I decided to write this piece because of how broken hearted I became after the little boy died… So here it goes. It's a bit of Shepard (f) realizing a maternal instinct and a whole lot of adventure. It's going to go hand in hand with the game (minus exact dialog), so basically it's just what would have happened in my brain. Btw: I haven't played through the whole game yet so if there is some weird twist where the boy is still alive or something forgive me.
Chapter 1
I knew to run, but the moment I saw him I couldn't. He was so shaken, so scared. To think, it was the same little boy I had seen just before the attack. Those big blue eyes watched me as fear pulsed through them. Suddenly an unknown feeling overwhelmed me and I carefully approached him, afraid of frightening him more.
"Hey," I nearly whispered. I crouch next to the vent and give the boy a small reassuring smile. "It's okay."
Immediately I feel ignorant for my choice of words. They boy may be young but he's not stupid. Things are not okay, hell things are nowhere near 'okay'. As I look closer at the little boy I notice there are no tears in his eyes.
As he speaks I notice the fear etched in his voice, but weaved with determined bravery. "Everyone's dying," he whispers moving further away from me. I try to reach out to him but he's just out of reach.
A ship nearly collides with the building and I glance away only for a moment as the boy gasps. I turn my attention back to him, the desperation to retrieve him and get him to safety pumps my heart faster.
"Come here, I need to get you somewhere safe." It's difficult to remain gentle but I remind myself he's a child, not a soldier. Demand had to be coaxed. As he moves further back in the crawl space my breath catches in my throat. "Take my hand." I want to plead with him, but I remain strong.
"You can't help me…" The words bring tears to the boys eyes as he scoots even further into the crawl space.
"Shepard, in here!" Anderson calls as I glance at him. He beckons me to follow.
I look into the crawl space and find it empty. My heart jumps to my throat and panic surges through my veins. "Wait!" Before I know it I'm crawling in after him. "Wait!" I cry again.
The boy is just around the corner, hugging his legs as his face is buried in his knees. Slowly I reach out and touch him, my fingers barely making any contact with his skin at all. His eyes meet mine and he reaches out to touch my face.
"How come you're not scared?"
"I am," I reply my voice breaking for a moment. "Come with me, I promise you'll be safe with me."
For a moment he just stares I me, both of us can here Anderson's calls as he watches me closely. My hand takes his from my face and I hold it between us. Finally the boy nods and begins to crawl past me towards Anderson's voice. I follow close behind.
"Shepard we have to hurry," Anderson reminds me irritably.
"Let's go," I reply. I feel a little hand slide into mine as Anderson leads. It's time to protect and lead.
"Shepard?" the boy said quietly. "Is that your name?"
"My last name, you can call me Jane," I replied. "What's your name?"
"Carter."
"Well Carter, you're safe with me," I reply squeezing his hand.
Anderson pulled me down and began firing. "Shepard! Husks ahead!"
The fear illuminated Carter's eyes again as I pulled him down beside me. "Do exactly as I say and right now stay down!"
Never had I had to drag a child through a war zone, yet there I was protecting a little boy as I fought for a path to the Normandy. As the ship approached I pulled him into my arms and jumped onto the platform. Carter clung to my leg as I looked to Anderson.
"Come on!" I called extending my arm to him, ready to help him across.
Anderson looked at me, then back at the Alliance soldiers. "No, I'm staying here. This is where they need me."
I looked at Carter, wanting so badly to tell him that I was going to stay and fight too then. But there beside me was proof I needed to go. The universe needed to know the real threat and if I didn't go to the Citadel all forms of life could be over.
"Stay safe, sir," I replied doing an excellent job removing all emotion from my voice.
Anderson turned around, but quickly stopped. "Oh, and consider yourself reinstated."
He tossed my dog tags at me and I snatched them from the air. The Normandy began its route to the sky as Carter and I watched civilians hurry into an emergency transport unit to escape. A reaper emerged and I could hear the guns energizing. My teeth clenched praying they would make it out.
The units were in the air as the red beam shined form the reaper. Carter buried his face in my stomach as the explosion from both ships screamed at us to get away faster. A hand fell on my shoulder. I didn't even have to look to know it was Kaidan, trying to save all of us from any more emotional trauma by heading into the Normandy. But the damage was done, Earth was being torn apart and people were dying.
Now was the time to fight, but more importantly now was the time to have something to fight for.
So this chapter wasn't long but I wanted everyone to get a taste. What do you think? Continue or scrap it? Read and review!
Love always, Marilynn
