'click, click…' Jack lifted her gaze from the detonator in her hands. Shepard sat across from her in the crew bay of the Normandy's Kodiak shuttle.

They had just visited the Teltin facility to get some closure for Jack's troubled past. She had wanted to see if it had died, if the plants of Pragia had swallowed the ruins she left behind twelve years ago. All she found was another survivor, desperately clinging to the past like her. But he wanted to rebuild the damned place; Jack wanted to make it into a hole.

So she had planted a bomb in her old cell. It was as good a place as any to set the place free; right from her little prison.

Shepard gave her a small nod before pounding on the cockpit door. Jack looked back down to the detonator in her hand, her thumb moving to mash the button down.

Jack stepped hesitantly into the room.

"I'm glad you came, Jack." Miranda said, seated so smugly behind her desk. "I wanted to clarify details concerning the Teltin facility on Pragia, where you were trained."

"Cut the bullshit, cheerleader," Jack sneered, "I wasn't trained there, I was tortured there."

Miranda gave a small smile, "Yes, I'm sure that to a young child it might seem—"

"Not 'might', it was. Needles, electricity, drugs; whatever your buddies at Cerberus felt like sticking in me they did."

"I assure you, the men responsible were not friends of mine." Lawson leaned on her desk. "The Illusive Man found out what was going on after the riots. He ordered—"

"Bullshit!" Jack sneered, "I heard the guards. They said the Illusive Man wanted me alive, at a new goddamn facility!"

"It was twelve years ago, Jack." Miranda rose from her desk. "You were only a child, and as you saw yourself the events that happened weren't as you remember them. It's possible that you misheard them."

"Not likely, princess," Jack said, leaning over Miranda's desk intrusively, "not unless there's some other jack-ass named "Illusive Man" running around ruining lives. I've been through all the files, remember? I know all your dirty secrets, so I know when you're lying."

Miranda scowled. "Shepard should have never given you access to those. Clearly you intend to use them to dangerous ends."

"Dangerous like murdering a family for their child? Or how about messing with big fucking plants that control people?"

"I assure you," Miranda began, "the Illusive Man had no idea—"

"You should do a little dance to that too," Jack taunted, "it'd look much more precious. What the fuck kind of boss is your Illusive Man if he doesn't know half the shit that goes on with his people?"

"Bringing you on this ship was a mistake." Miranda accused. "You don't care about the mission; you just want to tear Cerberus to the ground."

"Damn right I do cheerleader, but I can't do that if we're all dead now can I?"

Miranda moved from behind her desk, "If you won't listen to reason, then leave my office Jack."

Jack crossed her arms with a smirk. "You just can't face facts: your boss is a freak, your job is a lie, and Cerberus has you dancing by the strings."

"I will remove you if necessary."

Her smirk turned to a scowl as dark energy flared along her arms. She threw one of the chairs across the room. "Touch me and I will smear the walls with you, bitch!"

The door behind her slid open as Shepard came in. "Enough! Stand down, both of you!"

Jack didn't even glance back, stalking towards Miranda. "The cheerleader won't admit what Cerberus did to me was wrong."

Miranda shook her head. "It wasn't Cerberus, not really. But clearly you were a mistake."

Jack turned on her again, thrusting a finger accusingly at her. "Screw you! You've got no idea what they put me through! Maybe it's time I showed you…"

Shepard stepped between them. "My opinion is the one that matters. Our mission is too important to let personal feelings get in the way, so you two keep a deck apart at all times."

Jack sneered, "Fuck your feelings! I just want her dead."

Miranda shook her head, looking to Shepard for support. "She can't be trusted Shepard. She'll jeopardize the whole mission."

The Commander sighed. "You both know what we're up against. If we survive this you two can tear each other apart. Until then, save your hate for the Collectors."

Miranda gave a small nod, stepping towards Jack. "I can put aside my differences, until the mission's over."

Jack glared at her." Sure. I'll do my part; she'll survive. I'll make sure of it. I'd hate to see her die before I get a chance to filet her. Then… I'll tear you apart myself."

She swept past Shepard, her hands still clenched. Whatever. Her prison was a smoking ruin, the only other survivor dead with it. It was done and over, and there was a lot more ass to kick than Cerberus'.