Chapter 3

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Thanks everyone.

"The name's Shepard.. John Shepard." He said casually.

I was shocked. This didn't make any sense, why was Shepard here?

"Who are you? And why are you here?" He asked. His eyes held my gaze and I quickly looked towards Kat who still had her pistol drawn. I turned back to him.

"We were sent here." I told him.

His eyes hardened some and he turned to one of the Asari's. "Alara, bring some food and water for our guests."

The Asari quickly disappeared. He turned his gaze to Kat "I think you can put that away for now."

Kat narrowed her eyes at him "I will when I feel like it."

He smiled "Suit yourself." He turned his attention back to me "So, who was it?" He asked.

"Some alien, said he was one of the last. He wanted us to help make right the mistake that his people made."

At that last part Shepard's face hardened and a scowl appeared on his face. "So, the bastards inadvertently kill billions if not trillions and they just think it was a simple mistake." He growled.

"I take it you know about them?" Issac asked.

Shepard scoffed "Of course, if it wasn't for them we wouldn't be here." He gestured to the room.

"What do you mean?" Kat asked. I noticed her gun had lowered some.

He sighed "One moment I'm on the Normandy, the next here. But that wasn't all, some alien appeared before me stating that I was brought here to help fight a war that was being fought in two dimensions. I was pissed. When I asked why I couldn't fight them in my own dimension he simply said that this was more important. Now tell me, is saving trillions of lives not important?" He growled.

"I see your point, it doesn't make much sense." I said. I had started wondering about that myself. Something about this whole thing seemed odd. For instance, how the hell did I acquire these powers. I glanced over at Erica who was looking around as if she was inspecting the place. Something about her was intriguing me also. I just couldn't put my finger on it yet.

"What was the last thing you remember?" He asked me.

"There as an explosion that rocked the ground. I was hiding in the basement with Erica and a friend. I looked up as the roof collapsed than everything went black."

"And you?" He gestured to Kat.

Her face contorted with different emotions, She glanced at me for a fraction of a second I saw a glimmer of fear. Her eyes cast towards the ground. "I was running with Noble team when I felt blinding pain.. than darkness." She said "When I woke up, the first person I saw was Taylor." She said looking at me.

I knew what moment she referred to. I had played Halo Reach back home after all. I didn't know whether I should tell her or not. Issac broke me out of my train of thoughts however as Shepard addressed him.

"I was in the gunship flying away from Titan station with Ellie." He said.

I was listening to Issac but I also noticed something else "Shepard, where did the other Asari's and the gunships we saw come from." I asked.

A pained expression crossed Shepard's features. "When the fuckers brought us here, they brought several. No let me put that better, nearly a thousand others of various races."

I raised an eyebrow "why?"

His gaze dropped to the ground "They told us that our universe of on the verge of falling to the combined Reaper/Skynet forces. They took who they could and brought them here. They managed to salvage what weapons and ammo they could before the Reapers became aware of their plans." He paused as he looked over towards a door that was on the far side of the room. "My universe might have fallen, but I sure as hell plan on taking it back." He said with fierce determination.

I nodded "I can understand that." I said as I thought about my world.

Shepard sighed and rubbed his eyes. "I'm going to catch some shut eye, I'll have someone find rooms for you." He said getting up.

He had taken two steps when the door across the room opened and a little girl came running out followed by... Kasumi?

"Kasumi?" I gasped causing her to turn to look at me.

"How do you know me?" The thief asked. This was a far different version than the one I remembered playing in Mass Effect 2. She looked similar but she wore a plain shirt and pants. Her black hair hung nearly to her waist.

Shepard picked up the little girl "This is my daughter, Sara" He said. The little girl had features similar to each parent.

"Just how long have you been here?" I asked.

He was quiet for a moment before he spoke up "8 years." He said. And with that he turned and headed back into the room.

I stood there staring at the door when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned to see Kat giving me a strange look.

"What?" I asked.

"You know something, I can see it's bugging you." She said.

I looked around as Issac and Erica both were looking at me. "Let's find somewhere private to speak." I said.

I turned to Galina "You think you can show us to our rooms." I asked. She smiled and nodded.

…...

((KAT's POV))

Rooms? What room? There idea of a room was a large circular room that could house at least five people. It was here they were told they had to share. She glanced around the room as she saw five beds with sheets hung around them. Well at least it was some privacy. She glanced back at Taylor who seemed to be going through several emotions right now.

She watched him as he sat down on a bed and simply stared at the floor.

"I'll be staying in this room as well." Galina said.

Kat nodded to the Russian woman. She at least had some company. She didn't trust the others yet. The girl, the one he called Erica was a bit annoying to her. And the man Issac was a totally mystery.

Than there was Taylor. When she found him like that yesterday she could feel his pain. She surprised herself when she pulled him in for a hug. She was irritated at herself for feeling emotions. Spartans were bred to be the perfect warriors.

She had seen his anger and sadness at the loss of his wife and child. In her short life she had seen many of her friends die... Suddenly something occurred to her. When she had recounted the events that had brought her here she had seen a light of recognition in Taylor's eyes. She turned quickly to him.

"Taylor, when I told my story back there. You know something don't you?" She asked.

His eyes drifted up from the floor to meet hers. "I don't think you really want to know."

She felt her heart racing "Please, what are you trying to hide?" She asked.

He stared back at the ground for a moment before looking back up at her "In my world, yours was nothing more than a video game called Halo:Reach."

She growled "This is some kind of joke right?"

He shook his head "I played it Kat, you were one of the characters in the game. The main character though was noble 6." I said.

Her eyes widened "Noble 6?" Her mind spun as she quickly tried to settle her nerves down. She glanced back at him "If this is true? What happened to them?" Did our mission succeed? What happened to me?" The last part she said in a whisper.

He gazed at the floor again before speaking "You died Kat, a bullet through the head."

She stumbled back knocking over one of the tables at this revelation. "That can't be, how... why?" She asked.

He started to speak when she stopped him "wait, did anyone else die?" She asked. Even though she was reeling from what he told her she was still a Spartan. And she wanted to make sure her mission got completed.

He nodded "By the time they were able to deliver Cortana, only Noble 6 was left. He could have left with them but he stayed behind to buy them time. He went down fighting though. He died a hero."

"He?" she asked.

"Wait, your 6 wasn't a he?" He asked.

She shook her head "Trust me, she was very much woman."

He nodded "I see, I keep forgetting that all universes aren't the same."

She glanced off to the side. She was having a hard time believing the fact that she had died.. or at least in theory she guested.

"There's something I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around." He said suddenly.

She glanced at him "What?"

"I can understand my world being attacked. But, how did we get these powers?" He asked as he gazed up her. She noticed that he was holding her real hand and that familiar flush crept into her face. Damnit, control your emotions.

"What do you mean we?" She asked as she tried to change the tide of her thoughts.

"Ok, up until the roof collapsed on us. We were normal. Than I wake up and I have the same power as Cole Mcgrath and Erica... well I haven't quite figured out her powers yet. I did see her turn her arm invisible though." He said glancing at said person. Erica was laying on a bunk passed out and snoring up a storm.

"Whose Cole Mcgrath?" She asked.

"He was a character from another video game, there was an accident do to in part by a device that granted him the gift to control electricity." He said.

"Did anything happen before you woke up and met me?" She asked. Something was indeed strange here.

He stared at the wall for a moment than his features changed as realization dawned on him.

"Something did in fact. I woke up in a white room, Erica was in the room also and we were both naked. I'm not sure why or what was going on. I remember Erica calling my name as her arm vanished. I went to check on her when I suddenly felt an intense pain. I collapsed onto the floor and she soon joined me as well. I vaguely recall seeing someone come into the room." He said as he stared back at the wall.

She nodded. To her surprise she yawned. She was tired after all. The events of today have worn her down. She turned to find a bed and noticed that the only one left was the one right next to his. She sighed and began to strip her armor.

Some time later she was down to just her tank top and underwear. She noticed that Taylor was glancing at her out of the corner of his eyes. She smirked.

She laid down on the bed and stared up at the ceiling. "Kat? Can I ask you a question?" Taylor asked. She glanced over at him and nodded.

"Do Spartan's dream?" He asked.

She stared down at her hands, both artificial and normal. "Sometimes, but its usually bad ones though."

He was quiet for a moment before he spoke again "I just wanted to say, that I hope you have good dreams tonight. I know I probably won't, so, at least someone has to. Than again Erica probably will at way she's sleeping." He said chuckling at the last part.

She couldn't help but smile either. "Good night Taylor." She said as she turned over onto her side.

As she closed her eyes, she was still smiling. That night, she didn't have bad dreams at all.

…...

((Taylor's POV))

I felt like my heart was going to jump out of my chest when Kat had stripped down to her tank top and underwear. To my surprise she gave me a smirk as if she knew where my eyes had lingered.

We chatted for awhile before I heard her breathing change and I knew she had fallen asleep.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out the picture I had of my family. I ran my fingers along it as I stared at my family.

"Do you miss them?" Issac asked across from me. I glanced at the engineer who was sitting on his bed without most of his armor.

"I do, but, before all's said and done I'm going to make those bastards pay for what they did to my family... my world." I growled.

"I understand. You want to know something?" He asked. I nodded "All three of you had a tragedy occur when you were brought here. But me, I had just survived a nightmare and finally things were looking somewhat bright. I guess.. I'm just having a hard time trying to understand why I'm here is all." He said as he stretched out on his bed.

I laid the picture on my chest as I closed my eyes. As I fell asleep my thoughts lingered on my family.

…..

I awoke with someone poking me. "Hey? Wake up" A voice said. I yawned as I tried to clear the fog out of my eyes.

"Yeah Yeah" I said as I pulled the sheet off. I heard a gasp followed by a giggle.

I was still half asleep and as I got to my feet I tripped. I tried to catch my balance but I wound up colliding with someone and fell to the ground.

As my eyes finally adjusted I realized I was on top of Kat who was still in her tank top and underwear. Her face was flushed and I realized we were in a very awkward position.

I quickly got to my feet and turned to see Erica perched on the edge of my bed like a gargoyle giggling.

"I'm so going to kill you for that." I said. She had tied my feet together with a towel.

I got up and chased her around the room as Issac and Galina roared in laughter.

Kat growled as she got up and started to attach her armor. Though as hard as she tried she could not hide the blush on her face.

I finally grew tired and sat down on my bed. "Why did you pull that stupid prank?" I asked as Erica plopped down beside me.

She stared at me for a few minutes smiling than her whole mood seemed to change. "I'm sorry, I just thought it would keep my mind occupied. I've been thinking about my mom and dad since.. ya know." She said. She was on the verge of tears and I placed a hand on her shoulder.

I nodded. I glanced at Kat who was looking at me curiously. "What?" I asked.

"You two seem to know each other well." She said gesturing to my comforting her.

"We went to highschool together. We also took a few classes together in our local community college." I said.

Kat nodded as she attached a few more pieces of armor.

I turned back to Erica who was staring at her hand. "What's wrong?" I asked.

She frowned "My hand turned invisible before, but it won't now. I'm also wondering if that's the only power I got. That would be crappy if I did."

I shook my head as I left her to turn to Issac whose helmet slid into place.

"Don't it get hot in that thing?" I asked a little amused. He jerked his thumb over his shoulder.

"Its temperature regulated." He said.

I nodded. "So, what now?" I asked a question that seemed to be plaguing everyone's thoughts.

Kat placed a boot on the bed frame next to me as she cocked her pistol "Isn't it obvious, we help the resistance." She said as she placed her pistol in her holster.

"I agree with Kat" Issac said. His gave shifted to me "What about you?" He asked.

I stared at the floor. "I'm not sure, this is all so much. I didn't ask for this." I said. Part of me wished that I had died along with my family.

I felt a hand on my arm and looked up to see Kat's face just inches from mine. In a voice barely above a whisper she spoke to me "I know your in pain, but use that to fuel the fight that you feel inside you. Avenge your family, avenge your friends. That alone will keep you fighting." She paused as she leaned back some. Her hand gripped my arm a little tighter "I will fight by your side, so you have nothing to worry about... unless you have problems with a woman showing you up" She teased.

Issac chuckled across the room as he attached various weapons to his pack. I gave him a curious glance. "What?" He asked as he stared at me.

"Nothing, I just was wondering how you can carry all that equipment." I said.

He chuckled "Endurance, when I was fighting those bastards I had to save every piece of equipment that I could."

I nodded. "Well?" Kat said as I turned my attention back to her.

"Fine, I will fight with you." I said. My face flushed some as she gave me a half smile and nodded.

"I guess I'll fight to even though I have no clue what my powers are." Erica said with a slight frown on her face.

I was about to respond when the door opened and the Asari from yesterday stepped in. "John wants to see you" She said.

I nodded and one by one we filed out as we headed for the main room. We entered it to find John along with Kasumi, and a few Asari's and to my surprise a Krogan.

The table displayed a holographic map. And Shepard and the Krogan seemed to be arguing over something on the map.

Shepard paused in his argument as we entered the room. "Its good to see my mystery people again." He quipped.

I nodded.

He glanced back down at the map "Do any of you know about John Conner?" He asked.

My eyes widened and he immediately noticed "I take it you do." He said.

I nodded "In his universe, which should have been this one. He was the leader of the Human resistance... why do you ask?"

Shepard frowned "I've just learned that one of my operatives who was trying to make contact with his unit vanished. I'm trying to locate her now."

"Who was your operative?" I asked curiously.

"A former soldier under my command. Her names Ashley Williams." He said.

I nodded "Is there a way to track her? Or do you know her last location?" I asked.

He nodded "She was last seen here in grid B-12. That's a good two hours drive from here."

I nodded "With your permission, we'd like to check it out."

He smiled "Very well, I'll send Grock here with you along with Galina as back up. Be careful those machines are everywhere. Your best chance is to leave tonight." He added the last part with caution.

I nodded. "Let's get started than."

A/N: Thanks everyone for everything. Till next time :D