Mindoir, 2170

The sunlight shined over her long ebony hair. She was picking apples with her father. His bright eyes loomed gracefully, cautiously over the field and down the hill at their small house.

Her torn jeans and plain white shirt with an Alliance logo over it seemed to glow in the sun.

She was a Shepard. Her father fought in the Alliance when he was younger, but age had slowed him down and he was allowed a hefty retirement. He fought for thirty years, ran up the ranks, and was even offered the position of Commander. He had turned it down when he found out his wife, June, was pregnant. He didn't want to fly around in space with a pregnant wife.

Shepard looked at his daughter and smiled. She was long and lanky for a sixteen year old, her emerald eyes sparkling brighter than her mothers. She and her mother were exposed to element zero over two years ago, and both their biotic abilities had manifested.

Shepard had just been a soldier in the Alliance, using only a pistol and knife to kill enemies.

His daughter fumbled a little as she lifted her wrist, glowing with biotics to lift the basket of apples.

"Honey, start slowly. Start with one apple."

"I can do this dad." She was a defiant little shit, he'd give her that. But it truly did come by naturally. He had even told the Brass to fuck off in person after they insisted on making him a Commander.

Shepard looked at her and smirked, crossing his arms as he waited. "So you're going to carry that all the way back to the house without letting it touch the ground?"

His daughter grunted, "Don't let me fall, dad."

Shepard smiled, "Only if you don't drop the apples."

June's going to kill me.

Little Shepard's arms were so tense, he thought her veins were going to pop out. He walked behind her as she slowly stepped down the hill. The grass gave her traction, allowing slower, more precise steps.

"Ugh." Her biotics wavered, her knees bending, but she kept the basket afloat. She took a deep breath and started running, pushing the basket forward.

Shepard called his daughter's name, but she ignored him and kept running towards the house.

"You're going to run out of energy!"

She was shaking sporadically, her biotic energy dying out then flaring alive again. Her emerald eyes met the eyes of her mother as she stood outside in their garden. She tripped over a rock mid-stride, and Shepard grabbed her arm and the basket went flying.

"Honey!" June's biotics flared as she grabbed the basket and brought it towards her. She set it on the porch and walked towards her husband and daughter.

Shepard's grip on her arm tightened, "What the hell were you trying to do, young lady?"

She smiled, blood running down her nose, "Trying," she took a breath, "to prove you wrong, dad."

June placed her hands on her hips and looked analytically at her husband, her mouth in a line.

Shepard sighed, releasing his grip on his daughter and handing her to his wife, "Clean her up, June. She has school in an hour."

His wife glared at him for a minute longer, then she grabbed a cloth from her pocket and placed it on her daughter's nose.

Shepard began walking inside, ignoring the tears in his daughter's eyes.

Palaven, 2170

Castis woke his son up early. It was four A.M.

"Son, today's the day."

Garrus scoffed as he sat up on his bed. "Thanks for the happy fifteenth birthday, dad."

The elder turian narrowed his eyes, "Cut the crap, son. You know you start bootcamp today."

Garrus sighed and got out of bed, slipping his boots over his feet. "I know, dad."

Castis smiled briefly, "Maybe your mother will agree to letting you have your first drink tonight in celebration."

Garrus' mandibles twitched, his eyebrow plates raising in anticipation, "Really?"

His father shrugged, handing him a pistol. "It all depends on how well you do in training today, son."

Garrus nodded, "Yes sir."

"Now get some breakfast in you. You're to report to Officer Handrick by the main building of the academy at 0530 hours." Without another word, Castis left his son's bedroom.

The young turian sighed. Great. Today's your big day, Vakarian. Hopefully you don't screw it up.

Garrus walked out of his room, down the hall and towards the bathroom door. Solana always locked it.

"Come on Sol. I have to get ready."

He heard the shower turn on and he sighed.

After standing there for a few more minutes, he gave up and walked to the dining room.

"Good morning, Garrus." His mother Telva smiled as she placed a plate on the table. "Would you like your first cup of coffee this morning?"

Garrus smiled and nodded, "Thank you, mother."

His mother hummed lightly as Castis walked into the room, dressed in his dark navy C-Sec armor. He looked at Garrus as he ate, sipping his own coffee.

Garrus took his first sip of black coffee and could barely swallow it. It went down his throat like acid.

He blanched and looked at his mother, who looked at his father and smiled.

She walked to the refrigerator. "Cream and sugar, Garrus?"

The young turian nodded, "Please."

Telva grinned and handed him a cup and cube.

Garrus gently grabbed the cup and poured a large amount in his coffee, added the cube and stirred lightly.

He took another sip and nodded appreciatively, "Thank you mother. This coffee tastes much better."

Author's Notes: Updated and edited 1/24/18

BrokenEmber