Chapter 2: Adjusting
As soon as I reached the Keep, the Asari that had escorted me earlier told to go and clean up while before a tunic was ready. I slowly walked through the huge Keep trying to remember where my room was but after a few minutes I was lost and now terrified, surely if I was found I would be punished for my state of filth and indecency.
"Human what are you doing?" I heard Tactus's voice say.
"My Lord I am attempting to find my quarters." Tactus walked up from behind me and stopped.
"Look at me." I obeyed and he studied my face.
"Am I to assume you disobeyed an order?" I would have said no but in truth I had.
"Yes my Lord." He sighed and clicked his mandibles in annoyance.
"Right then follow me." He turned around and led me to a flight of stairs leading into a covered circular veranda that must have been in the centre of the Keep as it was huge and the walls rose for hundreds of feet in every direction. Tactus took me to the centre of the exposed area covered in dirt and sand.
"Kneel." He barked before I heard Garrus's voice shouting to his father, Tactus ignored him and walked behind me.
"For disobeying an order given to you by your superiors you are to be lashed." My mind raced, had Garrus and Solana not told him I was forced to disobey, then I felt a quick and painful slash across my back, it felt as though tiny knife or talons were being dragged across my skin in quick succession. He continued to lash my back until Garrus reached him.
"Father are you punishing him for his disobedience? If so I must ask you to stop, he was forced to disobey by these three here, they ordered him not to look at them and he tried not to but they cut his eyelids to force them open." The lashing stopped and apart from my whimpers of pain as I crumbled on the dirt, silence spread throughout the courtyard.
"And you saw this and came validate it." Tactus barked.
"Yes father, the human obeyed for as long as physically possible, even obeying an order not to defend himself." Tactus threw the lash across at me while Garrus stood looking at his father while the three Turian attackers lined up before him.
"Which one of you forced my property to look upon you?" The original Turian bowed deeply.
"I did my lord, but we were only going to mildly wound him until he fought back." Tactus looked from the Turian to me.
"Human did you attack these men when you were told not to." I shook my head as I sat up keeping my head down.
"No, I did not, Lady Solana told me to defend myself." Several moments of thoughtful clicking followed.
"Bring the lash and look upon these men." I gingerly stood not looking at Tactus or Garrus but stood to face the now kneeling Turians.
"Lash them each ten times for their disloyalty to me." Tactus growled a hint of enjoyment in his voice, the three Turians gapped at Tactus before having theirs heads thrust down by the guards who brought them, they then pulled off their tunics leaving them half-naked as I still was. I walked behind them to the one who I had smashed his face in and began to lash his skin, before moving onto the one who drove his talons into my arm.
"This goes against everything the slavery act sets out, a slave shall not harm their masters." The original Turian said fear evident in his voice.
"Unless his rightful master tells said slave to harm another." Tactus said now sitting in a large chair with a sunshade beside him, as servants scurried away after bringing them, and Garrus stood uneasily to his right.
"Human make it twenty for questioning his Lord's orders." I swallowed ringing out the whip causing a trickle of my own blood to pool on the dirt; I nodded but hesitated to strike the man.
"Strike him or you will take his lashes!" Tactus roared in anger and I struck, full hatred and rage fuelled my strike. It cut a deep groove into the Turians scales and the Turian roared with pain as I kept lashing his back each time as though it were the first, not letting up the speed or force, I struck until the twenty lashes were complete.
"Take these men out of my sight and take 147 to the infirmary have him cleaned and disinfected then show him to his room, and 147 do not lose you way again." I nodded and let myself be steered by another guard as he walked me to the infirmary.
When we arrived, another Salarian appeared and ordered me to shower and clean out all my wounds. I obeyed and watched as the water turned red and spilled into the drains as I washed my back as best I could trying not the scratch the lash marks, then moving on to wash the dried dirt and blood from the rest of my body before exiting the shower and being told to lay face down on a cot.
"Human this will sting and it will hurt but it's the best way to heal your wounds and make sure the risk of infection is reduced." The Salarian said as he placed a small cloth into a clear liquid then dabbed at my lashes, it felt like the lashing had started once more and the pain never ebbed away.
"I have some good news and bad news for you Human." I waited for him to continue but when he did not I chanced a glance at him,
"It's ok to speak to me; I am not your master." I looked up and he was smiling comfortingly,
"Ok, what's the bad news?" I asked warily.
"The lashes will scar and you do have a slight infection, but not to worry take this with water and it will be gone in several days, and at the end, you will have a small dextro immunity." I was not sure if that was a good thing or not but I smiled slightly.
"And the good news?" The Salarian paused.
"Well it's almost good news, your arm, hand and eyelid are healing nicely and you should be able to use all three properly in a few hours, but as for your abdominal bruising, there is little I can do. I suggest only eating liquid or soft foods and plenty of water; your organs will have suffered from the repeated assaults you look like you have endured." I nodded.
"Well thank you, Doctor?" I said as he tidied away his used utensils.
"Mealon, Doctor Mealon, glad to have been some help." He smiled and lightly pushed me from the bed.
"Go back to the guard outside he will show you to your room, try and get as much water as possible at servant meal time tonight and no hard food." I extended my hand and he looked puzzled but matched the motion I gripped his hand and shook it.
"Earth custom will probably die out soon, so if you can carry it on and spread it, at least, a part of Humanity will live on," I said turning and leaving the confused Dr Mealon before meeting with the guard outside who huffed.
"Dress in this we have no more human clothing, so Turian will have to do." I did as he said carefully not to look at him, then once ready I followed him trying my best to remember the route while trying to ignore the pain that I felt when the shirt rubbed over my wounds.
"This is your room, remember when you enter from the landing pad, head straight down the corridor turn left then up the stairs three floors before turning right and you will come to here." I nodded.
"Thank you." I mumbled and the guard walked off, leaving me to enter my room and once more sit on the bed in fear and sorrow. It did not last long before I heard the room door next-door open and I guessed Solana had returned.
"Human I require assistance." She spoke softly but I heard and slowly opened the adjoining room door and bowed my head when she spotted me.
"Good now you back and somewhat healed I need you to help me with something." I nodded keeping still and quiet, "This is going to become tiresome, and you may look and answer me whenever I summon you ok." I looked up.
"Yes, my Lady." She rolled her eyes and walked behind a wall before I heard the rustle of clothes.
"What is it you need help with?" I called and she returned dressed only in what looked like sports clothes, as they were tightly fitting and much more revealing.
"I am going for a run and I need you to carry my refreshments." I looked at what she pointed to and sighed in relief, the bag was not much bigger than the sack I had for the army back on Earth; I walked over, picked it up, and gingerly placed it on my back, breathing a sharp breath when something inside the bag stabbed my cuts.
"Oh yes your lashes, well I'm sorry about that, father was not in his study and Garrus only just found him when he was whipping you." I scowled at the back of her head by her the blatant disinterest she held for me.
"Lady Solana is there any chance I might be allowed to bring some water for myself, Doctor Mealon said I needed to drink as much as possible." She looked at me and waved her hand.
"If you must, there is a sink in the kitchen last door on the right, take a bottle and fill it and meet me back here." I nodded walking out of the room and down the corridor before knocking on the kitchen door.
"Enter." I heard a gruff voice say and I did so bowing my head as a Turian passed.
"Human what do you want? Look at me." I did and took a step back when I saw a huge red crested dinosaur like being staring at me.
"I um was sent by Lady Solana to take a bottle of water." The creature turned and reached into a cupboard pulling out a bottle before filling it and handing it to me.
"Off for a run are we?" I nodded.
"Good luck keeping up Human." He smiled and I left returning to Solana's room only to meet by her exiting her room.
"Are you ready?" I nodded following as she walked down the corridor. We descended several flights of stairs before exiting in an area I had not seen before it, it was lower than the landing platform and connected to the surface by a bridge.
"We shall run for five miles before stopping." She said before running off over the bridge, I did my best to match her pace but the bag made it painful work.
"How are you coping Human," She asked in a level tone not seeming tired or breathless at all after about twenty minutes running.
"I'm fine just worried I'll be beaten for ruining another tunic." She slowed dropping behind me to look at my back.
"Why didn't you say you were in pain?" I huffed; she got the message and ran level with me.
"I'm sorry you were unjustly beaten but at least, you will know not to do it again," She said patronisingly, to which I stopped and threw her bag to the floor.
"I'm sorry but do what again, obey the orders of sick Turians who sliced my eye to make me look at them! Unfortunately, humans do not have two or three layers of lids to keep our eyes shut if you think to treat me with benign neglect with make me any less resistant you are wrong. I am trying to stay alive and all you damned Turians seem to care about is torturing me, how on Earth did you manage to gain a seat of galactic power with the way you treat sentient creatures!" I shouted at her to her utter shock and amazement, she did not hesitant shocking me repeatedly until I was a quivering heap on the ground.
"You have no right to accuse me of anything, I didn't lash you or cut you, and I even gave you the right to defend yourself! What makes you think I enjoy making people suffer!" She growled at me while I cowered on the floor.
"You will never understand will you, what gives you the right to keep me." I whimpered and she scoffed turning back the way we came and left.
"Stay here for all I care and rot!" She shouted over her shoulder as she ran, leaving me alone on the floor.
Only I was not alone as I soon found out by the set of footsteps that strolled up to me and stopped.
"Well, I'm surprised you lasted that long before you snapped." Garrus's voice said and I stood not bowing my head but I looked off after Solana.
"Damn you Turian's." I spat into the air drawing a laugh from Garrus.
"My father said Humans were temperamental, look I know you don't like the situation but face the facts you're here now and you may as well accept that. Humanity is a client race and your people are all servants to mine if it had been any other way things may have turned out better. But, if you behave and do as you're told like you would have once in the military you'll find things are better here than on the 'released' planets at least here you know you are owned there they believe they are free and pay the price for. Trust me you are treated no worse than a Turian Private would be for disobeying orders." I glared at him.
"That's it then, the great advice from the overlords, behave stay quiet and be a mindless slave the rest of your existence." He smiled sadly and nodded.
"Fucking brilliant!" I shouted picking up the back I had thrown and slung over my shoulder not caring about the pain, and walked off back to the keep and to my surprise Garrus walked with me.
"So, what rank were you in the Human Military?" He asked friendly enough, it was weird why he was trying to act casual and not superior.
"I was a Sergeant, joined when I was 16." He looked impressed nodding in appreciation.
"Any family?" I stiffened and he clocked on.
"Sorry, I should have thought before speaking." I sighed.
"No, I can't ignore that fact I have a family but I don't know if their safe or even on Earth. My parents were Captains for the Navy, retired before we met you, my sister is a Doctor she was getting ready to go to Eden Prime to help the civilians after the blackout, they were all in the North and I was in London when it was gassed." He nodded slowly.
"So a public service family I can respect that, giving your time and possibly your life for your species, my father controls the military and one day that will be my job, who knows maybe one-day Humans will be allowed to join, perhaps you could." I stopped and turned to look at him.
"I will never fight for Turians understand, never." He scowled slightly at my anger when speaking of his people but ignored it and carried on.
"Regardless you will be issued with armour to help defend the Keep and you are to be my aid, which will entail you accompanying me to military bases. By the way how old are you?" I chuckled slightly at his quick change of topic.
"I'm twenty-one, nearly twenty-two. Don't know how long until my birthday cause I don't know how many days have passed, especially with you planets daytime cycle, when does the sun set?"
He looked up at the sky and studied it.
"Why don't you use a watch or clock," I asked amused.
"I need to know how to read the environment, and it will be night in an hour, servant eating times starts shortly after, if I were you I'd eat a lot, you will be required to join me later on. And only twenty-one I would have thought you older, plus I think you have been off Earth for at least three days Earth time." I thought about that for a moment.
"Right well not that you care but I'm twenty-two tomorrow and if I have to accompany you so be it, just as long as I don't get anything stabbed into me." He laughed and brought out the knife that had stabbed my hand.
"Not to worry about that, the soldiers will ignore you, but you must not ignore them as you know. You will have my permission to look up so you don't lose sight of anything, I'm expecting you to help me account for all military assets, and whatever you think of Turians were aren't all malicious, but your birthday will be little significance I'm afraid." I nodded expecting as much and finally caught sight of the Keep.
"How old is the Keep?" He looked at his home.
"A thousand years old or something, it was originally a small town but after several wars including the Unification War. It was built up as a defensive structure until my family captured it along with the rest of the continent, before being named Karrimor by the Primarch and the Vakarian family became Lords and Ladies since that time about 3 centuries ago the Vakarian's have rule Karrimor from this Keep." He said with a hint of pride.
"So what is your full title, King, Emperor or Duke?" He smiled.
"Technically it is King in your language, but we refuse to be called as such, Lord is what we call ourselves." Nodding in understanding, I spoke.
"So I am the slave, servant, aid, worker, and Guard for one of the most important houses in the Turian Hierarchy." He nodded and slowed his pace.
"Right Solana may have spoken to father about your outburst but I will explain that it was due to pain and you have been ordered to wait for me in the servant mess, understood," He said as we walked on the bridge heading back into the Keep.
"Yes my Lord," I said bowing my head again as we approached the door guards.
"I will take the bag." He said pulling it off my back and clicked in surprise.
"You ran all that way carrying this while you bled!" He asked.
"Yes, my Lord." He sighed deeply.
"Right well your armour should be finished when you have eaten I will bring it to you, it is designed to keep the wearer healthy as it has Medi-gel injectors inside the suit, they will make sure the wounds heal, plus we won't keep having to buy new tunics, you've got through three since being here." I smiled my head still down so he could not see as he led me to a large door.
"Inside you won't have to bow your head, despite the fact they are paid they are no higher than you. Although I would say do not make eye contact with the Turian Servants they will still take offence and attack." I nodded and opened door lifting my head to see a large room full of tables and chairs with a long line down the far wall heading up to the serving counter, I walked up to the queue and waited as it slowly moved forward.
I was surprised that nobody paid me very much attention apart from the odd look here and there, possibly due to the blood stained tunic. When I reached the counter, the Asari looked up.
"Human right, right here's the levo foods, waters at the end. Foods are one turn only water is infinite." I smiled and thanked her when she handed me a tray of plain white noodles with a bowl of what looked like soup, it smelt good enough so I walked over to the water stand and filled up a large glass before turning to find a seat.
It was not difficult in the huge room and I soon sat at the far end of the room within a short walk of the water stand and started to eat slowly enjoying the taste and flavour it was the first proper meal I had had in three days so I wanted to savour this. I took out one of the antibiotics Mealon had given me and downed it with most of my water.
"Human do you mind if I sit?" I looked up and spotted Dr Mealon.
"Of course not, by all means." I sat sitting up straight.
"How's the back, I saw you in the queue it looks like the wounds have reopened do you want some more Medi-gel?" I smiled and shook my head.
"Their healing again slowly and the pain isn't as bad anymore, besides Lord Vakarian has told me my armour has Medi-gel injectors that will help the wounds." He nodded looking relieved.
"I hope you don't mind me asking but how are you doing?" I looked at him in surprise.
"I beginning to think no one was going to ask," I said smiling at him showing him I was joking somewhat.
"Well it can certainly be a lot better but it could be a lot worse so I'm sort of alright. Just wish we'd never opened that damned Relay in the first place." He nodded sympathetically.
"Yes it was quite shaken for the rest of the Galaxy when it was discovered the Turian's had invaded your space and slaughtered your people, I can assure you the Asari and Salarian Governments and the Councillors were totally against the attacks. They are trying to abolish the trading of Humans, but unfortunately, there are so many of you in the galaxy now it would be impossible to relocate you all back to Earth and your colonies, besides many people are intrigued by your species. Some think you are long lost Asari colony while others see you as a perfect tool, mainly due to your smarts strength and dexterity." I nodded knowingly.
"That's the reason I was bought I am to be a builder, aid and guard." He looked surprised.
"Really, that is quite an achievement, most news about Human slaves tells of how they are treated worse than animals." My face dropped and I looked down at my food.
"I'm sorry that was insensitive. Salarians have an awful habit of saying what is on our minds regardless of the feelings of others." I jumped when a tray slammed in front of me.
"Well if it isn't the Human slave, what's eating you up?" Said the Dinosaur chef. I looked at him a little confused.
"I'm sorry but who are you and if you hadn't realised, I'm a 'slave'," I said slowly making sure he understood that.
"The names Wrex, and you don't see me bitching about being a slave, buck up!" I stared at him in shock.
"You're a slave too?" He nodded.
"Have been since the Rebellions must be, hmm maybe two centuries." My jaw dropped and he laughed.
"Yeah millennia-long lifespans a bitch, but I've worked my way up somehow, proved I was useful and slowly I was rewarded." He smiled happily at my expression.
"I guess you won't make it as high as I have, you have what about fifty years of a decent rate of work in you before you age horribly and die." I laughed nodding.
"Yeah Humans have about a century if we're lucky, what about Salarians?" I asked slightly regretting it when Mealon looked a little down heartened.
"Roughly 40 years, I'm nearing the old age at 27." I gave him an apologetic stare and he waved it off.
"I don't mind we can get a lot done in that time." I was going to respond when I saw Garrus enter the room and everyone stood.
"Human come along." He shouted and I left the others walking around the tables and bowed my head when I approached Garrus.
"Come this way your armour is waiting and you may look at me." I rolled my eyes before raising my head to follow him out the door.
"I hope I'm not the only one getting bored by telling you to speak and look up," He said after the door shut.
"No, you're not the only one." He smiled but stopped when he rounded a corner leading to the main hall and bowed I guessed it was Tactus and bowed my head.
"Garrus are you and the Human ready to leave?" He asked rounding the corner.
"Nearly father the Human needs to put on his armour, I allowed him to eat with the servants to regain his strength." He nodded slightly.
"Human look at me and tell me how long you can go without food or drink before dying." My heart rate quickens by the question, why he would want to know that information.
"The average Human can last for two days without water depending on heat and exertion, and can last for a month give or take a few days." He nodded clicking his mandibles.
"Very well go and dress quickly." I followed Garrus's lead and bowed to Tactus then turned and followed Garrus to the main doors.
"Get dressed inside the shuttle," He said as we exited and saw a shuttle landing at the platform. The doors opened and a couple for soldiers jumped out and saluted Garrus as he walked through.
"Men you will ignore the Human, he has my permission to look up at you but not in the eyes understand."
They nodded a jumped in the shuttle behind Garrus leaving me to climb in after them, and then I had Garrus toss a set of red and black armour.
"Non-Turians are not allowed to wear house coloured armour, this colour symbolises a servant. Also, wear this it maintain your body temperature and helps the armour working smoothly." I caught a lightweight black suit and quickly put it on while the others gave me the courtesy to look away, after the suit was on, I started with the armour.
The thigh units slotted on first then the boots slide on before clipping under the leg units. At the knees were a set of metal plates slotted over the gap, once the legs were secure I pulled over the chest and back armour and slide my arms into the shoulder and bicep armour then slide the gauntlets on and connected the bicep armour to the forearm section and flexed my arms to adjust to the feeling.
"Not bad, it suits you," Garrus said holding on to a roof handle next to the open door.
"Just so you know were going to the largest military base on the planet, a million troops are stationed there. Father wants me to inspect the troops then oversee a military exercise of my father's choosing. As my aid you are to evaluate the exercise from within the ranks that will give me an accurate impression of how the troops perform, so you will be with the Commanders, I am not allowed to be on any form of a battlefield for fears of my safety." I stood to stay silent, wondering how my life had been turned upside down so fast.
"And what am I supposed to be evaluating, tactics, troop deployment, casualty rates and enemy kills?" He nodded.
"All of that will be needed your suit is equipped with an Omni-tool that you will use to record the Commander's actions and then download the exercise data." I brought my left arm up and the orange holographic display appeared.
"So how do I do that?" He let go of the railing to point at the icon on the screen.
"That will activate your helmet camera which will be given to you upon arrival and this will activate a link to the bases network allowing you to download the data," He said as he reached for the railing just as the shuttle lurched to the side with the open door.
Garrus stumbled and started to fall out of the door desperately trying to grab a hold of anything. Everything slowed down as Garrus began to fall and I saw the guards trying to reach out for him as they stood, but they were too far away and I was closest to him making me the best option to save his life, 'but why should I save his life, he's keeping here?'
I said to myself in my mind then thought he was the only one in a position of power to show me kindness. Just before Garrus's body was completely outside the shuttle his arms spread out in front of him a wild look in his eyes I grabbed his right arm and felt his momentum pull me as he slammed into the outside of the shuttle's hull.
Nevertheless, I did not let go although the drag Garrus created made it difficult to remain as he dragged me along with him until several sets of hands grabbed my arms and shoulders holding me in place.
"Pilot slow down!" One of the Turians roared being unable to pull me back as I refused to release Garrus's arm, the craft slowed and Garrus slide down slightly when the wind holding him in place dropped allowing the five of us the four guards and me to pull him inside.
"Shut the shuttle door now!" Another Turian shouted then the door slide out and alongside the shuttle before sealing tight.
"Get off me Human." A Turian growled as he pushed me aside reaching for Garrus.
"Lord Vakarian are you injured?" He asked to which Garrus stood massaging his right shoulder.
"I'm fine thanks to the Human." He snapped at the Turian glaring into his face as I stood and took my seat keeping out of the confrontation looking at the floor. Garrus did not speak just sat and looked at me; I guessed he saw I did not want to speak so he gazed off looking out the window.
"Thank you." He said drawing the attention of his guards; it must have been a rarity for a master to thank their slaves I thought. The rest of the journey was in silence, it had been an hour since Garrus's near death experience when the craft started to slow and drop.
"Were here," Garrus said standing and I did the same whilst having a helmet thrust at me by one of the guards.
"Put it on." He growled and I took it doing as he said following Garrus out on the ground where he received the salute from what I guessed was the base's Commanding Officer.
"Lord Vakarian I hear you had a bit of bother on your journey over here, we can postpone the exercise and presentation till later if you require rest." The CO said concerned.
"That won't be necessary General; I am fine to proceed as planned," Garrus said waving away the waiting medics.
"As you wish my Lord, thank the spirits for the speedy reaction of the guards." The General said ignoring me as I expected him to do.
"It wasn't the actions of the guards that saved my life it was that of the Human," Garrus said dismissively causing the General to blink in surprise.
"The Human my Lord, but why," He asked puzzled.
"Ask him, he can speak for himself." Garrus responded as he walked into a large tank-like vehicle, slightly shaking his head at me when he turned.
As the tank drove off, I followed behind it, as it was not a long drive. It drove at walking speed before a Turian guard pointed me to the podium I followed his instruction and stood to the side of the podium. As the Tank turned pointing its doors out the gathered Turians.
After a brief pause, the Turian Army bowed and Garrus stood still watching the crowd as the tank drove off. Garrus turned and walked up the frontal steps of the Podium to deliver his speech, which he started immediately, causing the senior officers to sit quickly and look forward hurriedly to not appear rude, I smiled inside my helmet glad no one could see me. Garrus' speech went on for a few minutes before he pointed straight at me causing me to freeze in fear.
"Human come here." He ordered and I walked around the podium in front of all of the Turian soldiers and up the steps to bow in front of Garrus before standing beside him where he pointed with a signal talon.
"This human is my aid and will be accompanying you on the exercise; although he is not to interfere with he is to report to me the status of this army and how well it performs. He was a soldier on Earth, let's show him how the Turians managed to defeat his race."
I stiffened at the insult as the Army cheered happily at my expense, but I did not flinch at the uproar and waited for orders.
"Human follow the General and stand clear of them until the end when you will retrieve the data, but remember what I showed you." I nodded and turned following the Turian as he walked off to board the tank, and turned looking at me with disgust and confusion.
"Is he supposed to ride with us, my Lord?" He asked Garrus as he led him to a large tower off to the side of the structure.
"He can run alongside, I'm sure he'll cope," He said with a small smile, before boarding his own tank.
"Try to keep up Human." The General spat as the tank moved and the door slammed shut, the tank gradually picked up its speed and soon I was sprinting to keep up but it wasn't so hard as the suit kept the wounds from hurting and the underlayer kept me cool.
The Generals tank was driving parallel with Garrus's and we were gaining on the army who were jogging and pretty soon the tank accelerated to leave me behind but I didn't let up and continued to sprint past the Turians who for the most part ignored me.
The tank turned left and I followed it to the far side of a huge walled area, then the tank stopped and I pushed to speed up and minutes later I arrived at where the tank had been and took several deep breaths before entering the control room. When I entered, I saw an array of screens showing the inside of the walled area, which was, in fact, reminiscent of a human city only lying in ruin.
I moved into the centre of the wall and turned on the camera like instructed and waited, shortly after the General left leaving the Colonels to order their troops into position, then it started with several flares fired and the sound of guns rattling began to play. For four hours, the simulated battle raged until the Colonels in the control booth I was in, cheered and clapped, I took that as my moment to approach as the results from both teams scrolled down the screen, I hovered my wrist over the screens and the data started to flow down my own display.
"The winners of this exercise are to be given a rare treat for their efforts." I heard the General's voice say and the Colonels walked out on the field and I followed assuming this was something that worthy of recording.
As we walked, we approached a large wall with square holes in the ground and the winning team lined up facing the wall. Nothing happened on for a few seconds until I could see shapes appearing out of the holes, they looked like oddly shaped pyramids then I realised they were moving and the white colour was, in fact, a sheet.
As the objects stopped, the sheets dropped and I was shocked backwards in horror. They were Humans ranging from all ages and ethnicities, bound and gagged, all of them filthy. Their hands pulled above their heads by chains before they were yanked into a standing position, which was when I spotted them.
My mother and father standing beside each other, looking at each other while glancing at the Turians. I took a determined step forwards driving my legs into the ground as continued to walk.
"MUM! DAD!" I shouted as I broke out into a run heading for them as they tried to shout through the gag.
"Stop the Human!" The General said as I made it halfway to my parents, I was going to free them and get them to safety I told myself as I broke out into tears charging straight at them before I was tackled and wrestled into a headlock while my arms and legs were restrained.
"Bring him!" Came the General's voice again as all the humans cried out for me to fight, I tried but my limbs could not break free despite my struggling. All I could do was move my eyes and the only thing I could see was the wall and the captive humans while being hurriedly dragged away from the captives.
"Firing squad load weapons and take aim." I managed a strangled cry through the headlock as saw my mother sobbing uncontrollably while my father tried to calm her before looking at me mouthing the word, 'Goodbye' before time slowed once more.
"Fire!" Shouted the General as I let out a primal scream of rage and pain, splitting the night with its sound, before being drowned by the sound of a hundred rifles firing and the captured Humans slumped, blood seeping from multiple wounds.
"Release the Human!" Said Garrus's voice, anger evident in his tone. I was dropped and I wasted no time standing and running back to the unmoving bodies of my parents, I skidded to a halt and picked my mother up gently to see her eyes were crossed and blood ran from a hole in her forehead.
"YOU FUCKING COWARDS!"
I screamed into the air holding my mother's body letting my sorrow overtake me. I threw my helmet aside and rested my head on her shoulder, slowly rocking backwards and forwards. I stood walking over to my father's body, kneeling before him and lifting his head, his eyes had closed and he had a slight smile on his face.
"I'll see you all soon, I promise to take a few of these bastards out for you. I love you." I said laying my father's body down before sitting back, no emotions showing nor a sounds coming from me.