Not again...
"They're almost through! We need more power!"
"Aaron, the Eezo core can't take anymore!"
"It needs to! It needs to hold out longer!"
All I hear is the frantic conversation between my parents through the metal doors of the closet as I hold my brothers close. It's been like this for days, and everyone in the closet with us can tell it's coming to a head. The Reaper forces are getting more desperate, and the Element Zero core that powers the lab is about to overload. Whenever it does, the entire building powers down for just a few seconds, but those few seconds are enough for the enemy to break through our defenses. If they do, it's all over.
It's over.
"Shit! Kayla, it's happening! Everyone, we don't have a choice! Protect the children!"
No... no no no...
My heart drops, and I pull Andrew and Fletcher even closer as the tears stream down my face.
The building goes black and quiet, but that doesn't last long. An explosion shakes the building as something bursts through a wall, the smell of Eezo apparent even through the metal door of the closet. Weapons fire, screams and shrieks ring out, piercing our ears.
A green pulse suddenly washes over us, and it all goes silent. Not a sound. Everyone's holding their breath in the closet, even me.
Forever seems to pass, but eventually, the closet door slowly opens, a beam of light spreading until all we see is the morning sun. No roof, no walls, just the cloudless sky over an unending sea.
"Mommy!" A set of twins stand up and run out of the closet first, their lucky mother being the one who opened the door. One by one, the rest of the children stand up and slowly walk out until my brothers and I are the only ones left.
I lock eyes with the woman who opened the door, and I can tell.
"No... No, please, no..." The tears continue to fall, and I shake my head, refusing to accept what can't be hidden in her expression.
"I'm so sorry..." She says, tears in her own eyes.
"No! They... They can't..." I continue to shake my head.
They can't... but they are.
"NO!"
I sit up fast, my head spinning.
"Whoa, whoa. Easy." Jona says as he rushes over, his hand on my shoulder. "Are you okay?"
I look around, my head throbbing and eyesight blurry.
"We're at the nurse. They let me stay with you because you were protecting me before you fainted."
"Alero..." I begin, holding my head in my hands. I can't get the rest of the words out, but Jona sits next to me on the cot.
"He's going to be okay. Bruised a couple of ribs, but he'll probably heal by tomorrow."
"Did... Did I...? Was that me...?" I ask, looking at him. I realize why my eyes are blurry.
I'm crying.
"Yes, but he'll be fine." He says again, trying to comfort me.
"I... I'm..." I hold my face in my hands, feeling myself begin to fall apart.
"I'm... sorry..." It's the last thing I can get out before I start sobbing, and Jona drapes his arm over my shoulder.
"Hey, shh... It's okay, Cassie." He whispers.
That goes on for what feels like forever, but I eventually calm down enough to look up and wipe my eyes. Jona hands me a tissue, and I find myself laughing softly.
"Thanks..." I say as I wipe my eyes, but turn away from him to blow my nose. I drop it in the trash can before turning back to him, and now he hands me a cup of water.
"You know you don't have to stay..." I say with a soft smile, and he grins back at me.
"Well I am staying, so I may as well make myself useful." He replie as I take a sip.
"Thank you..." I say softly, but Jona shakes his head.
"No, thank you. Alero's been terrorizing us for weeks, and no one's done anything about it. Until now. I don't think he'll try anything again."
"Cassie!"
I look past Jona to the door, and I see Jane and Garrus practically run in.
"Hi.." I say shyly, setting the water down on the nearby table. Jane darts over and hugs me as Jona stands up and backs away, giving us space. Garrus sits down next to me, squeezing my hand.
"Are you okay?" Garrus asks, very concerned.
"I'll be alright... So will the guy I hurt, thankfully..."
"She did it to protect me," Jona speaks up, and they look at him. "Actually, she... didn't even realize it was her who did it at first.."
"We heard," Jane says. "We're glad you're alright, too."
"That's Jona. I met him and his cousin, Kamani, today..." I huff a little. "Very eventful first day. Make an enemy, a few friends, only to discover you're a biotic and send said enemy to the hospital in the process..."
"A very powerful biotic, too." The nurse speaks up from across the room, a purple Asari. We all turn to look at her. "Take it from me. I've never seen that level from someone without an implant before."
"That doesn't really make me feel better..." I laugh awkwardly, rubbing my head.
"It wasn't supposed to." The nurse says as she walks over and bending down to talk to me. "It was supposed to give you strength. Courage. Know that this isn't the end, that it's only the beginning. I would suggest getting an implant so that you can train and hone your abilities, because child, you're incredible. And you can only go up from here."