I don't own Nothing. Enjoy the Ride.
It was July 17, 2157. Around 12:01 am. My fucken birthday. How I got this fictional future is still a complete mystery, that I can't explain or fathom. Even though it's been almost five god-damn years. The Mass Effect universe. Most people worst people would think this could be the greatest thing that could happen to a fanboy, but the problem is that, I'm currently heading toward what would commonly know as "First Contact War" or what the Turian's would call "The Relay 314 Innocent". Who would like to be hated by a alien race because you're fellow human's fucked up. Not only that...but my life has been a total shit storm. Mostly because of my own dumb-ass choices but I live with it and understand it was MY choice.
I never wanted to join the System Alliance. I had no other option since I need a job and money...or credits if you will. Well...Truthfully, I HAD to join since I got caught hacking into the System Alliance network with my buddy Hatsu. It didn't matter though; most jobs demand a Collage degrees and all I got is a High School diploma from the year 2010. I did develop world wide fame as the "Blast from the Past" as New York Times Weekly described me. According to the article, who very elegantly wrote "A reminder how far humanity has come from being such a Neanderthal". Over the past one hundred and forty-four years causes the old saying "The more things change, the more they stay the same" to come into effect. Never have I felt more disconnected from humanity that even if I tried, I wouldn't fit in. I managed to adapt and work well with the Tech, but the people is a whole another level. The middle class can be snobbish at times then one would think, so just imagine the upper class. Holy shit. Then again...Crime was at an all-time low for humanity, so I guess they have the right to strut with their noses high. Many of the High and even few middle classes asked how I survived in the time of fossil fuels. They imagine me coughing up blood from the exhaust of cars running on gasoline. "Mainstream artist" managed to belittle Heavy Metal, Hard, to even Rap music since it was just considered "Classless Noises and/or unnecessary vulgar lyrics." Country was considered "depressing, somber, and/or low class for their tastes. What is "hip" now is lyric less music like techno, Classical, with the exception to Opera music is now "Mainstream". R&B and Pop stars are considered "old news" as well.
Considering somewhere in the back of my mind the conflict between Humanity and Turians is now on the horizon but my luck fucked me over because I'm now a part of the boarding team that is going to activate the Mass Relay that will more and likely starts this "war". This was mostly due to my fault because I got myself demoted about a weeks ago because I was invited to an Officer's banquet by my good friend Alec Ryder whom just not to long ago saved my life in so many ways. I was considered a young Gunnery Chief due to the fact, I should be a higher rank but demoted myself to get away from the previous line of work I was in. I wasn't well liked by the higher ups except for one. Anyway, some general who acted high and mighty had a bit too much to drink and openly imagined my mother being "Promiscuous whore to pay the bills", it wasn't bad at first but no matter how hard I tried, he made sure I could hear him and he kept going and insulting the image of my mom. After a while of trying to fight back the wrath inside me, I blacked out in a complete drunken rage. In short, I broke his jaw and wrecked his face. He acted like a tough general and yet got knocked out by someone half his size. The guy had it out for me ever since. Because of the fact, he was provoking me, I got off a lot lighter then what I received. I think Alec had a big hand in that since he was baling me out of trouble since I met him. Not only that but my "use" as a soldier who does his job. My old code name was "Little Titan" and it wasn't a nickname I enjoyed at all. Still makes me cringe upon hearing it. The Alliance made me do unspeakable things and one of a major reasons why I started drinking, right before my divorce too. Such luck, I have.
48 hours earlier...
"Schmitt...I have a mission..." The deep voice of Alec Ryder said leaning forward toward me with his hands clasped together. I was sitting on the other side of this desk in his office. I was stationed with Ryder for maybe two years? Give or take. Wherever he went, I followed as his "right hand man". Despite being one of the first N7s and my mentor. I always respect and admired Alec and vise versa, despite his unusual approach toward people. I thought I was bad at socializing I mean shit. This guy struggled to talk to his now wife until I slapped him across the face and told him it was a mission.
"Yeah, what would that be?" I sighed looking at the desk while twiddling my thumbs knowing what this was leading. He always had me going head first into trouble ever fucken time. I'm use to it so I just typically brush it off with a sigh and move forward regardless.
"I need you to company Commander Matsumoto's squad for a while." He spoke gravely. "There was a report of squads activating mass effect relay's outside of Alliance territory. We believe Commander Matsumoto's squad or someone in her unit, is working for another unknown agency." Alec said with a light nod kind of looking off into the distance behind me. Alec was distracted by something or hiding something. Wasn't sure. "Given you're skills as a former tactical espionage or Infiltrator. This would be the perfect mission for you're Skills."
"Ok, who is going to watch my back?" I said tiredly as I rubbed my face with the palm of my right hand. I was exhausted, Unable to sleep very well but then again. Ever since...I snapped myself back into reality not wanting to walk down memory lane. I always had sleep issues since coming to this universe. But this...made my childhood issues look like a walk in the park. At the same time, I barely remember them days, so I didn't have to think about my past life hardly at all. I mean I do miss my friends and family but I can't change that.
"Private Takahashi. Who else. You who always had a unique chemistry together." Alec felt more alive suddenly. He started to organize his files around his desk and turned to some data pad. "He will assist you, just play it calmly. This maybe a false alarm." He added. Alec was never good at hiding secret information. Something big was going down within the Alliance. It didn't help that the "first contact war" was slowly approaching. Could it be he has some information on the matter?
"Hatsu, Huh? I haven't seen him in about 3 years." I commented with a chuckle. The last time I was hanging with him, we went to some bar during leave. I don't remember ANYTHING of that night because how intoxicated I was.
"Oh, Before I forget. XO Shepard from the SSV Einstein wishes to have a word. She said it was personal." Alec said going back to his low calming voice. He turned to his attention looking at his data pad very deeply. This was a classic sign that he was finished with me. We always got along, we both preferred our own company. "Aye, Aye." I said standing up and left his office, leaving Alec to his studies of whatever he was up to.
Alec's office wasn't too far away from the meeting spot I was given on my omi-tool. We were at Command Station 2 in the Earth's orbit. It took me I'd say, five or ten minutes to get there from Ryder's office. There was hardly anyone at the restaurant at this time and Shepard...the future hero Commander Shepard's mother, Hanna Shepard wishes a word with me? "For fuck sake...When can I catch a god damn break?" I thought to myself practically forcing myself to make my way to where she was sitting in a booth of a very lovely and pricey restaurant. I acted childishly, I must admit.
"Gunnery Che-...I mean Corporal Schmitt...right?" A calm yet nervous voice said behind me. I turned around and it was a pretty woman who looked much like the default commander Shepard female except, she doesn't have the scars.
"Yes, what could I do for you?" I muttered. I knew who she was but I DIDN'T know who she was. Weird acting retard and clueless about certain shit like this. Then again it was like clock work because I'm going to have to act like clueless Joe when I meet at Turian or other Mass Effect alien when I KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT THEM. I'm working and acting 24/7...
"You don't remember me...?" She asked sheepishly, rubbing the back of her left hand with the fingertips of her right hand. What the hell? Has she become self-aware? I never met her in person in my life...
"I" I could only manage to muster before exhaling and scratching the back of my head. "No. Sadly, I don't." I admitted in a low nervous chuckle then apologizing again about the lack of memory.
"I-It's fine...We were very drunk that night and..." She said before trailing off and then some of the memory of that night came back to me in that moment. I froze like a statue thinking. Oh god...OH GOD! AM I...NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO! I CAN'T BE...Then my worst fears came true. Hanna Shepard pulled out a photo of a beautiful baby girl. I knew it was mine because SHE had my dark brown hair instead of red colored hair. She looked exactly like her mother. I was stunned by this photo of...my child with dark brown eyes...she had my eyes. FFFFFFFUUCK.
I hesitated to even take the photo and looked at it deeply. "She is yours...I just figured, you had the right to know..." She said looking at me soak this information in. I AM COMMANDER SHEPARD'S FATHER! WHY? NO! JUST! I was screaming internally the rest of the time. "I understand if you don't want to be involved." Hanna said looking down and sounded sad.
"I do." The words shot from my mouth before I realized this surprised even Hanna. "I... I WANT to be a part of her life." I corrected myself looking back at the photo. I didn't know why...I wanted to hold...my baby girl. Oh, god I can't believe I said that. Fighting back the tears a bit. This was big...I'm a father? "Her name?"
"Seras...Shepard...I remember you blabbering about that name from a old animated japanese cartoon. I like it so...Seras Jane Shepard." She admitted to me...Seras? Like from Hellsing Ultimate? Sounds like my kid already...I joked to internally. I was amused by this and I noticed Hanna seemed...happier...
We both agreed that we will stay friends, just have joint custody. She would take the winter time for the holidays, so her parents can send her off to school and I would take half the spring and summer. Hanna admitted it was a fun night and would like to get to know me better at the same time not trying to start a relationship. She admitted was a in the Alliance for life. I was completely fine with this since we didn't have a romantic feeling for each other, so it would be better not to force it.
CURRENT DAY.
"Schmitt. Congrats about having a kid." Hatsu said practically punching my on the shoulder bringing me back to reality, as we stood in the dark yet tight vibe of a shuttle in full jet black, light, titan combat armor including breathing mask while trying to calm myself. I realized I was the 3rd tallest out of the rest of the unit of total of six. Fun fact: we also had the most famous people in one unit. The past 72 hours was hell. I'm being thrown into the beginning of the First Contact War, find out I'm Shepard's father, and Alec Ryder was sent transferred off shanxi today before we left. FUCKING GREAT. I'm dead as disco. At least Hanna stayed back on earth. That's good news. "Yeah, Thanks." I muttered under my breath. I was still hard to wrap my head around the fact. I was going to be Commander Shepard's father. A one-night stand...no less. Huh... "Oh that reminds me." Hatus said piping up again. "Gramps got you a gift. Since I took the family katana, he had one specially made for you and I got you something as well. A congrats gift. It should be in your room back in Shanxi." He said grinning from ear to ear. That's Hatsu for ya, always thinking of others before himself.
Anyway, the is most of the information I know about the squad is that the tallest was a bald headed, African-American, Sargent Howard Morgan at six foot five that was built like a brick shithouse. This guy practically hovered over the pilot all the damn time. Don't know why to be honest. This dude was a freak of humanity that trained like a pro football player. He was in his mid to late thirties and despite being bald, the girls would say he was handsome. I found out he was into boxing and play football growing up and before joining the alliance, He could have gone pro as a defensive end but instead joined the Alliance. First round draft pick prospect no less. He had a big name when it comes to College Football.
Next was a six foot two, British woman with fiery short messy red hair. She looked exactly like Scarlett Johansson, but in her early-mid-twenties. She is pretty bulky and muscular for a woman. Not saying it doesn't look good on her, but I would think twice before even fucking messing with her. She was covered in tattoos and word on the street she uses to be in gangs and was a gunman as a young teen before she joined the Alliance. She is very distance person and doesn't talk nearly at all, hence the rumors. Although when she did speak up, she could make the entire room jump out of their shoes. It wasn't the fact that her voice was booming, but she just speaks so little. On top of that she was a fucking L2 biotic and a deadly one at that. She was the best hand to hand fighter as well. She is one scary woman but yet attractive as hell. Her name was Evelyn Wright and they just call her "Eve". She had zero fear as she always stood at the center of the doors of the shuttle always ready. Rumor she is claustrophobic so maybe that is why? Always ready to jump out the door guns blazing? Hm...
I was six foot even but I'm also the lightest out of the group weighing in around a hundred, fifty-five pounds. I weighed less when I entered the academy but because of Hatsu pushing me I gained weight and muscle. I was one of two who had facial hair and unlike the other guys my hair medium length and slicked backwards. Howard insist to the CO that I should be a sniper/scout. I often stand at the very back during the shuttle rides. Don't know why but it was always my preferred place.
Next is my "battle buddy" the Japanese man Hatsu Takahashi who was five foot eleven. He was just smaller then me but bigger weight wise at hundred, seventy-nine. He had short messy jet-black hair. The thing about him was he loved cowboy stuff. He always wore a black cowboy hat. Never mattered to him if he was on or off a mission, he went everywhere with that fucken hat. Originally born in Japan but raised in southern Texas since he was 16 by his grandfather. Hatsu was the one who discovered me when I crossed over and the reason why I'm in the System Alliance. The asshole said it would be simple to hack in and make fake IDs for me but nope, got caught. He would rather wear plaid shirts and jeans then uniforms and outfits of "modern society". Hatsu would miss the farm life with his husband. His husband understood his situation, thus watches over the farm til he gets back. He kinda embodied the old america life style back home which upsetting his grandfather, since his grandfather wanted to pass down the dead samurai lifestyle to him. Instead, Hatsu pursued him to take me as a student. We always got a along great and managed being best friends. Hell, I'm the one who introduced him to his husband. He had a thicker beard compared to me. The CO would bitch at us for the facial hair but as usual we blew her off. Alec never gave two shits, more like gave up about it. Hatsu is the same age as me, at twenty-six. He stood next to me on my right as we faced the front of the shuttle. He would always bring his black cowboy hat since the string hung around his neck and resting on his back. If they didn't need his helmet, he would be wearing that damn hat. Hatsu said he would die wearing it. He has a deep fear scorpions and spiders which I would fuck with him a lot whenever planet side.
Second to last is the youngest and legitimately, World Famous Star from Russia Elizabeth "Liz" Mikhailov somewhere at five foot eight. She had medium length, blonde hair. A purely beautiful woman, Hatsu and I nicknamed her "Star" as a since she a super famous model, singer, and actress. If you think she is a soft flower you're mistaken. She is crazy skilled in brazilian jiu jitsu and a submission artist from hell, so she can get even Howard to the ground in a flash despite her smaller size. Not that they fought but he it happened when he went too far when it came to tease her. Nobody knows why she went from Star to Soldier and she would often get picked on because of her stardom. She stood on the left side of the doors of the shuttle. She apparently loves dipping carrots into yogurt, kinda fucken gross if you would ask me.
Lastly was the commander who gave you a Commander Shepherd-vibe. Everything she did felt like it was serious and by her book. She was five foot five. If I took a step back at the whole picture it was fairly goofy looking with her as the commander since she was so short. Once I realized this, I started to poke fun of her height. The thing that changes the picture was that she was a N7. Her name was Matsumoto Taira. She had long black hair that was tied into a tight bun which brought out her cuteness if I say so. Born and raised in Japan and was military though and though. The only problem was we do NOT get along at all. There was some wild look in her eye that just wigged me out. Her body motions screamed that she was a soldier, but her eyes say differently. They screamed that she was a psychopath. Cold, lifeless, and predatory. Her tone was worse. No emotion, just lifeless and dull.
Everyone was equipping with the just the M7 Lancer. This was going to go greattt. I couldn't help but to think and knew I was going to get our shit pushed in but I kinda didn't wanna see anyone die. There was something about this mission, this squad and some foul odor in the shuttle that made my stomach turn.
"Corporal Schmitt, Wake Up." Commander Matsumoto tried to boom. It didn't work since her voice still would creep me out then intimidate me. Matsumoto always wore medium N7 armor. She wasn't even looking at me, she was staring off into space as if she expects me to be asleep.
I just looked at the commander and looked back at the main doors. Trying to internally shake this feeling of a mission about to go sideways. "Hey man, you ok?" Howard said looking over his shoulder as he hovered over one of the pilots. There was something off about him as well. Eve and he were the only heavy armored, but he was the only one that carried a shotgun while Eve was the explosive expert. Eve wore the rare Colossus armor while Howard wore the prototype Predator heavy armor. Hatsu had light Hydra armor and Star had her scorpion medium armor. The armor we all had was pretty much the first generations. What I realized the armor these guys were wearing weren't fucken cheap. These guys feel like professional mercs.
In that moment, I began to remember why I was even assigned to this squad. "I got a bad feeling about this." I said whispered to Hatsu as I checked my rifle one last time. Hatsu and I both were not liking this atmosphere. This didn't feel like some dinky military operation. It felt like an assassination, heist, or some high stakes operation. I BEEN in those types of missions, so I should know. Hatsu always trusted my gut instincts, since they were hardly ever wrong.
"It's fucken cute when you get serious." Star pipped up look at me being cocky, biting her bottom lip. I could tell she could sense my worry and she shuffled her weight as she spoke. Star tried fucking me, but I managed to have Hatsu bail me out. Star always seemed like she would fuck guys and toss them away once she was done. Shortly after, Star would end up fucking Howard. She is kind of a slut, now that I think about it. She had a small Russian English accent, but she could sound like a American if she wanted to in her acting days but gave that up. She can swear just as much as I do when she gets casual.
Hatsu looked at me oddly, it was almost as if he could start to feel the same bad juju, I was feeling. There was something wrong with our squad mates. They didn't feel like typical System Alliance Soldiers. More like killers. He just cleared his throat and gave me that serious look like he too can sense the trouble brewing. "Alright, buddy. I got you're back if shit goes south." He reassured so I patted him on the top of his helmet. The one crazy mother fucker to always have my back and I always had Alec's. Which is why Alec scouted Hatsu out in the first place. Not only that Hatsu was a strange combatant. He would mix different styles of old and new.
"Thirty seconds!" The pilot screamed as we were about to dock but this time, I did something I never done before and stood next to Eve in front of the doors. The pilot's voice was familiar but never thought about it. At this point the entire shuttle got tenser than ever before with just how serious I was.
"Corporal Schmitt. Is everything ok?" Commander Matsumoto said with a dead pan tone that was very creepy as fuck. Her eyes were visibly wide, creepy, and lifeless. Like looking at a wide-eyed, dead fish. Hatsu was terrified of her and he NEVER scared this easily. The whole shuttle stared at Hatsu and I, as if we wasn't one of them or something. This felt like two nerds in gym class full of jocks in the 1980s. We were easy pickings for them to kick the shit out of us. For some reason, Invasion of the body snatchers popped in my head as well. I just expected them to point at me, making some alien noise from their mouths and attack me.
"Don't worry about me...I'll manage. I always do." I said while trying to play it all off, trying to be much more laid back. Eve just patted me on my back as the shuttle was getting ready to land. Eve was quiet and elusive. That was her way for me to take point for a change. When the shuttle would swing by the drop off point and the doors opened. I made the first leap on to the small open balcony of the Relay.
It was enormous from the outside, it made me feel like a piss-ant. Sharply looking from corner to corner of the balcony of the relay looking for the airlock door as depicted from previous photographs of the briefing. I didn't like this one damn bit. Once I noticed the doors leading into the inactivate mass relay, I pointed at the direction and moved forward few feet forward aiming at the door. Commander Matsumoto and Howard took over at point followed by Eve, Star, Hatsu, then me in that order. I moved next to the commander as Howard and herself had to pried the door open with using the Commander's biotics. This made me look back at Hatsu and he looked at me with the same "Holy fucken shit." expression. She is way stronger then she appears. Once those two were done, Matsumoto hit my helmet as she used hand signals for me to be right behind her as we all huddled up into the airlock. Thankfully, it wasn't a tight fit.
We had to pry the main door as well. If it wasn't for the magnetic boots, we would all would have went flying into space from the air shooting out of the mass effect. She took point while flicking on her helmet and rifle flashlights thus I just followed her to the point I was almost stepping on her heels while checking the opposite side of the room. The relay was pitch dark and barely able to see my hand in front of my face. The flashlights were the only source of light which gave the whole thing a creepy feeling like some horror movie. Now an Aliens vibe. Awww, shit. I was waiting for a Turian to just appear in my sights but...do I shoot? FUCK THIS SITUATION!
Once everyone got inside the mass effect corridor. The doors auto closed themselves, regardless of having no power to reseal the mass effect relay. None of us took off our helmets despite the inside being re-pressurized.
Within seconds after I could feel the commander move along this long corridor that went looked like for miles to our left and right. "The main systems Should is this way." The older male scientists said walking in front of the commander as if she wasn't there. "Times of the waste. We need to activate this thing." He said completely over-confidently.
"Relax, it isn't like someone is going to show up." The young woman said chuckling at our seriousness walking to catch up with the lead scientist. Famous last words. The more these people spoke and acted, the more I need to be on edge. Everyone was acting strangely. We were there to guard the scientists nothing more, but that was according to Matsumoto and Morgan. Something was off about this whole damn mission that even Hatsu knew it, just by the way he would look at everyone. Confused, worried and not so trusting. It was like our anxiety was on hyper drive to the point, I felt more out of place than ever in my entire life.
The Commander turned on her heels and walked toward me. "Schmitt...With me..." She commanded at the same time as the rest of the crew chuckling like a bunch of hyenas expect for Eve. "Howard, Take the others and follow the schedule. We are to be in and out." She said again in that lifeless tone of hers.
"Yes, Ma'am." Howard sounded professionally to where he would motion the rest of team to run after the scientists making sure they don't lose them in this pitch-black corridor. I could only see with what the flashlights reviled in the darkness as they walked away from the commander and I. Shit, Hatsu and I got separated! This isn't any good. Not at all. Before separating Hatsu and I read each other's mind just by looking at each other. "TRUST NO ONE! WATCH YOU'RE ASS" his eyes screamed.
We walked a good 5 or 10 minutes in complete silence down the long ass corridor of the relay. Half way down the power was turned on but the relay seemed dormant. The fuck is going on?
I acted to relaxed slightly but staying shifty eyed as we reached the end of the long corridor and turned left into a door way. "Wanna see whats behind door number one?" I asked pointing at the door trying to change the subject fast as possible. I heard her sigh something under her breath, but then she nodded to me to hack the door. The door was easy, it was done before I realized I heard something. It was loud enough to echo the entire relay and it came from the other side of the relay. Was that a gunshot!? "What the fuck was that?" I questioned just as I hacked the door, turning around to see the Commander Matsumoto aiming her side arm at me. My body reacted before I could ask even to comprehend what was happening. My body managed to dive toward the front of the door, but Matsumoto got to squeeze the trigger to put a bullet though my lower stomach. I wasn't sure where I was hit. All I knew was the pain surging though my body. As I crashed into the ground almost lifeless, I couldn't help to think...So, this is where I die. This is HOW I die. Not only that, I also noticed my rifle was thrown in the corner of the opposite side of the room. I was paralyzed by pain as a shadow hovered over me. At first, I thought it was the Grim Reaper going to take me away. This was a whole new world of suffering. "Time for Operation Cerberus begin." Matsumoto said holding her omi-tool to her helmet.
I crawled to the opposite corner out of reaction. As my eyes forced me to look back at Matsumoto, I could see the small trail of blood behind me as I crawled on the ground toward the wall. Somewhere in the back of my mind realized something. There was no way I was going to survive this. NO WAY.
"I hope there is no hard feelings." She said coldly as my back touched the wall behind me. This was it, this was my ending...To bring Shepard into being then be cast aside like a child's plaything. Just as my own thoughts turned against me, something sparked the doors to open. Matsumoto's eyes went wide as hell and full of life as she looked to her left and started firing randomly before running away back down the corridor. "WHAT THE HELL ARE THOSE THINGS?!" I think Matsumoto spoke through the radio. I held my gunshot wound as I laid bleeding on the ground. I rolled to the corner of the wall and the doorway gasping for air. I was facing death straight in the eye again, as everything was going in and out. I'm going to die... I didn't know what was going on, but two figures ran by me chasing after Matsumoto. The gunshots sounded like they were a distance away. I'm not going to lie. I like that noise.
My eyes darted open when I realized that I had medi-gel on me. This wasn't like the game. I had to apply it myself. I reached into my deep hip pocket strapped on my left leg. Struggling to treat myself with little time, I ripped open the packet, pulled out a medi-patch and oozing the gel all over the cotton of the patch. I barely managed to get the oozed covered patch on my gut. Just as I barely managed to patch myself, a single turian rounded the corner aiming his/her rifle at me whom I just now noticed. I seethed as the drugs started to kick in. His or her armor was white and blue. Big enormous sons of bitches. About six foot five? Taller perhaps? These guys were menacing up close and bigger than you would initially think. Slim and agile really went hand in hand with them. I couldn't wrap my mind around what was going on because of the pain and confusion. These guys seemed naturally stronger and possibly faster too. I never stood a chance on my own. I'm good as dead or worse. The turian made me look like a dwarf perhaps he/she was six foot six?
Another turian this one a bit smaller, lowered the gun of the other turian. The taller turian seemed confused by his or her head motions. I completely ignored them as I used the last of my medi-gel on the second smaller patch. The exit wound need treated too. The two turians watched me as I patched myself again. No movement just watched. When I was done. I realized that I gave myself only an hour or so. I knew it wouldn't completely treat a gunshot wound to the gut. The two turians turned on there much brighter omi-tool and made strange chirping and clicking noises that you would expect from birds or dolphins. Everything started to go black. If I die, then I die. it wasn't long until I lost consciousness.