A Parallel Dimension
AN: Alright Chapter 2 is up and I hope you enjoy it.
Still don't own Mass Effect
We followed Shepard to the embassies where we would hand over the data Tali retrieved from a Geth to Anderson. As we entered the human embassy space, where Anderson usually is, we couldn't help but be excited. The view that the embassy offered was amazing, you could see the whole Presidium from here. Even at the back of the room the view was overwhelming.. But before we could enjoy the view anymore…
"Ah Shepard good to see you back did you find any information on Saren." Anderson paused and noticed me and my friends as we stood in the back with Tali. "Shepard who are these four in the back?"
"This is…" but I cut her off as I approach the great Captain Anderson. "Sir" I say as I saluted "I am Brent, and these are my friends Jesse and Joseph we have accepted the task to help Shepard against the Geth and Saren under the conditions that Miss Tali may join as well. I say that it will be an honor to serve under you and Shepard both."
Anderson looked at me and the others, his gaze observing us as if to look for weakness and then he simply nodded in approval. "Very well Brent you and your team shall join the crew of the SSV Normandy welcome aboard."
"Thank you sir" I say saluting him again. I turned away and headed back to my friends.
"That was some introduction" Jesse said impressed at my quick thinking
"Thanks I figured that I'd make it as good as possible since he is a military man." I turn to face Tali "You might want to present the data to them before…" but it was too late Udina our as I like to call him political ass tick barged in the room chewing Shepard out for the firefight in Chora's Den earlier.
Unfortunately Udina noticed us and began raging to Shepard about picking up strays. As Udina yelled at her I failed to notice my biotics flaring up the blue aura filling the space around me. Joseph and Jesse both placed their hands on my shoulders snapping me back to reality and allowing my biotic field to disappear. Shepard continued to let his words fly right past her until he finished.
"If you're done Udina I have evidence against Saren I would like to present, Tali can you come up here please."
Tali looked at me and her hands began to do that nervous thing she does. I looked into her eyes and nodded "Don't worry we won't let nothing happen." Tali seemed reassured by my words and walked up to present the data.
Udina looked at Tali "Show us what you have Quarian" saying the word Quarian as if it was a nasty word.
"Her name is Tali, Udina so you better address her as such." Jesse broke out shocking all of us
"Who do you think you are boy, do you know who I am?" Udina shouted as he stormed over to Jesse and getting in his face
"Oh you're someone else other than a complete jackass." Jesse replied clenching his fists
Seeing where this situation would lead to I decided to jump in "Jesse stand down or I'll remove you from this building, and Udina don't you dare talk to one of my crew and friends like that. Now stop this bickering or I'll kick both your asses." I say giving the both a glare as my arms begin to glow. My threats seemed to have worked as both men relaxed and stepped back. I took a deep breath and said "Now, Tali can you please show us the data you have collected?"
"Right I'll do that" Tali stammered
After showing the recording Tali had, Anderson exclaimed how they had Saren, even though the three of us knew the Council wouldn't do much. Shepard turned around to face us "Alright Brent I want you to come with me and Kaiden to meet the Council so we can present this new information." I looked at her and nodded as she turned and walked away. I then faced Jesse and Joseph…
"Alright guys I'm going with Shepard to face the Council so Joseph I'll leave you in charge and while I'm gone make sure Jesse doesn't try not to kill anyone."
"Alright Brent I'll keep him in line." Joseph said while nodding
"Well see you guys soon." I said waving bye as I ran off to catch up with Shepard who had Kaiden following her like a lost puppy. I simply chuckled at the competition I had… wait did I just say that huh weird.
After leaving the Embassies the walk to the elevator that lead to the Citadel towers was a silent one until I broke it.
"So Shepard you know more about me than I do about you. Tell me about yourself, how did such a beautiful woman become such a strong Alliance soldier?" I say casually but my question seemed to have caught Kaidens' attention more than Shepards'
I looked over at Shepard and saw a slight blush and I notice Kaiden get tense making me chuckle silently.
"Well I grew up on ships most of my life, my parents are Alliance soldiers as well, and I served on Elysium during the blitz." Shepard replied
"Wow, you make a small town country boy seem like an ant." I said faking a country accent
Kaiden and Shepard both chuckled at my accent. "So Brent I've been wondering what is in that bag you've been carrying." Kaiden suddenly said
I was taken aback by the question, I completely forgot about it with the armor on I couldn't feel its weight. I looked at Kaiden and tried to come up with a response "Well, it has some things I picked up from Earth and some of my old workout clothes. We didn't have much when we left so we packed what we had and departed." I replied
"Wait what do you mean you didn't have much when you left, what about your parents surly they must have given you something?" Shepard said as we entered the elevator to the Citadel
As I walked in I knew I had to come up with something since these elevators are so slow. I looked at Shepard then to the ground "Honestly Shepard our parents couldn't argue much they died a long time ago. My parents were the last to die though." I said as tears began to form from my eyes
"What happened Brent" Kaiden asked curiosity getting the best of him
"Oh you know old age, illness, accidents those sort of things but they did help us get through high school before they died and they left some old family items behind to help us." I said chuckling at how good this story sounded it was so good that I was beginning to believe it.
Before questions could continue the elevator door finally opened and I rushed ahead.
Soon we arrived and we were greeted by an awesome fountain and the great walls of the Citadel. As we approached the stairs I saw Anderson had already made it to the Council first. "Come on the hearing has already started" Anderson said as he directed us to the Council.
I examined the Council oblivious to the conversation happing right in front of me. As I examined the area I realized that the game made this room feel so much smaller. Finally after my extremely weird observation of everything I realized that I missed most of the conversation even though I knew what was going to happen I wanted to watch it. I snapped out of my little zone and only caught the end part were the Council promoted Shepard to Spectre.
"Geez how long was I out" I thought to myself. I looked over to Kaiden who noticed that I was zoned out for a while and noticed him chuckled.
After Shepard got promoted to Spectre status I looked at her and she seemed rather upset, probably because the Council did little to help.
"So Shepard, how does it feel to be the first human Spectre?" I asked
"Well deserved I guess I just wish the Council would trust me." Shepard said clenching her fists
"Don't worry Shepard, me and my team trust you completely and we will help you no matter what happens or what the Council says." I replied smiling trying to comfort her
"Thanks Brent I appreciate it." Shepard replied "At any rate we need to leave for the Normandy Anderson wants to meet us there."
"So we need to round up the team then, ok I'm on it." I open the comm channel which was surprisingly easy and radioed Jesse and Joseph to bring the rest of the team to the Normandy. Joseph radioed back that they already grabbed the team and were awaiting us at the Normandy.
"Alright Shepard the team is already at the Normandy and are awaiting our arrival." I say
"Got let's move then." Shepard said motioning towards the elevator.
"Great, another long walk, I wonder why we don't take the transit terminal?" I thought "Oh well can't argue I guess."
As we approached the elevator Kaiden stopped me at the fountain as Shepard continued forward…
"Listen kid you know you don't have to follow us right. You and your friends can walk away from this. It is way too dangerous for you children to be fighting Geth." Kaiden said like he was my superior
I looked Kaiden square in the face "Listen here soldier boy; we follow Shepard because we want to. We are well aware of the danger of following her and we can handle ourselves." I begin to walk away but turned around for one last statement "Oh and Kaiden never call me boy, I'm not a child so don't treat me as such and also I don't like it when people talk down to me so don't." I finished saying as my right arm began to glow blue, before turning and rushing to catch up with Shepard. Kaiden stood there by the fountain for a few seconds before he started to run to catch up with us.
The rest of the elevator rides and walks were slow and quiet as no one said a word.
As we approached the elevator to the docking bay located in C-Sec I thought "Great the grandest and slowest of the elevators in Mass Effect. This is going to be so much fun."
I stepped in the elevator with Shepard and Kaiden, and began to hum, for some reason, Pumped Up Kicks by Foster the People, I have no idea why but that song has been in my head for weeks. I was humming it the entire way until the door opened to reveal the Normandy.
My heart stopped for a second as I looked at the Normandy, I turned over to see Jesse and Joseph smiling at me.
"It's… bigger than I thought." I say trying to come up with something to describe it.
"We know we had the same reaction." Joseph said
"Now if you're done observing the ship I need to talk to Shepard." Anderson cuts in.
I look at Anderson and apologized.
"Shepard if you're going after Saren you'll need a ship so I'm giving the Normandy to you." Anderson says
"But Anderson she's your ship. I can't take her away from you." Shepard argues
"No Shepard you need a ship a crew and the Normandy has a crew that trusts you with their lives. You are a Spectre now and it is up to you to stop Saren."
"But that doesn't mean that you can you whatever you like Shepard your actions not only reflect on us but also man-kind." Udina jumps in
"Way to kill the moment Udina." I whisper
"Shepard I recommend going after Liara T'Soni she might be able to point you in the right direction as to where Matriarch Benezia might be. She is also an expert on Protheans so her knowledge might help you. You can also check out Feros we lost communication with a colony there it was set by ExoGeni so that is another place you can look at. Finally there is Noveria, it's another place to check out there might be useful information there for you to check out." Anderson suggested
"Alright we'll find T'Soni first, we will need her knowledge."
"Good choice Shepard, I wish you luck out there." Anderson finished shaking Shepard's hand.
Shepard motioned us to head into the Normandy and we obliged following her onto the ship.
When we entered I was surprised at how much bigger it is than the game portrayed although there were about the same number of people. I noticed Shepard walk over to Joker, I figured that she would give her inspirational speech but oddly enough it didn't sound as good in person as it did in the game, probably because it lacked the dramatic music I don't know.
"Listen up everyone the galaxy is depending on us. Saren is out there and we are the only ones who can stop him. It is time that humanity carried their own weight. Let's show the galaxy what humanity can do."
Shepard was walking back to the CIC room when I stopped her…
"Hey Shepard great speech, Anderson would be proud." I say
"Thanks I just wish it didn't feel like I was taking it away from him."
"Well he survived hundreds of battles only to be taken out by backwater politics but I think he feels relieved that the Normandy is under your command and not someone else from the Alliance." I say reassuring her
"I suppose your right."
"Oh before I forget um, where will we be sleeping" I say motioning my hand to me, Joseph, and Jesse.
"Oh right I forgot um… follow me." Shepard said motioning towards the elevator.
The elevator was, surprise, bigger and moved a little faster than the game showed. There was also more buttons on it than the game revealed. Shepard pressed the button located right above the Engine floor button. The elevator began to go down opening a door that revealed a floor I didn't recognize. It contained a weight room on the left and a number of beds on the right.
"Well would you look at those beds just like standard military issue." Jesse sarcastically said
"So in other words they're incredible uncomfortable." Joseph replied
"Well this is what you're getting so make due." Shepard replied
I then walked past her, dropped my bag on the floor and began to take the sheet off one bed along with its pillow and blanket. I spread the blanket across the metal floor, laying the pillow on it and then began removing my armor.
"What are you doing there's bed right there, the floor is cold and you'll freeze." Shepard said looking at me confusingly
"Well I like the cold and I rather sleep on the floor, it gives me more… movement while I'm sleeping." I respond
Shepard looked at Jesse and Joseph who also looked slightly confused at my actions.
"Don't look at us we haven't figured it out either." Joseph said
After a few minutes past we settled down in the sleeping quarter and I finally had my armor off.
I stretched out "Man it feels great to get out of that armor."
"Um Brent" Shepard said turning around as her face turned beat red
"Dude, come on!" Joseph and Jesse shouted
"What" I looked down and noticed I had only my under armor shirt and my briefs "Oh crap sorry I forgot." I said as I desperately grabbed my bag holding it over the lower part of my body. I crouched down keeping the bag over my lower body as I removed my shorts from my bag. "Ok we're good" I said after I put on my basketball shorts. "Well that was awkward." I said chuckling
"Yes um well then I'll just leave you guys to settle in" Shepard said as she entered the elevator and then disappearing. When Shepard left Jesse, and Joseph changed into their clothes as well and set their armor and weapons next to their beds.
"You ready Joseph?" I ask
"Sure am lets head to the Engine room it has more space."
"What are you guys talking about?" Jesse asked
"Oh well me and Joseph are going to see who is the stronger biotic."
"Are you two crazy, you might hurt each other?" Jesse responded with a hint of worry in his voice
"Don't worry me and Joseph said there are no attacks to the face." I say waving Jesse off
Joseph and I walked to the elevator "Jesse are you coming to watch?" Jesse stood there for a second thinking it over before deciding to follow.
"Fine I'll watch just to see who wins."
The three of us entered and headed to the Engine floor. When we arrived our suspicions were confirmed the room where everyone stayed was indeed larger and with plenty of room for a spar.
As we walked in the crew gave us strange looks, probably because of the clothes we were wearing. We were wearing the same clothes we wore when we played basketball. Joseph and I walked into the center of the room and began to stretch while Jesse cleared any crates or objects that might get in the way.
"All right Joseph you ready to lose?" I say with a cocky tone
"Ha you wish."
The crew seemed to take interest of our show even before it started.
Joseph and I walked around the room for a few seconds before I threw a singularity at him but it missed as he leapt through the air with his biotics. His arm glowed blue and I knew what he was planning to do but before he could strike I met his leap with a charge that knocked him back. He smashed into the ground with a bang.
"You sure you want to keep this up?" I ask
"I'm sure." Joseph said as he lifted a large crate. He threw the crate at me with all his strength but I was able to dodge it by pushing it up with my biotics before it could strike me. However I failed to notice Josephs follow up charge move that struck me in the chest sending me flying into the wall. I heard a group gasps and ouches as I hit.
I stood up holding my chest. "Maybe this would have been better if we wore our armor." I thought to myself.
Joseph didn't allow me to recover, he charged me again but I stopped him with a singularity. He began to drift into it until he destroyed it with his biotics. As he began to recover I sent a shockwave to him knocking him into the air. He slowed his fall but I was able to move fast enough to use a biotic hammer fist into his stomach sending him smashing into the ground.
Joseph rolled on the ground holding his stomach, and being the good friend I am I allowed him to catch his breath. Unfortunately my kindness was rewarded with another charge but I was able to stop him dead as grabbed his fists that were aiming at my head. Our hands began to glow as we both struggled to gain the upper hand, then a biotic field formed around us as we struggled. Everything located within ten feet of us began to float into the air. When Joseph pushed forward with his fists I shifted his weight and swept his feet causing him to fall to the ground. As he laid there I slammed my hand next to his head leaving a three inch deep dent in the metal floor.
"I win" I say with a smile on my face.
Joseph turned around and grabbed the hand that I offered to help him up. "Yea you did, well I guess we know all the things we can do now huh." Joseph said chuckling
"Yea, hey you want to get some food I'm hungry." I offered
"Sure." Joseph replied shrugging his shoulders
We walked towards the elevator as everyone followed us with dumb struck faces.
"Next time we do this it's with armor" was the last thing I said before the elevator moved up to the mess hall level. Leaving a group of speechless team mates…
"Wow… just wow, he's amazing" Ashley said as she ran her hand over the large dent in the floor.
"You know you don't need biotics to be amazing" Jesse responded rubbing the back of his head.
"Still, Kaiden isn't even that powerful, Joseph fast but Brent is more powerful and faster. Their biotic potential is amazing."
"Yea well neither of them could hold themselves in a fist fight without their biotics."
"Why so defensive Jesse" Garrus playfully said
"I'm not being defensive it's just I think Ashley shouldn't be so impressed with their display. I mean I'm just as strong as they are if they didn't use their biotics."
"So you think Gunnery Chief Williams should be impressed with you and not them." Garrus threw back
Jesse's face turned red "That is so… so… shut up!"
Jesse turned and stormed off to the elevator and smashed his hand into the button that would bring him back to his room.
Mess Hall
Me and Joseph were enjoying some soup that I didn't recognize but it tasted pretty good while the rest of the crew did their own thing.
"Man that was fun." I said as I swallowed the spoonful of soup
"Yea, but I think I might be sore for a while although I can't wait to try my biotics against Liara."
"I bet… you know something I've been wondering how long you think it will take to find Liara."
"I don't know, but I'm sure Shepard will find her."
Just as Joseph said that Shepard came over the intercom "Crew we are approaching a dig site that Liara T'Soni might be at. I want Kaiden, Ashley, and Brent to meet me at the CIC in ten minutes geared up and ready to go that is all."
Joseph looked at me with jealousy "Lucky, you get to meet Liara first and you get to go with Shepard."
"I know I wasn't expecting her to take with her but I'm cool with that." I said as I stood up "Well I guess I'll see you when I get back" with that I put my bowl away and went down the elevator to my room where I will prepare for my first mission… with Shepard.
An: Well there you go the end of chapter 2; I will try to get 3 done as soon as I can. Please leave reviews that would be appreciated. So next chapter we go for Liara.