Is Hope Lost?

"So did you buy "Leviathan" yet?" Shepard asked. He had just walked out of the TV to see what was going on.

The player just said nonchalantly, while on his laptop, "I didn't buy it."

"Why not?"

The player rose his head, "I don't know if you realize, but I have no money to spend on DLC right now. Even if I did, I feel safer using a gift card."

"Why a gift card?"

"…It's a long story. Anyway, I looked it up online and it doesn't really change the ending, just adds some dialogue to the Crucible. Leviathan isn't even present in the final battle. Plus, the Catalyst seems even more evil than ever now."

Shepard fell to his knees, "So that's it then…this is how it ends for me? Are you there anymore DLC coming out?"

"Not "ending" changing DLC but there is an "Omega" DLC coming out."

"Nothing else though?" Shepard said, sounding very desperate.

"Nothing, sorry."

"…Dammit!" Shepard got up and punched the TV, completely ruining it.

The player's jaw dropped, "What the hell man? Do you have any idea how much that will cost?!"

"Sorry," Shepard said. "Here are some credits."

"That currency doesn't work in this universe!"

"Is there any conversion system?"

"You do realize this is the real world you're in, not the Mass Effect universe, right? I thought you broke the fourth wall, shouldn't you know that?"

"Well yeah, but I'm not perfect."

"Eh, whatever. I just have to find a way to pay this TV off and pay off my pre-order."

"For what game?"

"Assassin's Creed 3"

"Traitor…" Shepard folded his arms.

"Well I have to move on. I can't keep focusing on Mass Effect 3 forever. As much as I really want to, I've just given up."

"Oh well…I guess I'll just go back in the game which will collect dust," Shepard said in a depressed voice. He was about to walk slowly into the TV. Now the player felt bad. He didn't want his bad ass Shepard being depressed, he had to help him somehow.

"Wait!"

Shepard turned around.

"I know one way you can get a good ending, multiple actually."

"Really!" Shepard's expression brightens.

"Yeah, come here," the player waved. Shepard went behind the player to look at his laptop.

"Fan Fiction?" Shepard said after looking at the URL. "What's that?"

"It's a site where people can write stories based off of already existing properties. Sometimes the stories represent 'what if?' situations or things that fans wanted to see, but never did."

"Like closure to the ending?"

"Exactly, check this one out," the player clicked a story.

"Wings of Fire?" Shepard questioned.

"By Bahoogasmif."

"What kind of name is that?

"It's not his real name, it's his pen name."

"Oh…this story seems very long. I'll just use my omni-tool to help summarize this stories." The omni-tool scanned the computer. "Wow!"

"You like it? I've been reading it for a while. I'm trying to find time to finish it up."

"Hell yeah! I'm not dead in this one and I built Tali a home, just like I wanted." Shepard loved this.

"He's not the only one who's wrote a story for his Shepard, there are others. Thousands in fact."

"Well this one is amazing. Is he a Bioware writer?" Shepard asked.

"Nope."

"What? Are any of these stories written by Bioware writers?"

"…Not to my knowledge, and that's the amazing thing. A lot of them are just ordinary people who like to write. Who love Mass Effect and want to expand on that universe. It's the beauty of Fan Fiction."

"Then that's what you should do?"

"Do what?"

"Write me a story!"

"I don't know…"

"Come on, don't you care about me and Tali's future. Of all of my friend's future?"

"I do, but I'm already busy with other stories."

"Can't you squeeze it in?" Shepard pleaded.

"I guess…" The player said, giving in.

"Thank you!" Shepard, meaning to give the player a gentle jab to the shoulder, almost broke it since he was still wearing his armor.

There was an awkward silence between the two.

"So, are you gonna go back into the game?" The player asked.

"Not just yet, I want to see more of these stories." Shepard scanned around random stories.

"Anything catch you eye?"

"No…wait…in this one me and Garrus get really close…then we go into the captain's cabin and…Oh God! Garrus is a cool dude, but I wouldn't fuck the guy!"

"That's not meant to be you, that's someone else's Shepard."

"And another one that has another Shepard having a threesome with…woah…that's a lucky Shepard."

"Okay…" The player was starting to get a little freaked out by Shepard's fascination with all of the "lemons".

"And another one where Tali is a lesbian…pretty hot!

The player was taken aback by Shepard's comment, but not surprised; his Shepard was part Renegade anyway. And it's not like the player didn't fully disagree with Shepard's statement.

Shepard continued, "After seeing all these, I can't wait to see what you do with me in your story. You're still going to make it, right?"

"Yes! I will write you a good ending. Now can you please go back into the game? I think you caused enough damage for today."

"Sure thing, good luck with the story." Shepard went back into the portal.

"Yeah," the player thought. "I'm going to need it."


Hopefully, I can get this new story on track sometime soon. Hope you enjoyed! And please people, do your part, and give your Shepard a better ending. :D