I walked, I walked aimlessly. I just felt my body move by itself while my mind remained lost in clouds. This alcoholic feeling, this road, everything reminds me of a song. Was it Elvis playing an outlaw? Meh.

"With blayes thot hide the man withing, you sow behind the ayes of uther man! You've lied and ded to cum to life again!"

"Charroooo-"

I felt my head hit something extremely hard and metallic, making me fall on my ass on the floor. God bless alcohol and its properties, because I didn't even feel anything. I just… I feel angry, angry with whatever that shit is!

"Who the hell are you now? Sp kind of transformer?" I asked, narrowing my eyes enough to see that it was made of metal.

"It doesn't matter, I don't care." I collapsed against the strange structure, supporting my head without caring what it was. This lightness… I could take a nap now….

Thunder!

I looked up slowly as the first drops of rain started to fall on me. Quickly soaking me and making me cursing loudly before finally lowering my head in defeat. You can't beat the weather, not without an extremely long fist or something as big. Maybe Hellboy's hand?

"Spit on me, or cry, I don't care anymore."

Thunder!

The crash and flash was the last thing I heard before a kind of intense electric current spread through my body. Burning and causing a pain so strong that not even all the alcohol in my system was able to numb. I felt unable to move my limbs and could only watch as I slowly fell to the motionless floor.

They say that life passes before your eyes, and let me say that I think it may be true, but not in the way everyone thinks. It's just… sad, to think that my family will be enjoying their night on their own until someone knocks on the door and informs them that I died. To think that my friends are going to be taken out of their already terribly complicated and stressful lives to mourn my loss.

I think my ex will be the only one who will not lose sleep over it. Bitch!

Despite my immobility, I managed to put a disgusting and weak smile on my lips before the darkness took over, and what was left of my breath was totally gone.


Soft… no, not really. It looks more like a stone than anything. I thought when my back started to complain about how bad the structure I was lying on was.

Which didn't help at all in the fact that a pain, intense and almost unbearable, was hammering in the back of my head, almost as if my brain was mad at me. Add to that the pain of opening your eyes and we'll have the complete package.

"What happened?" I asked no one in particular, making an effort to see something. Which was being difficult with my bewildered vision.

"Stay still." Although it seemed distant, almost like a low echo in a cave, I could make out a clearly feminine voice. "You have been unconscious for a long time, it is best not to strain."

Blinking a few times, and leaving my eyes closed for a minute, I could finally see the environment around me: it was a kind of hospital if the instruments and medical stuff are any indication. Although it looks quite… different. Technologically different.

Of course, this was not nearly as impressive as the girl with the blue skin and crest on the head in front of me, as she is a fucking asari!

What…

"Stay still." She said, bringing a live version of an omni tool. Still overcoming the shock of looking at a real asari, I barely paid attention to what she was doing until she said:

"You look... good?" She said, although it sounds more like a question.

"I think ... this is… good?" I spoke a little awkwardly when trying to spend the least composure. I'm still trying to accept that I'm talking to an Asari here.

"Well ... this is unusual. You had horrible injuries when you got here, but apparently you ... just have a few bruises. " Injuries?

Bruises? Asari? Mass effect? What the fuck …

"Wait a minute lady, what happened to me and how did I get here?" I asked, squeezing the sides of my forehead when the screaming pain in my brain returned. "And why the hell do I have a hell of a headache?"

"I… I'm going to call Dr. T'zena." She spoke before getting up and hurriedly leaving, leaving me alone.

Fuck clinical care.

Laying my head on the pillow, I closed my eyes and waited for the pain to dissipate. It will be easier to think without the feeling of a jackhammer on the back of my head. I'm in mass effect… MASS EFFECT! I should be freaking out, but I'm not. Whether by pain, or ...

Or because I have no idea about how it happened, nor any… memories… before that…

Oh shit.

I didn't have time to contemplate my fucked up accomplishment or freak out about it, for the door of the futuristic room got up and a frowning asari with a little dark purple skin wearing a white coat entered. Hello there.

"Leave us." She said to the nurse, who left in a hurry. Although I don't know if she was afraid of me or the doctor. This woman commands an intimidating presence, let me tell you.

"Nairim told me that you don't remember what happened to you." She said, walking over to the side of the bed and sitting on the next chair. "Which is a shame, I was hoping you could give some explanation about your accident."

"What accident?" I asked. She continued to look at me in a strange, almost… predatory way. She's not going to jump on me here, is she?

Not that I was exactly going to complain.

"You were brought here about fifteen days ago, barely able to stand and be full of blood." She said in a cold and blunt manner. Wow. "You had a lot of fractured bones, a punctured lung and internal bleeding. We were not optimistic, but we managed to keep you stable."

Ok… now I understand why my recovery was unprecedented. Although I am a layman in everything that concerns the medical field, I should not be alive. Although she doesn't exactly look very enthusiastic ...

"You look disappointed." I said. A smile that did not please me came to her lips.

"It's because I am, I was just going to take out your organs and sell for a good amount of credits." I swear I felt my blood go completely cold when I registered what she had just said, and I was getting ready to run.

"Relax, I won't kill you. Professional ethics." She said. I think I must have let my fear show, because she was almost laughing at me.

"Okay… points for honesty doctor…"

"T'zena, Erina T'zena." She introduced herself, looking less frightening than when she first came here.

"Ah…" I was about to give her my name, only to realize that I ... don't know what my name is. Hell, aside from the fact that I'm in some mass effect by some bizarre way, everything looks… foggy.

"I would give you a name ... but I don't know what my name is."

"It must have something to do with the irregularities in your neural activity." Erina spoke, and I instinctively rubbed the back of my aching head. "It was quite… peculiar. We are still trying to understand the cause." Right.

"Could you prescribe me something for pain?"

"It can be arranged, but tell me: can't you really remember anything? Year, month or family member?" She asked. I just shook my head in denial. This is ... sick. Fucked up and completely sick.

"So I have no reason to keep you here." She said, getting up and going to the door. "The human mind is not my specialty, so there is not much I can do for you. I recommend checking your omni tool, there may be something that tells you who you are. You can pick up your stuff at the reception."

"Dr T'zena." She stopped on the way to look at me. The frown had returned and she was saying in a non-verbal way that I would not continue to waste her time.

"What's the date, and ... where are we exactly?"

"January 5, 2182. You are in a garden world of the terminus system." She looked at me with a sly look and a truly dark and devilish smile that chilled my spine.

"Welcome to chalkhos."

Without explaining to me what the hell that meant she just left, the door closing behind her when I was left alone with several questions and no answers. Well… shit.

"Shit… just what I needed." I mumbled, sinking into the bed a last time. No memories ... no sense of what happened to me or why I am in a fictional world, and now I know that I am in the terminus system everywhere. That sucks. For some strange reason, "fuck your alien squid" crossed my mind, but I just ignored it when I finally got up.

And I quickly regretted it deeply, because my whole body began to throb with pain. It's not something that makes me pass out, but ... it hurts ... to walk. Hobbling up to a mirror, I could see the sequels better than whatever happened to me: my face… it looks like it was hit by a boxer. There are some bruises that are not so visible, but they are still here. What added to my dark hair cut militarily makes me look scary.

I think if I want to, I can introduce myself as Frank castle. Who was he anyway, a TV character? Meh. My thoughts were interrupted when the bedroom door opened, and that nurse Nairim returned with a change of clothes and shoes.

"Here, you can use this since… well, you didn't have any clothes when you got here." She said, leaving the clothes under the bed and shoes beside on the floor.

"Wait… was I naked when I got here?" I asked, with a slight dose of embarrassment.

"No." She replied, stifling a giggle. "You were wearing armor."

"Oh." That was all I said, although it didn't make sense anymore. "Well, thanks for that."

Giving me a polite nod, she left. I hobbled to the clothes and started the slow process of trying to put them on without disturbing the injuries.


"Everything incredibly destroyed, unusable, or dangerously unstable for any type of handling or repair attempt now or in the near future assuming you would still be interested in using it." The Salarian receptionist took a small sniff before continuing his long "speech" for lack of a better term.

What is happening is that after settling in the clothes that were given to me which consists of boots, an urban brown pants and a simple blue shirt, I found myself in front of a chatty salarian who was giving me almost a curse on why they discarded my stuff. Basically, I was carrying guns and wearing armor that was damaged beyond repair, so they just discarded it since I couldn't use or repair it in any way.

Which only raises even more questions than answers about who I am and why having guns and armor in the first place.

"Look, I don't care ok? No problem." I said, cutting off the speech before his heart came out of his mouth from talking. "Let's just forget. Do I need to sign anything?"

"No, Dr. T'zena has already informed of your condition. Loss of memory, possibly caused by severe trauma in the region of the cerebral cortex or who knows the consequence of the strange neural-"

"Alright buddy, thanks for the talk." I cut the salarian from his speech and took the medicine from the counter. I was about to leave when I remembered: Dr. T'zena mentioned that someone brought me here.

"Wait a minute, didn't you happen to see who brought me here?" I asked. Maybe I could tie some ends up if I found the person who was generous enough to get me out of wherever I apparently was.

"Yes, Harris Carlton. Human, middle aged, 60 years old I would say. Surprisingly decent for someone living in chalkhos, there is a workshop a few blocks away from here, close to the shopping district."

"Can you give me the address?" I asked. He made a series of gestures on his omni tool, and then my own left arm was illuminated by an orange holographic interface that was illuminated with a beep.

"Have a good day."

"You too." I said without taking my eyes off the interface, even when I started walking out of the hospital. I have an omni tool! Very cool! And well, it saved me the trouble of having to get one.

Looking at the notification bar, yes, it has a notification bar. It looks like a junction between a computer and a cell phone on your wrist. I saw that the Salarian had actually sent me this Harris's address. I didn't have time to continue touching the omni tool, as I saw that I was getting looks from several passersby who seemed anything but well intentioned.

You don't have to be a genius to know that distracting your futuristic version of what your cell phone is is a bad idea. Turning off the omni tool, I started to hobble away.

Several pairs of eyes varying from what were clearly batarians if the four eyes are any indication, turians and humans remain on me. At least just before they get back to their own business. I didn't have to question what the problem was with these people, because the answer was in my surroundings.

The block, although futuristic, was definitely dirty and poor. I say this in the sense of housing and state of the streets, as there were plenty of dirty alleys that extended to the streets and several graffiti, as well as several buildings that looked old and decadent. Well, this is terminus after all.

Although the rest was not much different from what I imagine the land to be: blue sky, sun shining, although it had a warmer feeling, but it was not something I would say is actually uncomfortable. At least I'm quite comfortable actually.

Leaving That and whatever looks I was getting aside, I stopped next to an alley out of sight and opened the omni tool again. Looking about five times at the street in front of me and the other side of the alley behind me to confirm that I was alone, I started my challenge of trying to navigate the futuristic device interface.

What ... was no challenge.

The thing had a basic menu, incredible as it may seem. Extranet… contacts… email… apps… wow, even a music player. After searching for a while, I found myself at a window displaying what was undoubtedly a kind of identification. My photo, although less beaten than in my current state, it is certainly me ..

It's the name.

"Michael J Kane."

Michael J Kane ... Mike Kane. It's my name. I smiled weakly when I felt relief for the first time since I woke up here. At least ... I have a name that I can give if asked. It's not much, but it's something. Closing the window, I copied the address provided by the salarian and played it on the GPS.

I didn't stop to celebrate about it, because the presence of people on the other side of the alley told me it was time to go. Using the GPS that I hoped was accurate enough, I started my journey to what I hoped was the source of my answers.

"This is the place." I closed the omni tool when I found myself in front of my destination.

The address was at the back of a street that led to a very busy shopping center where I saw merchants of various species selling just about anything, from guns and even trinkets that I didn't even know who they were for. In addition to the stores

And right here, at the bottom of all this mess was a workshop with a malfunctioning holographic sign displaying the name "Carlton's workshop". Cozy little place. I wanted to be sarcastic, but for some reason it is very inviting and looks confident.

Okay, time to get some answers. My head decided to remind me that it would be a good idea to take the medication first, as the pain was bothering me. Swallowing two pills, I went into the workshop.

That it was surprisingly clean. Well ... as clean as a workshop can be.

This was a big surprise, as the other establishments had a certain level of carelessness. I bet most owners don't even sweep the floor. But here ... it looks like a place that is reasonably well treated.

My private inspection was interrupted when I saw a person in the corner of the room with a kind of toolbox working under a skycar. A very old skycar and… is that rust? Meh.

"Excuse me."

"Just a minute." The mechanic replied, and by the way: the guy has a very low and even a bit harsh voice. I wouldn't say he's an idiot, just that he needs a glass of water.

"Sorry, idiot left me with a skycar that couldn't have been worse even if a blood-raging krogan had charged on it, and still expects me to make miracles." Said the mechanic, who turned out to be a batarian, stepping out from under the skycar. "What I mean is: welcome to Carlton's workshop, how can I help you?"

I didn't answer, I just looked at him like an idiot for two reasons. First, I had not seen a real batarian and this close, which made me observe his features out of pure instinct. And two: his upper left eye is bad. Which is the only notable thing, for the rest is just a copper-skinned batarian wearing a dirty mechanic's uniform.

I didn't have to apologize for staring, as I saw that he was strangely doing the same to me.

"Pillars… you should look for a hospital human. It looks like they hit you hard." He said, and I could only laugh a little.

"Well, I just got out of there. I think it's the best they'll be able to do for me. What a pity, I can't win hearts with my beauty anymore." I said, touching my heart in a sort of feigned sadness. I was worried that he didn't understand that form of humor, but I dismissed that when he laughed at the joke.

"Yeah, I don't think so. Anyway, how can I help you? You don't seem to have a car that needs repair." He said.

"That's because I don't really have it, I'm looking for the owner."

"For?" He asked, narrowing his three eyes at me. I responded by gesturing to my bruised face.

"He took me to a hospital not far from here fifteen days ago, he saved my life. I want to thank." And who knows how to understand some things. My answer ... was better than I expected, as his expression softened.

"Bah! So you are the dead meat!" What? "The old man told me about it, said you were a bloody mess when he found you."

"So… is he in?"

"Yes, he's in the office. Just follow me." With that said, I let him lead the way while I looked around.

Various genre tools that I don't know about and vary parts of what I assume are skycars are scattered around. That and only now did I notice the stairs that probably lead to the office above where we are now entering.

"Harry." The batarian mechanic knocked on the door, and I made a mental note to learn this guy's name soon. "You have a visitor."

"Come in." A voice spoke from the other side and we entered the room where there was a dark-skinned man with a full gray beard sitting on a chair behind a table with a futuristic terminal in his front. "I'm a little busy kid, so it better be…" his face took on a defeated expression when he looked at me with recognition.

"Damn it."

"You can pay, old man." The batarian snorted beside me, looking very… satisfied?

"You are a lucky bastard Drek." The owner said, opening his omni tool in a frustrated way.

"I told you he could make it, you are the ne who wanted to bet the 200 credits." His happy expression changed to a giant smile showing his needle teeth when his omni tool beep.

"Wait a minute, did you two bet on my survival?" I asked with a twinge of indignation.

"I have a skycar to work, I imagine you have something to discuss." The batarian, Drerk left before I could say a word about it. Leaving me alone with who I expected to be the source of my answers.

"Sit kid." Harris gestured to the chair in front of the table, which I pulled out and sat down. "I think that due to the circumstances now it would be a good time to introduce ourselves. Harris Carlton." He held out his hand to me.

"Mike… Mike Kane." I said, shaking his hand after hesitating for a moment.

"Ok Mike, if you came here to thank me, that's no need. It wasn't a big deal."

"I actually came here because I have no idea what happened." I said, he looked at me with a confused look. "The last thing I remember was waking up today in a hospital bed with only my ID in hand."

"Amnesia?"

"I guess."

"And do you think I can help you understand what happened to you?"

"Yes."

He looked at me for a moment before letting out a little sigh and giving me an apologetic look. "I'm sorry to disappoint you kid, but I didn't see what happened to you. Whoever did this arrived earlier."

"But did you see anything? Anything?" I asked, a little more desperate than I intended.

"Yes, a couple of gangster about to rob you." He said with a sigh. "I was returning from one of my morning walks when I saw a huge commotion in the gardens. I went over there and saw some street kids trying to drag you somewhere. "

"And didn't they do it just to see you?" I asked. Harris answered my question by removing a pistol from under the table with a smile. "Oh"

"Oh. I scared them and then I dragged you. You were next to a wrecked transport and your things besides bloody were badly burned."

"That is all?"

"That is all."

"Didn't I say or do something? Did I not give any clue as to what happened or how it happened? Any… anything? "I asked. If he doesn't know anything else ... I don't know what I'm going to do.

"You just kept repeating a sentence over and over again." Harris replied.

"What sentence?"

"Never more."

I waited for him to continue, only to see that he had nothing more to say. Feeling tired, defeated and with no idea what to do next, I collapsed in my chair with a long sigh. This is ... a drug. It was kind of my last resort. What do I do now?

"You need a drink kid." Yeah, I really do. He went to a bookshelf where he took a bottle and two glasses that he filled before giving it to me.

"Thanks." I thanked him, before swallowing the entire contents of the glass that burned down my throat. The sensation of alcohol provided a kind of temporary relief for my shit situation.

"You… I don't think you would have anywhere to go or some credit in hand, don't you?" He asked, taking a short break as he took a small sip of the drink.

"No. Not that I can remember at least. Do you mind?" I asked, pointing the glass at the bottle on the futuristic shelf. He just shrugged and I took it as my cue to fill the glass. "Stuck on a planet I know absolutely nothing about, a toast to my health."

"What I can tell you is that you didn't fall at an amusement park, kid. This isn't a fun place to live." He said, taking another sip of his drink as he looked out the window that overlooked the entire workshop.

"No shit, the doctor who accompanied my recovery said in my face that she was going to sell my organs if I didn't wake up." I said, drinking all the liquid in the glass.

"Welcome to chalkhos." He said bitterly.

Welcome to chalkhos. My options ... are less than limited. Besides having no memories, I have no credits and I can't work to get it because I have no idea how this world works beyond what was shown to me on a TV screen...

Wow, I was less useless when I wasn't thinking coldly about it.

"Thanks for the drink." I said, placing the glass next to the bottle and walking to the door. With some luck, maybe I will find a place where I can sleep without being robbed.

"Wait."

Turning around, I saw that Harris had discarded the glass and was looking at me with a much more serious expression compared to the relaxed, hospitable way he had before.

"That's how I see it, kid. You have nowhere to go, and I'm getting a little overwhelmed with just me and Drerk doing all the work with the vehicles that come here. Chalkhos ... has a record of vehicle accidents almost as big as Omega's. "

"So…?"

"You could work here. I offer a place to sleep and pay. When you have enough, you can leave this planet and go on with your life if you want." He said, and I found myself staring at his face for anything suspicious. This is ... too good and convenient to be true. He doesn't know me, who guarantees that I won't steal things from the workshop?

Or that he won't kill me ... I don't know him either, and I'm currently residing on the light version of Omega as I understand it.

"Okay… what's the catch?"

"The salary is not much, not to say it sucks. And ... well ... it's chalkhos kid. That alone should already tell you what you're going to be dealing with, if you still have your memory at least." Harris said. I looked for any trace of a lie on his face, and even though I don't consider myself a judge of character ... he didn't seem to be lying or plotting some evil plan that will apply to me later.

Well, what do I have to lose? I don't have money, I don't have a place or memories. I don't really have any choice, maybe that's why he's giving me one. Furthermore, stable work.

"I accept."


Location: unknown

Communication login: active

Establishing secure connection …

Connected

Anonymous user: Field operative code-named foxtrot 13 reporting.

HJ: The target?

Anonymous user: Eliminated.

HJ: Do you have visual confirmation?

Anonymous user: Negative ... sir

HJ: Do you understand what the consequences will be if you are wrong? The cost of your mistake will be your job and possibly your life.

Anonymous user: Sir ... he couldn't have survived, no man could have survived that.

HJ: It's not just a man ...

HJ: I hope you are certain about the success of your mission. Because otherwise, he'll go after you. Not me, not us, just you.

Connection ended


So, I don't know if I'm going to continue, but I haver this idea so enjoy. Also took a look at reducd mass and another realm, because they are very interesting and it was a great source of inspiration for this story.

Review.

O pior out