Because my previous chapter was so short and new reviews and followers left me in a good mood, I decided to post this chapter as well. So, this one is especially for you!
By this time you are probably bored by this, but believe me, this story wouldn't be what it is without the help of Daedalus30185. Whenever a character threatens to become too OOC, he's there to correct me. If you still think someone behaves OOC, blame him. HEHEHE. Ieeeeeeeeh! *runs away*
Phasing the consequences
Every single part of the very expensive sniper rifle was displayed on her desk. Some parts would not be used again as she would replace them with alternate fittings.
"Uh-oh, is that Garrus' rifle? He's not going to be happy about this!"
One of her roommates was looking over her shoulder.
"It's going to be fine, Raiez. But this is delicate work and I need to concentrate.
"Right, I'll leave you to it then. I'm so not gonna take the blame if you ruin his precious."
Dani just smiled and started the process of careful reassembly. The small mass effect field regenerator was tossed aside and replaced by her prototype.
It combined the function of the mass effect field regenerator with a negative mass effect particle disruptor. The latter was her own design. The idea had been there but she'd never put it to practical use before.
But, Dani was confident it would work. At least on the scale she was now working on. It was all the variables that had caused her trouble. She shuddered at the memory of being trapped in her mind again.
Okay, time to let that go. Prototype in place. Ammunition block snapped into cartridge holder. Top cover attached to pistol grip. Butt stock, check.
Cheek pad, check. Barrel and hand guard, check. Flash reductor, scope . . . Pretty soon all parts were in place again and except for the added particle disruptor chamber it looked pretty much the same. The software module that would regulate information transfer from visor to rifle was neatly tucked away inside her little modification.
A double knock against the metal door made her look up. The entrance control was activated and the door hissed open. It was Tali and Liara. Liara had a devious grin on her face and, even though she couldn't see Tali's expression through the mask, she carried her posture in a similar devious fashion.
"Is it true, Dani?" Tali practically cooed. "Did you really take Ashley down a notch or two? We saw your art piece by the way. Nice work!"
For a moment Dani could just stare at them. Banter. Casual conversation. Still not her forte.
"Um, thanks?" Well, it seemed a safe enough response.
"Don't ever call me delusional again!" Liara tried in a mock haughty tone. "I wish I could have seen her face! I may not understand human interactions, but she's a certified xenophobe!"
Dani smiled at that. "Well, if it's any consolation – I don't understand human interactions that well either. Or, any interactions for that matter," she added quietly.
"Ha! You could have fooled us!" Tali countered cheerily. "Nothing wrong with your interactions with us! Why didn't you tell us you can do stuff like that?"
"What stuff?"
"You know . . . painting."
"Oh! Was I supposed to?"
"Well we would have gotten to it eventually. You know about my pilgrimage and about Liara's fascination with history. It would have come up at some point."
Dani blushed realizing she'd not been very forthcoming about herself.
"Anyway," Liara said with a chuckle. "We're happy you're not a xenophobe –"
"Maybe a bit of a Garrusphobe, or Turianphobe," Tali teased.
"Thanks Tali, thanks a lot . . ." Dani muttered.
"You stood up against Ashley and we think that's plenty of reason to celebrate!"
Liara procured two nice bottles of liquor she'd been holding behind her back. Dani eyed them curiously.
"This one is for us," Liara said holding up a bottle with golden tinted content. "Genuine asari honey mead! And this one," she said holding op the second bottle. "Is Firami Fields wine, a dextro wine made by asari. It's for Tali."
"Hey, is that Garrus' gun on your desk? You actually got him to relinquish it to you? You better take good care of that or he'll be – Ouch, Liara!"
"Sorry Tali, my elbow slipped."
"Into my ribcage?"
"It was either that or accidentally warp you."
Dani couldn't help but smile at the banter. She was not a witty person, but she did enjoy listening to others having a jab at each other.
"You don't have to worry. I will bring his beloved gun back first thing in the morning, or after sleep shift, or morning cycle. Still not sure how to call it. But the rifle has been modified and I finished reassembling it. Right before you guys came in actually. So, another reason to celebrate?"
"I'll drink to that!" Tali procured little cups from her protective suit. Never come between a quarian and their pockets!
Liara opened up the bottles and poured the drinks. She and Tali settled down on the other lower bunk, opposite of Dani's .
"So, a toast to teaching Ashley a lesson and Garrus' new and improved gun!" Liara said with a smirk.
This caused Tali to double over in a fit of giggles. "May his aim be always true!"
Liara snorted with laughter and nearly choked on her sip of wine. "Poor Garrus, he's never going to live this down!"
"Because he's so attached to his gun of course," Tali added quickly. "I mean, his sniper rifle!"
Liara's cheeks turned bright purple."Yes, of course. That's what makes it so funny . . . Well, he will have every chance of testing your modifications soon. I hear we're headed for Feros," Liara suddenly changed the subject.
"It's a nice break in scouring planets and investigating anomalies –"
"It does mean fighting geth though," Tali grumbled. "There have been several reports of geth sightings in that system. I was there when Udina informed Shepard. Bosh'tet!"
"If Shepard suspects geth hostilities, he should take you with him as well. You have some mean engineering skills that could come quite handy!"
"Thank you Liara. I have to admit, overloading some geth would be pretty satisfactory. I just hope Dani didn't screw over Garrus' sniper rifle. 'Cause if the rifle blows in his face and geth troopers manage to get past my mean hacking skills and shotgun, they'll be right on top of him."
"That's what his armor is for," Liara smiled.
"Maybe I should test his gun before I return it to him. Just to be safe," Dani mused.
There was an awkward moment when Liara stifled a smile with a cough.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Tali said, ignoring Liara. "Plus, I was just joking. I'm sure you did a great job. The mod you installed on my omni-tool is wonderful!"
"Thanks Tali, but Garrus will need to test his rifle anyway. It comes with some – instructions."
"Garrus. Rifle. Instructions. Not three words that go together in a sentence."
"Be that as it may, he will need the instructions."
"As long as we can be there when he gets them. Wouldn't miss it for the world!"
"Sure, I don't see why not."
Tali and Liara just grinned.
Dani was certain all her calculations were correct. She'd been running them over and over inside her head and it all checked out. Every single time. Still, she couldn't deny that sickly feeling of impending doom in the pit of her stomach. Or was it the back of her mind? She pretty much felt sick all over, she couldn't tell.
She was headed to Engineering, the absurdly expensive sniper rifle clutched firmly in her hands, mostly to keep them from shaking like crazy, but also because she'd just found out just how expensive the rifle really was. Hell, if she'd known from the start, she probably wouldn't have had the guts to install her upgrade. Despite her calculations, it could have gone wrong on so many levels, it was freaking her out. The knowledge things could still go wrong on just as many levels, didn't really help with her nerves. The HMWSR Master Sniper Rifle X. Spectre Master Gear issue. Cost, 1.2 MILLION credits . . . Really?
By the time she stepped from the elevator into Engineering, she was a quivering mess.
Commander Shepard was standing next to Garrus, deep in conversation. Tali and Liara were perched on the front of the Mako's hull, chattering animatedly,
Tali softly swinging her oddly bent legs and Liara making fluid motions with her hands while talking.
Garrus was the first to notice her and he visible perked up seeing his beloved rifle in Dani's hands. Noticing the slight change in Garrus' posture, Shepard turned around and greeted her warmly. Tali and Liara both chirped 'good morning' and jumped down the Mako.
Wrex was in his usual spot and raised his hand to acknowledge her presence. She nodded at him. Though the krogan didn't join them, it was clear he was watching them intently. Ashley was busy cleaning rifles, she looked up once, but didn't utter a word.
Dani started a little when she turned her attention back to the group and suddenly found Garrus standing right in front of her. Heart hammering in her throat she quickly relieved herself of the expensive rifle.
"You could have warned me you know," she muttered softly. "Better yet, you could have given me a much cheaper rifle to modify!"
Garrus chuckled at her visible discomfort. "You wanted my gun sweetheart, this is my gun - um - my rifle, that is. Yeah."
Her eyes snapped at his upon hearing the endearment.
"I um, have faith in your skills but I am glad my baby is back," he quickly glossed by. "But what's this I hear about instructions?"
"Actually it's more of a showcasing then instructions."
"Good, you had me worried for a moment. I was half expecting you to instruct me on the use of my own gun."
Tali started to snicker and Garrus shot her a glare. "Rifle! Tali!"
"Sorry!"
"Anyway, that would have been embarrassing."
"Really Garrus? For whom exactly?" Tali cooed.
"Not for me, if that's what you were hoping you devious little . . ."
"Good morning everyone!" Shepard interrupted them. "Nice to see we all brought our sense of humor. But we're here for something else. Dani, you have something to show us I believe?"
Her eyes darted from Shepard, to Garrus, to Tali and Liara, even to Wrex and Ashley. She felt her mouth run dry.
"Actually, I had just planned to give Garrus the quick rundown. Didn't expect an – audience."
"You said we could come and watch you give Garrus – instructions – we just informed Shepard. We couldn't deny him this opportunity Dani, that would be just cruel!"
"Thank you, Tali! I'm starting to regret having invited you!"
"Oh come on Dani, just instruct the big guy already! Pay close attention Garrus, Dani is going to teach you how to shoot!"
"Stop it!" Dani suddenly yelled. "Why is this so funny to you? What makes you think I can teach Garrus anything about sniping a target?"
The atmosphere suddenly changed and a quiet descended between them.
"Keelah!" Tali moaned in dismay. "I didn't mean to – I'm sorry Dani, I was just teasing Garrus a bit, not making fun of you."
Realizing if Ashley would hear her next remark she would have a field day with it, Dani tried to keep her voice down as much as possible.
"Well, I can't tell the difference, Tali. I haven't witnessed his skills first hand. But I'm not a complete fool. I hear the stories! Implying I have anything to teach Garrus in that regard, seems to me the joke's on me."
Dani felt a hand on her shoulder. "Relax Dani," she heard Shepard say quietly. "It was just a bit of friendly banter. You've been working so hard on this, we're all just very interested to find out what you've been hiding up your sleeve. No one's here to pull one over you. Now, go and do you're thing!"
Dani nodded. "Pull one over me? I don't . . ." Dani shook her head. She didn't want to go into that right now.
"I'm sorry Tali, I was just . . ."
"It's okay. I'm sorry too. I didn't want to upset you."
"If I wasn't such a . . ." Dani couldn't even form the words to express what she was feeling. People shouldn't have to weigh their every word just because she was such an idiot. What she wouldn't give if she were just a bit more normal!
"Genius?" Tali finished for her. "You're a genius Dani and a genius is allowed a few eccentricities. Now hurry up! What have you got? Exploding bullets without the drastic decrease in fire rate? Cause if you do, I want that mod too!"
"Um no, but I could always look into that. . . I think. I would have to run some numbers."
"Yes, but not right now. Will you please start this thing before you run off to work on a mod for Tali's shotgun?"
Dani smiled at Garrus' impatience and brought up her omni-tool. She punched in a code to activate the sniper's software module. "See any readings on your visor, Garrus?"
"Hey! Yes! Yes I do! What's this? New hardware found. HMWSR X – licensed to Garrus Vakarian. Do you want to sync? I take it I have to confirm?" He read the readings aloud.
"Please do."
"Okay, confirmed. Sync in progress. Done. Holy crap!"
"What? What do you see? What is it Garrus?" Tali squealed in excitement.
"Significant upgrade in targeting! You are recognized as Squad Member. Damn, does this mean I can't shoot you? "
"You can shoot her if you want. Though I don't see why you would want to," Dani wondered. "It just helps on a field overrun by husks or geth. The software won't accidentally lock on a squad member, or a certain race if you choose to."
"I suppose it could come in handy," Garrus said though he sounded a bit skeptical. "I do have a good eye in the battlefield though. Never made a mistake yet."
"Maybe it's the yet that made her make the mod?" Liara ventured.
Dani smiled. "I'm not questioning your skills Garrus. The locking system is needed for – something else. Try and lock on to the Commander. You should see the readings again, what do they say?"
"Just the standard readings. Distance, biofeedback."
"Right, that all remains the same. All the information your visor normally yields to you, remains unaffected. The difference is, the information you receive through your visor is also sent to your rifle."
"What the Spirits for?" Garrus exclaimed.
"I think it's best to explain by demonstration. Commander, are there any shooting targets around here by any chance?"
"Sure, want me to get one?"
"That would be great!"
Shepard quickly set up a target. Dani walked over and stuck a small device to it. She then moved to stand in front of the target and punched in a code on her omni-tool to activate the device.
"Your visor doesn't lock on to inanimate objects, so I whipped up this little thing. What does your visor read?"
"Um, according to my readings you are standing in front of a vorcha. It does sense it's a fake, Dani."
"That's okay, I just need your visor to target it. Is it locked?"
"That, it is."
"Okay, shoot it."
"I will, once you step out of the way."
"No, I want you to shoot it with me standing in front of it."
Dani ignored the sweat trickling down her back. It was all well in theory, but if practice failed . .
"Dani, I know you have faith in my wicked sniping skills, but even I need a target."
"You have a target, the vorcha."
"Not my point. You are blocking the target. There's not an inch left to shoot. You're completely in the way."
"That's the point of this demonstration, Garrus. You wanted to know why your visor sends information to your rifle. This is why.
Now take the shot!"
"I'm not going to shoot you just so you can prove a point!"
"Dani, if this is a piercing mod. We can already shoot through thin cover or hit two targets at once," Shepard stated.
"Garrus," Dani pleaded. "You said you had faith in my skills about five minutes ago. All I'm asking is to have faith now!"
"Dani, so help me, if you are wrong about this!" Garrus croaked while taking his rifle in position.
She held her breath while Garrus took aim. He hesitated for a moment. Then the shot rang out and Dani flinched the same time she felt a rush of cold pass through her.
Garrus lowered the rifle, staring at her in confusion. So did the rest. They slowly approached her, looking for any sign of a wound, while she was standing there as if no shot was fired at all.
"What just happened?" Garrus wanted to know. "I sure as hell didn't miss. But you're not hurt. So what is this? A bullet that – stops – if there's a wrong target in the way?"
"No, the bullet didn't stop. And you're right. You didn't miss."
Dani stepped away and revealed the hole on the target.
"Really Garrus? The shoulder?"
"Hey, didn't want to risk killing you by accident!"
"Wow Garrus, homing bullets. Guess she's not that confident in your targeting skills after all,"Ashley sneered. "Though I have to admit. They could come in handy."
"Homing bullets?" Garrus echoed in shock and snapped his eyes to Dani for answers. She flinched under the intensity of his gaze but understood he felt insulted if it had indeed been a homing bullet. Homing bullets, though the idea sounded appealing, would render his prided sniping skills obsolete. If she had come up with an invention like that, she would never have given it to him.
"They are not homing bullets," she said calmly. "I would never insult you like that."
Garrus still didn't seem sure, the anger at the insult still lingering in his eyes.
"Lock on to the target again," Dani ordered. When he didn't comply she grabbed his hands and tried to force him to take aim.
"Lock on to the target," she insisted. "Locked on?"
"Yes!" He nearly hissed.
Dani moved to stand beside him and quickly placed her hand in front of the muzzle.
"Dani what are you – NO!" Garrus cried out when she suddenly placed her other hand on his and squeezed hard to pull the trigger. She hissed when a scorching heat passed through her hand about the same time the shot rang in her ears.
"Damn it Dani! Let me see!" Garrus dropped the gun without care and grabbed her hand.
"Of all the stupid – things – you . . . " He gazed at her unharmed extremity. "This – doesn't make sense. You were hurt. I saw it!"
"It stung a bit yes, but I'm not hurt."
"Garrus, look!" Liara called out. Dani turned around and Garrus, still holding her hand in his, looked up to the target and found a second hole.
"The bullet was still phasing, that's why it hurt a little when you shot."
"When you shot!" Garrus countered. "I thought you'd blown off your hand!"
"So far for your faith in my skills," Dani replied wryly.
"I do have faith in your skills but this was borderline crazy!" His sub vocals seemed to gain a higher pitch each second.
"And look, nothing happened!"
"Well, how was I supposed to know, what the hell happened anyway?"
"If you stop yelling at me for a moment I'll tell you!"
"You know, any moment now they'll start kissing," Tali said smugly.
That effectively broke Dani and Garrus away from each other. They both quickly took a big step back to create some distance but not without a last glare.
"Dani?" Shepard asked with a smirk that was so full of meaning that she could feel her cheeks burn.
"The bullet was phasing," she said as if that explained everything.
"What does that mean?"
"High-end theoretical particle physics. The atomic particles of the bullet pass through the spaces between the atoms of solid objects the bullet moves through until it reaches its target. Then the bullet becomes solid again."
"Wait, so the bullet passed through you, without harming you?" Tali said shocked.
"Definitely not homing bullets then!" Liara muttered in equal shock. "But how?"
"Really Liara? You want me to explain quantum physics to you?"
"No but, this is hard to fathom. You managed to find a way for one solid object moving through another solid object."
"That is impressive. Imagine the ways we could use this!" Shepard said in awe. Dani could already see the directions in which his thoughts were headed.
"Wait, hold it right there! This – phasing bullets – is the best I can do. For the moment anyway. Belief me, I've tried to find other ways but that will take a lot of time and research. The calculations, the variables are astronomical. Even devising a way to make this work was a challenge. You all know how I ended up."
"So, you were working on this when you got – trapped?"
"Yes. I got lost in all the variables. You can't just put this mod in a gun and start shooting with it. How long would a bullet stay phased? Would it stay phased long enough or too long for that matter. The density of the objects the bullets have to phase through to reach target, how would that affect things? And the distance the bullet needs to travel? It wasn't doable to create a one-fit-all solution."
"Until you thought of Garrus' visor," Shepard took a guess.
"Exactly. All my calculations resulted in a software mod I wrote for his visor. When Garrus locks on a target, the visor sends the data to a software module in the rifle. Distance to target, matter and density of objects standing in the way, it's all calculated on the spot so when the bullet is fired, it stays phased long enough to reach its target. The targeting system makes sure a bullet doesn't accidentally phase into something or someone unwanted."
"Lucky son-of-a-bitch!" Tali muttered. "Dani, I want exploding bullets without having to worry about overheating my shot gun. And I don't want to wait hours between firing every shot. You can do stuff like this? Then you surely can make that happen!"
