I wasn't going to do a sequel. I really wasn't. But sometimes Fate has other plans. Consider this expanded into a full-blown AU series about the Reaper War. Some stories will be romances like Reunion and some will be dark stories like this one. Every story will be complete in itself, but I'm grouping them together for easy reading.
The facility was almost familiar. The same clinically white walls, the same logo on every available surface. Cerberus had always kept prisoners: test subjects, traitorous agents, high-value interrogation targets. Miranda had handled more of those interrogations than she cared to remember. No, this particular collection of holding cells was no different from any other. But she had never been accompanied by Kai Leng, either.
His eyes were obscured behind the goggles he wore, and his arms and legs were covered in cybernetics that twisted around him like vines. He could, of course, have gone for less obvious enhancements that would have allowed him to blend in with the normal population, but that would spoiled his intimidating air. Miranda wasn't intimidated, at least not by the cybernetics. It was Lazarus tech that had enabled Leng to walk again after David Anderson had shot him at point-blank range. So now, the Illusive Man's assassin of choice was even better at killing things. Great.
"We found the source of the Ares leak."
"Did you now?" Miranda said with forced lightness. The Ares cell had been responsible for designing and updating the mental imprint routine used to transform ordinary soldiers into what the Illusive Man called Centurions—the squad leaders that implemented his high level directives. She'd successfully hacked Cerberus databases and directed Matt to its location. Cerberus doubtless had backups, but it would be weeks before they could create more soldiers. Another of the small yet crucial victories Miranda flattered herself that she was responsible for.
"That's actually why I called you here," Leng said as they left the elevator. "The traitor is a former member of Lazarus cell. Kelly Chambers. Apparently, she took some files with her when she left the organization. Nothing she was supposed to have, so we're thinking some as yet unknown accomplice passed them to her. Maybe a boyfriend or girlfriend. Our surveillance recorded her meeting with Commander Shepard several days ago." His lips curled into a tight smile. "Your ex looked quite friendly with her."
"Trying to make me jealous? Then stop confusing targets and romances. I assure you, Commander Shepard never would have given us the base without my assistance. Chambers is more than welcome to him." Miranda laced her voice with cold contempt and just the slightest hint of jealousy. Convincing the rest of Cerberus that resuming her relationship with Matt had been nothing more than a honey trap was a delicate balance. She couldn't be entirely indifferent—her professional pride would demand some jealousy when he inevitably moved on, but she couldn't afford to protest too much either. "Though I doubt Chambers is your mole. Entirely too sweet and innocent. She was recruited to give Cerberus a positive face for Shepard, not for her spy skills."
"That's what I said at first. But Shepard hit Ares just days after the meeting. The boss thinks it's an 'intriguing coincidence.' I think she's a filthy traitor who got all starstruck when Shepard saved her from the Collectors. Left as soon as he turned himself in."
"And you want me to track her down and get the name of her accomplice?"
Leng stopped and gestured toward a darkened cell. "Oh, no. We've already got her. But the boss does want you to get the name from her." He pressed a button, and the cell door opened. "Consider it payback for neglecting you all these months. I know how much you despise traitors to the cause."
The cell was small, perhaps three meters by three meters. Chambers sat curled in one corner. Her hair was dirty and straggly, her clothing torn and smudged. Miranda flinched. Chambers' relentless cheerfulness had grated on Miranda's nerves, but she had been Lazarus. The squad had listened only to Matt, but the Cerberus crew had looked to Miranda for leadership and protection. She was the one who had relocated their families away from Terminus colonies and who had assured them that they were fighting for humanity. They had been—still were—her people.
Chambers looked up. Her eyes were red from crying, and the left side of her face was covered in bruises. "Miranda? Oh, thank God! Tell him I don't know anything about an Ares."
Miranda surveyed the bruises. They were ugly things, symptoms of ugly methods she preferred not to use unless the situation was far more desperate than this. And that gave her an idea. There was, perhaps, a way to save Chambers without arousing suspicion herself. She turned to Leng. "What sort of techniques have you used?"
"Sleep deprivation, old-fashioned roughing up, the usual."
Chambers whimpered.
Miranda ignored her. "No biotics?"
"We were saving that for you."
"Good," Miranda said, and meant it. Torture was sometimes necessary when you lacked the time to build a proper relationship with the subject, but it more often resembled diving for credits in the sewers. You might find something valuable, but you were far more likely to end up with garbage. Victims would say anything to get the pain to stop.
Miranda knelt in front of Chambers. "You've seen Shepard shred Collectors with his biotics? I taught him how to do that, and I'm a thousand times more subtle and precise than he is. I suggest you tell the gentleman what he wishes to know."
"But I don't know anything!"
Miranda closed her eyes. Forgive me. "I think you do. Who passed you those files?"
"No one! I've never even seen any files!" Kelly seized Miranda's arm, and her voice was raw with hysteria. "You know me, Miranda."
Miranda summoned a small flicker of biotic power. Blue light raced over her fingers. It wouldn't be enough to so much as tear a piece of paper, but it certainly looked very impressive. She stroked a single finger down Chambers' good cheek. "Feels good, doesn't it? But with a little more force… well, I always thought you had a pretty face. I'd hate to ruin it."
Sweat formed on Chambers' forehead, and her breath came in short, quick gasps. This was another balancing act. She needed the woman terrified enough to say what she needed her to say, but not so frightened that she would clam up completely. Miranda paused, and made a show of concentrating very hard, as if she were trying to guess the answer. Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Was it Kasumi? She was only loyal to the credits we gave her, and the Alliance would pay well for information on Cerberus movements. And I know she liked you." Complete nonsense, of course, but plausible nonsense. Goto was far better at hiding than Cerberus was at tracking. Leng and his associates would be chasing shadows. Meanwhile, Miranda would arrange for Matt to rescue Chambers. Everyone won. Not a bad plan on such short notice.
All Chambers had to do was be smart enough to go along with it. Please, I've done all I can for you.
"Yes!" Chambers' voice was like a sob. "Kasumi asked me if I wanted to help, that Cerberus was doing horrible things and we could help Shepard stop them."
Miranda raised an eyebrow at Leng. "You just have to know how to properly reach a person."
Chambers glared at her with equal parts pain and betrayal. Let the woman hate her. At least she would live to hate her. And Miranda could get back to the important work of chipping away at Cerberus where she could.
But Leng pulled out a gun. "Now to get rid of the traitor."
Miranda froze. The idea was so monumentally, utterly stupid that it took her a moment to process it. "Are you insane? Killing Chambers now is just a waste." When Leng didn't respond, she continued, "You said she and Shepard were friendly? Use her as bait and Shepard will come right for you. He'll be full of righteous anger and stupid. Easy for you to pick off." She felt cold. This couldn't be happening. She had told Matt to leave Chambers to die once, but that had been for the sake of the mission. She shouldn't die here, not after Leng had bought that little performance.
"The boss wants her made an example of." He put his finger on the trigger.
"Miranda, please! I trusted you! We all did!"
For half of a stupid moment, Miranda wanted to knock the gun away. She was no match for Leng in a straight fight, but she might be able to stun him with the element of surprise. It was the sort of stupid, chivalrous thing Matt would have done. He would have braved the fires of Hell for the sake of those under his command. He would have found a way to get Chambers out of there. Miranda should have been able to do no less for those who had once put their faith in her.
And then what? Suppose she did manage to stun Leng and escape with Chambers? Her cover would be blown. She could no longer pass information to Matt, information that could save thousands, or even millions, of lives. Oriana would lose whatever precarious protection she still had. All for the sake of one woman.
Even Matt had been forced to destroy an entire star system. Miranda turned away.
The gun fired.
