Arcturus 2
Chase Jarrett
So, I gotta admit it, getting gene mods is not as scary as I thought it's was going to be. When I went to the clinic I found out that there's a whole bunch of gene mods to choose from. Unfortunately, your limited to four at a time, due to possible side effects. I, however, figured a loop hole. You know how in some video games you have to get 'example one' before you can get 'example two', not being allowed to skip straight to 'example two', well that's the loop hole.
I'm able to get muscle weave 1 & 2, Endurance 1 & 2 at the same time, given the fact that the side effects are the same, and apparently don't compound when takin at the same time. I'm also getting enhanced reflexes and, by recommendation, a pain threshold mod. The doc said that, while it's the least used, it's actually the most useful in my situation, allowing me to get into better shape, ignoring the pain and allowing me to continue getting fit. About a week after that I plan on getting a memory enhancer. It's no eidetic memory, so I won't be a Drell, but it'll help me retain information. All in all, it's going to cost me 350 thousand credits. A worthy investment, I'd like to think.
"So, are you ready?" Asked the doc.
"As ready as I'll ever be." I said, "So what's the whole process going to be like?"
"Well, you'll be under for about 8 hours, and I'll need to monitor you for an additional 2." She said, moving towards me with what I'm assuming is a sedative. "Sleep tight".
Oh man, another fucking headache. Once, just once, I'd like to wake up in a medical facility without a splitting headache. I open my eyes, see the lights are much dimmer from before, and pull myself up. Looking around, I see the doc is in her office, do something on her omnitool. I look over to my right and see Shepard sitting in a chair, reading something on her data pad, when did she get a data pad?
"Watcha reading there? I asked.
"Oh, uhhh, it's an old book series from the 21st century my English teacher recommended. It's called the 'Harry Potter' series, I'm reading 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets', it's the second one." She replied, startled by my question.
"Yeah, it's a good series, once you finish it we can watch the movies. I'll bring the popcorn!"
"There's a vid series on this!" She exclaimed, "Well let's watch them!".
"Well hold up now," I said, raising my hands. "you'll have to read all the books first, they're much better than the movies, trust me. But, don't get me wrong, the movies are pretty good as well." I said, clearly making her a little disappointed. After our little chat, the doc finally walks in.
"Ah, Mr. Jarrett, how are you feeling?" she asked, while typing away at her data pad. What is with people and typing so much on these damn things, how much can you possibly have to type about.
"Well," I responded, "besides feeling tired and a headache, I'm feeling perfectly fine."
"Excellent, your free to leave now, be sure to contact me if there are any latent side effects. I'll see you in about a week I presume."
"Wait, what?" I asked.
"Yes?" she retorted.
"I thought that you had to monitor me for 2 hours. Don't tell me your getting lazy." I said with grin plastered on my face.
"I did, you slept through those two hours, and from what I can tell your in good shape, I'm sure your girlfriend here can attest to that, she was here for the past three." She said.
"Oh okay, wait what, she's not, no, she's not my girlfriend, she just…. uh…. a friend, I guess." I looked over to Shepard, who just shrugs, I guess neither of us has thought much about our situation, and how to explain it. I look back to the doctor, who by now is just waving us to leave. Rude.
It's been a few days since the therapy, and I finally found Shepard someone to train her in biotics, it's an Asari ex-commando who runs a small biotic school on Arcturus. And It's costing me 10,000 credits, per month, for private lessons, which Shepard literally begged me, on her knees, to get her. I'm just glad that she's joining the Alliance when she turns 18, cause she fuckin draining me at this rate. Plus, I had to buy her an L3 amp, that was 50,000 credits, I'm just glad it was a onetime investment.
It's been a few weeks since I got my gene mods now, and it's fricken OP. I can run a mile in about 4 minutes flat, A MILE IN 4 FLIPPEN MINUTES. I can run a solid five miles at a six-minute pace and be at a moderate sweat, that's 5 miles in 30 minutes, this is borderline stupid. Albeit, I don't have an actual job, so I train all day, and I have that pain threshold mod, so that's really helping. I'm pretty sure I've gained at least 10 pounds in muscle mass in the past three weeks alone. Oh well, I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth.
It's morning now, about 6 days till I leave for boot camp, but more importantly, it's the morning of Shepard's Birthday. I open my eyes and couldn't help but notice Shepard asleep next to me. I swear, what's the point of an agreement if I'm the only one that follows it? Anyways, I slowly get up, and make my way to the kitchen to whip up her favorite breakfast dish, chocolate chip pancakes and bacon! As I'm about to plate her breakfast she decides to wake up and start to get ready.
"Morning" she mumbles, as she putting on some socks.
"Morning birthday girl", I responded. I don't know about other people, but in my family, you got your favorite meals on your birthday, regardless of age. "You hungry? I made your favorite." That got her to wake up.
"Chocolate chip pancakes and bacon?" I simply nod my head at her and she literally jumped over the couch and sat at the table.
"Damn, I guess I'm not the only one who's been exercising lately." I whispered, but apparently, she has the ears of an elephant.
"Well, I'll have you know I was ahead in school, so I don't have to take a science or a math class, so I just take 2 additional gym classes instead. Plus, my Biotics teacher, Ms. Tel'vesir, makes me exercise before our lessons. But, even more important, what's the plan for today?" she asked.
"You mean besides you going to school, then Biotics? Well, just tell me what you want for dinner, and I'll make it." I said, looking confused as to why she'd ask.
"You mean I have to go to school and Biotics on my Birthday?"
"Yes, you're not just skipping school because it's your birthday. And unless you have 500 credits to cover your lesson for today, you're going to that as well." I claimed, nearly raising my voice for obvious some reasons.
"FIVE HUNDRED?! Fine, I'll go." She sighed, clearly losing the argument.
"So, what do you want me to make for dinner?" I asked.
"uuhhhh…"
"What" I inquired.
"You're amazing at making breakfast, or anything involving bar-b-que." She said.
"But…" I said.
"You burnt pasta the other night, pasta, and my favorite dish is Chicken Parm. Why don't we just go out to Red Rocket?" She asked.
"First off, that wasn't my fault." I said, while she just gave me an eyebrow. "It was broken!"
"The pot of boiling water was broken?" She asked.
I just wave her off and turn to clean the dishes. "Fine" I said, "we'll go to Red Rockets."
She eventually left for school, with a massive grin all over her face. Besides my workout routine today, I have to go pick up her necklace that I had made, and I have a meeting with someone from the Smithsonian of all places, meeting me here at the apartment. The doorbell to the apartment rings, I look at the time and couldn't help but notice that they're two hours early. I open the door, and gesture to the couch.
"I hate to be rude, but you're a bit earlier than I expected, is there any way we can just cut to the chase?" I asked.
"Oh dear, I'm so sorry, I didn't even consider the time difference. But to cut to the subject at hand, we learned through the Alliance that you have an original m-14, in excellent and working condition, and I was sent here to try and purchase it from you." He said.
"Ah, I see, Mr…."
"Jameson"
"Well, Mr. Jameson, no thank you." I said, in as straight of a voice I could muster.
"Wh-what? You don't even want to know our offer?" he questioned.
"To be frank, no. I don't have much from my 'old' life, and that m14 is one of them. It is not for sale, regardless of the offer."
"I see, I apologize for wasting your time." He replied, standing up to leave.
I put my hand up to stop him, seeing an opportunity here. "But…" I said.
"But?"
"I'd be willing to lease it to you on a yearly contractual basis." I stated.
"You would?" he asked.
"Yes, for the right price and terms I would" I said. This is perfect, I could keep my prized possession safe, and earn a little coin off this.
"I could offer you 500 thousand credits a year, on a yearly contract, that can be renegotiated at the end of each year. If there is no negotiation, and neither party wishes to break the contract, it will auto renew." He said. Holy shit, if they'll give me that a year, what were they willing to pay for it. I should have at least heard the guy out.
"That's acceptable, if three of my terms are met." I replied. "One, only the curator or an employee of the Smithsonian can touch or study the gun, no unauthorized people."
"Of course," he interjected.
"Second, it's to be locked up in a glass case, I don't want some kid, or even adult, get a little too touchy with it." He simply nodded his head in agreement.
"And the third?" Jameson asked.
"I want a 20 million credit insurance policy on it, I'd understand if you need to take some time to contact someone about this." I said.
"Hm, I suppose it's reasonable, but I do need to contact my boss, can you give me a few minutes?" he asked. I simply nodded, and he went outside on an, omni call? Or is it still called a phone call? Either way about 5 minutes later he walked back in.
"My boss is willing to agree to all of your terms. However, if we have a 20 million credit insurance on it, he said we won't go over 400 thousand a year on the lease." He said, quite nervously.
"Perfect, then we have a deal." I raise my hand and we shake on it. About 30 seconds later, literally, he sent me the contract. It was quite simple, and I signed and sent a copy back. I went over to my dresser, pull out a case from under it, and hand it to Him. "Take care of it" I said. As he was walking out I got a wire transfer of 400 thousand credits. Sweet.
I later picked up the dollar coin from the jewelry maker, it only cost me 1000 credits for the chain and housing for the coin. I still don't see why she liked the coin so much, maybe because it has Sacagawea on it, with an eagle on the other side. I guess to her this is like a relic. I'm just hoping she likes it.
So right now, I'm waiting outside her biotics training, for some reason Tel'vesir won't let me watch any of her training. After about 20 minutes of waiting, though I probably should mention that the lessons are two hours long, it finally ended. Shepard finally walked out, fresh out of the showers, clearly tired and apparently surprised to see me.
"Chase, what are you doing here?"
"Well, the plan was to take you to dinner, if your still up to it." I said.
"What, of course. I just thought that we'd meet at home, so I could change."
"Aw, you want to dress up for lil ole me? I'm flattered Shep, but you perfect the way you are now." I said, all she did was cock her head at me, trying to read me. "Remember Cass, I said no lying, and that's both ways."
"Fine," she said, looking away. She grabbed my arm and rested her head against my shoulder. "I'm exhausted…"
"You still hungry?" I asked. "Ouch!" Did she just Gibbs slap me? She just fucken Gibbs slapped me!
"What kind of question is that? She asked.
"Not the kind that deserves physical punishment." I say, while rubbing the back of my head.
We make it to the Diner, and grab our regular booth. Have I mentioned that we come here probably 2-3 times a week? I'll admit it, I'm not the best cook. But Shepard, she a great cook, she just flippin lazy. The waitress comes and gets our order, I get the meatloaf and garlic mashed potatoes, and Shep gets the Chicken parm. Dinner was nice, we had some small talk. She talked about school and some stupid things her friends did, and I talked about how I had to increase my training regiment, because it was getting too easy.
"Here you go Cass" I say, handing her the present.
"You got me a present?" she asked.
"Of course, why wouldn't I?
"You've done too much for me…"
"Cass, stop." I interrupted. "We've already had this conversation, now open up you're your damn present, and like it!" That got me some wide eyes from her.
"Oh my god, Chase, I thought you sold this!" She exclaimed, putting on the necklace.
"I was going to, but I saw how much you loved it, so I kept on to it, just do me a favor and keep it safe, it's all that I had left, 'kay?"
She nods her head and just stares at the dollar. I wave the waitress over, and get her to take a picture of the two of us, and that pretty much wrapped up the night. We made our way halfway back to the apartment, and she gave me a kiss on the cheek and thanked me, and went out to celebrate with some of her friends. Now that I think about it, I don't think she's introduced me to a single one! What the hell. She's either embarrassed over them, or she's embarrassed over me. Probably the first one.
A few days passed and its finally Wednesday, the day I'm supposed to ship out. No pressure, I'm just about to do the dirty in my pants right now anyways, gotta love nerves.
"Did you finish packing?" Shepard asked.
"Packing what, there's nothing to take except my omnitool. Anyways, I got you a little parting gift." I said.
"You got me a parting gift? I thought I'm supposed to get you a parting gift." She replied. I didn't say anything, I just handed her a picture frame with the picture from her birthday.
"Thanks," she said, "now that I think about it, I didn't have any pictures of you, let alone of the two of us."
"Yeah, think of it as I'm always here." I said. "So don't do anything stupid, ya hear?"
"Please, who do you think your talking to?" she deadpanned.
"Come-on, I need to go catch the shuttle." I said, waving her to follow.
The walk to the shuttle was a little on the awkward side, no talking, just awkward silence. "Well that's my ride" I said. I turned to Shepard and pulled her into a hug. "I'll message you every night, and I get thirty minutes of vid chat every Sunday, so be ready." She nodded, looking a bit sad, but happy at the same time, how is that even possible? "Here's some credits to get by while I'm gone, don't waste it please, I'm not sure I can transfer credits while I'm in boot."
"I'm gonna miss you." She whispered.
"And I'll miss you, but I have to go." I said.
"Wait, close your eyes, I got you something." I obeyed, not wanting to argue and possibly miss my shuttle. Suddenly I feel lips on mine, and it's Shepard. It's nothing seductive or special, just a three second peck on the lips, but extremely surprising. Not that I'm complaining. Was that watermelon?
"For good luck!" She says, gives me a quick hug, and runs away. I've known her only six weeks, but it seems like years now. And somehow, she keeps surprising me. Well, now I get to go to boot camp, this is going to suck.