Disclaimer: Bioware own all.
Dark Matter
Chapter 1: The Big Bang
"It is even harder to realize that this present universe has evolved from an unspeakably unfamiliar early condition, and faces a future extinction of endless cold or intolerable heat. The more the universe seems comprehensible, the more it seems pointless."- Steven Weinberg
/-^-/
" Come on Jack-Jack!"
A woman dressed in little nothing but cargo pants sent a biotic push to a hoard of screaming husks. With a few taps of the controller I maneuvered Shepard behind a few crates. Waiting for the husks to pop up from behind the railing once again.
" Aw, shit. Not these things." I groaned, watching a Scion hobble into view.
I watched the tumor infected husk send a kinetic shock wave through my group. Shepard took a critical hit. Red clouded the screen, heartbeats filling the room. I ordered my squad to charge ahead as I sent biotic attacks at the groaning abomination. Switching the shotgun for the collector beam, I made it quick work of ridding the threat. I continued battling through the Collector's base, ignoring the rather large stack of papers and textbooks. Containing essays and assignments which were due in a matter of days on my professors' desk. I'll catch up tonight. I continued my galactical battle, moving on to the next mission.
" All right Thane, let's see your fine ass-"
" Amanda! Time for work!"
Distracted by my roommate's voice I watched Jack take a critical hit from a huge geth machine. Instinctively I maneuvered Shepard in front of her to take the heat off her. Firing into the machine. Yet I didn't notice the rocket launcher which instantly took out my shields. Before I could focus on the target there was a critical hit. Red filled the screen as my Shepard crumpled to the ground, her limbs falling into a pathetic lump.
" 'Manda, turn off the game!"
I looked at my clock and groaned. My roommate opened my door, hazel eyes glaring at me from behind black chopped bangs.
" You're going to be late." She repeated, placing a hand on her thin waist.
I glared at the pretty young woman. Her leather jacket and fitted jeans exuding the badass aura that was Audrey. No doubt ready for a great day at a high fashion clothing store. While my curvy ass was dressed in a olive green shirt, black Dickies and regulation nonskid shoes. Off to a glamorous day in the food industry- clearing plates, crap tips and sanitizing 'till my heart's content. My life was the envy of every sophomore girl on my college campus. Yeah, right.
I'd rather stay home and play Mass Effect.
Nevertheless, I gave a tight smile and turned of the console and television. I stood in front of my vanity, applying a bit more mascara and gloss. Trying my best to make my appearance less cringe worthy. Audrey stood next to me, smiling as she watched me twist my short brown hair into a up-do.
" You look pretty." Audrey stated.
Brown eyes glared back at her.
" What? You do!" She insisted.
I shook my head, taking the hairspray and circling my head in wide sweeps. Resulting in Audrey backing up and sputtering. I smiled as she shook her head at me, trying to give me a stern glare. It only made her look pouty.
" So am I bringing home dinner?" I questioned, grabbing my car keys.
" No, Darren is taking me out." Her eyes were apologetic.
" It's fine." I answered, glad to have more time to complete my game. Again.
" You're sure?"
" Yes!" I laughed, then reminded her that we were going to be late.
After we locked up, she pulled me into a hug and promised that she'll bring me home my favorite dessert. Though I didn't say it much, I really did love her like a sister. I watched her get in her Honda and drive away before hopping into my Ford. Turning it to life I turned out of the apartment complex and crossed the intersection. Before long I was at work. I walked in and punched in my time card, then grabbed a tray.
" Yo, Mandy." A girl with long black hair greeted me.
" Section two is all yours." She gave me a wink and disappeared.
I looked to see a table with two distressed parents and six children. One of the screaming girls knocked over her drink. Another little boy dumped ice cream on his face. It was going to be a long night.
/-^-/
" See you tomorrow!" My manager called as I hitched my purse over my shoulder.
" Night!" I answered, bracing the cold night air as I made my way across the parking lot.
I yawned and rubbed at my eyes tiredly, then started the car. Minutes went by before I turned onto a familiar intersection. Stopping, I looked both ways, making sure it was clear. A horn sounded impatiently. I looked in my rear view mirror and glared at the mustang behind me.
" I'm going, asshole." I muttered, stepping on the gas.
HONK!
By the time my eyes turned back to the intersection, I saw a Hummer speeding through. Straight for the passenger side door. My breath caught in my throat, I was blinded by it's headlights. Suddenly it was quiet... then an earthquake hit. The side of my body was slammed into driver's door. The car flipped onto it's side, I felt the glass grating against my cheek as it slid across the asphalt. It was hard to breathe with the airbag pressing against my face. The seat belt slicing into my neck and stomach.
Then the world went still.
/-^-/
" No shit she was hit hard."
An angry female voice cut through the air. My vision was black. I tried to open my eyes. Pain crippled my attempt. Panic welled in my throat, my brain searching for where I could be. The voice seemed familiar, but I couldn't place it. Then I remembered- headlights, glass, airbag. There was a car crash. I listened, it quiet and the air still. No familiar sway of a car, so I wasn't in an ambulance. I must be in the hospital.
" Crazy bitch ran right in front of me."
I inwardly scoffed, she must be the bitch driving the Hummer. Probably telling everyone it was my fault when she was the one speeding down the road. I tried to focus on gathering enough energy to open my eyes.
" A Colossus was aiming for Jack. Shepard pushed her away. A rocket launcher had locked on to her position. She was hit. Repeatedly."
A male voice joined the conversation. It wasn't right though. There seemed to be two tones to his voice. One was deep and gravely, the other higher and made his words distinguishable. Slightly familiar, yet completely alien. My mind reminded me of the strangeness of their conversation. Colossus? What the hell? What are they talking about? I tried move my body, force my eyes open. Everything was so sore. I managed to make a distressed gurgling noise.
" Doctor Chakwas!"
Doctor...Chakwas? No way! It had to be coincidence. I managed to peel my eyelids open. It took me a few tries as I tried to adjust them to the blindingly florescent white light. Suddenly, a face came into view. A woman with kind light eyes, gray hair cut into a bob. No... I balked. It couldn't be. This was illogical. My eyes flicked from her face to my body, I was dressed in a medical dressing gown. Legs that were long and slim stretched from underneath. Not matching the short stubby ones I was accustomed to seeing. I was laying on a slab of cold metal. There was an IV line in my arm. My long, tanned, and toned arm.
What in the Hell was going on?
The IV lead to a sleek flat screen on the wall, the beep of my heart rate steady. I followed the curve of the ceiling, gray paneling, to a glass window. Shapeless blurs crossing to and fro. In front of that window stood a woman leaning against a table opposite of my own. She was medium height, a slime waist. Yet not fragile looking. Her arms were lean, muscle tension noticeable from her crossed forearms. Her head was shaved. A heart shaped face- lips full, eyes dark and lined with black. From the waist up her body was covered in intricate designs, black tattoos were sharp across fair skin. Blues and green shaded exotic designs against the black. I was able to make out some sort of engineered heart on her chest. Her breasts straining against a leather strap that covered the essentials and wound back up her neck. Brown cargo pants covered her legs, the pockets turned outward over the waist. Black boots completed the most extreme outfit I had ever witnessed. The woman noticed my shocked expression.
" Want to take a fucking holo?" She snapped, her burgandy lips upturned into a sneer.
" Jack-Jack?" I rasped.
" What the fuck did you just call me?" Jack pushed herself off the table. A blue aura encasing her shaking fists.
Beep...Beep...Beep.
I could hear my heart rate increasing on the monitor. Anxiety pulled itself tight in my chest. It was getting hard to breath. My lungs starting to constrict. My mind trying to process the scene. It had to be a dream. Had to be. But I could smell the stale sanitized air, the IV tugging at my skin, the coldness of the liquid spreading through my viens
" Jack. Out." Chakwas orderd from beside me. " You're distressing Shepard."
The young woman snapped back a profanity before stomping her way out of the room. The door opening automatically with a swish, closing before she could finish her latest rant. Suddenly I could sense there was a figure beside me. An unfamiliar musk filled my nostrils.
" Shepard?" A throaty voice floated towards me.
I forced my eyes to meet the owner of the voice. The knot in my chest tightened with a painful twist. I was staring into two large black pools, which mirrored my distressed expression clearly. Bottomless pits that I couldn't fathom. I forced my eyes away from his and trailed down a straight nose, to plum inviting lips, slightly parted. A line running down it's smooth texture. Though the texture changed as I observed the rest of his face. His skin was green. Under the harsh light, it seemed iridescent. I could see tiny outlines of what seemed like scaling surrounding every feature and visible limb. Ridges furrowed in confusion. The specimen had no hair, merely a black octagonal shape on his forehead. Lines following to the side of his head where there were only pointed ridges. A red soft lining beneath them that followed down the side of his throat.
" Shepard?" His voice was pleading. A shimmering green hand reached for my shoulder.
I freaked the fuck out.
I screamed, scrambling away from his touch. As I jerked away, I felt a breeze crawl down my right shoulder. My dressing gown had fallen away. I looked in horror to see olive bare skin. I was naked under this poor excuse of clothing. Hurriedly I pressed the gown to my chest, my breaths becoming labored.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
" Krios, you are worsening her condition. Leave immediately." The doctor commanded, appearing at my side. " Shepard, please calm yourself. It's all right."
" Stop calling me that!" I found my voice, shaking as I scrambled upwards, my naked back pressing against the cold panels of the wall.
" Commander?" Doctor Chakwas' eyes furrowed in confusion and fear.
" I'm not supposed to be here!" My throat was tight and hot.
In a blink of an eye Chakwas had pulled out a rather large looking needle. I looked to see Thane standing quietly in the corner of the room. I considered bolting out of the room. My mind instantly questioning where I would go to once I was out of this room. Let alone in a little slip of fabric, in a long and unfamiliar body. My modesty glued me to my spot. Chakwas advanced on me.
" Please...please!" I begged, tears pooling in my eyes. " Please.. please- Aah!"
I yelped as the woman planted the needle into my arm. Draining the blue chemical into my bloodstream. Time seemed to slow, the lights moved making the doctor's face smudge and blur. Language became unrecognizable, my motor skills falling away. I could hear the monitor become soft and slow, my chest wasn't constricted any more. Oxygen still burned through my lungs. Suddenly I was heavy, slumping forward. Everything faded away into darkness.
I welcomed it.