Shepard had a bad feeling about Wilson. The feeling was relieved and justified when Miranda shot Wilson in the neck.
"What the hell are you doing?" Jacob asked, running up.
Shepard noticed that he had automatically raised his Predator at the sound of a gunshot. He decided to keep it raised.
He was dealing with Cerberus after all.
"My job," Miranda stated, coldly. "Wilson betrayed us all."
"Even if you're sure," Shepard said. "Did he deserve that welcome?"
It must have been obvious that he was fishing for her reaction. You could tell a lot about a person from the way they answered a simple question.
But Miranda seemed too tired to care or notice. "He sabotaged the security systems. Killed my staff. And he would have killed us."
"You sure about that Miranda?" Jacob asked. "We've known Wilson for years. What is you're wrong?"
"I'm never wrong. I thought you would have learned that by now, Jacob."
"You should have taken him alive. See what he knew." Shepard still did not lower his pistol. He was starting to understand the cold fire in Miranda's eyes, amid that beautiful face.
"Too risky," was her reply. "I've put too much time and money into this project –– into you –– to let you get killed now."
"You really think Wilson is capable of that?" Jacob asked, gesturing to the body slowly soaking in its own blood.
Miranda looked down at it and then back up at Jacob. "Not anymore."
There was a heavy silence and then Shepard lowered his pistol, taking a step back in the process. Jacob was a biotic, so he would be most dangerous at range. Miranda had the look of a tech, also dangerous, but not well armored. And there was no cover for either of them. Shepard needed distance if he were to get the advantage in a fight with them.
"I had a feeling Wilson was waiting to shoot me in the back," he said, careful to keep his words friendly. He still had no armor past his biotic barriers, and while not inconsiderable, they just didn't make him feel safe enough to antagonize armed Cerberus operatives.
"Good instincts," Miranda said, also eyeing him with a practice and overtly friendly gaze. "Some people are too trusting to see that coming. Come on. Let's grab this shuttle and get out of here. My boss wants to speak with you."
"You mean the Illusive Man?" Shepard asked. "I know you work for Cerberus."
Miranda smiled. "Ah, Jacob. I should have known your conscience would get the better of you."
"Lying to the Commander isn't the way to get him to join our cause," Jacob said, his tone equal parts frustration and anger.
"Hold on," Shepard said. "I'm not sure I trust you. Either of you. I have seen what Cerberus has done."
"This is the only shuttle off the station," Miranda said. "You want to stay here and rot with the mechs? Be my guest."
"I don't think you really mean that."
"What?" Miranda snapped.
Shepard folded his arms. "I know you spent over four billion credits to bring me back. Two years of your life. A project designed solely to revive me. You are not getting rid of that so causally."
"We could shoot you and bring your body to a new station. Start again."
Shepard's grin unnerved Miranda –– a difficult thing to do.
"No." Shepard's biotic aura flared, a purple-blue mist rushing around his skin. Miranda blinked against the light. "You don't have the time for that, do you?"
"Miranda," Jacob said. "He's one powerful biotic. I haven't seen an adept like him in years. If he doesn't want to come, he'll kill us before we have a chance to retaliate.
"However, Commander," Jacob placated, turning to Shepard. "We are all on the same side here. We want you. We brought you back. That has to mean something."
Miranda sighed. "Look, we don't have the time for all this. We can discuss the finer points once we get out of here. Until then, let's keep the chitchat to a minimum.
Shepard nodded. "I've had enough of this station to last a life time."
"Or two, in your case," Miranda said. "Come on."
With that she turned and headed into the shuttle bay, Jacob falling in behind Commander Shepard.
Shepard jerked from his thoughts about the deep space outside the shuttle's view ports as Miranda came through the shuttle's door from the pilot's cabin.
"Before you meet with the Illusive Man, we need to ask a few questions to evaluate your condition." Miranda sat down on the jump couch and activated her omni-tool.
"What?" Jacob asked, tearing his gaze away from the Commander. "WE have to do this now?"
"We should have done weeks of testing to confirm the success of Project Lazarus. A few questions during the shuttle ride will have to suffice."
"Okay," Jacob said, activating his own omni-tool. "Let's get this over with. Records show that you were Earth-born, orphan of the under-city. Joined the Alliance as soon as you were eligible for recruitment."
"Actually," Shepard said, " three years before I was legal to join. I was tall for my age. And an eighteen-year-old kid with scars all over tends not to incite questions. I was a biotic and I was tough. That was the screening I got."
Jacob nodded. "You were part of the assault team on Torfan. What do you remember about that?"
Shepard's eyes hardened. "I lost some men."
"Some men were three-fourths of your squad," Miranda said gently but firmly.
The look Shepard gave her would have stalled a charging Krogan.
"I know. I sent them to their deaths. You don't think I know that?"
"We aren't here to question your past judgments, Commander," Jacob said, quickly moving on. "Satisfied, Miranda?"
"Almost. Let's try something more recent. Virmire, when you destroyed Saren's cloning facility. You had to leave one of your squad behind to die in the blast."
"Gunnery Chief––" Jacob started but stopped as the Commander spoke.
"Ash."
"So informal," Miranda commented.
Shepard turned, laying down on the jump couch. "We're done."
"Commander, there are other tests we really should…"
"We are done, Miss Lawson," Shepard said, and for once Miranda heard her name cast in cold iron bars and dropped into her stomach. His voice held such hatred, such bile. He almost made her ashamed to be named Miranda Lawson.
As Shepard dozed in his corner of the Kodiak shuttle, Miranda and Jacob turned to each other for a quiet conversation.
"His memories are there, Miranda. And I can vouch for his combat prowess personally," Jacob said, keeping a wary eye on Shepard.
"The Illusive Man will have to be set with our little field test then," Miranda said.
They were silent for a time, the thrum of the engines the only noise.
Suddenly, Jacob spoke. "What was that all about?"
"What?"
"You probing after Gunnery Chief Williams. So what if he called her Ash. His boat, his rules, his command of formality."
"Ashley Williams died on Virmire after spending nearly three months on a ship with him," Miranda said, leaning back and settling in for the ride. "I think it was a bit more than a lax in formality."
"Then definitely don't poke the thresher maw in the eye with a stick, Miranda. Shepard does not need a reason to send us headfirst into a firefight."
They lapsed back into silence, watching the stars outside the view port as the shuttle whisked them away to the Illusive Man.
Shepard gingerly eased into the clothes the Cerberus technician handed him as he stepped from the shuttle. The clothing was lose and comfortable, but professional. Shepard liked it.
"The Illusive Man is waiting for you in the next room," Miranda said, gesturing across the entrance hall. "Through those doors. We'll get your armor loaded on the shuttle. We have places to be."
Shepard strode across the room, noting the security office behind a quarter foot of hardened glass. The balcony view looked out over an expanse of space he didn't know.
Shepard turned down the corridor and opened the door at the base of the stairs.
The room was empty save a blank wall and a circular pad on the floor.
Shepard walked into the room, stopping on the pad. Suddenly, a ring around the pad flashed and an orange grid slowly rose up to the ceiling. The view in front of Shepard changed. Now he was staring out into a near infinite room with a massive sun seemingly just outside the view port. It was a strange sun, with a fiery center but a cold blue halo.
In front of the sun sat a man, a mere black silhouette.
"Commander Mikhail Shepard," the man said.
"Illusive Man," Shepard replied, certain that this must be the head of Cerberus. "I thought we were to be meeting face-to-face."
"I necessary precaution," Illusive Man said, blowing out a puff of smoke from his cigarette. "Not unusual for people who know what you and I know."
"You might be the reason I'm still alive," Shepard said. "But that doesn't mean I trust you."
"You need to put your personal feelings aside," Illusive Man said. "Humanity is up against the greatest threat of our brief existence."
"The Reapers."
"Good to see your memory is still intact. How are you feeling?"
"You need to earn the right to ask me those kinds of questions."
"Cerberus isn't as evil as you may believe. You and I are on the same sides. We just have different methods."
"Cut to the chase. What are the Reapers doing that made you decide bringing me back was a good idea?" Shepard asked, starting to lose patience. This man… he annoyed Shepard for no definable reason.
The Illusive Man stood up. "We're at war. No one wants to admit it, but humanity is under attack. While you've been asleep, entire colonies have been disappearing. Human colonies. We believe it's someone working for the Reapers. Just as Saren and the Geth aided Sovereign. You've seen it yourself. You bested all of them. That's just one reason we chose you."
"Fighting a war doesn't seem like Cerberus," Shepard said. "Why are you involved?"
"We are committed to the advancement and preservation of Humanity," Illusive Man said, as if it were obvious. "If the Reapers are targeting us, trying to wipe us out, Cerberus will stop them. If we wait for politicians or the Alliance to act… no more Human colonies will be left."
"Sovereign was trying to harvest all life in the galaxy. Why would the Reapers attack a few Human colonies?"
"Hundreds of thousands of colonists have vanished. I'd say that fits the definition of 'harvesting.' No one is paying any attention because the attacks are random and occur in remote locations. I don't know why they suddenly targeted Humanity. Maybe you got their attention when you killed one of them."
Shepard snorted. "Then you could have used the money. You could have trained a small army for the cost you spent to bring me back."
"You're unique, Shepard," the Illusive Man said, a tone of admiration in his deep, gravely voice. "Not just in ability or what you've experienced, but what you represent. You stood for Humanity at a key moment. Your more than a man –– you're a symbol. And I don't know if the Reapers understand fear, but you killed one. They have to respect that."
"If this is a threat to Humanity, you need to contact the Alliance," Shepard said.
"The Alliance is too busy running the Council to verify the Reaper threat. Blaming the abductions on mercs and pirates is easier. And more convenient."
Shepard was silent for a time. Then, "If the Reapers are behind this… I'd consider helping you."
The Illusive Man grinned. "I'd be disappointed if you accepted all of this without seeing for yourself. I have a shuttle ready to take you to Freedom's Progress… the latest colony to be abducted. Miranda and Jacob will accompany you."
"What will I find there?"
"If I knew that," Illusive Man said, grinning again. "I wouldn't have to send you. Find out who is abducting the colonists and if they are working for the Reapers. Good luck."
And with that the connection cut and Shepard was standing in the room again as the orange column grid drifted to the floor.