Persona Effect
Whatever I was expecting when I got sucked into my TV while playing Mass Effect, being confronted by my dark half was not it. I also wasn't expecting to get spat out into the Mass Effect world with powers I thought were fiction. I really should have stayed in bed. OC-insert, slight Persona crossover.
And we're back. Thanks to everyone who reviewed! Just a heads up, I will not be covering all of the conversations that occur in this mission as most of them will be the same as the game. I hope you enjoy this latest chapter!
Chapter 7
"Welcome, to the Velvet Room," said Igor as I opened my eyes in the back of the blue limo, "I must say that you are an interesting one Mr. Magnus. I wasn't expecting you to turn to the Investigation Team for help."
"Well, I knew it was unlikely that I could stand up to Shepards Shadow on my own, so I sought out help," I said, leaning back in my seat.
"That is a very wise decision," said Margaret, "However, in doing so you have changed the future of both the Mass Effect world and that of Megami Tensei. I cannot wait to see what will happen."
My vision began to blur.
"Ah, it appears that our time together has ended for now," said the blond, "Until next time then."
I opened my eyes to find myself staring up at the ceiling of the Port Observation deck. I groaned and sat up, rubbing my head slightly.
PWEEEEP!
I yelped and fell of the seat I had been sleeping on, before glearing up at a laughing Shepard who had just blown a whistle right in my ear.
"Wakey wakey, its morning!" she yelled, striking a pose.
I just stared at her.
"You woke me up for that?" I asked.
"Yep."
I deadpanned at her, before turning over and tugging my coat closer around me, ignoring the now pouting Shepard.
"Come on, get up!" she yelled, "You need to answer some questions for me!"
I groaned and sat up, rubbing my eyes to get the sleep out of them, before stretching and cracking my neck and back.
"Alright fine," I grumbled, "What do you want to know?"
"To start with, I want to know what happened last night," said Shepard, taking a seat across from me.
"Well, the short answer is that you were somehow dragged into your TV," I said, "The long one is that you were dragged into an alternate dimension that is connected to the human psyche that can only be accessed by people with certain powers by way of a TV."
"Are you serious?" asked the Commander.
Rather than answering, I stood and walked over to the TV mounted on the wall and stuck my hand through the screen.
"Extremly," I said, before pulling my hand out of the screen, "I don't know exactly how you were dragged in there since I should be the only person who can enter the TV world, but there you go. I'm sure we'll find out eventually."
"Alright, so what did you mean by certain powers?" asked Shepard, shaking of her shock at my hand passing through the screen.
"You remember the fight with your Shadow?" I asked, "The beings we summoned?"
"Yeah."
"They are called Persona. They are basically your Shadow after you accept them, a part of you that protects you and grants you the strength to fight. As you accepted your Shadow, you have the power to call yours forth and enter the TV world when you wish."
Shepard stood and joined me at the TV, before hesitantly reaching out and touching the screen, only to flinch back as it rippled at her touch.
"Wow."
"Yeah," I said, "But I wouldn't recommend going unless you have a damn good reason. Even with a Persona, it's still a dangerous place and just being there is stressful on the body."
We sat back down.
"So who were the kids you were with?" asked Shepard.
I chuckled and opened my Omni-tool.
"I think it would be best to show you," I said, activating the program I had found on the Extranet and projecting it onto the screen, "This is a video game from the 21st century called Persona 4."
Shepard watched as the game started, only for her jaw to drop as she recognised the Persona and forms of the Investigation Team.
"W-what the hell?" she stuttered, "There characters in a game?"
"Yep," I replied, "You're aware of the Theory of Relativity, right?"
Shepard nodded faintly.
"Well, basically this is an example of this. The TV world exists between dimensions and could likely be used for travel between them. In their dimension, this one is a video game with you as the main character, although I bet that the future has changed from the games storyline."
Shepard was quiet for a few moments.
"Alright, forgetting that I was apparently saved by fictional characters, how did you know I was in the TV?" she eventually asked.
I became serious and turned off my game.
"Through something called the Midnight Channel," I said, "Its a sort of window into the TV world. It appears when you look at a blank TV at midnight and, supposedly, shows your soul mate. However, what it actually shows is the next victim who will be dragged into the TV. Last night, you appeared on there and, since the image was clear, I knew that you were already in the TV world. After that, I simply had to head into the TV and ask Teddie for help."
"I see," muttered Shepard, clearly trying to wrap her head around the concept.
I sat back in my seat and allowed the Commander to absorb the information I had dumped on her. We sat in silence for a few minutes before Shepard spoke up again.
"Do you think this will happen again?" she asked, "People getting pulled into that world I mean?"
"No idea," I said, "The only thing we can do is see if anyone else shows up on the Channel."
Shepard nodded, before getting to her feet.
"You've given me a lot to think about," she said, "Thanks for taking the time to explain it to me."
"No problem," I said, "You know where to find me if you need me."
Shepard nodded and left, leaving me to move to the center of the room where I had cleared out a large space and enter a stance to begin my Katas.
"So, you are the swordsman?" asked a voice from the door as I flowed through the stances.
"Thats me," I said, "What can I do for you professor?"
"Was curious to meet you," said Mordin, coming into the room, "According to your file you can use your Biotics without an Amp and were able to take down a Krogen with a sword."
"What of it?" I asked.
"You are an intriguing subject. Am also interested in your sword. Never heard of one sharp or strong enough to cut through steel like yours."
"You and me both," I sighed and finished my Kata before turning to the Doctor, "If you want you can take a look at it. I'd be extremely interested to know what you can find."
"Would love to, but am currently swamped with creating countermeasure to seeker swarms," replied Morden.
"Well, if you ever change your mind, feel free to stop by."
Morden nodded and left the room, leaving me to slump down on the sofa and close my eyes.
"Ground team to the briefing room, I repeat, ground team to the briefing room!"
I sighed and got to my feet, heading upstairs.
"Whats this all about Shepard?" I asked when the team had gathered, "I was about to take a nap."
"Do you have any discipline at all?" asked Miranda, looking at me, "I thought that was a requirement for swordsmen
"Only in combat," I said, "Outside of it I can act as I like so long as Sakamoto-Sensei's not around and since shes on Earth I don't think I need to worry about that."
"Hem, when you're finished."
"Sorry Shepard," I said.
"Anyway, We're on approach to Purgatory to pick up Jack," said Shepard.
"Wait, isn't he a psychotic killing machine?" asked Garrus.
"Thats him," said Shepard.
"And you want us to be in an enclosed metal space in the middle of space with someone like that?" I asked, looking over at Miranda, "Are you out of your mind?"
"I'm sure that he can be convinced to work with us given the right motivation," said the cat-suit wearing woman.
"ANYWAY!" yelled Shepard, cutting of my retort, "While I don't think its a good idea, he is one of the most powerful human Biotics in existence. so he could be a valuable asset, if we can control him. The retrieval squad will consist of myself, Garrus, Mordin and Lock. Get ready and meet in the Airlock when we arrive."
"You got it," I said, already heading for the door.
A short while later saw the squad boarding the Prison station and being greeted by armed Taurens in Blue Suns armour who pointed their weapons at us.
"Wow, talk about a warm welcome," I quipped.
"Sorry Commander, but I need to ask you to hand over your weapons," said one of the grunts.
"And its standard procedure for me to keep my gun," said Shepard tersely.
"Stand down," said voice as another Blue Suns armoured Tauren walked into the entrance room, "I am Warden Kuril, the one in charge around here," said the Warden, "Its standard procedure for visitors to be disarmed Shepard, you understand."
"And its standard procedure for me to keep my gun with me at all times," repeated Shepard.
The Commander and Warden stared each other down for a few seconds before Kuril looked away.
"Let them through," he said, "I'm sure that we can handle four armed guests if they cause problems."
"Oh how lovely," I grumbled as we followed the Warden, listening to him explain about how the prison worked, including a few convenient demonstrations, including a moment where a pair of prisoners started fighting and a guard broke it up with a Shield pylon. Eventually we reached a corridor with a number of cells attached to it and were treated to the sight of a guard brutally beating a prisoner.
"What he do to deserve that?" I asked the guard standing outside.
"Nothing, but we need to send a message," replied the armoured guard.
"Is that so?" I asked, "You do know that doing that makes you as bad as him though?"
"What do you mean?" asked the guard.
"Hes in here because he picked on the weak in some way," I said, "And how is that any different?"
The guard looked at me for a second, before tapping on the glass door of the cell.
"Thats enough, let him go."
The guard in the cell stopped beating the prisoner and left the cell,. The guard I had spoken to nodded to me and headed off after his comrade, leaving me to catch up with the group who had been watching from further down the corridor.
"You're a bleeding heart," said the Warden, "That man deserved everything he got."
I just shrugged.
"I don't like unnecessary violence," was all I said as we continued to follow the Warden.
"Out-processing is just down this hall," said the Warden, pointing down a hall, "I need to go and make sure the funds for Jacks transfer is done. Once the transactions done, shes your problem."
"We know," I said, "We read the terms and conditions."
We headed down the indicated hall and through the door at the end, only to find an empty room with an open cell at the other end.
"I smell a double cross," I said as the door locked behind us.
"Sorry Shepard, but you're much more valuable as a prisoner than a client," said Kuril over the PA, "Now throw down your weapons and get into the cell."
"How about no," said Shepard, before looking at me, "Lock, do your thing."
"With pleasure," I said, facing the door and widening my stance.
"And just what are you planning to do to escape?" asked the Warden, "Securities waiting outside and you're outnumbered."
"Reppuzan."
I swung my sword and unleashed a massive wave of white Biotic energy that cut straight through the door and the squad of guards that were waiting behind it.
"Curious, what is your sword made of?" asked Mordin as he examined the mess on the other side of the now destroyed door.
"I have no idea," I replied, stepping over the puddle.
"Hmm, Would like to take up offer of studying it when we get back to Normandy."
"You got it, just make sure not to damage it," I said as we headed through the halls and towards the control room where we could free Jack from.
We didn't encounter any Guards as we headed through the halls, likely because all of the Guards in this section of the station had been sliced in half. We reached the control room, which was empty save for a technician who was quickly dealt with when I sliced his gun in half and kicked him into the wall.
"Damn, we can't release Jack from here," cursed Garrus as he worked on the console, "The best we can do is trigger a station wide alert and let everyone out."
"Do it," said Shepard, "It will provide a distraction and we don't exactly have time to look for an alternative."
"Got it," said Garrus and activated the alert, causing all of the cells to open and the Prisoners to start a riot.
We watched as the mechanical arm pulled a large ice cube out of the wall and placed it on the pedestal in the middle of the room, starting the thawing process. As it did, three YMIR mechs around the room activate and aimed their weapons at the thawing convict. In short order, the ice was gone, revealing a rather beautiful woman covered in tattoos and dressed in the bottom half of a prisoner jumpsuit and a set of straps on her upper body.
"Well what do ya know, there's actually someone out there who dresses even more inappropriately than Miranda," I quipped.
Jack opened her eyes and snarled, tearing open her restraints before lighting up her Biotics and tearing the Mechs and the room apart and running off, tearing holes in walls as she went.
"Still think its a good idea to recruit her?" asked Garrus.
Shepard just directed a glare at him and moved to the edge of the catwalk and shattering the glass with a Biotically charged punch.
"Shut up and lets get moving," she said before sliding down the conveniently placed chunk of broken metal that acted as a ramp, Garrus, Mordin and I following quickly.
We made our way through the hole Jack had made in the wall, following the trail of destruction she had left behind. We left the guts of the ship that Jack had been smashing through and emerged into the Yard where a pitched battle between the Convicts and guards had broken out, the Convicts using a combination of makeshift weapons and guns taken from the Guards. Fortunately, both sides were more interested in each other than us, although we were forced into a few firefights. Eventually, we reached a wide open area with a large number of bodies, both criminal and guard, with a man with silver hair and a prisoner jumpsuit standing in the middle of the room, panting and holding a length of pipe that was dripping blood. What stood out about the bodies was that not one of them was human. The man turned as we entered, revealing his red eyes that glimmered with insanity.
"Oh, whats this?" he asked as he saw us, "More Devil scum for me to kill?"
"What happened here?" asked Shepard, taking in the bodies, "And what do you mean devil?"
"I mean those scumbags standing behind you," replied the psycho.
"You mean Mordin and Garrus?" asked the Commander, "But there not Devils."
"Of course they are!" howled the man, "And in the name of God I shall exercise them and any who would call upon them!"
He vanished.
"What the hell?" demanded Garrus, only to yelp as my sword shot out and intercepted the psychos pipe before it could crush his skull.
I gritted my teeth as I held him back, inwardly wondering where all his strength was coming from, before my arms lit up with Biotics and I shoved him away. The others moved to bring up their guns, only for me to stop them with an outstretched hand.
"Lock?" asked Shepard.
"We don't have time to get into a fight with a psycho," I said, "You saw him move, how fast he is. You guys go after Jack, I'll handle this guy."
"We can't leave you here alone!" yelled Shepard.
"I'll be fine," I said, "Just go."
Shepard looked conflicted for a moment, before nodding and running through the hole in the opposite wall, Mordin and Garrus following her.
"So, you intend to fight me alone?" asked the convict, "Thats pretty brave."
"I can see your a swordsman from your movements," I said, taking a stance, "It would be rude of me to take you on with back up."
"Hmm, a Devil lover with morals, who knew," grinned the psycho, "My name is Freed Sellzen and I'll be the one to kick your ass!"
He vanished again, his pipe slamming into my sword as I brought it up to block.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Lock Magnus," I said, "Lets go!"
END! Bit of a cliffhanger there, but hey ho. Don't worry, Freed is just based on the Shitty Priest, I have no intention of crossing this with DXD, I just needed a reason for them to split up for something I have planned later.
Now, I have completed my list of Arcana for the crew and they are as follows:
Lock: the Fool
Shepard: the Star
Tali: the Empress
Garrus: the Emperor
Liara: the Priestess
Miranda: the Tower
Samara: the Hermit
Thain: Death
Jacob: Justice
Jack: the Devel
Grunt: the World
Legion: the Hanged Man
Mordin: Judgment
Joker: the Magician
Chakwaz: the Chariot
EDI: the Moon
plus one more character who will be introduced shortly who will be the Wheel of Fortune.
This extra character is actually one from the Persona series who I love and couldn't resist putting her in. Her Arcana is the same as in the games so if anyone can guess who it is in one try, I'll let them create a weapon for one of the Arcana. I say in one try since you could just list anyone with the Wheel of Fortune Arcana and win.
Kudos for those who know where I got Locks attack and the name of his sensei from.
Leave me a review on the way out!
(EDIT made some spelling corrections)