This is a story I've been wanting to do. This is a short chapter because I want to get something out while I think out the plot a bit more. My second Mass Effect story. :)

What? Where am I? What is that sm- Is this… GARBAGE?!

Commander John Shepard, destroyer of the reapers, end of the collectors, savior of the Citadel, suddenly found himself in the unenviable position of being completely surrounded by stinking garbage. Even worse, he couldn't remember how he got there or why he was there to begin with, only that he was now surrounded by all sizes of trash and that is was very difficult to even breathe.

He quickly started to wade "up", hoping that it was as suitable way out of the pile. As he progressed, he passed by various objects which he would never have expected to see all that much of; items like filters, large transparent bubbles, and quarian exo-suits. The organic waste was the worst, it simply stunk and he was covered with it. His troubles did not last long though; the trash started to feel looser and looser until he finally broke out, gasping for air.

He was in a tube of some kind; it was filled with trash, and it was moving very slowly. His eyes searched for a way out, but the walls were completely uniform for as far as he could see. It looked like he was along for the ride.

Grabbing onto a piece of furniture, a rather comfortable loveseat, and pulling himself onto it, he tried to figure out what was happening. Looking down at himself, he realized that under the filth that now caked his body he was wearing his Cerberus Officer's Uniform from his days fighting the collectors. Something was definitely not right; those days were almost a year ago…

His musings did not produce any productive thoughts before he realized that above the din of the garbage pipe were voices faintly echoing from the direction the garbage was flowing. Shepard wrinkled his nose, steeled himself, and jumped back down into the garbage to avoid being seen by the owners of the voices.

After several smelly minutes the source of the conversation came into view. Two quarians, males, were on a ledge just above the flow of refuse, observing the operations. One was leaning over the railing, and the other had a datapad in hand. Soon their discussion was loud enough that he could make out what was being said.

"…and I never saw him again. And I swear by the ancestors that the bureau agents have been shadowing me ever since then."

"He was speaking in an overtly treasonous way, and the bureau doesn't often discriminate between speaker and listener. I think you should consider yourself lucky they got just him."

"I wonder what they do with people like Reil, if they really took him." As Shepard watched he took note the auditory modules on their helmets, the quarian speaking was the one leaning over the rail. "I mean, Queen Zorah doesn't have people executed very often."

Shepard blinked, repeatedly. QUEEN Zorah?

The quarian with the datapad, probably the older one based on his voice, sighed at his companion's innocence. "The only executions you hear about are the ones that happen to rebels who openly fight against her. Who knows how many others have been killed?"

His patch of garbage was nearly at the ledge. He needed a plan, and fast.

The younger quarian, turned to face the older one. "You question the official reports about the number of executions? Aren't you afraid they'll take you, just like Reil?"

The older quarian simply chuckled. "I'm surprised they haven't already, kid. I've got what we need, let's go."

They started for the exit, but Shepard had other ideas. He used the loveseat to spring himself onto the metal bars of the railing, and right on over. The quarians, surprised already at the noise, were shocked silly to see him.

The older one recovered faster. Thrusting the datapad into the hands of his still stunned companion, he approached Shepard angrily. "What do you think you're doing human?!" He demanded. "You aren't allowed down here! Only employees of Her Majesty's government are permitted to-" He stopped speaking, eyes fixed on Shepard's chest. The commander followed his gaze, right to the stained emblem of Cerberus emblazoned on the outfit.

"Cerberus…" He whispered, as though he had seen a ghost.

Shepard began to try and dissuade him, but it was too late. The quarian, as fast as he could, reached for a shape on his side: a pistol, but the commander was faster. His punch connected with the quarian's mask, and he heard a crack. The man crumpled to the floor, pistol only partially unholstered.

Shepard grabbed it and activated it, training it with deadly precision on the other quarian. But clearly the other was scared shitless, and wasn't about to put up a fight, so he decided to see if he could get some questions answered.

"I don't want to hurt you, but I need some answers. What is this place?" He asked, surprisingly nonchalant.

"This is garbage channel number 234, under London Avenue." The young quarian swallowed. "Is- is Jezik okay?" He asked, referring to the man on the floor.

Without taking his eyes or weapon off his hostage, Shepard checked the body next to him for a pulse and found one without much effort. "He's unconscious." He said, standing back up. "You said London Avenue. Is this Earth?"

His hostage shook his head, seeming confused by the question. "No... This is Rayya, capital city of Rannoch."

Shepard tried to hide his surprise. Rannoch had only been liberated from the Geth less than three weeks before the Battle for Earth. Yet they already had garbage disposal systems working near capacity and an avenue named after the final battle against the reapers?

"Who is Queen Zorah?" He asked after processing the previous revelation. "Tali'Zorah?"

The quarian nodded vehemently. "Yes, Tali is her given name. She was queen when I was born… I- I don't even know that much about her, just what we were taught in school and what stories people tell about her."

Shepard was about to pursue his line of questions, but a groan from below told him that Jezik was coming to. He lowered the gun away from the young quarian. "I'm not Cerberus. I don't even know how I got here or what I'm doing here, but I need to find out." He pointed at the only visible exit in the metal. "Is this the way out?"

"It will take you to the intersection of London Avenue and Omni Street."

Shepard nodded in gratitude, and then gestured at the body on the floor. "Sorry about the mess, but I should go." Jezik moaned again as Shepard slipped through the door leading to the outside world and to an adventure so bizarre and unimaginable that he would never have thought it possible.

Please tell me what you thought. Also please tell me what you think this is about and what you think is going on in this story. Maybe you will give me some outside insight that will help me craft this better. Thank you for reading!