"I wouldn't have to come here if you knew your place. In the trash with all the other," Miranda paused, glancing coldly over the convict, "unsuccessful projects."
"I'll show you a project!" Jack yelled. Her arms flashed with blue light as she threw her hands towards the Cerberus Officer. Miranda automatically raised her arms, creating a biotic field. Jack's wave bounced off the woman's defence making her growl with anger.
It all started with Gabby's complains about shocks coming from downstairs causing some abnormalities in the Normandy's core. Miranda, according to Cerberus' hierarchy was the one in charge right after Commander Shepard who was now off to yet another mission. She felt obliged to make sure that the psychotic murderer on Deck 4 did not plan on sabotaging the ship in any sort of way. Who would have suspected that the visit would almost instantly turn into the convict commanding her to 'get the fuck out' and soon enough into a real fight? Well, anyone who had any brains or have already seen the two women interact with each other.
Miranda gasped loudly as the convict charged at her with her whole might. The accumulated energy from the hit sent both of them to the floor. The thud of the explosion made their ears sting with repetitive ringing. It was hardly believable that the impact didn't blow a hole in the ship.
Jack shook her bald head and almost losing her balance on the way, jumped at Miranda, who in the meantime tried to get herself to stand up. Jack caught her arm and pushed her back to the ground, inflicting a strike right at the woman's face
The fight didn't last long but certainly it was brutal and wild, somehow resolving with Jack holding Miranda up against the wall with her biotic power.
It was clearly visible how furious Miranda was. And even though she knew that physical means meant nothing in comparison with biotics, she still tried to wiggle herself out of the grip.
It was when Jack's face lightened up with a purely evil smirk that Miranda started to realize the position she found herself in. The only thing she could hope for was that Shepard would get there in time. However, the chances were... unfortunate. In that moment Miranda genuinely regretted not bringing her pistols with her. Of course in the many years she spent working for Cerberus she found herself in extremely adverse circumstances on multiple occasions, but she had not yet been at the mercy of someone completely unstable; resistant to any sort of reasoning, moreover burning with pure hatred towards her and what she stood for.
Miranda risked a glance at Jack and came to see the lack of her or clothes as an advantage in close combat. While Miranda looked... at least like a mess: her hair wet from sweat glued to her forehead; her suit ripped in few places, uncovering parts of her chest and thighs, leaving them vulnerable; Jack had quite a few bruises and scratches but nothing more. For once one could say that she presented herself better than Miranda. Of course considering the circumstances.
"Oh well... Looks like the great Cerberus bitch can't stand failure."
Miranda tried to take on a calm face and said,"I can't stand you, that's true."
To her surprise, a small, honest smile came to Jack's face.
"Don't you think you're not really in the position to say so? At least if you value your probe-produced perfect ass."
Jack closed the distance between them. Now their faces were only inches apart. The air around them was burning with the hot of their bodies and their breath.
"Are you wondering what I could-no no, what I will do to you?" Jack whispered with eyes cold as ice, sending creeps down Miranda's spine.
All kinds of thoughts were running through Miranda's head. One more peculiar than the other. Many of them didn't even consist of torture in the means of violence, but rather more humiliating, carnal sort of punishment. Or rather revenge. For what exactly, she wasn't sure. Would it be projected at her or Cerberus? This reckless woman might have even intended to strike the Illusive Man himself. It was no secret that he, like every other man or woman, admired Miranda's physique and most probably perceived her as achieveable. Her own position in the ranks of Cerberus was under threat, alongside with her body and diginity!
They remained in that exact position for far too long. The one moment they shared so close to each other, their bodies seemed to work in unison. Their chests raising and falling at the same time at the same rate; their eyes steady, not even considering blinking; even the droplets of sweat crossing their faces appeared to start the race together. Everything seemed to froze for that particular moment, even the time itself, as Jack awaited her answer. Then all of a sudden she took a step back.
"I'll let you go this time. But I promise you I'll get you after the mission is done," Jack said, releasing the Miranda from the biotic grip, letting her fall freely to the floor.
"I thought... I thought you would..." Miranda gasped, for once bereft of her confidence. It was difficult to tell is she was more relieved or shocked at the convicts decision. Perhaps after all Jack wasn't as thoughtless and realized the consequences before it was too late for both of them. But that would mean that Miranda made the mistake of underestimating two aspects of that woman in the very same day. She shook the ideas out of her head. It wasn't the right time nor place to debate about such matters.
In the meantime, hearing Miranda's pathetic excuse of an allegation Jack frowned, her eyes turned a few tones darker. Now they seemed like two black, endless voids. And yet Miranda could almost physically sense the anger hidden behind them.
"You can accuse me of almost every possible crime and you wouldn't be wrong, but I would never touch you in that way." Jack paused, turning away, ready to get back to her own business, but before she was able to take another step she glanced over her shoulder, staring right into Miranda's eyes. "Or anyone else."
