College Effect Redux
Chapter 5
A/N: Forgot to write out my apology last chapter! Im so sorry for how long it took for update, and I swear Im trying to do better about being on a schedule for updating! Forgive me! I also forgot my disclaimer (raises hands to face in mock scream).
Disclaimer: Mass Effect is the property of Bioware, but they are a generous company and allow people like me to dress up the characters. Thank you Bioware!
The Asari hostess escorted Jane and Kaidan, winding through the crowd that was only just beginning to disperse, to a booth at the far side of the restaurant. "Hot and spicy or regular?" The hostess waited expectantly, her gravelly voice at odds with her appearance. Jane glanced at Kaidan and raised an eyebrow. He shrugged.
"I guess a little adventure never hurts. Hot and spicy!" Jane smiled at the hostess, who turned towards Kaidan, who nodded in agreement with another little shrug. "Sure, why not." The hostess placed a number placard on the table and sauntered off to turn in two order tokens. Jane glanced around the booth, blue plastic seat covers, metallic tabletop, and neon piping made for a headache inducing experience. She could only guess how Kaidan was feeling, and he rubbed his temples to confirm her suspicions.
Before she could ask, he started talking. "So, I was thinking on the way over here, about corporate politicking and loopholes that exist, and it seems like Intatek is, maybe, a branch of an already existing company. It does also sound like there is some sort of illegal activity going on if they have access to student files."
She waved her hand. "I'd rather not talk about them anymore right now. For starters, we won't be able to find out anything else right now. Also, that guy was an ass, and I'd rather not give him anymore of my time." Kaidan laughed.
"Absolutely reasonable. So how about you tell me your deepest darkest secret?" He tapped her knuckles playfully.
"I don't like the way your voice sounds," she blurted out. Jane slapped her hands over her mouth and flushed red. He was definitely taken aback. "Shit, that wasn't what I meant to say at all. I had a rough patch, and I really can't believe I'm telling you this, but I want you to know because I didn't mean to hurt your feelings ." She backpedaled, trying to fix the situation. Sure, she could be just as brutal as her brother, but she really did want to make more than one friend in college. "You sound like one of the doctors. You're supposed to trust the doctors, to help make the right decisions, and I couldn't. You just have that same voice."
Kaidan's face softened. "I can't say I completely understand, because I don't, although it probably doesn't help that I told you I want to be a politician. Not historically the most trustworthy occupation," he lamely joked. Jane laughed anyway, and the tension eased. The neon trim at their table began flashing, and a Salarian waiter sat their bowls down. "Thank you," they murmured simultaneously. The waiter bobbed a nod out and continued his back and forth serving route; even after the lunch crowd this place was busy.
They ate their noodles in silence, occasionally blowing puffs of air or reaching for their water after a particularly spicy bite. "What made you decide to be a politician? Do you really think humanity stand a chance of being chosen for a Council seat?" Jane was genuinely curious. The Council hadn't added a seat since the genophage had almost extincted the Krogan, but Kaidan seemed very passionate and motivated. If anyone could do it, in her mind, he probably could – even if she disagreed with politics as a matter of course.
He looked thoughtful for a moment, taking a few bites of noodles. "Well, I will answer the second question first, since I think it answers the first question nicely as well. I think we as a race bring a lot to the metaphorical table. We're adaptive, much moreso than Salarians or Turians, to environmental conditions. That means we can offer excellence as explorers and surveyors. We're genetically adaptable, and in recent months experimentation to find the upper limit of human biotic ability, which some say could rival the Asari. For as much as the other races are constrained by their environments or their genetics, or any of that stuff, humans are not. We're viewed with mistrust, and I want to change that, to bring new insight into the political climate of the future." His eyes practically sparkled with enthusiasm at the thought of galactic law.
Jane managed, only barely, to keep a straight face. "You must really be a delight at parties," she deadpanned.
"Surprisingly enough, not really. Most people don't care about the Council or a seat for humanity as long as their needs are met. The status quo is good enough." He was so earnest, Jane could only grin and chuckle. "Annnd you were kidding." His skin deepened into a flush.
"I'm sorry!" Jane was quick to reassure him. At least he had a dream. "I tend towards sarcasm courtesy of my twin. No matter how much he can get on my nerves, he does have my back though."
"It's nice to have someone you can count on like that. Ash has sisters climbing out of the woodwork, but I was an only child. She kind of became my sister, since we grew up together. She's tough, doesn't take any crap. Helped me out of more spots than I can count."
Jane felt herself beginning to relax, a good joke (ok a really bad joke if she was honest) and common ground setting her more at ease. "How did you get to be a biotic? I've not met a human one before you, and heard it was quite rare. Is it something you sign up for?"
Kaidan laughed. "That would be nice. I guess there was this big accident was mom was pregnant with me. Eezo exposure from a waste shuttle crash. There was a small blurb in the newspaper, about the crash, and just recently a research article linking eezo exposure to biotic development. Mom couldn't have any more kids after that, so she sort of adopted Ashley later on." He gave a rueful smile. "If I'm honest, she pretty much adopted the entire neighborhood. How about your family?"
Jane had always been purposefully vague regarding her family so Kaidan had no idea, but she felt her heart clench anyway. "It's just me and John, and occasionally my dad, now." The lump in her throat persisted, despite claims that time would remove the pain. She cleared her throat, managing to squeeze out the words. "There was a raid on the colony…" Falling silent, she put some noodles into her mouth, doing her best to send the tears down with them.
"I'm sorry. Let me pay real quick, and then we'll get you out of here." He stood quickly and rushed to the cash register queue. Jane turned and discreetly blew her nose, hoping her skin wasn't turning red from the emotion. She schooled her face to neutral, and stood to join Kaidan.
"You shouldn't be the one who is sorry. I need to get used to saying it, just blurt it out and be done. It's just… if I say it, if I rip that bandage off, what if it still never heals?" She spoke softly, hoping he could hear her, and wishing he couldn't.
"I won't press you, but if you want my advice, if you never take that bandage off it will never get the chance to heal." He patted her arm gently and they waited in silence until their turn to pay. Jane started to pull out her chit, and Kaidan stopped her. He flashed the Asari hostess turned cashier a brilliant smile, and paid for both bowls. As they we were walking out, he started to pull out his omni tool, "I'll message your brother…"
"NO! It's all right, please no! No, he's having a grand old time reciting poetry! I'll just head over to the student gym, maybe. Beat a punching bag into submission. I'm part krogan don't you know." She flashed a small smile.
Kaidan laughed. "I wouldn't doubt it at all. You've improved in hand to hand for sure!"
Jane raised her eyebrows. "You noticed? Garrus has been tutoring me and Liara. She's gotten much better as well."
"Oh yeah! During our biotic only sessions I used to be able to win easily, not now… yeah, it's 50/50. If I get a lucky pull off or something." The pair continued towards the student housing area, amicably discussing classmates.