Author's Note:

I do not own Mass Effect

This is my first time I've ever written anything. I'm dyslexic and I've always found it difficult. I got the idea for this story after reading Mass Effect Revelation. I always liked Saren and there was only one sentence about his past to explain his hatred for humans during the First contact war. I immediately started to write this, but had never the confidence to post it until the new downloadable content with Kasumi came out and we got to see Shepard glaring at our old friend again. It starts out slow. Please try to stick it out while I line up the characters. It gets better…at least I think so. I can't wait to read your comments.

Thank you

The terminal on the desk beeped loudly to signify an incoming message. I sighed heavily as I prompted the message to play. "Private McKay report to my office in 10." There was no use in pretending I wasn't there or that I hadn't gotten the message, my only option was to go.

I listened to my foot steps as I walked down the corridor of the Arcturus space station. I was headed to my drill sergeant's office. I wonder what it was this time, probably the failure of my N7 training. I can still hear my grandfather's words the day I left for the Alliance training program. "Not everyone is meant to be a soldier."

He didn't have to remind me. Like most poor earth kids I signed up to see the galaxy or get taught a skill or something. Some of the people here were breaking gang ties, but we were all trying to start new lives.

I looked up just in time to see the door to Sergeant Evans. I hit the panel on the side and walked in. Evan's was seated at his desk. He was an older gentleman with years of experience in training young soldiers. He was especially good at seeing strong skills in people whom didn't notice them, themselves. That's why he was good at his job. He looked like a typical career soldier with a buzzed hair cut although it was so short it was hard to tell the color, probably was gray by now. He viewed me with is older and wiser gray eyes as he began to speak.

"At ease, Private Fiona McKay." I relaxed in place but was uneasy about what the circumstances as to why I had been called here.

"I've got great news. I've recently been reviewing some file and I think I've found a position on one of the new human colonies that will suit you perfectly."

I said nothing, but the somewhat shocked look on my face was enough of an answer for him to continue. "Your not quite N7 special ops material, but you're a good solider, determined and resourceful. Scouts are especially needed on new colonies to help navigate the landscape. Helping the Scientist with located new foliage and fauna, I thought with your background on earth would let you excel at a position like this. Not many people here had the opportunity to grow up on a farm and it also mentioned growing up with your Cherokee grandparents."

I hardly felt Native American. I grew up in a regular house, regular school, just another regular person. Although the blood lines of earth were mixing. The whole of the planet had been at peace ever since the prothean cache on Mars was found. Sharing the technology and starting the Alliance. I guess not many people could cling to one ethnicity anymore. Realistically I couldn't either. My mother was Cherokee but my father wasn't, I'm nothing but a half breed, less really if you bothered to truly trace my family line, I hardly looked native American to boot. Short military haircut of my auburn hair resembled my Irish ancestry more than my mother's. My eyes weren't dark like hers or her parents but, a light honey brown which I also contributed to my father. Even thought I didn't see why my background would matter in my placement I wasn't about to tell my superior that.

"N7 soldiers are not really in high demand. As a race we are settling other planets to increase supple and are foot hold on the galaxy. As of right now Scouts are needed more to help the colonies." Sergeant Evans continued as I thought quietly to myself "yeah, lack of war would do that. The Alliance was starting a global army for protecting human interest. Who did they think they were protecting them from? "

Sergeant Evans trailed on as I began to listen again. "You also received high marks when it came to the survival training. Excellent shot with a sniper rifle. Those skills would be put to better use out in the colonies. You and several others are reporting to the newest of the Human colonies, Shanxi, upon graduation within the week."

I thanked the sergeant and returned to my room thinking about the news I had just been given. He was right, a space station or ship just wasn't right for me. I missed earth. I missed the wind and all of the green. Funny how little things you take for granted are the one you miss the most when you all of a sudden don't have them. As I approached the door to the barracks I remembered something my grandmother had told me often when I was little, "Cherokee blood flowed though my Celtic heart." I often wondered if the other soldiers here missed earth as much as I did.