DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN MASS EFFECT ONLY MY SELF AND THE PLOT OF THIS FIC...I AM BROKE PEOPLE!
A/n: Alright people sorry about the delay but it has been hectic for both me and my beta. Both of us work hectic jobs and it did not help that I recently had surgery and gotten strep throat so it has been quite eventful for these past few weeks. And also things with the bad reviewer didn't help as well. I also have Warriors of Winterfell to keep up with as well as this story. So it has been a busy few weeks for me. On the plus note I am nearly done with my art project that has taken nearly TWO YEARS! To finish so my clients should be happy.
But I am getting side tracked and I will make this brief. I like to thank all the people out there who faved and followed this story so far your reviews and your thoughts help me a lot to keep going. And to my ever so awesome beta you are the best and I wish you luck with your hectic life. And to my readers please remember to leave a review after the story and no FLAMES, LORE MONGERS OR BASHINGS PLEASE CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM ONLY! No derogatory comments will be allowed. Anything derogatory will be removed and reported to administration. Thank you and on with the story.
Mass Effect The Immortal Series pt 1: Flight of the Normandy
Chapter 13: The Rise to Freedom!
OCEAN ODYSSEY
Tao-Yun found himself surrounded on all sides. They had not anticipated reinforcements from the continent to come and block them off from their destination. Already, the naval vessels from Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia had decided to volunteer their forces to help block off the Odyssey from making landfall. The U.S., China, Japan, South Korea and now, Australia, had joined in taking back the smaller research vessel. The only thing preventing them from taking the ship by force was the alien tech that Tao-Yun's men had been using to keep them at bay. As well as the daily killings of the hostages they deemed 'non-critical,' meaning they are not scientists or crew members needed to secure the equipment.
The food supply had been cut off three days ago. But luckily for them, they had just refueled and resupplied, so they should not have to worry about any more mishaps. But with them being now completely surrounded, Tao-Yun found himself in a bind. His men were getting paranoid with weapons ready to fire on any vessel. They had already sunk at least ten ships with the amount of firepower they had. The clips they brought with them also added to the damage they could do to ships, and even to the submarines that tried to get within distance of the Odyssey. They even crashed several planes that tried to bomb them from the air. But even then it was taking its toll on them all.
Tao-Yun had thought to himself that if he and his men weren't getting paid a hefty sum of money, they would have abandoned this ship long ago. But seeing as they are getting paid in the billions, well...he would make a stand here if that is what it takes to get paid.
"Sir, what are we going to do?" asked one of his lieutenants as he came up to Tao-Yun, a clipboard in his hand. Judging from the writing, he was doing a count of the supplies that they had received from their last trade off with their suppliers.
"How much food and provisions do we have available?" he asked.
The man sighed, "We have enough to last us for a good four months. We overstocked just for this purpose and the extra fuel barrels we brought onboard should help us in the long run. But sir the men are worried. Is the billions promised to us worth all this?" he asked. His face showed his fear as he and several others in the background listened in on the conversation.
Tao-Yun smiled as he put his hand on the man's shoulder, "It is enough to set your children for life! 400 billion dollars is more than enough to make us no longer have to work for our money. We would be kings for life! So it is worth fighting for," he said to the man before him. The man nodded his thanks as he took a deep breath, calming his nerves. Tao-Yun turned towards the others in the back; they all stood up straighter as they heard this. All of them had come from poor families across Asia. Torn by war and famine, they wanted nothing more than to gain enough money so that their families no longer had to struggle for basic essentials.
With his resolve restored, the man handed the clipboard to Tao-Yun, "I've also done a count of the crew members like you requested sir," he said.
Nodding his approval, Tao-Yun waved off the lieutenant, who walked off to perform his other duties on the ship. Tao-Yun looked towards the distant horizon, seeing the many ships that he had become accustomed to. He then reached into his pocket and pulled out a cigarette. Taking his lighter, he lit it, taking a long drag. Then, seeing the faint gleam off the binoculars from a Chinese ship, he flipped them off after taking another puff.
KAILUA KONA, HAWAII
"Hello, and thank you for tuning in to ABC news with us, I am Jaime Miller. Tonight, tensions are high on the high seas, as the United Nations gave an all-hands-down assault in the South China Sea this morning. Just a thousand miles off the coast of Vietnam, U.N. forces are in hot pursuit of the research vessel Ocean Odyssey, the same vessel that once gave much needed supplies to the people still trapped in the Challenger Deep. Mark Luxon has more, Mark."
Aaron watched the news feed in the living room of his home after he had gotten home from work. He walked in on his parents having their breakfast and enjoying the morning news broadcast. His dog Nui, an old Jack Russel Terrier mix, looked up from her spot on the couch. When she spotted Aaron, she just laid her head once again in her paws and fell back to sleep.
Aaron, not thinking much of anything, ignored his parents as he once again made his way into the bedroom. Taking off his shoes and his belt, he slowly and wearily walked into the much needed shower for a hot bath. When he again emerged, he made his way towards his bedroom to turn on the television, this time on another station to watch the news broadcast.
But as the broadcast went on, his mind could not focus on what was being said. Instead, it focused on the email he had received on his phone early this morning from Martha. He grew excited when he read it, for the first time in several months. He turned on his computer to reread the message that he had placed in his archives. Opening it up he read the message once again.
Aaron
Oh god it is so good to write to you again! I told you I would didn't I? Well you wanted an update after we made our attempt to restart the main fusion reactor and well….
It was a success! We are on main power now and so we don't have to worry about anything going out. EDI has been a real help in getting the ship back up and running again. Dr. Alenkov says that once we make sure all systems are ready and everyone is assigned to a crew spot we can make a break for the surface. I am coming home Aaron! Tell everyone I love them and I will see you as soon as I get the fuck off the ocean floor.
Love Martha.
Aaron let tears slip from his eyes as he crossed his arms over his desk and cried tears of joy. The message was short, but he was happy all the same. He read it again and again but in his mind only one thing remained, Martha was coming home! She was coming back to him! He sat there, crying, while Nui whined at the commotion that was going on in Aaron's room. She waddled up to him on her old legs and Aaron scooped her up, and held her as he cried. His mother came into the room at some point to see why he was crying. When he showed her the email, she was also in tears as they held onto each other. His father who heard the news also rushed into the room. All three of them held each other. Martha was coming back to them.
"Are you going to call her family to let them know?" Aaron's mother asked him.
"Yes, as soon as I wash my face and get something to drink, I will give them a call." Aaron replied.
NORMANDY
Dr. Alenkov stood on the top of the stairs, leading to the main battery. Beside her was Major Lawoski and Major Reynolds and around the Crew Deck, people had gathered, waiting for the chance to know what is going on. Already, the top scientists and heads of the departments had gathered in their own separate section of the ship, as well as the people who work under them. As they waited with baited breath, Martha stood near the rear with the rest of the civilian crew members. When it was time to speak, finally, Dr. Alenkov was the first to speak.
"Is everyone here?" she asked each head of the department. When the heads all reported that everyone was present, she turned towards the crowd. Her face had shown with a glow of hope that had not been seen since Martha activated Normandy.
"Everyone is here, Dr. Alenkov," said one of the men from behind the group.
Taking a deep breath, Dr. Alenkov stood up straighter than before. Though now, her thin frame made her look skeletal and almost inhuman, like the rest of the crew. But she would not give up that posture of authority. As she stood there, facing the crowd, everyone waited for Dr. Alenkov to speak. She waited silently for smallest sounds to stop, and the people to face her. When they did she opened her mouth.
"Today marks a new day and a new opportunity," she said with pride in her voice. The crowd remained still as she looked to each and everyone of them. Her eyes taking in all the faces, making sure to have them memorized in case something bad happened to them all. Taking a deep breath, she continued to speak.
"Now, the reason why I called you here, is to give you all your assignments as the ship's crew. Right on the board behind me are your names and positions. Some of you don't have assignments because we couldn't figure out what to do with you. But for most of you, based on your practical skills or your degrees, you are assigned certain areas of the ship. We will need everyone ready and all the loose items secured before we can make an attempt for the surface." she said.
"What about depressurizing?" asked Wilson from the side.
"You have been decompressed already, Mr. Cormac. As soon as the Normandy was reactivated, steps were taken in the life support systems to meet the needs of the human crew. That included depressurization to meet surface bio-metric pressure and atmosphere. So, to clarify, you are already decompressed and should be able to walk on the surface without developing nitrogen bubbles in your bloodstream," EDI replied. That had the crew amazed.
"What is going to happen once we break off the sea floor?" asked another crew member, this one was an Asian woman who looked to be Korean.
"We are going after the Ocean Odyssey." Dr. Alenkov said. This surprised a lot of people and many of them began to mutter to themselves. It was hard to try and think about the what if's and what it would cause.
"Why can't the navy deal with it?" asked Dr. Caradine.
"The U.N. navy has tried, but the Odyssey has been armed with alien technology for some time now. From the reports we had received, they had so far destroyed more than twelve ships with that technology," said Dr. Jackson from his station to Dr. Alenkov's right.
"Twelve?" Dr. Caradine said, the thoughts spinning in his head. Such firepower was not for a research vessel. Since when did the Odyssey have such firepower?
"Ten previously and two just hours ago," Dr. Alenkov replied, showing the holographic image of the ships being blown from the vessel. The shocked looks of everyone on the crew, including Martha's, was enough to send ripples throughout the audience.
"Why the fuck is the Odyssey armed like it was a military vessel?" Wilson asked.
"The armaments were brought onboard by the pirates themselves," said Dr. Kimber as she stepped up and showed a few images. Everyone stood in shock at the photos taken by satellite and by drones.
"EDI had shown these to me when I was trying to figure out that puzzle myself. When I had it analyzed with Dr. Jackson and Dr. Jenkins, both men agreed that the pirates must have obtained it either through the black market or by a rich benefactor," Dr. Kimber replied.
"How are the U.N. not able to take them out?" asked another scientist.
"The Odyssey has sophisticated instruments that enabled them to detect any approaching vessel, no matter what the size. This enables them to safely retrieve the submarines and to ensure the location of the Normandy at all times. Such state-of-the-art technology makes them dangerous in the water. Several attempts to infiltrate the ship have failed, with all the infiltrators killed and their vessels sunk. Any air attempts are matched just as well with specialized rail guns attached recently to the hull of the vessel, making them ideal to take out any aircraft on approach, even a high altitude plane," said Major Lawoski, pointing to the ships and showing them the images of the weapons onboard the vessel. They even showed videos taken by satellite of the destruction of the ships.
"Where the fuck did they get the firepower?" Dr. Caradine asked.
"From the same person or persons backing the pirates who had stolen the vessel in the first place." said Dr. Kimber as she did an image enhancement on the vessel.
"From what we understood, the artifacts that we had collected from the Normandy, were being transported to the Odyssey before going to a mainland facility to be properly analyzed and duplicated. Such technologies are to thank for our current technological advancements, such as communication and yes, weaponry," said Dr. Jackson.
"So why can't we use the technology we had collected to get that ship back?" asked Wilson.
"We can't. Not without risking the lives of the hostages onboard," Dr. Alenkov replied.
"Perhaps not with the current technology, but with the Normandy's advanced stealth systems, you have a chance of seizing the ship," EDI said speaking up.
"What do you mean?" asked Major Reynolds.
"I did an analysis of the Ocean Odyssey, and its current status and whereabouts, should you decide to pursue a rescue attempt. There are several major factors into the ship that made it efficient as a supply vessel for the Normandy crew. However, even with the defenses the pirates put up against the United Nations forces, when faced with the Normandy, this vessel still outclasses it by a large margin. Our shielding and even our armor are far superior to the armor that the current U.N. vessels have in stock. And our weapons systems are far superior to their rail guns," EDI replied.
"Plus, it has a stealth system that allows it to hide in plain sight," Martha spoke up, and several people turned their heads to her.
"Stealth System?" asked another scientist - this one Martha recognized as Dr. Jenkins, who leads the Normandy's Element Zero research team.
"Well, mostly. This ship is a stealth vessel, capable to hiding where no other vessel can see it. It can become practically invisible to sensors with built-in heat sinks. Heat emissions are the most common way to detect ships in space, so the Normandy negates that temporarily. Plus, with the Element Zero controlling the mass and gravity of the ship, it can become far lighter or far heavier than normal," Martha replied.
"Where the fuck did you get that?" asked Dr. Jenkins. He was a man who stood to the left of Dr. Kimber in the crowd. His pale features made him look more like a ghost than a man.
"I was board during the conversion, so I read through the Normandy's specifications. Plus, I also heard what EDI said earlier about the stealth systems," Martha replied. "We have something similar already: In Japan, they came up with an 'invisible coat' using a camera, projector, and a reflective surface on the coat. The Normandy has something similar, but more advanced. As long as we remain motionless, we're practically impossible to see, but once we move, the illusion shifts and distorts."
"The girl does have a point," said Major Reynolds, and everyone glanced back at him and he shrugged. "Remember: Lawoski and I are military, as well as our security team. If anything, it's military strategy we know a thing or two about, right Dr. Alenkov?" he said with a smirk; he meant it as a joke.
Dr. Alenkov rolled her eyes, knowing that he purposely forgot to add her to the list of people from a military background. What they stated does have a point, one which she wanted to ask, "EDI, does this ship also cloak against sonar and radar as well?" she asked.
"The surfaces and armor of this ship do not directly reflect sound waves, Dr. Alenkov. However, the Normandy's kinetic barriers can be adjusted to absorb the sonic waves of underwater sonar. It can also disappear from radar completely with special coating that disperses and redirects radar signals on the armor, which, according to my sensors, has remained fully intact. That is what this ship is designed to do," EDI replied.
"State of the art Military luxury liner, right EDI?" Martha said with a smirk.
"When this ship was operational, it served as a commercial civilian vessel but in actuality, it was a military stealth reconnaissance warship made to penetrate the most secure quadrants of space," EDI replied.
"There you have it, a way to get to the Odyssey undetected," Martha replied, looking smug much to the discomfort of some of the scientists.
"OK, smarty pants, say we do sneak up on the Odyssey. How do we take out their men onboard without killing the hostages?" asked Dr. Caradine.
"I think I have an answer to that," said another voice, and they all turned to Lucas, who was smirking from head to toe. He looked giddy as a child who had eaten too much sugar. He and David looked like boys who had just won a contest for the first time.
"OK, what do you have in mind?" asked Major Lawoski.
"When I was exploring this ship, I noticed several suits in the hanger bay. They looked like they could do some damage. I mean, yes, David and I tried them on and, well..." Lucas said.
"They are some major military armor! They look like something you see out of a sci-fi movie or something, but there is a good number of suits. We could have the security team come down to check it out?" David replied.
"The suits are designed to protect soldiers from heavy fire, as well as extreme environments." EDI said and they all looked at each other with glee.
"Are there any weapons?" asked Major Reynolds.
"Fuck yeah, there are weapons! Like I said, you should check it out," Lucas said, getting excited.
"Alright, folks let's get back to subject, and since we have a plan on getting the Odyssey back, we will begin our launch attempt in four hours. That should give us enough time to make sure everything loose is tied down and non-critical personnel are safe in their quarters. Any more questions?" Dr. Alenkov asked. When no one responded, she dismissed them all, allowing them to return to their duties and to prepare for takeoff.
Martha, in the meantime, looked on the board knowing the answer to her assignment.
Nothing, she thought, which she was probably glad for. Knowing she was useless in anything else, but she was hoping for engineering or something of the sorts. Instead, she was one of those who has to wait till it was over. Walking towards the elevator, she quickly got onboard along with several other people. Pushing the button, she waited till the doors shut and the elevator began to rise before it made its creep upwards.
FOUR HOURS LATER
"Damn it!" Major Lawoski cursed as he slammed his hand on the blank console before him. His efforts at trying to start up the ship had proven futile.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck!" he cursed even more as he continued to vent his frustration on the blank slate before him.
"What in God's name are you ranting about, mate?" Major Reynolds asked the American.
"This damn ship won't let me into the system, and I don't know how this thing works. It shows me nothing but a blank slab every time I try to activate it," Major Lawoski said.
Out of all the people onboard the ship, both Major Lawoski and Major Reynolds were the only two people who were once qualified pilots. Major Reynolds served in the Royal Air Force as a fighter pilot before retiring to the Normandy's security team. Major Lawoski was once an army helicopter pilot. Both of them were the only people onboard with any sort of flying experience.
However when it came to flying the Normandy….well things did not go as planned.
"God fucking damn it!" Major Lawoski yelled and slammed his hand onto the slab again.
"What is going on up there?" Dr. Alenkov's voice said over the radio. She sounded agitated.
"Sorry, Doc, but there seems to be a problem with the main drive. It seems as if we can't get into the system to activate the engines," said Major Reynolds, who had taken to playing the navigator on the side, and copilot. It was not long till Dr. Alenkov made her way into the cockpit, her face shadowed by her annoyance. When she arrived, she looked around until she noticed the single chair where Major Lawoski was sitting and the blank console.
"Have you both tried switching sides?" she asked.
"Yes, Three times, and it didn't work," said Major Reynolds. He, too, looked distraught.
Taking a deep breath, Dr. Alenkov looked to the side, where a single glowing ball was floating.
"EDI, why is the ship not responding to Major Reynolds or Major Lawoski's commands?" she asked the A.I.
"Give me a few minutes to find the problem," EDI said and then she was gone. A few minutes passed until, finally, the A.I.'s now-familiar floating bubble returned.
"Well, what is the issue?" asked Major Lawoski impatiently as he glared at the orb.
"There is no mechanical issue that can be detected," EDI replied.
"What?" said Major Reynolds.
"To clarify, the Normandy's hardware and software are performing at optimal levels. However, there seems to be a problem with the helmsmen station," EDI replied.
"Can you fix it?" asked Dr. Alenkov.
"There is nothing to be fixed Dr. Alenkov," EDI replied.
"What do you mean 'there is nothing to be fixed'? Have you tried to identify the problem," said Major Lawoski.
"I have," EDI replied her voice sounded smug.
"Then why are you not telling us what is causing the pilot's terminal from working?" Dr. Alenkov said, sounding worried.
"Because there is no hardware or software error," EDI replied, and Dr. Alenkov immediately came on guard when the A.I. said this.
"Then why is it not working?" she asked again.
"Because Major Lawoski and Major Reynolds are not authorized to helm the ship," EDI replied. She sounded smug and Dr. Alenkov was not in the mood for jokes.
"EDI, Major Lawoski and Major Reynolds are qualified pilots, they have a service record to prove it. Why are you denying them access if that is not proof enough?" she asked.
"To clarify, what I was trying to say Dr. Alenkov: Though it is true that Major Lawoski and Major Reynolds both have service records that date back twenty years or so, with Major Lawoski piloting for the United States Army in the Iraqi War, and Major Reynolds was a fighter pilot during the Cold War, neither of them are qualified to pilot an advanced stealth warship such as the Normandy," EDI replied.
"Why are we not qualified?" asked Major Reynolds, sounding curious. He was not bothered by the rejection of piloting the ship. He knew he didn't qualify, but all the same, he was curious to hear the reasoning from an A.I.
"Your qualifications fall short by your cognitive skills as pilots. Though true, both of you have experience in piloting aircraft, none of you have the skills necessary to pilot the Normandy's systems. Your mind has to be at its peak at all times to make split-second decisions that could affect the entire crew. In space, it is crucial to have such skills, especially when piloting this ship," EDI replied.
"Why is that?" Major Lawoski asked, confused by the whole ordeal.
"The terminal velocity of the ship, the correct course vector and the mass effect fields this ship produces are all measured in the pilot's chair. To pilot the Normandy, you have to be Navigator, Pilot, Weapons Specialist and a computer expert at the same time. If you jump to warp speed and timed the course wrong, you could end up colliding with the moon," EDI explained.
"Warp speed?" Major Reynolds said, and from the looks on his face, he was just as confused as Major Lawoski.
"That last part was a joke," EDI replied.
"I did not know that computers can make jokes," Major Lawoski said.
"EDI, we don't have time for jokes and I know you think this is funny, but I think it is time you give the controls to one of them, so we can get out of here," Dr. Alenkov was clearly annoyed by now and she was not in the mood for any more games. The two men, on the other hand, could understand where the A.I. was coming from, and both were kind of in the ropes as to what to do. But Major Reynolds, who was the older of the two men, seemed to start to understand EDI's perspective.
"Alright, EDI. So you don't want the two of us here to pilot, we get it, you don't have to make a joke of it, lass." Major Reynolds finally said.
"WHAT!" Major Lawoski called out, turning to Major Reynolds who was smiling as he shrugged.
"Look, Lawoski, this is an Artificial Intelligence that has lived for millions of years. If she tells you that you can't drive the car, then for fuck's sake, you can't drive," Major Reynolds said from his seat in the copilot's station.
Major Lawoski was not happy about it, given that he was sitting in the pilot's chair. But he wanted to enjoy the leather seating that was there. The chair itself is very comfortable, and the fact that he would have gotten to pilot a real live alien vessel was too much to pass up. Unfortunately, with EDI's declaration the latter hope was dashed as he stared at the empty and lifeless console.
"Alright, smarty pants, why don't you drive?" Major Lawoski shot back at him, his frustration and annoyance growing. But the older Major Reynolds only laughed as he shook his head, "I have a feeling she does not want me to pilot either."
Dr. Alenkov remained silent, listening to the banter between EDI, Major's Lawoski and Reynolds. Finally, she turned towards the orb once again. Her mind in deep thought, she asked the question: "EDI, why don't you want them as pilots? I understand your reasoning, but you never quite clarified as to why you don't want them to pilot. You only mentioned the jobs that are required for the helmsmen position. But you never mentioned once the real reason why they are not qualified?"
"To answer your question, Dr. Alenkov, I do not feel that these two are appropriate to pilot the Normandy. Though true, they are the only qualified pilots with experience on this vessel, their only experience is with Earth vessels such as fighter planes and helicopters. It may look good on paper at an Earth government's desk, but on a warship like this, their skills would be insufficient in handling the Normandy's Tantalus Drive Core," EDI replied.
"Why would their skills be useless with the drive core?" Dr. Alenkov asked curious.
"The Tantalus Drive Core is a very powerful engine that can not only propel the Normandy light years across the galaxy, it is also the source of the element zero you see on this planet. It was created to provide artificial gravity for the ship as well as control the mass of the ship itself, making us lighter or heavier. But a helmsmen needs to know how to use the gravity-fields that the Normandy's drive core produces. When the commander of the ship plots the course, the helmsmen needs to navigate through countless stars to find the right relay to get them to where they need to go. They also need to control the weapons system in case the weapon's specialist or myself are unable to fire the main cannon. The power behind the drive has to be operated by someone who either has the training to handle the systems of the Normandy, or has a mind that is sharp enough to make split-second decisions and act accordingly." EDI replied.
"So you're saying that the drive core is dangerous?" Major Lawoski said.
"That is correct," EDI replied.
"OK then, smarty pants, then what does it take to pilot the ship?" Major Reynolds asked.
"A helmsman needs to know how to make split-second decisions, as I stated earlier. This ship can travel faster than the speed of light; any wrong decisions and we can end up inside of a star," EDI replied.
Major Reynolds whistled as he heard this, for it was some serious stuff that EDI is talking about. Now they all understood why she was reluctant to let the two men deal with the ship's computers. It was not because she was giving them hell for it, it was for their safety. She was concerned for the crew and wanted them to be safe.
"EDI, I understand you are concerned for the safety of the crew, but we need to get to the surface. We need food and some of us need medical attention that only a qualified human doctor can do. Plus, we have a ship on the surface, if you remember, that has your technology on it. Those men who had taken the Odyssey have also taken the technology, namely weapons, with them. If they got them to the wrong people then a war is about to happen," Dr. Alenkov said to the floating orb.
"I understand your concern Dr. Alenkov, but safety is my priority. And your safety overall. I cannot jeopardize the crew of this ship over a split-second decision. The helmsman's position is only open to someone who can understand the Normandy's systems." EDI replied.
Now it was Major Lawoski who asked the question, "OK then, EDI, if we aren't qualified to pilot the ship, then who is?" he asked.
The image that appeared before them showed a very familiar face, and the information beside it was all they needed to know. Outrage was the first thing that met them and then anger on Dr. Alenkov's part as she glared at the orb.
"No," she said.
"Dr. Alenkov I must insist..." EDI replied.
"I said NO! You will leave her out of this, she has done enough!" Dr. Alenkov replied and glared.
"Who has done enough, Dr. Alenkov?" asked Major Lawoski.
Dr. Alenkov took a deep breath before turning to the men. "She means to use Martha to pilot the ship," she replied.
"WHAT!" both Major Lawoksi and Major Reynolds leaped up in alarm. The reaction was clear across the room as many heads turned. All three of them turned towards EDI with surprise on their faces. The shock was clear as it was Major Reynolds who spoke first.
"Martha has no combat experience nor any piloting skills. You can't expect her to pilot the ship!" he stated as he showed clearly how angry and scared he was for the young woman.
"Reynolds is right, EDI, you can't have someone who has no experience piloting the ship," Major Lawoski said.
"Though it is true that Martha has no experience in combat or piloting, she is the only candidate who can pilot the ship. All other members who were potentials do not have the one thing that Martha clearly has," EDI replied.
"Oh, and what does she have that they don't?" asked Major Reynolds, looking clearly angry now at the blue orb. His hands were balled into fists and clenched at the sides as he glared at the orb. He wanted nothing more than to smash the thing to bits, but she would probably kill him first.
"ADHD," Dr. Alenkov's voice was shaking as she finally came to that realization. Her eyes widened at that realization as to why Martha was so important to EDI. She turned towards the orb away from the men and glared at it.
"That it why you want her here! Her disability is the reason why you want her as pilot! She can think faster than any of us and she is the only one who could solve your puzzle, isn't it? That is why you want her as helmswoman," Dr. Alenkov stated, and the men looked at the orb, waiting for an answer. At first there was silence and then:
"You are incorrect," EDI stated.
That threw Dr. Alenkov off from her tirade and she stared at the orb for a minute, trying to process what she was told. And before her mind could come up with any solutions, EDI began to explain.
"I did not choose Martha because of her disability, but because of her skill set. Her artistic, creative, and problem solving skills allow her to think more freely and openly than the rest of the crew. Therefore, she can make assessments and split-second decisions that are, 'outside,' of the box." EDI replied.
All three stared at the floating orb, flabbergasted. Here was an A.I. who made a decision without their consent, and behind their backs about someone that they thought was done with the rescue attempts. They wanted her to remain out of the picture, but now the A.I. is telling them that she is, for the most part, the most important piece.
"You want us to ask for her help again? Why don't you ask her yourself?" asked Major Lawoski.
"Because she does not answer to me," EDI replied to that comment. It was then they understood. Dr. Alenkov was put on the spot when the orb made that statement. She took a deep breath as a tear fell from her eye. Martha was a civilian, not an officer and yet…, "Summon her here," she said reluctantly.
MARTHA'S ROOM
Martha looked towards the ceiling, waiting for the ship to start rising up to the surface. The lights of the many fish above her made her want to reach out and touch them. But the only hum was the power that was currently on. There was no sound of the engines and no hum of anything working. The silence was both soothing and lonely. As she laid there on the bed, waiting, she could not help but imagine what it would be like to see the light of the sun once more. To feel the rays on her skin and the wind through her hair.
Taking a deep breath, she sighed, waiting for the feel of the ship to move. But there was nothing.
"Why isn't it moving yet?" she said out loud.
As she was thinking of it, music played from the floating clock off to the side. She watched whales on her laptop earlier, because here in the Challenger Deep, it was too far down for any whale to travel, so it would be impossible to think about it. Not even something familiar, like a seal or a dolphin could make it. The depths are a cold and lonely place. All she wanted was to finally go home but there was nothing but silence.
"Martha?" the voice of EDI came over the loudspeaker.
"Yes," Martha said, leaping up from the bed. She knew she was supposed to be strapped into the seat on the side, but she wanted to look at the ceiling once more. However, when EDI called, she leaped up in surprise.
"Dr. Alenkov requests your presence on the bridge," she said, her voice sounding soft as if she was tired from a long day.
"OK. Are you alright, EDI?" Martha asked.
"I am functioning fine. However, you shouldn't keep Dr. Alenkov waiting," EDI replied.
Martha quickly got dressed and made her way to the elevator.
BRIDGE
"You wanted to see me?" Martha inquired as she got off the elevator. Dr. Alenkov was already waiting for her when she entered the Command Center. She was standing near the hologram of the ship. It changed from a hologram of the Normandy to that of Planet Earth. But when she stepped away from the platform, it reverted back. She then slowly walked down the stairs, her gait hesitant and weary and her eyes shown her age.
"Yes Martha, I do," Dr. Alenkov said, her voice hoarse as if she had been crying.
"Dr. Alenkov, are you alright?" Martha asked concerned. She was aware of the hitch in the woman's breath, but saw Dr. Alenkov take a deep breath before answering.
"We have a slight problem that we need you to solve," Dr. Alenkov stated as she seemed hesitant to answer Martha's probing gaze.
"Well, what problem requires me, Dr. Alenkov?" Martha asked, curious but concerned at the same time. Her eyes looked around, seeing the many faces look at her strangely.
"EDI... does not want Major Lawoski nor Major Reynolds to pilot the Normandy," Dr. Alenkov stated.
"What? Why?" Martha stuttered in shock. This was indeed news, but why is she telling her in person and why is she here? Those were the questions that rang through Martha's head as she looked towards the hologram of the ship sitting just in front of her.
"Major Lawoski and Major Reynolds are skilled pilots in their respective militaries. However, they are poor candidates for the Normandy's systems," EDI said, speaking up from the overhead loudspeakers. Martha became more confused as Dr. Alenkov glared at the roof of the ship. She said something out loud in Russian, which made some people cringe. If Martha had to guess it was a very bad swear word. Trying to understand what is going on, Martha wanted some answers.
"And what does this have to do with me?" Martha said.
"You showed exceptional problem solving skills in figuring out the puzzle to my main systems. And it was also you who figured out the use of the omni-tool. In order to pilot the Normandy, one has to have a quick brain and extensive knowledge of advanced computer systems in order to make this ship capable of flight," EDI replied.
Martha's eyes widened with the realization that just dawned on her. She turned towards Dr. Alenkov, and the woman sadly nodded her head. She looked depressed, as if she was arguing with the computer for quite sometime.
"So you want me to pilot the ship? Are you fucking kidding me! I don't even know how to pilot a plane, much less a space ship!" Martha argued towards the console where EDI's orb was floating above.
"I'm sorry, Martha, I tried to argue with the A.I. but she would not move," Dr. Alenkov said.
"But... but, why?" was all that came out of Martha's mouth. She was stunned and a bit frightened at the same time. She was visibly shaking when Dr. Alenkov put her hand on her shoulders. She knew Martha was tempted to shake her off when EDI's voice came again over the intercom.
"Your qualities are based on your skill set. Your artistic skills came in handy when solving the puzzles that the ship put down to throw its enemies off balance. The use of your mind and the changes in your DNA have affected your qualifications for the Normandy. Also, your compassion to put yourself in harm's way shows that are willing to do what it takes to keep the crew safe. A skilled helmsman is needed to do just that during an emergency," EDI replied.
"But what about Major Lawoski and Major Reynolds?" asked Martha, feeling as if she had stolen the title from the two most notable men.
"Major Lawoski and Major Reynolds are both qualified security officers, but they are not good helmsmen. More to the point, Major Lawoski and Major Reynolds are familiar with human technology, so their minds do not comprehend the Normandy's systems. Their training also clouds their judgment," EDI replied over the loudspeaker.
"Are you sure you want me to pilot this thing?" Martha asked, her voice clearly shaking. The cold fear of once again having to save the crew came to mind. She also started to feel the same feeling that she felt when she was trapped in the E.Z.C.. But it was as if a soothing presence came to her mind, calming her. Dr. Alenkov's hand had not left her shoulder, as if sensing her fear.
"Affirmative, the Normandy is the most advanced warship in the galaxy with its Tantalus Core and its advanced stealth systems. Only someone who can think outside of normal thought parameters could comprehend the advanced systems that are required for operation," EDI replied her voice was sure.
"Why her? Why not anyone else on this ship?" asked another voice, this one belonging to Major Lawoski as he stood on the stairs. His voice was hard and accusing as he glared upwards towards the ceiling. Everyone who was there also turned to him.
"Martha is the only logical choice. She put her crew before herself, something that majority of you have not thought of. A helmsman of the Normandy must ensure the safety of the crew before themselves. It is a priority..." before EDI could finish, Major Lawoski yelled at it.
"Martha is a civilian, not a machine. Even if she has the qualities you said she does, that does not make it so you can use her to your own whims!" he shouted at EDI.
"If given the choice, would you put yourself at risk for anyone else? Despite what you were taught in basic training? I doubt it, I saw your service record, Major Lawoski. I know what you've been through," EDI replied.
"Bullshit! You know nothing, you're just a stupid computer who doesn't know a damn thing about human emotions!" he yelled.
"Major, that is enough!" Dr. Alenkov stated. But he was not done yet, as he continued to yell regardless of who was listening.
"Don't you fucking tell me to shut up, Elenna, you know as well as I do that this thing is trying to call the shots. She says she wants to put someone else on the line for this, well I say screw..."
"STOP IT!" Martha yelled, causing Major Lawoski to stop what he was saying, and Dr. Alenkov looked down at her in shock. Martha had tears in her eyes, but she stood her ground. She started to glow a bright blue color and her eyes started to turn from brown to red. And if Dr. Alenkov looked closer, they started to turn from normal to slitted, like that of a snake. She was also visibly shaking.
"I'll do it,...just,...just stop, please!" Martha begged and Major Lawoski glared, "You don't have to do this Martha," he begged.
"Yes...Yes I do... I have seen it for a while in my dreams and I understand why. You don't have to protect me, Major Lawoski, I am an adult and I can fight for myself." Martha replied. Her shoulders were shaking from fear but, surprisingly, Dr. Alenkov held on. Offering her support as well as comfort.
"Hey, man, we are with you, one hundred percent," said David from his station on the side. Others started to agree with him as they too put in their words of encouragement.
Martha nodded. Her tear-stained face made it known that she was scared as she wiped away her tears. Taking a few deep breaths, she wanted to run, but she knew that she can't; it was an all or nothing-fight and she needs to chip in. Slowly, she started to release herself from Dr. Alenkov's grip. The others in the C.I.C. remained silent as she slowly walked towards the cockpit. Her steps were heavy and weary, as if she was going to her execution.
She made her way to the one door that had been closed the entire time she was on the ship. It now opened to reveal the cockpit for the first time. Martha had not been in here when she and Hilary explored the ship. She, in a way, had been avoiding it. She remembered this area from her dreams; it was where she saw herself in the pilot's chair. That chair was now facing her, staring at her and looming in front of her. She could hear the footsteps of Major Lawoski standing behind her. She stood there at the door, looking into the room and the computers there, EDI's orb floating on the left while Major Reynolds was off to the right.
Martha closed her eyes, trying to will herself to be calm as she stood in front of the pilot's chair. It was some sort of leather, that much she could tell. The chair was also quite large and could swallow her small frame whole. It was too far away from the console, but she felt that it could move forward and up to the console if she willed it to.
"Holy shit!" Martha said as she examined the seat and some of the controls, also on the seat. It had a headrest like any typical flight chair, but the headrest was large and overpowering to look at. The chair had no seat belts, but then again, this is an alien vessel, and maybe they didn't feel like the straps were necessary. Slowly, Martha let herself feel the chair and felt it's leathery outside for the first time.
"Go, on," said Major Reynolds from his seat. Martha looked at him as if he was a stranger, but when her eyes focused once again, she saw that he was smiling at her, as if encouraging her to take a seat. Slowly Martha sank into the chair and, to her surprise, it felt like a soft leather lounge chair! Slowly Martha felt along the chair's armrests and also along the length of the chair. She was amazed at the feel of it.
"Now that we have that settled, we should strap in, since this will be a bumpy ride," Major Reynolds said from his station. The joke didn't reach Martha's ears as she was still staring into the C.I.C. Her mind was changed from fear to wonder, to anticipation and worry.
Martha looked uncertain at the blue orb that floated just next to her, "Are you sure about this, EDI?" Martha asked.
"If she thinks you can pilot the ship, then you can pilot the ship," Major Reynolds said as he gave her some encouragement.
Martha took a deep breath, her hands shaking as she looked at the chair. She really wanted to go home, and now she had the chance to not only get back up to the surface, but get back at the ones who did this to her in the first place. Slowly, she leaned back into the chair, allowing her body to adjust to the chair's shape. Suddenly, the chair moved when she relaxed her head against the headrest. It suddenly turned around and moved toward the console. It then lifted her up to be the right height as well as lean her chair back so that she appeared to be in a relaxed position. Calming her mind, Martha then placed her hands onto the console.
"Alright, here goes nothing," she said.
Martha placed her hands over the console; the blank surface was smooth to the touch. As she put her hands there, she waited.
But nothing happened...
"OK, EDI what do I have to do?" Martha asked, uncertain of what she has to do.
"Relax and clear your mind of outside thoughts, allow the ship access into your mind," EDI replied her voice sounded like it was anticipating Martha's next move.
"You can do this lass, I have faith in you to take us home," said Major Reynolds with encouragement from Major Lawoski who was at the other station on the right.
Martha closed her eyes and let her mind relax, allowing the Normandy to interface with her brain. She felt the same sensation before, when she first activated the ship. This time, however, was different. Instead of the forced entry, it was gentle this time. It was not the mass paralysis that she felt the first time. This time it was far gentler without the massive dump of information. Instead, she could feel something inside her head, as if probing the minor bits instead of the major parts of her anatomy. Then, as if a switch was turned on, a display screen showed in front of her.
"Whoa!" she said as she saw the holographic screen come to life in front of her. She was shocked with all the writings that were zooming in front of her as image after image appeared. Confused and a little worried, Martha looked at them in bewilderment. Then taking her hand out as if to touch them, she wondered if she could move them like on a tablet. When she touched it, the image did move as if being swatted aside. Finally seeing that for the first time, Martha felt as if she could control the bombardment of images and displays being presented to her.
"Alright let's see here..." Martha said, going through the various holographic displays in front of her.
"Try to see if you can sort through them to find the main thruster control," EDI guided.
"Ok," Martha replied nervously as she used her hand to feel through them to find what she was looking for. She actually started grabbing some of them and pushing them down. Major Reynolds was doing the same thing from the copilot's chair. Various navigation charts showed on his screen. He was busy filtering through them.
Martha found what she assumed was the controls about ten minutes later. She was both confused and overwhelmed by the amount of stuff that she had to clear to find it.
"EDI what is all that other crap?" Martha asked after she pushed down another display of graphs.
"Ship diagnostics, area reports, things a helmsmen oversees on this ship," EDI replied.
"Doesn't the captain or the admiral see this crap?" Martha asked, looking a bit overwhelmed.
"Dr. Alenkov receives the same information as you, she is also the one who orders the destination and you must plot the course," EDI replied.
Now Major Lawoski understood why EDI did not let him pilot. He would have been frustrated when he saw all those charts. All of them saying something, readouts, reports, scans all of them dating back millions of years. He would have gotten frustrated really fast. Major Reynolds was also getting used to his terminal. Though older than Major Lawoski, the man seems to have a knack for figuring out the charts.
"Jesus Christ that is a lot of old data," he said as he rummaged through some old maps of the Earth from various years.
"The Normandy has an automated mapping system. When on a planet for extended periods of time, probes are sent to scan the planet's surface. This is done every century or so. The reports you are viewing are detailed maps of the planet at various times throughout the millennia," EDI replied.
"So you have charts that date back to the stone age, go figure," said Major Lawoski. Though he enjoyed the photographs of various creatures, his thoughts came back to the task at hand.
The images in front of Martha subsided, leaving what appeared to be a keyboard and what appeared to be controls. This must be it, she thought with excitement.
"Is this it, EDI?" Martha asked the A.I..
"Yes, now find the main control for the ship's thrusters, it should be on the top left hand side," EDI said to her.
Martha turned her head till she saw what she was looking for. It was a series of holographic buttons on the top left hand side.
"Is this it?" She asked, pointing.
"Yes, now switch them on from left to right, starting with the one furthest on the left," EDI replied.
She reached out and pressed them all from the left to the right. The ship started to hum and light up as she did this. Looking around in amazement at the amount of lights turning on around her, she turned to the right to see Major Reynolds, smiling with encouragement at her.
Returning the smile with a nod, Martha felt more encouraged as she started to read and figure out the controls. "Ok, I think I sort of figured this out." she said. Then, with a smile, she started laughing.
"What is so funny?" asked Major Reynolds.
"I was just thinking about one of my favorite cartoon quotes," Martha replied as she turned towards the screens in front of her. She then reached up pushed a button that was labeled for the intercom, "Alright, people, hold on to something; this is going to be a bit rough," Martha said. She read through each of the controls, getting a feel for the controls and what each one was. And that was when she decided to have a bit of fun.
"Activating Interlock," she said.
"Dynotherms Connected," replied Major Reynolds smirking, then he burst into laughter.
"Infracells up," Martha said.
"Maga-Thrusters are go!" Major Reynolds shouted in glee.
"Alright, guys, knock it off with the Voltron crap and get us the fuck out of here!" said Major Lawoski from his station. Both of them laughed at the terminology before going back to business. Martha then started to hit a few buttons to the side that said, engine startup.
"Guys, the core has lit up! You would not believe the amount of energy emitting from it!" Dr. Jackson's excited voice said over the intercom. Many other voices started to form as well, giving way to a whole stream of conversations. It was becoming quite loud in the hallway behind them. Martha's ears began to ring from the constant chatter.
"Dr. Jackson, are your people secured?" Dr. Alenkov's voice replied to the first statement. This caused quite the noise from the conversations, causing everyone to quickly be quiet. Martha was glad for the silence.
"Secured and ready," Dr. Jackson replied, and Martha smiled now, feeling excited to do something. The fear that she felt earlier subsided into a sense of wonder and adventure as she looked up at the controls once more.
"Alright people, here we go, H3 fuel cells at less than quarter capacity for auxiliary power. Diverting all non-critical power to landing thrusters as well as expanding the kinetic barrier to help us get a boost off the sea floor," Martha said as she reached up and moved her fingers upwards, towards the gauge for the landing thrusters. "Alright everyone, hang on tight," Martha said and hit the controls.
"Activating Element Zero Tantalus Drive now," EDI replied. The ship started to shake as Martha began to hit a few more switches on the side, increasing power to the thrusters.
"Engaging landing thrusters to full power," Martha said. The feeling of nervousness was still there, but she pushed it aside. Pushing the gauge forwards, she felt the ship vibrate further as it tried to break free from the sea floor.
All around the ship, people began to hold on as the ship began to power up. It was like a major earthquake beginning to happen. The silence was strong as well as the feelings of hope and encouragement. Dr. Alenkov, who was in the C.I.C. on the navigation platform held on as the rumbling increased. Those who were seated were glad that their chairs provided some sort of protection from the constant shaking with their cushioned backsides. But for those in the cockpit, things were only just beginning.
"Alright, diverting more power from nonessential systems to landing thrusters. Adjusting mass effect field to compensate," Martha said as she added more power to the thrusters by hitting a few more switches. Then, suddenly, two holographic joysticks appeared in front of her. Taking them in each hand, Martha began to pull back on the controls.
The vibrations continued to increase as the ship shook, trying to break itself free from the sea floor. The silt was thick and sticky as Martha pushed the Normandy even harder to get out. But slowly, she felt the ship start to rise as it pushed itself slowly but surely from the ground. After millions of years, the Normandy was fighting to free itself of its sticky tomb. The ship was really shaking as Martha tried to focus on not panicking. Her breathing increased as she started to hyperventilate.
"You are doing fine, lass, keep it up, I can feel us rising," Major Reynolds said from the copilot's chair. Trying to focus, Martha added more power into the thrusters. The ship's vibration increased a hundred fold as it fought to break free of the ocean floor. Struggling to hold on to the controls, Martha pulled back on them more to increase power. It was like a jeep stuck in the mud. A vehicle that is unable to move and requires a bit of help. Pulling the controls to their limit, Martha was covered in sweat but she held on tight to the holographic controls. They felt solid in her hands, as if they were solid objects. But she could feel them and that gave her initiative to keep going.
Just as she was about to collapse, the ship suddenly lurched and Martha cut the thrusters down to a minimum as the ship was finally free from the mud. She gave a whoop of joy as she felt the ship rising slowly through the water. Breathing a sigh of relief, Martha eased up on the throttle, allowing her body to relax. After a taxing time, exhaustion was clearly evident on her face. But she held on as she kept the ship rising above the seabed.
All around the ship, people shouted for joy and began to hug each other in cheer. It was as if they were rising to freedom at last. They could feel themselves rising slower now that the vibration had stopped. As more and more people started to get oriented, the ones on the bridge were hard at work.
"Martha, you did it!" said Dr. Alenkov on the intercom.
Martha gave a big smile when she did. She felt encouraged as she lifted them further up the water column, "Alright, we are just about 1000 meters from the sea floor. Dr. Alenkov, what is our course of action?"
"Alright, when we get over the ridge, I want you to chart a course to the Vietnam coast, there is a ship I want back," she said firmly.
Martha smiled, "Yes, ma'am!"
"Alright, lass, I got the vector set. Are you ready to take us to the Odyssey?" Major Reynolds asked.
Martha then eased up on the thrusters a bit more, letting the ship slowly rise as she counted down the ascent to the top of the trench.
"Alright, we are at a depth of 36,000 feet and rising," Martha said, adjusting the balance of the ship, feeling the thrusters beneath her feet as she leveled out. Though they were still rising, Martha had to slow down to make sure that she did not cause too much of a shock to the systems. Slowly, but surely, she rose and counted down the depth with the counter on the side. Major Reynolds was doing the same, while Major Lawoski was keeping an eye on the canyon walls.
USS ALASKA
The Admiral of the Alaska was nervous as he watched the Ocean Odyssey and her pirate escort loom in front of him. They held their ground so far and took out a few of their ships with the alien tech that was stolen. He could give them credit on their tenacity as they held on to what they had stolen for so long. But as he explained to his superiors, the situation was getting worse.
Now that they had cut them off from their main supply chain, the hunt was on. Already they lad lost a total of eleven ships and another eleven were badly damaged and heading back to shore for repairs. They included four American vessels, two Chinese vessels, one Filipino, three Japanese defense vessels and one South Korean that was heading back to shore for immediate repairs. That left just seventy ships enough to keep up the chase. That's twenty two ships total that were lost in the past few months. Most of them happened within the last few hours.
"What are they doing?" asked one of the men looking out through the binoculars.
The admiral quickly rushed towards the viewing window, where the captain of the Alaska was waiting. Taking the binoculars from him, he looked through them and cursed. Already, the pirates had started lining up the hostages one by one onto the deck of the ship. Many of them waving guns, meaning that they were becoming desperate as several military vessels started to open fire on the ship.
"Tell them to cease fire now!" he said and the captain went to relay the orders. But as he watched, one or two of them started to herd people towards a makeshift plank.
"You've got to be fucking kidding me!" he said as he watched one man try to beg, but was shot in the head and sent over. The shots couldn't get through anyways
NEAR THE MARIANAS RIDGE
"We are over the ridge ma'am," Martha announced to Dr. Alenkov. She was getting the hang of using the controls of the Normandy. Beside her, Major Reynolds was doing the navigation and keeping an eye on the ridge. Outside, Martha could see nothing but darkness, but the long range sensors of the ship showed otherwise.
"Good, I am imputing the last known coordinates of the Ocean Odyssey," she said in full military mode,
"Input received. Plotting course," Martha said, smirking as she turned towards Major Reynolds. "How am I doing?" she said.
"You're doing great kid, how are you feeling?" he asked with some concern.
"I am feeling good now that I am getting the hang of this," Martha replied and checked her charts to make sure everything was correct.
"Course is plotted, set destination five hundred miles from the coast of Vietnam," EDI said from Martha's left. The holographic map showed the last known ping of the Ocean Odyssey. There were other dots from the various fleets around the small ship and Martha had to whistle when she looked. But she knew that in order to get there, she was going to have to engage the thrusters.
She began typing a series of buttons, "Alright shutting down landing thrusters and engaging main drive. Um, EDI how do I avoid any whales in the area, so I don't hear it from Hilary about hurting them?" she said.
"The Normandy will be able to send out a pulse which will deter any higher level ocean life from coming into contact with the Normandy. Besides, we will be in full stealth mode so they won't detect us," was the reply from the A.I.
"Alright, let's do this," Martha said, feeling excited. "Hang on to something," she added.
"Inertial dampeners are engaged. You don't have to hold on to anything. Artificial gravity is also engaged, so the feeling of speed and vertigo will not affect anyone on this ship unless life support is damaged," EDI replied. Martha only shook her head as she began to hit a series of buttons off to the right. The holographic display showing the controls was still a bit new, but at least they are simple enough for her to understand. The different gauges also helped in determining depth and speed of the ship. Flipping a few more switches, she then held on as she felt the ship start to vibrate a bit more. She then felt the ship start to move forwards as she was pushed slightly back into her seat until the inertial dampeners took over and she was finally able to move.
"Alright, everyone, engaging stealth mode in 3…..2…..1….engage!" And with that Martha hit a button and a small holographic image of the ship that was on the right of her panel suddenly changed to a more darker version of itself. The letters STEALTH SYSTEM ENGAGED came online. Smirking, Martha was not sure that she had one of the coolest jobs on Earth. She just hoped Enrique and the others are alright.
TBC
A/n: Oh man rewriting this chapter was a BITCH! It was hard enough to write the first time but rewriting it yet again was a hassle in itself! Any how please if you have the time post a review and remember when you do no BASHINGS, LORE MONGERS, AND FLAMES PLEASE CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM ONLY!
Thank you.