#everybody loses it

[theoriginalladya]

Everybody Loses It - The Hunt Begins

(commissioned art of Rhys Shepard and Kaidan Alenko by @xla-hainex)

Everybody Loses It

Summary: One of the first human biotics, prothean specialist Dr. Rhys Shepard has fought for years to distance himself from the events at BAaT and distance himself from his parents and their military careers. When a prothean beacon is discovered on Eden Prime, he snatches the chance to finally prove himself.

Until the geth attack and he comes face to face with a part of his past he thought long dead...

Chapter 5: The Hunt Begins

Excerpt:

The knock at his door comes sooner rather than later, and, though it could be one of several people – Williams, coming to check up on him, Sara wanting to talk about what happens next, Dr. Chakwas to check on how he’s feeling – pure instinct tells Rhys it isn’t any of them.  Nevertheless, it’s expected.  “C’mon in.” With Kaidan’s advancement to Captain of the Normandy and all the benefits that come with it, Rhys inherits the XO quarters.  It’s only now as he’s putting away his few belongings and searching for a good place to hang his hat when he discovers just how tight a fit the room is.  Just a few paces across either direction, enough room for a bunk, a desk, and a small table with two chairs.  Tucked snug against the bulkhead is a storage compartment for the rest of his clothing and carved out low near the floor, space for his boots. The door opens as he drops his shaving kit into a drawer and closes it, making a mental note of a few items he should pick up the next time they’re in port.  Only then does he turn around.  “Settling in okay?”

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Read Chapter | Read From Beginning | Read Series

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Just a few things to note:

1) Rhys is a slightly older Shepard, a combination of a spacer and Earthborn background, and non-military. He goes off to college and graduate school and becomes a prothean specialist

2) He and Kaidan have known one another since BAaT. They have a history together.

3) Kaidan is the Commander of the Normandy. He essentially takes over the role of Shepard in the ME canon timeline

This story isn't a retelling of all of game 1, but will use bits and pieces of it that fit for their story.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I've enjoyed writing them!

For anyone interested, Rhys has two playlists on Spotify.

This one is associated with his story The Barn called Shore Leave on Mindoir

And this is his general playlist that I listen to while writing for him. It may change some as his story continues.

If you have any questions about Rhys, feel free to drop an ask! I love to talk about my characters! :)

Enjoy!

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Note: I honestly thought I'd posted this chapter months ago. Whoops! But Rhys woke up this morning asking if I would go poke at their story and I discovered I hadn't. Time to get the show back on the road for these two!

[theoriginalladya]

WIP Whenever

I've missed a lot of WIP Wednesdays this year because of fussy muses, but last night Rhys Shepard's muse decided to poke at me about his next chapter of Everybody Loses It. It was mostly editing, but this part was totally revamped and I really like how it turned out.

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Mention of the beacon and its vision sends a ripple of unease down Rhys’ spine.  He isn’t so certain. Kaidan stays quiet for a moment, his full attention focused on Rhys.  Rhys fights to keep from running his finger between his neck and collar to loosen it.  “Has any of it started to make sense to you?” Of course, he has to ask. Closing his eyes, Rhys turns his head slowly, as if stretching out the muscles in his neck.  He hasn’t tried revisiting the visions since he woke up in the medbay.  It’s the last thing he wants to do, reliving it again.  If he’s honest, the memory alone is powerful enough to leave him more than rattled.  But Kaidan’s right; they need to know more about the beacon, about their visions, about what happened when they activated it.  Eyes still shut, Rhys draws in a slow breath and cautiously prods at the memory... ...and is met by a pulsing ache that explodes inside his head.

[theoriginalladya]

Everybody Loses It - Chapter Update

(commissioned art of Rhys Shepard and Kaidan Alenko by @xla-hainex)

Everybody Loses It

Summary: One of the first human biotics, prothean specialist Dr. Rhys Shepard has fought for years to distance himself from the events at BAaT and distance himself from his parents and their military careers. When a prothean beacon is discovered on Eden Prime, he snatches the chance to finally prove himself.

Until the geth attack and he comes face to face with a part of his past he thought long dead...

Chapter 4: One Step Closer

Excerpt:

"I'm no Indiana Jones, Ryder, and I’m certainly no Johnny Cash." Out of the darkness to Rhys' left, a familiar voice calls from the shadows, "They named the dog Indiana, as I recall." Another memory flash returns - secret movie nights at BAaT, stolen snacks from the kitchens, and whispered commentary as they sit in the dark - and Rhys pinches his nose.  Of course, Kaidan would remember that.  A glance to his left finds Kaidan slipping from the shadows and Williams is behind him.  That isn’t a surprise as she joined the Normandy crew right after Eden Prime, but the three figures following her - a quarian, a turian, and a krogan - are unexpected.  The purple and silver hooded quarian is the first of the three to speak.  "What's a dog?" To Rhys' surprise, it’s the krogan who answers.  "Varren-like creature, but smaller and with fur." "Fur?" Williams clarifies, "Animal hair." "Ah."

Read Chapter | Read From Beginning | Read Series

Just a few things to note:

1) Rhys is a slightly older Shepard, a combination of a spacer and Earthborn background, and non-military. He goes off to college and graduate school and becomes a prothean specialist

2) He and Kaidan have known one another since BAaT. They have a history together.

3) Kaidan is the Commander of the Normandy. He essentially takes over the role of Shepard in the ME canon timeline

This story isn't a retelling of all of game 1, but will use bits and pieces of it that fit for their story.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I've enjoyed writing them!

For anyone interested, Rhys has two playlists on Spotify.

This one is associated with his story The Barn called Shore Leave on Mindoir

And this is his general playlist that I listen to while writing for him. It may change some as his story continues.

If you have any questions about Rhys, feel free to drop an ask! I love to talk about my characters! :)

Enjoy!

[theoriginalladya]

Everybody Loses It - Chapter Update

(commissioned art of Rhys Shepard and Kaidan Alenko by @xla-hainex)

Everybody Loses It

Summary: One of the first human biotics, prothean specialist Dr. Rhys Shepard has fought for years to distance himself from the events at BAaT and distance himself from his parents and their military careers. When a prothean beacon is discovered on Eden Prime, he snatches the chance to finally prove himself.

Until the geth attack and he comes face to face with a part of his past he thought long dead...

Chapter 3: Welcome to the Citadel

Excerpt:

Rhys is foolish enough to think walking away from the Normandy – from Kaidan, for a third time in his life – will be easy.  He ends up calling himself all kinds of foolish as he, Sara and the rest of the ground team from Eden Prime hit the docs of the Citadel together.  They’re at the heart of galactic civilization.  The Council, the ambassador – Someone’s going to want to hear about what happened, even if it happened on a backwater human colony. Sure enough, the very second the elevator doors open just outside of C-Sec headquarters, they’re greeted by an escort and an aide sent by the ambassador to greet them. “More like herd us to the embassies,” Rhys mutters beneath his breath.  Out of the corner of his eye, he catches Kaidan’s glance at him, but Rhys lets it go.  He’s never met Ambassador Udina, but he’s heard stories.  He isn’t expecting this meeting to go well.  What I’d give for the days of sunshine and bunnies back home.  At least there I can use my shotgun to take care of the wolves.

Read Chapter | Read From Beginning | Read Series

Just a few things to note:

1) Rhys is a slightly older Shepard, a combination of a spacer and Earthborn background, and non-military. He goes off to college and graduate school and becomes a prothean specialist

2) He and Kaidan have known one another since BAaT. They have a history together.

3) Kaidan is the Commander of the Normandy. He essentially takes over the role of Shepard in the ME canon timeline

This story isn't a retelling of all of game 1, but will use bits and pieces of it that fit for their story.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I've enjoyed writing them!

For anyone interested, Rhys has two playlists on Spotify.

This one is associated with his story The Barn called Shore Leave on Mindoir

And this is his general playlist that I listen to while writing for him. It may change some as his story continues.

If you have any questions about Rhys, feel free to drop an ask! I love to talk about my characters! :)

Enjoy!

[theoriginalladya]

Everybody Loses It

(commissioned artwork of Kaidan Alenko & Dr. Rhys Shepard by @xla-hainex)

Title: Everybody Loses It

Summary:

One of the first human biotics, prothean specialist Dr. Rhys Shepard has fought for years to distance himself from the events at BAaT and his parents and their military careers. When a prothean beacon is discovered on Eden Prime, he snatches the chance to finally prove himself.

Until the geth attack and he comes face to face with a part of his past he thought long dead…

Characters: Dr. Rhys Shepard, Kaidan Alenko, Ashley Williams, Sara Ryder, Urdnot Wrex, Garrus Vakarian, Tali'Zorah, Liara T'Soni, David Anderson, assorted other ME1 characters

Relationships: Male Shepard/Kaidan Alenko, Male Shepard & Ashley Williams, Male Shepard & Sara Ryder

Tags: Mass Effect 1, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergent, non-military Shepard, Older Shepard, slow burn, past relationship, game level violence

Excerpt:

Sara steps closer as Williams chews on her lip, glancing back and forth between them.  “Look, all I know is the two-twelve has been assigned active protection duty around the dig site.  No idea why.  Could be a drill, could be an active threat.” 

It wasn’t a drill.  In the weeks he’d been here, Rhys hadn’t heard of anything like this before.

“We’ll be patrolling the outer perimeter.  On the off chance something gets past us…”  She looks up at him for a long moment, then over at Ryder.  “I’ve heard rumors you know your way around a weapon.  That true, sir?”

Rhys sighs and dips his head in acknowledgement.  “Prefer my grandfather’s shotgun, personally, but this’ll do.” 

A male voice from outside calls out, “C’mon, Chief, we need to get moving.”

Williams’ smile tightens into a thin line as she sighs and turns away.  “Stay safe, Doc.  Ryder can help with that, too, I’d imagine.”

“I can,” Sara says, speaking for the first time since Williams’ arrival.

At the doorway, Williams glances back one last time.  “I’ll be in touch if I find out anything more.”  She’s gone in a heartbeat, the door scraping closed behind her.

[theoriginalladya]

Sunday WIP Whenever

I was tagged by @cr-noble-writes - thank you, my friend!!! Loved the Jackson snippet, btw!!!

Here's a snippet of Rhys talking to Anderson in the next chapter for Everybody Loses It that I'm in the middle of editing. (sadly, Hell Week for work caught me in it's clingy tendrils before I could finish. sigh).

“How are you holding up, son?” he asks, genuine concern in his voice as he joins Rhys at the railing, resting his arms across the metal slats.  It’s a refreshing question, to be honest.  Anderson’s not the first one to ask him that, but the first once since arriving on the Citadel and after all of the stuff with Udina and the Council.  But it’s the endearment that hits home.  Son. How long has it been since I was last called that?  “I’m fine, sir.  A little out of sorts, maybe.”  His lips purse into a thin, wry smile.  “Wasn’t aware a civilian could be recruited by the Alliance.” Anderson chuckles and pats Rhys’ shoulder.  “Don’t worry, you aren’t being recruited.  Not really.  You’re just doing a favor for an old friend.” And old friend.  Just how much Anderson knows about Rhys and Kaidan’s relationship prior to today, Rhys has no clue.  For all he knows, the man could be a confidante to Kaidan as well.  Still, Anderson isn’t the type to judge, Rhys knows that from past experience. “Good to know.  I’m a bit…short on the training side of things.”  He flashes Anderson a wide smile.  “Sir.”  He side-glances the man warily.  “You aren’t…This isn’t getting back to my mother, is it?” “As far as I’m concerned, you are an adult of legal standing and more than capable of making your own decisions,” Anderson assures him.  “I can’t guarantee she isn’t going to hear about it some other way, but it won’t be from me.  Why?” “Just curious if she had her hand in it somehow.”  It isn’t that he doesn’t trust Kaidan – of everyone he’s come into contact with since Eden Prime and even after they parted on bad terms the last time they’d seen one another a decade ago, Rhys trusts him.  He always has.  “You know how she likes to meddle in my affairs, and it rarely ever turns out for the best.”

[theoriginalladya]

Everybody Loses It (chapter update)

(commissioned art of Rhys Shepard and Kaidan Alenko by @xla-hainex)

Everybody Loses It

Summary: One of the first human biotics, prothean specialist Dr. Rhys Shepard has fought for years to distance himself from the events at BAaT and distance himself from his parents and their military careers. When a prothean beacon is discovered on Eden Prime, he snatches the chance to finally prove himself.

Until the geth attack and he comes face to face with a part of his past he thought long dead...

Chapter 2: The Beacon

Excerpt:

A pained grunt slips past Rhys’ lips as his back hits the short wall hard enough to lose his breath and he slides below the edge, finding cover just seconds before the geth weapons’ fire hit.  Shaking in his boots – hell, who’s he kidding?  They all are, and the other three are trained soldiers! – he swallows the fear and shoves more ammo into his shotgun, chambering a round.  He spares the man kneeling beside him a quick, irritated glance.  “You do know if I’d wanted to be on the front lines, I’d have grown up with my mother on her ship instead of my grandparents at their ranch, right?”

Kaidan snorts softly though his focus is all on the device at Rhys’ feet.  He says nothing, not that Rhys expects an answer.  Of the two of them, Kaidan has always been the one able to focus on the task at hand better.

Besides, after what happened back at the dig site, it isn’t like he didn’t expect they would have to fight their way off Eden Prime.  The geth put paid to that early on.  A leisurely jaunt to the spaceport to collect the beacon before Kaidan’s ship picked them up would have been nice.  Delightful, even.  But that isn’t how things work for people like him or Kaidan. 

Nothing is ever easy for people like us, not since BAaT.  Why should this place be any different?

Read Chapter | Read From Beginning | Read Series

Just a few things to note:

1) Rhys is a slightly older Shepard, a combination of a spacer and Earthborn background, and non-military. He goes off to college and graduate school and becomes a prothean specialist

2) He and Kaidan have known one another since BAaT. They have a history together.

3) Kaidan is the Commander of the Normandy. He essentially takes over the role of Shepard in the ME canon timeline

This story isn't a retelling of all of game 1, but will use bits and pieces of it that fit for their story.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I've enjoyed writing them!

For anyone interested, Rhys has two playlists on Spotify.

This one is associated with his story The Barn called Shore Leave on Mindoir

And this is his general playlist that I listen to while writing for him. It may change some as his story continues.

If you have any questions about Rhys, feel free to drop an ask! I love to talk about my characters! :)

Enjoy!

[theoriginalladya]

WIP Whenever #3

Considering myself tagged by @mtreebeardiles since for some reason this afternoon, Rhys Shepard decided to pop up out of nowhere! Guess he wants Everybody Loses It updated too!

“I promise,” Anderson says softly as they head through the lobby, “I will get you out of here just as soon as I can, son.  All I need you to do is explain what happened on Eden Prime.  After that, you and your friend can leave.” His friend.  Sara walks to his left a few steps away, but the slight turn of her head towards him suggests she hears Anderson’s promise as well.  Neither of them are armed any longer and someone had found Sara some clean BDUs so she wasn’t stuck in her armor.  Offering her a quick smile, Rhys notices a small glint of…defiance in her eyes?  What am I missing here?  Or do you dislike Udina just on principle, same as me? Anderson moves away, taking the lead as they approach the ambassador’s door.  That gives Rhys the perfect opportunity.  “You okay?” The defiance flares briefly before simmering down to a low ember once more.  “Let’s just say I’ll be lucky if I’m not kicked out of here the minute I we get inside.” “Not going to happen.”  The very idea sends a rush of irritation racing up Rhys’ spine.  During their time together on Eden Prime, Sara shared some of her past with him, more specifically, her difficulties in recent months thanks to being the daughter of Alec Ryder.  Unfortunately, it’s something he can relate to all too well, but from the opposite perspective.  You aren’t responsible for your father’s poor decisions.  If no one else likes it, they can take it up with me.  Her smile had been something to behold that day. Man, he'd give almost anything to see that smile again right now. “Remember,” he says as they walk through the door, “you’re with me.  End of story.”