MASS EFFECT: LEGACY UNBORN
*PROLOGUE*
A merry cheer rang through the room. It was only a small home, hardly big enough to contain so many but it was still comfortable nonetheless. The sunlight shone through creamy curtains, grazing the white walls in soft bars and in front of them, shadows stretched out. Arms reached over to hug the young man who, as always, laughed at being the centre of attention.
Men and women old and young stepped forward to congratulate him. He gave them loud, eager thanks and clapped them on the shoulder. A small girl came forward and wrapped her arms around the leg of his dark blue Alliance combat trousers, only to be snatched up, giggling.
'Are you going to space soon, Uncle Richard?' the girl asked sweetly. She was only five, with a ponytail of blonde hair and a mouth smeared with chocolate cake.
Jenkins grinned widely at his niece and bounced her gently in his arms. 'You first, Cheri! You ready?'
The little girl nodded vigorously and squealed as Jenkins lifted her into the air.
'Lift off!' he shouted, to the joy of all onlookers. 'You ready to go through the relay?'
'Ready!' Cheri confirmed with a wiggle of her legs.
'Okay, hold on!' he replied. There was little room in the lounge, and so a space was cleared for Jenkins as he carried her through into the master bedroom, ignoring the warnings from her mother to be careful. 'Oh no!' he cried, 'It's a batarian cruiser!'
'Shields!' Cheri yelled out. 'Use the kintetic barriers! Fire the lasers!'
Jenkins looked up at her, his eyes bright and blue beneath a dark beret. His arms were roped with wiry muscle and it was no effort to bring the child swooping down to the ground.
'Their shields are too strong!' he shouted back to her as he brought her back into the living room. The eyes of all glistened with pride and happiness at the affection on display. 'We're not going to make it, we have to land!'
It was an early end to the game and Jenkins would have given anything to continue it but there was little enough time already. Reluctantly, he set Cheri down on her feet and received a grateful hug.
'I'll miss you, Uncle Richard,' she said quietly.
Jenkins smiled again and placed a hand on her head. 'It's all right, I'll be home on leave soon. Behave for your mommy and daddy, okay?'
'If I'm good will you bring me back a Lancer?' Her eyes were wide and innocent and a few among the adults stifled a laugh.
Jenkins knew the request for a high-powered assault rifle was completely genuine and so he tilted his head, not willing to risk an argument with the young lady. 'Maybe when you're a little older, kiddo.'
He looked up then to where his relatives stood watching, smiling warmly in approval. He returned the gesture and rose to his feet. 'Thank you all for coming,' he said. 'Seriously, I...I never expected any of this. It's just a real honour to have so many awesome family and friends here to say goodbye.'
The small crowd chuckled amongst themselves and an older man with dark hair spoke over them, 'You just remember us when you're out there saving the galaxy, okay?'
For a moment, Jenkins was overwhelmed. His boots felt heavier than usual as he paced across the room. He came to the window and squinted against the gentle sun.
It was late afternoon and the light was beginning to fade from Eden Prime. The settlement in which they lived was nothing more than a few stacks of converted prefab cabins, 'stitched' together to form apartments in the shelter of lush green hills. Beyond, fields had been tilled, ready to be sown. The earth was rich and black, and the crops grown there would help feed the expansion of the Systems Alliance.
Still smiling, Jenkins took a breath of the clean air. It was pure and beautiful, not at all like what he'd heard about Earth, with its rampant pollution and overpopulation. Eden Prime was a paradise by comparison, or so people said.
His mother stepped forward, away from the rest. Even over fifty, she was stunning, with long brown hair that shimmered as she moved. She lifted a glass of champagne - a drink they could barely afford - and in a smooth voice said, 'To Private Richard Jenkins, pride of the Alliance Marines!'
'Private Jenkins!' the others concurred, and they clinked their glasses together enthusiastically.
Jenkins took a drink as it was offered and downed it in a single gulp. He had earned the celebration. The rigours of basic training had made his body into a fit, strong machine and he had all the energy in the world. Now was a good time to drink, laugh and look forward to the excitement ahead.
His mother approached him. 'You're packed, right? I don't want you to forget anything.'
'Mom, I told you already, don't worry! I got everything I need and the Alliance will provide the rest. All I need is my credit chit, my omni-tool, my kit,' he gestured behind her, to where a large duffel bag stood propped against the wall, 'and maybe a few batarians to shoot along the way. So just enjoy the party, okay? For me?'
He brought a hand to his mother's arm and she beamed at him tearfully. Embarrassed, she dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief, sighing, 'I thought I'd gotten all of this out of me when you shipped out for basic. Here I am though, yet again, balling my eyes out.' She straightened and sniffed deeply to calm herself. 'Sorry. You don't need me weeping like this, I just...I just wish your father were here to see you now.'
Jenkins' eyes drifted over her shoulder to where a framed picture sat upon a small polished wooden table. A handsome man grinned back at him, teeth white and straight beneath a neat Marine's crew cut. A newborn baby lay in his arms, with eyes as blue as the skies behind them. The numbers '2131-2160' had been scrawled in the corner.
'I know,' he said, hushing her. He drew her into an embrace. 'Do you think he'd be proud too?'
'I know it, Richard. We all are.'
The whine of a shuttle invaded their privacy and Jenkins leaned forward slightly to look out of the window. An Alliance-blue Kodiak shuttle landed with a flare of white from its thrusters and Jenkins felt a new urgency rise as the moment he had been waiting for became real.
'I'm going to miss you,' he told his mother before lifting his head to take in everyone who had come to see him off. 'I'm going to miss all of you. Take care of yourselves and I'll see you when I get back on leave, all right?'
They all answered at once, drowning him in a tide of well-wishes. He made his way to the door, clasping hands, hugging and patting the backs of all those standing in his way. When he finally came to the door, it slid aside to reveal the fresh, cool countryside.
He loved the small, peaceful colony but the time had come. He hefted his kit bag, slinging it over a shoulder. Though his heart was filled with sadness for those he was leaving behind, Private Jenkins was smiling.
