My Own Alternate what if I not specifically me but someone who could be me came entered Mass effect in some way or form and knowing I shouldn't be here.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything bioware has done and make no profit in this
Major Andrew Reynolds, U.S. Army Intelligence, Head of a classified Taskforce
November 9th, 2014
Iran
Nearly a month has passed since the disaster. To Major Reynolds relief three survivors of the missing company were recently found in the desert. He had spent the past few hours since he heard the news studying the backgrounds of the three surviving soldiers. Two were basically low level grunts, so the Major didn't think he would get much information out of them. However, the Major has been wrong before, and those grunts could have very well witnessed something. The other was an experienced NCO. The Major learned some interesting things about him, and his relation to another missing NCO that they had near photo evidence of disappearing with the device.
"Major Reynolds" A voice came out from behind him, where the major was spending time looking over the reports again in the mess.
The Major turned to see the Army doctor who was checking over the survivors for his preparation. "Find anything interesting Captain?" The major asked, putting his files back in his brief case.
"Not much sir. although all three soldiers have an unknown radiation spike coming from them. After a much needed evaluation we deemed it un-harmful, but that wasn't what really interest me" The Doctor stopped, looking over a medical report in his hands like he had hit some gold mine.
"Well, do tell Captain. My superiors want me to get to the bottom of this as soon as possible"
"Of course Major" The Doctor paused taking a deep breath before continuing. "To be Frank sir it doesn't look like these three were in the desert for the time the claimed they were" The doctor good see the Major was very interested in this revelation, so he continued. "They look to have been well fed, with no signs of any form of dehydration. Not only that some of them, the Sergeant to be more specific has some interesting scars that look like they had been faded away for some time. And before you asked we look at his medical reports before the invasion took place. The sergeant had no such signs of scars beforehand," with that the Doctor now handed the report over to the Major.
"Is this the only medical report, there are no other copies?" The major asked looking over the medical report himself.
"Yes Sir, just like you instructed. We have false reports ready to be filed" The doctor explained, holding his hands behind his back now.
The Major smiled at that. There were just some things about his Job he enjoyed after so many years. The big reason was the power he held in the ranks. He could sometimes even go over a superior officer's head with the power he held.
"Good" The Major replied, placing the only medical report in his brief case. "Make sure the three soldiers are comfortable. Make any excuse you can to let them know they can't contact their families yet. We have to keep them quarantine until I can…." He wanted to say interrogate, but that wouldn't probably sit well with some, so he changed the word. "Debrief them tomorrow"
First Lieutenant Jeffery Overstreet U.S. Army, Bravo Company
Virmire, Interrogation room
The Lieutenant has been severely beaten for the past hour now. He kept trying to find the right moment to gain the upper hand, but there was just no way out. Luckily the alien who called himself saren had left. There were now just two robotic looking guards in the room watching them. The Lt looked over to the man next to him.
"Hay, Private you still with me" He asked the soldier next to him, who had also beaten for Integration.
When the alien took noticed the LT would not break. The alien then figured he could get the LT to talk by beating one of his own men.
The private spited out some blood. "Just got the wind knocked out from me is all Sir'
"What's your name soldier" The LT asked, Jeff knew he should of learned his soldiers names, but there were just so many new faces in the company before the operation took place.
"Jones sir" The private replied softly, and Jeff noticed he was slowly starting to pass out.
"Stay with me private" the LT voice made the private come back into reality. "You got a first name Jones"
"Yes sir, its Devon"
Unlike Jeff's tan skin Devon was darker. Although with the bruises and beatings the Private had received it looked darker than it should.
"Don't worry Private, were going to make it out. I promise" The LT reassured his soldier. Yet he knew what he said was probably a false hope to begin with.
The LT stared into what he thought was the robot guards eye. But to him their eye looked like a flashlight. Both the guards were facing them, their backs towards the door. The door had a window on the center, but there was nothing to see beyond it.
A few minutes passed, and then the LT once again looked through the window to see a man on the other side. He was defiantly human, but not one of the LT's soldiers. The man was giving hand signals. From what the signals were saying it seemed like he wanted The Lt and Jones to role to the side. Looking over at Private Jones the LT could see he also saw him. The LT was thankful that the Private hadn't passed out.
The Man on the other side of the door motioned a five count with his hand. After the count, the doors swiftly opened and the man fired his weapon, instantly killing the robots.
"You guys OK?" the man asked, while an alien that looked like saren was checking the bodies. At the same time a woman in the man's group came to untie the LT.
"Yeah I am thanks, Private you OK" Jones didn't answer. "Jones you still with me" The Lt, now untied ran towards the private turning him over. The private was to slow; a bullet had gone straight through his skull. "Crap" The LT cursed to himself.
"I'm sorry, Names Commander Shepard" The man introduced himself, giving his hand out to help the LT back up.
"Lieutenant Oversteet sir, US Army" The LT got up on his own saluting.
"You don't have to salute me; I'm not part of your army"
"Have it your way" The LT murmured.
"Commander, we should tell him about Ryan and Jackson" The woman suggested, cutting in the conversation.
"Outside Chief, this is between officers" Shepard ordered.
"Sir" The woman quickly saluted, although The LT took notice that she seemed pissed in her remark as she then walked outside the room.
"What was that about?" The LT asked.
"We've had a pair of your soldiers for a while now. Honestly I didn't think we find anymore of you guys"
"From what I saw, our entire company was taken, but that's not what I was asking about"
"What do you mean Lieutenant?"
"I was going to ask why you treat your subordinates like crap, but frankly that's none of my business commander"
"Well now, I'm liking you more than the corporal already, were can we find the rest of your company LT"
"Don't waste your breath; Saren said they would make him a fortune as slaves. He had them all shipped out within the last week"
"Alright then, were planning on blowing this facility now. Stay behind us"
The LT nodded following this Commander Shepard out of the integration room.
Corporal Ryan Sheppard
Virmire, Saren's base
"C'mon guys, Pick up the pace" Ryan said, as they were all rushing their way through the corridors.
"That's the first time a corporal gave me orders" Mark joked only loud enough for Ryan to hear though.
'Just one more corner up ahead, and we're there.' Ryan thought to himself. They had been lucky thus far. No contacts anywhere. Ryan figured the geth must all be converging on the bomb site. Specialist Killian and the Sarge were right behind Ryan, while Jackson and Jeremy, or was it Raider like he wanted to remain took up the rear. The original three being the only ones with armor had to keep the other two out of the line of fire.
Finally reaching the corner, Ryan held his hand up to stop the group. Peaking around Ryan could see that their luck had run out. "What's Up Corporal" Mark asked quietly.
"Got about five contacts, dead ahead" Taking another look, he noticed again their luck might still be going for now "They're facing towards the door, we can catch them off guard" Ryan took in his surroundings, seeing there was a chest high cover not too far ahead. Ryan knew he couldn't screw up, this had to be perfect. Thinking hard to himself he then knew what had to be done.
"Alright here's the deal, Jackson, Raider and I will dash for the cover up ahead" Ryan instructed as Jackson and Raider came up beside him "Were going to do this quietly, not to alert them, specialist" Ryan pointed to Killian "you will go to the other side of this hallway, while the sarge stays here on this side." Ryan knew the sarge, being a higher more experienced NCO probably didn't like the corporal giving him orders. Thankfully the sarge seemed to follow what he had to say.
"Corporal, what happens after you three are set up?" The sarge asked.
"Jackson, Raider and I will lay out fire, as you two do the same" Ryan put a smirk on his face, as he then continued "With five points of fire, and catching them off guard. This shouldn't last more than ten seconds"
"How you figure that?" Specialist Killian asked.
"Them Flashlights got no cover" Ryan joked. "Alright specialist, get over there, quickly and quietly" Ryan ordered, and the specialist did as he instructed. The geth hadn't notice.
"Guess it's our turn Ryan" Jackson said behind me
"You've never really called me by first name, Taylor"
"We're in this together…My Friend…still not sure if I forgive you for hiding what you did, but I'll let it slide, until we get back that is" He said patting his hand on Ryan shoulder.
"Let's just get this done with" Raider commented.
Jackson quickly turned to him. "Don't think you're off the hook either…..LT" Thankfully Jackson was quieter with saying 'LT'. It would be wired trying to explain that to their new members at the moment.
Ryan simply looked back at him, giving Jackson and Raider a nod; he didn't exactly know what to say. Ryan just went around the corner, ducking down quickly making his way to the cover, with Jackson and Raider on his six. Before Ryan knew it he was against the cover, Raider soon joined him. Looking back at to his read Jackson was still making his way. Ryan motioned his hand towards him to hurry.
Then everything simply went to hell, Jackson slipped on something. He made a loud clashing sound, before they all knew it, the geth were firing at them. "Shit" Ryan cursed to himself. He held his weapon over for cover firing, while raider seemed more accurate with his shots. They had lost the surprise, and were now in a firefight. Thankfully the sarge and the specialist were paying attention. As soon as the geth turned around, they had opened fire. They had at least caught some of the geth off their guard. If it wasn't for them, Jackson would probably be dead. Barley poking his head out Ryan could see at least two geth left. Jackson Had finally made it to the cover. Ryan gave him a quick nod, as he understood what Ryan just thought of. All three poked their heads up weapons first, taking the last two out in a blaze.
"That's what I'm talking about!" Jackson yelled out.
"You nearly got us all killed" Raider complained, although it sounded like he wanted to be more humorous than actually complaining.
"What happened" the sarge ashed. He and the specialist came towards the three, with the firefight now over.
"I tripped on my shoe laces" Jackson replied, laughing.
"Your joking Private"
"Wish I was" Jackson shrugged.
Ryan took in the joke, realizing they were running out of time. "OK OK, save it. Ash should be just beyond this door."
"Who is this Ash?" Killian asked
"His girlfriend" Jackson joked
"Damn, how long have you two been here?" The sarge asked.
"That's enough, were running out of time" Ryan replied with a slight hint of anger. He was getting a little tired of Jackson's humor, and would defend what he just said, but right now they have a life to save, and hopefully a commander to deal with.
Ryan quickly opened the door, outside was that watery bomb site just like in the game. This door they had just came from leading there wasn't in the game though. Then Again nether was that prison facility they just came from. Looking around he could see Ashley pinned down behind the bomb, while the geth converged on her location.
"Corporal, Private takes the right. The specialist and I will head up to the left behind that cover!" The sarge ordered, but then looked to Raider. "um…you do what you do"
Ryan guessed the sarge was finally back to giving orders again, with him being an NCO and all. They had little time, so there was no reason to not agree with him. Jackson and Ryan could draw there fire, While the other two could give flanking fire. What Raider was doing, well he was doing his own thing with his knifes again. Where he got so many explosive knifes Ryan did not know.
Running through the firefight Ryan reached ash. Jackson took his right, trying to get the geths attention.
"What took you so long?" Ashley yelled, and Ryan could barely hear her with all the shooting going around.
"You OK!" Ryan shouted back, checking her to see if she was hit.
"Fine, now let's kick some ass"
Looking downrange Ryan saw about a dozen or so geth. All ground troops luckily. Still they were outnumbered. Ashley and Ryan stood up trying to suppress the geth. They were having no such luck; the geth just kept coming like a plague.
"We aren't going to make it" Jackson yelled out.
Maybe there was no changing of what's to come. Maybe they were all going to die here. 'No' Ryan thought. 'Get that out of your head, You have five life's counting on you.' Ryan turned his comm. unit back on.
"Commander, we need extraction" Ryan yelled into the comm.
There was no answer, just static.
"Shepard, if you want this bomb to go off. Then you better get the Normandy over here"
Ashley tugged on Ryan's shoulder "what is it ash, this is a bad time"
"Ryan, we have to let this bomb go. No matter what happens to us"
"No, nobody is dying today. This is no longer just your life I'm saving ash. I'm saving the heart of Bravo Company"
"Your unit died a long time ago Ryan"
"No ash, Bravo Company is here with us. As Long as the four of us live, than Bravo will live on"
"You mean five"
"What?" Ryan was stunned at what she just said. Was there someone else? Hell was raining over their heads and he didn't care.
"..al" something was now coming over the comm.
"Normandy is that you" Ryan spoke trying to clean the static off the channel.
"Its joker, commander is in his cabin. He said not to come back, but he can court marshal me later, I'm bringing the Normandy in"
Ryan couldn't believe what he was hearing; he had barely even spoke two words to the man. And now he is risking everything to pick them up. Ryan took a mental thought to give the man more attention later.
"evac is on its way!" Ryan yelled so both Ashley and Jackson could hear him. He than Yelled louder "sarge" Looking across from them Ryan could see he heard the corporal calling "Evac is on its way!" The sarge just gave him a thumb up from behind his cover. Raider was too busy killing give to notice, but Ryan could see he at least heard him at some point. "Ash, get the nuke ready"
"Way ahead of you Ryan" she replied already re arming the nuke.
Something was wrong, the gunfire was dying down. Looking towards the geth Ryan could see they were retreating, but why? Before he could think an explosion went off behind them, forcing ash and Ryan onto the ground.
Ryan was lying on his back dazed, looking next time him he could see ash was trying the get up. Ryan looked ahead of him and could not believe what he was seeing. "Saren" he muttered to himself. The rouge was standing right above Ryan, looking into his eyes. Ryan tried to reach for his rifle, but Saren just stomped on his gut.
"You humans have become a real problem for me these past few weeks" He said, with that same evil voice he always had in the game. Ryan still couldn't believe his eyes 'why was saren here, wasn't he suppose to attack shepard' he thought to myself.
"You must be corporal Sheppard I presume, you Shepard's have become a real, how do oyu humans say a pain in my back"
Ryan continued to say nothing, just his groaning of pain in reply, but Saren continued to push his foot onto his gut.
"In the end, I should be thanking you human"
"And whys that" Ryan replied, finally speaking up to the bastard.
"If it wasn't for you finding the prothean device, I would still be looking for the conduit"
Wait so he wants to time travel, that doesn't make since. Shouldn't sovereign be indoctrinating him? "How did you convince sovereign" Ryan asked, wanting an answer, but unsure if he would give one.
"So, the rumors are true of your knowledge. It was easy really; I simply convinced him it was the conduit"
I'm not sure if that was possible, but Saren seemed different then he was in the game. Maybe he wasn't being indoctrinated; it's possible he managed to fight it here.
"I will say this, I will enjoy killing you" Saren said raising his gun on him. Ryan closed his eyes thinking 'this is it; I'm going to die here' suddenly he heard a loud crashing sound, and sarens hold on him was released. Opening his eyes Ryan saw Staff Sergeant Hamilton brawling with Saren. This was the second time the Sarge had saved his life. Ryan could see Raider wanted to help, but he was busy holding off more incoming geth
The sergeant, for a moment managed to get Saren on the ground, but Saren gained to upper hand throwing him off. Turians were just probably tougher than humans. Or it could be the sarge wasn't use to fighting a different race in hand to hand.
"Sergeant Hamilton, it's so good to see you out. Enjoying the fresh air" Saren joked in the middle of the fight. The sarge just ignored him, throwing a few more punches, mostly missing. "I'd Love the brawl this out sergeant, but I have a device to find. Thank you for the information you gave me" Saren laughed running back to that glider thing he rode on in the game.
"Get back here coward!" the sarge yelled pulling out his side arm, shooting blindly into the sky.
Ryan could feel the ground shaking; looking behind him he could see the Normandy landing. "C'mon let's go!" Ryan yelled out to everyone.
"No, we need to stop him" the sarge said with anger, refusing to leave.
"There's no time sarge, will get the bastard another day" Jackson argued pulling the sarge towards the Normandy with Raider helping.
The sarge gave in, following Jackson to the ship. Specialist Killian was already waiting on the hatch and Ashley was running right behind Ryan. Running faster than he ever ran before, the ship wasn't going to wait; there was a bomb about the go off. While the ship was slowly taking off, Ashley and Ryan jumped getting their hands on the ledge. The crew managed to pull them inside. Setting down Ryan thought 'man, I can't believe we pulled that off'' a hand reached out to help him to his feet. Taking the hand Ryan took notice of the man; looking at him he could see his Army uniform, with the LT insignia.
"Good job corporal, getting my men back" The Lt said as Ryan got to my feet.
"LT, so you're the other one who made it"
"Jeff you stubborn bastard" A loud voice coming from behind, it was the sarge.
"Good to see you in one peace Staff sergeant"
"You to sir" The sarge said shaking his hand, rather than saluting.
"Looks like Bravo's all here" Ryan mentioned
"Looks Like it" the LT replied, but Ryan noticed the LT staring down Raider. Ryan figured he might of notice that Raider was this Jeremy he claimed, but something about the stare was different. It was more of a revenge type of stare.
"Specialist, you OK" the sarge said looking towards him; He was lying on the ground. This broke the stare tension between Raider and the LT
"Yes staff sergeant, just getting some much needed rest"
Looking around Ryan couldn't see Jackson anywhere in the cargo bay, yet he was just here a minute ago. Ryan knew he made it; he was on-board before he was.
"Excuse me you guys, I have to find someone. Sarge, LT I will have a long story for yall in a bet"
"I expect answers corporal" the sarge said with a slight laugh. "We have to stop him, you know where he is going I take it" the sarge added, with a more serious tone.
"Yeah I know, but first things first" Ryan walked towards the armory bench to remove his gear. Ashley was already doing just that.
Ryan placed his hand on her shoulder, letting her know he was there. She just spun around and hugged him tightly. "You gave me a scare for a while Ryan, we weren't able to contact you"
"I know, and I'm sorry for scaring you back there. I'm just glad you're OK"
"I see you brought some new friends, like we didn't have enough Army grunts" she laughed, while releasing Ryan from her embrace.
"Honestly I hardly know them, well I know the sarge a bet. He did save my life once. But it's…it's just…"
Ryan was stuttering, but Ashley cut in "just good to have some of your unit alive and kicking"
He knew she knew exactly how Ryan felt; she would probably give a lot to have some of the 212th back in her life. "Yeah, oh have you seen Jackson"
"Yeah, was just here a second ago. He went up the elevator"
"I wonder why" Ryan said to himself, but Ashley overheard him.
"He did say something about fragging" she added
Oh no, Jackson was going to kill the commander, Ryan was surprised the commander wasn't here. But he couldn't just let Jackson kill him. Although the commander did deserve it, they still needed him to finish this mission 'Damn it I have to stop him' Ryan kept thinking to himself running as quickly as he could to the elevator. Thankfully the elevator was already at their level. Ryan ran inside hitting the switch to go up. Before the door closed Ashley ran inside as well.
"Ryan, what's going on?" she asked with a sense of confusion.
"Jackson's about to do something he shouldn't, we need to stop him ash"