I'm back with chapter 2!
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A special thanks to Asian soldier, who gave me my very first review ^_^
After being rewarded the internal designation of N1, everything became increasingly difficult. The training from N2 to N7 was definitely a challenge. At first, Stephany thought it would be a walk in the park the whole way through, especially since the training down at Vila Militar was so familiar to her.
Her father had been taking her to the Citadel's combat simulator since she was 11 years old. He taught her everything he knew as a marine and with as much in-combat experience as a corporal at the age of 14 and as a Gunnery chief at 17, she made it through the initial training in a breeze. The training after wards however left her with more than just scars, she learned more than she thought she ever would.
It had been a grueling 14 months at the academy, training had chewed her up and spat her out, then through the pain she would have to push herself to stand up and fight some more. Stephany had made friends and even a best friend. Her name was Julia Moore.
She met her during the 4th day at the academy, she was leading her combat squad through hostile terrain when one of the trainees stumbled and ended up hurting their ankle. As soon as Stephany was made aware of the issue she moved her squad to somewhere safe and approached her injured team member, Julia.
"How bad is it soldier?" Stephany asked as she put down her pack and started to reach in for some medical supplies.
"Shepard, medical supplies are limited. Moore ain't even heavily injured, shes just being a pussy!" stated one of the squad.
"He's right, I can-" Julia had tried to stand but to no avail, she toppled over and Shepard caught her before laying her down on the ground and getting a closer look at her ankle.
"You're wrong, Your ankles broken" Shepard took out some medi-gel and applied it over her ankle, she could see the rest of the squad giving Julia dirty looks but ignored it and helped the blonde up and giving her a pat on the back.
As the squad continued through the terrain they encountered many combatants, towards the end Stephany took a heavy flesh wound to her arm that tore through her armor.
"Shit" she hissed as she pressed down on her arm, Julia quickly began to rummage for medical supplies as soon as the last target was taken down.
"Crap, we're out of medi-gel aren't we?" called one of the squad as he approached where Stephany and Julia were.
"Leave it to the klutz to ruin shit, Had she never tripped over her own feet we would've had a spare. Now Shepard's going to bleed out" complained one of the guys as they scouted the area for more hostiles.
"Fuck up" sneered one of the others as he kicked some dirt in her direction, Julia ignored the act and tightened her jaw. It was obvious she was near tears.
"Cut it out both of you! It wasn't her fucking fault and I'll be damned if you think I'll just sit here and watch as you two dickheads bully her, bleeding out or not!" spat Stephany as she gave the men the evil eye, she was going to continue to yell at them before she was cut off.
"I can fix this" Julia said in a stern and confident tone.
It turned out she could, Julia had pulled out a personal med-kit and proceeded to sanitize, stitch and bandage the area in record time. When she was done she helped her up and patted her back just as Stephany did when she tended to her broken ankle, they were inseparable ever since.
They had both been through a lot, as soldiers and friends and tonight was the last night they'd be spending as roommates for tomorrow was their graduation as N7's. Shepard and Julia had both decided to spend it with each other opposed to inviting the rest of the girls as they usually do.
They both had their hair in rollers and were letting their nails air-dry, Julia was preparing one of her organic face masks as Stephany busied herself with chips and fleet and flotilla.
"I think I might be going crazy." Stephany stated flatly as she stuffed some more chips in her mouth,Julia stirred at her concoction for a while before replying.
"Funny, I thought you always were bud" she raised her frosting spatula from the the bowl while scooping up green mushy goop and slapping some on Stephany's face. Stephany hardly flinched, this was normal amongst the two. Julia had hardened since the first day they both met, She had become very cheeky and as tough as Stephany. Had it not been for her best friend she would have never changed for the better, though her pride would never let her admit it out loud.
Julia began to distribute the goop evenly on Stephany's face, when she was done she began to apply some on her own face.
"I think I'm starting to develop a thing for Turians" Stephany felt her best friend's eyes piercing the side of her face before laughing.
"Dude you've watched this movie way too much"
"Maybe. Maybe I just have a thing for Heirax." Stephany answered winking at Julia.
Julia pretended to gag and was playfully shoved by Stephany as a result. They both sat in silence as they watched Heirax's fighting scene. Stephany couldn't help but find him attractive, she knew that if she mentioned it to anyone instead of Julia they would've thought she was the sickest human alive. Julia was as open-minded as her but sometimes Stephany believed she was even more so than she was, considering that time she found her reading that issue of Fornax:Salarian edition in the bathroom. She promised to never speak of it around other people but she still gave her friend playful nudges every time they ran into one of the amphibians.
"I hate you so much" Julia had paused the movie at the part where Heirax had Raiden pinned down.
"Mm, you see it now don't you?" Stephany smirked.
"I might get back into Fornax because of you, and here I thought that my xenophilia was only temporary."
Stephany laughed harder than she intended to and wrapped her arm around Julia's shoulder "This is why I fucking love you, I'm going to miss your crazy ass!"
"Ha, I'm not going anywhere, bud" Julia ruffled her hair like an adult would a child. Half an hour later both the girls were ready to go to bed, they decided to make a fort and sleep in it one last time. Julia was the sister Stephany always dreamed of.
Both the girls woke up the next morning and helped each other gussy up for their big day. Out of 103 trainee's that entered with them only 6 were graduating along side with them. When they were all done, they both wore their hair in loose curls and had on light make-up with their new N7 uniforms. They walked into the rec room where the families were. As soon as the doors slid open both immediately noticed their family and split up. Stephany hugged her parents,uncle and grandparents then told them all to follow her so they can meet her best friend.
Julia had done the same and they ended up in the middle of the rec room, Both families became quickly acquainted. Drinks were shared before Anderson entered the room and called the families out so they can find seats in the auditorium.
As the N7's graduation neared its end almost everyone had shed a tear or two. Julia and Stephany however, had been the two to shed the most, mostly because they knew there was a possibility of getting split up into different units or placed onto different ships.
"You are now each one of the best soldiers humanity has to offer, I pray you all keep your skills sharp and use them righteously. The Alliance's N7 represent not only humanity but the entire galaxy, keep that in mind when you're all out there. Now before you step out of here you will all be given your first assignments. Good luck and God speed." concluded Admiral Hackett.
Everyone stood, cheered and saluted before exiting in the same orderly fashion in which they all entered. The families were directed back into the rec room while the N7's were given their assignments. Julia and Stephany stood hand in hand as the line they stood on approached closer and closer to where Captain Anderson and Admiral Hackett stood behind a desk.
Julia squeezed Stephany's hand, "Good luck, bud"
Stephany squeezed her hand back and smirked at her, "Since when did we need it. We're N7 now"
Julia laughed, "Shit I almost forgot"
Stephany and Julia were both up, they approached the desk casually. Both of their superiors congratulated them before running their fingers down a list, They both muttered to each other before they nodded and looked back up to both the girls.
"There is a unit being sent out to Akuze in the next week. Nothing too high-class, there has been strange reports coming in from there and the alliance needs some people to investigate. We'll send more information to your omni-tools" stated Hackett.
Both the girls saluted before making their way back to the rec room. Stephany looked at her friend and found out Julia was already grinning at her.
"There's no splitting us apart, huh?" Julia said giving Stephany a high five.
Stephany smiled and nodded and reached into her N7 uniform and pulled out her locket, "During this week of shore leave, You're totally being installed into my lucky locket"
"Shit, I better be" laughed Julia. When they finally got in front of the rec room's doors, it slid open and both girls were greeted by an uproar of excitement from both their families.
"CONGRATUALTIONS"
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