Chapter 2

Meeting the Protagonist

I scratched at the elongated scab behind my ear, reminded of what the past two days had entailed. I'd woken up on board a ship bound for Earth in the Mass Effect Universe. It was five short days before the events of the first game, and by some dumb luck, or cosmic coincidence, or divine intervention, or... whatever, Nihlus was on that ship. The Turian Spectre, Nihlus. And he'd questioned me, asked me how I'd apparently gone through a Relay with just the clothes on my back. I told him I didn't know and he'd accepted the answer immediately. Had said he didn't know how it was possible, so me not knowing was nothing unusual... unusual as the circumstances may be.

They gave me an Omni-tool with a translation program in it so I could communicate with Nihlus one-on-one. "This is going to sound absurd," I'd told him, "But please, just listen until I'm finished." He'd agreed to and I gave him the short version. I was from a different Universe. One where he and everyone else were nothing more than video game characters. He seemed to think about it before questioning my sanity. I laughed, "Hey! I feel insane! How would you feel if you woke up to find yourself in a fictional story, only now, it wasn't fiction anymore?" I went on and proved what I could, told him about Eden Prime and the Beacon, something no one was supposed to know about. Told him about the Normandy, Shepard, Anderson... he asked me to tell him everything, it didn't mater how long it took.

And I did. Without thinking, and without forethought I told him everything about the games. Everything I knew and could remember. It was only after I was done talking that I realized that I'd just told him something he wasn't supposed to know. I started to panic until he shouted at me to pull myself together. Said that my being here in and of itself changed things already, so what does it matter if I change more? This isn't the story I know, he told me, because in the story I know, I'm not in it.

The day after I woke up he came and talked to me, had me write everything down for him in as much detail as I could. It took all day, and when I was done he just took the datapad and left me to my thoughts. The next morning he came to talk with me again, and told me he'd looked into what I'd told him. Told me he believed me... for now. Then, when we arrived on Earth, he dragged me to a hospital. I spent hours there, and when I left I'd had a full checkup, been immunized, and had implants put in. Now I could use he holographic interfaces, or haptic adaptive interfaces... whatever they were called. I was given an L3 biotic implant that I could plug amps into. I had a translator so that I wouldn't need an Omni-tool to repeat back to me what others were saying, though I did get an Omni-tool as well. I toyed with it and looked through the manual for it while I was left waiting for a while.

Once that was over he brought me to a store so I could get some more 'modern' clothes. Then after that I went with him to where the Normandy was docked. I expected to be stopped but, apparently walking next to Nihlus was taken by the people around as I sign that I was ok to be there. I barely heard any of the conversations he had with people we passed, or met who led us around. I was too busy looking around. It was beautiful. The buildings, the sky, the grass, the trees, the clean air. It wasn't until we stepped into an elevator and the doors shut that I was broken out of my thoughts.

"You're going to be my 'assistant,' for the mission. It will give the Captain a reason as to why you know of our destination, as well as keep others from questioning your presence," Nihlus said.

I nodded. This was the story I'd been told to go with for now. He'd used his Spectre status to 'find' some records on me so that I'd have a history here. I shifted back and forth on my feet nervously. Nihlus had told me that he'd already started planning things out, and that if things happened on this mission like I said they would, he would put those plans into motion. When I asked what they were he told me that I shouldn't worry myself with it. To trust him, and let him take care of things. He also warned me that if I was lying, he was going to make me beg for death by the time he was done with me. I tried to put the thought out of my mind.

"Your plan," I said as the elevator continued to rise, "...Will it change things?"

"Some," Nihlus said as he turned to fully face me, "But I need you to understand, there are some things that have to happen. In order for us to know what is coming and how to react appropriately, there are some things that can not be changed from what you've told me. Most of that will just be within these first few days." I nodded that I understood, and turned to face the walkway as the elevator doors opened.

There it was. The Normandy. Pixels on a screen couldn't do it justice. It was huge. Sleek, polished... it looked like a predator, ready to pounce. My gaze was drawn away from the ship though as I followed right behind Nihlus. We approached two men standing in front of the walkway to the airlock. I immediately recognized Anderson. The other man took me a moment to recognize, but when I did I could hardly believe it. Jeff "Joker" Moreau, in the flesh. I had to fight the urge to grin like an idiot. I loved Joker in the games. He was hilarious. I just hoped he was here as well.

"Nihlus, glad you could make it," Anderson said, standing with his hands behind his back. He glanced at me before turning and gesturing toward Joker, "This is our pilot, Jeff Moreau. Most people just call him Joker, though."

"Hey, what's up?" Joker said, giving a nod to Nihlus. Anderson looked a little irked at the casualness of Joker's reply but didn't say anything.

"It is a pleasure to meet you," Nihlus said then turning and gesturing toward me, "This is my assistant, Dazac Praeletum."

"Since when do Spectre's have assistants?" Joker asked, looking at me with a raised eyebrow.

"Since I took him as one," Nihlus replied in a tone that shut down all further questions about the subject.

Anderson turned and looked at Joker, "Why don't you get back to the cockpit, Joker. We'll be leaving shortly."

"Aye aye, sir," Joker said with a quick salute before he began to limp back to the ship.

"My apologies," Anderson started to say when I suddenly realized he was talking to me.

Before he could continue I raised my hands up and waved it off, "It's fine! Really," I said pausing for a moment as I searched for something to say, "I... understand how pilots feel about their ships. They don't like unknowns when it comes to the safety of their 'babies.'"

Andseron gave a small smile and nodded, "I appreciate your understanding. Now then, let's get aboard shall we?"

Nihlus nodded and began to move forward to follow Anderson with me following close behind. "Yes," Nihlus said, "There is no time to waste when the stakes are this high."

I heard Anderson mumble an agreement as we entered the airlock. Once we were through it and had stepped into the ship Anderson looked to the left where Joker was sitting, "Get us in the air Joker."

"Yes, sir!" Joker said enthusiastically.

We approached the CIC and I saw Pressly there, talking with another marine. As Anderson approached Pressly stood up a bit straighter and the marine turned to face us as well. I think I nearly stumbled for a moment when I saw that it wasn't just any marine.

The two saluted Anderson, who gave them a salute back before turning to Nihlus. "Nihlus, Mr. Praeletum, this is my XO, Commander Shepard. And right next to him is our Navigator Pressly."

"It's nice to finally meet you, Nihlus," Shepard said with a nod.

"Likewise," Pressly added, "Though I don't believe I was aware of anyone else coming with you. Mr. Praeletum, was it?"

"Dazac is here to assist me," Nihlus explained. I was glad he was doing most of the talking. I feared opening my mouth and letting something slip that would give me away, or raise suspicions.

"It's nice to meet you," Shepard said, looking at me and nodding.

I nodded back and tried to keep my smile from becoming a grin, "Likewise, Commander. I've heard a lot about you."

Holy smokes! It's really Shepard, in the flesh! Even after being in this Universe for several days, I kept expecting to suddenly wake up. It was really Shepard. In my book he was like... the badass of badasses. I mean, come on, the guy survives getting blown up. For the first time since waking up, instead of feeling overwhelmed and scared, I'm actually excited. This is it!