Sorry for my absence everyone. Had a hectic week with family coming over, Mass Effect 3 Multiplayer, a lot of mowing, and work. Also, this is my longest chapter in this story so far.
Note – I'm going to have the poll (in my profile) up for one more week before I close it.
The whole event of getting everyone ready to leave the Normandy was becoming an irritatingly long process. Not only was it important to gather as many food supplies as they could, but they also had to take into account other necessities, weapons being at the top of the list. Mike had explained, to Shepard's growing disbelief, that there were many more threats to worry about besides deathclaws. Raiders, fiends, feral ghouls, super mutants, robots… the list went on. It was a wonder that the inhabitants of this Earth had not all driven each other to extinction. Shepard shook his head and leaned over a table to examine a map of the Mojave Wasteland.
The sound of a door opening brought Shepard out of his momentary concentration and, turning around, he saw Garrus walk into the briefing room, carrying a marksman carbine. "Odd weapons you humans use to have. Nothing like the weapons we're use to right Shepard?"
Shepard rolled his eyes, "Yeah, I still can't believe that the people of this world still use mundane conventional weapons, even though there are energy weapons, which are completely unlike the weapons from our universe."
Garrus nodded, "Well it's always good to learn something new."
Shepard smiled in agreement, "If I now anything about you and weapons, you'll have them mastered in no time."
Samara sat meditating in her usual place, in the observation room, clearing her mind and focusing on all she had learned. From listening to Mike, she had found out that this world suffered from crime, chaos, and depravity. From drug usage to slavery, and murder to greed, this place needed help. Another thing she had heard about was a group called Caesar's Legion. Just hearing about theme caused her to grimace in disdain. The Legion was one of the most despicable and immoral groups of savages she had ever heard of.
As she came out of her trance, one goal became a focus for Samara, one objective that she felt determined to fulfill. She would do her best to bring justice to this place and try to help those in need.
Joker sat in his seat, a small grin on his face. Despite all the things he had heard this world consisting a post-apocalyptic wasteland full of radiations, mutants, raiders, robots, and who knows what else, there was one thing that he had heard that caused him to have a smile and be cheerful… gambling!
In this universe, the Strip still contained that one thing that made Las Vegas, or New Vegas, what it was. The anticipation to go out and gamble was causing Joker to become impatient, "I can't wait to go and gamble. I hope they have roulette. I was always lucky with that game."
"Luck is not real Mr. Morea. It's simply an aspect of you mind." Replied EDI.
Joker scoffed at her comment, "Then explain why I win money more than I lose?"
"You simply had better odds of winning. But I must warn you Jeff. Concerning the effects that a nuclear war had on the world, which directly effected the government, economy, and culture, these casinos will likely have different rules and variations, as well as harsher consequences and expectations." Explained EDI.
"Oh come on EDI. Quit trying to ruin my fun. Let me just have my moment." Complained Joker.
Tali stood before her terminal, running diagnostics tests on the Normandy's working systems, trying to fix the problem with the kinetic barriers. Despite this, she found that she could not keep herself completely focused on her work. During the meeting in the conference room, Tali had noticed that strange robot that was with the human named Mike but had not bothered to question him about it. She wondered if it was a form of a combat drone or a simple machine. However, it was not the only thing that bothered her. There were several others that had her worried.
Tali inwardly cursed as she made a mistake, during a system's diagnostics, and had to start over. She could not be worrying over such things that she did not yet fully understand. Right now, she needed to deal with her current task. However, once she got a chance, she would approach Mike and ask him more about the robot, the world they were on, and the tech he had with him.
Grunt was in a happy mood, despite their current situation. He did not truly comprehend why almost everyone else seemed depressed and afraid. Why should they be? The human Mike, which after hearing some of his stories of battles and thus gaining Grunt's interest, had delivered exciting news. This world was full of monsters and dangerous creatures with which he could test himself against. Sure, the Normandy was badly damaged and they were in another universe, but he knew that on way or another, Shepard would fix all of this.
In the mean time, he had a variety of challenges that he hoped to undertake. He had seen the dead deathclaws outside and, after hearing about their prowess in combat from Mike, he could not wait to fight one. Another enemy he also wanted to face were these super mutants that Mike had briefly mentioned. They sounded like worthy adversaries. Grunt knew that, unlike the others, he would be enjoying his time here. The only thing that this place lacked was a thresher maw.
Miranda sat behind her desk as she thought over the developing situation. With their current location, she could not contact the Illusive Man or the Alliance for advice now, with the problems and solutions that Mike had presented to them, she was at a crossroads.
She understood that they had to trust Mike if any of them was going to survive, but that did not mean that she would follow him blindly. With the information she had gathered, this world was a mess. With no true government, they could not receive the aid that they wanted, and she doubted ay of the other inhabitants would take too kindly to extra-dimensional space travelers. If anyone learned about the Normandy, and where it, and they, came from, there would be a lot more problems than the ones they were faced with now.
That was the other thing that was troubling her. The difficulties that Mike had presented had the potential to spiral into disaster. Shepard was willing to move the crew into an unknown area where it was almost as dangerous as Omega. Then there were food supplies to worry about. Not only would they all need to be fed, but also Tali and Garrus needed special food, which they did not have a lot of. Finally, she did not like the idea of leaving the Normandy alone and deserted for scavengers to stumble upon. Despite Mike's reassurance that this area was not a place where people went, she still had her doubts, after all, he had come here.
Still, regardless of her feeling towards the situation, Shepard had decided and she was sworn to obey, even if she did not want to.
Jack was majorly pissed. There was no other way to describe it. Not only was it bad enough that they had crash-landed on another Earth, one that was more of a hellhole than the other, but they had no way of returning home anytime soon. She knew that eventually Mordin would discover a solution to their problems but until then, she would have to deal with all the problems of this world.
Some would say that she should have been happy about where they were. There were gangs, almost like the ones she use to be apart of, and there was the city New Vegas, where all the vices of humanity were at and where she would be accepted, but that was not the case. Ever since being a member of Shepard's little crew, and his occasional conversations with her, she had noticed a change in herself. Not only mentally, but emotionally as well. She had learned to be more respectful to others, as well as more understanding. She was still a hard ass bitch who belittled others, but she did it in a way that provided moral support, almost like a caring drill instructor.
She sighed in frustration and cursed aloud. Shepard's personality and morals had rubbed off on her and caused her to become a little more like him, if only by a small amount.
Mordin hummed merrily to himself as he set about gathering his supplies. He had so much to do and so much unknown amount of time. Some of the things he was greatly interested in were the mutants that the human Mike had spoken of. How had the radiation affected them physically, as well as mentally and socially? Were their genes also affected? Did they have any form of culture or society? Then there was the matter of the people. How had human civilization adapted to the change in the landscape and atmosphere, as well as psychological and social outcomes of a nuclear war? Were they like the Krogan, or better?
He was just checking his Omni-tool, making sure he had everything he needed, when the door, that lead to the Command Center, opened to show the mutant human ghoul Raul. "Ahh. Raul. Just the one person I was thinking about," began Mordin, "lucky that you came by in fact. Many questions. Many experiments. All about you and your kind, mutated that is, not unmutated and genetically correct. When we have time, must speak more with each other. Much I can learn."
Raul was taken aback by the alien's rapid way of speaking. He had barely heard any of what the alien had said, "Wow. Slow down there loco. Did you have too much Nuka-Cola or something?"
Mordin frowned as he looked over at Raul, "Nuka-Cola? Odd, never heard of this. Obviously something in your world, this world to be more precise. Sounds like a consumable item, yes? Food? Maybe, but unlikely. Liquid it is, yes? Sounds familiar to a soda that humans drink called Coca-Cola. Similarity not a coincidence, both from same company."
Raul just stared at the alien, completely baffled, "Yeah… Sure, why not?" Raul gave a small chuckle, "If this is how you act naturally, I'd hate to see how you'd react under the influence of a Nuka-Cola or a Sunset Sarsaparilla."
Mordin smiled, "Interesting you are. Can't wait to spend time with you asking more about you and your kind, mutants that is. Many questions. Many questions."
Raul simply shook his head, "You really need to meet Arcade Gannon. You two brain heads would get along wonderfully and I'm not going to subject myself as part of some strange experiment you're planning on me."
"Arcade? Another scientist? Human I'm assuming yes? Be good to meet him it would, much to learn. Much to study." Mordin looked back at his Omni-tool, "But getting carried away. Much to do. Must get ready for trip and bring necessary supplies but hope to speak to you soon."
Raul stood rooted to the spot, unable to think of a reply, but when several moments passed, with Mordin not even seeming to notice his presence, Raul turned to leave the laboratory in a state of confusion.
Legion was going over all that it had learned as it stood completely motionless in the AI core. It had reached a consensus that this world was very hostile to this platform, but not as so as it was in the previous universe. In this world, AI were around, but they were rare while robots were common. Overall, Legion determined that it would be able to pass as a simple robot, and not be identified as an AI.
Another thing that caused a query for it was the knowledge of the, now deceased, Mr. House. From the human Mike's description of him, Legion found that this Mr. House had been a simplified form of a semi-organic machine entity. Legion had continued to ask Mike about the mysterious Mr. House, but its presence had seemed to unnerve the human. Eventually, Legion was going to gain the knowledge that it sought when it could and if it could.
Thane sat at a table, head resting on his folded hands, as he gazed at the opposite wall, deep in thought, not about their current situation, but about his condition. The climate of this world was very arid and dry, which was actually a good thing for his condition, but it was a false hope that only served to lighten his spirits and then send him into depression. It was already too late for him to receive any kind of cure to his disease, but at least the climate outside would extend his lifetime, which was important for him for one reason. To spend more time with his son.
Given their current situation, Thane would not be able to do that until they returned to their universe. Despite that, Thane wasn't as worried as some of the others were and he would continue to serve Shepard wherever he went, for Thane owed him.
Also I've updated my profile so that it lists future stories that I plan to write.
Also, I should have my next chapter up in two weeks. One week to re-check and update the chapter (on notebook) and the second week to add the results from the poll and put it in my story.
Hope you all like the story so far.