CHAPTER #6
Author's Note: I wrote this listening to the Mass Effect Trilogy OST.
Tall, dark, hard-looking, difficult to hurt with a knife, strong fists that must hit strongly. Those were my first thoughts, coming in slow succession one after the other with what I can only describe as a surging excitement bordering on fear. I was not scared, but I wouldn't compare myself to a jumping kid either. My awe was shadowed by apprehension. I had trapped myself here willingly, but in part because, as freak as I may seem to them, any Alliance soldiers, I was still human, they would still see me as a relatable face, a girl. They would still recognize my value if that didn't happen, hold the Alliance's best interests at heart. But to Aliens, I am bizarre, strange. To turians, a despicable reminder of death. As a human biotic, a greater menace. What were they thinking? How was involving the Turians into any project anything other than a terrible idea? Weren't the military the weariest on these things? I heard the door close behind me, a quick glance behind showed me the restricting red. Trying to pass as taking in the room, I checked the roof, the walls. Three cameras and a black glass panel greeted me. I was being observed. I was trapped. Great, Prinle, just great, you genius, you've succeeded, you are finally in deeper, fatter, worse than ever in your life, trouble. You could have gotten away so easily before, but, oh, food, right? Training? Stability? You stupid. You idiot.
I looked at the floor, my hair hiding my face like a curtain, just like I knew it would. Taking the opportunity, I took a second to glare at the floor. Then, I mildly realized the floor was so polished, I could almost see my reflection on it. And clearance struck. That girl there did not look angry, she was not defined enough to be angry. She was a normal girl, a scared sad looking one, not unstable, not an extreme, one that would be glanced over, that would let them get their guard down. And that girl, was me. I could be that girl, I needed to be that girl if getting out was ever going to be an option. That was the girl they would take a while to realize was gone. This time, long-time reputation was not getting in my way, and I would be damned if my preservation instinct couldn't override my ego.
I raised my head then, slowly, interlaced my fingers together to wiggle one around the other in what must be perceived as a clear tick, one a turian even, should recognize easily. But gang, criminal, outlaw, dangerous, god only knew what words had been shared about me. I needn't look defenseless, just harmless, non-threatening. That was how I allowed myself to stand straight still, and to look at him, her, it, whatever, directly in the eyes in hesitant expectation.
"Hello," it said, in a voice I could now determine as a she, much gentle than I would have expected. "Here, sit down here with your back to me." She patted a high chair.
I silently obeyed, not without glancing at the circular platform under it that seemed to be for more than design. Once seated, I found myself face to face with the black panel. I fought the need of daring them to underestimate me with my eyes, and dumbly looked the panel over from right to left with an expression of obvious but guarded curiosity. Then I stopped, and waited stoically as felt the turian's talons on my neck, separating my hair at the back in order to expose it. I heard the dual gasp only a moment later. She let my hair fall as I heard some rustling behind me, then it stopped, and I heard the direct report. "Nothing, absolutely nothing. This biotic had not even been prepared for an amp."
Oh yeah that. I suppose that's the norm then. I had always supposed they were only minimally enhancing.
Suddenly, I felt the chair shaking, making me jump. I realized that it was turning, but I kept looking forward as it did, be obedient, Prinle, it's the safest. The Turian exposed her neck again, this time not for her own benefit but for whoever was watching. They were not even trying to hide it. She continued. "In normal cases, I would consider what she has been reported to be able to do as impossible." Impossible? "L2 Implants are difficult to predict, on her I have truly no idea what would be the effect. Only that it would be highly unstable."
Then a voice came through a speaker, one I had no idea even existed. "Do you think she will be able to perform the exercises and complete the training without one?" The lack of duality told me it was human, and it relaxed me somewhat, but not enough. That one of them behind the glass was human didn't mean they all were, or even the most.
"Yes, she will have to re-adapt once she gets the implant but until then… it will have helped a lot."
Author's Note: Ok, this was getting too long, I was getting sleepy, blah blah, cut short. Will post the rest later. Will still be labeled as chapter 7 though.