''[[http://web.archive.org/web/20120412120016/http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5756464/1/An_Unfortunate_Mix_Up An Unfortunate Mix Up]]'' is a comedic ''Franchise/MassEffect'' {{fanfic}} by TV Tropes contributor Tropers/{{IHOP}} (under the pen name Insane Guy of DOOM) in which Tali'Zorah is exposed to a "DNA-Altering Retrovirus" which ultimately results in her getting pregnant with Commander Shepard's child. Initially the two struggle to figure out what law of science could cause this unholy abomination while Grunt becomes interested in a MMORPG called [[VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft Galaxy of Fantasy]]. Once they discover the source, Shepard and Tali inform the crew of the Normandy's soon-to-be-littlest crew member and Grunt becomes further addicted to the online game. Garrus acts as Grunt's mentor while struggling against a player named "[=EggsBenedict=]" and acting as moral support for Shepard and Tali.
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!!This work provides Examples Of:
* BizarreAlienBiology: Quarians are described as having seven inch long prehensile tongues (which according to Shepard, they can do ''amazing things'' with), star-shaped hearts and pouches like a marsupial.
* BoldlyComing: The story is based around Shepard, a human, and Tali, a quarian, having a mutant hybrid child. Also there's [[spoiler: The Illusive Man's quarian fetish]], and Thane, a drell, and Kelly, also a human.
* BrainBleach: You'll need this for the scene in chapter fourteen where [[spoiler: The Illusive Man jumps naked out of a cake]].
** [[spoiler: It is later revealed that TIM is wearing a speedo.]]
* BreakingTheFourthWall: Done several times including "Mainly because (Shepard's) paragon level wasn't high enough for the rousing speech he had planned" and "Shepard and Tali sprinted towards the Normandy, hardly able to wait through the loading screen-I mean decontamination chamber, before reaching the Commander's private terminal".
** When Shepard puts a gun to Grunt's head after he [[spoiler: joins the Flotilla's Admiralty Board and orders the fleet to land on Tuchanka (which would kill them all)]] Tali stops him saying "No, we can't kill Grunt. He's one of the most popular characters."
*** Shepard saying that his "dance animation is literally just swaying from side to side slightly".
*** Engineer Gabby says that she and her partner Kenneth are "vague background characters" and that's why they know details about the story that they shouldn't normally have known in chapter fourteen.
* BuddyCopShow: Fil Der and Barst. In Fil's own words, "We're like the main characters in *breath* one those buddy cop vids."
%%* ByTheBookCop: Fil Der's partner and mount, Barst.
* CowboyCop: Fil Der, a loose cannon who doesn't play by the rules.
%%* CrackFic: The good kind.
* ADayInTheLimelight: Chapter 5 focuses almost entirely on the Normandy's crew and their own misadventures with Shepard and Tali only appearing in the last few paragraphs.
* DistantFinale: The epilogue takes place 21 years after the main story.
* DontExplainTheJoke: The author makes several references to Creator/PeterChimaera and follows them with (that's a reference to Peter Chimaera).
* DrunkWithPower: Grunt in chapter 12. "CASUAL FRIDAY NOW!"
* GargleBlaster: Shepard drinks an actual [[Franchise/TheHitchHikersGuideToTheGalaxy pan-galactic gargle blaster]] in chapter three.
* HeelFaceTurn: Arguable Admiral Zaal'Korris when he votes the first Quarian bonding ritual completed satisfactorily.
** Well Tali and Shepard did save his life in the previous chapter, so it wasn't entirely unjustified.
* ICallItVera: Zaeed calls it "Jessie."
* LampshadeHanging: Fil Der the volus C-Sec officer who rides around on his elcor partner Barst's back like a horse. For those who are unfamiliar, volus are a race who are terrible at fighting and would make the worst cops imaginable. Even Commander Shepard is in disbelief when he first meets them. [[spoiler:So is Udina.]]
* MurderTheHypotenuse: One symptom of Quarian Pregnancy is a desire to do this. Problem is: EVERYTHING is a Hypotenuse to Tali in her state including [[spoiler:Jacob, a random fangirl, Ashley, and a plant]].
* PreviouslyOn: Jokingly done in chapter 10, where the author recaps what happened in the last chapter but gets the title mixed up with [[spoiler:''Series/{{Lost}}'']] and [[spoiler:''Series/DesperateHousewives'']].
* PuttingTheBandBackTogether: Kelly plans to do this by inviting Shepard's old squadmates to a surprise baby shower.
* RememberTheNewGuy: A short while after the first few chapters were written, a new character named Kasumi was made available in ''ME 2'', she was hastily added to story being introduced with Shepard saying "Ah Kasumi, my loyal squad member who has been here the whole time!"
* RougeAnglesOfSatin: Grunt's attempt at spelling "The Baby Shower" comes out as "Teh Babby ShowR", the krogan messenger from chapter twelve also has this problem.
** Also "Goe 2 da Krew Quar-Krawts-Krew Place –Grunt"
* SequelHook: The story ends with [[spoiler:Shepard and Tali's son Rael as an adult about to begin his pilgrimage (quarian rite of passage)]], however the author has no plans to make one.
* ShoutOut: Accusing the biotic Andreas of burning down restaurants makes him angry. People don't like him when he's angry.
** Also, Shepard's combat drone is named Captain Tinker-Tonk after Sir Schmoopy's pet pig from WebAnimation/UnforgottenRealms.
*** There are two in chapter 12, Zaal'Koris' "I have a Dream" speech, and Mordin dons an orange muumuu like a [[WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitch certain other alien scientist]].
*** Zaal'Korris exclaiming, "This is madness!" while an enraged Krogan makes [[PunctuatedForEmphasis a declarative statement]] like [[Film/ThreeHundred a certain angry Greek]].
*** At one point Jacob is sneaking through the mess hall to steal a box of Cheezy Poofs, which are the favorite food of Cartman from ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' (while this may be true, [[WordOfGod the Author]] did not realize that at the time and simply thought that "Cheesy Poofs" was a good named for a cheese based snack joke).
*** Kelly and Mess Sergeant Gardener argue over whether or not {{the cake is a lie}} in chapter fourteen.
*** Lora Haven of Clan Haven greeting people by saying "May I take your coat or pants?" is yet another WebAnimation/UnforgottenRealms reference.
* TitleDrop: "I had been taking several antibiotics one which of turned out to be the retrovirus, which was quite ''an unfortunate mix up''."
* UnflinchingWalk: Fil Der and Barst after [[spoiler:arresting Udina and the Turian member of the Council.]]
* UnusualEuphemism: There is no cursing in the story other than the quarian insult "Bosh'tet", which is used to substitute any swear one can imagine.