I hope you all enjoy this new project I have started working on. I think Miranda deserves to have her story told

Prologue

Running, running, running, so fast like the superhero The Flash. Lungs are burning, heart is pounding it feels as if it is going to rip through the chest. Right leg feels as if a knife has been stuck in it. Warm blood oozes out of the wound onto the blue jeans. That's right, the leg has been shot. An infant screams with each stride. The heat of the Outback is boundless. Hair is drenched and trickles with sweat. The sounds of motor vehicles have dissipated. Mouth waters for thirst, if only to have a nice cold glass of ice tea. A dingo howl is heard in the distance. Panic begins to form, they can smell the blood. Right hand grips the pistol tightly. The infant is now whimpering.

I can't take it!

I fall to my knees and hit the rough soil. I fall onto my back and almost seem to be hyperventilating from the run and the excruciating pain in my leg. I'm going to die out here. I'm going to bloody die out here. She's going to die out here. That's not happening! Legs are shaky as I stand. I'm losing so much blood. Image is blurry but can make out a truck coming toward us. Little one is beginning to cry again in the sling, tied around my shoulders. I aim my pistol straight ahead, ready to kill the driver if I have to. Hand is shaking as it grips the pistol. I've already killed several men today what's one more. Biotics begin to manifest in my left hand. I can imagine the bullet hitting the man's skull. The truck stops, out steps a man of about forty years of age and looks to be a miner.

"Sheila you alright?" He asks in his thick Australian accent.

"I've been shot." And I collapse once again.

"Holy Snapping Duck Shit! Let me help you." He picks me up and notices the small infant.

He lifts us both slowly and walks very slowly to the truck and places me in the passenger seat. He hands me bottle of pop and I drink it quickly. The coldness of it hitting the back of my raw throat. He starts up the truck and begins to drive, going at high speeds when he sees the blood.

"Is that your rug rat?" He states looking at the baby.

"Yes" I lie.

"How old are you sheila?"

"I'm sixteen."

"Did your Ol'Man do that to you or your boyfriend?" He points to my wound.

"My Ol'Man."

"You want me to call the police?"

"No just get me away from here."

He nods to me and we continue the drive back to his mining village. We finally arrive and he shouts to the others to help him get me and the baby out. They carry me into the house and a doctor rips open my blue jeans and starts working on my wound. The miner's wife is taking care of the baby. The young doctor looks at me and pushes a strand of my dark hair behind my ear. He has fixed up leg and just looks into my blue eyes.

"I can help you find a home for the baby and I can help you get out of here." He looks reassuring to me.

"How can you do that?"

"I know who your father is, I know how he's treated you, and I work for someone who can get you out of this." He gets close to my ear and whispers, "I'm with Cerberus."

"You sure you won't take me back to my father?"

"I'm sure, Cerberus can use a girl like you. With your abilities you can do anything. What do you say?"

I look over at the baby being held and fed. I know she deserves a better life. She deserves the life I never had. She deserves to have a mother and father who will love her and not just be a dynasty. I look back at the young doctor. I figure this whole mining town must be associated with Cerberus. This explains why they are so near my father's estate since he is such a huge donor to the organization. What does she have to lose, if this organization can help her she can get away from her father once and for all and have plenty of protection from him. I have finally made my decision.

"I'm in." I reach out my hand and he shakes it.

"I'm glad to hear it, what is your name again?"

"Miranda…Miranda Lawson."

9 Years later

Cronos Station

Buzzing sound is heard. A constant buzzing. Why won't it stop, it must be three in the morning. I feel movement next to me. The warmth leaving my left side as the body shifts. Hands fumbling in the dark when the buzzing sound finally stops.

"Hello" a groggy voice asks. "Yeah, why? Ok… I'll tell her. Talk to you later."

The body collapses back on the bed. He inches close to me and I feel his warm lips on my cheek. His hand runs up and down my bare back. He trails kisses down it and I roll over exposing my bare chest to him. I see his blonde hair hang in his face. I push it away to look deeply into his hazel eyes. He smirks and bends down and passionately kisses my lips.

"Danny is it time to wake up?"

"It's time for you to wake up." He leans on his arm and looks into my blue eyes.

"Why?"

"Because someone important has asked to see you."

"Bloody hell if it's Frankie he can wait in the morning."

"It's the Illusive Man."

"What!"

"I know, I thought the same thing. Just go to him and everything will be alright Miri."

I quickly get out of bed and grab some panties and a bra. I look for my Cerberus uniform and find it nicely hanging in the closet. I quickly put it on and zip up the standard jumpsuit. I grab my basic boots and put them on as I sit on the bed. Hands are placed on my shoulders and I feel a soft kiss on my cheek. I lean back and look into his eyes. I have been with Cerberus for nine years. They found a safe place for my sister, she lives a normal life with a normal family. Cerberus helped continue my education and I work in the science division working on and learning everything. I had been on quite a few combat missions, that's where I met Danny was on one of those missions. He is a Cerberus agent and a damn good one. He and I have been together for a year and he is one of the best things that have ever happened to me. I kiss his lips softly and get up from the bed.

"How do I look?"

"Beautiful as always. Good luck meeting the Illusive Man. I don't know anyone who has ever personally met him."

"I'm so nervous." I brush out my long dark hair.

"You'll be fine. Now go and show the Illusive Man what a good member of Cerberus you are."

I kiss him and walk out the door of my quarters. I have never met the Illusive Man, he rarely has anyone meet him. Reasons for this swim through my head as to why he wants to meet me, and why he wants to meet me at three in the morning. I hope my father has not found Oriana that might explain him calling me to his office. If my father has taken Oriana he will pay. He will pay dearly. I walk through the station and see the night crews working diligently. I walk to the lift and take it to the top floor. My heart pounds, not near as fast as the escape from my father, my palms are sweaty and they are slightly shaking as well. The doors of the lift open and I take the first step out like in slow-motion. I pick up the pace and walk right to the door. My hand slowly raises to knock but the door opens. I see before me a vast room surrounded by windows. A desk with all these computer panels and a view of the Sun that the station is orbiting, a man sits in a chair, the light of his cigarette illuminating the room.

"Come in Miss Lawson." His soft voice commands.

My steps are like that of a snail as I walk in. My pulse is racing and I see the chair swerve so I get a full view of him. He looks middle aged and it appears he is blind for he has cybernetic eyes that glow a cool blue. He rises from the seat as I finally reach him.

"May I call you Miranda?"

"Yes sir." I nod meekly.

"I would like you to see something. Come here."

He leads me to a computer monitor and offers me a spare chair. He brings it from the other side of the room and motions for me to sit. I take my seat and watch as he brings his chair over to me. He takes the seat next to me.

"Something big has happened to humanity. We have witnessed the birth of a hero, our Achilles." He clicks on the monitor and a newscaster from back on Earth begins.

"Yesterday an assault was made on the colony world of Elysium by Batarian pirates and warlords. The Alliance was able to defeat the Batarian forces thanks in particular to who everyone in the Alliance is talking about. Twenty-two year old Navy officer, Lt. Nathan Shepard. Lt. Shepard single-handedly held off enemy forces during the attack which has come to be known as the Skyllian Blitz when defenses were breached. There is even talk of him receiving one of the greatest honors in the Alliance Navy the Star of Terra. Here's what the young officer had to say."

The screen shows a young navy officer in Alliance dress blues. He has short brown hair, brown eyes, clean-shaven. He doesn't look like what a hero would look like; he just looks like a regular man. I just look at those brown eyes, those brown eyes that have now seen the true horror of battle. My focus comes back when I hear his voice.

"I saw the defenses break and I knew I had to do something or a lot of those civilians were not going to make it. I stood my ground and followed my training. Thankfully we didn't lose that many men and women and the colony was saved."

The Illusive man freezes the frame. The voice I heard was not what I expected either of a great war hero. He didn't seem cocky at all. He almost seemed to hate all of this attention. Maybe he is just a soldier doing his job and feels as if he doesn't deserve this attention. I finally look over at the Illusive Man after my mind wanders on this young lieutenant.

"This Lt. Shepard is something humanity needs. He is humble, courageous, smart, and one hell of a soldier. He is what I want Cerberus to stand for, to be like this young man here. He is got a lot of potential and who knows we might be able to recruit him someday. However, right now I need an agent who is highly intelligent, courageous, is a great shot, an excellent biotic, and very sure of herself. What do you say Miranda, how would you like to be another one of humanity's heroes?"

"I would be honored to be one of your agents. I believe in everything Cerberus stands for and I am proud to serve."

"I am very glad to hear that. I knew you had potential when you were just that sixteen year old girl when you first came to that organization. You will make a name for yourself in Cerberus and for humanity."

I look back the screen at the image of the young Alliance lieutenant. There is something about him. I feel that he has a bigger role to play for humanity as do I.