Ganis couldn't believe what he had just read. According to what General Victus had sent him it was found that the installation where they found Jane had been a lab for Human Biotic testing.

Ganis watched his little girl sleeping on the couch her arm dangled over the side. She had never shown any signs of being a Biotic. Though as the General had stated in his message it didn't matter, she could not show any signs until the human coming of age or never depending on how much Eezo exposure Jane had.

Ganis picked up Jane and carried her to her room. Laying her down, before he could stand up she wrapped her little arms as best she could around his neck and wouldn't let him move.

"Daddy." Her eyes were droopy in her sleepy state and his heart melted at the word.

"Can I go play with Nihlus tomorrow?"
"We'll see Red okay? You're behind on your math and I want to see how your report on Turian military protocol is coming. But maybe after that."

She mumbled something and was quickly asleep again, as he tucked her in he stood watching her sleep she had called him daddy for a while now but it never got old, he had never considered being a father and now he couldn't imagine his life without her. He turned knowing she wouldn't stay in her room long and he needed to answer the General.

As he formed his reply to the General he didn't know what to say besides the fact that he had not seen any such manifestation of biotics in Jane.

His reports to General Victus were official and did not include any of the training that he had given her in the past two years. She was almost eight now and his biggest fear was losing her, the reports were that peace talks between the Human Alliance and Turians were going well. Every day he expected a report telling him he was to give the child back to the humans.

He knew he couldn't let that happen and had tried to think of anything he could say to General Victus to keep her with him. Perhaps if the Humans and Turians could work things out she could stay, seeing as she had no other parents besides him now.

Dragging a hand down his face he groaned deep in his throat. Great how would that look, telling the General she couldn't leave because she was his daughter and she considered him her father.

Leaving the last bit out he finished the report and rolled into bed. He waited until the familiar weight of Jane crawling into bed set him at ease. She was larger now and had taken to curling up next to him. He smiled to himself waiting for her breathing to even out into sleep before he could sleep himself.

She had damn near pushed him out of bed overnight and when he awoke she was almost sideways with her feet in his side.

"Red, Red." He poked her and she scooted over and opened a sleepy eye at him.

"mmph, yeah daddy?"

"You have to start sleeping in your own room. You're starting to kick me out of bed."

She sat up and stuck her lower lip out in what he knew was a pout.

"I don't like sleeping alone."

Ganis sighed and tapped her nose.

"I know, but if you get much bigger we're not going to fit."

She laughed

"I'm not that big. You're the big one."

He chuckled and knew that he couldn't argue with her. Not that he wanted to really, he knew she would sleep on her own soon or she would be gone, no he wouldn't think of that; so he just shrugged.

"You calling me fat?"

Jumping on him she kissed his mandible before jumping off the bed.

"Daaad you're not fat. Just big it's not your fault."

He laughed and stood up pointing to her room.

"Okay young woman I want your room tidy and that bed made. We have to have breakfast done and be out in the field for exercises and we're headed to the range today."

She stared at him her eyes wide.

"I want to see that room clean and your report on the table by 0800, and translator out, I want to hear your own translation at breakfast."

Her face went completely calm.

"Yes Sir."

With this she stood at attention saluted and did a perfect about-face.

Jane was a quick study even when it came to the Turian language. She couldn't pronounce most of it herself as she lacked the vocal range to do so, but her translation was excellent, he was as proud as any parent could be.

Smiling at her as she marched to her room he went to make breakfast.

~~00O00~~

It was almost another two years before he got the message he had dreaded.

The peace treaty with the Alliance had finally been completed and with it the release of any and all prisoners of war.

Ganis cussed under his breath. She was not a prisoner, how would he convince the General otherwise.

~~00o00~~

"Do you think they'll let you join the Military when I do?"

Nihlus made a grab for Jane and she sidestepped him and countered with a sweep towards his legs.

They practised their hand to hand and marksmanship daily and almost always together.

"I don't know, my dad says he's not sure they will let a human join. So I have to practice and make sure I'm good enough in every way. We have time, five years at least."

Nihlus jumped her sweep and caught her arm spinning her and pinning the arm and her against his chest.

"We'll you're more Turian than human, and you're one of the best shots with your dads sniper rifle and I mean not just for a ten-year old, you're good Jane. They would be crazy to not let you join."

She spun herself under her own arm and landed a blow to his chest and as he stumbled back she chuckled.

"Yeah, well there's something dad's worried about and he's not telling me."

"Does the Alliance want you back? My mom says now that the war is over you should go back." Nihlus's question caught Jane off guard she hated that people talked about her. She sighed, she didn't even remember anyone from the Alliance, or any other humans for that matter.

She stood up straight her eyes narrowed.

"I don't care if they do, I'm not going."

"What if you don't have a choice Jane?"

Nihlus stared at her hard.

"This is my home, I'm not leaving."

"Yeah well you know the Military. They don't really take no for an answer."

She shrugged and held up her hands to him.

"I don't care, I'm not leaving my dad."

Nihlus smiled.

"Not unless it's for the Turian Military am I right?"

She shoved him gently.

"That's different. Thanks for the workout Nihlus I gotta run."

He waved and she sprinted back to the house.

"Dad, dad where are you?" Jane was in the hallway shouting for Ganis and by the time she was in the sitting room she saw him and he wasn't alone.

"Jane, I'm not sure you remember General Victus."

The older Turian stood and she felt her body go stiff. She fell almost instantly to attention out of training from Ganis.

"No Sir I don't remember him, I'm sorry."

The General approached her and circled her once before returning to standing in front of them both; his talons clicked behind his back as he considered them.

"Lieutenant, join me outside would you."

Jane made to interject but Ganis silenced her with a raised finger and stern look as he followed the General outside.

"Thank you for your hospitality Lieutenant I should get back to the fleet."

"Sir? I thought."

"You thought wrong Lieutenant I came for prisoners of war I see none here, carry on. I still expect my reports. Oh and Lieutenant, include everything this time. Including the training she's been given and will continue to get."

"But, Sir what about the Alliance?"

Victus lifted a brow plate and almost smiled.

"Leave the Alliance to me, besides they don't know she exists and I have other plans for her once I've read your complete reports."

Plans for her, a chill ran up his back and tingled the base of his fringe. He didn't like the sound of whatever that was.

As Ganis entered the house he found Jane perched on the counter kicking her feet, he paused watching her. Her red hair was down to the middle of her back now and her little freckles had become more prominent, her eyes were a deep green and he always wondered if she would be attractive for a human as she got older. Just the thought of someone wanting to date his daughter was enough to set his blood to boil. He had waited for the neighbour boy Nihlus to ask her out; waited? No more worried he didn't think his mother would like him showing interest in a human.

Catching sight of him she jumped off the counter.

"Dad? I won't go you can tell them I won't." She looked like she was about to stomp her foot and he hugged her close.

"You're not going anywhere sweetheart, he said you're allowed to stay."

She hugged him tighter. "Yes! I told Nihlus they wouldn't make me go. I love you Dad, they couldn't have taken me even if they wanted to."

He nodded.

"Hey Red go grab the rifles I think we need some target practice."

She nodded and dashed back to his room to collect them. Grabbing his hand by the talon as always, Jane led him out the door and towards the range.

~~00o00~~

Jane was fourteen when it happened.

Nihlus was waiting for her outside the door and she ran past Ganis on her way out. "Gotta go Dad, I'll be back later." He lifted his eyes to her from where he sat at the counter reading.

"Where you going Red?"

Jane spun around, her red hair flipping over her shoulder.

"Dad, I told you we're going out to get something to eat and then to the shooting range. I have to prove to Nihlus my shot is still better. He got a new rifle and thinks he's on top now. I plan to prove him wrong."

Ganis smiled, his little girl was growing up a fine marksman not to mention soldier, he knew if she was Turian, she would be well on her way towards a long and promising career in the military.

"I want you home by 1900, we've got plans don't forget."

She rolled her eyes at him but smiled and walked back to where he was sitting, she kissed and hugged him.

"Alright dad, love you."

"Love you sweetheart, have fun and show Nihlus the Vandrel's are the best shot on this planet."

Jane saluted her father and ran out the door.

"There is no way Jane, you can't make that shot.

First of all the wind, second it's tied to that tree over there so with that wind it's moving, no fucking way."

Jane adjusted her scope and accounted for the angle, trajectory and wind just as her dad had always shown her.

"Watch your mouth Nihlus."

Jane exhaled and pulled the trigger. Nihlus squinted towards the target and watched as it exploded.

"Are you shitting me?"

"Hah! I told you; I'm the best damn shot on this planet."

He pulled her up leaving the sniper rifle on the ground, he leaned down placing his forehead against hers.

"You're a lot of things Jane Vandrel, a good shot is just one of them." Nihlus nuzzled down her neck and she squirmed.

"Stop Nihlus, I gotta get home."

He nodded. "I know Jane your dad would kill me if he knew I'd had you in my arms." His forehead rubbed against hers again."

That's when they heard the voices. Not Turian voices though.

"Fuck you Garret, did you see the legs on that Asari down in the colony? Shit, this resupply isn't so bad if you don't count all the goddamn dinosaurs running around."

Jane turned in Nihlus's arms the men hadn't seen them yet.

"Come on Nihlus let's go."

Nihlus didn't move though.

"Jane, look at their uniforms, that's Alliance military."

"Yeah I got that, can we go before they."

But it was too late.

"What the hell is this? Garret you see this shit?"

They stepped up close to Jane and Nihlus she could smell the alcohol on their clothes and breath.

"Where you come from girl? And what in the bloody blue fuck are you doing with this dinosaur."

"Nothing sorry Sir, you'll excuse us we should go home, the shooting range is yours."

She was turning to leave when one of the men grabbed her.

"Oh no girly you're not going anywhere. We're going to figure out what a cute little girl like you is doing with a Turian on a backwater planet like this."

The other two men went to grab Nihlus and he dropped the first before the other grabbed his arms and the two pinned him to the ground.

"Nihlus! Stop it don't hurt him, he wasn't doing anything. I live here. My dad is expecting me home."

"Your dad huh? You a mercs kid and your daddy is hiding here from the authority? He should know better than to let a cute little thing like you out with a Turian." His mouth was on hers and she recoiled back. "Gross, stop it." He slapped her.

"So the Turian can cuddle you? You bitch."

Her head snapped to the side and that's when it happened. Her body glowed blue, and a pure burst of energy radiated out of her throwing the three men and Nihlus back.

Jane stood stunned into stillness for only a moment before she grabbed Nihlus and the two sprinted home.

They stopped just outside their houses. "Spirit's Jane what was that?"

"I don't know, but I've got this awful feeling that it's not over."

His eyes were on hers they weren't afraid just concerned.

"I think you need to tell your dad what just happened."

She nodded.

"I know, he's going to freak out, but he'll know what to do."

"I'll see you soon Jane. Go."

Jane ran into the house as Ganis was coming out of the back room.

"Red, you're late it's."

He stopped staring at her face he knew something was wrong.

"What's wrong sweetheart? What did Nihlus do?"

She shook her head violently and ran to him throwing her arms around him.

"No daddy, it's way worse."

"What is it? Tell me what happened."

He ran his talons over her hair as she explained what had happened out at the shooting range.

"You've never had any of this before right?"

"No I don't know what it was, I didn't mean to it just happened."

Ganis nodded. "I've got to message the General, it won't take those soldiers long to tell their officers and for them to find out where the human girl lives in the colony."

"But why would they want to dad? They think I'm a mercs kid. They don't know that."

Ganis held up a finger.

"Sweetheart they know you're a Biotic and you're human, that's a concern for the Alliance."

"I'm a what? No I'm not."

Ganis was already moving putting through an emergence message to General Victus.

Jane heard the Generals voice and she ducked out-of-the-way.

"Are you saying she used it against Alliance Military people? And she has never shown signs before now?"

"No Sir, never, this was very unexpected."

General Victus nodded.

"Yes it was frustrating to hear that she had not developed any biotics. But now we're in a bind. I'm going to have to message the Alliance before this gets any more out of hand."

"How should I go ahead Sir?"

"You wait for my word Lieutenant."

"Sir, yes Sir."

The comm clicked off and Jane stepped back into his room.

"I'm sorry dad."

She was back in his arms and he held her close to him.

"It's not your fault Red."

"I completely screwed things up I shouldn't have gone."

"Shh, shh sweetheart. No matter what happens you're my little girl and I love you and I'll never blame you for anything. It will all be fine."

Even as he said the words to comfort her, his heart was aching.

Everything he had always feared was coming true and he pulled her closer to his chest afraid of what letting go would mean and what tomorrow would hold.