Thanks for all the wonderful reviews! This chapter was actually written first , but I wanted to develop Jane and her dad's relationship, I adjusted it of course. This is just the start so hold on everyone. Thanks for following me or shadow stalking me. ^.^ Hope you enjoy it. Cheers.
~~00o00~~
Ganis stared out the front window his talons clicked nervously against themselves, he still felt like Jane should be home any moment.
He sighed, he still hadn't heard from her since she left. He knew she might not be able to message him right away but he thought for sure he would have heard something by now. Where she was, if she was okay, he hated that he wasn't there for her. Turning to the room he realised that even though she had been a quiet child and the house was never loud it now felt all too silent there, empty, just as his heart and life were now.
~~00o00~~
Alenko had left Jane in her bunk after showing her the ins and outs of the space station; she had slept avoiding the others in the bunk room for the time being. Her body woke her up at 0500 as always. She looked at the stack of neatly folded BAaT issue clothing on the locker at the foot of the bed.
Eyeing the clothes Jane changed into them. There was shoes left for her that she didn't recognise and after trying them and taking a few steps around the room she decided to go back to her combat boots. She tied her hair back, did her sit ups, push ups, and pull ups on a bar she found in the hallway, and then set out for her run. She jogged in and out of hallways and down corridors passing other students who were giving her odd looks. Jane rounded a corner and found herself in the Mess as Alenko had called it.
She was watching the others grab trays and make their way through a line grabbing their food and sitting in little groups, she had never been around so many people at one time in one small area, let alone with so many humans.
Jane sighed and grabbed a tray and dropped in line as the others were doing. Not knowing what half the food was she shrugged and pointed at a few things that looked normal to her and took her tray to a deserted table, poking at the food for a bit she tried a few bites.
"If the look on your face is any indication I'd say the eggs aren't so great this morning." Kaidan dropped his tray across the table and took a seat.
"Is that what they are?" She chewed another small bite before poking at them with her fork.
"Right, I forgot you wouldn't be used to this kind of food."
Jane shrugged. "Don't worry about it. I'll get used to it." She took another bite and her face screwed up again. "Maybe."
Kaidan laughed and motioned to her footwear. "Did the runners we left you not fit?"
"The what?"
"Umm, you know the shoes. I can't help but notice you're still wearing boots." Kaidan pointed at her feet.
"Oh, no it's just the ones you left didn't feel right, they were really light."
"Yeah, I think that's the point Shepard." He watched as she visibly flinched at the name Shepard, like it was a shock to hear that name used in reference to her. He watched as she pushed the plate mostly uneaten away from her and lean back fiddling with what looked to be dog tags. Jane's eyes met his and she quickly stowed them beneath her shirt.
"So Alenko, what is this place? Besides BAat I mean, what's it called? And where is it?"
"Let's see this is Gagarin Station also known as Jump Zero, and of course we're in the Sol system, this thing used to be the farthest human construction from Earth, before the discovery of the relays."
Jane nodded.
"Sol, Earth, right the human system and home planet; I remember reading something about that."
"You remember reading something about that?" Kaidan stared at Jane until she broke the silence.
"Right, I read something about it." She shrugged
"Yeah, right that's why we have a lot of work to do, not only on English but I have to give you a crash course in Human history." Kaidan watched as Jane shrugged again.
"You don't think of yourself as human do you?" Kaidan watched Jane's face for some sort of reaction but there was none, just that blank look.
"Alright then." He fumbled for another topic. "What do you do for you know fun? Besides running, sit ups, push ups and pull ups that I've been told you do at 0500. You're worse than my parents and they were Military. By the way we have a Gym for all that; I showed it to you last night. There are treadmills so you don't have to run around the station."
"I've never used anything like that."
"Right, shit I forgot. I'll show you."
"Thanks, I didn't mean to bother anyone." Jane had her hands in her lap and back straight.
"No, no bother at least not yet, your bunk mates might have gotten annoyed at some point but one day of being up at 0500 won't kill them. You didn't actually answer the question though. What do you do for fun Shepard." He watched as she flinched again. Wow, the only thing that seemed to bother her was that name.
"I like to practice with my sniper rifle, hand to hand spars, and training simulations. That's always fun." Alenko quirked a brow at her. "Seriously? Don't you do anything that isn't in some way violent?"
The question threw Jane off, she wasn't sure she understood him; everyone she knew did the same things for "fun".
"I like to read." She left it at that and he nodded.
"There ya go. What about Music? Dancing?"
Before she could answer a girl a little older than Jane stopped at the table, she had short blonde hair that flipped out at about ear level, her eyes were a crystal blue and they crinkled as she smiled.
"Kaidan, you know she wouldn't have those things, she came from a colony and not a human one. You read her report stop pestering her." The girl gave a sweet smile in Jane's direction.
"Ah, yes well I was just asking. Jane this is Rahna."
"Please to meet you Miss. Rahna." Jane gave a nod of her head.
"So are you going to come over and meet everyone Jane? Kaidan you can't just keep her over here she should meet the group."
Jane was on her feet before Rahna could finish.
"Thank you very much for your offer Miss. Rahna. I really should finish up my morning. Alenko I suppose you will be looking for me? I will be ready at 0830. Where would you like to meet?"
"Things to finish? Exercises you mean? I have a few things to give you so I'll find you after you leave the Gym. There is a general assembly at 0900 so we'll head there afterwards. We're to be meeting our new trainer and they need to talk to you about getting you fitted with an implant."
Nodding quickly Jane was down the hall in moments leaving Kaidan and Rahna to stare after her.
"Don't worry about her Kaidan she'll be fine. I don't think she's used to so many people."
"I don't think she's used to humans is the real problem."
Rahna lifted a slight shoulder
"At least she's polite. Come on everyone is waiting to hear about her."
The group as everyone called them was what most of the teachers and students thought of as the most popular kids at Brain Camp. They were good-looking or very talented in biotics and often were recognised by the other students as the face of BAat.
"Hey Kaidan." A boy about sixteen with brown hair and eyes and with a fantastic smile was motioning for Kaidan as he made his way to where the group was standing.
"Where'd she go? I thought Rahna was going over there to bring her to meet us?"
"Calm down there Andy. She's not used to all of this yet, give her time before you start drooling on her will you?"
Winking at Kaidan, Andy eyed Rahna making sure she was out of hearing distance.
"Well I wasn't planning on actually drooling on her, I simply stated she was drool worthy. Shit Alenko you see that hair? Deep red and impossibly long, they are going to make her cut it I'm sure; I'd love to get my hands on it before that. Are her eyes as green as they look from here? God damn Alenko I think you may have found us one of the best looking girls to hit this space station. So sorry you're spoken for. Guess I may just have to take care of this one for you."
Kaidan turned directly to Andy. "Rahna and I aren't dating." Andy rolled his eyes. "You might as well be."
"Listen Andy just give Jane some time before you bug her okay. Day one stuff here buddy, don't bother the pretty girl until she's used to humans."
"What the hell you talking about Kaidan? She is human."
Kaidan chuckled as he walked off towards his bunk. "Yeah she only looks that way."
~~00o00~~
Jane hit the showers, dressed and was met by Kaidan as she exited the washrooms.
"Alenko, you're on time. Good to see."
"Yeah Military parents remember? We believe in the hurry up and wait policy." Jane laughed causing Kaidan to stop dead in his tracks it was a nice sound. "What's so funny?"
"Just good to see that the Military is the same no matter where you go; my dad was the same way, we we're always early for everything, drove me nuts and now here I am the same way."
"Yeah funny how that works." He wanted to ask her about her dad, what it was like being raised by one of them. But he didn't know how to bring up something like that.
"So you had something for me Alenko?" He realised he had stared at her in thought and she now stood before him in a parade rest hands behind her back, watching him.
"Yes, right I did. These are your first books and assignments, English and human History. Your math and science is impeccable I'm told and lucky for you that's universal."
She took the datapads and nodded.
"Come on Shepard we had better get to the assembly they will want us in formation. This damn place likes to think they are the military. Hope you have no problem with that." She smirked at him and he rolled his eyes at himself, feeling like an idiot he could feel his face turning red as she watched him.
"Yeah, Forget I said anything."
~~00o00~~
As everyone filed into the large room they formed lines and fell into formation. Jane stood at perfect attention. She noted that the others around her had a tendency to fidget or lean-to one side.
A man Jane didn't recognise entered the room; by his dress Jane figured he was a Medical officer of some kind. He cleared his throat and any talking that had gone on drifted to a close.
"Alright everyone I would like to introduce you to our newest Biotics trainer, Commander Vyrnnus." Jane's brows knitted together, Vyrnnus which was most assuredly a Turian name. What would a Turian be doing here? She pulled herself up taller and straighter as the man continued.
Vyrnnus, where had she heard that name before?
"You will all listen to him and his team in all things. The training you receive is for your own good. You must be taught to not only protect yourself but those around you. Understood?"
Those gathered gave a weak "Yes, Sir."
The man stepped to the side and the door behind him hissed open and in walked a Turian, tall she noted even taller than her dad, with white markings, searching the cold hard calculating eyes of the Turian she realised she not only recognised the markings, she recognised him.
A memory snapped to the forefront of her thoughts. It had been a few years after her dad had brought her to Randiv. He'd had an argument outside with another Turian and had told her to stay inside but she had gone to her window to listen.
"Spirits Ganis I fucking told you to leave it down there. Now look at you, stuck on this backwater planet that you said you never wanted to go back to and for what?"
"Keep your voice down Arien. This is my choice. I'm really glad you came to visit but I need to get back." Ganis had stuck out his hand and the other Turian with those same cold eyes had glared down into her dads. "From now on Vandrel it's Commander Vyrnnus to you. The man I knew would have never had human sympathies. We're still fighting her kind and here you're raising one." His hands went forward to push Ganis away in disgust. "You are a disgrace. I was going to offer to take care of it for you, but I see you have lost all of your senses."
"That's enough Commander Vyrnnus." Gani's tone had been low almost a growl.
"I'm asking you to leave now before this goes farther than it needs to."
Vyrnnus had taken one look back to the house and then left.
Jane was snapped out of the memory by the click of talons to her right. She watched out of the corner of her eye as Commander Vyrnnus stopped in front of Alenko.
"You boy, I want you to know I was at the helm of the dreadnought that killed your father."
Jane wanted to roll her eyes. The Turian was goading Alenko trying to get a rise out of him. To her shock it worked and he spoke out of turn. "My Father wasn't even in the First Contact War so now I know you're full of it."
Jane almost flinched, not only had Alenko fallen for it he'd gone ahead and added an insult in there as well.
Commander Vyrnnus looked like he was going to backhand him and Jane, even though she knew better spoke.
"I doubt you were at the helm anyway Sir." Vyrnnus's attention was instantly off of Alenko and on her. He side-stepped in front of her and regarded her stance.
"I see you must have had military parents. They should have taught you to keep your mouth shut on issues that do not concern you. Perhaps they were the ones I killed? Is that why you seem to take issue with what I said?"
Jane deciding to take it a step farther gave him a perfect Turian salute and then dropped back to attention. "I doubt it Sir." Vyrnnus pulled his mandibles close to his face and glared down at her. "Are you trying to insult me little girl?"
He grabbed a datapad from the Turian next to him who looked as shocked as the rest of the room around her.
"Name." It was a demand not a question.
Jane felt almost at ease, at least she could read him unlike most of the humans in the room who were a complete mystery to her and she knew she had him reeling.
She dropped her voice to a level only he could hear. "I say I doubted you killed my parents while you were on that dreadnought because you probably were serving with him." Jane had purposely used the Turian word for dreadnought and she watched him flinch.
Her voice returned to normal.
"Jane Shepard. Though you may know me better as."
"Vandrel" Vyrnnus's voice was a low threatening growl as he said the word.
It took only a moment before Vyrnnus was back in control. His face stoic as he flipped through her dossier.
"I see you're in need of an implant. Doctor I believe we need to have Shepard here fitted. Please escort her to the Medical Bay and make sure that is seen to."
Watching her leave Alenko couldn't believe what had just happened, he knew that Shepard didn't have to do it but she had. She had saved him from the Turians wrath at the risk of her own neck, he knew it had probably just about killed her to break protocol. Why then?
Alenko saw the look Vyrnnus followed Shepard with and a cold chill ran up his spine, this was going to be bad.
He didn't know at the time how right he was.