Commander Shepard
Backstory:
Shepard was born on April 11, 2154, is a graduate of the Systems Alliance N7 special forces program (service no. 5923-AC-2826), a veteran of the Skyllian Blitz, and is initially assigned to the SSV Normandy in 2183 as Executive Officer, with a Systems Alliance rank of Lieutenant Commander. Shepard later becomes the first human to join the Spectres, an elite special task force for the Citadel Council.
They were an orphan raised on the streets of the great megatropolises covering Earth. They escaped the life of petty crime and underworld gangs by enlisting with the Alliance military when you turned eighteen. During their service, a mission they were on went horribly wrong. Trapped in an extreme survival situation, they had to overcome physical torments and psychological stresses that would have broken most people. They survived while all those around you fell, and now they alone are left to tell the tale.
Powers and Abilities:
Superhuman Physical Characteristics,
Regeneration (The ability to heal wounds that would normally leave large scars, such as severe burns or deep injuries. For machines and vehicles, this would be regenerating damage that would normally leave large dents and openings.),
Social Influencing (Possesses great charisma and leadership skills. Can persuade both Saren and the Illusive Man to fight back again their indoctrination. United a divided galaxy against the Reapers),
Expert in Hand-to-Hand Combatant,
Weapon Mastery (Expert Marksman and Grenadier),
Perception Manipulation (Can slow down their own perception of time via Adrenaline Rush),
Explosion Manipulation (Via Frag Grenade, Inferno Grenade, Proximity Mine and Sticky Grenade),
Energy Projection (Via Carnage),
Electricity Manipulation (Via Overload. Can also enhance their bullets with electricity via Disruptor Ammo),
Fire Manipulation (Via Incinerate and Inferno Grenade. Can also enhance their ammo with fire via Incendiary Ammo),
Ice Manipulation (Via Cryo Blast. Can also infuse their ammo with ice with Cryo Ammo),
Poison Manipulation (With Neural Shock),
Paralysis Inducement (Via Neural Shock),
Technology Manipulation (Via Damping),
Healing (With Medi-Gel),
Forcefield Creation (In the form of Kinetic Barriers and Tech Armor),
Invisibility (Via Tactical Cloak),
Illusion Creation (Can create holograms via Decoy),
Absorption (Via Energy Drain),
Damage Boost (Via Assassination, Adrenaline Rush) and Damage Reduction (Via Immunity, Defense Matrix and Fortification)
Resistance to:
Mind Manipulation (Was able to resist a direct a direct attempt of Indoctrination from a Reaper artifact, as well as being in contact with multiple other artefacts over the years without any hint of Indoctrination),
Energy Manipulation/Mass Manipulation (Can manipulate dark energy to increase/decrease/fluctuate the mass of a given volume of space via mass effect fields created by their biotics),
Telekinesis (Can move objects with their mind through mass lowering fields or root them in place with mass increasing fields via biotics),
Energy Projection (In the Form of Biotic Explosion, Warp, Nova and Flare),
Vibration Manipulation (Via Shockwave),
Paralysis Inducement (Via Stasis),
Gravity Manipulation (In the form of Singularity),
Explosion Manipulation (With Cluster Grenades),
Perception Manipulation (Heavy Charge can reduce their perception of time),
Absorption (In the form of Energy Drain and Reave),
Mind Manipulation (In the form of Dominate),
Forcefield Creation (By creating Biotic Barriers),
Regeneration and Durability Negation (Up to High, as Warp prevents regeneration on a molecular level) and Matter Manipulation (Warp rips the opponent apart on a molecular level)
Weaknesses: Kinetic barriers are activated based on the speed of an attack. A melee attack is not fast enough to set it off. In addition, the shielding afforded by kinetic barriers does not protect against extremes of temperature, toxins, or radiation.
Star-Lord
Backstory:
Peter Quill is an interstellar war hero, the legendary Star-Lord. A human-alien hybrid, Quill was born from emperor J'Son of Spartax and the human Meredith Quill. When he was ten years old, Peter lost his mother to an alien attack on his home in Colorado because of his birthright. Swearing revenge, Peter flew off to space as a young adult, where he was mentored by the pirates known as the Ravagers, led by Yondu Udonta. Eventually, Peter swore off their criminal ways and the path of vengeance, becoming Star-Lord. He finally met his father, but refused to become prince to his kingdom due to his evil nature.
Partnerning with the sentient vehicle Ship, Star-Lord became a legend throughout the galaxy, and his heroic actions in the wars against Annihilus and the Phalanx, led him to form the Guardians of the Galaxy, with Rocket Raccoon, Groot, Gamora and Drax the Destroyer, among many others. During their adventures, Peter met his long-lost sister Victoria and dated Kitty Pryde, with the two becoming engaged, but ultimately breaking up.
Powers and Abilities:
Superhuman Physical Characteristics,
Longevity, Elemental Manipulation (Can manipulate air, earth, lightning, fire and water with his Element Gun),
Expert Combatant,
Weapon Mastery,
Flight,
Possibly Forcefield Creation (Can do so according to Marvel Databook)
Weaknesses: None notable
Song: Star-Command
The arid, war-ravaged surface of Tuchanka remained mostly desolate, a stark and silent testament to its turbulent history. Amidst the barren landscape, however, a thrilling chase was underway, with the infamous outlaw hero, Star-Lord, engaged in a fierce pursuit by the formidable Commander Shepard, a Spectre of the Alliance Marines. Star-Lord continued defending his actions of trying to steal the Normandy, attempting to rationalize his questionable decision to Commander Shepard, who was clearly not buying his explanation.
"Whoa, easy, man! I had no idea that ship was yours! I thought it was up for grabs, open season, you know? And I got wind of someone willing to shell out 50 million credits for it, so I thought I'd cash in!"
Shepard's stern expression remained unchanged as he pursued Star-Lord, his anger and determination evident in his eyes.
"That 'ship' you tried to 'grab' is my ship, and it's certainly not yours to take, or to sell."
He said, his voice filled with a mix of irritation and authority. Star-Lord attempted to escape using his rocket boots, but Commander Shepard was a step ahead. With expert precision, Shepard drew his N7 Valiant sniper rifle and unleashed a burst of shots. Though Star-Lord managed to dodge a couple of bullets, the third grazed his side, sending him spiraling out of control towards a rock wall. He collided with the wall, crumpling to the ground with a pained groan, rendered temporarily immobile by the impact.
Commander Shepard walked towards Star-Lord, holstering his N7 Valiant in favour of his sidearm. Standing over the downed hero, who was slowly groaning as he tried to regain his bearings, the Spectre inquired,
"Now, who are you? You've got some serious nerve, attempting to steal right under my nose."
Star-Lord managed to get back on his feet, gingerly stretching his sides in an attempt to relieve the pain. With a grin, he addressed Commander Shepard, introducing himself.
"I go by many names, but you might know me by my most well-known moniker: Star-Lord."
Shepard gave no reaction for a few seconds, before raising an eyebrow and asking,
"Who?"
Star-Lord seemed taken aback by Commander Shepard's response, before sighing that he wasn't familiar with the name 'Star-Lord.'
"Seriously? Come on. Despite everything I do, why does no one ever recognize me?"
Commander Shepard's stoic expression remained as he observed Star-Lord's reaction.
"Frankly, I don't give a damn who you are. I'm bringing you in for attempting to steal my ship."
He responded, his tone calm and matter-of-fact. Star-Lord quickly made a show of surrender, his tone apologetic.
"I get it. You gotta do what you gotta do. But... Holy crap, what's that?!"
He exclaimed, pointing behind Commander Shepard's back. Instinctively, Commander Shepard turned to look where Star-Lord was pointing, only to see... nothing. It was too late though as Peter took out his Element Gun, and blasted Commander Shepard in the back with a torrent of water, pushing him down on the ground as the outlaw flew over the cliff behind him with a laugh with his rocket boots.
"Psyche, sucker!"
Commander Shepard seethed in frustration, angry at being outsmarted like a novice. He swiftly began scaling the cliff, determined to catch up with the escaped outlaw. As he crested the top, he ducked just in time to avoid a barrage of energy blasts fired from Star-Lord's Quad Blasters. The quick-fingered hero was wielding both weapons simultaneously, firing them like a true gunslinger. Star-Lord chuckled confidently as he continued to walk backward, firing off rounds with his weapons. With a touch of arrogance, he declared,
"Yeah, yeah. I can shoot good, quip good, and look good all at the same time."
He maintained his constant barrage, keeping his eye on Commander Shepard, determined to avoid any sudden moves from the determined Spectre. However, Star-Lord's confident stride came to an unexpected halt as he tripped over a rock, losing his balance and any control he had over the situation. Recognizing the opening, Commander Shepard acted fast, erecting an energy barrier to shield himself. He then stood tall, whipping out his N7 Typhoon assault rifle, ready to fire at the momentarily vulnerable outlaw.
Commander Shepard unleashed a hail of bullets from his automatic rifle, forcing Star-Lord to hastily seek cover behind the nearest boulder. The outlaw hero quickly regrouped and returned fire with his Quad Blasters, engaging the Spectre in a fierce back-and-forth exchange from behind their respective pieces of cover.
With a swift switch to his pistol, Commander Shepard took aim and successfully managed to knock the Quad Blasters out of Star-Lord's grasp with a few well-placed shots.
"Ow! Okay, okay! I get it! You're a better shot than me!"
Star-Lord conceded, feeling slightly embarrassed at having been so easily disarmed. Taking his chance, Star-Lord grabbed a triangular grenade from his jacket and hurled it over the boulder towards the Spectre's position. Commander Shepard, expecting a normal explosion, instinctively ducked under his energy barrier. However, to his surprise, the grenade turned out to be a gravity mine, which activated and forcefully dragged the struggling Specter onto its surface.
Commander Shepard found himself in a desperate struggle against the powerful pull of the gravity mine, but to no avail. His attempts to break free using brute strength proved futile, so he resorted to stabbing the device with his dagger, finally deactivating it. However, just as he managed to get back on his feet, the still determined Commander was caught off guard by a surprise attack from Star-Lord. The outlaw hero unleashed a powerful dual kick with his rocket boots, followed by a torrent of air from his Element Gun, sending the Spectre flying off the short cliff. Star-Lord couldn't help but crack a confident smirk as he quipped,
"Hasta la vista, baby."
With a sense of satisfaction, he turned away and put on a pair of headphones, turning them on to the tune of "Come and Get Your Love," casually collecting his discarded quad blasters. Meanwhile, Shepard was slowly and quietly making his way back up the cliff, his determination unwavering.
Oblivious to the Commander's stealthy approach, Star-Lord was taken by surprise when Shepard suddenly charged forward and tackled him to the ground. In a desperate attempt to defend himself, the outlaw hero tried to counter the onslaught of punches from the well-trained marine. However, the odds were against him, and he struggled to mount an effective resistance against the determined Commander.
Star-Lord managed to discreetly attach a booster to Commander Shepard's side while enduring the barrage of punches. A split second later, he swiftly activated the booster, causing the Spectre to be forcefully propelled to the side and slide across the ground until he crashed into a wall. Despite the sudden turn of events, Shepard quickly recovered and managed to dislodge the booster from his body with a single, calculated swipe.
Commander Shepard was just about to regain his footing and re-engage in the battle when he suddenly felt a jolt of electricity coursing through his legs. He looked down to find that a pair of electrified bolas had ensnared his legs, effectively restraining him. The determined Spectre struggled to break free, but it was no use. With a confident smile, Star-Lord approached, casually adjusting his element gun. Star-Lord couldn't help but tease the restrained Commander, bragging,
"You're good, but it looks like you just can't keep up with the best Guardian of the Galaxy; Star-Shit!"
Just as he was about to sign off with his outlaw name, Commander Shepard suddenly drew his M-451 Firestorm. Plumes of intense fire erupted between them with their respective weapons, forcing Star-Lord to hastily take a few steps back to avoid getting burnt.
While Star-Lord was engrossed in the explosive exchange of fire, Commander Shepard quickly seized the opportunity to throw a grenade. The unexpected blast sent the outlaw hero tumbling backward, landing with a pained grunt on the ground. Meanwhile, the determined Commander shifted his attention to the task of dislodging the electric bolas ensnaring his legs. Star-Lord let out a weary and pained sigh, murmuring to himself with a touch of resignation,
"I'm so tired..."
The statement reflected more than just his weariness from the fight; it echoed the underlying exhaustion he felt from the course of his life. Despite his typically comical and carefree demeanor, the weight of his experiences and the longing for a different path occasionally seeped through. Determined to put those thoughts aside for the moment, the outlaw hero gritted his teeth and pushed himself back up onto his feet.
Both Star-Lord and Commander Shepard rose to their feet, facing off against each other. The tension in the air was palpable, both participants sensing that the outcome of this next confrontation would determine the entire fight. The outlaw hero and the determined marine locked eyes, each silently vowing to give it their all in the impending clash.
Star-Lord and Commander Shepard both made swift, simultaneous moves. Peter drew his Element Gun almost instantaneously and unleashed a barrage of gemstones, while the determined Commander hurled a grenade. In a flash, Star-Lord was immobilized by a layer of ice encasing his body, leaving only his head free, while Shepard was pinned to the stone wall behind him, trapped in a layer of diamond. Both heroes found themselves in a precarious predicament, unable to move or effectively fight. Star-Lord gave a wry chuckle as he assessed their predicament, remarking,
"Well, this is certainly inconvenient. But at least this ice will melt soon. And I'll be on my way. As for you, well, I hope your time isn't as valuable as that diamond you're stuck in."
Star-Lord was smugly confident that he would soon be free, believing he just had to bide his time until the ice melted enough for him to escape. However, Commander Shepard responded to Star-Lord's comment with a smirk of his own, his blue eyes glittering with determination.
"Compared to an outlaw like you, the difference between us is priceless."
With a surge of biotic enhanced strength, Shepard exerted enough effort to shatter the diamond encasing his arms. He then proceeded to peel the rest off his body with relative ease, revealing his steely gaze and formidable presence. Star-Lord couldn't help but express his surprise at the formidable strength displayed by Commander Shepard. He let out a resigned sigh and muttered under his breath,
"Oh man."
Commander Shepard quickly established communication with the Normandy, addressing the pilot, Joker, with a sense of urgency.
"Joker, it's Shepard. Come to my coordinates. I've got the outlaw who tried to steal our ship. Let's see what this 'Star-Lord' is all about when we bring him into custody." Shepard communicated firmly, as he waited for his crew to come pick them up.
Strength: Offensively, Shepard has more to give. The Commander has the strength to rival Jack, whose own biotic strength lets her bust down metal walls that would require 6 tons of TNT, whereas Peter is only of human strength. Likewise, while Star-Lord is capable of hurting Ronan the Accuser, and could likely hurt the Reapers with his own power with the right tools, but Shepard's typical arsenal is more destructive oriented, capable of piercing through ammo resistant rounds. Especially his heavy artillery.
Speed: With his rocket boots, Star-Lord is capable of near light speed, though his combat and reaction times tend to range between Mach 5-10, around the same as Daredevil, but Commander Shepard can not only scale to James Vega, calculated to react to around Mach 175 given a particular point blank bullet dodging feat, but his weaponry is capable of reaching similar, if not even faster speeds.
Skill: Between the two, Shepard has the superior training. Whatever amount of formal training Peter may have, that doesn't compare to the 15 years of military service in the space marines that earned him the N7 Alliance ranking, and becoming a Spectre, making him one of the most formidable soldiers in the galaxy, if not the most.
Experience: However, this skill cannot compete with Star-Lord's experience which is over a century old, due to being in Morin, which has a different time rate, and he has faced a much wider diversity of foes than Commander Shepard has.
Powers: While Star-Lord has the advantage of Commander Shepard only capable of holding so many weapons on his person, the Spectre has a more versatile repertoire of gadgets and biotics which can overwhelm Peter's limited tech.
The winner is Commander Shepard.
Next time:
"I am the thing that keeps you up at night, the evil that haunts every dark corner of your mind. I will never rest...and neither will you."
"You are the Ass Kick-EE. I am the Ass Kick-ER."