A/N: thanks to Liege Lord I edited the first few chapters. Still, if you noticed any grammar mistakes, I appreciate it if you could mention it in the review.

This story starts with my SI arrival on an unusual location at an unusual time. And even though there is a long way to the events of Mass Effect, the story will cover all the games. Also this is a multi SI but the SIs aren't gonna meet each other for a while. So for now bear with me.

disclaimers: In case anyone's wondering, no I don't own Mass Effect. so that's that!

"Oh, you can't help that," said the Cat. "we're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad."

"How do you know I'm mad?" said Alice.

"You must be," said the Cat, "or you wouldn't have come here."

It's rarely a good sign to wake up to the thought 'Oh ... How did I get here?'.

Specially if here is in the middle of a war zone or at least looks like a hurricane has hit it. And I'm pretty sure I am awake. because this … ouch! … is the nineteenth time I'm pinching myself.

Nope. The half destroyed town is still there. Buildings still lie flattened. Fire still burns and garbage and debris are still being tossed by an invisible wind.

So got any other bright idea? I mean beside pinching yourself to death. Comes my brother's sarcastic voice from the back of my head.

Like figuring out how you ended up here. Come on girl think. What's the last thing you remember?

Alright. Alright. Going to the airport. Saying goodbyes, hugging, crying, stealing my brother's iPod touch as a final prank. Getting aboard. An hour of peaceful flight. And then ... then the shaking started.

I can remember how unreal it all felt. The voice of captain crackling over the speakers, Trying to calm down the passengers. And it was actually working for a while but when it was suddenly followed by "Oh my god, what's happening now?" I knew we were in deep shit!

I remember I was looking out the window. All of a sudden the sky was overcast with dark cloudsand and there was lightning striking everywhere.

And I remember this bright blue light. But after that … Nothing.

And somehow I ended up here.

'Did the airplane crash here? Should I be worried about the smoke monster now?' I think to myself while walking down the empty street. Airplane crash seems like the only logical explanation. But what explains this ghost town? Where is everybody? I've been walking for half an hour now and still I haven't seen a soul. This is really freaking me out.

I check my cell phone for what seems to be the hundredth time. Sigh ... No reception yet. Damn it!

It's hot as hell. I'm thirsty. And my high heels are starting to slowly win over the natural structure of my bones. But just when I'm about to stop at the corner of the street to catch my breath, I finally see it. A moving figure in the distance. I pick up my pace. Whoever he is, he doesn't seem to have noticed me yet. After maybe a minute or two I finally catch up with the guy. But … this doesn't seem right. He is at least six feet tall with two long thick fingers and an opposable thumb on each hand. And even though I can't see his face I can clearly see the crest of horns on his head.

Blink, blink. Alright THAT is a TURIAN. (Ouch … twenty … nope he is still there.) I take a good look around. no sign of Ashton Kutcher, no hidden cameras. I'm not being Punk'd and I don't think the airplane crash landed in the middle of comic con .. THAT is REALLY a TURIAN.

Maybe it is a shock of seeing a real turian or maybe it was just dehydration but without a moment of thinking that how this is even possible, I raise my hand and yell "Hey, excu-"

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Yeah let's ask the nice bird-reptile alien with big gun for direction! Great idea dumbass!

The trigger happy turian didn't hesitate even for a second to pull the trigger. He has been on my tail for the past ten minutes and I think it's a fair assumption that he isn't looking for me to apologize for his mistake.

I think I lost him for now. But the problem is I can't walk anymore, let alone running. He could easily catch up to me with my heels on so I took them off. It seemed like a good idea at the time. But now I have shards of glass in my feet. And it really, really hurts. The only thing stopping me from breaking into tears is fear of him hearing me.

I probably would've spend these moments wondering how I ended up in mass effect universe or when and where I am. But right now, I have more pressing concern. Like the alien that's after my head.

I can't run from him. And sooner or later he'll find the trail of my blood. It's just the matter of time. That leaves me just one option. Facing him. But what Am I supposed to do against an armed turian.

Kicking him in the nuts?

He was wearing a full body armor.

Maybe I could karate chop him!

You don't know karate!

I think I can strangle him with my scarf?

Think again!

What if I stick a gun to my bac-

This isn't Die Hard and you don't have a gun! Check your goddamn purse see if there's anything useful.

I empty my purse's content on the ground beside me. Makeup bag, sunglasses, nail clipper, nail file, floss, gum, keys, lighter, pack of cigarettes, my brother's iPod, my own cell phone, perfume, lotion, a compact mirror and my wallet.

Hmmm ... Not the most impressive arsenal of weaponry I've ever seen.

Hey! Maybe I could use the lighter to scare him off.

That's for traveling back in time dumbass!

Hey how about the nail file? I think I can do some serious damage with it.

Yeah. right after you clipped his talon nails and … Hey that's actually not a bad idea. But you should wait for the right moment.

So I just hide the nail file in my sleeve sitting against the wall of a building that I think sometimes before had been a bar. And I wait.

And wait.

And wait.

And after what seems to be an eternity, I hear his footsteps. He is really taking his time. Probably because we both know I'm not going anywhere.

Finally he stands shadowing over me, blocking the sun as he points his gun at my head. I can see his mandibles shift into a smug turian smile. Then he slowly lowers his gun. For a very brief moment I feel relieved. Maybe after all everything was just a misunderstanding or a very elaborate prank. But that theory goes out the window when he suddenly grabs my throat with his talons. He raises me to his face and mutters something to me which I guess isn't an apology.

It's impossible for me to breath. I can feel water gathering in my eyes. He's going to strangle me. Not even sparing a bullet. Asshole!

But this is exactly what I was counting on. After all no matter the time, not matter the race, men are always ready to believe women are helpless. I make sure I have a good grip on my nail file. There is going to be only one chance. And it's going to hurt like hell for him. So I guess it's only polite to apologize first!

"S-sorry!" I weakly let out. And then I jam the nail file into his left eye.

He lets go of me with a loud scream and drops his rifle, raising his talons to his eye and we both drop backward to the ground. I let out a cry of pain. I could feel the shards of glass going even deeper into my skin. I know I don't have more than a few second before he gets to his feet. So I pull myself toward his rifle grab it and point it at him.

"Who's whose bitch now, huh?"I give out a hysterical chuckle.

He rises to his feet. Yelling something at me in his own language. But this time I think I have a few good ideas what it might be.

"All right now, piss off!" I order him raising the rifle.

I know he probably doesn't understand what I'm saying but I'm hoping the barrel pointed at his head get the message through. But to my horror he doesn't seem all that concern about it.

"Don't make me shoot you! Get lost" I really don't want to kill him. Maybe if I didn't know what the turians are, it would've been easier. I could've convince myself it's like when I go hunting with my uncle. After all I've shot a goose before and it hadn't even shot me or tried to strangle me. But I do know what they are. And no matter how hard I wish. He doesn't look like a goose.

I think he notices my hesitation with his one good eye. Because all of a sudden he jumps at me.

Shi-

Bang!

The turian's head explodes followed by dark blue blood and brain goo splashing all over my jacket and face.

Ugh! I think I'm gonna be sick!

I know I didn't pull the trigger, I didn't even have time. So unless his head picked this exact moment to explode outwards, some one else must have shot him. But who?

And as if to answer my question a voice comes from behind me.

"Hey, nice shot Eva." I turn around and look at the three new figures. They're all human, two men and a woman. All in their mid twenties.

But I'm not about to make the same mistake so I point the rifle at the man in the middle who seems to be their leader. The big guy with short black hair on his left points his gun at me in response.

"Easy. We're just here to help." The blonde woman who I assume is Eva tries to calm me down before turning to the big guy.

"Lower your weapon for heaven's sake. You're scaring her Ben." 'Ben' grumbles something but does what she asks.

Before I can ask them anything the brunnet guy in the middle starts talking with a very familiar deep voice.

"Why don't you put that thing away kid? You can't use it anyway." Where have I have I heard that voice?

"What's that supposed to mean?" I ask a little offended. What makes everybody so sure that I can't pull the trigger? I can be a cold hearted bitch if I want!

Yeah right!

He gives me a warm smile starting to walk toward me "That's a turian made assault rifle. You will have a pretty hard time pulling the trigger even if you use all of your fingers"

Oh! I guess that was why the turian didn't feel threatened!

Yeah it had nothing to do with you being a pussy!

But seriously, why is his voice so familiar? It looks like a younger … Martin Sheen. Martin Sheen. That's it!

"These two are my associates, Eva Core and Ben Hislop. And I'm …" he says extending his hand to me.

The future illusive man ...

" … Jack Harper." I shake his hand while sitting on the ground, gawking at him like an idiot.

I know exactly where and when I am.

Shanxi; the first contact war.

Ouch! … Twenty one … Nope! I'm still here.

So tell me what you think? ^_^