I don't own Mass Effect. Bioware does.
Jane had adjusted well to living under Saren's roof, so in the Spectre's mind, it was about time he signed her up for an education plan. During the early morning, Saren started to brew his kava while Jane was out in the back balcony, watering the seeds until the soil was moist. By the time she finished, she put back the equipment and stepped back inside the apartment. Jane spent a couple more minutes rinsing off her hands before she met up with Saren in the kitchen, searching the pantry until she pulled out a packet of instant oatmeal.
"The garden is coming along nicely," Saren was at the table, eyes scrolling over a datapad.
"Thank you, Saren," Jane smiled.
Jane carefully read the instructions while she prepared her breakfast.
"I admire your ability to be self-taught. However, I'm looking for a course you could take on which your level of education would be considered official," Saren added, pushing the datapad towards a place where she could see.
Even if she hadn't finished preparing her food yet, Jane carefully read the details on the datapad, including the address of the office he looked up.
"I've got a few listed," Saren continued, "if you have any preference, speak your mind."
By the time her oatmeal was ready, Jane carried it over to the table and started eating, still reading from the datapad. Saren then got up to rinse his dishes off before putting them in the dishwasher. All the while, Jane couldn't help but wonder if the Spectre knew any of the contacts he listed. The silence broke when Saren returned to the table.
"So do you have any preference," Saren repeated, "or should I choose for you?"
"Maybe you could introduce me?" Jane suggested.
Saren looked over the list one more time.
"I might have a suggestion," Saren offered, "if you have time, I could show you over there."
"I'd like that," Jane nodded.
It took several minutes before Jane finished her breakfast. After she cleaned up after herself, she met up with Saren at the front door and picked her shoes out from the rack. The turian Spectre led her out of the apartment before they hopped aboard a skycar, Saren relaying the destination to the driver before he focused on Jane.
"It's designed to help those who've been held back catch up in their education."
Jane kept her eyes locked onto Saren, paying close attention to his reasoning.
"It's affordable, has a very flexible schedule, safe, and a high rate of people who walk out with degrees. You'll like it," Saren continued.
Stepping out of the taxi, the two were met with a view of a large, rather pristine building. The external, chrome vents looked like fish scales, on top of pearly pillars surrounding the mouth of the building. Even if she didn't change her facial expression, Jane stared in amazement.
While registration didn't require much in the realm of previous education or employment experience, it did require extensive data concerning identity and payment info. Saren hummed happily as he sat down and began to fill in the blanks, glad as he was that he had handled Jane's identification previously. Finally, he decided to pay for the courses, as Jane didn't have much in the way of her own wage.
The two discussed as they handpicked which classes Jane needed to take to earn her GED. Finalizing a few other on-campus details and contract agreements, Saren handed the paperwork in to the front desk. Making one more arrangement for a standardized education evaluation the following week, the two finally left. Almost a full hour had passed since they had arrived.
"Thank Spirits that's finally over," Saren muttered.
Jane nodded, yet she fidgeted nervously, which Saren took notice of.
"Is something wrong?" Saren asked, "I thought this was what you wanted."
"It is," Jane replied, "I just don't know what the others would think of me if they knew what I've been through."
"What's in the past is in the past," Saren reassured, "it can't hurt you unless you let it."
"Ok," Jane nodded.
With that, Jane gave Saren a gentle embrace. Saren felt a light tingling zip down his spine, feeling Jane's arms around himself. He didn't expect or desire this sort of companionship, but he didn't bother resisting either. He continued to feel somewhat distracted as the two of them entered a taxi back to his home. By the time they returned to the apartment, Jane slipped off her shoes and placed them on the rack. Saren sat back down at his personal terminal and continued typing. He had been putting off long enough, and he'd best return to work typing out something generic lest Sparatus begin to pester him around again. Little did he know, this roused curiosity out of Jane, so she grabbed a nearby chair and sat next to him, observing his work.
A couple days prior to his talk with Matriarch Benezia and her daughter, he'd left for another assignment, but took his time to compile the mission report. He noticed Jane entering the room, but hadn't paid much thought to her presence. This gave Jane a chance to continue observing the turian Spectre without interrupting him. Saren finished up with a short, quick report before sending it off and turned to Jane.
"Is there something I can help you with?" he asked.
Jane couldn't help but stiffen.
"I…I was just curious," Jane blurted.
He stretched as he stood up from his office swivel chair.
"What about?" he insisted.
"About what you do for a living," Jane replied.
Of course, Jane still remembered others mentioning Saren was a Spectre, even if she hadn't given much thought as to what it entailed.
"Law enforcement…mostly," Saren started, "as Spectres, we directly answer to the Council and are generally free from regulations as to how we do our jobs. Along with assignments that we are given, we mostly go out on our own to halt crime however we see fit."
Jane slightly raised her eyebrows.
"What crimes do they deal with?" Jane asked, "does it involve more serious ones?"
"Slavers, drug rings, illegal tech, the sorts of things C-Sec doesn't have the range to deal with and local authorities don't have the man-power to deal with. Usually, the Council doesn't care how you get it done, so long as you complete the mission," Saren explained.
With that, Jane started to reminisce on her childhood for some reason. Well, her classes haven't started yet, and the memory of her mother's death hasn't stopped bothering her in her sleep.
"Sex trafficking also counts, right?" Jane blurted.
"It usually falls under the same category as slavery, but yes. I've had to deal with on many occasions women who had been, or on the verge of breaking while they were in captivity," Saren answered, "unfortunately, crime seems to be pretty universal."
Jane nodded in agreement.
"I know one particular ring back on Earth," Jane said, "but after seeing my mother die when I was young, I avoided prostitution."
Saren hummed with dismay. Her story wasn't all that similar to his, but some themes did resemble others.
"Well, that's what being a Spectre is: a group of hand-picked individuals who have proven themselves designated to be the hand of the Council and protect the galaxy."
Jane gave off a soft expression, and Saren couldn't help but stroke his talons through her hair, letting her lean into the touch.
"You must be lucky to have survived harsh conditions, Shepard," Saren continued.
"Yes," Jane agreed, "but I feel sad for those who couldn't escape."
"So what are you proposing?" Saren asked.
"If you can keep up to date on the trafficking ring and let me know about it," Jane advised, "then I would appreciate it."
With that, Jane managed to remember the name of the trafficking ring and relayed it to Saren.
"So what's the plan? You want to go after these guys?" Saren asked, looking through the deep web for any contact information of the aforementioned trafficking ring.
There was a long moment of silence before Jane nodded.
"I can arrange that," Saren assured.
He wasn't sure whether or not she should come along, or stay at the ship, but considering how much he had invested in Jane by now, he could take the time to give her some closure. Also, the Alliance was sure taking its time to properly treat some of the decay on Earth. For now, he figured he could give her some insight on the places in the galaxy he has traveled to.
Saren continued at his terminal with Jane watching over his shoulder.
"It's going to be quite a ways out into the galaxy," Saren said, "I'll get you the necessary civilian equipment, but do you think you can handle yourself?"
Jane nodded.
"I've had to fend for myself for years," Jane answered calmly.
"We'll head to an equipment shop tomorrow, see what we can get," he agreed, as the two walked out of his office.
And with the time they had available, Saren offered to take Jane through a stroll in the park.
Even if he hadn't received any assignments yet the following day, Saren still felt that it was necessary for Jane to gear up. Saren put on his coat and checked his omni-tool. It didn't take long for Jane to meet up with him at the front door before she slipped on her shoes.
"We'll need at most a pressurized suit for you, an omni-blade, and a sidearm to start with," he told Jane.
Jane nodded even if she examined herself carefully. The two exited the apartment and hailed a taxi.
"Now, I should let you know the provider I do by from is hypocritically…illegal."
Jane gave Saren a puzzled stare while they waited for the taxi to arrive. If what Saren said was true, then she had a feeling he was no stranger to illegal activity like herself.
"Worse than what I had to resort to doing?" Jane pondered.
"It's illegal tech. Mining parties and colonists do have to report Prothean findings, but more often than not slip through regulations. It does help to have better shields and weapons than anything you'll ever come across," he explained further.
By the time the taxi arrived, Saren and Jane hopped aboard before the turian Spectre relayed the destination to the driver.
"Prothean particle rifles, for example, are almost to die for," Saren continued, "at the knowledge or sight of one, mercenaries and pirates will throw themselves at each other for one before they're confiscated by authorities. With firepower like that and the rechargeable ammo batteries, they're worth every bit whatever scavenger charges you for."
Jane's expression gave away interest as the skycar hovered through the air traffic.
"I don't think I've seen one on Earth," Jane mused.
"Like I said, they are rare as they are powerful," Saren reiterated.
Several minutes passed before they arrived at a clean, well lit part of the wards. When the skycar landed, Jane and Saren disembarked.
"Here we are. The shopkeeper has plenty of contacts and feels comfortable with the thought he can operate as openly as he does. He does provide materials that have narrowly saved me, so I'm somewhat obliged to look the other way."
Saren led Jane into the shop. It resembled any other gun store she'd seen on Earth with the inclusion of weapon mods, armor segments, guns on racks, ammunition types, and attachments. The volus at the front counter was talking to a tall man in heavy armor neither of them recognized.
The human was rather tall, a few inches above Saren, but didn't look to be from any discernible faction he'd ever encountered. The armor was white with stripes of red, almost muscular looking, and had a small, glowing rack of cobalt blue metal boxes hanging on his lower back. The helmet looked like a human helmet design from a couple centuries back with a bivalve gasmask covering the face and a bronze tinted visor. As the enormous man picked his rifle and paid his fee, Saren couldn't help but continue to stare. Peering back with through his bronze, reflective visor on the way out, he simply growled back with a thick accent.
"What are you looking at?"
"Just thought I recognized you," Saren muttered with some confusion.
The two then continued to the front counter. This drew the volus's attention towards them.
"Ah! *wheeze* Spectre Arterius! A pleasure *wheeze* to see you again! *wheeze* What'll it be today?" the shop keeper asked.
"I need a good suit of armor, an omni-blade, and I'd like to have a good view of your sidearms for my new accomplice," Saren answered, gesturing to Jane.
The volus clerk took a moment to examine Jane.
"Is she your *wheeze* apprentice?" he asked.
Jane gave the volus a puzzled expression.
"I'm…sorry?" Jane paused.
"Not…exactly…" Saren started, "at least I assume she isn't interested in my field of work."
"Oh, right," the volus blurted.
The volus quickly got to work getting Jane's proportions and showing the two a few sets of armor that could be adjusted to her size.
"I can also have them integrated with Prothean barriers if you so desire."
"I accept the offer," Saren nodded in approval.
"You also mentioned the desire to buy a new sidearm and omni-blade?"
"That is correct," Saren answered.
"Then I'll get to it," the volus announced, "I'll *wheeze* have it finished in a day or two."
The shop keeper gave them an omni-blade attachment for Jane's omni-tool and went over to the display case of various pistols.
"So what exactly would be your preference?" Saren asked.
Jane took her time to carefully examine the pistols on display. Yet, she hadn't thought of what she would prefer in a pistol.
"What would you recommend?" Jane pondered.
"A small clip size, but a solid punch for each round you fire," Saren suggested.
The volus then directed them to a group of pistols down near the other side of the display cabinet.
"I'd recommend this one *wheeze* if it is her first time," the volus picked up one of the weapons and put it on the counter before them.
"I'd like that," Jane agreed.
Jane picked up the pistol and carefully examined it. However, since she had almost no experience in firearms, the way she held it triggered a concerned expression out of Saren.
"It's *wheeze* easy to learn and maintain. *wheeze* It's also stereotypically seen in the hands of *wheeze* aspiring mercenaries and hitmen," the volus explained, describing the pistol.
"That's good, we'll take it," Saren confirmed, yanking the weapon from her hands like a worried mother taking a kitchen knife.
"And," Saren reminded, "you might want to learn how to hold it properly so you don't hurt yourself."
"S-Sorry," Jane muttered.
Saren ran his talons through her hair in an attempt to give her reassurance. Purchasing the goods, the two left the store.
"Sorry about that," Saren sighed, "I really should teach you proper gun discipline before we leave."
"I see your point, sir," Jane nodded in agreement.
"But, I suppose we could make a detour on the way home," Saren added.
With the new pistol, the two went to a small firing range to practice. Once inside, Jane took a moment to scan her new surroundings. Exiting the front lobby, they put away their belongings in locker room before stepping into the gun range. It was well lit, and almost like a bowling alley as each range was walled off from the other. Along the range was a series of projectors. It didn't take long before Saren and Jane found an available range.
"Now, you want to have your hands set up like this with your right thumb relatively close to the safety. Due to how much of an extra kick this weapon will have, you'll want to keep your gun-arm stiff in preparation for the recoil," Saren had his arms around Jane's, putting her hands in the right places, "when you aim down the sights, you want to make sure those three green dots line up, with the middle one being right in between the other two."
"Right," Jane nodded, following Saren's instructions.
Saren hit the console in front of them, bringing up a simple target.
"Right, give it your best shot."
Upon cue, Jane carefully aimed at the target before she squeezed the trigger. One of the putter rings lit up, indicating a hit.
"That's a good start," Saren praised, "give it a few more shots. Try and balance the time between shots to make the recoil more manageable."
"Got it," Jane nodded.
Jane returned her focus to the target. Eyeing the target a bit longer, Jane squeezed the trigger firing a few more rounds closer to the center of the target. Firing the eighth and final round, the gun made a sharp hiss, opening vents on the side to let out a burst of steam. Saren directed her hand to the top of the gun.
"This signifies the thermal clip is expended," Saren explained, "you want to pull the top of the module back to eject the used thermal clip before putting in a new one. Pulling it open will initiate a catch mechanism which will allow you to put in the clip. Once you've reloaded, tap the button below to release the catch and close the weapon."
Upon cue, Jane followed Saren's advice, which allowed her to extract the useless thermal clip from the pistol, replacing it with a new clip.
"Good," Saren persuaded, "now give it another try before we move on to something else."
"Ok," Jane nodded.
She continued with practice, firing off two more thermal clips before Saren tapped the console again.
"Let's see how you fare against moving targets. Try to anticipate the movements in relation to how fast the thermal round flies."
Jane nodded in acknowledgment. The targets would shift left and right, in and out of cover, proving difficult at first. Jane was able to adapt well enough, and began to hit her targets with increasing accuracy. Observing her progress, Saren flicked his mandibles into a grin.
"I'm impressed. A bit of beginner's luck," Saren praised.
"Thanks," Jane gave Saren a soft smile.
The two continued for an hour longer, discussing weapon safety, cleaning, ammunition types, and various other tips Saren had to offer. By then, Jane felt confident in her progress. By the time the hour finished, the two concluded the practice and left.
"I'm surprised you learned as quickly as you did," Saren complimented.
"Thank you, sir," Jane nodded.
Saren froze in his tracks after he called aside a taxi.
"Why are you calling me 'sir' all of a sudden?" he paused.
"To…show you respect?" Jane clarified.
He simply shrugged at the answer.
"Fair enough. It just felt a bit out of place."
Once the taxi arrived, Saren and Jane boarded it before it hovered back to their apartment. The Spectre hoped the Council might present a mission covering Jane's target shortly.