Wow it's been a while huh? Well I'm sorry for the delay. I have final exams coming up so I'll have time after those. And due to having a school laptop, the school was being stupid with some things *grumbles angerly* Moving on! Enjoy this new chapter that I worked hard to get done. I'm busting my tail to get chapter seven done as well! Enjoy!
Becca rubbed her eyes as she yawned. The surgery had really worn her out, but she was ready to face another day on the ship. She grabbed her crutches and pushed herself up before heading out. The look on her face was priceless when the doors opened and she was assaulted with a loud "Happy Birthday, Becca!" She laughed and retreated back into the quarters a step before hobbling out and into Joker's arms.
"How long were you planning this?" She asked.
"For a while, kid. We wanted to give you something special, and I take it we did," Joker said and he turned towards Cloudwisper who smiled at Becca.
"You're kidding! You invited Cloudwisper?" Becca exclaimed before the said winged feline shrugged.
"I had a part in one of your birthday gifts," She noted.
The party was a huge hit afterwards. Everyone hung around the Mess Hall, eating, talking, and learning more from each other about how things were going around the galaxy.
Wrex's son, named after the great Salarian, Mordin, who helped cure the genophage, was a born warrior and running around like mad. He was only stood to Becca's waist, but everyone loved him all the same.
Bakara, Mordin's mother, had stayed behind to watch Tuchanka in Wrex's place. Becca had hoped she would come, but not everyone's a winner.
Not long after socializing, Joker sat Becca down in front of everyone and she started opening gifts. Upgrades from Garrus and Serlus, new armor pieces from Wrex, Grunt, and Mordin, some hair and makeup products from Liara, a head piece from Samara, a few models from the Citadel from James and Ashley, and complete surprise when she opened Joker's gift that was the white tiger stuffed animal.
"There's one more," Joker noted and Chakwas walked out of the Med Bay with a box. Becca lifted an eyebrow before taking the box and pulling the lid off. Her jaw dropped and she looked up at Joker then at Cloudwisper.
"This is the thing you took part in?" She asked.
"Yeah, the metal in those is the same stuff as my own leg," Cloudwisper lifted her said metal leg and smiled. Becca pulled the new leg braces from the box and gaped at them. "Much more durable, a lot more support, and best of all, after getting used to them, you wont need those crutches anymore, but since you had a bad break, wait until that heals." Becca held her arms open and Cloudwisper balanced her front paws on the armrest of the chair and Becca hugged the feline.
"Thank you, thank you everyone," Becca said and smiled.
"Let's get this cake out, yeah?" James asked and everyone agreed.
"I don't know how humans and other aliens can eat that stuff, the frosting is too sweet," Wrex noted. He held Mordin on his shoulder.
"Becca doesn't like sweet either, its a different kind of frosting," Joker assured him. Everyone ooed when James and Shepard brought the cake out. It was strawberry, but what was all over it was black frosting with a single red and white stripe along it, printed on it was the characters N7.
The crew sang happy birthday and clapped when Becca blew out the candles. She was in the middle of serving cake when she noticed Shepard put his hand to his ear and head out of the Mess Hall. She shrugged and continued to serve when Shepard came back with a surprise in tow.
"Heard there was a birthday today." Becca smiled at Shepard's girlfriend, Jack.
"Took you long enough," Joker huffed.
"Shut it, cripple, I had kids to deal with, they only just managed to let me go," Jack snapped and she held a box out to Becca. "Its not much, but I used it while we were fighting Reapers." Becca opened it and inside was Acolyte Pistol. She pulled it out and examined the weapon, aiming it at Grunt for the hell of it and smiled.
"Thanks, Jack. And thanks for making it," she said.
"I do what I can," Jack responded and Shepard handed her a plate with cake on it.
The party continued on and sure enough, entertainment means were a good idea. Only during this, did Becca realize Shepard had actually not gotten her a thing. She didn't want to mention anything though, it was only when a white box with holes in it and another box appeared in front of her. She looked up at Shepard who smiled and she opened the white one to find a brown space hamster in it.
"You didn't!" Becca exclaimed. She always loved the hamster in Shepard's quarters, she wanted one for herself. She opened the other box to find multiple small containers containing fish. "Shepard, you are amazing." Becca wrapped her arms around his neck as he hugged her.
"There's something else from Jack and I both," he added and Jack whistled. Out of nowhere a crimson varren and a silver and black varren ran to Jack. Following them were three small varren pups.
"Eezo and Silver had pups, take your pick," Jack stated and pointed to the pups.
"So not only do I get a hamster and fish, but a varren pup as well?" Becca asked and Shepard shrugged. The pups were a variety of colors. A red one like its father, a silver one like its mother, and a tan one with black stripes. "Gimme the silver one." Shepard picked up the wiggly varren and handed it to Becca. In turn, the pup licked her face.
"Looks like a strong healthy male," Wrex commented on the varren that Becca chose.
"I don't even know what to name him," Becca sighed.
"Nightstreak," Cloudwisper piped up. "Back on Terrakon, that was a name given to a fierce warrior who fought in the night."
"Makes sense, seeing as the Varren are used to dark places," Becca responded. "Oh shoot, that means I need supplies for all these pets."
"We covered that actually, there was one last thing we wanted to give you," Shepard said and looked at the whole crew. "From all of us." Becca looked up at Joker as he appeared next to her and dropped a key card on the table along with a booklet.
"Happy birthday, kid," he wished and Becca smiled.
"You got me my own apartment?" she asked and Joker nodded.
"It's close to the one that belongs to Anderson, so you can use that one if you want or your own. Its a decent size for these pets and everything for them is there already, along with a VI to take care of them."
"You guys are too much!" Becca exclaimed and hugged Joker.
The party continued with fun, food, and socializing, until the ryncol and other drinks came out, then the fun began. Becca didn't drink though, not wanting to face the morning afterwards, but she and Joker left the ship when things got a little out of hand. They headed to Becca's new place and was presented with a decent sized place with a few bedrooms.
"Its beautiful, perfect place to live," Becca said and sighed. "Is this you guys telling me to get out of the ship?"
"No, this is me telling you to stay here if you want to and not go out on missions with us. I know you've lived on the ship since we saved you, but this is a place for you to escape," Joker explained and Becca nodded.
"I understand. Its nice though, thank you."
"Anything for you kid."
~oOo~
The next morning was a bustle of activity. With the crew's help, they managed to get most of Becca's things to her apartment and her new pets settled in. It was only when she was settled did she actually relax after so much that had been going on. As a welcome home gift, Joker and Garrus pitched in and got Becca her own workspace for her upgrading skills.
Becca had been working to get her new pistol upgraded to her liking, when she realized this was a turning point in her life and she would need a degree before she could get a job. She didn't want to rely on the Normandy crew for much longer. Even though she learned her basics from the crew, she knew she needed to learn more. Becca looked at the box of her books for a moment before looking up at the crew.
"We're needed back on the Normandy, see you around, kid?" Joker asked and Becca nodded before hugging everyone goodbye.
Once her door was closed, Becca rolled the chair over to the box and right on top was a booklet for bioengineering college. Getting a doctorate would allow her to start research on something she always dreamed of: reviving a creature from a long ago past and making it a reality. Becca smiled and nodded. Every since Liara handed the booklet to her, she had been making her decisions and knew what she would do.
~oOo~
Once the Normandy docked on the Citadel, Becca sought out Joker and they went to lunch. Becca paid for their usual and they started eating. She was nervous about what she was going to discuss, but hoped things would go smoothly.
"We need to talk," Becca said bluntly and Joker stared for a moment with food in his mouth before swallowing, setting the burger down and leaning back. Becca pulled the booklet from the small of her back and slapped it on the table. "College. I wanna go there. I can't rely on you guys anymore." Joker stared for a moment, arms crossed, before he picked it up and looked through it.
"You're sure about that? How long are you planning on staying?" Joker asked.
"Enough for my doctorate then I'll try and get into a place to start."
"Sounds risky, and expensive. Let me cover you for your years at least...my final gift to you." Becca smiled at her adoptive father before hugging him.
"Ok...it's in another part of the Galaxy, so I might not see you very often."
"I don't care, I'll do what I can to stay in contact. We'll set you up with a message account so you can keep in touch." Becca nodded and they finished eating before heading to the Presidium. They walked around and looked at the different places before sitting before the Krogan memorial.
"I might actually miss this place when I leave," Becca mumbled and Joker chuckled.
"You might, but it'll be here when you wanna come back," Joker said and Becca shrugged.
"I should get back to the apartment, can't leave Nightstreak there by himself for long, poor thing will chew everything out of boredom," Becca stated and she stood.
They headed back to her apartment though, they were greeted with an unlocked door, evidence of hacking. Becca and Joker looked at each other before pulling their pistols, Becca leaning her crutches against the wall and they took cover on either side. Becca swiped the keycard in the device and the door opened. Joker looked around the corner before moving from cover and aiming into the room.
"Stay here," Joker whispered before entering the apartment. Becca waited for a moment before a gunshot echoed through the hall and Nightstreak appeared out of nowhere, cowering behind her. Becca froze up when she heard heavy footsteps heading towards the door. She took aim, waiting, only to see a Batarian exit the room and she pulled the trigger.
The Scorpion launched a baseball sized orb right in his face, forcing him away from her. Becca took a few tentative steps back before the mine exploded and the Batarian was no more. She exhaled, lowering her pistol before switching the safety on, putting it away, grabbing her crutches and entering the apartment. She searched for Joker, finding him in the kitchen with a towel pressed against his arm.
"Shit! Joker!" Becca rushed to him as best as she could and applied pressure on his hands.
"I'm ok, I'm ok. It's not that bad," he assured her.
"Stay here," Becca commanded and she hobbled to one of the cabinets in the kitchen and pulled a first aid kit.
"Never thought you would be prepared for that," Joker chuckled.
"You kidding? With my luck, I keep this around all the time," Becca stated and smiled before cleaning Joker's wound and wrapping it. "It was with me on the ship too, Dr. Chakwas helped me put it together."
"I don't know how I feel about you staying here, the Batarians are getting restless," Joker said and Becca grimaced.
"I need to focus on getting into this place, you worry about money stuff. I have a plan to keep safe here, don't worry. Everything will be fine."
Ok, that's that. Hope you liked it! Chapter 7 is being worked on right now. Please give feedback so I know what you all think of it!