So we get a time jump now, and the relevance of Becca's dream and a slight introduction to a few new characters, one we won't see for a while and one that'll change the way things are in Citadel Space. Enjoy!
8 years later
Joker sat before the controls of the Normandy, sighing as he checked his messages, yet another no show from Becca. 8 years have passed since they last saw her. She left for college and never returned to the Citadel after her four years. The slavers, however, were restless in their search for her. No matter what, the crew would go after the group only to discover that whatever they were searching for was a faulty discovery.
The crew had become somewhat separated and it seemed Becca was the glue that held everyone together. All of the non-humans had returned to their home planet, Garrus being the only one to stay due to wanting to find Serlus.
It was a normal day for everyone on the ship, going about the usual scans for any signs of the slavers finding something, only to come across a distress signal. It appeared to be a science facility on a small planet that the Alliance had overlooked.
"Hey, Commander? I got a distress signal, should we go in?" Joker asked over the comm.
"Set a course for it, we'll analyze the situation and see what we can do," Shepard answered and Joker did so.
"Strange, just like with Cloudwisper, the Alliance overlooked her planet. I wonder..." Joker mumbled to himself before bringing the Normandy into orbit. "Commander, let me know if you find anything on Becca."
"Don't worry Joker, I will," Shepard answered before the comm cut and Joker saw the shuttle land near the facility.
"Whatever creator is out there...please find my little girl..."
~oOo~
Shepard, Garrus, and James cautiously walked off the ship, their weapons up and waiting. The shuttle flew off and they were on their own for now.
"Shepard, I am reading many heat signatures inside of the facility and also around the area, I cannot get anymore information about the creatures, proceed with caution," EDI said and Shepard nodded to the other men.
"Alright, go in carefully. Anything hostile, shoot to wound." They started forward to the facility, only to be greeted with a few varren. The creatures stood and seemed to bark at the squad.
"Hold your fire!" a woman yelled out to the squad. She shushed the varren and snapped her fingers. The dogs stopped and laid down respectfully. "I apologize for them, they're trained to alert us of anyone coming here that doesn't work here."
"It's fine, we intercepted a distress signal here," Shepard said.
"Oh, I'm sorry about that, it was just a test, we just managed t-" the woman paused before a Reaper Harvester appeared from the skies.
"You have REAPERS here?" Garrus exclaimed and the woman held her hands out to them.
"Wait! Wait! Watch." she held her hands out to the creature and it lowered its head. She laid her hands on it and began petting it. "Nothing on this planet is aggressive. Through genetic engineering, we created natural creatures, but they don't attack."
"Who started all this?" James asked.
"You should ask our CO that questions, follow me," the woman said and led them into the facility. They walked for a while before coming to what appeared to be an armory. Facing the wall, someone was using a blowtorch, long brown hair tied back and a visor protecting her face. "We have visitors."
"I got this," the woman at the workbench said and she turned the blowtorch off. She set it down, turned her chair around, revealing leg braces on black jeans and a black sweater with a red stripe with a white strip on the right arm, sleeves rolled up. She pulled the visor off and smiled, her green eyes bright.
"Shepard, James, Garrus, it's been a long time.
"Becca?!" the three men exclaimed and she smiled.
"In the flesh," She replied before the three of them rushed at her and hugged her.
"How long have you been here?" Garrus asked.
"This group was all graduating when I was, they had the same dream, and I guess it came true. We wanted to recreate creatures, but have them work with us, not against. Reaper creatures are around the planet, along with other creatures. There's a Thresher Maw around somewhere, it's as sweet as a kitten though," Becca explained.
"And Serlus?" Garrus asked. Becca pointed to the doorway of another room and there the said Turian stood, his upgraded M-23 Katana shotgun in hand.
"Hey, Dad. Commander. James," Serlus said and walked over to the group, hugging his father and shaking hands with the humans. "We've been so busy with our work for four years, neither of us could find time to let you know what was happening. You might wanna land the Normandy, Joker will wanna know what's going on." Shepard nodded and put a hand to his ear.
"Joker, land the Normandy, the crew might wanna check this out, you too," Shepard said and nodded when Joker answered. Becca smiled and sat down on the chair, Serlus putting a hand on her shoulder.
"Should we wait until they're all here?" Serlus asked and Becca nodded. It wasn't long until the Normandy crew was led into the room and Joker's face lit up when he saw Becca.
"Becca!" he exclaimed and just about ran to her. She stood and wrapped her arms around him. "I've been so worried, kid."
"I know, I'm sure everyone was worried," Becca said and she sat back down. "A lot has changed in four years, but I think it's best to start off with some exciting news. Serlus and I wanted to wait more so for you, Joker." She looked up at Serlus.
"We're..." he huffed a laugh. "Let's just say there's gonna be a little Vakarian running around soon." Serlus knelt down and laid a hand on Becca's stomach.
"You're kidding!" Garrus gasped and Serlus shook his head.
"Not one bit, Dad." Serlus looked at Joker who was ready to bite his head off. "Don't even Joker. Becca and I have been together for long enough to make this decision and we're sticking with it. Minimum damage has been made from the few times we've slept together. I've taken extra care when we did, we're on a level playing field and that works for us."
"Becca, can I speak to you? Alone," Joker stressed the word and looked at the crew before they followed Serlus out.
"Show them around if you want, Serlus," Becca called after him before looking at Joker. "What?"
"Are you...are you sure about this?" Joker asked. He seemed more worried than angry.
"Joker, I-" Becca was cut off when alarms blared. "Shit, shit, shit! Report!"
"Its the slavers Becca, what do we do?" Serlus answered over the comm.
"Get the Harvesters in the air, I want those slavers dead!" she commanded. She looked at Joker before standing. "Come on, we need to get to the Parasaur Lab." She grabbed his hand and started for the side door Serlus had showed up through.
"The what?" Joker asked.
"You'll see, it's the fruit of this entire project we have and it needs our protection. You still have that pistol?" Joker pulled it out.
"Never leaves me." They headed through a series of walkways before coming to a small lab with what appeared to be glass cages, the sides were blocked off however.
"Come on, we need the queen." They passed the cages but they were all closed off, no way to look inside them until they came to the end of the line where it was open. Inside was what appeared to be a dinosaur of sorts mixed in with a human. Becca pulled the door open and the creature looked up at her from sleeping.
"What...is that?" Joker asked, dumbfounded.
"This is Alana, mixing her genes with humans and the Parasaurolophus dinosaur and we got the Parasaurs. Some human parts and covered in scales along with the crest that you see right here." Becca ran her hand on the said bony crest. "We need to keep the clan safe Alana, can you help us?" Alana simply snorted and her hands glew before two omnitools appeared and whips fell from them. She growled before nodding to Becca. "Take that as a yes. The translators we have don't even have their language registered, but they seem to understand us.
"Now what do we do?" Joker asked.
"We wait and be prepared." Right when the words were out of her mouth, Alana snapped her whip right in front of Becca and a bullet ricocheted off it and into one of the cage doors, the Parasaur inside roaring with surprise. The three watched as Batarians filed in and who appeared to be the leader appeared.
"Finally, after twenty-seven years, I finally found the last remaining member of the colony," he said. "After all this time, I finally have the pleasure of killing the girl who's father knew of my secrets."
"Well it's too late," Becca said and pulled a switch. Twenty Parasaurs jumped from their cages as the doors swung open and they landed on all fours before standing on their back legs and their own whips appearing. Alana roared and the Parasaurs responded before running forward and attacking the Batarians. The leader somehow managed to escape with a few others and Alana started after them. "Alana no! You're immune system isn't strong enough, if you get hurt..." Alana growled with frustration before her whips disappeared and she exhaled.
"That was..." Joker gaped at the creatures as they returned to their cages respectfully, nodding to Becca as she closed the cages up. Alana stood by her own cage and nudged Becca's face.
"Amazing, I know. They act so human, but they're so different."
"Are you gonna try and get the translators for them so their language can be understood?"
"I hope I can, there isn't much I can do to to even get that sort of thing."
"Only time will tell." Becca nodded in agreement before Alana stepped into her cage and Becca closed up her cage.
"Managing to get the DNA of the dinosaurs and using various samples of human DNA, given by the workers, we managed to do something never done before. We created a sentient species to add to the list of aliens known in the Galaxy. The only problem is, with this first surviving batch, their immune systems are that of a newborn baby and they get sick so easily, we've had too many close call deaths, Alana being one of them. We're still trying to figure out how to help them."
"What about environmental suits like the Quarians?"
"Do you not see how little Parasaurs wear? And with their tails, it would be chaos. They need freedom to move so they can fight." They both turned when the sound of footfalls echoed through the room and Garrus and Serlus approached.
"Everyone ok?" Serlus asked and Becca nodded.
"Yeah, we're ok. The clan did a great job, Alana especially, she's doing a fine job leading the others," Becca said and Serlus nodded.
"That's great, just what we expect out of her."
"Joker, Garrus, I have no idea if you two want to check out the place and the planet itself since it's a great place or if you wanna stay with Serlus and myself, be my guest. We have guides here to lead you around, I need to get back to my work though. I'm really glad you're all here."
Becca hugged Joker again before following Serlus back to her workshop. She sat down, adjusting her leg braces before replacing her visor and looking at Serlus who came up behind her. He wrapped his arms around her, his hands resting on her stomach and their heads close together.
"I hope that a few months from now, we really enjoy our lives with the little Vakarian running around with us," Serlus whispered in a husky tone and Becca hummed.
"It'll be something, that's for sure," she responded before turning to face Serlus who knelt down. "You know the drill though, right? I can't go through the natural birth or I'll end up with broken bones big time...and don't be surprised if we have yet another Vrolik's Syndrome patient."
"Shit, I forgot about that. Either way, strong or limited, boy or girl, I'll love our little one no matter what." Becca smiled at him before they shared a kiss.
Awwwwww. Cute right? And yay for new species. No worries, we'll actually hear from Alana and the clan soon. I'll be starting chapter 9 and hopefully get it to you soon. I just realized I finished this chapter pretty quick. I had a lot of time on my hands and still do for the weekend. See you guys next time. Please review! I love the feedback!