Incoming violence, beware!
Carmine was in agony, the burning he felt from the device was something he'd never experienced before. He groaned as he sat up, his body still tingling and not in the good way. He was shrouded in darkness, "Gaaah, Baird...what the hell was that?" Carmine groaned as he opened his eyes. The alcohol in his blood doing very little to aid his situation. He instinctively felt for his guns, sighing in relief as he found them right where he left them, "Jesus Christ where the hell am I."
As Carmine retrieved his lancer from his back he thanked himself internally for grabbing his weapons before he left the bar. He stood up, groaning from the pain his muscles were in, "Not even a day since the war ended and we're back in the shit huh Clay?"
Mentally scolding himself for touching the cube, Clayton looked down and saw that same cube but split into four symmetrical pieces. "You.." Carmine reached down and grabbed the pieces, "Better hold onto you, Baird is gonna be pissed." Clayton sighed as he stuffed the pieces in his pocket.
He was struck by very strong smells and sounds, nothing he couldn't handle, being in the hollows changed him or in his terms, made him more experienced. He could hear the chatter of people, or what seemed to be people, coming from the opening to the alleyway he was in, he could hear bits of English but also something different, 'Sounds like some kind of alien or something. To be fair we always thought foreign languages sounded like they were from space.' Carmine thought with a small chuckle.
He smelled booze, what he could only imagine to be food, and unfortunately the "people" he believed he was hearing. They smelled terrible, but not worse than a corpse, which was good enough for Clay. Carmine walked forward, his lancer tucked to his midsection, hoping to get answers to where he was.
Carmine stumbled as he reached the mouth of the alley, having to put his hand on the metal wall for support, his lancer hung in his right hand at his side. He shook his helmeted head a few time in an attempt to shake the alcohol's hold on him, "Come on man, we're better than this. We've had to kill grubs when we're hammered before. Get your shit together and move Carmine."
Carmine didn't realize he was thinking out loud. He shook out his arms and legs trying to regain his cognitive function. When he deemed himself ready he stepped out of the alley and into the barely lit area. There were crates and vehicles scattered about, "Is that a car?" Carmine shook his head as he walked closer to it inspecting the tireless vehicle further.
Carmine paused, he heard growling, gnashing of teeth, sounds he was all too familiar with. This sounded different, like it was in some kind of pattern. Carmine scanned the area and noticed a door with an orange hologram looking thing in the middle. The hologram began spinning. Carmine was quick to raise his weapon, deducing the sounds were indeed coming from the door, "I knew you fucking grubs weren't gone. Come to papa." Clayton growled, a smirk on his face, his anticipation to destroy more grubs rising the longer it took for the door to open. The alcohol in his blood ran wild as Clayton's anger was coming to its boiling point, "Tick Tock, don't keep hell waiting grubs." Carmine whispered, his face showing nothing but pure excitement, a sadistic gleam in his eyes, all hidden by his helmet.
When the door opened Clayton was shocked to see that it wasn't locust making those sounds like he'd hoped.
Carmine POV:
What the fuck is that. I'm looking at some kind of grub, it has locust skin but red eyes, spines sticking out of it, and long sharp teeth, so long that it can't close its ugly ass mouth. They must not see me because they're filing into the room as if I'm not half of the light in here. They're much smaller than me by the looks of them, even that big toad in the back is shorter. They're carrying what looks like toy guns, shit if they're armed I might actually have a little fun here. I grin under my helmet as one of these new grubs wanders closer to me, seems he finally noticed me. He looked up to me and started screaming out all sorts of gibberish.
"Well shit." He called his grub pals over to me and they pointed their guns at me. Before they had a chance to fire I grabbed the little grub in front of me, this'll be fun. I wrapped my hand around his throat, damn if all these grubs are this squishy I'll be done in no time. My fingers tear into its throat as I lift him to meet my helmeted eyes, "Bad move grub." I watch his eyes as he spits up blood onto my forearm, the life slowly draining from him. That's enough of that, time for the real fun. I snap the grub's neck and let his body crash to the floor, my right hand is soaked in blood, "Who's Next!"
My right hand finds it's way back to my lancer and I release a hail of bullets to the first grub I see. My bullets shreds his left arm off and he screams and falls to the ground clutching a bloody stump. The rest come out of their shock and start firing at me. A few rounds hit my chest armor, one grazes my right arm above my tattoo. I snag some cover behind one of the large crates and blind fire into the crowd of grubs. I hit a few of them by the sound of it, two or three more are yelling in pain. I peak out and notice there are only a few grubs left standing. Feeling the adrenaline hit my system, mixing with god knows how much booze, and a pretty good case of blood loss. This hangover is going to be nuts if I don't get some food in me.
Thats besides the point. I need to hear more screaming, more pain, more blood. I feel my blood trickle down over my tattoo, "You grubs are starting to piss me off."
I vault my cover and run toward the first grub I see, I start up my lancer's chainsaw as he raises his hands to shield himself. The saw cuts through his hands and into his shoulder, the blood sprays from his wounds onto my helmet and neck. I saw through his chest down to his hip and he spills open onto the ground, "OH YEAH, THATS WHAT I LIVE FOR!"
The grubs were panicking, stumbling over one another. Their shots were wild and inaccurate, some managed to land a few shots on my armor but that did very little to stop me. Too weak. I approached the dis-armed grub on the floor, still screaming and clutching his nub. Maybe I'll help him out. I pop my lancer on my back and grab a hold of the grub's neck with my left hand and raise him to meet my gaze. My right hand grabs a hold of his remaining arm, its almost too easy to rip it from his body.
"Doesn't feel so good does it grub." I drop him to the floor. He looks up to me crying, writhing in pain. As I get my lancer back in my hands, I let out a deep menacing laugh, he never had a chance. They never learn...
I give him a taste of my boot, completely smashing his head, his blood coating my boot and the floor under me. I feel a few shots hit my back and turn, releasing short bursts of bullets into another three grubs tearing holes in their chests.
I see the big toad grub barking at the remaining grubs, "Seems you're the one to beat" I mutter. My blood is on fire, the hate I have seeping into me is almost too much, they need to feel what I feel. I grab some cover behind the car with no wheels as they fire at me, "Shit I wish I had a grenade. Less personal, but I do love to watch limbs fly." I grin and remember I have a weapon that'll give me the satisfaction I'm looking for.
I replace my lancer with my gnasher and rack a shell as an unsuspecting grub wanders too close to my cover, I pop out and fire from the hip. "Holy fuck!" Half of the grub in front of me is missing, all that's left is a pair of legs that wobble and crumble to the ground.
I smile and charge the last few grubs and blow them into meaty bits, "Clean up, Aisle 5!" I turn to their leader, the larger toad looking grub. He points at me and drops his weapon, "Oh you want to fight grub, bring it ON!" I put my gnasher on my back as he charges me. I meet him halfway and we smash together, he's over two heads shorter than me, and by the feel of it, much weaker.
I push him back a few steps as we grapple, he throws a few punches that connect with my helmet, I feel the stitches Sam put in tense and pull, testing Sam's stitch work. I shoot a knee into his face making him lose balance, I spring forward and wrap my arms around his waist, 'Fuck this asshole is heavy.' I get him in the air and slam him to the ground, "No No No, We Aren't Done Yet!"
He tries crawling away but I grab a hold of him and flip him to face me, "Beatdown Time!" I stand over him and slam my right fist into his ugly face. Then with my left, and my right, and so on. I hear him begging, or what I can only assume is begging. It doesn't take long for his face to break, I feel it in every punch. A snap here, a crack there, I know it's savage what I'm doing, but grubs deserve savage deaths. His left eye is bulging from its socket, the rest of it's face is swollen and bloody.
I'm breathing heavy, but I'm not tired, I'm angry. "You took my friends. My family! I have nothing... and I going to take everything away from you cocksucking. Sadistic. Fucking. Animals!" Each word I spoke was emphasized with punch after punch.
No...I blink and the toad isn't there, and I'm not in that strange room anymore. I know where I am. The walls are lined in darkness, sharp rocks litter the underground tunnel. Imulsion bubbles from a lake beside me. The Hollows...
I look down and there lays a broken and battered drone "You don't get off that easy pal!" I continue my assault smashing the drone's already mashed in face. I can feel the hooks in my back, each wound burning and bleeding. "Fucking GRUB!" My accurate punches grow wild as my blood boils over and spills onto the rocky ground.
My breath is ragged and heavy, the drone is beaten, bloody, brutalized.
Blood coats the front of my armor and gauntleted hands. I blink hard and shake my head a few times, the drone slowly fades back into the toad grub, and the cold, damp tunnel of the hollows brighten into the storage room.
'It's happening again Clay, we're slipping...' I let out hearty chuckle "I'm a fucking mess."
The toad is spitting up blood and teeth, his mangled face now speaking slowly, probably praying to whatever god he's about to meet. "Oh don't worry, I didn't forget about you. Say hi to my brothers for me."
I raise my right hand one last time and bring it down on his head, smashing it into the floor, "One hell of a splatter, that one is for the record books."
I take a few steps away to admire the carnage and inspect the damage. Limbs, torsos, internal organs, and blood coats the room, "You never disappoint ol' girl." I pull out my lancer and give the chainsaw a quick pat. There are no survivors, just how I like it.
I hear voices and another door begins to open at the other end of the room. They sound human, but wherever the fuck I am, I can say positively I'm not on Azura anymore. I pull the clip out of my lancer and check it, "Huh, only half empty. These grubs aren't only easy to kill, they're ammo efficient." I let out a light chuckle and pop the clip back into my lancer. I hope it's more grubs, but I also hope it's someone I can actually speak with, I have to find out where I am.
Normal POV:
The doors at the other end of the warehouse open up, and in steps three humans. Two women and a man. The first woman is quite beautiful, her black hair hangs loosely over her shoulders and is dressed in rather tight clothes with a hexagonal pattern on them.
The second is more battle ready, with an N7 logo above her breastplate, wearing a set of jet black armor adorned with red on the arms, Carmine can see her face, 'Holy hand grenade she's gorgeous.' Carmine thought. His interest in her spiked as he found her eyes, almost being covered by her red hair, a pair of icy blue eyes look back at him, she can't see all of him, just the lights of his armor and helmet, and passes it off as the room's lighting. She has a fire in her eyes, reminding him of someone he knows very well.
The black man standing just behind them is wearing a similarly colored jumpsuit to the first woman but in a more practical material, he's got short hair and a trimmed beard. The look on their faces are nothing short of horror and disgust.
Carmine stays in the darkness, lancer still gripped in his hands, waiting, watching. The first woman speaks with a British accent, "Shepard, this can't be Garrus's doing can it?"
"No, he's always been quick and clean, this is something entirely different Miranda." The pretty red head replies.
'Shit, well at least I can understand them. Fuck it, let's see where this goes.' Carmine takes a few steps forward. Shepard and her team hear heavy footsteps coming toward them. Carmine keeps walking until he knew they could see him, "That's far enough. I'm Commander Shepard of the Normandy, are you the one that did this?" They watched him carefully, pointing their weapons at him, eyeing his massive frame as he gripped his alien looking rifle tighter, a slight sway in his idle form. He wasn't pointing his gun at them.
"You're damn right I did, I killed these grubs. That toad grub back there and his friends pointed their weapons at me so I returned the favor." Carmine jutted his left thumb to the brutalized krogan behind him, his right hand never leaving his lancer's grip. Shepard was shocked not only at the sheer size of the person in front of her but his ability to hold his own against and entire platoon of Blood Pack mercenaries, let alone beating a krogan in hand to hand combat.
She eyed him up, his massive build was hard not to notice, tattoos with helmets and names on his right arm, a bullet belt across his left bicep. He was covered in blood, his hands and his gun's chainsaw bayonet were drenched in it. His armor was bulky and looked heavy, the words Grub Killer were written on the front, the way he carried himself was if he was wearing nothing. Even slightly hunched he was much taller than her or her companions.
'He could be a valuable ally against the collectors. If he's not some bloodthirsty monster.' Shepard shook off her thought, "If what you're saying is true would you consider coming with us, we could use an extra gun, especially an experienced one."
"Shepard I don't like this, not one bit, look at this carnage, I don't know if we should trust this guy." Jacob said looking toward Shepard and Miranda, "I agree with Jacob, he could jeopardize the mission, we don't know him or his intentions." Miranda spoke in a hushed voice, unbeknownst to them Carmine could hear them. They discussed him quietly, but not quiet enough,
'Seems they're scared of me. To be fair I'd be scared of me too.' Carmine thought, his eyes wandering around the room, ears open for any incoming hostile.
"Why hasn't he killed us yet? If he was going to do it, by the looks of this room, he wouldn't have spent time talking to us. We'd be another red smear along the floor the moment we pointed our weapons at him, just like what he said about the mercs." Shepard said with annoyance in her voice.
It bothered Shepard greatly looking at the discarded gore spread along the storage room. However she couldn't deny the usefulness that this mystery man could bring, 'He looks human, and has been civil with us so far. He could prove to be a powerful ally. I'll have to see him in combat to judge properly though.' Shepard was mulling over what to do about him.
"Commander this is ridiculous, we need to find Garrus." Miranda blurt out, growing rather impatient.
"What's ridiculous is talking about a man like he's not there when he's in front of you." Carmine shot back not moving his head from where it was, still scanning the room.
The three of them snapped their heads over to Carmine. He looked back to them and gave a little wave with his left hand smirking under his helmet.
'How could he have heard us?' Shepard thought as she more skeptically eyed Carmine. "Would you be interested in helping us?" Shepard asked calmly.
Carmine let out a sigh, it's not like he was doing anything else, 'When a gear asks for help and you can help, you gotta help.' he growled low to himself, he never was one to deny another soldier assistance.
"Alright sure, but let's get one thing straight, if any of you decide to cross me, like these grubs, I won't hesitate to cut you down. I don't care if you're women or men, you wrong me and you'll be lucky to die screaming."
Carmine's lancer hung in his right hand under his hip as he straightened out so they could get a full view of him. Shepard holstered her weapon and motioning for the others to do the same.
"Good thing I don't plan on crossing you. Let's move to a less gore filled area for proper introductions." Shepard wrinkled her nose as the smell of the fresh corpses wafted to her. Carmine shrugged and followed them through the door he saw the mercenaries come through. The three smaller people keeping a keen eye on the giant gear.
Now in the next room, Shepard set about officially introducing herself and her squad. "I'm Commander Jane Shepard of the Normandy, to my left is special Cerberus operative Miranda Lawson, and to my right Jacob Taylor another fellow Cerberus operative and quartermaster on my ship."
'Ship!?' Carmine went and looked out one of the windows in the room they were in. "You mean like, a space ship?" Carmine turned back to them and noticed their looks of confusion. His stomach sunk.
'Think Carmine think, fuck. Baird had mumbled something about dimensions and transportation. Double Fuck, the cube! It must have sent me to a different world. I mean that's a long shot even for Baird, but it's the only reason that makes sense. Who am I kidding nothing here has made any sense.'
"Have you never seen a ship before?" Jacob asked which Carmine replied with a shake of the head, "Now how is that even possible?"
"Look we're running out of time and need to get back to Garrus. I know you have questions, hell it seems we have a ton as well. But for now can I get answers for two. Are you human? And what's your name." Shepard spoke fast, she eyed Carmine up and down while he wiped the blood on his hands off on his pants.
Carmine tilted his helmeted head to side like a confused puppy, "Of course I'm human. I'm sorry if I seem spaced out, it's not intentional, it's nice to meet you commander. I'm Clayton Carmine or Clay for short, you can call me Carmine though." Carmine extended a now relatively clean hand to her and she accepted, his gauntleted hand engulfing her armored one fully. "Wow, is everyone around here as small as you three." Carmine chuckled.
"I think you just might be really big Carmine. You can call me Shepard." The two shared a small chuckle. "Alright you're familiar taking orders Carmine?"
"More than familiar Shepard." She shot him a smile that made his blood pump a little faster.
"Perfect. We'll have questions for you once we get back to the ship, until then let's get moving." Shepard kept her smile as she faced away from him, 'Seems this won't be too bad after all, at least I might get some more answers. Fuck what kind of place did I get sent to that has space ships? Jesus what are we getting ourselves into?' Carmine thought and shook his head, as the four of them readied their weapons and went to meet with Garrus.
As they walked Shepard noticed Carmine was a decent bit behind them. He confused her in so many ways, but for now she needed his help, 'If he proves useful then maybe I offer him a spot on the ship. Even though he doesn't know anything about them, and hasn't even seen one before. It may be nice having a giant wall of muscle on the team again.'
Carmine was walking a bit slower than the rest, his heavy footsteps could be heard even from how far back he was. He just couldn't believe anything he was seeing, 'Gotta be on our best behavior Clay, don't want to make the pretty little red head mad, she's our ticket to an explanation of all this crazy shit.'
"Keep with the pace Carmine we're on a time crunch." Shepard was looking at him, he shook off his thoughts and caught up with the group.
"Everything alright Carmine?" Shepard found her way the back of formation with Carmine.
"Eh, I'll be fine to fight if that's what you're worried about. Other than that I'm just kind of going with the flow Shepard." She smirked, he found himself staring at her. She was looking up at him, blue eyes trained on the lenses of his helmet, trying to read his emotion through a piece of solid metal, glass, and blue light.
"Good, and don't worry Carmine, once we're done here we'll discuss your situation." She smiled at him, Carmine's mind was running wild and he stopped himself from talking, 'Don't want to overstep ourselves here Clay, just keep your trap shut and nod at the pretty lady. When we sober up and can fully control what comes out of this mouth we'll be golden.'
Carmine nodded his helmeted head. Shepard took her place back at the front. As they got closer to Garrus he got in contact with Shepard, "Shepard where are you, mercs are swarming me." Gunshots could be heard from the transmission, "We'll be there soon Garrus hold tight. Alright everyone, double time!"
Shepard POV:
I get out my avenger, Miranda and Jacob ready their weapons as well. I look back to Carmine and see he's ready. Let's hope this wasn't a mistake.
Carmine is gripping his weapon tight, the muscles in his arms are flexing as he grips his weapon, thick veins jut out on his biceps and go along the lengths of his arms, disappearing into his armor. Jesus he's massive, I wonder if the rest of him is that big. 'Dammit Shepard keep your eyes up...'
I look forward, I feel heat on my cheeks. I look back slightly and the blue lights of helmet's eyes are boring into me, as if he knows I'm thinking about him, or maybe he's thinking about me? I shake my head slightly and break the staring contest between us, "Everyone set?" they nod. Carmine's anticipation is now visible, he seems very eager to fight.
We book it to where Garrus is and find a group of vorcha and two krogan guarding the door to the stairs where Garrus is. I see a larger krogan mutter something to the other two and walk through the door. They spot us and we take cover. "Shepard I think that was Garm, one of the leaders of the Blood Pack. We have to get in there or Garrus won't last long."
"I know Miranda, the Blood Pack has the door locked down. Miranda, you and Jacob take the left and try to flank them, I'll try and draw their fire. Carmine you- Carmine? Carmine!" I look to my right and he's not there. He's already charging at them. "Carmine! What are you doing?!"
My words fall on deaf ears as Carmine begins shooting. "Come on. Die for papa!" His voice booms out, and his bullets shred a few vorcha to ribbons, as if their kinetic barriers aren't even there. Carmine mows down a few more before he gets the attention of the krogan. As they close in on him the vorcha focus their fire on me. I'm forced back into cover. "Carmine get out of there!"
I see him take a few rounds to his chest armor, even getting some grazes on his arms, but was unaffected. A normal soldier wouldn't be able to nonchalantly take gunfire like that. But it seems Carmine isn't some rank and file soldier. His weapons caused so much carnage, but I'm not afraid of them, I'm more scared of the man that wields them. Just what are you Clayton Carmine?
Normal POV:
Carmine ignored Shepard, 'Cute of her to think I'm the one who's in trouble.' As the krogan close in on Carmine a vorcha jumps on his back and claws at his helmet making three deep claw marks on the armor on the mouth of his helmet, "Don't fuck with the helmet grublet!"
Carmine grabbed a hold of the vorcha, throwing it over his shoulder onto the ground and stomped on its leg. It released a wail of pain as the bone came popping out of its pant leg. Carmine picked his foot up and brought it back down on its chest, nearly collapsing its chest cavity. The vorcha spat blood up uncontrollably and tried to crawl away, "Where do you think you're going?"
Shepard, Jacob, and Miranda watched in horror as the vorcha was crippled by Carmine, "Jesus, what is he doing?" Shepard whispered before a stray round clipped her cover, the two remaining krogan turned their sights on the her for a moment, but stoped firing.
A sickening tearing sound could be heard for miles as Carmine was tearing open the vorcha's mouth. One large hand wrapped around the top half of its head, his other hand was half jammed in its mouth. It's screams were muffled as Carmine ripped the vorcha open from its mouth down to its chest cavity, blood sprayed onto his hands, arms, fucking everywhere.
Shepard used the ceasefire to her advantage and popped out of cover to shoot at the stunned vorcha, dropping a few with headshots.
"Seems like that internal damage is external now, huh grub." Carmine laughed as he dropped the mangled vorcha, its chest contents open for all to see.
The krogan began shooting at Carmine. He felt the bullets hitting his armor and turned to them. Red coated his front, the claw marks and cracked lens on his helmet only added to his presence.
He stood up straight and charged them much to their surprise. Carmine release a swarm of bullets into the first krogan's legs effectively crippling him. Unfortunately for the second krogan, Carmine's clip finally ran dry and the sounds his chainsaw replaced the gunfire.
Shepard found her way into cover closer to Carmine and began trying to rip him from his rampage, "Carmine we don't have time for this, you cleared a path to the door! Miranda and Jacob can handle the rest come on!"
But once again Carmine ignored her, the krogan tried to defend itself by swinging its shotgun at him, but his lancer cut through it like it was cheap plastic. The krogan tried using his hands to cover himself but Carmine just sawed them off, "Anything else you wanna put in front of my saw grub!"
The krogan dropped to his knees bleeding heavily from his hand stumps. "Devil" he croaked out as he fell forward passing out. "Well, best not to leave a job half done." Carmine curb stomped the unconscious krogan, its brain matter splattering on his boot, "Speaking of leaving a job half done, come on back here grub!"
Carmine set his sights on the remaining crippled krogan who was nudging himself farther away, blood spewed from the damage done to his legs, a trail streaked across the ground. Clay took no time getting to him and plunged his lancer into the krogan's gut, "Now here's the fun part!" Carmine revved the saw to life and began mulching the krogan's stomach.
It tried rather hopelessly to remove the saw with its hands. Clay only ripped his fingers to bits. Blood and meat chunks splashed onto Carmine's lancer and armor. By the time he was done sawing, the krogan was long dead.
Shepard was left in awe, too shocked to move and get him, visibly mortified of the actions she witnessed. It was perhaps the most gruesome thing she'd ever seen.
Miranda and Jacob went over to the Shepard, breaking her out of the shock she was in, "Hold the area until we secure Garrus, I'll take Carmine."
"Be safe commander, that guy is brutal, I doubt we could get to you before he, well, you know." Jacob motioned to Carmine.
Shepard nodded, "Noted Jacob, now go." Shepard started toward Carmine, viscera was splayed all over the place. Merc reinforcements were incoming. She wasn't a stranger to gore, but this was on a whole other level.
Miranda and Jacob could hold them until they made sure Garrus was safe. For now she needed Carmine's help. His brutality was nothing she nor her companions had ever seen before. The way he effortlessly dismantled the enemy was horrific to say the least. "Carmine?" Shepard noticed Clayton stood still, his lancer stuck in the krogan's exposed entrails.
"You think you get to walk away from me."
Shepard heard him speak, his voice menacing and deep. She reached a hand out to him but quickly shot it back to herself as he wrenched his gun free and turned to her, "Oh hey Shepard. Seems like we're clear here huh? Are your friends going to be alright holding the rest of those grub reinforcements?"
Carmine spoke to her as if nothing had even happened, not a beat skipped, she opened her mouth but found no words, 'How good is his hearing?'
He was hot, physically hot. She could feel the heat coming from him, and saw steam rising from his exposed muscles, almost as if his rage was surrounding him.
She closed her mouth, curled her hand into a fist, and jabbed him in the arm, "Don't go running off like that Carmine." He let out a deep hearty chuckle, she was pouting slightly. She brushed him off and headed toward the doors, "Come on, let's go help Garrus."
If Carmine was going to be a part of her team he'd have to learn to follow orders. She would be a liar if she said it wasn't impressive the amount of carnage Carmine was able to dish out. But for now they'd have to get up the stairs to Garrus. Carmine let out a sigh and gripped his lancer tight, he caught up with her and jogged along side her to the locked door, "Ah shit I guess I lost myself back there huh? I'm sorry Shepard."
"Don't be sorry Carmine. We'll have time to discuss that later, we gotta get this door open."
"Ah, please allow me."
Shepard quirked her eyebrow and Carmine stood in front of the door, she was going to say she can hack it and open it remotely but wanted to see him try, with a smirk on her face she watched him approach the door. She was flabbergasted as Carmine wedged his hands into the door and forced it open, "Holy shit Carmine! How strong are you?"
"Pretty strong."
Shepard laughed a bit, "You know I could've just opened it normally." Carmine took a step to the side and gestured his hand for her to go through the door, "Ah where's the fun in that. Ladies first." A small blush found it's way to her face as she made her way through "Quite the gentleman." The low rumble of his laugh echoed behind her as she led them.
The two made their way up the stairs and found Garrus pinned down by Garm and a handful of vorcha. They got into cover as the vorcha began opening fire on them, "Keep them back, the Turian is mine." Garm barked out orders. Carmine was itching to get at them and Shepard could see it, she appreciated that he was holding back. She let out a sigh, "Let em' have it Carmine." His helmeted head perked up to meet her eyes, his excitement shining through the lenses of his helmet.
Shepard laughed, "You know, for someone who wears a helmet you're very expressive."
Carmine chuckled, "Not the first time a beautiful woman's said something like that to me." It was Shepard's turn to snap her head to meet his lenses, a small blush formed on her face. "Now would also be a good time to mention, I'm about half drunk so I apologize in advance, although it's kinda late for that now. Fuck it!"
Shepard's eyes widened, "You're what!?" Carmine already leaped over the cover they were behind, mentally scolding himself, 'Jesus man, beautiful? Really? Even if it's true, kind of weird to just say to a woman we've known for an hour.'
The first vorcha was completely taken aback as the massive gear charged him. Carmine revved up his lancer and smashed it into the vorcha's stomach, lifting it and tossing it over his shoulder, it's entrails spilling onto the floor where it landed. The remaining mercs began to fire at Carmine making him take cover. Shepard snapped out of her shock and pulled out her sniper rifle. Carmine raised out of cover just in time to see the vorcha he was about to shoot get its head snapped to the side, a nasty exit wound marred the left side of its head.
"Hey! Find your own grubs!" Carmine yelled to a very smug looking Shepard. Carmine grumbled as he grabbed the dead vorcha using it as a meat shield. He swapped his lancer for his boltok and began swiftly popping skulls one after another. His meat shield was nearly useless, it's body far too small to cover him as he felt gunfire hitting his leg armor. Shepard used Carmine's distraction to her advantage, gunning down a few unsuspecting vorcha.
Carmine threw the corpse at its former companions making the last two vorcha stumbled backwards. The first, Carmine shot straight in the chest, a hole the size of a basketball squirted blood, and it dropped to its knees.
The second got its gun knocked from its hands easily, it swung its fist toward Carmine, which he caught. He crushed its hand in his much larger hand and jammed the barrel of his revolver in its mouth when it screamed in pain.
"Oh just shut up!" Carmine pulled the trigger effectively removing the top half of the vorcha's head. He looked down to his side where the kneeling vorcha was and replace his boltok with his gnasher.
"Us gears call this playing T-Ball." Carmine took hold of the shotgun like it was a bat and smashed the vorcha's head into paste. All that was left in the room was Garm. Who was busy trying to kill Garrus, too busy to notice Carmine standing behind him.
Shepard stood up and saw the carnage left behind by Carmine, "Holy shit, he's a one man wrecking crew." Then she noticed where he was.
Shepard POV:
Wait is he going to fight Garm!? Garm isn't a normal krogan he's a notoriously brutal leader of the Blood Pack. "Carmine!" He ignores me and Garm turns to see what I'm yelling about only to be met with the butt of Carmine's shotgun. Garm recovered quick and was grappling with him, managing to knock his gun from his hands. I aimed my sniper at Garm but before I could shoot, Carmine yelled out, "I swear to Christ Shepard if you take this kill from me I'm going to be pretty fucking upset!" I lowered my gun. Is he insane?! Trying to take a krogan of Garm's standing on in hand to hand combat is suicide.
I see them break their grapple and Carmine's helmet gets smashed with a huge haymaker from Garm. Shit no human could survive something like that. "Not possible.." Carmine eats the punch like it was nothing and returns with an even more devastating punch to Garm's stomach dropping him to his knees. Carmine is like no soldier, person, alien, anything I've ever seen before. His combat skills are outstanding, but this takes the cake.
A few Blue Suns mercenaries make their way through a different enterance on the floor beneath us and I'm forced to look away from the fight to make sure Garrus doesn't get flanked. I quickly shoot down the mercs and look back in time to see Carmine mounting Garm, throwing punch after punch into the krogan's face. The beating is brutal and I feel the need to step in, "Carmine stop! He's done, let him go!"
Surprisingly enough Carmine did stop but only for a second to grab his shotgun and put it on his back. He got off of Garm and grabbed a hold of his armor, dragging him over to a window and throws him through it, "Carmine!"
I hear the thud of what I can correctly assume is what's left of Garm splatting on the streets below, I signal Miranda and Jacob to come meet up with us. I suppose either way, Garrus is saved, I walk over to my old friend and he greets me, "Ah Shepard nice of you to make yourself known. Was getting worried for second there."
"What, not confident in your ability to wage a one man war anymore Garrus?"
Garrus looked at me with a mock shock expression, "Of course I'm confident in my skills, just getting a bit winded, comes with the job." We share a laugh as I shake his hand, "Good to see you're alright Garrus." Jacob and Miranda catch back up to us and greet Garrus.
"No it's good to see you alive Shepard. Even if you're working with Cerberus, I know you're not one of them. Still the same old Shep-" Garrus stood still, his mouth open but no words coming out, I turn around and Carmine is aiming the large revolver he was using at Garrus. I sprint to him and grab at his hand, "Carmine stand down, what the hell are you doing!?" I notice Miranda, Jacob, and now Garrus have all aimed their weapons at Carmine. He looks down to me, I'm using all my strength to try and lower his arm and it's not budging, "Fuck, fine, jeeze. Tell them to lower their toys while you're at it." Carmine complies and lowers his gun. I motion the rest to lower their weapons.
I'm glaring up at him, he's almost an entire 2 feet taller than me by the looks of it, but I hold my ground, "What the hell were you trying to do Carmine?" My hand still attached to his forearm, he's all muscle by the feel of his arm. No no, control yourself Shepard.
He answer with a confused tone, "I was trying to kill that grub over there." Carmine said pointing at Garrus with his free hand.
"Uhh did he just say he was going to kill me?" Garrus said, the lack of vibration in his voice let me know he swapped over to English.
"Holy shit, that grub can speak our language!?" Carmine yelled out and took a step back, I looked at him still angry but bewildered. "Do you not have an Omni-tool?"
"Omni-huh?"
"I'll take that as a no." I let go of him and pull up my Omni-tool showing it to him, "It helps with numerous things, hacking, disruption, translation, navigation, all sorts of stuff. 'Grubs' by your standards, usually speak in their native tongue, so it's an almost invaluable tool in the field."
"Oh...that would make sense why I can't understand a damn thing those grubs were saying to me." Carmine scratches the back of his helmet, if I wasn't so furious with him right now I would've thought it was cute. "I'm really sorry Shepard just, where I'm from the grubs that look like Garrus aren't the friendliest, if you trust him I have no reason not to."
I let out a relieved sigh as Carmine holsters his revolver. "You keep saying grub when talking about different species. Is that what you call the aliens where you're from?" Carmine scratches his helmet again and I stifle a giggle. "Yes and no. The grubs weren't aliens I don't think. Honestly my only experience with a different species involved over a decade long war. It's complicated." I looked over to my companions, their expressions were similar to mine, bewilderment.
"How old are you Carmine?" He shrugs, "Not 30, I know that for a fact." He walks past me and over to Garrus, "I'm Carmine, sorry for almost shooting you in the head a few minutes ago. I know how it feels to get clipped in the head, both with the helmet and without." He extended his blood soaked hand to Garrus, "Ah it's fine, nothing recent events haven't already gotten me used to. Like you said, if Shepard trusts you, I have no reason not to." They shake hands, Garrus grimacing slightly. I smile and walk over to them. "That's a strong grip you got Carmine." Garrus said shaking his a hand a bit, we share a laugh. 'Good to know his sense of humor isn't gone.'
"You do trust him, right Shepard?" Garrus says to me as I stand next to Carmine, "Enough that I trust he won't kill you now."
"Good enough for me."
Normal POV:
Miranda, Jacob, Shepard, Carmine, and now Garrus discussed how they'd be getting out of the building. "I've been putting such a hurtin' on the mercenary groups that they've made a truce to hunt and kill me. Unfortunately for them most of their leaders are dead, all that's left are the Blue Suns, and Tarak isn't going to let us waltz out of here." Shepard shook her head.
"You sent our location to them didn't you Garrus."
"Well I knew you were coming, and figured with help it would be easy to finish them here and now."
Shepard was glaring at him, "You sure this is what you want to do."
"Yes Shepard." Garrus replied instantly, causing Shepard to let out an exaggerated sigh. "What kind of commander would I be to let you do it alone." A small smirk tugged at the corner of her lips.
"Shepard we've got grubs incoming." Carmine spoke up, retrieving his lancer from his back. He was standing by a monitor with surveillance footage displayed on it. "I knew those would come in handy." Garrus said with a smirk.
"Alright Jacob, take Carmine and secure the lobby, meet us back here when you're done." Shepard motioned to Carmine while reloading her weapons.
"Sounds good Shepard, come on Carmine let's get going." Jacob motioned to another set of stairs at the opposite end of the room. "Oh hell yeah, more grubs to kill." Carmine reloaded his lancer and went with Jacob.
Miranda spoke up, "Do you think Jacob will be alright." Shepard looked to her and smirked, "If you're worried about Jacob don't be, Carmine is more than capable from what I've seen."
"That's not what I meant." Before they could continue, an armored gunship raised to their level and Blue Suns began repelling down the sides of the building. "Shit! Everyone get down!"
Carmine POV:
Jacob inched closer to the lobby, "What are we waiting for." I heard gunfire coming from upstairs, "They're hitting high and low, we have to take out this squad now." Jacob looked as Shepard came over his Omni-tool, "Jacob, they're assaulting the building take out the Blue Suns in the lobby and get back here asap, Garrus got hit pretty bad."
'Fuck this I'm not letting them die. I owe that ugly ass Kantus looking grub that much for trying to kill him and all that.' I push past Jacob and take cover in the lobby, I start blind firing at the squad of grubs, blue suns is what they called them I think. Doesn't matter, gonna die all the same. I peak out of cover and see them. A new kind of grub with 4 eyes, some looking like Garrus, a few humans, and blue haired women with tentacles for hair. I hear fighting coming from behind, seems Jacob has his hands full. Ha, more for me.
A human comes up next to my cover and points his toy at me, I quickly rip the gun from his hands and smash him in the face with an elbow. I grab him and spin him around using him as a meat shield, "Do you come in men's sizes!"
I pull my boltok up and get a good look at the squad, none of them want to shoot their comrade, "Aww what's the matter, camera shy?" I pull the trigger on one of the Kantus lookin grubs, his head explodes, showering his friends and my meat shield in blue blood "It's raining blue blood, Ha!" My voice booms through the lobby.
They learn quick that they're gonna have to shoot through their friend to get me, too bad it won't matter. I drop a few more, their brains getting to feel what its like to be outside for once, and feel my meat shield losing some weight, "Come on you ugly motherfuckers!" I drop the man and raise my boltok at the ugly 4 eyed grub, I pull the trigger and *Click*.
'Never forget to reload Carmine. Damn alcohol is fucking us up.' I scold myself, "Oh that's not good." Four eyes looks at me and laughs. It's only him, a woman with blue tentacles for hair and blue skin, and a man 'More like kid.'
Doesn't matter though, all grubs in my eyes. They open fire on me, I can feel their shots hitting my arms and chest, I raise my arms protectively across my helmet. Now they're pissing me off. I pick up a spare toy off the ground and throw it at the man. I put some heat on it and the gun hits its mark dead on, the gun smashes into the kid's face breaking his nose and probably a cheekbone if that crack sounds as good as I think it does.
I snag my lancer from my back as I roll to my left and open fire on the woman popping her head open like a watermelon with only a couple rounds. I bum rush four eyes and he swings his gun at me. I catch it and rip it from his hands, I slip my lancer on my back and snap the toy gun in half. I front kick four eyes into the wall leaving a large dent and walk over to the kid, blood and tears are streaking down his face, "Please, please no. I have a family, I just needed the money man please!" He begged over and over and I made my way to him, "Please I have a family!"
"I don't.." The young man's eyes widen and I curb stomp his head into mush, one clean motion.
I make my way to four eyes and grab him by the throat and raise him to meet my helmeted eyes. He's pinned to the wall. 'I'm going to watch the life drain from your fucking eyes grub.'
I hear Jacob walk back into the lobby, "Carmine you ok in here...holy shit."
Normal POV:
After fighting through a few rank a file mercs trying to make their way upstairs Jacob made his way to the lobby, and what he saw was nothing short of a bloodbath. Bodies were strewn about, missing limbs and blood coated the room.
What surprised Jacob even more than the fact that he knew Carmine had done this, was that Carmine was choking the leader of the squad to death. Jacob watched as Carmine drained the life from the Batarian pinned to the wall, his muscular right arm able to lift the Batarian with ease, "Look at me GRUB!" Carmine boomed out making Jacob take a step back.
Carmine's fingers ripped into the leader's throat and he watched as blood came squirting out onto his hand and arm. Once he died Carmine discarded the corpse, dropping it to the ground as if it were nothing more than a piece of trash. He turned to face Jacob and noticed the shell shocked look on his face, "Hey you alright there Jacob?" He pulled his lancer out and checked his magazine.
Jacob snapped out of his trance and replied, "What? Oh yeah I'm good." He looked as if he was going to hurl, "What's the matter? Do you guys not kill grubs like this?" Carmine asked while slipping rounds into his boltok.
Jacob shook his head. The carnage that Carmine was able to bring was the most Jacob had ever seen in his life. He mentally noted to never piss off the giant man. "If you're all set here Carmine we should head back and help Shepard."
"Yeah I'm good, let's get going." The two headed back to the area Shepard, Garrus, and Miranda were holding out in. Carmine and Jacob took cover with Shepard as the armored helicopter blasted the cover they were behind, "Having fun without us Shepard?" Jacob asked a smirk plastered on his face. "Can it Jacob. Garrus is badly wounded, Miranda is tending to him to best she can but we need the chopper down now!"
While Shepard barked her order Carmine was replacing his lancer with his torque bow and began priming the arrow, he timed it perfectly. The guns on the helicopter were cooling off when Carmine popped out of cover aiming the bow at the cockpit, "Carmine get back in cover!" Shepard yelled out.
Carmine took a breath, and as the chopper turret began spinning again he released his breath and his finger from the trigger. The bow shot whistled through the air and nailed its target dead on.
A huge splatter of blood could be seen on the inside of the cockpit, "Aww no final words?!" He yelled out as the arrow exploded, effectively blowing the gunship out of the sky. "Holy shit Carmine, great work." Shepard walked up next to the massive gear and pat his left bicep, he looked down to her in slight confusion.
"Sorry would've pat your shoulder if I could reach." Carmine snorted a laugh as he tucked his torque bow on his lower back.
Shepard and Carmine made their way to Garrus, "Shepard he's not doing well, we need to get him to the Normandy now." Miranda was applying medi-gel to Garrus who was unresponsive. Shepard pulled up her Omni-tool, "Joker contact Dr. Chakwas and tell her to prep for emergency surgery, we're on our way back."
Carmine went over to Garrus and hoisted him onto his shoulder, "I got him Shepard." She smiled seeing Carmine carrying Garrus. 'It was effortless for him, well that's not a surprise really. Look at those arms.' She shook off the rosy tint on her cheeks, not the best time for ogling.
Carmine POV:
Well I'm in space now. The ship is fucking huge. Ben you would've loved this shit. Shepard brought me to a room with a large orange hologram in the middle, it's only us two in the room, she's waiting to hear more about Garrus's condition. She looks very worried for her friend. Thankfully I've been able to sober up significantly with all this spare time. A few of my wounds are still lightly bleeding but I denied treatment until I heard from Garrus. Seems I owe him that much for trying to blow his Kantus brains out.
The doors open and Miranda along with a Jacob step in and over to Shepard. Miranda can't stop glaring at me, Fuck is her problem.
Jacob started talking, "We've done just about all we can for him Shepard. He took a bad hit, but the docs were able to add some cybernetics to help fix the damaged areas along with surgery. As far as we can tell he'll have full functionality again but-"
As if on cue the doors opened and none other than Garrus stepped into the room, "Shepard." Honestly I'm pretty shocked a little skinny grub like him could take a hit like that. "Tough son of a bitch. Didn't think he'd be walking around." Shepard seemed relieved that her friend was alright. The four of them bantered for a bit until they turned to look at me. Time to face the music I guess.
Miranda speaks first, "So what are we going to do about you, hmm Clayton?" The smart ass tone she gives me makes my blood boil "It's Carmine to you, and the rest of you. Only my family and close friends have the right to call me by my first name." I jut my pointer finger at them. I drop my hand and continue "I don't even know where I am or what you people do. Question are needed and answers are needed even more."
Normal POV:
Shepard looked to her comrades and they nodded in agreement not wanting to piss off the giant murder machine in front of them. "Alright Carmine let's start with introductions again shall we, name and rank."
"Ok, my name is Clayton, private Clayton Carmine."
"Alright Carmine now where are you from, I doubt you're in the alliance system, what are you?"
Carmine stood silent 'Fuck, I guess that was going to be asked sooner or later, whelp time to talk like a lunatic.'
"What I'm about to tell you is absolutely insane and you have no right to believe me, but I'm not from your world or dimension or whatever...I'm from a planet called Sera and myself along with the rest of the people there are indeed human. You have no reason to trust me but I'm telling the truth."
To say the look on their faces was dumbfounded would not be doing them Justice. "I'm not crazy, I'm just lost, completely and utterly stranded in a different world."
Shepard looked to her friends and back to Carmine, "That's pretty far fetched Carmine, do you have any proof?"
Carmine's hand went into his pocket and he fished around in it, pulling out the broken cube. "A friend of mine told me not to touch this but I didn't listen to him. When the cube was whole I touched it with my hand and it linked itself to me, sending me here. When I woke up, it was split into these pieces. It was made by a scientist named Adam Fenix."
Shepard walked closer and inspected the broken cube pieces also noticing blood trickling down Carmine's arms. "It was made to help us escape I think, or at least an attempt at an inter dimensional escape. A last resort."
Shepard looked up to Carmine as he stuffed the pieces back in his pocket, "Why would this Adam Fenix need to create such a portal." Carmine grew quiet, his body visibly tensing.
"You've all heard me use the term grub right?"
They nodded and Carmine let out a sigh, his fists already clenched at his sides.
"Back in my world the only contact we ever had with another species involved beings that came from underground. The locust. They rose up in populated cities and murdered unsuspecting men, women, even children." Carmine paused, the blood leaking from under his helmet dripped steadily down his chin and neck, fists squeezed air tight.
"They waged war against us, pushed us to near extinction. They ravaged us, murdered every single person in their path for the first few years. Their queen, Myyrah claimed all of my home world, Sera, belonged to her and the Locust. The Coalition of Ordered Governments or COG rose to stop them. There were too many, we drastically underestimated them. They were too strong. Nearly pushed us to extinction. That's why he made it, that good enough for you! Or you want me to spill my life story!" Carmine yelled out, his blood almost reaching its boiling point.
Shepard looked to him, she saw the steam rising off him. More importantly she saw a soldier who had fought back when the tides were turned against him. She saw an invaluable ally. But most importantly she believed him. "It's alright Carmine, thank you for saying as much as you did. I believe you. I just have two more question. What is that?" Shepard pointed to the COG tag dangling around his neck, the tag thoroughly coated in his own blood.
Carmine began to settle down, "This is a COG tag, it's so people know I'm a soldier of the coalition, a damn good soldier."
"So you're a gear?"
Carmine stood tall and proud of his service, "Yes ma'am." He gave them all a salute getting a smile from most of them. Miranda still shot daggers at him. "Alright alright, at ease big guy, I believe your story. I've just got one more question for you."
"I have an answer." Carmine dropped his salute and focused his helmeted eyes on Shepard's icy blue ones.
"Would you be interested in helping me fight an alien race called the collectors?"
'We have no clue what they're about or what they do. Let's pry a little, but let's be honest Clay. You wanna get back in the saddle and kill grubs. Especially if those blue eyes come along for the ride.' Carmine was thinking hard about this, and Shepard. He wanted to stay on the ship, see where it took him, but he wasn't willing to follow Shepard if her intentions were misplaced.
"Shepard before I answer could you tell me a bit more about what you're trying to do. I barely know anything about you, or your pals back there. I trust that you'll be honest with me."
Shepard didn't doubt his ability to sniff out a lie so without missing a beat, she kept her gaze into his helmet's eyes, the blue glow of the lights on his armor shining, "I was originally an Alliance Marine, but Jacob and Miranda work for a group called Cerberus. I was 'brought' in by them to stop a race of aliens called the Collectors who have been kidnapping innocent people. I aim to stop them."
Carmine didn't need to hear anymore. If they were kidnapping people they needed to die. And Carmine was more than willing to risk his neck for a cause like this. "Say no more Shepard, I'm in. Fuck. Those. Grubs."
Shepard smiled up into his helmet and reached her hand out to him, "Welcome aboard Carmine, first off we'd better those wounds looked at, while you're at the medical bay you can have your routine physical done as well. Just the price of admission to stay on the Normandy. I want to make sure you're 100%. That means getting that cleaned and looked at."
Shepard pointed to the trail of blood coming from under his helmet soaking into the top of his sleeveless shirt under his armor.
Shepard let out a small laugh as Carmine pawed his neck, "Ah crap, guess those stitches didn't stick." He shook Shepard's hand with his non-blood covered hand.
"Alright Carmine I'll come check on you in a bit. EDI, can you bring Carmine down to see the good doctor."
Carmine was slightly confused who she was talking to until a blue hologram popped up in front of him startling him slightly. "Of course Commander, right this way Clayton."
"He prefers Carmine EDI."
"Oh, my apologies Carmine." Carmine's body language said it all but the audible "Holy Shit!" gave a good hint. Shepard looked at him very amused, "Oh and Carmine, I know you don't have a lot of experience seeing so many different species but you're probably going to see a lot of them, when I come find you later I'll get you your own Omni-tool so you can at least understand them. Be nice to him EDI."
"Ok, sounds good Shepard. Jesus this place is seriously high tech." Carmine said in awe. Shepard laughed as he sheepishly scratched the back of his helmet. He was intimidating but he had his cute moments.
"Thank you Carmine." EDI responded as Carmine scratched the back of his helmet, "Your Welcome, so are you the ship or-"
Their conversation was cut off as Carmine stepped into the hallway. Shepard looked to Jacob and Miranda. Miranda looked like she was about to pop a blood vessel. Shepard noticed Garrus had left the room at some point as he was nowhere to be seen.
Shepard POV:
As I watched Carmine continue his conversation with EDI out of the debriefing room I couldn't help the smirk that rose to my face 'For such a big intimidating guy, he has a strange cuteness to him, not to mention he's ripped. I've seen some big guys before but he's the biggest by far. He talks with respect unless disrespected, and seems eager to bring the fight to the collectors, two other good qualities.' I walked over to Jacob and Miranda, "Well now that he's gone, do either of you have anything to say."
"It's not that I don't believe his story commander, but, well..." Jacob started and Miranda finished for him, "He a freak of nature, barbaric, psychopathic, a monster! Not in all my years have I seen the kind of things he does Shepard! The carnage he was able to cause was something I could never dream of in my worst nightmares." I was taken aback at Miranda's outburst but I couldn't blame her. I too was pretty disturbed by Carmine's actions on Omega. Not in my entire Alliance career have I seen a soldier that can do what Clayton Carmine can do.
"I know the way he fights is... brutal, to say the least. Can you really blame him though, him and his people were almost pushed to extinction. He's strong, and I need that kind of strength if we're going to take on the collectors." He wasn't just strong, Carmine had power, more power than I feel even he knows. He's dangerous and mysterious. I can't help but find myself drawn to him.
Miranda continued, "But where do we draw the lines Shepard! I'm not the only one who saw him tear open that Vorcha, or brutalize those Krogan!"
"We don't know what he went through Miranda, have you ever seen a Locust before." I waited for her to respond, her eyes darted to the floor. I haven't ever seen one, I've never even heard of the Locust either. I'm sure whatever Carmine went through was hell though just by the state of him. He was bleeding all over himself from multiple wounds he sustained during the battle, he said something about his stitches as well when I noticed the blood trailing from under his helmet. I don't doubt Carmine has seen and done terrible things.
"Look Miranda if it makes you feel better I'll go talk to him. See if I can get him to open up about things, and see if he will cooperate with us so he's not just a loose cannon on the battlefield. It'll be just like having a Krogan with us only bigger, and scarier."
"He's certainly no Krogan Shepard. But I'll agree with you, I wouldn't want to fight against him." Miranda began leaving, Jacob saluted me and left as well. I suppose all that's left to do is go and grab one of those Omni-tool wristbands and go check up on the big guy.
"Hope you aren't causing too much trouble Carmine." Shepard muttered as she made her way out.
That's chapter 3. Took me a bit to get through, I've been taking a lot of inspiration from The Carmine Effect, a really great story with a similar premise. The grammar of that story had always been a bit of a punch in the mouth whenever I re-read it so I thought I might as well remaster aspects of it with a few newer ideas I had. We'll get to see how the crew of the Normandy reacts to their newest member in the next chapter. I'll try to publish a new chapter every Tuesday, but apologies if they run late. Adios