7…. I don't have any good excuses to give any of you. I apologize, but the reason for this update now is that I've re-read the chapters that I've uploaded and saw a lot of grammar and spelling errors. I don't have a beta. So I decided to rewrite what I currently have to improve it. I hope you guys enjoy.
Ah, and a slight warning in this chapter with a side note that most of all the events written in this chapter hadn't happened in real life, although I did go to Hibachi.
**On another note, I have a problem with character perspectives so I may keep jumping around and you'll sometimes see that I'll type "she" or "her" When it revolves around one character Pov. So If you think the use of how I use the words are too confusing I could always go back and edit them.
Italics= thoughts/dreams
The Beginning
"We should be getting close to Eden-"
"Captain," Joker cut in his voice urgent, "We've got a problem."
"What's wrong, Joker?" Anderson queried, it wasn't often he'd get cut off.
"Transmission from Eden Prime, sir. You better see this!
He didn't like were this was going. Something was going to happen, but he didn't have an inkling as to what it could be. "Bring it up on screen." He didn't like what he saw.
The screen was showing a ground team on Eden prime. The ground was torn up with small smoking craters and bodies lay motionless on the ground while whatever of the ground team that remained were ducking in or out of cover, they were losing badly. Shots flew by the soldier's visor from which they were watching the video feed, and was shoved aside by a woman in pink and white gear, barely dodging a fresh spray of bullets in their direction. The image flickered a few times and swerved to a soldier yelling frantically.
"We are under attack! Taking heavy casualties. I repeat: Heavy casualties! We can't…argh!...—eed evac! They came out of nowhere. We need—" Was all the soldier could get out before he was shot down.
What they saw next was shocking. What looked like a large robotic hand was reaching down toward the soldiers. Then they saw what appeared to be a young child running across the field and out of site before the transmission was cut off. There was a long stretch of silence before Joker spoke up.
"They're definitely dead, especially that kid. Everything cuts out after that. No comm traffic at all. Just goes dead. There's nothing."
"Reverse and hold at 38.5." Anderson commanded his voice grim.
The image appeared again at the large robotic like hand and the childlike figure almost out of the shot. They stared at the image, unsure of what to think. There weren't any colonies near the beacon dig site and the area was restricted when the dig began, so how did a child end up there?
"Status report."
Joker's response was immediate "Seventeen minutes out, Captain. No other Alliance ships in the area."
"…take us in, Joker. Fast and quiet. This mission just got a lot more complicated, even more so if there is evidence civilians around the Eden Prime beacon site. Nihlus, I want you and Shepard to round up any survivors you find down there."
Nihlus nodded in agreement "Acknowledged. A small strike team can move quickly without drawing attention. It's our best chance to secure the beacon, and with smaller number we'll pass under radar more easily if we find any survivors."
"Grab your gear and meet us in the cargo hold," Nihlus had left before he'd gotten half the sentence out, Captain Anderson then turned to Shepard "Tell Alenko and Jenkins to suit up, Commander. You're going in."
Now in the cargo hold the Captain stood in front of Commander Shepard and her newly assembled ground team. "Your team's the muscle in this operation, Commander. Go in heavy and head straight for the dig site, keep an eye out for anyone more survivors. That is your secondary objective; the beacon's your top priority."
"Approaching drop point one." The doors opened letting the orange glow of sunlight in. Hearing footsteps approach Shepard looked over her shoulder to find Nihlus heading toward them.
"Nihlus?" Jenkins spoke "You're coming with us?" He looked giddy at the thought of it.
Nihlus, without turning his head he continued the open bay doors, prepping his gun as he went and simply said "I work faster on my own." And jumped out. Jenkins looked a bit downtrodden but said nothing.
Kristen Pov
My day had started out simply and happily. Today was my birthday, but first let me tell you a bit about myself. First off let me tell you that I'm Lao, now if you don't know what that is I'm also part Thai. I stand at an amazing height 4 feet and 11 inches tall. Yes, I noticed I'm short. Brown eyes and dark brown slightly wavy hair, tan skin and I wear glasses. Since today was my birthday I got to choose where we were going to eat out to celebrate. So I chose the all you can eat at the Hibachi Bar and Grill. Exchanging looks of hunger with my sister we both started to fill up our plates.
Once our plates were practically overflowing with food, and our mother's plate was piled with at least 5 different foods, we went back to our seats to dig in. Fifteen minutes later our mother got up to get another plate and half way through a cheese wonton my sister propped up one one of her arms.
"So….how far are you in Mass Effect? I'm getting close to the last mission." I couldn't meet her eyes.
"How far am I? Um….I'm in the second game and about halfway, or more though. I'm waiting until I can go through the Omega Relay, but until I can I'm trying to finish all of the loyalty missions and side quest. I heard that it'll affect the rest of the game if I don't finish them." Although it was a bit tedious. Fight after fight and having banalities with minor characters. After a long series of fights I would take a break by scanning the many…..many planets for resources.
"Seriously? You started the second game 3 weeks ago, there's no way you're that far yet." She looked displeased with my fast progress. It was always a race to see who could get the farthest while trying to complete all objectives and missions.
"Well it's not that hard. All I did was...I haven't been doing my homework so I could play the game?" I rubbed the back of my neck sheepishly, I was so thankful our mom went to get another plate.
"You what?" It was a mistake just forget-
"I uh- I said that I-" She tightened her grip on the table until she wa white knuckled gave me a stern glare.
"Are you an idiot?" Her voice was low as she leaned closer to me. "Really now, are you that stupid? What are you going to do when Mom finds out, huh?" I could feel guilt slowly pooling in my chest.
"Look, its not that big of a deal…" I stared past her shoulder and crossed my arms over my chest. She just about exploded.
"Not that big of a deal?! Hah! It's not that big of a deal!" She hissed. I felt my chest tighten in hurt as she continued to whisper harshly at me. I said nothing as her voice started get a louder with each passing sentence.
"It's going to be a big deal when she finds out, and do you know who she's going to blame? No?Yeah?" I couldn't meet her eyes.
"Me! She's going to blame me like she always does, when you don't do well or when just about any minuscule problem arises! Why doesn't she ever blame you!?" By now I had hunched over and wrapped my arms more tightly around myself, eyebrows drawn together and lips pulled in a tight line as I trembled under her accusations. I looked up at her with blurry eyes and knew that it was a mistake to do so.
Her glare burned into my eyes for what seemed like an eternity, but in reality was a few seconds, I was able to tear my eyes way and noticed our mom starting to make her way back. Casting a quick glance back at my sister I saw that she was eating calmly as if nothing had happened. Following her example I wiped my eyes and went back to eating.
For every argument the resentment builds, but is always forgotten or pushed to the side. Now we are like sisters again with no grudge to bear.
When we finished eating my sister had gotten our fortune cookies and we were told to wait outside by the car by our mom while she paid the bill and went to use the restroom. We both stood by the car in silence with our arms crossed in the slight chill of an approaching dusk. Eventually getting bored I turned to my sister and asked "So…what does your fortune cookie say?"
"What? I don't know, I'm waiting until we get home to open it." She said this as she rolled it around in her hands.
"Well…..why can't you open now? I mean I don't really see the difference would be if you read it now or at home."
"I just don't feel like-"
"Please?" She glared at me.
"Hey, don't cut me off. You know I hate it whe-"
"Pleeaaase? Please? Please, please, pleas-"
"Cut that out! My god I swear you are SO annoy-"
"PLLEAASSEEE?" I was practically on top of the car as I leaned towards her side.
"FINE! Will you shut up?!" In her frustration she'd broken the cookie inside the plastic wrapping. Now she looked at it with clear disdain. Ripping open the wrapper she let the crumbs fall on the road as she took out the fortune and read it silently to herself.
"Well? What does it say?" I was not exactly the patient type of person.
"The same useless things these fortunes always say. It's not even a fortune, its just advice. It says to 'keep your loved ones close' . See? A waste of paper in my opinion." With that said she carelessly tossed it at nearby trash bin behind her. It missed. "Well I told you what mine said so tell me what your fortune says." Oh now she shows some enthusiasm.
Rolling my eyes I broke it open and read the slip of paper and frowned. Wow, the fortunes are weird this time around.
"Ahem" Oh yeah. My eyes flicked up to see my sister staring at me impatiently.
"Okay, okay, if you're that curious it says 'If you look out for others they will do the same for you.' Satisfied?" She gave me a pointed look that said 'If –you-continue-that- sentence-you-WILL- be-in-pain'. Taking the hint I stayed quiet for the moment.
"Right, so let's g-" I saw a light blue flash out of the corner of my eye near the back of the restaurant accompanied with the faint sound of mechanical whirring and it kept on moving farther and farther away. There's no way that could've been...? Could it? Well I don't suppose it would hurt to check it out... I start to head in the direction from where I saw the light when my sister stopped me.
"Mom said to wait by the car." Seriously? Its been five minutes, she's obviously going to be taking a while.
"I know but I'll be back in just a sec ok? It's only over there." I said pointing a toward the back. "I'll be real quick, ok? See you in a bit."
"But she, hey! W-wait-!" I was already gone without a backwards glance.
As I was jogging in the direction it had gone I noticed it was steadily getting darker outside,considering that it was around eight something I wasn't surprised, but I was almost there. There it was again! Wait, is that…...what is ? What is it carrying? Huh. Maybe its just somebody out for a walk, but then…...what is that weird mechanical whirring? During my inner monologue I noticed that the figure had stopped going farther away and instead changed direction and was advancing towards me now.
Being the idiot I am I called out "Hi there. Did you need something?" And waved, again I heard a soft mechanical whirring as whoever it was neared. Then I froze as it stepped under a street light. No way…..I must hallucinating, right? I wish I had been. What I saw, in front of me was a Geth and it was pointing a rifle straight at me.
I really, REALLY hope that is just an amazing cosplay suit that this person took an really long time to work on, 'cause it looks so detailed…. the wires and cords and the sound is on point…..I was rambling to myself in panic as I stayed frozen in place, not wanting to provoke what could possibly be a real Geth. My rambling came to as stop when the geth stopped in its track and trained its sights directly at me.
"Um….thats a n-nice costume u-uh, but I think I have to go now!"
I knew it wouldn't work, but I ran. Not even two steps and I felt pain rip through me and I'm lying on the ground. As the world around me begins to fade to black I begin to think that this wasn't a happy birthday at all.