Stories taking place in a different setting than canon.
A Call To Duty
by Z98- Recommended by SuperTulle
- Status: Complete, with a sequel that was last updated the 5th June, 2020.
- Synopsis: Relations between the Terran Empire and the Citadel have been tense since the First Contact War, but efforts to reach amicable relations were bearing fruit. The discovery of a Prothean relic on Eden Prime offered another opportunity to improve relations, until things go badly awry. As Cadre, one of the emperor's chosen, Shepherd is charged with determining the truth, at any cost.
- Comments: Z98 is an excellent author with a number of fics with their own pages here. This fic explores what would happen if humanity was ruled by a constitutional monarchy a la the United Kingdom when the events of ME1 start happening. Z98 also changes or expands on several things that felt a bit rushed in the games.
Catalyst.EXE by Shujin
- Recommended by: GLH
- Status: Dormant
- Synopsis: A doctor named Rebecca wakes up on Ilos, trapped within the memory banks of a Prothean computer. After adjusting to her new situation and creating an android body for herself, she sets about to preventing the canonical plot by doing her best to fortify Ilos, and prevent Saren from utilizing the Mass Relay to sneak Sovereign into the Citadel. Unfortunately, things don't go as planned because the reality she woke up in is not exactly the same one as in the games due to the things she remembers actually being a simulation created by an insane Reaper looking to get one last Fuck You on Harbinger and the rest of the Reapers. Whoops.
- Comments: Lots of unintentional situations due to faulty information, misunderstandings, and bad decisions.
Lazarus Shunned
by Two Eyed Charlie- Recommended by: Doctorpooandthe TURDIS
- Status: In Progress
- Synopsis: From the summary: Cerberus has spent billions of credits trying to bring Commander Jane Shepard back from the dead, and despite the odds it seems to be working. Then a saboteur inside of Cerberus makes his move and Shepard's resurrection takes a horrific turn, leaving the Alliance, Shepard's old team, and Cerberus scrambling to control the situation...all while the Collectors begin their harvest of humanity. An AU "What If?" story where the Shepard that wakes up on Lazarus Station isn't the same person that died over Alchera.
Legacy of One
by Salmon Center- Recommended by: Magyareagle
- Status: Dormant (last updated December 2017)
- Synopsis: AU, Shepard didn't care much for glory or fame. Only that what she was due was returned in full. But, an oversight in her part to repay her debts to Commander Alenko, tips her silent world into the clutches of the Reaper War. Set post-ME1 till end of ME2. Eventual FemShep/Garrus.
- Comments: One of the most original and interesting AU fics I've read. It expands on a briefly mentioned sidequest in Mass Effect regarding the League of One, and expands upon it, building a fascinating and unique Shepard around it. It takes the usual premise of an alternate Commander Shepard, and spins it on its head by not having her be commander at all, instead giving the Normandy and its crew to Commander Alenko, the first Human Spectre. He is the one Cerberus chooses to resurrect, and as a result she never dies in the first place. The way this effects the crew and characters is done in realistic and believable way, and I love the fact that the characters actually act like adults instead of angsty teenagers. The writing is excellent, and I highly recommend the story.
Sins of the Father
by MsWikit- Recommended by: Theriocephalus
- Status: Complete. A sequel, Needs of the Many, is in progress, but only has one chapter and has not updated since 2017.
- Pairings: Fem!Shep/Nihlus Kryik
- Synopsis: During a mission on Mindoir, Saren discovers a recently orphaned human who shows incredible promise. Believing he can mold her into the Spectre she was obviously meant to be, Saren adopts her and raises her as his own. He comes to realize that the galaxy is full of dangers — and resolves to protect his daughter from all of them. The story then follows Jane Shepard — or, here, Jane Arterius — as she grows up as Saren's adopted daughter, even as their relationship steadily deteriorates as Saren slips further and further into the Reapers' sway as the events of the games approach.
- Comments: This is an absolutely fantastic story. The writing is extremely good, and the characters' voices, motivations and development are very well-done. Saren and Jane's relationship in particular is fascinating to follow, and starts out in a very sweet and sentimental manner before taking a turn for the tragic. I heartily recommend reading this story.
Til I Change Your Mind
by Stratagemini- Recommended by: Thors_Alumni
- "Status": Ongoing with 55 chapters
- "Synopsis": The most surveilled Krogan in the Galaxy tries to obtain a happy ending to the Reaper War. Hijinks ensue.
