After the Commander collects all companions on Citadel:
“A krogan, a turian and a quarian!” He cocks his head slightly to his right as you give him your full attention, arms uncrossing from over his chest when he stands back at ease. “That’s quite the handful! I hope we have enough food for them--and the right type too.”
Post Therum:
“Doctor T’Soni seems nice enough.” He chews his lip, arms crossed over his chest. “I do hope that she’ll work with us against her mother. It’ll be hard, and I really don’t want to fight her. She’s nice.”
Letting the Rachni Queen go:
"That was awful kind of you, Commander.” He beams. “You’ve essentially become the savior of a sentient race! I do hope they keep their promise. Rachni seem awful fierce, and I certainly don’t want an army of...ugh, giant bugs coming at me.”
Killing the Rachni Queen:
"It can’t be helped.” He sighs, leaning back on one of the sleeping pods. “They do have a bad track record. Better safe than sorry, right Commander?”
Saving all Colonists on Feros + Convincing Exo-Geni to keep the Colony:
"That’s amazing, what you did back there.” He grins at you, barely keeping himself from gushing in his delight. “Saving the colonists and talking down that one Exo-Geni guy--never doubted you for a second, Commander.”
Killing all Colonists on Feros:
“Better dead than living with some alien infestation in your body, right?” He tries to smile, but it’s obviously forced. “At least we took down that arrogant plant thing. No one else is going to get controlled and used like that now.”
Wrex convinced:
“Well, I’m glad Wrex is a reasonable krogan. Now if the rest of them would follow suit...”
“I’m a little amazed you managed to talk him down, to be honest.”
“Do you think Saren’s willing to listen to reason? No? More’s the pity.”
Sacrificing Ashley at Virmire:
“You shouldn’t had to choose between them like that.” He mutters, head bowed as he fiddles with a tablet in his hands. “Ashley shouldn’t have--she was a great soldier. When we get to Saren, he’s going to pay for all this.”
Sacrificing Kaidan at Virmire:
“You shouldn’t had to choose between them like that.” He mutters, head bowed as he fiddles with a tablet in his hands. “Kaidan was--he was a good biotic and soldier. When we get to Saren, he’s going to pay for all this.”
Killing Balak in Bring Down the Sky:
“Best to stop him here before he killed anyone else. I wish we could have saved the hostages, but they would have understood. Right?”
Saving hostages in Bring Down the Sky:
“I’m glad we saved the hostages, but Balak is dangerous. Hopefully the other batarians won’t believe in his cause and he’ll lay low for a while.”
After the Commander collects all companions on Citadel:
“Damn, our ship is loaded.” She grins at you, leaning her hip on the console behind her. “A krogan merc working with you for free, Commander? Damn, if Saren had any chances of getting away scot free before this, I’d reckon Wrex just blew them away. Nice going, sir/ma’am.”
Post Therum:
“I sure hope she knows how to fight.” She shifts her weight from one foot to the other. “Cause we sure didn’t bring her on for her history class notes.”
Letting the Rachni Queen go:
“Do bugs keep promises? Are bugs known for keeping their promises?” She muses out loud, raising an eyebrow at you. “I guess we’re going to find out.”
Killing the Rachni Queen:
“That went...well.” She shrugs, folding her arms over her chest. “They do have a history of nearly wiping out all sentient life in the galaxy. Better safe than sorry.”
Saving all Colonists on Feros + Convincing Exo-Geni to keep the Colony:
“That was nice.” She grins when you step up to her. “Punching brainwashed people never feels good, but the way you talked that little yapping Exo-Geni dog down made up for it. Good trick you have there, with all that fancy talk. Mind giving me a few tips? Just in case.”
Killing all Colonists on Feros:
“I really hate killing innocents.” She spits, arms crossed over her chest. “Maybe it couldn’t be helped, what with the Thorian infection and all, but I had hoped...” She shakes her head and uncrosses her arms, standing at ease. “At least we killed it.”
Wrex convinced:
“Wow, Commander. Remind me never to start an argument with you.”
“Talking down Wrex like that…boy, you sure have a quad.”
“Do you think we could just talk every krogan into submission? No? Aww.”
Sacrificing Ashley at Virmire:
“Shame about Ashley.” She comments quietly. “She was a good soldier. Knew what had to be done.” A pause as she glances away, and you notice her fists are clenched so tightly, her knuckles are white. “We’re going to make Saren answer for this.”
Sacrificing Kaidan at Virmire:
“Shame about Kaidan.” She comments quietly. “He was a good soldier. Amazing biotic, held up despite all the bad rep about us.” A pause as she glances away, and you notice her fists are clenched so tightly, her knuckles are white. “ We’re going to make Saren answer for this.”
Killing Balak in Bring Down the Sky:
“If it’s one thing I hate more than batarian slavers, it’s a power-crazed batarian. Best that we stopped him here instead of risking more lives with him out there.”
Saving hostages in Bring Down the Sky:
“We are going to fill Balak’s head full of holes the next time we see him, right? It’s good that we saved the hostages, but he’s a danger to all the human colonies out there.”
And because why not. Oldest to youngest before I go overboard with lines.
Basics:
Phillip Shepard is a Vanguard who loves charging and Incendiary Ammo.
Phillip always tries to defuse a situation with diplomacy when he can, only resorting to violence as the last option. He’s open to alliances with aliens, but does not condone criminal activity in anyway. He’s terrified of going against thresher maws on foot, having been the sole survivor of the massacre on Akuze. He’s a pacifist, and hopes that he can manage to change people’s minds and have them see things his way.
Put him in a situation where it’s ‘sacrifice a few to save the masses’ and he’ll save the few if the masses aren’t threatened at the same time. He doesn’t like losing anyone if possible, but will make the hard decisions if forced.
He’s also terrified of bugs. Noveria was not fun for him.
Closest alignment: Lawful Good
Romance:
He’s open to a relationship in 1 as long as you’re aware that ‘we’re both Alliance, Commander. I hope this doesn’t get you into trouble.’ He does express surprise at any attempt to hook up with him, stating that ‘I’m not usually anyone’s first choice, maybe second last.’
Phillip is open to romance in 2 if recruited, and 3 if previously romanced. If cheated upon in 2 after a romance in 1, he expresses doubt in committing to a relationship with you again, but locks in the romance if you reassure him that it will not happen again. ‘I don’t know what will come for us in the future, but for now, I’m willing to give us another try.’
(If he and Steve Cortez aren’t romanced, they enter a relationship.)
He hints that he’s demisexual when commenting on several NPCs and what he noticed about them, most of them alien.
Location:
He’s found standing at the back of the sleeping pods area in 1. If recruited in ME2, he stands next to Joker on the bridge. If recruited in ME3, he’s usually found standing in the kitchen on the Crew Deck. If KEI-9 exists (Digital Deluxe) or if he and Steve are in a relationship, he can be found standing near the shuttle, sometimes playing with KEI-9 if it walks close by.
Piper opts for diplomacy first, but when push comes to shove, she’s all too happy to pop open a few skulls. She’s open to alliances with aliens, but puts her foot down where crime is involved. She hates batarian slavers, having been on Mindoir when it was raided. She understands that people have differing opinions and morals, but she isn’t afraid to speak up when she sees something wrong in progress.
Put her in a situation where it’s ‘sacrifice a few to save the masses’ and she’d save the few if she has a chance to save the masses later. She’d rather deal with the consequences than have to lose anyone.
Closest alignment: Chaotic Good
Romance:
She’s open to a committed relationship in 1 as long as you’re aware of the consequences ‘since we’re both Alliance, Commander.’ She’s not fond of being lied to, and if you’re in a tentative relationship with any other squadmate, she’ll actually back out automatically if you lie about it. ‘I think you and I know that’s not true Commander. Glad we cleared the air about what kind of people we are.’
Piper is open to romance in 2 and 3, if recruited. If cheated upon in 2 after a romance in 1, she doesn’t accuse you of cheating on her. “People change. As long as you were happy, I have nothing against it. What, you think I’m childish enough to hold a grudge? It’s not like you’ve committed a mass murder.” If romanced after being cheated upon, she brings it up only once, and never before the Final Run.
She implies that she’s bisexual through a recounting of the few dates she had, a boy when she was younger and a few women after she enlisted.
Location:
She’s found standing at the back of the sleeping pods area in 1. If recruited in ME2, she stands next to Joker on the bridge. If recruited in ME3, she’s usually found standing in the kitchen on the Crew Deck.
Thinking about possible lines for the Citadel DLC made me think more about my angry sniper boi and his interests more.
Also the fact that if one Shepard is a companion, then the other two should be NPCs only shown in the Citadel DLC as part of the Companion Shepard’s event. Introduction to siblings in the N7 Spec Ops and whatnot.
It’s also partially because I have an Infiltrator, an Adept and a Vanguard named OrionJS, PiperJS and PhilJS respectively in Multiplayer.
A few ME2 lines under the cut. (I lie it’s a lot of lines.)
--
Horizon:
“Come to save the day again, Commander?” You hear a familiar voice rasp, and turn away from your old friend to...another old friend. Orion laughs breathlessly, hand held over his side. “I knew you wouldn’t stay dead. Not for all the creds in the world. Mind if I joined you? Alliance ain’t doing squat, and it looks like you’re saving the galaxy again.”
Yes- “Hell yeah. Time to leave this shithole.” He straightens a little and salutes sloppily. “Orion reporting for duty, Commander. If the Alliance asks, I’m just a soldier real grateful to be rescued from the Collectors. Totally didn’t fall head over heels to join you, nope.”
No- “Aw, what a shame. And here I was, thinking I’d actually be doing something useful.” He shrugs and starts limping away. “Nice to see you alive, Commander! Send the Collectors my regards!”
Post Horizon:
“Nice ship, Commander.” He looks out the window overhead. “Pretty roomy. Cerberus sure treat their people real nice.” He turns back to you and crosses his arms over his chest. “I’d appreciate being brought up to speed though. Where are we in the whole ‘trashing the Collectors’ thing?”
Companion recruitment:
“Nice to see Tali again. Though I’d really appreciate it if I never needed to kill another Colossus for the rest of my life.”
“Thane is scarily good. Think he’ll give me some tips?”
“There are few things that I’m terrified of, and Samara’s one of them.”
“Okay, I know you and how you pick up teammates. But a Geth? Seriously?”
Collector Ship:
“Y’know, I could have been one of these poor bastards. Guess I have to thank Cerberus for bringing you back.”
“Oh, wow. So we’re fighting mutated Protheans. Liara would have a field day with this.”
“You bring me to the best places, Commander! I absolutely love falling into Collector traps! Totally swooning into their jittery bug arms!”
Reaper IFF:
“Sniper. Hell of a shot. Wonder who or what else could be here aside from us.”
“A talking geth? Wonders never cease.”
“I know it saved you, Commander, but seriously? We’re bringing back an intact geth unit?”
Loyalty Mission:
(Involves a combat mission with Tenth Street Reds as the enemy, breaking up a plot that would have harmed a turian colony. If the timed bomb goes off in the last stage, most of the colony is destroyed and the mission is considered a failure, and Orion’s loyalty is not gained.)
Before- “Since it looks like everyone’s checking shit off their bucket list before the Omega Relay, mind if I ask for a favor too?” He laughs sheepishly when you give him your answer. “It’s just a little thing. Nothing big. You’ve probably forgotten, but I was a street kid on Earth. I just wanted to go back, have a little look-see, check on old friends, the works. Tell me when you’re up to it, I’ll tell Joker where to go.”
After (success)- “Y’know,” Orion says quietly, looking out of the window. “I used to think the world of them. Raising me, teaching me how to fight...I thought of them as family.” He turns to you with a tired smile. “But I was a kid. Impressionable. Naive. I nearly didn’t enlist in the Alliance. And look at what I could have become. An alien-hating jackass.”
“Thanks for showing me otherwise, Commander. You could have just ignored me, but you didn’t. Whatever happens from here on out, you can trust me completely. I got you covered.”
Romance:
Bonus if previously romanced- “You know I could never say no to you, Commander.” He smirks at you. “My place, or yours?”
You raise an eyebrow at him. “Don’t you bunk with three other people?”
His smirk turns sly. “Unless you prefer to have an audience...there’s your answer.” You shove him hard in the shoulder and he laughs, drawing you into a deep kiss.
Pre-Omega-4 Relay- “Commander?” The door hisses open and Orion steps inside, eyeing the fish tank and display case before looking at you.
“Orion?” You set aside the tablet for now, moving to greet him with a kiss on the cheek. “What are you doing here?”
“Since we’re probably going to die, might as well go out with a bang.” He waggles his eyebrows at you suggestively, only succeeding in making you laugh. “Okay, yeah, that was bad, but at least it got you to laugh.”
“You are ridiculous.” You tell him primly, a small smile taking the sting from your words. “Hands off the merchandise. What are you doing here, honestly?”
He raises both his hands, trying his best to look innocent. “Just thought you’d like a little company before we hit the relay. I could leave right now. Just say the word.”
Saving the Collector Base:
“Hmm. Using the Collector data to fight the Reapers is nice and all, but do you trust the Illusive Man to not use it for, I dunno, an evil plot or something?” He shifts his weight from one foot to the other. “Not saying you should have destroyed the base. Just. I don’t trust him as far as I can throw a krogan.”
Destroying the Collector Base:
“Just knowing that every single one of those Collectors is nothing but ash now...makes me feel all warm inside.” He grins at you. “You seem to have a habit of pissing off your bosses though. Think the Illusive Man’s seeing red right now? Hope he doesn’t notice you running away with the Normandy in the meantime, we kinda need it.”
After the Commander collects all companions on Citadel:
“You know, I’m not all against aliens, despite Torfan,” he pauses, then smiles brilliantly at you, “I’m all for making nice with the aliens, but they put one toe outta line? Imma shoot them. No offense.”
Post Therum:
“That T’Soni has some nice eyes.” He notes quietly to himself, arms crossed over his chest. He blinks, then smiles wryly at you. “Hey there. Didn’t see you coming. Maybe keep that last comment to yourself, hmm?”
Letting the Rachni Queen go:
“Do you know how fast bugs reproduce?” He grumbles, glancing away from you. “I don’t have the answer but I can tell you that it’s hella fast.”
Killing the Rachni Queen:
“Killing an entire race, Commander?” He huffs, mildly amused. “Now we’re just like the rest of the galaxy. Not that I don’t approve, ‘cause I’d do the same in a heartbeat.”
Saving all Colonists on Feros + Convincing Exo-Geni to keep the Colony:
“Impressive work out there, Commander.” He starts with as you walk up to him. “Didn’t expect you to keep the entire colony in one piece. And that showdown with ExoGeni...” He whistles. “Mind teaching me some tricks? The way you talked them down, figured it wouldn’t hurt to start talking before I shot a politician.”
Killing all Colonists on Feros:
“I guess it was too bad they all went crazy on us.” Orion shrugs. “Maybe it’s better this way. Who knows if that Thorian stuff’s contagious. Plants with their seeds and spores...and that one was sentient. Eugh.”
Wrex convinced:
“Damn, Commander. You don’t just have balls, you have a krogan quad on ya.”
“Talking down Wrex like that...now I really need some pointers.”
“Next krogan that comes up, you’re taking care of them.”
Sacrificing Ashley at Virmire:
“Shame about Ashley.” He comments quietly. “She was a good soldier. Good head on her shoulders.” A pause as he glances away, and when his gaze returns to you, his grey eyes are icy cold chips of flint. “Saren’s going to pay for everything he’s done.”
Sacrificing Kaidan at Virmire:
“Shame about Kaidan.” He comments quietly. “One of the strongest human biotics I’ve known.” A pause as he glances away, and when his gaze returns to you, his grey eyes are icy cold chips of flint. “Saren’s going to pay for everything he’s done.”
Killing Balak in Bring Down the Sky:
“If it’s one thing I hate more than batarian slavers, it’s a power-crazed batarian.”
Saving hostages in Bring Down the Sky:
“We are going to fill Balak’s head full of holes the next time we see him, right? He’s a damn menace.”
Because Inquisitors as Companions got me thinking about Shepards as Companions.
Basics:
Orion (No last name) is an Infiltrator with a penchant for explosions.
Orion would be that one companion egging you on to kill aliens. He believes in Humanity First and doesn’t trust aliens easily (or at all). That being said, if a human commits a crime, he’ll just as happily shoot them in the head. He approves of ‘benefits first, feelings later’ Renegade policy. He understands that diplomacy works better than combat in some (if not most situations), but he’d rather shoot first and ask questions later.
Put him in a situation where it’s ‘sacrifice a few to save the masses’ and he’d happily and gladly sacrifice the few.
Closest alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Romance:
He’s actually not open to a committed relationship in 1, stating that “we’re both Alliance, Commander. Fraternizing with your crew ain’t gonna go over well.” Unless you convince him with a renegade option that’s the equivalent of ‘fuck the Alliance I’m a Spectre’, he’s not romance-able.
Orion is open to hooking up in 2, “since we’re probably going to die, might as well go out with a bang” *eyebrow waggle*. If previously romanced in 1 or 2, he’s romance-able in 3. If cheated upon, he just shrugs it off. “People change. I get that. We weren’t serious anyway. Just tell me when you need backup if [Character] dumps you.”
He states that he’s bi-curious, but he’s actually demi-sexual.
(And if both he and Liara aren’t romanced, he totally goes after her, hooking up with her in 3 if she’s still not romanced and if he’s not a War Asset.)
Location:
He’s found standing at the back of the sleeping pods area in 1. If recruited in ME2, he stands next to Joker on the bridge. If recruited in ME3, he’s usually found standing in the kitchen on the Crew Deck. He moves to Liara’s room if a romance that’s not Liara has been locked in.
His time on Earth in the Tenth Street Reds conditioned him to listen to ‘Jon’ and ‘Shepard’. Add his Alliance training and you’d have one soldier, twitching at every mention of ‘Commander’ and ‘Shepard’.
So when ‘Orion Hall’ is stated over the comms, Orion himself states the name as a question, and doesn’t twitch until a full half minute later, when he’s in the corridor. Sanders mutters ‘Orion Hall’ under her breath, and he jolts.
Even Liara calls him ‘Shepard’.
Orion promises himself to start having people know him by his first name. If not everyone, then his crew. His close friends. Liara.
To the rest of the galaxy he might just be ‘First Human Spectre Shepard’, but to his crew, he’s going to be more than just ‘Commander’.
(Technically he’s a Captain now but the nick just stuck. And maybe he should limit ‘Orion’ to just a few people. Maybe just the one special person. He could think about it when the war ended, just not when everyone needed saving.)
The first thing he manages to tap out when he sees James is, ‘you owe me a drink.’
The man blinks, and the spectre taps out slowly in morse, blue eyes glinting and a shit-eating grin stretching his lips around the tube going down his throat. ‘You said. In Purgatory. When we get to Earth. You’re buying.’
James blinks, then barks a laugh, shaking his head in exasperation. “Good to know you still have your priorities, loco.”
‘What can I say.’ Orion taps again, trembling with silent laughter. ‘I’m only human.’
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