The Good Shepherd
Mass Effect is owned by Bioware.
Carrie is owned by Stephen King.
The 2013 version of Carrie is owned by Metro Goldwyn Mayer productions and director Kimberly Pierce.
The only things I own are this crossover of the two and any original characters that may be featured.
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Episode 3: The Tenth Street Reds
Many people have asked-what is the difference between a natural biotic and a biotic whose abilities result from in utero exposure to Element Zero-they both have high levels of Eezo in their bodies don't they?
The difference is that an in utero exposure biotic has high levels of element zero in their body as the result of an accident and they are dependent upon a biotic implant to summon a sufficient level of biotic power for practical use.
A natural biotic has high levels of element zero in their body as a result of their genetics and doesn't need an implant.
There are other differences as well-for example any biotic can summon and control mass effect fields but only a natural biotic can sense mass effect fields, and it takes a great deal of training for even a natural biotic to have full use of this ability.
Excerpt from the notes of Professor David Chambers.
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November 25th 2169, New York.
Professor Chambers sighed in frustration as he heard the response of the man running the hot dog stand when he showed him the picture of Carrie White he had.
"No-sorry, ain't seen her."
"Nearly three months and we still haven't found her," Maria noted soberly.
"At least we know that she probably is still alive," Chambers remarked as he turned off his omni tool, causing the picture it had displayed to disappear "we get an occasional lead but by the time we arrive she's already moved on."
Ever since Carrie's escape from the institute the two had been searching for the biotic teen in between trying to find an alternative option for developing safer implants for human biotics.
So far both searches had failed to yield the desired result.
"I hope she's okay."
"We've seen for ourselves that Carrie's a survivor," Maria pointed out "she's okay."
"Our first priority when we find her is to help her-I don't care what that idiot Burns says," Chambers noted "then we see about convincing her to agree to the medical scans we need."
"Well, let's try one more before we break for the day," Maria suggested as they walked up to a waitress tending some tables out the front of a cafe.
As they showed the young woman the picture her eyes lit up in recognition.
"Yeah-yeah I seen her, she eats breakfast here every morning," the woman told them "yesterday she was with Sally Nellis and Dexter Finch-and her name's Carrie right?"
"Yeah-that's right."
"That's her then-that's your girl, not sure where she gets her money but she's always good for it."
"I haven't heard of this Nellis girl," Maria whispered to Chambers "but word on the street is that Finch is one of the Reds."
"Good chance that the Nellis girl is in the Reds too," Chambers whispered back "and Carrie is probably in the gang now as well-we have to find her before it's too late."
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Professor Chambers sighed tiredly as he sat in the back seat of the cab, Maria beside him on their trip back to the institute to close up for the day.
"Well," Maria finally ventured after a long silence "at least we know she's alive."
"Yes but-running with the Reds," Chambers shook his head in frustration "what is that girl thinking?"
"I doubt there was much thought involved," Maria suggested "just desperation."
"Desperation can cause people to snap," Chambers reminded Maria "nobody wants to see Carrie snap-not a second time."
"This time she'd probably go suicidal," Maria pointed out "you saw how desperate she was to avoid possibly hurting us."
"She should have stayed at the institute," Chambers told Maria quietly "we could have helped her-we still might be able to help her if we can find her."
"Well," Maria remarked "if she's running with a street gang she could have chosen a worse one than the Reds."
"Yeah, I know," Chambers agreed "they're all about looking out for humans who are being picked on by those aliens who think they're better than us and as the Reds would put it 'want to tell us what to do' but still-they engage in acts of petty theft, extortion and vandalism. They also have committed acts of violence even if most of that violence was in defence of a fellow human and half of them are out and out xenophobes."
"That Dexter Finch is the worst one of the lot from what my friends tell me," Maria added "why would she hang around with a guy like that?"
"Maybe it was just that one time."
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As Chambers got back to his office at the institute he realised that someone was there waiting for him.
"Major Hackett-come to check on the situation?"
"I heard you might have a lead on the White girl Professor," Hackett noted.
"You were monitoring my communications weren't you Major?" Chambers' response was clearly not a question "it's true-turns out she's running with the Reds."
"I say we tranq her, drag her in here and get what we need by any means necessary," another voice suggested as the newcomer revealed himself.
"Burns," Chambers acknowledged the newcomer before turning back toward Hackett "we can get what we need without having to victimise that girl-all we need is a DNA sample and some detailed medical scans of her brain, those can be done without causing her any harm."
"She murdered her classmates in a fit of rage," Burns countered "she should be locked up and sedated for the rest of her life."
"Oh sure-and then we're the bad guys," Chambers shot back "in case you've forgotten she was driven to that by the inhuman way she was treated her whole life."
"And if somebody did to me what was done to her I'd probably want them dead too-not to mention those sickos who thought it was funny," Hackett added "didn't that disaster at BAAT teach you anything Burns? How much trouble is Conatix in because of that?"
"Fine-just find her," Burns relented as he stalked off in a defeated huff.
Chambers couldn't help but smile as he watched the man go.
"Don't let the door hit you in the ass Burns."
"He's an ass," Hackett agreed "but he's a useful ass."
"Thanks for backing me up there Hackett," Chambers nodded gratefully in the Alliance Officer's direction "Carrie is somebody we should be helping."
"More than that," Hackett told the Professor "she's a potentially valuable ally."
"Are you saying that we should suggest the idea of enlisting to her?" Chambers asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Once we're sure of her mental stability-absolutely," Hackett confirmed.
"The name 'Carrietta White' on her enlistment form might turn a few too many heads," Chambers pointed out.
"So we suggest the idea of adopting a new identity to her as well," Hackett elaborated.
"But what name should she use? It's her decision of course but I hope she keeps her first name-I think Carrietta is a pretty name."
"I suppose we'll have to think of something," Hackett shrugged.
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Later that night in a nearby part of New York
"I cannot believe you made me do that Emily," Carrie complained as she followed her friend out of the night club "didn't the story about how I fell on my face and chipped a tooth in my first elementary school dance class tell you anything?"
"Aw c'mon Care Bear, your dancing isn't that bad," Emily Wong denied with a wave of her hand.
"You're just being tactful aren't you?" Carrie asked with a raised brow as she tried to stop panicking over what a complete ass she had made of herself in there "seriously Emily-I looked like a chicken on drugs."
"Okay-yes, you're bad at dancing," Emily admitted "but at least you've finally come out of your shell."
"Well-yeah, I have you guys to thank for that-except for Finch that is, that dick made it harder to gain some confidence," Carrie sighed as she folded her arms across her chest-her self esteem was better than it had been but it still wasn't the best "I still can't forgive myself for what I did."
While speaking with Emily one time Carrie had confided in her about her bullying classmates and abusive mother and how she had snapped at her prom after Chris had dumped pigs blood over her and unintentionally killed her date when the bucket that held the blood had hit him on the head.
She'd left out certain details of course, like names and the century and a half she had spent in biotic stasis afterward-she also hadn't told any of the Reds her surname.
This was partly because she didn't think she deserved to go by that surname after she had tainted it through the crimes she had committed and partly to avoid awkward questions.
After all-her first name combined with the fact that Carrie was a biotic already garnered enough curious looks.
"What happened wasn't your fault Care," Emily assured the strawberry blonde biotic "those ignorant jackasses drove you to that, your mind was broken at the time and you didn't realise the moral implications of what you were doing until it was over and you'd had time to calm down. As for your mother-that was self defence, I saw the wounds she gave you."
"Doesn't make me feel any better about it," Carrie replied quietly as the two girls walked toward their transportation-a clapped out old skycar that Emily had-um, 'borrowed' from Finch for the night.
"I know," Emily smiled sympathetically at her "but you're not a monster Carrie."
"Tell it to the people I killed," Carrie countered quietly.
"You're never gonna let that go are you?" Emily asked gently as she thought for a moment about how to cheer her friend up.
It occurred to Emily that the car they had driven here in belonged to Finch, someone that Emily had a strong dislike for.
"Hey Care-feel like a driving lesson?"
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As Emily and Carrie touched down back at the gang hideout after a rather-interesting drive Emily needed a minute or two to regain her balance after she stepped out of the skycar.
"Advice to improve your driving," Emily noted "ease back on the throttle and don't swerve so much."
"My driving isn't that bad is it?" Carrie asked in concern "I mean, I didn't hit anybody."
"You nearly flipped us three times-in a skycar," Emily shot back "and let's not forget that truck you barely dodged."
"But I feel so alive when I'm driving" Carrie protested "I can't help cutting loose a little."
Good to see her gaining some confidence, Emily noted the old Carrie would have retreated into her shell at that criticism of her driving.
"A little more care would be a good thing or we might both be feeling dead," Emily suggested.
"Use somebody else's car next time," another voice instructed.
"Oh-hi Dex," Emily replied nonchalantly.
Dexter Finch looked less than pleased with the fact that Emily had 'borrowed' his car, and worse let Carrie drive it-not that Emily was scared of that blow hard.
Carrie still cringed a little around him though-as soon as he announced himself her nervousness had been plain to see.
"And look who else is here," Finch remarked "God's little errant angel."
"Lay off Finch," Emily told the idiot flatly "Carrie's entitled to believe in God and Jesus if she wants to-does she get on your case for being an atheist?"
"But does she have to be such a goody two shoes about it?" Finch demanded "Always chasing after the lost sheep."
"I've-I've stolen for this gang Finch-you know I have," Carrie replied quietly.
I wish he'd stop this crap, Carrie thought to herself his attitude is an unwanted reminder of home.
"And you give half of what you swipe to the homeless."
"Somebody has to-now back off," Carrie snapped in irritation as the inner core of strength hidden beneath her meek exterior decided to put in an appearance.
For a moment the two stared one another down-but Carrie was tired of being pushed around and she'd been putting up with this jerk's attitude for three months now so she refused to back down this time.
And despite how thick headed Finch was he knew better than to piss off a biotic.
"Fine," Finch relented after a moment "but you could at least stop dressing like you're about to enter a convent."
Despite how harsh Finch's remark was he had a point, Carrie's usual attire was still very modest-consisting these days of loose fitting blue jeans, a pair of sand shoes and a long sleeved white hooded top, the hood of which was usually up.
The only skin left exposed by this outfit was Carrie face and her hands.
"Ass," Emily muttered as she watched Finch go, smiling in Carrie's direction a moment later "You finally stood up to him Care Bear-good job."
"I-I can't believe that actually worked," Carrie exclaimed as she finally regained her composure "I could've done that with Chris and saved myself a lot of pain."
"I take it Chris was one of the kids who made your life hell," Emily deduced easily.
"The ringleader actually," Carrie recalled "And the one behind the pig's blood at prom-also liked to throw tampons at scared girls who are having their first period and don't know what it is."
"In other words a Bitch with a capital B," Emily nodded "One good gut punch would have stopped her rant-but then you'd have the rest of her little posse to worry about."
"Worth it," Carrie smirked "Oh and-thanks for the driving lesson Emily."
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"So-I've been meaning to ask Emily," Carrie asked her best friend as they walked back to their makeshift beds "How did a girl like you end up with the Reds?"
"It isn't a happy tale, that's for sure," Emily recalled "My father was in the Alliance Navy during the First Contact war-he was stationed on Shanxi when the Turian Hierachy invaded."
"He was killed?" Carrie guessed.
Emily nodded.
"My father was defending a civilian settlement when a turian platoon managed to cut him off from the rest of his squad-by the time his squadmates were able to get to him he'd taken a sniper round to the head."
"And you want to make the turians pay," Carrie deduced "But how does joining the Reds help with that?"
"Not all turians," Emily corrected "Just the bastard who was leading that platoon-I ran away from home in order to accomplish this-as to how joining the Reds helps, it's a source of intel to track that turian down."
"And do you think that killing him will take your pain away?" Carrie asked gently "I know that killing my tormentors didn't take my pain away."
"My father deserves to be avenged," Carrie flinched at Emily's harsh tone-and the younger girl's expression quickly became apologetic "I'm-I'm sorry Care Bear, I didn't mean to snap at you."
"It's okay," Carrie told Emily quietly "just-please think about what I just said."
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As she watched Carrie lie down and drift off to sleep for the night Emily was getting ready for bed herself.
She was interrupted by the arrival of Sally Nellis.
"So how's Carrie doing?" Sally asked.
"Much better in recent weeks," Emily reported "she's made great strides in spite of Finch's best efforts."
"Good," Sally nodded in satisfaction "Em-I heard something earlier today that might interest you."
"What did you hear?"
"Oraka's in town."
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November 26th 2169 6:30 AM
Carrie yawned slightly as she entered the cafe that she had become a regular at over the last three months, she was greeted by the head waitress.
"Carrietta-good to see you, your usual?"
"Yes-thank you Lisa," Carrie smiled.
Carrie had of course swiped somebody's credit chit to get her breakfast money-but that was a necessity for survival for her now.
As Lisa brought Carrie her breakfast and her coffee Carrie asked the question that she had been meaning to ask.
"Did Emily come here at all this morning? She wasn't at the house when I woke up."
"I haven't seen her," Lisa told Carrie
That's troubling, Carrie thought to herself.
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Oraka, Emily thought hatefully as she walked away from the arms dealer with the two pistols and the two ammo mods she had stolen Commander Septimus Oraka, he was leading the twelfth platoon when they pinned my father down and shot him.
At last vengeance was in her grasp.
A Turian ambassador by the name of Sorrus Tiberran was stopping over in New York briefly before being flown to a diplomatic summit in Vancouver and Oraka had been assigned to command his security detail.
The Turians would be expecting the possibility of some group like the Reds targeting the ambassador himself-what they wouldn't expect was for one of his bodyguards to be the real target.
Each of the two pistols she was carrying was loaded with a different kind of ammunition, the Carnifex was loaded with shredder rounds so that one shot would kill that Turian bastard.
The other pistol, a Suppressor model-was a contingency plan.
Both were well concealed.
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As Maria Wills approached the Cafe that they had learned Carrie was frequenting she could see that their information had been correct-but Carrie was already leaving.
She seemed to be in a hurry for some reason but she hadn't noticed Maria.
"Professor," Maria spoke to Professor Chambers via her omni tool "I see Carrie already leaving the Cafe for some reason-she seems to be in a hurry."
"Follow her but keep out of sight," Chambers instructed "we need to learn more about her situation-I'll track your omni tool in case you get into trouble."
"I can try to snag her with my biotics if you want," Maria suggested.
"No-bad idea," Chambers shot that plan down straight away "we need her trust-and if that's going to happen we have to convince her to return to the institute willingly."
"Okay Professor-I'll follow her."
As Maria followed Carrie she eventually came to a slum neighbourhood, the cute strawberry blonde Maria had been following met up with a few other people, some her age-some older and some younger but the run down building that Carrie had gone to screamed 'gang hideout'.
After a time Carrie walked inside and Maria radioed Chambers and quietly informed him of the situation before settling in to wait.
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As Carrie approached the Reds' hideout she saw a few of the other members of the gang, some she had gotten to know over the last three months and some were still unfamiliar to her.
The girl she caught sight of, a tall slim brunette-was somebody she knew.
"Sally-good to see you."
"You too Carrie-nice to see you're more confident these days."
Sally was another person that Carrie had managed to make friends with among the Reds-about three years older than Carrie and she fussed over the younger girl as if Carrie was her kid sister.
Their were a few others Carrie had made friends with as well-Dexter Finch's older brother Damien was all right-hell of a lot nicer than the younger Finch and Andrew Greiz was nice too-even if he did tend to fawn over Carrie and fumble his lines in her presence.
Speaking of Andrew-there he was now.
"Hi Andy," Carrie called with a confidence that was refreshingly new for her.
"Oh-um-uh hi C-Carrie," Andrew called back as he blushed profusely upon catching sight of her.
Sally smiled and shook her head as she rested her right hand against her face in amused annoyance.
"He's hopeless," Sally complained half heartedly "why doesn't he just ask you out already?"
"You-think he likes me?" Carrie asked tentatively.
"I know he likes you," Sally corrected.
"B-but why would he like me?" Carrie asked confused-surely nobody could find her attractive could they?
"Why wouldn't he?" Sally countered with a raised eyebrow.
"Why wouldn't he?"Carrie echoed as she felt her eyes tear up "because I'm ugly, and stupid and pathetic and weak."
"Stop putting yourself down Carrie," Sally told the young biotic "I don't know who said you were those things but I feel like breaking their legs with a crowbar. You're not ugly-you're beautiful, you're not stupid-you're incredibly smart and you're not weak or pathetic-you're one of the strongest people I know, probably the strongest."
"Thanks for saying that Sally," Carrie told the other girl "I'm not sure I believe it but-."
"You are pretty and strong and smart," Sally assured her "I see how smart you are every day-the things we taught you since you joined, you've learned them in a fraction of the time it would have taken anybody else-even if dancing and driving seem to be beyond your capabilities."
"Thanks-except for that last part," Carrie nodded to Sally as she spoke, her expression brightening slightly "Um-have you seen Emily today?"
"Haven't seen her," Sally replied "it's weird too, last night I told her Oraka was in town and she seemed to really obsess over it-pressed me for every detail."
"Oraka?" Carrie asked-her brow furrowing in thought "is this Oraka guy Turian by any chance?"
"Yeah," Sally confirmed "Emily asked me to tell her if I heard anything about a Turian named Septimus Oraka-never said why. Anyhow-the guy is in town, he's commanding the security detail for some Turian ambassador-Tiberran I think his name was."
"Last night she told me that she joined the Reds to get intel on the Turian who led the platoon that killed her father at Shanxi," Carrie recalled "You don't think that it was-?"
"Oraka?" Sally finished "seems likely."
"Sally," Carrie requested seriously "I need to know where this ambassador is staying."
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After getting the location of the hotel that Ambassador Tiberran was staying at Carrie hurried out as fast as she could, trying to figure out how she should get money for a cab fare.
Did she have time to hack someone's account from a public extranet terminal?
Screw it, I'll just steal Finch's car, she decided and if the ass doesn't like it I'll practise my biotic throw on him.
Speaking of Dexter Finch-he was standing right beside said car.
Of course, Carrie thought to herself Just my luck-on the plus side I probably get to kick his ass.
"You're not driving my car blondie," Finch told her flatly.
"Sorry Finch but I am," Carrie corrected him "Emily's about to do something stupid and I need your car to get there in time to talk her out of it."
"Not my problem," Finch replied callously "Now get lost."
"I thought you knew not to piss off biotics Finch," Carrie remarked in a deceptively soft voice "You think I wont kick your ass? If I don't get to Emily soon a Turian military officer will die by her hand."
"One less alien?" Finch noted "That can only be a good thing."
"Fuck you Finch," Carrie had had enough.
Acting quickly she sent Finch flipping right over his car with a flick of her wrist-her biotics dropping him hard onto the pavement on the other side in a dazed heap.
Before he had time to recover Carrie had relieved him of his keyfob and was in the drivers seat, tearing off into the sky at breakneck speeds.
For once my lead foot will come in handy, Carrie thought as she wove through the traffic in the skies.
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As Carrie landed near the location that Sally had given her night was starting to fall, she hoped that she wasn't too late as she began looking around frantically for Emily.
Come on Em-where are you? Carrie demanded silently-her mind frantic with worry that Emily might end up having to live with the same guilt that Carrie herself had to live with.
Finally she caught sight of her friend's face among the crowd, following her until she could confront her somewhere nobody else would see.
Emily seemed to oblige her in this as she walked into a public restroom-Carrie was wary that this might be some trap to prevent her from interfering with what Emily had planned, but she had to take the chance.
She probably wouldn't get another.
As she walked in Carrie heard a pistol firing and felt something strike her hard in the chest, looking up in shock as she fell on her back at Emily holding the gun that had fired the shot.
A Suppressor model from what she had been able to learn from the other Reds.
"Don't worry," Emily told Carrie as she slipped the gun back into her coat "you're not going to die, that pistol is loaded with concussive rounds-non lethal. I knew you might try to stop me so I had that pistol as a contingency, my other gun is the one that'll blow Oraka's head clean off."
"Em-Don't-," Carrie wheezed as she struggled to get her breath back "don't do this-you'll-regret it-rest of-your life."
"Sorry Care, but I have to," Emily told Carrie as her eyes became watery with unshed tears "my daddy can't rest in peace until that bastard is dead."
Then Emily left.
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Commander Septimus Oraka of the Turian Military took a deep breath of this alien world's air, catching a short break while he could.
He was a war weary Turian officer who had seen a lot of horrible things in his time-the worst of them had been at Shanxi, perpetrated by his fellow Turians.
We shouldn't have been there, he thought we shouldn't have attacked the humans over something as petty as opening a mass relay.
How many orphans had he and his men made that day?
Every time Oraka thought about it he immediately realised that he was probably better off not knowing.
But he had no time to ponder this further as a hard blow to the back of the head rendered him unconscious.
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As Carrie struggled to get up she could feel her stomach heaving from the effects of the stun round that had been used on her.
Gonna-throw-up, Carrie thought desperately as she lurched into a nearby toilet cubicle and hunched over the toilet-her stomach violently emptying itself moments later.
Oooh-I feel terrible, Carrie thought as her stomach finally stopped feeling quite so queasy Emily-what are you doing you idiot?
Quickly rinsing her mouth out from the sink Carrie began racking her brain for a way to locate Emily again but she was at a dead loss-finding her friend the first time had been a stroke of luck.
I could really use a miracle right now, Carrie thought to herself oh heavenly father, please hear my prayer. I know you're probably not too happy with me after what I did but this isn't for me-it's for Emily.
Carrie didn't know if it was her prayers being answered or if it was just that strong emotion was what awakened her abilities, but she felt a strange but oddly familiar feeling fill her mind-she had felt this feeling only once before.
It was how she had known that Sue Snell was pregnant.
I know where Emily is, Carrie realised in surprise I can sense her emotions-so much rage and pain, I have to help her.
If I follow that feeling it should lead me straight to her.
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When Commander Oraka regained consciousness the first thing he noticed was that he was restrained with thick ropes in what looked like an abandoned warehouse.
As he looked up he could just make out a figure standing over him, no facial features were discernible in the poor light but this individual appeared to be a human female-holding a heavy pistol.
"I could have blown your head off with this quick and easy," the woman? Girl? Her voice was young sounding-told him "but I wanted you to know why this was happening to you-remember Shanxi?"
"I try not to,"Oraka replied quietly "the relay 314 incident was a mistake that cost countless lives on both sides."
Oraka's face suddenly stung in spite of the protective bony plates covering it and his left mandible felt numb as the girl pistol whipped him hard.
"That's what really pisses me off about you lot," the girl told him "you dismiss what happened as a mere 'incident' when you tried to wipe us all out for opening a fucking mass relay."
"High Command was afraid that we were dealing with another threat like the Rachni, we-."
"Shut up," the girl ordered him in what was half a snarl and half a sob "my father was on Shanxi you bastard-your men cut him off from his squad and gunned him down."
"He was following orders Emily," a soft voice with an undercurrent of inner strength told the girl from the entrance to the room of the warehouse they were in "He's not some monster-he's just a soldier, like your father was."
"My-my father is dead because of him Carrie," the girl-Emily-sobbed "Why should he get to keep living?"
"I thought something like that about my classmates on the night of my prom," the other girl-Carrie-told her distraught friend "we know where that led-do you know what I learned from that?"
Emily shook her head.
"I learned that revenge only leads to more pain," Carrie told Emily as she struggled to keep from sobbing herself "Is that what you want Emily?"
"I-no-I don't know," Emily admitted, her breath shaky from the stress of the situation "I just-I-."
"Give me the pistols," Carrie instructed her friend gently.
"Here-take them," Emily relented as she handed them over "I-I'm so fucked up."
"Not as fucked up as me," Carrie countered "we should leave before the authorities arrive-I'll return the pistols to the gun shop for you."
"Thanks."
As the two walked away the one named Carrie looked back briefly and waved a hand-as she did Oraka felt all of the ropes holding him restrained snap, releasing him from his confinement.
She's a biotic, Oraka realised.
Most Turians were wary and suspicious of biotics, but crap like that was not important to Oraka right now.
What was was that he owed that girl his life.
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As Carrie drove Finch's car back to the hideout Emily didn't even bother to complain about her driving which seriously did fit the description of 'Evil Kneivel with breasts'.
Emily had other things on her mind.
"I wanted to kill him for so long," Emily confided quietly "but what good would that have done?"
"The important thing is that you didn't kill him Emily," Carrie assured her friend "I wish somebody would have talked me out of-."
"That wasn't your fault Carrie."
"Maybe-maybe not," Carrie sighed tiredly as she brought the skycar in to land "Point is I've got blood on my hands and I have to live with that-I didn't want you to have to carry that burden."
"Thanks for having my back Care," Emily smiled gently as the two got out of the skycar.
"Thanks for putting my back out bitch," Finch snapped as he came out to 'greet' them.
"Don't start with me Finch-I've had a long day," Carrie warned him.
"Yeah-chasing after the lost sheep and defending the damn aliens," Finch countered.
"They're worth saving too Finch," Carrie insisted, knowing full well that she was right "Besides, I didn't do it for Oraka-I did it for Emily."
"Whatever-as far as I'm concerned you sided with the enemy-turned your back on your fellow Reds."
"Well don't worry Finch because I'm done with the Reds," Carrie assured him "I'll be gone from here tomorrow morning."
"And I will too," Emily added "I figure it's time I go home and patch things up with my Mom-you can come too Care, I'm sure she'll welcome you."
"I'll think about it."
"Well then," Finch sneered "Since you seem intent on chasing after the lost sheep all the time I guess I'll see you around-shepherd."
"No Finch, you wont," Carrie assured him "My gang days are over."
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As Septimus Oraka made his was back to the hotel that the ambassador he was protecting was staying at he was greeted out the front by one of his men-the visor he wore and the blue face paint made his identity obvious.
"Private Vakarian," Oraka noted.
"What happened to you Sir?" Vakarian asked "You look like you went a couple of rounds with a Krogan Battlemaster."
"A couple of muggers jumped me," Oraka told him, not wanting to bring charges against either of those girls "I wasn't paying attention-it's embarrassing."
"Do you want me to notify the authorities Sir?" Vakarian offered.
"Don't bother," Oraka dismissed the request casually "It was dark-I didn't get a good look at them. Let's just have the medic patch me up."
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The next day.
As Carrie sat eating her breakfast in her favourite cafe, Emily opposite her the two were approached by a certain Turian.
"Greetings," he called to the two of them "I asked around about the names Emily and Carrie, it turned out that an Emily and a Carrietta eat breakfast here every morning."
Emily looked ready to run but Oraka raised a hand in reassurance.
"Don't worry-I didn't tell anyone what really happened last night, I fully understand why you did what you did-in your position I probably would have done the same," Oraka assured Emily before shifting his attention to Carrie "I just wanted to thank you for saving my life. I know you didn't do it for me but-thank you."
"You're welcome," Carrie replied, blushing slightly as she did.
And with that Septimus Oraka left.
"After all you've been through, your heart is still so pure," Emily marvelled "The worst part of it is that from what you told me things would never have gone as far as they did had Chris' rich lawyer daddy not come to her rescue every time she got into trouble for bullying other kids. Someone needs to bring men like him down-the corrupt bastard."
"Her mother was a part of it too don't forget," another voice that was unfamiliar to Emily but familiar to Carrie interjected "as to how you bring men like John Hargenson down you dig out the truth about them and expose it for the galaxy to see."
"John Hargenson," Emily remarked thoughtfully "I've heard that name before."
"You're that woman from the research institute," Carrie noted.
"From the Institute for Transhuman Study," the woman confirmed "my name is Maria Wills."
"What do you want?" Carrie asked simply.
"To help you," Maria replied simply "to help you to understand and master your powers, to help you to heal from the trauma you've suffered, to help you to realise that what happened on Prom Night was not your fault. And in turn you could help us to help a lot of people-many of them your fellow biotics."
"But-after what I did-."
"You can look upon it as a chance to atone if you want," Maria offered "look I know that you're hesitant to trust, after everything you've been through I don't blame you and waking up on an autopsy table in the institute after a century and a half in biotic stasis probably didn't help but we really do want to help you."
"Century and a half," Emily whispered in surprise as everything finally clicked into place "Carrie White?"
"The one and only," Carrie confirmed quietly.
"But-how?"
"I'm still trying to figure that out," Carrie shrugged "So-Maria-how is it I'm able to help you in turn?"
"Your natural biotics are unique among humanity," Maria elaborated "currently human biotics are forced to use the L2 model biotic implants to raise their level of biotic ability to sufficient levels for practical use-but the L2s cause all manner of horrific side effects. I should know, I'm stuck with one of the damn things."
"And-my natural biotics are the key to something better?" Carrie guessed.
"Potentially yes."
"What do you need?" Carrie asked.
"Some detailed medical scans of your brain," Maria told the young girl "quite painless I assure you and a blood sample or two for DNA."
"Okay," Carrie decided as she thought for a moment and then made her decision "I'm in."
ssssss
Episode closing theme 'Superheroes' by 'The Script'.
