I had no intention of writing this story until I saw Blue Beetle. I ended up loving the movie a lot more than I thought I would, and it gave me the motivation to make a least a two-shot. Don't know if I'll go any further, but that will depend on the reaction this fic has. A positive one will increase its chances.

I own neither franchise. Mass Effect belongs to Bioware, and Blue Beetle belongs to DC Comics.

Enjoy!

Earth, El Paso, Texas- Year 2183

"Let's finish this up hermano. We gotta go pick up Jaime in an hour! Vamonos!"

"Relajate Alberto! I'm almost done. Just gotta take this last bucket!"

Rudy and Alberto, two brothers from the Reyes family, were finishing up the set-up for their construction work tomorrow. Kord Industries wanted them to work on a new building. One that was to be built on top of an old wreckage.

This was on the same day that Jaime was set to come back home from his studies in Dallas. The boy was the first in the Reyes family to even go to college, let alone graduate from pre-grad. And the family was going to make sure he was celebrated for the accomplishment.

As soon as Rudy finished setting up the last bucket of sand for tomorrow's work.

"Done! Let's get going!"

"Muy bien hermano."

The two of them started to walk away from the site. That was when Alberto started the conversation.

"You get the gift for my boy yet?"

"Of course I did. Have a little faith Alberto!"

Rudy had not gotten the gift. He had been so busy making fixes to the Taco that he had forgotten. But that wasn't a problem. Jaime wasn't a greedy boy. All Rudy had to do was put some thought into a small gift and he could-

"Rudy, cabron, you missed one!"

Indeed he had. There was one bucket that had been lying to the side out of Rudy's view. It was why he missed it.

"Alright, I got it."

Walking back to pick up the bucket, Rudy noticed something poking out of the dirt. His curiosity getting the better of him, Rudy leaned down and pulled the object out of the ground. And he was surprised by what he had.

It looked like a bug made of metal. Its ruby shine was a shock considering that he had been covered in dirt, but it admittedly looked kind of cool. It was big enough to fit in his palm, and it looked like some sort of souvenir. Maybe something from an insect section at a zoo?

Whatever the case, Rudy pocketed the metal souvenir and placed the last bucket in its place. He then rejoined his brother and headed to the house.

El Paso Airport

Jaime had missed El Paso. Yeah, Dallas had cool people and some nice buildings, and it was one of the best places to get his pre-dental studies out of the way. But there was nothing that could compare to home. The familiar sight already had Jaime excited when he saw it on the plane. And now that he was on the ground and out of the plane, there were only two things he wanted to do.

One was to go to Emilio's Tacos. But that one could wait.

He had a family to go to right now. A family that hadn't spotted him just yet. So the young adult in a green jacket and blue jeans had a chance to listen in.

"I told you mama. Brenda and Paco are busy, so they won't be able to show up until later. But they'll stop by the house."

"They better. I understand that the Paco boy is always late, but Brenda is a sweet girl. I hope she makes it. Especially if she'll finally be honest with Jaime."

Milagro's smile was devilish.

"Imagine if the first she does when she sees Jaime is-"

Not willing to hear whatever dumb idea Milagro had, Jaime made himself known.

"You guys were waiting?"

The family immediately stopped talking and smiled to greet their returned member.

"Al fin mijo. You had us waiting."

Alberto walked in front of his family and was the first to embrace his son. Bianca, Milagro, and Nana followed suit, the family enveloping each other in a tight hug. But Bianca was the most affectionate.

"Look at you mijo. Mi pequeño graduado universitario."

"Mama, come on. I'm not so little anymore."

His statement unnoticed, Biance immediately looked over her son, cupping his face in her hands and checking him.

"You've gotten thinner. Come on, we're going home now. You need food."

Jaime was going to argue against that. But there was one question on his mind.

"Where's Tio Rudy?"

"He's outside. Come one."

Walking outside the airport, it was easy to spot where Rudy was. He was the only person whose car had tires.

"Tio! Still working on the wheels."

"Of course Flaco. The government can't track this baby, and the aliens can't hack it!"

Unlike most of El Paso or even most of Earth, Rudy still hadn't gotten the message that the First Contact Wars ended decades ago. He was, for the most part, a "humans first" kind of guy. Not that he would turn down any tech from aliens. He just preferred to keep it in the family.

"Hop on in Flaco. You already know where we're picking up the food from," Rudy said as he opened up the doors. But Jaime wasn't satisfied.

"No me mames tio. I want a hug."

"Home. They've got cameras all around. And look right there."

A Salarian was walking out of the airport. It looked like he was out on business, and most people just ignored his presence.

"No way I'm getting probed. Come on, we'll get you an extra-large horchata."

Normally Jaime would be annoyed by his uncle's xenophobia and patronizing. But the extra large sweet drink sounded fantastic right now. So he got in the car and talked with his family all the way home.

Reyes Home…

"Oh my god. I missed this."

Dallas had a lot of taco places, and most of them were great. But none of them could hold a candle to the way his mom made them. Especially the way she made pastor.

"Damm Flaco, slow down. Can't have you dying when you just got back," Rudy said hypocritically as he inhaled the rest of his taco. The rest of the family was much the same, with only Nana eating very little because of her age.

"OK, but seriously, how have you guys been? What have I missed?"

Alberto was the first to answer.

"We've been alright mijo. The construction company your uncle and I have put together is doing strong. We start a new project for Kord Industries on Monday."

"Kord? That's gonna pay good, right?"

"They better," Rudy proclaimed as he took a swig of his beer. "Those fat cats already got rich kicking us out of our old town. They try screwing us over again, I'm hacking their screens. Make them watch Cantinflas."

"Why?" Jaime asked with a frown.

"It's old and cultured. They won't be able to handle it."

"Enough," Nana warned, suddenly speaking. "Today we celebrate mi nieto. I don't want you ruining it with your conspiracies."

"Ay mama, when have I ever-"

"Do you remember your first wedding?'

Rudy's fight instantly left his body.

"Si mama. I'll keep quiet."

Jaime and Milagro shared a look of understanding. They'd laugh about it later.

"Alright. The food is done. Now we move on to the important thing."

Jaime frowned at his mother.

"What important thing?"

"Your presents mijo," Alberto explained. "The first Reyes to graduate college? There's no way we're not celebrating."

This was not expected. Or wanted. Jaime had gone to college in the hopes of getting a job that would help his family pay off their debts and have better lives.

He didn't want them to lose money for his sake.

As if sensing his fears, Milagro rubbed her shoulder against his.

"I tried telling them you didn't want anything. Not like they'd listen."

True. Mama wasn't one to stop when she had her mind on something. Only Nana could deter her, but the way the elderly woman reached under the table made it clear she was in on it.

"Mijo, ven aqui. We have your gifts."

"Mama, I told you guys not to worry. I don't need anything else."

"Don't start with me," Bianca warned her son. "You graduated college, you're getting gifts.

"Don't fight it mijo," Alberto advised his son with a side hug. "Te amamos, and we want to show it. Now be nice and accept them."

Shaking his head, Jaime sat down at the dinner table and waited for his family to present their gifts. Milagro was first.

"Don't worry bro. I kept it simple."

A coupon for Fishdog Food Shack. Oh, he could get some free fries if he used it within the month.

"Is there one nearby?"

"Maybe," Milagro shrugged.

"Ay mija, you couldn't have put more heart into it?"

Milagro shrugged again at her mother this time.

"Hey, he likes their fries. It had some thought."

"Alright, my turn," Alberto interrupted before the women could get into an argument. "Here you are mijo. You deserve this."

The oldest man in the house gave Jaime a bottle. One with Champagne.

"Now don't go crazy mijo. Save it for a special occasion."

Jaime had no idea what he would use it on, but this was certainly his favorite gift so far. He smiled as he held the medium-sized expensive-looking bottle in his hand.

"Alberto. Really?"

"He's a man now, cariño. He would have gotten some on his own eventually."

"Fine. Fine. My turn," the mother said as she grabbed a box she had hidden behind the fridge. She gave the box to Jaime. "Open it."

Jaime did. And he got a new red sweater and some credits. A sweater that had "El Paso" written in bold green letters.

"I saw it and thought of you Jaime. So you don't forget where you came from."

Jaime wasn't the biggest fan of the sweater look, but he did like the sentiment behind it. Putting the box away, he sat and waited for his Nana to approach him.

"Mijo, I know you're going to do great things," she began, looking at Jaime with pride and adoration in her eyes. "You'll go into the galaxy and do amazing things. You'll be invited to the best places there are. This is a fact."

Jaime smiled at his grandmother's compliments. Whenever he had doubts, it was nice to listen to her. She always brought his mood up.

And she instantly complicated it by putting a pistol in his hand.

"And in case any of the pendejos out in the galaxy try to mess with you, you'll be safe with this. I'll show you how to aim."

Looking at his parents, both sighed but made it clear he should keep the gun. So he left it on the table with the rest of his gifts.

That left only one person left to give him something.

"I'm about to feel like an asshole," Rudy said carelessly. "I know you don't ask for a lot, but all I got you is a souvenir Flaco."

Reaching into his vest pocket, Ruby took out a red metal bug and put it on the table in front of Jaime. And the entire family stared at him in disbelief.

"Really hermano? That's what you got him," Alberto exclaimed.

"Even Milagro's gift was better," Bianca said in exasperation. Though Milagro smiled to hear that.

"Hey, I know my nephew," Rudy defended himself, looking to Jaime for support. "He doesn't ask for much, so I didn't get him much."

"Guys, it's fine. Really," Jaime said, not even looking at the bug. "Gracias tio Rudy."

"De nada Flaco," Rudy said as he sat back down, looking rather pleased with himself. Even as the rest of the adults looked at him in disbelief.

Milagro, being the most curious sibling, picked up the metal bug and looked it over.

"Wow, this thing is pretty warm. And it's shiny too. Think I can keep it bro?"

Like any brother, Jaime immediately took it back from her.

"It's my gift. I'm keeping it."

"Enough you two. I don't want you fighting over a bug."

As Bianca was about to explain that they should behave and admonish Rudy for being so lazy, Jaime noticed something.

"Hey guys wait. Look at this."

The bug was starting to glow. Crimson light was emanating from its limbs, and at was starting to stand up on its six legs. Like an actual robotic bug.

"What the hell? That thing can move? Why didn't it do anything for me?" Rudy exclaimed.

"Maybe you don't have the right touch," Milagro said offhandedly as she stared at the metal insect that was twitching in Jaime's hand. It had glowing lights that resembled eyes now, and they were focused entirely on Jaime.

The college graduate was transfixed on the metal creature. The way it looked at him was like a bird imprinting on a parent, studying every detail of it. Jaime wondered if this was some sort of mechanical pet. He knew that some buildings had robotic guard dogs, and it wouldn't be out of the ordinary for a company to try something like this. A bug was a weird choice, but Jaime liked it.

"I think it likes me," Jaime said as his family continued to stare at both of them.

But that was when the bug jumped.

Jaime let out a shrill scream when the bug latched itself onto his face. He could hear the rest of his family screaming as well.

"It's on his face!"

Rudy's scream was the loudest, and Jaime could feel his uncle's hands grab onto his face to try and pry the bug off. But after a sudden flash of light and a scent of ozone, Jaime couldn't feel him anymore.

"Hermano!"

Jaime tried to get the bug off himself, and he partially succeeded. He managed to get it off of his face, but not off his body. It crawled under his shirt. And he could feel it skulking to his back.

"Oh my god Get This Thing Off Me!"

"Your shirt mijo!"

Dropping his jacket from his shoulders, Jaime desperately fumbled to try and get his shirt off and the bug with it. But that soon became unnecessary.

No one was sure who noticed it first, or when. But when the bug crawled to Jaime's back, something began to spew out of it.

It looked like hordes of black metal termites brawling and covering Jaime's body from his spine.

And to Jaime, it felt like he was being set on fire.

Each little black thing was like a fire ant crawling and biting across his skin. Each mass they covered felt like a blowtorch was being held to his flesh.

And based on his clothes were starting to burn off his body, the fire comparison wasn't far off.

"Ay Diosito Santo," Bianca whimpered as she could only watch what was happening to her son.

Her husband was by her side to try and keep her safe, but he was just as lost as to what to do. All he could do was hold his wife and daughter and hope his son would be alright.

"I'm alright! Don't worry Flaco, I can- Holy Shit!"

Rudy had gotten up just to see the rest of the transformation. The small black machines had now covered Jaime's body entirely, incinerating all the clothes he had on and covering him in onyx.

And that was just the beginning of the transformation.

The next part was when the six elongated bug-like limbs shot out of Jaime's back.

"Oh God."

Milagro fell to the ground, heaving like she was about to throw up. To her, this all looked disgusting as it was worrying.

But no one had it worse than Jaime. Because the color was starting to appear. And his consciousness was starting to slip.

"No… no…"

The black now covered every inch of Jaime's body, from the smallest strand of hair on his head to the bottom of his toes. And once he was covered, scarlet metal began to form over it. His chest was covered in a breastplate with an X-shaped symbol. His hands and feet had metal padding added to cover them, with his fingertips being given led-lighted points. And his head was given a helmet the color of blood, with his eyes marked. And two antennae remained, pointing upward from Jaime's shoulders.

"Jaime."

His family didn't see their son anymore. What they saw was a creature in a crimson bug-like armor. Its eyes shined green while red lights came out of its chest, arms, and feet. And it looked just as scared as they were feeling.

"Jaime?"

Nana was the only one who seemed to not be afraid. She stood in front of her family, looking at her grandson in quiet concern.

The boy did not share her fearlessness.

"I don't know what's happening Nana. I don't…"

Host Acquired.

The green eyes on the suit widened as Jaime heard an unfamiliar voice.

"Who said that?"

"Bro? Are you alright?" The youngest family member tried to step closer even her family tried to hold her back.

"Milagro? You didn't hear that voice?"

Data Insufficient. Accessing Flight Systems.

"Accessing what?"

Propulsers and rockets suddenly appeared on the armor's back. And Jaime could hear them powering up.

"Guys what the HELL IS GOING ON?!"

Jaime was blasted through the roof, making a crater in the ceiling as he was jettisoned away from his home.

That was when the door opened. A red-headed girl and her larger friend came in.

"What's good Familia Reyes? Paco is here."

Both young people stood still when they noticed the hole in the ceiling.

"What happened? Where's Jaime? Brenda asked.

Her family didn't know how to respond. Except for Milagro.

"Um… Uncle Rudy might have given him a jetpack. I think."

Elsewhere…

"Oh my god."

Jaime was in space.

For most people, something like this wouldn't be out of the ordinary. Space travel had been common for decades, it was no different than traveling by plane for most people. But Jaime had never left his state before, let alone the planet.

And not only was he out of Earth's atmosphere, but he was also wasn't in a ship. He was inside an armor that had formed around his body, floating in one spot and watching the world rotate below him.

He saw everything. Every continent. Every ocean.

But this epiphany didn't last. Not when the familiar mechanical voice spoke to him again.

Data Insufficient. Locating Optimal Information Source.

The visor Jaime was looking out of was suddenly flashing with different text and images that he couldn't make sense of. He saw some vaguely familiar names, but they came and went so fast that Jaime couldn't register them. Until the armor decided on a location.

Signal Detected Coordinates Attained. Approaching Now.

Jaime's body was turned around. And he could hear the sound of an engine and the heat of an explosion on his back.

"No! No! God No!"

It was no use. Whatever this body armor was, it had a mind of its own, and it was not considering Jaime's fear.

He was blasted away from his home and old life.

And the armor took him to his new one.

This is where I will stop for now. This chapter served mainly as the set-up for what will come next. And I intend to have fun with it.

If you guys want to have fun, I highly suggest you go and watch Blue Beetle. It's not a masterpiece, but it is a fun movie with great action and surprisingly emotional moments. Plus, I want that movie to do well so we can get more of the character.

In the meantime, please leave reviews, tell me what you all think, and I will see you all next time.

Bye!