Foreword: Hello . In this foreword I wanted to thank VenomRED, Herr Wozzeck, iNf3ctioNz, GIRLIKESTACOS and especially Bahoogasmif because I began my adventure with FF by reading your story.

Also this story is (I think) darker approach towards SI into our beloved universe of Mass Effect. May or may not follow canon depending on how I felt about missions, characters and storyline. Names of caracters from "real world" are purely fictional to protect their personalities.

Mandatory disclaimer: I do NOT own Mass Effect or any other mentioned production, be it game, movie, song, etc. All credit for those goes to their respective authors. Thpugh I do own my OC's.

That said - enjoy. Olav152.

Alex opened his eyes. Something seeme out of place, his body felt... actually he couldn't feel his body, unable to move even by inch, he could only stare at one point in the ceiling. He cautiously examined what could find in his field of vision.

He could only see plain white walls and ceiling. Where am I? This definitely isn't my room. Am I paralysed... oh NO! Please no, no no, I can't be a damn vegetable. This can't be... This must be some kind of a nightmare. As his thoughts became more and more chaotic, simple text appeared out of nowhere.

- Restoring motoric fouctions... 10%, please standby. - hmm, motoric functions? What is going on? He could only watch as the numbers on the message increased slowly. At 20% he felt his fingers and toes moving, at 30% he managed to raise his arms and carefully moved them as if they were made of glass. Oookaay, that's totally not creepy at all. He looked at his hands, noticing that they were covered by armored gloves. He looked down, finding that he was fully strapped in the same attire. He stretched his fingers, the material flexing without any form of resistance. Looks cool, but what is that. Did some crazy cosplayers kidnap me?

He supported himself to sitting position, by the time he was done numbers jumped to 50%. He swayed a bit trying to stay in the same position. What is going on with me, I don't recognize this place. I don't know what happened to me, if only I could find someone with some answers. Caught in his thoughts he simply stared for several minutes into the wall in front of him.

70%...80%...90%...100%

- System reboot complete, activating implants...please wait...complete...preparing cyber warfare suite...complete... - he placed his head on his interwined hands. Implants, like cardiac pacemaker? No, I didn't have any cardial problems. Wait... CYBER WARFARE SUITE, what the hell does this mean! This is insane. I need to get the hell away from here.

For now he ignored different flashing icons in his vision. He scanned his surroundings looking for a way out. Besides the bed he was sitting "his" room was empty. He noticed gray sliding door with circular red hologram in their center on the opposite side of the room. He got up and slowly walked towards them. Why do I get the feeling I've seen door like that before? He thought as he examined them, two dark-grayish wings creating solid surface, without any visible weakness. Curious he put his hand, trying to figure out how to open them.

When his palm connected with the surface beneath the red hologram, his surroundings dissolved leaving him floating in air, surrounded by dense web of glowing lines. Without thinking, he grabbed closest one.

As world around came back he found himself in the same position, hand on doors but with the hologram turned green and spinning. That was amazing, weird and awesome at the same time! Wouldn't be bad if I knew what it was. Finally the hologram stopped and the doors opened. Revealing long corridor full of another doors. Filled with flashing red lights. Sesame open! Yay! Where to now? Guess probably through the door at the end.

Following through he stumbled upon an office room with desk in the middle of it and a chair lying few meters away from it. Single item on the desk took his attention. It looked like a laptop, but with glowing orange display, instead of solid screen. What? Impossible! Something like that doesn't even exist. How does this work? He thought leaning closer to the desk. The "screen displayed simple communicate.

- Accesing log #17, do you wish to proceed?- He was obviously curious, finding any information about his situation seemed like priority to him. He scanned the keyboard, luckily it resembled "qwerty" one, so Alex easily found and pressed the "enter" button.

"...Transfer succesful, project Ares is progressing according to plan. Synthetic nervous system adapted to subject's brain patterns, and is fully operational. We plan to activate the subject in 2 weeks time before we implant control chip to ensure its loyalty to our cause..." recording ended.

Project Ares... control chip... synthetic nervous system... these phrases still repeating in his head as he tried to comprehend what he'd heard in that recording. This is a joke, no a nightmare, I'll just wake up in my bed, go to school. Not be a damn terminator...wake up! He slapped himself across his face , only to have his hand stopped by hard surface surrounding his head. Helmet? This all seemed like cheap sci-fi to him, the day before he was in his home minding his own business, and then... that.

Doors behind him hissed and he heard loud banging of heavy boots behind him. He turned around, just in time to see five armed and armored guards, pointing their guns at him. They were wearing full hardsuits with lots of ceramic plates covering their vital areas. Each of them had bandolier loaded with cylindrical objects. But he was more suprised at their insignia, yellow and black hexagon on white background. He recognized their weapons and armor.

"Great cosplay guys, really convincing. Now, explain what the FUCK is going on here!?"

Alex was extremely pissed, they were playing some stupid games with him. What the hell were they thinking.

"Humor from a robot, heh. Now stay where you are, hands where I can see them and no tricks Ares." Ordered man in front in gruff voice. All of them tensed. They aren't cosplayers!

"And if I refuse?" Alex shot back, trying to stay calm.

"The Illusive Man gets what rightfully belongs to him whether you like it or not." Their leader's words threw Alex off his balance. The Illusive Man? Like the guy from Mass Effect? Crap, how did I get to ME universe and how did I land in Cerberus hands then?

Man signaled 2 of his people to restrain Alex while others still held him at a gunpoint. He subconsciously took a step back, when these two lowered their assault rifles and drew their stun batons.

As they cautiously approached him Alex noticed one of guards at the rear to take slow step back and aim his gun at their leader. Rogue guard fired two times at him then quickly switched his target to the second armed guy placing three shoots to his chest. Hearing gunfire behind them guards with batons tuned back reaching for their guns to face new threat, one stopped mid turn by bullet slamming into his head, the last one only managed to switch back to his gun and fired once, hitting attacker into his chest, before he too ended with a bullet in the head. The only alive guard dropped his gun, took a step towards the wall and heavily sat next to it.

"Alex..." He managed to whisper one word. Alex still shaken after the deaths he witnessed, stood in the same spot unsure what to do. He killed them! No, no, calm down. 1..2..3..10 He mentally sighed. Get your shit together! He looked around, ignoring bodies... sudden cough caught his attention.

"A-Alex..." He heard weak voice, it was the sitting guard. He walked closer and crouched above him.

"Hey, you need help!"

"Leave... lung punc...red...too late...for me" guard said between coughs. "Helmet... pull...up."Alex reluctantly put his hands on sides of the helmet and gently pulled upwards revealing wide jaw, lips covered in blood, high cheekbones, average nose, big brown eyes and extremely short dark hair. "NICK!" Alex shouted as he threw useless helmet across the room. Fighting urge to hug his brother, his mood further darkened seeing him like that.

"Hey...little broter...I'm... sorry...so sorry." He said coughing more blood.

"Nick, stop please, you'll be okay. Don't sleep, you'll make it." Alex grabbed his hand and squeezed it trying to ignore the obvious.

"Liar... " he grinned. "Listen... take my.. omni...omni-tool...answers...all on it...you know...password... the usual...now... run... escape..Cerberus." Every word visibly gave him pain. "Carry... on... goodbye...brother." With these words he closed his eyes and drew his last breath.

"Nick, wake up! NICK! NIIIICK!" Alex yelled desperately, slapping his brother with his free hand. After something that felt like eternity he simply let go of Nick's hand, put his hands on the dead man's arms and placed his head on his brother's chest, and stayed like that silently mourning him, his body unable to form tears.