I do not own Justice League or Mass Effect. They belong to their respective owners.

This chapter will mostly be exposition and world-building.

Enjoy!

J'onn had escaped the death of his homeworld only to wake up and experience another death. Dr. Erdel's heart had given out the moment he had seen him. A man how had only seen aliens in books and screens was not able to handle the sight of one appearing from an old relic. Not at his advanced age.

There were other things J'onn had learned from the doctor's mind before it had shut down completely. it was rude to read the mind of another being with their permission being expressed, but J'onn did not have a choice. He had awoken from a slumber of length he did not know. His first sight was a species he had never encountered before. He needed information to survive.

And Dr. Erdel's mind had been full of information. A scientist that specialized in ancient technologies. A man who also possessed much knowledge of human society and cultures, along with a more limited understanding of alien beings. Beings that J'onn was only now learning about.

Perhaps his people should have tried to expand beyond their world. They certainly had the capability to do so. Perhaps that could have...

Shaking his head, J'onn tried to focus on the information and memories in his mind. He was careful not to wander on Dr. Erdel's more intimate and private recollections, they were not for him to see.

The humans were a rather, simple species in J'onn's mind. Aside from an astounding amount of creativity, they did not seem to hold any great power on their own. It was only through the creation of weapons and a seeming over-willingness to use them that they were able to make a mark on the galaxy. A galaxy that had many other races.

Krogans were brutish and strong, often mercenaries. Currently dealing with an inability to produce offspring.

Turians were more militant and disciplined, often playing peacekeepers in the galaxy.

The Asari almost reminded J'onn of his people. They were an all-female species that relied on their minds for their lives. Though they did not seem to be as powerful as Martians.

Salarians were an amphibious race known for non-linear thinking and observational abilities bought about by a heightened metabolism. They were not a long-lived species, but their time one existence was always spent in the pursuit of accomplishments.

The Volus was a physically intimidating race that garnered influence through trade and commerce. While they could never outright someone, they might just outbuy them.

The Geth were a race of machines. They often caused trouble, from what J'onn discerned. Their original creators were the Quarrians. A race that was driven from their homes after the Geth usurped them.

There were other things as well, but J'onn was still trying to put them all together in his mind. There were so many concepts and so much erudition, he still needed to process it all. He still needed more time to...

*Knock* *Knock*

"Dr. Erdel? Is everything alright in there?"

There was another human at the door. One who didn't wait to be invited.

"I heard something weird from outside. Did you drop something or...?"

Time froze when the dark-skinned human met eyes with the green-skinned martian. To J'onn, this was his second interaction following Dr. Erdel. It was already off to a worse start than his first.

To the human, whose nametag read Swanwick, there was an unidentified alien standing inside a research center above the body of an unconscious human.

"Don't move!" Swanwick ordered as he pulled out his pistol. "What are you? Some mutated Turrion? An anorexic Krogan?"

"I am neither of those things, Swanwick. If you will allow me to explain, I-"

"How do you know my name?" The human asked as he aimed his gun closer.

"You have a nametag," J'onn pointed out both calmly and slowly. He did not want an incident, so de-escalation was important. "Please, if you will allow me to explain, you would see that there is no need for this."

"Yeah? And how do I know you aren't messing with my head? I don't even know what you are," Swanwick said as he cautiously began to step closer. "I don't even know what you are? You could be like an Asari, messing with my head."

He could. But it would be rude.

"If I were to mess with your mind, you would not be pointing that gun at me."

That one sentence was enough to make Swamwick hesitate. It was a logical statement that he couldn't refute. and though J'onn wouldn't say it, the only reason that the human was still even standing to threaten him was that he allowed it. J'onn had countless ways to take control away from Swanwick, but he was a pacifist first and foremost. He would save any action until it was necessary.

And it was that mixture of hesitation, confusion, and fear that held both beings for moments that seemed longer than they should be. Neither of them knew how to continue. And both were concerned about the ramifications of any wrong decision.

"What... Who are you?"

"My name is J'onn J'onzz, Swanwick. And I-"

*Knock*

"Hey, Calvin. What's going on-?"

That knock. That voice. It startled Swanwick.

And in that moment of anxiety, Swamwick flinched. And when he flinched, his trigger finger itched. A stray bullet shot out. It missed its intended target, the martian being too fast to hit. But neither of them paid attention to the machine that was behind J'onn. A hibernation chamber that had not been designed to withstand sudden attacks or sparks.

"No. Swanwick, get down!"

J'onn tried to get to the human quickly. The machine would not last long. Swanwick noticed, and turned to run himself. And there were other people in the facility. They would all be-

*BOOM!*

Months Later, Citadel

"Alright, everyone. Quiet down. I have a quick announcement to make before you all go out to the field today."

At C-Sec's regular team meeting, Venari Pallin had all his officers seated before him. About once a week, he was expected to inform his people on regular protocols and any sorts of cases that needed attention. If not that, then he would usually just tell them anything that was important. He usually did about six different ones, each one meant for each individual division. Right now, he was talking to his investigation team.

"Settle down. Our first announcement is a new member who will be joining us from today."

This caught a few ears. The investigation department wasn't the most popular section of C-Sec. Most newcomers went to the customs, network, or patrol divisions. The jobs themselves weren't always exciting, but they paid well and allowed for a slightly breezier experience. The investigation divisions paid about the same, but it also meant sleepless nights, a lot of stress, and less glory than some might expect. Not many people went for it.

"Everyone, meet Calvin Swanwick."

Once the Turian Executor was finished, a young human walked inside the room. A human with dark skin and short dark hair, as well as a fairly average appearance. At least to all the humans who were also in the room. The Turians and other races just saw him as another human.

"Swamwich caught the attention of the administrators through natural skill and good ethics. Which is not something I can say for all of you. I'm going to be partnering him up with someone who can show him the ropes."

Garrus did not envy the one who would be chosen for that work, likely another human.

"Vakarian. You're in charge of Swanwick."

The problematic Turian's eyes shot up, his mouth agape in shock.

"Sir?"

"Think of this as a disciplinary action. Don't think I've forgotten about that issue with the Salarians last week."

"Hold on. Sir, I-"

"Everyone has their assignments. This is all the news we're getting, so get back to work. Swanwick..."

The new human looked to his superior.

"Good luck."

Every other being the sec walked out, leaving Garrus with the new guy in the room.

"Great. Stuck with the newbie."

"He said my name. I thought Turians had ears."

Swanwick sat beside Garrus at the same table. While the wisecrack was enough to gain interest from Garrus, it didn't mean the Turian was going to be so accommodating.

"Calvin, right?"

"Yes."

"Alright. I'll try to remember that. What time is it?"

"It's morning. Why?"

"Not what I meant, but fair. Look, Swanwick, there's one thing you need to do before I show you the ropes."

"And what's that?" Swanwick asked, even though he knew where this situation was going.

"Take this first day and... see the city. It's a good start," Garrus said, internally proud of himself for coming up with a good excuse. "See the city, figure out where things are. Get an idea of the people, the general situation. Come back to me when you have a good summary of it."

Swanwick sighed as he leaned back in his chair. "And while I'm studying, what are you going to be doing?"

"Well, I am C-Sec. I have work to do. Now, if you'll excuse me..."

Garrus stood up to walk away, leaving Swanwick alone in the meeting room. The Turian muttered to himself about a waste of time and something about a disgrace to Turians. He thought no one could hear him.

He was wrong on that account.

The Citadel was the most prosperous and influential center of commerce and politics in the galaxy. Members of every species lived here, and it was where the galactic council conducted themselves.

It was also a very busy and well-structured financial and economic endeavor. It was easy to find any sort of business in the city.

Of course, Swanwick was well aware of the dark side hidden in the Citadel. No one on the net would talk about it, and anyone who made by would choose to ignore it. But corruption, murders, and illegal ventures were something that no one would deny existed. Being a part of C-Sec now, Swanwick was well aware of these problems himself.

The difference was, he could feel it more strongly than others.

No matter how much he tried to close himself off, there were some things that just couldn't be ignored. The ones trapped in poverty. The ones forced into crime. He could hear all of them, but there wasn't anything he could do to help them right now. Not without putting himself at risk as well.

All he could do was walk quietly through the streets of the Citadel until he reached the apartment he was resting. He managed to avoid his neighbors and the landlady on the way to his door.

Swanwick walked inside his apartment. It was one that he had rented since the start of his inscription, and it satisfied him well enough. Not large, but spacious, with all the essentials that he needed.

Swanwick made sure that no one would look in. He locked the door to the apartment. He closed the curtains in his living room. He scanned the building to ensure that no one had any intention to bother him.

He went to the bathroom and locked himself inside. He took a good look at how he was now. Dark brown skin, and brown eyes. Short-cut black hair, common military style. He was wearing a suit, as he often did even when not on duty. His face was serious, a stoic mask meant to hide most emotions even amongst the populace comprised of many species.

In short, he looked exactly like Calvin Swanwick.

He grabbed both edges of the sink. He took in a deep breath and released it. He let his body relax.

A body that was now changing. All of his clothing disappeared. Brown skin became green. Brown eyes became red. His skull was now extended, similar to a square pyramid. His body was now larger, but also thinner, with long fingers.

The disguise of Calvin Swanwick was now replaced with the true form of J'onn J'onzz.

Using his telekinesis to close every curtain and tighten every lock, J'onn went to his refrigerator first. He had some pop bottles, so he took a cola for a drink. There were some snacks, but he did feel hungry just yet. And he still needed to find one that perfectly satisfied him. No offense to the human or other alien races, they just couldn't make a snack perfect for the martian palette. Or if they had, he hadn't found it yet.

Sitting down on his couch, J'onn picked up his remote and turned on his television. He ignored the more popular streaming channels and instead went to the classics. A channel dedicated specifically to showing the vintage films of different species.

The first one was a human detective film. It was an ancient one, given that there was no color in it. So when J'onn took the shape of the film's main character, he made sure to add his own. It wasn't hard, since browns and tans filled the role just fine.

Next came a Turian war film titled Last of the Legion. The film was obviously meant as something of a propaganda piece, showing the Turian race to be the most capable of engaging in and ending wars. It was ridiculous long before the scene with an explosive sequence of a ship crashing into an asteroid crashing into a moon, shot using a real derelict. Even with the absurdity, J'onn enjoyed taking the form of the lead Turian and flexing in it.

The third film was a romance film. A film in which A Turian and a Quarian manage to look past their differences to find love. It was a good message, but J'onn skipped the film entirely. He... did not want to face old memories.

Call Me Sally was interesting, depicting an Asari pretending to be a human. J'onn didn't laugh, but he enjoyed having an excuse to try out the Asari form.

The final film he watched that night was Krantt Hardly Wait. That one was also a comedy, though J'onn didn't see the humor. He supposed it might be for a different audience. It was about a Krogan male having to learn courting from a human female. He mostly just watched the movie as an excuse to try out the Krogan form. It certainly felt as heavy as it looked.

Shutting off the screen, J'onn walked into his room and towards his bed. He stopped when he saw the dresser. Specifically, the large mirror attached to it.

It was a tool he used often to reflect. Not just at himself, but on what happened to him. Where he was now. It seemed like only yesterday he had returned to his home after completing his training, only to find...

Subconsciously, J'onn's body morphed into his earned uniform. His body became more muscularly defined, and his head a rounder shape, while still bald. He created clothing as well. Dark purple leggings, with a purple and red strap tied around his waist. An x-shaped strap adorned around his chest, with a star-shaped red symbol in the center. A look that was finished with a purple cape.

The uniform of the Manhunter.

A uniform that had no meaning anymore.

"My people are gone. I am the last one. So why I bother with this?"

Choosing not to burden his mind with the past, J'onn tried something different. His body reassumed its natural shape, but he created clothing around it now. A uniform, black and dark blue and color, which formed around his natural body. Clothes that fit his long and pointed fingers. Leggings that would comfort his long legs with fewer toes than humans and turians. And the words C-SEC emboldened on it.

Despite his choice for secrecy, J'onn wondered what would happen if he revealed himself. The galaxy was used to a variety of species, and many of them had found common ground on which to exist. It was entirely possible that he could find a place in this society.

Of course, the opposite was also true. There were species, like the Turians and Krogan, who had a deep-seated rivalry and hatred for one another. Quarians and Geth despised each other. And there was still a mutual feeling of concern and mistrust concerning humans. It was hard to tell how the galaxy would react to a martian.

Especially when they learned how powerful he was. J'onn was not arrogant, and he tried to display humility, but it was simply a fact that his natural abilities were on a very different field from the other races. His strength easily and greatly exceeded that of Krogans, and his telepathic abilities were something that the Asari could not match. And that wasn't even touching his other abilities.

And then there was his situation as the sole survivor. There were no other Martians left in the universe. The only other that J'onn knew of was trapped in the Still Zone, where he belonged. All the rest had been victimized by the fiery genocide.

And as the sole survivor of his people, J'onn's chief responsibility was survival. If he died, then Ma'aleca'andra would die with him. Its history would be erased from the galaxy. The existence of his people would be remembered by no one. The best way J'onn could honor his race was by living as long as he could, carrying their spirits and traditions with him.

And for now, that meant keeping up the guise of Calvin Swanwick. Though it was a deception born of tragedy and desperation, it was the best hope that J'onn had to live discreetly. And to help the people of the galaxy in a different way. Being with C-Sec would mean being near the people and helping them more closely, rather than flying above them. For now, that was all that J'onn wanted.

His mind firmly set on his path, J'onn assumed his bare-skinned form and covered himself in the bed's sheets. He slept, hoping that the next day would see him doing good work.

I may have skipped a couple of things before showing J'onn here. I'll probably do a few flashbacks scenes shortly to show how J'onn became Swanwick. And since J'onn usually works as a detective when not being a superhero, I figured S-Sec would be a good spot for him to seek employment.

I'm looking forward to seeing Calvin and Garrus working together. He is one of my favorite characters in the game series, and I think he and J'onn would work well together. Especially once Garrus learns the truth. But that won't be for a long time now.

In the meantime, the story would focus on the actual detective angle of C-Sec. As I mentioned, J'onn's most common earth identity is usually a detective, and I think it would be fun to see him play that role before life inevitably forces him to trade the badge for a cape.

Based on the reaction to the last chapter, Tali seems to be the most popular choice for J'onn potential love interest. I will keep the floor open if anyone wants to share any opinions, even ones that I didn't add myself, but it seems that a Martian-Quarian romance might be happening. That would be an interesting film, wouldn't it?

One thing to make you all aware of. I will be rewriting the first chapter before I finish chapter three. The reason being that I want to fix a few things and expand on others for this story's opening.

Anyway, please leave reviews, tell me what you think, and I will see you all next time.

Bye!