Here's chapter 9, there is one more chapter after this then that'll be it, I will have finally finished Stonger Than Bones. We've come a long way, hope you enjoy this chapter!
The crew had indeed taken the chance to check out the area and discover the different creatures on the planet. The many creatures they had fought in the years were found there and gentle creatures. Returning to the base, Joker was presented with Becca's latest project, an upgraded M-8 Avenger.
Along with her tech projects, Becca and the rest of the science team appeared constantly be researching ways to improve the immune systems of the Parasaurs, staying up overnight researching and testing injections on some of the lower ranking Parasaurs. The crew had decided to stay on the planet for a few days to make sure the slavers didn't return anytime soon.
With each passing day, oddly enough, Becca seemed to grow bigger. Joker worried, though after consulting Garrus, the time for female Turians to carry wasn't as long as humans and he guessed the time would be leveled out at best. Becca didn't question it and was happy either way. It was a day off for the science team so Becca decided to visit the ship.
"It's been way too long," Becca said as she ran her hands along the walls of the ship.
"We've missed you on the ship, Becca," Joker said from his chair. He watched her closely, happy that his girl was back in his life. "How you feeling, kiddo?"
"Like I swallowed a basketball," Becca laughed and Joker smiled.
"The extra weight isn't too much, is it?"
"Actually, not really. I've been staying off my feet as much as possible and it's working. How's our crew doing?"
"Haven't heard from them, but I have a feeling once Shepard sends out the mass message, everyone will want to come check this place out. Kid, what you've got here, it's amazing and a stretch."
"Yeah, Alana and the Parasaurs are amazing to say the least. I think they would make great assets to armies and maybe even the Normandy crew."
"Ever get out there with a gun in your armor?"
"A few times with Serlus and Nightstreak, though it's a bit heavy for my liking, I think Wrex and Grunt thought that was my fortey or it might've been all they had. I need light armor." Joker laughed.
"I'll see what I can do, kiddo." Joker held his arms out to Becca and she went up next to him and he wrapped an arm around her waist. "It's too quiet on the ship nowadays. You remember when you were younger and running around like mad?"
"Oh geeze, that was interesting. I think that was the worst with everyone on the ship."
"But they couldn't stop the smiles from spreading on their faces. You were the excitement in their lives, it couldn't be helped."
"Normandy, come in," the comm unit beeped with the incoming transmission.
"This is Helmsmen Moreau," Joker responded.
"We've got a report of high slaver activity in the Horsehead Nebula, can you respond?" Admiral Ahern asked.
"We'll be right one it."
"Also, where are you even located?"
"Exo Nebula Sector five," Becca answered.
"That my sweet little girl?" Ahern asked and Becca smiled.
"Hi Admiral, yeah it's me. My team and I discovered this planet that is very similar to the Tigressa homeworld Terrakon and we use it for our genetic research."
"Keep up the work my dear, Joker, get the ship to the location ASAP."
"Yes, sir," Joker responded and the line went dead.
"Have fun with that," Becca said and hugged Joker. "Don't crash the ship."
"I won't, have fun with your work." Becca smiled before stepping off the ship, seeing the crew heading for it. She smiled and waved as they passed and she watched as the Normandy took off. "Serlus, prep one of the Makos, we have rounds to make."
"Yes, ma'am," Serlus answered over the comm before she headed for the facility and to the garage where Serlus was waiting for her. Serlus helped her into the Mako before they drove out and into the wilderness.
"We need to locate the Thresher, do a check on it and make sure everything is good." Becca pulled a clipboard from the glovebox and she looked through the papers. They drove for a bit before the familiar rumbling of the ground started and Serlus stopped the Mako. A few yards away, the Thresher threw its head through the ground and lowered it to the Mako. "There's the beauty!" Becca smiled and Serlus helped her out after getting out himself.
"Wow, did it get bigger?" Serlus asked.
"Might've, which is why we keep only one," Becca answered before holding a hand up to it. The Thresher lowered itself all the way so it was laying down, its blue tongue laid out as well. "Tongue is a good color." Becca signaled for it to spit and it looked to the sky and did so.
"28 meters," Serlus commented and Becca wrote it down on her clipboard. "How much do you wanna bet the crew would freak out with what we're doing?"
"Babe, they'd go crazy, Threshers are almost impossible to tame and here this one is," Becca laughed. Her smile fell as the Thresher looked up at the sky before retreating into the ground. "Uh oh, that isn't good."
"Should we head back?" Serlus asked and Becca nodded. They rushed into the Mako and headed to the Facility, only to find it overrun with slavers.
"Shit! Alana!" Becca exclaimed and Serlus jumped from the Mako and clearing out the garage. Becca slipped from the Mako with Scorpion in her hand and they started for the Lab, only to be stopped by a few slavers. Before either of them could move, the slavers were struck down and behind them stood a yellow Parasaur with a piece of armor on his head. "Chasher!" The male nodded before pointing towards where they were headed.
The three started for the lab, finding the Parasaurs were all free, however, Alana laid wounded in her cage. Becca fell to her side and attempted to put medigel on the wounds.
"She's too infected, Serlus," Becca looked up at him as he handed a needle to her. Becca injected the solution and they waited for a moment before Alana lifted her head and shook the daze from it. "Come on, the other Parasaurs are scattered, we need to find them before we lose them." Becca helped Alana to her feet and the pink and purple female nodded. Chasher stepped up next to her and they rubbed noses before their whips appeared and they nodded to Becca.
"Let's go!" Serlus exclaimed and they ran out of the lab. They came to the main lab and cleared it out, it was a good thing the team knew how to handle a gun at least. They cleared out the lab and stood triumphantly until Becca recoiled from a hit and she could see blood dripping from her leg, the same one that was broken eight years prior.
"Shit!" Becca cursed and Serlus grabbed her. Alana and Chasher went after the lone slaver and Serlus helped Becca sit down. "Damn that hurt..."
"Kid, tell me you're ok?" Joker's voice said through the comm.
"Joker?!" Becca exclaimed before she inhaled sharply.
"I'm sending the Commander in, hang in there!"
"He better hurry, there's reinforcements on their way," Serlus mumbled and Becca looked up. She took the wrapping from one of the scientists and wrapped her leg.
"Get me my armor and someone draw the Harvester in," Becca commanded and a few of the team started doing so, one of them heading outside.
"Becca no! Not with this," Serlus stopped her from standing by putting a hand on her swollen belly.
"What else can we do? Reinforcements get here, its all over. The Harvester can cut them out of the air." Becca stood as a crate was dropped in front of her.
She opened it and started pulling pieces from it and started snapping them into place. The piece that went over her middle managed to fit and she took her Scorpion and the Acolyte from Jack and strapped them to her hips. She grabbed her helmet and headed out where the Harvester stood. Becca climbed to a higher point, but stopped when Serlus grabbed her hand.
"Becca, sweetheart, please be careful," Serlus begged. Becca stepped down and hugged him.
"Serlus, as long as there is still breath in me, I will come back to you. Have the Mako ready in case I need help," Becca said before letting go, stepping back up and swinging onto the Harvester's back.
She grabbed ahold of the leather around its neck and they took to the air. The Harvester flew right for the incoming shuttles and blasted them. The doors of the shuttles opened and started shooting at the Harvester, its tough skin keeping it safe for the moment. Out of nowhere, however, a missile from a M920 Cain breezed past them.
"Shit! Look out!" Becca pulled on the collar, but it was too late.
The Harvester took the missile right to its chest and it fled from the battle, having taken too much damage. The Harvester landed far from the battle and it fell to its side. Becca fell from it and crawled away, blood oozed slowly from cuts on her face. She pulled the armor from her stomach and lifted her shirt to find her abdomen free of cuts.
"Thank god..." she breathed. She pulled her helmet off and put her fingers to her ear. "Anyone read me?" She got nothing but static back and pulled her comm out, finding it broken. "Great..."
Becca pulled herself to a boulder and leaned against it and laying her head back. She waited for the pounding in her head to subside before she looked at her surroundings. The Harvester had landed on the edge of a forest, so there was no way anybody would find her in the air, the trees hid her. She wouldn't be able to go anywhere for a while, the impact from the missile fractured her bones.
"Looks like it's just me, the Harvester, and you little Vakarian," Becca looked down at her belly before pulling her gloves off and running her hand on her belly. She attempted to pull the rest of her armor off, being super careful with her legs and feeling them for breaks. She flinched when the familiar pinch of pain shot through her leg and she exhaled. "Mama's got broken legs again," Becca mumbled to her belly and smiled. She jumped slightly when she felt something move and smiled when a little bump appeared then disappeared.
"Daddy'll find us, don't worry." Becca reached for her two pistols and slipped them into the back of her pants, keeping them hidden away and she smiled again at the movement in her belly.
Well, well, well," someone sneered and Becca looked up to see the slaver leader with a few of his lackeys with their guns trained on her. "Look who is not only wounded, but carrying offspring." Becca glared at him as his men surrounded her.
"Sir, what of the Harvester?" one of them asked.
"Too weak to attack, we hit it where it hurts," the leader responded. "So, it took twenty-seven years to finally bring you to where I want you. Helpless below me as I point a gun to your head and pull the trigger." As he said those words he took a pistol and pointed it at Becca's forehead. She simply glared at him. "But, I won't do it just yet." He pulled the pistol away. "You don't even know why you're being hunted down, do you? Hm, it's a shame really, your life always on the line, yet you don't even know why. I should tell you before you meet your end. You better pray that baby is able to live outside of your body, and hope somebody finds you before both are lost." Becca narrowed her eyes even more and almost growled in her throat.
"Your father and I were good friends, the best of friends. We met when he just started working as a Citadel gate manager. I was appointed as his superior, though we were close to the same age." Becca eyed him as he paced in front of her. "We got ourselves into some trouble when Saren showed up on the Citadel with Sovereign. Your father knew things about me that I will never allow out in the open, and it shall stay that way." Becca looked up when the barks of varren could be heard. "Stupid animals, I've got this, take care of them." The leader's men took after the pack, though they didn't notice the collar around the neck of one. "Any last words Solis?" The leader held the pistol to her head again. Becca stayed silent before the sound of a gunshot echoed through the forest.
Gotta hate cliffhangers huh? I'll do what I can to get chapter 10 finished. See you then!