Pierce was playing 'Chess Board Boogie' on the porch, or really just hitting the chords. Music had always been his way out when things got tough, when they got hard. Play a couple tunes and you couldn't help but feel somewhat better. But every song, every chord, and the silence in between reminded him of her. He looked towards the open door leading into the living room and he could see her standing there smiling. No matter where he looked, Hannah's ghost was present. He would try and pretend that she was off at church or helping somewhere and that she would be home later. But then later came and it wasn't Hannah preparing dinner, no prayer by her at mealtime, no chatter at the dinner table about everyone's day, no "preacher" lessons for Eli, no pulling down the bed covers as they tossed pillows to the side or at each other, no place to wrap his arms … no Hannah.
She had only been gone 4 days and he felt that he had been living in a fog since. He knew that he needed to pull himself together, be the father that Hannah's Elizabeth needed and as he sat looking at the empty spot on the porch swing, her spot, the spot that she had last been alive … Hannah, why can't you be here now? I know, I know … I have to get my act together, I know how upset you would be if you saw how Eli is carrying the weight. Pierce closed his eyes just to try and see her more clearly sitting next to him, patting his leg and smiling as he continued to haphazardly pluck the strings. Just as soon as I can breathe again. I promise, Hannah, I'll take the load. I just … can't … can't … breathe without … you. He could hear their daughter in the kitchen, hear her cleaning up.
For the past few days she had made sure that he got up, showered, dressed, ate, slept. Hell, the kid had even shaved him once, just for the memorial service. One more fuckin' funeral in Georgia and then they'll put you in the … the vision of dirt being thrown on her, a woman so strong and caring, caused him to choke … god, no. The tears fought to be released but Pierce had cried too much, hell he was keeping a headache from all the crying, so he tilted his head back and took a deep breath. Not today. I will not cry today, dammit!
Shepard was in the kitchen cleaning the counters now that all the food had been taken by the church ladies and Stu had picked up Moonie and her fish. Pierce and Shepard, along with the body of Hannah, were set to fly out for Earth in the early AM. Hannah had always said that if something should ever happen she wanted to be buried in Pierce's family cemetery in Georgia. She wanted to know that she would be next to Pierce and one day their daughter. Plots were already set for them with Pierce and Hannah side by side … and her Whisper to her left. Not that Hannah spoke of her death often, but she had always thought that it was important that the responsibilities of the burying made as easy on their daughter as possible. So she had made all the future arrangements on their last visit. "Preacher, are you planning on us dying soon?" Pierce had joked as they sat with his parents at the Crowley's Funeral Home. Hannah had patted her husband on the arm and joked that with them increasing their joint life insurance that she was planning on his slipping in the shower. And with her and their daughter taking that money and buying a home in the south of France, wouldn't have time to bury him. Hannah always could throw him with her rare display of humor.
Shepard could hear her dad just plucking the chords of his guitar and looked over at her mother's Bible sitting on the kitchen table. Pierce had been pretty much a zombie after his rant at the night sky and Shepard was worried about him. She had always known that her father's world had revolved around her mother … now his world was gone. Aunt Birgit and Stu were constantly hanging out at the house, helping her with him as well as getting the house closed up for the trip. The two helpers had went to work that morning so Shepard had gotten up early, slipped on the yellow summer dress that her mother had just recently made for her and as an afterthought had even pinned the prothean jewelry over her heart, just like her mother had done just a week past. "Here Elizabeth, it should complement the yellow." She looked in the mirror at her reflection and could see her mother's eyes looking back. I hurt momma. But I'll be strong, I promise.
Now mid-day, Shepard peeked out at her dad, saw him with his head laid back and wished that her mother was there, wished that she could be with him on that porch. Elizabeth, I need you to be strong for him. He isn't strong like us. She could hear her mother say. She picked up the Bible and took it out with her on the front porch, "Dad?"
Pierce brought his head down and looked at his daughter, eyes swollen and red ... his face unshaven, hair unbrushed. Get your act together, fuckwit! He growled internally at himself. "Yes, Eli?"
"Momma never flew without her Bible," Shepard said holding it up. "Can you take it to her? They can put it in her coffin so on the flight …" Shepard could see her mom sitting and reading it mid-flight and she couldn't get the rest of the words out. It's okay … you can't let him see you cry. Keep it together; you have to be the strong one.
"No, Eli." Pierce said putting his guitar down and standing up. "Preacher woman would want you to have it … to read it."
Shepard walked over to him and tucked his shirt into his jeans and then handed him the Bible, "I'll get it back in Georgia. But it wouldn't be right for her last flight … that she doesn't have it. Please."
Pierce looked at his daughter, "You look like her. Her eyes, nose, shape of her face and her spirit. You and her are the most beautiful things I have ever seen … so beautiful."
Shepard reached up and kissed her father's chin, "I know pop! But I have your plush lips!"
Pierce half-smiled, put the Bible on the porch swing where his wife always sat, took his daughter's face in his hands, pressed his forehead against hers, "I love you, Eli. I'm gonna be back on my feet soon … okay? I promise I'll shape up." He then kissed her on the lips, smiled and grabbed the Bible. "I'll see that she gets this. And I'll tell her that you love her."
As Shepard watched her father jump into his jeep, she smiled. "Don't drink too much at the pub!" Pierce nodded back at her; smart like her mother too! … He winked at his daughter, forcing a grin and for the last time he saw his kid, his Eli.
Fire, flashbangs, screams, smoke, flame throwers, pushing, blood, artillery, crying, prayers … everything was smashed together in Shepard's mind. There was so much going on around her that she had a sensory overload; all she wanted was to curl up in a ball. At some point she found herself being pulled by her hair and surrounded by batarians. She could hear Tait screaming "No! Elizabeth!" as one of the batarians pushed her, but nothing was registering. Where was her father? Where was Aunt B? What was happening?
Just hours before she had been at her home packing her father's suitcase … Ricky and Tyler had dropped by to see if she would like to go cliff diving with them, but she still hadn't packed herself so she had declined. They had offered to stay and help but Shepard had told them to go and jump for her. Just as they were leaving, Tait had arrived and asked if she would go have lunch with him at the Comet Café. She had at first said no, but he gave one of his smiles and so they had walked the 5 miles, Tait telling her that she needed the exercise to help clear her head. He was right ... the walk had felt good with the cool breeze and Shepard began to pretend that everything was normal. She had even stopped and kissed Tait as if she didn't have a care in the world. If only for a minute she had felt normal … but that minute ended when the batarian strike hit. There was absolute confusion, panic and blood. There was so much blood in the first wave and Shepard was lost as her and Tait were herded through the streets. A portion of the batarians had dropped down on Main Street pulling people from the businesses, residences, anywhere and pushing them to the town's main park. The local police force was completely caught off guard and was quickly put down. Shepard tried to see if Aunt B was among the dead as she was pushed down the street.
The females were being quickly segregated from the males, while the children were screaming as the batarians implanted something in their heads and then placed them into cages. Parents fought to save their children and were either set on fire, shot or beaten to death. Shepard saw two of her school friends and as they huddled together a batarian named Manok looked at her. Shepard was trying to stay strong as her mother had been; trying to calm her friends and that strength … posture caught his attention. He liked how humans were easily subdued, made to fear, cry, but this human. What was simply her trying to help was taken as arrogance by Manok. Defiant human. We will see how long you keep that arrogance. He thought to himself as he called two of his comrades and pointed at her. She saw him at the last moment as he motioned towards her and knew that this was not going to end well, so she tried to blend into the crowd but he moved quick and caught her by the arm, pulling her towards Rurik's Grocers. She struggled against him as they continued on and she wished that she hadn't worn the sun dress and sandals … That she had been in running shoes, cargo pants and t-shirt. Please God, help me. Please.
Tait saw her being led away and called out her name … Behind her he began fighting his way to try and save her. Shouts were heard and Manok turned around to see the human running towards them. He laughed, looked at Shepard and began walking towards the running male. As he got a little closer he pulled out his pistol and without missing a step shot Tait in the head. The young boy ran a few steps more, dropped to his knees and then fell face first in the ground. Shepard screamed for Tait as Manok stood over him, unzipped and while looking at Shepard pissed on the body. Shepard felt the rage kick in and would have attacked the batarian if his two friends had not held her back as they all laughed. Manok could see the fire in the human and thought how wonderful it was going to be to break this one, you will beg before I am through. He picked her up as she swung at him and threw her over his shoulder, laughing.
Once inside the Grocers, the three batarians were saying things to each other, making noises that she didn't understand. Mindoir didn't see many aliens and only then in the port passing through, so most colonists didn't have translators, Shepard being one and if they did they only uploaded the various human languages, and nothing more … All of the communication among the trio was a mystery to her. Had she understood she would have heard Manok tell his comrades that she was his but once he was done they could take a turn. Shepard began to understand her fate when Manok pushed her to the floor, got on his knees, ripped her sundress as he pulled off her underwear and began unzipping. As he pulled her by the legs to him, there was a loud crash and gunfire that stopped Manok in his tracks. The batarian to the left had half his head blown off and the batarian on the right was now crouched low looking for the intruder. Manok was lying on top of Shepard, looking in the direction of the gunfire as well. Shepard could smell his breath and wanted to gag; she could also feel a part of him against her bare leg and began to struggle to get away from it. He muttered something and punched her in the ribs, knocking the air out of her. As she struggled to breathe, Manok motioned to his partner who then crawled away from them.
Shepard tried to cry out, to warn whoever was there but she couldn't catch her breath. Manok had pressed harder against her as he continued to look around, and along with his breathing, Shepard heard shuffling, footsteps, creaks and then a loud crash, a struggle, then gunfire. Heavy footsteps were heard and then Mr. Rurik's body was thrown next to her by the batarian and she heard the two laughing. Mr. Rurik was a man in his 80's, kind and friendly to everyone. Because of her, he had risked his life and lost … just like Tait. God, please just let me die. Don't let anyone else die because of me.
As she lay looking into his vacant eyes, Manok began to re-position her, spreading her legs farther apart, his hips moving about as he prepared to enter her. Shepard remembered Tait saying, "I want to be your only" and now this animal who had killed him … pissed on him … was trying to take what should have just been his. As he entered her and began to move about, she turned away from him, tears streaming down her face as he began to grunt. She tried to float away but her rage wouldn't let her … wouldn't let her leave or deny what was happening to her. He had held her wrists as he tried to drive her into complete submission, as he tried to make her cry out, beg … but he saw anger and not fear and it made him drive harder. Had he really known her he would have seen that he was too close and that she was no longer able to think much less fear. As he pushed in once again she reached up and with her teeth dug in to the right side of his face. He roared out in pain as she continued to bite and twist, taking a chunk out of his face. Without hesitation, she spit out his flesh and bit down again. His comrade began to yell as Manok struggled to get free, choking her. She temporarily lost consciousness and in that brief moment, he was freed. He rolled off of her, trying to stop the bleeding as his comrade began punching her in the face. She could taste blood, both Manok's and hers and her breathing became harder as Manok stood and kicked her in the side. He kicked her a few more times as his partner looked for something to stop his bleeding. As he kicked at her in a rage, she curled up on her left side facing an endcap of merchandise. The pain was extreme and in trying to get as far away from the pain she focused on the endcap. How long the beaten went on she never knew, but what she did know was that the pickaxe was on sale for 80 credits, that was the last thing that she remembered before she blacked out.
The Sheriff had been hiding on the roof opposite the grocers with two of her deputies and 33 of the town folk, 18 adults and the remainder children. She had watched when Shepard arrived and had kept her Helix close by biding her time until she saw Shepard being taken into the grocery store. Hold on Eli. She had thought as she turned to instruct her deputies on what to do if she didn't return. They had begged her not to go but this was her Eli. Hannah's daughter. Pierce's daughter. Shit, her daughter. No, B was not about to let something bad happen to her butterfly as long as she had breath left in her body. "Listen, once it is dark get them out of town and up into the hills, okay?" She then quickly began moving about the rooftops, making her way towards Shepard. Don't fuck this up, B. You gotta get the kid to safety. It had taken her longer than she had expected to get across the street and back up on the roofs … But she finally had made it to the store and carefully dropped down in the alley. The kid's alright ... please be alright, she said to herself as she pulled the back door open and quietly entered the store moving cautiously through the aisles looking for the batarians and Eli.
By the time she arrived Shepard was out as Manok was pulling his pistol and aiming it at her. Before he could pull the trigger, B aimed her Eastwood Special, as she like to call her antique Smith & Wesson .44 Magnum and dropped him. His comrade jumped and looked towards her just as she introduced him to Clint as well. Then she looked at Eli, the torn underwear across the floor and the batarian with a part of his face torn, pants open and knew partly what had happened. She checked her kid's vitals, took a deep breath when she caught a pulse, then stood and kicked the batarian with the damaged face. "Get too close to my tough kid?" B almost spit at him as she turned him over with her boot, then spread his legs, aimed and fired. She knew that she might need that bullet later, but … she put it down to being an Aunt … and being Swedish.
B looked at Mr. Rurik and shook her head ... he had been a good man. He didn't deserve this ... hell, none of them did. She then heard a noise to her left and as she swung around Ricky put up both his hands, "It's me Sheriff! Ricky Parks!"
B stepped between Ricky and Shepard, "Whatever you see here, you must never breathe a word. Understand?" Ricky nodded as B turned towards Shepard. Ricky saw that Shepard had been abused ... raped ... and hot tears came into his eyes. He looked over at the mutilated, in more ways than one, batarian ... He wanted to kick him where the Sheriff had left her mark, but B was telling him to get some clothes for Shepard. He looked at the Souvenir rack that Mr. Rurik had just put up not a month ago and pulled down a black 'Mindoir! Dig It!' t-shirt that he and Shepard had died laughing at when they first saw it, along with a pair of black swim trunks. B took the clothes from Ricky and replaced the torn sundress with them.
As B tossed the sundress to the side, Ricky saw the jewelry and stopped B, "Shepard will want that. It was the pastor's." He removed it from the dress and he pinned it on her shirt. He saw how beaten she was and he fought back crying, "Tyler's waiting just inside the backdoor."
"How did you know I was here?" She asked.
"We were hiding behind the trash bin and saw you come off the roof." Ricky answered as he grabbed some Snickers. B looked at him putting the Snickers in his pockets, "What?" He asked, "They're Shepard's favorite … she'll need to eat."
The kid's smarter than he looks, she thought. Or all those years hanging out at the Shepard home has taught him some things. Everyone would need to eat so she had him get a couple shopping bags and fill them with quick and easy food and water. Tyler could carry the load as her and Ricky carried Shepard back. Getting her up onto the roof would be a struggle, but we'll get you there butterfly.