A/N: I think much faster than I can type, and this often leads to many a typo such as "bothe" instead of "both" and the like. It also leads to my fingers choosing the shortest version of a word based only on sound, like "beans" instead of "beings". And so I present you with my favorite pre-submission typo of the last chapter: "…but for the first time in her existence, there were actual living beans who would mourn the loss of her life."
Yes, finally Miranda has gotten what she has always wanted in life, two whole beans. That, dear children, is the greatest gift of all.
Thank you everyone for all of your support, I hope you are all having as much fun with this as I am :)
The air aboard the Normandy was heavy with nervous energy after the less than graceful landing they had made on the Collector's base. Everyone except Joker gathered together in the debriefing room to work out some sort of a plan with the intelligence EDI had managed to assemble.
Miranda watched silently as Shepard leaned over the table, head bowed, deep in thought. She appeared conflicted, an almost pained expression flickering across her features. Her XO knew why immediately, it was obvious who was best suited for the dangerous task.
Of course Jacob had to go and say 'suicide'.
Finally, their commander looked up with a sigh, "We need someone with tech skills to hack that security system." She hesitated for a moment, and then, "Tali, you're up."
The young Quarian nodded, and stood a bit taller, "I won't let you down."
Shepard appeared to contemplate this for a moment, and then returned the gesture, "The rest of us will break into two teams and fight down each passage. That should draw the Collector's attention away from what you're doing."
Suddenly, Miranda was by her side, "I'll lead the second fire team Shepard, we'll meet up with you on the other side of the doors."
Before Shepard could respond, Jack was already leaning over the table aggressively, "Not so fast, Cheerleader. Nobody wants to take orders from you."
"This isn't a popularity contest, lives are at stake," Miranda shot back quickly before turning towards the commander, "Shepard, you need somebody who could command loyalty through experience."
For her part, Shepard was fighting the urge to roll her eyes, these two were ridiculous. It was a bit outrageous that facing down the Collectors was less hazardous than standing in between the pair of them.
She had started the day planning to keep Miranda as close as possible, but as always, the odds were not in their favor. She was by far the best suited for the task, and on a mission like this there was no room for cutting corners to spare feelings, "Okay, Miranda, the job's yours."
Jack scoffed as she pushed away from the table, "Figures."
Though she hated to irritate Jack, Shepard could trust Miranda to get her people out safe.
Just a few minutes later they were finally filing out of the Normandy, one by one. Shepard had to jog a bit to catch up with Miranda, as she was keeping her distance from the commander as usual. She had made it quite clear that despite their new situation, she would be paying Shepard no favoritism in public. Only once had Shepard taken a step towards the woman that was apparently one too close, before immediately being warded off with a warning glare.
Now though was the time for breaking boundaries, and the commander found herself stepping up to her XO cheerfully.
"Don't forget, I want to hear about Tali," She whispered.
Miranda shot her a fierce look, completely exasperated, "Are you kidding me?"
"I never kid," was the only response she received. Miranda watched in disbelief as Shepard strutted off to collect Garrus and Grunt while humming something that sounded suspiciously like 'Happy Birthday'.
"Would you focus?"
Shepard slung her arm around Tali's shoulders comfortingly as they all watched Mordin depart back for the Normandy with the survivors they had freed. She still seemed pretty shaken up from her little ordeal, and the commander clearly felt responsible for her discomfort.
"Okay, so we're going to have to take the smaller team in the biotic shield. That mean's Garrus and Grunt, you're with me again."
Miranda looked at her expectantly, but Shepard didn't meet her eyes as she continued, "You'll be holding the field, Samara. Grunt and I will plow through the husks to make a path, and Garrus will cover your rear."
If she was bothered, Miranda didn't show it. Samara stood behind the commander with Garrus and Grunt while everyone else gathered together.
"Miranda, you're in charge," Shepard said while she slide her arm off of Tali's shoulders and gave her a playful shove towards the others. "Make sure they don't get themselves killed."
"Yes, Commander."
Of course it was the last stray bullet speeding past the closing door that had managed to hit Miranda. She stumbled back a few steps in surprise, but quickly regained her balance. Shepard reached out for her but she turned away hurriedly, "I'm fine, Commander."
Shepard gave her a hard look, and then reached up for her earpiece, clearly anxious, "Joker, are you at the rendezvous point?"
"I'm here, Commander," Came the fuzzy reply, "Chakwas and the rest of the crew just showed up."
"Mordin's crew just arrived, Shepard," EDI chimed in, "No casualties."
Shepard let out a heavy sigh of relief, and Miranda offered her a small smile, "Excellent, now let's make it count. EDI, what's our next step?"
Shepard was allowing them a short breather before making off for the control console. Just a minute for them to gather their wits and apply some medi-gel to whatever scrapes and bruises they had accumulated along the way.
She wandered over to Miranda, who was off to the side, clearly deep in thought, "Not too shabby, eh?"
Miranda glanced at the others quickly to make sure nobody could overhear them, "Now's not the time to get cocky, Shepard."
"I'm not," Shepard assured her, "I'm just ready for this to be over. This place is an abomination, it feels wrong to even be here."
Miranda nodded, "I know what you mean, to think there is a species in the universe capable of this…The sooner we set it to blow and get out of here the better. We should get moving, what have you decided?"
"Garrus is going to lead those who stay behind. They'll dig in here to hold the door," She paused, "I want to take Tali with me. I'm worried about her."
Miranda nodded, she would be a hypocrite if she accused Shepard of being an overprotective big sister.
"And you, if you have no objections," she continued, shooting a sideways glace, "I want to finish this with you."
"Of course, Commander."
"They liquefied them, turned them into something horrible, we have to destroy the base," Shepard sounded more exasperated than angry as she spoke, clearly having difficulties comprehending how this was even up for debate.
"Don't be so shortsighted; our best chance against the Reapers is to turn their resources against them," The Illusive Man countered, "They were working directly with the Collectors, who knows what information is buried there. This is a gift, we can't just destroy it."
Miranda began to nervously chew on her lip, he had a point right? She had been watching with Tali in silence as the flickering image of the Illusive Man paced about in front of them, growing steadily more uncomfortable as time passed. Didn't what he was saying make sense? Why did it feel so…wrong?
"You're completely ruthless, the next thing I know you'll be wanting to grow your own reaper," Shepard spat out.
The Illusive Man shook his head, clearly growing impatient, "My goal is to save humanity at any cost, I've never hidden that from you. Imagine how many lives can be saved if we keep this base intact and use its knowledge to thwart the Reapers. Imagine the lives that will be lost if we don't."
Shepard stood up to face him, staring him down with something akin to rage in her eyes, "No matter what kind of technology we might find, it's not worth it."
Miranda's stomach felt uneasy, things were coming to a boil now. Something big was about to happen, she could feel it in her gut, and she wasn't quite sure what it was.
Except you are.
"Shepard, you died fighting for what you believe, I brought you back,"
I brought her back.
"So you could keep fighting."
So she could save lives.
"Some would say what we did to you was going too far, but look what you've accomplished. I didn't discard you because I knew your value. Don't be so quick to discard this facility, think of the potential."
But it's wrong,
"We'll fight and win without it," Shepard was looking through him now, straight into Miranda's eyes, "I won't let fear compromise who I am."
"Miranda," The Illusive Man turned to face her, wild desperation taking over his usual calm persona, "do not let Shepard destroy the base!"
Because if you have to take a life,
"Or what," She spoke with more strength than she felt, "you'll replace me?"
To save a life,
"I gave you an order, Miranda," He spoke steadily as an indescribable fury seemed to be building within him.
then life is worthless.
"I noticed, consider this my resignation," She ended the transmission with trembling hands, and was left with nothing but Shepard standing in front of her, a smug grin gracing her features.
Oh, don't be such a jackass.
