Quintessential Hero

Disclaimer: I own nothing... except the author's crazy imagination!

Summary:Post ME3, and starts during The Avengers movie. Thanks to a certain omnipotent being with a penchant for mind games, Samantha Shepard finds herself in a strange new world.

Author's Notes: Thank you so much to everyone who has read, favored and followed my story! A very special thank you to all my reviewers! So... who is interfering with Q's plan, and which character is about to meet Micheal again? Lets get this show on the road!

Archer: Holy merciful crap! Excuse me readers, I um... need to hide, bye!

Wrex: ARCHER!

Wrex: ... I can smell your fear human! (Wrex promptly rips the door off the nearest closet, finding your brave author cowering inside.)

Archer: Uh, hi there Wrex.

Wrex: I only have one thing to say to you human... Put me in this chapter, or bad things will happen. Mostly to you.

Archer: I'm sorry Wrex, I just had a different idea in mind for this chapter. Maybe later? (Your daring author cringes, hoping the end will come quickly.)

Wrex: You got a quad on you Archer! Oh well. Can't say that I'm not a little disappointed, but I'd rather read more of this story than smash you into a mushy paste. For now.

Archer: ... I'll take that a compliment, I think.

Chapter 17

A look of respect gleamed in Fury's eye as he told them, "Follow me."

Fury proceeded to quickly lead them from the Command Center into the bowels of the ship. Passing the Infirmary, Micheal and Samantha noticed they were entering an area labeled 'Medical Research: High Level Containment'. They finally stopped at a sealed door as their guide produced a key card from his long trench coat, which he then swiped, while a retina scanner confirmed his identity.

The three of them entered what looked to be an observation room that allowed access to an airlock, and the small lab/clean room on the other side of the room's large window. On the other side of that window, strapped to a bed, was the sleeping form of someone Micheal thought he'd never see again. A quiet gasp from Samantha a moment later let him know that she knew exactly who it was as well.

The image of a hand slipping just out of his reach filled Micheal's mind, as he slowly walked to the window, his shocked mind thinking, Oh my God. It's her! She's alive.

A moment later Samantha began whispering in his ear, breaking his daze, "We have to get her out of here! After what happened to me, who knows what SHIELD will do to her."

"I can see from the looks on both your faces that I was right, you clearly do know this alien."

Micheal turned to look at Fury, and with an icy edge to his voice, said, "What did you do to her? Where's her suit?"

Fury looked confused, as he replied, "Suit? For the record, it was found-"

"She.", Micheal said, anger filling his voice now, as he stepped toward Fury.

"She... wasn't in any suit, and was unconscious, when we brought her in. I can also tell you that no harm has come to her, yet."

"Yet?", Samantha snapped at him.

Fury glanced at Samantha, telling her, "As you well know from first hand experience Commander, the Council can make some pretty bad fucking decisions. Unfortunately, I can't stop them as often as I'd like. Your... friend is going to be transferred to another SHIELD base within the next two hours."

Micheal looked ready to rip the man apart with his bare hands, as Samantha grabbed her bother's shoulder. The only thing that probably stopped him from knocking Fury out was the sudden sound coming out of the onmi-tools Stark had built for them.

"Shep- Shepard, Micheal is that you? Oh keelah, please tell me I'm not dreaming! Whats happening? Where am I?!"

Instantly Micheal was pressed against the glass, his heart breaking, tears forming in his eye's, as he watched her struggle against the restraints pinning her down. "Your not dreaming Tali, it's me. Don't worry, I'll get you out of there soon."

Seeing her bother in obvious pain, Samantha glared at Fury, quietly telling him, "You people are idiots! She has almost no immune system to speak of, if she gets an infection-"

Fury interrupted her, speaking in a calm tone, "Then it's a good thing we handled her care as well as we did. I brought you two here because I'm not going to stand around and let the Council act on this."

His rage at Fury replaced with admiration, Micheal told him, "You knew what we would do when we saw her? Didn't you?"

"I figure SHIELD will be better off if your able to rescue your friend in a daring escape. I'd hate to see the two of you, and no doubt the Avengers, trashing my ship. It also happens to be the right thing to do."

Micheal seemed mildly surprised by the man's actions, but Samantha wasn't. It had been obvious to her from the first time she met him, and later on the deck of the ship she was being held captive on, that Fury was a decent man.

With a nod of appreciation, Samantha told him, "We wont forget this Sir."

A wry grin formed on Fury's face, "Okay, enough with the mushy bullshit, this is how it's gonna go down. First, your going to knock me out." He opened his coat and retrieved his key card, which he handed to Micheal. "Then, your going to steal my access card and get into the airlock. You'll find that there are enough clean suits available for both of you, as well as one for your young friend in there. You'll have ten minutes to get to the flight deck, where you will take the pilot of a near-by Quinnjet 'hostage'. He's a good friend of mine, and has orders to get you to Stark's tower no matter what. You should all be relatively safe there, at least long enough for the shit storm over this to settle down."

"Not a bad plan Sir, thank you... for everything", Micheal said, as he shook the man's hand.

Samantha watched as Micheal quickly stepped behind Fury, and was obviously taking a second to decide how best to disable him, while doing the least harm possible.

"Hold up Mikey.", she said, putting a grin on Fury's face.

"Mikey... you gotta be shittin' me.", Fury's grin had almost turned into a smile.

As Samantha started to bioticly glow, she told him, "Better wipe that smile off your face Sir, I'd go with a pissed off frown myself. Don't worry, this will only last a few minutes."

Fury nodded, plastering a look on his face that would make a krogan flinch. Then Samantha instantly placed him in Stasis, as she and Micheal raced toward the airlock.

As the exterior door unlocked two lab personnel were shocked to see two strangers approaching them, after sealing the outer door.

"Hey! You can't be in here!", one of them shouted, as Micheal and Samantha quickly dawned their clean suits and air filters.

"Just stay out of our way and you wont be harmed.", Samantha told the frightened man and woman.

When Micheal moved to open the next door the woman picked that moment to speak up, "Stop! You'll damage the specimen if you remove it from containment! We haven't even had to chance to properly research-"

Oh crap, she did not just say that, Samantha thought, as Micheal's eye's turned deadly again, when he turned to look at the woman.

Samantha placed both lab techs in Stasis before Micheal got the chance to do anything he might regret. Then, she grabbed another suit off the wall as Micheal turned back to the door and opened it.

There, barely five feet away was Tali, wearing what looked like some type of hospital gown, frantically trying to get free from her restraints. Micheal covered the distance in what seemed like the blink of an eye.

"It's okay Tali, I know you must be terribly scared, but your going to be alright. I promise.", he told her, gently holding her face in his gloved hands, before tearing the straps off of her arms and legs.

Samantha was surprised, and more than a little hurt, when Tali jerked away from her attempt to calm the young quarian down. Micheal's eyes flicked to Samantha's for a moment, seeing the shocked hurt there, before she quickly hid her emotions.

"Who are you?! Don't touch me! Micheal who is this?", an already panicked Tali blurted out.

Samantha backed away as Micheal helped Tali get into the suite. She seemed to calm down slightly as he finished sealing the suit up, and told her, "It's a little complicated, but all you need to know right now is that Samantha is a friend Tali. She's here to help, and you can trust her. Completely."

Tali's voice took on that all to familiar guilt filled tone as she said, "I... I'm sorry for doubting you Samantha, thank you so much for helping Micheal find me."

Samantha could barely keep a grin off her face as Tali started wringing her gloved fingers together, solemnly telling the young woman, "It's okay Tali, I'm glad to be here to help you."

As the two of them helped Tali to get up and into the airlock Micheal said, "Okay, it looks like you have about two hours or so of clean air Tali, if I'm reading the battery display for your filter correctly. We'll grab a few battery packs on our way out just to be safe."

"That should give us more than enough time to get her to Stark. I'm sure he could jury rig something for her in the mean time.", Samantha told him as the two of them quickly stripped out of their suits and grabbed the extra batteries.

As they passed a still faintly glowing Fury, and headed into the corridor Tali, staring at Samantha, said "I'm right here you know! So... how do you know Micheal?"

Besides annoyance, Samantha realized there was another emotion clearly radiating out from the young quarian walking next to her. Jealously.

Wait... does she think Micheal and I... eww. Okay, that's the first thing I'm clearing up with her once we get her to safety. Well, as safe as being around Stark and his friends can be at least.

"I'll explain later Tali.", was all she said.

The corridors along their escape route were shockingly devoid of personnel, no doubt Fury's doing. They had made it more than half way to the flight deck when the oddest thing happened. A very calm, but obviously wounded, man in an Infirmary gown, robe, and slippers blocked their path. He was also holding a taser, and they quickly noticed two guards laying face down on the floor.

"Good, your right on time... Director Fury asked me to assist you. Lets get to the flight deck, I'll be your hostage for this evening."

The three of them just stared at the man for a moment as he turned and took point. Samantha jogged to catch up, then walking beside him as they all started moving down the corridor, told him, "Thanks for helping us out... um, sorry who are you?"

The man just grinned and said, "Call me Phil."

Ah yes, "Page Breaks", a literary device used to change the Point of View in a story. We have dismissed that Claim.

"Nice to meet you... Phil.", said Tali from behind him.

Phil looked over his shoulder at Tali, not phased in the least that she clearly wasn't human, telling her, "You too miss, now lets get you out of here."

Luckily for them, Samantha was able to use Stasis on most of the personnel and guards they came across the rest of the way. Phil's taser claimed one more guard though, while Micheal mainly worried about keeping an eye on Tali. Finally, the four of them burst out onto the flight deck as a near-by Quinnjet's engines conveniently started powering up. They all piled into the vehicle rapidly, with Phil taking the copilots seat.

"Welcome to Puddle Jumper Airlines, this is your get away driver speaking. Please fasten your seat belts and put your trays in their up right and locked position.", the pilot announced, as with a slight jostling they lifted off the deck.

Seeing that his charges were safely strapped in, and that her two friends were telling the young girl, with some amusement, that there was, in fact, no tray she need to worry about, Phil sat back and relaxed.

Phil grabbed a head set, and asked, "Hi John. So are you slumming lately, or did Fury call in on that bet you lost last time?"

"Hey Phil. If you must know, it was worse than that. Mandatory two week vacation, I got bored outta my mind after first few days. Lucky for you, Fury contacted me when I was helping with a little clean up work in New York, and here I am. So, what's your story?"

With the slightest hint of a smirk, Phil told him, "Fury may have suggested that I could avoid being stuck in the Infirmary for another month, if I promised to heal up at Stark's, while keeping an eye on your passengers."

John glanced over his shoulder at the suited figure siting in between his two other passengers, and then, with a small grin, turned back to his controls.

"Always feels good to rescue a hot alien babe, welcome to the club buddy!"

Phil cocked an eyebrow replying, "Who says this is my first time? You forgot to add young John, that girl could be my daughter. Well... you know what I mean. Be sure to say hello to the whole gang for me, will you?"

"You got it. Okay folks, ten seconds to Stark tower! I hope you all enjoyed your flight."

As the Quinnjet settled on the roof of said tower, John leaned over and handed Phil a small wrapped box,"Here buddy, got something for you, kind of a Christmas/Welcome-back-to-the-land-of-the-living thing.

An actual smile graced Phil's lips as he quickly unwrapped the gift, a set of trading cards, "Seriously? The October 1943 A1 Series... and Mint to boot. Thanks John."

The pilot smiled, saying, "No problem. Hey, if you ever need any help babysitting this bunch, I could probably blackmail General O'Neill into giving me a leave of absence for a while."

Phil shook his hand and replied, "I appreciate that John, but there's no need, I got this. I'll most likely just end up getting caught up with the last couple seasons of Supernanny.", then he got up and joined the other three people who had ready exited the aircraft.

John just grinned, then sealed the rear hatch.

Well, at least Fury made sure that this was definitely not a boring day for him, thought Phil.

As Phil watched the Quinnjet lift off, he felt a hand gently wrap around his right arm. Somehow he wasn't surprised that it was the young alien girl holding on to him.

"Your hurt, you should get inside, it's freezing out here!", she told him.

Phil couldn't help noticing the small grins on Micheal and Samantha's faces as the young girl he helped them rescue was making damn sure he got inside quickly.

"Thank you miss..."

"Tali, please, call me Tali."

Ah yes "Page Breaks", a literary device used, in this case, to answer a very important question. We have dismissed that claim.

Used to being stared at as odd or unique, little did Tali know that the seven stunned looks she and her rescuers received on entering the building had almost nothing to do with her. As matter of fact, they had everything to do with the kind man who had helped her, whom she was carefully guiding to a chair.

Unknown to everyone in that room, they were currently being watched by a very powerful entity, which most of his peers would call incredibly dangerous, childish, and even cruel. Although, a rare few saw him as more than that.

Oh this is going to be a marvelous game to watch as it plays out. If only he could... well speak of the devil himself!

The powerful entity's musings were interrupted by a bright flash of light, which was invisible to the rest of the city below him, as the person who he'd just been thinking of appeared, floating next to him in midair. They both simply stared, from a short distance away, at the exciting scene playing out before them.

The far more experienced of the two spoke first, "I know what your planning, and I'm going to ask you nicely to stop Trelane. Once. Please let this spiteful plan of yours go. I have my own reasons for altering the course of events in this world. I prefer not to see it altered any further."

'Trelane' chuckled and replied, "Oh dull, old, gloriously hypocritical Q, I thought you'd like my little alterations. Look how happy I've made your little morals and pretend gods!"

Q sneered at his fellow omnipotent being, "Your only doing that now so you can hurt them all the more later! ... Trelane please-"

If Q had skin at that moment, it would have been crawling at the cackling laughter Trelane emitted, " But Q, that's what makes it so FUN. Where's your sense of humor Q? I know for a fact you've done some rather deliciously spiteful and cruel things yourself."

Q frowned, "I was young, foolish, and stupid. Much the same as you are now. I wont let you make the same mistakes I did."

Trelane looked absolutely gleeful at this response, asking, "Father... are you challenging me to a duel?!"

Q darkly replied, "If you have the courage... son."

End Of Chapter 17. To Be Continued In Chapter 18 ... If I Get Enough Reviews. I'm Kidding!

Archer: Hey Wrex, before you go, here I have to gift for you. (Your awesome author hands Wrex a large wrapped box, which he promptly rips open a split second later.)

Wrex: If this is a joke Archer, it's not very funny. I'm reconsidering smashing you into a mushy paste right now. (Wrex glares at the large stuffed varren in his hand labeled 'Mr. Rippers'.)

Archer: Oh, sorry Wrex it's not actually for you, it's for your first child. I heard Eve was pregnant, and- Gah! (The author finds himself in a krogan bear hug, it's as fun as it sounds.)

Archer: ... Can't ... Breath ... Wrex.

Wrex: Oh right, you humans and your squishy bodies. Thanks Archer. (Wrex puts down the author, who gratefully sucks in lung-fulls of air.)

Archer: Your ... Wel ... come ... Wrex.

A/N: Happy Holidays! and a Happy New Year! to all my readers around the globe! I thought some of you wouldn't mind getting a bit of Coulson in your stockings this year, I know the Avengers won't. So... Micheal has his Tali back, and Samantha will no doubt become fast friends with her, but how will she get along with the Avengers? More importantly, how is poor Q going to deal with his insane child? I guess you'll find out next time. Oh, and yes that pilot who helped out, John, he's totally who you probably think he is. Reviews are the best gift of all, so leave me some will you? :)