Mass Effect 3 Re-Imagined Chapter Seven Part Three: Story Time With Tim

Hello again, faithful followers of this blog! I’m Timothy Scott Purvis and this is the next installment of my fan story Mass Effect 3 Re-Imagined written for my wife Christmas 2013. Mostly because of how disappointed we both were with those final fifteen minutes of the game. Of course, it was difficult to rewrite without changing the entire story. Which might be why the developers went with the asinine ending they went with. Even so, I think I came up with something amusing and special. So I’m sharing it here.

No, I didn’t edit it any. Mostly because it IS a fan story and I have other things to do. So, you’ll just have to be content with the unedited insanity that is my rewrite of the game. There are grammatical errors. There are inconsistencies with plot. There are moments that will make you go, ‘What?’ But, in my defense, it’s no worse than what Bioware gave us back in 2012. So take that Triple A developers!

Anyhow, here is chapter seven part three of ME3RI.

(PS: Yes, I am copy pasting a lot of these lead ins. Pretty much because there are a lot of chapters to post and I’m doing this waaaayyy ahead of time when they will pop up through scheduling. If you’d like to skip ahead to where the chapter begins, by all means, knock yourself out.)

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#

Ghor’ant stands in the main waiting area of the docking bay outside of the Normandy waiting for Shepard and her away team to arrive. He’s eager to get back to the ship though unsure as to why.

     No where else to go in this fucking galaxy. It’s all waste. Shepard better have a plan.

     He watches the large wall at the closed end of the waiting area that has numerous viewscreens all across it displaying news reports from several areas all across the Alliance sector. Nothing from batarian space is being broadcast and he sighs in depression and looks to a nearby couch. He hears one of the broadcasts from one reporter calling herself Diana Allers.

     “…and with Earth under siege by large vessels of unknown origin, few reports are coming out of Alliance HQ. The Council has declared the invaders ‘enemies unknown’ while rumors swirl of legends of so-called reapers. Colonies are on high alert. Joining me is colonial explorer David Markus. David, you were present during one of the attacks on outpost Gaia IV in the Petra Nebula. Can you describe what you witnessed and how you escaped?”

     “We were assigned as a lookout post on the fringe of the nebula reconning any potential batarian invasions…”

     Fuck you, you were in batarian space…you’re lucky we just didn’t wipe you out, asshole, Ghor’ant looks at the feed and sees grainy video from the broadcast. The woman, Allers stands close to Markus and seems too calm while the middle aged man has a sheen to him that says he’s sweating profusely.

     “…It was business as usual, looking into old ruins, that was what I did on the science excavation teams; foreman. When suddenly these massive craft descend and start destroying the main bases…there wasn’t much time…these, these spidery things start moving in…they were so fast…we were ordered to hit the transports and make a run for the spaceport on the far side of the nearest mountain range. The invaders just ignored us and seemed intent on seizing the ruins…I don’t know why. We’d just uncovered them. So we make it to the shuttles and escape on the far side of Gaia IV where the ships hadn’t landed yet. It didn’t look like a lot, not in the numbers we heard hitting Earth…I don’t know what happened after that. We went to FTL and hit the Petra relay. Rendezvoused with the fleets. Oh god…”

     “Did you get a good look at the reapers?”

     “We’re not supposed to call them reapers…nothing confirmed yet…but…they were big. Maybe half a kilometer? Slightly smaller? Lots of legs…at least six…beams shooting out of their heads…so many dead…Ahhh!”

     The man puts his hands to his head and cries as he walks away.

     “There you have it, first hand account of the ‘invaders’ terrorizing human colonies. Stay with us as we interview more survivors and get to the bottom of this terrible crusade by ‘enemies unknown’ in Alliance Space.”

     Ghor’ant slowly sits down and watches the feeds bouncing back and forth between different grainy footages of attacks and panicked survivors. He lowers his head to his hands and feels his body wracking with an uncontrollable throb.

     “Ghor’ant…”

     A voice echoes out and he looks up and around him for a moment before realizing it’s his communicator.

     “Yeah?”

     “Just got word from traffic control that you’re needed down in Eta bay 12.”

     Ghor’ant thinks for a moment and recognizes the voice as that of the Normandy pilot…What is his name? Jack? Jordie?

     “Why would they need me there?”

     “Apparently they have an incoming batarian refugee ship. C-Sec is standing by for any trouble but they want you there to help with any potential tensions. Can’t imagine why they think that’d happen.”

     “I’m on my way.”

     Ghor’ant stands and hurries to the transit. He passes the C-Sec guard post and stops. He turns back and goes to the C-Sec console.

     “Guard, what’s the quickest way to Eta bay 12?”

     One of the C-Sec officers reviews his display and looks back to Ghor’ant, “Are you adjutant Ghor’ant?”

     “Yes. I’ve been requested to join C-Sec down in the bay.”

     “Absolutely, sir. Follow me. We have a C-Sec Transport you can use that will get you there in minutes.”

     “That would be optimal.”

     Ghor’ant follows the officer behind the office and towards a transport with lights on top of it. One officer gets into the navigation seat and Ghor’ant gets into the passenger side. The craft lifts off and heads down the traffic tunnel towards a drop zone leading towards Eta bay 12. Within minutes they arrive at the lower bays located a dozen levels or more below. Ghor’ant exits the craft upon arrival and the officer within escorts him towards the bay.

     “This way, sir.”

     “Refugees arriving at bay 12,” a voice over the comms echoes and the two hurry faster towards the bay.

     They arrive at the shuttle bay doors where a dozen armed C-Sec officers await with weapons pointed down but still at the ready. One officer goes to the panel on a nearby wall and nods to his cohorts as he triggers the doors. The doors open and they see dozens of batarians waiting. Some injured severely with others holding them up. Upon seeing C-Sec, several batarians raise their weapons in alarm prompting the C-Sec officers to do the same.

     “Lower your weapons!”

     “Damn you!”

     Ghor’ant rushes forward and comes between them all. He raises his hands to both groups in a plea for calm demeanors.

     “That won’t be necessary!” He looks to the batarian leadership. “Please, lower your weapons. They’re here to assist you.”

     “They’re humans!”

     “What did you expect?! The last attack on the Citadel left a hole in C-Sec ranks. Put your ill feelings to the side,” Ghor’ant looks to the nearest C-Sec officer who is motioning for his colleagues to lower their weapons. “Where can my people go for treatment?”

     “We’ve set up a medical bay down the hall for your refugees. We’ll take you there.”

     “Will you be requiring our weapons?”

     The lead batarian looks to Ghor’ant, “You capitulate?!”

     “As your adjutant I must abide by the regulations of the Citadel. And as a member of the Hegemony, you will abide by my directives!”

     “Of course, adjutant,” the leader submits and brandishes his weapon butt first for retrieval. The others do so as well but the C-Sec officer holsters his own gun and waves the offer away.

     “That won’t be necessary. Hegemony citizens are permitted arms providing-“

     Ghor’ant nods and waves, “You’ll find no difficulties from us, officer.”

     The batarians put away their weapons as medical technicians are given the go ahead to enter and assist the wounded batarians. The group is led towards their new residence in the medical bay attached to the docks nearby.

     “I did not expect to see an adjutant on the Citadel,” the lead batarian says as he walks beside Ghor’ant.

     Ghor’ant blinks and keeps his view cast ahead of him, “Circumstances dictated I co-operate with the Alliance. I came here on the Normandy. Commander Shepard is here on the Citadel negotiating assistance from the Council.”

     “I’d heard rumors of the such. You’re adjutant Ghor’ant then.”

     “Confirmed.”

     “And what of Earth?”

     Ghor’ant sighs quietly and frowns, “Under siege.”

     “Then everything is all for naught! If the Alliance has fallen-!”

     “The Alliance hasn’t fallen!” Ghor’ant looks to him fiercely. “They have regrouped. And now we must find a way to stop the reaper threat!”

     “You know all too well the futility of that endeavor.”

     “We’ll discuss this further in private.”

     “Of course, adjutant.”

#

Genevieve waits in the elevator until it has arrived at its destination on the lower docking bay levels. The door opens onto Eta bay 12 and she exits. The remainder of her crew awaits aboard the Normandy but having been informed of Ghor’ant’s need in the medical bay outside the docks, she felt compelled to meet with Ghor’ant and see if there is anything she can do for him.

     After being directed down the proper hallway by C-Sec, Genevieve enters the medical bay and sees the hundreds of batarians wearily tending to their wounded and wandering around aimlessly as if their entire world was shattered.

     And it has been. Damn…so many people. How many managed to escape Kar’shan? Thousands? What if…only these are the last? Can’t afford to think that way. It’s fortunate that there was an emergency medical bay in the docking areas elsewise these people would have had no where to go. Muerta doesn’t have the facilities to house so many.

     “Excuse me, I’m looking for adjutant Ghor’ant,” Genevieve stops and says to a weary batarian.

     The batarian blinks and looks at her for a long moment before pointing down the hallway.

     “Thank you,” she tries to smile but he lowers his head and slumps down to the floor. She shuts her eyes for a moment in sadness and then continues on her way.

     Before long, Genevieve is arriving at a makeshift office and hears Ghor’ant’s voice coming from within. She walks into the small room and the two men within stop talking. Ghor’ant looks up at her and forces a semi-smile.

     “Shepard. It is good you arrived.”

     “Ghor’ant, I’m sorry to hear about this. How are your people doing?”

     “About as well as to be expected given the circumstances. Word says there are other ships out there that managed to flee Kar’shan. But no one knows what happened to them.”

     Genevieve sighs and stands within the room looking at them, “You have my deepest sympathies.”

     “Spare me your sympathies! We are all well aware of who you are!”

     Ghor’ant castes a snarling glare at his lesser who buckles under his gaze, “Enough of that, Chanak! You are all too familiar with the score!”

     “Forgive me, adjutant. There is still bitterness over the loss of Bahak, but, had the actions not been taken-“

     “We wouldn’t be standing here plotting any sort of counter offensive!” Ghor’ant concludes and looks to the table Chanak is leaning against.

     “Shepard, this is Administrator Bel’uo Chanak of the Hegemony Enclave. He is one of the few of our governors to survive the initial assault on Kar’shan.”

     “Only because I was off world at the time,” Chanak says and glares at the wall behind Ghor’ant.

     “Though my sympathies mean little, administrator, you still have them. It was fortunate you survived. Your people will need you,” Genevieve says quietly.

     “Perhaps.”

     “Tell the commander what you told me.”

     “Adjutant!” Chanak looks to Ghor’ant, his mouth hanging open.

     “Spare me your concerns! We are at war with the reapers and the Hegemony has fallen! There are no secrets here! Not any more…”

     “Damnit…you are correct, of course, adjutant,” Chanak stands beside Ghor’ant who steps back to make way. “What you must know, commander, is that we were mistaken.”

     “How so?”

     “About a decade of your time span ago, we recovered an artifact from the Dis system. We didn’t know what it was at the time but it had advanced technology,” Chanak continues as Genevieve leans against a table. “We brought it back to Kar’shan to study. It gave us insight into technologies past and we recovered hundreds of data files, among which were worlds never explored-at least by any of us-that hinted at a technology we might be able to use against your people.

     “We were investigating a ruin in a star system not far from the Hades Gamma when the attack occurred. The plan was to figure out a super weapon, a specialized ion canon, that could be used against Earth. I had volunteered for that mission, mostly because the Leviathan never sat well with me. I didn’t want to be anywhere near it. We found the ruins of an ancient factory deep beneath the surface with huge constructs similar to the reapers.”

     “Udina mentioned something of the sort, that you had in your possession a reaper artifact.”

     “Not just an artifact, an actual reaper.”

     “So what happened?”

     “What do you think happened? Our high ranking scientists, brilliant as they were, became indoctrinated and soon so were many members of our government. When the reapers attacked, I got a subspace message from my contact in the government confirming my suspicions. They’d contacted the reapers, made it easier for them to breach our defenses. Not that they needed it.”

     “I’m not sure I’m understanding why you’re bringing this up now,” Genevieve begins. “The invasion has already occurred. While this would have been useful before-“

     Chanak laughs and looks at her, “The irony is we discovered the reaper’s weakness.”

     “You’re kidding?”

     Ghor’ant looks to Genevieve, “Batarians aren’t renowned for their humor, commander. At least, not beyond the macabre.”

     “Alright, I’ll bite, what’s their weakness?”

     Chanak looks down and grimly shakes his head, “I don’t know. I found out it has something to do with dark energy. However, all that information is on Kar’shan. In the subterranean labs.”

     “Then the Spectres were right…” Genevieve shakes her head. “The secret is on Kar’shan. Well, that isn’t a challenge.”

     “An assault was being planned on Earth, Shepard,” Ghor’ant says and blinks. “Everything the Hegemony knew is down in that lab. I was planning on bringing this to your attention-“

     “But you already knew about this Leviathan before.”

     “I didn’t feel confident in breaching the subject. Besides, we were fighting for our lives. Hardly the time to say, ‘by the way we have a weapon against the reapers we were planning to use on you.’”

     Genevieve frowns and finds her gaze fixating on something she can’t see, “True enough. We need that information and the Normandy is the only ship that can get there without being seen. Damn.”

     “I leave the information in your hands. Chanak here will provide you with all the relevant data necessary to arrive at the exact coordinates.”

     “Bring it with you when you return to the Normandy, Ghor’ant.”

     “I can’t,” he sighs and sits down.

     “What? Why?”

     Ghor’ant looks up at Genevieve, “I have to stay here and help my people. Too much needs to be done but I trust you to make this mission a priority. I know you will succeed.”

     Genevieve sighs and stands forward, “I understand, Ghor’ant. Have the information sent to the Normandy. I have to get to Palaven first but as soon as that’s done I’ll set our destination for Kar’shan.”

     “Of course, commander.”

     Genevieve reaches a hand out and Ghor’ant accepts it. They shake and she smiles.

     “Be careful, Ghor’ant. Take care of your people. They definitely need you here more.”

     “Thank you for your understanding, commander. I don’t need to tell you to be weary of the reapers.”

     “Always good to be reminded of, though.”

     Genevieve leaves and Ghor’ant looks to Chanak in apprehension. Chanak frowns.

     “Do you think she can pull it off? I don’t like sending a human to our homeworld-“

     “Kar’shan belongs to the reapers now. She’s our only hope of salvaging what was lost.”

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SHAMELESS SELF PROMOTION STARTS!

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I mean, if you like my work, of course. No pressure. Just trying to find my way in this world without working menial tasks and suffering physical and mental issues as a result. If only I could merely stay home and write. That would be my most epic fantasy brought to life. Well, if you don’t want to do that, you could also donate to my cause down below after all is said and done. It would help. You know, if you liked what you saw and all. Up to you. I don’t have a lot of reviews on my materials because of low sales. I mean, very, very low sales. In the single digits. Right now, I have to rely on Pubby for reviews and those people only read your synopsis and recap it for a five star review. I want honest opinions. Not mean ones, but honest. So, if you ever find yourself buying some of my work, I’d certainly appreciate some feedback. Again, up to you.

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End Shameless Self Promotion!

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So brings to an end another week of Story Time With Tim! Hope you’re enjoying the work so far and hope you’ll be back for more next week. Until then, read to you soon.

~Timothy S Purvis