A/N: Danm I'm sorry this took so long there was a lot of stuff going on recently. I won't bore you with the grizzly details but one of my AP classes is down and the other one soon to follow so that's good for writing.

Any way I've had a bit of writers block for this chapter too, it's important for it to sound just right. But taking suggestion from other writers I'm going to start another story, just to write when I get writers block, this still comes first but more on that after the chapter.

Chapter 13: Dreams are stranger than fiction

I'm standing on a grated platform, brass clockwork machinery spreads in every direction around me. Only one path lies open along the catwalk. I walk on, eventually returning to the large area with the gear in the middle, it's exactly the same as I left it last time. Smooth black with ice blue digital lines. I walk up to the gear and touch it, when I do it lets out a pulse of blue energy, it fades into the distance seeming to have done nothing, but after a short while the little monitor thing I met when I first arrived here floats over to me.

"Greetings resonant."

"Uhhh…"

The gear suddenly sinks into the pedestal it was resting on and the small circular area around it begins to descend. It takes me a second to realize it's an elevator.

"Where are we going?" I ask.

"Last you were here you proved that you were truly resonant, now you will go to meet Spark."

"Who?"

"You will see, she has deemed you ready to learn some things."

"FINALLY some explanation." I think to myself.

"I am her assistant, you may call me Cog."

"Uhm ok."

On closer examination of Cog he is less like the Monitor than I first thought, he is made of a brass colored metal and I can see intricate clockwork mechanisms between some pieces of his outer shell. The elevator moves silently downward, it eventually comes to a stop at another catwalk. As I step out there are six huge pistons, three on either side of me each as large as a building. Further down massive gears turn beneath me. At the end of the catwalk there is a large circular area filled with a huge variety of control devices, valves, knobs, levers, buttons, screens, and more occupy control panels around the room. The far wall has a large bank of strange monitors, while the machinery appears clockwork the screens are holographic and appear to be touch sensitive. In front of these monitors there is a woman with her back to me, she appears to be clad completely in an intricate metal dress, when she turns to face me however I can see she is MADE out of clockwork machinery. Two soft yellow circles for eyes, her face is made of several intricate plates that shift as her expression changes, her garments are made of interlocking plates as well, and are decorated with beautiful steampunk scrollwork. As I approach she smiles and sets down a data pad she had been holding.

"Welcome resonant, to your ethereal plane."

…

"My what?"

"Your ethereal plane, every person has their own unique plane. It is shaped by that person's personality, their thoughts, actions, and motivations, change what it looks like and even some of the things that happen here."

"And mine is a giant clock because…?"

"Hmm, you are a thinker, an artist, a tactician, a bookworm, and a gamer. These and millions of other characteristics add up to the expanse around you."

"It's certainly impressive."

"Indeed but where are my manners? My name is Spark."

I nod. "So what are you? Does everyone have something like you?"

"No, many but not all, I am not created solely by you, my essence comes from somewhere beyond."

"Care to clarify on that?"

"I cannot, that is all I know."

"That figures but, let's not dwell on what we don't know what can you tell me?"

"Yes, come sit I expect you have many questions I will answer what I can."

I follow her down a side passage onto a wide balcony, there is a table with two chairs. The view is incredible, machinery, churning, steaming, and glinting into the distance.

I slowly sit down, and am slightly surprised when Spark sits as well, I would have thought the metal dress would have prevented this action.

"Ok, uhm I don't even know where to begin…"

"The beginning is usually a suitable spot." She replies with a smirk.

"Indeed, so were you the one who brought me here?"

"Yes, I facilitated your transfer to this dimension."

"Why?"

"It was the first task ever set before me, I do not know how to explain it, but it seemed as if the universe itself gave me an order."

"I suppose that would be a difficult thing to deny."

"Yes, as to the specific reason why you were chosen, I can only theorize."

"Oh? Darn."

"But perhaps my theories will shed some light."

"Alright go on then."

"Transferring someone from one universe to another is an extremely arduous process, and the mere shock of it happening can cause the brain to shut down."

"So I could have died?"

"It was… possible, but" She says holding up a hand to silence me. "I believe this is one of the reasons you were chosen, your mind is very open, accepting, creative, this type of mindset makes such a transfer much easier."

"I suppose that makes sense, but there must be other people like that."

"Yes, but how many open minded artists do you know with advanced knowledge of battlefield tactics, military structure, and the rigors of warfare?"

"That… that is a fairly good point."

"These are my theories, there are likely other reasons you were chosen but, these are the best reasons I can think of. Besides you may not have been the first choice others may have attempted to transfer and failed."

"I wonder how far down the line I was…"

"It is not important, we cannot know if that happened and there is nothing we can do for them."

"True"

"What is your next question?"

"Well I suppose the next step would be this resonant business, what does that mean?"

"It is not necessarily uncommon to resonate with something, but to truly resonate completely with something is far less common, you have a special affinity for advanced technology, you are able to manipulate and understand things that should be well beyond your grasp, I believe this specific resonance is another reason you were chosen."

"So is that why some things have activated for me and no other people?"

"Yes"

"So why does it shock me?"

"That I do not know, it is some type of synthesis error."

"A synthesis error?"

"Yes, something is not connecting correctly when you try and use your abilities, this error is expressed as a shock."

"Are these abilities also what causes my Omni tool to act strangely?"

"No, that would be me."

"You? Why are you randomly causing my Omni tool to play music?"

"It is not random, I play whatever you need to hear, something to lift your spirits, something to inspire."

"You're manipulating me?"

"I am a part of you!"

Her sudden outburst makes me realize something that I have been too caught up to notice. She has gone through everything I have.

"You're right I'm sorry, you're experiencing everything I am, but you have little ability to change things."

"Yes… I'm glad you understand."

She stands and looks out to over the plane. "All your emotions, all your feelings, all your pains… I feel them too, I am part of you."

…

"Kind of strange."

"When have you ever shied away from the strange?"

"Never… so do you know why we had to be transferred to this universe?"

She sits back down. "I'm not sure, there must have been some kind of disturbance in this universe that required our uhm… uniqueness. I do know that your powers would not have manifested in our previous universe."

"Hmmm… odd, but do you know what happened to me in our universe?"

"No… you may have died, disappeared, anything I have no idea."

"Yeah? Alright I was kind of hoping you would know."

We sit in silence for a while. I think up some more questions to ask Spark, but just before I voice them she speaks.

"Our time is up, I would have liked to have talked longer but it will have to wait for next time."

"When will that be?"

She just shrugs at me.

I just give her this 'Really?' look, then my eyes open and I'm staring at the ceiling of the Normandy.

I slowly get out of bed and head down for a shower. The warm water helps wake me up and I go over my conversation with spark.

"This is crazy… I feel like a character in a book or something… maybe a fan fiction I dunno. I always thought my life was boring but I'm not sure that I needed THIS much excitement."

"Well there's nothing I can do might as well just go with it."

After the shower I grab some food in the cafeteria, I sit down across from a slowly waking Garrus.

"Mornin' sunshine."

He looks up confused for a second. "That's a joke isn't it?"

"Your wit and perception astound me." I reply sarcastically.

"Hey that's not fair it's a human saying."

"Fine fine, so what's up?"

He turns and looks up at the ceiling.

"You not se-"

"Gotcha."

I roll my eyes at him.

"I was making sure the Mako was ready for the mission last night, you?"

"Checked over all my weapons and armor, as well as all the squad's weapons."

"Sounds like a long night."

"Tali kicked me out of the cargo bay when she went up to bed."

"Hehe nobody works later than her."

I chuckle and keep eating. After a bit Shepard comes down and gets some food as well.

"So what's the plan boss?" I ask.

"A ground team has to go in first and take down an AAA gun so the Normandy can land at the Salarian camp." Shepard replies.

"So who's on the ground team?" Garrus asks.

"I'm taking you Ash and Wrex, but I expect everyone to be suited up and ready."

"Alright I'll be ready if you need me." I reply.

The Normandy whips into action as we near Virmire. The ground team members are in the Mako, and I'm over at my workbench suited up with my helmet still off. Garrus gives me a wave before sinking down into the turret. The PA comes to life.

"Drop in three… two… one… drop."

"Nice shot Joker we're heading out."

The cargo bay doors close and the rest of the crew congregate in the cargo bay. Tali and I go over some weapons at my workbench, Wrex appears to be talking to Tom, and Kaidan and Liara are over by the elevator, a nervous calm permeates the air.

The Normandy shakes every now and then from AAA fire but Joker prevents us from ever taking anything more than a dusting on the shields. All my weapons are ready but I can't stop myself from fingering the Widow in my hands. Tali seems nervous too wringing her hands together.

"I'm worried."

"I can tell."

She stops and looks at her hands.

"Can't even see my face but you can read me like a book… That is how that expression goes right?"

I laugh "Hehe yeah that's how it goes."

We sit in silence for a while longer before Joker comes on over the PA.

"AAA guns are down but Shepard is requesting a drop off, apparently the Mako needs a tire, Knight get ready."

"Roger that Joker."

I push myself off the bench and slip my helmet on. Tali Helps me roll a tire over to the ramp and hands me a small toolkit as well.

"Alright my time to shine."

"Good luck and don't do anything too crazy ok?"

"hehe no promises." I reply sarcastically.

She punches me in the shoulder as the cargo bay doors open. I kick the tire and it rolls down the ramp and into the water about 20 feet from the Mako, I drop off the end of the ramp a few seconds later and land on the ground a few feet below.

"Somebody call for a spare?"

"Yeah yeah come on let's get this thing going." Garrus replies.

We get the tire swapped out continue towards the Salarian camp. I get in the back with Ash.

"Sup' Chief?"

"Just waiting for some more action."

"I don't think there will be any shortage of action, not here."

"I really hope Shepard has a plan…"

"Gate up ahead Commander." Garrus says from up in the turret.

"Light em' up." Shepard replies.

And he does, the cannon thumps out a round, and the machinegun chatters away.

"I can't get at the rest of them, they're hunkered down."

"Pile out, Garrus cover us from the turret."

I climb out the back, widow in hand and crouch into cover nearby. I scan the top level and see the Geth are all crouched down in good cover. The radio in my helmet crackles to life.

"See anything Knight?" Shepard asks.

"Nah they're all hiding."

"Alright Garrus cover us, MOVE UP."

Garrus lets loose with the machinegun just to keep them in cover as we move over to the ramp. I sling the rifle onto my back and pull out my shotgun instead. Shepard points to himself and Wrex then up the ramp. Ash and I bring up the rear. Wrex and Shepard engage the targets at the top of the ramp, once they're clear Ash and I take the far side of the hallway while Shep and Wrex are on the other side of the median in the middle of the room. The Geth appear to have retreated back into the control room however. We stack up on either side of the hallway. I peek around the corner and see the control terminal before I duck out of the way of a hail of gunfire.

"How should we do this?" I ask.

Wrex just moves over grabbing a grenade from his belt.

"Wait no do-"

He whips the grenade down the hallway, it's followed shortly by an explosion.

"I hope that console still works." I say in a moderately angry voice.

"Oops" Wrex says

We move down the hallway, all the Geth are dead but the terminal looks a bit beat up.

"Yeah that figures, I'll try and sort this out." I say walking over to the damaged console.

I flip my mic over to me and Shep's private channel.

"I wanted to test something anyway."

"A new device or something?"

"No, it's … a bit more complicated than that."

I start sifting through the terminals interface, as I thought it's too damaged to get the gate open.

"Here we go"

I place my hand firmly on the terminal and try to think- ZAP!

I yank my hand away shaking it violently and curse under my breath.

A deep rumble sounds and the gatehouse shudders a little bit.

"Hey the gate just opened, we're good to go." Garrus says over the comm.

We start heading back to the Mako and Shepard comes up next to me.

"That's just like on Therum."

"Yeah, I'll explain after the mission what I know about this ability but for now just know that I can manipulate machinery."

"Should be useful, if strange."

I just chuckle.

We get back in the Mako and get to the Salarian camp where the Normandy is already waiting. A few of the crew are on the beach. Tali waves to me as I climb out of the Mako. Shepard heads over to talk to Captain Kirahhe, and Tali and I stand on the beach.

"This planet is beautiful." Tali says.

"Yeah, it resembles the Caribbean back on Earth… not that I ever went there."

"Then the Caribbean looks like Virmire because you visited this place first."

"Heheh yeah."

We sit in a comfortable silence for a while before a commotion announces Wrex finding out about the Genophage cure. We walk over and see Wrex angrily arguing with Shepard and Kirahhe. He angrily walks off passing by us.

"What was that about?" Tali asks when we get close.

"There's a cure for the Genopahge in Sarrens base, He's using it to breed an army of Krogan, but we have to destroy it." Shepard replies.

"I can see why he would be upset." Tali says.

"I'll go talk to him, Knight go make sure everyone's ready."

"Aye aye boss."

Shepard moves off towards Wrex and I head off to check on everyone else.

I put some determination into my walk. "For better or for worse here we go, into the gates of hell, through the valley of death, and into the unknown, but Shepard will get us there… and I'll help."

A/N: Ok so that's finally done, I apologize it took so long but there it is. Anyhow the other story that I mentioned before is something I would write for whenever I get stuck with this one. The story is from the point of view of a Geth OC that is sent out with Legion to investigate Commander Shepard. I haven't completely sorted it out in my head yet but you can expect chapter one for that sometime in the nearish future so if you want to know when that comes out add me to your author alerts or wait until I mention it in the author's note for the next chapter of RE after I write it. And if anyone can think of a good name for an engineer type Geth, drop me a PM or put it in a review, I'll make sure to mention you as the creator of any name I decide to use, but I don't want something like sparky or something blatantly obvious like that, THANKS.

-Jknight