Chapter 10

Disclaimer: I do not own Mass Effect or any of its characters. Those belong to Bioware and EA. Any music or movies I may mention belong to their rightful owners.

I sat there on the med bed staring at Shepard. I couldn't lie to her she would see through that... but what would happen if I told her the truth... I decided to not tell her everything to an extent.

I sighed "Very well Shepard I will tell you what you want to know."

She stood there as I explained how I got here and so forth. I left out the part about Miranda though. She didn't need to know that. After I finished she stared at me.

A couple of minutes went by as she stared at me. I started to get really uncomfortable until she finally broke the silence.

"Can Tali back your story?" She asked in a curious tone.

I let out a deep breath that I had been holding. "Yes... Though I must ask that for the time being only you know about this. The future is never certain and I was warned about changing it too much. I probably already changed a lot now that I've told you. We have to be careful though. I may know a lot... but that was in a different universe. Who knows how much is different here!" I said staring at her.

She nodded "I agree. Though I will seek you out from time to time for information on what were about to encounter."

I nodded "So... does that mean I get to stay on the Normandy?" I asked.

She smiled "Of course... Though I want you to head down as soon as we depart to the cargo hold. I will be sending Ashley who should already be getting set up by the weapons lockers to go over the firearms that we carry and to start with your training as well." She said as she started to turn.

I quickly slid off the bed. But as soon as I touched the floor I got extremely dizzy and flailed out trying to catch myself. Shepard turned and grabbed me.

She stared down at me with concern "Are you ok?" She asked.

I stared to nod when I heard a loud roaring noise. I jerked back and grabbed my ears as it started to get louder.

I stared at Shepard as she started to shake me. But I couldn't hear what she was saying. Suddenly everything went black.

XXX

I opened my eyes only to see that I was standing on Eden Prime.. 'what the hell?' I turned and saw Shepard get pulled in by the beacon. Everything happen accordingly only this time I saw the Normandy pick up Kaiden, Ashley, and the unconscious Shepard. I watched them load Shepard onto the Normandy and depart. As the Ship heads into the Atmosphere I hear a noise and 'Garrus?' appears out of the blue vortex in front of the beacon.

I openly gape as I see him mash a few buttons on the bottom of the beacon. I see him bring something out of a pouch and place it in some kind of compartment. He turns towards me and nods before stepping back into the blue vortex and disappears.

I blink and suddenly I'm standing in front of the beacon.

I move closer and I notice a faint green light coming from a small hole near the bottom of it. I touch the hole and the hidden compartment opens and a drawer of sorts slides out to reveal some strange green crystal that was glowing.

Ok I've seen a ton of horror movies so I should have known better to grab it but yet I did and the result wasn't what I expected.

I reached down and picked up the Crystal. It glowed brightly and started to literally crawl onto my skin. I tried dropping the crystal but my hand wouldn't budge. I started to panic as the green light had left the now dull looking crystal and was wrapped around my arm. I flailed my arm but it didn't budge. It glowed brightly and suddenly it disappeared.

I started to relax when I heard the roaring noise from earlier. My eyes shot wide as a vision burned itself in my mind. I saw flashes... of machines... The Reapers... I heard myself scream as Sovereign appeared before me. It started to come closer and I felt a growing blackness consume me.

XXX

I slowly opened my eyes to notice that I was still in the Med-Bay but I was laying on the

bed.

I turned my head to notice Shepard and Chakwas going over something on a vid screen. I slowly sat up and turned towards them but then I stopped dead in my tracks.

I gaped at my hand as green light glowed brightly around it. It disappeared and I stared at my arm. I turned it and noticed a tattoo on the underside of my arm. I started at it. It was a strange dagger with a circle and some strange words I had never seen in my life written in the middle of it. There were black lines running from the tip of the dagger and they crisscrossed my entire arm running up into the sleeve of my shirt that I had on.

I turned my head towards Shepard and Chakwas as I heard my name mentioned.

"Ok Doc I understand that He didn't have that tattoo 4 hours ago... but what do you mean you've notice increased Brain activity?" She asked staring the gray headed Doctor down.

Chakwas regarded her with a calm face. "You can check the scans Shepard. It shows a dramatically increase in his cerebral functions."

Shepard cupped her chin and wondered into thought.

I tried to speak but my throat felt very dry. I turned and noticed a cup a couple of tables over. I raised my hand toward the table as I moved to slide off the table when the cup shot forward into my hand. I gasped loudly catching both Shepard's and Chakwas attention.

"Will are you ok?" She said stopping a few feet from me as my body glowed green brightly.

I turned to her with a look of complete shock as my body continued to glow. "I... I do not know Shepard." I gasped.

At that moment the Med-Bay door opened and in walked Tali "Doctor I was just wondering how..." She froze as she noticed me.

Shepard glanced at her than at me. Suddenly the glow vanished and I collapsed to my knees on the floor.

Tali reached me first grabbing my shoulders "Are you ok Will?" she said. I noticed a very worried tone in her voice.

"I... I am fine." I said slowly getting back to my feet.

Shepard stared at me for a moment before turning to Chakwas "Will he be ok doc?" She asked.

"Physically he's fine... but other wise i'm really not sure.." She said.

"I'm fine... may I go train now?" I asked looking at Shepard.

She regarded me for a moment before turning to Chakwas who simply nodded.

"I think it best if you get some rest... You've been through a lot obviously. I've assigned you quarters on the crew deck." She said.

I looked at her puzzled "No sleeper pod?" I asked.

She chuckled "No.. We only use those if were on stand-by during combat situations. I realize a lot may be different so try to get used to it ok." She said giving me a smile.

I smiled in return and nodded "So am I cleared to go?" I asked.

She nodded. I turned and headed towards the door with Tali in tow when I stopped and turned to Shepard.

"Shepard... one more thing!" I said explaining to her about the beacon and Garrus placing the crystal there at the base of it.

She placed her hand on her chin and brewed in thought for a moment before looking up "I'm not sure what to make of it. But let me know if anything like that happens again ok?.. on don't be afraid to tell Chakwas if your experiencing any discomfort. I know you only wanted us three to know but I had no choice since after the moment you grabbed your head you had passed out." She said looking at me.

I nodded and turned heading out the door.

Once I was gone Shepard and Chakwas once again broke into a discussion.

XXX

"Will... Shepard said for you to get some rest!" Tali said walking behind me as I entered the Gym.

I glanced around at the equipment and saw a few male and female crew members talking and exercising amongst themselves.

"I know.. but I can't sleep.. I need to do something." I said heading over to a weight bench.

Now I wasn't a six pack kind of guy but I had always kept myself in rather good shape. I believed my dads philosophy of always keeping in good health.

I stopped at the bench and began taking my shirt off when I noticed Tali openly staring at me.

"See something you like?" I asked her smirking.

This seemed to snap her out of some kind of trance and she started stuttering and wringing her hands furiously.

I chuckled and pulled my shirt off when I heard her gasp.

"What?" I said turning to her.

She pointed her finger at me "Your back and arm!" She said.

I glanced down and noticed that the tattoo didn't just cover my arm but covered my whole right side of my upper body.

"That's some sweet ink man!" I turned to see a female crew member approaching me.

She stopped and smiled.

"Thanks!" I said smiling back.

"I've got a few but nothing that extreme! Names Emily.. Emily Turner you?" She said offering her hand.

"Will... Will ******" I said shaking her head.

She nodded and smiled once more "A couple of us are wondering if you wanted to play some skyllian five later?" She asked.

"Sure..." I said.

She left making her way back over to a treadmill. I turned back to the bench and sat down and turned to Tali.

"You going to watch me work out?" I asked her.

She growled "Bosh'tet!" before turning and heading for the door. I simply sat there before I laid down and began lifting the weights.

"You have to be careful around women... no matter what the species." Emily said walking up and stopping beside me.

I chuckled "Trust me I know!" I said.

She chuckled while pulling up a chair and spinning it and plopping down.

We chatted for awhile before I finally felt fatigue take over me. I stopped and sat up.

"So what time is the card game?" I asked looking at her.

"It's in 5 hours just after we grab some grub later in the mess. You can join us there as well" she said smiling again at me.

She certainly was an attractive woman. She had shoulder length brown hair and dark brown eyes.

I smiled "I just might... but for now I need to get some sleep." I said getting up.

"It was nice to meet you Emily." I said before heading towards the door.

I finally found my room and after locking it I simply plopped down on the bed and passed out.

A/N: Thanks for all the support everyone! I decided to try something different by using X's to replace the different breaks. So if you don't like I'll go back to the original way. Thanks everyone.