Hello, everyone!
This is a collaborative effort between Katkiller-V and myself, just putting together a few chapters to see what would happen if our Mass Effect SI/OCs were to interact with one another.
The way the chapters will be set up is, I will write the first section from Ko'le's POV, then Katkiller-V will write the second section, where we will see the events from Cieran Kean's POV.
If you haven't read Katkiller-V's Arrival series, GO. NOW. READ THEM. They're awesome, and I was ecstatic beyond words when Kat contacted me to ask about a quick mash-up. Definitely some of my favorite fics on this entire site.
If you HAVE had the pleasure of reading the Arrival series, then there are some things you need to know. This takes place entirely in the Beacon's Effect Universe. Therefore:
1) There is no Matriarch stealing people from our world and using their game knowledge for her own ends. Therefore, Cieran Kean has no knowledge from the games.
2) Cieran Kean is NOT taken by the Matriarch (who doesn't even exist AS SUCH in this Universe), so he grows up on Xentha with his adopted batarian mother. He works with weapons, armor, upgrades, etc, gaining some degree of notoriety as his talents are brought to light.
3) This means he has NOT met Trena, Ghai, or the Sharyaaks (and therefore is NOT a Harath'krem, much less a Reja'krem) as he has not been to Illium.
4) While living in Xentha, he runs across trophy taker Voya, who is after a group of slavers who have kidnapped her brother. Patching up her wounds she's sustained trying to rescue him alone, Kean modifies his power-suit (that he uses for loading in the shop) and the two of them take out the slavers.
5) This of course brings him to the attention of the Lady Warlord, who is thankful that Kean took out the slave ring operating without her permission in HER city, and is also impressed by the power-armor. Kean is contracted to construct more and, through his earnest and frank nature, becomes one of her independent assassin/mechanic/adviser for the Lady. Voya joins him on many of his missions, as the two of them have established their signature shaky friendship (minus AR Voya's emotional TRAUMA of being sold and abused in slavery).
6) There WAS an invasion of Redcliffe, but Lady T'Ravt took it over from the Blue Suns, in the chaos after Ko'le/Massani's "Black Sun" coup and the decimation of their leadership. Kean did see action in this invasion, along with several other AR characters (whom we will meet).
This chapter takes place immediately after the Council chapter of Beacon's Effect 2: Reborn (Chapter 24) but BEFORE the mission to Heshtok.
Shepard is NOT back yet, and Ko'le is commanding the Normandy with Kolyat, EDI, Jane, Turro, and Pyke as his squadmates (Javik is still on the Citadel in his role as representative for the Prothean Remnant).
Ko'le has come to Xentha to negotiate with the Lady T'Ravt, who has invited Kean (as he is one of the higher-ranking humans in her employ). Ko'le's second objective is to have a sit-down with the Elder of the Terminus Quarians and extend a hand of friendship.
We hope you guys will enjoy reading these as much as we enjoy writing them!
Thanks!
-Tusken1602