I don't own Mass Effect. Bioware does.
Several days have passed since Jane moved into Saren's apartment. During that time, Jane used that time to care for herself as she adapted to living with the turian Spectre, such as locating a hair salon so she can have her hair cut short, its length now covering half of the back of her neck. She even bathed herself once during that week and even studied a few more holobooks. When she had the need for food, Saren insisted that he assist her when she prepared her own meals.
At the moment, Jane just acquired a puzzle game for her omni-tool which allowed her to test her problem solving skills using logic. She currently sat in the living room as she scheduled to complete progress with her use of problem solving within a half an hour while a holobook rested on her lap. From what Saren assumed, she might be planning to read it.
"I'll be out for a few hours discussing matters with the Council," Saren announced, making for the door, "as usual, call me if something goes horribly wrong."
Jane nodded just as Saren left the apartment and closed the door. Saren looked back over the message from Sparatus on his omni-tool.
{We have a few matters we'd like to discuss with you. In private.}
Saren sighed before he made his way through the Presidium. Getting onto the elevator into the Citadel Tower, he quickly returned a message to Sparatus.
{Almost there. Entering the tower now.}
The turian Spectre waited for a short while before the elevator reached its destination, so he stepped out and made his way to the Council Chambers. Before him, Sparatus, Valern and Tevos gave him puzzled stares.
"I assume this is still about how I dealt with the Blue Suns factory?" Saren asked cautiously.
The Councilors had given him flak for letting Zaeed go. However, he reasoned that the elder mercenary had been overthrown by his lackeys, and was no longer a concern.
"No, we've come to the conclusion it was a decision made in good judgment," Tevos corrected, "however, something unrelated had caught our attention."
Saren took a deep breath.
"All right," he said, "I'm listening."
"There have been circulated a few rumors about yourself. Nothing particularly bad, but it's still a cause for some concern," Sparatus started.
Saren remained calm even if he folded his arms.
"If any rumors involve me," Saren replied, "then I'd like to hear about them."
Valern cleared his throat.
"While it is still within the stage as a rumor," he explained, "word has been circulating that you've had a human living in your quarters."
"Like I said, we don't particularly mind it," Sparatus reassured, "however, we're somewhat fearful of how it will impact your image given your previous statements on the Systems Alliance."
Saren resisted the urge to flinch, and he started wondering over the Councilor's words. If he ever came across any official from the Systems Alliance and they noticed Jane, would they not take it lightly? He immediately brushed off the thought of Anderson criticizing him for what he might assume to be hypocrisy.
"I…found her living on the streets in a city on Earth which I visited not long ago," Saren admitted, "the conditions she endured gave me suspicion of certain parts of humanity."
"So the rumors are true then?" Sparatus pressed.
"All I'm saying is that I'm providing her help so that she may gradually become a constructive figure in society," Saren denounced, "still, my public opinion on the Alliance hasn't changed, and I'd prefer if none of you gave such impressions to the media and public."
During a moment of silence, the Councilors exchanged glances.
"Very well, thank you for your time, Arterius. You are dismissed."
Saren walked away as the councilors continued with their squabble.
On the way onto the elevator back to the Presidium, he quickly typed a message.
{Matriarch Benezia, have you docked yet?}
While the elevator continued to descend, Saren waited for the Asari Matriarch to respond.
{Yes, we have. I still have the address you sent me too. I'm glad you're willing to take the time to discuss the matter with us,} the Matriarch returned, {of course, Liara believes this to be an unnecessary process and that we're wasting our time.}
Saren hummed as he sent his next message.
{We can iron out security when we get there. Also, I've recently had a guest move in to my home. An unconventional guest, but a guest nonetheless.}
By then, the elevator reached the base level and the door opened, so Saren stepped out of the building. Walking back to his apartment, he found that Matriarch T'soni and her daughter had already beaten her back, and were being introduced to Jane at the door.
"H-How can I help you, ma'am?" Jane asked.
"I wish to talk with Saren concerning matters of personal safety, you must be the guest he mentioned. Is he home right now?" Benezia greeted.
"I'm here, Matriarch. Just got back with some minor matters with the councilors," Saren answered, approaching the two asari, "please enter, I'll be right with you two."
Benezia and Liara stepped into the apartment upon cue.
"Once again, I appreciate the time you're taking with this matter, Arterius. It's important to both of us," Benezia reiterated.
Saren nodded as he sat across from Benezia and Liara, Jane following suit.
"So Liara is initiating her first few expeditions into the Attican regions?" Saren asked.
Benezia had given him an extensive description of her worries and what she wanted to discuss before hand.
"Yes," Liara nodded without giving away any signs of nervousness.
Liara was a rising archaeologist, and would be making her first strides in various Prothean ruins throughout the fringes of Alliance Space. With the power and influence the T'Soni household held, Benezia had no problem providing the necessary resources or security her daughter would need to face against whatever environmental challenges or threats her party would encounter.
"I see. I've been through the Attican plenty of times, and no visit was safer than the last," Saren acknowledged.
Jane raised her eyebrows in interest. Her smile hid her sadness of the reality that her struggles held her back.
"As for pirates," Saren continued, "you'll probably want to invest a small security detail with heavy anti-air and long-range scanners to check the IFFs of ships passing through the system. If they are utilizing a scrubbed IFF, chances are they're closing in. As for wildlife, local fauna can be easily controlled, but you might want to send along some anti-armor for cases where you'll be dealing with predators. I'm not so much an expert on mining equipment, but I'm sure you can defer to your daughter for what would be the best choice in that regard."
Having paid close attention, Liara nodded in agreement.
"As for a vessel, I suggest something fast that has a low profile," Saren suggested, "helps to get in and out of trouble quickly. Finally, I highly suggest you bring very mobile transportation, even if it means sacrificing defensive capabilities. With a security detail like the one I described, pirates and raiders won't be much of a threat, so outmaneuvering fauna is a priority. I assume you also know how to sustain and command an excavation crew, Liara?"
"I do, Spectre Arterius," Liara answered.
"Good. Finally, and I know this is basically a given, but do yourselves a favor and do extensive background checks on the people you hire to reduce the chances of betrayals, anyone mentally snapping in the field, or failing to perform their job properly," Saren finished, "before you two leave, I can help you compile a list of well trained, private contractors to look over."
With that, Saren turned on his omni-tool and sent the information to both Benezia and Liara, allowing them to analyze it.
"Thank you. We should be going, we have a few other things to do before we leave," Benezia acknowledged as she rose to her feet.
Walking to the door, the matriarch pulled Jane to the side.
"Not to be rude, but I had to ask a few things. Saren mentioned you were a guest here, but never specified why."
Jane paused for a moment.
"I lived most of my life on the streets until Saren found me," Jane admitted, "I…haven't thought of what I would do with my life apart from catching up with the others."
Saren overheard their conversation and decided to answer.
"We were hoping that with a quick, proper education," Saren said, "at least to the point where she can achieve a gen-ed diploma."
Jane shifted gazes between Saren and Benezia for a moment.
"Since the city I lived in my entire life was garbage," Jane nodded, "I'll accept the offer."
"She was in poverty when I found her. Anyways, I'd appreciate it if you didn't make much of the matter publicly," Saren explained.
Benezia nodded in agreement.
"Then your secret is safe with us," Benezia confirmed.
Saren and the two asari discussed some final matters before they departed. Saren then hastily walked to the kitchen to grab a snack.
"I do apologize for not informing you about the visit earlier," Saren sighed.
Jane remained calm as she placed her hand on his shoulder.
"That's ok," she reassured the Spectre, "I feel it was worth saying hello to them."
Saren largely ignored the gesture as he bit into some leftovers he regretted leaving in the refrigerator for a few days longer than he should've.
"She's a nice person, I'll give her that. Though that reminds me, what exactly do you plan on doing once you've achieved a GED?"
"I…haven't thought about it per se," Jane admitted.
Saren continued to mumble through a mouthful of food.
"I'm sure you'll find something you'll like."
Jane stepped over to the refrigerator and found a container of yogurt. Once she pulled out a spoon, she gave the yogurt a taste test. Seconds later, she found herself enjoying the strawberry flavor within the yogurt, so she kept eating. Saren went to wash his plate before noticing Jane thumb through a new holobook. He had long since forgotten which ones she had picked for herself, so he cautiously peeked over her shoulder.
"What's this one about?" he asked.
Pausing for a moment, Jane tilted the holobook until Saren could read its title.
"I remember reading about gardening when my mother was still alive," Jane explained, her expression reminiscing on her nostalgic memory, "I would sometimes daydream that we would both get a better home so I can start a garden of my own."
Saren shrugged at the notion.
"I myself do enjoy the sight of flora too, but I really don't have any space in the house devoted to having any plants."
"I…understand," Jane replied softly.
"However," Saren continued, "if you're willing to be a bit more risky with them, there's always the apartment balcony."
Having already finished her yogurt and disposed of the container, Jane held the holobook close to her chest, allowing Saren to gesture her to follow him towards the door to the balcony. It was small, measuring barely five square meters.
"It's not much, but I barely use this space, so go wild," he dismissed.
With Saren standing nearby, Jane started scanning the area, calculating which would most likely be the most viable spots where she can place her garden. Saren quickly faced back inside, but decided to peek his head out.
"What plants do you plan on putting out here anyways?" he asked.
"Maybe if I understood what plants and flowers were available," Jane offered, "I could pick and choose for myself."
"Well, there is a nice flower shop in the markets," Saren mentioned, "I'll give you the coordinates when you're ready."
Having confirmed a suitable spot for her small garden, Jane stood to her feet and gave the Spectre a soft smile.
"Ok, I'm ready," Jane replied.
With that, they headed out of the apartment. Saren figured he should physically show her the way before sending her off on her own the next time. Giving her some credits, the two walked down to the nearby market. Once inside the shop, Jane started browsing gardening tools and various seeds, reading the names of the plants on the seed packages.
"Do any look particularly appealing?" Saren asked.
Having found a basket, Jane picked out packages of various seeds, including lilacs, daisies, forget-me-nots, irises, petunias and marigolds. She then turned her attention to the equipment.
"So, a garden? Maybe you'd enjoy life on one of the agricultural colonies the Alliance have?" Saren suggested.
If it's one thing he did have to give to humans was how quickly they could adapt to new circumstances. Jane didn't respond, yet she picked out some equipment, carefully double-checking the list to ensure she had the essentials. By the time she finished, she and Saren stepped over to the counter. Saren glanced away as Jane kept her silence.
"Or not, I suppose," he sighed.
Still, Jane placed the basket near the counter and placed the items on the checkout, catching the clerk's attention.
"That's quite a few household plants. Anything in mind?" the clerk inquired, scanning the pricetags.
"I thought I'd go for something closer to home," Jane answered.
"Closer to home?" the clerk asked, raising a brow, "anyways, that brings the total to three thousand credits."
Jane took a few moments to check the amount of credits she had on hand. Fortunately, she had barely enough to make the transaction, so she went through the payment. Saren helped to carry half of the items back to his apartment.
"I hope you're happy with what you have," Saren said.
"Same here," Jane agreed.
By the time they returned, they both set the items aside. While Saren stepped back into the apartment, Jane wasted no time as she arranged the flowering pots in the suitable spot she picked, taking her time to read through the tips she recorded in her omni-tool. She started off by pouring the soil into the flowering pots, making sure each pot had an appropriate amount of soil. After that, she checked each package of seeds before planting some of them into the flowering pots. In a couple particular flowering pots, Jane planted seeds that would sprout the kind of flowers turians were more familiar with. By the time she finished, she followed through the instructions on watering the planted seeds, taking care not to overdo it. By the time she finished, Jane put away the equipment and stepped back into the apartment, rinsing off her hands before she found Saren watching a news channel in the living room.
"Finished already?" Saren asked, barely taking his eyes of the screen.
Jane nodded before she sat down next to him.
"The seeds will need time to grow," Jane explained, "so they'll need sunlight and water from time to time."
"That shouldn't be too problematic with good maintenance," Saren looked on as the news continued to discuss some bombing on Illium.
A moment of silence passed by before Jane stood from the couch and made her way to her room, pulling out a holobook titled "The Relay 314 Incident". Figuring it might be an interesting read, she returned to living room and sat down next to the Spectre before she began reading the holobook in her hands. Saren glanced briefly at the title before averting his eyes, giving a disgruntled sigh. He quickly picked up the remote and changed the channel to some comedy show.
"Saren?" Jane paused.
Saren took a moment to tilt his head towards the human.
"Is…something bothering you?" Jane continued.
"It's unimportant," Saren was in no rush to describe the Relay 314 Incident, was trying to focus on the show to help drown out the thoughts.
Not wanting to bother Saren with heavy issues, Jane set on to read through the holobook herself. While she read through it, she took note of how the humans and the turians did not have such a peaceful first encounter, even if it was started by an unfortunate misunderstanding.
Saren himself wasn't traumatically shaken by the conflict as much as he hated the political intentions on both sides. After Desolas' death, he became especially persistent that he remained disassociated with the conflict, such as avoiding veteran gatherings to commemorate those who lost their lives. He didn't particularly blame the humans for Desolas' death as he did blame them for not coming forth sooner with the revelation that they didn't know of the regulations surrounding opening Relays.
It may have been long amidst taking notes, Jane finished reading the holobook before taking a few moments to return it to her shelf. Without saying anything, she leaned a little closer to Saren, which gave him a puzzled expression.
"What's the matter now?" he asked.
Jane made a brief glance at Saren.
"I'm just," Jane answered, "wanting to savor this moment."
Figuring out she was content being around him, Saren sighed as he placed his arm over her shoulder.
"Well, if it's any closure, it's a tale for another day," Saren admitted.
Jane nodded in agreement before she turned her focus onto the show on the screen. Over time, she found the pun related humor used in the show pretty entertaining. It was dumb humor, but it was the type of humor one could watch by simply turning off their brain and just sit there with their eyes glued to the screen.
From there, time seemed to blur to the point where neither of them kept track of time. The next thing they knew, it was already sunset outside. Saren got up to prepare something easy in the kitchen.
"So, what were you thinking of for dinner?" Saren asked.
Jane also stood from the couch and stepped into the kitchen, rummaging through the pantry for some ingredients while she checked her omni-tool for simple recipes.
Saren focused on the simple stew he had in the pot in front of him, occasionally glancing at Jane. Considering the state she'd been in during her upbringing, he couldn't help but wonder what her stance was between her own species and his.
"What's your opinion on the 314 Relay In- er, the First Contact War?" Saren asked.
Jane just set down her ingredients when she focused her eyes on Saren.
"I guess it was a misunderstanding that was taken too seriously," Jane shrugged.
"I see," Saren replied.
Jane then proceeded to start preparing her meal. If anything, Saren couldn't help but appreciate that she followed through with written instructions pretty well.