Frost: Hey there again folks! I'm back, this time with more fun. It's the first actual chapter of Ass Effect! I'll give you a second to compose yourself after all that excitement. Good? Ok me too. This is the Intro. Each chapter will have one, and it'll let you know who the writer(s) is and some other, relatively useful info. For tonight it's just moi, but I promise, more will join me in the future (I just couldn't meet up with them). Anyways, onward and upward! Also, please re-read the disclaimers from the Introduction Chapter, they'll keep me from being sued ;)
Lieutenant General James Vega pushed open the door to his private office, slowly and quietly. The moonlight shone through his window, casting shadows across the floor. He silently slipped over to the security camera in the corner, and yanked out its power cell. Nobody could see what he was about to do. Satisfied that he was no longer being monitored, he walked briskly over to his computer terminal. He placed his palm no the screen, and it lit up, welcoming him by name.
James had been placed as a mentor and trainer for the Outreach program. The Citadel Council had requested that since he knew the recruits so well, that he be the one to decide who would be promoted to captain of the Outreach vessel; the S.S. Destiny's Sovereign. Earlier in the day, he had been preparing his final report when he received a video communication from his wife. She was in their home, with his children, and a large amount of masked men brandishing guns. She told him that he need to come home right away, the men wanted an audience with him. Several hours later, he was back in the office. Their request, simple. Place a less suited recruit as the captain of the ship, so that when it left for its mission, it would be under poor leadership.
So there he was, opening the document he had intended to send off at midday, and changing it. It went against everything he stood for, but what could he do? As soon as his wife and kids were safe, he'd report the tampering to the Council, and have the captain of the ship changed back. He went to where he had entered in his recommendation, and deleted the name Ecrive. Ecrive was a Drell who was exceptionally smart. The boy, only 21, was wise well beyond his years. Ecrive's knowledge and skill would have ensured the missions success. But now wasn't the time to think of that. In the space that was now open, Vega typed another name; Derek Alexander. A Human male, the child was a simpleton. How he had gotten into the program was still a mystery among the trainers. Vega saved the newly edited document, and sent it off to the council.
Exhausted, he fell back into his chair, and reached to bring up his wife onscreen, to let them men know the job was done. Before he could, a voice came from the shadows.
"Well done Mr. Vega. You have done what we asked. Your family has been released, but we had to wipe their memories, of course." The voice said.
"You can do that?" Vega responded, shocked that whoever the man was had access to that kind of tech.
"Yes, I can do many things Mr. Vega." The voice responded. It definitely belonged to a Human, but one with a strange accent. The voice was deep, but at the same time, slightly feminine. After some thought, Vega decided that the man must be German or Austrian. The man stepped from the shadows, shocking Vega. The mysterious man wore a suit, and a large, belt that was made out of some type of stone. It reminded Vega of a Wrestling belt. He also wore a mask that covered the lower half of his face, but the upper half confirmed what Vega had guessed. The man had blue eyes, pale skin, and slicked back, blond hair; German for sure.
"Well, here's some advice for you. You won't get away with this. I've trained myself to be resistant to brainwashing and memory wipes." Vega replied, grinning slyly.
"Oh Mr. Vega, I'm well aware of that." The man replied. He reached around his back, and pulled out a large, red pistol.
Vega went for his own weapon, but he was too late. By the time his fingers closed around the hilt, the man had Vega lined up in his sights. The German pulled the trigger once, issuing a large retort from the weapon. Vega dropped to the ground, a large hole in his forehead. He hit the floor like a sack of potatoes, and a pool of blood began to weave its way out, onto the carpet.
The German put his pistol away, and checked his watch. He turned around to leave, but a woman blocked his path. It was Vegas wife.
"Why?" was all she could utter.
"It was necessary." The German responded.
"You're a monster." Vegas wife cried, cradling Vega in her lap.
"No. I'm the greater good. The Outreach program trainers, they're the real monsters." The German figured he had wasted too much time now. Security would be in the building. Instead he reached down, and pressed the middle of his belt. It lit up blue in several places, then the German himself began to glow blue. "I apologize for your loss," he said as the light emitted from him grew in intensity, "but it's better this way." he finished. With those words, he vanished from the room, leaving behind a blue smoke, just in time for security to burst through the doors.
Frost: Wow. That was a short life for Vega! Anyways, thanks for reading. Leave a review with any suggestions, and look out for the next instalment sometime soon.