Mass Effect romances each require a bit of effort regardless of the object of the player’s desire, but nowhere is this effort more evident than in male Commander Shepard’s romance with the criminal human biotic Jack. Carrying a heavy grudge on her shoulder after Shepard and Cerberus rescue her from the Blue Suns‘ prison ship Purgatory, Jack has plenty of reasons to suspect foul play. After all, Cerberus did kidnap her when she was four years old, and she spent years subjected to horrific tests and experiments at the Teltin Facility on Pragia.
Shepard made it abundantly clear that he wasn’t working for Cerberus, but the fact that he was taking advantage of Cerberus’ resources and following the Illusive Man’s leads in regards to the Collectors made it incredibly hard for Jack to trust the Commander. Winning her trust wasn’t easy, but with careful catering, Shepard not only managed to garner her confidence, but also awakened her heart.
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Casual or Serious
Shortly after rescuing Jack from Purgatory, Shepard has the opportunity to have casual sex with her in her quarters below the engineering deck. Jack is used to people taking what they want from her, and so far as she’s concerned, this is just a meaningless encounter. However, doing this creates a buffer between her and Shepard that makes it impossible to explore anything more than that one off with her.
Earning her love and loyalty, on the other hand, takes time. Jack has so many barriers around herself — and rightly so considering her history. She’s been used, abused, discarded, experimented on and betrayed more times than any person should ever have to endure. A patient Shepard who takes the time to talk to Jack and get to know her will find that, while peeling away her defenses isn’t easy, beneath them awaits a hardened but vulnerable woman in desperate need of compassion and love.
Needing Someone
During conversations with Shepard, Jack begins to open up, sharing some of her history. Shepard discovers that a lot of past lovers used her before simply pushing her aside, but there was one who actually sacrificed himself to save her. Before the mission, he left an audio clip on the ship for her, apologizing for leaving her and the dreams they shared unfulfilled.
Fulfilling Jack’s personal quest and earning her loyalty is a necessary part of earning her heart. Going to Pragia and exploring the abandoned facility was an essential part of fostering their relationship, and it provides an inside look at the horrors she’d seen as a young girl.
Shepard empathizes with Jack and tells her she needs someone she can let her guard down with. However, Jack needs to process everything before she even considers what he’s saying. Before passing through the Omega 4 Relay, Jack comes to Shepard’s quarters and confesses that she’s been thinking a lot about him and what he said. She admits that he’s right; she does need someone. With tears in her eyes, she gives in and lets herself experience happiness with him so long as it lasts.
Reflections of Shepard
Shepard taught Jack a lot of things, and the value of shedding her anger to use her power for the greater good is the one he is most responsible for. The Commander’s influence on Jack’s life helped her mature in ways she might not have had she never met him. After the survivors of the suicide mission went their separate ways, the Systems Alliance reached out to Jack and asked her to take on a teaching position at Grissom Academy.
When Cerberus infiltrated the academy, Shepard responded to the hail for aid and came face to face with Jack for the first time since they parted ways. She had obviously changed in more ways than just her appearance. As a teacher, she came to love the kids who worked under her, swearing to bring swift retribution down on anyone who tried to harm them. Reuniting with Shepard earned him a hard punch in the face for leaving her, then a passionate kiss.
As they fought through the academy, Jack could be heard leading her charges into battle. Afterward, Shepard remarked that he was impressed by her newfound attitude, and she tried to convince him to give her kids a chance in the fight against the Reapers. If Shepard agreed, Jack can later be found on the Citadel reviewing rosters. During this conversation, Shepard can rekindle their relationship, and offer to dance with her, though Jack laughs and reminds Shepard that everyone knows he can’t dance.
Saying Goodbye
There were plenty of opportunities to spend time with Jack in the Citadel DLC, including a fun romp through the Armax Arena. She even gave Shepard a tattoo in his apartment, claiming it was so she could identify his body no matter what happened on the battlefield. She came to the party and can be found arguing with Miranda Lawson, which prompts Shepard to tell them to just kiss already.
Though Jack is unable to join Shepard in the final fight against the Reapers, he did have the opportunity to call her and say goodbye one last time. Jack tells Shepard he better survive because, after they take down the Reapers, she needs to get laid. Their romance, on the outside, doesn’t seem as romantic as some of the other options, but breaking down Jack’s barriers and softening her heart helps her grow into a person who cares about more than just herself and her own survival. This makes Jack one of the most endearing love affairs male Shepard can enter into.
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