Multiverse One Shot Collection - Reader Insert

Mass Effect - Preservation

The ship shuddered violently as another round of Reaper fire tore through its flank. Emergency lights painted the corridors in blood-red strobes, while the air filled with the blare of alarms and the faint hiss of venting atmosphere.

"Status!" you barked, sprinting down the listing hallway.

"Multiple hull breaches detected on Decks C through F. Pressure seals failing in Section 12," the disembodied voice replied, clinical and calm despite the carnage.

"Reroute bulkhead closures to Section 10. Evacuate survivors to the bridge," you ordered, gripping a handrail as the ship jolted again.

Turning a corner, you nearly skidded into chaos: blackened steel walls, sparking wires, and a gaping hole in the hull exposing the cold void of space. Shapes moved in the distance, their gleaming appendages catching the faint light of a nearby star.

Reapers. Crawling in like insects through the breach.

You didn't hesitate. rifle raised, you charged, yelling over your shoulder to the AI, "Seal it, now!"

The Paladine System thrummed with latent power, its servos hissing softly as it adjusted to your movement. The exosuit's onboard HUD highlighted targets in the gloom ahead: three Reaper husks scrambling into the corridor, their skeletal frames glinting with organic steel.

Your visor flickered as the AI piped in, "Breaches in proximity. Deploying localized containment fields."

A shimmering barrier snapped into place behind you, sealing the section for now. The HUD updated again, pulsing red as the Reapers closed in. You flexed your fingers, feeling the strength of the exosuit respond in perfect sync.

With a sharp inhale, you surged forward.

The first husk lunged—fast but predictable. Your armored fist met its chest, crushing the plating and sending it careening back into its companions. The Paladine System enhanced your strike, the impact echoing through the corridor like a thunderclap.

"Critical system damage detected in bulkheads. Vacuum imminent," the AI warned.

"I'm aware," you growled, hefting a plasma rifle off the ground and dispatching the next husk with precision shots. One round to the head. One to the glowing core. It collapsed mid-lunge, sparks spitting from its remains.

The third got closer—too close. It slashed at you, claws shrieking against your chestplate. The kinetic barriers rippled, absorbing the worst of it, but the impact still jarred you. With a fluid motion, you grabbed its arm, twisted, threw it over your shoulder and slammed it to the floor, delivering a stomp that shattered its torso.

"Deploy sealant foam at the breach!"

"Understood. Automated systems compromised—manual activation required."

Your HUD blinked, indicating a maintenance panel a few metres away. "Fuck me," you muttered.

Another tremor rocked the ship, and for a moment, you felt the pull of decompression as more air began to vent. Ignoring the chaos, you moved to the panel, tearing off the cover and slamming your fist into the override. Foam surged into the breach, expanding to form a temporary seal.

The corridor fell silent, save for the hiss of stabilising systems. You exhaled, scanning for more threats.

"Damage control complete," the AI confirmed. "However, enemy reinforcements detected on Deck F."

"Of course there are," you muttered, gripping your rifle and heading for the next battle.

Running around a corner, you burst into the staging area where a squad of soldiers crouched behind makeshift barricades. Their armour, standard-issue at best, was smeared with soot and streaked with blood. The Reapers had been relentless, and it showed in their faces—determined but strained.