A/N: Hmm I have a nice buffer, it's just three chapters, but it's at least better than nothing. Hmm I have a feeling that you won't like the content of this chapter. Or the next, or the next, or the next...let me point out that I could have made this considerably darker, like considerably darker I just chose not to, and lets face it the Illusive Man doesn't exactly strike me as the forgiving type. And I'm taking things from the entire universe of Mass effect, characters who haven't appeared in the game will appear in this story. They will have minor roles, just wanted to give everybody a heads up is all.
It's easy to forget that happiness is like anything else worth having, whether that be a good relationship or good physical fitness. It usually involves struggle, sacrifice, even pain.
- Darrin McMahon
"You know Shepard all you need to do is apologize." Garrus said attempting to help his friend. To say that Shepard was in a mood would simply be the greatest understatement of the century. Shepard seemed to barely tolerate everyone's existence. This of course had started after Miranda's sudden departure. The crew wasn't blind nor were they deaf, everyone could see the tension that had been between the two women. But now the tension was worse, and it had gotten worse. Not to mention the balance was gone on the team. Shepard was many things, unfortunately she wasn't as efficient as Miranda. Gone was Miranda's careful manipulations, leaving only Shepard who preferred to simply beat things into submission. The two of them complimented each other perfectly. He had seen what the two of them could do when they worked together, when they had rescued Miranda's sister. But the important thing was that Shepard had been happy.
"For the last time, I don't apologize, especially when I did nothing wrong." Jade Shepard placed the dossier down that she had been pouring over, she needed a new XO. The Normandy still wasn't exactly back to 100%, it could still take anyone stupid enough to attack the ship, but it still needed work. She wasn't going to take this ship into Geth space until the ship was ready. With Miranda gone she needed to fill in the position quickly. If only Ash wasn't being a complete tool about her working with Cerberus. She had half a mind to use her spectre status to get Ashley assigned to her team but that would only piss her off.
"Shepard I have to ask-how many successful relationships have you actually been in? That lasted longer than a few months," Garrus asked her. "And you can't count your relationship with Liara you were dead for two years." Jade gave him a dirty look. "Look all I'm trying to say is that there is nothing wrong with saying you're sorry."
"So I've heard," Jade commented dryly picking up the dossier. "Miranda made her choice; she wanted to return to Cerberus. Whatever feelings I do...or do not have for her, is none of your business and is also in the past. Our mission is way too important to let—petty distractions sidetrack us" She paused, looking up at her friends. "That was me politely asking you to stay out of my personal life. We all know what will happen when I decide to no longer be polite. Shotguns will come out." With that Shepard returned to the dossier in front of her.
"Except you're miserable and taking it out on the crew. Really Shepard if you weren't acting like a child who hasn't gotten her way then no one would even care that you broke up with Miranda. You're the idiot who drove away an excellent XO, with your stupid pride. If you had simply apologized to Miranda, maybe a little romance every now and again she'd still be here. You wouldn't be miserable,"
"Miranda left without either of us attempting to fix anything, meaning that there was obviously nothing there for us to fix. She wanted things from me that I wouldn't and couldn't give her. I am not being a child about this."
"We had to drag you to say goodbye to her when we arrived on Illium," Tali pointed out.
"Because I didn't want to say goodbye. Why the fuck are we talking about this? I said we were done talking about my personal life. It's not up for discussion any more. Miranda is gone I have to deal with it, so I'm dealing with it. As soon as she left she joined the other people whose existence I no longer care about. So let me make this perfectly clear drop it. Or I space you." With that Shepard stormed off, not bothering to look back.
Garrus looked around the table, "I think that went well. We definitely got our point across. Of course if we keep pushing Shepard will probably kill us but all in all good job."
"I think we should just give her time, Shepard always does the right thing in the end. Even if she really doesn't want to. I wouldn't count the two of them out just yet."
"The reason why I picked this place was because I don't like a lot of traffic. And you haven't exactly visited down or talked to me in ages Shepard. Not since you started fucking the Cerberus Cheerleader."
"I'm not going to lie, Miranda wanted me to stay away from you and considering the fact that you tried to jump me, I figured it wasn't exactly an unreasonable request," Jade pointed out defensively. She seemed to be doing that a lot, defending her actions her choices. Informing the crew that Miranda had been leaving had been a nightmare and they were still talking about it. Still blaming her for Miranda leaving, she hadn't done anything wrong Miranda had been the one who decided to leave. It was probably the wisest decision as well, even if she didn't like it. The tension between the two of them was harming the unity and morale.
"I got it, you weren't interested in me. I can handle myself Shepard," Jack snapped as Jade slid into a sitting position on the floor crossing her legs.
"And yet you're pissed at me for choosing the Cerberus Cheerleader over you," Jade said looking up at her.
"Bullshit."
Jade shrugged, picking up the file, "Both of us are damaged goods Jack, we couldn't handle each other's bullshit no matter how hard we tried. We both know this, but in that is the attraction. If we had a relationship, it would be passionate fiery; violent and maybe one day there would be peace. We'd hurt each other to much for it to ever be a stable relationship."
Jack watched her, "So you chose the bitch over me? You love her or something?" she spat.
Jade was quiet and shrugged, "Doesn't matter she's gone and we've got bigger issues to deal with," she pointed out.
Jack smirked, "Shit Shepard, you've gone soft."
"I know, and I can't be, not for what we're going to do. I need to be Commander Shepard, Butcher of Torfan, Hero of the Citadel, the biggest fucking bad ass in the galaxy. And I can't. Not with Miranda around," Jade answered honestly. "Miranda can't deal with the fact that she can't have all of me, it's not something I can give her not now. Unfortunately no one seems to understand this."
"I noticed, everyone on the ship seems to think that you should simply apologize and fuck her more."
"I can't, when I'm with her. I don't want to be Commander Shepard, I don't want to fight anymore. The last time this happened I ended up dead. She's probably the only one on this crew that doesn't see me as some big hero, she sees me as an idiot who seems to enjoy getting shot at. And it feels absolutely amazing." Jade looked at Jack. "Don't worry you'll find someone, who can deal with your bullshit."
Jack snorted, "You have gone soft."
Jade smirked, "Shsh don't tell the crew they might lose faith in me, not like that hasn't happened already. Now help me find a new XO, someone needs to do Miranda's job because I sure as hell don't want to."
The Illusive Man sat quietly in the sole chair in the room; he tapped his cigarette against the ashtray before returning the cigarette to his lips. His odd steely blue eyes focused on the bound body that had been wheeled into the room. She would be awake soon. She had been a fool, did she really think that she could cross him and there be no consequences. Shepard's actions in the Collector Base had been regrettable, predictable and forgivable. She was still humanities only hope.
He had underestimated Jade's Shepard's ability to inspire loyalty in her team mates, he had heard that she had been gifted with that particular trait, the charisma that inspired blind loyalty. What he hadn't expected was for Miranda to fall under Shepard's spell, especially given their initial hostility to each other, two alpha females fighting for territory. Such betrayals could not be tolerated and he had nearly lost his most efficient and loyal operative.
The Illusive Man turned his attention back to the naked woman bound in front of him, studying her. The glow of the blue star also played across the skin of the person, manacled and spread-eagled in the middle of the expansive room. The glow was reflected on the manacles that gripped Miranda's limbs tightly. They had been designed to disrupt the effects of biotics, they had been crafted specifically for Subject Zero, it had been easy to acquire them for Miranda. His eyes traveled the length of Miranda's body, her skin was flawless, as was her body from her athletically toned body. The Illusive Man shifted in his seat trying to hide his arousal as he studied her body.
A low groan echoed around the room, as Miranda stirred, She had been taken by surprise an invisible nerve agent as she had been transported to a secret Cerberus facility. Miranda blue eyes slowly opened, and she blinked rapidly trying to grow accustomed to the rather poor lighting in the room.
The Illusive man sat back watching her, there was no emotion on his features as he picked up his wine glass. He hated getting his hands dirty, but this required the perfect touch. This wasn't something that could be left to bumbling minions.
Miranda eyes quickly turned to her shackles , the big metal cuffs binding her limbs and holding her in place and tugged. She let out a small grunt, their wasn't even an inch of give, and she quickly realized just how tightly she had been bound. Miranda focused willing up her biotics, she would crack the cuffs with her biotics and escape...nothing. There was nothing. There was no usual surge of power that came with her activating her implant. And then came the pain. The pain was sharp, intense and sudden, as it felt like her brain was about to split into two, and Miranda struggled not to scream out
"Ingenious device isn't it? It was created for Subject Zero. It was based off a design that Batarian slaver's use to hold human biotics." He tapped his cigarette against the ash tray and took another sip from the wine glass.
Miranda eye's narrowed, when she heard the Illusive Man's voice, and looked up. "What is the meaning of this? I came back to Cerberus."
"This is after you betrayed me. I ordered you to stop Shepard and prevent her from destroying the Collector Base. You resigned. It was really quite rude." Another irritating tap of the cigarette on the ash tray.
Miranda thought fast, "Shepard—"
"Has been spending quite a bit of time with Subject Zero, Please Miranda, expecting Commander Shepard to save you? You are the one who decided to come back to Cerberus in fact." The Illusive Man paused and pushed a button.
As soon as she left she joined the other people whose existence I no longer care about. Shepard's harsh words filled the room, cutting Miranda deeply.
"Surprised? I still have monitoring devices on the Normandy, you didn't disable them all Miranda. I'm disappointed Miranda, Shepard must have had a greater effect on you than even I imagined. Expecting Shepard to come to your rescue? It's unbecoming. But I also never expected you of all people to betray me. Jacob, I could deal with but you Miranda. You are—were my very best operative."
Miranda looked away, "I never betrayed you, I have always done what I can for humanities best interests. It wasn't in humanities best interest to keep the base," Miranda defended her actions.
"I gave you an order, whatever you believe is no concern of mine." The Illusive Man pointed out.
Miranda gritted her teeth, "So what are you going to do? Torture me? Try and break me?" Miranda spat, still trying to think of a way out of this.
There Illusive Man watched Miranda and smiled, "Now Miranda, I already know your greatest weakness. To simply get to you, all I need to do is go after your sister. And because I know how much you enjoy having all the information, If you escape then I'm sure your sister could take your place, she is after all your genetic twin. I have agents waiting to pick her up if I lose you."
"If you touch..."
"Yes I know you'll kill me," he said in a bored tone. The Illusive Man stood up, his eyes focusing on Miranda, "I have no intention to kill you Miranda, I only wish to ensure your loyalty remains to Cerberus to me."
"You have me bound and naked, with plans to torture me. You're not doing a very good job of securing my loyalty," Miranda pointed out.
The Illusive Man looked at her, "You've been spending too much time with Shepard, except her bravado has been earned. Did the Commander tell you what she did after Torfan? There was five years after Torfan, before Shepard joined the crew of the Normandy. And yet those years are not a matter of public record. Most of those files have been redacted. Had you used your...influence over Shepard she could have been a powerful ally for Cerberus." There was a look of confusion on Miranda's face. "Shepard is a hypocrite, that is the most important to note. Torture, murder, you name it Shepard has probably had a hand in it. If the Alliance had a target they would call Shepard. She wasn't held accountable for anything so long as she was never caught. This wasn't a problem because no one ever survived. Shepard never left any survivors. No matter how old they were."
"Shepard would never cross that line," Miranda spat.
"There are no lines when it comes to Shepard, whatever it takes to complete the mission. No matter what the cost. It's why I'm surprised that she chocked when it came to giving me the Collector Base, something that you could have convinced her if you had simply agreed with me." The Illusive Man turned around and suddenly images began to appear behind him. Miranda looked up, seeing Jade's face and her mouth went dry. "This is Shepard's true face Miranda. Shepard systematically killed every man, child in this colony. She killed the children first, wanting the adults to talk. They did. And then she continued her execution. Leaving a pile of bodies in her wake."
"Why?" she managed.
"They were harbouring a dangerous criminal, had Shepard simply asked they would have given her the information. She broke them before she killed them. She got the job done and that's all that mattered. From what I gathered it was a dry run for her Spectre status, the Council wanted the criminal, Shepard delivered him. He was missing a few teeth and was screaming to get away from her. At least that's what I gather from the footage and the heavily redacted file. The amusing thing is they blamed the murders on Cerberus."
Miranda watched as Shepard pushed a child and placed her pistol against a child's head and looked up at the men and women in the room. The look on Shepard's face was nothing like the one that she had gotten used to. The usual emotion in Shepard's eyes was gone, only cold determination in her eyes as she pulled the trigger. This was Shepard. But Shepard had always been honest with who she was, but this...she had no idea this was in Shepard's past. "Are you trying to turn me against her?"
"It doesn't really matter, I just wanted you aware of just who you fell into bed with. But it seems that your loyalty still lies with Shepard and that will not do."
"What are you going to do about it? Miranda asked.
"You are aware of what happened in Mindoir, how the Batarians kept control of their slaves? It was a rather messy horrific process where they inserted cranial implants without anaesthetic..." the Illusive man trailed off smiling at her coldly. "Well I'm not a barbarian you will have anaesthetic, but you will be mine Miranda."
Miranda's blood ran cold, she had heard that the process on Mindor had driven most of their captives insane, "Shepard will come for me."
The Illusive Man smiled, "No you will go to her. I realize that I should have listened to you, Shepard fully committed to Cerberus's cause would make me unstoppable. You'll bring her to me, she trusts you. She might even love you, but I doubt it. You will bring her back to Cerberus. But I am getting ahead of myself," he studied Miranda's body once again; he could have her after the procedure was done. He sat back down in his seat, "You can take her to get the procedure done now," he ordered as he took a sip of his wine.
"You won't get away with this," Miranda spat at him as she was wheeled out of the room.
"Who's going to stop me? Shepard has forgotten about you , and you will be bringing her to me. Maybe after I do that I will have you bring your sister into the fold. Anything is possible Miranda," he replied as Miranda was wheeled out of the room. He turned his attention back to the images, he wanted her. And he would do anything to have her, no one turned their back on him. No one defied him so openly. Shepard made his life more difficult than it had to be. He would break her before he placed the cranial implant in her head. Jade Shepard would be his.