From where he stood, Saren looked exactly how he expected him to. The Turian's body was a patchwork of cybernetics either from past injuries being replaced, or from the encouragement of his ancient machine master so he could be controlled.
Flynn was able to remember bits and pieces of the man's history, of why he became the way he is and how he had been easily manipulated by Sovereign. There was no doubt that Saren had probably been a good man once upon a time.
In the end, however, it didn't matter to the slayer. The rogue Spectre was nothing more than a puppet now. Just like Olivia Pierce and the higher echelon of the UAC had been thanks to Hell's influence.
"So, you're the 'Slayer' Benezia informed me about." Saren said as the duo continued to glare at one another. "When she first informed me of your fanatical tale I didn't want to believe it. The fact that you were some Asari fairytale went beyond what could be considered truth. But after seeing how you work and the devastation you leave in your wake, I think the old Matriarch was right about something."
Flynn brought out his super shotgun, loading fresh shells and slamming it closed loudly. "I see words are going to go nowhere with you. I've already warned Shepard that your endeavors will amount to nothing. The Reapers WILL return, there is no stopping them. The Protheans tried and were brought to extinction. But if we make ourselves useful to them-"
Saren's monologuing was brought to an end when the slayer shot toward him, becoming almost a blur as he appeared before the traitor. A massive fist coming around just as quickly.
It took every ounce of skills the veteran had under his belt to bring up a biotic barrier at the last second. The action was enough to prevent his immediate death, but the power behind it easily shattered the barrier, his shields, and sent the rogue Spectre flying across the open space. His body slamming against the far wall with so much force that it would have shattered the bones of anyone who didn't have such a large amount of enhancements.
Spitting out a glob of blue blood, Saren looked up in time to see a grenade lobbed in his direction. Pushing the pain in his body aside, he leapt to his feet and dove out of the blast zone…right into the slayer's path as he fired his super shotgun. The buckshot shattering his recharging shields with several pellets tearing into his armor.
Instead of reloading, Flynn sent his weapon back into his quantum pack and grabbed the Turian's synthetic arm. The metal bending under his strength as he yanked back and tore the limb right out of the former Spectre's socket in a burst of blue blood and white fluids.
No one in that whole area had ever heard a Turian scream. But in that moment, everyone would probably be remembering it for the rest of their days.
Saren fell into the ankle-deep water, the hole where his arm used to be still leaking and staining the man-made river around him as he attempted to scramble back. The slayer began to stalk after him, cracking his large knuckles in his preparation to tear the traitor apart.
In his desperation, Saren began throwing warp attacks at the advancing Hellwalker. The biotic blasts hitting home, but the energy washed across the Praetor suit like water and not even staggering him.
Despite everything he'd been warned about, he believed he could handle Shepard's new attack dog. The fact that the man had turned the tables on him in the span of less than a minute humbled him far too late to regret not taking those words of warning seriously.
The slayer loomed over him, like a bringer of death that none could escape from. Saren Arcterius felt fear for the first time since the First Contact war.
"What…in the Spirit's name are you?!" he bellowed in hysterical terror.
His response was Flynn's Doom-Blade extending before being rammed through his chest. Saren coughed up more blood as he was hoisted in the air, his life about to reach its end at the slayer's hands…
A flash of red at the edge of his vision stopped the slayer's next attack as he turned toward the disturbance. His eyes widening a fraction when he saw a red portal open several meters away. A second later, a horde of husks began to pour out. Mechanical howls and screeches filled the air as they swarmed at Flynn on two legs and on all fours.
Tossing Saren off his Doom-Blade, the slayer slashed the first husk in half when it leapt at him like a rabid animal. Grabbing the second and slamming it into the ground before crushing it beneath his boot, spinning around to take on the rest only to be dogpiled by three dozen more.
"FLYNN!" Shepard screamed, firing her assault rifle into the pile of metal/organic bodies, the others including the STG team following suit hoping to get the man out from under the horde while holding off the Geth units still in the area.
While they were all busy, two more husks ran out of the portal and grabbed Saren's broken body and dragged him back through it. The opening sealing behind them a moment after.
From under all the husks, the slayer saw his prey escape and felt his blood begin to boil. His vision burned red around the edges as his rage began to peak. The air becoming thick like a fog as every sentient being felt a sense of impending doom settle over them.
In the next moment, the pile of synthetics exploded, bodies being sent flying in all directions as the slayer rose up like a vengeful god. His body nearly vibrating with crimson energy crackling along his powerful frame.
The burning gaze swept over the husks as they began getting back up, his Doom-Blade extended ominously and his hands tightening into fists before he launched himself forward.
Whatever happened in the minutes that followed were a blur. Flynn using his hands and blade to tear through the husks with a level of violence and brutality that proved he was indeed the Doom Slayer. Unlike the Thorian Creepers on Feros, the husks had genuinely pissed him off and he was making a damn example of them to anyone or anything that got between him and his intended target.
Large fingers digging into the eye sockets of another husk, he tore its head from its body before using it to smash the skull of another in. He then slammed his foot on another and tore its legs off before crushing its torso as easily as a pile of twigs. All the while, his vision remained tinted in his berserking rage, three words repeating loudly in his head in a deep chanting tone.
Kar En Tuk…
Kar En Tuk…
KAR EN TUK!
It was the three words that defined him, the people of Argenta said them like a prayer whenever he was on the battlefield. Translating to some of the last words he'd ever spoken out loud;
Rip. And. Tear!
Grabbing the last husk still alive, he proceeded to pull it apart at the waist. Throwing the corpse aside with the others, the slayer released a deep growl like a feral dire wolf on the hunt. His blood still burned, he wanted MORE!
Something struck him in the back.
Slowly, he turned his head and met the optic of a Geth Prime that had managed to get behind him. The synthetic clicked loudly and aimed its pulse rifle at Flynn-
A massive fist exploded out of its back. The slayer now standing in front of it, deep breaths hissing out beneath his helmet. His other fist joined the first before he slowly began to pull. The Prime continued to click loudly before it devolved into a horrified mechanical scream as the large synthetic was slowly ripped in two. It's white 'blood' running down his armor as he leered at the remaining Geth standing a few feet away.
The surviving machines remained frozen, almost like statues as they observed the large human before them. The lead Geth then did something no one would have expected;
It took a step back.
Flynn's eyes narrowed before he suddenly crossed the short distance, his Doom-Blade slashing and large fists swinging as he reduced the synthetics to salvage in a single breath. It still wasn't enough, his blood still screamed for more. More death, more destruction, more Rip and Tear!
"Flynn."
The slayer whipped around, a severed Geth head crushed in his right hand like a tin can with his Doom-Blade poised to cut down another target…
Only to find Liara standing there, her hands held up non-threateningly. Her blue eyes cutting through the crimson haze shrouding his vision.
Slowly, the haze began to fade. His berserker rage ending as the world around him began to swim back into focus and he began to take notice of everything else around him.
The LZ was littered with the corpses of the husks that had jumped him, along with several Geth. There were cracks and craters in the surrounding walls made by his fists, and the amount of synthetic blood in the water at his feet had turned it into a dull gray.
Then he saw the others. Shepard's team and the Salarians stood a good distance away, faces in various states of shock, awe and terror after having seen his rage up close. Hell, he could see Wrex gripping his shotgun tighter than usual.
"Flynn?" Liara's voice brought his attention back to her. There was hesitation in her eyes, but it was overshadowed by her courage to reach him. Her gaze and soft voice like a soothing balm over a burning wound.
The slayer dropped the Geth's head, his Doom-Blade retracting as he stood to his full height. The heavy feeling of killing intent in the air clearing up like the end of a bad storm. With the feeling of imminent danger over, the others began to relax and slowly approach.
"You good big guy?" Shepard asked, wanting to be sure that she or the others wouldn't wind up as collateral damage if he went off again.
Flynn took a deep breath and nodded, causing everyone else to let out a breath of relief. "Thank God." Ashley muttered with a few of the others sharing the same sentiment. The team knew what he was capable of, having seen the video evidence…
But to see that rage unleashed in such a way. It reminded them just how dangerous he really was when the time came.
"The nuke's ready, Commander." Kaiden reported after he and Tali finished.
Jane nodded and got on her comm, "Joker, we're all set here."
"Aye, aye. Coming in now." The Normandy came down over the LZ, the cargo hold opening to allow them entry.
X
Within the bowels of Sovereign, Saren's screams echoed throughout the inner workings of the Reaper Vanguard.
The former Spectre laid on a metal slab with several tubes injected into his body. Nanomachines filling his still organic parts to heal the damage he'd suffered from and keeping him from death's grasp.
Blood and saliva dribbled from his mouth as his screams continued, his whole body feeling as though it was filling with hot lead. After what felt like hours, the pain finally stopped. His body collapsing onto the slab as he breathed raggedly.
"...M…Mas…Master Sovereign…They…They won't succeed. I'll stop them…your kind will-" He was cut off by the deep bellowing of the ancient machine. Saren's eyes widened, "W-What? But…what do you-"
A large metal spike exploded out of his chest, the origin being the slab he'd been laying on.
Gasping, Saren weakly grabbed the spike sticking out of him as he looked at the ceiling. "M-Master?" His vision began to fade, but he caught sight of a red portal opening nearby and a figure stepping out.
"YOU HAVE FAILED, TURIAN. BUT YOUR CORPSE WILL STILL PROVE USEFUL." A dark, mechanical voice reverberated through the room. As the life finished draining from him, Saren sword he saw a pair of red-glowing wings on the figure's back before he faded into oblivion.
X
The briefing room was quiet as the members of the ground team assembled together. Most of them, anyway…
After extracting from Virmire, they were successfully able to detonate the manmade nuke and wiped Saren's base off the face of the planet. Once that was done, Shepard made sure that everyone on the team was in good health before checking in on Kirrahe and his men.
Other than a couple being shaken up from what they had experienced, the surviving Salarians were in good health. The Captain thanked the Commander for everything she and her people had done for them. Jane informed him she was glad to help, but asked Kirrahe for a favor in keeping what they had seen when around Flynn close to the chest.
The Captain had nodded, promising to keep certain events in his and his mens' reports redacted to avoid trouble. Though he had said no one would really believe what they had seen even if they did.
Thankful for Kirrahe's discretion, she had Joker inform everyone to meet in the briefing room.
Though from her own chair, she noticed the one Flynn usually occupied was empty.
"Taggart not joining us?" asked Wrex, noticing the slayer's absence.
Liara sighed deeply, "He felt we could all do well without him here for the moment. Especially after Saren escaped. "
"Can't believe that bastard managed to slip away." Ashley growled, "What the hell was that anyway? That weird portal that opened and dumped all those husks out?"
"Haven't a clue. But Flynn managed to crippled him, which might give us an advantage." said Shepard.
"Commander, if I may." Liara spoke up, "The beacon we encountered on Virmire, I believe it was similar to the one you found on Eden Prime. It might have been able to fill in the gaps in your vision. I might be able to decipher what we need to stop Saren and Sovereign."
"You want to try melding again?" asked Jane, receiving a nod from the Asari. "Alright, go ahead Liara."
The two women stood and faced one another in the center of the room like before, "Relax yourself, Shepard." said while Liara closed her eyes. Snapping them open a moment later to reveal them pitch black, "Embrace Eternity!"
The vision passed between the two of them, now far more clear than it had been before thanks to the Prothean Cipher and the second beacon. The images were more vivid and revealed far more than they had before.
"In…Incredible!" Liara said when the meld came to an end. "I didn't think the images would be so intense…give me a moment to collect myself."
"Did the vision make more sense this time?" asked Shepard.
"It was a distress call, a message sent out across the Prothean Empire. A warning against the Reapers, but the message came too late." Liara explained.
"What about the conduit?" Jane pressed.
The young Asari thought over what she had seen, "There were other images. Locations. Places I recognize from my research…ILOS! The Conduit's on Ilos! That's why Saren needed the Mu Relay, it's the only way to get to Ilos."
Shepard nodded, "We need to get to Ilos."
"Forget it." Tali cut in, "The Mu Relay is inside the Terminus Systems. Alliance ships are not welcome there .Neither are Spectres."
"We don't have many other options. Crippled or not, Saren could be on his way there right now. And I want us there to greet him when he shows up." said the Commander.
"Saren will have his entire fleet orbiting Ilos." Liara warned, "You won't make it to the surface without reinforcements. We need to alert the Council, we'll need the fleet too…" she trailed off and stumbled back, managing to catch herself. "I'm sorry. Melding after the mission has left me exhausted. I should head to the medical bay and lay down."
"We're all set here." Jane said before turning to the others, "Everyone. Dismissed."
"Commander, there's a comm buoy nearby. I can link us in if you want to report to the Council. You know, to warn them about Sovereign." Joker said over the PA while the others filed out.
"Patch them in, Joker."
X
Liara stumbled again on her way to the medbay, hand bracing the wall to keep herself standing. For the first time since the mission began, she missed Flynn being there with her. As embarrassing as it was for the slayer to be carrying her like she was a child, she missed the feeling of safety she received whenever he did.
"You okay, kiddo?" The maiden jumped and turned her head to see Wrex coming her way.
"Oh, yes. I'm fine, Wrex." She said before straightening herself up again.
The Krogan rolled his eyes before putting an arm around her shoulders and leading her to the medbay. "I know I ain't Taggart, but the least I can do is make sure his mate is in good health."
Liara's face burned purple, "You…You know?"
"Was in the cargo hold when you confessed. Good on you for courage. Even more so for ensnaring a warrior of that caliber." Wrex answered.
The young Asari bit her lip. "I was surprised he accepted. With everything he's endured, all of the betrayals and bloodshed, I was afraid he would…" she trailed off, blushing more when she realized she was admitting so much to the old mercenary.
Wrex would have fired back a snarky comment, he was known for that whenever people usually tried to strike up a conversation with him. Even Shepard. But he knew the kid was pouring her heart out, so he decided to dip into the multiple centuries of experience he had.
"My honest opinion? You and Taggart are meant for each other."
Liara looked up at him in stunned disbelief as he continued, "I've seen a lot of warriors, kid. Many falling in battle. But Taggart? He's a completely different breed. All that rage and bloodlust against his enemies, hell, he was even gifted power by literal gods for his crusade. But like all warriors, he's driven by his need for battle. It is all a warrior lives for…until he finds something else to fight for."
He paused and turned to look the young Asari in the eye. "Taggart lost everything. Hell and those demons robbed him of what was important to him. So he swore to kill them all. And has been doing so since long before any of us were even a thought. That was his only true purpose. Until he found you. I see the way he looks at you, like you're a beacon of light in the dark. You walked right up to him while he was raging and calmed him down in moments, like cold water dousing a fire. Whether he's aware of it or not, you've become something important to him. Something to fight for."
It took several moments for Liara to absorb everything Wrex was saying to her. But the older xeno wasn't finished as he smirked at her. "And, to be blunt, you ain't exactly subtle with how you look at him. Seen enough love-struck Asari in my day, so I saw it pretty much right away."
The purple blush was back on the maiden's cheeks with a vengeance, and she tried to cover them feebly. The mercenary chuckled as they started walking again. He sobered up right outside the medbay and became serious again.
"One last thing, and take this as the best advice I can give you." The tone he was using has her attention right away. "Those demon bastards? They get wind you and he are a thing, they will come after you. They know they can't kill him. So they'll destroy anything close to him, like before. So be ready to fight, kiddo. And fight hard."
Liara swallowed thickly, before a steel determination crossed her features that impressed the old Krogan. "Thank you, Wrex."
Wrex waved her off, "Don't mention it. Seriously. I can't have folks around here learn I'm dealing out good vibes. Makes me look like a pansy. Especially Garrus, split-chin bastard will never let me live it down." He thought a minute and smirked, "Then again, I could always use his feelings for Shepard against him."
That little bit of information had Liara's eyes widening.
X
The cargo hold was empty, but considering Flynn's current mood, it was a blessing.
The slayer paced his corner of the large room repeatedly like an animal in a cage, his thoughts and emotions like a hurricane that threatened to swallow everything.
His bouts of rage were well known and even legendary. Nothing survived when he cut loose and that was the very epitome of his being. Even now, there were still traces of his most recent episode still humming in his veins.
Saren was RIGHT THERE! He had the bastard dead to rights. Then…that portal.
It was familiar, too familiar. Something stopped him from killing Saren and helped him escape. It was more than enough to set him off, and every synthetic within arms reach paid the price in spades.
But then…the others…if Liara hadn't stopped him would he have…?
Flynn grabbed the sides of his helmet and shook his head. And low growl escaping from beneath it before he lashed out and put his fist through a nearby crate. Breathing heavily and deeply in an attempt to regain control.
Something was going on inside his head, the two personalities that he'd always had were warring with one another. The person who he used to be in his first life…and the Doom Slayer that he became in his second.
It had been so easy to leave his old life behind him, to embrace being the slayer and killing everything in his path on his eternal mission. It was simple, a singular goal with only one method to complete it.
But then, he came here. And the old part of himself he tried so hard to forget came roaring back. It started to make him question if he was losing his edge, was he still the Doom Slayer? Or was he some imposter with the powers, weapons and armor?
That couldn't be it! He became leader of the Night Sentinels! He fought Hell on every front and slaughtered its legions! He overthrew Urdak and killed the Icon of Sin! He fought on several worlds across dimensions and even saved humanity! Multiple times!
He was the Doom Slayer! Doomguy! Doom Marine! Hellwalker! Unchained Predator! The Beast! Bane of Hell! He was the end of the dark realm and all who followed it!
…right?
Pulling his fist from the crate, Flynn stepped back until his back was to the bulkhead. Sliding down to the floor in a sitting position, he removed his helmet and set it on the floor beside him as he waded further through his thoughts.
What was happening to him? What had changed? Why was he questioning everything like this?
It was then clarity came to him, like the eye of a storm. A face with robin's egg blue skin, purple freckles and sapphire colored eyes. It was almost like all the chaos within him began to come into focus as he thought about the owner of that face…Liara's face.
Flynn raised a fist and laid it against his chest, the stuttering was back again. Only this time he knew what it was, almost unbelievable at how long it had taken him to figure it out. But it was the only logical reason on how the mere thought of the Asari quelled his legendary rage and brought his chaotic thoughts into focus again.
He just couldn't figure out how it had been possible…
"Flynn?"
The slayer looked up and saw Shepard standing there. She surveyed the damage to the crate before meeting his gaze with her own, "You okay?"
He raised his hands to sign, but paused a moment before holding his hand out flat and tilting it from side to side. The Commander tilted her head, "You wanna talk about it?"
Flynn breathed deeply before nodding. Jane came over and sat beside him, giving him a couple of moments to figure out what to 'say'.
I'm conflicted. He signed after another minute.
"This about what happened back on Virmire?" asked Shepard.
Sort of. Ever since I fought Hell for the first time, I've only ever had one goal. Killing demons. Spilling their guts. Making them regret ever coming out of their damned holes. The slayer began. I did all that and more. Killed the Priests that betrayed Argenta. Killed the Khan Maykr and the Icon of Sin. Saved Earth again. But when I came here something began to change.
The Commander looked confused, "Change how?"
Flynn looked at his hands a moment before signing again, I started to feel Human again. When I started my crusade, all I swore to do was rip and tear the demons down to the last lowly Imp. I had nothing when I lost everything.
Shepard thought over his words a second before something clicked, "This is about Liara, isn't it?" He didn't answer right away, but eventually he nodded. "Are you saying, what you're feeling for her, is bringing back who you used to be? Before becoming the slayer?"
I think there's more to it than that. But that's the best answer I can think of. He answered.
"Personally, I don't see how that's a bad thing." The Commander admitted, making the slayer turn to her. "I think you're allowed to have happiness."
Flynn suddenly stood and glared at the far wall. Even if that happiness could lead to ruin? He signed. Hell is the epitome of vindictiveness. They knew what I did on Mars during the first incursion. They TARGETED my family to make me suffer. They even killed the pet rabbit I had and stuck her on a wood steak with my parents to send a message.
He turned to Shepard who had stood up as well. They had been the only weakness I had. When they were killed I had nothing left to lose. So it was easy to throw everything else away. Including my humanity.
"And if they discover Liara is close to you…" Jane trailed off before realization hit her like a Mass Relay. "You're afraid."
The slayer clenched his teeth and fists and turned his head away from her, but she continued. "You're afraid of allowing something good to come into your life, because Hell could come and take it from you again. You don't want to feel vulnerable, because you feel it'll make you weak."
I can't be weak, Shepard. Flynn signed stiffly. Hell is brutal, without mercy. I need to be worse to stop them. But the part of me that I've buried for so long is conflicting with that ideal. He rubbed his head, feeling lost for the first time in many, MANY, years.
I don't know what to do.
Shepard stood with her thoughts swimming. After everything she'd seen and learned about Flynn since she first met him on Therum she'd always thought of him as an unstoppable force and an immovable object in one. Someone who literally shook the foundation of both heaven and hell.
But deep within, beneath countless years of bloodshed, violence, rage and destruction, there was still a human being. One that had lost everything, and chose to walk a path of torment and death so that others never had to suffer the same. Who bore the weight of countless worlds on his shoulders because he was the only one that could.
Flynn had received many blessings in his fight against Hell…but to Shepard, they were starting to feel like curses. Ones that he accepted without question.
Taking a deep breath, Jane approached the slayer and put a hand on his shoulder. Gaining his attention. "Flynn, I need you to hear me. Okay? Because I think someone should have told you this a long time ago."
Turning toward the red-head, Flynn gave her his full attention. "You may be the closest thing to a demi-god, an immortal soldier with one hell of a mission, but beneath it all you're still human. You're allowed to feel emotions other than rage." Shepard said in a serious, nearly commanding tone. "There will always be threats to those we love. But that should give us the strength to fight harder, to protect them. To give us purpose behind what we do. Because that's what makes us who we are."
"You are the Doom Slayer. A being worthy of his legend and then some. But that is your title, something you earned through your actions and victories. It is what you are, not who you are." The Commander smiled, "Liara told me that it was your legend that caught her interest. But she's more interested in the man beneath the armor. The person you are."
She took a step back, but her expression stayed the same. "So my advice? Stop thinking like the Doom Slayer, and start thinking like Flynn Taggart."
The statement had stopped Flynn in his tracks. Was it really that simple? Had his little crisis really been that easily solved if he'd just accept that the two parts of him could coexist like that?
Is it fair? He signed, catching Shepard's attention. To put Liara at risk like this? To allow myself to love her when she will be hunted by Hell itself?
"Maybe you should be asking her that. And let her decide." The Commander said simply before making her way back to the elevator. Leaving the slayer alone with his thoughts once more.
X
A/N: Can't tell you how good it feels to be doing this again, and it shows with the here and now.
Saren managed to escape, but I think we can all agree with that his fate might be worse than death. And it would also seem that something else is aiding Sovereign in its mission.
Now, a couple of people have mentioned they had issue with me adding a romance into a DOOM fic. I can understand the hesitation and why some would have issue. But don't forget that this is also an OC-insert story. And even more, even though the slayer's lack of humanity made him an unstoppable killing machine needed to put an end to Hell and the Dark Lord, at his core he was a broken man who threw away everything that made him human in his eternal mission for vengeance.
Am I over-humanizing our unstoppable Doom Slayer...probably. But giving him something more to fight for should never be a bad thing. Then again, it's you guys who decide how well I'm doing. So I'll let you continue to be the judge.
Till next time!