The Trip
After the Normandy lifted off from Eden Prime it made orbit then set course to the systems relay. Anderson was on his way to his quarters when Joker reported "Captain we will reach the Citadel in just under 15 hours and we are 3 minutes from the first mass relay". "Very well Joker, very well. Anything else?" said the Captain, "No, Sir" replied the Flight Lieutenant. Anderson was in his quarters filling out reports, something he didn't like doing. He had just finished the last of his report to the brass when his comms chimed. He answered it to find the ship's doctor, Dr. Chakwas. "What is it Doctor?" he asked. "Sir, I believe you should see this. Can you come to the med bay?" Chakwas asked. Anderson's only reply was "On my way". It took him a couple minutes to cross the crew deck to the med bay.
As the med bay's doors opened the doctor motioned for him to follow her to her office at the back of the room. When he walked by he saw both Shepard and Storm. It only took a few seconds to get to the back room. When the door closed behind him Anderson had a curious look on his face and asked "What is it doctor? How are our patients?". "Well the Commander will be fine, just let her sleep it off. However the Storm boy is another story." the doctor says as she started to list something that was out of place like how he doesn't have all of his annual shots and boosters. Then she stops at a part of her report that she read off "he is a biotic and a powerful one at that, I have never seen that much eezo nodes in one human body, I mean they would have to make a whole new classification of biotic just for him". As she showed him the power levels of each class compared to each other. This caused the captain think back to a report he saw years back, something about 'Project Guardian'. "Will the boy be alright?" he asked with a look of concern on his face.
Dr. Chakwas looked over her data she had on the unknown man, named Storm and replied "Other than not having an amp or his shots he'll be fine as well". The Captain with a puzzled look asked "I thought he doesn't need an amp?" "Whatever he did on Eden Prime almost burnt out his system. If it weren't for Lieutenant Alenko's quick thinking this young man would never wake up or be paralyzed". With this new information the Captain just nodded and proceeded to the door out of the doctor's office, but stopped in the doorway and said "Give him an amp and notify me the moment he wakes up". Then he left the med-bay, to his office.
About 12 hours later, after the operation for his amp the ship's new Quarian passenger, Kuri, came into the med bay to see how her friend was doing. She came in and saw that Shepard was still asleep, the doctor at her terminal, and Jeromy laying down facing away from the door. So she walked up to his bed and over to the side he was facing. However, she was unprepared for what happened next, she almost jumped out of her suit from Jeromy's little greeting "Keelah!" she cried out. "I'm sorry Kuri, I didn't mean to frighten you, what brings you by?". "S-sorry I'll come by later, when you aren't busy... um... sleeping" she stammered as she began to leave the room. Jeromy reached out as fast as he could to grab her arm and said "Please, don't...don't go. Stay with me, I'd love the company". Jeromy couldn't see it, but Kuri was blushing and she was also excited that he said that. Kuri looked into his eyes and said "Then I will stay". The two stayed in the med bay talking about various things. Each of them shared a little more about themselves. Kuri spoke about life on the flotilla, ships, and her pilgrimage. Jeromy asked a lot about the Quarian people and about Rannoch. Then the time came for Kuri to ask her questions. So she asked "Jeromy, I want to know more about you. Like where were you born, where did you live, do you have any other siblings?" Jeromy smiled and said "You have a lot of questions for me, I hope I can answer them for you".
He laid there, on the bed, thinking about how to answer these questions for Kuri. After a few moments he looks at her and says "Well I was born on 10th of September, 2160… so that would make me 23. I was born on my home world, Earth on the North American continent, but my father told me I was born on a cargo vessel..." Jeromy looks closes his eyes and a couple tears come run down his cheeks. "I was on the ship when we were attacked by the Geth, those damn robots blew up my home... and... and my father with it!" He finishes saying. Kuri felt bad and did her best to comfort her friend "I'm sorry Jeromy" she says, comforting Jeromy. "It's not your fault. Anyway, I lived mostly on Earth. I've lived on Luna for a short while. As for siblings I have 5 sisters" he finishes answering Kuri's question and notices her eyes grow as if she were shocked. Kuri looks at him absolutely floored and says "You're kidding me?! In the fleet each couple can only have 1 child, unless our population is in decline. Then we can have more." Kuri told him. Jeromy thinks for a moment and says "Let's see, most of my sisters live on Earth. My mother said I am a twin, but my twin sister died or so she told me." Little did anyone know that Shepard is listening to Jeromy and Kuri's conversation and was shocked after hearing the last sentence. With her being so curious she made a note to look up Jeromy and his family.
About an hour went by until Alenko came in to check on his commander. He noticed that the young Quarian and Jeromy were talking about something that he couldn't make out. He looked at Shepard and noticed that she quickly closed her eyes. Kaidan called out for the doctor "Doctor Chakwas. I think the Commander is waking up". Jeromy saw that the doctor did something on her terminal and walked over to Shepard to run some scans or tests. He just shrugged and continues the chat with Kuri. They both did their best to let the doctor do her thing, but they were curious about what Shepard was talking about. Something about a bad dream, which the doctor confirms with earlier brain scans. Shepard looks around and sees the doctor, Kaidan, Jeromy, and Jeromy's friend. She thinks to herself 'what is her name? Oh never mind, I'll ask later'. Jeromy and Kuri turn their attention back to each other for a bit longer. Some thirty minutes later, Captain David Anderson walks in greeting everyone there. He then said something about talking to Shepard and Storm in private. Which meant Kuri had to leave, along with Dr. Chakwas and Lt. Alenko.
Jeromy sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the bed, waiting for the captain. Anderson looks at the Commander and says "I have to admit, this doesn't look good for us. Geth, the attack on Eden Prime, a dead Spectre, and the destroyed Prothean artifact. Other than that, how are you holding up?". Shepard looking overwhelmed says "With Jenkins dead and everything that happened on the planet, I don't know sir. I am feeling a lot of things right now". Jeromy speaks up saying "hey, look on the bright side you two. The colony is saved and you've rescued my friend and I". " You are right" the captain sighs and says "which brings me to say, what's your name, son?", "my name is Jeromy Storm" Jeromy answers. As soon as he said who he was Anderson made the same look as Shepard, back on the planet, and Jeromy saw that. "You're the second person who did that, why? Am I some type of royalty or something?" he asked curiously. The Captain walks over to Jeromy and puts a hand on his shoulder "I knew your father, he was a good man. One of the greatest inventors humanity has to offer, a legend he was. It was rumored that he tried to make a legacy for himself or rather" looking at the commander "another one it seems, the two of you are practically twins. Though as you can see born years apart.". Both the commander and Storm's jaw dropped to the deck plate, shocked. Just then, Anderson's omni-tool beeped and he left the room saying "Shepard, go tell Joker to bring the ship into dock".
The two reunited siblings look at each other, still dumbfounded. Jeromy, in an attempt to break the ice, breathes out and says "I'm hungry I am..." he get interrupted with Shepard saying "nice to meet you Hungry". They both share a good laugh and formally introducing themselves. Shepard grins saying "Well my name is Sarah Jean Shepa... I mean Storm to you and the Captain, but the rest of the galaxy knows me as Shepard. Well little brother, your turn". Without missing a beat he replies "Well... big sister, my name is Jeromy Scott Storm. I love peanut butter, swimming, and gaming." The added things made Sarah laugh.
She walks over to the door, but stops and turns to Jeromy still sitting on the bed. " Have you seen the Citadel?" she asked. He thinks ' yes I have multiple times on the TV screen while I was playing the Mass Effect games'. "No, not really, why?" Jeromy asked. The commander smile, "Do you want to?". "Sure, I'd love to" Storm replied as her tried to get out of bed, slowly. He managed to get on his feet, but was unaware that he was wearing a hospital gown. Sarah Shepard called out "Nice butt little brother, you look cold". Jeromy said "Hey no peeking you perv." He then took one of his hands and closed the back of the gown. Jeromy wasn't looking at Shepard because he was beet red from all of the blushing. "Can I get my clothes?" asked the Storm kid. She couldn't help but laugh and hand him his BDU's that had the markings of the MSV Guardian. "Here you go" she says as she gave them to him. After giving them to him Shepard left the med bay to get some food and maybe chat with the crew while waiting for her brother. Now that Sarah left the room he puts on he's clothes, but then he freaks out because he couldn't find the holo of his father. So he checks his pockets and finds it in one of his lower pocket on his leg.
Still feeling a little wobbly he make his way out the med bay doors and immediately sees his friend in the mess hall. Kuri was sitting alone in the mess hall, which is located just outside the medical bay, eating something from some type of food pack. "You know kid, your little Quarian friend seems to like you." putting an emphasis on the word quarian. Ashley walks over to talk with one the ship's newest passenger. "She basically slept at your bed side, waiting for you to wake up. To tell you the truth I am glad she did because she is really annoying, with her being an alien and all" she let out a small laugh. Jeromy glances at Chief Williams and then looks away from her. "Williams, if I wanted for you to talk trash about someone, I'd have asked you to do it. Did I ask you to do it?" Jeromy waits for a moment and then looks straight into Ashley's eyes with a grim look. "Fuck off, Williams. I don't want another word from you about your hatred." Ashley stormed off in a direction and Jeromy walks over to Kuri, who almost jumps out of her suit after being greeted by her friend "Keelah! You have to stop that Jeromy and...also… um thank you" the young Quarian yelps. "Sorry Kuri, I forgot how jumpy you are and thank you for what?" Jeromy asked his friend. "I..I overheard what Chief Williams said about me. I was about to go back to my quarters, but I heard you stick up for not only me but for other non-humans. Thank you." she thanked him once again.
A few moments later Sarah Shepard walks over to Jeromy and reminded him that they will hit the relay to the Citadel in a few moments. Both Jeromy and Kuri follow the commander to where Joker is stationed at. "Ah, just in time commander. Just about to bring us into dock, get to see the tax payer's money at work" states Joker. Jeromy chuckles when the flight lieutenant said the same thing he did from the game. When Jeromy looked out the window of the ship he saw a huge object with the spinning rings he thought 'I still cannot believe that I am here in the Mass Effect verse, looking at a real mass relay'. The ship rushed towards it. A few moments later the blue energy from the relay lances out and engulfs the small stealth frigate. Then in a bright blue light the Normandy gets slingshot to the other relay which is in the Serpent Nebula, where the Citadel is located. Looking at the two passengers Joker said, "If you two like that, wait 'till the view clears up and you will see something way cooler". Sure enough, the view cleared up and what Jeromy saw was difficult to put into words. Jeromy was so awe struck that he didn't realize that the flagship, of the Citadel Defense Fleet (CDF), was getting bigger as they got closer to the capital of the known galaxy.
Lt. Alenko walks up behind us, with Ashley behind him and says "Destiny Ascension, flagship of the Citadel fleet". Ashley walks up to the window where the Asari dreadnaught was passing and tries to get pass Jeromy and Kuri. The young Quarian steps aside, but Jeromy didn't budge and instead he just stares at the chief for a few moments. Then he lets her by. She nods a thank you and looks out. What she saw she couldn't contain, "Wow, those guns can rip through the barriers of any ship in the Alliance fleet". This caused the lieutenant to chuckle a bit and say "good thing it's on our side then". Joker just sat there at his station doing what he does, Ashley and Kaidan were talking, Kuri and Sarah were also talking. Jeromy on the other hand was looking out the window, at the monster of a station and faintly says "wow, that's huge". "Hey, Commander? We'll be docking in a few minutes" stated Joker. "Ok, thanks Joker. Lieutenant, Chief, you're with me. Jeromy and... Kuri was it? You two go get yourself some gear." The LT and the Chief both said 'Yes ma'am' and the other two just nodded and said 'ok'. A few moments went by and the Normandy docks with the docking ring of the Citadel. Walking behind everyone Jeromy and Kuri steps off of the Human ship and made their way to the elevator to C-sec. Just then Jeromy had a sudden realization 'Oh my god, Tali. I have to find her and fast' and off he went with Kuri trying to keep up.