Chapter 23: Enter the Psychotic Biotic

Grissom Academy

The Vetus relay activated as several ships docked at a station in the middle of the system. This station was the Jon Grissom Academy; a school for humanity's brightest, the future of the race. Commissioned in 2176, their mission is to "serve the student population demonstrating excellence and passion for math, science, and the liberal arts." It's entirely human student body ranges in age from the early teens to the mid-twenties. Although the fact is not heavily advertised, the institution also offers classes for students with biotic capability. The school's Ascension Project seeks to train these students and integrate them into normal society. The shuttles docked at the station one by one, after three long months, school was back in session. The reception hall was abuzz with energy as parents were talking to teachers, teachers were discussing lesson plans for their upcoming classes, and students were talking to friends or girlfriends and boyfriends they haven't seen in months.

Entering the reception hall, was a fair-skinned dark-haired young woman with dark blue eyes, she looked around the room at the all the kids with their parents. They were smiling and laughing, some of the parents were hugging their kids saying they would miss them as they separated. The woman sighed, she was envious of that. "Are you okay, Ms. Julia?" The woman looked back at an older man who had a look of concern on his face, the family butler, Smith. The man was loyal to her family, as he's been with them since Julia was a little girl, since then he has been the consistent parental figure when her parents couldn't be bothered.

She sighed. "I'm fine, Alastair, just thinking…" Julia said solemnly. Smith came up and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm sure your mother and father would be here if they could…" he said. Her mother and father in question was Ellen Washington-Rodriguez and Emillo Rodriguez one of the riches and important people in the Alliance. Her mother was the Governor of Elysium, the planet not far from the Academy and one of the riches colonies in the Alliance; she couldn't be there due to being in a meeting to establish trading routes to one of the other human colonies in the Traverse and the Terminus system. Her father was a member of the Executive Board on Noveria; he's been busy dealing with that accident from two years at one of the facilities on the planet.

Julia sighed, she loved her parents, but she wished they would spend time with her for once, or at least come to registration with her but it was too much to hope. "It's been years Alastair, I'm sick of their excuses" she said. "Come on, I need to get registered" They walked to the terminals, where the other students were registering for their classes, when it was her turn she registered for Intermediate Biotic Studies, a requirement for her since she was a biotic.

"Yo Rodriguez!" Someone shouted behind her. Julia looked behind her and smiled, as one of her friends came up to her. He was a young man her age; he was tan, with slicked back black hair, hazel eyes with a scar at the bridge of his nose. His name was Jason Prangley, one of the students in the school, he was from Earth and a former gang member from a group called the Tenth Street Reds. He was enrolled at the Academy at the same as she was, despite his rough look, the guy was sweetheart through and through or at least Julia thought so…

Smith groaned. "That thug…" he said with contempt. "I don't know why you associate yourself with that rabble…"

"Alastair, shush now, you promised to be nice" Julia said shaking her head. Smith did not like Prangley, he thought the young man was a bad influence on Julia, although he has proven that he is quite protective of Julia like himself. Due to that, Smith merely tolerates him, just barely to keep the young woman happy. He came over to Julia and gave her a noogie on the head, his unique way of showing affection, the young woman smiles and hugs him.

He held up his hand, greeting Smith. "Sup, Jeeves, still a stiff as usual" Smith wanted to say something, but bit his tongue. Jeeves was a nickname for him, a very, very annoying nickname for him. He nodded in acknowledgment. "So looks we're in the same class again"

Julia chuckled. "It seems so, Jason, is Mr. Jalla teaching us this year?"

"Naw, we got some dude named Jack Nought"

Julia raised a brow. "Nought? That's an unusual name…" she said. "I wonder what he's like?"

"Who knows, as long as we don't have that hard-ass Jalla, I'm gravy" Prangley said. "Guess we'll found out when Sanders take the stage…"

Backstage

"Jack, will you stop fidgeting?" Kelly asked with her hands on her hips. Jack was pacing around in the back, since she agreed to join as a member of the faculty for Grissom Academy; she had to agree to several unsavory conditions, well unsavory for Jack anyway. First Sanders was expecting for the ex-con to be professional, so that meant toning down the profanity and her more 'colorful' ways of talking. Second, she was expected to…dress up when it was a formal event and that meant wearing a uniform at times which she hated. She loosened her collar and buttoned it down, just enough to be 'respectable'.

"I see why Shepherd hates to dress up, shit I look ridiculous, this ain't me" Kelly was of a different opinion, she thought the ex-con looked attractive, even more than usual. She came over, kissed her on the lips, and smirked.

"I don't know, you know what they say about a woman in uniform…" she said seductively. Jack scoffed, although she was blushing. "Besides after this, you can wear anything you want"

"Good, cause my tits need air…"Kelly shook her head and look out of the stage, she smiled at all the kids and parents that was talking, after the hectic life on the Normandy it was nice to relax and enjoy regular life. Though it must have been a shock to Jack, since she was not used to this, a normal life would be good for her girlfriend at least it would teach her there was more to life than fighting though it would be moot once the Reapers come. She then saw Kahlee make her way to the podium, looks orientation was starting.

"Jack time to go, and do try not to scare the kids"

Jack scoffed. "No promises" She and Jack took their seats.

Reception Hall

Julia was sitting next to Prangley and Smith, as Headmistress Sanders kicked off the new school year. Back before she was third year, Headmaster Grissom would be at the podium, telling the students what was expected of them and all that other stuff. It was always boring, Grissom was just comes across old fashion, Sanders was different, she tried to make her speech short and interesting even though some of her jokes were cringe-worthy and awkward at times. When Sanders finished, the rest of the faculty were introduced, most of them were familiar faces and then the new faces, the first one up was a woman, and she had shoulder-length red hair that covered one of her eyes. She wore the Alliance uniform that the rest of the faculty wore; almost all the male students perked up when they saw her, Prangley was no exception.

"She's cute" Prangley said with a smirk. Julia rolled her eyes at her friend's lecherous looks at her. The woman spoke up.

"Hello there, my name is Kelly Chambers and I'll be the counselor for the Academy" She said. "If you need someone to talk to, my office is open 24/7, so don't be shy" Julia shook her head, they would be coming over alright, but not to talk about their feelings, teenage boys were so immature at times. Chambers sat down, and new person came up, this time the whole room was quiet. The person in question was a woman of similar age as Kelly, but unlike Chambers, she wasn't as soft as her. She wore the Alliance uniform like the others, but it was messier and buttoned down to show a little cleavage. It also showed some her tattoos, which was a lot, she even had a tattoo on the side of her head, though it was partly covered by her hair which was a ponytail with the sides shaved. Julia didn't know why, but her head was telling her to stay away from her, that she was dangerous.

Smith shook his head. "Appalling, faculty members for this Academy should show more professionalism than this"

"I don't think she care, Jeeves, you see those eyes, I've seen lots of guys back on Earth with eyes like that before" Prangley said. "She's been through some shit, more than I have, if she's a teacher I'd hate to be the poor suckers who have her…"

"The name's Jacqueline Nought, but that shit's too formal, so call me Jack" she said. Prangley and Julia eyes went wide and they looked at each other, she was going to be their new biotic teacher. "Listen up, 'cause I don't say stuff twice, I teach Intermediate Biotic Studies, and training, you want to survive my class…you better have the balls to keep up 'cause I don't go easy on no one"

"So enjoy today, ladies, because your date with hell starts tomorrow" Prangley and Julia gulped, this school year was going to be interesting in more ways than one….

In case anyone was wondering about Kelly's new look, I've based it off Ashley's look in Mass Effect 3 since she's dead in my story.

Next time! As always Review and Comment.