Yeah, some spoilers ahead, I guess. This chapter doesn't really follow canon as close as the other one, as most of it came from memory and my unwillingness to spend time watching Youtube videos. Next chapter will be about their last interaction before the final push on Earth, and the thoughts running through Shepard's head when he made the choice.
"So, where are we headed next, Commander?" Joker asked over intercom. Shepard was pissed after hearing of the next location of their mission, Horizon. The place where he had lost Ash, where he first directly encountered the Collectors. He hated that place with a passion, and he loathed going there now, but he knew that it had to be done.
"Horizon, Joker," Shepard said flatly.
"Ah, I see. Brings up some painful memories, doesn't it, Commander?"
"Don't remind me, Joker. Just pilot the damn ship."
"Yes, sir," Joker answered in a timid voice, not wanting to provoke the Commander. He knew of Shepard's history, and that the man wouldn't hesitate to break his already fragile legs like toothpicks.
Shepard took this time until reaching their destination to collect his two closest crewmates, Garrus and Liara. The turian and asari accepted the command, making preparations to complete their objective. The Commander looked like he was in a bad mood, and they could tell that he purely picked them for emotional support, as he usually chose EDI and Vega when he mainly needed firepower and intel.
/
"These experiments were gruesome. Miranda's father and the Illusive Man are some sick bastards," Garrus commented after inspecting the next terminal containing intel left behind by Operative Lawson.
"Tell me something I don't know."
"The worst thing is that these people thought that they were coming to safety.. only to be met with this. Just the more reason to end Cerberus, once and for all," Liara said, her voice dripping with malice and hatred for the terrorist organization.
"That we will, Liara. That we will." Shepard placed a hand on his friend's shoulder to comfort her, the asari that he had come to love like a sister. He loved all of his friends from the first Normandy, even if he didn't let it escape through his cold exterior. Garrus, Liara, and Tali were his favorites, though, they were like the siblings he never had. He was still shaken up about her death on the planet Rannoch. He still blamed himself for her suicide, choosing geth resources over the quarians. Tali and Liara were like his little sisters, and while Liara didn't blame him for it, he still felt as if he had failed her.
He was tired of losing friends in this war, each death slowly but surely eating away at him, the nightmares becoming more frequent, more vivid, and despite the promises he had made to Miranda, he could feel the end being upon him. That's why he needed to find her, as her death would be the death of the great Commander Shepard, too.
/
"Miranda!" They had finally reached their destination only to be met with an unfamiliar voice, housing a strong Australian accent.
"Don't take another step, Shepard!"
"Please, Josh, save her," the injured woman on the ground begged him, looking tearfully toward the young girl in the grizzled Mr. Lawson's arms, a gun pointed at her head. Shepard immediately recognized the girl as Miranda's sister Oriana, a casualty that they couldn't bear. Usually Josh would've let the girl die in order to kill Mr. Lawson, but this involved the woman he loved, so he switched over to diplomatic mode.
"Mr. Lawson, you don't want to do this..."
"The hell if I don't! I swear to you, Shepard, you or your comrades that another step, she's dead!" Henry pressed the barrel of the pistol deeper into the girl's temple. This upset her, causing her to cry hysterically in his arms, making him yell, "Shut up! Shut up, girl!"
"Shepard, you have to do something..." Miranda whispered to her lover, the pain from her injuries and from seeing her sister in this situation coming to form tears in her eyes.
"We can handle this peacefully, Mr. Lawson. Just give me Oriana, I just want the girl."
"And I can leave? You won't pursue me?"
"Yes, we won't pursue you. If Oriana lives, you live, I swear to you. Just give her to me, I'll tell my squadmates to stand down. Deal?" Josh put his gun back into the holster, holding out his arms toward Oriana, waiting for her father to stand down.
"Deal." Lawson let his daughter go, preparing to flee until Miranda suddenly rose, her biotics flaring.
"Miranda, what are you doing?" Shepard asked.
"No deal, you bastard." She used her biotics to throw her father through the glass panel of the loft they were in, causing him to fall several feet to his death. "Ori?" Miranda asked as her younger sister fled to her, making them collapse into each other, becoming overcome with tears.
Josh and his squadmates looked on silently, feeling touched by this emotional moment between sisters. After the moment was over, Miranda let go of her sister and walked into Shepard's arms.
"Did you worry about me?"
"Every step of the way, sweetie. I don't know what would've happened if something would've happened to you." Josh smiled, finally reunited with the woman he cared about most in the world, the one that he would fight every Reaper in the universe for.
"You know I can take care of myself, right?"
"Obviously. Nice biotic throw, babe." Shepard raised his hand for Miranda to give him a high-five, which made her chuckle and comply. "So what are you two planning on doing?"
"I don't even know. For once, I don't have every single thing planned out. I'm happy she's safe, but for how long? Every protection network we could've utilized is gone."
"Not every one."
"I hope that you're not proposing we join the Normandy? Shepard, as much as I would love to work with you again, Oriana's a young college student, not a soldier. I can't do that to her."
"You're right, but that wasn't what I was suggesting. I was talking about going to the Alliance."
"The Alliance?" Miranda looked up at him in disbelief. "They'd shoot me on the spot. I'm an ex-Cerberus operative, the Illusive Man's former right-hand woman, or have you forgotten?"
"I haven't. That's exactly what the Alliance is needing right now. They'd give you and Oriana all the protection you need, and we could really use you in this war effort Miranda. Your help can really help us stick it to Cerberus and the Illusive Man."
"I suppose, Shepard. Thank you, for everything you've done for me." She nestled deeper into her lover's arms, missing his comfort.
"You're welcome, babe." He kissed the top of her head. "Why don't you and Oriana come onto the Normandy for a while. We'll get those cuts of yours patched up, and you and I can discuss this new arrangement with Admiral Hackett. Plus..."
"What, Shepard?" Miranda giggled.
"We could use a little catch-up time. Meet me in my quarters when this is all wrapped up?"
"I'd love to."
"All right, gang, we're heading back to the Normandy!"
/
"Well done, Shepard, well done. The intel you've gathered against Cerberus will surely help us in the war effort, as will the services of Ms. Lawson. Welcome to the Alliance, Ms. Lawson," Admiral Hackett spoke over vidcom, a hint of triumph in his voice. They had even more of a chance to get the Cerberus threat out of the way.
"There's another thing, Admiral, that I must say will help the Alliance greatly."
"Really, what is it, Miranda?"
"After Kai Lang attacked me, I was able to plant a tracking device on him before he fled. This should help you pinpoint the location of Cerberus Headquarters, getting us directly to the Illusive Man." Miranda smiled smugly, taking delight in the way both men's jaws dropped when she gave them that information.
"Hot damn, Miranda, that's why I love you! You seriously think of almost everything, don't you? Excuse my language, Admiral."
"It's fine, soldier, I'm surprised myself. Now I know you'll be a great asset to the Alliance, Ms. Lawson. Thank you."
"You're welcome. And thank you for this opportunity, Admiral Hackett. I'll make sure not to disappoint," Miranda beamed, Shepard looking on proudly behind her.
"I'm sure you won't. Hackett out." The Admiral terminated the connection, leaving Shepard and his raven-haired lover alone in the Communications Room.
"Really, Miranda, you never fail to astound me."
"Want to give me another chance?" Miranda smiled slyly, grabbing Josh's hand and leading him from the room, towards the elevator. As soon as the elevator doors closed, they were all over each other. Shepard grabbed Miranda's ass, pulling her closer to him, as she placed a leg around his hip.
"You seriously don't know how much I've missed you," Shepard groaned between kisses, as his girl pressed him into the wall.
"I think I do," Miranda chuckled, growing impatient for the elevator to finally reach the top floor, anticipating Shepard ravaging her.
Finally, they reached the Captain's Quarters, Shepard lifting the ex-Cerberus operative into his arms, carrying her into the room. "EDI? If you could prevent any interruptions, I'd really appreciate it."
"Yes, Commander. Take all the time with Ms. Lawson that you need," the AI answered back, severing intercom interactions to the room.
"EDI? The Alliance kept her?" Miranda asked, surprised.
"Not really. More like, she tricked them. But I let it slide, she's been a great asset to us."
"I'm sure. EDI's top-notch technology."
"Yeah, you should wait until you see her new body?"
"Body?!"
"Yup, also did I tell you that she's dating Joker now?"
"That one doesn't surprise me. Only he would be sad enough to start dating an AI program. Now, enough talking, get back down here."
"Yes, ma'am."