"Today, you two will be headed to the main base. There, you will work as a team with Jack, Nathaniel, and Ezekiel."
"Out of curiosity, why are they coming?" I asked.
"They are the senior members here and I find their skill fitting and similar to yours. They will come in handy during your assignments."
"What kind of assignments, Helena?" John asked.
"Mostly, you'll be bothering gangs with raids and the like. As your skill progresses, you'll be given other, more difficult assignments. You will receive these missions via omni-tool, which will be provided to you upon your arrival. Any more questions?"
John and I shake our heads in response.
"Very well, then. The car should be here in a minute. The others have already been informed. Just wait at the exit, they'll catch up with you. Once you arrive at HQ, I will contact you. Good luck."
We exit Helena's office and head for the exit, bags in hand. As we neared the exit, I caught sight of Jack and the boys.
"Hey, guys. So, we're big shots now?"
"Apparently so, Nate. Y'all ready for this?"
"As ready as I'll ever be, Cowgirl."
Confused and taken aback by his pet name for me, I ask him why he decided to name me Cowgirl.
"Your voice has a slight hint of Southern accent to it. Then you said 'yall,' something cowboys uses to say like in the 20th century. So you're Cowgirl now."
My voice does NOT sound Southern...
It used to...
It did not!
A honk from outside broke my chain of thoughts. Zeke opened the door, revealing a black skycar.
Oh, hell yes! I've always wondered how it would feel like to ride one of these! My parents had a car, but not a skycar. It was a 2150 Chevy Camaro. Yes, surprisingly companies from a century ago still exist. Though now, manufacturers are starting to make more skycars.
My thoughts raced as I looked out the window, my excitement waning. Things were beginning to fall into place. Two more years and John has to join the Alliance. That was going to be a doozy. Mostly because I had to join up too. But that's why we joined this gang: to toughen up and get some skills.
The skycar came to a stop and descended to the front of a large warehouse overlooking what remained of the Statue of Liberty. From what i was taught at school, some big civil war broke out, causing the U.S to become two separate nations. In that war, the Statue of Liberty suffered some major damage.
We exited the vehicle when it stopped and headed inside, where someone was waiting for us.
"You're the new team? Come on in" she beckoned.
The place looked... exactly like the one I had just left. The only difference was the shooting range. This one was much larger and had a room adjoining it for exercising. We followed the woman to the armony.
"Alright. First, we'll give you the casual outfit. Then, armor and weapons. Your omni-tools next and your living quarters at the end. For now, put your bags in the corner so you can try out the clothes and armor.
Uh... armor? I wasn't counting on that...
Did you expect to run around with a gun in a T-shirt?
Point taken.
The casual outfit was actually too casual. White tee with the Templar knight emblem on the front and back, black cargo pants, and combat boots.
Better start getting used to these boots...
Then... the armor. The armor looked... Fucking Amazing. It was a black chrome with the red cross emblem of the Templars on the right shoulder blade in front. There was light, medium, and heavy armor. Jack, being a biotic, got light armor. John went for medium, Nate and Zeke heavy and I decided on some medium.
Jack chose a pistol for her weapon, Nate, Zeke and John an assault rifle and pistol and I chose a pistol and sniper rifle. While my first experience with a sniper wasn't exactly perfect, I was intrigued... and stubborn.
Next, we got omni-tools, except John who still had the one he stole from the guard. It was truly incredible. They're whole when you're not wearing them, but when you slip it on your arm, it disappears after it scans your fingerprints to identify you. I found myself very intrigued with discovering how this little thing worked.
"Alright. You're all set up. Grab your bags and follow me to your rooms."
We got all of our clothes, armor, weapons, and bags and followed the woman who had still to introduce herself. Each of us was given a separate bedroom. They were very much like the one's at New Bronx: A bed on the far right corner, a closet next to the bathroom, a desk (this one actually had a computer unlike New Bronx HQ), and a small table for eating or working.
I unpacked my clothes and organized them into the closet as well as my armor. I stored the weapons in a small cubby on the bottom of my closet. Haven't received a message yet, I decided to check on the others. Jack was next door so I decided to check up on her first.
I knocked on the door twice and waited.
"Hold up!" came from inside.
A minute later the door opened and Jack bid me in.
"What's up?"
"Just wanted to check up on you."
"Well, this is a helluva lot better than my old room. Roommate was kinda weird."
"Do I even want to know?" I said, crossing my arms and shifting my weight on one leg.
"Probably not. So, did you come to spy me while I put my stuff away, or what?"
"I don't spy on anyone." I defended.
"What about Little J?"
"What about him? Besides, he's not even here. Why mention him?"
"Woah, there! Don't gotta get al touchy on me. Didn't know things were so bad." Jack said playfully.
"'Things' don't exist. We're just friends."
"Right..."
"I'm just gonna go check on the others." I said exasperated.
"Alrighty. See ya, Cupcake."
Good lord... Not again...
"Hey, Selena! You know, this place is a whole lot better."
"Yeah? Jack said the same thing."
"You talked to her?"
"Yes. She said she prefers this place since she doesn't have to deal with her roommate anymore."
"What?! But... I was her roommate!"
"Seriously? What did you do to her, Nate?"
"Nothing! Not a thing."
Maybe that's why...
"Don't pay attention to it. Its not like you have to impress her or anything."
Nate looks down at the floor and doesn't reply.
No... Really?! Didn't see that coming...
"Nate. Do you-"
"Of course not!"
"Do you even know what I was going to say?"
"If I like Jack. I don't."
"That blush on your face says otherwise." I said with a smirk.
"Damn it!"
"Admit it, Nate. You. Like. Jack." I pressed.
"Fine! Fine, I do."
"Is that why you were flirting with me? To see if Jack got jealous or something ?"
"Wha- No!" He replied meekly.
"Sure, Nate..."
"But it does seem I made someone else jealous." Nate grinned.
Why does everyone bring him up? Can't we just have a normal conversation?
"Who?" I feigned.
"Please, Sel. Don't act like you didn't see it. John got all stirred up when I went complementing that cute giggle of yours which I want to articulate who cute I find it."
"Nate. Please. IF something were to happen between John and I, which I-"
"-hope it does-" Nate interjected with a smirk
"-doubt it will happen," I corrected. "Jack is...different. She's closed off and put up big huge steel walls that say 'fuck off' all over the place. But I know that if you manage to bring those walls down, you'll find a scared, vulnerable girl." I said sincerely.
Nate seemed to ponder on this. I guessed he didn't know Jack, and if I think long and hard, neither do I because she's supposed to be locked up in a Cerberus base right now. But I know something bad happened to her if she maintained her 'psychotic biotic' attitude. Nate finally spoke up.
"And how would you know all this?"
"Women's intuition. Never doubt it." I said with a shrug.
"Hmmm... Frankly, I don't know whether to believe your 'woman intuition' or just kick it out the front door." I raised an eyebrow an gave him a look, though he caught on that it was playful by the smirk on my face. "But... I don't know. What would you do? With John? And don't deny that you don't like him because you do."
Bloody hell... I don't. Like. Him. At. All.
You sure about that?
Shut it!
"I'm going to reiterate the fact that I'm only friends with John and put myself in your shoes. I'd try to find the largest pickaxe there is around and start bringing her walls down. But not like a bulldozer. Just...slowly." I advised.
"Pickaxes don't exist anymore. But I get your point. Alright. You better be right. Now, if you excuse me," he said as he grabbed his Templar casual clothes, "I'm going to change."
"Alrigh-"
beep, beep, beep.
My omni-tool. How the hell do you answer this thing?
"I'll be on the bathroom if you need anything, Sel." Nate said as I found the 'answer' button and turned around.
"Selena. How is the team adjusting?"
"Perfectly, Helena. We have all our equipment and have been assigned rooms." I answered.
"Good. I'm sending you and the others your first assignment. Follow the instructions and you'll be fine. Good luck."
The screen blinked and closed. That was quick... Not a minute later, the omni-tool rang again, alerting me of a new message.
Sender:HBlake
Receiver(s): SDavidson, JShepard, JNought, NJackson, EWayne
Head over to Midwood . A pizzeria named "Mario's" is owned by a Mario Rossi. I've sent you the NavPoint. He owes us some protection money. Find him, collect the debt, and return to HQ. Take your weapons and armor to intimidate him.
-H
Guess I better get ready...
"Nate, you get the message?" I called to inside the bathroom.
"Yep. I'll suit up in a bit. You should get ready too."
I leave his room to change. Putting on my casual Templar outfit first, I then proceed to put on my armor. Chestpiece, arms, and gauntlets. Then legs and feet. I holstered my pistol on the left side of my hip and the sniper on my back. A quick look-over on the mirror revealed what I would become: a battle-hardened soldier. But for now, I'm still nothing but a lowly gangster trying to survive.
Let's do this.
AN: Well. This week didn't turn out as I had planned. I started this chapter very strangely at first. Too strange, so I had to start again after the time jump didn't make sense. Then, other real life crap I wish I didn't have to deal with. BUT I highly appreciate all the feedback I got from y'all. By popular request, John won't find out he has to save the galaxy fem certain destruction. At least until it can make sense. Who knew Nate and Jack could be an item? Yet, who's saying they're going to be one? Stay tuned on the Mass Effect FanFic Channel to find out what happens next. Only on Channel FF!