Night Owl
She blinked owlishly at her omni-tool while wiping the drool off her chin.
'Crud, need to stop falling asleep in the middle of my work.' She mumbled to herself as she brushed long strands of dark brown hair off her face.
Her Omni-tool blinked again and again.
Pushing a button a small vid screen flashed up in front of her. Revealing a teenager with red hair and bright green eyes.
"About time you picked up sleepy head!" Clara said with a quick smile.
"Yeah, yeah sorry Clara just got caught up in work and next thing you know I'm out like a light." Emily groused out as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes.
"So I heard you got assigned to the SSV Normandy! Aren't you excited? I heard it is the first ship designed with both humans and turian engineers combined! Make sure you send me some pictures!" Clara gushed on.
Emily smiled and shook her head at the thirteen year old girl on her vid screen.
"Of course I will, we've kept in touch for this long it's not like I'm going to stop anytime soon." Emily bit back a grin as Clara began to play with her hair.
This time you'll be traveling. Who knows when you'll be planetside again. There is even a chance you'll be out of range...You're going to see The Citadel aren't you? I've heard that its one of the biggest spaceports in the galaxy! You promise me you'll send me lots of pictures and videos?!"
Emily held up both her hands in a placating manner as Clara seemed to hyperventilate in her excitement. Her full bottom lip caught between her teeth as she struggled not to laugh.
"Calm down, calm down! Clara. And I'll be docking at the Citadel in 0800 hours tomorrow. Actually, in a few hours. Tell you what, I'll try my hardest to send you pictures while we're pulling in. IF you promise me that you'll get your grades up in your Turian History classes." She responded while trying to maintain a straight face.
Clara let out a shriek and covered her face. "Wait, how did you get my grades for my classes? Wait never mind, you probably convinced the teacher to send them to you too huh?" Clara grinned out behind her hands.
Emily's hand went towards the silver chain around her neck and smiled at Clara.
"Hey kiddo...promise me you'll work on it harder. With humans now working with the turians especially after they built the SSV Normandy together and a possible shot in the Citadel, learning about them would make things easier. Plus if you want to qualify for the special forces you'll need to try harder."
Clara nodded and and tucked her fist under her chin.
"I know, I'll try harder, only five more years before I can enlist." Clara said softly. Her bright green eyes dimmed slightly.
"I...I still remember it sometimes. The smoke, the blood, the screaming. I sometimes still wake up in the middle of the night. Hell I still have that gun you gave me all those years ago tucked under my pillow." Clara continued on quietly.
Emily bit her lip and nodded sadly her dark brown hair falling into her face again.
She tilted her head back and looked at the ceiling her voice soft and barely audible.
"I remember it too." They both shared a sad smile as they both got lost in their memories.
"Hey Shepard? I was wondering if you...Oh sorry I didn't see you were busy." A man said quickly while a blush stained his cheeks. I'll come back later."
"Oh Michaels didn't hear you behind me. It's alright I'm just talking to my friend Clara."
The man nodded at the girl on the vid screen and slowly backed out of the room.
"Ah I'll just come back later." The man quickly retreated and closed her door.
Clara covered her mouth to smother a laugh. While tears of mirth streaked down her cheeks.
"Wow, was he trying to ask you on a date or something?" She put her hands down and smiled hugely at Emily.
Emily shook her head and shrugged. "Who knows now." She bit her lip and smirked.
"It's against regs anyway plus I'm way too busy for a relationship." She continued.
"If you say so, from what I saw he looked kinda cute in that bumbling cutie sort of way." Clara smirked out as well.
"I am not having this conversation with you, my dating life is classified information, Off limits. Besides, you're too young to worry about dating."
"Yeah, yeah I hear you mom." Clara said with a roll of her eyes. "And with that said mother, I'll be heading out now. I have classes in a few hours!" Clara said while covering her mouth again to stifle a laugh.
Ending the vid call, Emily looked down at her hands and shook her head. She took a look at the time on her Omni-tool and debating on either trying to get some sleep or hit the gym for a run on one of the numerous treadmills. Debating against it, she stood up and stretched her body, rolling her shoulders and head from side to side.
She looked around her small room, already noting that her meager belongings were already packed.
Her Omni-tool beeped again, alerting her that she had received a message. Running her free hand through her shoulder length hair she quickly scanned the letter.
"Emily, We heard that you got promoted to the SSV Normandy. We just want you to know we're proud of you and hope you'll be able to visit us now that you'll be flying around in that fancy ship of yours.
Regards, Doctor John Malis and Doctor Lisa (Shepard) Malis.
P.S. We finally got married. Wished you could have came to the wedding."
She smiled and typed a quick response and closed her omni tool, before laying down in her bunk and staring at the ceiling. Her mind drifting blankly before she slowly sank into sleep.
The sky was blue, a few clouds drifted past as Emily, Thompson, and Mack checked out the eastern slope of the colony.
"I hear something. Or someone following us." Thompson said while quickly turning around to look behind them.
The sound of a child giggling drifted past them as a shadow dashed into the tall grass to their right.
"What was that? Who's there?!" Mack called out while unslinging his assault rifle off his shoulder.
Emily quickly smacked his hand. "Calm down, its just a kid."
"Hey kid come out of there, there might be a snake or something!" Emily called out.
Bright red hair and large green eyes stared at her from the tall grass as the giggling continued.
"See Mack, just a kid. And you're not suppose to be pulling your weapon out on civilians." Emily admonished.
"Sorry Sir. It won't happen again!" Mack paled quickly.
The girl inched closer, her eyes wide in curiousity.
"Hi there kiddo. Whatcha doin out here?" Emily asked the girl quietly.
"Exploring!" The girl replied brightly.
"I see that, but you shouldn't be out here it might be dangerous." Emily continued as a smile spread across her face.
"Nuh-uh! You guys are here so its safe!" The child quipped with a mischievous grin on her face.
"Shepard, we gotta finish our patrol. Or we'll get in trouble. Again." Thompson interrupted sheepishly.
"Yeah you're right. Sorry kiddo we have to go. Why don't you head back to the colony?" Emily asked.
"Well...okay if you want..." The girl looked down at her feet sadly.
Emily walked over to the girl and bent down to look at the girl in the face.
"Hey, its alright kiddo. You won't get us in that much trouble but we should really get you back just in case okay?"
The girl nodded and reached for Emily's hand.
"My name's Clara! Nice to meet you.!"
Note: I'll update as frequently as I can. There are some nights where I get the urge to write.