Well this is my first attempt at Fanfiction. Please feel free to comment and constructive criticism is always welcome. The first four chapters are pre-Normandy and slightly AU, but if you stick with it and you will hit the familiar story we all know and love soon. I still think these early chapters are important, if anything then to get you a feel for Shepard and some of the hardships she's been through. This Shep is a paragon, spacer, sole survivor. Of course Bioware owns everything, well done them.
I was told to stay in the cabin. Mom told me to stay inside so I wouldn't get in anyone's way. This had happened before. The SSV Einstein had responded to Batarians raids on human colonies for weeks now. This time though, it was different. It was hard to ignore the frantic voices outside the cabin door or the stomp of rushing feet that passed by. I pressed my ear against the cold metal of the door, straining to hear pieces of conversation through the thick steel.
"Shit!"
"On the double! Get every soldier down there…we need to…."
"The Batarians already…"
"Shit!"
"Lieutenant Zabaleta! Get the MAKO running now!"
Pulling away from the door, I started pacing. Debating on violating my mother's command and trying to help. I wanted to. Oh, how badly I wanted to. I was still naïve and cocky enough to think the help of little 16-year-old me could make a difference. But I was a military brat through and through. I had my orders: Stay in the cabin.
"Dammit" I muttered while sinking into the soft couch. I was just sitting there, hands clasped dwelling on what was taking place just a few hundred miles away. I shot up and moved over to the only window in the cabin. I raised the shutter doors. Slowly the grey metal shutters lifted and Mindoir came into view, swirls of green and blue scattered across the grey planet surface. I couldn't see the battle. I stared out the window for ages, as if eventually my gaze could penetrate miles of space and discover what was going on. I did see some small fighters and shuttles now and again heading to the planet surface but those provided no clue about the fate of the colony. Reluctantly I returned to the couch, resigned in my situation of helplessness.
A few hours later, the cacophony of battle faded from the ship. Orders weren't being yelled out from outside my door, nor were soldiers running to and fro like mad dogs. Instead, a deep quiet settled over the ship. I made my way back to the view port. I saw the transport shuttles returning to our docks. Holy hell, I can finally go out now, I remember thinking. It was time for me to investigate. Cautiously, I poked my head out into the hallway. The normally bustling corridor was eerily silent, deserted. I walked out and toward the mess; someone is always there so I figured I could at least find out how the fight went. As soon as I pushed those double doors open a flood of noise hit me. Frantic, raised voices permeated the air. I strode out into the hall… people spreading around me like a wave. I saw all the familiar faces of the crew, some clearly on missions to grab provisions and medical supplies from the med bay. Others were talking among themselves, discussing the fight in hushed tones, or laying on the floor waiting for medical attention. I caught a glimpse of a small group of strangers huddled together on benches. I made my way towards them, snagging snippets of conversation,
"I can't believe we found them"
"The Batarians had so much fire power…. they never stood a chance"
"… so many left"
I had no idea how truly horrible this raid was, but I knew from those bits that there was no victory. Not really. Although most of the soldiers came back, the Batarians won that day. My invincible view of the Alliance came crashing down when I saw only 7 survivors, all battered and broken. Only 7…there must have been thousands before the raid. Can you imagine it!? Thousands of people. Together, happy. Only to have that destroyed in a matter of seconds. And we couldn't save them. That was one of the most disheartening moments of my life.
I refocused my gaze on the few survivors. How could I help them? I had no idea what they just went through…but after some thought I made my way over to the benches. They needed help somehow and I wasn't doing anything just standing there like an ape. I walked past a lone man who was gripping is arm to stop the bleeding until a medic could see him. An elderly couple locked in a tense embrace, eyes shut tight. There was a little girl, alone, crying into her sleeve, eyes bloodshot and desperate. Greg, the cook, sat down next to the little girl, pulling out some of the chocolate he kept hidden away in his cabinets. I knew she was in good hands. Greg was so kind, always slipping me sweets when I stole into the mess late at night after a row with Mom. Finally I made my way to the last of the survivors, tucked away in the back corner of the mess. It appeared as though they were blocking off any outsider with two of them protectively hovering around something.
"Hey Ben! Where is that guy? The one you put on my shuttle? I don't know where he went…I think he was shot" I heard someone shout over the ocean of voices. Wait…someone's shot? I panned my gaze over everything nearby. I couldn't see any blood. I thought it was odd that no one had noticed someone with a gunshot wound yet. Carefully, I moved closer to the last group of survivors. I saw a boy, sitting slightly away from a girl and their mother, not paying attention while they were clearly preoccupied with something. The women were frantically talking to each other. The noise of the mess hall was so loud that I only hear what they were saying when I was within a few feet of them.
"Shit Mom hold on tighter!"
"I'm trying but he just keeps bleeding and it's making my hands slip. Do you think the Batarians are still after us?"
"Bradley! I need you to go get help! BRADLEY!" The girl was practically screaming at her brother but he didn't budge. His blue eyes staring right in front of him, glazed over and oblivious to the world. Holy hell…It's them …they have the bleeding guy…. Why the fuck hasn't anyone noticed yet!?
Spurred into action, I turned and ran until I found Ivan. He was Dad's assistant. I pulled him as quickly as I could to the family. I let him go and approached the girl.
"Hey I brought some help!" She whipped her head around as soon as I lightly touched her shoulder. Her dark, chestnut eyes wild with fear and distrust.
"I'm here to help!" I said as fast as I could. I was hoping she wasn't about to tear my eyes out or something. I kept my eyes locked with hers, watching for the moment when she would realize I wasn't a Batarian and they weren't alone on Mindoir anymore. She looked away only for a second then our eyes reconnected. Those deep brown pools shone with intensity, but the fear was gone. In its place was desperation. I breathed a sigh of relief. Just glad she wasn't going to start strangling me. Ha, I bet I would've been beaten to a pulp too. She's got some fire in her…sorry… off topic. Anyway, I grabbed Ivan and roughly shoved him toward the man lying on the ground. Ivan took one look and turned back, his face pale and concerned.
"Ah shit… Shep, go get Laurie and your dad! I will try to help hold off the bleeding until you guys get back…. Hurry!" Ivan and the girl started pressing down around the wound on the man's abdomen, along with the girl's mother who was still rambling about Batarians. I caught a glimpse of the man who was shot. He was whiter than snow, lying there limply, with deep red seeping out. I whirled around and dove into the throng of people. Suddenly I managed to run into Laurie.
"Laurie. Thank god! Ivan needs you and dad over there! There's a guy bleeding like crazy from a gunshot!" I spoke so fast it was a miracle she caught every word. Probably adrenaline. She intercepted Joe, a marine who was carrying blankets toward the elderly couple, and they sprinted off towards Ivan and the family. I searched through the crowd. Where the hell was he? I moved haphazardly, scanning faces as I went, looking for my father's short black hair, listening for his commanding voice. Then I spotted him hunched over Adam. I sprinted up to him.
"Dad! I need your help. Ivan, Laurie and Joe are trying to deal with a man…. with a bad gunshot wound to the stomach! Please come!" I had to stop myself from grabbing his lab jacket and dragging him to the bleeding man.
"Just let me finish this alright" Dad put up one hand and tried to wave me away, obviously engrossed in wrapping up Adam's foot so it would set correctly.
"No Dad. The…. the guy's lost a ton of blood already…please" I never beg. I also never say 'No' to my parents. Dad knew it was really serious then. He called over another one of his assistants, quickly debriefed him on Adam's situation. Dad then grabbed my shoulder and turned me around to guide him to the bleeding man. Once we reached them I backed away, giving Dad, Laurie and Ivan space to maneuver. Dad had Ivan and Joe lift the man up, while Laurie and him still provided pressure to the wound. Slowly they made their way to the med bay and Dad immediately began prepping for surgery. I stayed stock still the whole time.
Once they were out of sight I unfroze. I turned and looked at the girl. She had her arms wrapped around her mother, who was sobbing and incoherently muttering something into her daughter's shoulder. I wanted to help. I tried to think of something to say but my mind was blank. The girl looked up from her distraught mother and stared at me, her tawny eyes glossy with fresh tears. I couldn't look away. I hoped I got there in time. I couldn't stand the thought of this family suffering more. I gave the girl a small smile. Suddenly, a strong hand gripped my arm and swung me around. I was face-to-face with my mother. Shit.
"Graym! What did I say about staying in the cabin? Go there right now. I need the medics to do their jobs without you gaping and standing around" And with that she placed her hands on my shoulders and marched me towards the mess's double doors. I tried to peer over and look back at the girl but by then the sea of people had drifted between us.