In Another Time

Chapter 1

March 21ST 2015
10:15 PM
Sol System / Local Cluster / Earth / United States / Nebraska

oOo

My lips purse as I try to get the curve of the nose just right, tilting my head as I do so. The dim glow of the lamp on my bedside table casts a soft light on the paper, revealing eraser shavings scattered across its surface. I shake my head in frustration and erase the line, the room now quiet except for the faint creaks that accompany my movements.

In the semi-darkness, I freeze when I hear a subtle shift in the otherwise silent room and look up. My gaze travels across the room towards the bed opposite mine, where my sister Rose sleeps. The moonlight spills through the window, creating a delicate glow around her sleeping form, accentuated by the faint radiance of my bedside lamp. I watch for any signs of her waking, the fabric rustling as she shifts.

The noises stop, and I release a small puff of air in relief before returning to my attempts to master the nose in my drawing. The pencil glides over the paper, each stroke reflecting my struggle to perfect the task. With each failure, the challenge seems to intensify, creating a frustrating loop of repeated attempts.

'No... too straight...'

Scribble, scribble.

'No... too upturned...'

Scribble, scribble, scribble...

'No... now the rest of the nose doesn't look right, and the eyes are crooked...!'

Sighing in frustration, I crumple the paper and toss my latest attempt at drawing my femshep across the room. It bounces off the wall and lands almost silently on the carpet.

'I can't draw her anymore. I've tried everything! I've looked at pictures, and compared them to my own memories. The lines and colors just don't match up. I've never been able to draw people. I just can't seem to make it look right. Whether it's the eyes, the nose, or the mouth! Gah!'

My face buries into my pillow to muffle the groan of frustration, careful not to wake up Rose, who peacefully sleeps in the bed across the room from me. Unfortunately, my attempts to stifle my emotions fail, and she retaliates by throwing her pillow in my direction.

"Shut up and go to sleep already! It's almost eleven!" she hisses, clearly annoyed by my late-night endeavors.

Tucking the pillow under my arm, I can't resist sticking my tongue out in a playful gesture. "I'm keeping this."

She responds without turning to look at me, her hand raised in a demand. "Give it back."

I pull the pillow a bit closer, teasingly defiant. "No!"

Her hand disappears back under the covers, and I brace myself, expecting another pillow assault. After a brief pause, I huff and toss the pillow back to her. She tucks it under her head, and I snap my sketchbook shut.

"Why do you keep drawing her anyway?" Rose's muffled voice emerges from under the blankets.

I gaze up at the ceiling, sighing softly. "I dunno... I just can't help it. You know how obsessed I am with Mass Effect. And with all the cool fanart out there mixed with Brittany's skill," I mention my older sister, "I just wanna get to that level."

Rose turns on her side, her back facing me. The covers are pulled back over her as she settles.

"You know you're a genius when it comes to drawing and painting."

"So you say." I sigh, nuzzling into my pillow, and turn off my lamp before succumbing to sleep.

oOo

March 21ST 2183
10:30 AM
Century Omega / Hoc / Virmire / Saren's Breeding Facility