Cortana
"What, don't like the idea of me in your head?" Cortana asked me, I was clearly nervous. I was currently in my room on the Achilles, which is the brokers ship. The ship is pretty nice, Mordin had it completely upgraded, updated, and made the interior white. It feels much more spacious, and less ominous now.
"No" I went on, "I just feel that this is a little rushed, he only took two weeks to research, build, and prepare a surgery for this."
"I helped him, and he's very capable. I ran his numbers and simulations thousands of time, and I've adjusted it to where the point of failure is virtually non-existent." Cortana rabbled. "Too bad he's not human."
"Uh-huh, sure ya flirt, like you care" I nodded, "now how long's the surgery going to last?"
"Between the implant in your head, as well on your limbs, organs, and major blood vessels, about twelve hours." She stated. "Your recovery would normally take five days, but with myself and the nanites Mordin's been developing for the last couple of years, it'll take two, with five to spare till your N6 training." I just left Arcturus a week ago, after being there for 5 weeks, and passing all my physical and psychological tests, they gave me two weeks of leave before returning to duty. While I was there, and during Akuze, Mordin was frustrated that he wasn't able to contact me, so he and his team went and developed a QEC that is the size of a large watch, and connects to my omnitool, no big deal apparently. Once I heard that from him, I joked that we should put Cortana in my head, and the joke flew sky high over his head, taking the suggestion seriously.
I got out of my bed, and made my way over to the medical wing of the ship. Mordin and Thane did a lot of recruiting while I was busy playing soldier, we have nearly 50 researchers employed. We also have 30 ex-special forces here as security, and another 20 people as support personnel. I walk into the Med-bay, which is basically a full-fledged mini hospital.
"Ah, Chase, are you ready?" Mordin threw at me.
"First" I started, "I want you to go over everything that you're putting in me and their functions, in words I understand, slowly."
"Very well" he nodded, "first, we'll be placing implants on all your major organs and blood vessels, which will allow Cortana to have real time information on them, and it'll make them more efficient. Secondly, we're injecting you with incredibly small nanites, they will allow you to heal much faster and will also heal any damage to your implants, bones or organs. Not at Krogan levels, but immensely helpful, you'll still need to see a doctor if you get shot or brake a bone, just in case. And in theory they could upgrade your implants, but it needs more testing. Thirdly, we're placing a mini blue-box implant in your head, which will have a much less powerful version of Cortana. However, if you have your QEC on you, it will connect to Cortana's blue-box here on Achilles, giving her access to her full processing power. All of this should make you very efficient in combat, as your senses will be enhanced more then what gene mods can provide, and you'll have an extra pair of eyes. Also, since Cortana is in your head, she'll be able to give you tech support, since if your life depended on it, you'll die. And she can hack any medical scans, keeping herself hidden."
"Okay, now say that five times fast." I deadpanned
"What?"
"Nothing" I exhaled loudly, "okay, let's get this show on the road." I went and laid down on the surgery table, and Mordin came and placed a syringe on my arm, and Cortana popped up from the console across the room.
"Night Night" she said waving to me, and right on que Mordin pumped me with anesthesia, and I get immensely tired, and my vision fades to black.
-Wake up-
What?
-Wake up!-
My eyes slowly open, and I shoot up and look around, but I'm alone.
-Morning-
"Cortana?" I asked out loud.
-I'm in here, your head-
What? I don't remember this being a thing
-We were uncertain whether it could work, or even happen, which is why we didn't mention it. However, I think it's a good thing, this can't be jammed or intercepted-
So, you can read my thoughts?
-No, you can talk to me, and I can talk to you, but I can't read your thoughts. I can see what you see and hear though-
Cool, and the procedure?
-as planned, and better-
"Ah, you're awake" Mordin said as he walked in. "How're you feeling?"
"I'm feeling great. I feel amazing actually." I said, surprising even myself.
"Good, the nanites have taken nicely, and Cortana has improved the efficiency of the nanites, so right now you're in peak physical shape" he said, "there's also a few good side effects, given the amount electricity that it takes to keep your implants and nanites running, you have to eat as much as a human biotic. Also, the nanites eat off a certain amount of fat to run, so you'll be quite lean. You can eat whatever you like, as your organs and implants will make the most out of whatever you eat."
"Sweet" I said, and he smiled back.
"I have a ship at dock 4 ready for you, you've been out for about 36 hours, I'm busy and have some things to check on." He said, walking away.
"Wait" I said, "Where's Thane?"
"Out, seeing Kolyat." He mumbled as he was typing on his omnitool, "he just graduated c-sec academy, when's the last time you saw Kolyat?"
"It's been a few years, I'll stop by and say 'Hey' next time I'm on the Citadel, how's that armor set coming along?" I asked.
"We've hit a few road blocks, but we're making progress, slow progress, but progress." He stated, I may or may not have him making Mjolnir armor for me, modeled after Buck's.
"Can I have you look into something for me? Again" he nodded towards me, "can you look into Vrolik's Syndrome?
"I'll have someone put on it, I have to go, I'll see you later." He said, waving at me as he walked away.
-Vrolik's syndrome?-
Jeff Moreau
-Of course-
Can I shut you off?
-What do you mean?-
If you ever bothered me enough where I don't want you in my head, can I block you out, like if I was with someone?
-No, but when you're with Shepard I'll respect your boundaries, just let me know and I'll skedaddle-
Shut up
-Ooohhh, I found a button-
Oh my god, why did I do this? You're evil
-No, actually I'm based off of Cortana from the Halo series of games, it's just who I am-
And I regret that everyday
-Aawww, I love you too =]-
I make my way to that dock Mordin said he had ready for me, and walk into the ship and see one of our agents in the cockpit.
"Where to sir?" he asked.
"Earth, Rio" I said, sitting down
-Rio? You still have a couple of extra days--
I messaged Ryder, and he's in Rio already, so I'm just going to get a couple extra days of training in
-You're a workaholic-
Meh, I strive to be the best I can be, hey can you hack omnitools and stuff?
-Yes, even disconnected, the implant A.I. is far more powerful than any V.I., I should be able to hack anything you come across, even if we're disconnected, of course when you're around people you should get your omnitool out, so they think you're doing it-
Even geth?...
Hello?
-I don't know-
Okay, im'a try and get some sleep
-Need some help?-
That's going to be a little hard, you being in my head and everything, but I appreciate the offer, perhaps in a different life
-Hardy har har, I can get the implants and nanites to help you go to sleep, and block out some of the outside stimuli to help-
Alright, let's do this
-Goodnight-
"Sir, we're here" the agent said, and I opened my eyes, feeling amazingly rested.
"Thank you" I said, "did you take me straight to the Villa?" I asked, looking at the outer gate to the Villa.
"Yes, I got clearance from the Alliance, I actually got requested to land here"
Suspicious -Suspicious-
Jinx, you owe me a coke
-Whatever-
I step outside with my duffle bag and newly made armor case, and couldn't help but feel somethings off, I have that gut feeling.
-I'm detecting a cloaking program, 8 o'clock, I'll outline them, also entering combat enhanced mode-
All of a sudden, I could see an outline of a crouched figure approaching me, I feel like I could see a whole lot more as well, I could see an ant, in detail, clear as day, 25 meters away on a leaf.
This is a little more than I expected
-The implants are very effective at enhancing your natural senses and reaction time beyond what gene mods do, every time you enter CEM, it'll be like this-
The figure started approaching closer, and when it was within arms reach I drop my bags and drop kick it, and Cortana started up an overload, and I aimed it at the cloaked man shooting it, decloaking the person, revealing the one and only Alec Ryder.
"Major" I said, nodding to him, offering my hand to help him up.
"Lieutenant, good reflexes, how'd you know I was there?" he asked, grabbing my hand, pulling himself up.
"I saw the dirt displace from under you a little bit, that and I had a gut feeling" I claimed.
-Good save-
"Impressive, most wouldn't notice such a small detail and put two and two together, good job trusting your gut." He said, praising me. "Let's go, I have a shuttle prepped for us, we have an op"
"An op?" I asked, "what is it?"
"It's a simple raid on some pirate base, something to stretch your legs, should be child's play" he said, unlocking the shuttle, and we take off for the pirate base, and I set down my case, unload it to find some new toys.
That's new, care to explain all the new hardware?
-Yes, the rifle is essentially a mattock in a new frame that takes design inspirations from your m14, with a few upgrades. It's packs a stronger punch, but only have 10 shots versus your old 14. Additionally, it has a sound dampener on the end of the rifle, and the round that gets shaved off it is shaped like a twisted cone, keeping the same damage output as a regular block shaver, but allowing for a lower sounding boom, allowing the sound dampener to lower the rifles sound to 115 db. The sniper is a barebones black widow, with some design augmentations. First, it was shaped after the intervention from your time, and has the same sound quality's. However, it's at 135 db.-
Wow, I didn't know that was possible
-A lot's possible with nearly endless money with an eagerness to research, they're both one of a kind rifles, so keep them safe-
"We're here kid, suit up, you're going in." he said, just strapping on his pistol, nothing else.
"And you're not?" I asked, getting a nod in confirmation.
"I need to see how you operate, and you have one rule to follow while dealing with them" he said as he opened the shuttle door, "silence, take down as many as possible without being seen or shot at, be as tactical as possible, understood?"
I nodded, and headed for the door, and as I jumped out he slapped a small disc onto my back, "So I can track you while you're cloaked, patch me in to your helmets camera" he ordered, cloaking and disappearing, at least he thinks he disappeared, Cortana lit him up immediately. I walked around the cliff we were on, seeing the pirate base. It was just your average prefab base from ME1, maybe I should have Thane invest in some prefab companies, have them make some different designs.
Cortana
-Activating CEM-
Thank you
-22 hostiles total, 6 roaming outside, 3 in the immediate entrance of the base, and 13 scattered throughout-
I shoulder my sniper, taking in where all 6 of them are. I wait, and once all of them are out of sight of the front entrance, I begin.
Cortana, jam the six's coms that are outside, make it seem like a glitch
-Done-
I lift my rifle, take three shots in a rapid fashion, making three heads go missing, then have to wait three seconds for it to cool down. The other three didn't even hear the shots, only seeing their buddy's drop to the floor, I take three more shots, clearing the outside of the base.
Can you make it seem like their comm's relay is broken?
-Done, why?-
To lure them
And on que three men came out of the front, looking around, their defenses down, and with a quick three trigger pulls, they drop.
Okay, I need you to fake a message from them saying that it's fixable, just give them 15 minutes
-On it, done-
I get up, and make a run for the side of the building, seeing the window on the top floor.
Is it unlocked?
-It is now-
How many?
-Four-
I activate my mag boots and gloves, and climb my way to the window, put my hand up like I'm hacking it, and open it. I grab an SK, Senses killer, it's a grenade I thought of about a year ago. It flashes like a flashbang, and causes temporary deafness and sense deprivation, and is completely silent. You can even block it if you have the frequency, making it not work on you. It's pretty sought after now that Thane has a shell company selling a dumb downed version of it, at an extremely high price. I crawl in, see the four stumbling about, and drop them with my rifle.
-Nine left-
I exit the room, cloaked of course, and see 6 men on the bottom floor, one 3 meters to my left, sniper in hand, meaning the other two must be in the room below. I walk over to the sniper, pull out my knife, and get rid of him quickly. I walk to where he was posted, having a perfect shot on the six of them, I set my rifle next to me and unfolded, and ready my sniper. I throw an SK, and before it hits I take two out, it goes off, catching them off guard, and I stow my sniper. I grab my rifle, and finish the last four off two shots each, sparing me two shots just in case. I jump down, wait for my rifle to cool, and just breach the last room, killing both of them before they could even realize what's going on.
We work well together, good job, this was a good field test
-I concur-
"Ryder" I said over coms, knowing full well he's a few meters next to me, "base is clear, starting search for intel"
"Impressive Jarrett, impractical given the amount of credits you threw away with those grenades, but impressive either way" he said decloaking, looking me over.
Did you give him the frequency?
-Yes-
"It was just pirates" I said, down playing the situation. With Cortana, it's a little too easy, this isn't me complaining though.
"You seem like the smart-ass type" he deadpanned at me.
"And you don't exactly seem like you're a people person" I rebutted, getting both of us to chuckle.
"Let's go, Marines are 5 minutes out, they can look for intel, I'm hungry." He said, "but before we go, anything I should know about you?"
"Yes" I said, looking at him with a poker face "I have an uncommunicable disease that I inherited from my father, he calls it…. he calls it Smartassitess(Smart-ass-ight-us)" and Ryder just turns around and walks away, and I couldn't help but laugh, and I'm pretty sure he's grinning, this is going to be fun.