Journey to the SR-1 Normandy (Sy Sy)

[Jason Rivers]

In his apartment, Jason walked over to his personal armory and opened it up with a push of a button. The day before, he and Rana had gotten a message from one of the council's representatives that they had been assigned to the SR-1 Normandy, the SR standing for Stealth Reconnaissance. It would be the first of its kind, they were told. What they were not told though was why they were even being assigned to the vessel in the first place. When Jason asked, the representative said all the details would be revealed in 'due time'.

With a grunt, he disassembled his weapons and put the parts in the bag he would carry on his back to the Normandy. As for his combat armor, it was to be shipped to the vessel via Citadel personnel. He didn't like it, but he wasn't about to argue. After all, it beat having to carry it along with his weapons to the destination.

Slinging the bag over his back, he closed his personal armory with another push of a button and walked out from his room. He stopped and looked at Rana who was waiting by the counter. When he had taken her in, she really hadn't had anything to bring with her, so she had close to nothing to pack. Walking over to her, he gave her a light smile. "Ready to go, sweetheart?"

[Syri]

rana'venah nar qwib-qwib

Rana didn't understand why exactly she was being dragged along with Jason. Not that she minded somehow getting a place aboard the technologically advanced ship (who knew what she might learn from it? Maybe something there could be brought back to the Flotilla? All questions to be answered in due time). It just struck her as odd that a Council-funded project, built through a joint effort by the turian and human people, would require her presence at all. Or request it. It was well known that quarians were generally ostracized by the other races for their creation of the geth. Ever since they had lost their embassy on the Citadel, no one had reached out to help them in a long time. But there was no point in questioning whatever was happening. Perhaps it was just providence... she'd accept it as an opportunity for the future.

Since she was a quarian, and one on pilgrimage at that, she had very little to bring with her. Nothing she couldn't carry on her person. She was already wearing the one outfit she owned, all of the other supplies she had brought with her for survival were already secured in one of the many pouches on her suit, and she didn't have any personal items, per say, unless one included her shoddy M-3 Predator pistol, which had been a gift from her mother. But that gift had been intended to keep her safe, not to be kept for sentimental value, so it didn't really count as much of a personal item. Well, she really didn't have to pack since she was always prepared to move from place to place. But given that Jason was from a completely different species and culture, he did.

The quarian waited patiently by the counter, understanding that he probably needed to bring quite a few things with him. He was a soldier, after all, so he probably had weapons and armor to bring with him. He was also a human, so he probably had personal items he wanted to bring with him. Gifts from family, friends, probably. Rana glanced over at the television set briefly... she was going to miss being able to flip through channels whenever she was bored. Then again, it was probably good she was getting cut off from her TV supply, since she'd noticed she was already exhibiting signs of couch potato syndrome.

It was then she noticed that Jason had finished packing. "Oh, yes. I'm ready when you are."

[/color] She supposed he was ready right now, but decided not to say anything. She didn't want to rush him if he wasn't finished, after all.[/blockquote][/blockquote][/size]

[Jason Rivers]

After Rana gave him the go ahead, Jason nodded and left the apartment, the quarian following suit. As he walked, The Sergeant looked up at the artificial sky and the virtual clouds that glided overhead. He wondered how long the two of them would be gone and where the 'assignment' would take them. There was no doubt in his mind that it wasn't some run of the mill mission, otherwise it wouldn't be so secret. The secret part bothered him, he didn't like walking into something blindly, but if it was for the good of the galaxy, he'd do it in a heartbeat.

Again, they crossed the bridge over the lake. Again, Jason stopped to admire the beauty it held. He looked over at Rana who was right beside him. "I would've really liked to show you the lake at night," he said, "but that can always wait until we get back from whatever we need to do."

After the brief stop in their journey, the two of them made their way to the nearest elevator and boarded it, the doors sliding closed. The elevator would connect them to C-Sec, which in turn would lead them to the elevator that would take them to the docks where the SR-1 Normandy was being held.

"Going down," Jason said to Rana as the elevator music began to play.

[Syri]

rana'venah nar qwib-qwib

Rana took a quick look around, glancing at all the sights the Presidium had to offer. She didn't know much about what was going on, since everything had been so cryptic and secretive, and the representative hadn't disclosed how long they would be gone. The last time she had left a familiar setting, it had been for good - once she returned to the Flotilla, she'd serve out the rest of her life on a ship that wasn't her birth ship. Well, this was definitely different from a quarian rite of passage, but there was no guarantee that they would return to the Citadel anytime soon. Or safely, for that matter. She wasn't a pessimist, but she was almost always aware that a problem could arise any moment and jeopardize everything. It sort of came with being a quarian. Living on a ship, where even the slightest issue can lead to disaster... it kind of preps you to prepare for the worst.

But she wasn't focused on the possibility of dying. It just came kind of naturally to her. Besides, she really did like the Presidium. It was very aesthetically pleasing, which was something you just didn't see on a quarian ship. Utility and practical use were valued far above beauty on the Flotilla, but then again, they didn't live the gentle lifestyle that the people on the Citadel did. "It can wait."

[/color] she nodded. There was no reason for him to feel guilty that they had not had a chance to look out at the lake during the night cycle. After all, he was busy, and she could catch a little bit of a view of the Presidium at night from his apartment. Her imagination as to what the lake would look like could suffice for now. Though one day she really did hope to actually get to see the lake at night. "After all, whatever this is has to be important."[/color]

The two boarded an elevator and that dreaded music began to play. Though, since Rana had never really put the elevators to use, the music seemed kind of enchanting to her. The quarians didn't really appreciate musics or arts, so the exposure she had gotten to those things on the Citadel always stupefied her. After listening intently to the music for a while and realizing it was pretty much on loop, she decided to ask Jason a question. "Do you have any idea what is going on?"[/color] He seemed as stumped as she did when it came to why they were needed for this. But he was a soldier, and he probably at least had ideas on the matter of what was really going on, right?[/blockquote][/blockquote][/size]

[Jason Rivers]

Rana's question was understandable due to the present circumstances. While Jason himself didn't know the details of why they had been assigned to the Normandy, he had a suspicion that there was more to the situation than the representative had let on. No one got assigned to a ship out of the blue without being told why. In this case, it was the opposite. What was so secret that the council couldn't let it be on public record? There were no concrete answers to the question, but he'd do his best to answer the quarian beside him.

"We're walking into something big," he replied, shifting his gaze over to Rana. "That's all I really know, sweetheart."

Soon after, the elevator doors opened and The Sergeant strode out, gesturing for his companion to follow. Jason then took the opportunity to scan over the area as he moved. It seemed like just like another day at C-Sec, officers moving to and fro. Were they informed or were they just as clueless? He got his answer at the next elevator where they were stopped by a C-Sec officer holding up his hand.

"I'm sorry, but the docks are restricted at this time," the officer said. "I can't let anyone through."

Jason deducted that C-Sec was acting as security until everything was situated. There was no other reason as to why they would've been stopped at the elevator. He figured it was best to introduce himself and the quarian. "I'm Sergeant Jason Rivers of the Alliance Navy," he said, then pointed a thumb behind him. "And this is Rana..." God, what was her full name? She had told him once before but it was a bit of a mind bender. He rubbed the back of his neck with a sheepish grin. "Tell him your name, sweetheart."

[Syri]

rana'venah nar qwib-qwib

For some reason Rana had expected a bit more of a definitive answer from Jason, since she did look up to him as a protector figure of sorts (he did save her from the nasty streets of the Wards, after all), but she understood that he had been handed to same information as she had. The idea of going into something knowing only that whatever it was, was big... well, it kind of made her uneasy. She had never been one for the big stuff. She just helped heal people when they were injured or sick, and had never been after fame, glory, or anything else, really. But perhaps she could prove herself on this mission, journey, whatever it was.

With new resolve, Rana followed Jason out of the elevator and into the C-Sec Academy. "Oh, Keelah!"

[/color] She thought as she looked around. She had been brought here after arriving on the Citadel for a long interrogation, simply because she was a quarian and her people were often mistaken for thieves. They had asked plenty of questions which she had answered honestly and to the best of her ability, and she had left, threatened that she would be punished severely if they ever had to bring her back because she had committed a crime. Her resolve faded a bit as she looked around, trying to scope out the familiar faces of the turian and human officers who had brought her in, but could not find them. Good, maybe no one would recognize her... this place really made her feel uneasy.

Then she saw that the C-Sec Officer in front of them was in charge of security. They would want her name. Wouldn't that be in their files? Flagged, or something like that? Would they arrest her simply for being there? For a moment she became lost in her worries, hesitant to answer the officer's question. Sure, it was silly to think that they would arrest her when she had come here to participate in the Normandy project with the blessing of an ambassador, but she couldn't help it. Rana glanced over at Jason uneasily, before looking back over at the C-Sec officer. "Rana'Venah nar Qwib-Qwib."[/color] She paused, waiting for the awkward question of 'is that really your name?' to pop up, or just laughter. Fortunately, the C-Sec Officer seemed to serious for that and simply stared at her. "I'm with Sergeant Rivers, for the project."[/color] The quarian nodded, threading her fingers together anxiously. Hopefully there wouldn't be a problem.[/blockquote][/blockquote][/size]

[Jason Rivers]

The C-Sec officer put two fingers to his ear and seemed to listen to the person that was on the other end. He looked at the two of them and grunted at Rana. At that moment, he felt like roughing up the officer, but knew that wouldn't get them anywhere good.

"Alright, everything seems to be in order" the officer said, giving them a nod and gesturing a hand to the elevator. "You can go on ahead."

Jason returned the nod and made a mental note of Rana's full name as they both got onto the elevator that would lead them to the docks and their destination. The elevator door slowly closed behind them and they began to rise. The Sergeant looked over at the quarian who was probably nervous as hell. He reached over and patted her shoulder. "Everything will be okay," he said, trying to comfort his friend. "We're almost there."

And a few seconds later, the elevator door slid open and there it was ported at the dock, ready to go. Jason walked out and just stared at the vessel. He had seen nothing like it before. It was truly state of the art and that was only from seeing the exterior. Who knew how it would look from the inside.

[Syri]

rana'venah nar qwib-qwib

Rana waited impatiently as the C-Sec officer listened to the communications device in his ear. Despite the fact he had listened to the orders coming from it for twenty seconds at most, the time passed very slowly for her. She dreaded the thought of some incident arising. For some reason, Rana really feared arrest, or whatever else might come from a run-in with C-Sec... they had been so intimidating the first time around. She really didn't want to get on their bad side.

Luckily, the officer gave them the green light and they made their way toward the elevator. Rana spent a few moments regaining her composure, breathing deeply as the door closed behind them. She had to admit she wasn't exactly expecting a friendly, comforting pat on the back from Jason, but she appreciated it. "Thanks... that was a little nerve-wrecking. I don't want to know what they do to criminals."

[/color] She said in between deep breaths. Wow, it was a little silly that a quarian in her late twenties was so afraid of something as simple as arrest. She made a mental note that she'd have to grow a back bone at some point.

It was then that the elevator door opened, and Rana followed Jason outside. The very sight of the Normandy was extremely impressive, especially when compared to some of the more weathered ships on the Flotilla. Some of their starships were over 200 years old, and were barely holding on due to continuous patch jobs keeping them in running condition. But this was different. It wasn't a large hulk of a ship, designed to both hold a civilian population as well as defend the Migrant Fleet... it was very elegant. The large letters 'SR-1 Normandy' had been painted onto the sides, and Rana smiled beneath her mask at the very sight of it. "Keelah. She's beautiful."[/color] As a quarian she now felt very much in her comfort zone. Ships were her life.[/blockquote][/blockquote][/size]