Soldiers Out of Place Chapter 8, a mass effect fanfic

My Own Alternate what if I not specifically me but someone who could be me came entered Mass effect in some way or form and knowing I shouldn't be here.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything bioware has done and make no profit in this

AN: for anyone who had the chance to read my old ver of soldiers before i took it down. The next few chapters will seem really similar in most ways of the old version, but they have all been re-written

Unknown

"Ryan wake up, you have been sleeping all day"

Ryan looked up around forgetting that today was the day. Today was his last day as a civilian.

"I won't be sleeping much, once I'm in the military mom," he complained, not wanting her to know he had been out drinking all night.

He finally was able to get himself up, thinking of what he could do. Before he could think any further he hoped onto his computer, and launched mass effect 3. Figuring he could finally beat the game again before he went into to basic. Besides all the only mission left was earth, so Ryan knew it would not take him that long. The last thing he needed right now was another lecture from his mom. At least his dad started leaving alone the moment he enlisted.

A few hours into the game, he thought to himself. Wouldn't it be cool if Shepard was the antagonist, rather than the protagonist? The very idea of playing the bad guy in mass effect could be awesome. Yes, you could be a renegade, but that was not really being the bad guy. It was in reality just playing bad cop, rather than good cop.

Not long after thinking that, he beat the game again. Moreover, he wished he didn't. he thought he should have waited until he came back; maybe they would have added dlc, or something that made the ending better. Hell who was he to kid, the EC didn't really help much in his eyes. Ryan tried not to think of the ending so hard. After all, he was heading to basic In the morning, the start of a new life for him.

The next morning Ryan was waiting for the bus. He still couldn't get mass effect off of his mind; at least he had something other to think about then worry about getting yelled at constantly by a drill instructor soon.

The bus arrived, and Ryan got in the only one seat that is still left. Seating down he decided to introduce himself to someone Ryan would probably end up seeing a lot in the days to come in basic.

"Names Ryan" he said motioning his hand to shake the other man's own hand.

"Taylor" the man replied in a harsh tone not even shaking his hand.

"Well now, nice to meet you too Mr. grumpy" Ryan joked

"Screw you" Taylor muttered quietly.

Knowing the trip would be a few hours, and how this guy obviously didn't want to talk. Ryan decided it was best to take a nap.

"Sheppard" a faint voice called out

Ryan tried opening my eyes, but he could not.

"Sheppard" the voice got louder, yet he still couldn't open his eyes.

Gunnery chief Ashley Williams

Citadel, In a Hospital

Ashley kept trying to wake up Sheppard, but had no success. The doctor said he would start making a slow recovery. And that he could wake up anytime, but he wouldn't. To her Sheppard looked like he was having a nightmare. He kept mumbling from his dreams. First he was talking to his mom apparently, and some other stuff that quiet didn't make since.

Ashley felt sorry for him. Sheppard was out of his time not only that, he probably left many things and people behind.

The commander brought Sheppard to the Citadel, because he needed intense surgery and time to recover. The commander felt guilty for letting his side arm go off on accident. Although she felt the commander was lying, and had let his weapon go off on purpose. Ashley also didn't hate that mercenary anymore after he attacked the commander. By the time they reached the citadel raider was out of the brig, but he had avoided her altogether. She couldn't figure out why.

The commander continued his mission to feros. He would be going in blind this time without Sheppard, but the commander could handle himself.

Ashley and Jackson stayed behind with Sheppard. Jackson was back at the hotel sleeping, and Ashley had been spending most of her time at the hospital, waiting for Sheppard to wake. Ashley was feeling guilty for Sheppard getting injured. After all, she was supposed to guard him, but how could she defend him from her own CO. Not only that, it was because of her families past history that Sheppard got into a fight with the Commander in the first place.

She was curious in what the commander meant, so she looked at Commander Shepard's background in her datapad. She was stunned once again when she found out the truth. The commander's parents were killed at Shanxi. No wonder the commander looked down on her. She didn't blame him, yet it wasn't her fault. So there had to be more than what the file said, for the commander to fell this way towards her in the first place.

"This I...Isn't…s...suppose to be real" Sheppard mumbled

"Sheppard" Ashley called out shaking his shoulder "wake up already will you"

"Try calling his rank that could work" Jackson spoke up walking in the room.

"I think that only works for shock"

"For Sheppard, who knows what will work" He joked "you care about him don't you chief"

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb chief, besides I was married once. You can't fool me," Jackson explained sitting next to Ashley.

"Honestly, I don't know what I think. This is whole thing is my fault"

"Don't go there, I've been there trust me. Because of what I did once, I almost got him killed. Blaming yourself doesn't help. Besides, that horrible excuse for a commander did this"

"Were you and Sheppard close friends?" Ashley asked trying to change the subject.

"Honestly No, at least not until we came here. We were always at each other's throats ever since the day I meet him"

"You said you were married, do you miss her Jackson?"

"Not in the slightest bet" Jackson replied with a small since of anger in him.

"Why not?" Ashley asked

"It's hard to miss someone who cheated on you"

"I feel there's a story in their"

"There is, but that's for another time" Jackson said as he got back up "You really should get some rest chief"

"I'm fine were I am, I'll let you know when he wakes"

Jackson nodded in reply as he once again left the room.

Unknown

"Operation flaming boulder" The Major said out loud "This is it gentlemen, the Invasion of Iran. Tomorrow will mark history. Good luck, now report to your units"

"Yes sir" everyone in the room replied in unison.

Ryan couldn't believe he enlisted now of all times. That tomorrow he was going to war. Jackson and Ryan were both the only ones from their training units that were placed within this Platoon. Everyone else was transferred to different parts of the division.

Ryan figured it all didn't really matter. They were all part of the same objective anyways. They were all tasked to take out some research facility. Walking out of the building Ryan could see Jackson on the ground doing pushups.

"Come on private, you call does push-ups" Sergeant Hamilton barked.

Sergeant Hamilton was their squad leader. He has already served many tours, and in some eyes was a hero. Ryan figured that it was good knowing an experience NCO would be in charge.

Jackson and Ryan still haven't really become friends in any form, or anything else for that matter. The most the guy does is tell him to go screw himself. He spends most of his free time writing his wife back home. Ryan just wrote home to his parents not to long ago, since he didn't have a family of his own yet.

Ryan could only imagine what might happen tomorrow. Although, It was best to try and not dwell on the subject for now.

"Corporal, front and center" The sergeant ordered to Ryan as he was walking by.

"Sir" Ryan came and stood at attention.

"That's staff sergeant corporal, do I look like a sir to you" the sergeant barked again, which was starting to get on Ryan's nerves, but he wouldn't say anything about that.

"No staff sergeant" Ryan replied quickly not wanting to join Jackson on the ground.

"Corporal, I take it you and Private Jackson were in the same Training unit" He asked while Jackson was still of course doing push-ups.

"Yes Staff sergeant we were"

"Good, that means you two will be my point men" Sgt Hamilton smiled while at the same time placing his foot on Jackson, as he continued doing push-ups.

"Staff sergeant" Ryan questioned keeping his eyes forwards, realizing that Jackson just got on the sergeants bad side, and Ryan was about to be punished for his own doings.

"You heard me, now you and Jackson have guard duty tonight on the parameter. Gear up corporal" he ordered finally removing his foot off Jackson.

"Yes staff sergeant!" Ryan saluted.

The sergeant walked off, and Ryan just looked towards Jackson as he stood up from the ground. Not saying anything Jackson knew what he was thinking.

"Screw you Sheppard," He said bluntly, walking towards the tent to gear up.

Ryan also entered the squad tent, knowing that they had only a few hours before their guard duty, he decided to get some shuteye. Ryan sat on his cot, and closed his eyes. Sleeping he could hear a faint voice calling out to him.

Lieutenant Commander John Shepard

Normandy

Captains Quarters

Shepard didn't feel guilty for what he did. In fact, if he didn't need the corporal he wished that the shot would have killed him in the first place. However, he didn't want anyone to know he thought that. Therefore, he spent most of his time in his quarters, trying to get his crew to think he felt guilty in some way.

Looking at his parent's photo he once again remembered their gruesome deaths, because a stubborn general could not surrender earlier.

"Commander" Joker called over the comm. "Were in orbit around Feros"

"I'm on my way" Shepard replied leaving his quarters, as he made his way towards the CIC.

Walking towards the upper deck, Shepard was wondering how Feros would turn out without the corporals Intel. He came towards the cockpit standing right behind joker.

"So what the situation on the planet Joker" Shepard asked very casually.

"Commander, there is no situation" Joker replied in a calm tone, that he hardly ever used.

"What do you mean joker?"

"The colony sir, it's gone"

"What! What about the geth" Shepard shouted in frustration.

"Sir, there's no activity down there"

Shepard was again frustrated, the corporal said they colony would be fine, but he was once again wrong.

"Commander, the council wants to speak with you in the comm. Room" Joker said as he was receiving the message.

Shepard dint say anything. He walked as quickly as he could to the comm. Room. Entering the room he opened the comm, to patch the council in.

"Commander Shepard" the turian councilor spoke up "I'm sorry about the colony, but we have some vital Intel from one of our STG units"

Private Taylor Jackson U.S. Army

Citadel

Jackson Reached into his pocket to grab his wallet. It was one of the few things he had left from home. He took out his only picture of his wife, while at the same opened up his lighter. He then burned the photo.

"Hope you enjoyed cheating on me, with my brother" he muttered to himself.

He remembered that the first thing he did after the briefing with Anderson, was Look at his wife's file. At first he was somewhat happy that she moved on, until he saw the name of the one she married. Not only did she marry his step brother. She had done so quickly after he was pronounced KIA. Jackson always Knew she might have been cheating on him, But this was unforgivable.

Jackson's only friend and one he cared for like a brother was Sheppard. He wished he hadn't been so against him as a friend. Hell, it had been his own damn fault that he nearly got Sheppard killed the night before the invasion. He thought about that night of guard duty.

Sheppard and Jackson were both geared up. They headed to the main gate of the complex for a long and uneventful night. At least they thought than it would be an uneventfully night. After a few hours, Sheppard finally spoke up.

"Thanks for getting on the sarges bad side, Jackson" Sheppard said standing next to Jackson, as Jackson was lighting another cigarette.

"Scre…"

Sheppard quickly cut him off "What's with you and screwing anyways?" he asked

"I guess you can say it's like our own thing Sheppard" Jackson replied laughing.

"That's messed up Taylor"

"When did I say you can call me by my first name now, were not friends" Jackson said as he was angered by this.

"Hay, what's that" Sheppard pointed out in the darkness.

"Nothing corporal, you really need to chill" Jackson replied while seating down on the ground to get some shuteye.

"I'm sure I saw something…Hay Jackson….what are you doing…are you trying to get us in trouble again" Sheppard sneered, seeing that Jackson was slacking again.

Jackson didn't answer, as he again thought he saw something. Sheppard went out alone to investigate.

An hour passed as Jackson managed to fall asleep; suddenly someone kicked him aside to wake him.

"Private, were you sleeping" Sergeant Hamilton barked.

"No staff sergeant" Jackson nearly stuttered as he moved quickly getting up off the ground.

"Where is the corporal, Private?" The sergeant asked in a much calmer tone.

"Well staff sergeant, I think he said he heard something"

"And you didn't support him"

Jackson didn't say anything in reply.

"Private, which way did he head towards"

Jackson pointed in the direction he saw Sheppard go.

"Private, you do realize that's a mine field' the sergeant asked, as his tone returned to the angry sergeant Jackson knew well.

"HELP!" a loud call from the minefield came in the darkness.

The sergeant quickly hoped on his night vision goggles, and brought up a map of the field.

"Come on Private"

The sergeant quickly navigated the minefield, as Jackson followed. The sergeant moved quicker than Jackson did. He said he could see Sheppard, but Jackson couldn't see him yet. He wished he wasn't so lazy, and brought his night vision with him like Sheppard did. They finally made it to Sheppard, and just as they feared, he was on a mine.

"Don't move corporal" The sergeant said, reaching down at the mine to try and disarm it.

"Sarge, I haven't moved ever since I heard the click," Sheppard replied in a calm voice, but Jackson could see he was scared shitless.

While the sergeant worked on disarming the mine. Jackson could only think of how this was all his fault.

"OK corporal I have bad news, and really bad news" the sergeant said getting up. "The really bad news Is I can't disarm the mine, the bad news is we're going to have three seconds, to make a run for it"

The sergeant put a rock on the mine and slowly replacing the switch with his foot, so they could make a run for it. Jackson already went into a safe zone from the blast radius.

Jackson could hear the sergeant giving the count, as Sheppard looked like he was praying. Jackson closed his eyes while ducking down hoping that Sheppard didn't die. Still keeping his eyes closed, he heard the explosion.

Jackson opened his eyes, and only saw smoke around him.

"Sergeant!...Sheppard!" Jackson called out.

He carefully moved through the smoke, not wanting to hit another mine. His mind went at peace, as he saw the two slowly getting up, both coughing from all the smoke in the explosion.

"Jackson "a voice over the comm. In the hotel came through, as he awoke from his memory. "Sheppard's waking, get down here" he recognized the chiefs voice, and quickly left the room heading back to the hospital.