[Book Four] Chapter 17: Arianna and School

Chapter 17: Arianna and School 

With Arianna soon being six, the age when children began to go to school, Rick and Jane discussed a lot about what to do with her education. Should they put her in the regular school for children on Celeste or have her home schooled? The regular school had been an addition that Rick had made on EDI’s advice when they were designing the ship. Teachers and employees and even maybe the older students may want to start a family and have children. A care center, an elementary  and middle school would have been necessary. Both were put on the central tower on the 40th floor. Since the number of children was small compared to the number of students, all utilities needed were low in number and could fit on floors 40 to 43.

Had Arianna been a normal child she would have been de facto put in elementary school. Unfortunately, she wasn’t. She knew how to read and write for a few years and between Rick’s, Dorothea’s and sometimes Mordin’s education she was already ready to enter middle school. Hence Rick and Jane’s dilemma. Arianna would be bored as hell in elementary school but could make friends of her age (despite Rick’s fear of ostracization because of her intellect). In middle school she would be with children twice her age. She wouldn’t be bored but may struggle making friends since she still had the mindset of a child despite being more mature than her age, that could ostracize her, especially when kids entering puberty were pretty nasty.

No matter the choice Rick only saw trouble for his baby girl, projecting his own experience making him a basket case. Fortunately Jane was there and simply opted to let Arianna choose by explaining to her the possibilities she has and their pros and cons.  She was smart enough to understand.

“Can’t I just stay home and be taught by Daddy and Auntie?” she had asked innocently, making her father’s heart soar.
“If that’s what you wish for then yes. But Arianna… you will have to go to school one day to learn how to socialize with people outside the family.” her mother explained.
“I know…” she replied with a sad tone looking down.

So far her life has been happy. She had her siblings, Raven and Ebony and the rest of her family but she didn’t have any real friends. Laura, Garrus’ and Chloe’s daughter was more Sandra’s friend than hers despite being very friendly to each other. As she aged, the distance between her, Sandra and Adam began to widen and she had felt those past few months a bit lonely. Not that they were not smart themselves but they couldn’t keep up with her. The only time she felt understood was her father, her aunties EDI and Dorothea and her uncle Mordin when he was there. Her going to school… She understood the difficulties that she would meet to make some friends but the difference with being at home was that no one would understand her.

“Why not wait until you’re on the level of entering Celeste?” Rick proposed. “It’s a very advanced Academy for very smart children after all. The youngest student this year is eleven and there are plenty more that are younger than the usual age for entering highschool. The students are more mature and don't really pay attention to age since they all get that age is just a number.”
“I like that idea. Arianna? What about you? Are you interested?”
“I don’t know…”
“Hmmm… Why don’t you go with aunt Liara, uncle Mordin, your mother and me during some of our classes to give yourself an idea of it? You could see how it is and think if it’s something that you would like to do or not.”
“Aren’t mommy’s classes for the older students because it’s military?”
“Yes but this semester I’m also teaching biotics. One of the teachers is on maternity leave so I’m replacing her. There are plenty of young students in that class too. You could also participate.”
“Really?!”

Surprise was etched on the little girl’s face but also excitement. Her mother had not really taught her anything academically so far. It was a chance for her to experience something new and to see her mother under a new light. Also…BIOTICS! Ever since Sandra had shown hers the previous year and learned that she too was one, she wanted to try them. However her parents explicitly told her that it was dangerous because she was too young. Adam was obedient so he did as he was told and Sandra with both her strict mothers didn’t dare to disobey. Her? She didn’t, simply to not disappoint her parents and betray their trust in her. Now learning that she could practice her biotics she was changing her mind about that school thing. Joke was on her though as to whether she entered school or not, she was of age to learn it but her parents purposefully didn’t know that. 

“Sure. Just the basics though as you’re too young.”
“You have to promise us to be careful though.” added Rick.
“I promise, daddy!” the small redhead replied eagerly.

Rising from his seat, he went to her daughter and picked her up in his arms and gave her a big hug that she answered in kind.

“I’m so proud of you.” he whispered in her ear, his head buried in her hair.

After blowing air into her ear making her squeal in both outrage and amusement, he put her down as she ordered him too. Once on the ground Arianna ran to her mother, gave her a hug too, thanked her, and ran out of the room happy as can be.

“She’s growing up so fast,” he lamented.
“Yeah… It felt like I was teaching her the animals’ names in a picture book just yesterday.” Jane replied as she came close to him, embracing him as both looked at their daughter, playing with her brother and the dogs.
“...”
“...”

“Should we tell her or let her find out on her own? About us I mean.” Rick said out of the blue.
“... I don’t know. I think… it would be better to be honest about it and take the first step. Maybe having mom present would help.”
“... We put such a burden on her shoulders…”
“She’s our daughter. She’s tough.”
“She’s six!”
“She won’t always be.”
“...”
“...”
“Not if I have a say in it.”
“You’re not creating something to stuck our daughter as a six year old child.” Jane ordered with a frown.

Knowing that it was his father’s instinct talking, Rick just sighed in agreement.

____________________________________________________________

“Ma’am?”
“Yes?” Jane replied to the call from one of her students as she entered the room and put down her bag.
“Who’s the kid?”

Pulling a water bottle and a towel from her bag, she put her sweater inside it.

“My daughter, Arianna. Come on, say hello, sweetie.”
“Hello~” the little redhead said happily with a small wave of her hands
“Awww, she’s adorable!” said an Asari student and was echoed by most of the females present in the room.
“Is the care center closed? I have a sketchbook in my bag if you need to get her something to do during class, ma’am.” said a young man.
“Thank you, Daniel but that won’t be necessary.”
“I’m learning how to use my biotics!” Arianna said proudly and with enthusiasm.
“Really?” Daniel replied in surprise.
“Yeah!”
“Arianna is indeed here to learn how to use her biotics or at least the very basics. She’s also here to see if Celeste is the kind of school she would like to study in.”
“You don’t intend on enrolling her?”
“Her father and I don’t want to pressure her into it. It will be her choice.”
“Isn’t she a bit young to make that decision?”
“You’re correct, Lana. She doesn’t have to make that choice before a couple more years.”
“A couple?!”
“I’m smart!” Arianna said, making her mother chuckle.
“That you are.” Jane replied to her with a smile then turned to her student. “ Arianna is only six but she can already enter middle school. Because of her young age we worry that she wouldn’t be able to make friends properly there, so she’s homeschooled for now. However, socializing is important and her father and I believe that Celeste would be the best environment for her to achieve that, since age doesn’t really matter here.” she explained as she patted her daughter’s head.
“She’s tall for being six.” a student said.
“So you have a little genius on your hand, good luck. My cousin is one and he’s driving his parents mad.” spoke another.
“Who’s her father?” asked a third. That was a question Jane was used to answering.
“That’s a secret. Figure it out.” she said with a daring smirk, giving their student a challenge.
“Is it teach’ Wald?”
“You know daddy?” Arianna exclaimed in surprise.

““““....””””

Jane’s heart sank when her daughter’s words. She had been sheltered and knew nothing about her or Rick or anyone in the family’s history. She didn’t know they were heroes known all over the galaxy, she didn’t know either that her father’s identity was a secret to the outside world. That was something that neither she nor Rick had thought about. Now with Mass Effect airing and Rick’s relationship with Ashley and her put forward, there was a lot of speculation about Arianna’s father that many answered with Rick’s name.

“““““WHAT?!!!””””””
“He’s really…”
“.. means that…”
“... cheating on …”

The students were all talking a million words a minute and Jane quickly put an end to it.

“Alright! Everyone, quiet down!” she shouted with authority and was obeyed. Turning to Arianna she hesitated with what to tell her. “Arianna, sweetie… That was a secret. You were not supposed to tell anyone.”
“...Oopsie?”

The young redhead’s answer made the students either laugh, snort or facepalmed.

“Yes, oopsie. It’s done now so don’t worry about it.”
“Am I in trouble, mommy?”
“No, you’re not. It’s your father’s and I’s fault for not telling you it was a secret.”
“Why was it a secret?”
“That’s… Your father is a well known and controversial person in the galaxy.” Jane explained and some students snorted again at how she simplified things. “She doesn’t know anything about the war or her parents involvement in it. We will tell her tonight so please don’t say anything.” she said and her students either verbally agreed or nodded.
“What war?”
“We will tell you tonight. Wait until then, okay?” Jane asked and got a small nod in acknowledgement. “Alright! Before we start class, let me put an end to some of your ideas. No Rick is not cheating. We’re a throuple, that is all.” Jane lied.

It was better for their public image to say that she was in a loving relationship with Rick and Ashley than to openly say that Rick had a harem. In this day and age the former was uncommon but not unheard off in human culture. A harem was something else entirely…

“What’s throuple?” innocently asked the little redhead to her mother, making the students laugh at her predicament.
“It’s…When three people are in a romantic relationship. You’re still too young to know about that. And no matter what, don’t tell your dad, okay?” was Jane’s answer, making the students laugh even harder.
“Okay!”
“Alright! Stop laughing like idiots! Time to start class! You know the drill. Stretch a bit and start meditating.”

Students did as instructed and Arianna, without being told what to do mimicked them and her mother. When she sat down too she saw the familiar blue aura of the biotics surrounding everyone. She already knew what was happening and all the theory behind it, thanks to her father teaching her. Putting the theory in practice was different and her mother’s instruction and description of the feeling of channeling her biotics helped a lot. After ten minutes she succeeded in having a faint aura around her to Jane’s surprise. The elder Shepard thought that perhaps she got it so fast because she was a natural biotic. She would have to talk about this with Rick.

Past the thirty minute mark, meditation time was over and Jane activated the holo light in the room, creating dummies of solid light along the walls.

“We’re practicing the pull today, remember how to channel it and target your dummy. Work on your aim. For those that score a 90% on your aim the previous semester you can start to practice curving it if you’ve read about it like you should have during summer break. If you did not, ask someone who did or looked up the school library on your omni-tool. Do not try it if you’re without the knowledge, I don’t want any accident.”
““““Yes, ma’am!”””””

“Tilona, a moment please?”

A female turian nodded and came forward to speak with Jane.

“You got a perfect score in the first semester’s exam and even displayed good control over the curve shot. Did you practice during summer?”
“I did, ma’am.”
“How good are you with it?”
“Ten out of ten in a fifteen feet radius.”
“Not bad.” said Jane, clearly impressed.
“Thank you, ma’am.”
“Could you teach the pull to Arianna, please? She already knows the theory but I want her to have a guiding hand with her for the practical. I’d do it myself but…”
“You have to take care of the others. I understand. Don’t worry, ma’am I'll take care of you daughter.”

She thanked the young turian and turned to Arianna.

“It’s okay, mommy. I’m good.”

Jane nodded and began to walk among the students, correcting their mistakes, giving tips or answering their questions. After another thirty minutes of practice, the exercise changed. This time the students were working on the strength of their biotics by lifting weight. Light at first then heavier and heavier, just like she was taught by Rick and Jennifer.
When she checked on Tilona and Arianna, the latter was using pull well. Nothing to write about but she could use it. Her aim was rather good with a seven out of ten success rate. Since she had learned how to lift objects Arianna could participate in the strength exercise. She thanked Tilona again for her assistance and the young turian went back to her place to practice.

“Sweetie, strength takes time to develop, it’s important to know your limit. Lifting a needle will not help you because it’s too light, you don’t struggle enough if at all to progress but lifting that one kg weight…”
“Is not good too because it’s too heavy. I must choose a good weight to which I strugle to lift but not much and practice until I don’t struggle anymore.”
“Yes! That’s my daughter! So smart! I’m so proud!” Jane exclaimed as she crouched down to take Arianna in her arm and rub her cheek against her, making the little girl laugh happily.

After thirty minutes of the exercise, then another thirty minutes of meditation, the class ended.

“Remember, tomorrow is a dodging day, be sure to eat a good breakfast and don’t forget water to not be dehydrated, you’re going to sweat a lot.”

Some students stayed behind to ask questions to Jane while a group of girls talked to Arianna. It went on for a while when Jane put a stop to it.

“Alright, leave my daughter alone, you little harpies. She’s mine and I’m not sharing.” she joked.
“But ma’aaaam! She’s so cute! You can’t introduce her and take her away like that!”
“That’s cruel!”
“Yeah!”
“Can’t the both of you eat with us?”

“I’m sorry, we already have plans today. Maybe next time?”
“We’ll hold you to that teach’!” one of the girls finally said then the group left.

She wiped Arianna with her towel, then wiped herself then put it in the bag. Picking it up over her shoulder she extended her hand that Arianna took and they walked happily out of class.

“How was it? Did you have fun?”
“I did!” exclaimed a very happy Arianna. “Tilona was really nice and I loved shooting Pulls the most! It was fun! Lifting weight was hard and boring though.”
“Meditation must have been hell for you then.”
“No it wasn’t.”
“Oh?”
“It was difficult at first but when I could do it, I just had fun making the energy go one way or another.”
“Glad to hear that.”
“Am I coming back tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow is your father’s class so no.”
“Why?”
“Your father’s class is… It’s a more physical approach to biotics. You’re way too young to participate in that.”
“What do you mean? What does daddy teach? You said dodging earlier…”

After a moment of hesitation Jane told her what the class was about.
“... Your father’s class is a combat class. Basically… he beats up the students.”
“REALLY?!”
“Yes. He sends Throws their way and they have to dodge them. The longer they dodge the harder the exercise becomes because your dad makes the Throws faster, stronger and even use curve shots. They are also more numerous.”
“That sounds fun.”
“For your father, sure. For the student… I wouldn’t go that far.” Jane replied laughing.
“Why do they learn dodging? It’s not a biotic ability.”
“Actually. It is. One of the hardest to learn. So far only your dad succeeded in it though he’s also the one who invented it.”
“Wow. Is daddy’s a good biotic?”
“He’s the best human biotic to date and perhaps the galaxy. Anyways, the purpose of the class is to teach them how to respond to biotic attacks properly, to get used to how it feels to be hit by one and ultimately to fight back with their own.”
“... Can I still watch?”
“... I will speak with your father about this, okay?”

Arianna nodded and as they reached the elevator got up home for lunch.

____________________________________________________________

That night Jane and Rick had a talk with Arianna. About the war, what they and her Aunties and uncles did. About how the entire galaxy was viewing them as. They also explained to her that they wanted to tell her and their siblings when they were older because they were too young to know and because they wanted to enjoy their childhood far from the media and the public attention. Arianna understood and promised, without being invited to do so, to not tell anything to Adam and Sandra. She was also very proud of her parents achievements and wanted to know more. Rick wanted to refuse, saying that she was too young to know the horror of the war even if it was just reading words but he couldn’t do so. Instead, with Jane’s agreement, he showed her pictures of Reapers attacking worlds. Nothing gruesome, just bird view from cities, whose buildings were being destroyed or burning.

“And you saved everyone?”
“Not everyone but as much as we could. People look at us and see heroes and saviors but at the end of day we’re people too, we’re not almighty, we can’t be everywhere at any given time. We couldn’t…” Jane said with sadness.
“That’s okay, mommy. I understand.” replied Arianna.

Seeing her mother’s distress she got her from her seat and went to hug her mother.

“Thank you.” was all she said and Jane hugged her tighter until Rick embraced the both of them completing the family hug. “Can I… can I go to class with you tomorrow, daddy?”

Rick looked at Jane for a moment, searching for an answer but got a ‘That’s your call’ look from her.

“Are you sure you want to be present? You’ll be stuck to the side doing nothing but watching. It’s violent too.” he asked and got a firm nod in return. “Alright then.”

Afterwards they put her to bed. When Jane and Rick were back into her room they talked about Arianna spilling the beans.

“I fucked up. I should have thought about…” he said dejectedly as he sat on the bed.
“You didn’t. We did. You can’t always think of everything and beside it’s not really a fucked up, she has your eyes. People would have found out soon enough. It’s not that bad.”

“I’m sure the whole Academy and my employees already know if not half the galaxy by now.”
“Again, it’s not that bad.”
“I wanted her to enjoy her childhood a bit more without being linked to me.”
“She will enjoy her childhood nonetheless.”
“I hope you’re right… The next episodes… they’re not kind to me… I don’t…”
“It will be alright.” she said as she embraced him from the back fiercely.
“...”
“...”
“Are you trying to distract me by pressing your huge boobs on my back?”
“Does it work?” she asked with a smirk before screaming in surprise and amusement as Rick turned around and pinned her down to the bed, kissing her body everywhere.

Indeed, it worked.

____________________________________________________________

By morning the extranet was in effervescence, news of Arianna’s parentage had leaked as expected and made a lot of people talk. There were also pictures of her posing with some students circulating. The little bright blue eyed redhead already had fans and both her parents talked about how to regulate her image. They didn’t want her to be a celebrity child. They had asked EDI to block any picture of her trying to get out of the school through the network and get the name of any student that would share those for a good tongue lashing from Jane and threat from Rick.

He entered the same room his sister taught yesterday with Arianna sitting on one of his shoulders. The few early students were a bit stunned at the sight but greeted them both regardless.

“Hello, teach’. Hello Arianna ~~” said a very enthusiastic asari.
“It’s lady Arianna to you.” Rick replied with a grave tone.
“Daddy!” Arianna said, hitting his helmet with her hand, clearly embarrassed.
“You’re no fun, sweetie.” he replied petulantly in a childish tone making everyone laugh.
“Put me down, please!”
“No. You’re staying there. It’s the safest place in the room.”
“You can’t teach properly like that.”
“I’m giving the students a handicap. God knows they need it.”
“““HEY!”””
“I’ll tell mommy.”
“Arianna, what did I say about telling?”
“Snitches get stitches.” she answered in a serious tone.
“Exactly.”

“Even if I don’t tell, she’s probably watching.”
“...”
“Fair enough.” he replied as he put her down, defeated by his six year old daughter. 

She was right. Jane was looking through the camera feed.
As more and more students came in for the class, Rick pulled Arianna aside and asked her to watch attentively, not him but them. She was to observe and analyze what was done good and what was done bad and also what could be done better. He had come up with that task to not let her be bored and learn something on her own.

A task that she partially failed to do. She has been way too enthralled by her father’s battle prowess and use of biotics than watching the students. She was in awe at how he was dealing with them. The class lasted only an hour but to her, seeing her dad throw his opponents flying, and moving around the floor as if he was dancing felt like only a few minutes. Thankfully for the students, that was not the case. By the end of the hour, they were all exhausted, some even laying first up on the ground breathing heavily.

“You’ve done well. All of you.”
“I don’t feel like it.” said a krogan female who was still standing but barely.
“You made me use my feet for the first time. I call that progress. Some of you may want to work on their reflexes though and some on how fast they can use their biotics. Speed is more important than power regarding survival, don’t forget that.”

As the students left Arianna walked to her father in excitement.

“You’re the best!” she said as she was scooped up and hugged his neck.
“Thank you. Did you learn anything?”
“I… No, not much.” she replied in disappointment for having failed her task.
“That's alright. It was expected.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I’ve been told the way I fight with my biotics is violent but pretty to look at. I supposed that since I was kicking so much ass you’d be more interested in watching me.”
“Why did you ask me to watch your students then?”
“Failure. I wanted you to learn failure. You never failed before, whatever problems, puzzles or tasks you were given and it would have been problematic for you later in life. Failure is the greatest teacher because it teaches you how not to do something. It teaches you to analyze and think about what you did wrong. To do some introspection. It’s something very important because you can’t grow without introspection of yourself. I thought that this class was the perfect opportunity for you to learn that.”
“Failing is not bad then?”
“It can be. How much it is depends on how much you learned from it. Now, let’s go get lunch. The whole family is having a picnic at the park.”
“Yay!”

____________________________________________________________

It was still summer but the temperature had cooled down a bit. It was the favorite time of the year for the students as they could eat outside. They could also in spring but the exams were right around the corner making it difficult to properly enjoy the weather. That’s why many students took out their food from the cafeteria and were eating in the garden or the park. The ones in the park were a bit shocked and intrigued. On the grass in the middle of the park was a very big group. Students recognized many faces and one helmet among the people. Three of their biotics teachers, one archeology teacher, their Headmistress and the human overseer, a nurse, EDI and a student of one of their classes with white hair. There were also two huge black dogs  around young babies and plenty of young children. They were in total disbelief when they saw the man known as ‘the slayer’, their hardass teacher play with the three oldest children like an average man and father would. They were playing a game of tag and he was ‘it’. It looked like a big family enjoyed a picnic and the atmosphere felt very comely.

When a ball from a game of football  rolled their way a student quickly came to take it back and apologized. Then next thing everyone knew their biotics teachers and the overseer were playing too, cheered by everyone else.

Jane and Anderson joined one side while Rick and Jennifer joined the others. It was a fun and relaxing match, not much of a competition, every player was not playing to win but just enjoying the game. When Jennifer, on a decisive pass from Rick, scored a goal she began to dance a little victory dance that Rick did too by her side, right in front of Jane to taunt her. The great Commander Shepard’s reaction was immediate. She tackled Rick to the ground, and they began to fight. The game stopped there and everyone just gathered around while the two were wrestling with Jennifer taking bets on who would win. When Rick, with his bigger size seemed to take the advantage he was brought low by the three children and the two dogs that had been cheering up til now.

“Oh, you little traitors!”
“Sorry, daddy!”
“We want those candiesAunti said we would have if we helped defeat you.!”
“What?!” Rick said as his arms were pinned to the ground.

Jane, who was now free, moved behind him to take his head in a headlock forcing him to tap out. Jennifer collected the credits and the game stopped there. Lunch break was about to end and everyone packed up and went back inside to be in time for their class. All were in a good mood after playing or watching such a wholesome display.

Life was good at Celeste Academy.