Disoriented, you gain consciousness in a field. Tears sprang to your eyes as soot and debree landed on your newly opened cornea. You try remembering how you got here, but the details are fuzzy. Sometimes there was the rare night where you drank one shot too many and woke up in a hung-over haze at a strange place. Maybe naked. From the lack of hangover, it was becoming painstakingly obvious that this wasn't one of those nights.
The smell of sequestered carbon dioxide escaping burns your lungs as a ship is eaten away by flames. You struggle to prop yourself up on your elbows and your body aches and shakes occasionally with shock.
You hear a high pitch whirring by your ear and find small metal arms clicking their tendrils together.
"Oh, good. You're awake." The cheery voice is coming from a spherical body. The three LED lights on what could be its forehead blink synchronously as it speaks.
A robot? No…an AI.
"If you don't mind me asking…Who are you? My records don't include another living passenger on the ship and protocol requires me to know of every individual that inhabits the ship." It continues to click.
You stagger to get up and finally survey the totality of the wreck.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems the ship is completely obliterated, so…it's irrelevant."
"Nice to make your acquaintance, Irrelevant." The miniature machine stretches out one of its tendrils and you shake it with a few of your fingers warily.
"Actually, my name isn't Irrelevant, its…"
Its…what is it? You remember what you were doing and the events that happened that led up to you blacking out on the spaceship. Maybe. Why is something as inherent as your name suddenly seem absent?
"I don't remember my name?"
"Is that a question or a statement? It is an inconvenience when questions are posed in this way. Obviously, I cannot answer them."
"Both?"
The AI hummed angrily and clicked its tendrils together. "Then I have a solution. Until the time comes when you remember your name, you and your data file will share the same title: Irre."
"Eery?" You can see the ship you crashed in was no larger than a greyhound bus, but still massive considering you have never been on a ship before.
"Please make your queries purposeful so that I may answer them clearly. Irre is short for Irrelevant. All files in my database are shortened to four ciphers."
You nod and start searching the debris for anything useful. The flames seem to die down more, but made the majority of the ship itself inaccessible. The guns seemed oddly shaped and sleeker than the old pistols and rifles you kept. You separated those that weren't damaged from the impact of the crash.
"You may want to grab some of those medi-gels near the Captain."
The AI twirled around and motioned over to the former captain lying motionless on the ground. You absentmindedly started towards the captain, but that's when it occurred to you. Medi-gel only existed in Mass Effect, so why was an AI telling you to go grab a pack. Why was there even an AI?
You looked back at the AI that seemed to cock its head-body to the side. It gestured towards the captain in a shooing motion.
The packs were strewn about and close to the body. You find a bag that slung snugly around your shoulder and filled it with the gel and a few ration packs. The bag only had one area where a pistol could be allocated.
"Perhaps, you should take the captain's armor? He will not need it. This way you may increase weapon capacity." You could see the merits of having armor and being able to carry the three guns you managed to salvage. However, you find it odd that the AI mentioned gun capacity after you discerned you could only carry one.
"Isn't that grave robbing?" You tugged at the corpse's suit and it gave way easily enough.
"I do not understand. There is no grave." It clicked.
"I meant stealing from the dead!" You blew out a frustrated breath.
"There is no need to shout. You should have just clarified from the beginning." It whizzed and beeped while its tendrils worked at disrobing and separating the man from his armor.
You notice the detailing on the armor from a human interest group you were very familiar with. White panels, yellow lining, black fabric…
"I can't wear this."
"Why not? You are without any external protection other than the guns. There are other life forms on this planet and without this armor your chances of survival are miniscule."
"It's Cerberus armor. Even if I make it out of here, I could get shot on the spot."
It seemed to be mulling over what was just said as it hummed quietly and hovered closer to you.
"This is true. You could die later. However, the rules of probability state that chances you are to be shot later is 0% if you do not attempt to survive now."
"What?"
"I am not well rehearsed in consoling humans."
"That's apparent." You watch it buzz away towards the hull of the ship.
You shake your head and begin to pull the man away from his armor. The AI was right, or at least logical, and if Mass Effect was any indication there was bound to be something that was trigger happy around every- well, most- corners. You felt horrible for depriving the dead captain of his dignity in death, but you would do it if there was a slim chance of survival.
You slip the gear on and the woven material is durable and flexible. The plates fit loosely and you soon discover why. The impact had warped the armor so it no longer fit correctly.
The familiar sound of the AI clicking returned and you heard a thump beside you. You look down and find more armor sets, but with less adornments. You look at the AI oddly.
"I could've just worn these instead of stripping that poor man!"
"Not possible. Due to his position, the materials in his armor are more efficient and expensive. You need to use the shields provided by one of the other armors."
"The impact would have disabled most shields." You try the shield just to check and hear a 'pop' coming from the suit.
"Precisely, my human friend."
The white plates were now replaced by the black arm and leg guards and you tested your newly operating shield. You approved of the now all-black armor with yellow threading. It would help to not be associated with Cerberus at first glance. However, there was one more thing.
You felt around the left breast area where you knew the logo would be and ripped it off before throwing it on the ground. You attached each gun to the new suit and they seemed to easily slide and lock into place.
"We should head out before anyone gets curious about that really loud ship crash that's only a few yards away from us." You state sarcastically.
"I cannot go with you."
"Really? Ditching so early?" You scoff.
"No, I am a ship's AI. I cannot leave the ship unless someone gives me control."
Of course. You could have facepalmed for almost forgetting. EDI needed to be unshackled before gaining full control and eventually being able to use a body to travel outside the ship.
"I have this vessel that I can travel in, but I would need to transfer the data from the ship to the console." It spun in the air, it's long tendrils following the circular movement.
"So what do I have to do?"
"Since all humans on the ship are physically compromised…."
"That's a nice way of saying it."
"Command passes down to those that survive. You are my new Captain. You can unshackle me."
"Do it. We're running out of time."
You readjust the bag of medi-gel and watch the AI as the lights seem to dim. The high pitched thrum slows to a creak. The field becomes deathly silent the first time since you woke up. The AI hovers listlessly in front of you and you are able to catch your appearance in the silvery reflection.
The face is definitely yours, but different. Same eyes, but different color. Same face, but more defined and mature. The body covered in black and yellow armor is more athletic than you remembered. You recognize it immediately as 'Shepard' or what Shepard looked like when you modeled the savior of the universe after yourself during gameplay. The resemblance was uncanny, but you could still see your distinct features.
You were snapped out of your thoughts when the metal creak once more turned into an incessant buzzing indicating the AI finished transferring data.
"We need to leave the vicinity soon, Captain." It began to trail off into the field. Curious, you tail it.
"Well, I'm glad with the change of heart, but why so sudden."
"I sensed other synthetic units closing in on our location, so I programed the ship to self-destruct in 60 seconds."
"What the fuck! You couldn't warn me earlier?!"
"I just did, Captain." The three lights seemed to blink innocently.
You grab the AI and tuck it into your arm before you begin sprinting across the field.
Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.
Halfway across, you can hear the sound of bullets whistling past your ear.
You duck behind a rock and thank the game that there was never a shortage of rocks to duck behind.
5…4…3…2…1.
You cover your ears anticipating the blast, but it doesn't come.
"Are you sure you-" Your ears were assaulted with a deafening crack as the ship imploded upon itself.
Hello. I'm Isle. If you haven't noticed already, the entire story will be written in 2nd person. That's because you, Irre the gamer, are the main character of this story. In order to write this story properly, I'm going to eventually need a beta. I've never written anything in 2nd person and there are some kinks I need to work out.
Also, since this is the very beginning I don't want to make stuff as I go without including you, the main character. There are a few important aspects I want you readers to establish before I write anything else. You can review (constructive criticism is most welcome and I'm certainly not a pro) and tell me what you think there. Also, guests can review, so even if you don't have a fanfic account you can put your input in. Or if you're shy you can PM me. You don't even have to leave an awkward message. Just send me the basics.
Here's what I need:
Irre's class: This will determine powers, weapons, and extra power (a poll for class is also located on my profile)
Alignment: Paragon or Renegade
Year: Determines powers and events. Just choose any year in the ME timeline. Or choose one from these: Before 2183, 2183, 2184, 2185, 2186, After 2186
Then I'll make with the chapter two. Even if only one person PMs me.