Author's note: So, i gave up on my last story. I didn't really like where it was going, though i hope those of you who have read Curiosity enjoyed it. Instead, i started work on this epic journey. It is a self-insert, inspired a little by Dazac's 'A Dance with Death' which was really good to read by the way.

Do remember to review the story, all feedback is welcome though some more than others. Without further delay, I hope you enjoy the story!

Edit: Proof-read this after it was published... just changed a few grammar/spelling this and made it flow a bit more

I'm working hard on part 2, so do't forget to Review/Follow/Favorite if you enjoy!


It was getting late.

The stars had ascended into the sky, and what could have been a dark, black void was filled with tiny pinpricks of light, the mix of colour churning restlessly in the endless abyss. I walked around the field, my head literally in the clouds. It was the end of my time here – on holiday. I couldn't help but feel the hint of loss and regret. Not the regret from missing out, but regret that I couldn't spend more of my time here. I was going back to school in England. The days were long, hard and it was almost a damn military academy. My only escape at school was Art – painting, drawing, you name it, I could create anything; but that didn't stop the teachers from pushing my academia to the point where my brain felt as though it would burst, it didn't stop them from cramming military tactics, manoeuvres and weapons handling once a week, nor did it stop them from forcing us to be in peak physical condition all year round. But my true escape was the holidays. I did what I wanted, I was free – if only temporarily.

Bringing my head down, my neck aching from the strain of looking up for so long, a glint buried in the ground flashed up at me, momentarily blinding me. Bending down to get a better look I notice a faint glow surrounding the object – this wasn't exactly a place where many people would walk so I wasn't surprised that no one had seen it before and taken it.

I pulled on the object but it didn't budge so I started to dig, the dirt getting under my finger nails, the damp of the grass coating my arms and hands. It was… bigger than I expected it to be – it took me nearly five minutes of scraping the earth away from it to just get a look at the top of it. Curious, I find my head cocked to one side as I examine the object, its metallic surface blue light emitted from various gaps in the metal. I touched it, running my hands along its surface tracing the curve of the visible side.

I began to notice that whenever my hands neared the ground, the lights grew brighter, their warm glow bathing me in a completely unnatural, unearthly light. So I dug a bit more, only to find the source of the light – a brilliant blue orb encased by two swirling metallic circles. I reached out curiously, cautiously and as my hand neared I begun to feel weightless, the light no longer just bathing me but trapping me – even as I withdrew my hand I was being carried away, helpless. Then everything went black.


My eyes flew open and I launched myself off the gurney I had been laid on, but my legs collapsed underneath me. They felt so… useless, as did every other muscle in my body now that I had a chance to take in my surroundings and gather my thoughts. There was nobody else in the room with me, but I could hear voices coming from outside. One of them I didn't understand at all, but the other definitely spoke in English, an American accent thick on his words… But it seemed like…they were having a conversation?

"Hey!" I called out to them, hoping they could hear me through the doors. I assumed that they could when the voices stopped. "Uh... Could I have some help in here? Please?" that worked. The doors slid open, a quiet hissing sound emerging from them as the lock slid and separated. Two… people came into the room then. One was a man, wearing some sort of doctor's overalls – they were plain white with a red stripe that curved on his chest, while the other… was something else. It took me a moment to recognise who it was. "Mordin?" my eyes widened as I realised who it was that was standing in front of me, the Salarian's scars that pocked his wrinkled skin seemed to be a lot more prominent from what I could remember. I let out a groan and swore under my breath as realisation crept up on me. I felt as though I was going to pass out.

"Hmmm. Interesting; will need to question later – ask what he knows of me. No! Not just of me – of Galaxy… yes, yes. Now, need you to rest. Muscles not fully recovered, possible brain haemorrhage, chance of cancerous growth from exposure to high levels of element zero. Daniel, get sedative, induce sleep if necessary, probably not but need to be sure of rest – no more than five micrograms of melanarin, dilute with butemorol until red…. Need to look at results again." His voice was strange, poetic, fluent yet completely unintelligible. My head mirrored his coat as he whirled away out of the room, the clinking of vials as 'Daniel' placed one into what looked like an incubator.

"So…" Daniel's tone was… jealous? "How do you know the Doctor? You supposed to be some brilliant mastermind from Earth or something?"

I struggled for words, my grip failing and my hands slipping from the side of the bed, all of my weight crashing down onto the floor. I felt like such an idiot… "I… I'm sorry… Uh, could you tell me what year this is?" forcing my words out as I fought to my feet, the effort straining my voice.

Daniel looked taken aback "It's nearing 2183… there are only a few weeks until the start of the New Year…" I could feel his eyes staring at me, boring a hole into me, trying to figure out if I was joking or not.

"Oh fuck…." I muttered under my breath and sunk to my knees. Everything seemed different now. I buried my head into my hands, they were shaking, my breathing accelerated and I could feel traces of bile beginning to bubble their way up my throat, burning as they went. Before I knew it there was a needle in my arm and everything slowed down to a near standstill as whatever had been put into me worked its way through me. Unfortunately, it didn't stop me from lurching forwards as vomit threw itself from inside me, and I collapsed to the floor, this time a warm, comforting darkness embracing me as my head reached the hard metal flooring.

It was quite a long time before I woke again – or so I was told. To me it had felt as though I'd only closed my eyes for a moment and then had them forced open by an annoying white light, cutting into my sleep. Laying on the bed once more, my thoughts rushed back to me – I was in the future. But not just any future, this was Mass Effect like nobody's business. Daniel caring for me, no Mordin caring for me… still, I wondered where I actually was. The room I was in was white, but it was filled with artificial lighting, no sign of any sunlight at all – not even a window to look out of.

"Hey, Daniel, where am I?" my voice came out as barely a whisper. I struggled to open my eyes and then it took me even more effort to move into an upright position – but before I could move into an upright position, a pair of hands lay gently on my shoulders and pushed down slightly. I was too weak to resist and I flopped backwards, the soft bed shielding me, but there hadn't been a response. I looked around; it wasn't Daniel who was in the room, but Mordin. "Mordin, where am I?"

"Earth." Relief flooded through me and I left out a hefty sigh. I could just about hear Mordin talking to himself, flicking through… a data pad, that's what they were called. "Carbon dating shows subject roughly 170 years of age… hmm. No human lived past 150 yet. No human older than 100 has bone structure similar to subjects… no danger from exposure… implants appear act-"

"WHAT!" I bolted upright, the feeling of an electric shock blasting along my spine, making my hair stand on end. It was obvious he was talking about me, and I know that I never had any implants of any kind. Confusion spread across my face as he turned to face me. "What do you mean… implants?"

"Gave you biotic implant, also L3 amp. Cognitive implants appear to be working – you understand me, yes?" without having time to answer he continued, my face contorting into surprise. "Good, also did surgery on you, removed redundant organs like appendix, tonsils and gave bone and skin weave – makes it easy to live on variety of planets."

I was struggling to keep up – I had brain implants… and new bones and skin? I looked down – my skin was the same – even if I did feel as stiff as a rock and was aching all over. Suddenly there were new voices outside the room and suddenly the door slid open, the same hiss filling the room with sound before two men in… Alliance military uniforms stepped in. "N-No… Really? Admiral Hackett? Captain Anderson? Uh… What're you doing here?"

They looked at each other in surprise and then Anderson stepped forwards; I just looked up at him, the hint of a smile on my face. "My ship is the one that found you floating around the eezo core of the Arcturus relay. How are you feeling?" the concern in his voice wiped the smile off my face and worry took its place.

"What d'you mean? I'm mean; I think I got thrown into a different reality… a different time maybe… I'm confused, I ache everywhere… And if this is what I think it is, then we're all gonna be in for a world of hurt." I was out of breath already – I'd only said two sentences and my chest felt like it was going to collapse, my head felt like it was going to burst and I could barely move the rest of my body. I felt like I needed to hide in a corner somewhere, where I wouldn't be found.

"Well, we were about to head through to the Citadel, when our scanners picked up a small anomaly next to the relay's core – that was you. We had no idea how long you'd been there, but you were practically encased in eezo, which I assume is what kept you safe for so long… Anyway, we picked you up, then turned around and came here. My whole crew wants to know about you."

"As will the rest of the galaxy if they find out about you," Hackett's grizzled voice filled the room "So, you are going to be joining an Alliance programme. We can always use knew soldiers and the galaxy isn't a safe place for anyone that doesn't know how to fight." My mouth hung open; I was having difficulty taking in everything and I just nodded at everything that was being said, my mind racing but nothing going in.


A few days later and I found myself in front of a desk with a man in military dress behind it, waving his omni-tool in front of me. "How old are you kid?" His voice was gruff, not hostile, but definitely not friendly.

"I'm seventeen, I've been told to come here by Admiral Hackett." I could see his eyes narrowing and scrutinising me. Before he opened his mouth I knew what he was going to say. "Yes, I am the 'discovery' and my name is Greg. Ok? Can you just sign me on so I can start?"

His eyes widened as he realised I was speaking the truth. He read, and then re-read a message on his omni-tool. "S-sure, just go on up the stairs then hang a left, and take the third door on the right."

"Thanks." I didn't bother looking back at him as I followed the man's directions, heading up the stairs. When I got to the door it opened and I found a room full of soldiers. This was gonna be even worse than school… I let out a sigh and drop my eyes to the floor as I walked to the corner of the room – away from everyone else. It had been ten minutes now, all I had done was sit in the corner of the room, feeling every pair of eyes watch me, hearing the hushed whispers of the soldiers. Occasionally I thought I heard the shifting of armoured parts next to me, but I shrugged it off. Everyone was wondering who I was, that much wasn't hard to guess, but every time I lifted my head to look around them I met their suspicious eyes as though I was staring into the eyes of tiger about to strike.

Fortunately, the doors opened then and Anderson walked in – with Shepard behind him. I felt my jaw hit the floor, knew my eyes went wide as I saw him for the first time. It really was him… 1Captain Anderson interrupted my reverie. "For most of you, this will be your first training exercise for the N7. For those of you who have been here before, this is going to be a different. I'm sure you've all seen the newest member," All eyes pointed at me and I looked down, avoiding anyone's gaze. "Well, we're going to see what he can do – he's going to be on his own against all of you, training rounds only people, I don't want any injuries out there. You have thirty minutes to prep."

At that, everyone left the room. Everyone, except myself, Cpt Anderson and Shepard. I was in complete shock… going against N7 operatives…. They seemed to sense this and Shepard spoke, his voice rough, yet calming somehow. "Don't worry… Uh… Greg, was it?" I just nodded my head, eyes wide as I turned to look him in the eyes. "All you have to do is point and shoot. Do you have any weapon preferences?" I didn't reply – I couldn't reply, I felt as though I was being sent to my death even though I knew I wouldn't be properly hurt. "Ok then… do you have weapons training at all?" he said, Anderson behind him shaking his head in slight despair.

"Well… kind of." Their eyes lit up "When I was in school I was instructed on rifle use, and I was pretty good at archery." They shared a look of confusion.

"Archery? Kid, no one has used a bow and arrow in combat for god knows how long, and the only ones in use now are for deer hunting on enclosures." Shepard looked dismayed "Well at least you 'kind of' know what you're doing."

That was when Anderson stepped in. "C'mon Shepard he's only seventeen, at least he's got something. It's more than most have at his age." Then he turned to face me. "We've got some armour ready for you by the training grounds; unfortunately it might not be quite the right size. There's an armoury on the way, you can tell us what weapon you want to use from there as we pass." He looked back at Shepard who let out a sigh, turned on his heel and headed down the corridor. With a flick of his head Anderson gestured me to follow.

Fifty minutes later and I was cowering behind a crashed shuttle in the training grounds, some slightly too big armour and an M-8 assault rifle cradled in my arms. I had died around five times already – without 'killing' any of the actual N7s, and that was within ten minutes of starting the first round. I was trying to be smart this round – a somewhat new tactic. I had gone right four of the previous times, so I tried starting left. So far, it had worked. I hadn't died for nearing five minutes – although I hadn't killed any enemies. My thoughts were brought into a sharp focus by the sound of at least two booted pairs of feet coming from the right-hand side of the shuttle. Instinctively I moved as quietly as I could to the other side, poking my head around the corner to check if there were any coming from that side before moving swiftly around. I could hear them now, not quite able to catch any of the words that they were saying, but the definite murmur of voices. I saw some cover that I might be able to make to if I was careful.

Getting down as low as I could without being on my belly, I made my way to the training room wall with a wary eye behind me as to make sure I wasn't detected while I was moving. That was when one of them called out to the ominously quiet room. "We know you're in here kid. You can't hide for long." So. They were taunting me, getting cocky. I shook my head as I moved further around the training area. Because there was a small squad searching where I started, I counted three of them, it meant that there had to be another small squad of about five… plus some others who might be scouting the sides.

I was right. Well, at least about the scouts. Two of them had come to the side of the room that I was on now. I had to be especially quiet now – or very, very quick. I chose quiet, so I stayed very still behind my piece of cover. I could hear them moving towards me though, searching every nook and cranny. Being thorough was obviously a military trait that had been developed in this universe as well. I had to act or I would lose. Again. I launched myself into a firing position, using my cover as a base and fired. One down. The other one had reacted faster than I could change aim. He'd gone for cover and I had to move. He knew where I was and would tell the others – then I would be dead in seconds. I ran sideways, my gun facing where I had watched him disappear. As soon as I was behind a different piece of cover I knew I would pretty soon have them all on me no matter where I was. They would have heard the gunshots and backup would be arriving now.

I moved again, cover to cover, I was now in the most realistic video game ever (And I'm not talking about Mass Effect – because now that was my reality). One down – and if my memory was right I still had about 8 or 9 left to deal with. I had to move – try to get to the other side of the room undetected so I could fire on them all at once if they thought I was where I had shot their teammate. I was in luck. There was a doorway to a corridor that led right across the terrain – I could flank them if I could get to the other side. I started to head through the corridor just as one of the doors opened at the far end. Trying to be stealthy about where I was, I flattened myself against the wall, not quite fitting in between two supports in the wall. Leaning out I just managed to see a figure disappear. He became nearly invisible – except for the occasional dim flash of light that the cloaks power source gave off.

I ran up to where I thought he would be and I brought my gun up – only to have it hit him in the back on its way up. "Surrender?" I said, hoping that I wouldn't have to shoot to give my position away, my voice wavering as the word fell out of my mouth. The cloak disappeared and standing in front of me was… a woman? I mean, I knew women could be in the N7, but I hadn't seen her when I had gone into the room some fifty minutes ago. It took a moment before I realised she would've been the one shuffling in her armour next to me. This was just unreal…

"Good job kid. So. How'd you find me?" her voice was loaded with sarcasm and I knew she wasn't going to do as I asked.

"I used my eyes." I fired again. Two down. I looked into the room that she had gone into – nothing to hide behind in there. "Shit" I cursed under my breath as I tore out of the tunnel my head flitting left and right, looking for cover, looking for the rest of the N7. I saw cover first so I just ran – then I heard some shouts from behind me, quickly followed by shots which pocked the ground and cracked the air around me me. As I neared the cover, I slid around it, the shots still pinging off of the rock that I was crouching behind – they were keeping my head down as the others moved around – watching so many action films was beginning to pay off. There was a slight pause in the firing – I took that as my sign to run, so I did. There was no real cover, save for a corrugated metal sheet that was lying haphazardly on the floor, it would have to do.

I picked it up, having to pause briefly to put my gun onto the magnetic plate on my back so I could hold it with both hands. Each bullet that hit the sheet made me feel as though I was going to be thrown off my feet completely, each pang making me stumble slightly. A sudden thought occurred – if I could make it into the room, and prepare an ambush (me hiding against the wall basically) I could at least take out a few of them before the end of the round. I dropped the sheet and made a beeline for the corridor I had found earlier. I could feel the sweat beginning to pour off my brow as I ran as fast as I could; I even dived through the doorway when I thought I wasn't going to make it. But it wasn't enough. Two of them were at the other end of the corridor already and before I could move again I had been shot, the round over and my heart not just racing, but exploding with each beat, each pulse pounding like a drum within my head.

I just managed to huff out a "God Dammit" before the two soldiers started laughing in near hysterics. "What?" I panted. "What's so funny?"

The rest of the N7 had joined them now, partly because the round was over, but partly to investigate the raucous laughter that the two were emitting. "You did good kid" He managed to keep a relatively straight face while he spoke, but his voice crossed back into laughter as soon as he finished. "I'm sorry" He wheezed. "It's just; I don't think we've ever had a recruit who's been that willing to dive, head first, in an oversized hardsuit through a door." His voice trailed off, the beginnings of a tear in his eyes, his expression partly disbelief, partly surprise, but mostly he was still just laughing.


I'd been here almost a month now. The New Year had just passed – of course, I didn't have anyone to spend it with, so I wandered through Vancouver – it serves as a kind of Earth Capital because it's where the Alliance's government is. I had gone through similar training exercises nearly every day, but the strange thing was, that I was enjoying it. I was actually having fun – probably more fun than I could say I ever had at school. But that didn't stop me from missing all the people that had been taken from me. Now that there was what seemed like a galactic break for the start of the new standard year, I had had time to reflect. And I didn't enjoy it. I knew I would never see any of my family again; never see any of my friends again. My parents would be in tears and they'd be trying to get the police involved in a search, but it wouldn't be any use. There was even a girl at school I had gotten close to and was going to take her out… but that would be impossible now.

I was trying to get away from my broken thoughts, and ambling through the streets was the perfect way to do just that. I was encapsulated by the design and the scale of the buildings – most of which were brilliant white which light up nearly every shadow in sight. Then there were the starships coming and going, black dots against the sky mostly, but there were a few that I could see – a lot of them were bulky – then I remembered that they were the same design as frigate ships from the first game. If you got near enough to them, or stood at the right angle, it looked as though they were made entirely of glass.

I saw him then. He caught my eye and then waved his hand as he walked into a shop. Hesitantly, I made my way across the street to the shop he had gone into. He didn't look the same without his armour on – he wasn't even wearing alliance uniform – but it was definitely Shepard. When I entered I saw him sitting down in a quiet corner – apparently it was some kind of coffee shop going by the amount of iced buns behind glass panels and types of hot drink that I had never even heard of before.

When I got to Shepard I sat down opposite him "Hey, what're you doing here?" My voice was full of energy – though it was only because I was sitting with Shepard now. The Skyllian Blitz had happened, but it wouldn't be too long before he was made into a spectre.

"I'm fine, Greg. I actually came here to look for you, I don't usually go out just for a walk, but you certainly took me on one." When a smile began to appear on his face I realised I must have looked like an idiot, just staring at him blankly.

"Uh… So why'd you come looking for me, Shepard?" Anxiety swept across my face, but his smile just got a little bit wider, a little bit warmer.

"Well, if you don't mind, I would like you to join the Normandy's crew – of course you'll need to have some more training but I think you're nearly ready." He was being… sincere. He wanted me to be on the Normandy…. I felt as though I might explode from excitement. The buzz was literally killing me, but there was a sour note.

"Shepard…" I wanted to tell him everything I knew, everything that could possibly change the course of the future. Though I couldn't do it here, not now. "It would be my honour." His smile spread across his face, his eyes lighting up.

"Excellent. You might think I'm crazy, but I think you know one hell of a lot more than you're letting on and I want to use that knowledge when things go out the airlock." My mind was racing - how the hell could he know? I was about to open my mouth in confusion when he spoke. "I mean come on, right? Nearly two hundred year old teenager comes out of a friggin relay – then knows people's names, names he shouldn't know at all… you have to know more about what's happening."

There was a long pause. I really didn't want him to know anything. At all. But he obviously had an idea that I knew something… I guess there was no fooling the world's greatest operative – for me anyways. "Well… yeah, I do. But I won't tell you anything until you get a mission to Eden Prime. Deal?"

He looked both disappointed and pleased with himself. "Fine. But I want to know everything when you tell me."


I was on the Normandy. Nearing four standard months later and I still hadn't helped Shepard once; he had had a few missions with Kaidan and Jenkins. They had done all the fun stuff while I stayed behind and practised. I sparred – each time I got better and better, still not quite as good as Shepard though. I improved my aim with pistols, sniper rifles and assault rifles. I even jokingly put in a request to have a 'modern' compound bow manufactured. I learned how to create pull and throw fields with my basic biotics. Whenever I wasn't training I learned – about the ship, space travel, hacking, anything I chose there was someone on the ship who knew what I needed. Still, nobody knew what I knew. I chose to sit next to the mako for most of my time on board – but I liked to go and chill with joker in the cockpit whenever he wasn't piloting through relay jump or taking Shepard planetside. Joker really was as sarcastic, possibly even more so than he was in the games.

"You really gotta be so nosy in h- DON'T TOUCH THAT!" Joker was trying to be as intimidating as possible, and even though both he and I knew that he couldn't hurt me without doing at least twice as the damage to himself, his shouting worked.

I stared at him wide-eyed for a moment before I spoke softly to him "Why not?" Now he was looking wide-eyed, as if I was a complete idiot.

"That would have ejected the ship's eezo core and you don't do that carelessly, because you could pretty much deep-fry the entire crew." I was stunned; they didn't have friggin safety measures for that kind of thing? That's when he burst out laughing and my realisation spread across my face. "You idiot, you really fell for that one didn't you?"

"Yeah, of course I did, who the fuck else shouts like that unless it's serious? Come on though, what does it actually do?" Joker tried and failed to hide the smug look on his face.

"Oh it's just the shutter control – you don't seriously think I like to fly the ship using only the scanners do you? You just don't get that awesome feeling of flying through space." I shook my head, a chuckle escaping my mouth as I exhaled with relief that I hadn't just been about to obliterate several decks of the Normandy's crew.

Joker stiffened and the smile went from his face. I turned to see what it was he had seen, and Anderson was walking through the CIC, heading straight for us, he was holding something big – I could see sharp angles with curves… "Captain, is that what I think it is?"

"Yeah, we had our scientists test out different materials and power supplies and we've done it. There should be a target in the cargo bay for you to practise in – but only use the plain black arrows 'cause they're good old fashioned ones. The others I'll have to take you through at some point. But for now, there you go." I was astonished. A Goddamn bow in mass effect, I really wanted to thank Anderson but as soon as I opened my mouth, he held up his hand. "Look, Greg, I need to speak with you" his voice lowered to a murmur, "about Eden Prime…"

I gave Joker a final glance before I was taken by the arm and lead through the CIC down to Anderson's quarters, where we found Shepard waiting. "I suppose I should have expected you to tell the Captain, Shepard." Our eyes met briefly and a sly smile crept onto his face.

Before another word was said though, Anderson started the interrogation. "What do you know of the mission?"

"The mission will be a test of the Normandy's stealth systems, but of course, with Nihlus on board even the crew don't believe that. No, it's really about the Prothean beacon that was discovered… I'm guessing only a couple of days ago." Shepard's face was unreadable, but Anderson listened with wide eyes, checking his omni-tool every so often to see if I was right.

"Are you sure you haven't been briefed by anyone?" I shook my head at Anderson's question. He was in disbelief that I could know so much already. "Ok then, what can you tell me about the actual mission?"

I gathered my thoughts momentarily, trying to remember as much detail as possible. In all, I think I spoke for half an hour, explaining every detail – the Geth on the planet, Jenkins dying, Ashley Williams, the husks, Nihlus' real incentives, Saren, the beacon. Anderson wanted to know more about what it contained, so I told him, it wasn't a weapons archive or anything like that. It was a message, sent across Prothean space warning their race of the Reapers. But that warning wasn't enough.

After I had finished speaking there was silence until the doors opened and Pressly came through. He sensed the charge in the air and cautiously began to speak. "Uhh, Captain, we've passed into the sol system and Nihlus is waiting for us in the Vancouver spaceport. We'll be there in a few minutes."

Anderson nodded as Pressly spoke. "Good, I'll be in the CIC shortly Pressly." What I loved, truly loved about Anderson, was how he treated everyone as an equal, how he was so friendly with everyone – well, everyone except Udina, but he was a stuck-up prick so that doesn't count. Pressly turned and briskly walked from Anderson's quarters. "Listen, Greg. If you're right about any of what you say will happen on the planet, I want to know everything that you know."

I gave a slight nod, my eyes unfocused, staring into an empty void. My thoughts were racing, things would change if I told him everything, but I would need to tell it all. Maybe it would make a good change; maybe it would make things worse. Suddenly there wasn't any certainty in this universe, as I felt everything shift around me.


It was all in motion. The entire ship was buzzing with nerves, but it still somehow maintained the professionalism that dedicated practice and years of hard work gave a crew. I knew what was happening. After a day of preparations docked in the Vancouver Spaceport, we were heading through Arcturus relay, Nihlus on board the Normandy, myself waiting for Nihlus and Shepard to arrive in the comms room.

Nihlus was first. He was startled that I was in the room. "I don't know you, but whoever you are, you need to leave. I have business with the commander to attend to." His voice was slightly gravelly, a Turian accent – the slight echo within his voice, only just audible when he spoke.

"Look, Nihlus. You might not know me now; you might not know me later. But what you'll end up doing, is thanking me for what I'll do. Besides, I know what you're talking to the commander about." He looked irritated and confused, something that made me chuckle slightly because of the speed of his vibrating mandibles. He ignored my smile and conjured a feed of Eden Prime onto a screen that he was now staring intently at. It was only a few moments later when Shepard walked through the door.

"Shepard, you're here. I was hoping you'd be here first, but it looks like that wasn't going to happen." Nihlus' eyes were like daggers as he turned to look at me before carrying on. "We need to talk."

"What about?" It seemed as though Shepard had forgotten everything that I had spoken to him the day before. He couldn't have forgotten that quickly, could he? It wasn't long before I found out though. The conversation continued as I had heard nearly a thousand times before, but when Nihlus tried to explain he was there to evaluate Shepard, he just shrugged and casually said "Yeah, I know. Greg told me everything."

"Who th-" I interrupted Nihlus with a wave of my hand and an upwards jerk of my head. "Right. And how is it that you know any of this? I don't recall a human with access to the council's private chamber, or one with Spectre status for that matter."

"Let's just say that if you survive the next… four hours or so, then I'll tell you everything." Although my voice wasn't threatening, his eyes still narrowed as though I was making a threat. "Don't worry though. I'll be keeping you safe." He scoffed at my little joke but everything was interrupted by Joker announcing the message sent from the planet's surface. The video crackled to life, replacing the extraordinary view of the planet. Explosions, plasma fire and assault rifle fire filled the room, and then the camera shifted to the sky, just as a ginormous hand-like structure came falling through the clouds and then the video feed ended.

"Joker, reverse and hold at 38.5." The feed sped backwards until the black behemoth hung in place, only partly visible through the cloud layer.

Everyone in the room stared at the screen. "Sovereign." I muttered. All heads turned to me. I gave an exasperated sigh. "You know, one of the reapers? The one who has indoctrinated Saren?" Shepard and Anderson's faces changed to realisation and anxiety at the same time. But Nihlus just carried on staring at me.

"What do you mean 'indoctrinated Saren'?" His voice was filled with curiosity, his eyes however, were shrewd, even if they were heavily inset like all Turian's were.

I sighed, heavily. One way or another I was gonna have to get used to telling this story. "Sovereign, the big black space-ship is a reaper. A group of ancient synthetics that complete a harvest cycle roughly every 50,000 years. They are very powerful and have developed the ability to alter a person's will. Saren came into contact with Sovereign and has been tricked into believing that aiding them will let make the Turians become servants, rather than be completely obliterated, which is complete and utter shite if you ask me."

"I see." He looked even more confused than before. I just shook my head and exhaled heavily. What a waste of breath. One of the council's top agents and he had no idea of what the galaxy holds. Such a shame.

Anderson interrupted my thought process then with his orders. "Shepard, tell Alenko and Jenkins to suit up. We'll be there shortly." He took me to one side and whispered quietly as Nihlus and Shepard exited the room. "It looks like what you've said is true. I don't want to make this any harder for humanity to get someone into the spectres than it already is." He began to walk away but paused and turned his head as he neared the door. "Don't let Nihlus die down there. We're all counting on you."