Time Effect ( A Mass Effect Fanfiction)

Before the conversation started, Miranda stared at Samael's face, particularly the left side where he had an eye patch covering his missing left eye.''When are you planning on fixing that? You have the tools and time now.''

Samael touched the left side of his face, clearly unfazed by what had happened to him. He had lost worse in past cycles, and honestly, this served as a reminder of the dangers of becoming too complacent.

"I don't know if I will fix it. It's somewhat difficult with only one eye, but I can manage. Besides, I don't want a robotic eye."

While he loved the technology,RR and EDI, and enjoyed creating new things, he didn't like the idea of being modified by them. He had seen the unfortunate fate of those who relied on technology to survive, and it wasn't pretty.

Miranda nodded, and the atmosphere shifted. They were alone in her office and the happy atmosphere from their reunion after some time apart had been replaced by something serious that Miranda couldn't quite grasp.

From Samael's face and his aura, it was evident that this was serious—probably the most serious she had ever seen him, even more so than when he revealed the existence of the Reapers.

"Samael, what exactly is going on?" With no idea what was happening, Miranda could only ask.

Samael didn't answer right away. He appeared to be contemplating something. After a brief silence, he sighed and reached into his Omni-Tool. He tapped it a few times, and Miranda watched as every electronic device in the room, including her ad own Omni-Tool, stopped working.

"What the…?'' Miranda paused and then thought for a moment, 'Something like this is not unheard of, but it's only used when someone doesn't trust the area they're in or the people around. And here's LD, his home ground, so it doesn't make sense.'

Almost as if he could hear her thoughts, Samael smiled. "You're probably wondering why I did that—preventing anything, even RR or EDI, from overhearing our conversation. You'll understand in a bit."

He stood up from his seat and paced around the office, preparing to tell another story that mixed lies with the truth to his family. He knew that every lie incurs a debt to the truth, and he was running out of lies to offer.

By now, Miranda realized the situation was very serious. "What is going on?"

"Have I ever told you the reason I created LD?"

By now, everyone who needed to know was aware that Samael created LD solely to confront the Reapers after he gained knowledge about them from a Prothean Beacon.

"Yes, you did. But why bring that up now?" she asked.

"Because I lied. Well, the goal is the same, but how I got there is different." Samael looked at Miranda with a gaze filled with sincerity. "There was no Prothean Beacon that showed me the Reapers ahead of time or advanced tech... it was all me."

Miranda paused. That made no sense, as the technology LD created was more advanced by at least a decade, and they couldn't have achieved that without help.

Before she could think further, Samael continued, " Before I tell you how I did that, I will tell you a story first.''

'' Go on.'' Miranda got comfortable on her chair, as she felt the thing Samael was about to say was important.

''Long ago, so long that I forgot when, someone was born on Earth. It was a boy, and he couldn't have been more ordinary if he tried. Still, he lived his life like anyone else—he studied, had some relationships here and there, and, with no money to pursue higher education, joined a mercenary group.''

''As time passed, the boy grew into a man. He was strong and survived all the missions the mercenary group undertook, and with his intellect, he rose to the top, eventually leading them—all in under ten years.''

''He had a decent life, until... the Reapers attacked.'' Samael was telling Miranda about his first cycle, so it was all true. He only omitted a few facts here and there and added a few things to make more sense, but the feelings he was trying to convey were genuine.

"It was almost the same as what happened to us not long ago, but the difference was that there was no one to warn the galaxy beforehand. They managed to defeat Sovereign after sacrificing a lot, and for the first time in a while, the galaxy felt unsafe. Still, no one truly believed that what they had killed was a Reaper; they fooled themselves into thinking it was just a larger Geth. Only two people tried to warn the galaxy for real, but no one listened."

"One of them was the boy. Filled with dread about what the Reapers could do when they arrived in the galaxy with full numbers, the boy not only continued his work but also started to study how to stop the Reapers. Along the way, he discovered he had an incredible memory and intellect, capable of absorbing knowledge like no other. He learned things that took others years in less than a month."

"Time passed, and the boy grew smarter, even receiving help from other intelligent people. He slowly convinced some key personnel that the Reapers were real. They believed him and started to help, but... it wasn't enough."

"Three years after the initial attack, the Reapers arrived in the galaxy in full force. The other person who tried to warn everyone also did their best to prepare, but -."

Before Samael could continue, Miranda said, "Stop."

He did just that and looked at her. Miranda's face was filled with confusion, clearly not understanding what he was saying. "Get to the point," she urged.

Samael smiled internally, as he liked this side of Miranda. Then he frowned and did his best to sound sincere. "The reason I created LD and know so much about technology and the Reapers is... because of the future me... or past me."

He had laid the groundwork for Miranda to believe him, and now it was time to press the issue.

'' I have time traveled.''

"..." Miranda could only stare at Samael, struggling to believe him while also waiting for him to continue.

"From now on, I need you to believe everything I say… or at least believe me."

All she could do was nod, and Samael continued to speak.

"Commander Jane Shepard—she was the first ever human Spectre. After a series of events, she helped stop and warn everyone about the Reapers, but no one listened. A few years later, a series of events led her to join Cerberus in an attempt to stop the Reapers, culminating in a suicide mission. She, along with the majority of her crew, survived the ordeal and once more warned the galaxy about the Reapers, yet again, no one listened."

"After some years, a full-scale attack happened, and the galaxy was in turmoil. They turned to one of the two people who had been fighting this war before it even began—Shepard."

"So, she gathered her crew and the rest of the galaxy to face the Reapers… and they lost."

"90% of the population was killed, and those who managed to survive had to hide, constantly traveling in rundown ships, because the Reapers don't stop until ALL intelligent species are exterminated. Whether that takes 10 years or 100 doesn't matter to them; they will hunt everyone down."

Miranda could see that Samael was serious about this. Despite her skepticism, she listened intently, making sure to memorize everything he said.

At this point, even Samael didn't know if this truly happened in a cycle or if it was just a story he created, but it honestly didn't matter. What mattered was that Miranda believed him.

"So, given the state of the galaxy, the greatest minds that survived gathered and decided to try and fix things. Unlike the Protheans, however, they didn't have the necessary tools to survive for long, so it was a race against fate. After years of hiding and studying, they created something that allowed for time travel, but there was no way to test if it would work, and the ingredients needed were limited due to the galaxy being devastated at that point. They only had enough ingredients for one attempt."

"Not only that, they also discovered a secret weapon left behind by the Protheans, capable of winning the war. But, again, they had no time, resources to build it, or reason to, as they had lost already. So they decided to focus on their initial plan."

"They selected me as a test subject, the boy who rose to the top of the mercenary group, filling my mind with all sorts of information to prepare the galaxy for the Reapers. So, they used the device, and ... I woke up at my birth. The rest is history."

Miranda stared at him. All that first story was about his life, "… Do you expect me to believe that?"

Samael smiled sadly. "Miranda Lawson, Cerberus Operative, right-hand woman of the Illusive Man. You were in the dark about Cerberus' true face and left the organization after learning of it. You helped Shepard face the Reapers, married Jack, a.k.a. Subject Zero, and together you owned Grimlock Academy, but you died in the war."

Miranda was slowly believing the story, as she knew if Samael had not intervened back then, she would have joined the organization. '' Grissom Academy? Never heard of it.''

"You don't know yet, nor do you have any reason to know, as I have dealt with the troubles you would have faced to know it. You can hate me for changing your future, but believe me, you're better off now."

Miranda said nothing and urged him to continue.

"Jack, a.k.a. Subject Zero. After being experimented on for many more years than in this timeline, she was freed after they needed her help for a suicide mission. She survived, and together with you, ruled over Grissom Academy. You both died in the war."

He continued detailing every member of the crew, revealing personal information and intricate aspects of their lives, including hers.

By now, Miranda was half convinced. The whole thing was absurd, but at the same time, it somehow made sense, so she was still listening.

''So, everything you created was done together with the other brightest minds of the future?''

''Yes.'' It was a lie, but it made sense, so he went with that. By now, the amount of lies he told was so big he lost track sometimes.

''And you mentioned you have something that could win this war if it's built in time?''

''Yup.''

''So, why haven't you built it yet?'' That was the biggest question that came to her mind. The story was absurd, somehow making sense, but this last part was something she could not wrap her head around.

Samael put on a serious face. ''That was what I wondered too. I realized that my memories were affected, and I have been trying to see what more I might have missed... that's why I'm telling you all this.''

Again, lies mixed with truth. He knew something was wrong with him, which allowed him to admit that something was indeed wrong.

''How are your memories affected exactly?''

''My memories were fragmented, it wasn't an issue until it was. Now, I can't trust anyone, not even RR or myself.''

''Then why do you trust me?''

''Because you are my last hope.''Samael handed physical files to Miranda. ''I'll be going on a journey to try and fix my mind. I need you to build this for me.''

Miranda looked over the files, her face filled with shock as she read the contents. She was intelligent, and the scale of the project was immense. It also made sense, according to Samael, that this device could disable all technology in the galaxy.

'' This is something from my memories, but I have already sent a team to the location where it is originally. We will compare with what I gave you and see if there's any difference.''

'' And what if there's one?''

'' Then I really can't be trusted.'' Samael gave a sad smile, while continuing, ''Use the Rachni and the others to build it. We will need all the help we can get to build it and the arcs. It's a race against time and we are losing.''

Miranda stared at him, '' Why not give me more information and not just how to build the thing?''

'' Because knowing much is not good... but, at the same time, knowing a few things doesn't hurt.'' Samael paused for a moment, '' So, the timeline has already been fucked, no harm in fucking a little bit more... Do you have any questions for me, about the old timeline? I can answer some.''

While Samael had not said much about what exactly happened in his first cycle, he did go over the key details, adding a few lies on it,while leaving a lot unsaid. All for this moment, as it would allow Miranda to ask him a few things, making her trust him somehow.

Miranda stared, trying to wrap her head around the whole situation. She was a logical person and smart too. So, hearing all that from Samael and seeing what he had created and what he had done, it made too much sense to disregard it as just talk. She also trusted Samael a lot, so his words carried significant weight.

'Still, time travel...?' She could not believ-. 'No, we have Project Lazarus, which revives the dead... so time travel can happen.'

As the CEO of LD and a member of Samael's crew, she was aware of Project Lazarus. This knowledge helped her mind a lot, and she slowly began to believe in the history he presented.

That realization opened up many other problems, but for now, she would focus on what she could do.

"If you know the future, why haven't you changed the tragic fate of some of us, like Jack, for example? She has been tortured since she was a child, losing precious time with her mom, among many other things."

"Who said I haven't changed her fate or the others?" Seeing Miranda's gaze filled with curiosity, Samael continued, "Originally, she was supposed to be experimented on for much longer, escaping only years later. I saved her a lot sooner. Just like I did with Javik."

He explained to Miranda that Javik was also meant to be rescued much later. By the end, Miranda had only one question: "Why not save Jack from the beginning?"

Samael stood up from his chair and poured himself a drink. They had been talking for hours, and his throat was a little dry. As he drank, he thought of the times he saved Jack much sooner, '... She dies every time I save her before she experiences all of that. Always.'

So, he had no choice but to let her go through her personal hell, as it was the only way she would survive. While he allowed fate to take its course, he always ensured her rescue in the end. But he would not share that with Miranda.

After finishing his drink, Samael gave a small smile to Miranda. "Think about it, Miranda. I time-traveled to when I was a baby, so when Jack was captured, I was still one. I literally could only help her once I had the powers to do so."

Miranda slowly nodded at what he said. After a brief silence, she asked, "You said you changed other fates... besides Jack and Javik, who else?"

"A lot of people, either directly or indirectly. The person who suffered the most from my actions was Jack Harper, the Illusive Man."

Miranda recalled what Samael had said earlier about Shepard joining Cerberus and her being the right-hand woman of Cerberus. She realized something, "He wasn't defeated this sooner in the original timeline, right?"

Samael nodded in response to Miranda's question. "He continued his reign of terror until the very end of the war. He was eventually indoctrinated and killed. I only sped along his ruin... and changed his fate."

Jack Harper was now a secretary at LD, but Samael was sure that Jack and Miranda were finding ways to make his life hell. All deservedly so; he was a monster.

Miranda chuckled lightly, thinking about what she and Jack were doing with the man. "Deserved... You also keep mentioning Shepard. Is she that important?"

"Yes. While I worked in the shadows, gathering those who believed in me, she did so in the open, facing a lot of criticism and hate. She has the necessary skills to lead us this time too. Only, she is more prepared now."

"... All that sponsorship, and the way her crew mixed with ours, is because of this?"

"Yes."

"Tell me more about it." Miranda sat down once more, knowing the conversation would continue for a little while longer.

For the next hour or so, Samael told her about the fate of everyone she asked about, being sure to be honest. Of course, only he knew the fates from each cycle.

After that, Miranda could only say, "Fascinating."

She closed her eyes for a moment, absorbing all that she had learned that day. Her mind processed everything she had heard. By the time she opened them, she was beginning to believe Samael, not 100%, but it was a start. "I trust you and will follow your arrangements. Tell me if you need something more from me. I will cooperate to the best of my abilities."

Samael smiled genuinely at her words. This wasn't the first time he had told others that he was a time traveler (he was, in a sense), but the outcome was one of the best.

Seeing that Miranda believed him, he passed her another file. "Thanks for believing me."

Miranda grabbed the new files with a puzzled expression and rolled her eyes at Samael. "What will you show me this time?"

"Part of my retirement plan; this one involves you and Cerberus."

Miranda started to read the files and soon, she was shocked—something that had happened many times that day. "This... why?"

"LD has always been a means to an end. After the war, and if we survive, it will have served its purpose. Thanks to our Salarian friends, others will have their eyes on it, so this is a countermeasure."

Miranda looked at the contents once more, ensuring she memorized everything. She then tore it up, making sure that no one would ever know what was on it. "Thank you for trusting me. I appreciate it. It takes a lot of courage to open up about such things, and I'm grateful for the fighting chance you've given us."

With the first file, they now had a legitimate good chance of winning the war. They just had to build it in time.

"We will win this. I only ask you to keep what you learned today a secret."

Miranda snorted at that. "Who would be crazier than me to believe it?"

"Touche."

With that, the conversation came to a close, and both left LD Headquarters together. Miranda was now aware of things even she wasn't privy to before. What changes that would bring, only time would tell.

--

NIGHT

By the time the conversation ended, it was already night.

After the talk with Miranda, Samael left the building feeling invigorated, while she went to rest. Oriana and Jack left with her, and Samael took a moment to look around.

In past cycles, he had tried to explain that he was a returner, but the outcomes varied greatly. This time, it was a productive conversation, as Miranda, though still quite skeptical, believed him.

While he wouldn't say it out loud, it was nice to share his real story, even with some additions or subtractions to it.

Still, trouble remained. "I'll enjoy a few days of peace and then embark on a journey to the Leviathans... If they can't fix my mind, I'm legitimately screwed."

The Leviathans were his last choice and chance.

With a lot on his mind, Samael made his way toward the location of the rest of the crew.