Hello, hello. I am Hellhound23 and I will be your amateur writer for the evening and will be presenting the upcoming story.
This is my first fic I've set in the Mass Effect Universe.
I hope you'll join me for the first chapters and stick around for the rest of the upcoming series. I plan for this to be carried all the way through Mass Effect 3, so three mainline books and then a couple spin offs that detail both time between the games as well as the actions of characters outside the purview of the main storyline.
That being said: This story is rather dark. It contains graphic violence, depictions of hard drug use, human trafficking, domestic violence, and sexual violence. If that is not your cup of tea that is perfectly understandable.
Well. Nothing further.
Welcome to Mass Effect Alternative
BOOK 1: THE RED
PART 1: THE REDS
CHAPTER 1: For Want of a Family
It was a cold night. Rain pelted the sidewalk in waves and ran into the street before being splashed back up onto the concrete by passing ground cars. An innumerable number of pedestrians rushed to and fro along the sidewalks and alleys. Whether on urgent business or just eager to get out of the rain The Girl couldn't tell.
The Girl was entirely to busy to stop an examine what these people were doing. She ran along the sidewalk at about hip height with the adults around her. Her bare feet smacked the wet concrete as she bobbed and weaved through the crowd. She was leaving bloody footprints behind as she ran.
The Girl didn't know where she was going or where she had come from. Just that she had to run. Something bad had happened. She wasn't sure what. Something had happened to her he-
SMACK
The Girl fell on her butt as she ran headfirst into the man standing by the lamp post.
"Watch where you're going!" The Man in Red whirled around and snarled at the Girl. The Girl's eyes widened at the bared teeth and her eyes stung as blood ran down her forehead and got into her eyes. She wiped her eyes and got up to run away even as The Man's face softened somewhat at the sight of what appeared to be a street urchin. One of the thousands in the Atlanta-Miami Metroplex.
The Girl scrambled to her feet and she ran the moment the bottoms of her feet hit the concrete. Straight into the road.
"Stop, Kid! You're gonna get run over!" The Man in Red tried to grab the Girl, but she slipped his grasp and ran into the busy street. Drivers leaned on their horns and cars slid to a stop as the Girl streaked across the road in a panic.
"Damn it, Kid! Stop!"
The Man in Red's voice echoed through the alley when the Girl hit the other side of the road and didn't stop.
The Girl ran around the corner and once again fell on her bottom as she ran into someone twice her height. The Man in Red before snarled at the Girl. This man was stone faced as he reached out for the girl.
"That was some stunt back there kid, but you're going back ya little shit."
The Girl's brain screamed at her that she should recognize this man because of his scarred face and the Girl screamed aloud when he grabbed her shirt and began to drag her through the alley towards a corner.
"Hey!"
The Man in Red's command echoed through the alley.
"Drop the fucking kid!"
The Scarred Man stopped and turned around to see the Man in Red pointing a gun at him.
"What's it to ya?"
"I said drop her!" There was an ominous click as the Man in Red took the safety off the gun. The Scarred Man narrowed his eyes.
"This isn't any of your business Red. This ain't Tenth Street."
"It's close enough. Drop the kid or I'll give your head a skylight."
"I'm not going to do that."
The answer was a single loud crack that made the Girl scream, close her eyes, and cover her ears. The Scarred Man let go of her shirt and collapsed. She opened eyes and saw a puddle of blood spreading out from the Scarred Man's head.
"Don't look there, Kid. Come on."
She turned to see the Man in Red with the gun still in one hand. The other was reached out to her. Not knowing what else to do, the Girl took the hand and the Man in Red lead her away from the corpse.
The Man in Red lead her away and then put the gun away under his jacket before lifting her up into his arms.
"What happened to your face and feet, Kid? Did you that guy back there hurt you?"
The Girl tried to remember, but her head hurt.
"I don't know."
The Man in Red frowned as he began to walk down the sidewalk. The crowd parted before him for some reason.
"Ok. How about your name? Where's your home? Your Mom and Dad have to worried right?"
The Girl tried to remember again, but her head really hurt and her eyes filled with tears.
"I don't know. I'm sorry."
The Man in Red shook his head and wiped her tears with his thumb.
"That's ok. Don't you worry. We'll fix it."
They crossed the street in a crowded crosswalk and entered a bar that had an overfull foaming glass on the sign. The sign proclaimed this "The Red Room."
When they entered there was quiet chatter from the few patrons in the bar. The Man in Red walked past the long bar and gestured to one of the bartenders. The young woman smiled coquettishly at the Man in Red before grinning a wide smile at The Girl.
The Girl curled into the Man in Red's jacket as the woman ran a finger over the Girl's forehead.
"Bringing in another stray are we?"
"She was lost. One of the Bombers was after her. I think she hit her head. Would you take her for a bit? I'm going to go find Jared and see if we can get her home."
The coquettish smile turned gentle as the Girl was set down in front of the bartender.
"Hi, Sweetie. I'm Crystal. What's your name?"
The Girl's face screwed up and tears filled her eyes again as she couldn't remember.
"I don't know. Do I have a family?"
Crystal wiped the Girl's tears and sat on a bench with the Girl on her lap before wrapping her in a tight hug.
"Shh, shh, shh. You're with us. We're all family in the Reds."
The Man in Red came back with another man in a red jacket. The second man was older.
"This is her, Jay."
The older nodded at the man before looking at the Girl.
"Thanks Chris. What's your name, honey?"
The Girl shook her head and Jared's softened.
"Find her place to sleep. We'll hold onto her until we can find something out."
Crystal picked up the Girl and held her in her arms.
"She can sleep in my apartment. I've got the guest room."
Jared nodded.
"Thanks Crystal."
Crystal locked the door behind her as she led the Girl into her apartment. Crystal turned on the TV and sat the Girl on the couch while she went to go prepare the guestroom. The Girl looked around the apartment.
It wasn't big. To be honest, it was pretty dingy. There was a leak by the window due to the rain. There were dirty dishes in the sink. At least she was dry where she was sitting. Her feet had been bandaged at the Red Room and there was a bandage on her forehead.
The Girl again tried to remember how she had gotten hurt. How she had come to be running down the sidewalk through a thunderstorm in a panic.
Her head hurt anytime she tried to remember. It felt like someone was pushing on her brain.
She couldn't even remember her name…
"Shut up Mallory! You don't even have a mom and dad!" A character on the TV yelled at some other character.
The girl giggled at that. Maybe that was her name. She didn't have a mom and dad either…
Crystal came back into the room in her pajamas with arms full of blankets and stuffed animals.
"There's a leak in the guest bedroom. The bed is soaking wet. I'm sorry kiddo. How about we have a sleep over out here tonight? I even brought my PJs and stuffed animals." Crystal plastered a sly smile on her face. The Girl giggled and nodded. Crystal sighed through her nose and spread the blankets out and patted the ground next to her as she changed the TV channel to something with cartoons.
"Any luck with remembering your home? How about your name?"
The Girl shook her head and then shrugged.
"Mallory."
Crystal smiled and shook her head.
"You can't name yourself after a TV show character."
"Why not?"
"Because…just because…" Crystal sighed.
"It's my name. I chose it." Mallory pushed her lip out and narrowed her eyes at Crystal.
Crystal laughed.
"Ok then Mallory. We'll go with that."
Mallory sighed as she got under the blankets and giggled as she watched a cartoon mouse smack a cat with a hammer. The cat made a noise like an air raid siren and began destroying the house trying to catch the mouse.
Crystal smiled.
"Tom and Jerry is one of my favorites. Did you know it's been on TV since 1940?"
"No…I didn't know that." Mallory huffed.
Crystal giggled as she rubbed Mallory's head.
"Sorry, kiddo. I forgot."
Mallory laughed as she smacked Crystal's hand.
"That one was on purpose!"
Crystal smiled in victory as Mallory laughed.
8 YEARS LATER
Mallory kicked the mud off her boots as she walked into the Red Room. She took her red beanie cap off her head and rung the water out of it.
"Mallory, for Christ's sake! Outside!" Crystal pointed out the door with a scowl. Mallory looked outside at the pouring rain falling from the thunderstorm high above Tenth Street.
"But!"
"No buts!"
Mallory muttered under her breath as she stuck her arms out to wring the hat out just outside the door. Crystal rolled her eyes and went back to cleaning the glass in her hands. Chris smiled at Crystal from his bar stool and mouthed "teenagers."
Crystal pointed a finger at him.
"It's your fault she's like this. You encourage her bullshit."
Chris laughed as Mallory sat on the bar stool next to him and he wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"She's your little sister. If her bad behavior is anyone's fault it's yours."
"Oh yeah Chris. You're the responsible one around here." Mallory laughed and shrugged Chris' arm off her shoulder. Chris grinned and clapped Mallory on the shoulder.
"Yes, as a matter of fact, I am."
"Is that so?" Jared's voice cut through everyone else and all in the room turned to look at the leader of the Tenth Street Reds.
His buzzcut and rictus grin at the room conveyed the amusement that his flat tone did not.
Jared sat on a barstool next to Mallory.
"What're you drinking Mascot? Soda or ice water?"
Mallory scowled at Jared as Crystal sat a soda down in front of her. Jared placed an impressed look on his face.
"Going for the hard stuff, huh? Stressed out about tonight?"
Mallory schooled her face and shook her head.
"Nah, boss. Just another job, right?"
Jared sighed and nodded.
"Yup. Just another job, Mascot. Make sure you fly your flags high."
Mallory grinned and pulled her soggy red beanie down over her head of dark brown hair.
"Top of the mast, boss."
Jared smiled and messed up Mallory's short hair underneath the beanie. The 15- or 16-year-old girl, she wasn't quite sure which, beamed up at Jared. The smile stretched out the mess of freckles across the middle of the girl's pixie-like face. The Reds boss scooped up the beer set in front him and took a long swig before setting the beer down and exhaling contentedly.
"Now remember. Straight to the house on 15th and King, no detours. If you see any Bombers, don't stop for them. If you see the cops checking you out, ditch the bag somewhere safe. We'll come back for it later." Jared set the backpack in front of Mallory. It was blue and somewhat tattered. Mallory picked up the bag and slung it over her shoulders.
It wasn't all that heavy and Mallory's brown leather jacket cushioned it somewhat.
Jared looked at his watch.
"Alright, Mascot. It's just about that time. Head out. I'll see ya in a bit."
Mallory fist bumped Jared and then exited the room into the front area of the Red Room bar. Crystal smiled at Mallory from behind the bar and curled a finger towards her. Mallory strolled over and the red soles of her military surplus boots clomped on the wooden floor of the Red Room.
Crystal raised her eyebrows at Mallory and Mallory frowned as she leaned forward. Crystal hugged Mallory around the shoulder and laid a light kiss on the top of her head.
"You come back safe."
Mallory hugged Crystal back and then drew back with a cocky smile.
"Well duh. It's only a few blocks."
Crystal bopped Mallory on her head.
"Get going idiot. I'll have food ready by the time you get back."
Mallory smiled again and strolled out the door and took an immediate left to head north towards 15th Street. The never-ending rain of Atlanta-Miami pelted her in the face immediately. Her blue jeans at least kept her legs somewhat dry as she walked up Tenth Street towards the corner. The neon lights of the bar reflected off pools of water on the sidewalk.
Mallory looked over her shoulder and saw Chris and another Red following her on the other side of the road. They were a healthy distance back.
Confident that her escort was in place, Mallory made the turn onto the Peach Street and began heading west towards King Street. Five blocks.
Mallory made the final turn onto King Street and aimed for the apartment building that held her target. Mallory stepped up and rang the bell for Apartment 1385.
"Who's it?" The speaker squelched out.
"It's Mascot."
The door buzzed and Mallory stepped inside with a smile on her face as she held the door for Chris and the other Red.
Mallory shook herself off as she pressed the button for an elevator. It was cold. The heating was out in the unoccupied lobby. A chime sounded as the elevator door opened and the Reds piled inside to feel the heat of the space heater on the wall.
The elevator ascended thirteen floors and opened to let out the Reds. An empty hallway greeted them as they exited and made their way down to Apartment 1385.
Chris knocked on the door as the other Red turned to look at the elevator.
Something in Mallory screamed as there was a ka-chunk on the other side of the door. Chris quickly stepped out of the way of the door as the middle of the door disintegrated. A second shotgun blast made Mallory's ears ring as the Red standing behind her threw her to the ground and fired a hand gun into the hole in the door. A third blast sent him to the ground in a shrieking heap. Smoke had begun to fill the hallway and smoke alarms were sounding in the cramped hallway.
"Mallory! Run!" Chris screamed as he fired his handgun into the door.
"But!"
"Run Goddamn it!"
Mallory backed away from the door towards the elevator as a magazine fell from Chris' weapon to floor.
A fourth shotgun blast sounded and Chris backed away from the door as he dropped the slide on his ancient handgun to fire a few more rounds into the door. The door opened and a man stepped out, leveling a shotgun at Chris. Chris pointed his handgun towards him and fired.
Mallory's eyes widened as the man went down in a pile of limbs. Chris moved his pistol back up towards the door. A fifth and final shotgun blast felled Chris. Mallory screamed at Chris as the man in the purple clothing of a Browning Street Bombers stood up and loaded more shotgun shells into his shotgun.
Mallory turned and fled for her life.
The door to the stairwell slammed open as Mallory shouldered it and began running up the stairs, hoping the Bombers gunman would assume she went downstairs.
Mallory ran up four flights and then turned to look down as the Bomber entered the stairwell, shotgun in the lead. The Bomber moved towards the downstairs before he stopped to look at something on the ground. A wet footprint.
The Bomber looked up and locked eyes with Mallory.
Mallory turned and continued running up the stairs. The gunman followed at a sedate pace.
Mallory nearly slipped as she turned the corner onto the next flight and slammed the backpack into a railing. Mallory scooped up the small plastic bags that came out and fled out of the door next to her.
The door led onto a rooftop about halfway up the building. 20 or 30 floors up?
Mallory looked at the packages in her hand. The packages Chris and his buddy had died for. The packages the Bomber was about to kill her for. Mallory laughed despairingly as she heard the gunman approaching up the stairwell through the open door…huh…the spring meant to close it behind her must have been broken.
Mallory looked at the packages and then back at the door before breathing out hard and tearing open one of the packages of Red Sand.
Robby casually checked to make sure his shotgun had a shell in the chamber as he stepped out onto the roof. The Reds' mule dipped out here. Stupid kid. This was a dead end for sure unless she had a damn parachute handy. The mule was standing on the edge with the shipment on her back.
The Bombers had heard this was coming in and were waiting at the Reds usual drug house on 15th for this stuff. Red Sand. Robby's boss had said that this was good shit brought in from off world. Come from the Citadel, he said.
Whatever. Robby hadn't ever seen space let alone any of the aliens out there.
Movement from the mule brought Robby's attention back to her. The mule's fingers twitched and her spine popped as her body spasmed hard. Robby looked down to see a few empty plastic baggies on the ground by the mule's feet.
Holy shit. This bitch must have taken enough Red Sand to kill one of those dinosaur alien things.
He looked back at her as mule turned to show a euphoric grin and eyes glowing blue. A blue aura surrounded her whole body.
Robby tried to raise his shotgun as he was lifted from the ground and tossed from the roof in one smooth movement. He screamed as he flew over the edge and fell thirty-three floors to the hard unforgiving concrete below.
This was amazing. Mallory laughed like she was a small child again. The gunman had stopped screaming a minute ago and he must have hit the ground. Mallory giggled as she walked towards the door and opened another packet of Red Sand and snorted it into her nose.
Mallory grit her teeth as the stimulant hit her system and laughed again. Holy crap. She felt like she could take on the whole world.
Mallory descended the stairwell and found herself back on the 13th floor. Chris was lying on the ground moaning. His buddy was still in a puddle of blood. Mallory frowned. That sucked. Mallory felt the Red Sand slipping as she opened another packet and ingested it. A guy wearing purple exited the apartment and said something about Robby not answering his comms. He turned to see Mallory standing the hallway. His face split into a snarl as he reached for his waistband.
Mallory waved her hand at him and heard a snap as his bone broke. The guy backed up into the apartment and screamed something about the Reds having a biotic.
Retard. She wasn't a biotic. She just had drugs. Duh.
Chris looked at her and his eyes widened. His mouth moved, but Mallory couldn't hear him over the whistling and pounding in her ears. Was that her heart pounding? Wow.
What was he saying? Asking her what she was doing? Uh…saving the fucking day.
Mallory walked into the apartment and there were two Bombers inside. Mallory waved her hand at them as they both raised guns at her. A wardrobe behind them was wrapped in a blue aura before it fell over on them both as they pulled the triggers on their guns. Bullets flew past Mallory as she heard a sickening crunch as the Bombers were crushed.
Mallory walked into the bathroom and found the Reds who were supposed to meet her dead in the bathtub. Gross.
Mallory turned and opened another packet of Red Sand. This stuff was good. Holy shit. Was her nose bleeding?
Mallory left the apartment and found herself face to face with Jared and a handful of Reds. They were holding rifles. Mallory smiled at Jared and offered a fist bump.
"Top of the mast, boss!"
Mallory collapsed as Jared rushed forward.
Black closed in as she was carried into the elevator in Jared's arms.
Thank you for reading!
If you care to keep reading, the next chapters will be up within the hour.