A/N: I do not own Mass Effect or any of the Bioshock games. I own nothing.

I also want to let you know that I really appreciate the support I have been getting so far. I'm enjoying the reviews and I hope to not disappoint you in the future, but I will do my best. This chapter is shorter than I expected it to be but I hope to add more in the future.

Infinite Galaxy

Chapter 2

Booker DeWitt was standing right in front of this woman calling herself Gunnery Chief Ashley Williams. Booker realized that times have changed since he served in the 7th Calvary back in his own time. The idea of a woman serving in the armed forces would have been a ridiculous idea, but that was when he was a sixteen year old kid joining the U.S. Army. When he served, his beliefs that women not being able to serve shattered when he would hear stories from the older soldiers who served in the Civil War about enlisted men who had their wives pose as men just so they can join along with them into battle.

Then he recalled Columbia, seeing the police and military forces consisting of both men and women trying to kill him. Then he remembered the Vox Populi and much of their forces were made up of women also trying to kill him. He knows for a fact that women are capable of exploiting large amounts of damage as much as their male counterparts could ever do.

Now that he's looking at this woman standing before him, still holding a salute. It only shows that times have changed and women are serving alongside with men out on the battlefield. Booker kindly returns the salute. "Thank you Chief. What can I do for you?"

"I'm assigned to take you to your new home." Williams said. "I understand that you are granted a military house right outside the base."

"Oh, yes I just remembered." Booker didn't recall procreating a home, but he played along. "I don't know where exactly it is, but I was hoping you would know since you know more about this place than I do."

Williams replied. "That's why I'm here Chief. I'll take you to my skycar."

"Skycar?" Booker paused for a minute, but now recalled what one is. "Oh, yes. You have one."

Williams looked at Booker oddly at first, but corrected him. "Actually the skycar belongs to our unit, the 212." She pointed to an oddly shaped contraption.

Booker's mind recalled what this contraption was and he realized that this thing was called a skycar. He looked closely at the machine and realized that he won't have enough room for all his things.

Before he could tell his fellow Gunnery Chief of the lack of room, he was approached by a dockworker. "Mr. DeWitt. We have all your things loaded on the transport." The dockworker pulled out a tablet with orange bio-luminescent writing on the surface. Booker suddenly knew this as a data pad. The dock worker continued. "Is this the address, sir?"

"Uh, I'm not one hundred percent sure." Booker confessed.

Then Williams glances at the data pad. She nods and said to the dockworker. "Yes, that's where we are going."

"Alright, then." The dockworker turns around and said. "We're okay to go, Powell."

Booker noticed this Powell character was sitting on a crate and nodding to his co-worker. Booker might be new to this timeline and this world, but he knows shady people. He could spot these men out a mile away and Powell fits the profile of the type of dockworker that would make a few items disappear from the shipping manifest and sell it on the side. He remembers spotting these guys out when he worked for the Pinkertons back when he was given random assignments to guard the piers in Brooklyn.

Williams calls for Booker's attention. "Chief DeWitt? Are you ready?"

Booker shakes his head and follows Williams into the skycar. He takes his seat on the passenger side and said to her. "Sorry. I was distracted. I don't think I could trust that guy. He looks like the kind of guy who would steal from his mother's corpse."

Williams silently agrees while the car hovered away from the star port. "Things have a tendency to disappear around here, but you don't have to worry about your personal belongings."

"Thanks for the confidence boost." Booker said.

Booker didn't let on to Williams, but he was secretly shivering to the idea that he was actually flying. He knew about flying, because back in his day people were flying but only to those who had the money. He also heard about the Wright Brothers flying their motorized glider back in 1903, but the flying then was nothing like the flying he was experiencing. Not to mention the bad experience that he had when he was strapped to a chair and had been rocketed into Columbia.

"I have a confession to make, Chief." Williams said.

"Booker." Booker said. "Call me Booker. We're not on duty; at least I'm not on duty yet."

"Okay, call me Ash." Williams said.

"Alright, Ash." Booker smiled.

Williams continued. "Anyway, I have a confession to make. When I found out you were coming to Eden Prime and joining Unit 212, I was the first to volunteer to pick you up from the star port."

"Really, why were you so anxious to pick me up?" Booker asked.

"Really? You have to ask?" Williams shakes her head and smiles. "You're a living legend. You're the hero of Torfan."

Suddenly that triggered another memory surge. Booker could see the words The Battle of Wounded Knee spread across his mind and the words Wounded Knee being replaced only to become The Battle of Torfan. Then the image of one of his commanders changed when the image of Major Slate turned into another leader bearing the same rank. Then Booker recognized the darken skin man as a biotic named Major Kyle. Then he was bombarded by an image of Sioux Indian warriors. They were each wearing war paint on their faces, a head dress over their heads, and armed with Winchester rifles and bow & arrows. Then the images of Sioux warriors turned into ghastly looking creatures with leathery tan skin and four blackened eyes. Their weapons also turned into something he had never seen before. Then he recognized these creatures as batarians.

Booker felt a slight headache and he thought to himself. They called me 'The White Injun' after the Battle of Wounded Knee. They called me 'The False Shepherd' when I arrived to Columbia. They called me 'Martyr of the Revolution' after I supposedly died fighting for the Vox Populi. Now here I'm someone else, but 'hero' is not what I am.

Williams asked Booker a question. "Booker, are you alright?"

"I slaughtered so much that day." Booker said. "I annihilated so many… batarian slavers, but at the price of so many of our own troops. I'm not the hero you think I am, Ash. I am not proud of what I have done. I was given a name and that name fits me well. I'll always be known as… The Butcher of Torfan."

"I'm sorry to bring that up, Booker." Williams was quick to apologize. "I mean Chief…"

"Don't worry about it." Booker shrugged off the realization. "Just let me know when we get to my place."

The drive for the next few minutes was quiet and it was slightly awkward for both Booker and Ashley. However, the stillness stopped when they arrived at Booker's designated house.

Ash said to Booker. "Here you go, Chief. This is your place."

After Ashley landed the skycar in front of the property, Booker stepped out of the skycar and got a glance of his 'house'. It was white in color, box shaped, and stretched out.

He looked at his place and said. "Nice. It looks plain, but nice."

"These are one of the nicer ones we normally issue to officers or enlisted personnel who have family." Ashley told Booker. "Are you married, Chief?"

Booker turned his head and plainly state to Ashley. "I was. She died."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that." Ashley said immediately hoping not to cause more discomfort to the man.

Booker sighed. "It's alright. It was a long time ago." So Booker changed the subject. "So where's your place?"

"I stay in the barracks on the base." Ashley said.

"Wait, you're also a Gunnery Chief." Booker looked at Ashley. "Why aren't you staying in a place like this?"

Ashley takes a deep breath. "Well, like I said. These homes are usually reserved for officers, personnel with family, and/or both. They're giving you this house because of your celebrity status. My status with the Alliance isn't as impressive as yours."

"Did you do something wrong in the past, Ash?" Booker looked at Ashley with a hint of concern.

"No, but it's a long story." Now it was Ashley's turn to sigh. "Something all my commanding officers eventually find out."

"Find out about what?" Booker asked but Ashley shakes her head. "I'm sorry, Ash. I guess we both have a past we're not particularly proud of."

"Let me get to know you a little better and I'll tell you why." She smiled and after she finished her sentence, the transport from the star port arrived. She looks up and said to Booker. "Ah, they're here. Here's my contact information. You will start Monday and I'll take you on the base. I'll show you around since I am tagged to be your sponsor."

"Thanks, Ash." Booker said and extended his right hand. "It's nice to meet you."

"The pleasure is mine." Ashley said and noticed the mark on his right hand. She was tempted to ask what it was, but decided not to risk another awkward moment.

Booker knew she saw something on his hand, but said nothing. He raised his hand up and noticed the words AD was still etched on the skin. I hope this doesn't mean False Shepherd in this time and place. He thought to himself.

Booker had the crates brought inside and the movers left after all of his possessions were now inside his strange looking house. He did a little bit of exploring from room to room and each room was a curious notion. There was a data pad left behind, he examined it and it was a welcome letter from the base commanding officer named Commander Harlow Johnson. Booker didn't bother to read it; he was more interested in what this house came with. It came with furniture, vid screen, refrigerator, washer and dryer, three bedrooms, one bathroom, and one dining room.

There was another note attached at the end of the description. When Booker read the contents, it seemed more personalized.

Gunnery Chief DeWitt,

Welcome to the 212. I am pleased to have you here and I am even more pleased to grant you one of our best houses to finish up the duration of your time and service to the Human Systems Alliance. Again it is an honor to have you with us, Chief.

Very Respectfully,

Commander Harlow Johnson

Commanding Officer of Unit 212

Booker places the data pad back on the coffee table and begins to unpack, but that will have to wait because he had been just been visited by two uninvited guests. The Lutece Twins.

"What the, hell!" Booker jumped back. "What are you two doing here? But why do I ask, it's a silly question."

The twins still wore their early 20th-century garments; consisting of a brown overcoat, brown tie, and the pants that designated the gender as Robert is wearing his slacks as Rosalind is wearing her skirt.

"Just checking up on how things are going for you Mr. DeWitt." Robert said.

"It would be rude just to leave you someplace and not check up on your condition." Rosalind said. "So how are you enjoying the 22nd century so far?"

Booker just remains silent. His only answer was. "I still want know what you did to Anna or Elizabeth for that matter."

"Patience, Mr. DeWitt." Rosalind said. "All will be revealed."

"We can assure you she is in a safe place." Robert said.

Rosalind glanced at the clothing Booker was wearing. "I must say, I do like the look."

"Perhaps we should change to acclimatize to this time and era?" Robert replied to his sister.

"Indeed." Rosalind said.

The twins emitted a bright light which surrounded their bodies. It was so bright Booker immediately shut his eyes. When he sensed the light went away and his sight returned from the temporary blindness, the twins were now wearing similar style of clothing Booker was wearing.

Both the twins were wearing a green and white outfit which matched identically to each other. Their shoulders and arms were white while the color green draped down to their shoes. Even their hair was different. Robert's hair was shorter around the sides and Rosalind's Gibson style hair had been pulled back and braided into a bun in the back of her head.

"I do say this is a more comfortable form of attire." Rosalind said as she examined her new set of clothing.

"True, but it loses its sense of majesty when one walks into a room." Robert replied.

"Look." Booker asked sternly and he approached the twins little closer. "What am I doing here? This is not my time and age, but if you two are involved it must mean you need me to do something. What is it?"

"That would spoil the surprise if we tell him everything… or anything at all." Rosalind said.

"We could tell him at least one thing." Robert said.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Rosalind asked pulling something out of her pocket. Robert nods and she looks at Booker.

Rosalind tosses the object at Booker and Robert produces a silver tray out of nowhere.

"Heads." Robert said.

"Or, tails." Rosalind finished the sentence.

"Not this shit again." Booker griped his you noticed the coin is the same silver coin from Columbia.

"Heads."

"Or, tails."

"Fine." Booker places the coin over his thumb. "This time I think tails."

The coin is tossed in the air and lands on the tray just like back at the carnival.

"What you know. Heads." Robert said.

"Oh, drat." Rosalind replied. "You win, we tell him one thing."

"Well, if you must know this colony will soon be the site of a very nasty battle." Robert said.

"It will not happen for quite some time, but it would be wise for you to prepare." Rosalind said.

"Prepare, how?" Booker asked while crossing his arms.

"The vigors would be a good start." Robert said.

"I would start with Possession." Rosalind said.

"You see the barbarians coming to ransack this colony like the Huns sacking Rome are not your typical soldiers." Robert explained.

"These invaders will be a race of mechanical people called the geth." Rosalind said. "And they will be led by a rather roguish type of alien called a turian."

"Well, when and where will this happen and who is this alien." Booker asked.

"That's enough information, but why should you worry about when?" Robert told Booker. "The only difference between the past and present…" Then he looks at Rosalind.

"Is schematics." Rosalind finished looking at Robert.

"What?" Booker was becoming annoyed again. "Didn't you say that at the graveyard?"

"Lives. Lived. Will live." Robert just replied.

"Dies. Died. Will die." Rosalind added.

"If we could perceive time as it truly was…" Robert stated.

"What reason would men of your stature be willing to get out of bed?" Rosalind said looking back at Booker.

"To become something more than you allow yourself to be." Robert was now looking at Booker.

The twins emitted another light and when Booker opened his eyes, they were gone. Booker looked around and groused about the inconvenient times these two show up. When he looked inside one of the bedrooms, he found twelve containers and a table in the center of the room holding a lab set.

He looked around to see who or what left this behind, but all he could find was a data pad. He lifted it up and it simply said:

Mr. DeWitt,

Be sure to make haste on those vigors. We gave you the knowledge to make it, remember? So don't waste such talents.

R & R Lutece

P.S. We think you might like the newest feature on your Omni-tool.

Booker placed the data pad back down and activated his Omni-tool. The words New AMP acquired flashed. He activated the new feature and his Omni-tool immediately transformed itself.

It was a transparent glowing mechanism which was very familiar to him. It looked just like the skyhook from when he 'borrowed' it from that cop in Columbia right after the raffle incident. Then an electronic voice spoke, it was speaking like one of those mechanical vendors. Introducing the one-of-a-kind, Omni-Hook. Booker couldn't help but smile.

Ashley Williams arrived at the base; she had no troubles entering the almost empty facility, because it was the weekend and the only people there were people chosen to be on watch duty. Ashley parked the 212's skycar back by the base parking lot and entered the main quarterdeck where Private Nirali Bhatia was sitting behind a desk filling out some reports.

"Chief Williams." Nirali said. "How was the pick-up?"

"Fine, however I think I might have asked a couple of questions I shouldn't have asked." Ashley confessed while signing the skycar back in the data log. "But fine, nevertheless."

"What was he like?" Nirali asked like a teenage girl asking for the details on a date. "I mean I can't wait to meet the man who took out those batarians four years ago."

The Chief just smiled and didn't really say anything at first. Then she rolled her eyes to the back of her head and tried to recap the situation. "Well, I must confess. I was a bit awestruck at first when I first met him. So like the responsible Chief I am I saluted him."

Nirali giggled. "Saluted? You didn't get on your hands and knees only to say you worship the ground he walks on?"

"Bhatia?" Ashley laughed. "You're the worst, I swear."

"Well, it's no secret that you've been dying to meet DeWitt since we found out he was coming to the 212." Nirali confessed.

"True, it's not every day we get a celebrity out here on Eden Prime." Ashley said. "Funny though, he comes across as someone who practically hates his status. He also comes across as someone with a troubled past. You know, it was strange that I also noticed a mark on his right hand. The mark was two letters. AD. What is that supposed to mean?"

"AD?" Nirali asked. "Doesn't it mean something in Christianity or how we measure years?"

"I think it's Latin for 'anno domini'." Ashley said. "A term one could say when stating the phrase 'in the year of the lord' when you talk about the current year. But that term A.D. stopped when we decided to use B.C.E. You know, 'Before the Common Era?'"

Nirali shakes her head. "Maybe. So what else can you tell me about DeWitt?"

Ashley gave it some thought, but she answered truthfully. "Promise this doesn't leave the room?"

"Of course." Nirali said while she smiled.

"The images on the news feeds don't do him justice." Ashley smiled. "He's much more attractive in person."