Chapter 53
Disclaimer: I do not own Mass Effect or any of the characters. They belong to Bioware and EA. All OC's are mine however.
A/N: As many of you know I'm known for throwing in twists every now and than.. this chapter is no exception. Prepare to have your mind totally confused... :D
I sat in Will's chair as The Orion continued to scan through the wreckage of the destroyed ship.
I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to see Stacey staring at me with tear stained eyes. "Tella, you have to let it go... he's gone." Stacey said as she glanced from me to the view screen.
"I can't.. I know it's been hours since it happened but.." I let it hang as I fought down the sadness. I turned my attention back to Stacey "Where's Alicia?" I asked.
"She passed out from crying, Eve's watching over her right now." Stacey said.
I nodded. "I just can't believe that he's gone."
Stacey nodded "He's not, I have a feeling he's alive Tella.. I know it."
I didn't want to argue with her so I got to my feet as I headed for the elevator. "I'm going to get some rest, the baby's moving like crazy." I groaned as I rubbed my stomach. This was going to be an active child.
Stacey watched the woman go and sat down in the chair she had be occupying. "Where are you brother" She wondered as she stared at the screen.
…...
I opened my eyes and looked around. What the hell... I was back laying in bed. "Ok this is really weird..." I pushed the covers back and that's when I got another shock. I was shorter than before. I jumped off the bed and ran to my mirror and sure enough I was younger. If I had to guess I'd say around 14. I also realized that my parents were still alive. I ran towards the door and started to snatch it open when I heard something.. something that froze me in place.
My parents were having a discussion with someone and the voice sounded familiar. I quietly turned the doorknob and peered through the crack and I gasped at the sight. There in my living room was Garrus talking to my parents.
"Ok, seriously what the fuck!" I wanted to say something but stayed quiet as they continued their discussion.
"Why have you come back?" My mom asked. "Wait come back? What the hell does that mean."
Garrus sighed "I simply wanted to check on the children, Their mothers been worried sick about them."
"Wait.. Mother check on them? Does that mean that Stacey and I are adopted?" I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"If she was so worried, why did she have you bring them to us? Why didn't she care for them herself?" My dad asked.
Now I was seriously getting confused.
Garrus sighed again "She wanted them to stay with her.. but it's become to dangerous in our universe. No where is safe now from the Reapers. And if they find her children they will use it against her. These two are the key to saving our universe."
"All we keep hearing is She! Who is she?" My dad asked.
Garrus sighed "Her name is Shepard.. that's all I can tell you."
I stumbled back from the door in shock as Garrus head snapped towards me. "No fucking way.. Shepard was my mom? This was impossible."
A large clawed hand grabbed my shoulder and pulled me out of my room. My parents were staring at me in shock.
"Did you hear everything?" My dad asked dropping to a knee in front of me.
"I'm adopted? This doesn't make any sense." I turned to look up at Garrus who had a curious expression on his face. I was suddenly angry and pushed him back some "Why didn't you tell me? Why? You could have told me after so many times that you showed up in my life" I growled.
"What are you.." He stopped as recognition flared in his eyes.. "I see.. I'm sorry Will.. But I couldn't risk it."
I growled as I felt a few tears slip down my face "I want to know everything... Why did you keep this from me? Why don't I remember this?" I yelled.
He sighed and made his way over to a chair before sitting down. He gestured to a chair across from him and I took the hint. I sat down and stared at him in anger.
"I had to keep this from you.. otherwise it could cause so many problems. I'm sure you've noticed how Harbinger has taken a liking to you of sorts." He paused as my dad raised his hand.
"Um, I'm confused. How does he know about the Reapers?" My dad said in a way that it was no big deal.
Garrus smiled "He may not look like it now, but the son your looking at is a future version of your son. He's already experienced so much.. I take it your with Alicia now am I correct?" He asked.
I nodded but my mother quickly raised her hand "Who's Alicia?"
I smiled "My wife."
My mothers eyes widened in shock.. "Is there anything else you need to tell us? Is she pregnant?" My mother asked.
"Not yet, though Tella is due in 6 or so months." I said without thinking. I quickly shut my mouth as my moms eyes if possible got larger.
"Who? No wait never mind, you and I need to have a serious talk young man." She said sternly.
Garrus and my dad seemed to chuckle at that. Garrus turned his attention back to me "Shepard, had you in a year or so further in your timeline." I raised my hand to interrupt him "Who's my father?" I asked.
"That I'm afraid I do not even know." He said rather frankly.
I sighed, but than I thought of something "Wait, you said my timeline what do you mean?" I asked puzzled by something.
Garrus glanced at my parents than back at me. "Will, the universe that I sent you to wasn't your original. The universe you came from had already been attacked by the Reapers" He paused at the look of shock on my face before continuing "In a last ditch effort your mother came across the machine to allowed me to transport you two here. She stayed behind to fight otherwise she would have came with you. But you know you how Shepard is. The one in your universe is similar." He said smirking.
"So.. So my mother is dead?" I asked. I was so confused by everything. To my surprise he scoffed.
"Shepard die.. well she did die once at the hands of the Collectors but I'm sure you know how that turned out. But no, she survived and sent me back to check up on you two. Harbinger wants you two so he can bring Shepard out of hiding.. As you've noticed in your current time.. She's a rather large thorn in Harbingers side." He said.
I shook my head "Wait, something doesn't add up right. I thought it was my future self that sent you back?" I asked.
He nodded and brought up his omni-tool "Is this vid familiar?" He asked. The vid in question was the same one Tali and I had watched when I first came to the Mass Effect universe. I nodded, suddenly the image changed to show another human.
"I basically changed the image to make it look like an older version of you. That way you would be more inclined to believe it." He said.
"Ok... but what about the tattoo's and everything? How could you know?" I asked.
He actually smirked "Do you really think I would have just guessed at what you would look like? I went to your future to see for myself. And as for the strange power.. I honestly had no idea, but I think your mother might have."
I started to ask a question but he raised his hand "Don't even think about it. It's to risky to know anymore about your future."
I growled "But you died.. this doesn't make any sense. How could you be here now? How can I be here now?"
His eyes widened "So, that must be some time from now.. huh.. I never thought I would die."
I sighed "You showed up on my ship bleeding and dying. You said I had to stop TIM. Than you died... I even had a funeral and everything."
He actually chuckled "Well, at least you gave me a funeral."
I shook my head "I can't believe you think this is funny." I gasped.
His face turned serious "I don't.. but I'd rather greet death with a smile than die in sadness. And as for this moment. If you remember I uploaded something into your omni-tool." I nodded as he paused before proceeding "Did you happen to notice your omni-tool flare blue for a moment?" He asked.
I nodded "Come to think of it there was a brief flash, why?" I asked.
"Look at your arm Will" Garrus said firmly. I did as he asked and was shocked to see the arm band that he had taken off of his arm before he died.
"How?" I asked but he simply said "The program"
"This has a one time use, I needed more time to explain some things. I hope you can forgive me for dying before I got to explain this" He said gesturing to my two parents.
I sighed but than another thing forced its way into my head "Wait, how come I don't remember any of this?" I asked. I glanced at my parents who were equally confused.
Garrus looked at me "It's because I erased your memory, I'm sorry but I'd then and I'll have to do it again.. only this time will be different. The wipe only affects your 14 year old self. In other words It won't affect the person you are now. The wipe was to ensure that you wouldn't remember this moment until it was time.. I hope you can understand this." He said. I just nodded not really understanding though.
"I have another question.. Does Shep.. I mean mom miss us?" I asked.
To my surprise Garrus smiled "Why don't you ask her yourself." He said gesturing to the kitchen.
I quickly walked past him to see a familiar figure sitting at the table drinking coffee. She appeared to be examining the cup curiously.
"Mom?" I asked. I felt my body flow through different emotions as I felt tears come through my eyes.
When she turned to look at me my breath caught in my throat. Looking at me were a familiar set of green eyes with dark hair. I recognized Stacey in there as well as myself.
"Mom" I said again as I took a few steps forward. Before I moved again however I was enveloped in a huge by her. I froze.. My head was spinning.
She pulled back slightly while casting me a worried glance "Are you ok?" She asked.
"I'm ok... this just.. well it seems unreal" I stated. She nodded "I understand honey, I know its difficult right now.. but it will make sense in the end." She said giving me another hug.
I was about to open my mouth to speak when another voice joined us "Will, what the hell is going on?" Stacey asked running over to me and grabbing my waist. She looked around at everyone with wide eyes.
"It's a long story sis." I said. She looked at me in confusion until Garrus knelt down to explain it all to her.
…..
Meanwhile...
Alicia had returned to join Tella and Stacey on the bridge. Suddenly Stacey gripped her head and cried out in pain.
"What's wrong?" Tella asked alarm as she quickly made her way over to the woman. Both She and Alicia reached her just as Stacey collapsed.
"We need a medic quick" Alicia yelled.
…..
I was holding Stacey in my arms when she suddenly collapsed to the floor breathing heavily.
"What's wrong with her?" I asked. I lifted her head up as she struggled to breath.
"Damn, I thought we had more time. You've got to go back now." Garrus said. He quickly began typing something on his omni-tool before turning to look at me. "Here, take this. This is a data chip that will give you the location of the base that holds the machine that will help you destroy the Reapers. Make sure you acquire the weapon that Cerberus is guarding first. The Reaper base will be heavily guarded. Goodbye Will.." He said standing back. He flashed something in front of us causing me to become blind for a second or two.
He typed a few commands on his omni-tool and a portal opened up. This one was similar to the one that brought me to the ME universe but this one was glowing white.
Mom picked up Stacey. "Shepard... what are you doing?" Garrus asked concerned. Mom turned to look him in the eye "I had to give up my babies once.. I'm not going to do it again." She said turning towards the portal.
"Shepard don't, that isn't your universe.." Garrus said. He was quickly making his way towards her. Shepard glanced at me and winked before running to the portal. With a flash she disappeared. I glanced in horror as the portal was closing fast. Before I knew it I was grabbed by the collar and thrown towards the portal. I glanced behind me to see Garrus giving me a nod as a bright white light overtook me.
…..
Alicia was concerned.. The doc had arrived and was trying to get Stacey to wake up when the alarms started to sound throughout the ship.
"What's going on?" She asked the helmsman.
"The scanners have picked up something." The man stated.
Alicia stood up quickly and zeroed the screen on the signal. There was a green ball of energy headed towards the ship. The smile that had formed her face quickly disappeared as she turned back to Stacey to help her up. As the green light hit the ship Stacey opened her eyes and struggled to sit up just as the ball of energy entered the bridge.
Alicia watched as the light faded and She found Will standing there staring at her. She ran to him and threw her arms around him without hesitation.
"Oh god Will... I thought I had lost you." She cried.
I sighed and wrapped my arms around her. "I'll never leave you." I said kissing her forehead.
Stacey suddenly sat up and struggled to her feet. "Will, was it true... what we saw?" She asked. Her face looked like a cross between confused and scared.
I opened my mouth to answer when the elevator opened and Mom staggered out before collapsing onto her butt on the floor.
Everyone in the room stared wide eyed at her. She looked around "What?" She asked as she got to her feet.
"Um, why is Shepard here?" Tella asked.
I smirked "Tella, meet my mom. Commander Jane Shepard"
The look on Tella's face was priceless.
A/N: Sorry for the delay on this chapter. As I've been struggling with a bit of writers block. Hence why IDCS hasn't been updated yet. Thanks everyone..
On a side note I'm now looking for a beta.. if anyone wants to help let me know.
