This is my first fanfic. Hell, I didn't even know such a thing existed until a couple of weeks ago. Anyway, after playing Mass Effect repeatedly I ended up forming a rough story in my head about the Earthborn background, as I always found it intriguing, so eventually I decided to actually write it. Unfortunately, I am utterly naive when it comes to gang culture so any advice / criticism about that (or anything else) is much appreciated.
The stars, barely visible through the permanent smog that hung over the overcrowded streets of Earth, glinted. They were always there. Sometimes within sight, sometimes seeming almost close enough to touch, but never quite close enough to grasp.
It was dark in the warehouse, 15th street, London, 2171. A grubby light flickered on and off.
A man, a man whose age dictated that he was very nearly a boy, but whose hard eyes and scarred face removed all traces of boyishness from his features, stood in the warehouse.
He spat at the feet of another man.
Again, this man was hardly a man by age, but was definitely so by appearance.
'Tenth Street Reds', the first man growled. 'You little fuckers get outta our district.'
'Or what?' retaliated the second man, backed up by jeers from the shadows behind him. He eyed the crates behind the first man. They were the reason he was here, the reason he was risking a full - scale gang war. Red sand. A lot of it.
'Or we show you alien fuckers what happens to people who screw with us.' This was also enforced by jeers from the first man's gang.
'Alien fuckers? Go to hell, you bastard!' This came from a woman, also only just a woman, standing closely behind the second man. Her angry reprisal echoed around the grimy space, it's obvious arrogance making John, watching from the shadows, wince. Dammit, not now, he thought. He knew violence was inevitable, he knew that was why they were here, but adding insult to injury when it came to Boxer, boss of the Warehouse Fighters, was not smart.
The first man, Boxer, on seeing her, leered. 'And what are you here for, princess? The Reds so desperate they're taking their whores to fights?'
'Did you hear what he called me?' The woman said, turning to the second man. Then, turning the full force of her impetuous rage back to the first man, 'I will show him! I will fucking show him!'
'I'm sure you will, princess. But can it wait 'til after? I'm busy right now.'
Oh shit.
John scarcely had time to duck behind a red sand - filled crate before a wave of blue light exploded from the woman. The blast had been aimed at Boxer, but without an amp the energy was completely directionless. It knocked those who hadn't seen what was coming clean off their feet.
The woman marched towards the dazed first man, running on sheer adrenaline. After a shockwave like that she knew her body was completely drained of energy, she knew she would pass out soon. She didn't care.
With a strength that surprised even herself, she grabbed the man, still lying on the floor, and hoisted him up so his eyes were level with hers.
She saw black spots swimming in her vision, she felt her ears numb and her knees weaken. She knew she only had a few seconds.
With venom in her voice and fire in her barely - conscious eyes, she hissed into the man's ear -
'Don't call me princess.'
The world went black.
I know this first chapter is very short but I'll try to write them longer - like I said, first fanfic. And I know I haven't made Shepard's identity apparent yet - it's intentional.
Oh, and please review if you have the time - I'd really like to find out what what people think.