Chapter Text
The girl laid on her back, watching the stars, silently wishing to be among them. It was her favorite day of the week, when she didn’t have school or chores to contend with, and could stay out late enough to pick out the constellations of the night. She made up stories for each one, each week adding on a piece here and there, fleshing out the lives she created. She knew her future was here, on Mindoir, but for these moments she imagined that she had a bigger destiny other than farming.
Maybe one day she would bring Ben here, to show him her stars. Tell him about the castles in the skies, the poems of the universe, the lovers forced apart only to find their way back together in the end. Those were her favorite stories. She laughed to herself, knowing she would never be able to even say hello to him without turning redder than her hair. Just like the stars, she resigned herself to know that she would only ever be able to watch from a distance.
Her parents were farmers, just as she was sure she would be. They had come from Earth, a place she barely remembered. They had come out for adventure, to help with the new settlement. She had a couple of close friends but was often alone. She was shy in nature, gentle. She sometimes wondered what her life would be like if they had stayed on Earth. Her parents would tell stories about the planet. The weather, the seasons, each one different. She loved stories about winter the most. She longed to see snow, each flake different than the one before and any after. Her mother would draw her pictures of snowmen, talk about wearing so many layers of clothes that it would be hard to walk properly.
She couldn’t remember the last time they had drawn pictures together. Time moved them on to different topics and activities, especially since she had grown old enough to help on the farm. Trips to the markets, to the neighboring farms to trade goods, look after the animals, and of course school. She was almost done with school, graduation only about a year and a half away. She would overhear the boys and some of the girls talk about enlisting with the Alliance once they graduated, grandiose ideas of the battles they would face and the places they would go. She wanted to dream with them, but she couldn’t imagine leaving her parents for that long. Even if she loved the stars, home and family was more important to her.
She turned her head in the direction of the town. She started to smell something like fire, which would be odd for this time of the year. There were bonfires on holidays, but the last one was a month ago. It was always an event, so if one was planned, she would know. She packed up her snacks she brought, pulled out of her thoughts by the smell. It was starting to get late, and it was about the time she knew she should be heading home.
A feeling of uneasiness washed over her. The closer she was to town, the more pronounced the smell was. The air began to feel heavy, her pace picked up. She dropped her notebook and pack of snacks as she broke into a run.
She stopped when she heard the screams. They came from everywhere around her, and she could see the fires burning. Her hands at her mouth, scared at what would happen if she let her own voice escape. She was close to home, she knew, but she couldn’t make her feet move. Sprinkles, the neighbor’s dog, ran past her. She was hidden behind a tree, peeking out to the chaos. She had to get home, just get home, to safety. The smoke was billowing around, threatening to choke her. She moved then, slowly, to her right. She assessed the situation and ran to the next tree, then the next. She saw them when she reached the fifth tree. Aliens, four eyes, guns out. Two in the back with the guns that shot the fire out in wide arcs, setting her home ablaze. Her parents running out, their screams joining the others, adding to the symphony of suffering. She watched, silently, as her father was silenced. She wanted to cry out, but her voice dissolved in the air. Her mother was taken next, her long flowing hair wrapped around a fist. She watched as she was pushed to her knees.
The silence surrounded her. She could no longer hear the screams, the fires, the alien language. Her mother lifted her head proudly, without fear. She spit at the feet of the alien in front of her, defiantly. The silence was interrupted by the sound of the shot. Her body slumped forward, joined with her husband. She watched as the alien kicked dirt on them before moving on.
She ran then, running away, knowing not where to go, just knowing she had to go as far away as she could. Tears rained down her face, blurring her vision, but she kept going. She ignored the tightness in her chest, the cold sweeping over her body as it gasped for air. She ran until she collapsed, what she thought must be miles away. She was in the forest, a place she knew well. She sat, numb, unable to move.
She wasn’t sure how much time had passed. Was it a day? A week? An hour? She couldn’t move, couldn’t stop the sounds attacking her mind. She wanted to go to her parents, to wake up from this nightmare. She heard the ship before she saw it. Alliance colors, landing right outside the forest. She heard the voices but couldn’t call out, couldn’t warn them.
“Sir, we have something on the scanners here.” she made out. Her heartbeat faster as she noted the sounds of footsteps coming in her direction. She started to panic, wanting to move, but being frozen in her spot. Instead of four eyes, she saw two. He approached slowly, hands out, stopping a few feet in front of her.
“It’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you. Are you able to stand?”
She stared, unable to answer. He started to walk towards her, and she moved backwards, keeping the distance between them. He sat on the ground, proving he was not going to come closer. She stopped moving as well and they sat in silence, just watching each other.
“Sir?” Another voice came. The man in front of her just put up a hand, motioning for the other to go.
Time passed, the two taking in the stillness. She felt a drop on her face, then another, and another. The rain came then, washing over the forest, crying with her.
“I’m David. David Anderson. I’m with the Alliance. Can I ask your name?” he softly said, breaking their silence. She looked down. She tried, opened her mouth, but nothing came out. “It’s okay, take your time.”
She took in a deep breath, the first really since her world was shattered. A coldness came over her as she pushed down the memories. She stood, brushing off the dirt and leaves. She met his eyes, without fear, and kept them locked on. “Autumn. Autumn Shepard.”