Gazing Fearfully into the Maw of Death.

Akuze

"Oh Crap," Jane Daria Shepard said as he dived behind a boulder. "Oh hell."

She popped her head around once she caught her breath. Her pistol sat in the mud fifty metres away. Her assault rifle was probably a broken mess were her unit had made planet fall. There was no way her standard issue shotgun would hit at this range. Thankfully she had more training with her sniper rifle. It was just a pity the Alliance would never pay for the upgrades she would like. She stood up, fired two shots and the rifle overheated. She had drawn the creature's attention. She wanted to swear, to yell, instead her extensive training kicked in. She ran for the next bit of cover as the boulder dissolved. Panting she wondered if she was the only one left. If she was retreat was the only option. How many hours had it been since she landed? Three, four, maybe it was seven. She peered over the escarpment she was cowering behind. Maybe it had a weak point. If it had eyes maybe her bullet could penetrate and destroy something vital. Well she could see something that could be a visual sensory organ. She rose up and shot once. She went to fire a second time. Nothing. Shepard couldn't believe it she was out of ammo. Maybe it had been more than seven hours. Clutching her rifle to her chest she ran as fast as she could away from the massive creature. Tears began to stream from her eyes. There was a loud booming sound behind her, she wanted to turn but her legs wouldn't respond. She stumbled fell, rolled along the ground and finally stared into the sky of, what was the planets name again? Akuze? She tried to stay awake but it was so hard. Slowly Jane Daria Shepard slipped into unconsciousness.

"Doctor over here!" yelled one of the marines on the search party.

Doctor Chakwas rushed over hoping against all reason it wasn't just another body. The marine was crouched over a young woman.

"She's breathing doctor," the marine said as he made space for her.

"Can you hear me?" She asked her patient.

The injured soldier groaned and her eyes fluttered.

"Name and rank," Doctor Chakwas commanded.

"Shepard," the young woman murmured. "Jane Daria. I should say admiral right now but I'm not in the mood."

Doctor Chakwas chuckled.

"Gallows humour usually indicates a survivor," the doctor remarked. "Now just hold still while I amputate."

"Not funny doc," Shepard said as she sat up. "How are the other survivors?"

Doctor Chakwas looked at the ground and the young marine looked away. Swallowing the marine looked back at Shepard.

"You're the only one," he said eyes downcast.

"You're lying," Shepard spat. "There's got to be more than just me…there has to…oh god."

Shepard threw up on the ground. Once the sound of retching dissipated it was replaced by Jane Daria's sobs.

"It's not right," she wailed. "I was just talking to Coombs in the mess this morning, they can't just be gone."

Chakwas embraced the young woman in what she hoped was a comforting hug as a shuttle came down to retrieve them.

It had been several months since the creature had wiped out all those people. Thresher Maws they were called, terrible beasts that were found across the galaxy. It had taken months of counselling and therapy but Jane Daria Shepard finally felt ready to return to Akuze.

"Are you sure about this?"

"I have to do this Mom," Jane Daria told her mother as they approached the memorial that was situated well away from the thresher maw nest.

"I'll keep my current post as long as you need me dear," the elder Shepard said referring to the dead end position she took in order to care for her daughter.

"I'm getting better Mom," Jane Daria said. "Besides you belong on the bridge of a ship, not wasting away in Arcturus' records department."

"I'm your mother first."

Jane Daria nodded as she approached the stone monument. Tears fell from her eyes as her fingers traced the names of friends, acquaintances and colleagues who had fallen on that day.

"Never again," Jane Daria Shepard swore to herself.