As soon as the transmission ended, Miranda heard yelling outside the door.
"I've waited long enough, Garrus. Now get out of my way!"
The asari stormed into the room.
Oh, crap. Here we go.
"How could you have let this happen?"
"Excuse me?"
Liara got right into her face. There was something going on underneath that blue skin, a raging conflict. She had seen it on Illium, but now it was back, even stronger. This woman had her own demons; that was for sure.
"You lost Shepard."
"Calm down, Liara."
"No, I'm tired of waiting. I want answers."
Miranda backed up a bit to put some more space between them.
"What do you want me to say? The mercs got the jump on us; I'm sure Garrus has already told you the story. What would you have had me do?"
"You should have stopped them."
Miranda scowled.
"Really? Why didn't I think of that?"
Liara stepped forward again.
"Don't you mock me."
"Then stop acting like a child."
The asari's face flushed with anger and her hands clenched into fists. Miranda wasn't playing around. She pulled out her pistol and pointed it right at the Asari's head.
"What are you doing?"
"You have to get a grip, Liara. It's not anyone's fault that Shepard was taken. It just happened. And you have to control your emotions because they are all over the place and I can't have that on my ship."
"I am in control."
"On Illium you were about to abandon Shepard; we had to beg you to come with us. And now you want to come in here and play the vengeful lover? Have you become that accustomed to revenge after two years? Can't get to the Shadow Broker, but you can get to me. Is that what this is?"
"The Shadow Broker has nothing to do with this. This is about Shepard," Liara seethed.
"You better watch yourself, Liara. One day vengeance is going eat you up and it will be all you feel, all you think of, all you have left. What will Shepard think of you then I wonder?"
Liara's body started shaking.
"But that's not my problem. While you're on my ship, you will control yourself. Is that understood?"
With a suddenness that surprised Miranda, Liara swiped the gun out of her hand and powered up for a biotic. Miranda grabbed Liara as the throw went off and they were both sent crashing into the nearby wall. Dazed and disoriented, Miranda struggled to her feet, but Liara moved faster and Miranda found herself pinned against the wall. The asari's breadth was roaring into her face.
Just then the door opened and Garrus stood at the entrance with two guards.
Liara loosened her grip a little.
"What's it gonna be, Blue?"
Something touched a nerve; Liara looked up and their eyes met. The hatred faded out of them and her face became more subdued, her skin color less intense. She looked more like the woman walking out of Shepard's cabin and less like a vengeful Asari commando.
Liara backed away with downcast eyes, and the guards came forward.
"It's ok," she said softly. "I'll confine myself to the captain's cabin."
She looked at Miranda.
"You can lock me in if you like."
Miranda nodded.
"I will."
The guards led Liara away and Miranda was left behind with Garrus.
"You alright?" He asked. "Heard some serious commotion in here."
"I'm fine."
She motioned to Liara.
"She's got her own battle to fight, and until that's done she won't be able to help us anymore."
"Liara will come around, Miranda. She's one of the good guys, believe me."
Miranda didn't say anything. It was 50-50 as far as she was concerned.
"We've got visual on the station, folks. Still nothing on the scans though."
"In all likelihood, the station is cloaked, Mr. Moreau."
"Yeah, yeah you said that already."
Miranda looked out of the viewports at the unimpressive metallic structure. There were no observable weapons, just a few closed hanger doors. There were no markings on it to indicate its Cerberus nature.
Very sly.
"EDI, how do we get in?"
"I have a code to open the doors in my memory bank."
"What? Why didn't you say so earlier?"
"I have just now been given access to this part of my memory core via a Cerberus transmission."
Miranda made a note to address this later. They couldn't have EDI still subject to Cerberus interference.
"Alright, then. Take us in."
The docking doors opened and the Normandy slipped easily into the station's interior. There was light thud as the docking clamps locked in place.
"I'm going to see who, or what, is out there."
"You want me to contact Garrus," asked Joker.
"No, I'm going alone. This may still be some kind of trap."
"You sure about that? I'd feel better if you took someone else along."
Miranda smiled inwardly at the gesture.
"Thank you, Joker, but if someone is gonna go down for this it ought to be me. Working with the Illusive Man was my call. If I don't come back, well, you know how to use the Thanix Cannon."
Joker nodded.
"Best of luck out there."
Miranda headed out of the Normany and down a short corridor. She wasn't nervous exactly – she thought betrayal an unlikely outcome – but she'd be lying to herself if she didn't acknowledge her feeling of....edginess.
The door at the end of the hall opened into a large cargo area. She glanced quickly around at the crates. They seemed like standard Cerberus supply boxes.
We could probably hole up here for over a month if we had to
There was a noise to her left, and she spun, drawing her SMG and looking for a target. There was another rustle, and then a woman stood up behind a crate.
"Easy, Miranda – I'm here to help, not start a catfight."
Miranda did a double take. She lowered her gun almost unconsciously.
Was that...
"Williams? Ashley Williams from Horizon?"
"The one and only."
Ashley walked out into the open.
"Thanks for not shooting me."
Miranda almost blushed as she quickly holstered her gun.
"Sorry, just some paranoia. You never know what to expect with the Illusive Man. Great to see you, Ashley."
Miranda paused.
"I thought you and Shepard had," she searched for the right word, "parted ways."
Ashley appeared uncomfortable.
"Yeah, well, your old boss said the Skipper ran into some serious trouble."
She looked down and shook her head.
"Couldn't let that go down without a fight. Shepard's too good of man to be lost to a bunch of mercs."
She looked back at Miranda.
"And I heard you were both done with Cerberus. That true?"
Miranda nodded affirmatively.
"Absolutely, Ashley. Illusive Man sent us here, same as you, but I don't work for him anymore. We would love to have you on board."
Ashley grinned.
"How about some other friends too?"
Miranda furrowed her eyebrows.
"Like who?"
Ashley whistled and a dozen Krogran warriors stood up from behind crates. One of them moved right beside her.
"Just give me something to shoot."
