Author's Note:
From this point on, there will be SPOILERS so if you don't like that, do not read. I may update chapters a from time to time. One thing I saw when I reread several chapters was that I screwed up was a few dates. I also have seen several other writing styles and have redone the chapters.
Disclaimer: The following story is not used to make a profit or advertisement. Mass Effect was created by EA/Bioware. I take no credit for any original characters, possible dialogue, story, or elements I may put in this story.
Update: I keep coming back to this chapter feeling that I made some mistakes and have come to hate some of the decisions I made when I wrote it. These changes in chapters will not affect the story, but they will offer a more in depth look at this universe and where it diverged.. I am working on chapter fifteen and it won't be long before it is released. I haven't had a working computer for about two months since my old power supply destroyed my old hard drive and nearly burned the back off, but I finally got this computer fixed and a new laptop. I am glad to be writing again and I am sorry for the long delay.
Through the years
Captain Trenton had been right about the response back home. The Alliance Parliament was in a flux, with many looking at these new possible allies with suspicion while others welcomed the idea of an alliance. The information provided by the Geth had eased many fears when the data proved reliable when scientists were able to copy many geth weapons, advances with element zero, and gain an increase in a starship's capabilities like stealth, weapon efficiency and speed. With the aid of the Geth, Humanity also learned the true potential of biotics and was able to create biotic schools for people who showed signs of biotic abilities. As weeks went by, more bridges were made between the two agreements were made and the Geth were welcomed on any human colony by 2162. Geth stations would later be found on almost any human colony with at least one million programs on a colony that worked to help build better cities, offer more medical advances, and help boost an already souring economy. Some platform were even found staying with human families as voluntary caretakers to families in need of it. The Geth also offered humanity to join the Geth on their colonies, except Rannoch and any abandoned Quarian colonies or moons, which was only saw by tourists and humans who offered to help care for the planet, as it was hallow ground to the Geth until their creators hopefully came back one day and a treaty was signed. With the System Alliance having made a groundbreaking discovery, nations on Earth had grown closer and had increased funding for more explorations and developments in space. Almost every nation on Earth became a part of the Alliance with a few small nations still bickering on whether to join.
This age of prosperity has not been without its dark side. Many humans viewed the newcomers with great distrust after finding out that the Geth had spied on them for several years. Some humans had taken it to the extreme and formed activist groups that protested in streets on about every planet, asking that the Coalition be dissolved and to cut off all relations and contact. It wasn't long before enough support was gathered to form the Independent Party in the parliament, but they have only made up a small percentage. Fortunately, no blood has been spilled since the Geth were mostly still an unknown. Many people didn't know whether the race's claims about peaceful coexistence were true and no group wanted to start a meaningless war on a peaceful race. The Geth also had access to a good portion of their technology which struck a fear into many that it would always be easy for the Geth to have the upper hand if war was ever started, especially since the robots had not given all of their secrets away.
Due to the Council's supposed actions against the Krogan and their treatment towards the Quarians and Geth, humanity was hesitant about making contact with them. It was voted to hold off on contact for the time being and increase its strength and further expansion. By the year 2158 , more than three dreadnoughts had been made with the aid of the Geth for Humanity and the Geth had two with Humanities help as well as many other types of starships for both races. In the year 2159, a pact between the Geth and Humanity was signed. If one race was ever attacked, the other would help. In 2160, the Geth were still looked at with suspicion by some and soon offered all classified data in return for humanities. With information regarding virtual intelligence coming in quantities, scientists were able to create the first true AI, Mack. Humanity was able to increase medical research with geth data and increase life expectancy by several more years. The resources coming in from the new colonies and the Geth made Humanities economy the highest it ever was. Humans now had access to geth weaponry and soon found a use for thermal clips and mass effect in weapons which was more effective than the gun powder they had been using for centuries.
The Geth also saw great changes. With Humanities assistance, the Geth were able to achieve true intelligence in 2163 and each program became a true AI. Programs in a platform could even fuse together into one entity or have a platform by themselves, though few programs chose to combine into one. Plura was the first true AI and all programs within the prime had stayed, but each one independent. Each program, platform, or AI could choose its gender, avatar projection, or platform design. Geth programs still shared a connection with each other and could combine into a greater intelligence as they had done and still worked on creating a dyson sphere to house all programs. AI was soon granted all rights that any organic had in the Alliance in 2162 when the Alliance passed the Synthetic Rights Act. In 2163, Plura became a representative for the Geth in the new Coalition, a government comprised of representatives of both races.
The Coalition continued to explore regions where the Council races didn't look yet or didn't send many patrols and was able to find several new garden worlds; Newton, Trenton, Elysium, and Klaxon. Both races continued to live in harmony with many suspicions disappearing as time went by with the Independent Party and protesters losing more members each year. It was a true golden age.
2164
Utopia System, Eden Prime
"Say again Lexington, you found what?!"
"I don't know how to even say this sir, but my excavation team just unearthed a pod that is very old and we can sense that the occupant is still alive."
"Send me a full video. I want updates every few hours."
"Understood." Sasha Lexington hung up and turned back to stare in wonder at the find. A few hours ago, her AI assistant, Kendra, had alerted her that while digging, they had found a pod. At first she thought she was in a dream, but there it was.
Kendra came to stand next to her.
Kendra had the makeup of a Japanese teenager and her personality was. In Lexington's eyes, she was definitely a bit quirky.
"So what was the reaction?" Kendra asked with a grin.
"It was a bit of yelling and "Stop playing games" and astonishment. It was everything you would expected."
Lexington continued to eye the pod and finally spoke again after a minute of silence.
"I want you to try and find out how to get that thing opened. Whatever race it is, it can provide a huge advancement for the Coalition."
"Understood maim. I have scanned the container and have found that it needs to be opened a certain way. I will keep mining data from it and we may have an answer by the end of the week."
"That's just what I wanted to hear. Have several military patrols get sent here. We cannot have this thing get stolen."
"Yes maim. I will also have more geth troopers get assigned here. After all, they helped us in this operation."
"Do it. I am going to get a drink and I suggest we call it a night. This is definitely something we will tell our younger generations about."
MSV Ontario
Shanxi Orbit
"Captain, I am sorry to bring bad news, but your wife was exposed to element zero and there is a possibility that the unborn child may show signs of biotic potential. She is currently asleep at Xion Hospital."
"Thank you lieutenant. Let me know when she awakens." Captain Harper rubbed his forehead. He was about to be called away to Arcturus for an assignment and of course something like this happens. Admiral Williams would have his head if he didn't show up for duty. He hated leaving his wife in such a condition, but this was flagged as a major importance. "Another element zero exposure." Harper thought to himself. He swore it was intentional, but it could never be proven. Every news report on an element zero exposure was always an "accident." He prayed his wife was alright, but his duty as a soldier came first. Humanity always was fascinated with biotics since the Geth gave them the information that had made biotic soldiers very reliable. He wondered how many kids were shipped out to Gagarin Station, the most well-known biotic school.
He continued to look out the window at Shanxi. It sure was a sight to behold. His comm specialist soon alerted him that Arcturus was ready for his arrival in a few days. He almost didn't hear, but soon tore his eyes from the window and headed for his courters to sleep.
Dayana System, Klaxon
Joseph Shepard woke up from a good night's sleep. He was about to start his 4th year at his new school. He smelled something wonderful in the air and went downstairs to find his mother and his friend sitting at the table. Legion had been a friend of the family long before Joseph had been adopted at age 8 and they had gotten along quite well. Originally, Legion had another name, but Joseph called him Legion for so long and it stuck and the AI himself even started calling himself by the name.
"Well look who's up," his mother said with a warm smile.
"Good morning Joseph," Legion said looking at him.
"Morning. Joseph said taking a seat. "Whose taking me to school today."
"Pancakes and scrambled eggs and I am," his mother replied, getting up to check on the food.
"What are you doing here Legion?" Joseph asked.
"I am just visiting your mother before I am assigned to active duty at Arcturus. I will be gone for a few months. I'll try and find a communications channels when I am able."
"Why are you going away? Joseph asked, feeling a little sad.
"Classified military assistance. Any Geth unit is capable of being in the military and I was chosen to help." Legion replied, taking note of the kid's expression. Legion had picked up human body language and expressions since he started working close to Joseph's family and could tell he was sad.
Legion got up from his chair and gave the Geth equivalent of a hug. "I will be back in a few months and I will keep in contact. Just be good to your mother and do well in school."
"I will," Joseph replied, holding back his tears as best he could, though he did feel a little better.
Legion went back over to his seat and sat down. The two talked about many things until breakfast was ready.
4 Days Later
Utopia System, Eden Prime
"Lexington, I have good news." Kendra was sitting at the table by the door looking at the message she had received on her computer.
"Lay it on me," Lexington replied, taking a sip of coffee.
"I think we have figured out how to open the pod. We just need your go ahead and we can try to open it. The Alliance has sent a cruiser and several geth ships to guard the pod while it opens. They should be here within the hour."
"Excellent. I hope our friend can get acclimated to this new time period. I can't imagine what its like to wake up thousands of years and have everything you knew gone. To think, an actual Prothean that is alive and well. Imagine the advances for the Coalition. Its mind boggling." She took another sip of her coffee and went outside in great anticipation.
Author's Note:
I am thinking of doing special chapter whenever I get to the main story and introduce an original character. Sort of a special chapter. I have seen a few people do this and thought it would be a good idea. Let me know whether you guys would like this or not. I may also include small biographies for characters if that sounds interesting. Otherwise, I will include bits and pieces throughout the story. I am going to try and keep many characters separate until a time. I feel that with this big of a galaxy, many characters would not grow up by each other. Sorry I write so many author's notes. I will start limiting them in the future.