Eight Days
"We're about an hour from Arcturus" Mordin said.
"Alright, here, I wrote these up for you" I said, handing a data pad to him.
"What's this?" he asked.
"Just a few things that I'd like you to look into, you plan on recruiting Maelon? He'd be useful." I questioned.
"You don't care if I recruit people?" he asked.
"No, I figure that if you trust them, then I can trust them. Just let's not tell them about my origins, keep it strictly to the Reapers."
"Of course, so what is it that I'm looking into?" Mordin questioned.
"The first project is to cure Kepral's Syndrome, that's basically it. The second is a bit of a personal project, it two suits of armor. You'll recognize the helmet, I want some customized suits."
"There are some empty slots on this, what exactly do you want there?"
"Feel free to put what ever you want there, full creative freedom. But the design has to stay as is, it's modeled after something special to me." I said.
"Very well, it will be done. And the third?" he asked.
"Yes, I want you to make a modified Genophage" I said, putting up my hand to stop Mordin "We're not going to just give to them, they'll have to earn it. We'll need them, we slow down the reapers invasion, and better our chances, but they're still coming, and we'll need all the help we can. I want you to modify it to where the Genophage allows ten percent to survive birth, whereas it's currently at one percent. Also, it needs to affect their fertility, no more still-borns."
"That will take a while…." He whispered. "But on one condition, all three of us has to agree in order to release it."
"I'll agree to that, and I'm in no rush, we have the time." I responded.
"How much do you know about Biotic amps?" I questioned.
"Just your basics about it, never really looked into it before. Why?"
"I want to get a customized Amp for Shep, but she's stuck with an L3 for now."
"Hhhmm, once I get a lab crew together, I'll have someone look into it, but it'll be awhile, maybe a year, a year and a half." He responded, and I nodded.
The rest of the trip was spent in silence, mainly Mordin typing away on his omnitool. We finally landed, and Mordin walked me to the Airlock.
"Well Jarrett, we'll be in touch. If we don't speak before your 'N' training, good luck!" he said, smiling and reaching out his hand for a handshake.
"Thanks, Mordin"
"Oh, and one more thing, here are some credits, if you need more just contact me or Thane, we'll transfer it to you." He said. I got a ping on my omnitool, and a credit transfer of 10 million credits!
"Ten million credits? That's a bit excessive, isn't it?" I asked.
"Perhaps, but saving the galaxy isn't going to be cheap, I'll see ya later." He said, walking back into the ship. I turn around and head back to my apartment. I never realized how good it feels to be in a familiar place, it feels like home on this station. I walk by the Red Rocket, and see that it's closed down. I check my omnitool, and see that it's 4:30 am on the station. I eventually make it back to the apartment, and open the door.
I walk in, and see it's perfectly clean, and I see Shep over on the bed, passed out. I walk over to my dresser, dropping my duffel bag on the floor, and reaching in for some fresh clothes to change into.
"Chase" I heard come from Shep's direction.
"Hey Cass" I said as I was taking off my shirt to change. Immediately the lights turn on, and I look over to see Shep by the control panel.
"Chase!" she yelled at me.
"Yes?" I questioned as she ran over to me.
"What happened to you, you have, you have three scars!" she exclaimed.
"Very observant, but I'm fine, I don't want to talk about it, I just had to take care of some business, okay, can we drop it?"
"No" she yelled, "what kind of business do you have that gets you shot?"
"Look Cassandra, we all have a past, and I don't want to get into it right now." I said sternly.
"Well, okay, but you'll eventually have to let me know. You okay?" she asked.
"I'm fine, okay." I said, putting on my shirt. "You should see the other guy." That earned me a slap, then a quick hug.
"That's not funny, you really had me worried." She said.
"You know, once I'm a full fledged 'N' soldier, I won't be able to tell you where I'm going." I claimed.
"Yeah, but once I make it into the 'N' program myself, you'll be able to tell me."
"You're offly confident in yourself." I commented.
"You haven't seen me using Biotics." She grinned.
"I'm not allowed to! Whatever, I'm too tired to argue, I want to get a few hours of sleep." I said, falling onto the bed immediately passing out. I wake up, it's nine o'clock, and look over to see Shep cooking.
"Shouldn't you be at school?" I asked.
"I took the day off"
"Are you allowed to do that? I questioned.
"It's just one day, I don't think they're going to call Child Protective Services." She quipped, and I just sighed at that.
"Well, I have eight days until I have to leave, and you know what?" I asked.
"What?"
"There are eight Harry Potter movies, one for each night." I said, "Did you finish the books?".
"I'm almost done with the last one, but there are only seven books, there's an eighth?" she asked.
"No" I quickly replied, "that last book was split into two movies. So, you have seven days until we start it. What are you making?"
"I'm just whipping up some ham and bacon." She claimed.
"Well, you know what they say, the quickest way to a man's heart is through his stomach." I replied.
"There's a, there's something I wanted to talk to you about." She said, getting serious.
"Oh god, you're pregnant." I deadpanned.
"What!" she screamed, landing solid blow to my shoulder. And I couldn't hold in my laughter. "That's not funny!"
"I'm sorry" I gestured her to calm down, "I couldn't resist, I just love messing with you." I said, earning me a glare. "What's up, what's with the serious face?"
"Well, you know, I graduate High school in 2 months."
"Right" I said.
"And I don't turn 18 for another 6." She said.
"Ah" I interjected, "you want to get my permission to join early?", and she nodded nervously. "Why do you need it now?"
"Well" she hesitated, "when you leave for 'N' training, you'll be gone for six months, so I kinda need it before you leave."
"Okay, you got it."
"What, that's it?" she questioned.
"Well, I figured if I don't give it to you, you'd just forge it" I claimed, getting her to grin.
"Thanks, I've already talked to the recruiter, and I'll be able to ship out about three weeks after graduation." She said. "In fact, if it all goes according to schedule, you'll graduate 'N' training about a week before I finish boot camp."
"All right then, let's go, you'll workout with me for now in the morning, to give you a taste of what it's like."
"Right now?" she questioned.
"Yup, let's go." I say, moving towards the door. We got about a little less than half way through the run, which I do about 10km in an hour, before she hit her limit.
"You're insane Chase, I don't care if you have gene mods, no sane person does this."
"I don't know what you're saying" I said, "I'm not even breathing hard. Here, I'll transfer some credits to you, make sure you get some Gene mods, now you need to go to school, no skipping, if you hurry you'll only be two hours late."
"What, why?"
"Consider it punishment for not being able to stay up with me." I said, with a wink.
"Whatever" she said, waving at me. She went on her way while I went on with my run, pushing my self to do 15km this time, trying to get in better shape for what's coming. The rest of the week went as planned, mostly getting in shape, and at night I watch a movie with Shep. I don't see her much, she's at school and Biotics most of the day, so it's movie, dinner, then bed. The seventh day, we watched both parts of the Deathly hallows, mainly because I was planning on getting drunk on my last day.
It was finally the last day, around six, Shep should be home soon, and I was already a little buzzed to say the least.
"Hey Shep" I said as she walked through the door.
"Are you drinking?"
"Yup" I replied with a smile.
"You're drunk"
"nuh-uh"
"Rriiiigght. Of course not." She quipped.
"Want a drink?" I asked.
"You offering me a drink? You know I'm not 18 yet." She said, and I just waived her over.
"Please, the first drink I had was with my father when I was 16, while I'm not your father, it's better than being alone." I said, and she just got quiet. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought up your family."
"It's fine, I know you didn't mean it" she whispered, as she took a sip from the drink I poured her. "Fuck, that's disgusting, what is that?"
"Whiskey."
"Why would you drink that?" she questioned.
"It works quick." I said, and we spent the next two hours drinking, and I got blitzed. We had a lot of small talk, and she told me about her school, and apparently, she's a mischievous one, playing pranks on students and teachers.
"All righst, I'ms at muh limit, ima go to bed." I slurred out, falling on to the bed.
"I guesh I'll go to bed assss well" she mumbled out, falling right next to me. She then wormed her way to me, resting her head on my shoulder. "You know yours cute when yous sleep." She muttered.
"Thanks?" I questioned, not sure where this was going. Next thing I know she's on me, kissing my neck, working her way up slowly. "What the hell are you doing?" I said, pushing her away.
"I'm not sure, alcohol is fun, I guess I just can't, or don't want to, hold myself back" she said with a grin, then she kissed me on the lips, and I idioticly returned it. I knew it was wrong, but I'm so wasted that I have little self-control right now. Little, not none. We made out for about 30 seconds before I pushed her off and got out of bed.
"Okay, this is a mistake, and we're both very drunk. I'm sorry, this is my fault. I'll take the couch, goodnight." I said, falling asleep before she could say anything. Waking up to my alarm, it's 5 am, and my head is thumping from the day before. Great, that's going to be a great talk. I get up to get ready, as well as pack for my trip to Rio. Walking out of the bathroom, I see Shep's up, and drinking a glass of water, not looking too good.
"How ya feeling?" I asked.
"I'm never. Drinking. Again." She whispered, and I couldn't help but laugh.
"I'm sorry, for last night, I'm not sure why I did that, it's like I couldn't control my basic urges, I've never felt like that before." She stated.
"Yeah, that's alcohol." I deadpanned.
"It was all a mistake." She said, shaking her head.
"Thanks, glad to know I'm a complete mistake." I quipped getting her all flustered, and I raised my hand to stop her. "I know, I'm just messing with ya." I said with a smile. I quickly whipped up some pancakes and bacon, and gave her another glass of water to help her with the hangover.
"Alright, I'm heading out, gotta go catch a shuttle."
"I can't come see you off?" she asked.
"No, it's an a strictly Alliance dock, you're not allowed in. It's best to just do our goodbyes now." I said, getting a hug from her. "I'll see you in about 6 months, unfortunately we won't be able to speak for a while, no communications in 'N' training"
"Good luck, and stay safe."
"Thanks, you too." I say, I bent down, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "For good luck." I walked out, and head towards dock 3-mc. I get there, and I have to turn in all of my belongings, including my uniform. They issued me a new uniform, void of a nametag or rank. On the back and shoulders was a number, 117. I have no idea what the significance of that is. Our flight to Rio was rather, uneventful. There was at least 30 other people in the shuttle, all older than me, giving me a rather unsavory look. The shuttle there took us straight to Rio, on to a large field. Looking out I could see 9 other shuttles there as well.
Exiting it, we're all in a field, with a small stage in the front. We're all just waiting there, and I walk into some conversation a couple of guys are having.
"So, what do you think 'N' trainings like, after we become N1's?" a guy with 222 on his shoulder asked.
"You don't know?" 186 questioned, and 222 just shook his head. "Well, N1 training just weeds out a ton of people, only 20 percent, on average, pass N1. And even less get invited to N2 training and beyond. I heard that N1's the hardest, and that N2 and N3 is just advanced training for field work, like tactics and shooting. N4 is supposedly specialty training. N5 is one on one training with either a N6 or N7, and N6 isn't training. They just put you in the field, and if you excel, they grant you N7, only the elite earn it though. And to get into N2 and beyond, you have to be recommended by the instructors, you could have been the best, but if they don't like you, you don't get in."
"You sure know a lot." I butted in.
"I got a buddy who's an N6." He replied, "but this doesn't make any sense, they only take 150 people per class, there's at least 300 here."
Suddenly, we heard footsteps on a metallic floor, and look up to see what I'm assuming is one of the instructors on the stage.