Serenity Effect

Prologue

Courtroom

"Sergeant Malcolm Shepard, step forward." The bailiff called out.

Malcolm Shepard dressed in his uniform rose up and looked at the JAG officer.

"Sgt. Shepard, you stand here before the Tribunal to explain what had happened on Akuze. You declined a representative."

"I did." Shepard said remaining at attention.

In the viewing stands he noticed his mother Captain Hanna Shepard as well as Captain David Anderson. There were other members of the Alliance who were there to witness the trial.

"Sgt. Shepard before we begin, you were recently demoted from the rank of Commander." The JAG officer started.

"I was." Malcolm said taking the stand and after being sworn in and seated.

"Why was that?" the military lawyer asked.

"Because I wiped out Bataran slavers with excessive force." Shepard said keeping his voice level.

"It was reported that the slavers attacked the colony you were stationed at." The JAG said.

"I am here for what happened to my squad on Akuze and my striking a higher ranked officer. The events of Mindoir have not impact on what happened on Akuze." Shepard said.

"I beg to differ." The lawyer said and turned to the tribunal. "I am using the Sergeant's previous actions to show that this man shouldn't have just been demoted, he should have been discharged."

Shepard looked at the man, wondering what he was after.

"Do you deny excessive violence when killing the Bataran slavers?"

Shepard looked at him. "As I stated in that hearing, I admit to it. But those bastards were not only taking men, women and children, they killed and raped those they wanted."

"And you punched your superior officer…"

Shepard cut him off, "That man may have been higher ranked, but superior no he wasn't. He ordered us to let the slavers go and I in good conscience let those people be taken."

The lawyer turned, "And with your conscience you led your men into a Thresher Maw nest to die!"

"No," Shepard said.

"You returned after surviving and punched yet another superior officer." The lawyer said.

"He sent my men into a death trap!" Shepard snarled. "And he then asked for details on how the acid from the Thresher maw reacted to our armor, shield and how quickly it ate through flesh and bone. That's why I punched the so called superior officer!"

"Sgt. Shepard, the record showed you pushed for this mission." The lawyer said changing tactics. "You saw this as a chance to regain your lost rank, because everyone loves a hero."

"I didn't take this mission, I was told to by General Edwards. I was told to inset my team with a halo drop and make our way to the outpost where communications were down." Shepard closed his eyes. "The General failed to mention the outpost was built in the middle of a Thresher Maw nest or that the drop left us right in the middle of their breeding grounds."

"And instead of calling the ship for evac, you led your team deeper into the nest, why was that?"

"I'd lost two men getting to the outpost, and once there I was told by the lone survivor that the scientist there had taken the Mako into some of the underground tunnels. General Edwards had ordered the retrieval of the scientist was the priority."

"Let it shown that Sgt. Shepard has named General Edwards, who is not here at this time due to a broken jaw as his superior officer. General Edwards has sent this statement." The lawyer presented a data pad to the tribunal and they sat silently reading it.

"Sgt. Shepard." The first judge, a female Admiral called out. "Are you aware that General Edwards has a sworn statement that you bullied him for this mission?"

"No ma'am. But that is a lie. The General approached me after my previous hearing and ordered me to prepare for another mission." Shepard said.

"It says here, and it was witnessed by his aid a Lieutenant Commander Lei that you told the General that if he didn't give you the mission you would shoot him and then hunt down his family and shoot each of them."

"That's a lie." Shepard said.

The lawyer spoke up, "So you're calling two superior officers liars?" here he chuckled. "Your honors, Sgt. Shepard's record clearly shows a man of violence and insubordination. We have recordings from the captain of the Ontario that even before the squad left, Shepard was pulled away from another marine after having a loud disagreement."

In the stand, Shepard's fists tightened out of sight.

"What are you heading towards Commander?" the second judge a male Admiral asked.

"That Sgt. Shepard is unfit to continue military service and should be removed before he causes an intergalactic incident."

"How dare you."

The lawyer turned to see Shepard standing at ramrod attention. "Fifty men and women died on Akuze and you and that bastard Edwards lie and shift blame."

The lawyer looked at him, "He's also failed his P-3 Exams. This man shouldn't be allowed to hold any position in the military."

"SIRS!" a young woman with sofy coco colored skin stood up. She was dressed in a uniform.

"Permission to address the court?" the woman inquired.

"Identify yourself to the court." The third judge an Admiral of Asian descent.

The woman hobbled forward. "Corporal Zoë Sinclair, I was at Akuze with Sgt. Shepard."

There was mutters among those in attendance while the lead judge banged her gavel. "Corporal Sinclair, we were informed there were no other survivors of Akuze."

"Well your reports are wrong. As far as I know including Shepard and myself there is one other. we were evac'd to different ships. I don't know who the other is, but when I came to I was on the Citadel. It took me until an hour ago when I landed and I found out about this…trial."

"Your honors, this witness is highly suspect and the facts speak against her as well as Shepard." The lawyer said. "I've studied the whole squad and Corporal Sinclair's record shows she has more infractions than Shepard." He activated his omni-tool and a file was sent to the courts computers. The wall screen activated and showed Sinclair's and Shepard's files side by side.

"Both are insubordiate, have multiple offenses for drunk and disorderly and nearly identical records or fornication while on duty!"

Shepard snorted.

"You think this is funny Sergeant?" the lawyer demanded.

"I think this whole trial is funny." Shepard said. He looked at the tribunal. "Discharge me. Protect that bastard Edwards. But know this he's going to keep on ruining marines and he's going to drag the Alliance into a mess you won't be able to bury and cover with political bullshit."

Shepard stepped out of the stand. "Since this trial is rigged, I don't need to be here. I need to pack my things and I'll be out of the barracks within the hour." He saluted the flag, turned and saluted Anderson and marched out of the courtroom. Chaos descended. Corporal Sinclair approached the tribunal and put her bars on the bench. She like Shepard saluted the flag then turned to leave, the whole time the lawyer was screaming, the people in the wings were talking and the three admirals looked shocked.

Captain Hanna Shepard smiled as she elbowed Anderson who shook his head in disbelief.

Around them the courtroom was disturbed.

"And we just lost two of the best soldiers the Alliance has seen in a long time." Anderson muttered. Hanna laughed and rose. "Mal has always marched to the beat of his own drum. I'm surprised he made Commander and had top scores in N7 training."

Anderson looked at her. "But he just walked away."

"Mal was never one to follow orders that rubbed him raw. I'm just surprised it took him this long to chaff under the rules and regulations."

David Anderson rubbed a hand over his face. He had been trying to maneuver Shepard into position to join the SPECTRE's in two years when the special project was set to launch. Damn Edwards and his shadow projects. Anderson thought and cursed the Admirals that were allowing the careers of good soldiers be thrown away to protect someone with no honor or new the meaning of the word. He watched as the three Admirals tried to regain order he missed Hanna Shepard slipping from the room.

XX

Barracks

Mal Shepard didn't have much as he zipped his duffle bag and looked around the nearly empty barracks. He saw the ghosts of those who died on Akuze, those who died in that valley that some pencil pusher named Serenity Valley.

A fifty man squad and there are only three survivors, one shipped of to god knows where. Mal thought as shouldered his bag and headed for the doors. He stopped when they opened to reveal Zoë Sinclair.

"Zoë?" he asked seeing her own duffle bag.

"If they were going to railroad you, a bona fide hero then what chance did I have. I left my bars on the judges bench." She said.

"You do know I have no idea where I might end up." He told her.

The coco skinned woman rolled her shoulder into a shrug. "It really doesn't matter sir. I grew up on the streets of old New York. All I had left was the marines. If ended up back there I'd either be dead or pushing Red Sand just to get by."

Mal studied the former squad mate who had bled with him trying to survive in an environment that had become hell moments after they hit the ground.

"Alright Zoë, lets go find us some trouble."

"Yes sir." Zoë said grabbing her bag and falling into step with the former Sergeant.

At the opposite end of the hall, Hanna Shepard watched her son and nodded her head. "You'll do fine." She said softly. "You're my son after all." She watched the pair leave. "Turn the 'verse on its ear my boy."

XX

Landing pad

Malcolm Shepard growled as the guard tried to take his pistol. "Its not military issue." He said for the third time. "I returned all my gear, this is mine."

"Sir, you cannot…"

"If you say I can't own military property I'm going to shove this up your ass and pull the trigger until it over heats and cauterizes your rectum." Mal was losing patience. "I paid for this with my own funds while I was on leave."

Zoë just gave the guard a stony stare that backed him off.

"Its not registered…"

"Because its personal property." Mal countered. "Now Private, do you want me to introduce you to MY pistol up close and personal or will you check the quartermaster to verify I returned all issued military grade equipment?"

Zoë saw the second guard checking with the quartermaster, speaking into a monitor.

"Sir." She said and touched his shoulder. He looked at her and saw where she was looking. He waited and a moment later the guard came over. "Sergeant Shepard…"

"Former." Mal corrected.

"The quartermaster says you returned your gear as had Corporal Sinclair…"

"Former." Zoë said.

The guard turned to the other. "It is his gun."

The other guard looked like he was going to continue to argue when Captain Anderson approached. "Shepard! I'm glad I caught up to you before you vanished into society."

"Captain." Mal said and without thinking saluted one of the few men he respected. Zoë mirrored him and Anderson returned the salutes.

"Lets talk somewhere with less tension." Anderson said and motioned for the two former marines to follow him.

They exchanged looks and entered the waiting air speeder. The gate guards watched them go wondering if there was going to be any other excitement or would they be able to return to their quiet duties.

XX

Chapter 1

Two years later…

Eden Prime

"COME ON YOU WALKIN' CLANKERS!"

Malcolm Shepard yelled firing around the crates at the Geth then ducked back as they returned fire. He looked and then raced to safer cover behind some rocks. Skidding he ducked and smirked as Zoë popped up and her shotgun barked several times before she lowered herself and glared at him.

"You said this was going to be a simple job sir." She said in an accusing tone.

"It was. Then the Geth showed up with that super ship and we're fighting for our lives. Fun right?" Shepard said and popped up and his pistol barked several times and two Geth dropped dead before the other three returned fire.

"Oh shit!" Mal said dropping behind the rocks.

"Fun?" Zoë said raising an eyebrow. "I think you need to check and make sure that word means what you think it means before you use it next time….sir."

Holstering his pistol Mal grabbed a case and after entering the code it opened with a hiss.

"Sir? I thought you left that on the ship." Zoë said.

Zoë, how could I part with this darling? Six mercenaries came to kill me one time." Mal said.

"I know, I was there sir." She said watching him look at the assault rifle fondly. Mal continued as if she hadn't spoken, "The best of them carried this. It's a Callahan full-bore auto lock, a customized trigger, double heat cartridge…"

It was silent as it unfolded from its compact state. Mal smiled. "Showtime. Lets teach the Geth that we're not to be fucked with. Zoë, be a darlin' and lob a grenade."

Zoë Sinclair shot him a look and did as asked. She counted and there was an explosion.

Mal wasted no time standing up and giving a battle cry as the assault rifle in his hands opened fire. Sweeping back and forth he was happy as the Geth's shields fell and they were struck by the incendiary-plutonium rounds and went down quickly, leaking their life fluids and sparking as the light went out in their optics.

Mal smirked as he shouldered the Callahan. "See, I just knew it was a good thing to bring Inara."

Zoë glanced at him. "You named it Inara?"

"Well, yeah. She and Winona are my two favorite guns." Shepard said patting the pistol on his hip.

Zoë shook her head. "How you managed to avoid a Section 8 I will never understand sir."

Mal shot her a look as they heard weapons fire and explosions coming from the camp. "Sounds like the garrison is finally fighting back." He said.

"What should we do Captain?" Zoë asked all business.

Mal tried communicating with his omni-tool and found the signal still blocked. "I can't raise the ship."

Zoë tried and shook her head. "Me neither sir." The two former marines worked their way up the valley, they reached the camp at the top of the hill the same time a three man squad came up from the dig site.

"What the hell are those?" Mal wondered as the spikes lowered and three formerly human figures staggered towards their targets, which were the marines. Mal took the time to study them. If they were human, they had long since moved beyond that as the flesh they did have was gray while other parts were covered with circuitry.

The three marines open fire and their assault rifles tore down the creatures before they got close enough.

Mal turned to his partner and smirked. "See the Alliance still believes that nothing can't be solved with an overwhelming show of force and firepower."

"If you think so sir." She said.

They waited as the marines crossed the ruined camp.

"Identify yourself." The lead marine commanded.

"That's Captain Shepard and his first mate." The marine wearing white and pink body armor. "They were here to transport cargo before all of this started."

"Shepard?" the other marine in the gray armor inquired.

"That's me." Mal said. "Who are your friends Williams?" he asked the woman in the pink and white armor.

The lead marine raised his tinted visor. "Commander Dillon Hunt, attached to the SSV Normandy. This is Lieutenant Kaiden Alenko and you seem to already know Chief Williams."

Shepard nodded his head.

"Can you tell us what happened from your point of view?" Hunt asked.

"We were waiting for the cargo train when that," Shepard gestured to the black ship that hung over the colony's spaceport. "Entered the atmosphere and the Geth were dropped from shuttles swarming over the whole damn colony." Shepard toed the body of what he would later learn is a Husk. "So far we've encountered some troopers. These are the first we've seen of these critters."

"What about the colonists?" Hunt asked.

"We saw a few cowering in bunkers. Last we heard the garrison had locked down the camp." He looked around. "After they moved that Prothean device to the train. Sergeant Buck told us to find cover, which we haven't found yet as the Geth cut through the trailers as if they were tissue paper."

Hunt ordered his squad to fan out and check the trailers, Alenko found a locked one and with some hacking forced it open. The marines entered while Mal and Zoë kept an eye on the paths into the camp.

"Sir?" Zoë asked.

"I've heard of Hunt. He was in the N7 group behind mine." Mal said.

"Captain Shepard."

The pair turned to see Hunt approaching. "Did the two of you see a Turian by any chance?"

"Nope. Eden Prime is a human colony. The only ET's around here that we've seen have been the Geth. Is he or she a member of your squad?"

Hunt nodded. "He's a SPECTRE. His name's Nihilus. His last communication was he was heading towards the train."

"Then he's not to far, cause the train and dock are just over the next ridge." Mal said.

"Commander." Alenko called out and jogged over to them. "I had the scanner up before the jamming resumed. Seems like the way ahead has Geth."

"We just killed a bunch of them." Mal said then shared a look with Zoë.

"That means they took the spaceport." She said.

Mal cursed. "I hope Bester managed to seal the ship and keep his head down."

"Whose Bester?" Hunt asked.

"He's our engineer. He, our pilot and a Solarian Doctor are our crew." Mal said.

Hunt looked at him. "What ship?"

"A Hotaru class freighter." Mal said.

"A Hotaru?" Alenko butted in. "I thought those things were extinct."

Hunt smiled. "We used them in basic to practice troop landings. But Alenko's right, shouldn't your ship be in a museum or a junkyard?"

Mal's look hardened. "Serenity's special." He said sharing a look with Zoë who nodded.

"If you don't mind Commander, we'll tag along. If the Geth overran the garrison, it means you'll need all the guns you can get."

"Their civilians." Alenko said.

Hunt shook his head. "Shepard and Sinclair are marines. Once a marine, always a marine." He looked at Mal. "I'd be honored to have the highest scoring N7 at my side as we rush to stop the Geth from taking the beacon."

Mal flipped the Callahan and thumbed the safety off.

"Let's ride."

XX

The group backtracked and after finding Nihilus's body they learned there was another Turian named Saren leading the Geth. The group cleared the train of Geth and rocketed towards the spaceport, which was on the outskirts of the colony.

While they traveled, Hunt decided to talk to Shepard.

"I saw the replay of your trial." The Commander said.

Mal shrugged. "Some say trial, I say rigged circus."

"It was obvious to all that you were being set up." Hunt said. "By walking away you made it easy for them."

Shepard gave a shrug. "No matter what I said or what evidence I could dig up they were going to use me as a sacrificial lamb. By leaving I avoided spending my life in an 8x10 cell."

"Anderson spoke very highly of you when he recruited me to the Normandy. From our talks, the job as his second in command should have been yours."

Mal shook his head. "I get rashes trying to follow orders. Anderson and my mother are the only ones I respect."

"Hackett's a good man. He's in charge of the Fifth fleet." Hunt said.

They rode in silence for a bit. "So I still hold all the records?"

Hunt laughed.

By the controls Kaiden Alenko and Ashley Williams were trying to pull Zoë into conversations.

"So…" Kaiden began, "You're with the Butcher of…" he stopped finding a shotgun centimeters from his nose.

"I would appreciate if you keep that kind of talk to yourself, Lieutenant. And I'm his first mate that is all. We don't talk about Mindoir, Torfan or Akuze…ever"

"Really?" Ashley asked watching as the other woman lowered the shotgun. Changing the subject she tried, "He is rather ruggedly handsome."

Zoë shook her head and attached her shotgun to her thigh.

"So the two of you aren't together?" Kaiden asked and both women rolled their eyes. "The captain doesn't believe in relationships." Zoë finally said. "He's the captain of his own ship and if he wants any tail when we're in port there are joy girls."

"What a shame." Ashley muttered as she studied the man she heard about. "He does fill out those pants."

Kaiden shook his head. "Alright, I'm getting uncomfortable." He decided to change the subject.

"So you gave up a military career to be a first mate on an antique freighter? Why?"

Zoë looked at him. "The captain and I survived together in conditions that killed our whole platoon."

"So you….what?" Alenko asked. "Owe him a life debt or something?"

Zoë rolled her eyes. She spotted the spaceport ahead. "Captain!"

Hunt and Shepard joined them. Zoë pointed ahead.

"I'd say the Geth took the docks." Mal said pulling the Callahan off his back. He tapped it and a sniper scope rose up.

"We've got other problems other than the Geth." He said.

Hunt pulled his sniper rifle and looked as the train sped closer. "We'll need to spread out." He said.

"What is it?" Alenko said. He had his assault rifle and pistol.

Williams had that and a shotgun so she didn't have the range.

"Bombs." Mal said. "How do you want to do this?"

Hunt still looking answered, "Kaiden, how are you at bomb disposal?"

"I wasn't the best in my class."

Williams shook her head.

"I'll do it." Zoë said.

Hunt looked at her and nodded. "Then the rest of us will sweep the Geth and provide cover."

Mal pulled Inara and thumbed the safety. "Don't worry, this should be fun."

Zoë gave him a dark look as the train slowed to a stop.

"Let 'em have it!" Shepard roared spotting the Geth and opened fire.

XX

The Geth fought hard, but Zoë managed to get all the bombs and the group cleared the platform.

"Jamming signals gone." Kaiden reported.

"And so are the Geth." Zoë pointed to where the large ship had vanished into the clouds.

"Sir, the beacon." Kaiden called.

While the three marines were checking on the beacon, Mal looked at Zoë. "Try Serenity. Tell Taylor we'll be dusting off in ten."

"Yes sir." She said and went off to send the message with her omni-tool.

Mal turned in time to see Hunt knock tackle Williams out of the air and be suspended himself before the beacon.

"Shit." He said and went and performed something heroically stupid as he tackled Hunt and next thing he knew he was in a lot of pain as images were crammed into his head.

Malcolm Shepard lost consciousness when the Prothean Beacon exploded. He thought he heard Zoë yell but other voices as well but he wasn't certain.

XX

AN: Here is another story that's been on my flash drive for some time. Finished it up and decided to share since my muse is being stubborn. Think of it as a merger of two awesome sci-fi's with a another character from another show. For those that can't figure it out…its Firefly, Mass Effect and Andromeda. Get them now. Firefly is a great show, but anal retentive execs removed it when they played it out of order. Andromeda suffered being moved but managed five seasons. Netflix should have both. Firefly you can get the one season of 14 episodes and the movie Serenity rather cheap.

This won't be a true crossover so its only here on Mass Effect. But for those that know about Firefly will see familiar scenes and cameos.

Shepard will have to do things differently as Captain of his own ship, and he won't be a SPECTRE or Alliance so he won't have the resources or support (not that he got much in the games). He will have a crew of new faces as Dillon will have the usual suspects. The updates will be slow.