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

Private first class Taylor Jackson

Normandy

Jackson was currently working on repairing his armor in the cargo hold. The thing took a few hits back on virmire. He was hoping Shepard wouldn't live out the surgery, yet nothing he hoped for ever seems to go his way. He was using the Chief's Workbench. It was weird not seeing her anywhere around at this time, she was usually always working on some type of weapon here. Then Again, he remembered Sheppard was also nowhere to be found, So Jackson just put the two and two together and forgot about the whole ordeal for now.

"Hay, how's it going" a voice came from behind spoke, which startling him. Jackson turned around to see the voice was specialist Killian one of the new soldiers in their group.

"Just fine and dandy dude, so specialist how you holding up? You haven't exactly talked much."

"Honestly I'm Scared, like I've never been anymore scared in my life." the specialist admitted, pulling up a work chair next to Jackson.

Jackson put down his repair tool and turned towards the Specialist. "About the mission, don't worry. I'll watch your back"

"No man put me in a firefight and I'll do my job. I'm talking about whether we'll get home or not" The specialist replied truthfully.

Jackson stopped thinking of home. After everything he learned about what happened, he no longer seemed to care about the past. "I'm sure we'll get you home specialist, don't worry about it"

"Get me home, what about you. Don't you want to get out of this nightmare after all?" The specialist asked.

"Oh C'mon give it some time, I wouldn't call it a nightmare. More of a godsend now, especially after everything that's happened to us here"

"You still didn't answer my question, why don't you want to leave?"The specialist was now more insistent with the question.

"I just don't, Happy now Specialist" Jackson replied; now picking the repair tool back up to get back to work.

"Care to share why you don't want to get back?"

"No I don't feel like sharing, it's personal" Jackson replied not even looking at the specialist anymore.

"Alright Man, I won't push it" The jumped out of his chair, when he then reach out his hand towards Jackson. "You can call me max by the way"

Jackson looked again back towards Max, seeing he was offering his hand. Jackson took his handshake. "Taylor, so is that you're real name Max?"

The specialist pulled his hand back. "No, at least it wasn't until I changed my name legally; it's what my friends all called me"

"I see, so I guess you want to be friends?"

"I rather be friends with you, then someone from this time" the specialist admitted now walking off "I better get some shut eye, we have an important mission soon" he said, still walking off, not looking back.

Jackson gave himself a slight laugh. Looking back towards his work, he could see he was now finished. 'Guess I better get some shuteye too' He thought to himself.

Staff Sergeant Mark Hamilton

Normandy's mess hall

Mark was seating in the mess for the past few hours now. He had a tray of food, but didn't bother eating. It wasn't that he wasn't hungry; In fact he hasn't had a decent meal in quite a while. Mark didn't feel it was right to eat a good meal, while his men were probably still being tortured, somewhere out there. The thought of them being slaves or something worse just tore him apart.

"You really should take an easy Mark" The LT sighed from across the table.

Mark snapped out of his mind, he forgot the LT was still sitting in the mess with him.

"Sorry Jeff, Just a lot on my mind"

"Can't Imagine what you went through, Back on the planet I mean"

"You were a prisoner just like me Jeff" Mark stated, as he finally took a few bites out of his food.

The lieutenant took a sip of his coffee. "To be honest, nothing much really happened to me. I think he was going to really start my torture later…or he uh"

"Got what he wanted from me, is that what you were going to say" Mark interrupted.

"Mark it's not your fault"

"No it was that I screwed up again Huh….IS THAT IT JEFF!" Mark barked starting to become more hostile

"Don't go there Mark, what happened In Iraq wasn't your fault. You know that right, McNeil never blamed you"

Mark quickly stood up from his chair, throwing it across the room. "Of course it was my fault Jeff" he yelled "I gave in, just like last time. And because of that, People will probably die again."

"Mark, listen to me. What happened to those soldiers could have happened to anyone, it's not your fault" Jeffery calmly replied standing up.

"You two humans make a lot of noise" Garrus said dragging the chair that Mark threw back towards the mess table.

Mark just stared into his eyes, not saying anything. He knew Garrus wasn't saren, but the similarities between the two still haunted his mind.

"You got something to say, Sergeant" Garrus asked meeting Marks gaze.

"No…I don't"

They continued to stare into each others eyes for the next few seconds. "Well then, just watch what you're throwing next time" Garrus laughed starting to walk away.

"Damn, don't think I'll ever get use to talking to aliens" Jeff said, trying to lighten up the mood.

Mark was a little surprised that he didn't even care that Garrus looked like Saren at all, since they come from the same species. For all he knew to the species they look nothing alike.

"I just want to get this over with, so I can get home" Jeff muttered, sitting back at the table.

"Why are you in such a hurry Jeff?"Mark asked looking back towards Jeff

"C'mon mark, you know I have a family"

"So what, as soon as we kill this saren guy, you're going back? Just like that"

"Just like that Mark" Jeff repeated taking another sip of his coffee.

Mark just went over, throwing Jeff's drink out of his hand.

"What the hell mark, what was that for" Jeff asked jumping up from his chair, trying to wipe the hot coffee off of his BDU.

"You're going to leave your men behind Jeff!" mark became hostile again.

"What are you talking about Mark?"

"Saren sent the rest of the company away, to be slaves. And you're just going to leave them behind?"

"How the hell do you even know he was telling the truth mark? He probably killed them all for all we know"

Mark grabbed the lieutenant by His BDU jacket "Because I know Jeff, they're still out there. And it's our duty the find them" mark let the Lieutenant go, shoving him back a little. He then started to walk away. Mark wanted to get to the cargo hold, to prep for the mission ahead.

"Fine Staff sergeant Stay, I'll tell your son a few soldiers you hardly knew, are more important than him" Jeff shouted, as Mark was still walking away.

Mark just gave the lieutenant the finger as he shouted back towards the mess "Up yours lieutenant"

Jeremy (Aka Raider)

Jeremy waited for the Sergeant to storm out of the mess angrily. The so called Lt took notice of Jeremy, and just smirked, motioning his head for Jeremy to take a seat.

"Well, well, I was wondering when you would turn up. You know if it wasn't for being here my Task would still stand" The Lt explained, as Jeremy sat across from the man.

"Which is?"

"To eliminate you, I was recruited by the task force a few months before the operation. My, you can say recruitment assignment was to bring you down"

Jeremy gave a cocky grin. "Well, Here I am. What's stopping you?"

"I doubt the taskforce is still operating, so I see no reason to. However, if you do come back with us, I will have to take you down"

"Well you can be happy to know my home is right here"

"Huh, funny you say that. You know I was fully briefed about you for my upcoming assignment" That suddenly caught Jeremy's attention, as he quickly stared at the Lt. "That's right, you're so called…step father wasn't the best at keeping everything a secret from the taskforce"

"I have no idea what you're talking about" Jeremy fully denied, but he was sure the Lt knew his full background. The question was, would the Lt reveal it.

"So everyone here seems to know you're related to the good corporal. Tell me do you consider him…well I guess you can call stepbrother, or do you consider him what he really is, your…."

Jeremy quickly stood form the table "If you ever bring this up with anyone I'll slit your throat. Do you understand me" Jeremy threatened

The Lt just started laughing quietly. "Well now, it seems I hit a soft spot…don't worry I won't tell a soul. You would be better of telling him yourself you know. It would save a lot of future pain"

Unknown Unknown London Unknown

Unknown Earth Unknown Unknown

"Ryan, what are you doing?" Ashley screamed back at Ryan during the heat of the battle

Husk were rushing them, it was like something out of a zombie flick. Killian and Hamilton were holding them off, so the rest of them could make their way towards the Beam. Ryan was imagining how everything here could even have the chance to turn out good. He tried to change everything he could, but it seems no matter what he changed, how perfect he made things seem, there was No way to change this horrible ending.

Ashley took her hand and slapped Ryan's face so hard that everyone around could probably feel it, not only that, the slap had forced him slightly on the ground. "Snap out of it Ryan" she yelled

Ryan looked around and could see everyone was already starting to rush the beam. 'This was it' He thought to himself. 'This is the end of everything, isn't it?'

"C'mon Shepp, we have a galaxy to save again" Jackson yelled giving him a hand up.

Ryan took his hand, getting off the ground. Something was wrong, after hegot up Jackson was staring him down, like he had nothing in his mind. Ryan than saw blood coming out of his mouth, he quickly Turned Jackson around to see he was shot in the back.

"Crap! Jackson, Jackson" Ryan yelled slowly started losing his balance; Jackson would have hit the ground if he hadn't been holding him.

"Ryan!" Ashley screamed rushing towards him, then forced him to let Taylor go. "Ryan he's gone, there's no time. We have to go NOW!"

He then let Jackson go, as his corpse hit the ground without Ryan's support. With that over Ryan turned back to everyone else. They quickly ran to catch up with the rest of the division. What was happening in the moment was like a cut and paste directly out of the game. Running with explosions and gunfire all round, it then hit him. He remembered what was about the happen. Ryan didn't even exactly know why he couldn't remember what was about to happen. he stopped, looking around seeing everyone else was still running.

"Ashley! Wait, STOP!" Ryan tried to scream towards her, hoping she would hear. It was all too late; harbinger came down shooting his main weapon.

"ASHLEY!" Ryan yelled in horror, but she was gone, he saw her vanish right before his eyes. Ryan knelt on the ground, seeing he was the only one left. Everyone was dead, not a soul left crawling on the ground. There was nothing left, but burnt ash and rubble.

"Ryan" he heard Ashley in his mind. A faint voice, like it was nothing but a memory to him. "Ryan!" the voice got louder as the world around began to fade away.

"Ryan! Wake up"

Corporal Ryan Sheppard

Back into reality

Present day, Normandy

"Ryan" Ashley called out, shoving his shoulder.

He awakened with what felt like a massive headache. "ahhh…..Ash, what time is it? Are we there already?"

Ashley rapped her arms around him "No, we still have a few hours left" she giggled

"Okay than, let me rephrase that. Why did you wake me ash!"

"You looked like you were having a nightmare Ryan"

Ryan could remember what he just saw, like the dream had really happened. It felt so real. "Yeah, I kind of was" he admitted to her.

She rested her head onto his shoulder, still keeping her arms wrapped around him. "Want to tell me about it?" she asked

"Not really, it uh…wasn't exactly pleasant"

"With all the pressure you've been under Ryan, I could only imagine what goes on in that head of yours"

Ryan just smiled, if she only understood the half of it. "I never thought I miss my family so much" He tried changing the subject.

"Your parents?"

"Yeah, my father would probably be proud of me…my mom, well I don't even want to know what she went through after hearing about me"

"Tell me about them?" Ryan smiled at Ashley wanting to know his family. He figured it would help, so he shared what he could.

"Mom was I guess what you could call an average mom; she stayed home most the time to raise us. My dad was a marine, much like yourself. From what he told me he served in force recon near the end of the cold war. Although he always told me he could never share what he did"

"Is that why you enlisted, your father?"

'Yeah, you think he would be mad that I joined the army rather than the corps, but he was always proud of us"

"Us?" She asked, and Ryan forgot to mention he had brothers.

"Unlike you have three sisters, I had two brothers. My older brother was more a tech guy, we never had much in common, my younger…..he always looked up to me, hell I heard before I came here that he enlisted in the Army just like me"

"What about that MErc, IS it true what the commander said, that you're related to him"

"I see there's some truth to that. Now that you mention it he does look a lot like me…..well except for his eyes, my eyes are green, while his is brown" Ryan thought about that for a second, thinking of something that would sound crazy, but he shook that out of his mind for now. He started to make his way out of the bed.

"Where do you think you're going?" she asked, as he was grabbing his BDU jacket on the floor.

"Just going to take a walk ash" He started walking towards the door.

"Want some company?" she asked before he reached for the doors console.

"Nah, I'm fine ash" he looked at the time. "We still get quite a few hours left, I'll be back. Just get some sleep chief"

"The day a grunt gives me orders Ryan…..Alright, just hurry back" she said grabbing the sheet over her.

They were using the commander's quarters, after all he wasn't using it anymore and if he survives, we;; He definitely won't be using it anymore. Ryan left the room, heading back towards the stairs that led to the CIC. He saw Lt Overstreet sitting at the table of the mess face down. He looked like he was sleeping, but Ryan wasn't sure. With that in mind he continued towards the stairs, not wanting to disturb the Lt.

There wasn't much activity going on in the CIC. They weren't going to hit earth for another four to five hours. He only wished he could get there sooner, for all they knew earth's already under attack, and Sarens already found the device.

"Just gonna stand there Corporal, or you going to keep me entertained" Joker said from his usually spot.

Ryan hadn't even notice he wandered his way into the cockpit. he just kept thinking to himself, not even noticing where he was going. Ryan sat in the open seat next to Joker. "You know joker, I still haven't thanked you for what you did back on virmire"

"Don't, I did what I thought was right. Besides someone had to stick it up to the commander" he said with a slight laugh.

"Yeah, he was a nutcase for sure. Still doesn't change the fact you saved our lives and I hardly ever spoke two words to you."

"Like I said don't worry about it, unless you know, you want to buy me a drink or something after this whole ordeal is over"

Ryan laughed for just a second. "You got yourself a deal, first rounds on me joker"

"First round, hell you're buying all the rounds"

"You know, technically I don't have any money"

"There called credits now, but don't worry I'll just put it on your tab"

"What you keep a tab, next you'll tell me you're a book keeper for bets"

"Oh I am, made a fortune off the crew when you finally did it with…."

"Finish that sentence joker and you'll have a few broken bones"

Ryan could see Joker was thinking hard about what he just said for a moment. "Nah, maybe I'll save those bones for later"

"Funny guy aren't you"

"You should know corporal, since you're that all knowing wizard"

"Yeah yeah, I uh…should get going. Keep it real Joker" Ryan sat up from the chair.

Joker smiled "you know it corporal"

He walked down that long CIC corridor, something felt weird. Like this would be the last time he saw Joker. Ryan knew that was stupid, since Joker was a main character in all three games.

Once again thinking deep into my thoughts, Ryan ignored his surroundings again. Suddenly he bumped into someone. Looking up he saw it was the Sergeant.

"Sarge, didn't see you there"

"Sheppard, just call me mark. Don't think were even part of the military anymore."

"Well, we're still part of Bravo. That's something I guess"

"Yeah I suppose it is Sheppard, I need to ask you something"

"Ask away sarge, crap sorry Mark"

"Once we stop this Saren, do you plan on leaving with some of the others?" Mark asked

Ryan didn't even know some of the guys were even planning on trying to head back. They didn't even know how to use the damn device. Then Again, he hadn't talked much to the guys. Ryan knew at the very least Jackson might stay, but he hasn't even talked to the specialist or the lieutenant.

"No, I'm not" Ryan replied quickly after thinking.

"Good, we have guys to find and honestly I'm going to need help"

"Don't worry; I'll get us all the help we can muster. But first things first, we have a job to do"

"Yeah I guess we do, thanks Sheppard"

"Don't thank me, I can't imagine what those soldiers are going through right now besides, I still owe you for saving my life back in that mine field."

Mark just laughed a bit. "No, you don't. I would have done that for any soldier"

"If you excuse me, I have to uh…go"

"Someone waiting on you Sheppard" mark said sarcastically, and Ryan just remained silent. "Relax Sheppard; I'll catch you in a few hours"

Four Hours Later

Ashley and Ryan were both in The CIC as the Normandy was about to hit the relay.

"Everyone ready Ryan" Ashley asked standing next to him.

"Jackson's helping the guy's suit up and garrus, and Raider are already in the mako"

"Good, hope they can hold their own in a fight"

"There soldiers ash, they'll do their job"

"Right and Ryan before we go there's something I want you to know"

"What is it Ash?"

"I uh...Just want you to know...whatever happens down there...I.."

Joker cut in on their conversation. "Hay lovebirds, we're hitting the relay in just under a minute"

"Shut it joker" Ryan and Ashley both said in unison.

"Whatever, here we go"

Looking out the Normandy's view port as they entered the SOL system, Ryan could see burning ships all over the solar system from here to earth. It looked like the alliance was cut to pieces. Ryan didn't think just the geth fleet alone could do such a thing, than again they still have a reaper on their side. Sovereign alone probably did most of the damage. Ryan still wanted to know how the hell Saren could trick sovereign into finding the device for him In the first place.

"Good lord" Ashley quietly said to herself. "The alliance is in crumbles"

"They can't be ash, there has to be someone left"

"The alliance is still holding the geth in orbit, but sovereign broke through to the surface. It's all over the Comm chatter" stated Joker.

"Can you get us past them joker, we need to get ground side now!" Ryan called out

"Corporal, it's a stealth ship remember" Joker mentioned with his same slight laugh.

Ashley turned towards Ryan "Ryan, can you make sure everyone's ready? Looks like we're going to have our hands full" she asked, with a worrying look on her face.

"Yeah, don't worry ash. We'll stop him" Ryan said starting to walk away, wanting to get to the cargo hold to suit up.

"I know Ryan; I'll meet you down there" she said loudly enough for him to hear as he walked away.

Walking away, Ryan didn't want to wonder too much what might happen. After all none of this was supposed to happen in the game. They were in a different set time line now. There's no telling what could happen. Everything is now fair game.

Normandy's Cargo hold

A few minutes later

"Alright everyone in the mako" Ashley ordered. Garrus and Raider were already inside, with Garrus on the main gun.

"I take it you're driving ash" Ryan asked opening the mako's hatch.

"Yeah, something wrong with that. After all I'm the only one left who can"

Ryan was tempted to suggest letting him try, but then again it was best for her to do so now. "No that's fine"

"Shotgun" Jackson said coming up behind them.

"Um, I don't think a shotgun would do so well in an open desert" Ashley mentioned with some sort of confusion on her face.

'Wow' Ryan thought to himself, how the hell that phrase could go away. "Jackson" Ryan said looking at him. "Get in the back with the rest"

Jackson looked at Ryan thinking of something to say. "Sheppard, I would say screw you, but I don't want to get my ass kicked" he said moving him aside to get in the back with the rest of the squad.

"C'mon Ryan, let's get this done "she said getting in the mako

"Sure thing ash" Ryan followed her in.

Coming inside the mako seemed roomier then Ryan thought it would be. He sat down in the seat next to ash; the seat looked like it was probably some navigator's seat.

"Don't touch anything" Ashley stated punching in some controls.

"I think I rather be in an APC" the specialist joked.

"Yeah, but without thrusters it would just fall into a million pieces you know" Ryan smirked.

"What are you talking about corporal, aren't we just going to land" the lieutenant asked.

They had no idea how the mako landing worked. Ryan would tell them, but he figured it would just be better for that to be a surprise. "You'll find out LT"

"Get ready grunts, we'll hit the LZ in five" Joker said over the Mako's comm.

"Finally" Jeremy aka Raider muttered to himself. He had been spending this whole time sharpening his knife. Which was odd to Ryan, since he remembered he carried explosive like knifes.

The Normandy's hatched opened, and Ashley started driving the mako forward. The light came in nearly blinding Ryan, while they were now falling through the sky. The mako started shaking like crazy.

"Crap, I think I'm going to throw up on everyone" Jackson groaned with a sickening voice.

"C'mon Taylor, it's not so bad"

"Corporal if I wanted to fall from the sky, I'd join the air force "the lieutenant joked.

Ashley turned on the thrusters and everyone seemed to calm down.

"That wasn't so bad…" The specialist said before he threw up all over the floor.

"Jeez, keep your lunch in Max" Jackson joked.

"You throw up on me I'll kill you" Raider threatened.

"You humans seem pretty week; don't think I want you all covering me in the upcoming battle"

"Speak for yourself…cat face" Mark said with his straight face.

They hit the ground, looking around Ryan could see Iran hadn't changed much. Well it was a desert after all. The ruined compound was just in sight. Half of the place was covered in sand, but that wasn't what he was wondering about. Ryan wasn't wondering why the compound was even still here after all these years, even though it was in ruins and showed its age. He was more worried about the reaper sitting right over the compound, firing its main weapon on incoming alliance ship.

'Crap, this isn't going to be easy' Ryan thought to himself. He had no idea how they could even take this thing head on, but that's not all he was thinking about. Sovereign on the compound somehow reminded him of harbinger defending the citadel beam in London, just like in mass effect 3's ending.