Commander John Shepard sat yet again in an interrogation room in Vancouver. It was a bland room with a single table and two chairs. It's been six months since the destruction of the Alpha Relay. John was a man of an athletic build with a cranium which fit the really short haircut. A stubble running dowm his jawlines and chin, he've not had the luxury of a decent shave. He was dressed in a casual garb while seated on the chair facing the doorway, his wrists had been cuffed and magnetically connected to the table who's legs where pinned to the floor.
James Vega was outside as per usual, guarding his assigned prisoner. The Alliance Marine was a stout and heavily built man from the pacific whom was casually dressed with a blue t-shirt and proudly displaying his dog-tags on his chest. The Lieutenant didn't like that they put Commander Shepard once again in interrogation. Hadn't the brass got enough for the preparation of his trial?
His train of thought stopped as a man stepped before him, dressed in a blue trench-coat, a wide and sparkling smile and fantastic brown hair. The man extended his hand to the marine whom grasped it with a perplexed expression.
"Captain Jack Harkness, Alliance Intelligence. I'm here for Shepard's interrogation." The man said in a smooth voice.
"Lieutenant James Vega, Alliance Marine Corps." He responded, apparently keeping himself in line before the oddly dressed Captain. He seemed like a sleeky bastard with those pearl-white teeth and loop-sided smile of smug confidence and almost wiggling eyebrows.
"He's right inside. However, I'd like to see some credentials. You never know about whom you can trust."
"That's a good attitude, James. Can I call you James?" asked the man while forwarding the credentials with his omni-tool.
Authorization Code Confirmed
Captain Jack Harkness, N7
UNIT, Alliance Intelligence, Torchwood
James paused, what the hell was Torchwood? He looked back up at the seemingly lighthearted and actually quite charming man. Really, he was a N7? He snapped to attention and saluted. "Go right in, Captain." James said as he the charming Captain over the threshold.
...
The man entering the interrogation chamber wasn't what Commander Shepard expected, he wasn't even dressed in an Alliance service uniform. All the same, unlike the preceding interrogators. This one was smiling widely as he sat down in the chair opposite of Shepard. The Commander couldn't help but feel that the man was oddly familiar.
"Commander John Shepard, I must truly say that this is a tremendous honour. I still remember what you did at the Skyllian Blitz, I was there in fact – saw you first-hand in action."
It clicked to Shepard whom he was speaking to. "I remember you, Jack Harkness. Alliance intelligence?"
Jack Harkness returned a vague nod. The door had closed behind him as he then noticed how it then was locked as well. Another precaution. "Excuse me for a minute." Jack Harkness said as he lifted his omni-tool on his left wrist as he pressed a button which sparkled everything.
"There, now we can talk in private." Said the man after his rather orthodox act, he had disabled the surveillance in the room. This didn't sit right with Shepard.
"About what?" asked Shepard in a mistrusting tone. "Are you with Cerberus?"
"Goodness no, Torchwood." Jack responded with the same charming smile as he casually leaned back in the chair opposite of him. "Never heard of it." The commander responded.
"And you would never had to if this wasn't necessary." There was a reason why those in the Alliance Intelligence were called spooks, you never know what they were truly doing in the shadows. Could Torchwood be the Alliance Black Ops which replaced Cerberus once it went rogue? Did Anderson, or even Admiral Hackett put him up with this? "We actually came before Cerberus, instituted back in 1879 by Queen Victoria."
Shepard perked a brow, both confused and puzzled, it was like he knew what he thought like. "Our purpose were back then to protect the British Empire from Extraterrestrial threats."
The Human Spectre listened, slightly intrigued since he wasn't aware of anything that Jack Harkness told him. "We act outside the government and beyond the law as her royal majesty had decreed. Arming the human race for the future. Today, we're a secret branch of Alliance Intelligence but our purpose remains the same. To protect the human race."
"And why are you telling me this?" Shepard was skeptical, what if this was a ploy of the Illusive Man?
"Because we believed you about the Reapers even when the brass and the council didn't." said Jack, now having Shepard's absolute attention. Jack gave out a laugh. "I knew that would get your interest. Now, here's the thing. We've prepared as much as we can without the brass knowledge, you know. Safehouses. Security bunkers. Holdouts for a resistance should the Reapers ever invade. Well, Anderson knows ofcourse, I told him myself not so long ago."
Shepard listened, this was the best news that he've heard for a good while now. "You're not alone in this fight, Commander. In fact, your shadow broker friend is right now at the Prothean Archives on Mars trying to find a way to fight the Reapers."
Shepard blinked, twice. He knew about Liara being the Shadow Broker. How the hell did he found out? He dismissed that thought since Jack was obviously not a hostile. Frankly quite friendly. He's glad that he atleast has some allies beyond his friends and usual contacts.
"Your trial is less than a week away, Commander. I'd wish you luck and… one other thing." Said Jack Harkness as he rose from his chair, he had done what he came to do. "I'll be joining Lieutenant Vega in the security detail to guard you." Jack said and gave him a michievious wink before the door opened behind him with Alliance personal staring with arms drawn rather quizzically. The man turned casually around to face the armed soldiers.
"Only took you six minutes. I can honestly say that I'm disappointed. Either way, Captain Jack Harkness, Alliance Intelligence. Everything is under control. Just a security check." The man said, the additional security response lowered their M-3 Predators. Jack then just walked by them as he waved his farewell to Shepard.
Shepard simply stared. This had been the most ludicrous but hopeful event which had happened to him in six months. He couldn't help but crack into a vague grin while James Vega escorted him back to his quarters.
…
A piece of chalk squeeked as the tip was pressed against the drawing board. The Doctor's focus was absolute as he wrote the most elaborate equations which would leave a human physicist dumbfolded and ask him what it was in confusion like an infant wanting an explanation of something they couldn't comprehend. Worst of it was that he's bored. He was hoping to somehow pass the time. To distract himself but inevitebly found himself thinking about Riversong. He shook his head and walked down the steps to the center dias. He cranked a lever as the center column rose as the engines wheezed the groaning sound while the TARDIS navigated through the time vortex. Nardole was trying to solve a cross-word in a newspaper. "Alright, where are we off to this time?" The timid and rounded man asked as he looked up at the Doctor.
"I've no idea." The Doctor said before he walked through the door. The air tasted artificial, like it's been recycled through the filters of a sophisticated life-support system for thousands and thousands of years. He looked about, he had landed on a walk way over some pond. Given the size, the station he was on must be massive. The design was familiar, as was the pond and that statue of a Krogan. He was on the Citadel.
"Ehh, Doctor." Nardole spoke, the wary tone in his voice brought him back to the present. C-SEC had them surrounded and trained their mass accelerated rifles at him. Terrific, what was it with people aiming guns at him? He spotted Turians, Humans, An asari and a few Salarians. He spotted an older man whom had the grizzly grit of a veteran of sort. His curt demeanor as he approached them like an authority figure, atleast he wasn't a soldier but he was without a doubt in command of the C-SEC personnel present.
The Time Lord though couldn't help but scowl at the approaching C-SEC Officer and it seemed to give him some pause. His arcing and brushy eyebrows did add an intimidation factor of his scowl. "Hello, I'm the Doctor."
"Doctor who?" Is all he got as a respond from the C-SEC Officer before he shook his head. "Nevermind, I'm Commander Bailey of C-SEC. And I want to know how you got inside the Citadel with that blue box of yours." The Doctor simply procured his psychic paper from his pocket and showed it to Commander Bailey.
"Permission from the Council eh? That's funny because they don't use papers for permits of any kind." Uttered the Commander. "Doctor, you're hereby under arrest for avoiding citadel customs and smuggled an unidentified vehicle onto the station and on top of it, posing as a Council Offical. I'll be fair though and give you one chance to explain yourself." Commander Bailey responded rather quizzically. This was all too odd for him.
"I got a better idea, why don't I show you?" The Doctor responded before turning around, making way for the box. The C-SEC officer look like they're ready to open fire but Commander Bailey hold his hand up. He wanted to see what the Doctor had to show him. "Nardole, would you care to give me a hand." The man timidly walked over to the Time Lord whom procured his TARDIS Key, it wasn't until he opened the door and pushed Nardole through and slammed the door in the face of dumbfolded C-SEC. A loud click was heard as the TARDIS door locked and the C-SEC Officers opened fire before Commander Bailey could order otherwise.
Yet all the projectiles did was bouncing off the Tardis. Commander Bailey looked baffled, the weapons were modified with piercing rounds. It should've shredded the wood. They saw the lamp on the top of the box to start flashing as they heard the same wheezing and groaning sound which had alerted them. The box was fading away from existence before them and just vanished as the sound became ever most distant. All of them stared in wonder.
"Seal off the perimeter and direct all traffic to the other side of the presidium. Don't let anyone get close to the site, along call all science geeks we got." Barked Commander Bailey to his personal. He wasn't happy with the outcome, neither was he happy that his men had opened fire without his consent.
All the same, he'd have to inform the Council of what just had transpired, they'd want to hear about that blue box, and this mysterious Doctor.
…
"Blimey, that was close." Nardole complained. The Doctor was more annoyed than surprised by this C-SEC pointing guns at him. Then again, he was curious as he walked over the central dial and flipped a few more switches before the Tardis materialized again. A human was Commander of C-SEC implied that the Systems Alliance had gained a seat on the Citadel Council. The Doctor couldn't help but grin, it's been a while since he visited this time period. Yet he was puzzled by the more aggressive nature of C-SEC. Something was off. Which was why he was now inside the Citadel's Secret Archive. It was evidently well after closing hours. The moment he exited the TARDIS, with a flick of his wrist, his sonic screwdriver buzzed and sent the security intoa loop during the duration of his stay.
The Doctor found himself standing infront of a circular chamber which showed a holographic projection, the Tardis as perusual had taken him where he was needed. He flashed the screwdriver which started the holographic projection to move. It displayed with incredibly detail about an attack on the Citadel which was executed three years ago. Apparently a rogue spectre and an army of geth had been behind it but what really got the attention was what the archives referred to as a Geth Juggernaut which was two kilometers in height and six arms. It was massive. It was also wrong. He knew of the Geth and the circumstances of the Morning War. It was a pity, but he couldn't solve all of their problems. Yet the Doctor knew well enough that the Geth couldn't have built that. It was impossible.
The Doctor was perplexed as something rubbed him the wrong way. It was as if time itself was wrong. He could feel it now and he quickly dashed off again and entered the TARDIS. The Time Lord was at the central dias when he snapped his fingers, causing the doors to close as if on its own accord.
"Time is wrong. Someone is interfering and I'm not talking about me." The Doctor voiced with a determination, he glanced over to Nardole. "How would you like to visit the first human Spectre on Earth, 2186?"
"I'm not very fond of ghosts, Doctor." The Timid man replied, the Doctor couldn't help but fathom if Nardole was put in a position of power. He was pretty sure that the galaxy would implode. The Doctor turned a knob and cranked a lever. The wheezing and groaning sound of the TARDIS granted him a moment of peaceful harmony, he loved this part.
…
A man sitting before clear but vibrant room with many mirrors, facing a virtual desktop and controls as he gazed out at the blazing red sun as he viewed the security footage from the citadel through his radiating and artificial eyes. He was well-clad and took a long drag from his lit cigarette. He was smiling, he had just witnessed the appearance of something extraordinary, an indestructible blue box which could move without trace or effort by a mass effect field.
The Illusive Man had read the report from his inside source of C-SEC. A man had showed up out of nowhere on the Presidium in a blue policebox. Then vanished without a trace.
He had called himself The Doctor. He'll have to direct some of his resources to dig up something more about the man.
His research team worked around the clock ever since Shepard had destroyed the Collector's base six months ago, he had used his resources to salvage what he could. Including the remains of the proto human-reaper which was now aboard Charon Station.
He was disappointed with the defection of Operative Lawson and Taylor. He expected as much of Jacob, but Miranda? She had taken it too far and developed feeling for the Commander. His latest report suggested was that they had been – entangled in a relationship as well.
Maybe he could turn this around, the Commander did have a past relationship with Gunnery Chief Williams who now had ascended to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. His mischievous and smug grin was kept in moderation. Pleased to say the least as he now adjusted his already deeply developed plans.
Looking out the window as he waved the report away, taking another drag from his cigarette before pressing a button on the interface. "Operative Reinfeldt, personally direct a token of our intelligence sources to investigate the anomaly of the Doctor and his blue police box."
Reaching out as to grasp his whiskey glass with American bourbon, taking a well drag out sip as to enjoy the flavor as a green light signaled from the interface along with a beep. His command was received and acknowledged. His smile never leaving his face as he gazed into the red star, imagining humanity's ascendance to greatness.
…
Author's Note: A friendly reminder that I appreciate any kind of constructive critic and suggestion which may improve the overall story. Furthermore, I wish you a grand morning, noon, afternoon or night whenever you've read through this chapter.