just like old times (paused for now, but i'll continue it later)

prologue

"Be brave, my sweet" whispers mummy, trying to get me into the hiding place. She's crying, but I don't know why.

She looks at me, and whispers again."Take care of him, I love you" and crawls through the doorway.

Why is she leaving? Where is she going?  I clutch my worn out plush bunny like it's a life line.

Alex looks at me, his eyes full of fear, as the scent of smoke enters the room, bringing with it the sound of screaming, and guns.

I try to smile "it's gong to be fine, mummy will be right back" I lie, as I hug my little brother. Have to take care of him. For mummy.

"Meggy, what do we do?" He asks, his voice quivering.

He's only four, three years younger then me.

I think, we can't go downstairs, or the mean people will find us. Wait, the window! I look around, for something. Daddy has a knife in his desk drawer I can use, just in case.

I try to comfort the quivering boy beside me, but he won't let me go.  Finally I just decide to carry him on my back.

Daddy would be proud. I'm being strong.

I reach for the knife, when a pair of feet come pounding up the stairs. Dread fills my veins, turning them to ice, but I have to keep going. I have to protect him, like mummy said.

I grab it, and sprint to the open window, and drop to the nearest tree branch.

I climb down, and see something mummy wouldn't like.

Our house is on fire, and bodies fill the doorway. The paint bubbles, and the room we were just in is filled with smoke.

Alex just stares at my face, and I find courage I didn't know I had.  I see a sign to the space port, and think of all the people that could help us there.

We make our way halfway to the port, when a strange voice calls out. "Hey, hello? I need some help, my sister is gone..." I look around, but see no one.

"Over here" it calls out. I end up seeing a turian limping towards us.

It's a he, with dark plates, almost the color of charcoal, and big eyes a deep green color. Wiry frame, must not be to old,maybe my age  I think. I might be seven, but daddy had taught me all about the other people in the galaxy, but I had never actually seen a turian before. They're spikey, with a sort of fringe coming off the backs of their heads. they kind of have an exo skeleton, and their jaws work in three parts. their chin and lower lip go up and down, and then they have two 'mandibles' on the side of their faces,  He comes close and starts to speak, but I cut him off, poking one of his mandibles.

His face is hilarious, big eyes bugging out of his head, mandible fluttering. I don't know any turian expressions, but I think he was surprised.

This odd rumbling sound starts coming from his chest, then I realize he's laughing.

I blush, embarrassed. "Sorry, but I've never actually seen a turian before"

He just laughs again, his voice amused, "you're the first human to poke my face"

"What's your name?" I ask, trying to get away from the subject.

His eyes look downcast, and his reply is quiet.

"My sis called me pitch, like pitch black, because of my plate color.....I don't know where she is, but I think the raiders killed her.They tried to take me, but I got away. I got cut on a piece of metal in the street as I ran. Then I found you two."