Chapter 2: Departure


"In less than an hour... We will begin the largest and most difficult mission any of us have ever been on."

"This began with an attack on human settlement. But we know Saren will not stop there."

"He and his geth armies will not stay away from Citadel space."

"Saren isn't a threat just for humanity, Saren is a threat to every species that is out here."

"It is our task to stop him."

"I don't know what challenges we face ahead of us, what dangers await us."

"But what I know is, we will overcome any obstacle. We will see this to its end."

"Together we can, and we must, succeed!"

"Well spoken, Commander", Joker commented as Shepard finished her speech. "Captain would be proud."

"Not if we mess this up", Shepard started "Begin pre-flight checks, Joker"

"Yes ma'am!", Joker replied.


Shepard left Joker at the cockpit and moved over to her team, who were standing in front of the Galaxy Map. Some gave her a nod of approval regarding her speech.

"We will be leaving soon", she started "Does anyone have any special requirements? Garrus and Tali will obviously require Dextro rations. But other than that? Jaden, Wrex?"

"All I require is a location of solitude, a place I can call my own", answered Jaden.

"Of course, you'll all get private cabins."

"That will be adequate."

"Aah, krogan can thrive anywhere", Wrex remarked. "Just make sure no one disturbs my slumber."


Afterwards they all retreated to their designated cabins. Later, Shepard went to visit each member individually, to get to know them better.

In his cabin, Jaden placed his Thunderbolt rifle on one of the tables and symmetrically placed one Detonator SMG on both sides of the rifle.
But his Energy Swords, he would always keep with him.

He removed the magazines from the SMGs and had just taken out the trigger circuits from all three weapons, when the door opened, revealing Shepard who entered.

"Ah, Commander, need something?", he started and leaned against the wall next to the table.

"Just getting to know the crew.", she paused momentarily "I'd be lying if I said you aren't interesting. I have never seen anyone like you, you have weapons no one has even seen. And you're 'just' a vigilante?"

"I know I'm being mysterious which naturally creates interest and you have a lot of questions. About me. About what I do. You also know I can't, or won't answer most of your questions. It is who I am unfortunately."

A pause.

"But know this; for some time I've done what you saw at Chora's Den. There are malevolent people out there who believe themselves invulnerable. I prove them wrong. Without hesitation, without mercy. I wanted to come with you as Saren poses a threat, not just to humanity. Not just to any one species. But to everyone."

Another pause.

"But do not worry, you are the commander on this task and I'm with you. To the end. Remember that."

Shepard pondered his words for a while. It was obvious that Jaden was dangerous, especially to those he deemed 'malevolent', but he also has a code he follows. And he was ready follow her lead.

"I take it means you don't have problems following orders?", she finally said.

"Long as they aren't bad orders", Jaden replied; his voice had a hint of amusement. Shepard could almost swear he was smirking under his hood. "But seeing as how others follow you, we probably won't be having that problem."

"What about the hood, are you always going to hide your face under the hood?"

"Yes. And do not ask me to reveal it. Ever." He said it with a voice that wasn't threatening or aggressive, but it was absolute.

"Allright, thanks for your time either way.", Shepard said, turned and prepared to leave.

"Any time. Although you may have not gotten answers you came for, but don't be a stranger either."

Shepard left without replying, though she made a note in her mind. Jaden returned to the table and began to work on his weapons.

Many hours later Shepard called over the intercom: "Ashley, Garrus, Jaden, Kaidan, Tali, Wrex. To conference room. Pressly has determined the location of T'Soni."


Notes


Much shorter chapter this time, but with more notes.

"Pressly has determined the location of T'Soni.". Think we know what that means.

I got questions from "brandonack96", who was asking about Virmire, Citadel and the Rachni queen.

My plan is to have the queen live. I'm not yet completely sure about Virmire, let alone Citadel (I presume with Citadel you meant the part in ME3)

As of now i didn't receive other questions, but under is a little bit of info.

The intention is to go through the events of the games (not to the same degree as some of true novelizations I've read):

Most of the side missions will be omitted, though they may be referenced in some way (eg. "how was planet x?" or "anything special in ...")

The important events should play out, but in altered ways, as the name implies.

(though honestly, i couldn't think a better name so i named it 'Altered', because that's what it does, alters.)

Shepard is supposed to be an infiltrator and close the default look (maybe add red hair and change iris colors)


===========If anyone is curious about Jaden's weapons:

The Energy Swords are obviously inspired by the lightsaber
(though i imagined the blades would look much more like an actual sword, rather than a straight shaft of energy).

The Detonator -SMGs are weapons that apparently use crystalline shards as ammunition.

The Thunderbolt, a long range sniper type weapon that looks completely alien.

The SMGs (they are identical between each other and he has two) and the sniper weapon draw inspiration from two different sci-fi FPS series.

One hint: in both series, the protagonist wears some kind of suit.

I'll reveal which when Jaden has used them at least once.


===========Under is some overall info about Jaden, something that might be considered as mild spoilers, so read at your own discretion=============


So, Jaden.

He is a random mix between Jedi, Sith, Ghost rider and a Red Lantern. Plus more. Even though some of those groups are evil in their own universe,
Jaden isn't meant to be evil.

Or at least he doesn't see himself as evil.

He is meant to be what i think as "Chaotic good/neutral" -alignment: He is on the 'good' side, but with often ruthless and/or merciless ways.

His black, light-draining clothing, is only a disguise. Why he is disguised, will be revealed in future.

When it comes down to pure power and abilities, he is much stronger (by a few orders of magnitude) than anyone else in the team.
But i wouldn't want to make this into something where he would just wave his hand and destroy any enemy etc, So he is unwilling (or too afraid) to use his abilities to their maximum potential. Although if something really provokes him (remember the Red Lantern part), he might lose it for a short while.
He is NOT a biotic, though he possesses abilities that are reminiscent to biotics.

I'd say out of anyone in Shepard's team Jaden is most similar to Samara (in fact i have plans to bring them close, when the time comes. Maybe not to a romance, but close)