Turning around restlessly in my bed, I pondered over a question. Do I really want to read a fan fic of my favourite character in mass effect?

No. It'll ruin my adventures in Mass Effect; the stories will ruin my memories of running around sniping bad buys and romancing sweet girls. My only real connection of finding a romantic relationship with someone I actually liked, instead of just wanting to hump 24/7. But there were chances, chances that I blew – half because of my past inept ability to talk confidently to girls that I liked and the other half just forgetting to ask for her phone number as I made a mad dash to get off the train, only to run back and wave goodbye to her knowing that she was the one in a trillion. One that fitted my criteria and filled my curiosity with ifs and i's – a chance to have a relationship with someone that i genuinely liked.

Two words teased me from that encounter in my past, Exeter and Manchester.

A month passed by and I decided to give it ago and a story caught my interest.

Into the darkness:

An after story of the challenges that faces Commander Shepard after he severs his ties with Cerberus. The galaxy is still in danger, and an enemy that the Galaxy has never seen, or at least acknowledges to have never seen, is hiding in the darkness.

Okay I thought. This looks interesting, let's have a read.

A few weeks later, after reading around seven chapters a day, almost fifty in one week. I finished the story, I scanned the forum for more as my brain shouted 'My god, I want to read more! MORE!'

Four months later. I want to write my story! The best the fans will ever see. A story that no one has ever seen. A story that no one had ever done.

Many discussions later.

...

Bed. My bed. Finally, the comfort of home, i am home for the summer - at last. nineteen years old, well nineteen years and five months to be exact, speaking two fluent languages in English and Chinese Cantonese, used to be very sporty but now a falling shadow of my once speedy form, my skin feels and looks too white to be Chinese and my mum tells me that my nose looks too English and pointy but she loves me just the same, I am a Chinese kung fu expert in the realm of my imagination and master archer in the hopeful future.

But the truth is I'm reasonably healthy, not super fit or ripped, artistic in drawing and dreadful jokes. five foot ten and weighing around ten and a half to eleven stones, still waiting for that magic moment when I grow some muscles and work out till I look like Hugh Jackmann reborn – but I know that's not going to happen until I get a part time job and go to the gym.

Looking at the time on my laptop, I hear the front door of my house open as my parents come home from work at midnight on a Friday night.

I look at the clock once more. Tomorrow is the day for my story to begin, I promise myself before drifting off to sleep.

I hope I dream a good dream.

Voices, I hear voices echoing in the room. "He is recovering well from his concussion; resting heart rate is currently 30bpm. Physically he's fine, but I detected some unusual brain activity, abnormal beta waves – I will need more information before I make any judgments. He just needs some more time before he regains consciousness." Time? Wait, what time is it? I tried to move my arms up to hold my head, but I found them still held down by the dizziness in my brain.

"He's survived this much, he won't let me down, but keep me updated on any changes, and Chakwas, thank you." This voice was familiar to me –my eyes tighten at my recognition of it. Captain Anderson, is that his voice?

"I'm glad to be a part of this, and there's no need to thank me. All the Alliance needs is to ask and we doctors will give our best." Why could I hear voices? I thought it would be best for me to turn off my Xbox, before it transported me into the Mass Effect universe. I joked around with the idea before the idea softly faded away. Come to think of it, why was the game playing without me unless someone snuck into my room?

"Doctor Chakwas, he's awake," said the nurse, a loud bang sharpened the atmosphere, after I rose up blindly causing my head to collide with a collection of metallic medical equipment dangling from the ceiling. "And he's just knocked himself out." Said the nurse as she struggled to hold back her giggling, behind a wide grin.

Shaking his head with a smile, Captain Anderson walked out of the med bay, "Goodbye Doctor Chakwas, Miss Daniels." He spoke in salutations to the others in the room before a hiss, similar to a light release of steam, drowned out the clicks of his footfalls out of the room.

A few hours later.

My vision had cleared significantly along with the bright light being in a dimmer setting I breathed out in relief and rubbed my bandaged head. "You had us worried there, Shepard. How are you feeling?" Spoke a concerned and caring female voice. That voice! I recognised that voice! I lifted my head slightly to get a better look at the body behind the voice and found a familiar doctor looking back at me, her form fitting doctor's clothes hugged her body… no. I pinched the bridge of my nose as to regain control of my brain that quickly leaped to many different conclusions, yet hadn't come to the realisation of the situation. I managed to hear the quick steps of hard bottom shoes run up to my side and a warm hand press against the dull throb of my head as I attempted to rise from the bed again. "Easy soldier… We wouldn't want you to knock yourself out again…" From what I could tell through the haze of my mind, she was smiling. Where the hell was I?

I looked around the room as my vision cleared slightly but the brightness of the room and the glare of the overhead projection light had other plans for my confused senses. I lifted my hand to block the light as the warm hand fled from my head and pushed my hand back to my side. Is this the Normandy? The sudden realisation sent my mind and hands racing as I hurriedly attempted to escape the medical bay, but multiple hands held me down.

"Just lay and relax. You are still under the medication. It may take a few to clear up." I shook my head at the voice's reassurances, sitting up once more, brushing aside all attempts to push me back down.

"What happened?" I asked as I lifted my body up shakily holding my weight and balance. Wait, she called me Shepard! Is this a dream? Is this a joke by my own mind? Is this real? The questions were only fleeting before my head fell to one side and the room jolted to one side. My mind quickly flipped over and I lost my balance causing my eyes to close as my mind recollected itself.

"Shepard?" I questioned while trying to sound in just a haze or small bout of amnesia, the shock of waking up to this situation did little to lessen it. However, before she could talk a very concerned female voice interrupted her, "Commander, please relax, you need your rest. It's my fault you're in this mess." She guiltily blamed herself. Wait that voice... My head spins around. Bad idea, as my vision trails once again.

"Ashley? Ashley Williams?" I asked. She looked more pleasing to the eye than in the game, but she will need to work on that pro human attitude of hers. Wait, is she blushing? A mischievous smile begins to form on my face.

"Comman... Commander? Sir?" She asked, slightly taken aback with guilt, her gentle shaking worried me and my face must have shown it for her face changed quickly.

"At ease, Williams." That seemed to ease her slightly, but why did my voice sound so… commanding? I found myself both shocked and liking the strange change, though it still felt as if I was talking with another's voice. She blushed even more as her eyes wandered around the room, taking note of the equipment, but she never made contact with me again.

"Commander?" Almost forgot the good doctor, "We are aboard the Normandy; Chief Williams and Kaiden brought you back aboard the ship after the beacon exploded." Explained Dr Chakwas. What? Chief Williams flinched as my eyes shot wide open to the news of the beacon's demise. Wow, I must have appeared intimidating or something, I still couldn't quite fathom what was going on here.

"I... I... I've had better days, but nothing that a little time won't fix," I lied, in fact my head still hurt like hell! "Recent scans have picked up some unusual brain activity, abnormal beta waves. I also noticed an increase in your rapid eye movement, signs typically associated with intense dreaming." Maybe Dr Chakwas was right, maybe I was dreaming.

"Must see the captain." I stuttered as I slowly rose up and started walking towards the doors only for my next few steps to falter, my eyes to wander and my mind to flash.

My vision fazed, my eyes wandered. Images flashed through my mind. I couldn't understand them. Screams of fleeing figures. High pitched screams of beings or invaders, I could not tell. A tomb stone a familiar sign etched upon it. A Thresher Maw heading towards me. Human flesh flying everywhere. A darkly lit chamber. Tubes dangling all over the ceiling. A frozen capsule lay before. A flash, a flicker, and it ended just as quickly as it had started. My head hurt.

"Shepard!" shouted Ashley and Dr Chakwas as they both ran to stop me from falling off the bed.

Using both hands I pushed myself off the females and steadied myself once more on the end of the bed. However, they were not convinced of my 'recovery' and stand a little closer in proximity to me; Ashley I notice a little more so.

"Is everything okay here?" Interrupted a masculine voice. Chakwas turned and faced the figure.

"Yes, for now… His headache could be an after-effect associated with his mental health which indicates intense dreaming after his contact with the beacon." Responded Dr Chakwas as she glanced toward me every now and then.

"The beacon was destroyed," added Captain Anderson. My eyes shot open again.

"Yet somehow I survived…" My head spun around to see the red face paint of a Turian that should not be.

"Nihilus..."