Mass Effect: The Requiem Saga: Genesis

Mass Effect: Requiem: Genesis:

Volume 1.

Chapter 7.

 

Anderson: Wait… I think I might know you too.

In the docking port, I’m standing in front of the only person I’ve actually recognized from this crazy universe. David Anderson.

“Y-you do?”

Anderson: Yeah, you’re the N7, right? I met you during training.

“Yeah! I mean, yes. Yes that’s me.”

Anderson eyed me up for a moment, but then shook his head.

Anderson: What are all your names? You two say you’re Alliance?

Jervis piped up first.

Jervis: Gunnery Chief Jervis Proctor of the Systems Alliance, yeah.

Galen: You could probably tell we’re not. I’m Sergeant Galen Tyzuris.

Vahan: Major Vahan Octavius.

Anderson: And you, N7?

“Ah… Lieutenant Sam Shepard.”

Civilian: You were on the broadcast, right?

“What?”

Civilian: You were the one who came in and fought Bartok and his men, right?

“Oh. Yeah. I think that was me.”

Anderson: You fought Bartok?

I turned to Anderson, who was analyzing me.

“Yeah. Kind of had to. But I… I wasn’t able to… hrm.”

Jervis looked at me and then turned to Anderson.

Jervis: By the time he got here, I was the only one alive. Probably wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him. If there’s any man you can trust or rely on… it’s him.

The civilians began to talk amongst themselves; I kept hearing my… new name being thrown around. I could feel Anderson and Vahan both giving me surprised but yet still analytical looks. I don’t think anyone expected me to be able to shoot straight from the way I’ve been acting, let alone… well… save a dude.

But we’re not here for that.

“We don’t have time for this right now, we came through the hatch and took out two of their guards. It won’t be long until they’re at our door.”

Anderson: What?

Civilian: Are you… are you serious?

The civilian walks right up to me and grabs my armor.

Civilian: You killed us! You killed us, you asshole! You fucking murdered us!

But… But I’m trying to save you. I’m…

“I…”

Vahan shoes the civilian away.

Vahan: If you hid away here, you would’ve been dead by the morning anyway.

Civilian: Bullshit! We-we could’ve hid out! We didn’t need you!

Anderson: He’s right.

Civilian: What?

Anderson: I was trying to think of a way to escape our deaths, but… I’m not sure I could’ve. I’m injured badly, I’m not able to fight.

Civilian: Wh-what? So… so you knew we’d die?

Mother: Just because you couldn’t think of something, we would’ve all died?! You monster!

I had to say, I was surprised too. I didn’t expect someone like Anderson to wing something like this… to… to hurt

The civilian populous began to turn on us. Anderson stayed quiet while they talked. I looked to the others and I could tell they didn’t know what to do either. And… well… to tell you the truth, neither did I.

Civilian: Fuck this. Bryan, you remember how to fly a ship? Yeah? Everyone! Let’s go unlock a starship and get the fuck out.

Jervis: What? You’ll be killed!

Civilian: Yeah? Well we’re dead either way.

Galen: Listen to the man, he-

Civilian: Shut the fuck up, bird-shit.

Vahan: The fuck did you just say?

I put a hand on Vahan’s chest as he began to advance, snarling. All the people began to mill about their business, hurriedly working.

Anderson: I felt like it was going to turn out this way sometime down the line.

Anderson turned to us.

Anderson: Come on, I’ll take you to somewhere you can rest.

We all separately decided to go with him, following close behind as he led us to a makeshift sort of lounge.

Anderson: I’ll go see if I can talk some sense into them, they trust me a bit more than you guys.

“Thanks.”

Anderson walked away, leaving us. I buried my face in my hands.

“What are we gonna do…?”

Jervis: We’ll wait for Anderson to clear some things up.

“Then what?”

Vahan: we wait until they make their move… then we strike.

Galen: It’s pretty much our only option at this point. They need to come to us; it’s not possible to come to them.

Jervis: Yeah.

Jervis looked at Vahan.

Jervis: So what’s your story?

Vahan thought for a moment.

Vahan: Well, since we’ll be fighting together…

He looked at Galen and then me.

Vahan: Well, never got married. Got close once, but that was it. I was or… still am an orphan. Joined the military when I could, I’ll admit, even lied about my age to get in. Tried to hide that I was a biotic from people, but it came out. So a little amp here, an implant there, I became part of a cabal. Rose through the ranks, became part of the 18^th Legion and… well… here I am. How bout you, human?

Jervis: Me? Ah… I’m from Canada on Earth, English parents though. Hence the English name. I have a little sister, both of my parents are still alive. Don’t have a girlfriend or anything. Joined the military after college, finished basic and specialized training, then I got assigned to Elysium. I met Shep here. And uh… yeah, that’s about it. How bout you, Galen?

Galen popped up, having only been listening until now.

Galen: Hm? Oh, right. Sorry, got caught up thinking about your guys’ stories. Well, I’m from Palaven. Both of my parents are still alive too, I also have a little sister, but I have a big brother too. His name’s Kylus, but I haven’t talked to him in a while. I do have a girl, she’s actually in a Cabal, believe it or not.

Vahan: Would I know her?

Galen: Probably. Renaea Yunoa.

Vahan: Oh wow, yeah, I fucking know her. Not many Turians who don’t know the Yunoas.

Galen: Yeah. But uh… that’s pretty much it, really. If you must know, I was born without a collar or a hump.

I raised an eyebrow at him. A Turian without a collar or a hump? But…

Galen: I see the look on yoru face. Yeah, the armor I’m wearing makes it look like I have a hump… but…

Galen grabs his chestplate and takes off all of his torso armor, revealing a human-like body. He had no collar or hump at all. If you put a hoodie on him, maybe shortened his fringe a bit, you probably wouldn’t be able to tell he was a Turian from faraway. He even looked to be wearing human clothing, wearing a t-shirt underneath.

Galen: Yeah. No hump. I just threw this armor on because it was all I had, but usually, I wear a custom-made Turian armor with a human chestplate.

“Shit, man. That’s pretty cool.”

Galen: Hnh. That’s a first.

Vahan looked at his non-collared body, shrugged, then turned to me.

Vahan: You?

“Huh?”

Vahan: What’s your story?

“Oh. Right. Uh…”

What was my story?

I thought about it for a moment. All right, let’s see, everything about me seems to be… me. So if I just be vague, I can get by. I don’t know what my backstory is, but yeah.

“Um, well, there’s not much to tell. I had an older sister and my parents.”

Vahan: Had?

“Yeah. Had.”

Because… well, at least as of now, my family either doesn’t exist or has been dead for over a hundred years.

“But that’s about all you need to know.”

Jervis gave me an odd look. I feel like he knew more about me that I didn’t know and he was confused why I wasn’t telling. He just turned away after a moment, probably thinking I had my reasoning. But Vahan was still giving me an analytical eye.

After about an hour more of small talk, my mind began to drift to other things. I tried not to think about the whole other universe thing, but it did creep into my thoughts every once in a while. I can address it after this is done but… it’s still odd.

So to distract myself, I thought about the reinforcements. The officer said he’ll be here by morning. And it’s probably around… I’m not sure, midnight? Probably around then.

He also wanted us to check in. I’m pretty sure Jervis had done so when we were waiting for Galen.

We waited for a little longer before Vahan turned to Galen and Jervis.

Vahan: Can you two check in with Anderson?

Galen: Hm? Oh. Right, yeah.

Jervis: On it.

“Oh and uh, remember to check in with Alliance.”

Jervis: Right. Thanks.

“No problem.”

Jervis and Galen walked off and I was left to awkwardly sit with Vahan.

Vahan: So…

“Hm?”

Vahan: You’re not military, right?

Oh shit.

“Wh-what? How could you-“

Vahan shook his head. He didn’t look mad or anything.

Vahan: Cut the crap. You’re not military. I don’t know why Jervis knows you, maybe you look like someone he knows or maybe you’re the actual Shepard’s twin brother or some shit.

“H-how? How’d you…?”

Vahan: How’d I pick it up? Kid, I’ve been in the military since you were in diapers. If I didn’t recognize an untrained civvy as opposed to a soldier at this point, I’d have to be really fucking unobservant or er… what do you humans call your stupid people? Mentally challenged? Something like that, yeah.

“We don’t… that’s not cool, man.”

Vahan: Whatever. I’m old, I’ll get away with it.

I cracked a smile. Probably my first legitimate one since… well, all this shit happened.

Vahan: But anyway, I just want you to know you’re doing a good job.

“Oh.”

Vahan: Not many people could do what you’ve done today. I can see you’ve used a gun before and your knowledgeable enough to hold your own. What is it? Military family?

“Ah… something like that.”

Vahan: Thought so. Well, kid… I won’t say anything.

“Really?”

Vahan: They like you. Anderson seems to know you as well. You’d be a good diplomat for us. And you do seem to have… something about you. I don’t know what it is, but it makes people want to follow you. You’re a natural born leader.

“Th-thanks. I really mean that.”

Vahan: I know you do. But listen, I-

BOOOOOMMMFFHHH!

Vahan and I both shoot up to our feet at the sound of the explosion.

Vahan: Shit.

We both turn to the main entrance to the docking port, seeing it filled to the brim with Batarian mercenaries, pirates, and bandits.

“Oh. Oh no…”

To Be Continued…