The Handsome Effect

Summary: Rhys wasn't heartless, he saw the good in Jack… and the evil in Pandora. With a (hopefully) reformed AI Jack in his head, he entered the Vault of the Traveler with Fiona. They didn't expect for it to transport them to another galaxy however. Separated from Fiona, Rhys and Jack meet our favorite newly-resurrected SPECTRE. This should be fun.

Note: Right now I am unsure as to who I am going to pair Rhys and/or Jack with. Though I know many people play it so that Rhys has a thing for Sasha, I'm writing mine as bi with no stated feelings for Sasha. So! With that said, submit your suggestions for who Rhys gets with via reviews! I laid the groundwork for Jack x Rhys if you want that, but I could easily just make them really good friends. Jack also will be bi so suggest who he's going to take interest in.

There WILL be slash because I'll be using my Shepard, who I play as gay. Since there are no actual gay romance options in ME2, I'm unsure of where to go with that. If no one has a good idea, I'll figure something out. Regardless, you have all three of those characters you can suggest pairings for.

Chapter 1: Of Course It Was The Vault

"C'mon Rhysie, stop worrying about her! I mean, what, she's just, just dust in the wind! Like us, now that I think about it," Jack mumbled, walking alongside Rhys, still a hologram. Rhys sighed fondly, running a hand through his hair with a sigh.

"You know she's a bit more than a business partner. After all the shit we went through together, she's a good friend." Rhys said as he ducked behind another building.

Jack snorted, "O-ho-ho-ho, trust me Cupcake, I still remember that stunt you pulled when you blew up my gorgeous little space station and almost- almost! -killed me too. Glad you didn't by the way, I don't think I say that enough," Jack rambled a bit.

Rhys chuckled as he slinked his way up to what looked like a terminal in the building, "Well, did you at least have the good doctor give you a few hacking upgrades?" He asked sarcastically, still very much freaked out. This was not what he expected from a Vault- though to be fair, it was called the vault of the Traveler. So suddenly being transported into what seemed like another galaxy seems oddly appropriate.

"Upgrades?! Rhys baby, you doubting me? C'mon, you know I'm the hero, a little hacking job is nothing for me!" Jack chortled out with a menacing grin, "Plus for an AI, hacking is basically just finding and killing security programs, and well, hehe, we both know how good I am at killing things, eh Pumpkin?"

"Easy or not, we need info. And maybe some way to translate the variety of languages? Somehow everyone knows what the other people are saying," Rhys pointed out, which made Jack pause and look around at the various alien species interacting.

In particular, a holographic device that appeared over people's arm caught his eye, "Hm, seems they have something like ECHO eyes, just less awesome. Makes sense, its non-Hyperion corporate scum," Jack joked causing Rhys to laugh.

To anyone who had seen the two during the space station incident, they'd think Rhys was insane. After all, Jack had been a megalomaniac, selfish, and in general a deranged psycho who was trying to kill Rhys. Well, yeah, they'd be right. Thing was, he hadn't crushed the ECHO eye when he had removed it. He had been listening to Jack and well… He was everything Rhys dreamed he would be, ruthless and powerful yes. Yet he had found a vulnerability he hadn't expected there.

He eventually had made a computer that was completely isolated with no way to access the larger network and had plugged the AI in. Jack had been both absolutely livid and infinitely grateful at the same time- mad because of Rhys's betrayal but thankful because, well, he hadn't killed him.

Rhys eventually had been able to have a conversation with Jack- not like there was much for the AI to do -and had eventually, after many rants and death rants on both sides, gotten Jack to understand why exactly Rhys had done what he had done.

Hell, he had basically turned into Jack's therapist after that, talking to him a LOT. The Atlas CEO hadn't expected to be able to trust Jack at all- to some extent he still didn't. But the AI had seemingly made progress and he had blackmailed a programmer into looking over the code…. With a little insurance of a bomb in the man's brain should he leak the info.

Okay, so Jack had been a bit of a bad influence, but he hadn't gotten too trigger happy- he was mostly the same Rhys he had always been. The programmer had said Jack's code did seem to indicate a change from his original encoding, though whether it was for the better or worse he was unsure. Rhys had put some faith and trust in Jack and had let him back into his head.

Jack had been touched, though extremely surprised. Rhys didn't tell the man how he felt about him- he wasn't in love with him or anything but, well, he was fond of the AI and let's be honest; Handsome Jack may have been a god-awful human being but EVERYONE on Pandora was.

After all, every "Good person"/Vault Hunter (who, mind you, were supposedly the heroes of the people of Sanctuary) was more than willing to kill bandits or pyschos whenever they reared their heads. They had just as much blood on their hands as Handsome Jack and they hadn't even been trying to unite Pandora and bring peace to it like Jack had.

They killed as many people without trial or any reason besides they'd try to kill the Vault Hunter's. How was Jack any different? Would those same bandits not attack Handsome Jack had he appeared on Pandora? Would that not grant him the same right to kill them it granted everyone else.

Rhys honestly wasn't even sure how to feel about Pandora anymore. The people didn't want democracy except when it served their purposes and places like Sanctuary were technically dictatorships (people being okay with the dictator doesn't make it less of a dictatorship). As much as he abhorred having someone else's "order" forced on him, hell, was there any other way to save the people of the planet he had killed for in order to "liberate" them?

Hell, he wasn't even in it to save people, Fiona and them had been in it for the money at first and then for the Vault. It was everyman for himself out there and as twisted as Handsome Jack was, Rhys could understand why the man was so fed up with everyone's shit.

So, because of all that, he gave Handsome Jack another chance, though he was clear it was his last chance. They had been together during the whole Gortys thing, refraining from telling the others about Jack for very, very obvious reasons. Then they had walked into the Vault of the Traveler with Fiona, opened a chest, and were transported here.

Wherever here even was.

"Okay Rhysie, looks like we've got some good news and some bad news. Good news is these people have shit security that was easier to blow open than a Psycho's ribcage!" Jack said suddenly, back from his hacking, giving Rhys a grin. "Got us access to a bunch of bank accounts that we can bounce stuff through so we never have to use our own money."

Rhys facepalmed and sighed. In Jack's defense Rhys's fabulous wealth probably would mean shit here so until he could get more they would have to use less savory methods, "That's…. that's the good news?" He asked bleakly.

Jack nodded with an even bigger grin, though the look in his eyes told Rhys he was a bit unsettled, "Alright here's the other news Pumpkin. Well, we may- not saying we are, not saying we aren't -be in another universe. Or galaxy at least. Probably galaxy, the multi-verse theory is dumb and pointless," Jack rambled as he flicked through datapads worth of info, "Cause like humans come from some place called earth here- really who names a place after dirt?"

Rhys was hyperventilating a bit- "What do you mean another galaxy?!" He said in a complete panic. How was that even possible?! I mean, it was made by an ancient civilization but STILL! The literal fuck was going on?!

"Whoa, whoa there, Rhysie, let's just, let's just calm it down a notch. Two notches? Several notches at least," Jack said, clapping his partner on the back despite the man couldn't feel it, "Look at it this way! We're in a place with ZERO enemies! No one knows who we are! We can dominate them while their metaphorical, and not so metaphorical I'm sure, pants are down!"

Ironically, it was the AI's voice that calmed Rhys the most, leaving him chuckling, "I'm sure no one wants that," He joked, a light twist in his stomach from a foreign feeling entering him.

Jack cackled manically, "Oh I can think of quite a few- hell, doesn't everyone want a piece of this?" Handsome Jack said, a smidge full of himself- okay a lot full of himself. Rhys simply rolled his eyes and started walking again, Jack following behind.

"Anyways, we're on someplace called Omega and man are we gonna stand out. Well you at least. I mean seriously, this is gonna sound pretty gay Cupcake- not like I mind, though I will not be taking it from anyone thank you – but your clothes are awful," Jack said, walking backwards without care, phasing through various aliens they passed.

"Like not that they're not fashionable or anything, you look like a rich CEO, got the hair right too- its more that this place is basically space Pandora- "He paused, reconsidering his words, "Or even spacier Pandora? I mean Pandora is technically a planet so it's already in space, but, ah, well whatever, I'm rambling! This is gonna be great!"

Rhys mouth ran dry at that statement, "Ah. So basically. This is gonna be pretty lawless." His eyes began darting around him, hands checking his pockets quickly before moving so it'd hover over his pistol as he walked, ready in case Jack needed to take over and defend them.

That was also something they had done. Jack was training Rhys but he was still mostly shit with a gun. So, the AI was given permission to commandeer the body when their life was endangered, so long as he didn't go overboard. Yes, he knew it was dangerous! God, Rhys could practically feel the protests of every person he had ever known saying that was a bad idea.

"Well they do have a leader like that fool Roland- some blue sexy alien bitch called Aria. Oh by the way there are sexy blue aliens that are exclusively female," Handsome Jack said at Rhys shocked face, giving him a grin, and wiggling his eyebrows, "And they mate with ev-ry-bo-dy," He said in a singsong voice.

Rhys rolled his eyes and kept moving as Jack cackled manically as they walked, "Well the good news is no one is going to give you a second look about your arm or cybernetics here- well not anymore than anyone would look at someone with top-of-the-line enhancements back home would," Jack smirked, "But ah, our fellow humans, hehe, well they uh, they seem to be a whole lot stupider."

The CEO turned to Jack to ask what he meant but was taken back by the other man's angry look. Rhys stared for a second before sighing, "Do I want to know Jack?"

"Oh yeah, you definitely want to know this Pumpkin- I'm just super pissed off humanity agreed to this bullshit," He ground out in rage as he reviewed the information. Rhys patiently waited for him to continue; Jack sighed, "Okay Cupcake, so humanity joined something called the "Citadel Council"- more like the Citadel Couch of Ass-Kissers, am I right? Course I am," He said plowing on, "Damn politicians. Anyways, in order to do so they had to give up the ability to create A.I.s, like myself! Amongst other concessions, but still!"

Groaning, Rhys facepalmed once again, "Meaning technically you're illegal?" This was just great, reassured a lot (note the sarcasm) especially as he was met by Jack's laughs.

"So very, very, very illegal, it's almost kind of refreshing! I mean, I didn't even have to do anything and they hate me! It's like fucking Pandora all over again!" Jack raged, shouting as he tried to strangle one of the aliens nearby. Rhys sighed.

"It's not like that Jack, not like what happened back there. No one is betraying you." Rhys said, trying to get the A.I. to be reasonable, at least a little bit so. Jack just scoffed and was about to say something when Rhys hit something, causing him to fall to the ground with a grunt.

"Oi, what the-?!" He was about to ask but stopped abruptly as he saw who exactly he had run into. The man was probably only around average height but he was wearing a rather intimidating set of armor. It was jet black save for some blue lights that light it up; it was bulky but still seemed like something someone could wear and not be too encumbered. The helmet had a visor lowered over the eyes. Rhys guessed there was some sort of heads-up display that showed his surroundings under the visor.

"Oo-hoo-hoo, looks like we have a badass here people!" Jack said, twirling around the man, looking the armor over, "At least this armor is badass. Damn, I'd totally get one if it didn't cover my amazing face," He remarked before winking out of existence so Rhys could concentrate.

"Sorry about that- here," the man extended his hand out and Rhys gratefully took it so he could get up easier, "I was talking with my squadmate; I apologize for any inconvenience. The name is Shephard, Commander Shephard." He said politely. Rhys liked this guy already.

He glanced behind him and saw a woman and man. The woman was not in armor but giving him a really creepy vibe; the other man was a veteran if the numerous scars on his face and missing eye was any indication. Interesting crowd, though he supposed it shouldn't be unexpected for a station like this. "Commander Shephard is legendary," Jack's voice whispered to him, "Maybe he has a ship we can use."

Rhys smiled- perfect, "No worries! No worries, none at all- the name is Rhys, of Atlas- well, I WAS of Atlas renown but well, if you make money expected to be robed of it all by backstabbers am I right?" The veteran behind Shepard grumbled and nodded; must've been betrayed himself. "Look, thing is, I don't have a way off here. Now if you want payment, I'm sure I can scrounge together something," He said apologetically.

He was hoping he could pull off the poor distressed rich man who had lost his wealth. Jack's approving hum made him think he was succeeding. Shepard raised his hand to stop to stop his rambling, "I'm not going to ask for any payment." The woman saddled up to Shepard and began whispering in his ear irritated. Shepard looked annoyed but nodded reluctantly, "Well maybe not on my ship, but the least I can do is help you get some form of transport off world."

"Awesome! And I do have a couple of guns, so if you need any help on anything to guarantee me getting a ride, whelp, there ya go!" He said cheerfully, glad he had some way off-world secured already. If they were on a mission that would give Jack time to finish scouring the net, or whatever they called it, to secure him an identity in this world.

Jack got his message and accessed one of the wireless terminals that offered "free" connection. He of course bypassed the pay wall and got to work. Shepard looked Rhys over with a raised eyebrow, "You don't seem the type to get your hands dirty."

Rhys laughed, crossing his arms as his weight shifted to his right foot, "Well you're not wrong, at least I'm the type who does it unless its necessarily- but well, I'm not exactly surrounded by the usual bodyguards or anything anymore, so I have to do it myself." He said with a tilt of his head. Shepard understood and seemed to respect that.

"Well, I suppose you can come with us. You're human so the pathogen shouldn't affect you, so you can survive in the quarantine zone. We're heading down to extract a Salarian who we need to talk with. You're welcome to join us," He remarked.

The CEO nodded, "Better than standing around here I suppose," Shepard smiled under his helmet and nodded in agreement.

"We just need to pick up some supplies first. You want to meet back up after that?" Rhys nodded. There wasn't much else he needed to do; he had his pistol, shotgun, and SMG on him and all the ammo he needed for now. He wasn't even sure if their ammo would work with his gun.

So they parted ways, Shepard and his team moving off to the shops, Rhys looked around for somewhere to be. He certainly couldn't go into the giant bunker/bar as he doubted he'd be let in by the bouncer, which was some weird four legged hunched over thing. Leaving Rhys lounging around in one of the nearby alleys, not much to do with Jack busy scouring the net.

"Well what do we have here? Rich guy huh," Someone's voice said as Rhys looked up, heart sinking. And here he was, trying avoid trouble. He sent out a SOS to Jack before getting up to talk to the approaching thugs.

One was a human at least. The other two, he had no idea what they were. They had four eyes and looked a bit disgusting in Rhys's opinion. Batarians. Slavers at their heart, their whole society is like one giant gang of bandits and psychos, with the few ones who are innocent kept in place by authoritarian rule. Jack sneered in his mind. Rhys's opinion of the species dropped completely because of that tidbit of information.

"Now now, I'm sure we can come to an agreement fellas, right? Like you guys just leave me alone yes?" Rhys said with a smile, honestly hoping not to get into a gunfight this early in their journey through this unknown galaxy. The other beings laughed, the human shaking his head.

Rhys sighed. "Listen Cupcakes, the deal isn't whether I get left alone, its whether you don't get fucked for bothering me," his voice growled out, taking a manic tone, ECHO eye flickering in color as Jack took over, "So here's the no bullshit version, Princess, you and your four eyed shits can either take your sorry asses and leave or they'll get a nice introduction to the shotgun I'm about to shove up them."

The thugs seemed a bit taken back by Jack's appearance (though they thought Rhys was simply insane), which simply served to make Jack madder, "What, never been threatened by a man in a suit before? You thought a rich man would be defenseless, you sorry little shits eh? WELL FUCK YOU TOO!" He suddenly screamed enraged.

His infinity pistol was suddenly in his left hand as his mechanical arm reached to grab the shotgun that straddled the back of his hips, "FUCK!" His first shot flew from his pistol, hitting the batarian between his four eyes, "THAT!" The other screamed as he ate a face-full of shotgun pellets.

The human had pulled out his gun and was about to fire, so Jack dropped his shotgun and let his shield take the few shots the human managed to pull off before his mechanical hand was wrapped around his throat, forcing the thug to the ground as he choked him, laughing manically as the human gave him a terrified look.

"RHYS! What the hell are you doing?!" Uh-oh. Looks like Shepard was back. Rhys tried to take back over but Jack hushed him and answered for his partner.

"I was, ah, demonstrating to the, hrm, the strapping young lad the difference between choking and," the man went limp in Jack's grip and he let a savage grin spread on his face, "Strangulation."