Eight
Gillian woke up at seven A.M sharp a habit formed from three years aboard the Idenna.Jack's arms were sprawled over her in the large queen sized be they shared. Jack was slightly angered while watching commander Shepard's Tribunal the evening before, the feed had cut in the middle of the trial as the Batarian Prosecutor pointed in horror to a monitor off screen. A report made later by A.N.N news anchor Emily Wong stated that this was due to technical difficulties and the commander was sentenced to indefinite house arrest as punishment for actions taken.
Gillian slowly moved Jack's arm carefully as not to wake her, she made her way out of Jack's quarters and to the hallway. The station was still asleep it was a Saturday after all and the majority of students would not arrive until the following week. Gillian continued her walk making her way to the Engineering block the lights were on so she decided to check. Upon entering she saw another friend, Octavia a girl of African descent with a United Kingdom colony accent, her omni tool was activated and she had fabricated a soldering iron from it to work on some electronic device. "Gillian is that you, Jennifer says you tore up the Biotics training room against Ms. Jack she probably exaggerated though and that you were in the migrant fleet this whole time you have to be the most interesting person I know " she said
"I didn't expect you to remember me, I was always quiet and we only had Math and English together and I didn't speak muck back then" said Gillian.
" Everyone remembers you, Hendel was always walking around and telling us not to make fun of you though nobody would have anyway except Nick back then, you were nice and cute when you did speak to any of us, sometimes we made up stories that you were some kind of powerful Biotic, turns out we right." she replied.
Gilllian looked in closer at the small device Octavia was working about. "What are you working on ?" asked Gillian.
"Oh just some embedded systems programming for my entry into the future horizons design project" said Octavia her words were rushed as if trying to say all her thoughts at once.
"What is the project is about" asked Gillian
"It's power upgrade to portable shield generator technology, if I win I get a scholarship to Ilarya Technical University on Elysium.
"Wow that's amazing"
"So are you coming back this term Gillian ?"
"No, I was just here visiting, I'm going to the Naval Exploration Military Academy planet side"
"Cool, we can still meet up on weekends then, Jennifer and the rest of us girls are going to the movies later wanna join"
"Um..., ok" Gillian had never been invited out like this before she fely the feeling of anxiety welling up inside, However she was eager to experience normal life as a human teenager the Idenna crew had no one in her age group or even species apart from Hendel of course most were young adults and older specialists selected from across the migrant fleet.
"Hey and take this, it's an ablative armor design it's in line with Alliance regulations and you can print it at any fabricator just put in your measurements" said Octavia tapping her Omni tool
Gillian's omni tool flashed twice two messages had arrived one for the revival of the file and another from Hendel asking to meet him in Ms. Sanders office.
"Octavia I have to go, nice seeing you again" said Gillian making her way out of the room.
"Don't be a stranger" replied Octavia.
Gillian smiled at her friend and exited the room.
Gillian made her way to the Administrative block where Ms. Sanders' office was located there she found Hendel and Khalee sitting side by side and a large ruffled sleeping bag was on the floor where Hendel had slept the night before.
"Gillian I've taken the liberty of modifying your records to mirror the identity your father set up for you, he put this in place if you ever had to leave the Migrant fleet . From now on we call you Cristina Thomas, dye your hair to help the disguise. I've also sent in your application they have conditionally accepted you, however you will need to do an aptitude test and Psychological evaluation on account of your condition but I'm sure you will ace them both. Also Hendel here got accepted to do boot campt training at the base beside your school" said Khalee Hendel gave a silent nod to acknowledge.
"Cristina huh ? it will take a while to get used to" said Gillain.
Gillian steeped in closer and hugged Hendel and Khalee in their seats the gesture that would have been impossible three years earlier it would have given her sensation of being set on fire due to her condition. Khalee was surprised but Hendel had been getting used to her new self over the years.
"Oh, I'm going to the movies later with the Jennifer and some of the girls"
"Really now ?, I hope you have fun." said Khalee still surprised at Gillian's change
Gillian made her way back to Jack's room. She could smell the aroma of pancakes cooking Jack was making breakfast.
" So you are up early" said Jack
" I got accepted conditionally to the Naval Exploration Military Academy" said Gillian.
" Great, Have some breakfast" said Jack
Gillian sat down and helped herself to the hot meal and soon her omni tool began to flash, it was a message from Jennifer they group was getting ready to leave for the planet. Gillian finished off her meal and said goodbye to Jack
" don't get into too much trouble" said Jack as Gillian made her way out of the room