Cass grinned and wiped the sweat from her brow. Settling her pistol at her side, the girl stretched her arms above her head. The teen slid over the barricade she was behind and trotted over to the Arena's exit. The teen then meandered over to the counter.
"Was that you first time?" An awed attendant asked, his hands tapping away on the console in front of him.
"Second." Cass answered.
"Damn." The man breathed. "I don't think I've ever seen a time like this in their first few tries. You almost set a new record!"
Cass smiled and thanked the man as he finished transferring the credits she won.
Cass hummed lazily. She had showered and spent time in the spa and was now draped across the couch, her hair still damp. As she flicked on the television, the news was on. As the noise went on and on about the Reaper invasion and the war, the girl sighed heavily and groaned, now what?
She had been stuck on a ship, a ship where you couldn't walk 10 feet without bumping into someone. And now, she was all alone in the empty apartment.
In truth, she was bored and it had only been a day.
The next day, Cass had woken up late and hadn't left the apartment. She had spent time watching the news, but it was all the same. Each channel covering the war, other's ignoring it completely, like it would just go away if they did.
Cass groaned and hopped up from the couch, she hadn't moved in a while, and headed toward the bar on the other side of the fireplace.
"Damn." Cass breathed, admiring the fully stocked bar. The girl's hands scoured the shelves until they came across a bottle of top-shelf tequila. Setting the bottle on the counter, the teen then went underneath looking for a glass-
"What do you think you're doing?!"
Cass shot up quickly, slamming her head against the counter and falling onto her back. The teen then shot to her feet while still clutching her head to find the owner of the voice.
"Mom?!"
"Cassandra," Shepard growled. "I was gone for 1 day, 1 day!"
"Oh thank god!" Cass flew across the room and wrapped her arms around her mother.
"What?" Shepard paused, confused, before wrapping her own arms around her child. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine now." Cass pressed her face against her mother. "I just, I missed you… I guess."
Shepard chuckled, forgiving the girl of near transgression. "So you're telling me, that you actually did not enjoy staying here…?"
"No! I was so bored! And there was no one to talk too!" Cass exclaimed still holding onto the older woman.
Shepard triumphantly grinned over the girl's head.
"I thought you weren't supposed to get back until tomorrow?" Cass questioned, releasing the older woman.
"Well, I was worried."
"Worried?"
"Well, you in this giant apartment all by yourself? How could I not?" Shepard half smiled. "I thought I was going to come back to the aftermath of a crazy party or something."
"See, I can listen." Cass snuffed.
"Yeah, well, barely."
"Why're you back so early anyways?"
"The Normandy needs to dry dock for a couple of days retrofits and all." Shepard explained. "And I think the crew is ready for a break."
"So how's Tali then?"
"She's back on the ship somewhere. The crew are clearing out soon."
"Wait. Since you're back, does this mean I am ungrounded?"
"No."
"Why not?" Cass whined. "You said I was off the hook when you came to get me."
"Well, we're not going anywhere."
"Fine." Cass pouted, folding her arms. "But I'm bored."
"You're supposed to be." Shepard exasperated.
"Whatever." Cass grunted, dropping back onto the nearest couch.
Shepard rolled her eyes and sat beside her daughter, petting the girl's hair absentmindedly. The teen leaned into the touch, and yawned boredly.
"Oh yeah," Cass frowned as her mother's hand stopped. "There's a message on the machine for you."
The mother nodded and thanked the girl before walking into the room at the back of the apartment. Cass glanced at the woman as she disappeared around the corner.
"Who was it?!" Cass bellowed, settling her hands across her belly.
The mother reappeared. "It was Joker. He wants to meet for dinner at some Sushi bar. Ryuusei's I think?"
"No shit?!" Cass exclaimed.
"Hey!" The mother warned.
Cass bristled, but continued. "That place with the fish tank? I was walking past that place yester- a while ago, and it's like insane to get into to!"
"Well, supposedly, Joker wants to go tonight."
"Can I come! I want to come!" At this point, Cass had bounded off the couch and was at her mother's side, arms gripping the woman's arm tightly.
"No. Absolutely not." Shepard's arms folded sternly, shaking away the girl.
"Why not?" The teen moaned.
"You're grounded."
"Come on!"
"No, Cassandra." Shepard's voice lowered. "I'm not going budge on this."
"This sucks." The girl grumbled.
"This is boring." Cass narrowed her eyes at the Asari.
"I know. This is the 20th time you've told me." Liara responded despondently.
"Well it is!" The teen groaned. "Why didn't you go out too?"
"Because someone has to stay here with you."
"I don't need a babysitter."
"That's debatable-"
"Hey! Liara! Do you read?! Liara!" The Asari's omnitool began to buzz with activity, Joker's voice coming on the line.
"Joker? What's wrong?"
"It's Shepard. We were attacked at the restaurant."
"Are you alright?"
"I may have sprained my pancreas, but I'll live."
"I don't actually think you can sprain that." Cass leaned over the older woman's shoulder and spoke into the device.
"Shut up." Joker whined halfheartedly "Anyway, think you can patch into her omni-tool, I saw her go through the fish tank and down onto the lower wards."
"She blew up the fish tank!?" Cass exclaimed.
"Shh." Liara scolded as her hand flew over her omni-tool, as she began to work. "Cass. Go suit up!"
Cass grinned and mock saluted, while she scurried up the stairs.
So much for grounded!
"Shepard! Shepard!" Liara huffed into her Omni-tool; both she and Cass were on foot making their way through the lower Wards. "Can you hear me?!"
"I'm fine!" Shepard's voice came though. "I might need a little back up!"
"Cass and I are on our way!"
"What? She's supposed to be grounded!" Shepard bellowed.
"This hardly isn't the time, Shepard!"
"Excuse me, who is this?! You're on an unsecured channel and putting Commander Shepard in danger!" An unfamiliar voice came though.
"What? Who is this?" Liara frowned, sharing a look with Cass, the girl shrugging her shoulders.
"Hang on!" Shepard interrupted. "Joker mentioned Staff Analyst Brooks, right? That's her! Everybody play nice!"
Cass rolled her eyes and continued to keep pace with Liara. "Can't like, we ever have something go normally?"
"What do you mean?" Liara questioned.
"Um hello." Cass gestured. "Well, Ma was supposed to go out for dinner and now we're running through the wards because people are attacking her, and now there's a gunfight in the shopping district!"
"This is normal." Liara responded, shaking her head and breaking into a grin.
"Haha." Cass laughed sarcastically.
"Shit!" Shepard's voice popped up into the com.
"What was that?" Liara questioned.
"Nothing, I'm fine."
"Didn't sound like nothing." Liara spoke pointedly.
"It was!" The commander replied indignantly.
"What do we know about these mercs?" Liara questioned, ignoring the commander's reply.
"They have guns and they don't like me." Shepard panted.
Cass snorted, holding in laughter.
"That's not helpful." Liara growled; narrowing her eyes at the teen.
Cass avoided the gaze and moved ahead of the Asari.
"There!" Cass pointed. "I can seem them up ahead! They're at the car store!"
Liara nodded pulling her pistol out. Cass charged forward, her hands glowing a biotic blue. The girl leaped over the sky car, and charged directly into one of the armed mercenaries, while Liara took out the other one.
"Having a bad day, mom?" Cass asked cheekily, bouncing over to the older woman.
"You could say that." Shepard patted the girl's head.
"Well, the landing pad is just over there." Liara pointed out. "Just behind that locked gate."
Shepard nodded and stepped ahead. "Let's look for a control panel."
"I like your outfit…" Liara trailed off, eyes lowering down the commander.
"Ew, seriously." Cass held her hands up.
Shepard rolled her eyes, likely both at the Asari and her daughter.
"Right." Liara coughed. "Control panel."
"So, did you actually fall through the fishtank?" Cass asked, following after her mother.
"We'll talk about it later."
"That's a shame, I've always like their food." Liara added.
"We'll talk about it later." Shepard repeated sternly.
Cass giggled, and made her way over to the car shop's door, frowning as the lock was engaged.
"Here." Shepard stepped forward, drawing her weapon. "stand back."
"No." Cass frowned, bringing up a biotically charged hand. "I've got this."
"Hold on." Liara sauntered between them and tapped her knuckles on the glass. "Hi there, could your please open the doors?"
Cass folded her arms and shared a look with her mother, both frowning as the locks disengaged, and the shop doors opened.
"Thank you!" Liara replied politely.
"Well, I could've done that." Cass muttered. Making her way over to the edge of the lot, her mother and Liara following. "Hey, the car's here."
Cass waited expectantly for the C-Sec vehicle to drop onto the landing zone, as the door slid open; a cluster of mercenaries was in the door. "Oh shit."
Cass felt herself be pulled behind the sky car lot sign. The girl smiled sheepishly at her mother, the older women giving her an admonishing look. Just as the two rolled back onto their feet, the glass above them shattered, as Wrex came flying through the air and landed on the vehicle. The force pushed the sky-car down, hitting the docking bay, and leaving the mercenaries disoriented.
Cass grinned as the Krogan jumped off the top of the car and began smashing his way through the men in the car, pushing them out the now open door, their screams floating up as they were pushed off the ledge.
"Wrex?" Shepard stood, pulling the girl up with her, Liara just behind them. "What are you doing here?"
"Ah, just butting heads with the council over Krogan expansion." Wrex explained, shifting through the left bodies for weapons.
"Like literally?" Cass grinned cheekily. "I doubt they like that."
"Hah!" Wrex boomed, tossing the commander a shotgun. "If only."
Cass grinned, but turned dark as a crash was heard above the skycar lot. More of the mysterious mercenaries began to jump downward.
"Hey, Shepard. We got a way out of here?" Wrex thundered over the sounds of firing.
"Wrex, I'm a professional!"
"That's not a yes!"
"But it's not a no!" Shepard replied.
"But it's still not a yes!" Cass yelled back.
"I'm working on it!" Shepard boomed before calling into her com. "Joker?"
"Commander?" Joker's voice came on the radio.
"Joker. We lost our ride. Where are you?"
"On our way. Picked up Brooks, figured you have a few questions." Joker responded. "We're almost there! Just hold on!"
"See, I've got it figured out!"
"Took you long enough!" Wrex grumbled. "But this is a good place to fight! Lots to destroy!"
"Will we have to pay for this?" Liara added with frown. "I think Wrex has already destroyed at least 3 sky cars, the expensive kind."
"I'm sure Anderson can cover this!" Shepard responded.
"I don't think he's going to be very happy about it though!" Cass yelled across the lot.
"Shepard!" Joker came in once more. "We're almost there, just following the gunfire."
"Copy that." Shepard replied.
"Sorry, I'm late. We had to take the scenic route."
"Scenic Route!?" Brooks screeched. "We nearly crashed four times, where the hell did you learn to drive?!"
"Brooks says hi." Joker spoke dryly.
"Shuttles here!" Liara called.
"Thank god!" Cass grinned, jumping out of cover and heading to the extraction point. Wrex and the commander only a few feet behind. The girl bounded off the deck and into the shuttle while dropping out of the way as to not get hit by a flying Krogan.
As the shuttle began to fly away and the gunfire died down, a collective sigh of relief resounded throughout the shuttle.
"Well, that was fun." Cass grinned.