The hot water ran over her body, turning red as it washed away the blood but she was numb to it. Leaning against the tiles with her forehead and hands hanging limply by her sides she just stood there in a daze. She could handle this. She was Commander Fucking Shepard. She'd won Miri's heart twice, she could do it again. She'd help Miri get her memories back or else just create new ones with her...
But then there was the whole losing control thing on top of that. What had she done? What the fuck had happened to her? It was all a haze of rage and red and the scent of blood and the desperation to get to Miri. She couldn't remember anything else! So much blood. The smell of it even now was invading her senses, clogging her pores and making her feel sick but it also stirred up that thing inside her.
She'd been too late. Fallen for that trap with the scent again and been taken too far away from Miri to get there in time. Five weeks, five weeks Miri had lost because she'd been distracted, because this beast inside her had picked up that fucking scent and she'd lost control of herself. Goddess what was she? What had they done to her? Had any of those people she'd torn apart just been innocent workers in the wrong place at the wrong time?
Commander Fucking Shepard? Who the fuck was she kidding, this hurt like hell! It was tearing her up inside in so many ways she couldn't think straight. Her shoulder's began to shake with sobs that wracked her whole body. Her knees going weak but she remained standing, putting her hands to the wall to keep upright, her fists tightly clenched. It felt like she was burning up even when she adjusted the water temp for cool water to wash over her.
Everything was so fucked up. How had this happened? Who were these people? What could they possibly gain by making her into an uncontrollable monster?
Miranda bit her lip at the intense heart ache that was emanating from that central shower cubicle. Washing the blood from her face and fixing her hair she stopped, head bowed at the wave of despair that crashed through her from Shepard.
Scattered memories had begun returning, whether it was due to the intense kiss or not she wasn't sure. All of her memories involved Shepard... Stephanie, in some way. In some they were arguing so heatedly she'd been a touch afraid Shepard would actually harm her. In others all she wanted to do was kiss Stephanie. It just didn't make any sense to her right now.
Logically she understood what had happened. She knew exactly where she was, Celonia Labs on Illium, a Cerberus facility studying biotics. Commander Shepard was clearly awake and fully restored, apart from the facial scarring. The Normandy was finished and it's AI functioning quite well apparently. Logically that meant she had lost memories of how she'd arrived at this location and point in time. But logic was not any consolation, especially when she was remembering snippets out of context that made little sense.
Then there was how she'd woken. The strange sensation of another mind actually touching hers. She couldn't remember what was said but she'd felt warmth, fear, anger, love, desperation all intermingled and pulling at her, dragging her mind back from the darkness. When she had finally started coming around lips had been on hers, kissing her with passionate relief she'd been able to feel through this strange connection, tasting heavily of metallic blood.
Of course her first response had been to push the assailant away.
When she'd opened her eyes and found herself looking up at Shepard she'd been shocked, more than shocked at seeing her awake and beside her looking so confused. And the blood... it had been dripping from her she was so drenched in it. It had been... horrific to say the least. She shuddered at the memory of Shepard's rage when they'd discovered the memory loss. The way she'd mutilated that body... this was Commander Shepard, the Butcher of Torfan. All her research and she'd never actually thought about what that title actually meant beyond she killed a group of Batarians in anger. Shepard had lost control... until she'd kissed her.
Miranda clenched her fists, head bowed as she remembered that kiss. She'd expected that Shepard's response to being kissed would be hard, fierce to match the violence she'd just been exhibiting and had been prepared for it. But that hadn't been the case. Shepard had stilled, calmed, responded so gently to her as though the concern of hurting her, of being rough with her was so burned into her subconscious mind that Shepard's... Stephanie's... instinctive response to her was to pull back that violent nature. Whatever it was that Shepard wrestled with it either shrank back or Shepard managed to gain control over it when she was near... no not just near, when she was touching her. That physical contact was what had reached through to her. Shepard had trembled at her touch, her kiss. She had not been prepared for that.
Miranda bit her lip and leaned heavily against the sink. That kiss. She'd never experienced anything remotely like it before. She'd never joined with an Asari but if she could describe it, she would liken what they'd just shared to something akin to what she understood a joining to be. But that was impossible. Human's couldn't meld.
Miranda groaned as a memory surged, her hand going to her face quickly. An asari was speaking to them, to her and Stephanie,
"I had thought that the Prothean techniques would align with the neural anomaly, that the anomaly was in fact the Cipher itself. But the anomaly is here. The anomaly only became active when you two began melding... It's only basic at the moment, like a child reaching out to another for the first time. But with time and practice I firmly believe, given this data, that you two will be able to fully meld and join your minds should you so choose."
She gasped and looked up suddenly at her reflection. She could meld with Stephanie! Is that what this connection was? Her shocked gaze flicked to the reflection of the cubicle door Stephanie was currently showering in.
The raging inferno behind her was becoming increasingly unstable and she could feel it more clearly than any other biotics she'd ever been in contact with. The anger, the confusion, the fear and horror of herself was tearing Shepard apart. Shepard... Stephanie loved her, she knew that, she'd felt that. Had she started loving Stephanie?
The thought was put on hold as her biotics began to quiver, Stephanie was so emotionally unstable right now she was flaring. An unstable biotic was highly dangerous. It pushed her into action as two things were made clear to her, she actually did care deeply for Stephanie and right now Stephanie was broken and needed her.
Shepard shivered at the cool breeze that indicated someone had opened the door to the cubicle. She could feel that, that someone was Miranda. "You know we agreed that if you came in on me in the bathroom again you'd abide by the same dress code." Her voice cracked a little with all the emotions that were ripping through her.
Miranda paused as that memory played through her mind and she smiled, "Another time perhaps." Seeing that the water was running clear over Shepard's body, her gorgeous, tightly clenched body that was surrounded by a stormy mist of purple biotics, she picked up the towel and turned off the water.
Shepard bit her lip and clenched her eyes shut when she felt the towel wrap around her, Miranda's arms encircling her, the woman she loved gently pressed against her back.
The scent of Shepard, somehow still a little metallic and heavily laden with the ozone of her biotics, filled Miranda's senses as much as her aching emotional state did. Her own biotics couldn't help but respond to touching Shepard's and it took her breath away as the energy crackled between them. There were flashes sweeping through her mind of pressing up against Stephanie and kissing her somewhere... it looked like the lab when they were doing the testing. She gasped at the memories of them using their biotics in tandem, the way it had felt, how Stephanie had felt, the power they shared, the intensity of their proximity, the overwhelming desire to pin Stephanie to the wall when they'd been kissing but had been rudely interrupted.
Shepard moaned at the merging of their biotics as Miranda's reached into hers. It was incredible, a caress so intimate it made her tremble. Yet she managed to still at what she could feel coming from Miranda, at first it was a strange mix of feelings but it was becoming increasingly passionate and set her heart racing.
Slowly Miranda pulled back a little and turned Stephanie by the shoulders. Stephanie was feeling so hot right now, like molten lava bursting from a volcano, she could just about smell the fire within her. In her mind's eye she could almost imagine her hands burning at the touch of Shepard but for some reason she didn't.
Shepard looked up at Miranda, trying valiantly to mute her pain, but it was so hard looking up into those cobalt blue eyes that were... so alive and captivating right now. She felt so utterly vulnerable not only under their piercing gaze but at how Miranda's biotics were sinking into her, syncing with hers. Her touch was cooling her, containing her and she willingly complied.
Miranda drank in the sight of the Stephanie's glistening face tilted to look up at her, the scars on her cheek had become an angry red from earlier and stood out starkly against her lightly tanned skin. Almost absently she reached up and ran her fingertips over them, "You've aggravated your scars." she murmured.
Shepard's heart was beating faster now, her eyes a little wider at the comment then she frowned and turned away, biting her lip from saying anything. She knew full well what Miranda thought about scars and pulled the towel around her tighter.
Miranda frowned at the pain that comment caused. Gently she tucked Stephanie's wet hair behind her ear and leaned in to lightly brush her lips over the scars, running her fingertips through the dripping wet hair that was so much darker than the normal chocolate she was used to seeing.
Shepard was quivering, taking a sharp breath at the ghost of a kiss, she closed her eyes as Miranda took that as encouragement and pressed closer. She almost dropped the towel in surprise as she felt a hot, soft tongue slowly begin to trace the jagged tears in her face. Heated shocks of desire sparked through her and her knees suddenly felt like jelly.
A pain filled voice was suddenly yelling at Miranda in her mind,
"They where my life's story etched into my flesh, they were reminders of what I've sacrificed, what I've lost, what I've given in the line of duty and to protect others. They were a part of who I am, of my self-identity, of what makes me, me. And you opted to remove them. Why didn't you just give me blue eyes or blonde hair or tanned skin or a fucking nose job? Because you were ordered to bring me back as me! EXACTLY as I was! These where my LIFE, my life you just erased to make me look pretty."
The memory was vivid and so real she found it hard to distinguish reality from her memory.
"Stephanie, I'm so sorry, I had no idea they were so important to you." She whispered, her lips barely straying from the scarred cheek.
Shepard took a deep, shaky breath. It was almost exactly what Miranda had said the day she'd discovered Miranda had removed her scars. Only this time she'd used her first name, Miranda had only begun using that recently and in intimate situations when she was wanting to be personal and not professional.
Miranda had entered into Stephanie's personal space with the intent of helping her through the heartache she was feeling and to calm the biotic flaring, but now, in close proximity with the woman, her memories seemed to be surging forward, at least memories that involved Stephanie Shepard. Not wanting to relinquish that she turned Stephanie's face, tilted her chin back and kissed her lips hungrily, a touch of desperation edging through both her emotions and her body.
Shepard could feel it, could feel all of it including the snippets of memory being restored and she moaned, reaching up to pull Miranda closer, forgetting about the towel and barely aware of it falling to the ground as Miranda was pushing her back against the cold tiles. She'd vowed she'd do whatever it took to help Miranda and if kissing her until each and every memory had been restored was what it took she was not going to complain!
Miranda sensed her willingness and for a moment remembered what her original intent had been and felt a touch guilty that it had turned to this... until Stephanie's hands began to roam over her body and the woman in her embrace seemed to open up to her in a way she'd never imagined possible. The physical world seemed to melt away as she felt Stephanie reaching out to her not on a physical level but something so much deeper. Whatever this was, it was emotional yes but intermingled with sensations, cutting pain was soothed by tender warmth, flashes of memories flowed through their minds in a tumultuous exchange where she couldn't tell what belonged to whom. It was all she could do just to feel and she found herself swept up in it.
XXX
Garrus was ready and waiting for local law enforcement but was pleased to see the ground crew from the Normandy arrive first.
"What's going on Garrus? EDI said to get here ASAP." Jacob looked to the turian for an explanation, wondering why the turian was waiting in the hallway.
"Miranda was attacked," Garrus began but was cut off.
Jack scoffed, "The Cheerleader break a nail? I don't have time for this shit."
"same group who got to her on Lazarus." Garrus continued, ignoring the human female, he still didn't understand why she was on the mission. Sure she was a powerful biotic, but so were Shepard and Miranda and they were getting a Justicar if all went to plan.
Jacob drew in a sharp breath, "They get to her?"
Garrus nodded, "From what we could tell they did something to erase the last five weeks of her memory." His voice was grave but there was also a sense of hesitancy, what was he supposed to tell them? Should he let them in? What would they think of Shepard if they saw what she'd done?
"Shit." Jacob exhaled, scratching his cheek as he thought that through, "So she'd still think we're supposed to be on Lazarus and Shepard's still out."
Garrus nodded, "She was... surprised, to say the least."
"Oh Shep's not gonna be happy." Kasumi commented, her stealth net flickering a little. Of course her first thoughts were of the last few days where Shep and Miranda's relationship had taken a turn for the more romantic rather than being at each others throats in the hostile sense.
"She's not, she's really not." Garrus muttered and shifted uncomfortably.
"Huh, bet she's hunting down the bastards right now right." Massani grinned, about to call in with the fiery hellcat he knew would be on a warpath right now.
"No need. She... dealt with them already, at least the ones here." Now he was getting really uncomfortable and tried to clear the rasp in his throat.
Kasumi tilted her head a little as she looked up at the shifty turian, "What'd she do?"
"And why are you out here and not in there Turian?" Grunt growled, jutting his jaw towards the door where Shepard was clearly located.
Now Garrus took a deep breath, "Illium police are on their way and they can't see what's in there. Shepard and Miranda are cleaning up before they call in a Cerberus team to handle the mess Shepard left. As for what she did... let's say I now understand why they call her the Butcher." He straightened and his mandibles clicked, "We'll need people on all the entrances to make sure the police don't get in."
"They call Super Bitch the Butcher?... Wait as in the Butcher of Torfan? That's Shepard?" Jack's eyes lit up at the prospect, she hadn't made that connection, "I gotta see this!" She chuckled and pushed passed Jacob to go through the door.
Garrus sighed as Grunt lumbered after the eager human female but the other three made no move to follow just yet.
Massani had an idea of what to expect, he'd seen the Butcher in action before, real action, not the tame shit she'd kept herself restrained to on Omega because of her broken hand. That was the reason he followed her, he knew damn well not to piss her off and that wherever she went would get the most action... that and he wanted her with him when he confronted Santiago.
Jacob and Kasumi just weren't all that eager to see for themselves what had Garrus so on edge.
"This and the emergency stairwell are the only entrances to the affected area, unless they decide to go through the windows or something, but I doubt it'll come to that." Garrus looked to the humans to see what they'd decide to do.
"It'd be best if at least one of us stays with you." Jacob nodded, security detail he was certainly familiar with having spent the last two years doing it on Lazarus.
"I'll grab the squints and take the stairs, give those lightweights a surprise if they try to slip in the back." Massani smirked and moved out to round up the psychotic nut-job and baby krogan.
"How- how's Shep really doing?" Kasumi asked softly now it was just the three of them.
"Bad. I've never seen her so... angry. By the spirits if she had the power to bring the one who damaged Miranda's mind back to life she'd do so just to rip him apart again and again." He shook his head, he had already decided he wouldn't mention anything about her real name. "I believe she's in a state of shock, both of them are. It'll take Shepard awhile to wash off all the blood I think."
"I'd better go check up on them I think." Kasumi took a deep breath before she too slipped away leaving just Jacob and Garrus to guard the door.
XXX
Jack and Grunt looked around at the carnage, both of them grinning like kids in a candy store.
"Sweet! I had no idea she had this in her!" Jack laughed, kicking over the mangled wreck of a body a little too gleefully.
Grunt took it all in, "I smell rage and fear." His deep gravelly voice seemed to boom in the silence of the destruction around them.
Jack laughed, "Bet they were pissing themselves. Check this guy out! Looks like she punched clean through his chest!"
"Shepard is strong from a human." Grunt nodded in approval, he already know this from how easily she had defeated him when he'd first challenged her.
"Pfft she ain't the only strong human you overgrown lizard." Jack flared her biotics and glared at him fiercely.
"You're all noise and no bite. Without your biotics you're as weak as the rest of your kind." Grunt challenged her.
"Knock it off you two." Massani barked at them, on his way to the fire escape. "You're with me, making sure no damn police idiots get in here."
"We get to scare off cops? I'm so fucking in!" Jack smiled maliciously at the very thought of it, she'd have it out with Grunt later, she wasn't fussy.
Grunt lumbered after the two humans with one last look at the broken and twisted bodies Shepard had left behind. She was a worthy battlemaster.
XXX
Miranda tensed as she felt something dark and menacing at the peripheral edges of Stephanie's mind.
Shepard felt Miranda's response and realized what she was tensing at with a gasp. Pushing Miranda back from her and holding her head with a groan she turned away from the surprised and stunned woman to try and shield her mind from tainting Miranda's.
"Stephanie?" Miranda voiced softly, reaching out to put her hand on Shepard's shoulder.
Shepard shrugged her off, "Don't, please don't. I can't... I can't taint you to." She whispered trying desperately to rein in the beast inside her.
Miranda frowned, she could feel all her progress at calming Shepard unravelling quickly. Words, thoughts and emotions that had been rolling through Shepard came to her. The feral darkness that had taken over Shepard's mind and caused her violence had been triggered. If it was triggered then it was a conditioned response. If it was a conditioned response then someone had programmed her mind with it. Making a quick decision she took Shepard firmly by the shoulders and shoved her against the tiles, "You stop right there Shepard!"
Shepard looked up at her in surprise at the forcefulness in Miranda's being as Miranda pushed herself back into her mind.
"Don't you get it? This thing inside you isn't you being tainted. You've been conditioned, it's not something that can be transferred or can taint others."
"It's dangerous and I can't always control it!"
"That's been made quite evident." Miranda continued to pin Shepard to the wall, a fiercely determined expression and will coursing through her.
Shepard winced at the harsh tone that she couldn't argue with. She turned her face away, eyes closed, face down in shame.
Miranda hissed and grabbed Shepard's jaw forcing her to look up again, "Shepard stop and think."
Shepard's looked up at her quickly and her breath hitched in her throat as she felt completely at the mercy of Miranda right now, burning again, wet, naked, broken, vulnerable and confused.
"When do you remember losing control?" Miranda demanded, expecting an answer promptly.
Shepard swallowed, "When EDI said you were in danger."
Miranda had expected that, "You said that I'm your calm, your centre. You only lost control when I was threatened, what does that tell you?"
Shepard took a deep breath and bit her lip, Miranda right now felt cool and unyielding, like solid earth containing her explosive lava and cooling her down. Miranda was so strong and was imposing that strength on her right now, commanding her thoughts to flow in the direction she demanded when Shepard herself felt so lost and out of control. Shepard closed her eyes and exhaled slowly before she whispered her response into Miranda's mind, 'That even the beast knows I'd be lost without you.'
Miranda was actually startled by that response but she'd work with it, her mind ticking over quickly, "Exactly, so do you think it'd harm me?"
Shepard's eyes flew open in surprise and shock at the simple statement that had such a profound meaning to her. "No." Her response was barely more than a whisper as her mind was trying to wrap itself around the concept Miranda was trying to get her to understand.
Now Miranda smiled, her expression and being softening, "So get it out of your thick head that you need to protect me, Stephanie." she released her hold on Shepard's jaw and tapped the side of her head with a smirk.
Shepard found herself relaxing into Miranda's cool strength and smiled, "Thick head huh? I guess you'd know, you had to put it back together after all."
"And I do damn good work." Miranda leaned down again.
"Hmmm that you do." Shepard murmured before those lips were upon hers again in a soft caress, the fear from moments ago melting away at Miranda's words and touch.
Miranda might not have been able to remember everything but this, Stephanie, felt so right. It had been so long since she'd ever let herself feel like this... not since Persephone.
They both groaned when they heard the door open.
"Hey Shep, you in here?" Kasumi's usually perky voice was somewhat subdued.
Miranda turned her head slightly to kiss along Shepard's cheek so she could answer.
"Yeah, hey can you chuck me a towel from the dispenser, mine fell into the water." Shepard sighed, her cheeks flushing as Miranda's hand slid down her side then up to cup her breast which sent a heated wave of desire through her. She could feel Miranda smiling into her neck as she kissed her way down to her pulse point and lingered there.
"Sure thing Shep." Kasumi wasn't sure if she was relieved to have found Shepard after seeing what she'd done to those people outside but she sounded okay, tired but okay. She silently moved over to the dispenser and less than a minute later a fresh white towel was hung over the door of the cubicle Shepard was in. "Garrus gave us a little run down on what happened, are you... alright?"
Shepard smiled as Miranda pulled back, her knees felt a little weak, especially with that smouldering look in Miranda's eyes that promised more later. "I'm okay now."
Miranda winked and reached for the towel.
Shepard made no move to argue when Miranda began to dry her off.
"And Miranda? I haven't seen her yet. Garrus said she's lost some of her memory." Kasumi sat herself on the sink counter, leaning back against the mirror and happy to just wait there for the time being.
Shepard reached up and touched Miranda's cheek, 'You want to answer or shall I?'
Miranda kissed her hand, "I'm fine Miss Goto, my memories are returning so no permanent damage as far as I can tell."
Kasumi's looked at the cubicles, that sounded suspiciously like Miranda was in the same cubicle as Shep... she tilted her head slightly to listen more attentively, "Ah, that's good..." Was that a gasp? "Wait a minute... am I interrupting something...?"
Shepard and Miranda exchanged a humorous glance, "Well she only started getting really frisky when you came in."
Miranda hit Shepard on the arm with a small pout and Shepard laughed.
"In that case you want me to stay or give you two lovebirds some space?" Kasumi couldn't help but grin, her romantic side winning out over the wary concern she had of Shepard.
"We've got other things to be doing anyway. I'll leave you to handle local law enforcement while I contact the Illusive Man. Keep it vague like you did Binary Helix." Miranda suggested to Shepard, she'd been impressed with how tight lipped Shepard had been when reporters had tried to get the newly commissioned SPECTRE to reveal details about the 'accident' that had happened in Binary Helix's labs on Noveria.
Shepard put on the mock stern face, "SPECTRE investigation, no comment, got it ma'am."
Miranda stole a quick kiss before putting the towel over Shepard's head and tousling her hair.
"Hey what!" Shepard's muffled complaint sounded as she only half-heartedly tried to free herself.
"Make it quick, local law enforcement will be here shortly if they're not already." Miranda smirked and slipped out of the cubicle to a grinning Kasumi waiting outside. Miranda nodded curtly, checked her appearance, a little damp but nothing overly noticeable, then strode out confidently.
Shepard emerged not long after, her hair mussed up which looked a little adorable with her in her armour. It was a good thing her armour was black as the blood didn't stand out so much on it.
Kasumi chuckled, right now Shep did not look like a monstrous killer and it put her at ease.
Shepard huffed and ran her fingers through her hair to try and give it a semblance of order. "Gah, do you have a hair tie or something?" she grumbled.
Kasumi grinned and held a simple black band out to the disgruntled marine, "So, you and Miranda?"
"That's a yes, definitely a yes." Shepard smirked, her eyes twinkling for a moment before she became serious again, "Only took me losing control of my senses and massacring a bunch of idiots who thought they could get away with messing up her brain."
"Uh, yeah, about that... that was a little... uh extreme don't you think?" Kasumi asked nervously.
Shepard took a deep breath, "Miranda isn't the only one who had her brain messed with. I can keep it under control most of the time, unless... unless Miranda's threatened. Then you want to get as far away from me as you can. She's the only..." she closed her eyes and lowered her face, "the only one I'll respond to. She's my centre, what holds me together and keeps me human when so much of my mind is no longer my own."
Kasumi's eyes widened, that was something she'd never anticipated hearing, "So what is it you have to keep under control?"
"The best way I can describe it is that there's a beast inside me I keep locked away. It surfaces when I'm faced with extreme injustice against innocent people but until today there was only once I'd lost control of it."
"Torfan?"
"No, I was fourteen. Miranda was attacked, I saw red but by the time I got there she was safe because of her father's security forces so I didn't hurt anyone. I was still in control on Torfan, and on Omega, but with things that have been happening, the biotic testing, losing myself to the Prothean Cipher the other day, my control has been pushed to the max. So today... today when that fucking scent hit me it triggered the beast and I couldn't fight it, not until I heard Miranda's voice. Then when EDI told me she was attacked..." Shepard didn't need to finish her sentence.
Kasumi reached over and put her hand on Shepard's shoulder, "Sounds to me like this is something you've been struggling with for a long time."
Shepard nodded and looked up at the thief who was still sitting on the counter, "We'll talk about it more later. I'm sure there's going to be a lot of questions and right now I've got to handle this mess as best I can."
Kasumi nodded and gave her a light pat, "Sure thing Shep, I got ya back."
Shepard gave a small smile, "Thanks Kasumi."
With that Shepard left the bathroom putting on her confident bravado and trademark swagger, concentrating her thoughts on remaining calm and in control thanks to Miranda.
Kasumi vanished from sight as she activated her stealth net and followed Shep who clearly had a whole lot more to deal with than she'd ever imagined.
XXX
Shepard strode out into the lobby where Garrus and Jacob were fending off a dozen officers and things were getting... heated.
"Commander Shepard is dead, now weapons down and on the ground now!" A very pissed off Asari officer shouted at Garrus who was being obstinate and refusing to back down.
"I beg to differ officer." Shepard's voice cut across all others and she sounded icy cold.
"And who do you think you are? Another one of Commander Shepard's lackeys?" the officer sneered.
At that Shepard flared her biotics powerfully, "I AM Shepard, and it's SPECTRE in case you missed the newsflash." Even her voice boomed, waves of dark energy pouring from her, flashing with the anger of her words.
There was no small amount of swearing from the officers, asari and turian alike, as they looked upon the enraged and powerful biotic who looked a damn lot like the supposedly dead Commander Shepard.
"Check the Council's records, you'll see that I'm very much alive and very much still a SPECTRE." She snapped at the scowling officer who had yet to lower her weapon. "Now this is a SPECTRE investigation and does not concern your people at this point in time. If I decide your presence is necessary I'll call." She reigned in her biotic energy now.
The officer considered her, "We had calls of screams and gunfire."
Shepard scoffed, "Of course you did, it's me, nothing I do happens without screams and gunfire. I'm damn surprised nothing actually blew up." She looked to Garrus, "Nothing blew up did it Garrus?"
Garrus chuckled, "Other than your temper? No, but it's still early in the day, anything could happen." He shrugged and glanced back at the officer.
"Glad you think this situation is amusing, SPECTRE. I'm Detective Khali, I'll need a scan to verify your identification." She lowered her weapon now and activated her omni-tool.
Shepard took off her glove, though that wasn't usually required she didn't want the scan to pick up the numerous genetic markers her armour would be covered in from all the blood of her victims. She waved her hand over the omni-tool.
After a moment the results came back and Khali's eyes widened as it confirmed that this human woman was indeed the Commander Shepard. "You have my apologies, Commander."
"SPECTRE." She corrected, pulling her glove back on, antagonizing local law enforcement was not the way to go about moving freely with as little scrutiny as possible but right now she had to establish that she had the authority here.
"So what can you tell me about what happened here SPECTRE?" Khali was a little brusque in her delivery but SPECTRE's always gave her a headache, especially the famous ones.
"What happened is part of an ongoing investigation that's classified." Shepard had a pretty damn good poker face and right now was putting it to good use.
Khali's eyes narrowed, "Should we be expecting any more bullets?"
"Well nothing's blown up yet, usually does when I'm around."
"Like I said, the day's still young Shepard." Garrus shot her a turian version of a grin with a hint of mirth in his tone.
Shepard shot him a mock scathing glare, "Don't push it Vakarian, or we'll be sparring later."
Garrus just smirked and remained silent.
Khali was distracted for a moment by a communication and she glared at Shepard, "Do you have people on the stairs?"
Shepard glanced at Garrus.
"Massani, Jack and Grunt." He nodded.
Shepard groaned, "Seriously? The shoot now, shoot later and maybe add a little head crushing for the fun of it bunch? And you seriously didn't expect trouble?" She tapped her communicator, "Jack, Grunt put them down! You break them you bought them."
"Aw Butch you're no fun! How come you got to..." Jack began to whine.
Shepard's eyes went red, "Call me that again and I'll fucking rip your heart out then have Lawson bring you back so I can kick your scrawny inked arse out an airlock. Now stand down or I'll give you a personal demonstration of what I can do." She snarled furiously.
Jack swallowed and immediately reigned in her biotics, releasing a turian officer, "Shutting the fuck up now."
"Good decision. Grunt?"
"No skull crushing today, understood Shepard." His deep voice rumbled in acknowledgement, he hadn't bothered to do more than growl at the puny officers who'd backed away from him rather promptly.
"Massani, keep'em in line or I'm taking it out on your old, wrinkly arse." Shepard warned him firmly and with pissed off authority.
Massani chuckled, "Roger that ma'am. Glad you're feelin' better."
"Stow it Massani." Shepard huffed and ended the communication, "I do recommend pulling your people out, Detective, they're not required and my squad is used to working out in the Terminus."
"Keep them in line SPECTRE and we won't have a problem. I'll be leaving some officers to keep an eye on things and sort out the mess you left of the floors around this one." Khali growled then stalked away, gesturing to her people in frustrated movements.
"Well that could've gone worse." Garrus shrugged, looking to Shepard and taking her in. She was still a little pale but that was probably to be expected after having bathed in blood. He could smell it still covering her armour, the heavy metallic scent of blood and gore that she'd been able to wash off her person but it would take work to wash it off her armour.
"Yeah. I'm guessing a cleanup crew from the Illusive Man will be here shortly, Jacob check their credentials to make sure it isn't Khali's people trying to worm their way in. I'm going to get Miranda back to the ship and out of harms way for now. Good news is she's starting to recover memories, bad news... hell," she rubbed the back of her neck, "we're gonna have to treat any Cerberus personnel we can't personally vouch for with suspicion. Whoever these people are, they've compromised Cerberus." she kept her voice soft so only the two men either side of her could hear her.
Jacob took a deep breath, that was big, huge, the Illusive Man was not going to like this at all. It did, however, assure him that it wasn't his fault they'd gotten to Miranda on Lazarus, that had been eating him up more than a little since finding out what was going on.
Shepard left them to remain on guard and went to find Miranda, she'd be speaking with the Illusive Man and would probably appreciate some back up because it wasn't going to be pretty.
Well got some interesting reviews on the last chapter! He he he. I've stored away the sumo suit until the next time I throw you all a curve ball that has you up in arms! Did I make up for it a little in this one? ;)
Don't forget to check out my tumblr! (bringerofdestruction. tumblr. com) You'll find some new dossiers up! Oh and post questions on it! You might be surprised who answers! XD
Thank you to everyone who's been reviewing all my stories. It's great encouragement and spurs on my muse for more! So please continue to review! Takes only a minute and I really appreciate it!