Shade
"Mindor?"
"Yeah, Mindor" I said, sitting across from her. "I guess I should start with an apology"
"Apology?" she asked
"For lying, how much do you know about my past, in particular my parents?"
"Just that they were freighters, and were obsessed with old tech"
"That was all a lie" I stated
"And the truth?"
"I don't know" I shrugged, "The very first memory I have is waking up in those woods on Mindor near your family farm. I don't even know my parent's names, or what they even look like"
"What does this have to do with anything?" she asked
"They were spies." I said, fiddling with my dog tags. "I had an OSD drive on me, with a lot of information on it from them, even some voice recordings on it. I don't know who they worked for, whether it was the Alliance, or they were freelance, but they were tracking and researching two things."
"Why did you hide this?"
"Cassandra, you were a scared, sixteen-year old kid, who just went through the most traumatic experience in her life, I wasn't going to tell you about this. Especially involve you in this."
"Your name is Chase Jarrett, right?" she quizzed
"Yes, at least think I it is" I said jokingly
"And the two things?"
"They were tracking the Shadow Broker, and they were looking into the…" I paused, I never intended on bringing her in on this
"Reapers?" she asked, and I just nodded. "What are they?"
"An ancient race of Machines, the same ones that destroyed the Protheans, and they're coming back"
"Are you sure? How do you know they're real?" she asked
"Okay, now we need to go in order, so no more questions until the end, okay?" I asked, getting a nod from her. "Okay, on that OSD had knowledge of the Shadow Broker. This was when we were on Arcturus. I knew that I couldn't do it alone, so I got into contact with some of there contacts that was on the OSD. Two of them were Mordin and Thane. Together, we took down the Shadow Broker, usurping his spot between the three of us"
"I thought that Cortana was in your group"
I put my hand up, "We're getting to that. Once we took over the Brokers network, we needed more info on the Reapers. While the Brokers, well, our network, had some info on them, is was nothing we already didn't know. But, we knew some people that did"
"Who?" she asked, looking skeptical at my story
"The Protheans, but unfortunately not a lot are left around" I dead panned. "They left beacons, with information on them, and one specifically warning about the reapers. Unfortunately, it's in a very populated area on Thessia, so we kind of needed a distraction."
"Thessia? The Asari have a beacon? Wait, distraction?" She questioned, then her eyes widened, and she stood up, biotics flaring. "What distraction?"
"Yes, we had leaked information to Facinus in order to access the beacon, and it wasn't an easy choice, but a necessary one." I said, and she started pacing around, running into the stasis field around us.
"What the hell?" she said, rubbing her head, "How long has this been here?"
"The entire time, exactly when Mordin said 'Reapers'. It's a necessary precaution, given the subject and where we are."
"What does that mean?" she asked
-I would not recommend telling her about the Citadel's or Relay's origins. Or what lays here on the Citadel-
"All in order" I said, waving for her to sit down. "it worked, Vendetta, the prothean V.I., gave us a wealth of information. Now this is when we really started preparing for the Reapers arrival. First, we started with Cortana. She's an A.I. we created, between info that we stole from the Alliance who's been secretly experimenting with A.I.'s, and information from Vendetta" I had to put up my hand to stop her. "She's equal to us, and doing a ton of the work, and she's my best friend, so tread lightly."
"I'm pretty sure I'm your only friend" Cortana said, popping up from a console
"No! Cass's my friend!" I protested
"She's your girlfriend, it doesn't count" Cortana rebutted
"So, you're an A.I.?" Shepard asked, "What about our conversta-"
"Between us" Cortana said
"What the hell are you two talking about?"
"Nothing" "Nothing" they both answered, and now I have a headache.
"Whatever, after Cortana, we focused on gathering resources and preparing for the Arrival of the Reapers. Like developing weapons, armors, etc."
"You're not trying to stop them?" she asked
"We can't, just preparing for them. We'll delay them if possible, but they will come." I said
"And the plan?"
"Not your business. I'm not involving you, there's nothing you can do or say to change my mind about that" I said, and she got up, walking towards the barrier.
"Cortana, if you'd please, I'd like to leave" and the barrier dropped
"Shep what are you-"
"Chase, you've lied to me my entire adult life. I need time to think and process this, and I have more questions that I want answered, but I just be can't be near you right now. I'll contact you when I'm ready" she said, walking out the door.
"Fuck!" I yelled, throwing a chair
"It could've been worse" Cortana chimed in
"And how's that?"
"She could've said that you're insane, or crazy, but she said she had to think things over, not the worse reaction"
"Yeah, I doubt I'll hear from her anytime soon." I said, pacing around the room. "Look, can you reach out to her, answer any questions she has, tell her whatever she wants" I asked
"Whatever she wants?"
"Within reason, come on, you're the most advanced A.I. there is, I think you can figure it out" I said, and she just started to play with her holographic hair, blushing?
"I'll have you know I already did, via message. And thank you, you're not bad yourself" She said with a wink
"Oh god, I forgot you're a flirt. You're not like this in my head" I claimed
"It's different, I can't see you when I'm talking to you through there, so I guess my flirtatious side doesn't come out"
"Well, update Mordin and Thane on the situation, let'em know I'm not coming to dinner either, I need some time alone" I said, sitting in front of some console
"Very well, I'll leave you to it then" she said
"Wait!"
"Yes"
"I've been thinking of a new suit design, kind of mixing aspects of Mjolnir and my old suit, I could use the help" I mentioned
"I thought you wanted time to think" she stated
"No, I want to get my mind off of all of this, can you help me?" I asked
"Of course, but what are you doing?"
"I was going to make the plans digital with this console" I said, glaring at her
"That controls the industrial fabricators" she stated
"Oh" I said, getting out of the seat. "Why is there a chair here?"
"Now that's a question for Mordin, so let's begin, go to the console to your right" she said, "So, give me a quick synopsis of your idea"
"Well, put the shields and motors from Mjolnir in a set of armor like my old set, I thought it'd increase my speed and strength on the battlefield" I said, sitting at the next console. "Of course it'd be a lot less armor and shields though"
"Yes, it would, but there's a small issue with your plan. One of the reasons your current armor is so thick is because it's structural rigidity holds you in place, among other things, when you go into SAM mode, I don't think there's another way around it"
"Oh, how you underestimate me" I said smugly, leaning back looking at her.
"Okay, what?" she asked
"How's Mordin's attempts at recreating relay metal?"
"As you know he can, but it becomes unstable after" she paused, realizing my idea, "becomes unstable after being larger than a square foot, and thicker than an inch, the perfect size for forming armor"
"My thoughts exactly"
"I'll begin running simulations on how it can be synthesized and formed" she said
"Okay, but we'll have to change the design, if I'm going to be a 'Horsemen' it can't have my N7 designation. I'm thinking to put 117 right there, and instead of a red stripe, make it green."
"117?" she asked, "And green?"
"117 was my number in N1 training, and greens my favorite color, I'm surprised you didn't know that"
"I did" she responded, "I'm just busy doing a lot of things right now"
"uh-huh"
Two weeks later – January 2, 2179
"There's nothing we can do Chase, we're maxed out at 100%, no overclocking with the new suit"
"Damn, I want overclock in this thing" I said, rubbing the back of my head
"Why?" she asked, "even at 100%, you'll move and react twice as fast as a normal human, and with the increased strength, servos, and lightened armor, you'll be just effective as if you're at 150% or more on your other suit, just all the time now, just less armor and shields protecting you"
"Yes" I said, "but if I was overclocked, I would be able to move three, maybe five times. That would be insanely effective, really pull off that demon thing"
"I agree, still not feasible, and even if it was possible you'd be severely limited, maybe ten seconds at the most, and with the much smaller powerplant on the suit, you'd be able to use it twice, max. That's not including the delay in between uses, possibly two, maybe three times longer. That's if we come up with an idea that works"
"Maybe we're looking in the wrong place, would if we change me? I don't think we can modify me with more implants, but would if we looked into different gene therapies" I asked
"Maybe, but you already have the maxed bone and muscle weave, and researching that would be a waste of time"
"Not what I was thinking" I said, "would if we increased muscle density? And maybe a bone carbide ceramic ossification?"
"You got that from Halo"
"Irrelevant Woman!" I yelled in a sarcastic manner, "So, is it a thing?"
"You know that was part of a video game, right? Maybe we shouldn't waste our resources on it" she said, seemingly trying to change my mind on it
"And?" I started, "so were you, but here we are"
"Well, it's a thing. Highly illegal, and no one's done it in about a century, but possible. It's extremely painful, but it could be done. Did I mention it's painful? Any who, there's also gene therapies for muscle density for Drell. It could be adopted for human, also very illegal, but that hasn't stopped you yet. It'll take some time to prepare it all, a month at least, two at the most."
"Okay" I said, moving over to my armor rack. "I got a mission here on the Citadel. Spook say's there's a high-level scientist defecting over to some unknown group, apparently she doesn't know about Cerberus yet, because right after I got a call from Thane, said he tracked the same transmissions about it from a Cerberus cell"
"Interesting, you do know that the Admiral has a real name, right?" she said, giving me a glare
"So? 'Spook' fits better, and she finds it endearing" I said, putting on my armor. "We can't boost the armor rating on this at all?"
"No, in order to fit the motors, servos, and all your tech in the suit, we had to make the actual metal plates very thin, which is why it weighs somewhere between a light and medium armor set. The relay metal, while nowhere near the strength of the real stuff, still gives you an armor rating of heavy colossus armor at current thickness, and insanely lighter" she claimed
"Yeah, use to having an absurd amount I guess" I chimed, loading my sniper, pistol, and sword. Still the same one from Torfan, need to come up with something new. "Alright, time to go be the Alliances assassin!"
"You're so cheerful sometimes, you know that?" she said with a wink as I walked through the door, activating my cloak instantly.
Any update on Shepard?
-She's on assignment right now, but she still messages me, still trying to understand it all, she's unbelievable pissed at you still. She's not sure how to react to it all-
No, I believe it.
I make my way to Tayseri ward, and find the courtyard that my mark is going to be in soon. I really sound like some mercenary right now. I look around, and about 500m down I see a large warehouse with an office window that oversees the courtyard, and start heading that way.
Go ahead and unlock the doors to that warehouse for me please, I found my spot.
-Okay, but FYI, it's owned by a company that's a subsidiary of the blue suns-
Good, I can stretch my legs, give this suit a little test.
I make my way to the warehouse, slip inside and spot a guard in front of me. Pull out my sword, which is in desperate need to upgrade it, all the while SAM mode engages without fail, and he falls before he can react. I take a quick scan of my surroundings, and see a stairway to the top floor that houses an office, overlooking my courtyard.
-There's three guards, and what I'm guessing is the boss-
Thank you.
I reach the top of the stairs, pull out and prime an SK, and kick in the door, sending it flying into the room. I toss in the SK, it goes off, disorienting the boss and two guards, the door flying in took the first one out, and he's out cold. I rush in, quickly deal with the two guards, giving them an early retirement package. I turn over to the 'boss', and notice that he's got a stain running down his pants, glaring at me.
"I don't know who you think you are!" he said, pausing abruptly as I slowly take a step closer to him.
Just realized that no one will recognize me in my new armor.
-Well, 'Emiles' helmet is unique, and now that it's yours, I'm sure you'll come up with a new nickname-
You say that like I have a choice or say in it. Hmmmmm.
I regain my focus, and see him slowly crawling away. I walk towards him, and stab him through the shoulder, stopping him and pinning him.
"You know, it's your lucky day"
"How's that?" he asked, clinching the sword in his shoulder.
"I'm letting one person live, spread the word about me"
"Thank god" he said, and I pulled out my sword, and pointed it to the guy under the door, who's faking being unconscious
"I was talking to him" I said while looking out the window towards the small courtyard, still pointing at the other guy, and without looking I pull out my pistol and end the 'boss's' pain. "Don't make a sound or move Mr. Door guy, or I won't leave a witness", and I could hear a gulp from his direction.
I walk up to the glass, shoulder my sniper, and wait for a few minutes until the scientist shows up. I wait an additional few minutes, just to try and get a look on his contact, but I'm impatient. I pull the trigger, dropping the scientist quickly. Immediately c-sec starts swarming around the dead scientist, and the surrounding area. Interesting.
"By the way Mr. Door, the names Shade"
C-Sec investigating an Alliance scientist? Interesting, mind looking around, see who ordered it.
-I will, it is interesting, and this a sizable force too, they're already within 100 meters of the building, Shade?-
I want to make my own name dammit!
I shoulder my items, and calmly make my way downstairs. I walk up to the door, engage my cloak, and walk out the door. All the C-sec officers started freaking out seeing the door open, but I just walked by them calmly, making my way back to base. I take off my armor, go in for a quick shower, and come out drying my hair.
"You won't believe this" Cortana said as I walked out
"What?"
"It was the council that ordered it, more specifically the Salarian councilor"
"Interesting" I said, putting on my clothes, "you should talk with Thane, look into this. Could be important"