"Shepard, don't listen to him." Garrus cursed, watching how the Cerberus hitman had stunned his friend with his mere words. "We're done if we let Cerberus get the female, there won't be a krogan-turian alliance without the genophage cured."
Shepard knew that he was right but does he really dare risking the life of Miranda over it? He shook himself back, Miranda wouldn't have him giving up to the demands of a hitman. The Doctor wouldn't bulge, neither will he do so now.
The hitman seemed to notice this change. "A pity, nevertheless. Good bye." With those words, the grenade launcher by the right shoulder started to flare up as the visor slid down to cover the face. The grenades were launched and exploded on impact which scattered debris which obscured the aim of the lined up shots. A dense cloud of smoke emerged, the hitman had planned this encounter well as the biotic whips of the dragoons descended upon them. Shepard's squad was cut off from one another and were unable to co-ordinate and before Shepard knew it. A strong hand had taken hold of him and thrown him to the wall.
Grunting as he partly wailed in brief pain to look up at the hitman who proceeded to push his boot on Shepard's right arm while aiming his Cerberus Harrier straight to his face. "Pity, I expected more of you. Commander."
Glaring upwards as his free hand lashed out, sending a shockwave which knocked the hitman off his feet. Shepard took the momentarily freedom to get up and slam the end of his Valkyrie across the bulky armored figure who just shrugged it off.
Shepard wasn't done though as his left fist illuminated with biotic power as he slammed against the man who disruptively moved his arm at the arm joint to prevent the contact of the radiating fist against the armor before getting hit in the head by his head-butt. "That's more like it, fight Shepard. FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE!" The hitman bellowed as Shepard stumbled back by the impact of the head-butt.
He was being drained fast, it's like the smoke surrounding them was toxic. And none of them wore helmets. Drawing his M-11 Wraith Shotgun with barrel at pointblank range at the man who bashed it aside while the trigger is pulled, it scratched and inflicted heavy damage upon his shield. The hitman wasn't fighting fair by any standards. In fact, he was playing with Shepard, like a predator plays with its prey before devouring it.
"I did her once, you know." The hitman voiced sarcastically, getting under Shepard's skin and it was working. "I did her good."
He tried to fight back, doing his best not let his word crawl under his skin. He didn't hear anything around him save what the hitman was saying. He saw nothing through the smoke save the hitman and his mind was torturing him seeing the hitman with the woman Shepard loved. He growled in anger as his fists flared up, his biotic power enhancing the matial prowess as they engaged close quarters. The hitman disruptively managed to block most of the vanguard's advances but Shepard did land a hit which seemed to knock the shields out completely. Fighting on more even terms, he used everything the hitman had said to get under his skin. What intended to distract him instead fueled him with anger.
He then felt the impact of the grenade launcher's projectiles blasting across the landpad out of the smoke. He saw things clearer, gunfire flashing inside along the biotic lashes of Liara but he saw no other than the hitman emerging through the smoke. "Now, this is more like it." He said with a sadistic grin as the visor lowered but the Carnifex was raised and loaded "I enjoyed this but the fun has to end."
"Oh, I agree." Bellowed Urdnot Wrex who charged the hitman from seemingly out of nowhere, bashing him hard enough to give him a concussion. "Tychus, you sadistic swine never cease to surprise me." He grunted as he lifted the M-300 Claymore with barrel pointed at the battered hitman who was cackling as he rose to his feet. Wrex pulled the trigger which fired the powerful sharpnels as the hitman lifted his left arm as an Omni-shield emerges like the N7 Crusader or the previous Shadow broker. The shield took the shot but the impact caused the hitman to stumble backwards as he lifted his firearm and returned fire at Wrex whose barrier was holding. Lashing out as he send a biotic warp as to keep pressure up as he charged.
The Omni-shield broke by the krogan warlord's brute force, sending him across the edge. Tychus looks up, grimacing as he threw himself over the edge. Vanishing from sight before Shepard lost consciousness.
…
The TARDIS door opened with the snap of the Doctor's fingers. Excitement in his voice and body language as he exited and bellow loudly at their destination. "Warriors of the Tharseesian Caste. I'm the Doctor and I request an audience with your sovereign; Grand Marshal Skaldak."
Clara recognized that name, Skaldak. That was the Grand Marshal of the Ice Warriors they met back on Earth in the year of… 1983 was it? Clara followed the Doctor. Outside there were Ice Warriors in the same heavy green-colored armor which Skaldak at worn that day. Half a dozen atleast and they were forming a semi-circle before them, all of them having sonic weaponry at the ready but they lowered as the familiar dark hissing voice of the Grand Marshal echoed through the space ships interior. "And an audience you sshall have, Doctor." The words were uttered like it was cut from ice, colder than subzero temperature if that was possible.
"Ssspeak, and I'll lisssten to your wordss." He bellowed like a clash of thunder. Skaldak was still in the uniform of an ice warrior but he now wore a cape above it like an ice lord. The Doctor nodded as he quit pacing around as he performed the Martian salute with a closed fist and elbow across his chest "Grand Marshal Skaldak. Sovereign of the Tharseesian Caste. By the Moon I honour thee. Grand Marshal. I'm here to ask for your help. Humanity is at war."
The Doctor paused but the Ice warriors didn't respond, Skaldak just stared at him coldly. Still listening. "With a highly-advanced machine race of synthetic-organic starships called the Reapers."
A loud hiss came from the mouths of the Ice Warriors present, excluding the Skaldak. "They struck one of our Ssships." Skaldak declared, the Doctor knew what that meant. 'Harm one of us, you harm us all' it's an ancient Martian code. The Reapers had attacked the Martians and thus declared war, calling for their aid just became much easier. "Very well then, I'd like to invite you to a war summit to fight the Reapers."
Skaldak stared at him long and hard, the Doctor never flinched. "They took Earth."
"You want usss to fight alongssside humansss?" Skaldak asked bluntly, The Doctor nodded as to answer the greatest hero of the Martian people. "Yes, humanity needs your help. The Reapers are here to 'harvest' the Milky Way."
Skaldak turned around as he approached a lit brazier, out of the flames he drew a long and thin sword with a jagged side. The Doctor recognized that relic from anywhere, it was the Sword of Taburr and Skaldak lifted it high. "By the moonsss, I ssswear. Doctor. Where iss thisss Sssummit?"
…
The rugged but dignitary appearance of Councilor Udina had appeared through the QEC aboard the Normandy. However, he was surprised to see it wasn't Shepard who he was greeting. "Captain, where's the Commander?"
"Knocked out in the med-bay, krogan female is secure, Professor Solus is doing his best to synthesize a cure for the Genophage. However, I doubt this is a social call, Councilor." Captain Jack Harkness responded, he was currently acting as the XO.
"Very well, I need you to come back immediately for the Citadel. Alliance R&D have made some progress with a new M-44 Hammerhead. I want it aboard the Normandy to increase ground support for ground missions." Udina responded curtly to the Captain who nodded. "I'm sure it'll be useful. However, there got to be more than that. Otherwise, you wouldn't be calling us."
"The Council is having a session in two days, the topic is for now on a need-to-know basis. Nevertheless, I want Lieutenant-Commander Ashley Williams to be present." The Councilor retorted, he won't give Harkness more than that; they both know it.
"Understood, Councilor. Harkness out." With those word, the QEC was cut. Harkness had a bad feeling about it. He never liked Udina, or politicians in general. It was puzzling he wanted Ashley Williams to be present in a Council session and not Shepard. Something was fishy, that's for sure.
…
"Sontar-ha! Sontar-ha! Sontar-ha!" bellowed from Strax's mouth as a toothy grin formed on his face. Urdnot Wrex were charging at him, fully armored as crewmen shared on one or the other during the fist fight in the shuttle bay.
They had agreed on the terms earlier; no weapons, fully armored and victory through physical prowess. Strax proved to be more than adequate in fighting the krogan warlord. Many thought of his intelligence being less than average, what he did next proved them wrong. In middle of Wrex's charge he had lunged forward as if he intended to tackle the krogan, lowering himself as he solid as a rock knocked the krogan over him by focusing effort upon the legs.
Wrex was behind him now and on the ground, cackling as he got up. Strax had swirled around and launched a fist for the krogan's eye. Wrex intercepted before both of them head-butted one another which sent both of them stumbling. This caused a lot of laughter among the crewmen on the sidelines.
Garrus approved of the activity as turians used to do it to blow off-steam before high-risk missions. James Vega found it entertaining and cheered one, arguing with Cortez about who'd win. The Sontaren or the Krogan.
"You got a quad, Strax." Wrex voiced with a cackle to follow. "I must protest, sir! Quads doesn't fit in Sontaren physiology or genetic structure!" Strax retorted back without knowing what a Quad even is. Javik watched the fight in amusement which was an exception in his nonchalant behavior.
"What the hell is going on!" bellow the voice of Jack Harkness as he entered the Shuttle Bay from the elevator, everything halted as they looked up at the Captain. "This is a Military Vessel, not a fight club!"
"Come on, prince charming." James interjected. "Let them blow off some steam."
Jack sighed as he shook his, frustrated with he had to put up with so far. "We'll arrive at the Citadel in an hour, Shepard is still out. I want everyone at their stations when we're on approach trajectory to the Citadel once we've gone through the Relay."
Every Alliance crewmen snapped to salute and bellowed. "Yes, sir!" Harkness was satisfied as he got back to the elevator and rode it back up to the CIC. The fight kept going in the shuttle bay and the crew was certainly entertained. With what they were going up against, it was good that they were in high spirit.
…
"Shepard." Said a familiar voice, a hand grasping his. "Karin, I think he's coming about." His eyes opened. Looking up at his good friend, Liara T'soni who smiled meekly in slight concern and otherside of the bed was Doctor Chakwas who was monitoring his vitals through the Omni-Tool. "Welcome back, Shepard. You've been out for about twelve hours."
Twelve hours? Shepard felt a degree of panic. "The female…" but before he could finish the sentence, he was interrupted by the familiar voice from the STG base. "I'm here, Commander."
A sigh of relief escaped his lips. He could catch a glimpse of Mordin Solus in the background working at full speed. "What happened?"
"Well, we were attacked by a Cerberus hitman by the name of Tychus. He's a sadistic sociopath who was discharged from the Alliance Military and recruited to Cerberus years ago. He used some sort of chemical compound in the smoke grenades. It disorientated most of us, we would've been dead if it wasn't for Strax or Javik, it didn't affect them." Liara explained as she pursed her lips. "We're currently on our way to the Citadel. Counciler Udina called speaking of a Council session. He wanted Ashley to be there."
Shepard narrowed his eyebrows in surprise. "Do you think that…"
"It's a possibility, there's no better candidate at the moment and considering the circumstances…" Liara stopped herself as she glanced to the door. "Well, there's also a matter of Jack."
"Liara, I know that you and he are rather close." Shepard commented but Liara shook her head. "No, it's not about that. It's about his time with Torchwood. You won't believe it but he's been in service since 1899."
He looked up at her with arched eyebrows. "What." Escaped his mouth, apparently surprised while a million question raced through him while forcing himself up from bed, still slightly disoriented. "How's that even possible?"
"The file about him is heavily encrypted and redacted." Liara retorted as she folded her arms, Shepard was rubbing his temples as it feels like he was mentally hit by a train. "Inform Jack that I want a word with him in my cabin before we dock."
…
Captain Jack Harkness stepped out of the elevator. They were twenty minutes from the Citadel as he entered Shepard's cabin. Both were in their dress blues but the differences were apparently, Shepard had three black strips on his shoulder while Jack had three golden strips.
"You got a lot of explaining to do, Captain." Shepard voiced in slight annoyance while folding his arms. "You joined Torchwood in 1899, you got hit by an incineration beam from a reaper and you live."
Jack stood still as he nodded. "Yes, I've served in Torchwood longer than anyone else. Yes, I was hit by that beam and I managed to save Admiral Lethbridge-Stewart because of it. Yes, I can't die." Shepard was stunned by the honesty of the man.
"Everytime I die, I come back to life. I'm immortal and unnatural. I live and exist now because an entity known as Bad Wolf used the Time Vortex to resurrect me." Jack went on, not caring about keeping Torchwood's or his secrets. "I was a con artist but the Doctor made me a better man and I've been with Torchwood ever since, protecting humanity because that's what he would've done."
Shepard returned to scowl at the man. "And Liara?" he asked, close to grind his teeth in anger. Was that an act to mend in or sate his own ridiculous desires? He ran through Vancovour naked for crying out loud.
"Shepard, you may not believe me. But I care for her, hell I even love her." Jack retorted, emphasizing every word he says like any good orator. "And why am I telling you all this? Because I've watched over you your entire life. On every single space ships and even on Arcturus station. Throughout your military training because I cared about you and your mother. I had your back at the Skyllian Blitz. I helped Admiral Anderson keep the Council and the Alliance off your back when you were co-operating with Cerberus."
Shepard's eyes widen as it finally hit him. How could he have been so blind? The truth has been staring at him in the face the whole time.
"There was a galaxy out there who wanted you dead for the destruction of the Bahak system. I forwarded the file on James Vega to Admiral Anderson. I sure as hell even had Torchwood watch Miranda Lawson's back while you were incarcerated back on Earth."
Shepard was baffled as he stared the Captain down. What Jack had said made sense which furthered reinforced his realization. "Shepard." Jack voiced reassuringly. "I'm your father."
…
Author's Note: Shorter than normal but I hope that it still keep the story's value. I hope you don't find the concept of Jack Harkness being Shepard's dad is farfetched considering I've left subtle hints throughout the story.
The Doctor will be very busy calling in the favors to assist the war effort along with building alliances between the civilizations of the Mass Effect Universe with the civilizations of the Doctor Who Universe.
Time can rewritten after all. Please, read and review. I love feedback (including criticism). Thank you and have a pleasant morning, day, night or evening!