Chapter three

She does, you know

At Grissom Academy

It hadn't been smooth, it hadn't been easy. It hadn't been anything Jack expected. With her new job as a teacher for 'gifted' kids she just might have found a real purpose to her life. And with 'gifted' meaning 'kids excelling in biotics' and teaching meaning 'preparing them for war', Jack's way of teaching had been received well by the kids. To say the least.

But teaching them to fight properly was way different than coordinating them in an attack. Jack wasn't a born leader but she was getting better at it by the minute. Despite commanding them the best of her ability, fact was that they were only alive because of her own superior ability in the biotics department. She had saved them more times than she cared to count from these Cerberus troops that just seemed to pour in.

Cerberus. The first poor bastard that happened to walk down the same hall as Jack wearing that logo on his armour, well.. lest just say there wasn't much left of him. While every life taken was satisfactory, they just kept coming like vermin.

The kids were doing alright though. Well, including the fact that a day ago they were just teenagers. Their biggest worry being how to be cool enough for the others to take note and...

Screaming "It's them or us!" just didn't seem enough when a 17 year or girl just made her first kill.

Another discharge sent two troopers flying to their fate. Jack had started panting. Not enough time to catch her breath between the fights. That's when the door dragged open to reveal three characters that definitely weren't Cerberus. The leader, a woman in a screaming lime-green armour, had Jack's attention. Just when she was wondering when the hell the alliance started painting their armour in pastels colour the woman pulled off her helmet.

"Hey Jack! It's me!"

"Shepard?" Jack was seriously surprised to see the Commander here. And from the looks of it she had Garrus with her, and some new guy. She was just about to head over when the distinct sound of heavy metal hitting the floor reached them. Looking over she spotted a heavy mech hunching to get through the door.

"Seriously, Cerberus has heavy Mechs? So damn unfair..." Shepard shook her head.

Jack grinned before she had to hurry over, slide past a stunned student just staring at the mech and raise a barrier before a missile obliterated the both of them. Slowly the mech rose turning its gun-arm towards them. Ready to fire, a green helmet just hit its canopy effectively diverting the pilots focus.

"Hey shithole! Why don't you pick on someone your own seize!"

It wasn't ideal to resort to letting the commander save the situation. But right now wasn't the time to be picky.

"Everyone get down, this thing's outta your league. Shepard, keep it off us!" Jack retreated to the second floor behind the students. She shielded them with a barrier while the kids tried to help the Commander by firing their biotics on the troops entering the room. Jack had preferred to fight this one out alongside Shepard, but the responsibility had her make the right decision.

The fact that Shepard had thrown her helmet across the room she now had to shout for her orders to get across. Which was kind of frustrating since, well, everyone else could hear aswell.

"Vakarian switch up and snipe that canopy! Vega, give him the cover, I'll take the flank:"

Why she wanted the turian to focus on the glass she didn't get. That was; until it shattered open, leaving the pilot completely exposed. By the use of her biotics Shepard was there instantly. Grabbing the trooper inside she helped him to a flight across the room. His neck snapped sharply as he hit the wall. By the time his body hit the floor Shepard was sitting in his seat, quickly figuring out the controls and soon having a blast. Wiping out the last of the resistance with their own arsenal.

When the last trooper fell victim to the mechs powerful slugs Shepard jumped out and got her helmet handed over to her from Vega. Jack leaned out from the balcony.

"Kahlee said she was putting out an SOS. I had no idea the King of the girl scouts would show up!" There was a clear cut of enjoyment in her voice before she turned towards the students. "Alright, amp check. Prangley those fields were weak. Cerberus isn't gonna lie down out of pity like that girl you took to prom." Waving her finger in his face he flinched, but didn't whine about it. "Grab juice and an energy bar, we move in five." It wasn't as if the others were flawless. But they had done their best. Prangley damn well could do better. She shot a pair of dark eyes to a giggling Rodriguez to shut her up before she turned her attention to their rescuer.

Not bothering with the stairs Jack threw herself off the balcony, stopping the fall with her biotics.

"Jack! Why are you-"

Shepard was abruptly cut off by Jacks fist to the jaw.

"Damn it Shepard! How many times did I tell you NOT to trust Cerberus?"

"Hey! I just saved your barely covered ass!"

"Aaaw, you want a medal?"

"Yeah! This big, in gold, right here." She showed a good 10 centimetres on her chest. "With the inscription 'I saved Jacks ass three times' on it."

"Three?" She raised a doubting eyebrow.

"I busted you out of prison and got your ass out off the collector base."

"The base doesn't count, you dragged me into that one." Jack folded her arms and leaned on her right leg.

"Alright. Then I'm counting Pragia."

"You didn't save my ass there!"

"I took time out of my extremely busy schedule of saving the galaxy to let you blow up a research facility that wasn't being used anymore. Not even an orbital strike. Nooo, you had to get in real close."

Jack breathed in, raised her finger at her... and was at loss of what to say. Not entirely sure of how to counter that one Shepard cut in again.

"I'll settle for thee rounds at the Purgatory."
"Deal."

The two women shook hands on the matter and Garrus walked up to them.

"Jack.. as charming as ever..."

"Good to see you again Garrus. Face still looks like shit."

"The hell are you doing here Jack?" Shepard snapped back the conversation.

"Alliance brass knew I was helping you out. After you dropped me off on Omega, before turning yourself in, they still managed to track me down. Offered me this. And apparently the kids responded well to my teaching style." She glanced up at the kids who was listening in on them.

"The psychotic biotic!" Prangley leaned out the balcony.

"I will destroy you!" Rodriguez clenched her hand to a fist.

"Drink your juice Rodriguez! You couldn't destroy wet tissue paper!" Jack snapped instantly.

Shepard placed a hand on her hip.

"You, a teacher. Really?"

"You say it like I'm gonna make them explode or something."

"Well..."
"Yeah so maybe some of your damn speeches rubbed off on me. My only concern right now is getting my guys out of here."

"...Your guys?"
"Yeah, hehe. I guess so."
"Nice. Just don't tell me you're planning to get one of your own."

"Bite me! Or better yet. You bite her." She nodded toward Garrus. "Probably how she likes it."

Shepard raised a hand with Garrus smirking behind her, but didn't get a chance to defend herself. Cortez's voice sounded over the radio.

"Cortez to extraction team. The Cerberus cruiser is coming back."

"How long have we got?" Shepard asked walking away from the others, switching personality to the professional alliance soldier she was, or at least could be.

Garrus placed himself next to Jack and discreetly leaned towards her.

"She does, you know."

Jack didn't even try to hold back the laugh.

"So, who's the new guy?"
"James Vega. A soldier who got stuck on the Normandy when they left earth."

"And he didn't get unstuck?"

"Well you know Shepard. She can be very... motivating when she wants you to join her squad."

"He any good?"

"Haven't seen much of him. But he seems alright."
"He 'seems' like a damn tank."

By now Shepard disappeared up the stairs after fiddling with a computer.

"She's gonna talk to my kids, isn't she?"

"Probably, yes." He held up up his helmet. "Want to listen?"

She took it and heard Rodriguez voice over the radio.

"-remember the first time you killed someone? ...Because today was my..first, and-"

"Yeah I remember. Situation was similar. We were unexpectedly attacked on field training. People told me it was either him or me. Not that it helps, huh?"

Jack took the helmet from her ear and gave it back to Garrus.
"It's better if I don't listen to her crap, really."

Garrus tried to make conversation but every time he looked over at her the tattoos just seemed to... take over. Leaving them to just stand there in silence. Moments later Shepard came down the stairs.

"Should be able to clear through now. Hey Jack." She stopped in front of her friend while Garrus and Vega headed down the stairs.

"This biotic artillery strikes thing. They ready for it?"

"I don't know Kat." Jack shrugged, resorting to the nickname she usually only called the Commander when they were out getting drunk. "Maybe after they get their shit together, see some action..."

"But?"
"They'll prolly be better off as support. Put em in the back ranks, helping out with barriers and shit..."

"Allright." Shepard nodded. "Let them rip off what they can from the second floor. I'll make the friggin call for you." She shook her head walking down the stairs. "Get the damn door open Vega."

"Yes sir." The big guy slipped his hands through the glitch and forced the door open.

The students started to gather around Jack.

"Everyone be ready. We'll go in first and draw their fire." Shepard pulled on her helmet while Jack instructed the kids. Struggling with proper language.

"Alright. I didn't bust my ass training you so you could die now. Hit the fu- guys with everything you've got. You ever wanna cut loose, see what you can really do? Well now's the damn time!"

"Students of Grissom Academy. The station is sealed."

All the students omni-tools lit up as a male voice started talking to them.

"The alliance soldiers cannot save you. All they can do is get you killed. Surrender peacefully and you won't be harmed."

"Pssht! Asshole." Jack dismissed the heed without a second thought.

"Dammit they're messaging everyone. Students! Switch your omni-tools to privacy mode so they can't track you." Kahlee's voice made it over the radio.

"What if- What if they're right?" Rodriguez hesitated and the concern spread through the rest of them.

"Hey!" Shepard shouted to get their attention. "Cerberus have already tried to kill you. I've seen them drag off with your comrades, screaming. You've already held your own against them, trained by one of the best."

"You see the scars, Rodriguez?" Jack grabbed the young student by her collar and pulled her in close. "Cerberus did this to me when I was half you age. Take a good look then take your balls out of your purse, and kick some ass."

"...Yes mam." She replied with an embarrassed smile.

"Let's move out people!" Shepard snapped her fingers circling her hand in the air.

Authors Notes: Since this one turned out to be kind of long I decided to split it up in two chapters. Shorter chapter can be easier to follow. If nothing else, it lands you more updates!

(I was gonna wait until Sunday to post, but I'm kinda inpatient)

Wiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeee! (- just random)