Chapter 1: Age of Despair
On June 5th, 2125 Humanity came into contact with an alien race, it was a chance meeting only brought about by the Systems Alliance activating a long dormant Mass Relay in the latest colony system of Wolf Prime home to Eden prime and 5 million Humans. When the Relay opened and the System Alliance fleet went through they were meet by a huge and merciless fleet of alien's later known as the Turians, with no news of what happened on the far side of Relay 257 due to the entire scout fleet sent through being destroyed. Humanity was unprepared for the full-scale invasion of Eden prime.
Resulting in the complete and utter subjugation of the population and communication blackout that followed. Still unaware of what had caused the blackout the Alliance senior admirals ordered another small scout fleet to the system, only when they arrived they found the system alive with ships busy entering the planet's atmosphere and leaving carrying away the population that was called that planet home.
Only one ship made it back to Earth and only by sheer luck, it told the Alliance about what they had witnessed and to prepare for the imminent alien assault on their way to other colonies from the data collected on Eden Prime. However, despite Earth's best efforts they had barely anything resembling a defence fleet so when the Turians invaded Sol the Home planet of Humanity fell quickly to their never-ending onslaught.
After Earth and the vast majority of Human, Colonies fell; the Citadel Council finally caught word of the Turian actions and demanded an immediate stop to hostilities, that Earth and her Colonies be released at once. Unfortunately, it did not work out so smoothly, the Turians released Earth and five colonies but with sizable military bases on each while, the Turian Hierarchy since claimed the seven still occupied colonies and systematically removed their populations before the time the ceasefire came into effect. The Turians claimed Humanity as a client race, disallowing all military shipbuilding and stripping Humanity of its remaining fleets.
The Humans that had been taken away were sold into 'Indentured Assistance' for their crimes against the Council, much to the displeasure of the Asari, but with little political power to outlaw the acquisition and selling of Humans she was unable to stop Humans from the liberated colonies being taken into slavery. At the turn of the Human new year, the Human population dropped from 17 billion to 8 billion mainly due to the extermination of Humans in the early months of the war, and several million were captured and killed when they fought being enslaved.
The Turians then decided to gas entire cities to prevent hostilities and then they could take their time choosing the perfect slaves for their uses. I was one such Human gassed on Earth when the Turian Luna base fired chloroform gas at London, Paris, New York and Beijing. Despite the governments of Earth, crying out that it was against the council's laws to claim slaves from any of the released planets.
My name was Greg Thomas, before the Turian that woke me burned into my arm the number 147 claiming that was my name now. As I looked around I could see I was in a small holding area with several other people all of which were scared like me, we had all seen Turians before when they first laid waste to Earth's defences and invaded the planet.
"Hey, where are we going?" I asked the man next to me who shied away.
"Were not supposed to talk it's frowned upon," He whispered keeping his eyes on the floor as the Turian guards woke more of the captives to inscribe number into their arms.
"Hey, birdbrain where are you taking us?" I shouted and the whole room went quiet before a massive Turian stormed over to me as two of his guards dragged me up and pinned me against the wall, one gripping my throat tightly.
"What did you say Human, I didn't hear you," He said his mandibles twitching in anticipation.
"I said… where are you… taking us?" I rasped as the guard holding my neck squeezed making it hard to talk and breath.
The guard pulled out his baton and jabbed its end into my stomach making me try to curl up but could not as the guards held me in place, he continued to jab, before looking back into my watering eyes.
"One more time, please." I struggle for breath as now it was painful to breathe and still difficult to draw breath.
"Fuck you." I managed to say clearly, tensing for the coming attack. The Turian swung his baton and slammed the length of it into my head before hitting my legs as hard as he could trying to break them.
"Sergeant enough! We won't fetch a good price if he's too badly injured, take him to the Doctors get him fixed up now!" A tall, broad Turian shouted from the doorway.
"Yes Captain, right away." The two restraining me then pulled me from the wall dragging me towards the door, as we passed the Captain I glared at him, but he did not care.
"That's it Human continue to fight your species was actually enjoyable to fight against if it wasn't for the Council we would have remembered the glorious years we fought against each other, and it gives slightly gratifying to see that your species is not so easily broken, I respect that." I spat at his feet earning another smack across my head.
"Take him away." I was on the verge of blacking out when the guard threw me down onto a bed and left to slide onto the floor.
"Goddess would it kill you to not throw them around they are sentient creatures and deserve to be treated as such, not like wild Varren." Said a worried female voice.
"Save it Doc, just fix him up we need a good price from him, he's Earthborn." The guard said as they left laughing.
"Damn Turians, hello can you hear me, my name is Doctor T'Soni." I ground as she picked me up and lay me on the bed.
"Great more aliens, why'd you people have such relaxed laws about attacking primitive species and enslaving them!" I moaned despite my head spinning.
"Now look I can help or leave you. Which is it?" I stayed silent more of an incapacity then choose.
"Right lay still I'm just going to scan you." I did as she said and watched blurrily as a bright light passed over my head it took about a minute to return before the Doctor spoke again.
"Ok well you have a severe concussion and a fractured femur with several bruised organs, the concussion and femur will have to wait, now this is going to be rather uncomfortable so remain calm." She inserted a metal rod into my throat before sliding it further into my throat. I coughed and gagged as she pushed the rod in deeper; before she poured a cold liquid down the rod and I could feel in entering my stomach. After she finished pouring, she removed the rod and the stabbed something into my leg.
"This is a hyper version of Human blood plasma it will circulate through your body and will help heal your organs and bones. The liquid I inserted into your stomach is an edible Medi-gel that will speed up the healing process, lie there for a while and try to sleep your head is beyond my skills and medicine," She said as she walked around the top of the bed to look down at me.
"I'm sorry you here and the situation you're in, but is nothing I can do for you, other than to tell you to keep you head down and don't speak, plus bow your head whenever a Turian enters they feel it is a challenge if a human has their head raised." She smiled sadly turning to leave; I grabbed her sleeve and tugged.
"Thank you, Doctor T'Soni," I said faintly as I let myself fall unconscious. I have no idea how long I was asleep before I felt a slap across my head.
"Get up Human, time to make me money." I had woken as soon as the Turian slapped me, but I did not move.
"I said get up!" He roared moving to hit me again.
"Do not lay a finger on my patient again, he has a severe concussion and further blows to the head may result in irreversible brain damage, you don't want a slave who moves can't properly do you." Said the Doctor as she approached the Turian.
"Well get him up then the Captain wants him back for inspection and clearing." She scowled at the big alien before turning to me.
"I'm afraid you have to get up and follow these men, remember what I said and you'll be fine." I stood sliding off the bed and turning to face the Turian.
"Thanks again for the treatment Doctor." She smiled turning to leave.
"Come on 147 move it." I glared at the Turian but did as he said walking in the middle of the two guards while they flanked me. When we arrived back at the holding area, I noticed that the number of captives had dropped.
"Sergeant is this Human is ready for inspection?" The sergeant nodded and the Captain walked up to me.
"Right then 147 no more distrustful behaviour if you act up again you will be killed, understood?" I did not respond and he smiled.
"Shame that's all it took to break you." He said almost disappointed, so I punched the smug bastard square in the face, but before the guards could tackle, stun or shoot me the Captain held his hand up.
"Very well then human, if you want to be defiant fine I won't kill you not until I've made a profit but act like this when you're bought and you will die. Take him for inspection." A set of talons grabbed my throat, lifted me to my feet then pushed away in a hurry with the rest of the captives, and pushed in a line for a body scan and health check.
"Listen to me Humans you are now the property of the Turian Hierarchy, you are indentured Assistance, you are currently on the Citadel and after inspection, and you will be sold." I could see some of the captives holding each other tightly until the guards pulled apart and separated. One woman, a few people in front of me tried to tackle a Turian as he walked past us checking our numbers; he stepped aside and shoot her clean through the head.
"Don't kill the healthy ones! Incapacitate them." Shouted the Sergeant who walked up to the Turian and smacked him over the head, the captives were quiet and slowly walked forward getting led by more Turians to individual cubicles for inspection when it was my turn two guards walked me and I was forced into restraints before being seated.
"Age?" Asked a weird looking alien with two horns sticking out of his head.
"What the hell do you care gecko?" He looked taken aback as one of the guards pulled my hair.
"Answer the Salarian." He thrust my head forward and I sighed.
"21 years old." He nodded writing on a pad.
"Planet of birth?" I tried to look at his sheet, but my head quickly faced the floor when I received another strike.
"Earth." He continued to scribble.
"Any allergies?" I shook my head.
"Finally, what was your previous name?" I scowled.
"My current name and the name I will always be known as it, Greg Thomas." He did not care about what I said he just scribbled my name.
"Take him to special clearing, the Earthborn are selling well today." Again, the Turians roughly dragged me out of my seat and marched me to a tube where more aliens told me to strip and lie down; I decided to comply not wanting another beating within an inch of my life again. After the scan, another Salarian came inside and measured me before leaving then returning quickly with a clean set of white clothes and boots.
"Dress quickly and when called come to collect your paperwork." The Salarian said before he left once more, I dressed and was pleased to find the clothes were comfortable and the boots fitted perfectly.
"147!" I exited the cubicle and headed for the table.
"This is your health check form, your body dimensions and your basic information when you are placed on the podium lay this in front of your for buyers to look at." Said the Salarian who measured me. Then an Asari led me out into a brightly light hall filled with all different kinds of aliens. She brought up a holographic display and pressed a command to which podium in the middle of the room rose.
"Stand on this and place your information in front of you. Remain silent unless spoken to, and if anyone tells you to do something you do it unless your master tells you otherwise." She said before switching on a green light at the foot of the podium signally that I was ready for sale. After the Asari moved away a crowd of aliens approached me and pink jellyfish picked up my information, it read it for a few moment for speaking.
"This one bids 25 Credits." I saw a sign on the wall next my number flash then display 25 next to it. A Turian took the paper and read it.
"Can you speak Human?" I kept my head bowed as I could just see the Turian guards watching me from the back of the crowd just waiting for an excuse.
"Yes, I can speak." He nodded walking around while other aliens looked on impatiently.
"50 Credits." He finally said before replacing the paper only to have them snapped up again by an Asari.
"What part of Earth were you born on?" She drawled taking a long and excited stare at my body.
"Europe, England." She smiled happily.
"150 Credits." That got a few mummers from the crowd.
For several minutes, the papers paced from hand to hand while the three initial bidders continued to raise their bid against newer, more optimistic bidders until the jellyfish back at when the total bid for me reached, 500 Credits. The winning big going to the Asari, who looked greedily at me before the original Turian stepped forward,
"Human what was your profession?" I brought my gaze from the Asari back to the Turian.
"I was a soldier, getting ready to fight your kind before you gassed me and millions more for your joy of owning a talking cooker and cleaner." He smiled but looked annoyed at my outburst.
"Are you a proud Human?" I smiled devilishly at him.
"I was before my kind gave up defending us in favour of being you lap dogs."
He beckoned for another Turian who I guessed was a female to look at me. He whispered in her ear and she nodded.
"I bid 650 credits." The Asari's smiled dropped and she hurried off to another human male.
"If that is all the bidding done for 147." Said another Turian who stood on the head podium at the far end of the room nobody spoke.
"Then sold to Tactus Vakarian of Palaven for 650 credits." The light went red and the same Asari returned and lead me down to stand in front of Tactus.
"If you could please sign here the transaction will be complete." He took the papers and started to sign them while the female looked me over.
"Ok that's done send me the receipt I must leave for Palaven, come along Solana, Oh do you have any way to subdue the Human and may I have a means of leading him." He asked and the Sergeant approached holding a wristband-sized ring.
"My Lord Vakarian, my boss would like to thank you for your generous purchase and would like to give you this shock collar free of charge." Tactus took the wristband.
"Save the pleasantries slaver scum, the mere fact that you relish the profits from selling intelligent lifeforms is insulting of everything Turian's believe. Good day." He handed me the bracelet and left.
"147 put the bracelet on and follow, and do not speak to anyone." I did as he instructed and followed giving the sergeant a smile as he scowled after me, the Turian cut a path through the crowd getting Turians to bow before him, but he ignored them and Solana followed in his wake while I struggled to keep up as people buffeted and frowned at as I followed them.
The Citadel was massive far bigger than anything I'd seen Humans build, but I didn't have long to take in the view before Tactus barked and I followed him to his ship, it was a Turian military ship, and that made my blood boil and I stopped,
"147 get on board." Tactus said and I looked at him then to his ship, I refused to board a ship that had helped destroy my people, he glowered at me and pressed something on his holographic wrist display that sent a powerful electric current through my body and brought me to my knees.
"Despite my hatred of slavery, you are my property, now get on board!" I stood and moved towards the ships getting a few smirks from the Turian soldiers.
"Put him in the cargo bay and keep him there until I call for him." Tactus said leading the female ahead of me and out of sight while Tactus' guard led me below to a cargo hold. They wasted no time chaining my arms to a hook above my head before they pushed me to my knees. I stayed awake for what felt hours before finally falling asleep until a hard kick to side woke me.
"Human. Lord Vakarian requests your presence, put these clothes on and follow me." I stood and dressed in the vibrant blue tunic he had given me. I then followed Turian to the lift and stood in silence behind him. When the lift stopped, he led me to the only door on this deck and he knocked, the doors opened.
"The Human as requested my Lord." Tactus stood in the door and thanked the guard.
"147 enter." He said and he walked out and the doors shut. I looked around the room and spotted the female from before.
"You may approach Human," She said in a sultry tone I walked forward to the end of her couch head down.
"You may look at me." I looked up at her locking my eyes on hers.
"So Human tell me about yourself." Looking at her in mild disgust, I remained silent.
"Don't look at me like that Human, I am you, master. My father is the Lord of the Southern continent of Palaven, he is your master you have no right to glower and you will show me respect." I laughed and turned my back on her looking around the room.
"To what reason do, I have to show any of your kind respect? We did nothing to provoke you and you enslaved and murdered billions of my people?" She stood and activated her holo display quickly shocking me until I was on my knees.
"You activated a relay! A capital offence by Council law." I gasped when she stopped sending jolts through my body.
"And how were we supposed to know that, we were attempting to expand our territory, even if you felt threatened what reasonable species continues a genocidal campaign against a technologically weaker species when you destroyed our scout fleet," I said standing to face her.
"My, my. You are a stubborn one." She shocked me again keeping the volts going even after I collapsed to the floor.
"Regardless of what you think your species lost the war and now out of the sympathy of the Council have been spared, be glad you aren't all dead." I breathed heavily as I regained control of my limbs.
"We would rather die than be slaves." I stammered and she crouched pulling a small knife out from her hip and placing it under my throat, just as the doors opened.
"Solana, what do you think you're doing?" Tactus asked and she watched him.
"I was going to end this Humans life, seeing as that is what he wishes." However, stood when Tactus pulled her arm away from me taking the knife from her hands.
"That is not your decision to make; he is to be a worker for the keep, a guard for you and an aid for Garrus do you understand?" He growled and she nodded before returning to her seat, and Tactus looked down at me.
"Get up." I slowly stood and made sure not to look him in the eyes.
"You're taller than I expected, and it seems you're learning the rules, good." For the remainder of the journey, I stood in the corner of the room beside the door, waiting to welcome anyone who knocks on the Vakarian quarters door but so far nobody had knocked.
"147 have you eaten or drank at all," Tactus asked, from the table he sat at drinking what smelt like wine.
"Not since being stolen." Tactus's mandibles pressed to his face.
"I do wish you wouldn't bring that up, the past is in the past. It won't be long until we arrive at my Keep we have several levo amino based staff so you will be able to eat and drink then."
He said before returning to speaking with his daughter. There was a knock at the door and I opened it to greet a tall grey coloured Turian.
"Since when did Lord Vakarian acquire a Human?" The Turian said as he scowled at me.
"Only a few hours ago while on the Citadel he was a soldier on Earth, I believe he will serve us well Lord Arterius, he needs to learn his place first." The Turian grabbed my head and twisted it around so my face pointed around at the ceiling while my neck jutted out exposed to him and with his free hand he dragged his talons down my neck leaving a trail of pain and soon I felt warm blood oozing down my neck and into my shirt.
"These Humans only learn respect through pain, if you wish I will discipline him, my Lord." Tactus watched as the collar of my blue tunic began to darken with my blood.
"That won't be necessary Saren and if you would please release my servant I would be much appreciated." He did so and walked in wiping his bloody Talons on my tunic as he went.
"I merely came to inform my Lord we will be landing imminently." Tactus and Solana stood and followed Saren from the room.
"Follow Human." Solana said and I did so keeping my distance. We exited onto large elevated platform several seconds after leaving the room and Saren remained behind to oversee the removal of cargo while Tactus and Solana continued up towards a huge castle like structure. I spotted a younger Turian waiting at the summit of the stairs who resembled his father in every way, except for an eye visor.
"What father, made you want to buy a Human?" Garrus said I knew his name from Tactus's earlier conversation.
"Well, Garrus if you must know I believe this Human to be a perfect aid for you and a guard for your sister while being a strong set of arms to help with extending the keep." Garrus glared at me before turning and walking inside.
"Human wait here and someone will come and find you to take you to your quarters and clean you up, you will need a new tunic it is a grave insult for anyone wearing the Vakarian blue to have a part of the tunic stained," Tactus said as he and Solana left me to wait.
"Well, you can thank Saren for that one," I grumbled under my breath turning to look at the Turian world.
Its surface colour was a deeper green than on Earth and its sky slightly greenish in tint, but the temperature was far above what I had experienced even in deserts. For a few minutes, I gazed around until the doors opened and Asari looked out.
"Follow me." She said leaving the door open and I entered closing it behind me.
"You will stay in the room next to Lady Solana's and will be on call whenever you are requested no matter the time of day. Which are 3 hours longer than you're used to, the first strip out of your clothes wash and dress in the official Vakarian blue servant clothing, you will have a piece of armour made for you soon, when it is ready you will where only that." I was surprised.
"Why do I have a piece of armour, I'm a slave in their books. Are you a slave?" I whispered to her.
"I am not a slave like you Human, I am a paid servant of the Vakarian household you and you will have armour for in the event that the Keep be attacked you will defend your masters, and also you are the personal guard of Lady Solana." I stopped her as we entered a long corridor.
"Why am I expected to defend a person who is holding against my will?" She tutted and pulled herself free.
"She has many guards you are simply the first line of defence if you tried to harm the Lady you would be dead before you made a step toward her." I followed her into a small room that had a door that must have led to Solana's room.
"Your clothes are waiting inside get dressed, leave your old boots inside but dispose of the old clothes in the waste bin in the corner then return to the corridor and wait for further instruction." She left shutting the door leaving me alone, I sat down on the cot and put my head in my hands, 'how could I let myself get here' I thought as tears began to pour down my cheeks. I remembered all that I had left behind. My parents and sister, who at the time of the attack where in northern England which I hoped was safe from attacks.
Slowly I started off and washed in the cold bath water that had been left for me then dressed in the full blue tunic, trousers and black boots, I found the bin which was a shoot and threw the old tunic and white trousers inside. I left the room and entered the corridor to find Solana waiting for me so I bowed my head quickly, earning a laugh.
"You will have to speed up Human or you can expect to lose your freakish extra two fingers." She snarled.
"Come, the father wants you to accompany me to the city, but first you need to be marked as our property." She sighed at the worthlessness of the job, I was going to speak but did not but she saw me attempt it.
"What do you want to say, 147?" I scowled at that damn number.
"Err Lady Solana, may I request that I be called Greg, and since I have Saren's talon marks on my neck would that not suffice as a mark of ownership?" She looked at me genuinely thinking of the idea.
"I will speak with father about that, as for your name that it unacceptable you are 147 or human understand?" I nodded suppressing a sigh, we backtracked to the way I had come originally but turned off and up a flight of stairs then continued to climb for what felt like miles until we headed down a straight corridor leading only to one room.
Solana stopped before the door and waited, I guessed that this was one of my jobs, so I walked around her and opened the door stepping inside and standing to the side head bowed not looking at anybody.
"Solana, excellent, 147 you may look at me and come closer." I did as he instructed as Solana took a seat in front of his desk.
"Father I was wondering the scratches Saren gave the Human were deep, they will scare leaving a permanent mark, would that suffice as proof of ownership?" Tactus looked intrigued.
"Show me your neck 147." I knelt to give him an easy view and tilted my head to the side.
"Your right they are deep, yes they may well do if some paint wears to cover the scars perhaps that would show ownership. But he still needs to be shown as ours right now, I don't want other Turians harming him." I stayed kneeling looking at the floor as he stood and walked to stand beside me.
"Stand and remove your tunic," He ordered I removed my shirt and saw Solana's mandibles flare slightly.
"He certainly is strong!" She said looking over my chest and abdomen as Tactus went over to a fireplace and pulled out a small red-hot symbol. I swallowed hard, as tensed my body.
"Human this will hurt," Tactus said as he readied the brand before he drove it into my arm under the number 147. I cried out through gritted teeth and waited for it to end when it did it was hard not to look at the scorched flesh but instead I looked out the wide panoramic window overlooking a huge city.
"It will heal in time and it will fade, but it will remain forever, this is to ensure your safety and in the case you run away, every Turian will know you are mine." He said as he pressed a cloth to the arm and I held it for him and nodded not speaking.
"You may go." He said as Solana had already left for the door, I picked my tunic up and turned opening the door for her before closing it and dressing once again, breathing in slightly when the fabric brushed the burn.
"I think that brander goes back to ancient times for when Turian's kept Turian's as slaves, you are the first to be branded by it in centuries I think," Solana said almost sympathetically.
Half an hour later we entered the city and Solana headed straight for the shopping centre, several Turians glanced my way but when they saw my head bowed and the blue tunic they realised that I was property.
"147 wait here for a moment, this shop doesn't allow slaves inside." I nodded not looking up. She pointed to a fountain and told me to wait there for her. I walked over and stood motionless all the while getting filthy glares that I could feel coming off the locals.
"Look what we have here, a human, in Vakarian blue nonetheless, but to be sure, human show me your mark." I removed my shirt and turned to show the brand.
"Well, that's a V alright." Said the Turian.
"Why won't you look at me isn't it rude in your culture not to look at someone who talks to you?" I stood there half-naked, as he had not told me to put my shirt back on.
"It is rude yes, but you haven't asked me to look at you." He laughed at then grabbed my chin trying to pull my head upwards.
"You will not look at me then." He snarled as he pulled harder his talons digging into my face.
"Look at the marks on his neck do you think he displeased the Lord?" Another Turian said.
"Probable these Humans have no respect; still if he looks at me he will be punished." The Turian then grabbed my hair and pulled again, this time, forcing my head up so I closed my eyes.
"Ha, clever," He said then I heard the sound of a blade unsheathing and then a sharp pain on my eyelid that forced me to open my eyes and shove the Turian away.
"There he is and to lay hands on his superiors, what a shame." The Turian said before punching me in the face still holding my hair and his friends joined in.
"You will not fight back." One of them said and the others laughed, continuing their attack.
"What are you doing to my property?" I heard Solana's voice ask with a hint of annoyance.
"This human looked at me so I'm teaching him to have some respect." The original Turian said I looked at them, as he punched repeatedly in the stomach and face, they continued their assault, and soon passers-by stopped to watch.
"147 defend yourself," Solana said calmly, to which I pulled my restrained arms inwards, pulling the Turian's who held them along. When feeling one of the grips loosen I pulled my arm free and grabbed the other who managed to keep hold and pulled him around plunging him into the fountain before turning and grabbing the first Turian and punching him twice in the stomach.
Before I pulled his head-fin up and he roared in pain. I spotted his friends readying to attack again so I pushed the Turian I held at the one who lunged first, whilst dodging a talon swipe from the second, grabbing the attackers fin and smashing his head into the fountains wall. Hearing a satisfying crunch I threw the dazed Turian into the fountain, but I was too late to ready myself for the others attack.
The closest tackled me knocking me off my feet and landing hard on the street while the Turian talons pointed at my chest as he prepared to stab down. Instinct made my right arm intercept his claws and he drove then clean into my forearm, the pain was instantaneous, but I managed to kick the Turian off me.
As I tried to stand, a two-toed boot stood on my chest and I looked up blood from my eyelid blinding my left eye but I made out the original as he stood over me his knife out again. He grabbed my left arm and stabbed it to the fountain wall piercing the fountain itself wedging my hand in place. I cried out in pain, at last, waiting for him to finish it.
"Enough!" A familiar voice sounded, the Turian above me bowed and stepped away.
"Lord Vakarian!" He said as a hand pulled the knife out of my hand and held it tightly.
"What gives the right to force my property to disobey your order just so you can attack him if it wasn't for me being in the café nearby he would be dead right now and you would be explaining to my father why his investment was lying in a pool of his own blood in the centre of the City." The Turian struggled to find words.
"In fact, you will explain to my father why he had to buy new tunic for my servant," Garrus said angrily.
"Solana call a medic, Human stand." I lay half-dazed from pain before registering the command and struggled to grab the fountain wall before finding a grip and standing unable to put any weight on my right arm.
"Are you injured badly?" Garrus asked as I looked down at the ground again.
"No, I am fine," I growled through pain and anger both my arms held up to my chest to try to stem the flow of blood. Garrus stepped aside as a Salarian came forward.
"What have you done to yourself Human?" He said before he led me away from the fountain threw the stunned crowd to an empty space nowhere near anyone and sat me down again.
After the Salarian had sown my arm back together and my hand, applying copious amounts of Medi-gel to seal the wounds further. He also applied a small amount to my eyelid before returning to Garrus and telling him that my internal injuries were extreme and that I was severely dehydrated and my blood sugar was dangerously low due to no food. Garrus told him to fetch some levo-based food and drink while he approached me.
"Human stay seated, but look at me." I did and he grimaced slightly.
"Spirits you took a beating, what you did was although foolish was brave, and the fact you attempted to obey his orders has not gone unnoticed," He said taking the food and bottle from the returning Salarian and handed them to me.
"You may eat and drink." I looked at the food and back to him.
"Thank you." I said gruffly but he smiled and let me eat leaving to call someone, there was still a sizeable crowd looking at the injured Turians who looked terrified, while some looked at me keeping my head down careful to warrant another beating.
After I finished eating and drinking, I felt immensely better and stayed seated waiting for orders, when a set of tiny feet stood in front of me.
"Look at me Human." I looked up to see a young Turian staring at me.
"Nihlus come here at once." Shouted his mother who came over to fetch him, I averted my eyes as she reached him.
"Nihlus why are you bothering the slave?" She asked.
"Because mum he fought with honour and he obeyed all the orders were given to him, which shows he is loyal and disciplined, why is he a slave when he could be a soldier?" His mother remained silent for a moment.
"Look at me Human." I did as she instructed and she too grimaced.
"What were you before being captured?" I looked at Nihlus.
"I was a soldier." Nihlus smiled up at his mother.
"See I was right." Then Garrus approached and the two bowed stepping away.
"Come along Human were going home." I stood and smiled to the mother and Nihlus before following Garrus and Solana as they entered their waiting hover car.
"Go home Human." Solana instructed and I stepped back as the car rose along with the other, which carried the Turian attackers. I set off the way Solana had showed me keeping my head down while realising I was without my tunic and covered in drying blood.
"Human follow me." Said a voice from behind I turned and saw Nihlus and his mother.
"We will take you to the keep, it will not frown upon you were told to go home and I am ordering you to follow me." I smiled head still bowed and followed their feet to another sky car.
"Get in the back and do not speak." I nodded and took my seat waiting for them to take off. Minutes later she lowered the craft, opened the door to show the landing pad with Garrus and Solana half way up the stairs, and turned when the sky car landed.
"Get out Human." I obeyed and got out before taking a deep breath and heading up to the stairs after my masters.