Deats-Head : Hi everyone. I apologise for the late update, as my old laptop finally died and I had to wait til I got a new one. I'll try and update this story once a week (approximately).
Disclaimer : I do not own anything in the Mass Effect universe whatsoever. That belongs to BioWare/EA. Other characters who may appear are own by their respective creators etc. I only own my OC's.
Dialogue in italics is a character's thoughts.
Chapter Three :
The skyline of the city bustled with many aircars, going to and fro. Carrying System Alliance officials about their business. In front of a large building, a shuttle landed softly on the ground, the door sliding open and a tall man with authority stepped out. Slightly greying hair could be seen under the hat he wore, matching with the neat beard on his face. Captain Steven Hackett, stepped forth heading towards the building, a female officer walking in step next to him. Without pausing he spoke to her as he continued his course.
"Do you have the information Sheperd?"
Commander Hannah Sheperd nodded as she activated her Omni-tool as she kept step with the Admiral.
"Affirmative sir. According to DNA, Retinal and Gene scans, the two in question are indeed authentic." She paused slightly before continuing "We had the results checked numerous times and... they came back positive every time."
Hackett grunted non commitedly as he made his way towards a elevator, Sheperd stepping in next to him, still looking at her Omni-tool. As the doors closed and the elevator went on it's way, he glanced at her.
"Speak freely Hannah."
The woman frowned, looking up from her Omni-tool.
"It just doesn't seem possible though. A Time machine developed on one of our Research stations? Made by one who has a reputation for impractical and wild theories." she shut down her Omni-tool and folded her arms across her chest "Personally... I'm skeptical and when you speak with them, I wouldn't believe what they say until our reports from the tech team over Necker's 'research' have come back."
Hackett nodded and kept his gaze on her.
"According to initial reports, they are just children. Biological scans put them at the same age as your own daughter."
Hannah's frown deepened.
"So the scans say... For all we know they are genetic constructs. Very advanced genetic constructs. Necker's previous 'research' was rather... outlandish and foolish." She looked at the Captain "Remember her 'Minion' project?"
Hackett nodded slowly as he recalled that debacle. Ten years earlier, Evelyn Necker had come to the Alliance Council, requesting funds and permission to commence Project: Minion. Necker claimed to have evidence about a threat from a source she said was from the future. That a enemy will rise on Earth and bring about a Cataclysm of 'biblical proportions' and that for the Alliance and Humanity to survive, they needed her work.
Unfortunately for her, the reputation of her team and herself preceded her and the council forbade her from that project. He had read some of her notes regarding Project: Minion and this 'threat'. He was alarmed about the proposal, taking a candidate from the New Zealand penal facility... a condemned man, guilty of numerous counts of murder and assault... and then performing unethical and highly invasive surgery to augment them into this... 'Minion'.
He had to admit, both of Necker's projects were in the realm of disbelief. However, her 'Time Hook' project which was based on the Titan Station had possibilities... IF, the two individuals they were heading to see were true.
The elevator doors opened and both officers exited and made their way down the corridor, passing others as they made their way to the rooms allocated to the two arrivals. Hackett directed Sheperd to the next room, the girl was given, while he stopped in front of the room with the boy within. Giving a curt nod to the soldier standing guard, the door was unlocked and he entered the room.
Glancing around, he noticed the boy standing near the window, arms folded across his chest, gaze looking over the skyline. Hackett approached and stopped a few feet away, before clearing his throat. The boy continued to stare out the window, seemingly ignoring him. Hackett took the initiative.
"My name is Captain Steven Hackett of the Systems Alliance, of which this room resides in the headquarters here in Vancouver, Canada." he paused "I would like to ask you your name and your origin."
The boy turned his head slightly to the side and looked at Anderson. A smile tugged at his face as a dry chuckle came forth.
"So... a 'Bishop' is here eh? Next I'll find out that there's a Weyland Yutani Corporation here as well..."
Hackett raised a eyebrow as he studied the boy who turned to face him, in clothing which was vintage, yet looked well worn.
"Excuse me?"
The boy chuckled again as he walked over to a nearby chair and sat down.
"You know... I have to give Hollyweird credit... They really went all out for promotion of a Mass Effect movie." He looked around "It all looks authentic, in place with the games."
The Captain kept the look on his face stoic, but new that every word said in this room was being recorded for analysis. He cleared his throat again.
"I can assure you, this is no movie. This is real life and I have questions to ask you. I would appreciate, if you would answer my questions honestly."
The boy leaned back in his chair.
"Ok, I'll play along... my name is Greg Edwardes and I'm from Australia. Happy?"
Hackett nodded slowly.
"I see." he raised his arm as a Omni-tool came to life. He pressed a couple of the holographic buttons then looked at the boy "Would you care to explain, how the only record of yourself, is dated from a hundred and fifty eight years ago?"
Greg was about to respond, when Hackett stopped him and continued.
"The last record of you and your sister was this..."
With a few presses on the Omni-tool, the screen on the wall came to life and played a recording of a News report, dated the twenty fourth of September, two thousand and fourteen. A female news reporter told of two missing people and then it showed a man and a woman talking. Hackett glanced at Greg and took note of the young man's face.
Greg meanwhile concentrated on the news report, looking at the couple on the screen. Talking about their missing children and begging for them to come home. When he spoke, his voice was soft.
"Those... are my parents... they..." he looked over at the Admiral "Please tell me this is some bad joke... "
Hackett studied him, saw the grief on his face as he sent a message to Sheperd. He then walked over and sat down on a nearby chair and looked at Greg.
"I'm afraid to say it is. None of this is fabricated. You really are in the future." Or someone has gone a long way to make it seem you have, the Captain thought.
Greg turned his gaze back onto the screen... watching his parents. A sigh escaped him as he then asked Hackett a question.
"My sister, has she been told?"
Before the Captain could reply, the door opened and a young woman ran over to Greg, who had stood and embraced his sister. Sheperd nodded at Hackett as she entered the room and took her place just behind her commanding officer. With a slight nod to her, she activated her Omni-tool, which then sealed the room and also deactivated the recording system, granting them all complete privacy. He looked at the siblings, thoughts proceeding fast through his mind. He let them have a moment, before he drew their attention.
"Excuse me... I would like to clarify something you mentioned Greg." he took note that both of them were facing him "You mentioned earlier a 'Mass Effect' movie... and that it's 'in place with the games'. Would you care to comment on that?"
Greg looked at the two officers, moving his sister behind him while he thought. Did he believe what was in front of him? That he and his sister were no longer in their world, but one based off of a game? That the person sitting before him, the living breathing individual was once a digitized form of light and pixels, with the voice of one of his favorite actors... that this was all real?
Greg was silent as he gathered his thoughts, before he sat down on the nearby lounge, his sister sitting next to him. He remembered watching sci fi shows and about how fantastical events such as what has happened to him and his sister... How could this all have happened and why? He shared a look with his sister and saw that Gwyn had been thinking the same. Both twins nodded and faced the two Alliance officers. When Greg spoke, it was in a soft tone...
"What I'm about to say... can not leave this room at all. If it does, well... I'm reminded of all the old tv shows about parallel dimensions or altering the future and such..."
He looked squarely at Hackett, waiting for a response. The older man nodded, ignoring the response from Sheperd, who had shown she did not like his decision. However, he was her officer, so if he wanted total secrecy...
"You have our word Mr Edwardes. What you are about to say will not be recorded and will be only between the four of us."
Greg nodded... and decided to talk about how he knew of the Mass Effect universe, he and his sister were now residing in.
Deaths-Head : Sorry for the shortness of this chapter... Had a lot on my plate to deal with lately, but I'm still working out the way I want this to flow. I will be including the 3 novels (There are only THREE novels... PERIOD!) as well as the comics, as there is a lot of information in them. The depth of how I include them may be just a mere mention or include more details... haven't decided yet. It goes without saying that I'll include all DLC with the games as well. Please R&R if you like what you've read etc. Cheers.