Mass Effect
Back In Time
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Disclaimer; I do not own Mass Effect 1, 2, or 3, or the characters in it. I am just a writer of fanfiction; playing with the realities of the series.
Author's Note; I have decided to give this story a chance. I'd consider myself stumbling around in the dark with this, as I have never completed an actual chapter story. So be warned, updates may not be made at a steady pace.
P.S. Please review, they motivate me to add more stories, and to better my writing. Thank You.
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Back In Time
Chapter Two
Commander Shepard wasn't used to being ordered around; he was the one that made the orders.
"Change of plans, make your way to the spaceport, Shepard."
Eyes narrowed, he stopped in his tracks.
The spaceport was where Nihlus had died.
His hand landed on his helmet, just over his ear.
"Nihlus, I wouldn't advise that."
"I found a lead, Shepard. I'm-"
His eyes squeezed shut as he interrupted the Spectre.
"Saren's there. You don't want to find him- Trust me."
John felt a hand land on his shoulder; he turned to look at Kaidan.
The Staff Lieutenant had an eyebrow raised, his eyes showing confusion.
He shrugged out from under the man's grip, shaking his head as he did so.
"I can feel the beacon, Commander. You have to trust me."
"No- Nihlus- you don't understand!"
Alenko grabbed his wrist, effectively pulling Shepard's hand away from his ear.
"With all due respect, Commander, what is your problem?" he hissed.
The two men locked eyes, both shooting the other a glare.
"There's no time to explain."
He pulled his hand away from Kaidan, reaching back up to his ear.
"Nihlus-"
"It is right here," the Turian purred, his voice a whisper. "I found it."
John felt frustration flow through his veins; he had to stop Nihlus before the Turian got himself killed.
He was about to speak again when Kaidan interrupted him.
"We are supposed to be in com silence."
The distracted Turian voice came over the comlink once again, this time, the word he spoke was a name.
"Saren…"
"No!"
He began running, his breath trapped in his throat.
Ashley had to have thought he was mentally insane.
"Commander!"
There's no time.
No time!
He stopped Jenkins from walking face-first into death earlier; he would stop Nihlus now.
There were Geth ahead.
No time to make peace.
John raised his gun, and fired.
He missed.
Stupid- inaccurate pistol!
The Geth fired off a round; it bounced harmlessly off his shields.
They were no match for Shepard.
The Commander gave no second thoughts to his next action.
He fired up his biotic amp, and charged.
Then he jumped, plowing his fist into the ground, sending his shield's energy into the Geth.
In the next moment, he was running again, finding his way through the maze of rocks.
"Commander," Jenkins called. "Please slow down!"
He didn't even glance over his shoulder.
"There's no time! We need to get to Nihlus before-!"
The shot sounding, echoing through the skies.
No…
The muscles in his legs had started to burn, but he didn't stop running; there was still the small chance that the shot hadn't killed Nihlus.
"Commander!"
Their fading voices didn't matter; they'd find him soon enough.
He'd barely arrived in the spaceport before he had crashed down on his knees next to the body of the fallen Spectre.
The gun shot had burned through Nihlus's brain.
There was no pulse.
He was dead.
John was too late.
"Hello…?"
Shepard's clumsy pistol rose to the voice.
It was Powell.
"Cole told me about your smuggling ring," was all he said before turning back to the Spectre.
"My what-? What are you talking about?"
"Give up- Powell- screw it- how long ago was Saren here?"
"The other Turian? He came by a few minutes ago. Seemed like he was friends with your buddy, there."
"My squad will be by here momentarily, if you know what's good for you, you'll give them your smuggled goods, alright?"
"Yeah… Sure…"
That was a good enough answer, Shepard decided before he started to make his way towards the train.
Powell didn't even get a second glance.
Shepard was a soldier on a mission.
.~*~.
A ticking sound made itself known.
He was too late; the Geth had set up the bombs.
That didn't matter- he had four years to master the art of disarming a bomb.
Even the amount of Geth Saren was throwing at him didn't matter.
Charge. Nova. Charge.
The combination was fueled by adrenaline, and Shepard's need to beat the bombs.
He did.
Each of the four had been disarmed by slightly shaking hands.
His forehead was covered in sweat by the time the bombs were disarmed.
He weaved his way around the boxes, using his biotics to crush any stray Geth.
Rounding the corner, Shepard halted; Saren was in midair at the base of the beacon.
Raising a hand, he set off his biotics, using them to attempt to wrench Saren away from the beacon.
Saren hit the ground hard.
The Turian lifted his head off the ground.
"Commander John Shepard," he stated, hissing the name like it was poison.
The rouge Spectre proceeded to lift himself off the ground, glaring daggers as he did so.
"You are too late. I have the information I need. You can't stop it. You can't stop me."
Shepard held his clumsy pistol at his side.
"That's where you're wrong, Saren, you underestimate-"
Saren pulled back his mandibles, giving the human equivalent of a grin.
The Turian laughed, raising his hand, showcasing a metallic tube.
"You missed some bombs in your haste. I could set them off. Right now, if I wanted to."
Shepard's gun rose.
"You're bluffing!"
"Am I?"
Saren pressed his thumb down on the button.
John listened to the explosions.
They were getting closer.
And closer.
"It was good meeting you, Commander Shepard."
The Turian Spectre turned, starting to walk away.
"No!"
He fired up his biotics, charging at Saren.
The explosions were getting closer, the heat of the flames licking at his heels.
"You will not stop me."
.~*~.
Kaidan watched the explosions.
"Was that… Shepard?" Jenkins asked, voice quiet.
"It had to be," he responded.
"Do you think he was caught in the blast?"
Alenko shrugged.
"Regardless, we have to get there. Find the beacon. Find the Commander."
Williams spoke up from behind the two. "What if they aren't there?"
Kaidan shook his head.
"They have to be."
