AN: WOW! Over 7 months, and no updates. I am incredibly sorry everyone, but I've been really damn busy with school work and a bunch of other stuff. As it is, I have the time to write this now, so I'm gonna use it while I can. I actually started writing this 6 months ago (hence the author's note below), but never got around to finishing it. Sorry. Anyway, onto the original author's note:
Hello everybody! Welcome to the ninth chapter of Changing Universes! Alright, well, I'd like to start off by responding to those who have complained about the concept of my OC complying with Cerberus. I will admit that it is rather far fetched that a Spartan would just comply without question, but I didn't really want to go with a whole long conversation/potential fight that would have ended up with the exact same result of my OC joining Shepard's crew. Plus there is the fact that UNSC cyber warfare technology is much better than that of Mass Effect and as such, a Special Forces operative like a Spartan II would have access to said tech, especially since they were combating the Covenant as they would want to collect as much information as possible on the location of the "homeworld" of the Covenant and all the races of the Covenant. As such, my OC would be able to remove any data from the Normandy on his armor, augmentations, etc.
Next up on the list is sorting out the confusion the user Banana had in regards to who my OC is. In this AU, my OC has been inserted into the events of Halo and has attained the highest possible rank an NCO (Non Commissioned Officer) can achieve, just like the Master Chief/John-117. Technically, the reason the Master Chief is referred to as such in the games is because he was the only Spartan II to achieve that rank. In this AU, he is not. My OC ended up at the Fall of Reach and also the Pillar of Autumn alongside Linda (though she was technically dead at the time) and thus followed the adventures of the Master Chief throughout Bungie's Halo Trilogy like the co-op campaign character does, just as an actual character in the storyline.
Now then, onto the story!
Spartan 239 POV: 09:45 aboard SSV Normandy SR-2
I stood at parade rest in the meeting room, staring down a fuming Shepard. I listened as she ranted about how pissed she was at what I'd done in the mess hall with Grunt, which conflicted with my early assessment of her as being a calm, collected woman. She finally stopped with a huff.
"Do you have anything to say for yourself?"
"My apologies ma'am. I did not intend to cause as much damage as I did in my act of self defense against another member of the ground team. I submit myself for any disciplinary action you deem necessary to correct this behavior." My back was still ramrod straight as I answer, my tone completely formal and near monotone. Shepard tested out her jaw for a moment before sighing, her shoulder lowering slightly as she does so.
"I expect all members of my ground team to be able to work together as a team on this mission. That will never happen if people have fights in the mess hall that damage my ship!" Her shoulders had raised again as she finished speaking before lowering back to their normal elevation after another sigh. "I want the two of you to stay a minimum of two decks apart until I've decided what to do after speaking with Grunt. Understood?"
"Yes ma'am." I had no issue with keeping away from the large, aggressive alien and even if I did, I wouldn't disobey a direct order from a commanding officer. I'd placed myself under her command, so I'd listen to her.
"Good. EDI will make sure that you both keep away from each other. Dismissed." Her tone is hard as she stares into my helmets polarized visor with no issue. I gave her a salute before walking out the door, boots thudding on the deck as always. I paused once I left, pondering where I should go. I shrugged mentally before heading to the elevator. I pressed the button that would take me to the cargo bay and wait for it to finish descending before stepping out into my new home. I took a look around before I started scanning the area for bugs. I sighed as I found several dozen hidden in several areas of the bay. I then started eliminating each and every bug in the bay.
Miranda Lawson's POV: 10:12 aboard SSV Normandy SR-2
Miranda silently swore as a metal boot descended onto the last of the bugs she'd planted in the cargo bay. The latest addition to Shepard's strange crew had found every camera and listening device in record time, taking only twenty minutes to find and destroy each and every single expensive device whereas Mordin had taken several hours and the use of a high powered scanning device. She sighed as she stood up and started making her way down to the cargo bay. She had a few bugs and cameras that she could replace them with on her person. As she stepped out of her office, she noticed that Gardner had managed to collect enough ingredients from his destroyed kitchen to be able to make meals for the crew. From what the Cerberus Officer had heard, the Spartan had been trying to get a meal when the 'incident' had occurred.
'Well, it might be a good ruse to disguise my true purposes for being down there.' the Cerberus second in command thought to herself as she approached and appraised the remains of the measly kitchen.
"Is this for our latest guest?" Miranda gestured to one of the trays set on a heavily dented countertop.
"Yeah, I was about bring it down for 'im. I'd hate to leave someone who can beat Grunt in a fight without his food." The chef gave her the answer with his typical southern drawl. "Mind er… Mind bringing it down for me? The man scares the hell outta me." Miranda gave the man an attempt at a warm smile as he inadvertently gave her the excuse she wanted to get to go and visit the hulking giant living in the cargo bay.
"Of course. I'll take it down to him now." She picked up the tray and made her way to the elevator. She tapped the holographic button, causing the elevator to begin slowly descending. After a short period of time (in comparison to most elevators in the Mass Effect Universe), Miranda was permitted to step out and into the cargo bay of the Normandy. As she stepped out, she glanced around the open area, finally noticing the large human that had joined them on their suicide mission. The Spartan was kneeling down in a set of fatigues, a tool in his large hand as he worked on what was evidently a piece from his advanced armor. Miranda would've been tempted to steal a piece of it from the man, but it was likely too heavy for her to carry out on her own without the giant noticing.
'Not to mention his superhuman senses that are better than my own…' the biotic thought enviously as she approached the supersoldier, setting one of the trays on one of the cargo crates that had been rearranged by the large soldier into a semi-circle around the area he'd chosen to be his 'quarters'. There was hardly anything in the area save a single (clearly reinforced) cot, his armor, the tool kit on the floor, and a table with weapons and ammo set up in rows.
"Can I help you ma'am?" The supersoldier spoke out, still working on the armor while managing to break the biotic's analysis of the room.
"I… Brought you your food. You didn't get the chance to eat before." The Spartan gave a grunt of acknowledgment, but didn't speak up, much to Miranda's indignation. "Do you want any help?" She asked after a moment, though she was annoyed when his only response was a small shake of his head. "Cerberus could use someone with your abilities and technology." The male stopped what he was doing, the tool in his hand going silent which Miranda took as a prompt to keep talking. "If you were to join us, you would be well compensated."
The Spartan turned his head, finally acknowledging her presence in the room. She saw a fire in the Spartan's eyes that very few non-Spartan's had seen. "No." The single syllable echoed around the room, the male's baritone voice loud and clear to the other occupant of the room.
"I'm sorry?" Miranda was surprised at the instantaneous negative response from the supersoldier. She knew that Cerberus wasn't the greatest organization to exist, unlike some of the operatives in the organization, but she had no idea why someone who was an unknown to all sources would be against Cerberus.
"I said no." The Spartan stood from his kneeling position he'd been in to work on his suit to stare into Miranda's eyes. "I am not going to join your terrorist organization."
Miranda released a small huff of annoyance which showed into her tone of voice as she spoke, crossing her arm as she did so. "Well why not?" The giant fell silent for a moment before responding.
"Because I believe that your group represents the worst of humanity. As such, were it not for these… extenuating circumstances, I would have planned on completing my original mission by dismantling all insurrectionist cells that exist in the galaxy with extreme prejudice." The giant had continued to semi-glare into Miranda's eyes as he spoke with an eerily calm tone that sent a despised shiver of fear up the woman's spine. "You're lucky that I had no choice in the matter but to join Commander Shepard's crusade against the Collectors or you would not be alive and breathing right now." Miranda took a half-step away from the supersoldier, instinctively knowing that the male was serious and, from what she had seen, more than capable of carrying out the threat.
After taking an infinitesimal moment of time to collect herself, the Normandy's XO responded. "Fine. Don't join Cerberus. Just stay out of our way in the future and there won't be any problems."
Miranda turned on her heels and started making her way back to the elevator, subtly tossing down a couple new bugs as she does so before the soldier's response stopped her. "I'm not afraid of Cerberus, Cerberus should be afraid of me. Unlike a hydra, if one of Cerberus' heads are severed, another two don't grow and bite back. Remember that when Cerberus loses its head, Miss Lawson." She let out a near silent huff before resuming her walk, her heeled boots clicking on the ground as she made her way into the elevator and out of the cargo bay.
AN: I'd like to apologize once again for the long wait. I'd also like to thank the people who've favorited/followed this story even though it hasn't been updated very recently and it doesn't even have 10 chapters yet in over a year and a half being on the site.
Anyway, as was seen earlier, Shepard is pissed and now our protagonist has gone and pissed off the Illusive Man's right hand. There may or may not be consequences for this in the future, but you'll have to wait until later to see if there are. I wrote this chapter to move the story into the loyalty mission for Grunt and I found that the angry Krogan destroying the kitchen is more likely an event than him talking to Chambers about his problems and her seeing that there is one. Plus, it also shows that the most powerful humanoid race of the Mass Effect universe is far outclassed by humanity's finest soldiers from the Halo universe. Anyway, I'd like to thank everyone for reading this and I hope you enjoyed this chapter (or at least semi-enjoyed it).
As for the people who've migrated into these chapters… *Ignores explosion in the background.* They're busy right now, but they'll be back next chapter. See you all then!