Here's the next chapter.
Thank you for the reviews. And as for your concerns over George's "Super Powers" making him a "Mary Sue" I'm trying to avoid that I just wanted to give him skills that would prove useful to survive in Mass Effect and would make him unique. So don't worry Gorge will never burst into a room and rip seven krogan apart with his bare hands whilst chatting up Asari models. He's still Human not Superman.
Anyway enjoy the chapter, please leave your thoughts and please forgive any spelling mistakes.
George was angry, he'd been here for two months now, two months in a whole new universe with nothing but his sister, two months without all his stuff and; "I've gone two months without a cup of tea, real tea, so please tell me that you, of all the places on the citadel, do you sale real tea?"
"You're in luck sir, we have a wide selection of the finest tea freshly shipped from Earth," The cheery Indian man said from behind the counter.
"Thank you," George sighed. He stood in a newly opened café in Zakera Ward not too far from Wilkinson's Electronics; it claimed to provide the best human snacks and hot drinks in the Ward.
"Wow, I've never seen anyone so desperate for a cup of tea," Eleanor said with a chuckle as she paid for her sandwich and coffee before taking a nearby seat, George soon followed stirring to his absolute delighted real cow's milk into his cup of milky brown steaming tea.
"Trust me; you would not believe how handy a cup of tea is," George said as he took a sip.
"You know, I still don't get you," Eleanor said.
"Get what?"
"Well, why you're here, why you, a young man will come here with your little sister and two million credits."
Georges mind raced for an answer, he knew that someday someone would ask that question, "Well, you see, we didn't have much of a choice in the matter, I, Err, well I don't really want to talk about it, yet." He nervously answered, trying his best not to lie.
"Oh I see," Eleanor said with a kind yet sad smile, "I didn't really imagine myself coming here yet after…" She sighed, "Well let's just say there's a reason why I don't have a mother."
George felt a hint of pain from her sanded face. Over the last two months working together he and Eleanor had fast became friends; in fact she was the only person on the citadel that he would consider a friend. Yet despite that he still didn't know much about her.
"How long have you been here?" George asked after a moment of silence.
"Five years," She sighed, it had the opposite effect that George had intended, in that she seemed to become sadder. "Let's change the subject, so, back on Earth… did you ever have any pets?" She said with more of a smile.
"Well yes, a rabbit, two dogs, and more recently there is this squid thing that has been following me and Helen since we first got here. She wanted to call it Squidward but I managed to get her to shorten it to just Squid,"
Eleanor chuckle, "You know, you're by far the most interesting man I've ever met,"
"Is that a good thing?"
"Maybe," She shrugged, "Say, look at the time, we should be getting back."
The Citadel in all its size has begun to seem smaller to George over the last two months. He had found and rented a large apartment in a renowned district of Zakera Ward, it surprisingly wasn't all that expensive for what it provided. He and Helen each had their own rooms and bathrooms whilst the rest was enough for a spare room, a kitchen/dining room and a living room, each room was rapidly being furnished.
Helen herself had surprisingly settled well into a prestigious multi-spices school on the presidium, and much to George's annoyance already had four best friends, only one which was human.
Life here was good, in fact George felt as if here he had a purpose. Yet every day he longed for home, his friends, his family, they have no idea what happened or that he and Helen were safe. There were many more things he missed. From his possessions, his books, sketchbook and many trinkets and mementos that held vast sentimental value to him, then there were the smaller things, he missed the sun and the rain, he missed a cool morning breeze and the birds singing in the rustling green trees und a blue sky with swirls of white clouds.
He missed home yet he also wished that home could be here, that his parents were here.
He couldn't dwell on that however, he had to keep going here, for Helen's sake. Often he found himself researching theories on interdimensional travel and nothing he found could explain what happened or how to get back. He wasn't even sure of what happened or if controlling it was at all possible.
Another thing was that purple rodent, Squid. They weren't in the game but after a quick extranet search he discover they were the Asari equivalent of rats, although if it was a rat George had decided Squid would be equivalent to that of Remy form Ratatouille, only without the ability to cook. She, as George had discovered, paced about the Citadel as if she owned the place and always seemed to follow him or Helen.
In his spare time George has found himself working out, which came as a shock to his body, yet after weeks of working out, limping from painful strains and wheezing after asthma onslaughts he was happy with the results. He was also practicing his climbing a skill he was now sure he somehow subconsciously must have learned from Ezio, along with gaining his eagle vision. That added an entirely new problem to his thoughts, he was well aware of that strange light that formed when people had contact with him whilst they were transporting here, what it was he had no idea but he theorised that it must have somehow conveyed knowledge and experience between the two.
If that was the case however then what about that Na'vi and Captain Price, what did he learn from them? He already knew how to use a bow and the basics of firearms yet he didn't feel like he knew anything new. He also didn't have any mental changes; he didn't feel like a nine foot blue cat man who could plug himself into animals or a grizzly SAS veteran with a liking for cigars, he was the same person as before. Maybe, he thought, he did learn something new it's just supressed in the darkest recesses of his mind hiding behind the faded memories of nightmares.
They entered the shop to see Henry Wilkinson, Eleanor's father and their boss, behind the counter with an Asari customer. He nodded briefly to them before turning back to the Asari, Henry was a tall man with dark hair and tired eyes. He was also a quiet man, only speaking when he had something important to say.
George was used to working in small shops, it gave him a sense of familiarity in a strange new world. He thought of home again. How would they get back? Will they ever get back?
"George."
"Uh… What, oh, yes Eleanor?" George said.
"You seemed out of it there." She said.
"I was just thinking."
"Well if you're done thinking I need some help out back."
A man walked along the Presidium, he was a short and plump human with thin balding hair and nervous eyes. He shifted through the crowds of aliens on his way towards a small secluded office, why he had to work on the Citadel was beyond him but someone had to represent Terra Firma's interests, only today he was not here for Terra Firma.
He came to a door opposite the embassies. He shifted with nervousness before sweeping his hand over his scalp and through thin hair and with caution stepped though.
The office was almost bare but at the far end a Volus in a black and white enviro-suit looked up from behind a desk. "Ah, greetings Earth-clan," he said amongst hisses of his respirator, "What can I… do for you?"
"Are you Barla Von?" the human asked as he tentatively stepped forwards.
"The one and only," The Volus replied.
The man shifted his feet again, he wasn't normally like this with aliens just this one, who the alien worked for and what he needed to do filled him with anxious dread; "I heard that you're the one to come to if someone requires some… information," he quivered.
"You've heard correct Earth-clan… and there's no need to be nervous… what information can I provide you with… for a price?"
The human pulled a data pad from the folds of his suit and hurriedly handed it over to Barla Von in a fashion similar to how a highly cautious man would if the Volus had the plague. Barla Von looked though the two pictures and information besides them in interest; under his helmet he raised what humans would consider an eyebrow.
"Their names are George and Helen Williams, brother and sister," The man explained, he had a job to do so he'd better get with it, "Two months ago they appeared on the Citadel with no past and no identity but somehow got passed security and registered with the Alliance embassy. What my employers wish to know is, is there any evidence of them existing before and how did they get here?"
"Well, that is interesting… I'll see what I can find out… It won't be cheap though… The Shadow Broker doesn't do this for free…"
"So how are you feeling today?" Alexis asked to the little girl who huddled in the corner of her 'room'. She had changed a lot in the last two months since she arrived on the shoulders of the diving suited creature that, thanks to some research on classic video game, Alexis learnt was called a Big Daddy. She was a Little Sister, a genetically modified child with a unique sea slug implanted within her in order to generate a versatile genetic modification substance called ADAM.
His superior wanted the slug to be removed and studied but Alexis convinced him that it may damage or kill the slug in the process; truthfully he couldn't stand to see her die in the process. He cloned the slug without harming her and has been protecting her ever since, much to his superior's displeasure.
The girl continued to sit in silence. Alexis had been spending time attempting to rehabilitate her and was making good progress, she couldn't remember much of her past but he learnt her name was Cindy and she was seven years old.
"Come on Cindy, are you happy?"
"I miss daddy…" She mumbled.
"Well, I take care of you now," Alexis said reassuringly, he didn't know why, he had a daughter; perhaps the reason why he was so desperate to help her was because she reminded him of his own.
"No… I want my daddy!" She cried and curled deeper into the corner. Her eyes had also changed thanks to Alexis' work, they were no longer glowing a full unnatural yellow instead the glow had shrunk down to small balls of light buried deep in her eyes' pupils.
There was a knock at the door. Alexis turned to see a technician standing there with a data pad, "Sir, we've received word from our Citadel operative, he's got that information on those two suspected travellers that you wanted,"
Alexis stood, stepped towards the technician and took the data pad and read through it. His eyes widened in delight. "We'll continue later Cindy," He said before turning out of the door and began to jog down the sleek metal walkways in the well-lit caverns.
He turned to a lift and entered before pressing the floor button. Another technician inside looked up from his data pad, "Ah, Doctor Muller sir. I've got the latest performance of results the WF-304, the hyperdrive is fully functioning and dogfight simulations are running well…"
"Not now Wilhelm, we've found them." Alexis said.
"Found who sir?" The technician asked.
"Those two who caused the Transporter to go haywire two months ago." Alexis answered as he turned to look out the back windows of the lift. It raised though the caverns and opened up onto a large chamber. There were rows upon rows of tanks, Infantry Fighting vehicles and battle walkers lined neatly and donned with fresh grey paint. Each was numbered and proudly displayed a straight armed black iron cross with a white outline along its flanks; the white itself was flanked by a thin black line.
Impressive wasn't the word to describe the shear awe of the sight.
"We have all these weapons yet no way of getting home and ensuring that we win the war," The technician sighed.
"Don't worry, we'll find a way," Alexis said.
"Do you think of home Doctor, our families? I looked up my family here in this universe; they all died when the Russians attacked…"
"You'll see them again Wilhelm, history doesn't have to go that way in our own." Alexis replied yet even as he said the words he wished he believed them. That didn't matter now, he had found those two, they were the only things ever to affect the Transporter, and maybe they were the key to getting home.
He hopped out of the lift and bounded down the metal walkways. Eventually he came to the door he wanted, it wasn't like the other doors in the tunnels this one was designed to look like large oak doors of impressive offices back on his Earth, it even felt like them, however that's where the similarities ended. He knocked on one and after a few seconds its heavy surface swung open.
The room inside looked nothing like any of the other rooms in the base. It too was designed similar to many grand offices back home. Its walls were panelled with oak and lined with bookshelves, sculptures and paintings of famous moments in their nation's history. At the far end behind a large oak desk sat the professor in his black uniform behind him two red flags with a white circle in the centre and the black emblem of his nation proudly stood. Above was a large portrait of their leader, its painted eyes seemed to stare down in expedience. Opera music filled the air from the old gramophone that he had playing to his side. Alexis wasn't much for music but he guessed that it was Mozart, or Beethoven, more likely Wagner.
Alexis walked up the room and stopped in front of the desk. His superior didn't show any notice of him as he calmly took the arm off the record and then looked up at Alexis who promptly raised his right arm in a salute.
"This better be good news doctor,"
"It is sir; we've found those two who overloaded the transporter two months ago."
"That is good news Doctor," the professor said emotionlessly, "Send out the Ghosts, I want these two alive, the Transporter was drawn to them for some reason and had trouble bringing them here, I want to know why,"
"Of course sir,"
"Alright," George said, "This is some Salarian fish stuff, it's kind of like tuna," He emptied the can onto a small plate on the floor, Squid looked at him curiously before sniffing the fish chunks, she reeled back in disgust, a surprising feat for a rat. "You're right; I lied when I said it was like tuna, it's terrible."
George then turned to the side a picked up another tin before peeling of the top. "This is real English Corn Beef; I don't know why I'm feeding it to you because it's the only real beef I've found." Again Squid sniffed it before backing away and looking back up at George, "No? Well, all the more for me then."
"Now this is highly expensive canned Asari… stuff," George said as he emptied the third thin, Squid's purple snout sniffed at the green past before diving in.
"Squeak!"
"Oh, so you like that then, typical." George sighed, "God I miss food so much, roast beef with potatoes and Yorkshire puddings, fresh battered cod with thick and crispy chips, bacon and egg butties, Cornish pasties, pies, gherkins, and pretty much anything my dad cooked, he could give Gordon Ramsay or Jamie Oliver a run for their money any day..."
"What are you doing?"
George turned in surprise to see Eleanor standing in his kitchen with a highly quizzical and somewhat worried look. "E-Eleanor, what are you doing here? How did you get in?"
"Helen let me in," She replied, "So you were telling the truth about the squid thing."
"Yeah, I'm kind of…"
"Feeding it and discussing some very… interesting foods with it," Eleanor finished in a sarcastic tone, "I've never seen that,"
"Never had I before I arrived here,"
"No not the squid. I mean seeing someone feed a squid a three course meal of fish, beef and caviar."
"This stuff's caviar?" George said as he examined the tin, even though he could read all the languages on it not once did he see the word, just an Asari word that he translated as 'Bounty of the Deep'.
"Well that is the nearest to it as far as I know,"
George shook his head, stood and turned to Eleanor, "So is there a reason why you decided to drop by?"
"What, would you prefer that I didn't," She said with a hurt look,
"No, no of cause not, you're welcome here anytime," George blurted out.
"Well good," Eleanor chuckle, "But yes I did have a reason to stop by. Someone told me that you had recently had your twentieth birthday but got nothing, not one gift, no party, nothing. So Helen and I decided to fix that," Helen then rounded the corner with a large gift wrapped box and placed it up on the counter.
"Happy birthday," they said in unison.
George was near speechless, it was true that for the first time in his life he completely ignored his birthday, also the thought of being technically 188 years old wasn't too appealing to him.
"Well open it then!" Helen said.
George nodded as he peeled off the paper and opened the large box beneath. Inside he found an assortment of art supplies, a sketch pad and digital design software and hardware.
"T-Thank you, I don't know what to say but thank you, both of you,"
"Helen told me how much you liked that stuff," Eleanor said, "I'm glad you like it as it cost a lot,"
"I helped and not just for your birthday, it's a late Christmas present too," Helen said.
"Thank you two, again," George said as he looked though the items.
"I know how hard it can be to move to an entirely new world, you needed something nice for yourself," Eleanor said with another one of her kind smiles, George couldn't help thinking how right she was.
Eleanor stayed afterwards as they ordered Pizza and sat to watch a movie, the fully remastered director's cut of the 170 year old hit film The Hobbit. Eleanor had heard of these, what she called classic films and was just as amazed as the George and Helen.
"Thank you again," George said as Eleanor stepped out the door
"You're welcome, but remember that Helen paid for half of that stuff." Eleanor said with a smile and a slight yawn.
"Well good night then and I'll see you at work tomorrow," George said.
"Maybe, or I may just blame you for getting me interested in two hundred year old films," She replied with a sly smile and a chuckle, "Thank you for the food then, good night."
George replied the same as Eleanor left. He closed and locked the door before turning to see Helen standing there with a sly look.
"You should have kissed her,"
"What?" George said, shocked doesn't begin to explain the tone of the what.
"It's so obvious you like her and she likes you, you should have kissed her," Helen said.
"Look… we're just friends and even that's risking it. The less of an attachment we have here the better when we find a way home." George said as he walked towards his room.
"I know that," Helen sighed, "Still you should ha…"
"Isn't it you're bed time? And also where did you get the money to pay for half those presents?" George asked.
"Oh is that the time, I should be going to bed." Helen quickly said as she darted in her room and locked the door behind.
George shook his head and turned to the box of presents that was sitting on his desk. He looked inside and even his inexperience with this time period he could tell that the cost was high. It was the most expensive, and only gift Helen had ever given him and Eleanor also did this for him. Why him? what made in deserve this? He sighed again but smiled as his mind argued with itself over Eleanor, her intentions, what would happen when they get home and if that was even possible. He sighed and again shook his head clear and began to settle into bed. Why could his life never be simple?
"These are your targets," Alexis said as he showed two pictures of George and Helen to a room of four men who looked as if they wouldn't hesitate to kill you if you so much as walked past them. "Their names are George and Helen Williams, all the data we have on them is being downloaded to your neural implants now."
The men all twisted their heads as if they were looking at something that only they could see before nodding and turning back to Alexis, "Remember they are wanted alive and unharmed, you'll have access to our complete arsenal and support to get them. These two somehow affected the transporter. It's possible that they may hold the key to getting home to our own time, to our families. I know you're all aware of how history played out here, we lost the war, but with what we've learnt here we can win in our own universe, that was our goal and we shall succeed."
There was a cry of agreement from the Ghosts.
"Hauptsturmführer Frost, over to you," Alexis nodded, the Captain of the group stood and turned to his men. He was tall and strong, strong enough to beat a Thresher Maws with is bare hands, his hair was blond and his eyes glowed a cybernetic blue.
Frost began to speak of his plan; the rest of his team listened and offered suggestions. Wolf was the second in command, he was smaller in physique to Frost yet made up with it in skill, he was the best marksman of the group. Next was Cobra, the master of stealth, then there was Fox, he was the smallest of the lot yet could out run, jump and otherwise out manoeuvre anyone.
Each was highly skilled before but now thanks to five years of research into biological and cybernetic modification they were a force to be reckoned with.
Then there was there equipment. It was a combination of reversed engineered and improved technology from many different universes. For this mission they wore civilian clothes over a stab and shock absorbing skintight suit. A high powered shield generator was strapped to their belts; unlike kinetic barriers of this universe these shields were capable of blocking both projectiles and energy weapons.
Next was their side arms, a Zat-2180, it was made from three segments of black composite metals and plastics and folded up when not in uses, when in use it folded into a Z like shape that fired energy bursts that were strong enough to knock unconscious most creatures up to the size of an Elcor or Krogan. A second blast within a variable amount of time would kill and three rapid blasts are able to disintegrate items below a certain mass. Of course they would only use the weapon once on their targets, twice on anyone who got in their way.
They didn't expect any difficulties but they carried backup weapons just in case, an ScMP-80, a rail-machine pistol, a hybrid of many different technologies. They were small and light enough to conceal yet use an rail gun system to fire super-heated sub atomic particles that breakdown to form projectile plasma capable of breaking though any form of personal kinetic barriers and armour in this universe. It had a rate of fire of 500 rounds per minute, a pulse magazine capable of 200 to 275 rounds and an effective range of 200 meters. It was designated as a Personal Defence Weapon however it is affectionately known as a Personal Overkill Weapon.
Finally they had specially designed omni-tools and implants that would help them through almost any situation from getting past C-Sec, finding their targets, hacking, escaping, stealth and much more.
Finally they entered one of the base's hangers, inside was a civilian ship, one that would not look out of place in any port in this galaxy, inside however it was drastically different. It was a full base fitted with equipment that would make a scientist drool and weapons that would make a Krogan cower in fear. It used a mass effect core so not to raise suspicions however it also was fitted with a zero-point energy generator with a hyperdrive capable of intergalactic travel within days and a stealth system that would make the still-in-construction Normandy look as if it had a large flashing sign saying here we are.
Frost walked into the cockpit where two pilots sat preparing for take-off. The fact that they were identical was not a coincidence; they were clones, grown and educated on the moon and conditioned to serve a nation's leader on a world they had never been to in a universe they had never known until their deaths.
"This is Eagle One to Overwatch, we're ready for take-off," The first pilot said.
"Rodger that Eagle One, clear for take-off," An identical voice replied.
"Get us to the Citadel Oberleutnant, fast," Frost said. The pilot nodded as the docking clamps were released and he gently lifted the ship up and out of the hanger into the dark sky above the barren and rocky world. He turned to the course and taped away at the holographic panel.
"Eagle One to Overwatch, requesting permeation to bypass relay system and engage hyper jump to safe distance from Citadel over,"
"Affirmative Eagle One, uploading safe-zone coordinates,"
"Coordinates set; charging hyperdrive to recommended levels, levels set, Green lights across the board, opening hyperspace window,"
The darkness of space before them turned a milky blue and purple. The cloud shimmered and gleamed as the ship silently glided into its vortex and immediately disappeared in a flash of light.
