A/N Another chapter for the people! I've got to say its awesome being back! now that school is over maybe I can actually do this! Welcome back to madness! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA! ;) I love writing...
*cough* *cough* "Oh... my head..."
Opening my eyes I look around and notice I was laying on my back inside some sort of hospital, but all the lights were off and all I could hear was a sharp *beep* *beep* *beep* from a heart monitor to my left. I take in a harshly sterile-smelling breath and resist the urge to cough up a storm. God do I hate hospitals. I groggily sit up and try to avoid screaming as my body lights up with searing pain. I hiss in response and shut my eyes tight. What the hell happened?
Trying to access my memory I find it, well, garbled. I open my eyes and notice they were adjusted to the near-blackness by now so I made use of the new resource by scanning the room for anything to tell me where I was. Everything was sterile white, the chairs, the floor, the ceiling, even all the walls were white. Wait... where's the door? I look around again and start to panic that I couldn't find the exit before I noticed a green panel on the wall at the foot of my bed.
I close my eyes and take another sharp, sterile, breath to calm myself before remembering what universe I was in. This is turning out to be the worst trans-dimensional travel story of all science fiction. I let the breath out and take hold of my new-found alertness. Testing my arms and legs for mobility, I find I can't move them without causing a lot of pain so I try and weigh my options.
Ok, speed of hobbling, the amount of doors, guards, police officers for attacking a civilian, other unknown factors...
...
I figure my chances of escaping at about 9%. Oh I am in deep crap now.
I just lay back and decide to wait out my recovery, at least until I get more data.
*COUGH!* I wince as my chest burns from the sudden convulsion.
God damn it! What the hell happen to me for it to hurt that bad?! Closing my eyes I focus my memory on the past again to try and see why I was in a hospital.
Your never going to find it.
My body tenses up and I open my eyes in fear at the sudden outburst. 'What the hell was that?' I mentally shout, I'm shocked when I hear it bounce off the walls and back to me.
...
What the hell is going on?
I know what you do not SCORPIO... I whip my head to the right and come face to face with a figure cloaked in black.
My eyes widen in shock. "Who are you?" I ask completely out of impulse while my mind matched the figure to something I'd seen before, something from just before I dropped into this universe.
The figure shifted and a black mist covered its body before molding into a man, a middle aged man I couldn't make out his face in the darkness but I didn't have to to know who the bastard was.
I move to grab him and my arms catch on the chains that bound them to the now hard metallic table. Having some trouble are we? I growled at him in response, he just smiles and tugs on one of my restrains until it digs into my wrist painfully.
HA HA HAHAHAHA! His maniacal laugh echoes across the stone walls surrounding us.
I hold back my primal fury and focus on trying to keep myself from crying. The walls, the table, the restraints, were all well known to me. I knew where I was now. I kept my eyes on him, knowing the drill and what I needed to do to get out.
The room shifts and flares to life as I notice I'm back in the hospital, lying immobile on the bed. and on impulse I look around at the nurses, doctors, the people seeming to be studying me, it goes by so fast that the only words I could make out were "Trauma- ... ep the ER! ... ying of ma- ... ot going to make it..." What is all this?!
All of a sudden everything freezes and I could see a woman, no an Asari, weeping next to my bed and another, much taller, comforting her. Sadness frozen in time, a picture of what death brings...
The cloaked figure appears out of thin air behind the two and places a bony hand upon the older Asari, it burns silently into her shoulder as the figure speaks, This is what could happen... My eyes look to the face of the weeping Asari and my mind recognizes her as the girl from... somewhere...
"Why can't I remember?" I whisper unintelligibly.
The figure flashes into black mist and reappears right next to my bed. Because I made it impossible! The figure shouts, red piercing eyes burning with fury from behind his dark hood.
I avert my eyes for fear of being burned alive and notice something hidden inside his cloak. It was silver, small and sharp, it was strangely familiar. I try and think about what it could be and he closes his cloak to hide it as the entire scene flashes back to the dungeon. The dungeon that was my scene of torture for years after I saved Sarah. A prisoner inside my own mind.
My restrains disappear with a wave of the figure's hand and the bed disappears as well, dropping me unceremoniously onto the cold, stone floor painfully.
Oh, how I have missed our time spent together Dylan, or should I call you Scorpio, or maybe Betrayer, the Engineer?
I grit my teeth and shift into a sitting position as he crouches in front of me.
Or are you a survivor... He bit out the words like they meant my death.
He watches me expectantly as I just sit there trying to make sense of what just happened.
I think over the options and remember what he usually asked me. I look him in his blood-red eyes and try and ignore the pure fear that nearly overwhelms my soul. I take in a smoky and burning breath and say, "I am everything and nothing. Without me there is no end to the war, with me there can be no peace, I am within and without, I am and am not, I am life and death, and you would be wise to remember that..."
...
...
The room is quiet and the torches lighting up the gray stone walls go out as the figure closes his eyes. My vision bleeds away and I feel faint as the dark inky blackness washes over me.
You know me too well, and you have beaten me in another round Scorpio... you have bested me once again.
I smirk in my discontent. That's how these sessions usually worked, we fight, he tortures, if he breaks me I die, if I trick him I wake up with, well, something, usually a prophecy or just a little bit of luck. My friends used to say I was gifted to be so well attuned to the universe. I never told them the cost.
I take a deep breath and try and calm myself, I never expected it to happen after how badly I beat him last time.
You're quick-minded Scorpio, but a fool. You have waisted my time for so long, delayed the inevitable for too long. He paces in front of me angrily. This is unusual to say the least.
I focus on him and my eyes widen as I feel what he wanted to do, what rules he wanted to break, what was GOING to happen.
My adrenaline spikes and I jump up from the floor and punch the side of his head. My hand burns from the contact but I ignore it as he staggers and pulls away before I snatch his cloak and run.
YOU CANNOT ESCAPE ME DYLAN!
I don't look back, I needed to get out of here, I needed to survive and waiting for him to kill me wasn't an option.
A blinding flash of light flies past me and I start to panic even more. HE'S THROWING FIREBALLS?! WHEN THE HELL DID HE LEARN HOW TO THROW FIREBALLS?!
The ball of flame hits the ground in front of me and a wall of fire bursts into existence. I quickly throw the cloak over myself before tumbling through, the hot flames licked at my still exposed arm and I scream in agonizing pain as I feel the flesh melt off in some places. I stagger from my front roll and in a panic I drop the cloak before just running.
I'm going to die, I'm going to die, I'm going to die!
I keep running and don't stop, even as the ground starts to crumble from under my feet and the sharp searing screams of agonizing pain erupted from my throat as the burning liquid that clung to my arm slowly grew further along my body. I could see the exit, a locked wooden door not ten meters away.
Almost there...
The flames burst into a vibrant blue as I hear the murderous screams from my personal demon, YOU CANNOT STOP ME! I WILL HUNT YOU DOWN AND CLAIM MY PRIZE!
My body slams into the door and I curl my uninjured hand around the knob and turn it to surprisingly find it unlocked. YES! I'M FREE! I throw the door open and I'm blinded by the immense white light that pours out from the opening. My mind goes blank...
"I'm not going anywhere until I know he's going to be alright!" The young Asari girl stated in absolute fury. She needed to make sure her savior was going to survive.
The Asari Officer crossed her arms and shook her head at the girl's stubbornness, "Mila, if you want to give your mother a heart attack be my guest, but the human isn't going to wake up anytime soon and you know it! He took too much brain damage! I'd be surprised if he woke up at all!"
Officer Rila didn't need this, sure she wanted to see the human wake up, but statistically it was extremely unlikely. Not to mention that anyone who expels that much biotic energy without proper training practically commits suicide from all the resulting brain hemorrhages and neurological damage to the brain stem.
Mila shakes her head and looks back to the pale and hairy form sleeping on the hospital bed. "No, I'm going to wait and that's final." Mila hadn't ever seen a human before in her life and she couldn't waste the opportunity. He saved her from the Turian so she owed him a debt of existence. If she left her mother would be furious.
Rila sighs in exasperation and gives up on convincing the stubborn young maiden.
She walks over and sits down in the chair beside the medical equipment and to the left of the Human's bed. She needed a break, hell, this WAS her break.
She looks to the prone human and her focused, sharp purple eyes shifts worriedly between him and the monitors keeping the Human safe. I should have just left a Get Well holo-card or something. Why do I need to get involved with someone else's recovery? Rila asked herself while shifting to get more comfortable in the metal seat.
She knew the answer already, the Human seemed... strange. Rila hadn't known it when she found him in that ally, stained with the blue blood of a Turian General. She had felt so enamored by his very presence that she just could not stay away. "I cannot even speak to him and still, I feel drawn to him for some unknown reason, Goddess knows why. I'm not attracted to him, personally I really hate all the fur Humans have. It just seems too... weird, scratchy." She whispers quietly to herself.
The strange clumps of fur above the Human's eyes shift downwards in what she could assume was a frown, as if he could sense her thoughts.
Rila sighs and pulls her eyes from the Human before looking down at her omni-tool to check the time. Her non-existent eyebrows shoot up in shock, She had been there for over six hours! Her shift ended ten minutes ago!
"Damn it!" She whispered angrily. She had lost a lot of work lately and she was starting to worry for her job's security. Closing down her omni-tool she sighs with her new-found exhaustion and rubs her tired eyes.
I need to get more sleep... but I need to stay just in case he wakes up... but I really need to eat too... but I NEED to talk to him- Gah! What is wrong with me?!
She drops her head into her hands and lets a breath out. Every-time she closed her eyes she saw him. Every-time she stopped thinking for even a moment she heard his voice, it was maddening.
"Ohh..." Her ears perk up and her mind freezes as a rough and unused, yet familiar voice, snapped all her thoughts out of her head. Her eyes widen as she searches the room for the sound and then they land on the Human and she gasps in shock as the Human starts to sit up.
"Oh Goddess! Nurse! He's waking up!" Mila shouted out the door in a panic.
Rila's heart started racing, her hands were clammy, her mind blank. She was actually going to meet him, the strangely curious Human she saved, and for some obscure reason she felt absolutely elated.
My head feels like it's on fire, my neck burns, and my body aches. Where am I? What happened?
"Oh Goddess! Nurse! He's awake!" A woman shouts as I try and fail to sit up.
I try to open my eyes and hiss at the bright light before shutting them tightly and wincing at my aching muscles.
"NURSE!" My mind strains to keep itself running as I finally get myself into a sitting position.
Testing my limbs I raise the arm that was seared from the wall of fire into my limited vision. I sigh in relief that it wasn't immobile.
Now I know I'm going to be alright.
A strong hand slams against my chest, forcing me back onto my back and my eyes shoot open as my adrenaline spikes in fear. "Stay calm!" I ignore the voice and grip onto something soft and throw in a panic. A sharp yelp hits my ears and the pressure is gone.
What?
"GODDESS! NURSE! FOR THE LOVE OF THE GODDESS PAGE THE (enraged Asarian comment) DOCTOR!"
My adrenaline blocks out the pain and I jump out of bed in a panic. I look to my right and in a split second I'm holding a syringe from being jammed into my throat with one hand and fighting off the other arm trying to restrain me.
"No! You will not take me!" I yell defiantly before taking hold of some strange watery feeling and forcing the person off of me and across the room in a flash of blue light.
My vision clears up and focuses onto the ruffled looking Asari nurse laying dazed on the floor in front of me. She stares up at me in total shock, mouth agape, and eyes wide as I stare at her in equal shock and confusion. What in the hell just happened?
"Ow..." We both look to my left and find another Asari, this time in some light armor painted with some sort of authority crest. She was laying awkwardly in a metal chair and rubbing her head crests. "Oh I really didn't see that coming." She says in her slight daze before shaking her head clear and standing.
I watch her carefully and stop as I take in her face. Plain for the most part, light violet skin, no visible tattoos, deep violet eyes...
My mind freezes as I recognize her from my psychotic dream. She was the older Asari comforting the...
"Where's the little girl from the alley?" I ask while looking around in a panic.
"H-here, I'm here." I look over to the other side of the bed and find a very young light-blue skinned Asari staring at me in amazement.
My mind instantly recognizes her and as part of my paranoid precaution I look her over quickly to make sure she was alright. Her body language practically screams her insecurity, and her eyes seems to mirror how tired she looks. Her ripped and blood-stained clothes were replaced with some strange hospital scrubs.
"Thank goodness, I thought you had gotten hurt!" I exclaim in absolute relief.
She closes her agape mouth and blinks once before blushing and looking away while stuttering out, "I-I am a-alright. T-thank you for s-saving m-me."
I breathe a sigh of relief that seemed endless, she was safe, It wasn't too late. I smile at her in my sudden elation. She looks up at the same second and looks at me wide-eyed as her hands start to fidget nervously.
Sensing how uncomfortable she was I direct my attention over to the officer Asari I threw into the wall somehow. She's staring at me with the same strangely amazed look.
"What?" I ask on impulse.
She blinks and shakes her shock off as I catch something out of the corner of my eye and throw up something solid to block an attack from the woman from before.
I blink in surprise at the bluish wall that was growing out of my extended hand like an invisible field of energy.
Ok, this is-
The field dissipates instantly and I stand there staring at the woman laying flat on her back in front of me, the syringe lying a foot to her right.
I meet her eyes and I see something murderous in them.
Oh, crap...
In the split second that she reaches for the syringe and I reach out to grab it from across the room. I'm surprised when I feel it in my grasp when I close my hand and pull it away from the now frustrated woman.
"Stop that!" The angry woman exclaims while diving for the syringe again.
Oh no you don't!
I yank my aching arm to the right and bump into the hospital bed. I catch myself on the edge to avoid falling over and watch as the syringe shatters at tremendous speed against the door frame, just missing a very familiar face.
The very elderly-looking Asari wearing a dark purple pair of scrubs flinches away from the shattered glass and looks at me wide-eyed before saying, "Damn it! Meline I told you that he was not ready to wake up yet!" She looks at the angry woman from before and scowls dangerously, her strangely vibrant green eyes shimmering with fury as she clenched her fists.
"I'm sorry Dr. Jeilus but he fought to quickly for me to sedate him!" Meline states in apology.
Oh, My, GOD! Dr. Jeilus?!
I stare at her in shock as she shakes her head in annoyance, "I tell you to do one thing, ONE and you even screw that up!" Jeilus puts her hands to her hips and glares at Meline.
Meline cringes and opens her mouth to explain, "But mistress, I-" Jeilus holds up her right hand to stop her.
"I don't want to hear it! go back to the lab and take inventory!" She points out the door behind her and down the hall as a few of the other people stop to see what was going on.
"Ok, sorry, I'll just go..." Meline utters while trying to hide her blush while dashing out the door and down the hall.
Jeilus sighs and yells out the door, "Meline! Wrong way!" And points to the right as Meline runs past the door again, this time going the right way.
I watch the authoritative stance of Dr. Jeilus to find anything to show she wasn't who she was. I couldn't, she was too powerful.
Ok, so apparently one of the characters I wrote back in my universe actually exists?
Jeilus sighs as the door shuts with a low hiss and locks into place, "Goddess if she wasn't my niece I'd probably have fired her into the sun by now." She mutters while rolling her shoulders and looking back at me.
Yeah, she's definitely Jeilus. HAHA!
"SO..." She starts to talk but takes a second to look around the room and assess what was different, just like I wrote her to be like.
This is unprecedentedly awesome!
She watches the little Asari girl wring her hands for a moment before walking forward and grasping them to halt their annoying pattern, just like I wrote her.
"Mila, I called your mother, she'll be arriving shortly." Jeilus says forcefully, but not unkindly to the young Asari.
Mila, huh, well at least introductions won't matter now.
Mila stomps her foot like the young child she is and states, "No! I do not want to leave! I am happy staying here!"
Jeilus sighs in exasperation and takes Mila by the shoulders while creasing her white-spotted tattooed eyebrows in a dangerous glare, "You can't stay here, you've already been gone for over a week Mila. Your mother was already angry as all hell when I told her you were here!"
Mila flinches slightly, but shakes her head defiantly anyways, "No! I have a debt of existence to repay and I must uphold that debt!" She looks to me while she says this and I stare at her wide-eyed.
Oh crap, am I going to have someone following me around for all eternity like that EXTREMELY agitating fan from Oblivion? Oh how I wish I could permanently kill that little, mother of a- jack in the back- flying charus bug- fake son of a whore... Seriously! Why couldn't the programmers let you kill the Fan! It's an infringement of our basic gaming rights to deny us the gratification of getting rid of the annoying civilians that follow us into caves filled with vampires only to scare the living hell out of us when we turn around!
I take a breath and shake my head to calm myself before remembering where I was and looking around at everyone staring at me like I was about to explode.
"What?" I say while shrugging off their attention. Jeilus shakes her head while smiling and quietly chuckling under her breath.
Oh, you know what I was thinking Jeilus, I gave you that ability, now look around like the goddess was talking to you and all will be alright.
Sadly she doesn't do anything but continue to laugh quietly, but Mila starts to stare at me like I was naked or something. I shift uncomfortably under her gaze.
Ok, this is getting embarrassing.
"There is a lot to talk about you two, and I have sat here long enough trying to get the courage to speak, so it is my turn." The officer states as I turn around to meet her in the eye.
She looks at me deeply, trying to watch for anything strange.
I think I'm not going to like this conversation.
"What do you remember from the night in the alley?" The officer asks carefully.
A frown creases my brow as I remember an alley, a forest and some Quarian.
Hmph, sounds like the beginning of a bad joke.
I focus on the incident more and finally the scene flashes before my eyes, the blood, the screaming, the Turian trying to hold the little Asari girl down to feed his dark compulsions...
I shake away the images and say quietly, "I... remember everything."
She watches me for a moment before I sigh and sit back onto the bed spread to alleviate my aching muscles.
"So, big deal! I'd celebrate." Jeilus exclaims while sitting down next to me on the bed.
I let my head droop as the intense waves of regret hit me like a wall of pain.
"I don't celebrate severely injuring people to the point of near-death." I bite out while trying to rationalize the incident, I couldn't.
"He's dead." The officer stated plainly.
I look up with a confused expression, "What?"
The officer raises a non-existent eyebrow and repeats, "He's dead."
"Who?" I ask, trying to figure out what she was talking about.
"The Turian General you attacked in the alley? He's dead." She states slightly apologetic.
...
I watch her for a second as I take in the information.
"What? He's, Dead? Oh shit... Oh crap! Oh god!" I exclaim, completely panicking.
I'm going to be assassinated! Of all the people to commit a crime it just HAD to be a high-ranking Turian General! I'm going to die!
My breathing rate increases with my pounding heart as I search for an exit route.
I am not dying any time soon!
Jeilus grabs be by the shoulders and shakes me slightly, "Calm down! Calm down Human!"
I ignore her and continue to let the thoughts of death manifest, the endless quiet, nothing left...
Maybe I'll get lucky and the Hierarchy will torture me for a few years to pro-long my life.
*SLAP* "AHHH!" I scream as Jeilus's hand hits my cheek at full force, snapping me out of my initial panic.
Ow, Ow... that's definitly going to leave a mark! Ah! My head's spinning!
I try and slow my breathing while rubbing my extremely soar cheek and head, trying to alleviate the headache that erupted from the impact.
"The Turian had it coming! He was going to rape Mila over there," Jeilus points her thumb behind her as I look over to see Mila cowering in the corner, eyes as wide as saucers. "...If you hadn't stepped in, that makes you a hero in my books!" She slaps my shoulder and I wince at the ache in my muscles.
"I'm no hero..." I absentmindedly state as I rub my now sore shoulder.
No hero kills people on purpose.
Jeilus watches me for a moment before nodding in acceptance and standing up to unlock the door. "I've got some-" She freezes mid-sentence as the door opens to a very regal-looking Asari.
We all stare at the strange addition to the room as Mila tries to look around Jeilus to see who it is.
Uhh... who's this? I don't remem-
"MOTHER!" Mila screams out as she dives forward and practically throws Jeilus out of the way to slam into the regal Asari in a huge hug.
Jeilus staggers to the right and crashes into some left-over medical equipment, she lays there, a among boxes and piles of cloth while a slightly ripped bag of red blood dripped slowly onto her painful and dazed face.
"Damn, I guess she really misses her mother." The officer states in astonishment next to me as I carefully stand up.
"Mila! Oh thank the Goddess you are alright!" The Asari wraps her arms tightly around her daughter, embracing in a loving and heart-warming moment of daughter re-uniting with mother.
I smile at the sight, it was refreshing and it allowed me to focus on the present.
I'm still in the MEU, I'm still broke, I still have...
I look down and notice for the first time that I was wearing a sterile white night gown and didn't have any of my possessions. I look around for a second in a slight panic before I find my omni-tools and HAPTIC gloves lying on a small counter built into the wall next to my bed.
Oh, good, phew! I was worried I'd have to start over again.
I quickly stagger across the two steps between me and my tools, holding myself up with my elbow I slip on my gloves and slide on the two omni-tool bands. I activate them and breath a sigh of relief as they activate with ease.
At least that's out of the way. I'd be SO screwed if I lost these.
"You! I must know who you are so I might reward you for saving my only daughter." I spin around and look at the Regal Asari in shock.
I blink and think about what to say before remembering what my new name was and saying, "My name is Scorpio, and it isn't a rescue if someone died during the attempt."
She wraps an arm around her now clearly short daughter's shoulders and smiles, "Your efforts were not in vain Scorpio, the man who died was a sadist, and I would not have shown him mercy if he would have lived." I match her smile insincerely.
I still don't feel alright with killing a General.
The officer steps forward from my left, "Neither would I" She extends a hand, palm-side up towards the Regal Asari. The Asari places her free hand palm-side down on-top of the officer's "Officer Rila of the APC, I was the first upon the scene. It is an honor to meet such a high ranking Matriarch."
Rila smiles calmly and the Matriarch returns it, "Hello to you too Detective, it is good to finally meet you as well." She states with a curiosity only a Matriarch could portray.
What? Matriarch? Oh this is becoming too much...
I watch as Jeilus stands up off the medical pile and wipes the blood off her face before straightening her scrubs, "Yes well, we are all glad you are here Matriarch, although there is still something we need to discuss about Scorpio."
We all look at her, our attention completely grasped by her admission.
I have a feeling this isn't going to be good.
"Scorpio attacked a Turian General with BIOTICS." Jeilus states with equal astonishment and seriousness.
I blink and look around at everyone as they stare at me in shock, amazement, and knowing astonishment.
I don't remember using biotics. I just felt... something. Hmm... What DID I feel? I remember some sort of watery feeling and then I heard that voice and everything just sort-of happened.
"That's not the only thing." Jeilus states while walking around the bed and up to me, I take a step back and bump into the counter.
"Hold still." I watch her cautiously as she lifts her activated omni-tool in front of me and takes a medical scan from what I could see. She types something into the display and frowns in concentration before smiling and looking me in the eye, "You're at optimal health, and as soon as those test results come back we'll have you fitted with a bio-amp." My eyes widen in fear.
Oh hell no!
"I am not having something implanted into my spinal column!" I yell in absolute shock.
Jeilus jumps back slightly from the outburst and holds her hands up to defend herself, "Calm down calm down! Sheesh its like dealing with a PTSD sufferer!"
My eyes widen even more then before and I swallow as memories of how I earned my name flowed past my vision. I shake my head to clear it and find everyone looking at me with concern. "I'm fine, now I am not EVER going to submit to ANYTHING being integrated into my anatomy."
Jeilus shakes her head, "No, not an option, you are a very powerful biotic and without proper training you WILL end up killing yourself."
"May I make a suggestion?" We all turn and look at the Matriarch.
She steps forward and raises one hand to address the room while keeping the other within arms reach of Mila. Her features harden and she looks to Officer Rila and nods when she gives the Matriarch a strange look, then she does the same to Jeilus before looking directly at me, "You are to become an acolyte of the Huntress."
I watch her for a moment of silence as Rila and Jeilus watch me with unending stares.
What am I supposed to do?
Seemingly noticing my confusion the Matriarch smiles and says, "You are to be enrolled at the Asari Academy of the Huntress to further your understanding and training of Natural Biotics."
...
Holy frick! I mean holy mother of GOD! This is...
My mind starts to unravel from how insane the thought was.
HOW IN ALL OF CREATION IS THIS EVEN REMOTELY POSSIBLE?!
My adrenaline spikes and I stare at the Matriarch in absolute astonishment.
"What! He cannot train there! He is not a natural biotic!" Rila exclaims angrily.
"Aw but that is where you are incorrect detective. Jeilus would you please." The Matriarch gestures to Jeilus and she in turn sighs in exasperation while turning on her omni-tool.
Jeilus clears her throat and activates a 3D projector to enhance her display. A skeletal system shows up on between the five of us, fractures to certain areas of the structure are apparent, "This is Scorpio's skeletal system, there had been serious fracturing within a few hours of the incident in the alley." Jeilus types something into her omni-tool as I watch the structure overlay with what looks like a nervous system of some sort.
This is... I don't know what this means.
I look to Jeilus and she seems to ignore me in favor to align the two systems perfectly, "This is Scorpio's nervous system, as you can see there has been serious re-build of it over time. There are twice as many neurons firing then are required in a normal Human according to the neurologists I've called from Earth."
Oh great, now I'm recognized in their systems.
"We had difficulty finding your biometrics in any system in Counsel or Alliance space." Jeilus looks at me questioningly.
I shift under her gaze for a moment before finding the right lie to tie it all in, "I was born to a small town where medical care only extended to the severe cases such as head injuries, broken bones, etc. I have never in my life broken or injured, well, anything so I was never documented in the local systems." I internally screamed at myself for continuing my trail of lies.
I'm a terrible person.
Jeilus nods in understanding, "Hmm, well that explains the signs of hair-line fracture remodeling that were never treated properly, as well as dozens of scars that weren't fully healed as well as the absence of any record of your strange nervous system."
"What is so strange about it? It looks like an Asari's from what I remembered from biology back in college." Rila comments while crossing her arms in front of her in impatience.
Jeilus looks back to the display, "It's not normal for any other being outside of Asari to have such an extensive outlay, and we all know it is nearly impossible for sentient life outside of the Asari to use their biotics usefully without an amp."
Rila's non-existent eyebrows shoot up in realization, "He's...?"
Jeilus and the Matriarch nod simultaneously while Mila looks at me and smiles.
Ok, this is getting confusing.
I clear my throat to get their attention, "And what does all this mean exactly?" I ask with uncertainty.
Four pairs of eyes look directly at me for a moment before Mila states, "Are you really that thick?" I blink in slight shock and look at Jeilus for answers while the Matriarch silently scolded Mila for her outburst.
"You're a Natural Biotic Scorpio, welcome to the club!" She states with excitement.
I take in a deep breath and hold it to avoid screaming out in shock.
I'm not a biotic! I'm not even from this universe! I'm not going to become some kind of lab rat, I'm not going to be thrown into an academy for people like me, and I definitely don't want something implanted inside of me! I'm new here! I can't have this happen to me so soon!
I cough out my deep breath and can feel myself start to go into cardiac arrest from all the stress.
Oh god...
Someone grabs me by the shoulders and leads me to the bed. I sit down and steady my breathing before looking up to see Rila still holding onto me, "Thanks, this is a lot to take in..."
She nods to me and I catch a hint of a smile pulling at the corner of her slightly darker purple lips. "It is no problem Scorpio, even I am having difficulty understanding a lot of this. I mean, the first sentient being outside of the Asari to become a Natural biotic just happens to be the same one to save a Matriarch's daughter from a rapist Turian General?" She lets out a short laugh, "It sounds like something out of a bad science fiction movie! Haha!"
I smile slightly and try to get myself to laugh a little and fail.
This is beyond anything I could have expected.
"Jeilus, thank you for the presentation and when those tests are finished forward the entire bill to be covered by my private funds." I look up to find the display shut down and the Matriarch talking with Jeilus in the doorway.
Jeilus bows to her respectfully, "Of course, and I have already forwarded you Scorpio's contact information for further instructions as to where to apply for AAH."
The Matriarch smiles, "That has already been covered." She turns to the rest of us while holding Mila into place with one arm. "May the Goddess shine light onto us all."
Rila stands and bows to her before saying, "May the Goddess favor you Matriarch Lidanya."
Holy what?!
I look directly at the Matriarch and I suddenly see it, her facial tattoos should have given her away sooner.
"And lets hope she does, another group of tourists became violent and tried to take control of the Destiny Ascension while I was away." Matriarch Lidanya states with slight annoyance.
"When will they learn." Mila says while shaking her head slightly, "You cannot even hope to match the power of a Matriarch, let alone her ship's trained Commandos."
Lidanya smiles down at her daughter's comment and looks up at me as if she just remembered something, "On behalf of the Asari Republics I Matriarch Lidanya grant you, Scorpio all the benefits and consequences associated with your admission into the ranks of the most highly trained Commandos and Huntresses at the Armali Academy of the Huntress." She ends the powerful speech with a smile and a bow in my direction.
I stand at the behest of my injuries and bow in respect towards Lidanya. "Thank you, it is such an honor to be held in the same ranks of the most powerful biotics in Asari space Lidanya."
She shakes her head, "No thank you, without your timely intervention I would have lost my only daughter."
This is becoming one of the best days of my life.
Mila looks between her mother and me and shrugs before saying, "So he's a natural biotic like me?" Lidanya looks down at her daughter and smiles as she nods. "I really don't get how the Goddess had a role in his existence if he's like us then." Mila exclaims.
I spot Rila face-palming to the side and I hear Jeilus mutter, "Something borne of youth I guess."
I sit back down onto the bed and watch them for a moment, but something starts to bug me so I ask, "Uhh... I have to ask, how old is Mila?"
Mila smiles widely and states proudly, "I'm 25, 26 next month!" Her voice cracks when she says 'month', prompting the entire room to burst out laughing.
HAHAHA! Oh my goodness that is so cute!
Mila frowns intensely while looking around at everyone, "What? What's so funny?" She asks
Lidanya stops laughing instantly and says, "You are young and full of prideful energy Mila, something those of us touched by more years can appreciate."
"Ok, so why is Scorpio laughing then. He's younger then me!" Mila exclaims in exasperation.
I watch as everyone looks at me for the second time today.
Ok, so why did I think it was funny? Oh! Right!
"Mila, I'm 19. Which if you convert that amount of time related to that of an average Asari I'd be about 152, give or take a few years. and as such you'd be about 3-4 years old as a Human, this makes me older then you are in that retrospect."
Jeilus nods and looks to Mila as Lidanya and Rila look contemplative. "Well, ok then. I still think I should be treated with more respect!" Mila exclaims.
"Mila!" Lidanya scolds her with a slight nudge. Mila in turn looks away ashamed while muttering an insincere apology I can't even hear.
Strange child, she reminds me of a spoiled rich kid with eight siblings that squandered the family fortune down to a meager sum for her, of which she gets no respect for.
...
I have really got to stop analyzing people so often.
"Our shuttle will be leaving shortly. May the Goddess go with you Scorpio." Lidanya says while leading Mila out of the room. I barely have any time to look up before they're gone.
Rila rolls her neck and shakes her head to wake herself up. I watch her body language intently and ask, "Tired?"
She looks over at me, surprised that I took and interest in her. "How did you know?" She asks before yawning.
Ok, that was a bit interesting, I've never seen an Asari yawn before. It somehow reminds me of the Banshee's from Mass Effect 3, but a lot less disturbing.
I shiver slightly at remembering how they always managed to corner me in battle. "I noticed it in you body language, a lot of the basics such as attraction, anger, joy, sadness, and desperation are easily seen in their cross-species equivalence."
She stares at me strangely while rubbing the back of her neck.
"I was in school to become a psychologist." I state as a fact.
She nods in understanding. "Oh, ok, seems like both of us aren't doing what we were trained to do." She smiles in her exhaustion.
I watch her carefully, then I see it. She was watching me, how I moved, how I reacted to certain things, what I was saying and how I was saying it.
I smirk at her, "Yeah, it's hard finding meaningful work as a Psychologist."
Her eyes widen, "Uh, how did you-?"
"I saw you watching me." I answer.
She shakes her head before straightening her posture and looking at me directly, "Oh! How rude of me." She extends her right hand out in what I assume was an Asarian greeting like she did with that Matriarch, her hand was out-stretched palm-side up.
I smile and place my own atop of her own like the Matriarch did.
There's nothing you can do...
I blink and look around for a second, trying to hear the voice again. I find the room empty, "Hello Rila. My name is Scorpio, just Scorpio." I spin around in the now dark room and find myself and Rila greeting each-other, but I could see myself.
What is this?
Rila leans forward and says, "I've felt so alone lately that it's killing me internally. I need you to help me! I need you to save me!" She exclaims in total dismay.
I focus on her and she turns to look at me, really through me. I turn around and find a Batarian, or what I think is a Batarian, standing there with a gun in his hand. I blink and a gunshot goes off...
I open my eyes in a fright and let go of Rila's hand.
What the hell was that?!
Rila looks at me in confusion and tilts her head in question. I stare at her fearfully and I could swear I saw what her end was in her eyes.
"Scorpio?" She asks.
I shake my head and block out the strange vision I just had.
I'm not insane. I wrote a paper on it, I should know what insane is.
"I'm fine Rila." I say distantly.
"How do you know my name?" She asks.
I watch her watch me for any lies before I say truthfully, "You introduced yourself as such to Matriarch Lidanya so I remembered it incase I needed to speak to you." She looks away for a second then back to me as if I was a talking fruit so I clarify, "I have a rare case of PTSD that enhances my selective memory to the point at which it's partially eidetic."
"So I was right! HA! I'm always right." We look to my right and find Jeilus standing there watching the two of us.
Rila backs away from me immediately and I turn fully to Jeilus to finally get some answers, "Yes, and I want to know everything that has happened to me while I was at this... well you can start at that."
Jeilus raises a tattooed eyebrow and says, "You really have no clue what day it is do you?" I frown at her but shake my head. "Then check it on your omni-tools for Goddess' sakes!"
I look down and activate my Savant I before checking the last time I logged in. It was over eight days ago.
"What the hell!" I shout in shock.
"Yeah, you were in a coma for quite the while, we were worried you were brain dead for a while." Jeilus stated nonchalantly.
Oh if I wasn't the one who wrote you to be so insensitive Jeilus I would strangle you right now!
I glare at her to show it wasn't funny. Rila steps forward slightly and comments, "Mila and I were really worried you would not wake up at all. It was really a relief that you did. I did not want such a strange and unique Human to die on my watch." She smiles at me, making the situation even more uncomfortable.
I let the idea of being in a coma for eight days fester in my thoughts for a moment before Rila speaks up again, "You know, your going to be the first Alien to enroll at AAH in the history of the school, which by the way, is over 6,000 years old." Rila stated in amazement while completely oblivious to my inner turmoil.
Well, that was kind of out of the blue.
I blink at her for a second before answering her unspoken question with, "I know, and I'm honored because of it."
This is becoming quite insane.
She smiles and opens her mouth to speak but a ping on her omni-tool interrupts her. Her eyes widen as she reads the message and she quickly looks up and says, "I've got to go, see you around Scorpio!" Before literally running out the door.
I shout after her, "Ha! I hope not!"
She is making me so very awkward, awkward indeed captain obvious, why thank you my captain.
...
I'm going insane.
I look over to Jeilus and she introduces herself, "I am Dr. Jeilus it's a pleasure to have met you Scorpio." She extends her hand in a traditional hand-shake.
I brush off my surprise before shaking her hand and replying warmly, "Like-wise Jeilus, it's been a pleasure for me as well."
Because I wrote you.
She walks around the bed and grabs a small crate from the floor before placing them onto the bed itself, "These are your personal affects by the way, although when we tried to clean your clothes they combusted for some reason, maybe personal absorption of biotic energy that reacted with the De-sterilization fumes and ignited the organic fabric. Anyways, I took the liberty of shopping for you while you were out. I was wondering how you felt about a full-body suit capable of self-sealing and built in cloak." She smirks at my skeptical expression and pulls out the suit.
I am shocked into silence.
I take the soft yet strangely strong black fabric in my hands and marvel at the complexity of the inter-woven fibers. My mind instantly tried to match it to other suits I've seen.
It resembles Kasumi's suit mixed with that of a Quarian's, strange yet also quite appealing...
The main color was black with a deep crimson-red highlight around the rim of the hood and down the crossing belts that intersect over the abdomen. It was a masterpiece of straps, fabric, and metal that took my breath away.
"This is... how did you find this!" I exclaim in absolute shock and gratitude. "Also, why did you go out and buy something for me? We only just met around eight days ago and I wasn't even conscious!"
Jeilus smiles weakly and rubs her arm uncomfortably, "Actually I lied, I don't know who sent it,"
That's a-little disconcerting, but I'll think about that later.
"But I looked it up and it's worth over 3 million credits!"
My jaw drops, "Holy hell!"
Not a day in this universe... wait...
A question nags at my already fraying nerves resurfaces, "How bad were my injuries?"
She blinks at the sudden change in subject, but answers anyways. "Pretty bad neural scaring, if you had used your biotics for just a little bit longer you would have had some nasty burns down your spine, or you might be permanently paralyzed. I'm not good at guessing." I swallow involuntarily.
Sheesh... anyways, I'm a bit concerned with the suit, and now that I think about it, why was that voice I heard in the alley so familiar?
...
I'll think about it later.
I look down at the suit before me and smile. "I'm going to see how this thing fits." Jeilus took that as a notice of privacy and steps out as I start to strip out of the strangely comfortable, and thin, hospital gown.
I try and look around for a place to start and finding none I call up my omni-tools and try and find a manual.
I've got to learn how to use armor some time. Ok, so first I need to put on the under-suit.
I slip on the extremely thin fabric that apparently breathed, which is always good. I'm surprised that it fits me perfectly until I read that most under suits were one-size-fits-all.
Better then not having it be tight enough, or being so tight I can't move.
I reach back behind me and using my great dexterity I zipped myself up. Next is the main body of the armor/suit.
Hmm, it looks like I'll have to undo a few straps and locking clamps to get it on.
I yank at one of the clamps every-which-way possible before I find a thin release on the edge of the thin disk. I nod at the new knowledge and quickly un-clamp the rest of the suit and stagger slightly as I throw it on.
Oh, a little bit heavy...
I shift the flexible plates around a bit before I realize I have it on backwards and turn it around.
There we go, much better. Also, a bit restrictive, but it keeps you alive so I can't complain.
Tightening the straps and locks into place I read that there was usually a CPU in these suits so I scan the suit with my Savant I before happily connecting it to the Soft-Suit computer.
"Welcome to the AX 12 Advanced Infiltration Suit, please identif-" I mute the annoying mono-toned voice and link LIA into the systems.
"LIA, connect any and all data regarding this specific suit including status updates directly to my omni-tools."
...
"Of course user." She, it replies.
"Oh, just call me Scorpio LIA." I say while pulling the leggings and sleeves to my ankles and wrists.
After slipping on the very flexible and supportive calf-high boots and locking them into place, I notice some mechanical slots on the gauntlets when I slip them on.
"LIA, what are the slots on the gauntlets for?"
...
"Advanced HAPTIC Sensory Tools for use in a range of areas such as control panels and hacking modules."
"Thank you LIA."
Ok, good thing I didn't BUY those HAPTIC gloves then.
The gauntlets seal into place as I slip my omni-tools on. The fingers of the gauntlets were thinner then I thought they would be, but they had these small rubber grips sown into the inside of the palm.
"LIA? What are these grips on the interior of the gloves for?"
...
"Scorpio, they are an enhanced locking system designed to hold the user's weapon steady for enhanced firing assistance." It answers.
Wow... that is awesome. I am definitely going to like that feature as soon as I find some weapons.
Something grabs my attention from the crate and look inside to find my Dagger, still as perfect as the last time I saw it, laying on top of an OSD.
Grabbing the OSD I let it magnetically click into place on my wrist and a message appears on the screen of the omni-tool.
It read,
I know who you are, the paths are set, do not try and change them.
~D
Who's this 'D', and what paths are they talking about?
I ignore the message for later review and happily slip my dagger into a conveniently placed holster on one of the straps intersecting my abdomen.
Finally I look at the hood. the fabric was thicker then I'd expect from a head covering so I look at the instructions.
An interior cloth/breather mask woven into the suit that also clamps onto the hood. Wait... where are the...? Oh, I see, it filters the air through a tubing system that cycles through a compression of the suit when in low atmosphere. I may have no idea how to build it or how it exactly runs all of these functions, but at least I know how it works to a small degree. That's enough for me.
Clamping the hood in place and adjusting the suit slightly I look at myself in a weirdly placed mirror to the right of the doorway and I gasp in shock.
I look bad-ass in this suit! I look deadly and powerful! Liara's going to have to watch herself when she gets a load of this!
I scrolled through the functions of the suit using my omni-tool and frown at the 'Optical Cloak' function.
How did someone get cloaking technology? Isn't that only during ME2 and ME3? Maybe it's experimental?
I stop scrolling as I feel something tug at the back of my mind. I turn and see Jeilus smirking and checking me out, "Damn, Scorpio if I wasn't hitting the Matriarch stage in a few years I'd be swooning!" I laugh with a slight blush tinting my cheeks.
Wow, being checked out by a character I wrote to be open with their sexuality, talk about irony.
I look back to the mirror, "Yeah, this will do nicely." I state happily.
I may be completely lost and alone in this new universe with no employment and barely a future worth fighting for, but... Ok I lost where I was going with that. Hmm... I should do something mysterious, ok cloak is on my quick-link, nice. Got to test it sometime.
I hit a quick-link on the wrist of the suit and cloak spontaneously. Quietly stepping up to the confused Jeilus I kiss her on the nose and say, "See you later Jeilus." In my fake French accent voice. She jumps and looks around in confusion as I slip out of the room undetected.
So glad I took French in high-school.
I leave the hospital room for the first time since I arrived and start working my way towards the exit.
It took some time to find my way out of the strangely maze-like hospital layout.
It's like they're trying to keep patients in and everyone else out.
I take in a deep breath of the strangely salty air and finally start to relax, if only for a split second.
I look up and around the entryway of the four-story hospital, opposite it a park sits nearly abandoned except for one or two civilians. The entire area would have been a great scene of peace if it wasn't for the hundreds of skycars flying overhead at near the speed of sound.
I sigh and walk up to a nearby ARTS (Armali Rapid Transit System) podium and call a cab.
I need to think...
A rumbling emanated loudly from my gut.
And a good meal.
I get into the skycar as it arrives and start looking through the surprisingly extensive on-board directory for good hotels/restaurants.
The Derése, huh, good reviews, oh my goodness! It caters to all species!
*Click* "Don't move."
I freeze up as the harsh double-toned voiced individual presses what I would assume was a gun up against the back of my hooded head.
Oh crap.
"Set the destination for The Taseri Hotel, my employer wants to speak to you."
I scroll through the list franticly and click on Taseri before asking, "I'm guessing you were the ones who gave me this suit?"
"We'll discuss this later." I feel him holster his gun as the cab started taking off so I turn to find a Drell of all things!
Oh, well, ok, they look really weird in person.
The mid-morning sun gleams through the side-view windows in such a way that it made his black inky eyes even more disturbing then his calm nature. He seems to stare at me for a moment before settling into the back seat comfortably. I turn back to face the front and go over my options and find few.
Damn it! I can't find figure a way out of this! I've never been taken hostage before!
The cab jerks to one side and lands in front of Taseri. "Get out and follow me."
Now I'm surprisingly less worried about my chances. He's letting ME follow HIM, I have a choice! Or maybe I'm just curious about who's behind the metaphorical curtain.
I follow him through a plain-looking lobby and into an elevator. I choose the far corner and lean as nonchalantly as I could manage against the back wall while the Drell taps the display for the 14th floor.
Damn, too high for free-fall. *sigh* What the hell am I doing? I just willingly go with a total stranger?! Granted I was held at gunpoint but still!
"If you have any weapons remove them. The boss hates unnecessary violence."
I stare at him from behind my mask, "Do biotics count?"
He reals back in surprise, "You're a biotic? B-But I scanned you and didn't find any amp signature!"
Should I?
"I'm a natural biotic."
He blinks at me in shock. "Oh Kreck! I think I made a mistake!"
Wait what?
*bing* "Welcome to Taseri floor fourteen, relax and enjoy your stay!"
The perky synthesized voice frightened the sulking Drell, causing him to stare at the ceiling for a moment before stating, "Huh, I guess there's no point in-"
An explosion blew around us as the brakes on the elevator failed and it screamed against the metal wall in a fiery screech of metal on metal. The elevator stops abruptly, tossing us about inside the small metal box as the lights flickered.
"Oh..." I held my pounding head.
Never do that, again.
Blearily I look at the Drell to see he's bleeding from a head wound and seems unconscious.
God! What the hell happened?!
A second explosion rocks the building. "Ohh... Wha- where am I?" The Drell asks in his dazed state.
I kneel down next to him and shake my head clear, "Y-your still in the elevator. An explosion-"
"NOOOOOOOOO!" I jump back as he clutches his head and screams in intense pain.
What's happening?!
The elevator drops and the extremely uncomfortable feeling of free-falling sets in as the world starts to blur around me. Hundreds of whispers just barely out of ear-shot start to bleed into one extremely loud scream. I clench my teeth and hold my head at the intense pain until...
I jump awake with a start and look around fearfully to find that I was still back in the skycar at the hospital.
I- what j-just happened?
Hello Scorpio.
"Gah!"
Do not be alarmed, I am not here to harm you, just guide you.
My hands are shaking I'm so frightened.
"Wha- what's happening?!" I ask, desperate to make sense of the situation.
The voice creepily laughs inside my head, forcing me to cringe.
You have been given an opportunity.
"Wha- what opportunity?"
I can FEEL it smile.
A second life. You have been chosen for a second life.
I swallow and take a deep breath before closing my eyes and focusing every thought I had to block out the entity until the strange presence seems to weaken and fizzle away until it was gone.
Good god... I'm really going insane aren't I?
I set the course back to the restaurant and grab my seat as the skycar speeds off abruptly.
God I am not going to like daily transit if it's always like this!
My gloved fingers dug further into my seat as the skycar whips around another corner at top speed.
Well, at least I haven't ACTUALLY crashed in one of these yet.
I look up as the skycar dove under another in cross traffic.
*bing* "You have arrived."
I blink and look out, the skyscrapers were flying by a lot more rapidly than usual, even with it's ridiculous speeds. My eyes widen as I see the roof of a Hotel rapidly approaching. "Ahhhhhhhhhh!"
*CRASH!*
A/N Sorry for the Cliffhanger.