Chapter 1: Here goes Nothing

A/N: Ok this will be my first ever writing outside of a school related something, but what can I say? I've been inspired. Her Wozzeck, iNf3ctioNZ, and several others, if you haven't already guessed yes this is going to be a self-insert, I'm not quite sure how I want some things to go as far as how close I stick to canon, there will be changes but not sure how drastic yet. Also I ask you to excuse any grammar or spelling mistakes I make, I will do my best but no promises. There will be swearing, and sexual references, maybe more later but that will be the jist of it.

Ah yes I don't own any of the Mass Effect characters, plot, etc... They belong to those wonderful people at Bioware. I also don't own any bands, songs, or other games that I may mention.

So here goes nothing…

"Whew, Friday."

I had just walked home from school, shrugging off my coat and tossing my backpack onto the bed I sit back in the ancient brown recliner in front of my TV. I grab my controller and boot up my Xbox. I'm wearing my favorite black cargoes, a black T-shirt with a picture of a the galaxy and an arrow pointing to a random spot that says "You Are Here", and a black hoodie with an intricate swirling flourishy design. And yes I like the color black but it's not because I'm depressed, black is stealthy, and badass.

"Hmmm… No one's on? Well now what am I gunna do?

I typically only play multiplayer games while some of my friends are playing with me, it's just not the same without a buddy. Well there's always one game I can rely on to be fun when no one else is on.

Mass Effect 2

I've only beaten about six times, once on insanity, but it's always fun so I throw it in and boot up. After an hour or so I notice its dark outside, I look out the window to see an overcast grey sky, I kind of just frown at this, I means it's the beginning of December in Michigan, that overcast won't break until June, and it doesn't affect my playing, so I sit back down and think.

"No one's going to be home till pretty late I wonder-"

My stomach grumbling interrupts my train of thought right then, and I decide to get some food, but as soon as I stand up a wave of dizziness washes over me, and the edge of my vision goes black. I assume it's merely a head rush from sitting down for so long, but it lasts longer and then I get the sensation of falling backwards through the floor as the world disintegrates into green data around me…

I wake up in what appears to be a small bathroom, like an airplane bathroom, but something seems off. As I look around I figure out what it is, everything seems to be more high tech, granted a toilet and sink can only appear so advanced, but my clothes are also different, still got my cargoes, but now I'm wearing a thin gray military jacket over a black shirt with the logo GSWT on it, under that in smaller print it says "Galactic School of Weapons Technology".

"What the fu-"

A beep sounds from my wrist and an Omni tool comes to life around my right hand, and a hologram comes up that looks oddly like the Monitor from Halo.

"Processing complete, subject transfer complete, are there any questions about your transfer?"

I just stare at the hologram for a second before asking. "yeah, Where the hell am I?"

The little monitor bobs once before answering. "You are currently aboard the transport shuttle Marrion bound for Eden Prime."

Saying I had a startled expression on my face was an understatement. "Eden Prime? As in the human colony? From a VIDEO GAME?"

"From your point of view yes, although it is no longer a game, you were transferred from your universe to this one, because you possess several qualities required to correct events that will transpire here in the future." The little monitor stated this as if it happened every day.

"I have qualities necessary to fix things here? Like what? What am I as a 17 year old high school student supposed to do in the Mass Effect universe?" I stated with just a tad of panic.

The monitor calmly observes me for a moment before speaking. "You possess and excellent knowledge of battlefield strategies and tactics, as well as being Resonant."

"Resonant? What's that?" I ask curiosity overcoming shock for the moment.

"I cannot tell you, you will discover what it is as time passes."

"Fan-Tastic…" I think to myself, before asking. "What am I supposed to do?"

"You will serve on Eden Prime as a private contractor for the Alliance Military, until you find your path."

"Wait I'm a mercenary? For the Alliance? That can't be right, and what is 'find my path' supposed to mean?" I ask slightly exasperated.

"You have been given knowledge equivalent to a 7 year term at GSWT, the Alliance has hired you to work on weapons and armor in the armory on Eden Prime, you are not Alliance personnel however, so you can make modifications outside of Alliance military arms contracts." It states this rather simply.

I'm slightly dumbfounded by its blunt statement, but quickly reply. "A couple of questions,

1. How do I have 7 years of advanced schooling?

And 2. What do you mean outside of military contracts?

He seems to sigh slightly at this but answers my questions. "You have been given knowledge Equivalent to seven years of schooling, as far as the record states you were pulled from high school two years early to begin study at GSWT, where you were for four years. You picked up the knowledge quickly almost a prodigy of sorts, your age has been advanced two years you are now almost 19 instead of 17."

I blanch slightly at that, but he just continues speaking." As you are aware large militaries will make deals with weapons manufacturers for reduced prices, but they can only buy that companies weapons, you however as a private contractor, do not have to abide by these contracts and may deal weapons and customizations from any company. This allows Alliance soldiers to have significantly better weapons at much less cost."

I ponder this for a moment, that makes a lot of sense and it's the sneaky kind of thing that governments would do. "But that still doesn't explain how I got that knowledge I didn't actually do any of those things. Did I?"

He seems to be glad I've grasped this and quickly replies." The synapses in your brain were connected on all of the corresponding paths you would need. All you have to do is think about it and your brain will bring up the relevant information."

I'm not gunna ask. I open my mouth to speak again but the hologram flickers out and leaves the message "Good Luck". I just stare at the spot where it was for a second, I look up into the mirror above the sink, just to verify it really is me staring back. Short brown/blond hair, brown eyes, about 5'8"ish and a goatee. Fairly proud of that last bit actually, what 17 year old can claim to grow a full goatee huh? I determine that really is me, and sitting in here is helping with anything so I slowly opening the door of the bathroom. Out in the shuttle I notice there aren't many people here, most of the seats are empty, and the ones that are filled, the people have bored expression or are asleep. I walk over to an empty row and sit down. I look out the window at the blue and green planet below, it reminds me of earth but all the continents are wrong…

I sigh deeply. "Here goes nothing."