"So tell me.." Carl Johnson says while driving in the desert. Shepard looks around the inside of CJ's car.

"Nice.. uhh.. Car." Shepard said whilst looking at the dashboard.

"Thanks.. Its a Cheetah.." CJ looked at Shepard and found him engrossed with the hardware. CJ managed to laugh a little "You.. dont have cars where you're from?"

"We'll we do.. its just that they all fly.. its quite a different feeling when you're riding one so close to the ground..." Shepard suddenly remembered. "Listen CJ, can you please-"

"Not tell anyone you're from the future cause it might affect... the future?" CJ raised his brow.

"H-How'd you know?" Shepard was surprised "How'd you know I'm from the future?"

"One, you're human. Two, you've got things that people from this time can only see in movies and videogames. Anyway, dont worry, I wont tell anyone. I'll even tell my boys that you're just some special Russian task force. Now, you told me all you need to do was go to the president right?"

Shepard nodded.

That's a pretty big job. Can you tell me why?"

"No."

"Hmm" CJ stops the car and looks at Shepard. "We are at an abandoned airfield in the middle of the desert. There's your 'ship'. I had Woozie take care of the repairs." CJ points at one of the hangars where Joker and EDI are supervising the workers. "The only question is 'How can I trust you?'"

CJ turns towards Shepard "Cause believe me, I've been screwed over by the same people I called my brothers. I dont wanna be in that situation again. So how can I make sure you're not some alien future race here to attack us?"

Shepard sighed "I guess, I'll start from the beginning.." and told CJ about Saren, the Collectors and the Reapers. "And thats why we're here now."

CJ couldn't help but laugh. He could not believe what he heard. But just as when Shepard was sure CJ didnt believe him, CJ extended his hand. "Alright, I'll help you."

"Why?"

"Consider me a nice guy. And if you're really telling the truth, then I wanna see what you do. I'm a good shot and I know people that could help you find this.. uh.. Toofaha?" CJ smiled and Shepard reluctantly shook his hand.

"Tufahak and Thank You."

CJ parked the car near the hanger and before picking up his ringing phone. "God its him again.. Hey, I'm sorry I gotta take this call from a guy I'm working with." CJ puts the phone on his ear and walks away "HEEEYYYYYYYY! whats up? Dude! you know If I go to Steelport you'll be the first to know! Wha? You saw me in Stilwater? You racist fuck! Just cause you see some nigga you think it was me!"

Shepard walks near Joker "How's the ship?"

Joker assures him "Well it doesnt look that bad.. but.."

EDI cuts him off "The damages are still significant.. the hull suffered a substantial amount of impact plus with the lack of resources and manpower.. "

"I dont care what Shaundi says!" CJ's voice fills the hangar.

Shepard sighed. "Just tell me how long it'll take.."

"Two weeks.. " EDI paused, unsure "..would be enough for us to go back. Though in a combat situation, we wouldn't stand a chance."

"Thats too long. We must move now."

"I could take you there."

Shepard turns around and sees CJ hanging up his cellphone. He continues "I've got a plane and a boy in DC. It'll be easy."

Shepard nods "Great, thank you. Let me just talk with me crew."

The three walked outside, a few feet away from the hangar.

"I need to take this chance." Shepard explained "Johnson's our only way of transportation."

"Im coming with you Shepard."

"No EDI. Stay here with Joker and help with the ship."

Joker laid an arm on Shepard's shoulder. "Just keep in radio contact."

The three returned to the hanger and Shepard spoke to CJ. "Let's Go"

"Woah woah" CJ held his arms up "We need to find you some clothes first. With that armor, some serious shits gonna go down. You get what Im sayin?"

Theres not enough time Shepard thought but realized CJ was right and reluctantly said "Okay.."

"Nice"

An hour or two later the two were in CJ's Private Jet with CJ driving. Shepard felt the cloth he wore, it was very soft.

CJ laughed again. "Its called a Suit man. Can't go into DC without some kind of swag."

"Swag?" Shepard still hasn't gotten used to CJ's humor Guess this is what Javik felt like..

"Its just that it was never this soft in my time."

"All you future people wear armor?"

"No. We had clothes." Shepard stopped feeling his shirt and looked at the window "It's just that. Every outfit we wore had a kind of shielding inside them to protect ourselves from stray fire"

"Dammmn.." CJ voice wavered "Was everything in the future so violent?"

"Kinda"

"Well, you got a woman in your life?"

"Can we just concentrate on getting to Washington first?"

"Yes Sir!" CJ laughed "But seriously. You gotta stop worryin man. A job like this? If you're too focused on the goal? You're gonna missed some very important details along the way."

"I just.." Shepard took a short breath "Want to get this over with and go home"

Another hour or two, the two were in a car ride to the white house.

"Hey man, You cant bring your guns in there." CJ points at Shepard's M3 Predator and M8 Avenger.

Shepard threw his weapons at the back seat.

The car stopped and an agent signals for them to roll down the window. After a second or two, he asks them both. "State your business here."

CJ leans back and looks at Shepard who spoke in a loud voice. "Charlie Oscar Delta Lima three three Tango"

The agent was surprised and spoke into his head piece. "We got a priority one here.."

CJ looked at Shepard and got scared when he heard the agent say. "Two gentlemen need direct access to the president, Over."

The agent turned back, towards them. "Agents near the entrance would escort you. Have a nice day."

The two stopped near the entrance and an agent spoke to them. "Please step out of the car sir. We have orders to deliver you to the President. The President's already in his office. If you could come with me."

CJ looked at his car and another agent spoke to him. "We'll handle the car sir."

The two walked along the hallway with three agents escorting them. The hallway was empty.

"Everyone on a sick leave?" CJ felt weak without his gun.

"Funny." An agent answered "We directed every personnel to give you and the President privacy."

The two entered the room where the President smiled, stood and reached out his hand. "Gentlemen."

Shepard shook his hand. "I suppose you know what we're here for?"

"No." The President sounds confused. "Im sorry but the code you just used to get in here was just newly implemented."

"How new?"

The President raised his eyebrow "About 10 hours ago."

Shepard was surprised But Hackett said..

CJ eyed the agents and saw one ready to pull out a gun.

The President spoke again. His voice was stern this time. "Charlie. Oscar. Delta. Lima. Three. Three. Tango."

He took pause, then continued "Help the person with this code at any cost. Give this person full access to all of the United States of America's resources until his job is done. Provided his agenda is agreed upon by himself and the current President of the country."

"I understand sir."

"Thats a pretty big order. Basically, I'm handing over the country to you."

" I just need to find this artifact sir."

Shepard explained to him his mission to find the Tufahak.

The President asks. "Do you have a general idea where it might be?"

"No sir."

"What it is?"

"No sir."

"Then its pretty useless isnt it?"

"Yes.." Shepard stopped "..sir"

The President stands up and faces the window. "Now lets say you really are 'from the future'. How'd you expect us to help you find this artifact, if you cant even have any idea about what it is or where its placed? "

"Do we scan the globe?" The President laughed "Im sorry Mr. Shepard but thats not possible in 'our time'"

"Im sorry for taking up your time sir, come on Johnson lets go." Shepard stands up but stops upon hearing the President's next words.

"I cannot allow you to leave with that code in your heads."

"Sir I won't tell anyone."

"Im assuming you wont Shepard. But what about him?" The President points at CJ.

"I-I wont tell noone!"

"Carl Johnson. You've made quite a name for yourself havent you? I know what you can do..

The Triads, mafia and even the state police of Los Angeles? I never expected you'd reach out this far in your search for power"

"Its Los Santos! And it was all for Tenpenny!"

"Right Right.. all to stop a crooked cop. Anyway gentlemen, the decision still stands. You cannot leave this room alive. Commander Shepard, Im sorry for failing your mission."

The three reached for their guns.

"Shepard!" CJ screams before throwing himself towards one of the agents.

Shepard ran towards the other two and manages to knock them out while CJ beats the other one.

Shepard reaches for his earpiece "Joker!"

"Shepard?"

"Get over here now!"

"Be there in 3 mins!"

"Good." Shepard faces CJ "We have to go."

"Here" CJ throws Shepard a pistol. When they opened the door, agents quickly filled the hallway outside.

"Watch out for the President!" an agent screams.

CJ quickly closed the door and toppled a bookshelf over it. "What do we do?"

Suddenly, the door exploded and the agents threw a smoke grenade.

"Sorry Mr. President." CJ grabs the president and shoves him towards the door. "We would look bad, if you were killed."

An agent is heard. "We got him! Now eliminate the two!"

Shepard turns the table over and the two were locked in a firefight.

"Shepard, We are here."

The Normandy floats outside the office windows. More agent's rush into the office.

"Im running out!" CJ loads his last clip.

Shepard remembers Hackett's "extra crew member". "EDI! Activate the pod! We need him!"

"Already did."

In that moment, another soldier comes flying in from the window. Armed with an assault rifle in each hand, he picked of the agents one by one.

Shepard saw the soldier and CJ kept pulling him. "We gotta get out of here!"

"Shepard Get in! he is providing covering fire for us! The Normandy's not yet fully repaired! WE HAVE TO GET BACK NOW!"

Shepard heard EDI's screams but just marveled at the legend before him.

I never thought I'd see him.. Shepard manages to let a few words out. "It's him. John-117"

CJ was flipping out. "WHO?!"

The soldier in the olive green armor signals Shepard to get inside the ship before turning back and keeping the agents at bay.

Shepard answered CJ with a smile "Its Master Chief.."