Preface

In the year 2148, explorers on Mars discovered the remains of an ancient space faring civilization.

In the decades that followed, these mysterious artefacts revealed startling new technologies, enabling travel to the furthest stars.

The basis for this incredible technology was a force that controlled the very fabric of space and time.

They called it the greatest discover in human history.

The civilizations of the galaxy call it Mass Effect.

Mass Effect: Origin.

Living in the shadow of a legend is a rather cold feeling.

Though I loved my brother, I found it exasperating that the only constant in my life was being dragged along on his ride. Unintentional as it was, I was known in the world only as the sister of the guy who won the Blitz for the Alliance. It followed me everywhere, haunting me, clasping chains around my ankles and tossing me into deep pools of ignorance.

I was Alliance military. For a while.

Regardless of the effort I put into being the best solider I could be, I was continuously shoved backwards by John's legacy and then, to add insult to injury, I held back by my lack of legacy.

At the ripe age of 22, I did the only thing that seemed logical, to me at least.

I left the Alliance, I traded the courteous calamity of the Citadel for the darkened and dirty life that came tied to being a resident of Omega.

I left Helena Shepard to die.

I took my mother's maiden name, Patel, and got in nice and snug with Omega's defacto ruler, Aria T'Loak.

She ran everything on Omega and not one thing slipped by unnoticed by the calculating Asari woman. She had eyes and ears everywhere, and muscle too. That's where I fit in.

The Alliance gave me a particular set of skills that I honed in the streets of Omega, doing Aria's bidding with a quick tongue and a sniper rifle strapped to my back.

My job was simple: Tell this person this information. If shit gets nasty, pull the rifle off your back and fill heads with lead.

Easy money. Easy respect.

Aria came to trust me and before long, I wasn't just Lena the hired muscle, I was Lena, Aria's right hand woman.

I would go so far as to say we were friends, if a woman like Aria could have friends, that is.

Life was simple, though not always easy. Omega was like a high octane carnival ride except with more bullets.

I was sure Aria was aware that I was the sister of the great Commander Shepard, but she never mentioned it.

However, that didn't discourage my thoughts of it. Nothing escaped Aria's notice.

About a year and a half after my arrival on Omega, the station was abuzz with news.

Commander John Shepard saved the Citadel from a rouge Spectre, an obscene amount of Geth and some very large, very strange ship known as Sovereign. I saw vids of him, my brother. Interviews mostly with the occasional vid of a modern day paparazzi chasing him down on the Citadel, but it was his interviews that caught my attention.

He talked about the ship, Sovereign, more than the Geth and the Spectre. The way he talked about it, it was like he believed the ship was a who, not a what. His words made a strange tingle run up my spine and caused the hairs on the back of my neck to stand on end. Reaper.

That's what he called it. A Reaper.

Mass Effect: Reunion.

The shadows were not quite pitch black, but they were a shade of dark that was on par with that kind of darkness.

The red that illuminated the outside of Afterlife threw their faces into a sinister light and I couldn't bury the feeling of betrayal and fury that rose in my gut like an enraged animal rising forcefully from slumber.

I moved around them and slipped through the automated door way that led to the market place. I would enter Afterlife through the lower level and move up from there. It wasn't uncommon for me to do that, there would be no questions asked, though, I doubt any would be brave enough to ask them anyway. Omega smelt of dirt and filth and blood. It smelt... Like home. This was my home now.

The thudding bass was surrounding me as I swept across the floor, the crowd moving subconsciously to avoid me. I moved smoothly up the stairs and allowed my eyes to sweep the room.

I was too slow. They must already be above my head on the balcony overlooking the club with Aria.

I moved slowly up the stairs to not draw attention to myself. There was a woman, beautiful with a deadly grace. Her body was downright sinful in a fortified tight, white and black bodysuit, but I was more interested in the handgun strapped to her waist. I looked to the man at her side: dark skin, chocolate eyes, black armoured bodysuit, and an identical weapon strapped to his own hip.

And the object of my anger.

A man. Metal armour. Shotgun, handgun, submachine gun and the subtle blue aura of biotics.

Rough voice, fidgety. Eyes on the Batarian scanning him.

"Are you looking for this?" He asked, his voice sarcastic, he pulled the submachine gun from his lower back and held it next to his head, wiggling it teasingly.

Two guns levelled with his head and chest. His little friends pulled their guns causing newly approached henchmen to cover them with their own guns.

But none of these people were the object of attention. It was me.

The second the guns had risen against my brother, my hands subconsciously pulled two handguns, one from each hip, and aimed them steadily at the heads of those threatening John Shepard.

John's followers were visibly confused at the development. John, himself, slowly turned to face me.

"Lena." He breathed out in disbelief. "I thought you were dead." He said as all the guns began to lower.

"I could say the same for you." I spat back sourly.

Two years ago, Omega was assaulted by the vids. The news reports and the interviews, all covering the death of the late Commander Shepard.

"Cerberus," He said with a shrug, "They spent the last two years bringing me back to life to deal with the Collectors."

I stared at him and I'm almost certain I was probably looking at him like he was crazy.

"Sit down, grab a drink. I'll explain everything." He said, a small, familiar smile starting to appear on his face.

"Shepard, I really don't think we have time for-" The woman started to speak, but I had already flicked her gun out of her hand and shoved her roughly down the stairs to land solidly on her rather plump behind.

"Miranda, we have time. My sister deserves the truth. And there are some things I want to hear from her." John said, his gaze fixing on me sternly.

I had some things to answer for.

Actually, I had quite a few things to answer for.

Author Note:

First fanfiction. Ever.

So, I really need feedback to give me an idea on what parts I need to work on.

This story does not have a set storyline, I thought it would be interesting for you, the reader, to help shape the story.

So, drop some reviews and help me out if you can.

Thanks you for reading.

Lena's faceclaim: Phoebe Tonkin (Woo, Australian!)

Disclaimer: I do not own Mass Effect or the characters from Mass Effect. They are property of Bioware. I own only Lena Patel (Helena shepard).