Girlzilla Author's Note: Here's another chapter everyone! I hope you enjoy it. I'm mostly writing these by myself, but Boyzilla has been working on a new story. Something he's been working on for a long while, and it's not a Hakuno story for once! Shocking, right? Yeah, I had a press 'X' to doubt moment too. Anyway, happy holidays everyone!
TheStrangerThatCameFromNowhere: Yeah, BioWare is a bit of a mess right now. But I enjoyed Andromeda, I was fortunate to play after the animation fix. Still, it doesn't compare to the story-telling of the original trilogy.
Gojosin: I wanted to reference it, but also push it aside. Without the Andromeda Project, the stakes raise, as the Milky Way is now truly the only place with humanity and the other Mass Effect species.
Engineer4Ever: The next Servant is due to arrive shortly in the next few chapters! Also, I'm going to work on Hakuno's abilities as a Spirit Hacker and personal firearms. The little squirrel can't remain behind her Servants forever.
Have a Little Feith: I nearly forgot about that. It would make an interesting plot point for later!
Akasha Bloodriver: Yeah, it's a core memory, that flaming city. I think it carries more weight than Shirou.
Daemon of Crawling Tentacles: She's so CUTE!
WindbornesWord: In the next few chapters, the second Servant will be revealed!
King of Fans: Yeah, she's having problems with her Od reserves. Even though the Digital Human Series has Hakuno have rather fantastic Od reserves to supply an active combat-able Servant, she is still limited.
To push beyond oneself, break apart the void none dares to, can a lone lunar light shine hope to a universe destined for despair?
Digital/Galaxy
Chapter 19: Hakuno's Crew Conversations II
Hakuno Kishinami had been acquainted with a firearm, which was a strange and new experience for her. There hadn't been any outright weapons for Masters in the Holy Grail War, or at least, excluding the Formal Wear. The Servants served as the real weapon, they were and fought as the sword and shield, a fact that remained prominent. But Hakuno had to face the stark reality of this space era, and that was that Shepard could not be there all the time to protect her.
Sure, the magus could use the Regalia to summon another Heroic Spirit, as evidence with what she learned this morning with its inquiry. But, as it also stated, she lacked the od reserves to keep multiple combat-active Servants for an extended timeframe.
Hence why Rider had called on a favor from her companion, the Turian named Garrus, to tutor Hakuno Kishinami in basic firearm training.
The Digital Human had wanted to speak with Tali, however, it seems that will have to be put on hold until after this first session. Shepard had brought her down to the lower decks of the SR2 Normandy that was the ship's Cargo Hold, there was a small practice ground set up presumably by Garrus earlier. Rider then left Hakuno with Garrus, just the two of them alone except for the occasional engineer that past by as it was still the Engineering Deck.
Though Tali'Zorah should be at this same level, Hakuno hadn't seen her. Regardless, Garrus spent the bettermost of ten minutes lecturing and showing the magus how to properly hold an M-5 Phalanx heavy pistol.
Needless to say, while it was blatantly clear Hakuno Kishinami had never held or used a gun, her trained eyes from the Holy Grail War gave her deadly accuracy… Once she eventually got used to the weapon recoil, despite the lack of gunpowder, it still had a kick to it whenever it fired a round.
"Not bad," Garrus complimented. "For a beginner, you have some pinpoint accuracy, almost like you could follow the round with your eyes."
His comment was only meant to be a compliment, however, the turian was unaware that Hakuno could, in fact, follow the Mass Effect round's trajectory as it went. The mind-boggling speeds of Servant battles within the Holy Grail War had honed and tunned the girl's senses for combat, the loud noise of these futuristic guns made them sharpen, mimicking such situations.
"Thank you," Hakuno replied, lowering the pistol. "I appreciate that you've helped me with learning how to use this."
"No problem, it has been a while since I taught anyone how to shoot, quite a refreshing feeling," He said. "And you're a good shot at that, I'm actually surprised you didn't know how to use a gun beforehand with how much of a natural you are at it."
Hakuno winced, while said with good intention, the meaning behind it was remarkably similar to another compliment that Leo told her back in the Moon Cell.
As much as she would like to deny it… Hakuno Kishinami had flourished and grown in the environment of war more substantially than any other Master. At a pace that overcame those with years of training, resources, and knowledge.
Garrus continued, "Now, in the last two years, weaponry has adopted heat sinks known as thermal clips. Just press the eject here then swap for a new thermal clip in its place."
Hakuno followed the instruction to the letter, though she struggled to place the clip in initially, having to look where she needed to place it carefully.
"Okay," Hakuno said.
"You'll get used to it quickly, with practice it will become second-nature," Garrus said.
She looked at him, a curious expression on her face, "You don't seem to be confused at my presence on the Normandy."
"I've been with Shepard long enough to know that any crewmember taken in by her tends to have more than meets the eye," Garrus explained. "Besides, dangers have come in more cute or beautiful packages than you," He lightly jokes.
She smiled, understanding his humor, "Yeah, cute things are deadly."
"Ain't that the truth, well, that and ancient evils and all," He chuckled.
"Ancient civilizations or objects seem to be a woe of problems a lot, don't they?" Hakuno said.
"Indeed, sometimes I wish people would shut up about it, though I also know not to say that in the scientists' faces or they will never be quiet about it," He shook his head. "Envy Shepard for being able to do that."
Hakuno Kishinami walked just outside the engineering area containing the ship's core, Tali'Zorah followed and the door closed behind them. Once they were in a private area, away from prying ears of the crew, the quarian didn't skip a beat with the hard-hitting questions.
"What kind of profession do you have, Kishinami?" Tali'Zorah began. "What did you do on the Citadel? Was it some sort of biotics, as Shepard implied, or technology? I've never heard of biotics that can interface with computer systems like that."
The brown-haired girl remained quiet as Tali'Zorah continued with a slew of more questions.
"What was that child assassin? How did you hack so easily into the Citadel systems?" Tali'Zorah forced herself to calm down. "Look, I'm sorry to asking so much, but so many questions have been in my mind since yesterday."
Hakuno's monotone expression remained as she began to answer, "I'm a Spirit Hacker, I hacked the Citadel's ventilation system, no it's not the… Biotics?" She replied with a little confusion, only having briefly read up on the powers that were biotics. "Assassin is complicated. My abilities as a Spirit Hacker allow me to bypass certain systems more easily."
"Hold on," Tali'Zorah raised her hand. "Let's back up, I… I didn't expect you to be answered so straightforwardly… Alright, a Spirit Hacker?" She questioned. "Is that a figurative term?"
"It's literal," The girl replied. "But in a different context."
"You spoke of it as granting you abilities, so it's not technological?" The Quarian said.
"It is… In a way," Hakuno replied with a bit of uncertainty. She was never a dedicated magus, in fact, the girl hadn't even known about magecraft until the Holy Grail War, which was about the day after she obtained self-awareness… As far as she knew, at least. So, simply, Hakuno Kishinami didn't have the knowledge to explain everything, only the basics and whatever she managed to learn from Rin, Rani and other sources in her spare time.
She couldn't answer Tali'Zorah in everything… But neither would she have anyway, keeping people in the dark about the Moon Cell's existence was a crucial element.
"So, it's abilities tied directly to technology?" Tali'Zorah's voice expressed confusion.
"Not initially, but Spirit Hackers accomplished Code Casts through it," Hakuno paused for a moment to collect her thoughts. "Those are… A set of instructions for our abilities to interact with a digital medium," She explained vaguely.
"I'm starting to understand that you aren't exactly an expert at your own profession."
Hakuno visibly winced, "I'm a unique case… I can bypass many restrictions that normal Spirit Hackers have to work through. I'm still learning my own limits," She explained without giving away her origins.
She let it slide, "So humanity had something similar to biotics prior to exposure to Element Zero, why isn't it public?" Tali asked curiously.
"I don't know, but there are very, very few left, and they were already hidden from the public," Hakuno said. "Sorry, I can't explain much."
"That's fine… But what about the child that tried to kill us?"
"Not a child, just outward appearance of one," Hakuno corrected. "We don't know, Shepard and I are still trying to figure it out. The Assassin was strong… Shepard was really close to dying there."
"But you… Enhanced Shepard, is that what you did to me?" She asked.
Hakuno nodded, "Healed for you, but… Not something I can do easily."
That was a lie, Hakuno could easily do a dozen more or so Code Casts without her Servant in active combat.
"I guess I should ask Shepard for more information, we can talk about it later, Kishinami," Tali said, noticing the young girl's anxiousness at answering.
"Thank you…"
"How about something else?" She suggested.
Hakuno tilted her head, "Like what?"
Tali choked on her next words, before taking a minute to recompose herself, "That's… That's dangerous."
"Huh?"
"I mean, that's a good question," She excused. "What do you find enjoyable?"
"Trying different meals, listening to music, and reading," Hakuno replied without missing a beat.
"Reading?" Tali remarked. "Any particular topic?"
"History, particularly mythology."
"Ah… Uh… So about different music?"
Miranda Lawson couldn't find anything on Hakuno Kishinami. The Cerberus Agent theorized that someone had covered the young Spirit Hacker's tracks so thoroughly that it appeared she never existed. But, Miranda had learned about the existence of Spirit Hackers, as the Illusive Man had provided some explanatory notes on Hakuno's limited profile. So Miranda knew the rarity that Hakuno Kishinami represented, a set of abilities and skills exclusive to humanity, different from the non-exclusive biotics that pervaded the galaxy, but also a dying breed exceeding even the Quarian's population.
Which is why, after the event on the Omega Station, Miranda didn't confront the civilian girl, even with all the burning questions and mysteries about her. Shepard was protective of Hakuno, of course, Shepard had always been defensive of her team-mates unless forced otherwise, but this was more akin to… Maternal instincts?
That wasn't so much a strange way to express it, Shepard was a leader, but also a woman.
And Hakuno was way too cute- That isn't related to the topic on hand.
The Cerberus Agent shook her head free of such thoughts.
Currently, the SR2 Normandy's destination was towards Korlus, following the dossier information of the Korgan Warlord. They would arrive shortly, travel between Mass Relays was near-instantaneous, taking minutes or seconds depending on the travel between systems. However, traveling from system to system outside the Mass Relays would take hours, days, or weeks, let alone traveling for long distances for years.
Now, Shepard could have arrived from the Citadel to the Imir System, where Korlus resided, very shortly. But, considering the events that took place on the Citadel, recovery time was necessary, so they took a day. However, that 'murder case' was a strange one, the report was clearly forged and misinformed, something had occured that Shepard kept secret.
Miranda didn't want to press her luck with Shepard, the Commander was very keen, as shown in her past records. Cerberus would investigate without her while she remained with the Normandy.
A ping from her Omni-Tool alerted her of the Normandy's transit arrived in the Imir System from the Mass Relay, making its way toward Korlus.
Shepard would likely call for his crew now, to decide which would accompany her. It could lead to a potential firefight with a Krogan down there, so they might need some heavy weapons and biotics.
EDI's voice spoke, "Commander Shepard has selected you for the mission, Miss Lawson."
"Copy that," Miranda replied to the AI.
Well, mysteries will be solved later, time to work.