"Grunt? The name he chose was Grunt?" The voice of the resident Turian spoke in disbelief.
He was sitting at one of the dining tables in the mess hall with Jack, Zaeed, Joker and Shepard herself. At the table behind them was Miranda, Jacob and a few other crew members.
"I like it." Jack added nonchalantly. "It's straight forward and to the point."
"Nice and simple, easy for your brain right Jack?" Shepard sniped teasingly.
"What're you trying to say Cheshire?" Jack responded with a glare at her possibly only friend.
"Nothing to worry your pretty little head about."
"You're going the right way for a smack."
"You tease." Shepard replied mock flirtatiously.
Jack grumbled unintelligible profanities under her breath at the redhead.
"Chambers keeps going on and on about him." Joker added with a sigh. "I get that he's pretty cool and the recording of your fight that Zaeed showed me was pretty awesome but there's only so much I can hear about him before I feel like I'm gonna snap."
"What? Snap your temper or your arm?" Jack sniped mockingly. A loud 'Ow!' was heard from the bald biotic after Shepard gave her a swift smack behind her ear.
"Don't." Was all Shepard said.
The tension became rather awkward until Zaeed spoke drunkenly. "The Krogan clones loved the fight, I dunno if it was your plan or not but that fight proved to them that your worthy or whatever it is."
Shepard beamed a cocky smirk. "I thought as much." She said triumphantly.
"Was it worth the massive black bruise on your back?" Joker asked faux mockingly.
"Or the massive lump on your head?" Garrus added.
"Don't be jealous coz my battle wounds make me look extra sexy." Shepard responded.
"Commander." The voice of EDI interrupted over the speakers making Joker groan in annoyance.
"Friggen thing never shuts up."
"Probably because you bully her so much." Garrus mumbled.
"There is a private message on your personal terminal from Admiral Anderson, there also appears to be one from Admiral Shepard." EDI informed.
Shepard was already excited when she heard EDI say she had a message from Anderson but when she heard she had a message from her adoptive mother she was unable to hide her excitement.
Without excusing herself from the table the twenty five year old left her half eaten tray behind and trotted off towards the lift happily in anticipation.
The second Shepard entered her cabin she practically bounced over to the computer terminal and landed lightly on the edge of her chair.
She input the three passwords she had for her personal computer before imputing anther set of three completely different passwords for her email account, some might call so many passwords overkill but for Shepard it was normal, she liked security.
She left Admiral Anderson's message untouched as she opened the email from 'Admiral H. Shepard'.
'Dear Little Shep.' The message began. Personal messages for Chesh between the two always began like that incase anyone ever intercepted the email.
'The stories I've heard about your return seem too good to be true. I can't begin to explain how many times I've wished you were still alive. The irrefutable evidence of your death was one of the hardest things I have ever had to read and because of this I can't be sure if this is actually you or not that I am writing to.
I'm not a religious woman and you know that, but I can't help but to pray that you have somehow returned to us.
If there is one person in this galaxy capable of forcing the Grim Reaper to fuck off then it's you my dear. Impossible is not a word you know the meaning of.
Please know my dear that I do not expect you to reply to this message, especially if you're out there doing what I think you're doing, but please my sweet I would do anything to see you again.
Say the word, name the place and I will be there without hesitation; orders be damned.
Speaking of orders, and although they might court-martial me for telling you this, but both the Alliance and the Citadel Council have put a price on any information regarding you.
Trust is a concept you know better than anyone else and I implore you to watch those around you carefully.
I can't say much more lest this message be intercepted.
Remember that I love you little Kitten.
Love from Mum.'
Shepard smiled a sad smile and refused to let the tears pooling beneath her eyes to fall.
Hannah Shepard was the strongest person she had ever had the privilege to know and this message made her chest heavy and her brain buzz.
Replying to her would be difficult, Shepard was not a woman of words but of actions. It would be too hard for her to compose a reply that could adequately show how she felt. The best she could hope for was to meet her and hug her to relay her feelings.
She clicked on the 'reply' button before simply typing 'Not home to me but the home to the animal.'
She sent the message back before composing herself and opening the other email she had received.
An hour later Shepard strode into the CDC and towards the pilot chair that would probably hold Joker now that his lunch break was over.
What she found was an indignant Joker and an irate Miranda Lawson arguing over something whilst EDI's holographic projection 'watched' the scene.
"I have half a mind to through you out the nearest bloody airlock!" Lawson's voice was low and clipped but deadly, a deadliness that Joker merely shrugged off.
"I thought it would be good for morale." Was Joker's succinct answer.
"Good for morale?" Miranda hissed. "I'm sure your beaten and bloody corpse would do wonders." Miranda growled out sarcastically.
"Oh please, you're blowing this out of proportion." Joker waved her off.
"Joker I swear-" Miranda began before being cutoff by Shepard.
"Woah woah you two, calm down." The Commander pleaded. "What's going on?"
"I'm about to give this pervert the beating of a lifetime!" Miranda shouted whilst glowering at said unashamed perve.
Shepard sighed. "Not the bloody cameras again Joker..."
"Camera's?" Miranda replied in shock. "What camera's?"
Shepard raised a brow. "Nothing... So what's this about?"
"No no no hang on a second." Miranda commanded in distress. "What camera's?"
"Not this time Commander." Joker interjected, completely ignoring the operative. "Just some new uniforms that's all."
"New uniforms?" Shepard queried.
"Excuse me! Camera's?" Miranda shouted again.
"EDI informed me that Ms Lawson here was requesting some new uniforms and asked me if I needed any more for myself. Rather thoughtful of her really but I digress." Joker began. "I merely thought that some new uniforms for everyone aboard might do some good for morale, starting with removing that blighted Cerberus logo and then moving onto some more aesthetically pleasing aspects as well."
"Such as?" Shepard asked, now crossing her arms over her generous chest, now having a clue as to what he'd done.
"I thought black and orange would do nicely for our crew colours. Thoughts?" Joker asked.
"Hmmm... Yes I kinda like that." Shepard replied.
"Excellent I thought you would." Joker responded, still ignoring the seething glare from Miranda. "I though the male uniform would pretty much stay the same for practicality sake and I only made a few alterations to the female versions.
"Camera's?" Miranda growled out, her face now turning red from rage as her biotics began to glare around her.
"I'm gonna take a wild guess at the female alterations..." Shepard stated with a heavy sigh. "Skin tight and quite revealing. High heels and leather gloves?"
Joker grinned back at her. "I thought you might like them Shep."
"You'll have more luck getting Garrus to wear something like that than me Joker." Shepard responded with a lopsided grin. She was secretly very glad Miranda was so focused on not throttling the pilot in front of her CO that she didn't notice her eyes scan over the perfect form of the operative and imagining her in said uniform. Nor did Miranda notice the heated lust her eyes were so unashamedly broadcasting.
"Joker. Shepard. What camera's?"
"Hush Ms Lawson. We're having a conversation here."
Shepard grimaced knowing what would happen next, no one spoke to Miranda that way.
Said Operative used her advanced strength to lift Joker up by the collar of his uniform. "You disgusting little perverted worm." Miranda hissed. "Let's see how much you really like the new uniforms."
"Shepard." Joker called in fear as Miranda began to drag the brittle boned man through the CDC, fear now evident in his voice. "Shepard! Cheshire help me!"
Joker was pulled into the lift at the rear of the deck whilst everyone watched him.
"Will he be ok?" Kelly Chambers asked in worry as she approached The Commander.
"Get your cameras ready." Shepard replied with an evil toothy grin as she played with her omnitool to set her camera up.
A few minutes later Miranda strut confidently back into the control deck with Joker beside her, both wearing the new females uniform.
Most of the crew members burst into hysterics at the sight but Shepard was finding it difficult not to ogle Miranda who was skilfully disguising her embarrassment by humiliating Joker.
The uniform looked like an amalgamation of an Asari-like dress and a dominatrix outfit. It was a very tight black lycra catsuit with orange highlights around the collar and on the knee high high heel boots. Along the sides only bare skin could be seen from just barely below the breasts to below the hips, if Miranda was wearing any underwear this uniform would have shown it to the world but as it turned out... she wasn't.
It was also rather low cut displaying her tantalising cleavage, not that it was neccasery as the tight 'clothing' displayed her breasts in an amazing way.
Shepard's lustful hunger grew at the sight of her and thanks to her genetically enhanced eyesight she could make out the operatives nipples from beneath the black latex like material.
Biting back a growl and suppressing her Varen instincts to mate Shepard raised her omnitool and took a quick picture of Miranda for later use before also taking a picture of Joker for blackmail material. Once both pictures were stored and saved she quickly and covertly snapped a few more of the gorgeous operative.
Joker would not let this get the better of him. "What do ya think fella's?" He asked with a smile as he used his weak body to try and strike a few provocative poses. "Sexy right?" He added making everyone laugh even louder at him.
Shepard couldn't help but giggle at him, trust Joker to make everyone forget about the possible end of the world situation they were in and just have a few laughs, even if they were at his expense.
Miranda was fuming at him once again and her tense body portrayed her anger perfectly, she didn't like it when her plans backfired.
Shepard thought about trying to put the operative at ease but instead decided to play and flirt with her a bit first.
She walked up beside her and slung an arm around her shoulders and pulled her gently against her body, both women silently relishing at the contact.
"Chill out Panda Bear, he's just playing." Shepard said quietly. "He is helping everyone out in his own unique way."
Miranda heaved a heavy sigh and let herself lean into Shepard a bit more. "I'm still gonna hurt him." Miranda added, now resined to the situation.
"I will say one thing though." Shepard began with a flirtatious grin.
"Comment on the uniform and I will bloody throttle you."
Shepard giggled to herself. "I was just gonna say that you're extra sexy when you're mad. You get all feisty and your accent goes into overdrive."
Miranda blushed and moved to pull away from Shepard but Cheshire wouldn't let her go.
"Ok for that I'm definitely going to have to hurt you. I am powerful, not feisty." Miranda responded shortly, but there was a hint of jest in her zesty response.
"Powerful you are indeed milady." Shepard added before giving the woman a tight friendly squeeze with her draped arm before letting her pull away. "But you're still cute when you're all flustered."
"Bite me." Miranda replied with a faux glare.
Shepard grinned maniacally. "Careful what ya wish for Panda Bear."
"Damn it." Miranda replied almost in defeat.
"Joker!" Shepard called whilst Joker was in mid-pose. "Set a course for Tuchanka first chance you get."
"Aye aye commander." Joker said with a mock salute as he stumbled towards the cockpit in his heels.
"Uuuuuhhhh, aren't you gonna change first?" Shepard asked confusedly, grimacing internally at the sight of the man in what could be her favourite pair of heels.
"Why?" Joker asked in confusion, his acting was top notch. "I look hot!"
The air was hot and dry, dust billowed around them and the hot sun beat down on them almost relentlessly.
Shepard couldn't help but to take a deep cleansing breath and let out a relieved sigh.
"This place sucks." Jack grumbled in annoyance.
Shepard growled angrily at Jack's constant winging. "I swear you're not happy, ever!"
"Can't we just go to a night club or something!" Jack retaliated.
"I didn't ask you to come Jack!"
"I'm not gonna miss a chance to meet this chick!" Jack shouted back. "I just think there are way better places to do this!"
"Not for me there isn't!" Shepard was beginning to seriously lose her cool now.
Shepard, Jack, Miranda and Zaeed were standing in an unoccupied wasteland on Tuchanka awaiting the arrival of Admiral Hannah Shepard. Jack had come for the previously stated reasons, Miranda had also come for similar reasons.
Zaeed was being awfully quiet but had insisted on joining them as well.
Shepard only agreed to let them accompany her because they were all being annoyingly persistent, stave for Miranda who had thankfully asked politely, until she had no choice but to relent.
"Jack please, enough complaining." Miranda pleaded whilst rubbing her temples, she had changed back into her only surviving white and black uniform.
"Who the hell was talking to you Cheerleader?" Jack screeched angrily.
Miranda felt no need to rise to her challenge and was instead just going to let it drop, but it appeared even Zaeed had had enough.
"Jeez girl you complain more than anyone I've ever met."
"What?" Jack cried indignantly. "Say that again old man!"
"Old?" Zaeed yelled back. "I'm 57, I ain't old!"
"You're right you're not old, you're freekin ancient!" Jack amended angrily.
Zaeed's frustration was clearly on display as he stood tall to loom over the girl. "I ain't too old to put you in your place girly."
Jack seemed all too willing to rise to his challenge, these two usually got on like a house on fire but something had these two extremely on edge.
"Commander Shepard." The synthesised voice of EDI said over the comm link. "The USS Amazonian has just arrived in orbit. A shuttle has disembarked and is en route to your location." EDI informed.
A smile spread across The Commanders face at those words as her eyes trained themselves on the sky, she felt her body quake in excitement when she caught sight of the shuttle that was presumably holding her adoptive mother aboard came into view.
As it descended the arguing stopped as the air became almost palpable with anticipation and tension.
The shuttle kicked up dust as it landed before powering down its engines. The side hatch opened allowing two heavily armoured N7 Marines with face masks to jump out and level their assault rifles on the present crew of The Normandy.
Miranda and Jack both willed their biotic barriers into life as as Zaeed raised his own precious gun and directed her barrel straight at the two armed men.
All were still for a moment.
"Drop your weapons." One of the marines commanded calmly. The marine seemed to reevaluate his demand when the laser sight dot from a sniper rifle appeared in the centre of his comrades forehead, and he seemed even more wary when a platoon of Krogan emerged from the ship wreckage around them, one of the Krogan's wearing silver armour.
"New plan." Shepard sing songed. "You drop your weapons."
The marines shared a concerned gaze before a voice from the shuttle chimed in.
"Quite the little group you brought with you."
Shepard smiled at the silhouette in the shuttle. "Well can you blame me? You yourself warned me that Alliance are after me as well now."
The figure emerged from the shuttle hatch wearing a smile that was rather amused and almost motherly with tenderness. "Same old Cheshire." The woman commented as she stepped off the vehicle.
Shepard's crew were speechless.
There was no doubt about who this woman was.
"Mum." Shepard said fondly as she moved forward to embrace her mother.
The N7's didn't know quite what to do, but eventually and reluctantly lowered their weapons allowing Shepard's crew to do the same.
Commander Cheshire Shepard was known as many things; The Butcher of Torfan, The Beautiful Storm and even The Monstrous Nightmare. None of these aptly described her immense beauty, poise and elegance.
Admiral Hannah J. Shepard was also known as many names; The Amazon and even The Barbarian Queen being among them. But just like with Cheshire's they were almost insults to the woman's appearance.
Miranda thought Chesh was amazingly tall at 6 foot 3 but the Admiral must have been at lest 6 foot 5 but good god was she stunning.
Her hair hung about her face in wavy rivulets and instead of going grey from age it had become a beautiful almost snow white colour.
Her eyes were a dazzling crystal blue and although she was documented at being 52 years old they still seemed to shine with youthful exuberance.
Her figure was unbelievable as well, obviously she was not related to Cheshire by blood but they both still shared the same almost hourglass like figure with wide hips and large breasts, even if Cheshire's were a bit bigger. Truth be told that apart from the height difference Hannah Shepard's figure shared more likeness with Miranda herself rather than Cheshire.
"It's good to see you again child." Hannah spoke softly.
"You too mum." Cheshire replied as she broke the hug only to receive a quick but powerful punch to the very top of her head. "Ow! What the hell?"
"Don't you dare die before me ya got that twerp?" Hannah screeched in outrage. "Do you have any idea what I've been through?"
"Do you think I died on purpose?" Cheshire yelled back, nursing the growing welt on top of her head that would no doubt grow to match the one on her forehead from Grunt.
"Well obviously not." Hannah replied sarcastically. "What have I told you about being careful?"
"It was either I die or I let my whole crew die!" Cheshire responded indignantly.
"Oh? Well that to me sounds like you gave up!"
"What would you have done?"
"The same damn thing but the difference is is that I'm 51 when you're only 25! You have a whole life left live!"
"Now you're just being hypocritical! You raised me! Of course I'd act like you would!"
"And it makes so proud Cheshire and I mean that! But I still reserve the right to be angry when my daughter dies damnit!"
Behind them Shepard's crew watched the scene unfold in confusion.
"They're complimenting each other but still yelling like they're angry?" Grunt asked in confusion. "Is this how humans show affection?"
Miranda and Jack shared a look unable to respond, despite both being human the concept of affection was not something either of them truly understood.
"Not even close." Zaeed answered with a whimsical smirk. "These to are just mad."
Grunt merely grunted as a confused response.
By this time Garrus had joined them from his snipers perch atop the hull of a nearby shipwreck.
The two Shepard women finally stopped yelling and now just stared at each other whilst panting for breath, the effects of finally venting their frustrations sweeping over them calming their every frazzled nerve.
"Damn it Chesh." Hannah grumbled before pulling her daughter into another tight embrace.
They both pulled away giving the admiral a chance to regard Cheshire's assembled crew mates.
A Turian, three Humans and eighteen Krogan's.
"Cerberus my arse." Hannah mumbled. "Intel must'a been wrong."
"Not quite." Cheshire responded with a carefree shrug. "Cerberus brought me back and did give me the tools to perform my mission, and technically Miranda over there is sorta a Cerberus operative but I'm not working for them, barely even with them frankly."
"You're an idiot for even being in the same room as them Chesh." Hannah responded whilst levelling her daughter with a motherly glare.
"Yeah yeah love you too mum." Chesh responded casually.
Hannah heaved a heavy sigh before turning to Shepard's crew again. "Let's see." The admiral mumbled loudly enough for everyone to hear before she touched a minuscule button next to her right ear which created a holographic visor-like display in front of her eyes. "Garrus Vakerian." She began as her tech analysed the male. "Turian of the Vakerian House. 29 Earth years old and a former member of Citadel Security. Spotless record until three years ago when you left without a word to serve aboard The Normandy. No specialist training but recieved high praise across your career involving sniper rifle accomplishments as well as a few other things."
Garrus looked at the Admiral and fidgeted uncomfortably beneath her gaze. "Pleasure to meet you ma'am." He mumbled.
"Jack." Hannah stated as she turned her sights on the bald woman. "24 Earth years old and possible victim of The Subject Zero conspiracy. Powerful biotic with a bounty of 13 million credits, no known family or affiliations. Last known location was as a convict aboard The Prison Ship Purgatory."
Jack kept her heated gaze on Hannah but couldn't help but feel unnerved by her dominance.
"Miranda Kate Lawson." The Admiral turned to her next 'victim'.
Miranda couldn't help but bristle at the use of her middle name, no one could possibly know that.
"Artificially created daughter of Dr. Henry Lawson a Cerberus scientist an organisation she eventually joined herself. Highly impressive IQ and abilities."
"What?" Miranda croaked involuntarily. "My father is not a member of-" Hannah cut her off.
"No point denying it." Hannah stated factually. "We are well aware he was one of the three founding members if Cerberus."
Miranda felt her knee's weaken as she suppressed her need to vomit.
"Miranda?" Cheshire asked, her voice laced with concern as she saw the operative stumble to the side, even Hannah looked at her oddly.
Cheshire slung her arm around Miranda's shoulder to steady her.
"No... Ori..." Miranda whispered in despair.
Cheshire shot her mother a glare telling her to ignore this.
Hannah turned to face the Krogans. "Strange, I don't know who you are?"
"I am Grunt." The lead Krogan grumbled. "These are The Damned." He added as he gestured to the Krogan force behind him.
"Bounce, add that to the archive." Hannah said to seemingly no one but her visor made an odd array of whistle's almost as a response.
Lastly Hannah turned to the last human but blanched at the sight of him. "Sargent?" She whispered.
Zaeed chuckled. "Not anymore kiddo." The old Brit responded with a grin.
"You know him?" Chesh asked in mild surprise, she already knew Zaeed was hiding something but she didn't know what.
"Sargent Zachary Mitchell. He was my instructor at the academy." Hannah responded in mild awe.
"It's Zaeed Missani now, I've chosen to start using my real name again." The man responded as he approached the admiral. "You did good Kiddo." He said as he stared up at the taller aged beauty.
"But... You... What?"
Zaeed chuckled again before clapping her on the shoulder and walked past her. "I just wanted to check in on ya again." He said before he walked off. "Shepard I'll be waitin' at the extraction point." He called back.
"I'm gonna give that old geezer such a beating." Chesh grumbled.
Hannah looked back at her daughter to see her standing almost protectively by the side of the black haired beauty.
"I fear I may have said too much." She commented as she looked at the despondent look plastered upon the woman's face.
"Ya think?" Jack grumbled as even she looked at the operative curiously.
"How did you know all that?" Garrus asked cautiously.
"Bounce." She responded.
"Bounce?" Garrus repeated as a question.
"He's an AI I developed when I was younger. He can hack into anything. You're all apart of my archive, as is nearly everyone and everything else in this galaxy."
"One of Mum's jobs is to ensure that sanctioned intelligence agencies don't keep things secret that they shouldn't." Cheshire added. "She unfortunately has a habit of blabbing when she shouldn't."
"Cheshire Shepard." Hannah chastised.
"What? It's the truth." Chesh responded.
"What else do you know about Henry Lawson?" Miranda asked, her subdued tone revealed her current mental state.
"Not much, we know he still works for Cerberus but we're having difficulty deciphering the coded transmissions between him and his other daughter Oriana Lawson."
"They're... In contact?" Miranda breathed, she looked on the verge of a breakdown and Shepard would not have anymore of this.
"No more of this." The younger Shepard stated forcefully.
Hannah looked at the duo in interest, she knew her daughter held the same sexual orientation as she herself but never did she think she would see the day when her daughter would show interest in another woman in anything more than something purely sexual.
"If it helps, I will forward all information we have on the Lawson's to you, strictly between us mind you." The elder Shepard offered.
"Thank you." Miranda breathed.
"Admiral you can't do that." One of her marines quickly tried to interject.
"In case you have forgotten my daughter is a SPECTRE, she gets any information she wants."
"Technically I don't think I am one anymore..." Chesh responded unsurely.
"They never took it away from you, that's good enough for me."
"Admiral..." The same marine warned weakly.
"Now, come here my daughter, I believe we have some catching up to do." Hannah spoke forcefully, her tone directed at her subordinates to keep them quiet.
The two Shepard's moved away from the group leaving the two N7 marines with Shepard's crew. The silent marine had his gaze transfixed on Garrus.
"Never met a Turian before?" The alien tried to joke.
"Turian's killed my family." The man grunted in disgust.
"And humans killed mine." Jack threw back, surprisingly defending the male. "Got a problem?"
"Watch your tongue." The other marine barked.
"Fighting words." Grunt chuckled as he rolled his shoulders. "Who wants some?"
"Settle down." Miranda pleaded as she rubbed at her forehead. "We don't need to start trouble now."
"Strong words from a traitor." The silent marine spat.
"Traitor?" The raven haired woman repeated. "On second thoughts, Grunt have fun." The disheveled woman growled.
When the two Shepard's returned to the group they were met with a rather strange sight.
Grunt was sitting on top of one of the marines, the human beneath him clearly unconscious. Miranda was tending to a cut above Jack's eye as Garrus stood with his foot on the squirming body of the 'Best of Humanities Special Forces'.
"Good god Cheshire, are these people normal?" Hannah asked in shocked amusement.
"Not at all. That's what makes them great." Cheshire giggled. "All in all we've got Jack the psychotic biotic, Garrus the lighthearted sniper, Miranda the sort of anti-Cerberus Cerberus Operative, Zaeed the drunken merc, Joker the class clown, Grunt the super soldier child, a handful of unkrogan-like Krogan warriors, Mordin the unhinged mad scientist... The list goes on, and I think Jacob is the only relatively normal bloke on the whole damn ship!"
"I thought you had a serious mission to undertake? Sounds like you're just making a crew of misfits to have a good time with..." Hannah practically deadpanned.
Chesh gave a casual shrug. "I can't help it if the best people for the job of saving the galaxy are the people the galaxy cast aside."
"Just he careful hon, I don't think I could survive another report detailing your death."
The younger Shepard gave her mother a warm smile. "Don't worry mum, I'm not gonna die again anytime soon." She said warmly.
Hannah smiled. "I'll hold you to that Kitten."
"Commander." The synthesised voice of EDI cut through the air. "We have an urgent message from The Illusive Man, evidence suggests that the human colony, Horizon, is currently under attack. At maximum speed Mr Moreau can have us there in eight hours."
Hannah watched proudly as her daughter instantly leapt into leader mode, with her own Cheshire twist of course.
"Grunt and Garrus get off your new friends and gather The Damned." She ordered swiftly. "Miranda leave Jack for the moment, Chakwas can finish on the Normandy. Head straight for the shuttle, radio ahead and get Zaeed to ready it for take off."
"Yes ma'am!" Garrus responded quickly.
"Get your asses up!" Grunt roared to his troops. "It's play time!"
"Miranda to Zaeed." The raven haired beauty spoke into her omnitool as she took off at jog with Jack beside her. "Prep the shuttle for immediate departure."
"Shepard wait." The Admiral quickly interjected. "The Amazonian will accompany you, The Normandy may be faster but you might need my bigger guns."
"Sounds good." Shepard replied as she started to jog off towards her evac point. "But leave the ground force to us, we've got countermeasures to deal with the Collectors paralysis tech."
"The mission is yours Kitten." Hannah dutifully responded.
Aboard the Normandy the crew was in a frenzy.
At her place at the helm behind Joker, Shepard watched everything unfold whilst issuing orders at all times.
Miranda was behind her at a monitor.
"What is the plan Commander?" Miranda respectfully and professionally queried.
"When we arrive we're going to split into three teams." Cheshire began. "Garrus will lead team two with with Jacob and Mordin. There job will be long range support whilst working with any survivors to ensure their safety and protecting Mordin if his tech expertise is needed. I will lead team two with you and Zaeed. The final team will be Jack, Grunt and The Damned. They will be the advanced team, destroy everything that stands in our way."
"A good plan Commander, although I'm surprised you don't want to be in Grunt's 'bulldozer' team." Miranda replied.
"Panda Bear you have no idea how much I want to be in that team, but the mission comes first."
"Horizon is in sight Commander." Joker informed tersely.
"We have confirmation Commander, The Collectors are still here."
"All hands to battle stations, ground team assemble in the shuttle bay immediately." Cheshire barked as she span around and raced off with Miranda hot on her heels.
"Good hunting!" Joker cried, it wasn't a joke.
In the shuttle bay everyone was ready and waiting.
"Saddle up!" Shepard cried as she ran towards a shuttle.
"Wrong way Shep!"
Cheshire turned to Garrus, not in the mood for jokes. But the sight behind him made her heart swell.
All of the ground force were clambering into a massive machine.
"Is that..." Chesh breathed in awe.
"Shirley Junior." Garrus chuckled as he through the keys to the massive Mako at his commander and friend. "I got your mum to drop it off when we were on Tuchanka, she's the latest model." Garrus answered.
"Hoorah!" Shepard cried as she raced towards the machine.
"We should call her The Planet Destroyer!" Grunt shouted, the other Krogan all nodding in agreement.
"First Wrex and now you guys, what is it with you Krogan..." Cheshire grumbled.
Shepard found her place in the pilot seat, Miranda nervously beside her in the copilot's chair. Garrus took position in the turret muttering a prayer in the Turian language.
Klipp yipped excitedly in the back compartment as Jacob and Mordin frantically tried to fasten him down safely.
"We're in launch position Commander." Joker informed hurriedly.
"Launch Shirley Junior!" Shepard screeched in glee as the main hatch opened.
"We're still just barely in orbit!" Miranda cried in realisation.
"Cheshire wait!" Shepard ignored Jack's plea and shot out of the rear hatch with a smile of deranged glee adorning her face.
At first Shepard had been heartbroken when she realised Shirley Junior was too big to navigate through the abandoned settlement they were struggling to free from Collector control.
But now, she was practically singing in delight.
Ripping Collector scum apart with her biotics was oddly therapeutic, blasting their heads to pieces with shotgun shells was becoming a beautiful sight to behold.
Not far from her current skirmish the Commander was relishing in the sight of her little baby Grunt tearing a yellow glowing Collector into two halves with his bare hands as he laughed in its face.
Garrus' trusty sniper rifle fire was levelling enemies all around them, Jack was practically flying in any direction that pleased her.
Miranda was always in close proximity to Shepard, taking out her wrath for her father on these creatures.
The whole crew was working like a well oiled, guts soaked machine.
Some companies had picnics to promote teamwork, but Shepard could one up all of them by offering a blood bath for all of her faithful and dependable comrades.
"Grunt pull back! Zaeed and Garrus cover fire!" Shepard called. "Jack clear a path to that shack, Jacob and Mordin follow her inside! Grunt call your men back, Miranda with me!"
Whenever Shepard gave a command her crew responded instantaneously.
For Garrus it was easy, he had fought along side her before. For Jacob it was comfortable, his time in the alliance had made him good at following orders.
Jack struggled here and there but always did as the commander instructed.
Miranda flourished in situations such as these, like a good game of chess all of Shepard's orders had logic with her own maniacal twist.
"Grunt get your guys under control! I don't want then dying for us!" Shepard called out over the gunfire. As good as The Damned were they seemed to find their own lives meaningless, although they were dishing out as much damage, if not more, than the rest of her crew they were also needlessly putting themselves in situations of mutually assured destruction, something Shepard did not approve of.
"Does anyone else think this is too easy?" Garrus asked over the comm.
If anyone else was in this situation they would have called him mad.
"Many Collectors, powerful weapons, but needlessly throwing away lives." Mordin added his input.
"They playing us?" Jack cried as she let off another shot from her gun.
"Evaluating maybe." Shepard replied. "Most likely they just don't see us as a big enough threat yet."
"Hard to believe even though we've already taken down a Reaper." Miranda supplied.
"That was with a whole army and the Citadel Council on our side, now that we're divided we probably seem less oppositional to them." Shepard growled as her biotics tore another Collector apart.
"Area secure commander." Garrus chimed over the radio.
"No time to rest, regroup and advance." Shepard called as Grunt and The Damned took point.
"Erm... Shepard?" Garrus suddenly groaned into the mic. "We've got something... Big marching right towards us."
"That's no normal husk..." Miranda breathed at the sight of the grotesque two headed Psion groaning as it lumbered towards them.
"These fuckers are sick and twisted." Jack murmured.
Before anyone could get their bearings back the creature launched a powerful shock wave attack, launching multiple Krogan high into the air.
"Jack cushion their fall!" Shepard frantically screeched as her body began to glow a brilliant blue.
Miranda felt her stomach drop when Shepard launched forward to deliver her signature Charge attack.
A loud snap echoed between the buildings, a snap that usually meant the bones of her enemy had been shattered.
Only this time it was Shepard who fell flat on her back screaming in pain.
"Shepard!" Garrus cried in worry.
"Cheshire!" Miranda screeched in gut wrenching fear.
Despite her training telling her to do something smart, Miranda dashed forward to aid her pained crush.
"Cover her!" Zaeed roared through their comm link.
Zaeed, Jack, Mordin and Garrus all started firing in quick succession as they advanced on the mutant husk, Grunt led his troops in with a ground shaking roar of pure hatred.
Miranda swiftly dove down to the woman and picked her up in a fireman's carry whilst Klipp circled her, guarding them from any would be attackers despite his small stature.
The raven haired beauty gently laid the red head down not too far away from the skirmish. "Talk to me Chesh." She pleaded in a whisper.
"Tell the others..." Cheshire gasped out through her pain. "To be weary of his skin, it ain't like anything I've ever seen."
Miranda relayed the information whilst using her omnitool to scan the Commander. "Holy crap, you've shattered your entire right collar bone and dislocated your shoulder.
Blue energy surrounded the commanders dead limb before she used her biotics to pop it back into place.
Miranda gasped at the action before hitting her CO. "What the hell are you playing at? Don't do that shit to yourself!" She cried.
"I know I know." Shepard grunted. "But I've gotta get back out there."
"You can't, not hurt like this."
"Fate of the galaxy takes precedence milady." Shepard tried to joke.
"Jokes? Really Shepard? Is humour how you deal with every emotional situation?" Miranda chastised as she applied medigel to the non-bleeding but badly bruising wound.
"I've found it's the best way to deal." Shepard replied through her wince of pain.
"Personally I prefer burying myself in work."
"Tried that. I died."
After a short uncomfortable pause Miranda replied. "Point taken."
"Fear the Blood Rage!" Came the soon to be iconic war cry of Shepard's little Krogan.
"We better get back out there." Shepard groaned as she pushed herself to her feet.
"Damn it Cheshire you're going to get yourself killed." Miranda hissed as she helped stabilise the red head once she had reached her full height.
Shepard grinned. "No way in hell. Been there, done that. I'm not dying again."
The read head stumbled off with Miranda at her heels.
Grunt was throwing himself at the creature whilst The Damned fired off their shotguns and assault rifles at short range. Mordin was casting Tech abilities like a deranged wizard. Jack, Zaeed and Jacob were circling the beast offering short bursts of gunfire whilst Garrus tried to get a headshot with his trusty sniper rifle.
The creature was obviously dazed, well maybe not obviously, the thing may have had two heads but not a brain cell to share between them...
"Oi ugly!" Shepard cried as she root marched directly up the creature. "Back off!" She cried as she walloped it with a massive blast of biotic energy.
The creature stumbled back but did not fall. It groaned stupidly at her only to be met with another bone jarring force of blue power.
"You're a tough bugger!" Shepard conceded. She through both of her palms forward and made a gripping motion with her hands. Two arm like constructs appeared to wrap themselves around the Psion. Shepard moved her hands apart with her fists still clenched.
The massive creature just moaned as it was torn in two.
"Gross." Miranda said succinctly.
Shepard, panting and grunting from the exertion and pain grinned. "That. Sucked."
"Jeez Shepard, what're you made out of?" Zaeed chuckled.
Cheshire shrugged, whining shortly after when pain shot through her body from her shattered collarbone. "Dunno, ask her." She pointed her thumb behind her at her disgruntled XO.
"I'm not taking any credit for this, this is 100% Cheshire Shepard. My work usually offers results that can be understood."
Shepard grinned the Cheshire Grin. "Ya hear that? I'm one of a kind!"
"And the galaxy is a safer place because of it." Garrus chuckled teasingly.
"Not again." Shepard groaned.
"Ah, good!" Mordin chimed. "Harass Shepard day has come again. Have prepared comedic material as promised."
"You're kidding!" Shepard cried in genuine awe.
"Sorry Mordin now is not the best time." Miranda interjected. "We have a colony to save lest we all forget?"
"Oh. Right." Shepard sighed, Mordin too seemed to visibly deflate.
A sudden moaning caught their attention as something began to fumble towards them, a creature that seemed to be tripping over its own feet.
"Another one?" Shepard cried in annoyance. "I FUCKING HATE HUSKS!"
"Further investigation required, but assumption would be it is not a typical Husk."
Even Klipp groaned at the doctors prognosis.
"Ya know what?" Shepard asked rhetorically. "I don't even care, let's just kill it and move on with our lives."
After defeating the second Psion and forcing their way through another small army of Collectors the assembled team finally made it to their destination; the control console to the colony's defence network. But of course there was to be more resistance, this time in the form of a large levitating living tank.
"This sucks!" Jack cried as she leapt back from the creatures odd ground pound like attack.
"Man up!" Cheshire shouted back. "No scratch that, Woman up and keep shooting!"
Jack growled in frustration as she fired more shells from her overheating shotgun.
"I kinda wish we'd brought Shirley Jr with us." Miranda mumbled from behind the cover she was crouched behind with Shepard.
"My baby girl would make short work of this thing no doubt." Shepard replied.
Shepard made a move to leap over the barricade only for her right arm to give way leaving her sprawled out on her back. "Damn it."
From her position on her back Shepard didn't notice the levitating creature tank begin to advance on the duo at a fast pace.
Miranda knew even their combined biotic barriers wouldn't be enough to hold the things next attack back with the two as drained as they were so she did the first thing that came to mind. Without a second thought to her own health Miranda dove over Shepard and covered her whole body with her own.
"No!" The red head cried, anguish colouring her tone fiercely.
The raven haired beauty held her arms around the neck of blood haired woman, intent on at least making the attack survivable for her if she were to boost her barrier to the max.
Only Shepard had other plans.
She would not let anyone die for her, but there was no way in hell she would allow Miranda of all people to perish for her.
Anger swelled within her, not at Miranda but at the thought of losing her, along with a plethora of other powerful emotions.
With a feral yell she through her arms up and outstretched them above herself and her would be saviour.
A purple barrier materialised around the duo, creating a powerful violet dome around them as her blue energy shone with such intensity it was nearly blinding.
The massive monster assaulted the barrier with a massive ground pound attack only for it to bounce off slightly.
Around them their teammates launched an all out assault at the monster who barely seemed to register their existence as it's own barrier held strong. With every crash against her shields the red head felt her strength quickly leaving her, her shoulder throbbed agonisingly as the blood flow began to lesson considerably.
"Cheshire." The whispered voice of her companion barely reached her highly advance ears. "I'm sorry."
"Yeah you will be." The marine growled back. "You are getting such a spanking for trying to throw away your life."
Shepard felt the woman grin against the soft skin of her neck. "Tease."
With one final smack of its own body against the barrier the dome shattered.
"Shit." Shepard groaned. "We ain't dying today." The woman grunted, preparing to roll the two bodies out of the way of the next attack.
Miranda felt two arms wrap around her body protectively as the woman beneath her positioned her body for a well timed roll,
Only it was unnecessary.
As the living tank reached the apex of its ascension several high powered missiles struck it head on sending the massive being screaming back as it howled in pain.
Given no time for a reprieve another volley of rocket propelled projectiles impacted against the thick skin of the biotic being until it was nothing more than a carcass.
Shepard's team, worn and battered but still standing all faced their saviours, mostly unsurprised to see Admiral Hannah Shepard standing at the entrance of the compound with a team of heavy weapon wielding marines flanking her.
With a lumbered sigh Miranda rolled off from her soft perch and landed on her back beside Shepard. "Your Mum is amazing." She breathed.
Shepard chuckled. "She has a thing for dramatic entrances."
The Admiral strode over to her daughter as EDI chimed in through the radio to alert them to her success and the fleeing Collecter ship.
"How's your arm?" The older woman asked as she heaved her daughter onto her feet.
"Hurts a bit." Cheshire fibbed. "Thanks for the rescue."
Hannah looked at the form of the woman who had planned on using her own life to save her daughters as she forced herself to her feet. A small smile of understanding and approval adorned her pail face.
"No no no!" Came the cry of the cowardly mechanic they had met earlier. "You're just gonna let them get away? They've got half the colony on there!"
"Bite me." Cheshire spat at the mechanic.
The disgruntled man looked ready to burst out into a foul mouthed tirade before a strong feminine voice cut him short.
"Hold your tongue." The marine stated as she strutted towards the group confidently. "You're in the presence of a hero."
Away from the group Garrus leant in towards Mordin. "I thought the paralysis wasn't going to where off for a few hours on any one affected.
"That is correct." The Salerian responded in a hush tone. "Lack of damage to armour, no sweat or fatigue. Hypothesis would be that approaching soldier has not been in combat."
A frown found its way to the face of the sniper. 'Never thought Ashley would hide from a fight.' He thought to himself.
"Ash?" Chesh asked in astonishment. "I didn't know you were here?"
Ashley Williams did not look impressed. "Secret assignment, only people within the Alliance knew I was here." She state gruffly. "So no, someone like you wouldn't know I was here."
Those words and her tone did not sit well with Miranda or anyone on the younger Shepard's crew.
"Excuse me?" Battered and bruised or not, Cheshire Shepard didn't let anyone talk to her like that.
"I can't believe you turned your back on the Alliance to work for Cerberus, do you not remember how many of their bases we destroyed?" The woman asked indignantly.
Cheshire scowled in an ugly way promoting Klipp to snarl as his hackles rose. "Do you see any Cerberus logo's on me or my people?" Shepard hisses back. "I don't work for Cerberus. I'm working with them to do the job the Alliance and the Council should have been doing all along."
"I can't believe I used to look up to you." Ashley's signature temper was beginning to show itself again. "After all the Alliance did for you-"
"They forced me to join them in the first place." Cheshire growled. "I was conscripted, I never chose to work for them, but it was the only option they gave me."
Before Ashley could retort Admiral Shepard made her presence known and felt. "You are dismissed Williams." There was an edge of finality to her tone that left no room for argument.
Biting back her unladylike retort the disgruntled soldier snapped a perfect salute before marching off with her head held high.
"No good bi-"
"Cheshire." The Admiral barked cutting her off. "Drop it. I suggest you return to your ship for medical aid. I will come by to see you before we leave."
A heavy silence hung in the air.
"Chesh." Miranda spoke up. "We need to get everyone here to Chakwas if we're going to be fit for the next mission."
The woman sighed heavily in agitation. "You're right. But don't think you're off the hook yet young lady."
"Young lady?" Miranda cocked a brow and her hip before crossing her arms. "Shepard I'm a year older than you, three if you consider the two years you didn't age."
"Is this what mutiny feels like?" Shepard groused harmlessly as her team led her away to the extraction point.
Hannah watched them leave and didn't turn to the man who now stood beside her.
"She'll be fine." Zaeed stated. "I've never seen anyone as strong as she is."
"Physically and mentally yes." Hannah replied softly. "But I fear there is a lot to that girl that even I don't know."
"She need's an outlet other than battle." Zaeed commented. "Other than her obsession with animals and Mako's I haven't seen her do anything just for herself."
"Combat is what she was altered for, and it is all that The Alliance taught her to do."
"No wonder she is the way she is then, the kid never had a chance to be a kid."
Hannah nodded in agreement. "She seems to have made friends though, something I never thought she's do willingly."
Zaeed gave a muted chuckle. "Ya think she'll have a breakdown?"
A thick silence turned the humid air cold.
"Is it wrong to think she needs one?" Hannah whispered.
"I'm not one for crying but I hear it helps." Zaeed placed his hand on her shoulder before he began to walk off after his commander and crew. "I'll keep an eye on her."
The Normandy was, essentially, just flying aimlessly through space after the ground crew had been brought back up and sent to Chakwas.
"Come on Doc this isn't necessary." Shepard winged as the elderly physician added yet more ointment to her bare shoulder. "I'll be fine once people stop touching it."
"You sound like a child Cheshire, grow up and let me work." Chakwas was not amused with the Commanders method of popping her shoulder back into place, and especially angry with the strain she put on the shattered remains of what had once been her collar bone.
"Sheesh no need to get mean." The red head groused harmlessly. "Come on Miranda tell her!" The woman begged.
Miranda and Hannah were standing watching from afar, even if Miranda's glances were less clinical and more voyouristic as she tried to stealthily look at the woman only in a black sports bra.
"Shepard really now." Hannah spoke up. "Calm down and do as the good doctor orders."
Shepard mumbled unintelligible profanities beneath her breath prompting her old friend to smack her damaged shoulder.
With a girlish shriek that made Miranda giggle the red head shot a glare to the doctor. "I will remember that."
"Good." Chakwas intoned mischievously. "Now, no training, no physical exertion, no alcohol and no fights."
"What?" Shepard cried in faux indignation. "But those are all my favourite things!" She added honestly.
"Then I suggest you take up a hobby dear because you'll be on these rules for at least three weeks." Chakwas stated.
Cheshire let her head fall back as she groaned at ceiling. "Can't a girl just have a break?"
"A break is exactly what I'm ordering Commander."
"You know what I mean!"
Both Shepard's filed out of the room with Miranda in tow. After a quick but meaningful farewell the good Admiral left to return to her ship and her duties.
Again Shepard sighed before pinching the bridge of her nose. "I'm gonna go get some sleep, wake me if the universe ends. At this point i'd rather like to be there to watch."
Miranda laid a dainty had across her commanders good shoulder. "Perhaps you'd like to talk first, that encounter with Williams must have created a lot of stress."
Shepard looked towards the woman who had spoken in such a kind tone.
"What about you?" Shepard replied quietly. "We never spoke after the Oriana bombshell."
The hand on the shoulder of The Beautiful Storm tensed intensely.
"I plan on looking into it before I have a nervous breakdown and start a one woman crusade to destroy Cerberus and then murder TIM and my father, as for right now I just need rest and a good friend."
Shepard smiled softly and genuinely at her easy use of the word friend. "Well, as for myself I plan on ignoring Williams and everything she stands for until a time it actually starts to bother me. But I could definitely use a good friend right now as well."
Miranda was always astonished at how easy Shepard could make an uncomfortable situation comfortable. Seemingly without a second thought Shepard placed her good arm around the raven haired woman's waist and led her over to the empty observation lounge.
Once inside the Commander locked the door with a verbal command before easing herself down into the plush sofa facing out the large window. Feeling bold and brazen Miranda followed her and sat next to her and leant against her side before tucking her legs up beneath her. Shepard seemed to like it as she laid her good arm around her shoulders and held her close.
"So tell me." Miranda began conversationally as if the position they found themselves in was normal. "What did you mean when you said you were conscripted?"
"It's pretty much just like it sounds." Shepard replied after a wide yawn. "The Alliance didn't trust me and forced me to enlist when I was sixteen so they could keep an eye on me. It wasn't too bad coz they stationed me on my mum's ship but I learnt pretty quickly that they were never gonna let me leave willingly."
"What did you want to do with your life then?"
"No idea." Shepard replied easily. "At the time I still didn't know how the universe worked, this was all that they let me learn. What I'd rather do is nothing."
"Nothing?"
"Yeah, a nice peaceful planet somewhere where I'll never see another human being, maybe a girlfriend and a few kids and a load of pets. That's the dream now."
"Wow." Miranda drawled in a chuckle. "Surprisingly romantic and picturesque of you."
Shepard gave a single armed shrug. "I'm still human, mostly, why's it weird that I want a peaceful life somewhere?"
"Nothing at all." Miranda replied with a whimsical smile. "By the way I should have probably said this earlier but when I rebuilt you I noticed that you'd been artificially sterilised." Miranda didn't notice the thick depression that suddenly overcame her crush. "I don't know if it was wrong of me to fix it but I did, I can reverse it if need be?"
Miranda suddenly felt cold as the arm around her fell back and the woman beside her leant forward and turned to face her. "You did what?" She breathed with an unreadable expression on her wide eyed face.
It suddenly felt as if Miranda's heart was in her throat. "Did I- did I do something wrong?"
"You made me fertile again?"
The question hung in the air, almost as heavy as an anvil.
"Yes." Miranda squeaked, fear gripping her spine.
Miranda didn't see Shepard lunge forward but she definitely felt her soft plush lips against her own. The kiss at first was strong and forceful but seemed to melt into something far more passionate as her tongue slid into her mouth. Miranda couldn't hold back the moan that escaped her when two strong arms wrapped around her her body to pull her closer. Miranda's eyes had long since fluttered closed as she opened her mouth and tilted her head to the side to deepen the kiss before adding her own tongue into the frey.
The sound of panting and lips smacking together hungrily filled the room, bathing the space in a passionate music that was almost breathtaking to hear.
Shepard pulled away much to the displeasure of the raven haired stunner.
"Miranda." Shepard breathed huskily as the other woman seemed to follow her for another kiss. "I can never repay you for what you've done." As she spoke Cheshire pulled the woman in closer until she could gently rest her forehead against hers by tightening her arms around her until her own shoulder began to hurt again.
"I must confess that I only did it because I was able to, at the time I didn't take emotional gratitude into the equation." Miranda whispered, her brain still swimming after the perfect kiss she'd been waiting to share.
"You might want to sound heartless and uncaring Miranda." Shepard began. "But no one would do such a thing if they were a bad person."
A ghost of a smile formed on the plush red lips of the ex-Cerberus Operative. "As much as I like your compliments can we just go back to kissing?"
"Oh hell yes." The red head replied in a husky growl that sent shivers down the spine of the other woman. In less than a second the two were back to kissing a groping the other, until they fell asleep together almost an hour later.