Mass Effect Reboot

Chapter 1 – In a Galaxy not too Far Away

This is my first Mass Effect fic and I thought it would be fun to do the whole retelling of the story with an OC character but with a bit of a twist. It's also going to have a bit of a Chuck vibe to it. This chapter is just a taste to see if it gets a nibble haha, enjoy!

I know you've probably heard it before; regular guy gets thrust into an unfamiliar world and somehow the fate of the whole universe rests on his shoulders. Planet of the Apes, TRON, Groundhog Day...but that sort of thing mainly stays in the world fiction or so I thought. There I was at three in the morning in front of my TV seeing all my planning and preparation pay off. I was blasting through the suicide mission; with my crew by my side the Collectors never stood a chance. After putting the creepy human Reaper down and telling the Illusive Man where to shove it while having Miranda stand by her man. Wow, things couldn't have gone better. That was until I was halfway through watching the intense escape cinematic when my Xbox decided to go and blow up. Stunned and a little bit pissed off I launched myself at it not even fearing for my safety, yeah I can be pretty crazy, I held it in my hands and that's when I died. Well that's what it felt like anyway. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to wake up on board a giant warship filled with what I thought were fictional characters in the flesh. Dr Chakwas could easily have been a coincidence; I once met a short fighter pilot named Maverick, true story. I could have happily continued to believe that too and would have if I didn't have the eyes to see the unusual futuristic surrounds and the doctor's crazy tight get up. Then it dawned on me. I was on the SSV Normandy and this surely could not be real. I guess I had always fantasised about being the Mass Effect universe, come on, it's awesome! Aliens, guns, girls, universe saving, just awesome. What I had always enjoyed the most about the games were the characters. I wanted to meet Garrus, Tali, Kaidan, Wrex, Miranda, Jacob, Anderson, Grunt, Thane, Kasumi, Samara, the whole gang. Most of all I wanted to meet Shepard.

So there I was lying on a bed in the medical bay watching Dr Chakwas hovering around until finally noticing me.

"You had me worried for a moment. It's not every day that someone slips into such an unusual and deep sleep like the one you've been in for the last two weeks." Her forehead was wrinkled in worry but her smile was warm and reassuring. I always had a soft spot for Chakwas and was definitely going to get us a bottle of Serrice Ice Brandy for some drinking fun later.

"What can I say Doc, I could only wait so long for true love's first kiss. Seriously where were you? Dropped the ball on that one." I joked trying to relax her and lighten the mood but it had the opposite effect.

"Commander, are you alright?" she asked, the smile leaving her lips and her eyes inspecting me clinically.

"I'm a Commander too? That's great! Where is my partner, where is Shepard?" I sat up a little too quickly and looked around the room, hoping he or I guess she would appear suddenly. I was so busy searching the room I didn't notice Dr Chakwas's mouth drop open. After coming to the conclusion that Shepard was not hiding under the desk I turned my attention back to the frozen doctor.

"What's up Doc? Haaa sorry I couldn't resist."

"Did you say you wanted to meet Shepard?"

"Yeah well of course!" I rolled my eyes, "Shepard is only the most badass human in the galaxy." The doctor got up and started pacing suddenly, avoiding my questioning gaze. What on earth was going on? Maybe Shepard was dead? Maybe the suicide mission had failed or maybe Cerberus was putting him back together right now. Who knows what year it even was? So many possibilities! I slowly lowered myself back on the bed as nausea settled over me. Still Chakwas continued to pace, it was starting to freak me out.

"Hey there Doctor Chakwas? You're not really answering my questions...or saying anything to comfort me at all..." She paused and turned to me slowly, trying to keep her face neutral as she came to a stop by me bedside. Taking my hand in hers she inhaled deeply,

"But you are Commander Shepard."