UPDATED!
This is Older than Time with a series of one-shots featuring a massive crossover of many TV Shows, Movies and Games
Concepts and Characters borrowed from these and other series:
Half-Life 2,
Warhammer 40K (PC Game Series),
Star Wars Saga (Episodes 1-6),
Mass Effect Trilogy,
Halo Series,
EVE Online,
Starcraft Series,
…and many more!
Let me know what you all think!
The Eternity Effect: Nexus of Dimensions
Currently Featuring…
Tali'Zorah Vas Normandy of the Mass Effect Universe
…
Others may appear or disappear later
…
"Suppression Fire!"
She could hear the firing of many rifles as she lay there, bleeding from several rounds to the chest. A loud pounding filled her ears as she felt someone dragging her.
"Hang in there Tali!"
Pressure was applied to her wounds as an onslaught of cooling gel dulled the pain. The voices and gunfire faded with every breath she took.
"…too much damage; blood-loss fatal…"
"Damnit, hang in there Tali!"
The world faded to black as she said one final farewell to her friends…
"Keelah'selai…"
…
…
…
"Arriving at Nexus Station.."
Tali's eyes flew open and she found herself standing in a rundown tram car. Glancing around, she found that she was not alone. A dozen other individuals were scattered about the passenger cab; some despondent, some catatonic. Two individuals were wailing in despair. All were dressed in drab grey jumpsuits.
Looking down, Tali found that she was wearing a dull grey version of her enviro-suit, pre-Pilgrimage. Wondering how she got there, Tali tried to speak to one of the passengers next to her.
"Um, excuse me?"
She carefully nudged the short, hunched and hooded figure next to her. She had barely touched him when he whirled to her, snarling at her with yellowed fangs. Tali took staggered back, shocked by what she saw. The thing next to her was an alien unlike any she had seen before.
It looked as if someone had spliced a Vorcha with a Turian!
It screeched menacingly at her, swinging its clawed arms and leaping at her. Frantic, Tali backhanded the thing away from her. It slammed against a few plastic seats and into a large unfamiliar alien. The other alien was an insectoid one with a yellow carapace and red compound eyes. The insect chattered angrily and grabbed the screeching vorcha-turian, gripping it tightly by the head and neck. With a savage twist, the insectoid snapped the screecher's neck and flung the corpse into the corner.
Tali quivered against the cab wall, fearful that she was next. But her fears were unfounded. The insectoid merely nodded at her and chittered softly. Tali nodded back and the insectoid went back to gazing out the window. Glancing out as well, Tali found that the tram had stopped in a dingy station with humanoid guardsmen in dark armor and featureless helmets.
"We have arrived; please exit in an orderly manner and follow the yellow lines. Thank you for your patronage!"
The doors slid open and the tram emptied with Tali taking up the rear. She quietly followed the others as they walked along a path marked in yellow. All around her were energy fences, battered steel walls and silent guards. She wondered where in the Traverse she was…
Not paying attention to the individual in front of her, Tali collided with its back. Whatever it was, it was furry, tall and made a strange howling bark. Apologizing, Tali looked ahead and found that they were being separated. Each one was lead off into a hall with many doors. From the halls she could hear a plethora of roars, howls, screeches and unfamiliar speech. In no time at all it was Tali's turn. A silent guard gently grasped her arm and lead her into one of the quieter halls.
"Excuse me, where am I?"
The guard did not answer. They stopped in front of one door. Luckily, the print on the door was a familiar script; a set of human words reading,
[Nexus Orientation Room 38-B]
"W-wha-?"
The door was flung open and Tali shoved inside. She had barely entered when it slammed shut behind her, leaving her alone in an empty room with two chairs, a table and a wall-wide mirror on one side. Seeing as she had no other instruction, Tali took a seat and waited for someone to arrive.
She didn't have to wait long.
From the only other door arrived an asari in a white uniform bearing an unbroken circle with a star in the center. She carried a datapad and dragged a large metal roller crate behind her. Taking a seat, she set the datapad down and looked at Tali with a somewhat sad expression.
"Greetings Tali'Zorah Vas Normandy."
Tali froze and stared at the asari. How did she know her name?!
"W-wha-? How do you know me?! Where am I?!"
The asari held up a hand calmly and spoke in a plain voice, gesturing at the datapad.
"I am Lyra Vos and I have your basic information on this datapad."
Tali stayed silent, waiting for more. The asari nodded and pulled a few items out of the metal crate. She placed a still-packaged omnitool, an empty pistol and a strange credit chit in front of Tali.
"You are in Nexus Station, one of the many entry points of this universe."
Tali tried to interrupt but the asari held up her hand again; there was more to be said.
"Please hold your questions. There is much to be explained and even more ground to be covered if you are to understand. Please watch this video closely and pay complete attention; I shall answer any and all questions after."
The asari got up and waved her hand at a blank wall. The wall flashed and it became a viewing screen featuring the same logo as on the asari's uniform. The logo faded and the room's light dimmed.
"…Welcome sentient! You have arrived at Nexus Station, one of the many gateways in which one may enter the Convergence!"
A human appeared on screen. He was wearing the same white uniform, only with much more elaborate trimmings and a cape of all things!
"What is the Convergence you ask? The Convergence is an ever expanding universe in which all others are brought together. Within this dimension, inhabitants of other realities may appear after their deaths. It doesn't matter if an individual was a hero, villain or some random guy (or girl) off the street. All are welcome but only few are chosen."
"Upon entering the Convergence via one of the many stations, you will meet a representative from your original universe that will answer any questions you may have. Your representative will also provide an orientation kit containing an interface tool compatible to your needs, an unloaded personal defense weapon and a monetary loan of 10,000 CC."
"Thank you for watching this introductory video; we hope you enjoy your new life in the Convergence!"
The video cut out just as the man bowed. Tali just sat there processing what she had just seen.
"What…"
Lyra smiled sadly and waited for Tali to speak.
"I…I don't understand. How did I get here…How is this possible?!"
"The only way to enter the Convergence is by the tram. The exact method on how you appear on the tram is unknown. We've studied the trams intensely and interrogated every single sentient that arrives. Some remember dying, others falling asleep; some just turn a corner and end up standing in a tram. No one knows how they got on the tram; they just open their eyes and find themselves on-route to their station."
Lyra sighed and held up the datapad.
"According to this, you died of multiple puncture wounds to the chest and severe bloodloss; know we have to figure out what you want to do with your life now…"
"…'do with my life…'? I…this is impossible; this has to be some sort of dream or hallucination!"
Tali slammed her fists on the table while Lyra looked on with pity. She wailed and cried, screamed and threw everything on the table to the side. She grabbed Lyra and just sobbed into the asari's shoulder.
"…this can't have happened…this is just impossible…"
"Everyone thinks the same way. They scream, cry and rage at the impossibility of the situation. They deny their deaths or try and wake themselves up in various ways. Some kill themselves to try and return to their homes. Some just sit in the corner and waste away. You can try and reject what's happened but nothing will change; the only thing you can do is move forward and hope you find someone you know. Hopefully live life the way you always wanted but were always afraid to."
Tali just cried some more. What felt like hours passed as Lyra comforted the despondent quarian, idly patting her shoulder. Soon enough Tali calmed down and retook her seat. Lyra set everything back on the table and started explaining everything.
"Now that you've somewhat accepted your situation, there are some solid facts about the Convergence that we've confirmed:
"Once you enter, you can never leave. The Convergence is truly endless. Thousands have tried to travel to the very ends of existence and failed. One attempt was made by a few dozen asari and a hundred other long-lived species. They created a small flotilla of ships and set off in one direction. They travelled for over eighteen generations before finally giving up.
"You'll find that you no longer prone to sickness as you once were. Fevers, flues and other common ailments are impossible to contract unless you are deliberately poisoned or ingest food incompatible with your body's chemistry.
"There are countless new technologies for you to explore; technologies that were completely unknown or impossible in our universe can be found here in the Convergence. You just have to be able to afford it.
"There are over a dozen factions and governments around the universe. Some control small systems, others control several galaxies. You can even create your own provided that you can back up your authority.
"And finally, the only limits you will find are the ones you believe are there."
With that, Lyra got up and held the door she had entered open. Tali gathered up her kit and followed Lyra through the station. It looked just like a shuttle terminal in the Citadel, only more dingy. They stopped just before a pair of double doors and a small checkpoint office. Lyra reached into the roller crate she had dragged with them. Out she pulled a shield generator and a few thermal clips.
"You have the basic kit plus these few extras. On your omnitool you'll find a few addresses entered in. They lead to shops and apartment sectors friendly to those from our universe. You'll also find a list of individual, factions and organizations that you'll want to avoid. And before I forget, a CC stands for 'Convergent Credit'. It's the one currency accepted by everyone in the Convergence. Each government has their own currency and different exchange rates for CC's."
Lyra opened the doors and Tali stepped out into the light. Looking back, she found Lyra waving.
"Good luck! You'll need it!"