Quietly entering the room assigned to Kasumi, I stepped over the tripwire she had set up as an improvised alarm. Then, without entering her bedroom, I pulled out a sports air horn and pressed the button with a devious smile.
W-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o!
"What the fuck?!"
Kasumi ran out of the bedroom, a pistol in her hand, staring at me with wide, frantic eyes.
"You have five minutes to get ready. Style: training. We're going to check what your fit ass is capable of, and if it's capable of anything at all in combat terms."
"How about a warning?"
"That wouldn't be interesting."
I replied with a devious grin, while Kasumi ground her teeth.
"Don't grind your teeth; get ready and let's go to training. And get used to the fact that we have training regularly. It's the key to the squad's survival, you know. And since you're part of it now, you'll be training too."
"And if..."
"And if you try to wiggle out of it, you'll be dragged to training in whatever you're wearing at the moment of wake-up. And if you refuse to train, you'll be prodded with a stun gun."
Kasumi looked at me with a hateful gaze.
"Listen, why are you looking at me like that? Think with your head. We plan to oppose the Reapers—I understand you don't know much about them yet, but you saw the cuttlefish over the Citadel, didn't you? Now imagine there will be many of them. Heard of Husks? Imagine they're on every planet and there are many of them, and on the enemy's side, there will be those who believe their lives will be spared."
Kasumi frowned and remained silent.
"And how can you trust someone whose skills you know nothing about? So come on, get dressed, let's go check your skills."
"Tsk... Do I even have anything to change into for training? I came here for work, by the way, not to train. So..."
Causticity could be heard in the girl's voice.
"Well, wear your work clothes then, and after training, professionals will come and take your measurements. Clothes will be made exactly to your parameters. So come on, get dressed and let's go."
"Fine..."
Kasumi quickly dressed and appeared before me, and we went to the training grounds together.
"Jane, wanted to evaluate Kasumi's capabilities? She's in your hands. Do whatever you want with her."
"Sounds threatening..."
"Don't talk, run; I'll start running you through a simplified army program, gradually making it harder. Let's see what level you're at."
** Some time later. **
"Begone..."
Kasumi lay on the floor, breathing heavily.
"Kasumi..."
A stun baton appeared in Jane's hands.
"...sweetie, you're not tired yet, so either you get up or I'll shock you. Choose."
"Just shock me... I have no stre—aaah!"
Kasumi jumped from the pain.
"See, you jumped up, which means you have strength. And if you have strength, continue the training."
"Demon!"
The end of the baton sparked, and Kasumi was forced to continue the training. However, no one was slacking off; not only she was training, but everyone else as well, so our infiltrator, though she grumbled, only complained about the methods used to force her to train.
"Faster, faster!"
Jane urged the girl on.
"John... maybe we should go a bit easier on this girl?"
"Well, tell Jane that..."
Complete indifference could be heard in my voice.
"Are you ready to stand between Jane and her victim?"
"N-no..."
"Well, there you go... besides, this is Kasumi's only training session for today. A check of her physical capabilities, while we still have teamwork and personal skills... unlike her, we'll be much busier."
"Well... yeah..."
Tali nodded, after which the question of helping Kasumi was no longer raised.
** A view from the side. **
"Dammit..."
Kasumi collapsed onto the bed with a loud groan. Right now, even muscles she didn't even know existed were aching.
"Miss Goto..."
The girl's voice that sounded behind her made her flinch slightly, but she no longer had the strength to turn over or jump away.
"I was sent to you to provide assistance."
"Assistance?"
There was no interest in her voice, only complete indifference stemming from exhaustion.
"Yes, I will prepare a bath for you now, followed by a massage. And after everything, we need to take your measurements to make sets of clothes for all occasions."
"Yeah..."
However, Kasumi's indifference soon vanished, and while she still grumbled when being helped up, once she was in the warm bath, smelling pleasantly of herbs, she forgave everything and everyone. She knew bliss...
** End. **
"Good morning."
The next morning, I entered Kasumi's room and saw her grumpy face looking at me.
"Morning. Again?"
"Yep, but today will be easier."
"Seriously?"
"Well... relatively..."
Shrugging carelessly, I gestured for Kasumi to follow me.
"...a program has already been drawn up for you to help develop your own physical form, and now these training sessions will be solely on your conscience."
"Seriously?"
There was so much distrust in Kasumi's voice that even the most unpretentious listener would have heard it.
"Yes. However, you now have a duty to attend teamwork training sessions and arrange your own profile training. You must get better every day. Understood?"
"Yes."
"Excellent, then check your mail; your training schedule is there."
Kasumi followed my order and dropped out of life for the duration of the walk, studying the schedule, and after that, we didn't talk anymore, as everyone was busy with their own program.
** A view from the side. **
"And where did he go?"
Kasumi cast a dissatisfied glance at John, who had left the training session.
"Don't be jealous."
Tali, who happened to be next to her at that moment, decided to give some advice.
"Believe me, he works more than you, me, and generally most of those training here."
"Really?"
Kasumi didn't hide her causticity and distrust.
"He's a Biotic. He doesn't just train physically, in teamwork, as a long-range fighter, but also as a Biotic. He also manages colonies, a corporation, works as a Spectre—in short, he has a lot of work, just like his training."
Kasumi closed her eyes for a couple of seconds, processing what she had heard.
"So, is he the biggest workaholic here?"
"We're all workaholics here... just so you understand, it's only because of how hard we worked while on the first SSV Normandy that we all survived, especially in the battle on the Citadel. So we all work like dogs; it's just that, say, I have the option to put something off until tomorrow, but he doesn't have that option, and neither does Liara."
Tali nodded toward her friend.
"And what about that blue one?"
"She also works a lot, and her job is such that it requires a great deal of time."
"And what does she do?"
"That's something you don't need to know yet. When you join our group fully, then maybe you'll find out."
"I see."
Kasumi wasn't offended; she was actually surprised that this Quarian was talking to her so openly. After all, she was an outsider here.
"Anyway, I need to continue training. And don't fall behind. Believe me, when we're on a combat mission, you won't have time to train. And it's not very convenient to do it on the ship. So take the opportunity while it's there."
"And when is our next combat mission?"
"In a few days..."
Tali looked at her companion with bewilderment.
"Or have you already forgotten that we're going to 'dekulakize' Hock?"
"Do what?!"
Kasumi looked at her companion with immense shock.
"Dekulakize... you're human, aren't you? You should know from history what that means. Or did you do poorly in school?"
"I know what it means; it's just surprising that you know the word."
"Well, John is my boyfriend... and so I'm interested in human culture and various words."
"Wait, yours? I thought..."
"Jane is dating him too. And Liara..."
This news made Kasumi freeze in shock, while Tali simply continued her training.
** End. **
"How are our affairs?"
Once in the office, I addressed EDI.
"Good. Tevos wants to get in touch with you; she asked to be informed as soon as your training is over."
"Well, go ahead..."
Fortunately, I had a secure line in my office, so I didn't need to go anywhere, and soon I saw Tevos's face before me.
"John... in your report, you mentioned you're going to pluck Hock?"
"Yes."
"I'm not interested in how you're going to do it, BUT!"
Squinting, Tevos looked at me in a way that made me realize I couldn't refuse. However, surprisingly, she wasn't giving me tasks I would have refused to perform.
"I am interested in some of the exhibits he has collected. They belong to Asari heritage and we would like them returned to our homeland."
"Send the list."
I shrugged carelessly.
"We can look for something extra too, since in the end, nothing will be left of Hock. So..."
"Ah, you've decided to be... that radical?"
"Well, yeah... We don't have direct evidence, but circumstantial data suggests he sympathizes with Cerberus, and in my experience, that will be confirmed. So I really do plan to ruin him and, if there's an opportunity, get to his accomplices."
"I see... and you decided to keep quiet about it because..."
"Well, you would have contacted me anyway. But if everything had been stated in the report, you would have had to consult with others, and this way, you have a chance to gain bonuses over the others. After all, not only Asari cultural items can be returned. So..."
"You know, with every day of our acquaintance, I'm more and more glad you were once assigned to the Asari branch of the Spectre corps. Because you know how to give pleasant surprises."
"Glad to hear it."
"Do you need help?"
Tevos, judging by her look, was truly ready to help me. And that was appealing.
"Let a couple of ships be on standby about five hours' flight from Bekenstein. So that everything of value can be hauled away."
"They will be. Maybe some huntresses for..."
Tevos rotated her wrist.
"...making everything look more official?"
"No, no need. I think Matriarch Benezia will provide her girls without any problems; she was just complaining that they haven't been doing anything like that lately. And Aria T'Loak's subordinates will participate if needed. So nothing else is required."
"Well, as you wish. Then, end of transmission."
The connection cut, and I looked at EDI, who was standing to the side of my desk.
"What else is on the agenda for today?"
"Oh, Mirala really wants to talk to you."
"My sister? Well, let's go... and as for business..."
"There's nothing urgent here. Contrary to what Tali told Kasumi, you don't actually have that much to do."
A light mockery could be heard in her voice, but I decided to ignore it and head to my sister.
***
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