It's a few days later, after the Alliance and remaining colonists figure out what is going to happen with Mindoir that Jane finds herself standing outside her home again. The pre-fabricated modules that make up the place where she grew up withstood the attack remarkably well. Only the front door and windows are blown out.
The farm itself is pretty torn up though, and Jane does her best not to look at it.
She leads the way inside, followed closely by the Commander and two of his crewmates. She stops inside the kitchen and looks around sadly. Bullet holes littler the walls and cabinets, no doubt having destroyed all their dishware. Running a hand through her loose hair, she lets the long blonde locks fall over one eye; a lame attempt at hiding from the truth.
"They didn't die here did they?" She asks, not really wanting to know all the details.
"No child, not here." Anderson's voice is a soothing balm. She doesn't know how he knows what to say to her, but she's incredibly grateful to him.
Taking a deep breath, she heads first to her parents room to collect the photos from their digital frames, grateful now that her parents had wanted to document so much of their lives together.
Ever practical, her mother ad gone over with Jane where all their important information was stored and what to do with it should anything happen to them. So she retrieves the OSD and places it on the bed, the start of her pile of things to take.
Jane had already been given their omnitools, but now she searches out their dogtags and medals, feeling like she should keep their contributions to the Alliance close to her. She finds her dad's old duffle bag and places her treasures inside. She finds her great-grandmother's leather jacket, lovingly cared for by her mother and puts it on. A relic from Earth and a piece of family she can take with her everywhere.
Moving to her own room, she grabs her data pads, her favorite clothes (quickly changing into a set); knowing full well she'll probably never be able to afford plant based material clothing again, and her stuffed wolf. Snuffles has been with her as long as she can remember. He holds a lot of her tears and memories safe, she can't imagine leaving him behind.
Anderson's team lets her go about her business, keeping watch for trouble just in case. When Jane emerges from the rooms, Anderson asks if she's ready. She shakes her head. "No. I need to go out to the barn. The rest of my parent's weapons are out there. I can't leave them here."
Anderson nods and the team moves out. As they draw closer to the barn, they hear movement inside. "Jane? Any animals we should know about?" The Commander asks quietly. The way she sets down her duffle bag and draws her pistol is confirmation enough, but as she shakes her head he tells her to watch their backs outside while they investigate.
Anderson and his squad move inside and Jane waits as patiently as she can. She wants to go inside with them, but she's not as good a shot with her left hand, what with her right arm strapped to her chest. And in the deepest part of her stomach, she's privately afraid. This isn't like before when there was no other choice. Here, now, she could run. Really run away.
She takes several deep steadying breaths, trying to remain calm and listen for gunfire.
After several agonizing minutes, Anderson and his team reemerge, leading an old man out of the barn. Jane recognizes him.
"Mr. Stevens!" She exclaims as she holsters her weapon and moves to hug him. "I can't believe you're alive." Relief washes over her as the older man hugs her in return.
"Jane. I can't believe it. Thank the Lord you're alright. I thought for sure you'd be taken. A pretty girl like you would have been a prize to those bastards." Mr. Stevens pulls back and holds her chin, examining the angry red line running across her face. "Looks like you've been through a lot."
Jane nods her head, pulling free of her neighbor. "It's a long story. But what about you? Why were you in the barn?" She knows there's quite a few weapons in there, but they're hard to find unless if you know where to look, and he looks unarmed.
His expression takes on a tone of shame and he averts his eyes from her. "I hid, when the attack started. I was out in the field when the batarians struck, and at the first sign of trouble I ran for the barn. Saw your parents headed that way. But after they armed themselves they left again. Put up such a fight the batarians sisn't bother looking in the barn. Too busy trying to stay alive themselves I think."
Jane places a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sure my parents are proud, knowing they died saving your life."
"I'm so sorry Jane. If you want, you can come live with me until you figure out what it is you want to do with your life now." The old man offers, and Jane is grateful for it.
"Thank you Mr. Stevens, but I already know what I'm going to do. I'm going to Arcturus, and from there the military."
Mr. Stevens nods. "Alright girl. Follow your heart and you'll never be let down." He says with a pat on her head.
They part ways soon after, Mr. Stevens finally returning to his home now that the slavers are well and rightly gone.
Jane picks up her duffle bag and gives Anderson a nod before heading into the barn. The Commander follows her in, not wanting to leave her alone; even though he's sure it's safe. The rest of his team waits outside while Jane leads Anderson to a wall.
Pressing her hand against a spot on the wall, two levels of panels open and slide out to shelves. One is a gun bench, the other a weapons rack filled with several pistols, a couple of assault rifles, and a shot gun. Pressing her hand against a different spot opens up a compartment filled with all their weapon mods.
Anderson whistles lowly, "Looks like your parents definitely knew the risks of living out here on the frontier and took it seriously." He notices the empty slots from where the Shepards had come and armed themselves. They'd been found on the road about a mile from the main colony. Trying to get to Jane no doubt.
"Yeah, they did. Didn't do them as much good as it should have though." Jane sighs as she tenderly adds the weapons to her duffle bag. "That's why I know my way around a gun. Always be prepared and all that Boy scout stuff. I realize it's technically illegal for me to own all these right now, but can you take care of them for me until I can?"
"Of course. They'll be waiting for you on your eighteenth birthday." Anderson assures her.
Nodding, Jane shoulders the duffle bag. "Alright then. I'm ready to go."
Sorry it's been so long since I updated. Been a little nuts on my end of the world. I'll try to move things along more. I'm super excited to get her out to Arcturus and then off to boot camp. Awesome things will happen! I promise. :) Just stick with me. And to all those who have reviewed my story, I love you guys! I can't tell you how excited I get whenever someone sends some feedback.