3

Out of curiosity, I opened my eyes after all. The one who had come here was a Quarian (seriously?) who had just come and started... And he hadn't started anything. Now he just stood there, looking around nervously at times. I wondered why he was here in the first place. His suit was bright red and his chest was grayish brown. I just don't know what colour it is, but every other part except the bluish mask was red. It was obvious that the guy was waiting for someone. But who was it?

Suddenly I heard someone's footsteps. Except that the man couldn't hear them at all, because that someone was coming from behind. Strangely enough, his suit was familiar to me. But I couldn't tell who it was. I didn't know Mass Effect by heart. Suddenly a figure came into view. It was a Quarian, who was a head shorter than the man, who was still unaware that someone was standing behind him. The quarian's costume was black and green. The hood was green with some lacy black lines. It was obvious that she was somehow nervous, but still she started.

- Cal. - The quarian started, and I immediately remembered where I'd seen him. He was defending Tali on some planet in Mass 2, where a star got drunk and started messing around so badly that it took the shields off everyone who wasn't standing in the shadows. I always saved his life. Good soldier. Pity he died on Pallavan afterwards.

- Leena? Hi. - Cal turned and immediately leaned forward, wrapping her in a big hug. Ooh, so they're on a secret date. Weird, why is it a secret date? It's not India or a caste society.

- How are you? - Leena said as she pulled away.

- Uhhhh, I don't know. We're off to some planet tomorrow. The Batarians have set up a Geth research lab there.

- Do you want to stay? - interrupted him, Leena.

- Eh, look, this is the third trip our group has taken this week. My guys are already falling off their feet or sleeping standing up. I get it, and I'm not asking for myself, but can you talk to your mother so she can send another group? They just can't take this landing anymore.

- Look, you know it's no use talking to her. You're the most experienced, that's why she's sending you. And besides, if I ask, she might figure out... about us. - At these last words, Lina was a little down and sad. It was obvious that she was hurting herself.

- What is she missing? We've brought enough goths here for a company. - Cal went on to resent it. It looks like he's had enough.

- I don't know. I'm beginning to worry about her in general. She hasn't slept in three days since you brought in that stormtrooper. She's locked herself in her lab and won't let anyone in. How can you disobey the Admiral's orders? No disturbance means no disturbance. - Oh, so that's who brought me here. Marines. And that Lina is Admiral Daro'Zen's daughter. That's unexpected.

- Have you tried talking to her? About us.

- Yeah. Tried to get to that, but she's always busy. And if I'm blunt, then... You have no idea how angry she gets. She just thinks of you as a soldier who's just there to take orders. Eh, she'll never understand me. I sometimes feel like she doesn't need me.

- Don't say that. She's your mother. She just has a lot of work to do. She's an admiral, and she's also a scientist. She's devoted to the Navy.

- Exactly. To the Fleet. And sometimes she just forgets about me. I know it's probably selfish, but... I just miss her attention. Because I'm the daughter of an admiral, I hardly have anyone. No friends, no girlfriends. Everyone wants and expects something from me.

- Hey, hey. You've got me. - Cal was just trying to be comforting.

- Yeah. I only have you. - Lena hugged Cal again, but he only hugged her back. - Maybe... Maybe you're not going on this mission. Maybe... can I put you in the infirmary?

- WHAT!? No, no, you don't even have to ask me for that. I'm not going to be a deserter, whoever that is!

- That's not desertion! It's... That's...

- Cowardice. - Cal answered for her. Yeah, you get a lot of respect for him, though. He's certainly no coward. A soldier and a patriot, that's what he is, but not a coward. - Lina, it's called cowardice. I'm not a coward.

- Look, Cal. I understand, but I also understand that you might not come back. Every time you go off on a mission, I pray to everyone I can. What happens to me if you don't come back? Я... I know Mum wouldn't match me up, she wouldn't stoop to that, but I don't need anyone but you. No one. - After those words Lina took a step back and just stared at the floor, and Cal turned around 180 degrees and just thought. It wasn't until a couple of seconds later that he was able to answer.

- And I'm the one your mother wouldn't let near a shot of a dreadnought. After all, I'm just a warrior.

- Look, I... I'll try to talk to my mum. I promise. I don't need anyone but you. In the meantime... - With these words, Lina took her palm to the mask, and then something clicked, and Lina calmly pulled the mask off. I saw a quite pretty face with white eyes that glowed slightly, and blond hair that was still slightly but visible. Cal reacted to the sound in a second. Turning to Lina, he was immediately taken aback.

- Lina, what are you... - Cal tried to object, but Lina immediately put her hand on his face, trying to feel for something. A second later something clicked on Cal's face, and Lina had already removed the mask from him. Cal looked about 25 and she looked about 20. The eyes were the same, no hair visible, but that they were, I had no doubt. The face was really manly. You could tell he could punch, but only out of necessity. Lina, meanwhile, put both masks on the pipes that were on the wall, and then dug into Cal's lips. He didn't resist and then started to respond. She had to get up on her toes to reach him as he was a head taller than her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he immediately put one arm around her neck and the other around her waist. It felt like he was trying to protect her. Unclear exactly what from. From her mother, who would start scolding them for such a thing, from all the worldly hardships inherent in the Migrating Fleet, or maybe just from the eternal emptiness of space that was only a metre away from the ship's armour. No matter what, it just needs to be protected from. Yes, that's true love.

I wish I'd never experienced that feeling. In all 17 years. The kiss between the two of them lasted about three minutes. No, I'm lying, three minutes and 12 seconds. I'm still a get, I have a timer in my head. Useful feature. Pulling away from Cal, Lina looked him straight in the eye. She only stared for three seconds, but she stared in such a way that she remembered every last detail. After all, it wasn't often she got to look into her lover's eyes, not through the glass of a mask, but like this, live.

- I wish I could have done more. - Sadly Lina said, when suddenly Cal, who wanted to answer something, was interrupted by a radio broadcast.

- ATTENTION! THIS IS ADMIRAL DARO'ZEN TO YOU MARITIME! UNSCHEDULED INSPECTION OF ALL TECHNICAL FACILITIES ON THE SEABORNE! ALL ENGINEERS ARE ORDERED TO LEAVE THEIR WORKPLACES IMMEDIATELY EXCEPT FOR THE ENGINEERS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SHIP'S VITAL FUNCTIONS!!! - Oh, shit, they're probably looking for me. They're gonna fucking surround me on all sides and corner me. Hell, they've probably already sealed off all the exits, even the ventilation. Gotta find a way to get through without killing anybody. I ain't gonna kill anybody who's got orders to kill me. Okay, think, think, think.

- All right, we should go. - Said Lina, putting on her mask. Cal did the same, and he was about to follow Lina when she stopped him. - Wait. Go the other way. If the two of us walk out at the same time, they'll know right away.

- Okay. [Sighs] Bye. Bye.

- Bye. Bye. - Said Lina, and was already a few yards away when she suddenly stopped and turned to Cal, who was just looking at her. - And one more thing, Cal. I love you. - She said with all the tenderness she could muster.

- And I love you, Lina. - Said Cal, then turned around, but he was in no hurry to leave. He paused for some reason, as if he was trying to see something. In the meantime, I decided to go for broke. Hopefully the plan would work.