A Man Out of Time I

"Hello, Conrad, I'm Officer Vakarion, Garrus Vakarion. You were abducted, do you remember anything about your captor?" Garrus questions me.

I take a moment to organize my thoughts and emotions, coming to terms with being Isekai'd after... Wait, what happened? Was I crossing a street? I can't remember exactly how I spent my last life, I know I enjoyed most of it, despite not really recalling what I did.

After an internal debate, I decide I'll just do my best to live this life to the fullest.

Starting with remaking Conrad the Simp into Conrad the Badass... Okay, I'll find a better name later.

"I'm sorry, mate. Every thin' is a bit fuzzy, all I remember is that he was a salarian." I tell him, deciding to take on an Australian accent since I always thought they were cool.

"I see. Let's get you some medical care." Garrus says before calling over his communicator, "This is Officer Vakarion, suspect, a Dr. Saleon has evaded capture, we have a civilian in need of urgent medical attention."

It's then I roughly piece together what that screen meant when it said it was reconfiguring the world... It appears the Doctor you track down with Garrus is the same one that captured this version of Conrad and did horrible experiments on him... Me.

I'm overwhelmed with memories and nostalgia for being in my first true love of sci-fi video gaming. The world that grew my love for everything sci-fi and I can't help but feel an odd sense of gratitude to the mysterious blue screen.

And then I remember... I'm in Mass Effect... As Conrad Verner... Well... I'm completely fucked.

I take a moment to calm myself as Garrus is beside me, and I don't want to seem like I've gone insane as well as being some kind of Frankenstein's monster.

I look to Garrus and realize he seems... Younger? I decide to question him about my growing suspicion.

"I'm sorry from keepin' ya from gettin' that bastard, but can you tell me what year it is, every thin' is seemin' fuzzy." I ask Garrus as I hold my head.

Garrus gives me a quizzical look before answering me, "It's 2173 C.E. are you sure you're alright?" He asks in concern as I take a deep breath in, shocked at what I just heard.

Ten years?! What the fuck? Why the hell am I so early?! Mass Effect 1 doesn't begin until 2183!

My face expresses a wide range of emotions when the EMTs finally reach us and stare at my form in deep concern and confusion.

"Um... Have you ever seen anything like that?" A turian EMT says to a human who came onto the scene with him.

"No, and these readings don't make sense either. We should rush them to the hospital for a thorough examination." The human responds, helping me onto a gurney before rushing me over to a balcony, where a sky ambulance rushes us to the nearest hospital.

I was taken through a battery of tests, some invasive pokes and prods, and a morose diagnosis later, I'm sitting alone contemplating what it all means. It's then Garrus and an older turian, who I assume to be his partner, comes into the hospital room, staring at all the diagnostic equipment and all the various IVs coming into my body with slight discomfort.

"Sir, we've come to take your statement on your abduction by a person of interest in a series of illegal genetic experiments. Any information you can recall will be of great use to our investigation." The older turian says like he has done so a thousand times before.

"I'm sorry, mate, but... Who are ya? I just know Officer Vakarion." I say, still confused as to who that guy is.

"You heard him, rookie. He requested to only speak to you. Don't mess up my notes." The other officer says, taking the opportunity to leave the two of us alone, I presume to get the turian equivalent of coffee.

"I'm sorry about my partner. Do you mind walking through the timeline of events we've pieced together?" Garrus offers with an apology.

"We can try, but every thin' is kinda blank in places. The docs say that could be a side effect of what happened to me." I tell Garrus what the doctors told me.

"That's fine, maybe walking through the events will help jog your memory..." Garrus says, pulling up some files on his data pad.

"Our files show that you came to the Citadel with two friends after graduating from your secondary schools to gain a greater understanding of the cultures and species of the Galaxy. We have footage of you going through Citadel Customs without issue, as well as getting to your hotel on your credit logs. After that, it seems your group went to the nearest bar, where one of your friends fell ill. Together, you and your non-sick friend took him to the nearest clinic... After that the timeline ends... And that was 13 months ago..." Garrus says, making me draw a deep breath in shock.

"I've been under for over a fuckin' year?!" I say, now extremely glad that the blue screen waited until the very end of what must've been a very traumatic transformation process before putting me in Conrad's body.

"It would appear so, Mr. Verner. Is there anything you can remember or share from your experience that could help us track down the monster who did this to you?" Garrus asks, trying to be helpful.

"I'm sorry... I just don't remember anythin'... Did ya find me mates, are they like... Like me?" I ask him, wondering about the others I was with.

"Unfortunately, no, they disappeared from the clinic at the same time that you did. We had hoped to find them with you... Though don't give up hope, we're having the analysts comb through the scene as we speak, and I'm certain they'll turn up more evidence soon." Garrus says, trying to reassure me.

"Thank you… Does me family know… Anythin' about what happened?" I ask, remembering Conrad had a sister.