Well i've been working on this chapter all week. Its kinda slow and sort of skips and glances over a lot of stuff till the end. Hope you like it and as always... I adore Bioware for allowing me to play in their pretty sandbox because if I owned the ME games, i certainly wouldn't be writing fan fics :D
The next few months were hectic for Alex. She spent more than three quarters of the day yelling, shouting and demanding perfection from a group of wet behind the ears soldiers. Already by the end of the first week one had washed out. Alex was glad to see that one go. She had no clue how he got invited.
The second week brought not only issues from her trainees but Gavin got in to trouble. Alex decided it was be a great idea to let her dad watch him unfortunately, as expected, the two had caused enough havoc that Alex lost her temp and reamed her dad just like she did her trainees. A day later he called her back and apologized for causing her trouble. They had a long talk that night before Alex finally got a few hours of sleep.
"Heh, Radchek. You're killing me," Alex muttered to herself as she finished up the report for the week.
Coats had paused at her door and heard that mutter, grinning slightly. He waited for her to finish and then knocked on the doorway to let Alex know he was there. "The boys and girls got a night off for good work. Care to join them in a few beers?"
Alex gave it a thought and shrugged. "Yea, sounds good."
It did sound good, especially after the entire week of what she called idiots on the march. At least two of the trainees managed to fall asleep during their watch and let a few of another group get through. Alex was right there to wake them up after the entire mess has concluded. Now both had a new found respect for her and hopefully would never make that mistake again.
One was a promising biotic and while Alex didn't have that skill to train with, the recruit did get a crash course on the more powerful options a biotic had when the rest of her trainees were out there for the daily run. The other was Radchek. The young man caused all sort of trouble and yet he had skill to spare. Alex had to try and take down the corporal's ego though. It was like chipping at marble with a stick.
Coats chuckled at her lack of enthusiasm. "Come on Alex, a night out won't hurt you," he teased.
Alex eyed him for a minute. "Yea but you don't have to suffer Radchek and Tupelo," she shot back with a weary grin.
"And I am glad for it. Those two test the patience of a saint," he answered and waited for her to get up.
Alex grabbed her cover and slapped it against her leg. "And you're lucky I am not a saint. I'll beat it out of them eventually through verbal barrages. Or I'll have to go one on one with Radchek in his case. He's more stubborn than a mule."
Coats laughed. "Might take that. Oh that washout from the first week. Scuttle says he's the son of a notable that only got in on the tailcoats of his daddy."
Alex shook her head slowly. "I was wondering. That one didn't even have half the skill Menendez has in her little pinky. And that's saying a lot about the runt of my group."
Coats opened the door out of the barracks. It was quiet with the troops out on furlough for the night. He glanced around after Alex exited and let the door close. "She's all heart though. It's like watching a little lion roar sometimes."
Alex nodded as she put her cover on. "I happen to agree with you. If there were a dozen like her the FCW would have ended before it started and Williams wouldn't have had to go through what he did."
Coats halted abruptly and Alex continued to walk a few steps before she stopped and turned to look back. A brow rose up and that got Coats moving as he took a few steps to reach her. The stiffening of his jaw said all there needed to be said about it and Alex frowned.
"I… don't disagree with you Alex. It's a crap end to a great man doing the best to save lives. The brass didn't want that, they wanted a martyr and that wasn't going to happen to a man smart enough to see the signs," Coats finally said.
Alex shrugged. "I happen to think the brass have their heads inserted in their asses."
Coats choked a moment and then laughed. "Oh my god, only you Alex. Only you would be blunt enough to say the honest truth."
Alex smirked. "Told that to the General the last time he came around to scowl at me. He knew better than to do anything. Dad's got some dirt on him and that keeps him from trying to be the alpha."
Coats nodded, briefly frowning. "Too bad they haven't shoved him off."
Alex snorted. "It's because of his wife more than anything though if the woman was smarter she'd read between the lines. He's not all that stealthy. Come to think on it. Maybe she already knows and is waiting for the perfect time?"
Coats shrugged. "Possible on both counts."
They finally arrived at the NCO bar but considering everyone training was a NCO, this is where they found the majority of the trainees drinking away. Alex removed her cover and tucked it into the strap at her shoulder and then ran her fingers through her hair, a stray thought came to her that she might need to get it cut again.
"Commander!" a voice shouted and Alex turned towards the table full of her own trainees. It was Radchek who already looked to be a sheet or two to the wind.
Alex heard Coats snicker and she elbowed him. He oofed and tapped her on the shoulder. "A beer and chaser?"
She nodded and then eyed Radchek, stepping over to the group. "It's amazing how much energy you have when you are not in training Corporal," she drawled out.
The rest of the table laughed at him and he just shrugged with a smirk. "Work hard, play harder Commander Ice Lady," he slurred.
Coats slipped the bottle over her shoulder and she took it, taking a swallow and then giving Radchek a unimpressive look. Coats just stood behind her glancing around because he could see the trouble Radchek was going to be. A glance at Alex told him she wasn't quite amused at the corporal's antics and was just waiting to witness the repercussions.
The rest of the group could tell something was going to happen and then watched Alex and Radchek like a tennis match going back and forth.
Alex tilted her head slightly then shrugged. "It's Commander Ice Bitch to you corporal. Isn't that what you said yesterday to Menendez?"
The rest of the group did a "Ooooh" to that and Menendez muttered something about "calor".
Brown, the biotic candidate, laughed. "You better put some ice on that burn, Rad."
Radchek just shrugged and lumbered over to Alex. "Aww boss lady, I am here just to forget the hell you put us through during the week." He slung his arm over her shoulder and lifted his bottle up. "Cause without you, Ice Bitch, none of us here would be half the marines we are now."
Alex laughed at that. "Well I can accept that corporal but then wonder why you are trying to butter me up." She touched her bottle to his. One thing she knew was Radchek was more of the company joker than anything once anyone got past that smart ass attitude he had.
The rest, including Coats, laughed at that and everyone relaxed now that they knew where they stood. For the rest of the night Alex talked and drank with Coats and the trainees, drinking far more than most and had to drag Coats home at the end of the night to get him to bed. Two hours later she smiled with glee as she kicked all her 'children' out of bed and hammered into them to get dressed and ready for a mission.
By the end of the N1 session, Alex had a good feel for her group. During the total of 4 months spend with them only 3 had dropped out in total. One because he had broken his leg on an easy mission and was laid up due to a freak accident of him stepping in a gopher hole while they were out.
"Ok, now that we've gotten them out of here lets go over the list of who gets to come back for the next session," General Black looked at all his Commanders and Captains from his end of the conference table. "Jack?"
Jack was Commander Jack Green, a by the book, older man who looked like his skin was made of leather. He was a lifer who had seen fighting in the FCW and that got him in the door for the villa. It was almost unheard of for an older marine to get invited but well worth it. He was a pure solider who knew the ins and outs of infantry and strived to pull the very best from his trainees.
"Most of them are jackasses that need to be recerted for arms I swear," Jack said and rain his fingers over his balding head. "Had only two I see any potential in. Corporal Harn and Private Yang. Both are superb marksmen on shotguns and rifles. Yang had experience with demo. As I understand it, he worked in construction before joining up and that's where that came from. I recommend both to be invited back for the N2 session."
"Thanks Jack," Black set the folders to the side and then pulled out the next few. "April? I see you only have one this time. What gives?"
April Ryan was another lifer though a few decades younger than Green. Her brown hair was tied tightly into a bun and her grey eyes bore into the General a moment. "Out of the whole damned group only four of them had any skills in hacking. Out of that, only one could think on the fly and adapt. Son of a bitch managed to catch Derik's group trying to infiltrate and managed to take out half of them. Rest of the group ran around like chickens with their heads cut off."
Everyone chuckled at that, remembering how Derik reamed his group for a solid week about that failure. Derik just smirked back and the General chuckled. "Ah, sounds like he will be heading further than just N2."
"She, sir. She. Janet Molner. I figured she got in because of her mommy and the bitch managed to prove me wrong. I damn well hope she goes further," April said with a laugh.
Alex was startled and that got everyone's attention. The questioning look from Black made her smirk. "I happen to know her mother and know where she got her attitude from. Just on knowing her mother I'd say she's going far if she's even half the woman her mother is. She'd have to be considering Jan is a diplomat on an Asari world. She's sharp as a tack and I can only think her daughter's the same."
April laughed. "Oh she's razor sharp Alex. Could so with some infiltrating experience but we just wanted to see how her tech skills are."
They all laughed before Black cleared his throat. "Well since everyone's focused on you Alex, you are about the only one that recommended almost their entire group to be invited back. Care to explain?"
Alex shrugged and leaned back. "I honestly figured more than half of them would either wash out or quit before the second month started up. It was just a shame that Corporal Breen snapped his leg in that gopher hole. It wasn't till after that night I joined them at the NCO club and then ran them through hell two hours after they all went to bed that I could see the real potential."
Coats groaned. "Don't remind me. I woke up with the whole platoon dancing on my head the next day. How the hell did you manage to drink more than everyone there and do that?"
Everyone once again laughed as Alex smirked at Coats. "Well Andrew, remember I run a merc company. We are all hard assed drunks."
That actually made Green laugh and he buffeted her shoulder with a hand. "Die hard like the old guard," he rumbled.
"If I can continue. Radchek, he's a rough one. A joker that takes nothing seriously but after that one time he fell asleep and I ran him ragged, he's been nothing but the perfect marine on the job. He told me that night he works hard and players harder and I am inclined to agree. He just won't give up and he's had some real creative thinking in the field. How do you think my group beat Green's group in the games?"
"I have to say, it was a brilliant move on your groups part making them think they found your squad. My boys needed to be kicked hard and yours did it in the best manner," Green said with a chuckle.
"Well I am glad there's no hard feelings there. Anyways, out of the group Menendez is the one I would have automatically given a pass to the next level for. She won't give up, she works hard and out of them whole bunch she's the one that improved the most. On top of that, she's the one that painted your feet Green." Alex smirked towards the older man and he laughed.
"That was very pretty shot she took then. Sniper material?" Green was curious even if he would never have a chance to teach the young woman.
Alex nodded. "Once we put a mantis in her hands it was like watching a caterpillar turn into a butterfly. A mean ass butterfly at that. Given enough time she can match me shot for shot. She was clumsy as hell on the ground but doing over watch is like having a guardian angel looking over your shoulder."
Alex explained her reasoning about the rest and General Black nodded before going on. He separated Alex's folders from the rest only because he wanted to read a bit more in-depth. "Ok, Blake?"
After three hours in the review meeting Alex was more than ready to leave. She rose up with the rest, saluted and then left in an orderly fashion. Everyone split up after that to head home and Alex got in her aircar. Coats knocked on her window a moment and she lowered it down.
"Heading home?" Not like he didn't know that.
Alex nodded. "It's been a long day and I have to catch the shuttle tomorrow morning to head to Dad's. Why are you asking?"
Coats chuckled. "Most of the rest are of them have at least five years' experience with the knuckleheads that come through here."
Alex held up her hand. "I don't care about their experience. All my guys I made sure they could handle the training because that's the same training I give my own mercs. You know about my Shadow company Andrew."
Coats winced and nodded. "I am not sure the General will agree with you."
Alex shrugged. "I gave my honest opinion. They dragged me out here to train newbies and I am. I would be happy to keep them all. It is of my opinion each and every one of them that survived my attention deserve to move up and be invited back."
Coats could see he wouldn't be able to sway her and sighed. "I think the General will disagree with you." And then a shiver went up his spine at the icy look that Alex gave him.
"If the General intends on ditching my recommendations I will make sure those he dumped are more than welcome with the Legion and let dad loose on him," she said, her voice toneless. "Now if you will excuse me. I have to go finish packing."
Coats moved away and Alex moved the aircar as soon as he did. There was a frown on her face. Coats just sighed again and shook his head. He was certain a few names would be removed and prayed Alex didn't get too upset. Slapping his hand against his leg he turned and moved to his aircar, heading home.
Alex got home and used her anger to finish packing up. When she was done she kicked back and drank a beer while watching whatever was on the screen. Morning found her stretched out on the couch asleep and it was only because of her internal clock that she was able to wake up, get a shower and hit the port to catch her shuttle.
Athens, Greece
Alex grabbed her duffle and headed to the exit. Her father said he would meet her there and pick her up. The heat of the day had just started and she left the building and closed her eyes, letting the sun soak into her skin a moment. A chuckle made her open her eyes and look to see her father there. They both smiled and then Alex had her arms wrapped around him.
"Papa," she murmured into his neck and he squeezed.
"Daughter," he responded and then both of them were jumped on by Gavin.
"Mom!" He hugged her tightly and she laughed, hugging him back.
Alex noticed he had gotten more tanned and looked like any native Grecian. His hair had gotten more blond and she chuckled, ruffling it. "Ok so just how much trouble did you two ruffians get into hmm?"
Akakios gasped in mock indignation. "I resemble that remark," he said and then laughed. "No more than usual."
Alex just snorted in amusement. "Which tells me someone is having a nervous breakdown right now."
"Missed you," Gavin said against her side and she hugged him tightly.
"I know but I got a month before I have to go back. Maybe I can get you two to behave by then. Gods know it's almost impossible," she teased and Gavin sputtered.
Her father just laughed and then motioned with one hand while pushing her with the other. "Come kori, let us get home. Your brother and sister are waiting to jump you."
"Oh great," Alex said with mock dread laced in her voice.
It didn't take long for her father to bring them back to his home. That was one thing Alex loved, the beach was just a step away. She intended on taking advantage of that at least. For now she had to contend with her older brother and sister who were both waiting for her, Gavin and her father.
"Adelfi," her brother said. Darren favored their father with his golden blond hair though he and Alex were of the same height. That is to say, Alex was a tall woman. The man wrapped his arms around his missing sister and hugged her tightly with a laugh.
"What's so funny?" Alex hugged him back and then prepared herself for her sister who squealed as she hugged Alex tight.
Darren chuckled at his sisters. Melisa was hugging Alex tight enough to make the younger gasp for air and that is what Alex did in teasing her sister. Then Alex poked Mel in the side which got another squeal from the older woman and he shook his head and rolled his eyes at his dad.
"Pift, come children. Dinner should be ready then you can go swim Gavin," Akakios said and then shooed them all into the dining room. A server came and set out the food then poured wine for them. Gavin got milk which he took a gulp of before digging into his meal.
"So dad didn't say much about where you have been Alex," Darren said, glancing around a moment.
Alex responded by cutting a piece of lamb and chewing slowly. When she was done she took a sip and set her fork down. "To start with, I left here in a rage at Dad. At least what little I remember in the last few years. From what I've pieced together I joined a rough crowd with a lot of credit. There's a lot of questions of what happened but one day I woke up on this world with no idea who I was or where I was. I was hurt and if it wasn't for Liara finding me I might have died there. It took two weeks before I was recovered enough to even walk."
Mel frowned and stared at her meal instead of her sister. Of the three siblings, she was the most emotional of them, following her dad into diplomatic ventures while Darren and Alex both went into the military. Darren was a Captain based on Earth so he had a lot more time to spend with his family. Both siblings could see Mel frown and smiled slightly.
"Suffices to say my life from there on was the stuff of some super spy novel. Met a lot of good people along the way. Learned a lot and now the Legion is mine to run when the Alliance doesn't need me training their N appointees," Alex said and sighed. "I have to talk to you after dinner Dad."
Akakios nodded and tilted his head slightly, wrinkling his nose at this grandson. Gavin giggled and cut into his food, showing Alex that all his good manners were unlearned. "Gavin, chew with your mouth closed," she said with a wry smile.
The rest laughed and then Alex pointed her fork at her brother. "So got your eye on any women or you still making them run with that ugly face of yours," she teased.
That started her brother a moment then he laughed. "No, though there's a not that wouldn't mind being the arm candy of such a good-looking man like me," he said and fluffed his hair a moment.
That got a snort of derision from Alex while Mel rolled her eyes. Darren raised his hands up. "Hey, don't you snort at me. In all seriousness, there is someone I have my eye on but the fact is… she's kind of younger than you are Alex and an Alliance Naval officer like me."
Alex nodded and finished the meat on her plate. "And regs being as they are, you'll more or less sadly mooning over her, right?" Alex stuck her tongue out at her brother a moment then gave a faint smile. She knew too well about that already.
"Yes, she's on my ship. Best damned engineer I've ever worked with. I rather not lose her," he said and then stabbed at his food.
"So you are on leave right now right? Is she?" Alex took a sip of wine and glanced at Al from the corner of her eye.
"Well yea, we all were rotated out for 3 weeks leave… wait are you telling me I should invite her here?" Darren eyed his younger sister like she was crazy.
Alex just shrugged. "Well you are off duty so regs don't matter Ren. If you continue to wait she's going to find some other guy," she added.
He looked pensive a moment. "Maybe I'll talk to her later," he said and started eating the remainder of his meal.
Mel just rolled her eyes at her brother's words. "Not like you would have figured that one out without Alex's input you dumb goat," she said.
"Hey, no name calling. What about you with that young Texan… what's his name… Greg Chandler?" Darren said and brandished his fork at his sister. "You never did say what was going on with that."
Mel was caught now and she furtively glanced at her father, Alex and then frowned at Darren. "Really? You are a dumb goat, Ren."
He winced after realizing he had spilled something that probably was secret from the way Mel acted. "Sorry," he said softly and Mel sighed.
"Greg is charming but I don't think he wants to settle down and… there are other issues now," she said softly and continued to finish every bit of food on her plate.
"Ah kori, you know you cannot keep secrets from me. No one does," their father spoke up to the three and then offered a smile. "My youngest gives me a grandson before the rest of you. He might not be of our blood but he is still our family. Just because this young man doesn't know what a beautiful, vibrant woman you are doesn't mean that his child will not adore his mother's family."
Alex and Darren both blinked at Mel and their father before looking at each other. Suddenly Alex jerked her head around to stare at her sister. "Your pregnant?"
Mel winced at that word but nodded. "About three months now. Greg leaves in two days to head back home." She paused and gave a questioning look as both Alex and Darren both rose up. "Wait! Don't you two dare," she threatened them and both smirked.
"Too late!" both said in singsong voices and sprinted out of the room with Mel not too far behind. The ended up on the beach where Alex took her brother down with a sweep and he grabbed her leg and gave a tug in return. The two ended up wrestling in the soft sand still Alex got her brother in a headlock. He patted the sand, tapping out.
"I give!" he whined dramatically and that got Mel laughing.
Alex just grinned and gave him a playful shove. "Great, now I have sand up in places that shouldn't have sand. It's your fault," she blamed him and he laughed.
Both glanced over at Mel who had a sad smile on her face and then they held their arms out to her and she took the few steps needed to be embraced by her brother and sister. Both could feel her trembling as she bit back her tears and their eyes met over their sister's head. With a faint nod both agreed to find this Greg and see what was up.
