CHAPTER 38: CLOSE TO HEART

INT. NORMANDY – MIRANDA'S OFFICE – EARLY AFTERNOON

Orianna stands with folded arms as she watches Miranda's cold stare towards the data pad lying on the table in front of her. "Isn't this good news?"

Miranda breaks free from the thoughts holding her mind captive. "Thanks, Orianna. I can handle it from here." Miranda scoops up the data pad once again.

"And I was starting to feel a bit more useful around here." Orianna sighs.

The last thing Miranda wanted to do was to make Orianna feel unwelcomed or ungrateful for the assistance. Miranda was grateful. Orianna provided an unbiased opinion on the data collected from her father's research facility. Miranda just didn't like the implications of what the data suggested about her own conditions or the lengths she had to go through to get the same desired results. Her father seemed to have all the answers. All of the research on her condition at his fingertips, as she had long suspected. He'd never would have given her the data. Their 'father/daughter' relationship was non-existent. So much bitter and hate for each other. Nothing in the world would repair the damage done. In the end, Miranda did it her way and on her own terms with Mordin's help of course. Success or failure. It was all hers.

EDI's voice interrupts Miranda's thoughts. "Ms. Lawson. Commander Shepard has returned to the ship."

"Wonderful. Thank you, EDI." Miranda stands up handing the data pad to Orianna with a faint smile. "Let me know if you discover anything else, Ori."

Orianna face lightens up exchanging a wide smile of her own.

"Well, Shepard is in for a bit of a surprise." Miranda responds heading towards the front of her office.

Sitting down on the comfortable sofa, near the window, Orianna glances at her sister with an amused smirk.

It didn't take long for Shepard to reach Miranda's office. Miranda knew Shepard would be expecting a detailed mission briefing when he returned from Earth. In that brief moment, she caught herself eagerly anticipating his arrival. She chuckles finding the whole thing rather silly. She needed to be preoccupied with her work, like always. Too late. Miranda pretends to be looking for a particular book amongst her collection. Even that was too obvious.

Shepard strolls into her office with a brief smile on his face. "Miranda?"

Miranda slides the random book back into place.

"Everything okay?" Shepard inquires when Miranda barely glances at his arrival.

Miranda turns her head slightly. "Of course." Miranda hand's slip over the edge of her chair finally connecting her eyes with him. "Just surprised."

Shepard had her full attention. Making his way around the edge of Miranda's desk. "Waiting for me?" Shepard teases.

"I wasn't. Looking for something, actually."

"She was." Orianna teased.

Miranda laughed. "Obvious?"

"A little." Shepard step forward slipping his arms around her waist giving her comforting hug and peck on the cheek. Miranda couldn't help but express a large smile of her own.

Orianna had the perfect view. Watching her sister and Shepard greeting each other lovingly. Orianna was truly happy for her sister in finding someone. She couldn't say the same for herself. "I could go, if you both need to make out."

Miranda snorts. "No."

Shepard turns his head towards the back room glancing at Orianna for a brief moment.

Miranda stares downwards at the holographic terminal left unlocked with information readily available to anyone wanting access to her files. "How'd it go?" Miranda turns her direction back towards Shepard.

All sorts of phrases came across Shepard's mind but finding the right one proved difficult. Shepard steps away from hugging Miranda from behind. Standing next to the edge of Miranda's desk. "He's in capable hands."

Miranda blinks and faintly smiles at his response. "Ready to be a father?" Miranda lightly jests.

"Heh." Shepard scratches his left shoulder. "Ready, as I'll ever be."

Miranda laughs. "Really?"

"Yeah."

Miranda slips down into her chair finding his response fairly confident in its delivery.

Shepard smirks. "We can handle it."

Miranda chuckles lightly. "Let's hope you're right, Shepard. It has me thinking about where we'll be in a few months. Since we're on the run and all."

"What do you suggest?" Shepard couldn't help but wonder about it himself.

Miranda eyes turn again towards Shepard's. The room went silent. Gazing at each other and in a way knowing what each other was thinking or feeling. Trepidation of what will come was at the back of each other's mind.

"Find anything?" Shepard asks referring to task at hand.

"Quite a lot actually, thanks to Orianna's help."

"Orianna?" Shepard was a little surprised and wasn't entirely sure what Miranda meant.

"Yes. Within a few hours, we'll know just about everything there is to know about the place."

"You eat anything?" Shepard asks concerned with her well-being.

Miranda stops typing on her holographic terminal. "I could use a bite to eat." Miranda secures her terminal, stepping away from the terminal and walking out of her office with Shepard and into the mess hall.

INT. NORMANDY – MESS HALL – EARLY AFTERNOON

Shepard strolls up to the kitchen. "Thought we had the location set early this morning."

"We did. Orianna pointed out a place entirely different. A more promising lead."

"What'll it be, Ms. Lawson?"

Miranda folds her arms, faintly smiling at him looking through the frig'.

"I'm fine with whatever it is you're making." Miranda leans her butt against the kitchen sink watching Dr. Chakwas work at her station within the medical lab.

"I'm surprised you're involving Orianna." Shepard places the jar of mayo, a head of lettuce and a lonely red tomato down on the kitchen counter/island.

"Yes, well… I needed a break."

Shepard nods his head as he places two plates down on the kitchen's counter/island.

Miranda lets out a heavy sigh. "What's he like?" Changing the subject entirely.

"He's small." Shepard replies with the obvious. Smoothing over each bread with a butter knife full of mayo.

Miranda snorts. "Yes. They are." Miranda continues watching Shepard pay more attention to slicing up the tomato into thin slices than looking back at her. What's he not telling me?

Shepard's turns his head back to Miranda as the room was getting awfully quiet. He saw Miranda staring at some unknown speck on the floor before her.

"He's full of energy for a little guy. Surprised the Normandy model is still in one piece. Tossing it around the place."

"All that time?" Miranda inquires.

"Not all. We ate lunch and played ball outside."

"Alone?" Miranda pressed further.

"No. Ashley was there."

Can only guess what the hell they talked about. Miranda couldn't help but feel protective of Shepard and the relationship they have with each other. Miranda was okay with Shepard meeting his son but him seeing Ashley and the latest stunt she pulled to bring him back to the Alliance, not so much.

"Not that I'm jealous or anything, what did you two talk about?"

Shepard layered the sandwich with several slices of tomatoes topping it off with some lettuce.

"Seems the Alliance has Ashley currently tasked with finding a rumored Cerberus cell stationed in Vancouver."

Miranda exasperated. "Why am I not surprised?"

Shepard turns handing her the plate containing the sandwich with a smirk. "Know anything?"

"Even if I did, I wouldn't be telling her or the Alliance for that matter." Miranda remarks taking the sandwich. Not amused by the comment as Shepard apparently was.

"Clearly someone ordered the hit on our shuttle." Shepard adds to clear his motive for asking.

"We all know who it was, Shepard. It was his attempt to scare me… inform me he knows my every move and can take me out at any time." Miranda proceeds towards the first table within the mess hall.

"He crossed the line, harming you. Your sister. I warned him. He needs to be stopped, Miranda."

"So, you've told me before." Miranda places the plate down on the table. "Not every working for Cerberus is evil, Shepard."

"I know that. You know that but the Alliance..."

Miranda interrupts. "Like I told you, Shepard. I'm not a fan of how the Alliance handles such matters. It's pointless to discuss it any further." Miranda sits down at the table. "Are you helping her?"

Shepard mildly jests sitting down next to her. "I'm sure they can find the dead Cerberus bodies and failed experiments on their own."

Miranda recalls several cell locations and rogue cells that went dark before and during her travels with Shepard. Not to mention, organizing task groups to go and retrieve rogue agents. "All with some purpose in mind. Initially, that is, until they went dark."

Shepard could see the frustrations cross over her facial expressions. He went too far. "Sorry." Shepard leans forward attempting to kiss her cheek.

Miranda eyes watch him, letting him. Miranda stares at her uneaten sandwich. It wasn't entirely what she wanted to eat. She certainly didn't feel like eating it now. Regardless, she goes ahead and takes a bite anyways. If not for her, for 'junior'.

Shepard having inhaled his sandwich leans back watching Miranda delicately tackle her sandwich. He could tell she wasn't enjoying it or taking much pleasure from eating it. Maybe it was the topic of conversation.

"I get it. You being that hard, unemotional, with unfaltering loyalty to Cerberus and to the Illusive man when we first met. But you've changed. I see that. It's difficult allowing some of that vulnerability to come through… chipping away your cool exterior, softening up a bit."

"I certainly have you and Orianna to thank for that." Miranda leans back, sighing.

"It's not a bad thing, Miranda." Shepard places his hand briefly on her right shoulder rubbing his thumb against her outfit.

"I know." Focusing her attention back towards him. "Being the Illusive man's second-in-command gave me an identity, a purpose. It's where I thought I belonged at the time. I was fine with the Illusive Man's less than admirable traits and methods to achieve his goals."

Shepard took note of the phrasing 'his goals'. Not 'our goals' as Miranda has said in earlier conversations when they first started working together.

"A slippery bastard and an even more skilled manipulator. Full of promises and vision. Everything we did was necessary and served a purpose. A means to an end. I just can't be a part of that anymore. Not from what we experienced firsthand on the Collector ship and his intentions with exploiting it. His goals are not the same I want for humanity. I'm seeing a lot of things differently now. Some regrets over what I've done in my past. I want to make things right. For Orianna and junior."

"Like what?" Shepard was in awe with Miranda openly stating what's on her mind.

Miranda faintly smiles looking at him hanging on to her every word. "You can't expect me to openly express them here, Shepard. Some place more private. Alone."

Shepard smiles at the thought. "I know the perfect place."

"Until then, we need to end this… finish this current mission. It's bothering me more than I should even let it." Miranda stands up taking the empty plate to the kitchen sink.

Shepard follows behind adding his own plate into the sink. "Miranda. You can tell me anything. I trust you and I won't betray your trust in me."

Miranda stares down at the floor thinking.

Shepard steps closer, touching her arm, tilting his head slightly. "You know I care about you, Miranda."

"Thanks, Shepard. I appreciate it." Miranda touches his upper arm walking past him.

Shepard watches Miranda walk away and around the corner towards the elevator. Shepard scratching the back of his head. "That went well."

INT. NORMANDY – MIRANDA'S OFFICE – AFTERNOON

In the back of Miranda's office, Orianna continues to lounges around on the sofa next to the window. Commander Shepard approaches standing just at the entrance to the back room.

He watches Orianna swipes and taps through the files of information she was given access to. "You busy?"

Orianna begins to smile briefly up at Commander Shepard scruffy looking facial hair and not so bald head.

"I'll take that as a no." Shepard steps further inside the room taking the first available seat next to her. "Fill me in on what you found for Miranda."

Orianna leans forward peeking into the main part of Miranda's office looking for her. "Didn't she tell you?"

"We didn't get chance." Shepard replies leaning forward with one hand resting on his leg.

Orianna taps on the data pad bringing up the information. The same information Miranda had read prior to Shepard's arrival. "She seemed pretty icy about the discovery."

Shepard took the data pad Orianna offered. "Should've known." Shepard finally putting the pieces together. "Thanks."

Orianna takes back the data pad as Shepard leaves the room.

INT. NORMANDY – ARMORY – AFTERNOON

Jacob Taylor. Busy checking out the guns left out on the tables within the Armory when Miranda walks through the open door. Jacob could tell Miranda was preoccupied with something on her mind by the way she walks and carries herself.

"Miranda?" Jacob raises his eyebrows up at Miranda's approach.

"I'll need your help on a mission." Miranda's hand rests on the side of her hip.

Jacob places the gun back down on the table. "You got it. What's the plan?"

"I'll need you to back me up while we infiltrate a building down on Earth."

"I'll always have your back, Miranda." Jacob gives off a comforting smile.

"Thanks, Jacob. Come on. We'll use the debriefing room."

INT. NORMANDY – DEBRIEFING ROOM – AFTERNOON

Miranda and Jacob head into the debriefing standing opposite of each other across the debriefing room table. Miranda taps on her omni-tool. "EDI bring up an Ariel view of HeliXon from Earth, Vancouver to be precise."

"Searching. One moment." EDI responds.

Miranda folds her arms waiting. Letting out a heavy sigh as she stares off into space.

Jacob notes her distant behavior. "Everything good with you and Shepard?"

Miranda glances across the room with a tired expression in her eyes. "We're fine."

Jacob folds his arms nodding his head with a faint smile on his face. "Quite a twist of events lately."

"I suppose you've heard about it." Miranda sighs wondering what the heck is taking EDI so long. It was a simple request.

"The Alliance wanting to arrest Shepard and us? Yeah, I know. I was there."

"Hah! Yeah. What else is new?" Miranda snorts. Perhaps Jacob hadn't heard about Shepard fathering another child. Surprisingly, given his sexual relationship with the biggest gossiper on the Normandy.

Jacob releases his arms. "I meant, you and Shepard. Getting hitched. Expecting. Never thought that would happen to you of all people."

Miranda chuckles. "Stranger things have happened."

"I'll say."

"Any news trends on Cerberus operations?" Miranda asks calmly.

Jacob shakes his head no. "Not a thing."

"Strange. Not like him. He's up to something. Keep me posted." Miranda says still folding her arms waiting. "EDI?" Miranda asks impatiently.

"Found a match." An Ariel view of HeliXon appears before them.

The door to the debriefing room opens with Shepard passing through it. "What've you uncovered about the place?"

"Take a look." Jacob replies.

Shepard faintly exchanges smiles with Miranda as he stands next to her.

"The entire lot seems to be surrounded with densely populated trees, Shepard." Jacob adds.

"I see that."

Miranda comments. "Not a lot of cover to be had. A select number of decorative trees outlining the areas between the edges of the four buildings of which have varying sizes and shapes. The largest building resembles a backwards J-shaped building with a large parking lot appearing on the left side of the lot."

"Why is that building important?"

"It's probably where they're keeping the baby."

Shepard nods in agreement with Miranda's hypothesis. "Okay."

Jacob, Miranda and Shepard continue to look over the Ariel view of the remaining buildings.

A medium sized building in the shape of an "L" on the left with limited parking space surrounding it. A smaller building resides in uppermost center of the lot with a large parking lot in back with green lawn in front, near the parkway entrance. A smaller squared building sits on a slopped incline located on the right hand side of the lot with its own surrounding parking area.

"Each building carries the same overall design with limited amount of windows and two floors with a red brick facade. However, the larger building seen here…" Miranda points at the larger J like building. "Has three floors unlike the others."

"Thermal scan indicate several layers beneath the surface, Ms. Lawson." EDI interjects.

"This confirms Ms. Perrigo's story and the lack of view from her cell."

Miranda nods her head in agreement with Shepard's comment. "Finally, some good news."

Shepard thinks the mission through with his left hand over his chin and mouth area.

"Infiltrating the building won't be easy." Jacob adds to the discussion.

"Night fall is our best advantage in infiltrating the research facility unseen. We'll focus in on infiltrating the largest of the four buildings."

"I agree." Miranda adds. "EDI. Do you detect any hidden security cameras on the premises?"

Shepard folds his arms.

"Yes. Several. The largest building has seven security cameras. One on every edge and angle of the building. Easily taken care with a jamming frequency."

"I'm sure we'll have similar issues once we gain access inside the facility as well. I suggest we bring Kasumi along on this mission, Shepard."

"Noted." Shepard nods in agreement with Miranda's assessment.

"We'll fly the shuttle near this plot of land closest to the "J" building." Miranda points out. "Kasumi will disable the security cameras and systems before we enter through the front doors here."

Shepard nods.

"Hopefully, we won't run into too much resistance while we lock it down and search the facility."

"Seems doable." Jacob shrugs his shoulders.

"I'm sure my father employed a heavy security force. So, we'll have to be quick about it."

"Agreed. EDI, you mentioned thermal scans."

"I did, Shepard."

"How many sub-levels are we talking about here?"

"Seven."

"Seven?" Jacob was just as surprised as Shepard and Miranda.

"This is going to take a while to narrow down." Miranda shakes her head no.

Shepard releases his arms. "Not if we have a heads up on what's actually down there, Miranda. EDI, construct a 3-D model of the building's floor plan."

"Very well, Shepard." EDI complies. Blue thin lines begin to construct the blueprint of the building's layers one level at a time.

Shepard waits patiently for EDI to finish.

"We can rule out the first three levels. They're nothing but office labs." Miranda places her hand on her hip.

"Is that what I think it is?" Jacob asks placing his hands on the debriefing room table for a closer look.

"Quite an extensive floor plan not adhering to the 'j' format as we've seen above the surface."

"More labs of some kind?" Jacob asks.

"Yeah. Large enough to house a delivery and recovery room from the looks of it. Not to mention the elevator descending further. This level is probably where she gave birth."

"I am unable to construct the remaining floor plans below." EDI states.

"But you said there were seven…" Miranda gripes.

"Correct, Ms. Lawson. Something is interfering with the scans to penetrate further."

"Damn it." Miranda folds her arms with an unmovable stare at the building's floor plans.

"This is more than we had a moment ago." Jacob adds.

Miranda shakes her head.

"Okay. Gear up and be ready to infiltrate at nightfall."

Jacob nods in agreement heading for the debriefing room doors. "I'll inform Kasumi."

"We'll meet you both back here in two hours to finalize the plan."

Jacob nods as he leaves the debriefing room.

Miranda releases her arms and starts to tap on her data pad lying on the debriefing room table. She could only speculate what the three remaining levels would entail but she had a pretty good idea what they were.

"That just leaves us with a few undiscovered levels. Not bad." Shepard scratches the side of his cheek. "What'do you think is down there? More of those pods?" Shepard asks staring at Miranda continuing to tap on the data pad quite quickly.

"Probably, if not jail cells Ms. Perrigo had mentioned."

Shepard continues to analyze the floor plans one by one. "The flow of traffic between floors is aimed towards the elevators at the end of the hallways."

"Exactly." Miranda hits a button on the data pad that is quickly reflected on the floor plans. Blinking red lights are shown. "We have another problem to deal with. See these doors." Miranda points.

"Good catch." Shepard nods.

"Security checkpoints are set up between the main areas and access to the nearby elevator. We'll need to bypass them with a security algorithm or key card. Otherwise we're not getting through."

"Shouldn't be a problem. Right, EDI?" Shepard asks.

"Hardly, Shepard." EDI replies.

"We got this covered, Miranda." Shepard reassures her.

Miranda stares at Shepard for a long moment. "Right."

Shepard steps back slightly folding his arms watching Miranda tap on her data pad again. "How's Junior doing?"

Miranda's fingers make a full stop as she stares at the data pad. "He's probably fine." She glances at Shepard for a brief moment before resuming her continued analysis of the data.

"When's the next check-up doc?" Shepard smirks.

Miranda faintly smiles. Miranda's gestures, sifting through the data chunks of information. "In a bit." Miranda keeps working.

"We have time."

"Not really, this is more pressing Shepard."

"Let me guess, you peeked at him without me?" Shepard lightly teases.

Miranda continues tapping on the tablet. "Not recently." Miranda glance at Shepard. "He's in capable hands."

"Yeah, he is." Shepard slips his arms around her from behind.

Miranda chuckles trying to concentrate with Shepard's warm hands roaming her abdomen. Leaning his head next to hers.

INT. EARTH – VANCOUVER - HELIXON – EVENING

Everything was going smoothly and according to plan. Infiltrating the facility at night was their best option along with Kasumi's expertise in disabling the security cameras outside as well as inside the facility thus giving them an advantage of going in unseen. Gaining access to the security checkpoints was easier than Miranda initially suspected. The research staff were more than cooperative with handing over their security cards with the help of guns being pointed at them with hostile commands.

One would think a security detail would be walking the halls but so far, none were apparent on the first level. Once inside the elevator, Miranda, Shepard and Kasumi encountered the same security setup as the other facility had employed. A key card and security code were easily bypassed.

Garrus and Jacob made sure the researchers on the first three levels were secure and couldn't call for back-up or alert the local authorities meaning the Alliance.

The elevator stops one level below the main lobby. Miranda, Shepard and Kasumi proceed slowly with guns raised down the long white walled corridor with glossy white shiny floors and yellow recessed lighting. Much like the interior of the prior research facility they recently infiltrated some time ago.

"More labs?" Shepard asks peeking through the thin layer of glass on either side of the solid pine doors.

"Yeah." Miranda responds keeping a keen eye on their surroundings. "Another security checkout up head."

"Make that two." Kasumi adds. "Is it me or was this guy paranoid with security leaks?"

"Explains the lack of guards." Shepard adds.

"Just another form of control." Miranda explained.

Once Kasumi successfully bypasses both security checkpoints they are lead to an upper galley room used to oversee operations taking place down below.

Miranda, Shepard and Kasumi enter the open door and lit room. Arriving at the large glass and viewing into the lower level, it appeared to have all that was required for a delivery room or operating room one would commonly find in a hospital fully stocked.

In that brief moment, Miranda experiences a flashback that ends just as fast as it came to the surface.

"Miranda?" Shepard touches her shoulder with his armored hand snapping her out of her vision.

"Come on." Miranda heads out of the room a bit dazed.

"Acts as if she saw a ghost or something?" Kasumi mentions to Shepard.

"We have a mission to complete."

Shepard and Kasumi both look at each other. Shepard shrugs.

They proceed slowly down a slopped hallway to the next security check point at the end of the hall.

"Give me a minute." Kasumi says typing on her omni tool cycling through the security algorithms.

"You okay?" Shepard ask showing some concern for Miranda's mental state.

"I'm fine." Miranda was anything but fine.

Shepard raises his eyebrows underneath his one eye-scope head piece.

"A faint memory of my time on the operating table. It's a bit hazy, really. I was probably drugged from whatever it was my father was doing to me at the time."

"Okay." The thought of that didn't sit well with Shepard. Nobody should have to endure such pain as she did from the hands of her father.

The security checkpoint unlocks with the clear glass door sliding open and into an enclosed area in the wall. "Ready?"

Shepard nods. Each of them head around the corner to find yet another elevator that will take them further down to the next level.

"I suspect that hallway there…" Miranda gestures to the right looking at her omni-tool building schematics. "Leads directly to delivery and recovery room. We should head down to the next level."

"Agreed."

On the next level, the elevator door sounds. "Ding." Opening the elevator door. Shepard is the first to exit. He slowly moves around the corner. "By the looks of it, another long hallway and security check point. Possibly more labs?"

"Maybe." Miranda replies to Shepard uncertain following him from behind. "I can already tell this level's vastly different. See those glass window panes along the wall. Not as prominent as the levels above."

"Yeah." Shepard proceeds further until they are stop by yet another security check point.

While they wait for Kasumi to bypass the security lockout Miranda takes another glance at her omni-tool.

"Detecting a lot of heat signatures beyond this checkpoint, Shepard."

Shepard takes a closer look at Miranda's omni-tool read-outs. "From the looks of it, one figure is standing upright as opposed to smaller figures laying horizontally in the larger room ahead.

Shepard and Miranda both stare into each other's eyes knowing what each other was thinking. This could be in fact, the place they've been searching for all this time.

Just then the door unlocks. "Heavily encryption on that one. Whatever is in there, wants to be remain hidden."

"Not for long." Miranda's holographic omni-display disappears as she gets ready to enter into the long hallway up ahead.

Shepard, Miranda and Kasumi pass the first door on the left.

"That one's empty." Kasumi whispers.

They slowly creep up to the large window panes just up ahead and on the left side of the hallway.

"Oh my god." Miranda couldn't believe her eyes when she peered through the glass at Shepard's request having taken in a peak for himself just prior.

A large white walled room with three neatly organized rows of three nursery cribs centered in the middle of the room. Out of the nine nursery cribs contained four young sleeping infants, snugly wrapped up in their blanket.

In the corner of the room, on the right hand side, one of the nurses is dressed in a white outfit. She begins feeding the infant with a clear glass bottle of formula. All the while, sitting down in a rocking chair.

"Which baby am I to steal?" Kasumi jests under her cloaking disguise.

"Kasumi." Shepard shakes his head.

"What?" Kasumi cheerfully replies.

"I doubt he labeled them anything more than a test subject number, whatever. Bastard." Miranda says with some ire in her voice.

Shepard and Miranda stand with their backs against the wall thinking on their next plan of action.

"We come this far, Miranda." Shepard says turning his head to her.

"Right. Let's finish this, Shepard."

Kasumi opens the door to the lab as Shepard and Miranda rush into the room alarming the middle-aged woman feeding the infant.

"Just stay calm and nobody gets hurt." Miranda says holding the gun towards the ground as she steps closer towards the woman and nursery cribs.

"What?! Who are you? How did you get in here? This is a secure research facility!"

Kasumi looks at the infants who couldn't have been more than a few weeks to a few months old. "Aww."

"Where not here to cause you any harm, Miss. Just looking to give back what was taken unwillingly some time ago." Shepard explains.

"Taken? What on Earth?" The middle-aged woman couldn't believe it.

Miranda examines the labeling devices attached to each of the occupied nursery cribs. "As I suspected. No real identity other than a pattern of letters, numbers and dates to distinguish between them."

"Like some kind of catalog system?"

"Yes, exactly."

"Then they should be listed in a computer database housed somewhere identifying them. Date of birth, etc. We can narrow it down and go from there."

Miranda briefly smiles at Shepard. "Worth a shot."

"You're mistaken. None of these were ever taken by anyone. They've all been…" The middle-aged woman stops talking when Miranda gives her an icy cold stare.

"Created here? Yes. I'm well aware of how they came into the world."

"We need to find a computer terminal and access the files associated with the infants. Where's the closest one?" Shepard asks.

The middle-aged woman holding the infant remains quiet.

"Shep-," Miranda stops in her tracks.

Shepard turns his head back to Miranda as she approaches. "The baby she is holding, roughly matches the age she'd be when her mother was forced out of the facility."

"Kasumi. Find the nursery data info on the unoccupied nursery crib."

"Oh, this one? You can't be serious." The middle-aged nurse replies getting out of the chair while still holding on to the infant a little more tightly. "You poor dear." As the baby starts to fuss a little.

"Stop!" Miranda steps forward hesitating on raising her loaded gun at the woman holding the baby.

"Hand her over. Now!" Miranda commands forcibly with the gun slightly raised.

The nurse continues walking along the side of the wall towards the direction of the door near the far left corner of the room. "HELP!" The nurse continues screaming at the top of her lungs. The infants in the room begin to fuss and make crying noises.

"Okay." Shepard puts away his gun and walks up to the nurse who ends up backing up stumbling into the wall staring at Shepard's not so happy facial expression.

"I'm only going to ask you once. Hand her over and maybe you'll live." Shepard expresses in a not so nice tone.

"I'm dead anyway." The nurse hesitantly hands the baby girl to Shepard.

"We're not here to kill anyone!" Miranda replies angrily annoyed at the woman. "As long as you cooperate and don't do anything stupid!"

"I have to data, Shep."

"Good. We need to find Miri a data terminal so she can access the data and go from there."

"What?" Miranda eyes scrunch up with Shepard using a past nickname used only by Niket.

Shepard walks towards Miranda handing her the baby. Out of the corner of her eye, she sees the nurse running for her life. "Stupid, bitch." Miranda shoots her gun at the ladies neck. Moments later, the lady flops down to the ground after being tranquilized with a dart.

Shepard smirks at the unconscious nurse laying on the floor and back at Miranda with raised eyebrows. "That seemed to work."

"I have enough blood on my hands. I don't need another fool added to the list."

"Okay."

"One data terminal coming up, Miri." Kasumi jokes as Shepard pulls the unconscious nurse away from the doorway.

"That's not." Miranda protests the use of her nickname. The infant picks up on Miranda's body language and begins to fuss.

Shepard smiles watching Miranda cuddle the baby in her arms trying to calm her down. "You're a natural."

"Shepard, not now."

Miranda inspects the baby with her eyes. Touching her cheek with her finger making the baby coo a little. "Looks healthy enough."

"You can tell all that just by looking at her?"

"More or less."

Shepard turns his attention towards a few of the fussy infant behind him. "I knew you wanted a baby but five is a little much without even practicing."

Miranda snorts. "You practice quite enough already."

Shepard opens his arm wide, "What can I say, I'm the…"

"Don't even." Miranda interrupts.

"Love machine." Shepard grins.

"Oh, god." Miranda shakes her head approaching one of the nursery cribs at the end too calm him or her while the one in her arms falls fast to sleep.

Miranda couldn't get over how tiny they all were. "This one's barely a month old. They obviously have some kind of birthing pods set up here."

"And that's what I found down the hall." Kasumi says standing at the door way. "And a lot more. You'll want check it out."

"Kasumi!" Jacob calls out.

"What are you doing here?" Kasumi asks.

Shepard and Miranda were wondering the same thing.

"Lost communications. We thought something went terribly wrong, came to check it out for myself."

"Must be the same interference EDI had trouble with on board the Normandy." Shepard adds.

"You found her?" Jacob asks seeing Miranda with a baby snuggled against her bosom.

"Possibly. We'll need to reference the 'catalog' number against the database."

"Didn't even name her?" Jacob shakes his head.

Miranda smirks and hands her off to Jacob. "Here."

"Oh. Miranda? I don't think this is such a good idea." Jacob half laughs. "I don't know the first thing about taking care of a baby."

"You'll be fine. Just protect her until we get back. The lot of them." Miranda points towards the room.

"You've got to be kidding me." Jacob enters into the room to keep watch. "Damn."

Miranda smirks as she heads down the hallway with Shepard and Kasumi.

After bypassing the last security checkpoint on that floor, the door opens. Inside was a much larger, longer room. It was nearly the entire length of the floor they were on. Five life pods filled and active. Blue and green fluid were alternated between the five pods. One blue, one green and so forth. On the other side of the room, to the left, three monitoring stations and desk lined up against the wall that acted as a separator. Behind that, Miranda didn't expect to find but she did.

"Dear, god." Miranda exasperated in disbelief.

"Are they?" Shepard says before Miranda clarifies exactly what they are looking at.

"Cold storage unit capable of freezing just about anything but in his case, frozen embryos."

"You'll want to take a look at this." Kasumi mentions. "A few are already growing in those pods."

They head back into the main room. Miranda couldn't believe it as she stares at the little unborn infants floating inside the life pods hooked up to an artificial umbilical cord. Miranda continues to watch as the unborn fetus suddenly jerks uncontrollably for a moment. "Couldn't be any more than six months into term, perhaps?"

"It is kind of amazing, Miranda." Shepard watches the five infants in various stages of development. "He's cloning an army of little Miranda's."

"Not even remotely funny, Shepard."

"Your family tree just got a whole lot bigger." Shepard teases her.

"I…" Miranda couldn't help but stare at each one of them as she examined her father's work in front of her. In a way, Shepard was right. It was an amazing sight to behold. The creation of life. Innocent life. They had no idea what lies in store for them or if they would survive that long. She just didn't know. Was this where she was created and born?

"What?" Shepard asks finding Miranda awfully quiet and internally reflecting the evidence before her.

"Just wondering if he finally got the son or daughter he was truly after."

"I doubt it. If Nikolas was his finest work, he failed horribly."

Miranda snorts. "One can only guess. Was he the only one?" Miranda sighs looking down at the ground for a moment.

Shepard touches Miranda's back.

"Shepard."

"I don't know. We'll make sure these have a fighting chance in the world. Free of constraints."

"We don't even know what the hell was done to them genetically. If they'll survive."

"I have someone we can trust. To protect them."

Miranda stares at Shepard. "Anderson?"

"Yeah. Grissom Academy?"

"That might have worked for David, Shepard. This is entirely different. Besides, the Grissom Academy has been infiltrated by Cerberus on more than one occasion. But sure, why the hell not." Miranda says with a bit of sarcasm.

Shepard scratches the back of head thinking.

Miranda turns away from the life pods looking at the computer terminals on the other side of the room. "Give me a minute." Miranda sits down attempting to access the mainframe.

Shepard folds his arms watching Miranda, glancing at Kasumi briefly.

"I'm clueless on raising an army of…"

Shepard shakes his head no.

"Kasumi shrugs.

One of the unborn baby twitches within the incubation tube.

Miranda taps on her omni-tool downloading the data of information for a more lengthy review once they've return to the Normandy.

INT. EARTH – VANCOUVER – VEHICLE TRANSPORT – NIGHT

Shepard steps back into the driver side of the rented vehicle transport. Conveniently listed under an assumed name of course. Miranda is captivated by the young infant sleeping in her arms more than she should be. A strange twist of events indeed Mr. Taylor. She smirks.

"Everything all set?" Miranda asks briefly.

"Anderson's been notified. Ashley too."

"Guess that's all we really can do at this point. Whether or not they're his genetically remains to be seen. No doubt the Alliance with sit on their hands before taking any real action against the facility."

"Not much we can do, Miranda."

"I know." Miranda replies staring down at the infant.

"She reminds you of Orianna?"

"A little." Miranda faintly smiles. "She was the one person, I vowed to protect with my life." Miranda closes her eyes.

"We'll be fine." Shepard says tilting his head a little. "She'll be fine."

Miranda continues to stare down at the infant.

"Ready?" Shepard asks.

"Of course."

INT. EARTH – VANCOUVER – STUDIO APARTMENT – NIGHT

Shepard and Miranda step through the front door to Ms. Perrigo's apartment. Not only were they greeted by Ms. Perrigo but also by Ashley and her friend Sandra Chazman.

"Come in." Sandra says greeting them. "Can I get you some coffee or tea?"

"None for me thanks." Miranda kindly declines.

Shepard declines. "I'm good."

"Hey, Shepard." Ashley approaches him from the living room.

"Ashley."

Miranda watches both Ashley and Shepard's exchange a rather friendly greeting.

"Oh my god." Sarna approaches Miranda a bit overwhelmed with joy by the return of her infant.

"She's been well cared for despite what happened." Miranda hands the infant over to her real mother.

"Thank you so much." Sarna reaches out to give Miranda a hug.

"Quite alright." Miranda steps back not too keen on accepting the hug from Ms. Perrigo.

"A hand shake then?"

Miranda again declines the offer. "We should be going." Miranda turns around slowly before stopping just a few feet away, waiting for Shepard.

"Thank you. Thank you!" Sarna steps forward giving Shepard a hug.

"You're welcome. Glad I could help."

"Good work, Shepard. Miranda." Ashley having witnessed the whole exchange. "Just wish I was there."

"It was rather uneventful." Shepard replies candidly.

"Anderson has some Alliance officials assigned to the case. Who knows if anything will come of it? Robert Henson, stepped forward."

"What's his take on all of this?" Miranda asks folding her arms not at all happy.

"Apparently, he's playing the dumb card about what's going on but expresses that he's willing to cooperate with the Alliance. I'm told Mr. Henson was recently given control and ownership of Henry Lawson estates as stated in the Corporate Will. He has since forwarded a copy to Alliance command."

"Huh." Shepard scratches the back of his head for a moment before smoothing his hand down and way.

"Shepard?" Miranda speaks up.

"Okay. Take care, Ash."

"You too, Shepard."

Miranda unfolds her arms as Shepard follows her out the door.

"He's still kind of hot with that scruffy, bad boy, look." Sandra blurts out to Ashley.

Ashley laughs. "Yeah."

INT. EARTH – VANCOUVER – VEHICLE TRANSPORT – NIGHT

Miranda leans into the seat finding it not as relaxing as she would like.

Shepard starts up the vehicle transport rental. It was time to put his plan into action. He watches Miranda stare out the window as they wait for the traffic light to turn green.

"We're not heading back to the Normandy are we?"

Shepard gives Miranda a quick smile. "I thought we could use a little rest. We certainly earned it. Need it."

"Hah. This cabin idea of yours?" Miranda inquires.

"Maybe. It has quite the view I'm told." Shepard continues driving north before pulling the transport vehicle to the side of the road facing the intended target only after five blocks.

"Not a bad part of town." Miranda replies taking in the view of Christmas lights wrapped around a couple of trees outside a large building with a curved entrance canopy and door greeter. "A hotel?"

"Not just any hotel, Miranda. The finest, if not the tallest hotel I could find with a great view."

Miranda chuckles. "All right. Didn't even bring an extra set of clothes or…"

Shepard leans forward and kisses her lips. "You'll have everything you need, trust me."

"I do."

INT. EARTH – VANCOUVER – SHANGRIN HOTEL – NIGHT

Shepard and Miranda exchange greetings with the door man on their way into the hotel.

Inside the hotel, was even more breathtaking than Miranda had even imagined. Marvelously decorated in brown tones and white walls. A large carpet extends from the entrance of the hotel to the front desk. A unique pattern runs along the edge of the carpet, blue squares with a curved interiors in between brown circles. On each side of the lobby, elegant and most likely expensive brown sofas with elegant coffee tables are stationed between each section.

"Good evening sir, madam. Welcome to Shangrin's Hotel. How may I help?" The rather sophisticated gentle asks behind the hotel's long but dark brown desk.

"Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Gunn."

"Ah yes, here you are sir. Enjoy, your stay." Shepard takes the key card from the receptionist heading in the direction of the nearest elevator.

"Jonathan Gunn?" Miranda questions. Stepping into the first available elevator to open.

"It's better than Solomon. And I have a bigger gun."

Miranda folds her arms underneath her breasts with one elbow resting on top as she rubs her forehead a little.

"What?" Shepard asks.

Miranda places her arms down beside her. Miranda continues to watch as the numbers increase waiting for it to hit their level. "Let me guess, the penthouse?"

"Well, it was that or the honeymoon suite. Take your pick."

"Hmm." Miranda leans her head down on his shoulder as she stand closely next to him slipping her fingers within his.

Shepard could tell she was exhausted. "I gather you'll be hitting the bed once we enter?"

"Probably."

"Morning sex is better anyhow."

Miranda chuckles as the door opens. They both exit into the interior of the loft finding a rather large living area fully furnished with a very large view of the cities night lights.

An open floor plan is evident throughout the main living area, dining and kitchen.

"How do you like the place?" Shepard asks following Miranda over towards the view.

"It's rather charming." Miranda places her hand on her hip.

"I could use a drink, care for one?"

Miranda turns around following Shepard to the kitchen. "Bottled water?"

"Sure." Shepard hands her a cold one from the frig'.

"Thanks."

Shepard twists open the cap and downs nearly half of it before placing in on the kitchen counter.

Miranda smirks slipping her free hand into his leading him in the direction she believes in the master bedroom.

The master bedroom was rather cozy and inviting with brown hues and dark brown Chinese patterns on the walls within various section of the room that acted like accent walls. The bed was more comfortable and inviting than what they are accustomed to on the Normandy.

Brown bed coverings with images of fall leaves in a lighter shade of orange and brown are scattered throughout the bed covering. Six white pillows and one long brown silk pillow take up the centerpiece of the bed. Two square lights mounted on the wall on equal sides next to the bed. Each side of the bed contains a brown wooden nightstand.

A dark brown desk rests along the wall with a small computer terminal and square desk lamp. Above the desk, a medium sized picture frame of two fish swimming flipped vertically swimming in the directions towards each other.

Just off to the side of the master bedroom is the master bath. When you enter the bathroom however, there is a large black sink in front of the bathtub. Next to the wall, is a large white tub encased in brown looking marble with the same patterns of leaves but these patterns are intertwining with each other. Black tiles run across the middle of the bathroom wall.

Two large mirrors take up the side and end view of the room with a medium sized picture of organic shapes in the middle. To the right, his and her towels and bath robes are hanging across a bar next to the walk-in shower. A small banquet of white flowers placed within a clear vase sits at the far end of the room in front of the end wall mirror.

"Care to join me in a warm bath?"

"You don't have to ask me twice." Shepard walks into the living room looking for the stereo to play some soft romantic music while Miranda gets the bath ready.

Miranda sniffs the bottles of oils sitting next to the bathtub faucets. Finding them an acceptable fragrance, she dumps them into the warm bath water. Miranda snaps off the cap to her bottled water and takes a few sips enjoying it, actually.

Miranda turns around looking for Shepard faintly hearing him set the tone with some music.

"Thought we could use a little music." Shepard says as he heads back into the bathroom.

"Not bad." Miranda having placed her bottled water on the counter next to the vase, she walks over to Shepard helping him remove his attire. Shepard attempts to do the same unsuccessfully.

Their heads lean in to each other. Miranda's soft and delicate hands rests barely touching the top of his shoulder as her arm rest upon his. Their lips softly brush against each other in four consecutive kisses. Shepard touches Miranda's chin with his fingers giving her lips one more kiss before Miranda steps back to turn off the water.

Slipping out of their clothes they relax within the more than accommodating bathtub with Shepard sitting directly behind Miranda. Their fingers intertwine with each other. Shepard brings their fingers to his lips to kiss.

The only sound that was uttered was from the instrumental music playing in the background. Perhaps no words were needed to be spoken as they enjoyed taking a bath with each other. It was probably a little too relaxing as even Shepard was starting to dose off in the bath tub. Shepard grins slightly finding Miranda may have done just that.

"You're not sleeping are you?" Shepard nudges Miranda softly.

"Mmm. I can't remember the last time I've actually enjoyed the comforts of a nice hot bath."

"I'm a shower man, myself."

Miranda slightly chuckles. "You did seem rather odorless before we became something more."

"You've always smelled great."

"Mmm." Miranda leans forward finding the water losings the warmth it once had. Miranda steps out of the bathtub quickly rinsing off in the nearby shower giving Shepard quite the view.

Shepard hits the drain button stepping out of the bath tub to join her. His strong hands touch the middle of her back as he steps a bit closer kissing the top of her shoulder blade. Shepard's hand glides around the front of her body moving down below and back upwards.

Miranda's fingers move over top of Shepard's hands as she guides them up and over her plumb breasts moaning delightfully with each caress which in turn seemed to increase her arousal level a bit more than expected.

Miranda leads Shepard back into the bedroom where things start to heat up a little more. Shepard runs his finger along the arch of her back making Miranda arch forwards slightly. Having successfully pulled the covers downwards and the extra pillow to the desk. She guides Shepard towards the bed having him sit down. Her fingers run down his chest but not for long with Shepard pulling her in closer. Kissing and touching her abdomen. "Looking forward to meeting you, little guy."

Miranda smiles running her fingers over the top of his head and down his face. Shepard moves back a little more on the bed giving ample enough room to do what she's got to do. Instead of Miranda slipping on top of him like he expected. Miranda begins giving him an unexpected blow. Shepard moans with each passing minute finding it harder and harder to maintain. Miranda knowing exactly what to do to make him cum. She wasn't about to let him off that easy. She smiles up at him as he was nearly ready to blow hard.

"Come here." Shepard calls out to her. Miranda slips on top of him. Her left hand slips around to the back of his neck while her fingers touch his upper breast. Miranda could see the desire in his eyes. Miranda tilts her head as she leans in to capture his lips with hers. One, two, three quick but deep kisses. He was definitely hungry with desire.

Shepard shifts his body around plopping her on the bed pinning her down with his body. Miranda gives off a warm smile in exchange. A few more kisses increase the passion between each other. He slowly moves his lips away from hers heading downwards. His soft lips take in the taste of her neck. In between her breasts, sucking and running is tongue over her aroused nipple sending an arousing chill down her back. Moving his way down her belly and abdomen and ultimately paying special attention to her lips down below. Miranda was beyond aroused. Her eyes closes, her breathing increases, her back arches and he too knew just what set her off. Miranda couldn't help but express her moans vocally. "Shepard…."

He could feel her body tremble as she was close. So close. He lies back down next to her as she climbs on top, slipping himself within her inner most being. He felt like he had died and gone to heaven. It felt so damn good. Miranda felt full, completely satisfied with his member within. He was perfect.

Miranda leans forward kissing his lips. His lips follow her upwards sitting with one hand supporting himself with the other hand near her hip. Each moving in rhythm and speed wanting to reach their ultimate explosion that was quickly approaching. Miranda rests her head against his as that moment arrives moaning out loud in pure pleasure. Shepard came just as Miranda did. Shepard's back falls down on to the bed along with Miranda. His arms caresses her back lovingly as her body moves next to his. The sound of his heart beat lulls her to sleep. He too quickly succumbs to the same need to sleep.

10-01-14. This is a rough draft. I'll be updating this copy with any corrections as I find them.

02-21-15. Reworded a few sentences here and there. Took out the next morning info with Miranda and Shepard to be included in the next chapter with added content. Corrected a few spelling errors.

03-20-15. Minor corrections.

04-28-16. Spelling error correction. Thank you Mistress 0f Dragons.