A/N: Ok, so this was actually going to happen a lot later under different circumstances, but I found a better way for all of this to happen and make it happen much faster! Events have popped up much faster than originally planned and I am very happy they did. You may see some things that are similar to my sister's fanfiction, but that is because as we stated before, this was to be a collaboration but we had too many different ideas. Anyway, I hope you like this one and I always love reviews so please tell me what you think!
Also, to the guest reviewer that I could not PM, thank you for the review and the answer to your question is again presented in this chapter…
'Green-ades'
'We are so dead,' I think as I see the two beasts in front of us start fighting each other. I quickly hope we can get away during this time, but that hope is quickly dashed as I barely dodge the abominations deadly spit. They want to fight us too… damn.
*I have a solution! It will save you and cure your headache* Timult all but yells in my head. *Concentrate on your energy*
'My energy? What the he-'
*You have extra energy in your body because of me! Now concentrate!*
I wince, fall onto the ground to avoid the leg of the abomination, and then look to myself. I feel the energy spike in my bracer and then… an odd feeling of surging energy to my head and settling into my chest and stomach. It startled me.
*Ok, now think about throwing a grenade*
The two headed beast gives a cry of anguish as it dies, and the abomination turns to us. A'cria growls from her spot in front of Davix where she stands vigilant.
*Now Melody!*
I stand up quickly and focus all that energy, feeling electricity bubble and course through my arms. I hide my surprise when it surges from my hand when I throw it.
A green electric bubble flies from my hand and hits the abomination, a small explosion emanating from the impact. The abomination falters. I stand there stunned and realize the headache is gone.
"What the hell?" Naryk asks, whipping his head around and wincing at the movement.
*They can do this as well.*
"Naryk, Davix, focus on your extra energy, the thing giving you a headache, and throw it!" I yell and let another pulse loose from my left hand. The abomination stumbles greatly and I smile, excited.
'It is really weak against these tactics too! Guns don't do much and electrical attacks do a lot of damage, but so does this!'
Davix stays on the ground and I see his whole body light up green and release the energy. His 'grenade' has even more electricity than mine, crackling louder and more unstable, but it electrifies the creature with a tiny explosion.
Naryk's seems to be so forceful that the creature stumbles from the impact alone, but his has even less electricity and explosion than ours. I grin, 'I have the biggest explosions!'
Simultaneously we all 'throw' an exploding electric bubble and hit the abomination in its unarmored, exposed chest. It doesn't even cry out in death.
I jump up and down excited for knowing how to kill these evil things! Now I am tired and hungry.
"What was that?" Kroger asks us all.
*That was the biotics of my race* Timult answers in my head and I stare at my hands.
"I… biotics?" I lamely answer and everyone looks at me like I'm crazy.
"Biotics are blue and do nothing like that," Kroger says as he towers over me. I can't stop staring at my hands and arms.
*It is due to the tech in your system. My people interacted and developed technology so much into themselves, they had every aspect of their life effected by it. Including biotics. Your biotics and tech in your system combine to make what you saw.*
'That is a lot to take in; we'll talk one on one later.'
"We were exposed to tainted element zero," I offer out to my comrades.
"So were we and we aren't sending explosive bubbles from our bodies!" Kroger yells and I flinch, yet stand my ground. Wait-
"You two were exposed as well?" Naryk asks the question before I can.
"Not as badly as the others or as you, but yes," Shawn answers calmly, eyeing us all curiously.
"Think I understand," Davix says as he comes out of contemplation. The fast thinking Salarian would be the first to come up with an explanation. We all turn our gazes to him as he stands and walks away. I quickly follow him to hear his explanation and to get away from all the carnage. Gross.
"We were told in clinic that the tainted element zero penetrated our bloodstreams. Only difference in us and other patients. May explain it," Davix answers our curious stares.
'I have to say that I love this explanation. It will make perfect sense why only we have these abilities. Right?'
"I think that makes sense. I mean, some people get biotics while others don't and we had a… unique exposure," I say and Kroger snaps his head toward me. Oops. Maybe I should have stayed quiet.
"We'll figure it all out when we get back. For now, I feel much better," Naryk smiles and everyone nods, though some do reluctantly.
That night I meet Timult on our bridge. This is a welcome sight since I could not come here for so long.
"I knew you would come," Timult said smiling.
"You promised me an explanation," I smirk back.
"Yes I did. There are many things to tell you of my people."
"I have a couple of hours until I wake up."
"Indeed. Come," Timult gestures toward the river- not my side where my thoughts and memories flow, but the opposite side. I stand beside him and look into the running water. He waves a hand over it and the water ripples into images.
"My people were much like the Quarians. Our society revolved around technology. They started experimenting to see how far they could take it. Soon technology was part of the organic race. It started out as little things, like the bracer. Then people started replacing organs and doing strange things, though that was frowned upon. Some genius in particular wanted to fly and invented wings that were engraved and a part of them. They were sold, improved, created, and eventually because of the special genetic code implanted into them, they became a part of the DNA of our people. The wings became genetic. Those who created me were the third generation for this. Therefore-"
He pauses in his explanation and stands back away from me. This certainly explains why he had no problem treating my DNA like a rubix cube and changing it as he pleased.
My thoughts are interrupted when I hear Timult clear his throat and I suddenly remember he wanted to show me something. "Oh, sorry. Wow. Timult, that is amazing!" I say when I see what is engraved on his back. Wings. Yellow wings that glow with tech. They look like tattoos. "How do they work?"
He smiles over his shoulder at me and the wings begin to move up from his back, glowing brighter as they fill in and become real. The sheet of tech filling in the spaces and soon, he has yellow wings. I reach out and look at him for permission, which he gives, and I touch them. The wings ripple where I touch them and I giggle. This is surreal. The feeling of them is like water flowing over a mirror, smooth and moving.
"Eventually the DNA of my people changed so much, it affected our biotics. Our biotics have always been explosive because they were built and based off the element that tainted your Eezo. The Eezo did not affect you, the alacronician did. I do not know what the species of this time call it," Timult finishes as he puts his wings away and turns around.
"I am not even going to try to pronounce that ridiculously long word. So… if your biotics were already explosive, what exactly changed?"
"I must amend what I said. Our biotics just gained electrical pulses. You saw it most strongly in Davix. I must say, it is intriguing, the small differences in your biotics."
I raise my eyebrows in confusion and he quickly answers, "You saw how each differed from one another. You had more of a potent explosion than the other two while Davix had more of an electrical charge. Naryks hits hard, but neither the charge nor the explosion is as dangerous as yours or Davix'."
"Oh, I see. So we can learn more of your people's biotics?" I ask.
"Yes, but the only thing is, they are always explosive. You can't create a shield or barrier with them," Timult explains and I feel a little disappointed.
"Well that is a bummer."
Timult smiles at me and then looks away at the water again. "Today was easy for you to bring forth that energy because you had a great excess of it and it wanted release. It won't be that easy again until you learn more and practice."
"That makes sense," I answer and look forward to finding out more of this new ability. "Thank you for telling me about your people."
"Thank you for having an open mind and for not doubting me," Timult says and I give him a nod, leaving to go back to normal sleep.
I wake up early, my brain overloaded with information Timult bestowed upon me. So, we have the biotics of his people? Cool.
I notice a green glow to my left and see Davix already awake as usual, greatly concentrating on his hand. A small green glow envelopes his hand and then disappears.
"Having fun?" I whisper quietly.
"No. Trying to understand how to bring our biotics out and applying it is proving difficult," he replies not taking his eyes from his hand.
"Hmmm. It seemed easy before," I say and bring up my hands to try myself, "though we apparently had excess energy stored up so maybe that is why."
"Ah," is the only response I get. So I practice.
I concentrate, trying to produce another 'green grenade'. Nothing. I frown and cast aside all thoughts except getting that green globe to form in my hand. Nothing. With a sigh I go back to remember what Timult told me.
The energy had been stored in my head and my heart, uh my chest and stomach… whatever. My core. That works.
So I sit in a meditative pose, much like Samara (I smile to myself at that thought) and I focus. I focus on the energy there, trying to find the biotic energy, separated from my natural energy.
'This is the weirdest thing I have ever done I think. Differentiate the energy. Pfft. How can I do that? Do I like, see colors, feel for a different spark? I don't get this even thought it was my idea. I feel stupid. Oh I'm rambling and totally not paying attention...
Focus…
Focus…
Wait if anything happens, do I want to be in the middle of camp? Especially while people are sleeping? No, no I don't.'
I stand up and go a little a ways, they can still see me, but I won't accidently hit them if I manage to conjure something. Standing still, I mimic the movement from our battle. I think if I can remember and then recognize the energy, it will all be so much easier from here on out.
I concentrate on my heart beat, breathing, and my movements. Suddenly I feel a small… something and my hands glow. I find that something… like an electric spark that starts in my chest and then a wave of electricity flows down my arms. The green fizzles out at my hands since I was too surprised to do anything.
So I try again, this time gathering the bubbles energy in my hands and throwing it. It hits a rock and a small explosion fires off. Awesome!
"How did you do that?" Davix comes up and asks.
I touch over my heart and stomach to show him, "I concentrated here and after a while felt a spark I guess. I built it up in my hands from my arms and then threw it to release it. I think that is how it worked anyway." I laugh a little bit because that sounded ridiculous. I always sound ridiculous when trying to explain something, especially if I don't always understand it. Naryk hums from behind me in thought and I almost squeak in surprise.
"We'll be able to practice more when we get back to the colony," he says and we agree. Everyone is awake now, so we quickly eat and are on our way. We should be there by tonight.
"So you three have these biotics?" Dr. Bretain says during our debrief. Hawkins looks thoughtful at the news.
"Yes. Thought that it may be because of bloodstream exposure to the element zero," Davix says.
"Do you know how it works yet?" she asks next and I decide to answer this.
"No, we don't really know how it all works yet," I bring my arm up so she can take blood to study the differences between before and now. I really hate this, I can't stand my blood being taken. I think it is because I got really really sick when I was a kid and I saw the nurses take lots of blood. I decide to just not look.
"Have you noticed anything else about yourselves?" Hawkins asks and we turn our attention to him.
"No," Naryk answers between mouthfuls. "Is there something else going on with the others exposed?"
Hawkins looks us over with a critical eye and I notice he looks outside where Kroger and Shawn are being treated and debriefed. Actually I think they are sleeping now. He finally looks back at us.
"Yes. All of the exposed have been experiencing extreme emotions, mostly of one kind. Like Sally Queenforth has not stopped weeping for a week and Corinth Sparler has thought everything was the funniest thing in the world and finds humor in every situation. There are other cases, but those two are most prominent. I know Shawn and Kroger were exposed, have you noticed anything unusual?"
"Kroger has always been an a- jerk face so I don't notice anything different from him," I scowl and Hawkins looks sharply at me. I don't feel in danger, more like he is examining me, trying to see if I am affected. I'm not, but that might explain why I have felt my emotions more strongly than normal.
"Shawn has become increasingly flirtatious," Davix says and all eyes turn to me. I just nod my head and Dr. Bretain nods hers too.
"He has been a little…"
"He talks like he is trying to woo a maiden from the Medieval period," I finish for her.
"He is going to have to be watched as well, though his is not as bad as Sparler or Queenforth," Hawkins says.
We are given permission to leave once we are fed and rested, especially since Davix wants to start on working and upgrading the distress beacon with the parts from our campsites beacon. Aberforth and Kana come to visit us, well actually Aberforth is back on duty as my guard while I work with Davix. I thought Hawkins forgot about that but apparently not. Still, it is good to see them.
"I hear you can do biotics now!" Kana exclaims and I nod. "Can you show me?"
I look up at Davix and Aberforth and they give me a nod. "Ok, just give me some space I don't know how this is going to go," I say and stand up.
We had already been practicing so we could learn how to bend it to our will. I do what I did before at the campsite and soon have a 'green-ade' in both my hands and pulsing toward the unpopulated colony area and made two rocks explode. I only thought of this, but thank the maker a fire did not start.
"I don't see how you're able to find the excess energy so fast. I can't do it," Naryk says as he comes to stand beside me. I smile and explain as I did to Davix. I think I sound stupid again, but it is the only thing I understand as much as I do.
"I would also suggest only targeting rocks since there is this little explosion that happens when it hits," I say and he gives me a smirk. I pose again and Naryk mirrors me. "Uh, now concentrate on your heartbeat, your breathing, and the movement of remembering the original making of your 'green-ade'. Yes that is what I am calling it quit snarking! And then… build it up," my whole body lights up and the energy flows to my hands, gathering and becoming a strong presence and I point toward a giant rock. Naryk manages to gather his together and throw his toward the same rock. I get ready to pulse the green-ades when I hear an innocent Kana ask a disarming question.
"Are you and Naryk together?"
The green-ades hit some trees and they catch fire, "Aaah fire!" I yell and run to the fire. It isn't too big yet and with all of working together, we quickly get it out before it turns out of control. Many people had come up to help us and seemed to have been watching and heard the question asked. And they were expecting an answer.
I look at Naryk and Kana and see that the little girl is just as curious as she was before the almost apocalypse upon our colony.
"Oh, no sweetie," I finally answer.
"You don't have feelings for him?" she asks and I blush.
"No, he's my friend and I just… no. He's Naryk, it can't happen," I honestly cannot see myself liking him. Our relationship is a great friendship, and nothing else.
"What am I not good enough for you?" Naryk asks and I look at him, wondering if he is crazy.
"Uh… um. Huh. Friendship is the only… well do you think you like me?"
"No, I mean it's you… I can't imagine. Oh, no offence but I already have someone," he answers with a smirk.
"Yeah I know," I smirk back and Kana pipes up again.
"Then what about Davix?"
"No, I only like him as a friend too. I mean it's Davix, I can't… just no," I say again feeling incredibly awkward and sneak a peek at Davix who is smiling as well.
"Feel same as you. Solid friendship. Can't imagine having those feelings… for you," Davix finishes awkwardly. The three of us all look at each other and start laughing. It's nice to know we all feel the same way as weird as it may be. No romantic feelings for each other were going to develop because of the solid relationship we already have as a foundation. It just isn't open to it and we all know this. That makes things nice and easy.
"Aww, I thought for sure you and Naryk were together," a random woman says and a man says he thought it would be Davix and I. Apparently people had been thinking for a while that I was in a relationship with one of these too. I didn't think we were giving off that appearance, we were close but not that close. Oh well, it's all been settled. I think we're good now, though it is funny.
Two days later I went to ask Dr. Bretain for any results on our blood tests with Kroger by my side and that is when interesting things began to happen. I move toward the med building and on the opposite side of the colony Kroger and I hear cries and yells of excitement and peek around the building to see what the commotion is.
I see people in white outfits, some in armor, and I don't recognize any of them. It suddenly dawns on me what is happening and I almost squeal in excitement. Then I see their emblem. My blood freezes in my veins and Timult asks me what is wrong.
"We are finally rescued!"
"You have come for us!"
"If you will just step this way, we can show you to our ship," the head of the newcomers asks and I step forward.
"No, this isn't a rescue! It's-" Kroger grabs my arm and keeps me back.
"Do you know these people?" He asks angrily and drags me back around a corner. I catch a glimpse of Dr. Bretain coming from the clinic and I feel betrayal lace through me. For all of us. On her white coat is the same emblem as the newcomers.
"This isn't rescue…"
"Yes it is. And you don't deserve it!" Kroger growls out and starts dragging me. I fight his hold and try to conjure my biotics, when a blue wave flows through the colony. I hear a 'spreaunk' from inside me and I can't feel any of the energy. None, and Timult yelled out and has disappeared from my reach.
"NO, NO KROGER THIS IS NOT A RESCUE! THAT IS NOT ALLIANCE OR… THAT IS CERBERUS!" I yell out and pull my arm from his grip and try to run, only to be caught back in his hold as his much stronger arms surround me. His hand goes over my mouth and my nose and I start hyperventilating. This is all too much, I don't even know what is happening anymore, what has been happening the whole time.
I struggle in his hold as Kroger drags me into the woods. My nails rip into his hands, drawing blood, but still he does not let go. I kick at his legs but even on impact he does not falter but a little in his steps. How did he get so strong or has he always been this strong?
"You do not deserve freedom and rescue. You got us into this mess in the first place. Everything that happened here is your fault. Every death is one your hands. I needed a reason to kill you before, but now I need none," Kroger whispers heatedly in my ear and tears are pricking my eyes. This man was a soldier, a security guard. Aberforth said that he is a good man and has always been harsh but fair.
I think that the tainted elements affected him. I had begun to think that it was anger that he bore, but maybe it is complete and utter despair that spiraled him into madness. Or maybe he really is just this angry and needs an outlet. And that is me.
I stomp on his foot and he jumps a little, but his hold is tighter and I can't breathe.
"You will be punished for your crimes. Your innocence act may have fooled everybody, even Hawkins, but you won't fool me," he grounds out and my lungs are crying out for breath as the edges of my sight starts to darken. God help me. "Go to sleep little damned one, it will be over soon."
I scream out the last of the air that I have and everything goes dark.