Disclaimer: The Mass Effect Universe and everything in it belongs to BioWare
[Chapter Nine: The Child Prodigy]
When the Commander and Jack finally loaded back onto the Normandy the whole crew was already waiting for them in the C.I.C, but the attention seemed to be on a very energetic Grunt and Garrus who were rambling away at each other.
Shepard made his way over to see what the problem was. "What's going on, you two?"
Grunt and Garrus both turned their attention. "Battlemaster, we've retrieved your new set of armor as instructed."
Shepard grinned, "I knew you guys would pull through for me. Is that it right there? Let me take a look."
Garrus handed over the new case, trying to cover the laugh that was already threatening to come out.
John eagerly took it and gently pressed the small, red light, watching it go green then flip open. What he saw made it seem like he just witnessed someone kill his pet hamster. His face went pale, the color of the armor threatening to water his eyes with its brightness.
"…This is…i-it's pink…"
Jack held a fist to her mouth and looked down– damn those who could make her grin! She was so going to give him shit for this later.
Muffled, child-like laughs could be heard throughout the C.I.C, followed by several 'shh's and playful but audible whacks.
Shepard looked up to Garrus and Grunt with a stunned but questioning gaze, raising the suit of armor to their faces and for all to see. "Why the hell is my armor pink? My old armor was black, my armor before that armor was black—Garrus, when I first met you my armor was—"
"—Black?" Garrus finished for him, arms crossed, hip cocked, and large grin on face.
Shepard put the suit only inches from the Turian and Krogan's face, leaning in with eyeballs in fiery slits. "…i-if you knew what color I wear...
What. Made you think. I would suddenly…want…pink?"
Grunt leaned in like a Krogan in for the kill, putting his face so close to Shepard's that he felt the man's breath. "Payback."
Shepard threw his hands out to the side, dropping the suit back into its case with a loud thunk. "What the hell did you need payback for! What'd I do?"
Almost as if planned and waiting, the entire crew around him responded, with the exception of Jack and Tali, "I'm Commander Shepard, and this is my favorite store on the Citadel."
John could only do one thing: Facepalm.
Touché, Normandy Crew. Touché indeed.
Joker's voice rang out in the C.I.C via intercom, "OooOoooooh, Commander! That color is going to make you look just precious, you pretty, pretty girl you!"
This was going to be the longest five days of Shepard's life.
xxxxxxx
Commander's Cabin
Same Day
Shepard entered his private quarters, dragging his armor case behind him. He slumped it against the wall and released a heavy sigh. "…the store promotion wasn't that bad…was it?" he asked himself out loud.
A somewhat amused Jack replied, "Shepard, it was the most annoying thing I've ever fuckin' heard in my life – and believe you me, I've heard many things that have annoyed me." Her tone lightened, "But don't worry, maybe our enemies will die from laughter when they see you."
Shepard walked around to the livable half of his Cabin and grinned. "You must have gotten your PhD in Hilarity, am I right?"
Jack rolled her eyes, but couldn't hide her smirk. "Or maybe if we add some sparkles to it, you can do a little number and dazzle their eyes with the Cheerleader while I shoot?"
"Hilaaaaaarious. I should book you at some comedy clubs down at Illium."
Her smile got only bigger. "OR, if options one or two don't work, we can slap a pretty blonde wig on you and send you to Omega to make us some creds."
John winced and gave an inward hiss, "I don't think I'd make many credits…"
She looked him up and down, seeming disappointed at the sight. "Yeah…I think you're right. Well what if we—"
"—are you done yet!" he laughed out; surprised she'd been trying to make jokes and conversation this long.
"Fine…but you have to admit, that color really does make you wanna' bring out your inner fabulous huh, Shepard?" she grinned malevolently.
Shepard placed a hand on his now cocked hip and snapped his fingers with a diva-like quality.
"You do that a little too well," she said, both surprised and confused.
"Oh what? You can make jokes but I can't!" he asked, regaining his manly posture.
Jack raised her hands and backed down, "Whoa, chill out Sheperanda."
"Aaah I see what you did there," he said wiggling a finger at her, "Mixing mine and Lawson's name together. Cute, Jack—real cute."
"I thought so too."
Shepard moved towards her, trying to change the conversation. "So what are you doing?"
The biotic was laying on his bed, propping herself up with his pillows, and reading the rest of his Fornax. "Eh, wanted to finish this. Fell asleep last time."
John sat on the bed by her, trying to take a peak at what she was reading. "I've never finished it myself. Anything interesting?"
She shrugged lightly, "Not really, but do you wanna see a Hanars' tentacle shoved up an Asaris'—"
John shook his head and hands in a fast pace, backing up to sit in his original position. "Aaaheeeeeh. No thanks."
Jack cocked a brow, "You squeamish or somethin', Shepard?"
He couldn't help but grin and look back at her. "I said I bought it because I was curious. I never said I bought it because the stuff interested me."
Jack sounded disappointed with his response. "You must be boring as hell in bed."
Shepard looked at her, his grin widening. "Hey now, I'll have you know I've been called quite the gifted lover."
The biotic rolled her eyes. "It doesn't count if it came from a virgin, Shepard."
The Commander laughed, "Who said it was a virgin—and you know, what makes you the best judge!"
Jack flipped a page of the magazine, "I know plenty about makin' them scream."
Shepard stared at her with a raised eyebrow, "In pain, terror, or pleasure?"
Jack dropped the magazine down onto her lap and stared directly at him, an iniquitous smile on both mouth and in eye. "…Who says it wasn't all three?"
John squinted at her, trying to figure out if she was telling the truth. He couldn't. "…well played, Jack."
"Don't be a dumbass, Shepard. You should know by now that if you play a game with me you ain't gonna win."
He sighed, leaning back against the headboard of his bed. "Understatement of the century."
xxxxxxx
Normandy Cockpit
Day 2 of Flight
EDI's voiced chimed into Miranda's office, "Operative Lawson, Mr. Moreau would like to have a word with you."
Miranda, who was working away at her terminal, gazed up at the intercom. "I really need to get this work done, Edi. Did he tell you what it was concerning?"
"He did not. He simple expressed the wish to see you, stating it was quite urgent."
Lawson exhaled loudly and leaned back into her chair. "Very well, tell him I'll be there in a moment."
"Of course, Operative Lawson."
"Edi, you really don't have to call me that anymore. I no longer work for Cerberus."
"Of course, Operative Lawson."
"I just said you—okay nevermind; I'm on my way to the pit."
Miranda made way to the cockpit quickly. When Joker said it was serious, it normally meant that whatever it was – it must have been pretty bad. However, upon arrival, she noticed that Shepard wasn't present and that Joker was only swiveling around in his leather chair.
"He must really love that chair," Miranda thought as her brow quirked. "Mr. Moreau, you said it was an emergency? What seems to be the problem and …where's Shepard?"
Joker turned to her, "Miranda! Actually this is a problem only you can fix."
She eyed him. "Then what can I do?"
Joker leaned forward in his seat eagerly. "Say 'party'."
"What does this—"
"Nonono, Shhhh, Shhhhhh….just say 'party'."
Lawson squinted at him, trying to figure out what he was doing. "…Party."
Jeff muffled his laugh. "Say, 'Let's go to the party'."
"….Let's go to the party."
Joker broke out into uncontrollable fits of laugher.
Miranda narrowed her eyes and could no longer hide the annoyed undertone in her voice. "Okay Joker, what the hell?"
Joker inhaled then exhaled calming himself down and wiping a tear on his right eye. "I—okay I'm sorry. It's just with your accent it sounds like you say potty."
"Edi," began Lawson, "Can you ask Commander Shepard to start looking for a replacement pilot?"
"Of course, Operative Lawson—but may I ask why when Jeff is still most certainly here?"
She replied in a sing-song voice, "Oh because I'm about to throw him out the airlock."
"I will let Shepard know immediately."
"Thank you, Edi."
Joker's eyes became wide as the raven haired beauty hovered over him. "Oh shi—"
xxxxxxx
Outside Jacob's Room
Day 3 of Flight
It was late—really late, and Garrus wanted to go to sleep badly. He'd been reviewing calculations on the Normandy's weapons system all day and now it was time for blissful rest. The tired Turian had made his way up to deck two to tell Jacob that he was done and to review how the Normandy's armor system was doing.
As he reached Jacob's office, Garrus heard him talking in a voice that reminded him of a lowly paid and poorly acting porn star. He couldn't help it, so he leaned in to listen.
"Look at thiiiiis…sneaking into my quarters…heavy risk…but the priiiiiize…"
Garrus removed his ear and stood there, dread and dismay clearly in eye and his overly-active imagination terrifying his mind. With quick steps, Garrus decided to skip the last part of his daily duty and go straight to his room— hearing Kasumi giggle-fit loudly as the elevator doors closed.
"Well that's not going to give me nightmares," he said with a slight shudder.
xxxxxxx
Engineering Deck
Day 4 of Flight
Kenneth poured another round of amino-friendly whiskey around the table for Kasumi, Tali, Garrus, Mordin, Chakwas, Gabby, Miranda, and Jacob. The lot of them all counted to three before downing the small shot. Tali, however, took a little longer to catch up since she had to drink by pouring the liquid through a special port in her suit.
Kenneth leaned onto the table, cheeks pink and flustered. "Ya know, guysh, you're not a bad bunch'of lads n' lassies. Thish past week or sho has been nice, sho—cheersh!" The engineer poured yet another round, in which everyone cheered and then graciously downed.
Garrus eyed Tali who was sitting oddly erect in her seat—almost motionless. The Turian nudged Kasumi who then looked over to her as well and asked, "Are you okay over there, Tali? Ish the drinking holding up well?"
Miranda leaned over and placed a hand on the Quarian's shoulder, making her wobble like a buoy at sea. "Tali?"
Tali's bright eyes could be seen blinking behind her visor. "Ohmy…"
Chakwas lifted a brow, "My dear, how many have you had to drink?"
Gabby covered a small burp that left her mouth. "Ma'am she'sh only had those two…"
Suddenly the same question seemed to fill everyone except the two doctor's minds. Jacob was the only one vocal about it, "If…if she has to…you know, upchuck, w-where does that go?"
Mordin smiled as he bobbed gently from side to side, his eyes turning into their signature upside down U's. "Quarian suit very adaptable to bodily fluids and solids. Has separate section for everything."
All heads turned to look at Tali with horror stricken eyes.
"Guys," the Quarian said with a weak voice, "…I think I'm going to—" Tali began to look like she was dry heaving as she slumped over the table, Miranda stumbled up quickly in reaction to try and avoid the flying chucks—but nothing came out at her. Lawson blinked her pink, drunken eyes, while Dr. Chakwas got up and began to rub Tali's back, "There there, my dear, let it all out."
Kenneth, as if completely clueless to the poor Quarian, simply lifted his hands up high and the air and shouted "PARTY FOOOOOUL!"
xxxxxxx
Commander's Cabin
Day 5 of Flight
It was early afternoon and Shepard and Jack were eating lunch together on the bed in his cabin. Shepard began the conversation, "So, how's that shotgun treating you?"
Jack un-mounted it from her lower back attachment and put it on the bed, "Oh you mean Dirty Willy?"
Shepard raised an eyebrow, "…you…y-you named your gun Dirty Willy?"
"Yep," she simply responded, letting the last letter of the word pop loudly from her lips then resumed to shovel her face with food.
"Why the hell did you name your gun Dirty Willy?"
Jack grinned, "…because he's only got one eye and when he shoots…it gets messy."
Shepard threw his head back and let out a loud laugh that filled his cabin.
Jack took the opportunity to smuggle food off his tray, "Yeah I thought you'd like that one. I'm just eager as hell to test him out."
The comment made John snap back to the reality of their circumstances. "…Jack?"
"Yeah?" she replied, loading the last of her food onto her fork then chowing it down.
"…are you sure you want to go down with me? To Almos?"
Jack's eyes shot up with a wild fire burning within, "Shepard, I swear to fucking God if you don't take me down there with you, I'll murder you in your sleep."
He clenched his jaw. This was very possible as seeing she's been sleeping back to back with him for the past week or so.
"…I just wanted to make sure that you were comfortable with it…"
Jack forcefully calmed herself down—something Shepard had never seen. This woman kept surprising him day after day. "…It's whatever, Shepard. This is something that I just need to do. I…needa' make sure we get the kid off that planet. I needa' see their face when they find out we're there to rescue them.
Shepard softened his gaze. "…why do you have to see their face?"
She was hesitant to answer, but after a few moments the words began to leave her lips. "…because it's something I wish someone had done for me. I wanna' see what I could have looked like if a bunch of heroes smashed through the doors and swept me outta' that shit hole before I became any of this." When Jack finished talking, she was biting her lip and looking down at her empty tray, moving around the gravy to make obscure shapes and swirls. Her voice was soft when she spoke her last words, "…so you're taking me—no more damn questions, kay?"
John nodded his head then turned his tray over and pushed it towards the ex-convict. It was the only affectionate thing he could do to her without getting punched in the eye. "Here, I'm not hungry anymore—you take it."
Her eyes went insta-happy. "No shit?"
"Go for it."
Jack quickly grabbed her fork and began to gobble it down.
Shepard tilted his head and observed. "God she's so CUTE."
xxxxxxx
Shepard's Cabin
Later that day
It was time.
Edi's voice rang out in her usual matter-of-fact tone, "Commander, we have arrived on Almos. Will you be taking team members down on the small transport vessel?"
Shepard had just finished dressing himself in what was the loudest armor-suit he'd ever worn. "Yes, Edi. I'll be taking Miranda, Jack, and Kasumi down with me. We're heading off now."
"Very well, Commander."
Jack had just snapped some extra ammo in place, loaded up Dirty Willy and was already fully dressed and ready to go by the time Shepard got to her.
"Alright Jack—"
"Cut the chatter and let's move, pretty lady."
Shepard sighed, following her out the door as instructed.
xxxxxxx
Planet Almos
Secluded Blue Sun Base
Western Reaches
"Touch down on Almos, Edi. We're here, safe, and starting the mission. Transport is cloaked and Kasumi is staying on board for emergency evac. Joker, go discharge the ship and dock the Normandy at that fuel deposit we passed a small ways out. I'll radio contact when we're ready for pickup."
"Aye-Aye, Commander. Good luck, and bring that kid up safe."
"That's the plan. Comms out."
Shepard, Jack, and Miranda hopped out of the small transport unit and made their way towards a large rock that offered cover. The three ducked behind it, reviewing the start of their plan before they leapt over and made for the Blue-Suns base.
Jack couldn't hold her wicked chuckle back any longer. "Shepard, I don't know why the fuck we're even bothering to take cover. The people on the planet next to this one can see that color from here."
Miranda began to laugh, but soon covered it up with a cough in an attempt to regain her professional manner.
Shepard eyeballed the biotic woman.
Jack lifted her hands in resign, voice still dripping with amusement. "Right. Lead on, your Majesty."
"Alright, as usual, we don't know what they have or how many are in there," Shepard began. "But we do know that the cargo they're planning to sell is a seven year old biotic child."
Jack tensed, a hatred burning so strongly in her eyes that Shepard had to snap her out of it to focus. It was reminiscent of what she looked like on Pragia.
"It's always the fuckin' Blue Suns that sell this kind'a shit. Those motherfucks need a Goddamn hobby," she practically spat, language seeming to get worse and worse.
Miranda couldn't help but smirk. "Agreed and here here," she stated with her signature aussie accent.
Shepard opened his omni-tool, linking inner-ear comms with his two comrades. "This is their hobby, that's the problem," he retorted. "Anyways—Testing, Testing. Can both of you hear me alright?" Shepard looked at the two women.
Jake raised an eyebrow. "Well no shit, you're right in fuckin' front of us, Shepard. You should have tested this crap on the Normandy before we got here."
Shepard exhaled. Now wasn't the time and he wasn't going to argue.
"Okay team, the base is just small ways down that path…" the three of them peaked over their covering, examining the watch towers from a distance. Shepard took out his sniper rifle to observe in detail. "…that's…weird."
Miranda looked from Shepard, to the tower, then back again. "What's weird? What is it?"
Jack squinted. "No guards."
Shepard handed Lawson his rifle so she could take a look through the scope. "Well that can't be right. Why the watch towers but no one to watch from them? No ground troops either," She said, handing the rifle back and Shepard who put it away, taking out his assault rifle instead.
"Squad, let's move up."
Careful to remain hidden, the three slowly but efficiently made their way up to take cover behind another large rock that was only another hundred feet or so from the base door.
"Alright, I'll take center of the door. Miranda take left and Jack you get my right. Stay behind cover at all times, these bastards run in packs."
Miranda scowled. "Varren always do."
Jack grinned.
Shepard touched his ear piece. "Kasumi, are you there?"
"Commander," Kasumi chimed. "I'm on the mini vessel and will be listening in."
Shepard grinned, "Did you get the security system down?"
You could hear Kasumi typing away energetically on her omni-tool. "Please, Shepard. Remember who you're talking to. Alarms and all cameras are disabled, and doors will unlock when you give me the go."
"Perfect. Alright team, move out!"
The three hopped over the large rock and sprinted for the base entrance. Shepard took low ground at the door's center while Jack and Miranda took cover at their given stations.
"Door one: open," Shepard stated firmly. The light in the center of the massive structure went from red to green and then slid open.
Shepard tensed as he looked down his rifle's sights. The first door was the one he hated most.
As the door got halfway up, Shepard looked up from his rifle and tilted his head as he stood. "What the fu—"
Three blue-sun operatives were dead on the floor.
He walked up and into the entrance, planting his back against the wall and peaking over the corner that soon came ahead. "Clear."
The three examined the bodies and Miranda frowned, shaking her head lightly. "Not to say that I'm not glad to see them this way...but...if we didn't do this, who did?"
Jack tilted her head, a scowl on her face as she stuck a boot under a body and flipped it over onto its back. There was a bullet smack between the operative's eyes. "Well whoever the hell did this knew what the fuck they were doing. Clean headshot...all three of them."
Shepard leaned down to inspect. "Three kills with one shot. Incisor Rifle. Ladies, we got ourselves a sniper— and a good one."
Miranda groaned. "Great."
"Hey cheer up, Cheerleader. I got your back." The tattooed woman tried to give a playful smile but it came out a bit...vicious.
Miranda groaned again, rolling her eyes and looking at her Commander. "Shepard, if she gets me killed I'll haunt you for the rest of your life."
He smirked. While it was a little rough around the edges, even a smart-ass comment like that showed that Jack was making baby-step progress. "Enough with the woman banter. Let's move we still have a package to intercept."
Jack grabbed his elbow roughly, causing him to turn and stare her down. "It ain't no package, Shepard. It's a kid. And she didn't ask for this."
Shepard met her eyes and apologized silently. He knew what she meant. She accepted it and released him. "Let's go get them fuckers."
xxxxxxx
The team had already passed four hallways, three rooms, and three doors with no problems or mercenaries.
Miranda looked around, her eyes searching carefully over everything. "This isn't right, Shepard. Every Sun we've encountered has been killed and the rooms have had no sign of distress—no bullet marks in the walls, no tipped over desks or supplies…" Miranda began to look worried, "Shepard, what if we're too late? What if someone else knew about the kid and got here before us?"
Shepard tensed. She was right. "We don't know that yet. Keep your voice down."
Jack made her way over to the medi-gel container by the door. "Shepard, it's empty."
John went up to examine the container. "Yeah it is…I think our sniper might be hurt."
The biotic scanned the floor. "Well if he is, he sure as hell ain't leaving a trail."
Shepard nodded his head forward. "Let's move, the more time we spend talking the less time we have to see if the kid's here." He gave instruction with his hands. Another door was coming up and he needed them to get to their stations. When they were in position, Shepard knelt in back of a fragile crate and whispered into his earpiece, "Kasumi, open door number four."
"Rodger that Shepard, opening door."
The light went green and silently slid open.
When Shepard saw the entrance hall was clear, the three noiselessly entered the large room that they noticed had two levels - them being on the top. To their right was a long staircase that led down onto the main floor.
They ducked behind the solid metal railing and listened.
The room had about twelve mercenaries scattered throughout the lower level. Shepard carefully peaked over to try and see specific locations when something caught his eye: a child sitting on a chair in the middle of the room. She was gagged, blindfolded, and both her hands and feet were bound. She appeared to be sobbing softly, shoulders shaking up and down uncontrollably.
He leaned back against the railing, his voice whispering into his comms system, "Shit. Well we definitely got Suns in this room, so keep an eye and ear out for any signs from our other guest. Also…information was right. They got the kid smack center of the room— guard to the left and right. There's a group of five talking in the upper right hand corner, three on the lower left, and two by the terminal up and center."
Miranda narrowed her eyes in thought.
Jack smiled. "That ain't shit."
Shepard looked at her. "Normally no, but with the kid dead center we can't afford to take the risk. If we take out the sides first, there's no guarantee that the guards near her just wont shoot point blank."
Miranda frowned, "Suggestion?"
John thought for a moment. "Jack I need the biggest, baddest, most accurate shockwave you've ever given me and I need you to direct it at the group of five that are up right."
"Got it, they don't have a prayer."
"Miranda, I need an area pull followed by the heaviest slam you got on her two guards. Do NOT pick up the kid."
"Aye, aye."
Shepard exhaled. "Only other thing I can think of is throwing one of Kasumi's flash bangs at the smaller group by the terminal and taking out the three right below us myself."
"What about the possibility of sniper interference?" Lawson questioned.
"I really hate putting us in this position, but it's a kid. If we don't do something now she'll get bought and transported off soon. So when on the offensive, I expect you both to keep alert and near cover—understood?"
His two companions nodded. "On your go, Commander," Miranda whispered.
Shepard nodded. "Flashbang first, then let them have it."
The two women stiffened, ready for the command.
"On three. One...two...THREE."
Shepard stood up and lifted the cap off of the flashbang at the same time. He chucked it as hard as he possibly could across the room right at his targets.
It went better than he could have hoped for. Not only did it end up in the correct area, it smacked one of them in the face and went off, causing a loud howl of pain from the two recipients, sending them crumbling to the floor and leaving the other mercenaries momentarily dazed.
"NOW," cried Shepard. All three of them unleashed horrors upon their targets. The room was loud with yelling, gunshots, explosions, and biotic crackles. The child screamed for dear life, not being able to see what was going on around her.
Jack's targets were down, Miranda had rendered her two broken and unconscious, and Shepard had just taken out his three.
"Clear!" shouted Jack, taking cover once again along side her companions. "I ain't seeing a shooter, Shepard."
Miranda had examined every corner of the room while she was standing and using her biotics, she hadn't seen anything either. "As far as I can tell the room is empty, Commander."
John leaned back against the railing trying to think while the faint sound of a child's sobs echoed in his ear. "We're not alone; he just hasn't taken his shot yet…so we're going to use that to our advantage. While he debates friend or foe status, Miranda I need you to get the kid and Jack—I need you to help me find data on her receiver. I'm giving us two minutes to go down. After that we get out. Understood?"
Both women nodded their heads. The Commander, Miranda, and Jack ran down the stairs when the moment presented itself.
The Australian was the first to go for the child, she offered gentle coos as she knelt down in front of the small biotic, letting her voice touch the kid first before she put her hands in any danger. "It's alright, sweetie. We're not here to hurt you. We're getting you out of here and to safety." Quickly she worked to untie the bonds that covered the child's eyes, freed her feet, hands, and then took the gag out of her mouth.
The little girl's orbs were deep red from being drug induced and from hours of sobbing. Her little face was dirty from most likely being transported several times and the streaks of tears could be clearly seen.
As Miranda comforted the child Shepard and Jack went to check the mercenaries in attempt to find a data pad that gave any hint of the recipient's information.
"Son of a bitch," Shepard growled. "No data on these guys. Jack, check the terminal while I go check around the others."
Jack nodded, taking a moment to look over at the child's face before she made her way to the terminal. "Yo, Kasumi, are you there?"
"Right here, Jack."
"I'm linkin' my omni-tool with a fried terminal here. Flashbang went ape-shit on it. Can you link up with me and see if you can get any information from it?"
"Give me a second." Jack took the chance to take another glance back at the kid as she waited, observing the way their small body quaked. It made her angry. "You fuckin' got anything or not, Kasumi?"
"Nothing major, however, there was a message sent to this terminal from an unknown location stating time and place of pickup. I'm uploading the message to Shepard's terminal on the Normandy."
"Gotcha," she turned her direction towards Shepard in who was practically strip searching each mercenary for a hint of information. "Hey Shepard, Kasumi managed ta' grab a message from the big man. She sent it to your terminal back on the ship."
John scowled at each mercenary's lack of information, offering his current target an extra 'tap' from his boot. "Well, that's better than what I'm finding on these fuckin' losers." He turned back to see if Miranda has made progress.
The small girl's hands glowed faintly with a black blue aura as they clasped the chair. Miranda brought her gaze down to meet the child's. "It's alright, little one. What's your name?"
The girl's lower lip trembled, eyes looking over the face of the pretty lady that just saved her. "T...T-Teagan."
Miranda smiled her most brilliant smile. "Hello, Teagan. I'm Miranda Lawson, and it is a pleasure to meet you."
Something had moved and caught Jack's eye to the left: one of the mercs had just stood up. Jack moved to her grab her hip mounted pistol as fast as she could manage, but failed to move fast enough.
The little girl was halfway through producing a feeble smile when from over Miranda's shoulder one of the flash-banged mercs got up and aimed their pistol right at Miranda's back. Teagan screamed in horror as a gunshot echoed throughout the large room.
All became silent.
Miranda kneeled there, her eyes wide. Shepard turned on the balls of his feet to witness what just happened. How could he have been so careless...?
Teagan stared into Miranda's stunned gaze before noticing that it wasn't the ex-cerberus operative that got hit...but the Blue Sun.
The man stood there for a few seconds before dropping to his knees then face forward. A precision shot was made in his head. Three perfect bullets: One through the right eye, one between the eyes, and one through the left eye. He never stood a chance.
Miranda swung around, chest heaving up and down and her eyes searching frantically about the second story of the room. Shepard and Jack took out rifle and shotgun and made for Teagan.
He barked out an order, "We're getting this kid out of here. Cover her with our own damn bodies if we have to. Move!"
Miranda grasped Teagan's hand tightly and they began to make for the stairs hurriedly.
"Let. Her. Go."
Shepard held up his hand in an order to stop movement. He spoke sternly, without fear. "This kid isn't for sale. We're taking her and that's the end of it."
"Let her go now, or I put a bullet in each one of your Goddamn heads!"
Teagan noticed the voice and outreached her hands, beginning to sob. "LONDON! I knew you'd come for me!"
The hidden voice seemed to crack, "I'm right here, baby! Don't you move! I'll get you!"
Shepard assessed the situation quickly. He whispered to Miranda then nodded his head towards Teagan. Slowly he put down his weapon and held up both his hands, ordering his team to do the same.
Jack growled but did as commanded and Miranda released the child's hand and followed the movement, taking the hint from Shepard as she did so. She spoke softly, "Teagan, honey, do you know this person?"
The biotic child nodded her head, eyes streaming with tears.
"Don't worry, Tee. They're not taking you anywhere."
Shepard spoke up. "Listen. We're not here to harm her. We got information the Blue Suns were dealing with the illegal trafficking of a biotic child. We couldn't let that happen."
"And just who the hell are you," the voice demanded.
"I'm Commander John Shepard of the Normandy SR2. These are two of my team members Jack and Miranda."
Teagan spoke up, "Miranda is nice! She untied me and saved me from the bad men!"
The hidden voice was silent for moment as if thinking.
"If...if I come out...do you promise to not shoot or hurt the child?"
Teagan pulled on Shepard's pant leg. "You won't hurt her, will you Mr. Shepard?"
Shepard kept his hands high and nodded. "You have my word."
The voice replied, "And your team?"
Shepard said austerely, "My decision is their decision. They will stand down."
"—if you so much as reach for your gun, I'll blow your hands off, you got it?"
"Yes."
There was no sound or movement for a moment, but soon and from the shadows a woman emerged from the second floor. Gracefully she hopped over the railing and down to the ground with nothing more than a soft thud.
Now in full light she could be examined.
She seemed to have the same height and frame as Miranda, even possibly the same age. The only exception was that her muscles seemed to be just a bit leaner, more defined. She had a long and fresh wound on the side of her face that started next to her eyebrow and ended down at her jaw. It bled heavily. Her long, light chestnut-brown hair was naturally curled in long lose twirls and tied neatly into a pony-tail which only accentuated her fine facial features. She had a beautiful jaw line, a long neck, full lips, an appealing nose, and elegant cheekbones. Her eyes were an almost scary piercing light gray.
The sniper's clothes were simple, however. Nothing more than a pair of olive cargo pants accented with a belt, black combat boots, and a tight black tank-top which seemed ripped near her right rib cage and also bleeding. Her arms were slender, but lean and most definitely strong. She adorned a bicep brace on the right. Her forehead was visibly damp and her facial expression was severe as she aimed the Incisor at all three heads.
Shepard opened his mouth to speak, "Listen we put our weapons down. The child is clearly not hurt or threatened, and our hands are up. I'd appreciate it if you didn't aim that thing at our faces."
The woman considered his words. "Are you really Commander Shepard?" she asked, rifle not faltering.
"I am."
She eyed the logo on Miranda's attire. "Bullshit. That's a Cerberus logo."
Jack groaned, "See? What'd I tell you? I knew letting her whore around in that outfit would cause trouble for us one day."
Miranda spat back, "Sure blame me! It's not like we ever have the time to bloody go shopping for new outfits! Let me just put evvvvvverything important down so I can go make myself more pleasant for you, Jack!"
Shepard shut them both up with narrowed eyes. Both women exhaled.
The sniper's gaze went over the three, then down towards the child. "Tee, get over here."
Teagan looked up at Miranda then ran towards the older woman with a jump start.
"Kick your weapons this way," she demanded.
Jack rolled her eyes. "Listen lady—"
Shepard stopped her. "Do it." Unknowingly to them, Shepard had the situation under control. He knew how this would turn out.
With a loud growl, Jack complied alongside Miranda. The three kicked their weapons away.
Teagan clung to the older woman's waist and snuggled. "You okay?" the older female asked.
The child nodded. "I knew you'd come, London."
London smiled. "You bet I did."
Shepard sighed heavily. "Look. We need to move out. Now I don't know how you managed to get here but if we don't leave soon, chances are more Suns will show up. This time they'll be better armored and heavily equipped. I hate to break it to you, but with a kid on the battlefield we're only leaving ourselves open to accidents: bad ones. The price of a powerful biotic isn't cheap, and when the payload is threatened to be taken away terrible things start to happen to those who got involved."
London looked him over. "What do you propose?"
He exhaled, lowering his hands slowly. "We have a small transport vessel that can take us back to my ship. From there we'll take you wherever it is you need to go. But we gotta' move. Now."
Teagan tugged on her leg, "They're nice people. I know it."
London looked at the kid's eyes and sighed, finally lowering her rifle. "Fine, you get us out of here then we'll get out of your hair and I don't shoot you. Deal?"
Shepard nodded. "Deal. Let's move."
The Normandy crew picked up their belongings and went up the stairs first followed by the other pair. Quickly all made their way up and into the vessel and shot off towards the Normandy.
"Get us out of here, Kasumi."
"Rodger that."
Shepard voiced in the command, "Ready for pick up, Joker. Be there in a few."
"Aye commander, we're waiting. Did you get the kid?"
Shepard eyed the woman called London. "We got the kid and then some."
Teagan shyly made her way up to Shepard, a cautious London watching his every move towards her.
"…M-Mister Shepard?" she asked nervously.
John looked down at the child, answering as friendly as he could possibly manage. "Yes?"
"…why are you wearing pink armor?"
[End 9: The Child Prodigy]
A/N: For those of you who were like 'wtf' on Day 3 of Flight…I urge you to look up Jacob's love scene. And once you do, please feel free to watch this video created by the one and only DJ Harbinger:
www(dot)youtube(dot)com(backslash)watch?v=fZzvvf1Sp7g&feature=related
Reviews are still appreciated! Let me know what you're thinking so far!
