A/N So this is my first fanfiction I needed a way to sort out my ideas that where swimming in my head, and this story came about in my dreams so I thought to write it down. Positive feedback in appreciated but in the end not entirely necessary. I will finish this story however long that takes. I've already mapped out the story and the direction it will go if you have an idea I'm more than willing to listen and possibly add if it fits for what I've already planned. I can't give you a definitive time frame on updates but it won't be months between chapters. Anyways I hope you enjoy what I have written and let your imagination go wild with possibilities. I do not own Mass Effect or Overwatch
Enigma Out of Time
Chapter 1 Unsettling Truth
"Proteus we're leaving there is nothing more we can do here" The ex-Cerberus phantom yelled to his geth companion. He could still smell the amalgamation of burnt flesh and grim on his boots it clung to the air like a morning fog.
"Pre FTL checks complete what is our destination?" Proteus disembodied voice asked, the mobile platform already safely put away for the journey ahead.
"Set a course for the Sol system, that's where we make our last stand against the monsters that hunt us" Ezra said looking at the Galaxy map in front of him, the only response was the lurch of the ship as it headed towards the closest Mass Relay leaving Thessia behind.
"Agent Ezra reaper forces have broken off from current engagement with Thessian cruisers taking evasive maneuvers" the disembodied voice of the geth could be heard as Ezra quickly sat in the pilot seat. "Proteus give me manual control I need you to divert all power from non-critical systems to shields" within seconds of Ezra's order a red beam of a reaper could be seen missing his ship, the shimmering of the Kinetic barrier flaring from the heat of the beam.
"45.375 seconds to relay jump, initiating sequence, coordinates locked" Proteus said as another red hot beam scorched passed the haul of the ship. Taking evasive maneuvers again to avoid the encroaching death, the mass relay spinning to life as you barrel towards safety, massive reaper in tow.
After what felt like hours the ship rockets towards your next destination, unbeknownst for what is to come. "Successful relay jump achieved" Proteus said as you slump back into your seat wary from the adrenaline and nerves that racked your body.
"Yes thanks Proteus I can see that" Ezra said heaving a sigh of relief. "What's our ETA Proteus" as he set the auto pilot.
"ETA is 3hrs 14 minutes" the geth's voice echoes through the cabin.
"Good what about the stasis pod?" Ezra asks worry evident in your voice.
"Stasis pod is in stable condition, vitals holding at acceptable conditions."
Nodding to himself in reassurance Ezra headed down to the cabin to get what rest he could. "Proteus wake me up before we get there I'm going to rest while I can." Ezra said as he took off his helmet sitting it down on the nightstand. Laying down he closed his eyes exhaustion creeping in at the back of his mind, praying to whatever god will give him at least a few hours of uninterrupted sleep.
2hrs and 52 minutes later
Bolted awake from the sudden jerk of the ship, falling onto the floor "Proteus what the hell is going on?" Ezra asked frustration clear in his tone.
"Unknown power fluctuation from intended Mass Relay" Proteus disembodied voice says worry somehow evident in his synthetic tone.
Grabbing his helmet from the floor, quickly making way through the ship as another tremor rocked the fuselage. "What do you mean unknown!?" Ezra yelled taking a seat in the cockpit, bringing up the navigational instruments his eyes widening.
"Insufficient data for appropriate response all navigational equipment malfunctioning". As Proteus voice stated as Ezra's eyes seen an aurora of red cover the slipstream of the relay jump darkening the once vibrant blue hue of slipstream space.
"Proteus take us out of jump speed now before we break apart!" Ezra screamed as his hands danced across the panel taking control of the ship once more. With a violent jerk and a vibrant shockwave of red and purple hues the ship left the dangers of jump speed but not without consequences.
"Unknown power surge ship controls offline" Proteus voices seeming frantic as Ezra realized the need for urgency, Earth…and the ship was headed into a hectic collision course.
"Proteus reestablish manual controls asap!" Ezra screamed as his hands dance across the ships interface in vain attempt in regaining control. Fear settling in as he broke into Earth's atmosphere hurdling towards death, mind racing for any solution.
"Controls reestablish we recommend immediate action". Not hesitating a second longer he attempted emergency landing procedures.
Click, Click, Click the sound of a keyboard could be heard as a lone figure could be seen sitting in large bean bag chair idly munching on peanut butter, in a once grand computer lab now dark and devoid of life. Suddenly a warning signal could be seen from one of the many screens. Pushing up his glasses the large gorilla face contorts its way into surprise.
"Athena?" Winston asked still wearing is old space uniform as information still flows from the old Overwatch satellites.
"Temporal shift in space just outside Earth atmosphere, unknown object collision course with Earth in 56 seconds." A smooth synthetic female voice states as Winston continued to read the incoming data.
"Where is its intended collision?" Winston asks curiosity peaking with each new line of data read.
"It's projected path lands it 26.8 miles South West of Edinburgh United Kingdom…..correction object has just impacted." An almost inaudible hum could be heard has Winston's mind tried processing the recent events.
The knowledge of time displacement and shifts in space where not unknown to the ape scientist but the question remained what could have caused it outside of himself? Wanting to examine the object himself was set in his mind but his location from the old Overwatch base in Gibraltar would take too long, before someone went to investigate the would be space junk. With a solution almost instantly coming to the forefront of his thoughts Winston made a call to an old friend.
"Oi Winston that you?" a perky British female voice could be heard over his headset.
With a good natured laugh "Yes Lena it is I was wondering if you could do me a favor?" Winston asked but already knowing the answer.
"Sure what is it luv, nothing serious I hope?"
Readjusting his glasses once more Winston began to type through his data once more. "No nothing serious just need you to check something out for me, for curiosity sake. Athena registered a temporal shift just outside our atmosphere and whatever object caused it as crashed just outside Edinburgh. I would like if you could check it out before anyone else does and if you can bring it to me." Winston stated already having the coordinates sent to Lena's communicator.
"Alrite luv I can do that, been awhile since I've been out and about see you soon!" the line ending immediately.
Excitement was the perfect word to describe Lena's current situation. It had been years since the Perta's Act that halted all Overwatch activities, and stagnation had set in for the agent. Stepping into her old outfit once more the bright orange track suit clinging to the curves of the short haired brunette, zipping into place her favorite aviation bomber jacket and fastening the straps to her cronal accelerator its bright mechanical ring just below her bust, finally snapping into place her neon orange tinted goggles brown eyes gleaming with joy. Dashing from her apartment in London blinking as fast as she could leaving blue streak behind her, as she headed towards the river. Passing through an industrial district Lena stopped at an abandoned warehouse, stepping inside and quickly making her way to the back. Upon coming to an elevator Lena scans through biometrics instantly granting her access. Descending into a hangar tapping her foot impatiently, with the sliding of doors Lena zips to the locker in the far corner and quickly putting on her flight suit and starting up the old Overwatch jet. Plotting the course into the jets navigational system Lena rocketed out the tunnel into the London bay the jets engines roaring at full blast. Leveling the jet out Lena knew it would only take a little over an hour to reach her destination, with that thought in mind she engaged the auto pilot, calming her nerves from the sudden rush of adrenaline.
The inky blackness of unconsciousness, thunderous boom of a fog like siren blaring crept at the back of his mind. "The Cycle Cannot be broken" a heavy synthetic voice boomed in your mind "Our numbers will darken the sky of every world, you cannot escape your doom!" hopelessness clawed its way into the forefront of your mind. "Ezra" a voice called to you from the darkness, he could hear someone call to him once more
"Agent Era please respond!" Jolting awake from an electric shock he quickly scanned his surroundings, finally looking upon the single bright red eye of the geth its eye flapped quizzically analyzing him.
"Apologies agent Ezra I thought it best to wake you."
With a sigh and groan of irritation "Yea but did you really need to shock me, but thank you didn't like that dream anyways, give me a sitrep" Ezra asked while thinking that next time buckling up for a rough ride the banging headache was not pleasant.
"You've currently incapacitated for 30 minutes, we are currently 26.8 miles outside of Edinburgh U.K." the geth suddenly stopped seemingly at a loss of what to say next.
"And did you send out a distress signal for anyone within the vicinity, what about reaper forces how close are they to our position, can the Artemis still fly, what about the stasis pod?" Ezra asked in rapid succession inpatient's dripping from your tone.
The geth eye flaps flaring at the questions as if trying to find the right words. "Repair drones are currently repairing the ship in critical areas, stasis pod still above acceptable perimeters, but there are no reaper forces in the vicinity"
"Good as soon as we can fly we'll make for London that's the last known location for the push to the Citadel." Things seemed to be going well despite the lack luster way of landing but luck for once seem to be on your side at least till the geth ruined what luck you did have.
"Agent Ezra you misunderstand there are no Reaper forces on Earth, I've already tapped into local and worldwide communication networks…..there is no war."
What was all you could think as your eyes widen at the statement your synthetic companion had just said. No war, no reapers but this was Earth he was just chased by one of those damnable machines. Before his brain could attempt to answer the questions that seemed to have no answer years of military and Cerberus training kicked in, putting the questions that plagued your mind you needed a plan.
"Proteus stay here and guard the Artemis gather whatever information you can find, I'm going to scout the surrounding area. If I'm not back before repairs are made to the ship let me know" as he made his way out the ship grabbing his gear he made one final statement before stepping out "And Proteus keep Lidana safe" a synthetic reply of affirmative was your answer as you left to distract your mind form the torrent of questions.
Proteus the synthetic intelligence watched as his "friend" Ezra would repeatedly say they we're, left to scout the area. Proteus may have been naïve when it comes to organics but he knew the real reason for his immediate departure. Ezra simply needed to anchor himself to the situation at hand. Deciding to query upon these thoughts later Proteus began to sift through communications and any information that could be deemed relevant. In the same instance of looking for relevant data the geth was coordinating with the repair drones for the Artemis sending constant data flows of information to the A.I. Repairs where coming along quickly but the information from communications was puzzling, logically speaking it wasn't probably if at all possible but the data was saying otherwise. Before Proteus could make more sense of this new found information a warning signal sounded from within the ship. Someone was approaching the ship that wasn't yet identified. Halting his data mining Proteus grabbed his geth shotgun its smooth and rounded surfaces shimmering from the light of the ship.
"Agent Ezra unknown entity approaching The Artemis moving to engage, recommend immediate return." Hearing confirmation Proteus headed outside the ship plasma shotgun primed for action.
Lena had finally made it to her destination provided by Winston, slowing floating the jet down she could see the track marks where an object had crashed making its way to the forest. At the tree line Lena could see in the Twilight tress having been uprooted from the home amongst the dirt. With her jet landed she opened up the cockpit shutting down the jet and jumping down to the ground. Brining her dual pistols to a ready position, Lena made her way to the forests edge.
"Bilmey what a mess this is, I wonder what could have caused it, Oi Winston I've touched down at the coordinates looks like I'm the first one here" she radioed Winston of her arrival as she moved through the thicket of broken trees and uprooted foliage.
"Copy that Lena what can you see?" curiosity evident in his voice.
"Whatever caused this Winston isn't some meteorite if that's what yur askin, these tracks say otherwise, to straight forward for some space rock to make." Lena may not be a scientist but she knew a crash landing when she seen it. Whatever it was had to have been man made or….Lena was brought out of her musing when she came across what she had been looking for.
"Winston you should see this it's a….." Lena was awe struck at what lay before her she almost forgot to finish her sentence. She could hear Winston's frantic questions snapping her out of the stupor. "Sorry bout that Winston" she stuttered out "It's a…"
Lena didn't get a chance to finish her statement a low whizzing noise of something charging up could be heard before a synthetic voice startled her from behind. "Identify" was all it said. Slowly turning around dropping her weapons and raising her hands Lena's eyes fell upon a robot she had never seen before. Its single glowing red eye analyzing her every move its smooth synthetic exterior combined with the weapon of unknown origins to her held in three fingered hands, and bipedal three toed feet. Lena was once again brought out of her thoughts when it asked again for her to identify herself.
Looking into its eye once more she answered "My name Lena Oxton call sign Tracer, you may call me Lena" the bipedal synthetic's eye flaps flared in a way that showed curiosity and confusion. Steeling her resolve to understand the situation at hand she asked the first question that came to mind
"What are you?" the question was simple she had to start somewhere.
Seconds felt like hours than it answered "I am Geth." A simple answer but a simple question but what was a Geth. It was like no other omnic or robotic race she had seen. The omnic's looked nothing like this robotic race. It only resembled small features of being humanoid. It was alien to her, then it seemed to click it was alien, something outside there realm of known space. With her excitement gaining momentum at every passing thought questions flowed out of her mouth like an overflowing river.
"Are you an alien, where are you from, what's your name and how can you speak our language?! Bilmey me Lena Oxton meeting an alien Winston is going to flip a banana" she laughed to herself.
Looking at the Geth its eye flapped, seeming to think on how to respond to the spitfire of questions it was just ask. Lowering his weapon at the inquisitive female deeming her a non-threat he responded his synthetic voice almost seeming amused at the happenstance.
"My name is Proteus, I come from beyond the Perseus Veil in the Terminus System, We" it stopped almost as if to rethink its wording. "I have databanks on thousands of different languages from across known systems."
Lena was speechless not in her wildest dreams did she think to ever meet an alien. Before she could ask more questions another voice surfaced weary evident in the tone in which he spoke.
"Proteus I assume this is our unknown" looking to her left a figure emerged, the slim black and white armor snug to his physique if it was a male at least she thought. Continuing to stare she noticed scratches and burn marks across the smooth chest piece the legs and boots seem to be slightly caked with dirt and grime, the helmet is what stuck out the most. Full faced with four red slits, two on each side where the eyes should be. The armor was intimidating to say the least but very human like.
"Affirmative, human female, name Lena Oxton non-hostile" it spoke answering the question without hesitation. Before she could ponder on the situation the new figure broke her train of thought.
"Thanks Proteus I can see she's human and female, Ms. Oxton maybe you can answer a few questions for me then." Lena nodded her head for the figure to continue he lowered his weapon which looked to be a large sniper rifle.
"My name is Ezra Silvara, and why are you here?"
"Well Ezra you may call me Lena as for why I'm here luv our satellites picked up a temporal shift outside of Earth atmosphere so we traced it here and well here I am" Lena replied in her chipper voice excitement dripping from every word. Our satellites, Ezra thought he wanted answers to so many questions. First he needed some place secure to hide his ship, it had only been over an hour since he crashed. If she could get here rather quickly then maybe the best option was to seek refuge with those who could detect his entry, before others came looking. Not seeing many other options to the current situation and needing answers.
"Lena I have several things I wish to ask, many I am unsure if the answers will help but I need someplace to go to finish repairs on my ship. If you have the ability to detect our entry you must be able to hide us as well?"
Quickly nodding her head Lena spoke "Absolutely luv I was asked to bring back whatever I could if possible anyway" she said with a smile, "Are you sure your ship can fly from what I assume was an unfortunate landing luv?" This was a fair question before you could voice it Proteus answered his tone carrying a sense of pride.
"The Artemis is at appropriate functionality to achieve this result, space flight is not recommended at this time further repairs to haul structure needed." Smiling behind his helmet it what felt like years since he had done so, say what you will about the Geth he could get just about any job done quickly.
"Well then Lena if my friend here says it can fly then we can, we'll follow your lead." With this Ezra and Proteus headed back into the ship for departure.
"Winston you hear me luv, I'll be bringing that surprise back to Gibraltar, no asking questions you'll have to wait big guy don't wanna ruin it now do we?" A loud audible humph was she heard from the scientist. Laughing to herself once more she picked up her weapons and blinked back to her jet, mentally taking note of questions to ask these otherworldly beings.
The whine of roaring engines could be heard as Winston made his way to the hanger in the Gibraltar base. It had been roughly 7 hours since his last transmission with Lena and his curiosity for the situation was becoming almost unbearable to the scientist. No matter how many times he asked Lena would not answer a single one of his questions. Simply telling him to be patient, stepping into the hangar Winston was awe struck his eyes gliding over the haul of a ship he had never seen before. Winston brought himself out of his thinking just before a weight crashed into him signaling Lena had made herself known.
Laughing at his energetic friend's antics "It's good to see you again Lena so this is what you found, incredible how did you get it here on your own?" As if to answer his question a door slide open reveling two figures stepping out, making their way towards the duo.
"Winston you won't believe it, there alien's luv, just like the movies isn't it exciting." Lena's optimism was infectious but there were more pressing issues at hand. If these beings really were aliens then what purpose are they here for.
"Greetings my name is Winston and welcome to Watchpoint Gibraltar" Winston greeted his new found guests. Before they could continue his logical mind had to know if they were a threat. "If I may ask why you are here on this planet, could you explain the temporal shift that caused you to crash?" Winston asked his inquisitive tone masking the underlying threat should he not receive the answer he liked. Snickering slightly at the giant ape Ezra reached up to his helmet and slowly pulled it off revealing the human beneath.
"My name is Ezra Silvara as to why we are here, well it was to put some old ghosts to sleep so to speak. As to how we got here I can't answer that because I don't know at least not now anyways. I need to repair my ship and hopefully you both can give me some answers as well as some of your own."
Throughout Ezra and Winston's conversation Lena could not help but stare at the human before her. Human he was human but that didn't make any sense she hadn't known of any other humans making alien contact, she was Overwatch they had the highest security clearance how could something like this not be heard amongst other agents. Continue to analyze Ezra his short blonde hair just hanging passed his brow, his face handsome with youth. The eyes told a different story she could see the confusion and uncertainty within them. His posture rigid and weary from what she could see as exhaustion. The dark circles could faintly be seen around his eyes reiterating her previous thought. What stories he must have he was like a book waiting to be read and she was determined to read as much as she could.
Trying not to reveal to much though speaking with a talking gorilla was quite comical of course so was watching a Krogan dance in Ezra opinion, at least Winston seemed to think more with logic than instinct atm.
"What year is this Winston" Ezra had to know as illogical as it sounded in his mind he wasn't going to completely dismiss it. He had fought with monsters thought out of the realm of possibility by most. Ezra refused to make the same mistake but all evidence gathered by Proteus had pointed to either they somehow went back in time, but there was no Overwatch or talking gorillas in his history classes or the other possibility. Which seem to gain momentum in the realm of possibility every second he thought about it, an alternate universe to his own, pausing his current train of thoughts he gave Winston his full attention.
"It's currently the year 2080" Ezra paled one last question would answer his predicament.
"What of the System Alliance Navy does it exist," desperation in his tone as he voiced his question. Winston seemed confused at these series of questions.
"There is no such organization on this world"
There it was, with that last question answered the world he knew, the galaxy was no longer known to him. Taking a shaky breath to steady his over exerted mind
"If you have any pressing questions I'm sure Proteus would be willing to answer them" Ezra said with defeat marred across his face. As he slowly made his way back to the entrance of The Artemis, it was 2080 in a Universe not of his own. Lost in the maelstrom of his thoughts he hadn't realized where his feet had taken him. The med bay small in size compared to others, Corvette class ships were meant for recon missions not full scale assaults. Ezra slowly walked to the stasis pod checking the vitals of the occupant inside once more. Content with the read outs he placed his hand upon the glass. "What are we going to do now, what is there even for us here?" Hopelessness had finally settled in, "At least when we fought the Reapers we had something to fight to distract us from the hopelessness and desperation, now though it all just crashes down on you."
We'll figure it out I suppose we have to Ezra thought to himself "First things first though, I will find a way to get you help though. You won't be stuck in that pod forever, there has to be someone that I can find to help me."
Finally having calmed some of the dark thoughts from his mind Ezra walked back to his Captain's cabin. Slowly unbuckling his armor piece by piece, each one seeming to ease the emotional and physical fatigue with its removal, finally sliding out of his under armor he laid down in the only place he could feel safe. The combination of pillows and comforter lulling him to sleep from the past day's events, he had much to think upon but rest came first he just hoped that Proteus wouldn't say more than what was necessary if anything at all. These we're his last thoughts before sleep finally took hold of his tired body and mind.
Confusion was easily readable on the faces of Lena and Winston why had Ezra acted in such a way, what caused in sudden departure and defeat at the situation. At least Proteus still remained maybe this synthetic construct would be willing to answer some of these questions.
Lena was the first to break the silence between the three "Uhh Proteus what is the system alliance and why does Ezra seem upset of its non-existence?"
It didn't take long for the synthetic to answer. "The System Alliance Navy was established in 2072 once humans had started the early stages of planet colonization. I predict Ezra's change in emotional state was in the confirmation that this is not the Earth he knows."
"Earth he doesn't know could you elaborate" Winston asked his mind already stumbling across his own theories.
"Affirmative, when The Artemis crashed I had already begun searching through local communications and information, none of which matched previously known associations. History and events do not match records in our database for humans."
Winston seemed to take the news differently than Lena while he hummed in his own thoughts she asked in an understanding tone. "Are you saying you're both from a different time luv?"
Proteus eyes flaps flared at the misunderstanding "Negative Lena Oxton we theorize this is not our universe but an alternate to the one matching our previous records."
Lena was an disbelief, she herself knew what it was like to be misplaced out of time but an alternate universe was something she least expected she could sympathize in a way, the feeling of be a ghost. Before Lena could voice he next thought it seemed Winston was along the same line of thinking. "Can you explain the events that lead to your relocation to this universe?" Proteus had recapped there departure from a planet called Thessia, using what he called a Mass Relay to make their way back to Earth, the sudden flux of power, and the emergency leave of the relay's slipstream, hurdling towards the sudden crash landing outside of Edinburgh. Winston had felt some semblance of the story was left out but he could voice these thoughts at a later date. The more pressing issue was what could supply and give enough energy for one to move from one universe to another and could it be replicated to maybe send them home.
"Proteus if you would be willing I would like to go over the data you have from your ship and yourself maybe we can find a solution in sending you home, Athena set up a new server database and give full access to our new friend, we've got a new project to start", The smooth female synthetic voice confirming Winston's last order.
As Proteus and Winston left to collaborate on their combined efforts, Lena was left in the hanger to her thoughts. As interesting as it might be to sit in with Winston's new project with Proteus, she had a feeling it would only accomplish putting her to sleep. No she wanted to continue to read the book that was Ezra's life before here. What was the galaxy like, how many other species had he meet and seen, and many other questions filled her head, but she knew that it was not possible well for the moment. He would need time to process his current events. She knew it took her time when she was misplaced from her own time stream. Taking it slow was the only solution but she decided to be there every step of the way. Winston had helped and guided her through, in her dark moments and she was more than willing to pass it forward. With a new found sense of determination she decided that sleep was at the top of list for the moment. Heading out from the hangar she walked through the once great halls of the Overwatch base, her footsteps echoing with each step. Reaching the elevator at the end of the hall she scanned her old keycard granting her access and headed to her old room facing the ocean. Stripping down her outfit and taking a quick shower she got into her bed, intending to bring a smile to Ezra face.