→ application for outsiders

[techburst]

Player Info
Name: Tsu
OOC Journal: dickbiscuit
Over 18? yyy
Email/IM/Plurk: email: itspunched@gmail.com | aim: techburst | bonerfart (preferred)
Current characters: Agent North Dakota (CR AU), Jeff "Joker" Moreau

Character Info
Name: Maj. Benji Shizuka

Canon: Mass Effect (Original)

Age: 28 (Born 2/26/2158)

Canon/AU/CR AU: n/a

Reference: OH GOD THERE ARE SO MANY REFERENCES HAVE THEM ALL. Mass Effect 3; ME3 multiplayer; N7 Shadow; N7 designation

History: Born in 2158, she is the oldest of two children. Her sister Zoe is younger by four years, and while there was a sizable difference in their ages, they grew up very close. Both of their parents are of Japanese-American descent, so the girls themselves have had very limited exposure to their Japanese ancestry. While they have relatives that live in Japan, most of their exposure comes from their very traditional grandmother, a charming woman that tends to smack them whenever they speak to her in English instead of Japanese. They grew up in Tucson, Arizona, which means they were surrounded by pretty much nothing but desert sand and dry air, but it didn't inhibit their growth a single bit.

There is a bit of a difference regarding the way the girls were raised during their earliest years. A year before Benji was born, the First Contact War took place, which was humanity's first encounter with an alien species. (The turians, more specifically.) The result of the war led to many humans being wary of any alien species for a while after the incident, and because of that Benji's parents were quite adamant about letting their tiny daughter know that she should be careful. (Tiny Benji did not know what was going on, of course. But she listened to her parents to the best of her ability, even though there weren't exactly many opportunities for such a young child to encounter an alien race all on her own. Because listening to your parents when you're a wee thing is important, you know.)

Benji, being the older sister, was very protective of her younger sibling from the very beginning. As soon as Zoe was old enough to walk, to wander around on her own, she was constantly looking after her, making sure she didn't get herself into any trouble or hurt herself. From very early on Benji showed a very protective nature, which would later lead to her being a squad leader when she eventually joined the military – but there will be more elaboration on that later on. Her relationship with her sister was anything but perfect; they tended to get in fights when they were children and as they grew older, mostly due to the fact that Zoe tended to be a little more headstrong than she was, wanted to do as she pleased and didn't care much for the consequences. (Zoe has a tendency to be a bit reckless, much to her sister's exasperation.)

Growing up, the sisters were both very active in gymnastics. Their parents wanted them to be happy in anything they did, and while they were surprised to find that they both leaned toward the same thing when it came to any kind of sport activity, they didn't keep them from doing it. This, again, will end up playing a vital part in their role within the military – their agility, at the very least – but in addition to the gymnastics, Benji also ran track when she was in high school. It was a way to let her clear her mind of whatever she was thinking about, whether she was worried about some school assignment or something her sister was doing, and she was needless to say very good at it.

While her sister didn't seem to care much about schoolwork and would have rather run off to play or do more interesting things, Benji was very work-oriented. At the time, she wanted to do well in school and get the best grades she could so she could get into a good college – even though she didn't have any idea what she wanted to do once she got there, she really enjoyed math and science, and would have likely chosen something in one of those fields. But once she graduated from high school, she started rethinking what she wanted to do with her life.

She wanted to be a leader. She wanted to do some good in the world – and once she realized what that meant, she almost immediately when to join the Alliance Navy. She thought that it might have been her best chance to do what she wanted – to be the one people went to when they needed guidance, to be the one they looked up to, to bring them all to something greater – and once she got in, she didn't stop training for anything.

All during her training, she kept in contact with her sister as much as she was allowed – because it was beyond difficult for her to be away from her for any length of time. She kept to her training, letting Zoe know as often as she could how she was doing and what was going on with her, wondering in turn what was going on back home – and Zoe, the little shit, didn't say a word about wanting to join in her sister's footsteps in joining the miltary, so you can bet just how surprised Benji was to find her show up one day.

Never mind the fact that their parents were practically beside themselves. (Both of their daughters joining the military, oh dear sweet baby jesus what are they going to do?)

To be frank, she wasn't pleased about the fact that her sister had joined her initially. Because it was her job to protect her, to make sure she was safe, and even though she would be able to do that on and off the field, she would have been happier doing it while Zoe was still at home with their parents. Nevertheless, once she was there, there was no going back – and the two proceeded to train together.

Once she actually started getting further in her training, Benji realized that she wanted to become an N7 – the most prestigious title within the military, and only offered to those that had shown they were worthy of it – and beyond that, she pursued the role of the Shadow Infiltrator, a class specializing in stealth and agility, both she and her sister were outfitted with the necessary implants to help with their training, and before long they both reached the rank of N6. (This is, of course, where their training in gymnastics came in handy allowing them to be as agile as they need to be to slip across the field as quickly and quietly as they possibly can.)

This is, unfortunately, where their training together starts going downhill.

Once Zoe reached the rank of N6, she was put on the same squad as her sister. Having two infiltrator-class agents on the same mission made intel retrieval much simpler, as long as the rest of the members held their ground and gave them the cover they needed to successfully retrieve whatever it was they were after. One mission in particular eventually came up that involved information retrieval, and it seemed so by-the-book that neither the sisters nor the rest of the squad thought anything could go wrong with it.

When they arrived at the outpost, they found it deserted – which should have sent alarm bells off something fierce, but it didn't. As squad leader, Benji motioned for everyone else to get into place to give her and Zoe cover, and they moved in to do what they came to do and get the hell out.

The problem with that was, it was an ambush. It turns out that the entire mission had been a setup by a batarian pirate gang, and once they realized what was going on, hell had already broken loose.

The rest of their squad, unfortunately, was taken out pretty quickly – leaving the two sisters to fight and fend for themselves. Benji's highest priority, of course, was keeping Zoe safe, which meant getting in between her and their assailants and keeping her out of the way at all costs. At one point, she turned to her sister and simply told her to run, and as she had her back turned to the batarians coming after them, it resulted in her taking several rounds from an assault rifle to the back that practically ripped through her shields and left her barely able to move. She wanted to tell Zoe to leave her, to just get the hell out, but more than ever she knew that she wouldn't have listened to her, so she didn't bother.

Somehow, they managed to survive until evac arrived to take them out, and though Benji was seriously injured, she survived. Her strong will alone had been enough to get her through, as well as her unwillingness to leave her sister alone in the end – and due to the fact that the intel they'd been sent to retrieve was on one of the fallen batarians, shortly after the incident, both of them were awared the N7 title and Benji herself was promoted to the rank of major.

It wasn't long after she was fully healed and both of them returned to active duty that the Reapers began their attack, and it was then that they were reassigned to the N7 Special Ops to serve with a fellow agent – Major Herb Pêtre. Following that, their squad was sent out on many missions against the forces of Cerberus, Reapers and geth to help with the war.

Additional note: Benji belongs to outsiders’s universe, and the galaxy she knows has been shaped by this Shepard's decisions.

Canon Point: Following Priority: Thessia in Mass Effect 3 and the completion of N7: Communications Hub.

World Information: You're in the future. It's 2186. The human race has only just recently become capable of intergalactic travel, and are working on expanding their horizons. As such, there are many alien races - such as the turians, asari and krogan - to be dealt with, all of which have something to offer. Whether it's information-gathering, technology or just pure muscle, chances are that whatever it is you're looking for, there is a species capable of helping you. Technology as a whole is on the up and up, giving rise to the use of things such as omni-tools - used by both civilians and military personnel for a variety of operations - that are useful when things like decryption, hacking or repair are needed. The preferred method of travel is either by shuttle of ship, depending on the distance being traveled, which is where the mass relays come into play.

Faster-than-light travel means the use of the mass relays, which allows travel between neighboring systems much simpler and faster than it would have been in previous years. The relays themselves operate by utilizing a core of element zero, allowing for pretty much instantaneous travel between systems that would have otherwise taken years or even decades. The mass relay network itself is supposedly the work of the ancient Protheans, and is considered their greatest achievement. It connects every system in the known galaxy. (Talk about one hell of a network, huh? Sheesh.) Except you know what really happened? It was the Reapers that constructed the network long before, and the Protheans were simply the ones to discover it. But we'll talk more about the Reapers later. They're not that important right this second.

There are many governing bodies, though the most well-known of them has to be the Citadel Council, being the sole body in control of the entirety of Citadel space. While the Council does consist of ambassadors from the asari, turians, salarians, and humans, all three of them have separate governments on their homeworlds - as do many other species as well. There are also the Spectres – agents chosen by the Citadel Council to provide a variety of services, up to and including the security of lives all across the galaxy. They answer only to the Council, and are given pretty much free reign over anything else they choose to do in their missions. This, of course, only covers the legal government agencies - which is where the human-based paranilitary group Cerberus as well as the Omega station come in.

Cerberus is a group led by The Illusive Man, whose general belief is that humanity deserves a greater role in the galactic community. They're just about as anti-alien as you can get without being an outright racist about it, and with their seemingly endless cache of resources, they can do pretty much whatever they want. Here, as well, basic morality doesn't play much of a part in any decisions made, and is the reason both the Citadel Council and Systems Alliance - the Alliance being the representative body of human space - have declared them as nothing more than a terrorist group and will prosecute any known agents as they see fit.

Omega is a force all on its own. A haven for criminals and terrorists and the like, the only government on the station itself is that of the asari Aria T'Loak. It's the galaxy's "dark side," so to speak -- any illegal service or merchandise you might be looking to find, you'll find it on Omega. Need somebody offed without the trail coming back to you for blame? All you need to do is hire one of the many mercenary groups for the right price and they'll do anything you like. Have a need for some red sand, or possibly a weapon mod that you can't find anywhere else? You bet your ass you'll find it on Omega -- just be ready to pay for it.

Needless to say, the universe as a whole is up for exploration. If you have a ship, and a crew, you can travel as far as your resources will take you - but there's just one more thing that needs to be taken into consideration. The galaxy is currently in danger of being wiped out by an ancient race of machines known as the Reapers, and they threaten everything - and we do mean everything - that you may hold dear. They don't give a damn about any organic life beyond wanting to exterminate it all, and that puts a damper on things, doesn't it?

There were also the Collectors, but .. yeah, thanks to Shepard, we don't have to worry about them anymore. Which you should be thankful for, all things considered – because they're not pretty to look at. They're not very nice, either. But then again .. you can't really say something that used to be a batarian and is now a mutated mess of gross tumor-looking things coming up to eat you is very nice, now can you?

Spoilers: nope. Anyway.

Basically, all you really need to know about the Mass Effect universe is that there are aliens. And really awesome technology. And hanar/asari porn. And a race of sentient machines that want to end all organic life as we know it and start a whole new cycle. Pretty simple, right? Of course it is. If you have any questions, please direct them to the nearest Avina terminal. She'll answer any questions you may possibly have.

Personality: Let me tell you a little bit about this girl right here.

She might look sweet and innocent, she might look like she's ready with a smile at any turn, just like her sister – but really? She's more serious than her looks give her credit for. She's almost the polar opposite of her sister when it comes to being outgoing and friendy, though she's not directly unfriendly. She's more about business than anything else, and she'll tell you as much if you insinuate there's something better to be done than the task at hand.

Growing up as an older sister, she's always felt the need to protect Zoe – which carried over into adulthood and is why she takes such lengths to make sure everyone in her squad is well-taken care of. That protective nature might, at some times, come across as just a little bit too overbearing, but only where her sister is concerned. There is nothing she won't do to ensure her safety and well-being, even if it means the younger of them isn't happy with the result.

Usually, it's all about business with her. With the rest of their squad, it's kind of a running joke that she's Team Papa – while Herb is Team Mama, but that's another story entirely – because she's the one that makes sure the rules are being followed. Makes sure everyone is in by curfew, that mission briefings are held and everyone knows their data before they all head out, and that they make sure to file their reports as soon as they get back. She's .. kind of a hard-ass, all told, but it's because she wants them all to succeed.

That doesn't mean she doesn't know how to have fun, though. Not that she gets invited out particularly often – but if any of her other squadmates want to include her in anything they do for recreational activities, she doesn't say no to them. (Not even on the basis of fraternizing with her subordinates not being the best idea, either.) Just because she doesn't smile all that often doesn't mean she doesn't know how, either; her sister tends to make her extremely happy, even for as much as she infuriates her, and her potentially-husband-to-be, Octavius, makes her world go 'round. (That kind of goes without saying, really .. and he'll only get to marry her if Zoe gives him permission. Adorable, isn't it? I think so.)

Where her sister is loud and very outgoing, Benji is way more quiet and introverted. Not because she doesn't know how to make friends, or doesn't want to, but because that's just how she is. She's always been the quiet one in the background that no one really pays attention to – at least until she decided that she wanted to join the military and make something of herself. That, really, has done more for bringing her out of what thin shell she was in to begin with than anything. Interacting with her fellow trainees helped her learn how to deal with people that weren't her sister, and it's helped her come a long way with how to deal with people in general. How to lead them.

Now, she has no problem speaking her mind. Telling her squad just what she thinks needs to be done, and expecting them to follow orders. She expects the absolute best from them, and she won't hesitate in the slightest to tell them when they're doing something wrong, or when she thinks that they could be doing better. Again, it might make her come off as a hard-ass, but it's really only because she cares enough to want them all to do the best they can. When they're under her command, their actions reflect the things she's taught them, and she wants everyone to know that they learned everything they did because she didn't let them miss a beat.

Aside from all that, once you get to know her as a person, you'll find that she's incredibly loyal to those she's close to. Above everything else, her sister will always come first, but just because she will always choose her family over anything and everything doesn't mean that there isn't room in her heart for others. (See: potential-husband-to-be.) She doesn't trust very easily, but when someone has done something to earn it, it's very difficult to get rid of it. (And heaven help you if you do something to fuck it up – because she will never let you forget it. If you do something to the effect that she doesn't think she can trust you anymore, she won't ever take you seriously again. She won't trust you, in return, either. So best be careful.)

In short, don't fuck with her – or her sister – and expect to get away with it. Do your job and she'll respect you, fuck it up and she might just write you off as a lost cause.

Abilities, Weaknesses, and Power Limitations: Benji is a very highly-trained soldier. Her training in gymnastics as a child aided in her agility, and once she joined the military it became more useful. Being an infiltrator has honed her abilities with a sniper rifle, and she is an excellent shot at any distance. While she does tend to favor a rifle above all else, she does have training with other weapons, though depending on the mission she's being sent on, she sticks to what she knows best.

Powers limited to her class are as follows:

Electric Slash: A tech power that sends a wave of electricity cascading toward the targeted enemies, and if it doesn't eliminate the target on contact, it deplets their health enough and knocks them down that another attack is enough to take them down. (This applies to enemies without armor or biotic barriers, in which case it will take more than just one slash to do much damage.)

Shadow Strike: An ability that utilizes the use of her tactical cloak to allow her to practically teleport across the field and strike an enemy with her sword from behind. Usually an instant-kill. (Also applies to enemies without armor or a biotic barrier – otherwise Shadow Strike does enough damage to take down the enemy's health significantly, but does not kill them instantly.)

Tactical Cloak: An active cloak that allows her to sneak across the field practically unseen, to get into the middle of a group of enemies and unleash an attack. (Or simply sneak past them in order to get to an objective without having to deal with them in the meantime.) Generally, it also boosts melee damage while the user has it enabled.

Taking the powers associated with her class out of the picture, Benji is incredibly quick-witted. She's very good at thinking on her feet – mostly due to the fact that she often needs to make decisions on the spot and doesn't have time to think things through as much as she normally would. She's gotten used to making snap decisions, especially when it means life or death, when it means keeping her squad alive.

Inventory: One (1) M-98 Widow Sniper Rifle.
Four (4) clips, 1 cartridge per.
One (1) M-77 Paladin Heavy Pistol.
Three (3) clips, 3 rounds per.
One (1) katana-like sword.
One (1) suit of N7 armor issued by the Alliance Military.
One (1) tattered copy of Dante's Inferno with a picture of her boyfran tucked between the pages.

Appearance:
N7 Shadow armor. | And her PB. (Who just happens to be the lovely Meisa Kuroki.)

Alternate Universe Info
If AU, how is your version different from canon, and how will that come across?

Samples
Log Sample: There were very, very few moments that she and her sister got to be together like this. Just the two of them, without either of them having to worry about anything – no missions, no war, nothing on their schedule except for a little bit of one-on-one time that they hadn't had in a very long time.

If she was honest with herself, she couldn't remember the last time they'd been able to do this. She knew it hadn't been since she'd left to join the military – and certainly not since either of them had – and it was the simple fact that she couldn't remember that had her frowning until Zoe reached over to poke her in the rib and say that she was burning the marshmallows!

Which brought her back to her senses, and she let out a small noise that caught in the back of her throat as she realized that the marshmallows she was holding over the stove were about to drip melty goo all over the place, and she very quickly moved to smear them onto the graham crackers laid out on plates on the counter in front of them. She made a face as she searched for the chocolate bars they'd somehow managed to procure for this little event, one that quickly melted away when she found that her sister was currently nibbling on one – and she wasted no time at all in snatching it away with an amused huff.

"You're not going to get any s'more's if you eat all the chocolate, you know."

"But that's half the fun, Benj! Eating the stuff before it's all put together! C'mon, let me have just one more piece –"

"If I give you one more piece, you'll want one more, and then one more, and there won't be any left for me. I don't think so."

Her sister's pout was one of epic proportions, the look on her face saying nothing but you're mean and you don't want me to have nice things!, but she knew that was just the way Zoe was, and she'd get over it soon enough.

Especially when she shoved a plate into her hands seconds later with a melting marshmallow squished between two graham crackers and what was left of the chocolate she managed to get back from her. "Here," she said with the tiniest of smiles, reaching for her own plate and smushing her graham crackers together just a little more. "Stop pouting. That hasn't worked on me since you were six, and you know it."

"'Scuse you," came Zoe's response, muffled around a mouthful of goo. "It worked las' week an' y'know it."

"Zo, for the love of god, please don't talk with your mouth full."

They were quiet for a moment, one filled with nothing but the sounds of Zoe smacking her lips with a satisfied hum – and a tiny little wiggle that always meant she was pleased beyond all measure of the word – and .. yet again, Benji was able to forget that they were in the middle of a war. That they weren't just a pair of sisters enjoying some time together because there was nothing better than each other's company, and that any second that peace could be shattered by the announcement of yet another Reaper attack.

If this was all she could have, then she would gladly take it.

Network Sample: [omega is a place that she's full familiar with – but it isn't once that she's been to recently. really, even though she's heard more than a handful of members of her squad say just how interesting it was, she'd so far managed to stay away from it. it just doesn't sound like a place she wants to find herself in, especially with the amount of batarians that seem to float around, coming and going as they please.

she'll never question the company aria t'loak wants to keep, but the very thought of batarians makes her shudder all the way down to the base of her spine, and it's difficult to keep the thoughts from that failure of a mission out of her mind, even now. even if she and her sister had come out of it alive, the rest of her squad had not, and she'll never be able to forgive herself for not being enough to keep them safe.

but that's neither here nor there.

as quickly as she ever does, benji brings up her omni-tool with a few careful swipes of her fingers, bringing up the audio function and opening her mouth to say the one and only thing she has on her mind at the moment.] This is Major Benji Shizuka, and I just have one question for anyone that might hear this –

Have any of you seen a rogue Shadow wandering around the station by herself? I seem to have lost her, and she's kind of important to me.