A few days later, Jane wakes up naked in a soft bed, covered by sheets. As she tries to lift her right hand, she find's it's been held by someone, so she lifts the other one, only to find a mess of tubes around it.
Craning her neck, Jane looks around in confusion only to see one of the asari, either Emezia or Kelessa by the colouring, asleep half in a chair and half on the bed. Her other arm has a tube that leads to an empty bag.
Carefully, Jane reaches over with her left hand to shake the asari awake.
Emezia jerks awake as someone shakes, her, "I'm awake, I'm awake. I was just resting my… Goddess, you're awake! Kelessa, Aeuna, she's awake!"
Jane looks at Emezia in confusion as the language isn't automatically translated. "Um, sorry about this, but I don't understand you."
Emezia looks at Jane in surprise, before pulling open a drawer and taking out her omni-tool, "Here, this should help."
Jane gratefully takes the omni-tool and slips it uncomfortably onto her left hand, trying not to disturb the tubes, or maybe it's just one tube that's coiled up.
After switching the omnitool on, Jane asks, "What happened? And why am I naked?"
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Emezia frowns, "One of your goddesses came to our boat and gave you some water before touching your head. After you drop anchor, she'll fix the boat. I mean, the thing is...it's so distracting, it's not what I'm talking about at all." She trails off as her own translator starts speaking in her ear.
As she stares at Jane's omni-tool, Jane follows her gaze down at the omni-tool in confusion, "What do you mean, that made perfect sense to me?"
"Your jack-of-all-trades it just says I say you're broken. now it's saying something else." Emezia stops speaking as her translator garbles another sentence.
Kelessa and Aeuna both come running into the bedroom, as though they were outside the cabinet when they got Emezia's message.
Aeuna gives a sigh of relief, "Fortunately, the goddess is still alive, and has been in a coma for the past two days... The goddess is broken, doesn't she have earplugs?"
Jane shakes her head, "No, we either use an eyepiece or our suits for sound. Sorry. On that note, where is my suit?"
Emezia points at a wardrobe, "We put it there. Oh, thank Goddess, that makes sense. I can't handle this double translation. Aeuna Can we exchange languages?"
Aeuna shakes her head, "You know the rules, not the passengers."
Emezia angrily retorts, "Jane is no longer a passenger."
Jane looks between the two asari, "Sorry to be the human in the room, but what's this about exchanging languages?"
Aeuna huffs and looks at Emezia, "Ok but if she accepts it's your responsibility you have to explain to Jane."
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Jane shakes her head, "Explain what?"
Emezia reaches underneath her crest and removes an earphone before placing it on the bedside table, "Please listen to me before you say anything, as I won't be able to understand you until I put my translator back on."
Jane nods and gives a thumbs up.
Emezia sits back in her chair, "As you're from Systems Alliance space, I will assume you know little to nothing about asari. We don't have gender the way that other galactic races do, instead we are able to modify the genetics of our own eggs using the genetic information of another sentient. However, where other species require a physical donation, we are able to join our nervous system with that of our partner. By doing this we can select desirable traits from their genetics, along with a random sample of traits that then get implanted in our egg. We call it embracing eternity, though I'm sure now that it doesn't translate correctly."
Wide eyed, Jane nods at Emezia to indicate that she's following so far.
With Jane's confirmation Emezia continues, "That is not all we can do with this joining. Instead of joining so completely, we can also join more shallowly, to reconnect with our family, or to provide reassurance as a mother to her daughter. We can also share experiences, and we can share languages. Some people fear our touch, others crave it, or desire to possess us. As you will be unable to wear your suit until Kelessa has decided you are hydrated enough, I would like to join with you so that we can share languages. It would allow me to learn your language, and I would attempt to grant you my own language at the same time."
When Jane doesn't respond, Emezia picks up her translator and reseats it discretely. When there's still no response, she slowly stands up and walks to the door.
Jane looks at the wall across from her while she's processing what she's just been told. As a dejected Emezia passes in front of her, Jane blinks, then shakes her head.
Just as Emezia gets to the door, Jane looks over, "Emezia, wait. I was just thinking. Look, I'm going to be stuck using just an omni-tool for translation until my suit's finished the sterilisation process. That takes a week to complete. I… Can you promise me you won't go looking for any Alliance knowledge?"
Emezia turns around and nods, "I promise that I will only be looking for your native language."
Jane nods and looks down at her omni-tool, "Ok, then let's do it, maybe then your holos will start making sense."
Emezia laughs as she returns to her chair, "No they won't, Aeuna should be in her matron stage of life, but she's still going around the galaxy like a maiden. Doesn't stop her enjoying holos aimed at matrons though. Goddess that translator is bad."
After taking her earpiece out once more, Emezia takes Jane's hand, "Honestly, I'm considered too young for this sort of contact, but I'm curious about your language, so I'm not going to get one of the older asari. Normally, asari would do this with a kiss or some other form of intimacy. But I don't like you that way, so I'm just going to hold your hand. Nod when you're ready."
Jane nods, and then her omni-tool says 'Embrace Eternity'. The last thing she sees, before it begins, is Emezia's eyes turning pitch black.
Later, Jane would never be able to explain properly what it felt like. But for her, in this moment, it was like finding a new sister. While they were intertwined, she caught snatches of Emezia's childhood, and returned the favour with her own childhood.
As they separate, Emezia says, "Goddess you have a beautiful soul."
Jane smiles as she speaks in Athamian for the first time, "You do too. You feel like family."
Emezia nods, "Like we are siblings through our father."
Switching to English, Jane shakes her head, "That's so odd. That word father is so close to father, but it almost means something completely different."
Emezia thinks for a moment, "That's because it's the word used for one who has had no role in the raising of the child."
Jane nods, "I can see that, we, that is humans, have come up with terms for those sorts of father's, from sperm donor to deadbeat."
Emezia thinks for a moment, and tries speaking English, "Is this language really called English? I always thought it was called… Human."
Jane nods, "It's one of many human languages. Give me a mo, as I seem to remember something about it." Tapping on her omni-tool, Jane pulls up her old history books and goes through them for a few minutes, "Ah, here it is, 'In the late 19th century English became the defacto international language due to the influence of Hollywood, Computers, and aviation. Since then it has grown and expanded to form the distinct dialect we call Common English.'"
Emezia smiles, "That's so interesting, our own histories say that we've only ever had one language with different dialects, because the goddess granted the language to us."
The two of them continue to practice their new found language skills, switching between the two languages depending on the subject.
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Several days later, Jane wearing a flowing robe she bought in the magical district on Shaanxi:3 when she was a teenager. Surprisingly it still fits her when she's not wearing her suit.
Pensively, she opens the door to the wardrobe her suit's hanging in. Her omni-tool is showing that the suit has finished its sterilisation cycle and can be worn again.
A few minutes later she's still looking at the suit when Emezia bounces into the room wearing a pair of jeans and a purple t-shirt that complements her skin colour. Walking over to stand next to Jane, she touches Jane's hand and joins briefly. "Jane, I thought you were only going to be a minute."
Jane smiles at the contact, something that has become a regular occurrence since they've been treating her as an asari since she started speaking Athamian. It's nothing deep, just a very quick and shallow affirmation of family.
Jane glances back, and the smile turns into a mock frown as she looks Emezia up and down, "Emezia, have you been stealing my clothes again?"
Emezia spins around, "You like? I'm amazed that you have clothes like this as you're so much slimmer than me."
Jane sighs, "They fit perfectly over my suit. Speaking of which, I'm trying to decide between baths and wearing the suit."
Emezia looks at Jane curiously, "Why would you even need to choose? I've seen how much you enjoy baths."
Jane shakes her head, "I know, you and the others have walked in on me, or joined me, often enough. It's like you've never heard of nudity taboos."
Emezia shrugs, "We do, just not in familial situations like this."
Jane shakes her head, "Anyway, I noticed I was spotting, which means my period's starting."
Emezia frowns, "What's that?"
Jane opens her mouth, and starts to blush slightly before pointing at a drawer, "You know what, my spare omni-tool is in the drawer there. It doesn't have anything sensitive on it, so look it up yourself. It will be in biology under human reproduction."
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An hour later, Jane has found some hygiene supplies that came with the cabinet, and is sitting in the lounge learning an asari strategy game from Holiss, when Emezia looks up with a horrified expression.
"Oh goddess that's gross."
Holiss turns around, "What's gross?"
"Human women, child bearers, bleed from their reproductive organs for nearly a week every month."
Holiss turns back to Jane, "How do you not die?"
Jane stumbles, "I, um, Emezia is reading about it now, why don't you ask her later. When I'm not around."
Holiss looks at Jane curiously, "Is this like your nudity taboo?"
Jane nods as she flushes scarlet, "Yes, I'm going to have a bath!"
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A couple of days later, Jane is back in her suit after a couple of accidents have freaked the rest of the family out… Jane's brain stalls and she leans her head against the bathroom mirror. Goddess, has she picked up another mother? A couple of seconds later she pushes herself up and starts brushing her teeth.
A couple of hours later, after Aeuna has just touched Jane's face, Jane light-heartedly asks, "Should I call you mother now?" Using the word that means 'one who has taken over from the bearer'.
Aeuna shrugs, "Probably. I've never lived with humans before, and you speak Athamian all the time, so I guess your as much one of mine as the rest of the crew."
Jane smiles, "Thank you."
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It's later that day when Jane's omni-tool starts to beep to indicate an incoming call. Frowning, she looks at it dumbly for a couple of beeps before answering the call.
Immediately, a small hologram of a human male pops up above the device, "This is the SARS discovery responding to an emergency beacon."
Jane blinks a couple of times as her brain shifts gear into English. "This is PS-N5 Captain Jane Shepherd, I'm glad you're here."
"Sorry we took so long Sir, the original relief craft was recalled and we were on deployment in turian space."
Jane nods, "Understandable, we'll need six I5 isolation suits before you board."
"I'm afraid we can't do that sir, as they are only available for Alliance civilians. We were also under the impression that you had a cabinet."
Jane glances at the mans epaulets, "Lt, with all due respect, you know the regulations as well as I do. That includes no cabinet use while there is a risk that an emergency dive may be required. Put me through to your captain."
"Aye aye sir."
A moment later an older man appears in the holo, "Captain, you wanted to speak to me?"
Jane salutes, "Yes Lt Commander, I asked for I5 suits for the asari aboard this ship, and I was told that wasn't possible. Your Lt then insinuated that they could stay in my cabinet."
The man shrugs, "We're travelling by relay, it's not like anything's going to go wrong."
Jane looks over at Kelessa for a moment, then back at the captain, "Lt Commander, I Captain Jane Shepherd of the PS-N corps am officially advising you that I am standing as sponsor for the citizenship of the six asari that are aboard this vessel. I request that you bring over the relevant parchment work needed to progress this here and now."
The old man scowls at Jane, "You better believe the cost of those suits is coming out of your pay captain."
Jane nods, "Yes sir, I would much rather be poor and know they arrived planet side safely, than be rich and have their deaths on my conscience."
As the captain terminates the call, Aeuna speaks up from behind Jane, "You didn't have to do that you know."
Jane turns around, "I did, though. During my training it was drilled into us that the enchantments that make the cabinets safe for people like us to use also stop the protective enchantments on the ship from working inside the cabinet. Ships like the SAAS Agincourt have their own cabinets built into ship that share those protections. But SADS and SARS ships don't as they're intended for short or no dives into the aether sea." Jane holds up a hand, "Don't ask me why, as I don't know. Just as I know it's naval doctrine that all ships inspect their dive engines every 200 light years of dive travel, or more frequently if possible. It's important for me to know that detail, as I could be given command of a SADS or SARS for a short deployment from a planetary base."
"But still, if they're a relay ship they're not going to be going into this aether sea."
Jane shakes her head, "By law, all Systems Alliance ships must have at least an emergency dive system installed. It's saved the crew of at least 5 ships I know of as they also have a potion to put everyone in suspended animation. But time in the standard destination passes at around 3 years for every standard day that passes. So even if you survived the emergency dive, you'd die by the time help arrived if you were in the cabinet."
Aeuna starts to look worried, "That's not comforting."
Jane shakes her head, "It's not supposed to be. As it's a warning not to use a cabinet while an Alliance ship is under weigh."
Aeuna pointedly moves on, "What was that about I5 suits and citizenship."
Jane sighs, "You're going to need to wear isolation suits on the ship, as the standard crew are going to be Prothean Syndrome negative. If they don't let you use I5 suits, they'd be giving you I4 suits. And they're only suitable for short term wear. One of the soldiers I was serving with was on a two day patrol, and needed to change after the first day. I am not going to put you through that, especially as our relay ships are a lot slower than Council relay ships. Anyway, we should make sure the others are awake and presentable before the captain comes aboard."
Aeuna reluctantly nods, clearly wanting to ask more questions.
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By the time the relay gets to Shaanxi:2 five days later, all of the asari are going stir crazy with the lack of contact.
Emezia, being the youngest, is one of the first two through the airlock, which doubles as the decontamination chamber. As Jane walks down the provided ramp with her, she can't help chuckling as Emezia pulls her faceplate off. The chuckles turn to squawks when Emezia touches the release on Jane's faceplate and pulls it off before leaning her forehead against Jane's for reassurance. A minute later Aeuna and Holiss chuckle on the ramp.
A moment later, Aeuna says, "Emezia, don't make me send you back to Thessia."
Emezia reluctantly pulls back from the contact, "But Aeuna, I'm an adult. I'm 102 after all."
"Then start behaving like one. How do you know was safe to take your faceplate off here?"
Emezia looks down at the floor, "I'm sorry, but we haven't been able to touch for almost five days."
"If you were trained as a huntress, you'd have experienced far longer periods without touch."
Emezia wilts, "But I don't want to be a huntress."
Jane shakes her head in amusement, "Come on everyone, I've got a house nearby that you can use. How are you all feeling? Is your itching subsiding?"
Holiss nods, "My itching has subsided to a feeling of pins and needles in my back."
Once everyone else agrees, Jane leads them out of the docks to her house.
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A few days after they've settled into the two bedroom house, Jane's cabinet is seeing such regular usage that Aeuna has already paid for a ward book to be added, allowing each of them to open the door. Additionally, apart from Emezia, all the asari have taken off their I5 suits.
As the doorbell rings, Jane rushes in from the kitchen, where she's got a soup cooking, and answers the door. "Good morning."
Outside the door are two humans in I4 suits, "Good morning captain, you booked an appointment with a suit technician. I'm Healer Samson, and base command felt that I should give you a check up given you feel that there's something wrong with your suit."
Jane looks open mouthed between the tech and the Healer, "Um, actually my suit is working fine. One of my house guests is having trouble with theirs."
The Healer shrugs, "Well, you're due a check up anyway, so I'll have a look at your heart while I'm here."
Jane nods and steps backwards with the door, "Yes healer. Would either of you like a cup of tea while you're here?"
The tech shakes his head as he walks in, "No, I'm fine. I'd like to see the malfunctioning suit, and then I'll be off."
As the Healer walks past and gives Jane a thumbs up, Jane closes the door and calls up the stairs, "Emezie, the tech is here."
Emezie runs down the stairs in a hurry, her face plate held in one hand. As she reaches the bottom, she looks at the wand in the healers hand and trots up to her, "Hi, I'm Emezie, are you hear to look at my suit?... Hey that itches."
The healer looks down at her wand curiously while Emezie scratches at her chest futiliy, "How curious, are you an asari?"
Emezie nods, "I am, and I want to go shopping with my sister."
"Fascinating, did you know that you have levels of eezo in your body that would be lethal for a human?"
Emezie shakes her head, "No I didn't but that would explain why so many asari are biotic." Suddenly she yelps and spins around, "Ow! That hurt!"
The tech looks unapologitic as he looks down at his wand, "This suit seems to be fine."
Emezie slaps the tech, "The suit is obviously not fine, as I have pins and needles in my back all the time. I've been using Jane's datapad while I'm here, and these suits are supposed to raise levels of aether inside the suit to no higher than 1%. The recommended tolerances are between 0.7% and 0.9%. According to the what I've read since we got here, eezo starts to react in aether concentrations of between 0.9% and 1.2% and begins to break down in concentrations greater than that. As the healer just pointed out, I have eezo in my body, all asari do."
The tech raises his wand to do another diagnosis, when the healer calmly says, "Expellimaris." Before catching the wand. "Are you trying to kill the young lady?"
The tech shakes his head, "I ain't no murderer. I just needed to get a diagnostic from the suit to check the levels."
The healer holds out the wand towards the front door, "Get out, and send an expert with the right equipment next time. Preferably a goblin."
Scowling the tech leaves, and the healer turns to Jane, "Is your kitchen through there?"
Jane nods and goes over to hug Emezie, "It is, I've got both an electric and traditional kettle."
The healer nods, "I'll put the tea on. Emezie, I appreciate that you want to get your suit looked at, but my professional advice is that you remove the suit until your pain subsides. Either way, I'm going to have to monitor you until you're pain free."
Emezie looks at the Healer doubtfully, "What do you mean by monitor?"
"Well, normally I'd cast a monitoring spell on you. But that would be contraindicated in this case, so I'm just going to make a cup of tea and sit here."
Jane looks incredulously at the Healer, "I'm sorry, I need to make a recording of this for posterity. A Healer with a bedside manner."
The Healer chuckles dryly, "Oh ha ha. We all have a good bedside manner when we're not dealing with idiots."
Jane goes to say something when a spell hits her and the Healer looks at her wand, "Like you young lady, you've been stressing your heart, and you now have elevated levels of element zero. They should burn off next time you visit the magical district, but it's still concerning that you have them."
Jane points her thumb at Emezie, "They've sort of adopted me, or I've adopted them. Either way, they have this joining thing they do where they connect to you, and as a family they do it as a reassurance thing."
The Healer taps her pouch with the wand and a dicta-quill floats out with some parchment and sets itself up, "Fascinating, and they've been doing this with you for a while now?"
Jane nods, "15 days now?"
The Healer mutter something to the quill before looking up again, "I should probably come by when Emezie is better and monitor both of you when it happens. Absolutely fascinating, and Emezie, you said something about reading up on the suits and asari?"
Emezie nods, "Uh huh, it's all available on through Jane's tablet, though I couldn't find it with her omni-tool. The spare one, not the one she's using now."
The Healer hums and nods, "It's probably on the aethernet then, only magitech devices can access that."
The whistle of a kettle comes from inside the kitchen, and the Healer casually waves her wand in that direction. A few seconds later a tea-pot and three mugs float out to land on Jane's coffee table. As she sits down on the sofa, she asks Emezie, "How are your pain levels on a scale of 1-10?"
Emezie looks at Jane in confusion, "What does she mean?"
Jane thinks for a second, and switches to Athamian, "It's a way human doctors use to measure how much pain you're in subjectively. One could be knocking your arm on a door hard enough to raise a welt, while 10 would be the worst pain you could imagine. They then ask you about your pain over time, and after treatment. If it goes up, they try to bring it down. If it goes down, then they assume something's working."
Emezie nods, "It's probably a three then. It's not that bad, just annoying as it's my whole body."
The Healer nods, "How about your back, is that any worse?"
Emezie shakes her head, "Not really."
The Healer nods again, and taps her wand on top of the teapot. The teapot then pours out three mugs of tea, before setting back down again. As it sits down, the three mugs float over to the three people in the house.
With a sigh, Jane takes a seat herself, and indicates Emezie should too. One sniff of the tea tells Jane that she needs to take it slowly, as it is an asari blend that Emezie seems to like.
The Healer on the other hand, sniffs the tea curiously, "What tea is this?"
Emezie holds the mug to her nose and breathes in deeply, a happy smile on her face, "Oh, this is my favourite tea. They make it on Ilium."
With a nod, the Healer takes a large sip, and nods before her face turns into a grimace and she swallows hard, "Gah! What was that?"
Jane shrugs as she takes a tiny sip, "Something about the spices they use makes it taste pleasant, then turn bitter and the aftertaste is really mellow and sweet. I'm just glad you didn't get Aeuna's favourite tea, as that will take the roof off your mouth."
Emezie frowns, "Hey, Aeuna's tea is only mildly spicy. You're just sore because the stimulant doesn't work for you."
The Healer takes another, smaller, sip, "Mmm, I think I like this. Do you know where I could buy some?"
Emezie shrugs, "We'd buy you some on our next run to Ilium, but our ship was destroyed and looted by pirates."
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While they're talking about tea, the door bell goes once more, and Jane gets up to answer the door. Down at waist height is a grumpy looking goblin in an isolation suit.
"Well, are you going to let me in?"
Jane steps back, and fishes out her half remembered lessons in gobbledegook, "Welcome to my home craftsman. I hope your time here is well spent."
The goblin sneers up at her, "We shall see. Well where's the suit?"
Jane lets the goblin into the front room, where Emezie is still savouring her tea. As the goblin walks around so they can see Emezie, the Healer pointedly asks her, "How are your pain levels now?"
Emezie pulls her mug away from her face, "Oh, the pains pretty much gone, I just feel itchy all over, and inside."
The Healer looks at the goblin, "Emezie here is an asari, and they seem to have an allergy to magic. It's sensitive enough that you are not to use any magic on her."
The goblin looks at Emezie, before reaching into their bag and pulling out a necklace with a dial on it. Turning the dial to the lowest setting, they then look at the necklace thoughtfully before looking up at the suit once more. With a growl they pop the dial off before throwing the necklace at Emezie, "Put that on for now, and come to my workshop tomorrow morning. I'll have a look at your suit then. I'll want that back once we've fixed the suit, or you can pay the 10 galleons it will cost to replace."
Turning around they start to storm out of the house before they stop, "Is one of you Jane Shepherd?"
Jane nods, "I am."
The goblin reaches into their bag and takes out a letter, "Some pissy human handed this to me at your front gate. I'm going back to my workshop now."
Jane tears the letter open and glances at it, "Craftsman, would you be able to help me with something before you leave."
The goblin turns back around, "You better have some money for this."
Jane nods, "I've still got some. I've just got my redeployment orders, so I'd like to transfer ownership of a blooded cabinet to Emezie. While you're here."
"Fine, 10 sickles."
Jane nods and fishes the money from her pouch.
Emezie looks at Jane concerned, "Jane, why are you giving me the ownership? Wouldn't Aeuna be better?"
Jane nods, "She would, but you're the only one here, and I leave tomorrow. They feel, and I quote, 'The interview and initial instruction are all light activity and can therefore be done under the conditions of your medical waiver'."
"That's another 4 knuts."
Jane winces, and pulls out a sickle, "Come on let's get this done, and we can talk about it when everyone else gets home."
The Healer trails behind everyone else as they go up to Jane's cabinet.
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A few days later, Jane's sitting in the dedicated decon chamber of a dive ship that should be arriving at Earth soon. In her hands is all the parchment work for her N7 recommendation.
After the last few weeks, Jane is seriously wondering if N7 is really what she wants. Turning her left wrist over, Jane activates a recording of the conversation she managed to have with Juvetana the night she got her transfer papers.
Pressing play, she listens to her nest mother, "I am as proud of you as I would be of my own fledgling. You have not only gained the high ground, but you have used it as a Hunter should use it, to guide and protect others. Go and take up your new position, and use it to protect and guide others too."
Juvetana isn't the only one that's said something about that. Her human mother has too, and so did Aeuna, after she tried to give back the house keys and cabinet. It's not like she can use the house while she's off planet, so they might as well get some use out of it.
Realising that she's made her decision, Jane picks up her facemask and puts it in place. Standing up she walks into the de-con booth and presses the button to let her out.
A minute later, Jane has made her way to the bridge to watch the landing.
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A couple of hours later, Jane walks down the boarding ramp on to a lawn outside Sandhurst Academy, England, Earth. As soon as her boots touch dirt, the ramp retracts as the ship lifts off behind her.
Looking around at the pristine environment, Jane sighs and opens her letter to scan the code at the bottom with her omni-tool. As she does, a map opens up in the corner of her HUD and a large blue arrow appears hovering over a path. With a sigh, Jane starts to walk towards the blue arrow at a casual pace that keeps her BPM below 80.
After nearly 10 minutes, Jane approaches a building with a single guard standing outside. As she gets closer to the door, she can see the utter distain the guard has on their face at both the suit and her slow pace.
Her skin crawls as she walks past the guard and into the building, and forces herself not to shudder. At a small wooden desk inside, sits a Major with a stack of parchment work on his desk.
As she comes to attention in front of the desk, the Major continues to write on the parchment for a good minute before he looks up and his nose wrinkles. "Yes?"
Jane presents the parchment work summoning her to the meeting, and the Major takes it with a sneer. "Very well, follow me."
The Major stands up and sets off at a fast march before Jane can explain the medical waiver. Her shoulders slump as she loses sight of him almost immediately. A minute later the Major comes back with a thunderous expression.
"I told you to follow me."
Jane nods, "Yes Sir. I have a medical waiver Sir!"
"Well, let's see it."
Jane points at the parchment he's holding, "I gave it to you Sir!"
After some shuffling of parchment, the Major's scowl deepens. "Fine, we'll go at your pace."
Jane nods, "Thank you Sir!"
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After 10 minutes of following a labyrinthine path, that involves too many stairs. Jane follows the Major through a panelled wooden door.
Pointing at a star in the centre of the room, the Major barks, "Stand there Captain."
Jane says, "Yes Sir!" and moves to stand at attention on the star.
At the same time the Major walks over to the central General, "Captain Jane Shepherd reporting as ordered sir."
The General looks up, "You're late Major."
The Major salutes, "The Captain was slow sir."
The General looks at the Major, "This is why we have a lift in the building Major."
Jane forces her face to remain impassive as the Major's complexion turns puce, "Yes Sir, I will remember that in future Sir."
The General nods, "See that you do, you are dismissed."
As the Major turns and marches out the room, the General draws a wand and taps the stack of parchment four times, before passing a copy to each of the other Generals sitting at the desk.
After a couple of minutes reading, Jane's heartrate monitor is edging up towards 80 despite the fact she's just standing there. Suddenly, the central General puts the parchment down and looks up, "Captain Jane Shepherd, field promoted and later confirmed. Enlisted two years ago in the N5 track on Shaanxi. High scores across the board, and awarded a Star of Terra during your first tour of duty. We also have… a…"
As the General trails off, Jane becomes aware of the click of high heel shoes walking across the wooden floor behind her.
When the sound stops just behind her, Jane fights the urge to turn around. Especially when a woman says, "This one's mine General. Don't mind me I'll see myself out. Come on Jane, this way."
As the clicking starts up again, Jane looks at the General silently pleading for some advice. Seemingly reading her mind, the General shakes their head, "Better do as she says lass, she outranks me."
Turning around, Jane ignores her heartrate monitor as she hurries out of the room after the woman.
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After a short walk, a ride in the lift to the basement, and another short walk, Jane is lead into a quarantine room.
Pointing at a locker inside the quarantine chamber, the woman says, "Suit off and stow all of your equipment in that locker. There are some clothes in the locker for you to wear in the meantime."
Jane walks into the airlock and waits for it to cycle before turning on the intercom on the inside of the room. As she starts to stow her gear, she asks, "Uh, ma'am, what's going on?"
The woman smiles, "Petunia rather than ma'am please. To answer your question. You're getting ready to transfer to your new training ground. Welcome to the N8."
