The first thing she felt was the heat. Then as the smoke and ashes filled her lungs her eyes snapped open, brilliant silver irises reflecting the blazing fires burning around her. She froze for a moment before her body was racked by great, heaving coughs as her body dispelled the foreign obstructions.

Still coughing, she managed to crawl to her feet, hands moving to cover her mouth as a thick and heavy haze of smoke engulfed her. She blinked furiously as the smoke made her eyes water, seeing the flames leaping out at her from the hazy grayness.

She took a step and stumbled, dizzy from the lack of oxygen. The fires were everywhere. She couldn't see, and all the while the inferno blazed brighter, threatening to engulf her in its burning heat. Her mind was in chaos as she took one tottering step after another, slowly speeding up until she was running full tilt through the flames. Her lungs burned and her legs threatened to give out beneath her, but she refused to stop, knowing the fate that would await her if she did.

Onward she ran, the world blurring around her as she picked up speed, running faster then any normal human could. The flames never seemed to end, leaping out at her like grasping hands reaching to pull her into their deadly embrace. Just when she had given up hope, the current of smoke pulled away revealing the bright midday sun shinning down on rolling green hills and trees.

She kept on running, putting as much distance between herself and flames as possible. It was only when she reached a small thicket of trees nestled atop a small hill did she finally stop, gasping for air as she leaned against one of the wooden pillars. When she finally caught her breath she turned back and gasped at the sight laid out before her.

It was a city on fire. Thousands of houses and other prefabricated buildings all belched black smoke into the sky.

She stared in shock, mouth agape as she watched the devastation unfold. After a minute of watching the blaze her mouth snapped shut, face settling into a resolute mask as her hands clenched. Who knows how many people were still inside, burned alive in the inferno.

She took a deep breath, forcing her anger down. Someone had to be responsible, someone would answer for this, or her name wasn't...

Wasn't...

Her mask dropped as she frowned in confusion. What was her name? Try as she might she couldn't remember. In fact she couldn't remember a thing at all.

Her back found the rough bark of a tree as she leaned against it.

What was this place? Where was she? Who was she?

She closed her eyes, trying as hard as she could to remember something. Anything. But the only thing that happened was a dull pounding in her skull, brought on by her earlier coughing fits.

Groaning in frustration she opened her eyes and looked down at herself.

The black skirt with red highlights and corset she wore was singed and burned. Skin tight leggings clung to her thin, yet shapely legs and high black combat boots weighed down her feet. The tattered remains of a long red hood hung from her shoulders. A belt like bandoleer was wrapped around her waist, the small loops for holding ammunition were all empty. But the thing that really drew her eyes was the strange emblem that was strapped on her right side.

After some fumbling with the piece she managed to pull it off and stared with fascination at the stylized silver rose engraved on its surface. She smiled softly, fingers gently traced the raised edges of flower. As she did, something stirred in her mind: A name. It was right on the tip of her tongue but it kept on eluding her.

Her head bowed, chin touching her chest as she fought to bring it back. She was trying so hard she never heard the sound of shuttles flying overhead, nor the sound of them landing near the outskirts of the city.

-Linebreak-

"Holy shit," someone murmured over comms. Lieutenant David Anderson couldn't help but nod in agreement.

After his disastrous mission on Camala, Anderson had been transferred from patrol to patrol for a long and boring four years. He knew it was his duty as a marine, but it was a complete waste of his N7 qualification. He longed for real action. Then the distress call had came from Mindoir, followed by three days of endless fighting to repel the Batarian invaders. But they were still too late. Most of the colonists had been abducted and the rest were slaughtered without mercy. Now they were on damage control, searching the many settlements that had been on the surface for any survivors.

The shuttle touched down and Anderson jumped out, the rest of his squad following behind him. Only once they had insured the surrounding area was clear of hostiles did Anderson slip his assault rifle onto his back, letting it fold back into it's compact form. Then he motioned to the two other squads that had unloaded with them.

"Search for survivors," he ordered grimly.

"Ain't no way anyone could survive that," the same person from before said sadly, an audible shudder making it's way through the comms. Again Anderson couldn't help but agree as he watched the flames leap high into the sky and heard the sounds of explosions from further in.

Despite this the squads dutifully started around the burning settlement, leaving Anderson and two others standing in the shuttle's down-draft.

It was a long minute that they stood there, watching the smoke rise into the sky before one of the marines finally spoke.

"Why?" he choked out, gesturing feebly at the burning settlement. "Why would they do something like this?"

"They're Batarians," the other growled out, angrily clutching her sniper rifle. "Them and their damned cultural practises."

Anderson said nothing, not trusting himself to speak. Silence once again pervaded over the small group, broken only by the crackling of the fires.

Not one survivor. Not one.

His hands shook in suppressed rage as the orange glow bathed him in it's ruddy hue. The Batarian pirates had been particularly ruthless this time around. Anyone who wasn't packed on their ships as slaves were gunned down without mercy. Bodies filled the streets of a neighbouring settlement, a bloody testament to their brutality.

He shut his eyes, trying to keep the coming tears back. Everyone was dead. Down to the last man, woman, child. All were killed without a second thought. This one settlement had been their last place to check. He'd hoped to find someone, anyone still alive, but it seemed that...

"Sir?"

He started as the voice of one of the marines broke him out of his thoughts. Blinking rapidly he squared his shoulders and turned to her.

"Corporal?" he asked.

She spared him a quick glance before lifting a hand and pointing towards a small thicket of trees a few hundred meters from the settlement.

"There. Do you see that?"

Anderson squinted, opening his mouth to reply a negative. Then he stopped as he saw a small black form nestled at the bottom of one of the trees.

"Is that..?

"Yes sir," the marine nodded, lifting the scope of her sniper to her eye. "Girl. Can't tell how old... and looks okay." She stowed her weapon on her back and looked back to Anderson."Orders?"

Anderson was already moving, long strides carrying him forward at a fast clip. "Follow me."

The three advanced quickly, Anderson never taking his eyes off the form slumped against the tree. When they finally reached her, the first thing he noticed about her was her hair. It was almost pitch black, turning red near the tips. Her clothes were burned and torn in places but still looked rather stylish, in a Gothic sort of way.

At their approach the girl started, head jerking up to stare at them with wide eyes. Anderson took a sudden breath as they made eye contact through his helmet. The girl's eyes were a brilliant silver, staring at them with a mixture of confusion and fear.

"Hey, easy," he said softly as she pressed herself against the tree. Getting down on one knee he slowly eased off his helmet and smiled calmly at her. "Whats your name, child?"

The girl swallowed, then looked down at a strange engraved emblem clutched in her hand. Then with new found confidence, she looked up and said: "Ruby... My name is Ruby Rose."

Updated: March 16, 2017

