~~~ Planet Surface ~~~

As everyone pilled out of the shuttle and ahead count was done it was put down that there had been 3 casualties, the pilot got first impact and two others that were flying round the cabin had flown into the shuttle floor so hard that their neck broke killing them instantly.

"Who didn't make it?"

Shepard placed a hand on the medical officer's shoulder when she saw him lower his head.

"The pilot and two of our gunnery chiefs."

He lowered his head again and looked down at one of the bodies, tears threatening to over flow from his eyes.

"Who was he?"

"My brother."

Shepard's heart sunk. Her gaze returning to the body and a deep frown crossed her lips for a moment before she spoke again.

"We'll take some time, bury the bodies. Globin, Kurtis and I will search for a place to set up camp."

The men nodded as they watched the three walked off into the bush. Shepard being quiet most of the search, her mind trying to wrap itself around how people could sign up to be in the army and yet have family at home waiting for them to come home, the concept of it all eluding her with her past. Admits her thoughts she heard Globin and Kurtis start talking.

"So, how long have you known Shepard my bug-eyed friend?"

Globin looked away from his scanning process and looked at the human.

"Apparently not as long as you, my slow metabolism friend."

Kurtis looked at Globin and chuckled a bit.

"What? What's so funny?"

"You would think having a slow metabolism would be a good thing."

Globin moved his three-fingered hand up to his mouth and thought about it.

"You have a point, that way you can die closer to the ages of 100 and then regret half of your life on your death bed."

Kurtis stopped all movement when Globin said, "death bed", he hated to think about dying, it was the only thing that really scared him. Shepard turned around to see why Kurtis had gone silent and saw that all the color on his face had gone; Globin on the other hand was trying not to laugh.

"What was that for?"

"I'm sorry Shepard, it seemed like a good opportunity. Some humans mock how long we live, like Kurtis here, I thought it would be a good pay back."

Shepard looked from Globin and back to Kurtis, shaking her head and grinned broadly at him.

"Fair enough, but maybe try not to traumatize my dear Kurtis, will you?"

Globin laughed and nodded slightly.

"I am forever innocent."

She giggled again and motioned her head forwards to keep moving.

As they walked Kurtis was snapped out of his small coma from Globin's comment and they all held a conversation to keep their minds off things. When they reached a cave that Shepard had seen from afar, globin pulled out his Omni tool and stared a scan.

"Good oxygen flow from the mouth and end of the cave, dry enough to start a fire or two, big enough to fit the rest of the team… excellent eyes Shepard, this will do nicely."

"Good. Kurtis, I want you to go get the rest of the team, Globin and I will stay here and make this place a little homier."

Kurtis groaned before he started throwing out colorful curse words around in protest as he walked off and Shepard laughed at him.

*** 2 hours later ***

Shepard and Globin had finished the preparation for the team to arrive; they had made 7 moss beds and had two beautiful fires going.

"Where is he?"

Shepard had started pacing half an hour ago, worry on her face as well as irritation. Globin walked over to Shepard after putting more wood on the fire and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Don't worry so much Shepard, I'm sure he's fine."

Just as he said something, the bushes just outside the cave started to move. The two automatically went for their weapons, a reflex built into their bodies from months of training, as the two took aim at that movement they were both startled to see Kurtis and the men running toward them.

"What happened?"

Shepard grabbed hold of one of the solders arm.

"Something came up behind us!"

Her gaze turned out into the bush, drawing her pistol with one hand as the other began to glow a brilliant blue. A couple of the men stepped out to the mouth of the cave with her as she advanced forward, her step pausing as the bush in front of her stirred, a small crying whimper coming from just beyond. Her brow knit together as she holstered her pistol, ignoring the whispers of protest behind her, and pushed back the push. Her lips pressed together in a deep frown as the glow from her hand vanished and she dipped behind the bushes for a moment, the men at the cave exchanging worried looks to one another before she finally came back out, her arms full of something they couldn't make out.

"Get me a knife."

She rushed into the cave with her men following behind, one of them pulling out his pocket knife and handing it to her, only then did they see she had carried a baby varren, her eyes narrowing as she took note of what had the small varren in a state of near death. A thread from one of the solders supply pack had somehow fallen loose and was caught on the varrens leg, as the solders ran, the thread wrapped around the small body of the varren. Shepard sighed, a little dramatically, as she took the knife offered to her and quickly started to cut the thread away.

"You need to be more careful, people. Things like this can only lead to worsening the situation."

The men whispered their apologies as Shepard cut the last bit of thread and put the knife away, her hand gently petting the varrens side as it began to breath normally again. Her gaze shifted up to Globin as he knelt across from Shepard and brought up his Omni-tool.

"Breathing is normal, no broken bones or fractures, it should be running round soon."

Everyone smiled as the little varren opened its eyes, closely examining everyone around it. Soon though other sound started to come from the cave mouth.

"I think mom wants her baby back."

Everyone nodded at Shepard as they saw a group of varren appear from the bushes. Shepard picked up the baby as it tried to stand up when it saw its mother and took it closer to the mouth of the cave, the other varren growling and hissing at her when they saw the cub in her arms. As Shepard held out her hands with the child in them, the hissing stopped, and the mother took the cub all of them running away at once and as fast as they arrived.

"Well now… That was eventful." She turned around and walked back into the cave.

"Everyone get some rest. We have a big day tomorrow before we can report back in, make sure you're rested."

She moved further into the cave, stopping at one of the makeshift moss beds.

"2-hour interval watch duty, Kurtis, you're on first shift."

He saluted her with a grin and nod, running to the mouth of the cave and getting comfortable on a rock. Shepard watched him for a moment before laying down, falling asleep within moments of laying her head down.