Ω Chapter II - Without a Fight Ω

Bottle of Pain – Combichrist

Beta'd by Lazurman

I let out a strained groan as I slowly regain consciousness. Why does my head hurt so much? As the fog slowly lifts in my mind, the memories of the past events start to fall back in to place.

Oh yeah.

I was almost shocked to death. I try to move my arms, to stretch my stiff muscles. Yeah, bad move.

My eyes shoot open as the feeling of pins and needles race down my arms, and then continue over the rest of my body. I screw my eyes closed as the uncomfortable feeling reaches its peak and then slowly falls, finally disappearing from my body. Letting out a sigh, I relax in the feeling of stillness over my body. After lying still for a few moments I decide that it is time to get up, or at least try. Taking a deep breath, I ready myself for my attempt to get off the cot.

Slowly sitting up on my cot, I rub my hands across my face trying to wake myself up faster. I guess I should try to get a grip on what's going on here... My train of thought is cut off by a loud gurgling noise. Oh shit, I didn't think about that, but I haven't eaten for…what, two days? I guess I should get some food; I hope there's food. I start to look about the sad excuse for a room to see what I have to deal with.

Yep. Looks like a jail cell. Small cot, well, a cot that is bigger than I thought it would be. Hey wait, wasn't there a bunk bed here before? Hmm, guess I will be alone; good. Continuing on with my tour. A sink and a toilet in the corner. Yeah it's a jail cell. I arch an eyebrow in confusion as I look across from me and saw a bench, just a plain old bench. Resting on it is a tray with some sliver colored tubes. Hmm…must be nutrient paste. Yippee. And...An apple. I reach over and grab the apple. Yeah, it's real at it, I wonder if it is any good, I shrug. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

My eyes widen with surprise as my teeth sank into the apple and I taste the sweet juice that flows into my mouth. Smirking, I place the apple back down. "I think that is better for last," I mutter to myself quietly. Grabbing the tray, I place it on my lap and open the tubes. I think about smelling them, but I realize it is best not to even try. I put the tube in my mouth and squeeze.

"Geck!" A bland, bitter taste fills my mouth and the texture makes it feel like I was eating chalk paste. Cringing, I swallow the bitter paste down quickly and then grab the glass of water to rinse the foul taste from my mouth.

After finishing the second tube and refilling my glass for the third time, I let out a deep breath as I lean against the wall. I smile at the feeling of having food in me again. Simple pleasures, at that thought I go back to I slowly eating my apple. I start to think about all that's going on. I know that I'm in the Mass Effect universe. The thought brings a smile to my face. There are space ships, aliens, and bad-ass weapons.

My gaze falls to the floor along with my smile. "Not like I'll be seeing any of that from in here. Hell, I'll be lucky to get away from here alive," I mumbled quietly. I mean, I know what's going to happen before it does. So that's gotta be the reason I'm here. Well, that's the only reason that I can think of, but if I'm here to help then why am I stuck with Cerberus. This stuff is supposed to happen to some kid in their late teens, not someone in their thirty's.

Taking a deep breath, I try to settle my nerves. I need to think about what I know, not what I don't. The doc said something about project Montauk, so that gotta be my cover story. Still don't know how I got here. Well I know the 'G-man' had something to do with it, but what year am I in? I'm guessing around the beginning of ME1. Cerberus will focus on rebuilding Shepard and prepping for the Reapers in ME2.

God, please let it be ME1. I wonder what Shepard will be lik…

"Argh…" I grab my head as I feel a sharp pain suddenly make itself known. Too many questions. Taking a deep breath, I wait for the pain to subside and clear my mind. Still no closer to answering my questions, I hate unanswered questions.

Leaning my head back in defeat, I start chewing the last bite of my apple when my cell door opens. Allowing a guard to walk in, he looks like the one from last night but without a helmet. Well they almost all look-alike with the helmets on so I can't tell.

But, damn, he looks like Michael Clarke Duncan, just not as big.

"I see you enjoying that apple," he says, pointing to what was left of the apple in my hand.

Holy shit, he sounds just like him.

Too bad they never used him in the game; that would have been so cool! "Yeah, it's the only thing that passes for food," I say. I watched a smile come to his lips.

"Name's Sergeant Charles Ray, but everyone calls me Ray." He says as he holds out his hand.

I look at it questioningly. Glancing back up at him, "That's a little odd isn't it? I mean, you being a guard and...You know, me being an inmate and all. I thought being friendly will only get you killed?" I ask

I watch as he shrugged. "Well, you would've killed me yesterday, but you didn't. All you did was give me a bad headache, and a couple of bruises. And if what I heard about you is true…you could have."

Oh shit. It is the same guard from last nit…wait?

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You really don't remember, do you?" he replies with a surprised look on his face.

"Remember what?"

He hesitates for a moment, then says, "The killings..."

"Wait, killings? I'm a kill-?" My jaw drops at the last word. Ok, that I is not expecting. Sitting up quickly, I look back at him. "Okay, now you have to tell me what you know!" I feel my heartbeat start to speed up. I know that I didn't kill anyone, but now anyone who looks at me will think that. Can this get any worse?

"I shouldn't be telling you any of this but," he says as he drops his hand down to his side and leans against the now closed-door. "You killed six people on Illium, and almost got away with it too…You...You don't remember any of that, do you?"

I shake my head as my gaze falls to the floor as the words sink into me. Even though I know that it wasn't me, it still hurt for some reason.

Me and my big mouth…Six people, really? Great, now I have a rep as a murderer.

"Look." The sound of his voice snaps me out on my sorrow-filled thoughts. When I look up at the man in front of me, I can see from the sorrow on his face that he is sorry for what he told me. "I've seen killers before. I've looked in their eyes and seen the monster inside of them. I don't see that in you. I didn't see it last night and I don't see it now." He pushes off the door and again holds out his hand. "So are you really going to deny yourself the ability to change what I know about you or what?"

I look at him and see that there is no resentment on his face or hatred in his voice. Nodding, I take his hand and gave it a firm shake. "I'm..." I pause for a sec, thinking about whether I should tell him my name. Does it matter with the history of me being a killer?

No... I'm still me and nothing is going to change that.

"Eric."

"Okay, Eric," he says with a smile, letting our handshake end and walking backwards to the door.

Smiling back, I reply, "So, Sarge?" Seeing that my condescending comment got a bigger smile out of him made me relax a little. He can't be that bad of a guy. He's just doing his job... Right?

Wait, I just told him my name and he's not freaking out that I remember it? "Um…aren't you curious that I remember my name?" I said as I looked at him. I'm getting a weird feeling about him, but why?

"No, not really. I don't think that it's that easy for someone to forget their name, and they did say acute memory loss not total. But hey, if you remember it then you remember it. It's better than calling you one-zero-seven all the time, right?" he says with a slight laugh. Well, he does have a point, and I'm not the type that keeps asking questions.

"Still, you didn't explain why the hell you're being nice to me. I mean, shouldn't you be mean to the inmates?" I reply, crossing my arms.

"Aren't you supposed to try to kill the guards when you have the chance?" he counters as he crosses his arms across his chest as well.

"Touché." I laugh. Yeah, there is something about him that I like. Well, within reason.

"So you are going to take the chance that I'm not the same?" I continue as I look at him questioningly.

"Maybe you did kill those people, but now I just don't see that in you," he says with a heavy sigh.

"And things are just not… Hell, I don't know. This just doesn't feel right…" I can see that something is bugging him. But I decided to let it go for now. I didn't want to push it. If he figures out something I might get an ally out of this. Hopefully.

"So, where am I ?" I ask, trying to change the subject. I lean against the wall as I try to get comfortable.

"I'll let Dr. Sauiole explain that. He will be around in about thirty minutes," he says, lifting his head. "I will be back then." With that he turned and starts to walk out. "Oh yeah, you're welcome for the apple," he says over his shoulder before the door closes behind him.

My eyes widen in surprise. Damn, he's the one that gave me the apple. Okay, now I feel like shit for kicking him like that. Well it's good to know there's one nice guy here; doubt there are any more.

Even with him lifting my spirits a little, this still fucking sucks. I'm now part of the coolest universe that I have ever known. And I'm stuck here being a guinea pig for Cerberus and their sick experiments.

Just my damn luck.

Shit, I never asked what year it was either. Oh well. Not like that matters now. Lying back down on my cot I close my eyes. Now all that was left for me to do is to wait for that asshole of a doc to come. So bored.

Boots and Cats, Boots and Cats...leather boots, leather boots, leather boots... why the hell am I thinking that?

The sound a door opening and footsteps pulls me from my light slumber that I must have fallen into while I was waiting. I open my eyes slightly to see the doctor walking in with Sarge following behind. I close my eye again, and I do my best to ignore the sudden urge to kill him. I don't think that it would surprise the doctor much. He does work with inmates after all.

"Getting some rest, I see, one-zero-seven," the doctor remarks. "Due to your outlandish behavior, I never introduced myself. I'm Dr. Antwon Sauiole, the administrator of the space imprisonment facility Acheron, which you are now a guest of."

Holy shit. I'm actually in prison; I was just guessing before. Wait, why is Cerberus running a prison? Eh, I don't care. Knowing why won't help me any. Shrugging to myself, I start to sit up on the cot. Might as well as get this over for the day. Again, not like I have a choice.

"I see that you are alive then."

Man, what a sarcastic ass.

Half way up I freeze when I see what he is holding. "Good, you do learn quickly, one-zero-seven," he says as he holds up the little remote from the day before.

"I see that you remember last night. That's good. I thought that I might have overdone it with the power level, but I'm glad that I'm wrong. You would not be a very good to us, if I put you in into a comatose state," he says with a smirk as he places the remote back in his pocket.

"What…?" I look up at him with a confusion written across my face.

"You see, one-zero-seven, when you first arrived here. I placed a small device inside your head, right at the base of your brain," he says as he brings his hand up to point at the base of his head.

"It's attached to your brain-stem. So by administering an electric shock I can easily subdue any inmate that's implanted with this device."

"So everyone here has this?" I ask as I looked back the pocket that holds the remote. I don't think he'll be taking his hand off that any time soon.

"One would think that but no. Only the more dangerous inmates have this implanted in them. And you did well to earn to your nickname, one-zero-seven."

"Nickname…?"

Walking to the other side of the cramped room he continues talking. "So, as you must have figured out, as long as you behave I will have no need to use this," he says as he swivels and pulls out his hand which is still holding the remote. I watch in horror as he moves his thumb over the button. I suck in my breath as I tense my body in preparation for the sudden rush of pain that I thought is coming, but nothing. I open my eyes to see Dr. Sauiole looking at me with a slight smirk on his face.

"Good. I did not think you would need another demonstration, but you can never tell." He comments as he drops the remote back in his pocket.

"If you do what I want, then you will never see that again, but don't think for one moment that you are irreplaceable, one-zero-seven," he says with a serious tone in his voice.

I sit back and just looking at him. I'm in shock from hearing that I'm replaceable. I know that I can't stop them from doing whatever they're going to do, but still, to have someone say that you are replaceable to your face like that…

I watch as he turns to Sarge, who hands him something. Turning back, he holds out an open hand. "This is a translator. It will make dealing with the other…possible subjects easier." I warily take the item nestled in his hand. It looked like a clear hearing aid, just with a small metal ring in the middle.

Shrugging, I insert it into my right ear; a little twist, and I felt it fall in to place. I jerk my head in surprise as I feel a slight pinch in my inner ear and then the clear hearing aid falls on to the cot. Confused, I pick it up and see that the metal ring is missing. I can feel my cheeks warm as I heard a small chuckle coming from Sarge.

I look up at the doc who doesn't look as amused as his compatriot. "Now with that out-of-the-way, come with me." And with that he quickly turns and walks out with Sarge following. Another guard that is waiting outside of the doorway walks in with metal bindings.

Really? More cuffs?

Do they really need to put me in cuffs again? What do they think I'm go… oh yea they think I'm a killer? I really need to get more detail on that. I might as well know what I'm being blamed for.

Sighing, I stand up and let the new guard forcefully clap me in irons. "Hey, asshole, watch it! I bruise easy." Well, I don't really, but he doesn't need to know that. Once he's done securing the bindings he roughly shoves me out of my cell, knocking me off-balance and causing me hit the opposite wall with my shoulder.

Asshole.

They are really acting like I'm some sort of killer or… Oh, yeah…never mind. Man this is such a letdown; and here I was thinking that my jaunt in the Mass Effect universe would be fun… I could not be more wrong.

Dr. Sauiole and the guards escort me down the hallway to some sort of monorail system. It bears a passing resemblance to the one on Peak 15. Same manufacturer, perhaps? I'm not aware that the space station is big enough to need one of those. Once we were all in and settled, Sarge starts the tram before taking a seat next to me. The other guard took a seat to my left and Dr. Sauiole takes one a few seats away on my right. Once the tram pulls away from the platform, Dr. Sauiole starts talking again.

God does he ever shut up?

"In this facility, we are helping humanity take its rightful place on top of the galactic hierarchy. Here, we push every aspect of the human body and mind to the breaking point and past." I watch him continue his speech as he gets up from his seat and walks over to the window. As he did, the metal walls disappear and the vast blackness of space that's sprawling out before me. Even though the time or place isn't ideal, I'm still awestruck at the beauty of all the stars that I can see. There are so many of them that I never got to see back on earth, and they are so bright. The image is so simple, but it is one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen.

"You see, the galaxy is a very large place, and humanity needs to do whatever we can to get the edge over every other species out there. Together, humanity is a force to be reckoned with, but one on one we are not. Almost every other species can and will kill us without remorse. The Krogan have their strength, regeneration, and redundant systems. The Asari have their biotics and their stunning beauty and the Turians have their military might. Humans naturally have nothing compared to them."

Damn. I hate it when people start monologueing.

"Should…of…killed…him"

The sudden Intrusion of the voice causes me to jump a little in my seat, but luckily no one was looking at me. The voice it becoming clearer and more frequent. I don't like where this is going.

Looking back at me, he continues, "That is why we must do all that we can to give us the edge. So we can have the power to take what is rightfully ours," I hear him let out a sigh as he turns back to look out at the stars. "We'll not be so easily defeated again."

I'm guessing that he is referring to the First Contact war. Well, depending on how you look at it, I can see it as a defeat. We just weren't ready to fight the entire Turian Hierarchy.

"So then why a prison?" I mumbled under my breath.

He must have heard me because he turns his head slightly to me. "Why not a prison? It is the perfect place for testing; it has an almost limitless supply of test subjects, all with different qualities, and the best of all, no one will miss them when they are gone."

His words sink into my mind as I look down at the floor. He does have a point. A sick, sick point, but a point. Here they can make up anything they want. If someone starts asking questions. The sound of laughter pulls me from my thoughts. I look up and see the doctor looking at me, smiling.

"I see that even you can see the logic in that... You are turning out to be a most surprising subject indeed," he says with a smile. Bastard.

Turning his view back to the stars, "We have some of the worst criminals in the galaxy here. Governments are more than happy to give them to us. You see, unlike Purgatory, we don't charge them a constant fee for taking them. So it is one less thing for them to worry about. And it is not just humans, mind you. No, we have all races here. Some require… special precautions, but the fruits that the testing will bear us will be very beneficial."

He lets out a small chuckle before continuing, "If more groups thought the way that I do, things would go much more smoothly for them. They're reduced to kidnapping; that raises far too many questions. But not here; they get dropped off and are never thought of again."

He turns his head again to me and looks me in the eyes. "That is how you have come to stay with us, Back-Alley Butcher of Illium."

Fighting the sudden urge to throw up, I hold his gaze. "But I thought station Cocytus sent me here."

"I see you were listening one-zero-seven," he says with a nod. "Yes, Cocytus station did find you first. You see, they already had some agents on Illium. Lieutenant Whelman called when he saw a few abnormalities on the scans. At first I was not interested, But when they told me that it was the Back-Alley Butcher. I had to have you—and here you are," he finishes before he turns around to look back out at the stars.

I slump back in to my seat as everything that he just told me slowly sinks in. So I guess it is all true, but if I'm the killer then why don't I remember any of it? I mean, 6 people? One would think, with that many people, that many murders, I would remember something. Just a few more unanswered questions to add to the list. Man, I'm, starting to get annoyed by that.

Sighing, I bury my head in my hands to hide the pain that I feel in my heart from what I just was told. There is no reason, why he would make any of this up. So for all I know, it is all true.

I want to go home.

we continue the ride in silence., with Dr. Sauiole just standing there watching the stars till they disappear behind another wall of metal. I decide to spend the time looking over the binding that they had me in. They covered more of my wrists than the others did and they don't have as much slack as they did before. Guess they learned. I can feel the tram start to slow down. About time, how fucking big is this station?

Once we got off the tram, Dr. Sauiole leads us down the adjoining hallway. It is then that I noticed that this area is designed to be more inviting. The walls are a soft white and there are paintings of some sort on the walls. So I know that we are not in the prison part of the station. So that left only two locations that I could think of: The civilian portion, or military part of the station. If there are any those

We finally stop at another elevator. Man, I'm really starting to miss stairs right about now. Is there a reason why they are this slow? I mean really, what gives? After a slow elevator ride down, they bring me to a room that looks like a sparring room and throw me in. Okay, they didn't literally throw me, but they did shove me in roughly, causing me to land sprawling over the floor.

Looking up, I see two men that look just like your stereotypical solders. The black man is taller than his white counterpart but they both have the look of boxers about them. I spot a third person off to the side, and I start getting an uneasy feeling upon realizing the gender.

Shit, now I'm dealing with a female. She looks pretty pissed as all hell. Grunting, I begin to push myself up, only to see out the corner of my eye. The chick sprinting towards me and landing a kick to my head. "What the FUCK?" I scream as I crumple to the ground.

"That's what you get for knocking out my brother, you asshole!" Oh shit, this isn't good. I blink away the tears of pain that are already forming in my eyes, only to see another pair of boots coming at my face. Quickly I bring up my still-bound hands in as I try to soften the blow. It works but only slightly, his kick forces the cuffs in to my face. Increasing the pain that is already crossing my skull. If I don't get up, they will continue to brutalize me. I need to be able to fight back.

Through my laced fingers I see a different pair of boots walking towards me. It looks like this one is aiming for something other than my head. Thinking quickly, I come up with a plan; not a good one, but a plan nonetheless. Lashing out, I grab his boot when he tries to kick. This surprises him; guess he thought I was just going to let them kick my ass. Using this moment of surprise to my advantage, I throw his boot up to give myself a better shot at my target. I kick my left leg out as hard as I can. A fierce grin comes to my lips when I hear him yell in pain as my foot makes contact with his groin. Damn, I'm a cheap bastard.

I watch as my first victim screams in pain as he hits the pad, grabbing his groin to stem the agony. The small victory that I achieved is short-lived when my back suddenly explodes with pain when one of the two standing attackers lands a kick to my back.

"Get..up…now"

Who is this?... I really am going insane. Now I'm hearing voices. Even worse I'm listening to them.

The sound of female laughter coming from behind me pulls me from my thoughts. Whatever the voice is, it does have a point, I need to get to my feet, and fast.

The laughter just told me who kicked me. Another thought pops into my mind when I hear the other attacker urge her to kick me again. I ready myself for her kick, so I can put my plan into action. I hope this will work. I start to push myself off the floor a split second before I feel the impact on my back. The force of her kick gives me that little momentum; I need to get off of my side and onto my knees.

Rolling to my feet, I let out a quick breath of relief as I feel my heels make contact with the floor. Quickly standing up, I clench my teeth as pain erupts from my back. Shaking my head clear of the pain, I look around and smile when I see that my attackers are both looking at me in shock.

Going on the attack, I do the one thing that I can do with my arms still being bound together. I ran. Luckily for me one of my attackers is standing right in front of me.

He was still recovering from his moment of shock at my impossible comeback as I slam into him with a vicious shoulder-check. I must have hit him pretty hard from the explosive grunt that I receive from him. I land on top of him as my momentum sends us both to the floor. I scramble off the floor, gritting my teeth against the pain that is still radiating from my back. I will myself to keep going.

I gasp in pain as yet another sudden impact sends me into the wall. Thank god it's padded. Pushing with my arms I spin to the right, just a split second before I see something hit where my head was just moments ago. As I stumble backwards I see my female attacker clutching her foot in pain. Must have hit the wall hard enough for it to hurt with the padding.

I quickly look around to see what I could use, not finding other than my victim of my nut-shot still down and my tackle victim still coughing. I turn my attention to the last standing assailant, that little bitch. She must have been about 5 foot 4, maybe 135 lbs., and of Asian descent…I think. Before I knew it, she is rushing me, throwing a right hook. Dodging to my left at the last possible moment, I bring up my right knee, slamming it directly into her stomach. As she folds over my leg, I bring my bound hands down on the middle of her back with hammer-blow, knocking the wind out of her. I step back, letting her fall to the floor gasping for air. Wow, I can't believe that worked. Thank god I can remember something from all the action movies that I used to watch.

What is the point of this? Are they testing me, teaching me a lesson, what. They must have thought I would give up without a fight. They are dead wrong, Giving up is just not in my blood. Never was, never will be. It's just too much fun…

The sight of her getting up, pulls me out of my thoughts. I watch as she slowly gets off the floor. Never once taking her eyes off me. Man she looks pissed. A smile comes to my lips and that only seems to make her anger flare even more.

She cautiously makes her way over to me I shift my feet, trying to get the best stance to move or duck. Me not knowing how to fight does not help, so at this point I'm just winging it. I bring my hands up as I see her close the gap between us. With them bound at the wrist I can't do much, but I think they will do well to deflect anything that she tries.

She surprises me when she runs the last few feet before trying a roundhouse kick. In instance I raise my arms to block. Unfortunately I forgot that I have metal cuffs on my wrists, so the kick sends the cuffs banging into my head again. Fighting past the pain that is now again spreading across my head. I see that she is also recovering from my block. So I launch myself forward, hitting her in her chest with my hands sending her stumbling backwards. Giving myself some much-needed room

Shaking my head clear of the pain, I realize that I have found my one advantage over my adversary. Reach. Taking the offensive I move in before what little surprise wears off. To my disappointment I watch her shake of my hit, and compose herself faster than I thought. As I move in I see her back away a few feet before quickly lunging forward and dropping in to a leg sweep. I jump back to avoid being knock on my ass.

This bought her some needed time, before I know it I see a left jab coming at me. I move to the right dodging her left jab, only to be struck by a right hook. Dazed by the hit I fall to the floor. I half stumble half crawl away from the laughter that I was hearing. Focusing my vision as I look behind me I start to make out her figure following me.

I quickly push to the side and on to my ass in fear when I see her jump toward me only to land in the place that I was in a few moments ago. I kick out with both of my legs hitting her in her side. Sending her to the floor. I finally get myself off the floor and start backing away keeping a gap between us.

I don't know how much longer I can keep thi…

I suck in a breath of air, when I feel my back bump against something. Turning my head I see that I'm backed up against one of the pillars that's spread throughout the room. I sigh when I see that it is not one of the other opponents. I then realize that I forgot about her.

I turn just to see a fist flying right at my face. I bring up my hands up as fast as I can. My midsection explodes in pain as she slams her knee in to my stomach. Doubling over from the pain, I struggle to get air in to my lungs, as the pain radiates from my abs. Grabbing the back of my head she forces me to look at her as she proceeds to slam her knee in to my face, sending me back in to the pillar. I slide down the pillar from the pain that is now pulsing throughout my midsection and skull.

"Guess you are not that tough as I thought." She says as she walks around me.

I squeeze my eyes tightly as I try to clear the stars from my vision.

"Suck…it…up..and attack HER!"

Still not knowing where the voice is coming from, but it's the only thing that is helping me at this point. Listening to the voice I get one of my legs under me while she as her back to me, as she looks around the room.

"NOW..!"

At the sound of the voice again. I look up and I see that she is turning back around again. I push myself up on my one leg with everything that I had left in me.

"I will make sure that you regret doing that to my broth...'" She says right before I snap her head back with an improv uppercut

"You should have finished me off when you had the chance." I mumble as I watch her unconscious form fall to the ground.

I stare at her unmoving body. In shock of what just happened. The pain that is pulsating over my body reminds me that it is all too real

God how the hell did I managed to do tha-

"Hey, scum." I twitched as wave of fear course through me when I hear a deep voice rumble behind me.

Knowing I'm going to like what I see, I turn around. I only had enough time to recognize the man I had shoulder-checked earlier grinning evilly before his meaty fist crashed into the side of my skull. Dazed, I reel from the blow, trying to escape, only to stumble into Mr. Nut-Shot. An explosion of color appears in my vision as he snaps my head back with an uppercut. Darkness quickly surrounds me as I hit the floor.

Beep.

"Pathetic… truly pathetic."

….Huh?

Beep.

Wait…what's that?

Beep.

I let the beeping lead me from the darkness as I slowly regain consciousness. I open my eyes, only to be blinded by a sharp white light from overhead. Squeezing my eyes shut, I try lifting my arm to help block out the light only to be greeted with a fresh wave of pain. I clench my teeth to stop myself from screaming from the new pain that hits my mind. I stop trying to move my arm and wait for the pain to fade.

"Oh, I wouldn't do that I were you. As a matter of fact, I would not move at all," I hear a soft voice replay.

Oh? I guess I was louder than I thought.

Slowly turning my head and squinting in the light, I see a pretty redheaded girl looking back at me with a smile. I smiled weakly back as I asked, "So how bad am I?" I watch as the smile fade from her face.

"I'll get the doctor and let him explain," she says as she turns and walks out of room.

That's never a good sign, and I still have to figure out what the deal is with that voice I'm hearing. Things are not looking good for me

If what Dr. Barren—the doc the redhead went to get said is true. I was beat up for about an hour, now if that was before or after I was knocked out I don't know, but it does not matter. They dragged my unconscious body to the medical wing per Dr. Sauiole's orders, where I', being treated for three bruised ribs, two broken ones, three bruised vertebrate, multiple lacerations to my face, one dislocated shoulder, and a dislocated elbow. They also bruised my kidney spleen, and gave me a concussion for my troubles. That is on top of all the purpling bruises that are covering roughly my entire body.

Dr. Barren was very shocked that I hadn't had any more broken bones after all the punishment my body had taken. Well, I never did get any bones broken before this, so I think I did ok for that part.

He said that I was lucky. I don't see how. Being dead is beginning to look more and more attractive than laying here in the med-wing of the prison, unable to do anything that matters in the coolest universe that I know. How in the hell is this considered lucky?

I shake off the painful thoughts when I hear footsteps to my left. Opening my eyes, I see nurse Alia, looking down at me with a needle in her hand. I eye the needle with distrust. It's not like I'm afraid of needles or anything; I just don't trust what it has.

She must have seen my reaction for she quickly speaks up. "It's just to help you sleep, that's all," she assures me with a smile. Making an effort to relax, I nod back.

"Before you do that," I rasp, the pain in my poor ribs making it difficult to speak properly. "What year is it? I don't…remember."

"It is the year 2180," she replies with a frown as she sticks the needle in my arm and injects whatever the hell it is in me.

"Now you are mine."

Crap…

Wait. 2180? The events of the first game don't even start till 2183. I have 3 years to wait. What good am I going to be when...

My mind goes blank as the drug takes hold and drags me back into the unforgiving darkness.

The sound of engines and voices cause me to awaken. At first I don't see anything, but slowly, the darkness is slowly replaced, by an alien skyline filled with tall sky scrapers and cars. Flying? As the image becomes clears I see purple lights lining the buildings and a violet sun set or sun rise.

"I know this?" I whisper

Wait this is not the prison, and why am I conscious? And why do I feel numb?

I feel my body move, but I notice that I'm not the one controlling it

Oh shit…

A/N

Update 8-8-14 Doing some basic rework on this. I may go back and rewrite the whole thing, but for now im not correcting the easy to spot errors

Update 5-07-2013 ( got it Beta'ed and reworked some of the story, to try and keep things in line as they should be. also added some parts that make it better.)

Was first posted back in Jan big mistake. got it cleaned up now and also i have a better idea on where im going with this now. needed to change a few thing to make it the way i really want.

sorry for making you all reread it again.

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