Enjoy.


"Do you think she bought it?" Kal whispers to Elsie, lowering his head to her ear.

They managed to find a quiet place aboard the Normandy in the dark corners of the shuttle bay.

"No," Elsie murmurs. "Why would she?"

Kal shrugs. "She seemed convinced."

"Only an idiot would be convinced with that awful lie," Elsie says. "Regardless, it at least gives us time to figure out where we are."

Daphne transmats in front of both of them. "I think I can help with that."

"Daphne," Elsie exhales, visibly relieved. "I was worried that you wouldn't be here."

"Had to keep myself hidden. For… obvious reasons." She blinks twice. "Anyways, I've been at work trying to build a report of all relevant information about this place, and as far as I can tell, this is not a Vex simulation."

Kal holds his breath. "It's not?"

"It's not. The amount of new, unheard-of things in this galaxy is more advanced than anything the Vex would have encountered in ours. There's an infinitesimally small chance it might still be a Vex sim, but I'm only considering it because we'll never understand time and space the way the Vex do," Daphne says. "But there's hundreds of different alien races in this Milky Way— not just the Cabal, or the Eliksni, and the Hive."

"So, we're in a different universe?"

"Yes."

Kal and Elsie slowly turn to each other.

Kal cracks a smirk. "Look at me, jumping into another universe after you."

Elsie digs her elbow into his side.

Kal yelps in pain. "Ow, ow! Okay, I'm sorry." He rubs his side with a frown.

"Adorable," deadpans Daphne. "Focus, you two."

"Sorry."

"Right."

"We need to get you both acquainted with everything about this universe," Daphne says. "Which means you need to study up before we get to the Citadel."

"Always loved studying."

Elsie raises a brow. "I don't think you've read a single Vanguard report since the Red War."

"I've glanced at some of them," Kallios protests. "Besides, I'm a quick study."

"Then read up." Daphne transmats Kal's helmet onto him and floods his HUD with articles, reports, and codices.

A groan sounds from within the helmet. "Fuck my life."

[;]

"This universe is amazing," Elsie comments. "So many different people from all different societies and cultures communicating, working together, solving problems."

"Yeah," Kal mutters. "Love the Genophage."

"Besides that— and it's not like humanity hasn't ever done anything like it," Elsie argues. "Just the idea of the Citadel existing for us… It's like if the Hive and the Vex decided to live in the Last City."

"Which they won't ever do." Kal removes his helmet and leans the back of his head against the metal walls of the shuttle bay. He places his helmet in his lap.

"But the Cabal and the Eliksni are there. That's good enough."

"It is." Kal rotates his head to look at Elsie.

She looks back at him. "Is this really not amazing to you? The relays, Element zero, omnitools, even the Citadel? All of these innovations and inventions without the Traveler."

"But with the Protheans."

"It doesn't change the fact that someone developed these things without the Traveler."

Kal shrugs. "I'm not a scientist, Elsie. As great as this stuff is…"

"You're a warrior." Elisabeth nods. "I know. I get it."

"Sorry that someone with more of a brain didn't jump into another universe with you," Kal jokes.

"I'll live." Elisabeth smirks at him.

"So," Kal begins. "What's the plan?"

"I don't know. We both got lucky, ending up in the exact universe where that transmission came from."

"We did."

"There's a lot to protect in this universe, Kal. More people, more places, more things than we ever had to protect back home."

"I know."

Elsie glances at him. "At least sound like you're enthused."

Kal sighs. "Sorry," he says. "So, another galaxy-spanning crusade to save humanity for Elisabeth Bray is on the agenda?"

"And for Kallios and Daphne," Elsie corrects. "Right?"

"Yeah." Kal runs a hand through his hair. He flips his helmet around so it faces him. He stares at his reflection that is trapped in the helmet's eyes. "Right."

[;]

Kal stares at the Citadel from one of the few windows on the Normandy. The sheer scale of the space station is one that he could never have imagined. It reminds him of the Deep Stone Crypt, or Oryx's Dreadnaught. Though, it is nowhere near as dark and hopeless as either of those places.

It reminds him of the first time he saw the Last City, from what feels like a lifetime ago. Or several lifetimes ago, he supposes. From what he has read, the Citadel was like this universe's Last City— only it isn't their "last city."

"It's a sight to behold, is it not?"

Kal turns around to come face-to-face with Liara T'Soni. He nods. "Yes. Always." He glances at her. "How are you faring, Doctor? I understand that it was a troubling situation on Mars."

"I am doing fine, all things considered. Much better than I thought I would be," she says.

"Yeah." Kal cannot help but chuckle. "It's always like that when you're in the moment. But once everything's all said and done, it's a… difficult thing to process."

"From my observations, that is often the case for humans."

"And how do the asari manage it?"

"I do not speak for my people," Liara says. "But I have learned to organize my thoughts and emotions in order to process things of this magnitude more easily. More quickly."

Kal nods once. "That makes sense."

"I do have a question, though." Liara faces him. "You speak of this feeling as though you have experienced it before. Before the Reapers attacked Earth. Why is that?"

"We all have our own apocalypses," Kal says. "Sometimes its planets, or worlds, or cities. Sometimes its the people we love."

Liara places a hand over her heart. "I understand what you mean all too well."

Kal watches as the Normandy finishes the docking sequence on the Citadel. The strangeness of the station's structure strikes him. He has seen pictures of it on the Net, thanks to Daphne. Yet, looking at it in-person, the sheer scale and organization of the Citadel's arms make it seem impossible for people to survive on them. Artificial gravity, element zero, sealants against the vacuum of space, and a breathable atmosphere all make it possible, according to public information about the Citadel.

Doesn't change how weird it is compared to the Last City, Kal thinks. But then again, it's not the strangest space structure he's encountered.

"Kallios and Elisabeth, please report to the bridge for disembarking with Commander Shepard."

"Well," Kal says to Liara, making his way to the bridge. "It was nice talking to you, Doctor T'Soni."

"Likewise, Kallios." She smiles. "I hope you find peace."

He stops just as the door slides open. "Me too."

[;]

Kal watches as Ashley Williams, the one who was injured on their mission to Mars, is carted off to the hospital by a team of medical personnel. He notices Shepard's shoulders tense up as they disappear behind a door.

An older-looking man with a flat-top, military cut approaches Shepard. His omnitool glows. "Good to see you, Commander," he says.

"Captain Bailey," Shepard says.

"It's Commander now," the man corrects.

"Oh." Shepard clears her throat. "Commander Bailey, then."

Bailey cracks a small smile. "Well, I hate to cut this meeting short, Commander, but despite how busy the Council is, they're willing to hear you out once you're ready. Head to Udina's office whenever that is, and he'll set up the meeting."

Shepard nods. "Thanks, Bailey."

"Anytime, Shepard." Bailey, for a moment, looks as though he is about to salute her. But he corrects himself and instead turns around to head back the way he came.

"I will go to Udina's office now, Shepard," Liara says. "I will try and convince him of the importance of the Prothean weapon."

"I need to… detox for a bit, Commander," James Vega says. "Permission to leave?"

"Granted, Vega. I want you sober before our next mission."

James salutes Shepard and Liara waves her goodbye before both split off and head to their destinations.

"Alright," Shepard says to Kal and Elisabeth. "I don't want you two leaving my sight."

"And where are we going?" Elsie asks.

"Straight to the Council."

Kal sighs. "And here I wanted to pick up some new clothes."

Elisabeth stares at him incredulously.

He shrugs, fighting back a smirk.

Shepard rolls her eyes and follows far behind Commander Bailey.

[;]

As the Councilors deliberate, looking at each other and searching for a possible conclusion, Commander Shepard clears her throat to get their attention.

"Councilors, I may have something that will help you reach a decision." Shepard steps forward. She brings up her Omnitool and presses a few buttons on it. A hologram of himself and Elsie appears in the air, large enough for everyone to view it.

The holograms speak.

"Do you think she bought it?"

"No. Why would she?"

"She seemed convinced."

"Only an idiot would be convinced with that awful lie. Regardless, it at least gives us time to figure out where we are."

Daphne transmats in front of both of them. "I think I can help with that."

The holograms continue, repeating the entire conversation that the three of them had in the shuttle bay of the Normandy. Where they thought they had some privacy.

Every second of the discussion is incriminating; in no less than the first thirty seconds of it, Kallios, Elisabeth, and Daphne reveal that they are not from this universe.

And in the next several minutes, they reveal just how much they do not know about this world, and what they know about the world they once lived in.

Elisabeth and Kal simply glance at one another.

Elisabeth shrugs.

Kal closes his eyes and sighs.

The holographic replay of their conversation ends, and the holograms disappear.

"I suppose that is more than enough evidence to conclude this hearing," Councilor Tevos states. "I motion to leave the fate of these individuals to the Systems Alliance, seeing as they are the ones who found them first. Who votes in favor?"

Shepard stares up at them. "Wait, Councilors—"

"Agreed." The turian councilor, Sparatus, nods, raising his hand.

"Hold on!" Shepard interjects. She waves a hand towards Kal and Elsie. "These two are proof of— of interdimensional travel and the existence of another universe, and you're just going to do nothing about it?"

Tevos tilts her head and narrows her eyes at Shepard. "There are Reapers at our doorsteps, Commander. Our homes are being sieged, our people's lives are being taken by the millions, and we are losing this war."

"But their presence here could mean something," Shepard protests. "If we look into it, then maybe—"

"We do not have the resources to spare, Commander, not even taking into account this… Prothean weapon you speak of." Sparatus counters. "We are stretched thin enough as it is. This is a discovery that the Alliance must deal with themselves."

"I am also in agreement," Councilor Valern says as she raises her hand.

Udina, the human councilor, looks at his situation and shakes his head. "I also agree." He raises his hand.

Councilor Tevos looks at Commander Shepard. "The entire Citadel Council has voted in favor of leaving these two in your possession."

"Thank you, Councilors."

"Do you have any more pressing matters, Commander?" Tevos asks.

"None that we haven't already addressed, Councilors," Shepard replies, fighting the bitterness in her voice.

"Then this meeting is adjourned."

The Councilors all go their separate ways, while Udina makes his way down from his podium. His face is sour, and he looks visibly beaten, but he continues down to them all.

"Well," Kallios begins. "Cat's out of the bag. What now?"

Shepard shrugs. "I thought they would do something about it, considering you are from another universe and all."

"So did I…" Elisabeth trails off.

"The Reapers are destroying their homeworlds," Kallios says, crossing his arms. "In case we all forgot."

"We didn't," Shepard growls.

"We have more things to worry about than these two… people, Shepard," Udina says as he approaches.

"I have to deal with them first, Councilor," Shepard retorts. "If I don't do it now, I won't have time later."

Udina narrows his eyes. "Shepard, are you really going to choose these two over humanity?"

"She's not choosing us over humanity," Kallios explains. "She's solving one problem at a time instead of trying to tackle everything all at once."

Shepard glances at Kallios gratefully. "It won't take longer than an hour. I'll meet you in your office after."

"An hour, then," Udina begrudgingly agrees. "And don't be late."

"I never am."

Kallios, Elsie, and Shepard watch Udina leave the Council chambers.

Shepard turns to face them once Udina is out of their sight. "I'll be honest. I don't know what to do with any of you. I'm juggling a million different things right now, and you two hardly seem like the antagonistic type."

"I find that extremely offensive," Kallios says.

Shepard rolls her eyes. "Since you two are just regular civilians with some… interesting tech, just be careful on the Citadel."

"On the Citadel— Wait, you're leaving us here?"

"I'm not bringing you two anywhere," Shepard says. "The last thing I need on my ship are two untrained civilians."

"We're not untrained," Elsie corrects.

Shepard raises a brow.

"Yeah. We… know our way around a firefight."

"I haven't seen any evidence to support that."

"Then you'll just have to wait and see, won't you?"

"I'm not having you on my ship."

Daphne appears in front of Shepard. "We want to help."

The Commander flinches. "Wh— what the hell are you?"

"It's complicated."

"Then uncomplicate it."

"She is a paracausal entity known as a Ghost that is capable of resurrecting her guardian, Kallios, from death," Elsie says. "Kallios is a guardian and is able to wield powers of Light and Dark to destroy his enemies and protect humanity."

Kallios smirks. "Wow, she actually uncomplicated it."

"More lies," Shepard says, completely disbelieving. "Look: whatever you say isn't going to convince me to let two unarmed, untrained civilians on my ship that routinely goes on extremely dangerous and deadly missions. It's not happening, and it's not going to happen. Ever."

"Not even if we say please?"

Shepard jade green eyes narrow. "Especially if you say please."

"Just let him demonstrate his powers to you," Daphne says. "If only to prove that we aren't lying."

Shepard crosses her arms and stares at Kal. "Go."

"Am I doing this?" Kal glances at both Daphne and Elisabeth.

"Yeah."

"Yes. You are."

Kal reaches upwards with an open hand. Neon green energy coalesces at his fingertips. The Weave— the matrix of psychic energy that connects all minds and all things— gathers within his palm. He focuses on a grapple point fifteen feet up in the Council chambers. His hand twists around the Weave, and a rope of Strand manifests and pulls him upward. He accelerates towards the grapple point before letting go, entering a free-fall before he backflips and dives down.

Strand energy gathers once more in his hands, and he slams back down to the floor, releasing the energy in a wave.

Shepard, who has been watching the entire time, stares slack-jawed at him. "What the fuck?"

Kal stands up to his full height and wipes his hands against themselves. "And that's only one of six."

"Six what?"

"Elements."

"What."

"That was Strand," Elsie says. "There's also Arc."

Lightning gathers in Kal's hands.

"Solar."

Kal conjures a solar grenade in his palm.

"Void."

The solar grenade dissipates and is replaced by a vortex grenade.

"Stasis."

Kal uses his other hand to create a shuriken of deep blue ice, slicing the vortex grenade with it.

"And Stigma."

A deep-red energy forms around the ice-shuriken before it completely vanishes from sight.

"What the fuck?" Shepard repeats. She rubs the back of her head. "This is crazy. I have to be hallucinating. This has to be a dream."

"Unfortunately," Daphne interjects. "You are not."

"No, this is insane," Shepard says. She begins to walk away, muttering to herself all the while.

"Okay, sure, it's crazy," Kal says as he grapples himself closer to Shepard. "But not as crazy as an ancient and powerful race of giant shrimp waging war on the Milky Way."

Shepard stops in her tracks. "Okay, let's say I believe that this is real. What do you two bring to the table?"

"Several lifetimes of firefight experience, two doctorates in engineering and astrophysics, and one of humanity's foremost engineers. In our universe." Elsie puts her hands on her waist.

"I hacked into your ship without EDI noticing," Daphne says. "And I keep Kal from dying forever."

Shepard rubs her hand against her forehead. "Why am I even considering this?"

"Because you need allies," Kal states. "You need all the help you can get." He moves closer to Shepard, almost too close. "I know what it's like to feel like you have the weight of the galaxy on your shoulders. To feel like you're entrusted with so many lives."

Shepard stands taller. "Don't lie to me. Don't pretend like you know anything about me."

"I don't know you," admits Kal. "But I know what you're going through. I can see it. I can see it in your shoulders. In the way you carry yourself. It burdens you."

Shepard's jaw clenches. Her hands curl into fists. "It doesn't."

"It does." Kal's gaze softens. He steps back, giving Shepard space. "And it's okay that it does."

"I'm not going to stand here and get lectured by you, Kallios. It's not going to convince me to let you back on the ship. It's too dangerous."

"We're not asking anymore, Shepard," Elisabeth interjects. She steps forward, standing beside Kal. "You need our help."

"I don't want it."

"I already told you: we're not asking." Elisabeth walks towards Shepard. "Like it or not, we're all coming, Shepard. And even if you don't want us to, we'll end up back on your ship anyways."

Shepard presses her palms into her face as she inhales slowly. "This is insane."

"It's not the most insane thing you've done," Daphne says. "Or seen."

"Don't pretend you know everything about me."

"I don't know you personally, but I know your story. I read your file. All of it. The battle against Saren and Sovereign, how you saved the Citadel, how you died and were brought back to life, how you fought the Collectors and survived the Omega IV relay," Daphne summarizes. "Your life is almost as crazy as Kal's— and you're only mortal. You died, Shepard. Yet here you are. Elisabeth is right. We want to help save humanity. Save your galaxy. It's the entire reason we came here in the first place."

"How did you get here?"

"You wouldn't believe it, even if we told you," Elisabeth says, placing a hand on her hip.

Shepard closes her eyes. "Alright. Fine. When we get back to the Normandy, you are telling me everything about where you come from. And after that, I'll decide what to do with you."

Daphne bobs up and down. "Done."

Shepard sets her shoulders. "Let's move. The sooner I'm done dealing with the Council, the happier I'll be."

[;]

Kal realizes that even between universes, bureaucracy and politics still get in the way of the people who get stuff done. And among those kinds of individuals, there are the assholes. And among those assholes is Councilor Udina, the prime asshole.

Zavala would have put this guy in the dirt, Kal thinks. He understands how lucky he was to have worked alongside Zavala for so long; the man found a healthy and effective balance between field work and desk work, as Sloane put it.

But for Udina… Kal knows that he has never been on a battlefield. He knows that Udina sees his position as humanity's representative on the Council as nothing more than a prestigious one. He knows that Udina looks at humanity as a set of numbers, values, statistics, and probabilities. It is like a more incompetent, more narcissistic, and yet less intelligent version of Clovis Bray is in charge of leading humanity.

Suffice it to say: it is not going well.

Shepard accepts Sparatus' request to rescue Primarch Fedorian, and because of that, the turian councilor restores her Spectre status. Kal vaguely remembers reading about the Council Spectres, but seeing Shepard stand a little straight following the councilor's decision makes him happy for the commander.

Sparatus leaves, and Udina asks Shepard, "Is there anything else you want to talk about, Commander?"

"No." Shepard shakes her head. "We'll be taking our leave now, Councilor."

"Wait," he says, glancing at Elsie and Kal. "What are your plans for these two?"

"They want to help," Shepard says. "They're intelligent and seemingly capable. And the Normandy needs all the help she can get."

Udina stares a little too long at either of them, but does not press Shepard any further. "Very well, Commander. I'll look forward to your next report."

Shepard salutes Udina, and the three of them leave the councilor's office.

[;]

Kallios and Elisabeth sit on Shepard's couch in her cabin aboard the Normandy. Daphne floats in between both of them.

Shepard sits on her bed, her legs crossed. She has a datapad in her hands, filled with information about their universe provided by Daphne. "This is a lot to take in. Your enemies, these… forces of Darkness, were they really this powerful?"

"The Vex and the Hive are the worst of them."

"Yeah," Shepard breathes. "I can't even imagine fighting an enemy who can travel through time or use magic."

"It also helps that we can be revived," Kal offers.

"I wish I could say that part is crazy, but…" Shepard motions to herself. "It's been done to me. Without a Ghost." She sets the datapad down.

"Do you believe us?" Kal asks.

Shepard shuts her eyes in thought before sighing. Heavily. "It's crazy of me to say, but I do. I'm a pretty damn good bullshit detector, and everything you've told me, everything I've read, it all seems too crazy and too detailed to be a fabrication. I'm not completely confident that everything is true; but I am confident that most of it is."

Elisabeth nods once. "I know I've said it so many times, but we truly want to help."

"Ditto," Kal agrees. "Won't be the first time the fate of all humanity has been placed on my shoulders, anyways."

Shepard glances at the datapad. "Yeah. Sounds like it."

"That's not even close to a quarter of the story either," Kal says. "That's just the beginning."

Shepard hums. "You'll have to tell me about it sometime, then."

"Sure" Kal nods. "I'd be more than happy to."

"Shepard," Elsie cuts in, "what's the final verdict here?"

"Right." Shepard crosses her arms. "I need to see how capable you both are in combat, which means you're coming with me to Palaven. I'll have EDI create profiles for both of you, and there should be standard-issue omni-tools available in the armory. I'll be sending the mission briefing to you through those omni-tools."

"And what should we tell the rest of the crew?" Kallios asks.

"The truth," Shepard says. "I don't lie to my crew. Or anyone else." She looks pointedly at the three of them.

"Oops?" Kal offers.

"Heh-heh," Daphne chipper.

"Sorry," Elisabeth says.

"Water under the bridge," Shepard replies. "I can understand why you did it." She stands up. "Regardless, read that report before we land on Palaven. And if any of you have questions, feel free to ask me or the crew. Especially EDI. She's a lot of help."

"I do my best, Commander," EDI answers as if she's been listening the entire time. Which, Kallios thinks, is probably true.

Shepard looks at the three of them. "Dismissed."

Kal and Ellios slowly stand up, glance at each other and Daphne, then back at Shepard.

"You can go." Shepard waves to the door that leads out of her cabin.

"See you around," Kal says with a casual salute. "Commander."

[;]

Shepard watches them as they leave, rolling her eyes at Kallios' half-assed salute. When the door closes behind them, she opens her omni-tool to lock it. She sits back down and presses her palms against her forehead, gathering up her thin red hair between her fingers.

She leans backwards until she falls flat on her bed.

Shepard is not sure what she has just done.

She allowed three complete strangers to roam free aboard her ship after she found them exiting FTL. Alive.

They were an impossibility.

An immortal man capable of wielding powers that the galaxy has never seen, used those powers to defeat gods and evil machines capable of transporting through time in order to save the Sol system sounded like… Like the plot of a bad holo film, or a scrapped expansion of Galaxy of Fantasy.

But she could tell that they were genuine. That they were on her side. On humanity's side. No one goes through what Kallios went through just to become evil. She knows that Elisabeth is genuine as well; that she is much more genuine and real than Kallios is.

A smile fights its way onto her lips. Shepard has seen connections like theirs numerous times. Connections that are not necessarily romantic yet they certainly look similar. She knows that Kal would give his life for Elisabeth in a second, and that Elisabeth would do the exact same for him.

If he is capable of such good, then Shepard has no reason to doubt that he will continue to be good.

But she'll save her final judgments until after Palaven, hopefully after they've rescued Primarch Fedorian.


Here we go. A lot of action coming next chapter, so brace yourself. We'll finally get to see just how insanely powerful Kallios is in the Mass Effect Universe.

CheesusChrist15 - Sorry you feel that way! I appreciate you leaving a review regardless.

Jctherebel - And you didn't have to wait too long for this one. Enjoy!

Draedon's Forge - Oh. Uh... Nothing? Don't worry about it. I'm sure it won't matter at all in the future

See y'all in the next one.