Ganis couldn't sleep. He had waited for instructions from General Victus about what he was to do, as the night wore on he sat on his bed leaning against the wall. Jane had long since gone to her room and the house was quiet; so he heard when she got off her bed walked to her window and snuck out. He instantly sat forward thinking he should go stop her but he knew she was going to Nihlus and he didn't have the heart to go bring her back. He didn't know as much as she didn't if she would get the chance to say good-bye to him before whatever was going to happen to her took place. Leaning back against the wall again he sighed and continued to wait.
Nihlus jumped up off his bed at the soft tap on his window, throwing it open Jane threw a leg over the window seal and hauled herself into the room.
"I'm sorry about the time. My dad's still awake but I had to come Nihlus." Jane paused and sunk down on his bed. "I may not get another chance to see you, I had to tell you, you're my best friend and I'll miss you, more than you know."
"Jane," Her name sounded sad and lonely on his tongue and then was lost to the silence around them. Sitting next to her he took her hand in his and ran his thumb over her knuckles.
"You're my best friend too. Maybe they won't make you go? Like last time?" His tone had turned hopeful but Jane's eyes were downcast and he went silent.
"I don't think so Nihlus, not this time. The Alliance is involved and I did something out there, something I don't think they are just going to let go." She turned slightly on the bed to face him bringing her other hand over his. Looking up at him his eyes had turned hard and he released her hand and stood pacing his room.
"This isn't fair Jane, I had plans. Plans for us." He looked down to where she sat and stopped pacing and crossed his arms in front of him.
"In less than a year we were going to join the military. Serve together, prove to the universe that Turians and Humans can not only work together but live together." His voice became softer as he continued. "Love each other, we could have come back here after we retired, had a home near your dad. Lived our lives together. Damn it Jane." Dropping his hands to his sides he looked defeated.
"Now what? I'm never going to see you again?"
Jane jumped up from the bed and wrapped her arms around him.
"Don't say that, we don't know what will happen. Those things, those could still happen Nihlus."
"You think so Jane? You think when the Humans take you that they will just rejoice at the fact that you were raised by us? That you're in love with one of us? I doubt it. You'll find a human and forget about me, you'll forget about your dad who gave up everything because he loves you."
Jane stepped back shocked. "Don't you dare say I'll forget my dad or you. That's cruel Nihlus."
He sighed releasing the anger pent-up in his chest. "I know Jane, I'm sorry I'm just scared. I'm losing you before we've even had a chance to start our lives."
Jane nodded and took him in her arms again. He leaned his head down against hers and she could hear the subtle vibration in his chest.
"I have to go Nihlus." He put his arms around her and held her breathing her scent, feeling her soft body against his hard skin, the feeling of her hair brushing against his arm, committing them all to memory.
Nipping down her neck he moved her shirt off her shoulder.
"Jane, I have nothing to give you to remember me by, but this. He lifted his hand and touching a talon to her shoulder he pressed until Jane's crimson blood broke through, dragging his talon the length of her shoulder he grabbed one of his shirts and blotted the blood.
Jane didn't flinch only turned her eyes to his as he marked her, not in the way he had plans to do, but something to remember him by for how ever long they may be apart.
"I love you Jane, don't forget that."
They shared a last embrace as he moved her shirt back over her shoulder.
Jane was back at the window, before she jumped to the ground she turned and smiled.
"I'll find you Nihlus." and with that she was on the ground and lost to the shadows. Nihlus's mandibles flared in a smile after her and he closed his window talking only to the shadows around him.
"I'll hold you to that."
~~00o00~~
Climbing back through her window Jane found her dad sitting on her bed staring at the wall.
"Dad, I." Ganis held up a finger but his head did not follow, he continued to stare at the wall.
"Don't Red, I know what you had to do. I understand." Jane was in his arms in a second her head against his chest.
"Dad, I love you please I'm sorry, I can leave. They won't find me I'll just go and you can say I ran away. I'll stay away long enough for them to think I'm not coming back. I'm just one girl they won't look for me long."
Ganis shook his head, his talons running through the thick red hair he had grown to love so much.
"No sweetheart, Vandrel's don't run from their problems. I love you so much my Jane, my little Red."
His head rested on top of hers. The silence stretched between them.
"Dad, what aren't you telling me?" Ganis lifted his head and stared into the deep green eyes of his daughter.
"The General and an officer from the Alliance will be here tomorrow. They have a place, like a school for people with your, gifts."
Jane went stiff in his arms and pushed back. "Dad that was one time. What if I can't even do it again?"
"I don't know sweetheart that's up to the Alliance." He turned his face from her not willing to meet her eyes.
"Dad, dad, look at me." Ganis reluctantly turned his eyes back to her, all he could see was the pain he felt, mirrored there.
"Dad, is this what you want me to do? If you tell me to do this I will. I'll follow your instruction in everything, it was the first thing you taught me remember?"
He nodded. "I know you will Jane. Yes, this is what I want you to do."
Jane released a sigh and leaned her head against his chest.
"Okay, then I'll do it."
They sat there together holding on to one another, just like when all they had in the world was each other.
"Red, I have something for you." Ganis released her, and he slipped his dog tags from his neck. "I want you to have these. They are yours just as they were mine. You're a Vandrel and I know they may have you use your human name of Shepard but I want you to have these so you don't forget."
Jane closed her eyes as he slipped them over her head and she nodded. "I won't forget dad. I will always be your little girl remember?"
Ganis smiled in spite of himself as she crawled up on the bed next to him. Jane grabbed the datapad on the nightstand next to her and handed it to him with a little shrug, the unshed tears glistened in her eyes but did not fall.
Perhaps he thought with a little smirk, she might be a little too Turian. He took the datapad with a question in his eyes and she smiled.
"Read me a story?"
He laughed even though he felt like crying because his heart was breaking.
"Yeah Red I'll read you a story."
The night was spent reading, laughing, telling stories and eventually sleeping, Jane curled up next to the one person who had given her the best of himself without ever asking for anything in return.
~~00o00~~
The day dawned bright and clear. Jane and Ganis awoke early as always, but this day instead of practice drills or exercises, it was spent packing Jane's things and then in small conversation at the table as they ate their last meal together.
"Dad, I don't know the first thing about being human, I'm not sure I'll know what to do. Spirits I don't even know how to read or write the human language. I can read Turian and write Turian, but I'm not really sure that's going to help."
Ganis frowned in thought. "I know, I'm sorry for that, but you're a quick study Red, you'll pick it up fast. Think of this like joining the military. Really it was only less than a year and you would have done that." He smiled trying to perk her up but she only shrugged.
"Yes, but in the Turian military I would have been able to read and write the language, as well as I know the history. This, this I know nothing about." She rested her jaw on her fist staring at him.
"Nihlus is right, I may look human but I'm Turian through and through."
He laughed.
"That's not a bad thing, just think of it like you're an ambassador, you have to learn the culture, you'll be fine." Jane smiled up at him though it didn't really reach her eyes.
"I'll be back you know, even if I eventually join the military, I'll get leave, I'll come home Dad, every chance I get."
"I know sweetheart." He hugged her and ruffled her hair. He had just sat down when the buzzer at the door sounded and both of their hearts almost stopped.
Jane looked towards the door and then back to her dad. "Last chance to tell me to run." She grinned and he motioned her towards her room.
"Get your things Jane and meet us in the living room."
~~00o00~~
Jane dropped her pack by the front door before making her way to the living room.
"Jane, you know General Victus." Jane dropped to attention and nodded
"Yes Sir, good to see you again Sir." Ganis nodded approvingly and motioned to the other man.
"This is Captain Anderson. He'll be escorting you."
"Pleased to meet you Sir."
Captain Anderson regarded the girl before him. She stood tall and straight at attention. He was impressed, he was told this girl was not yet fifteen and yet here she stood with the poise of someone years older. Even in light of the current situation.
"I've read over your reports to the General, Lieutenant Vandrel. She's been taught well in Turian military protocol, marksmanship, hand to hand. I'm impressed, if what you say in here is true she's one hell of a shot."
"Yes Sir she's a fine shot."
Anderson glanced at the datapad he held and shook his head.
"Unfortunately she only knows how to read and write Turian. We'll have to correct that, but it will come in useful as well."
Anderson met Jane's eyes and he nodded. "You have your things then?"
"Yes, Sir." Jane motioned towards the front door.
"Well then General shall we? I'll give you two a moment alone." A knowing look from Anderson went between Ganis and Jane. "Join us out front when you're ready Jane."
Jane waited until she heard the front door close before she ran to Ganis.
"Dad, I love you, I'll write you as often as I can. Don't forget me."
"Red you're my little girl, you can't just forget your daughter, I'll be right here waiting for you to tell me about all your adventures."
She pulled herself back and to attention, saluted firmly and whispered. "I'll talk to you soon daddy."
She turned in an about-face and marched out the door, Ganis held his breath as he watched her go and a piece of himself left with her.
~~00o00~~
Jane was taken by shuttle to an Alliance ship and shown to her quarters by Captain Anderson personally.
"These will be yours on the trip. The mess hall is down the hall there and the shower and bathrooms are down the opposite hall."
Jane tossed her things on the bunk and turned at attention to the Captain. "Thank you Sir. May I ask something Sir?"
Anderson almost laughed. "Yes of course Jane."
"Where am I going?"
"Yes, I figured you would ask that. You're going to BAaT, there are others like you there, it's to help you hone your Biotics, you will also have a tutor while there, I need you to be able to read and write English as well as Turian. You're going to be busy, I hope you're up for it."
Jane smirked. "I'm a Vandrel, I'm up for any challenge." Anderson shook his head.
"No Jane you're a Shepard here. I can't have you using your Turian name. I'm sorry."
"Yes Sir understood Sir." Anderson quirked an eyebrow slightly.
"You're going to make a fine soldier someday Jane."
"Thank you Sir, I know Sir, I've spent my whole life with the intention of being so."
"If you need anything don't hesitate to ask for me." With that Anderson left her in her quarters.
Jane sat on her bunk and pulled out her data pad, she had decided last night as her dad was reading to her that she should keep a journal of a sort, to help her keep her thoughts straight.
She sighed.
Day one: Alliance ship.
My head hurts and my thoughts spin about me, at least the Alliance Captain doesn't seem too bad. He even seems to understand in some way.
I find myself trying to recall being with humans and I can't seem to find anything, someone once told me we can go to our minds to retrieve memories. I try to grab them and bring them to the forefront of my thoughts. But they scuttle and cram themselves into corners and dark recesses. Just beyond the fingertips of recollection. Much as the bug retreats to a crack in the floor to evade a footfall and sure death.
Perhaps my memory hides from the light of conscious thought. Knowing its power and detriment. Or perhaps this present thought is the comfort in my conscious mind, hiding from the fear of a hidden memory. I am beginning to understand that perhaps some paths are meant to be untrodden. To better give validation to the ones that ought to be.
Jane sat the datapad aside and leaned back on the bunk. The memories of her short time with humans she decided didn't matter. Only what her dad and Nihlus taught her, those are the things that matter now. She touched the cut on her shoulder, and she wouldn't forget them.
~~00o00~~
When they docked with the space station Jane was taken aboard by Captain Anderson.
"Jane, this is your tutor, I have to leave you with him, he's been briefed on your situation. Alliance duty calls. Take care, I'll be checking in on you."
Jane went to speak but the airlock door hissed behind her and Anderson was gone. The man in front of her looked a few years older than herself and he was smiling, well sort of, it looked more like a grimace she thought.
"Welcome to Brain Camp." He laughed at the look on Jane's face. "Or Biotic Acclimation and Temperance Training. I'm Kaidan Alenko your private tutor. I've read up on, well what info they have on you. Which isn't much really. Is it true? You were raised by Turians?"
"Yes Sir, that is true." She was stiff and at attention eyes forward.
Kaidan quirked a brow.
"Yeah guess what they say about the stick is true." Jane's look was one of confusion.
"I'm sorry Sir, what stick?"
"No, nothing seriously though relax I'm not a Sir, and this isn't the military."
"Alright then Alenko."
He smiled this time it looked like a smile, and motioned for her to follow him. "Come on, I'll show you to your room and then we'll get started."
"Perfect, thank you Sir, I mean Alenko, I'd like to write my father a letter as soon as possible."
Kaidan stopped short. "I'm sorry, that won't be possible, no personal correspondence in or out."
"What? But I promised, how am I supposed to let him know I'm okay?"
Kaidan shrugged. "I'm sorry but those are the rules."
He watched her face go blank but she didn't look like she was going to cry unlike most of the girls here. "Huh, that's different."
"What is?" Jane motioned for him to carry on.
"Oh, nothing. Never mind let's go."
Jane was more confused than ever, why doesn't he just say what he means?
"You can call me Kaidan by the way."
"I'm not sure I know you well enough for that." Jane kept her eyes forward.
Kaidan laughed and she followed him down the hall and farther away from the only life she'd ever known.