She sighed in frustration. "Yes, Shepard. I've already told you. There won't be a problem."

"Promise me, Miranda."

"What?"

"Promise me."

"Seriously?"

Shepard nodded. She sighed again. "Fine. I promise."

"Pinky swear?" he asked, a smirk now appearing on his face.

"Seriously, Shepard?" she asked, now completely exasperated. He just started to chuckle. "You just love getting a rise out of me, don't you?"

He just shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe… just a little," he replied, making a gesture with his fingers. She couldn't help but chuckle in reply. At least there was a friendly vibe between them now. Even she had to admit it that the air between them was far better than when he woke up. Though she had to credit him with the change between them. Guess I under-estimated the charm. He's just so easy going at the moment. Maybe that's just how he really is? I thought the environment would be much more… difficult. "Anyway, I've already shared the same conversation with Jack. Of course, she told me where I could shove certain things in certain areas of my body that would simply be medically impossible. But I think I got her to see sense."

She chuckled again before replying. "If you want us to work together on the field, there won't be a problem, Shepard. Other than that, if you think we're going to be chummy, that's not going to happen. I don't really care either way, but I'm not blind to realise her opinion of me."

"Wouldn't dream of it. Although, you know what they say, Miranda. Opposites attract. I could feel the… tension in the conference room when we were debriefing. I thought I should have walked out, given you two some space. You know, really get to know each other."

She knew her jaw dropped open. He just sat silently for a minute before he started to smirk again.

"What?" she asked

"Oh… Nothing. Just… wondering. Hmm, those are some very interesting thoughts though," he stated. He just started chuckling to himself. She didn't miss the insinuation.

"Now you're just being disgusting, Shepard," though she knew she grinned at the same time.

He laughed quietly to himself before he fell silent again for a moment. The smirk disappeared and he appeared to contemplate his next words. "She is intriguing, though," he said quietly.

"How do you mean, Shepard?" she asked, generally curious by what he meant. She was of little doubt about her. She was completely psychotic, utterly dangerous, to herself and to others, and would be a detriment to the mission. She thought the Commander was nuts about keeping her on, but as she stated before and felt that she had to continually reassure him, she would defer to his decision.

"Okay, here's the $64,000 question. Why do you think she's so interested in Cerberus?"

"I honestly don't know. I've been thinking about it since she greeted us with such disdain."

"That alone intrigues me, Miranda, despite everything else about her. My dislike for your organisation, you're already aware of. Hell, even Tim is aware but he knows, and I know, that there is something much bigger at stake. And at least we're working together in some sort of harmony, for the moment at least. Jack, though. All I get is a feeling of pure hatred. Something happened in her past. And I think Cerberus is involved. What happened exactly? I don't know, and I honestly don't want to even hazard a guess. I'll do my usual thing, try and find out. Do you think Tim knows who she really is?"

Miranda shrugged. "I have little doubt he knows who she really is."

"Do you think he'd tell you if you asked him for details?"

"Unlikely. I think he'd call it a 'need to know basis', and I probably don't need to know." She sighed. "However, I think it would help to know who or what we are dealing with."

"What about the datapads I gave her?"

She shrugged again. "I gave her access to everything I could, just like you asked."

"Thanks for that, by the way."

"You did order me to, Shepard."

"I didn't think I could just ask… And that you'd just agree."

She smirked. "You're right. There is no way I would have just handed that over without being told to."

"Are you concerned about what she may find?"

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't. But, then again, we don't even really know what she's looking for."

"I've tried asking but I was told, not so politely, to mind my own business."

"Have you read Ms. Chamber's psyche evaluation?"

"I have. That… doesn't exactly paint a glowing picture of our newest recruit. Although you don't need a psyche evaluation to see she's got… personal issues. Maybe she just needs a hug?"

"You're more than welcome to try, Shepard. But I'm not going to be the one putting together your broken bones. You do know that's your problem. Trying to fix everyone."

"And what's the problem with that?"

"Some people are beyond help."

"I don't believe that. Some people are simply incapable of asking, that is all. They'll carry the weight of the world on their shoulders. I should know. Been there, done that, got the bloody t-shirt too. And I also believe there is good in everyone… well, nearly everyone."

"What about the Illusive Man?"

"Exactly!" Shepard replied, another smirk, arms folded across his chest.

Miranda just shook her head, trying to stifle another small laugh. "Alright, Shepard, I've got work to do. How about we catch up later?"

"Kicking me out now?"

"Yes."

He laughed. "At least you're honest."

The Commander stood up, and after giving a mock salute, put his hands in his pockets and slowly wandered out of her office, whistling a tune to himself of which she didn't have a clue. What is it with him? Still, at least he talks to me now. It's actually nice. She just shook her head before cracking her knuckles, a bad habit she knew she had, before she got back to work, for all of one minute. She stopped typing her report and thought. Jack… Jack… I wonder what we do have on her…

She settled herself in for an afternoon of research. She had to admit even her own interest in their newest recruit. Ignoring the obvious hatred she had for her organisation, and the bile she sent her way during debrief, Shepard was certainly right about one thing.

She was intriguing.

People were assholes. Or so she had always thought. If they weren't trying to fuck you over, and there was a list as long as her arm of people who had done that, they were simply trying to fuck you. That list was long as well. She'd been burned on more than one occasion. Trust? Trust was for idiots. As for love, well, love was for pussies. There was only one thing she showed at least a modicum of respect. Power. Whether that respect was out of fear of others holding that power was another thing, but she didn't let it bother her. She knew she had power of her own, but usually found the forces assembled against her outmatched her own. She had learned that to her cost too many times to mention. She had the scars as reminders. So she lived her life by one simple rule.

Never show weakness.

As for Cerberus, there were not enough expletives in her vocabulary to explain her opinion about them. All she knew is that they would pay for what they had done. Maybe not tomorrow. Maybe not next month. But one day, yes, one day, the fuckers would pay. For everything that had happened to her. She knew she wasn't the only victim. But she didn't care about the others. Fuck other people. Fuck everyone, if she was honest. So she just grinned to herself as she read over another datapad. She was looking for something, anything, just a clue as to what she needed.

Was it closure? Possibly. Though she doubted the wound would ever truly heal. How could you possibly deal with… what happened. She was just a kid. She didn't…. She shook the thought from her head. Was it revenge? If she wanted that, she should just steal the ship and get the fuck out of Dodge. What the hell was she doing on a Cerberus ship anyway? Was she a complete idiot? She'd made some dumb decisions in her life so far, but damn if this wasn't the dumbest.

And as for the people, she shook her head in dismay. Shepard was a boy scout. Sure, from the little that she knew about him, he was some giant Alliance hero. Or at least had been. What he was doing with Cerberus, though, left her confused. She hated that. She liked things nice and easy and already she couldn't work him out. Being friendly? Fuck that. She had little use or time for friends. Though perhaps she could twist him to her advantage…

Then there were the two prize Cerberus clowns. Jacob was almost like Shepard. Goody two-shoes, though clearly Cerberus. She just figured him for an idiot. At least he seemed harmless. But the Cerberus bitch. The cheerleader, as she'd so adequately put during her debrief in the conference room. It had taken all of her self-control not to smear her over the walls when she tried to explain the rules. Fuck her and her rules. Wearing that cat-suit around, leaving no-one in doubt about her assets. If she wasn't a fucking cheerleader, sure, she'd toss her round for a bit. Another notch is another notch. Though she wondered who the cheerleader had fucked to get to her position. Maybe she was fucking Shepard? News like that wouldn't particularly surprise her, though didn't think the boy scout actually had an interest in her that way.

She felt her stomach rumble, realising for the first time that she hadn't eaten since she had been woken out of cryo. She checked her omni-tool. Ugh, lunch-time. That means people. She sat for another couple of minutes, deciding what to do.

"Fuck it, I'm hungry."

She stomped up the stairs from her hidey-hole, almost slamming the button for the elevator into the wall in her impatience. The elevator finally arrived, tapping her foot impatiently as it began its slow ascent to the mess level. Finally it arrived, the doors opening but she didn't step out. A sudden feeling of awkwardness enveloped her. She could hear the din of conversation. And of laughter. She could also smell the meal currently available for lunch. She had no idea what it is, but she suddenly felt ravenous, her stomach rumbling again, crying out for sustenance. Bloody idiot, you should know better when you run riot with your biotics.

Finally she took a step out of the elevator, coming to a stop again, looking left and right. The doors closed behind her. She turned around to see that her escape route had gone. Someone else had called the elevator. Shit. She took a deep breath and turned around again. Fuck it.

She put her hands in her pockets and strolled around the corner into the mess, coming to a stop at the scene in front of her. Tables had been organised in rows and facing towards the wall next to her, where a massive vid-screen appeared to have been installed. She looked back at the tables to see Shepard, the turian, both Cerberus operatives and the old mercenary sat together, chatting away while looking at the screen every so often. She almost burst into laughter at what Shepard was wearing, before he noticed her standing there.

"Jack! Grab some food and come join us."

What? Is he fucking crazy? "I'm alright, Shepard." She turned ready to head back down to her hidey-hole.

"Come on, Jack. At least watch the game. You'll enjoy it. It's violent," he stated.

She stopped and looked back at him, arching an eyebrow. "Violent? How violent?"

He just grinned and nodded. "I'm busy explaining it to this lot here. It's a game from back home."

She looked across the groups at each table. Most of them were involved in conversations of their own and paying her little attention, though there was no missing the look the Cerberus bitch was giving her. Zaeed patted a chair next to him. "Come on, darl'. We won't bite."

"Fuck off with the darl', you old bastard."

Zaeed burst into laughter. "I like her, Shepard. She's got some fire in her belly."

"Seriously, Jack, just grab yourself a plate and sit at the end next to Zaeed."

She thought for a moment before she smirked as a thought hit her head. "I'll join you, Shepard, if you tell me just what the fuck you're wearing. I mean, what the hell is that?"

He looked down at the red and white vest he was wearing. "What, this? It's a footy shirt."

"Yeah, you're still going to have to explain this game to me, Shepard," stated Garrus.

"In time, my turian friend," he replied, before looking back at Jack, "So, will you be joining us?"

She noticed that the mess had now fallen silent, all eyes up on her as she weighed the consequences of her next decision. Fucking Shepard… Why is he being so fucking friendly? I don't do… this... She could feel her cheeks heat up, whether it was embarrassment or anger, she actually wasn't sure. Zaeed gestured to the chair next to him again. The cook had already placed a plate on his bench ready for her to pick up.

"Fine!" she stated, resisting the urge to throw her hands in the air, stomping over to grab the plate before taking the available chair next to Zaeed. At least the Cheerleader is nowhere fucking near me. She started spooning the food into her mouth at a tremendous pace while listening in to Shepard as the sound on the vid-screen was turned up.

"So, Shepard, the game?" Garrus asked, clearly getting impatient.

"Right. Miranda, you should know this game, right?"

She scoffed. "Of course I bloody do, Shepard. But you know where I'm from. I'm a Giants girl. And, quite frankly, I think you look ridiculous in your shirt."

Jack looked up as Shepard appeared to almost spit his drink over the table. "The fucking Giants?"

"Well, who in their right mind supports a team called the Swans? Anyway, the Giants are the true Sydney club. We all know where the Swans are really from." She faked a series of coughs, Jack thought she heard a muffled "Melbourne" muttered between the fake coughs.

"That was over two hundred fucking years ago! And am I really going to have to climb up onto the table and start singing the club song, Miranda? Cheer, cheer, the red and the white. You know I will. Do not test me on this!"

"His rendition of that Khe Sanh song wasn't that bad. Granted, we were all drunk," Ken stated from behind them.

"Please don't tempt him, Ken. You've never heard him sing sober," Garrus stated, "Anyway, Shepard, for crying out loud, the bloody game!" he almost cried, pointing at the screen.

"Ah, right, right. Anyway, I've explained where I am from before. Everyone knows their Earth geography?" Most of the table nodded. "Good. So, the game is called Australian Rules Football. Or Aussie Rules for short. Or, if you want to be an ass, aerial ping-pong. Anyway, two teams of 18 men take to a giant pitch to wage glorious battle for their club. There are plenty of rules. The game involves a lot of kicking. Of a ball, not of each other. Well, not intentionally anyway. It's quite athletic. And to show that people from our neck of the woods are completely insane, we'll play football without any sort of protection except a mouth guard. But anyway, the most important part of the game is this: it is to kick the ever-living shit out of any and all opponents. I'm talking elbows, knees, head-butts. But not eye-gouging. Anyone who gouges is just a dirty grub. However, if you can put out the lights of one of the other players, fantastic. The crowd loves it. I mean, at times they are just baying for blood. And I'm glad to say the game has returned to its glorious past and is once again incredibly violent. Everyone ends a match dripping some claret."

"Claret?"

"That'll be red blood, Garrus. And there is one other rule, particularly for people from my neck of the woods. Miranda, you should know this one."

She nodded as they both turned to Garrus.

"Fuck Melbourne!" they both said in unison.

Garrus just laughed. "I'm afraid I don't understand that one."

The group quietened down as the game started. Shepard was right. The game was tremendously violent. Jack was enraptured. Sure, the men were incredibly athletic, making tremendous leaps to catch the ball and played without absolutely no fear of making contact with each other. And all of this without biotics? They've got some balls… er… literally and figuratively. He was busy fielding a question or two from others as they watched, while also leaping out of his chair every so often when an incident happened, whether it was a goal, or at least that's what she thought it was called, or what he termed a bone-crunching tackle while also yelling "Take that, you fucker!"

"No biotics, Shepard?" she asked.

He turned to look at her in surprise, obviously not expecting a question from her. "There are other leagues, Jack, based on the same game. The original, and the best, which is what we're watching now. However, with the rise of biotics and other human enhancements, other leagues have been started to allow people with those talents access to the game too."

She just nodded and kept watching the game. It was all rather thrilling and she found herself yelling every so often at the vid-screen when something major appeared to happen, generally when two or more of the players collided, although the leaps they managed to catch the ball were very impressive. She didn't really understand the rules or what the whole point actually was, though it was very easy to follow the flow of the game. As soon as it started, the game appeared to finish as a loud buzzer sounded and the players shook hands. Shepard appeared to be quite happy, standing up, fists in the air as he started to sing some sort of song. Very out of tune. Garrus just groaned, feigning to slam his head in the table while Miranda burst into laughter nearby. Holy shit, she laughs…

"Fuckin' hell, Shepard, you didn't miss a calling with that," Zaeed stated.

The table burst into more laughter, even Jack managed a smile, as the vid-screen was switched off and the group started to break up as people headed to their rooms or to their stations to carry on with more work. Soon there were only three of them left, and with Garrus muttering something about calibrations, it was just Shepard and Jack left at the table.

"Didn't take you one for tat's, Shepard," Jack stated, gesturing towards the top of his arm. Again the comment must have taken him by surprise for a moment.

"Well, after I died, I had to get new ones. I have a couple." He pointed to the one to which Jack was referring. "This is just the symbol of the very first unit I joined after getting out of basic. I have another one… somewhere else."

"Where?"

He was quiet for a moment. "Some other time," he eventually replied.

Figuring he didn't want to say much else, she stood up and started walking away. But then stopped just as she was about to disappear from view. She turned back towards him. "Hey, Shepard… um… you know…" Thanks. No, don't thank him. Fuck…

He just smiled. "Don't mention it. You know, Jack, you should give some of us a chance. We're not all assholes."

She nodded. "Right…. Okay..." as she trailed off again. She then shrugged, turned and walked towards the elevator, wondering just the fuck his game was.

He took another drag on his cigarette, placing the red hot end into the ashtray as he glanced again at the screen in front of him. Interesting. Shepard will definitely be keen to know about this. He was aware of the… relationship between the Commander and the quarian. Certainly more aware than Miranda, who was still convinced that she could win Shepard around to their cause using her… charm. Or assets, if he was blunt about it. Fool woman. If Shepard was actually part of Cerberus, he would not stand for the relationship. He would have been told in no uncertain terms regarding his role, while she would have been locked away somewhere, likely never to see the sun again. He always wondered why he had not shown an interest at the asari on his team. He hated being left confused, and some of Shepard's decision making left him thinking… why.

Whatever the case, a specimen such as Shepard should not be wasted, particularly since his resurrection. He was a firm believer in eugenics, and cared little for the arguments against it. He was in little doubt the line Shepard could produce would be of great… benefit to his organisation. And humanity as a whole.

But he knew that Shepard would certainly not listen to his arguments or reasoning why his relationship was doomed to fail. He thought he was an idiot to have fallen in love with someone from a race verging on being a pariah of the galactic races. Only the krogan, and perhaps the batarians, were thought of less when it came to the organic species of the galaxy. Love? Pffftt. What a fool!

However, he also knew that he could also use Shepard's relationship to his advantage. Feed him some information. Keep him happy and on an even keel and perhaps he could be won around. Not to join Cerberus. Even he knew that would never happen. The reports he received from Miranda continually stated his distaste for his organisation. This left him frustrated, as although the two were allied for a time, he wasn't fooling himself that this alliance would endure past the defeat of the Collectors. He was always prepared, though. Resources were already being placed to ensure Cerberus would not be affected for when, not if, Shepard were to break off.

He glanced at the screen again. Just what are the quarians up to anyway? He liked to believe that he was always in the know, that nothing could happen in the galaxy without his knowledge. There were a few grey areas. One or two areas where he simply could not access information. The Migrant Fleet was one such place. He cared little for the quarians and their plight, but he still felt frustration not knowing just what they were up to. Knowledge was power.

"Boss, the Commander is attempting communication."

He turned his chair around as the figure of Shepard appeared in front of him once again. What the hell is that man wearing? Who the hell are the Screaming Jets? He shook his head slightly as the Commander simply folded his arms across his chest and waited.

"Shepard, good work so far."

He nodded in reply. "Recruiting has been relatively smooth. Granted, a bump or two along the way but nothing that we couldn't handle."

"Yes, I'm aware of events on Purgatory. The Blue Suns will learn not to play games with Cerberus."

Shepard was quiet for a moment. "I take it you are aware of Zaeed's past?" The Illusive Man nodded, wondering where Shepard was going with his train of thought. "And obviously we now know that Garrus was Archangel, and also had run-ins with the Blue Suns." He nodded again. "Well, let's just say… if you receive any information regarding Blue Suns activity, send it our way and we can take a look."

Interesting, though an understandable reaction to events. "Very well, Shepard, consider it done." He picked up his cigarette and took another drag.

"Any news on Collector movements?"

"No major developments. We've had words of some small snatch and grab raids, but no major assaults since Freedom's Progress. Rest assured, Shepard, that I have my best people on this. Whenever they make their next move, you'll be there waiting for them."

"Uh-huh…"

"Shepard, I know you don't trust me, at all. But, like yourself, I want this mission to succeed. The Collectors are a menace and must be stopped."

The Commander was quiet for a moment, before he nodded. "Fair enough, point taken. Anyway, Kelly said you wanted to contact me about something?"

The Illusive Man had to stop a slight grin forming. You'll owe me for this one, Shepard. "Correct. I've recently come into some information regarding a friend of yours."

"Who?"

"The Migrant Fleet have recently sent a shuttle deep into geth space. I am not aware of why they have done this, but I have established who is on board the shuttle. The person in charge of the mission is a friend of yours."

Shepard was quiet for a moment, apparently mulling over what to ask. "Where were they headed?"

"From the information we've gathered, they are approaching a planet called Haestrom. According to the records, it's an old quarian colony world. As I said, I am not sure as to why the quarians have sent a team there."

Shepard was quiet again, before he raised an eyebrow. He's clearly suspicious. "And why are you telling me this?"

"Because I knew you would be interested, Shepard. That is all."

"Bullshit. What's your agenda?"

"No agenda, Shepard. But I know you now have your turian friend, Garrus, as an ally. You stated that you would like to have some of your old team with you for this mission. I believe having your quarian friend with you would also benefit yourself and your team."

Shepard was still clearly sceptical. "And what do you want in return for this information?"

"Nothing at the moment."

"Nothing?"

He nodded. Shepard raised an eyebrow again, but left it alone. Nothing now, Shepard. But I will remember. And I know you will too.

"Is that everything?" He nodded again. Shepard nodded in reply and his silhouette disappeared.

The Illusive Man sat back in his chair, grabbed his cigarette and took another long drag. He wouldn't say he had Shepard over a barrel, but he now knew that he owed him in return. He turned his chair around to the bank of screens as the information continued to flow in from around the galaxy.