the screen, followed by a synthetic voice saying "Voice Recognition Required.".
"Nightingale,'' Katelin responds.
The synthetic voice replies "Access granted. Welcome back, Miss Grey.", heading to the center terminal. Katelin checks for mission updates. She notices a message marked urgent from the Asari councilor. Lucky enough the counselor's offices are around the corner. Finishing up in the terminal Katelin heads to the Asari councilor office.
The doors open with a whoosh, the Asari councilor looks up from her desk. Seeing that it was Katelin the councilor stands and reaches for her datapad on her table. Fiddling ln with the pad while walking toward Katelin.
"I have a mission for you." Asari councilor says. " this mission will be extremely dangerous."
"have faith miss councilor." Katelin jokes. " So what makes this mission so dangerous?"
"I do have faith in you and your skills." Asari Councilor reassures. "Also please call me Thea."
"what makes this dangerous is that you're going to save some very important people that were captured by batarian slavers while heading to a conference on Illium." Thea continues. ' the batarians threat to kill torture them if we don't pay them a million credits. That's where you come in. We need you get them out of there before the happens. They are being held on Noveria near the outskirts."
"Alright, I'll leave right away," Katelin replies. "I have a couple of requests before I go."
"And what would they be?" Thea inquiries.
" Come out with me tonight..to celebrate my friend's birthday!" Katelin joyful says. " Also could you keep me posted of any properties on Thessia that come available."
a slight velvet blush appears on Thea's blue cheeks.
"W-w-why do you want me to go with you?" Thea nervously asks. "Also why do you to know about properties on Thessia?"
"Oh, I thought about moving there in a year or two." Katelin replies." As for asking you to join me to celebrate my friend's birthday is because I see you working so hard day in and day out. I thought to myself she needs some time off to relax and recuperate. And what better way to do that than celebrating a birthday at the club."
"how many people will be going with us if I do agree to go?" Thea asks shyly.
"Just the three of us, I promise," Katelin says.
"Ok I come, who knows could be fun," Thea responds.
"Yes! Ok, we'll meet at my place in the starlight district." Katelin excitedly says. "Now, I got a mission to finish before tonight. Bye!"
"Ah yes, please take care of yourself out there." Thea caringly mutters
Selecting the C-sec headquarters in the elevator. Katelin patiently waits for the doors to open. Slowing arriving in C-sec headquarters, and exiting the elevator, then heading to the docking area elevator. The door open to reveal a mildly big ship, with the name Horizon on either side. black hull with a neon green decal of a dragon's head on the bow of the ship.
Katelin while entering her ship is still amazed by it. Turning left toward the cockpit and taking the pilot's seat, starts up the ship. Systems lighting up good and a synthesized voice coming from the right of Katelin.
"We're off on another adventure Cap'n!" A voice happily yells.
"Yup! we sure are Isabella." Katelin replies just as excited. " chart a course to Noveria."
"Aye, aye! Charting course now." Isabella says. "So? what's our mission?"
"Is autopilot on?" Katelin asks.
"Aye, it is." Isabella quickly responds.
Standing from the pilot's seat and walking down the corridor. Down the stairs and turning right, pushing a button on the wall causes a door to open. In the next room on either wall holds different types of weapons. Katelin browsing through the multiple choices of weapons. Choosing an M8 assault rifle, a black widow sniper rifle, and an M5 Phalanx pistol. Leaving and closing the armory. while returning back to the cockpit Katelin tells Isabella about the mission.
"Wow, sound serious." Isabella mildly puts. "So they tell us who the 'VIP' are?"
"No, but Thea said that they had to be rescued before it's too late," Katelin says. "And that's what we're going to do.
"We're arriving in Noveria space in 3..2..1," Isabella adds.
"Alright. let's put her down a bit back from the base." Katelin orders.
Landing the ship in against the falling snow, providing great cover from any cameras. Standing by the airlock, Katelin does last minute armor and ammo checks.
"Alright, Isabella I'll be back with the hostages until then keep engines running just in case of need of a quick getaway," Katelin says.
"Aye, Cap'n" Isabella replies.
Opening the airlock door, the cold and warm air mixing cause a chill to ride down Katelin's the ship and heading toward the base. with each cold shiver, a puff of steam exits Katelin's mask.
"It's bloody freezing out here! It feels like winter back home. I guess it's too late to say 'Winter Is Coming." Katelin shivers out.
Each step crunches with the snow falling faster and Katelin gets closer to the base. Each breath a shudder creeps out, and a steam exiting with her exhales. looking down at her hands, even with gloves on she could tell they were pink and twitching. Finally, she reaches the base, seeing two guards by the door. Katelin pulls the black widow sniper and positions herself in the snow to get them both in one shot.
Lining up the scope and firing a bullet through a suppressor. the bullet soars through the falling snow to meet its target with such force, cause their heads to jolt to the right and their blood painted the snow. Sneaking closer to the building. After warming up a bit Katelin starts to search rooms occasionally fought some guards. eventually, finding a room with the people she was sent to rescue.
"Can you hear me? can you walk?" Katelin whispers. "I'm here to get you back home."
"We hear you, are you really gonna get us out of here?" A salarian fearful speaks.
"Yes, I am. Is this everybody?" Katelin questions.
"No, they took our ship's captain to the another holding cell." A krogan calls outs.
"It was horrible. We heard the screams from here." an Asari states.
"I cleared the way to the front door. I'll radio my ship to pick you up while I get the captain." Katelin tells.
Raising her arm and an Omni-tool appears.
"Isabella, the hostages are secure and ready for pickup," Katelin says. "I'm gonna get the captain then head out.
"Aye, Cap'n we won't leave without you," Isabella calls. "And be careful cap'n."
"Aren't I always?" Katelin responds.
Ending the call. Katelin points which way to go then heads in opposite direction. Katelin checks each room to search for the captain, only to find more guards. Until the last door, she slowly opens the door to hear.
"Build it up with silver and gold, silver and gold, silver and gold my fair lady." Deranged voice. "Silver and gold will be stolen away, stolen away, silver and gold will be stolen away."
entering the room with gun raised. the hair standing up on her neck. A single chair sitting under a stray light bulb hanging above. After looking briefly around the room, Katelin focuses back to the man in the chair. As she does the voice returns but in unintelligible mumbles.
"Sir, are you alright? Are you the captain?" Katelin utters. " we need to go."
the man in the chair raises his head, from the slumped position. leaning over the side of the chair almost falls over. Katelin starts to move to him, but he sprints toward Katelin. A spark of fear in Katelin causes her to hit him with the butt of her gun, knocking him unconscious. Shuddering out an exhale, Katelin regains her composer.
Holstering her weapon and crunching down, grabbing hold of his arm and ankle. Katelin hoists him on her back heading to the front door. Walking out the front door where the others are waiting, while a group of mercenaries blocks the route to the ship. Handing the captain over to the krogan so he could carry him back to the ship.
"When I give the signal run for the ship," Katelin tells.
"What about you?" Asari worried speaks.
"I'll be fine, just get to the ship," Katelin says.
Katelin turns to face the group of batarians. Quickly moving away from the others, turning into a sprint. Katelin gets the mercenary attention, Katelin yells 'NOW!" hearing the signal the others run for the ship. Distracting the mercenaries long enough that everyone makes it on the ship. However slipping off from the group Katelin was cut off from the ship.
With back against the wall and ammo low, Katelin remembers what's at stake if she does make it back. Feeling a burst of courage, she aims back at the group of batarians. One going down after another, then a sharp pain pierces Katelin's left shoulder. Letting out a scream of agony, but almost brushing it off immediately, Katelin starts fighting again. Inch by inch her cover is ripped apart, ready to move cover, another incredulous pain interrupts but this time it was on the side of her stomach.
Wincing in pain, Katelin falls behind of what remains of her cover. Which was a single wooden box full of bullet holes, ready to fall apart any minute? Slightly checking over the side of the box, Katelin saw only two out of the ten batarians were left. Checking what's left of her ammo, Katelin had zero rounds for her assault rifle, sniper and a single bullet in her pistol. Waiting until the batarians got closer, Katelin then quickly shot the farthest one in the face and knocked the weapon out of the hand of the closet. Katelin hastily switches to her Omni-blade and impales the batarian in the stomach.
With all the mercenaries dead, Katelin walks back to the ship with her right arm over her side wound. Walking past the other who are treating their wounds from their time being prisoners. Katelin wanders into the cockpit, departing the planet and heads to the nearest mass relay.
"Isabella...get us to the citadel...as fast as possible." Katelin winces.
"Aye cap'n! I call an ambulance for you and inform Taira and counselor Thea."
Isabella fearful replies.
"I wouldn't want them to worry about …"Katelin mutters out.
"Kate…?" Isabella whispers.
Katelin's left arm slumps over her armrest. Dark red streams down her arm, reaching the tips of her fingers, starts to drip onto the floor.