Biotics I
2167 Arcturus Stream/Euler/Benning/Camp Dolzer
I don't remember much about my biotic powers prior to meeting her, who does remember much about early childhood, except vicariously through stories told by others. I was 12 or 13 years old, and we were stationed at an Alliance post on Benning in the Arcturus Stream, when we received a distinguished guest from the Asari Republics on behalf of the Citadel. The asari was omnipresent in that she had the entire base stepping up their performance to put on a show for The Citadel. It was suspected that the reason they sent a Commando was to gauge our military readiness to support and defend the interests of Citadel Space—essentially, the Alliance assumed it was political and treated it as such.
It was a day like any other, and I was walking across the base with a couple of my friends, when I noticed the alien standing before a couple soldiers carrying on a conversation, with them locked at full attention. Her tendrils were long and sleek, her skin was dark blue with purple facial markings, she was about my mother's height, her leather armor was colored black with inhuman energy, and her presence was larger than any admiral or general had met up until that point. Her name was Zephyra T'Erra, and she was an Asari Commando Huntress.
I was fascinated by this blue creature having such a powerful gravitas among hardened soldiers, and so I researched some extranet articles about the asari and discovered out some interesting facts that required further investigation on my part. For the next three months, I stalked the asari around the base, watching from a distance, hoping to discover any truth about what I had read.
As per my new routine, every day after school I followed her, although not actually close enough to know any of the intricacies of what she was discussing. I would climb up into the rafters of the warehouses and offices to follow from atop, as it gave me the best view to watch what she was up to.
One afternoon, curiosity unfortunately got the better of me, when my foot slipped on a loose beam and I couldn't catch myself. Falling off of military equipment was something that I had become proficient at over the years, and in my experience I knew that I would crash onto some crates, get bruised up a little, and wound my pride, but in this case it also meant that my cover was blown.
I must've shouted as I fell, because suddenly I felt myself cradled by the blunted force of blue energy whirling around me. My first instinct was 'Oh no, I'm screwed, I used my biotics and now everyone knows,' but I didn't feel the familiar impulse quickening under my skin with biotic release, and I was somewhat confused, until I locked eyes with the asari. She was guiding my fall with her own biotics, confirming that the asari were in fact wielders of biotic power, just as I had researched.
All of the Alliance personnel present locked their eyes on me as I slowly floated down to the ground, but I didn't care, my resolve was cemented, 'I have got to learn how to do that,' I thought. Immediately after she sat me down, I gave an embarrassed smirk and ran away before they could give me an ass chewing. In the back of my mind, I hoped none of them identified me, but I hadn't taken into account that if they really wanted to know who I was, all they needed to do was review the security footage.
Her adept control at directing the energy from her biotics was exactly what I wanted to learn more about, but if I was going to figure it out and not get caught again, I would need to work on my stealth—something that has never really been my strong suit.
I needed to let my trail go cold for a few days since they were alerted to my presence. Instead of following my routine, this particular evening I was killing time in my mother's office after duty hours while she was working late, as usual.
The asari entered the room with subtlety and assuredness, and I knew immediately, 'She has found me…" though my mother was far too distracted with work to notice her presence.
She leaned herself against a desk watching me, but I intentionally avoided eye contact as I played a game on my datapad. I was hoping she wouldn't mention my activities, but mentally I was preparing for the punishment that was inevitable for my actions—I knew that I was to keep my distance from the brass and the dignitaries, and at my age it would come with a severe reprimand.
Eventually she spoke, "Lieutenant Commander Shepard, you have such a beautiful daughter, and I see that she shares your features."
My breath caught in my chest as I looked back to my mother. I couldn't believe that this biotic-blue creature knew her name, then it occurred to me, 'of course she knows her, she knows everyone on this base by now.'
My mother was startled a bit when she looked up from her screens, "Thank you, Zephyra. Was there something I could help you with?" she asked with a pleasant smile.
The asari crossed her hands in her lap "Perhaps you would be interested in conversation with me? It would give me much pleasure to learn more about you and your family. In fact, we asari find the sharing of dialogue one of the greatest rewards in the galaxy."
My mother was never much for small talk, but a private discussion with a dignitary member of this advanced alien species was an opportunity that she was not willing to let pass, and I could see the gears turning in her mind. My mother didn't have much to say about aliens except that we must learn to get along for the sake of our future, even if we don't like it, and for me, my mother's opinion carried more weight than anyone's.
"That sounds delightful. I will be with you as soon as I finish this assignment." Then she turned her eyes to me, "Eris, why don't you show Zephyra the game you're playing? I will only be just a moment."
I felt my stomach tighten and I took a sharp breath, noticing that my mouth had become dry, and I was sure that this conversation would be about my recalcitrant behavior…not to mention that I had never spoken with an asari before, or any alien for that matter.
Of course I had been outfitted with translation aurals, as all humans of school-age are, so I understood her perfectly, but that wasn't the issue. The asari had become the object of my fascination, not only was she a special-forces alien, which meant unknowable badassery, but she was also a biotic. If there was ever to be any such embodiment of everything I could hope to aspire to become, this was it, as I had never met any human who fit that description.
I carefully nodded and looked into the Commando's piercing gaze, seemingly beckoning her to me, because she came closer and took a knee beside me. I vividly remember the unique aroma of spicy pepper, cinnamon, and charred wood—what I would later discover to be distinctive of pheromones produced by the asari when they have spent biotics or when their emotions are high.
With her so close I couldn't help but to stare at the intricacies of the tentacles on her head, and my imagination took over as my mind began to picture them stretching out to choke an unsuspecting victim, but I shook my head at the mental image, and returned to the task that I was given, "Have you ever played Galaxy of Fantasy?" I asked, "It's an MMORPG, I'm a level 60 Hanar battlemage and my team is about to infiltrate a dungeon at the Bog of Radical Despair. Check out this gun I got, it's a legendary laser staff with an ammo mod and can do 9999 damage on most enemies." I shot off quickly without taking a breath.
She smiled, "Indeed Eris, I am familiar with the adventure, and it would seem that you are quite the skilled gamer." She raised a probing eyebrow, "If you don't mind, tell me why you chose a battlemage rather than a warrior or an assassin instead?"
"It's because the battlemage is just the best of both worlds! Warriors are boring, hitting things all the time, hit, hit, block, block, that's it. Assassins just kind of hang back while everyone else gets in on the action, and it's the same with regular mages." I explained in the best rationale I could muster at 12-13 years old.
"With such rationale, I must agree with you. The battlemage is also my favorite class in Galaxy of Fantasy for the very same reasons." She said, smiling as she reached out her hand for the customary human greeting to offer an introduction. "It's a pleasure to meet you Eris Shepard, I am Zephyra T'Erra, and I am looking forward to our interactions." The asari spoke with soft intone, intentionally as one would with any child.
I had read on the extranet that the asari can read your thoughts just by touching you, and that was a little off-putting—but my mother had taught me good manners since meeting and greeting higher-ups in the Alliance was a relatively common occurrence, and refusing a handshake, especially with a dignitary, would be exceptionally rude, and would reflect poorly on myself as well as my mother.
I forced a half-smile through a nervous grimace as I extended my hand in meeting hers. Carefully, the large asari digits cupped around mine, and I could feel the Commando's rough callouses on the ridges of her hand, but between them the softness of the asari's palm was unlike human, much softer, like smooth suede.
I didn't dare remove my hand after she grabbed it, and she must have been uncertain about the duration of a handshake with a human child, because she held my hand for an uncomfortably prolonged time.
Still cupping my hand, she closed her eyes for a moment, and when she opened them asked, "Are you familiar with my people?"
"Um, not really, Ma'am," I replied.
"All asari have biotic potential, in fact, we consider it the ultimate blessing of the Goddess." She said, her eyes penetrating as though she was looking into my soul.
Those words got my mother's attention and she shot a hairy eyeball in our direction. She closed the holographic interface on her project, and immediately moved from her desk to sit across from me at the table.
The asari took the cue to release my hand and take a seat beside my mother. "It is remarkable that all asari are biotics and your people do not suffer any ill effects from it. We humans have only recently begun to become affected by EEZO, and so our biotics are quite rare. In fact, it is more common to hear about how EEZO has had negative impacts on our physiology." My mother explained to the asari, confidently seizing the opportunity to share some interspecies information.
"It is an unfortunate consequence of the adaptation within one's genome, but I am confident that your people will discover ways to improve these outcomes. From what I have witnessed, I believe your species have a formidable will, and possess a Matriarchal capacity for understanding and wisdom, emboldened with a talent for battle that could meet a most hardened Battlemaster" The asari replied, and reached into her satchel to find a bottle of brilliantly blue-liquid, for what I assumed was EEZO-fortified water made especially for asari warriors.
"Thank you, I think your people are quite admirable as well. And yes, we are currently working diligently to enhance our understanding of bioEEZO." She offered, pausing to pose a subtle suggestion, "As are most species of the galaxy, to my understanding?" My mother said without much elaboration, unwilling to share too much about any EEZO experiments she was privileged to.
I was in awe at the conversation taking place in front of me, I had never been privileged to anything like it up to this point. Biotics were something that was rarely discussed except to say the awful things that happened to infants born with cancers, tumors, and disfigurations, or to hear about children being sent off to the biotic camp out of fear of what they will do, or under the presumption that we're saving them from themselves.
"Indeed, the unique implications of EEZO among species are a focused intergalactic effort, and I hope that the asari can assist humans in your journey of understanding. The asari have adapted to Element Zero exposure since the dawn of our people, which is the natural foundation for which each and every asari possess some biotic talent. In fact, asari children are taught how to gain mastery of their biotics from birth. However, some philosophers would argue that biotic training occurs prior to birth, through in-utero 'melding' of nervous systems between a fetus and her mother." She smiled broadly with pride beaming, "Biotics are as natural to the asari as our Le'ku tendrils and the blueness of our skin."
The asari hesitated, but her disposition remained unchanged as she looked to me, "To have been blessed with this gift as a human is quite extraordinary"
My heart dropped into my stomach and my breath caught in my throat, she knows. My muscles tensed and I looked to my mother who became defensive in response to the direction of this conversation and she directed a concerned glance to me. She crossed her arms, "Our people are still quite new to biotics, Zephyra. Never in our history have we contended with such profound evolutionary mutations so rapidly, and the options we currently have at our disposal would not benefit my daughter." My mother explained curtly.
"I meant no offense Lieutenant Commander. Though I hope that you see there is a great reward in learning how to manipulate the gifts we are born with, in order to reach one's potential for satisfaction in life. Surely you have done this yourself in becoming a skilled technician." The asari injected, sensing that my mother had strong feelings attached to my condition.
She let a sigh and looked at me with dejected compassion—she had feared this day would come, and now it has, because of my inquisition to stalk an Asari Commando.
Her brow furrowed when she looked back to the asari "What interest do you have in my daughter's biotics? I refuse to allow my daughter to become some experiment. Not for the Alliance, not for human interests, and especially not for some alien medusas from the other side of the galaxy!" My mother demanded, her face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and rage—she did not want to damage relations with the asari, but she was always very defensive when it came to protecting me.
The asari seemed wounded by the verbal lashing, and her friendly disposition turned quite stoic. She placed a hand upon my mother's knee and said, "Forgive me for causing you such pain with this discussion. I only meant to offer my support and understanding for your situation." She looked into my mother's eyes without faltering, "I have no intention to 'experiment' on your daughter nor to allow anyone else. I merely sensed the undercurrent of her biotics when our hands touched. I assure you, it is natural to the asari, and I am keenly aware of the subtle biotic energy transmitted through touch."
She shifted in her seat, her posture emitted confidence and dignity as she continued, "As you are aware, I am here on behalf of The Citadel Council as well as the Asari Republics to offer my assistance for your Alliance in adapting to your new circumstances, and aid in adjusting to working together with our people. The asari are the only naturally biotic species, as well as being the oldest members of the galactic council. We were the first to have discovered The Citadel left behind by the Protheans, and we have witnessed the emergence of all other advanced species, and have gone to great lengths in assisting them by ensuring peace and promoting the integration of shared intelligence for galactic prosperity and harmony. I assure you Lieutenant Commander Shepard, I have no ulterior motives for meeting with you and your daughter."
My mother's expression softened and she took a deep breath before relinquishing an affirmatory nod. She probably realized that she may have been overly defensive about the asari's comments regarding my biotics, but she had always been very adamant about keeping me safe from those who would seek to use my biotics for personal gain.
Before she could reply, the asari went further, "As a representative of the asari, I believe that it would be within the scope of my assignment to ensure that a young human biotic receive training under my expertise. This is given special consideration due to the fact that the only other options are: that she does not receive formal training, or is forced to undergo primitive biotic experimentation by her own species."
"Look, I apologize for my emotional response, but Systems Alliance is clear about their apprehensiveness with human biotics; which is why they are condoning and supporting the unethical special interest experimentations with biotic children." She sighed, "I have been able to keep her safe knowing that her biotics would not pose a threat because she would never learn to use them. You can't possibly expect me to expose my daughter to the fallout that would follow the Alliance's discovery of her abilities." My mother explained dispassionately, knowing that damage control is the only option on the table, since Zephyra would likely report me and unleash hell on our family.
I can't remember a time that I didn't know of my biotics, but I was always forbidden from experimentation, and I was severely reprimanded or punished for using them. I always understood the repercussions and the risk that exposing them to others would have, she did not hide these realities from me even as a small child… She could keep me safe with her impeccable reputation, but I had to be responsible for my own actions as it was of the utmost importance.
"I understand your apprehension Lieutenant Commander, and respectfully, I want you to know that I have been briefed thoroughly on the Systems Alliance dispositions with biotic children." She reassured, "I stand prepared to use my diplomatic powers to take every necessary precaution, with the utmost discretion, to ensure that your daughter is trained with the highest caliber of proficiency and skill. On my honor as an Asari Commando Huntress, she will learn to control her biotics, as they may very well save her life one day." The asari explained confidently and full of compassion.
My mother contemplated for a moment, and with a furrowed brow she sighed, "Zephyra, I do not know what the future may hold for my daughter, but I won't put her in a position that her biotics—something that I cursed her with—puts her in danger…and that is exactly what will happen if she is caught. I'm not certain even your diplomatic considerations cannot shield her from the consequences."
The asari did not speak, instead taking the time to observe the emotions laden on my mother's face, sensing the unspoken exchange between mother and daughter of a species that she had limited experience in understanding, but still willing to take a risk with through her involvement.
My mother was silent, her lips pursed and eyes staring into the distance; I knew this expression, though I had only seen it a few times, it gave me chills. Admittedly, I had mixed feelings, while I was in utter amazement with what was happening in front of me and the offer of biotic training, I was also becoming angry, albeit scared, at what was unfolding with the prospects threatening to take me from my mother.
I could see that she resigned the thought when she closed her eyes, pinching the bridge of her nose. She took a deep breath and when she opened them her focus was set upon me. With anguished defeat emblazoned upon her face, she reached over to me and clasped my hand in both of hers, "Eris, I've noticed that you have been experimenting with your biotics lately, and I remind you that it is dangerous, that you should not do it, and I remind you why…. Nevertheless, I suppose this was inevitable." She paused and looked squarely into my eyes, "A part of me…I…I feel so guilty asking you to deny such an intimate part of yourself. It is what you are, and maybe I can't save you from that…maybe it's wrong to even try. I just don't have the answers, nothing prepares a mother for this, only instinct, by doing whatever is necessary to protect my flesh and blood."
Her deep blue eyes were bloodshot as tears welled, she took a ragged breath to stifle them back as she turned back to the asari, "You know the grave consequences of what you are asking me to do… But what do you even know about humans, let alone of our biotic children? For that matter, as a military officer I must also be suspicious—how can I be certain that you will not be studying my daughter to aid your people in using this against us one day?" She leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms.
The asari smiled and nodded, shifting slightly in her seat to engage the delicate subject, "I do understand Lieutenant Commander, and your concerns are quite valid. Please allow me to explain. In my travels and assignments, I have trained with other species in honing their biotic skills, some of which were children. I assure you, there are none better than the asari to help developing species with biotics" She explained without missing a beat, "For the last three millennia, since the asari first set foot off of our home world, our people have always encouraged other species to expand their talents to promote galactic unity and prosperity, and where biotics have been concerned we have uplifted them. You see, enlightenment is central to our Siari belief systems—we are all connected, every living creature, united in a glorious existence." The blue warrior explained diplomatically, certain that neither of us knew much about her people nor their history. "I know a great deal about humans, it was necessary for this assignment, as I'm sure you're aware the Citadel maintains an archive on each species within their sphere influence. I have also learned about you from my own observations, and I am quite impressed. But as for the matter at hand, it is quite likely with her recent experimentation—as is only natural with children learning their bodies and testing their reality—regardless of your intentions, and without proper training she will be limited to unstable control over her biotics. As a result of this, it is probable that she may injure herself or others, unless she learns how to properly manipulate and control them."
The asari's proposition made sense, and my mother knew that this visitor had been heavily vetted prior to being accepted for this assignment by the Alliance. I imagine that she was just scared, and it was a lot to process. Even at 12 years old, I could see that she was having an internal dilemma, but I couldn't decide from the look on her face whether she was upset with me for getting caught with biotics or if she was wishing that I could have just been a normal kid…it was probably both.
When she finally spoke, she shifted her torso and leaned forward to completely face the asari, "Explain to me what you're offering."
"I am offering to train your daughter in secrecy to become proficient in the art of honing biotic abilities. She will learn to control emotionally derived flares and focus them. She will gain mastery concentration, how to manipulate her energy to create barriers, to defend herself with warps, throws, lifts, singularities, and techniques of that sort. Most importantly, she will obtain understanding about how biotics enhance everyday activities and learn to use them discretely with precision, and how to avoid alerting others to the presence of her biotics, unless she chooses to expose herself." The asari explained without going into the ins and outs of what the training will be like.
My mother looked pensive, her brow furrowed, and before she could speak the asari added "Also Lieutenant Commander, in assisting your daughter, I will be better equipped to offer my recommendations to your Alliance in implementing better strategies that train human biotics, and hopefully offer alternatives to their currently barbaric methods of preparing them. Shepard, your daughter will have the opportunity to help me understand and assist your entire species, and in return I will ensure that she is prepared to face any obstacle that life throws at her."
Hannah Shepard was one of the best engineers in all of the Alliance, but her analytical talents extended beyond the job and into everything she does, and so once she processed the information she was presented, she knew that it came down to leaving it to fate or worse being shipped to the Biotic Acclimation and Training centers, or being trained by the asari.
The choice was clear and it was the best she could hope for me—there were no better biotics in the galaxy than the Asari Commandos. She straightened her back and was prepared to give the asari an answer when she looked out the corner of her eye and noticed me sitting there watching their exchange with my mouth agape and nervous puzzlement written upon my face, feeling utterly speechless at this transaction in front of me and the potential for outcomes.
She turned to me, "Eris dear, tell me, what you want? I know that you are young, and this is a very big decision, but your biotics do not belong to me, they are yours. I will protect you from anything that I can, but I must know before I commit to this, do you wish to train your biotics? You heard what Zephyra is offering, and it is an incredible opportunity, but the risks of being discovered are dire…it is difficult for me to contemplate how terrible that could turn for us, and worst of all, for you." She closed her eyes and dropped her head before continuing, "This is your decision, I cannot make it for you. I only want what is best for you."
My jaw dropped a little when my mother asked me that, she wanted me to make a decision that would have rippling effects. Up until then, the extent of understanding my biotics was how to bend something, pull small things across a table, amplify throwing a rock, a baseball, or something like that, and one time I accidentally flared to catch myself when I fell from a spacecraft engine that I was playing on in the hangar. I had always been experimental through curiosity with my biotics, even if I had to hide it—this was why I was following her around in the first place.
Now, here I sat with a biotics expert offering to take me under her wing and train me in the mystical arts of manipulating dark energy, all in secret, without any of the poking and prodding of scientists. Just imagining working with anyone from Special Forces was beyond my wildest dreams, and refusing this offer was not something I could reconcile. As an Asari Commando Huntress, she could have trained entire battalions by herself—looking back, it was such a waste of her talent to focus solely on a child, but at 12 years old, that thought never crossed my mind, I just knew the mastery of my forbidden natural talents was something that I desperately wanted.
Both sets of eyes on me, patiently awaiting my answer. Nervously I nodded, with my chin parallel to the floor, staring ahead to avoid eye-contact and having to see the expression on my mother's face, for fear that I had immeasurably disappointed her.
"Very well then, it's settled." My mother spoke astutely, reaching her hand across the table to stroke my arm. "I will make the arrangements for you two to be able to work in secrecy. I know this base well enough to have a good idea about where you'll be able to train safely without raising any questions. But know this, just so I am clear, I will also be observing what you are doing with my daughter."
"Of course Lieutenant Commander, and I strongly encourage your participation in Eris' development, so that you understand and my assist her in what she will be experiencing. In my culture, an asari will train her biotics for several decades in school, and also with her family and friends, sometimes even under special instruction before she is considered competent, and afterward, mastery requires a minimum of a century of refinement to be considered proficient enough to audition for the privilege of becoming a Commando. While your species' lifespan prevents this time-commitment to biotic training, a benefit is that humans develop at a much faster rate than asari, but this is due to asari's rapid cellular regeneration and growth." The Commando explained, and then activated her omni-tool, "Here, I have sent you the frequency codes that link you with my secure communication portal, the Alliance does not monitor this diplomatic channel, and it is encrypted anyway, so we will be able to maintain contact without alerting anyone to our activities."
My mother activated her omni-tool to receive the information, and she sighed deeply. I assume she felt a great deal of guilt for going around the Alliance in order to allow me to be trained by the asari. Ensuring my future must have weighed heavily on her to be willing to do such a thing, but none of us had any idea just how profoundly that training would prepare me for what I would face in the coming years.
