Chapter Twenty-Four
The Galactic Philanthropist
2185 CE
Citadel, Widow System
As ever, the Citadel was a bustling hive of activity. With over thirteen million inhabitants calling the station their home, it was never quiet. However, Council and non-Council races seemed to mingle in relatively harmony, all under the watchful eye of C-Sec officers in their ubiquitous blue and black uniforms.
Miranda had no particular love for the Citadel. As the seat of the Citadel Council, it represented everything that was wrong with Galactic politics. She regarded the Council as short-sighted and mired in bureaucracy. Although humanity had been given a seat at the table following the Battle of the Citadel, the Council had still not been swayed on the severity of the threat they were facing from the Reapers. Not to mention the decision to elevate humans had angered many of the more established Citadel races who still lacked a seat.
Lingering at the back of Miranda's mind was a simmering distrust of the entire construct. The Citadel had been simply been 'found' and inhabited by first the asari, then the salarians. Even thousands of years later, no one truly understood how the station functioned. Being naturally inclined towards cynicism, Miranda did not view this as a stable foundation. It was tenuous at best, and certainly not befitting of a centre of Galactic civilisation.
Still, with so much power concentrated in one place, the Citadel was an essential port of call. Shepard had insisted on visiting, and Miranda had very quickly learned that the Commander found a way to get everything she wanted.
Although Shepard had assured her that their visit would be brief given their other priorities, Miranda was not convinced – especially not when she received a notification from EDI that Shepard had requested a taxi to one of the far reaches of Bachjret Ward.
Over the years, Miranda had come to familiarise herself with the Citadel. Not well, but enough to comfortably find the locations she needed. Bachjret was an area she had never visited. Within her understanding, nothing of any importance was located there – which meant that Shepard had no reason to make such a detour. Miranda briefly considered appointing a loyal Cerberus crewmember to tail the Commander, before deciding to do it herself. She told herself that it was because she had nothing better to do with her shore leave, but in reality it was more complicated. On one hand there was no one she trusted to do the job as well as she could, and on the other she found herself intrigued and captivated by the enigmatic woman. The latter was something she barely acknowledged as anything other than an irritant, but it was there nevertheless.
So, at a time when she ought to have been doing something useful, Miranda found herself exiting a taxi near the very terminus of Bachjret Ward. In her experience, any neighbourhoods existing so far from the centre of power were impoverished or uncivilised – most frequently both. At a glance Shepard's destination was no different. The dwellings were closely packed, and the municipal greenery found in more affluent areas of the Citadel was absent altogether.
The Commander had already disappeared down a narrow side street and Miranda followed at a discreet distance. With the opportunity to look at her surroundings in more detail, Miranda realised that her assessment had been unfair. While the neighbourhood was not exactly desirable, the streets were clean and orderly. Residents obviously took pride in their homes, keeping their facades neat and inviting. They had used whatever space was available to them to grow plants – even if this meant growing them vertically up the side of an apartment building. It was not somewhere Miranda herself would ever choose to live, but she had to admit it had a certain charm.
She followed Shepard up several levels of walkways, before reaching a sprawling, warehouse-like building. Perhaps at one time it had served as a distribution centre, but it had been converted into habitable spaces. Miranda watched as Shepard stopped at a door on the same level as the walkway. Unlike many of the other apartments in the building, which looked well lived in, there was nothing welcoming about the solid, plain door. Shepard made no move to ring any buzzer or knock. Instead, she stood in front of that door, unmoving, simply staring at it for several minutes. Miranda thought she seemed agitated. Eventually, Shepard activated her omni tool. Even at a distance, Miranda could tell that she was overriding the security protocols on the door. For an engineer of Shepard's talent, civilian security measures were no obstacle. It took her a matter of seconds. Brazenly, Shepard ducked inside.
"What the hell, Shepard?" Miranda whispered to herself.
At that point, Miranda's discretion was abandoned in favour of something approaching fury. It would hardly help their mission if their Commander was to get herself arrested by C-Sec for breaking into an apartment. She moved swiftly towards the still open door, making it in time to stop it from closing. The sound of her footsteps across the threshold immediately drew Shepard's attention. The Commander had just turned on the lights, illuminating the space inside…and the surprised expression on her face when she realised that she had been tailgated by her XO.
"Miranda? Er, hi?" Shepard did not look guilty, just surprised. The surprise was soon gone, replaced by wry acceptance. "Let me guess, you happened to be in the neighbourhood? Or were you following me? Surely you must have people that can do that for you?"
Miranda invited herself further inside and the door closed behind her. "Given that my commanding officer is adding breaking and entering to her already extensive criminal record, I'm pleased I came in person."
Shepard frowned indignantly. "I don't have a criminal record!"
Miranda cocked her head to one side and smirked slightly, knowing full well that it would wind up the Commander. "Numerous counts of trespass, two counts of possession of a dangerous weapon and one count of arson?"
"How the hell did you get hold of my juvenile record?" Shepard demanded, her cheeks colouring. "It was expunged."
Miranda shrugged. "We're Cerberus."
Shepard rolled her eyes and marched away from Miranda, further into the apartment. Miranda hovered near the door for a few moments, but eventually her curiosity won out and she moved inside. Although there were windows high up near the ceiling, the heavy blinds were still drawn. The only light was artificial, and it made the space seem dark and uninviting. A quick scan revealed that the apartment to be compact and sparsely furnished. There was an open plan living area downstairs, with a mezzanine sleeping area above. It was clearly the apartment of someone who either did not spend much time at home, or who did not care for decorating.
The mezzanine was where Shepard had immediately headed, ascending the staircase without looking back. With the sounds of rummaging in drawers overhead, Miranda was left to explore downstairs. She crossed to a small shelf which was almost bare save for an Alliance Academy trophy engraved with the words 'top recruit' and two framed images. One image was of a platoon of marines – a moment captured in time. Smiling faces stared back at her, brimming with the confidence of youth. At the very centre was a familiar thatch of red hair – it was a much younger Shepard. The second was also of Shepard, her arm around the shoulders of another face Miranda recognised from Shepard's past – David Anderson, although he was wearing the insignia of a Captain as opposed to an Admiral.
Miranda looked up towards the mezzanine. She could hear Shepard, but not see her. "This is your apartment."
Shepard suddenly appeared at the railing above, a broad grin on her face. She was carrying something in her hands. "Of course it bloody well is, why else do you think I'd be in here?"
"I just thought…well, you did break in!" Miranda pointed out.
The Commander bounded back down the stairs, looking every bit as youthfully exuberant as her younger self did in the images. Miranda could see more clearly the object that Shepard was carrying. It looked like a book – an antique made of real card and paper stock.
"Turns out that while I was dead for two years, I lost all my key cards and forgot the code," Shepard explained. She narrowed her eyes in Miranda's direction. "Tell me this, how is it that I know how to bypass the security mechanisms, but I can't remember a twelve-digit code?"
"No doubt because you had trouble remembering it in the first place!" Miranda replied irritably, it certainly was not her fault.
"Perhaps. I never did spend much time here." Shepard's gaze roamed the tiny apartment in much the same way that Miranda's had earlier. "My old Gunny was constantly harping on about investing in property. Used to say it was the only investment worth making. Everything else he said made sense, so I scraped and saved to buy this apartment. Although for the price I paid for it, I probably could have bought a whole damn farm on Eden Prime." Eventually her gaze settled back on Miranda. There was a small smile on her face. "I like the idea of owning my own place. When you grow up on the streets…well, it means something. Even if I spend most of my time roaming the Galaxy with a band of miscreants, I have somewhere to keep stuff like this."
Shepard held out the book and motioned for Miranda to take it. Miranda did not know why, but she accepted it with something approaching reverence. She herself could not remember the last time she had held an actual book. The red cover was hard and embossed with a stylised drawing of a rabbit beneath the title.
"Alice's Adventures in Wonderland?" Miranda read aloud in a confused voice. The children's book was far from what she had expected.
"I found it when I was a kid," Shepard explained. "During one of those incidents of trespass that you already mentioned. Although now I think about it, they probably should have added theft to my record. I don't even know why I took it. I guess because I recognised my name on the cover. Anyway, one of the older kids in the Tenth Street Reds taught me how to read and write using this book. Look inside the front cover."
Miranda peeled open the cover. Written inside in a heavy-handed, juvenile script were the words 'Alice Shepard.' She immediately pictured Shepard as a kid, eyes narrowed in concentration as she carefully wrote her name onto the front page of her prized possession. Without knowing why, the image made her smile.
"It's a great story," Shepard continued.
Miranda gently closed the book and extended it back to Shepard. "I wouldn't know, I've never read it."
Shepard reached out to take the book. As her fingers wrapped around it, the tips grazed Miranda's hand. The touch was electric, sending a delicious jolt down her arm and into the pit of her stomach. She withdrew her hand quickly and closed her fingers into a tight fist, hoping that Shepard had not noticed her discomfort.
"You'll have to read it one day," Shepard suggested in a quiet voice.
"Not likely," Miranda replied a little too harshly. She was unable to hold the Commander's emerald gaze and instead looked to the door with a view to making a hasty exit. "I don't have time for stories. My apologies for disturbing your personal time. I'll leave you in peace."
"Miranda, wait," Shepard called after her. "There's a great little hanar place around the corner, we could grab a bite to eat? Surely even you must have some down time? And I know you need to eat as much as the next person. More no doubt, you know, because of the whole biotic thing."
Miranda spun on her heels. She opened her mouth to shoot down the suggestion with a barbed comment. The words fled her lips when she saw the open, affable smile on the Commander's face. If she was being honest with herself, having a meal with Shepard would not be the worst use of her time. And she might actually enjoy herself.
But that's the problem isn't it? she reminded herself. You need to keep it professional.
"Thank you for the invitation, Shepard. I really would like to…but the Illusive Man is waiting on my latest report. And I do not want to keep him waiting. Perhaps another time?"
Shepard inclined her head. "Definitely. Take it easy, Miranda."
Her exit was swift out of necessity, with her feet carrying her away from Shepard's apartment quickly whilst trying to appear normal. The excuse about the report had not been a lie exactly. She did have a report waiting to be sent, but it was finished. The real reason was that she did not want to have to sit across a small table from the Commander for any length of time, sharing food and drink, making small talk and laughing together.
It was quite possibly the most dangerous situation she could put herself in.
2208 CE
Zephyr Coast, Thessia
Waking up brought with it all manner of unpleasant sensations. First and foremost being an overwhelming sense of panic. So many things were unfamiliar, even the scent of the linen on the bed. Aided by the sunlight filtering through the white curtains, Miranda's gaze darted around the strange room. Everything was impressively proportioned – the room itself, the floor to ceiling windows, even the bed in which she found herself. While pleasant enough, the room felt sterile. The furnishings were sparse, with the only nod to decoration being a lone abstract painting. It was clearly a guest room, one that saw little use.
After taking in her surroundings, memories from earlier that evening came flooding back. The shuttle landing on the beach, bringing with it a face from the past in the form of Ashley Williams. Miranda sighed when she remembered the last kiss she shared with Nea, and the wrench she had felt when saying goodbye.
That had been mere hours ago, before she had fallen into a deep, dreamless sleep in a strange room. Although traces of fatigue lingered stubbornly, Miranda saw no reason to remain in bed. Whatever the reason Ashley had retrieved her, there was bound to be some sense of urgency. She rose and tried two of the doors leading from the room, one was a bare wardrobe, the other led to a bathroom.
After showering and finding that she had in fact packed enough items of clothing to be presentable, Miranda exited the room. A commando with cobalt blue skin and striking violet eyes stood directly outside the door. Miranda wondered just how long the asari had been waiting there.
"Miranda Lawson, I'm Kefali. If you'd care to follow me?"
A rumble in the pit of her stomach caused Miranda to hope that she was being led to breakfast, but her instincts told her that there were more important priorities. As she obediently followed the commando, she took in her surroundings. The rest of the house was just as impressively sterile as her room. However, looking beneath the pristine surfaces, Miranda saw the tell-tale sign of ageing in the well-worn stone beneath her feet.
"Kefali? Is this the T'Soni Estate?" Miranda asked her guide as they descended a broad staircase.
"Sure is. I think the Estate has been in the T'Soni family's hands for a hell of a long time."
"You think?"
Kefali glanced at her with a slightly guilty smile. "I don't actually work on the Estate. Well, I suppose I do at the moment…but I mostly work with Ash in the field. To be honest, I volunteered to escort you purely out of curiosity."
"I'm surprised Ashley hasn't already told you that I'm ex-Cerberus scum," Miranda commented in a resigned voice.
"Oh, she has. At length." Kefali replied in an off-hand manner. "But I don't need that dumbass to tell me what to think."
Miranda lifted her eyebrows in surprise. "You sound like you know her well?"
"You'd think so, after having been friends for about thirteen years. But she managed to conceal the fact that she was bonded with kids until a month ago." Kefali sighed wearily. "Like I said – she's a dumbass."
The asari stopped next to an intricately carved door and paused with her hand on the doorknob. "Do you mind if I ask you a personal question, Miranda?"
Here it comes. Miranda prepared herself for any one of the questions that people were burning to ask after having read Zaeed Massani's book or watching one of the dozens of films attempting to portray her on screen. She wondered if Jacob Taylor was as tired of being asked about their brief affair as she was.
"You don't owe these individuals anything – Ash especially. Why did you drop everything to help them?"
"Oh." It was not a question Miranda had been expecting. "Well, we're family I guess. Despite our differences, that much will always be true."
"Even though she's gone, The Shepard keeps you together?"
Miranda nodded. "Yes. I imagine for the rest of our lives."
Kefali smiled, as though Miranda's answer touched her in some way. The asari then opened the door and ushered her inside. The destination was a small, non-descript room which looked as though it was used as an office or a study. Kefali did not follow. Unlike her guest room, this room was personalised. The furniture looked comfortable and well-used. Framed images were hung on the walls, none of which Miranda could see well enough to make out what they were. An obsolete sniper rifle was mounted in pride of place above the desk. It was a room that could have been found in any home, save for the QEC in one corner – an expense out of the reach of most. To confirm Miranda's instincts, there was no breakfast. To make it worse, Ashley Williams sat in one of the chairs with a steaming cup in her hands. The aroma of strong coffee hit Miranda's nostrils.
The door closed behind her and Miranda felt suddenly trapped beneath Ashley's hostile gaze. She searched for some way to dispel the tension. Having already been on the receiving end of Ashley's hospitality the previous evening, Miranda knew that would be next to impossible.
Ashley stood and crossed to the QEC without saying a word. She simply stood in front of the device, sipping her coffee.
"Are we anticipating a call?" Miranda ventured, the question seemed harmless enough. A nod was all she received in reply, although Ashley did not bother to turn and look at her. Miranda immediately felt a surge of irritation that she was too exhausted – and hungry - to contain. "Look, Ashley, I know the two of us have never been on good terms, but would it kill you to be civil at least?"
This earned the ex-Marine's attention. Ashley flashed a sneer in her direction. "Is that an order, Lawson? Because I don't take orders from you. Not now, not ever."
"What? No, I was asking you if it might be possible."
Ashley snorted. "Sure, let's play nice and pretend we're friends, like you were never a fucking human supremacist terrorist."
The room suddenly seemed even smaller. Miranda was on the verge of flaring. "You're still judging me as someone you thought I was two decades ago? You don't know a bloody thing about me!"
Ashley laughed, obviously pleased to have hit a raw nerve. "I know enough. You've spent the last two decades cashing in on your IP from your time with Cerberus – developing it, selling it to the highest bidder, becoming filthy rich in the process, and turning your back on those you fought alongside. How am I doing so far?"
"Turning my back? I'll have you know that I-" Miranda managed to stop herself in time. She did not owe Ashley any explanation, especially not when the pain of losing Jack bubbled just below the surface. In staring at the woman in front of her and seeing the unbridled hatred on Ashley's face, she realised that she did not want to be there. Not just in the room but in a position where she would be helping Ashley in any way. "Fuck you, Ashley. I knew this was a waste of my time."
At that moment, the QEC in front of Ashley gave off a gentle hum before a figure materialised at its heart. A moment later, Liara T'Soni stood in front of them. The asari clearly recognised the expression on her bondmate's face, as she folded her arms across her chest in response.
"Miranda was just leaving," Ashley remarked in a nonchalant voice. "Apparently she realised she might have to help someone other than herself."
{Ashley!} The immediate disgust in Liara's tone surprised Miranda. {I asked you to put your needless animosity to rest.}
Apparently she doesn't take orders from her bondmate either, Miranda mused. Although a part of her did enjoy the reprimand, she had no desire to come between Ashley and Liara. Not to mention the fact that the moment was decidedly awkward.
"Once a terrorist, always a terrorist. Just like her other Cerberus buddies. Although unlike some of those buddies, she never did any time in prison," Ashley replied defiantly, as though Miranda was not even in the room. "Plus, she's a selfish narcissist to boot."
{On the contrary,} Liara replied smoothly, narrowing her eyes in her bondmate's direction. {Miranda is one of the Galaxy's leading philanthropists and by far the most discreet. I cannot give an accurate figure, but my estimates indicate that over ninety percent of her personal wealth has been given away in the last decade, including substantial donations to a hospital on Nevos and outreach programs helping street children.}
Ashley merely snorted in response, although she shuffled somewhat uncomfortably away from the QEC. Miranda offered nothing in reply. She had never kept track of how much she was personally worth – it was all immaterial. Making money was simply a by-product of running a successful company. And she would have spent the money a hundred times over to have been able to prolong Jack's life.
The 3D image of Liara turned to focus on Miranda. Faced with her old friend's apologetic gaze, Miranda felt some of the tension leave her body. She knew instinctively that if Liara had been there in person, they would have fallen into an effortless and genuine hug. Instead Miranda had been thrown together with Ashley, one person she definitely did not need in her life.
{Miranda, it has been too long. My apologies for that, I should not have let so much time pass.} Liara began warmly, with a touch of regret. {And it seems I owe you a further apology for forcing my ungracious bondmate on you. I would have preferred to be there myself, but the vessel I am on is currently en-route from Shepard Station. We are still several hours out.}
"Ashley and I have not killed one another," Miranda replied in an attempt at humour. Liara smirked briefly, whereas she heard a muttering coming from behind her that might very well have been 'not yet.' However, the reassurance that she would not have to put up with Ashley alone made it all trivial. "And I believe some of the fault lies with me, I did not make any effort to reach out. I fear I buried myself in my work and in looking after…and in other things."
Any trace of mirth disappeared from Liara's face. {I was so very sorry to hear about Jack, Miranda. The Galaxy is emptier without her.}
"Well, she always did take up a lot of space." Miranda quipped. She was tired of the weight of her sorrow. Jack had asked her not to mourn. Remembering Jack as she had been in life – brash, powerful, and larger than life – was all that mattered. "Over the years the hospital received a number of significant anonymous donations. I always knew they were from you. Thank you."
Liara shook her head. {Simply transferring credits was never enough. We should have been there in person for her. Thank you for doing what no one else did.}
With a simple shrug, Miranda replied with the only reason necessary, "I loved her."
The sound of a foot scuffing against the floor behind her reminded Miranda that Ashley was still there. Without quite knowing why, Miranda glanced over her shoulder. She caught Ashley staring at her with a strange expression on her face. It was wiped quickly, replaced by Ashley's trademark scowl. It served to remind Miranda why she was there – and it certainly was not to make amends. She turned her attention back to Liara.
"I would love to talk about Jack one day, perhaps over a drink?" Miranda said with absolute honesty. "But I know you did not bring me here to chat or reminisce about the past two decades. So, I'll get straight to the point - what is going on, Liara? Why did you need me?"
{What do you know about the Micah System?} Liara began.
"In the Valhallan Threshold? Not a great deal. You'll be aware that I spent some time in the cluster in 2185 with the SR-2, we had business with the Migrant Fleet," Miranda replied - business which involved clearing Tali of the charges levelled against her. Although Liara had not been part of the crew at that time, Miranda had no doubt that she already knew everything there was to know about those events. "I haven't had cause to return. Although from what I have heard, it's still relatively lawless. What's the significance of that system?"
{It is where we are bound,} Liara answered. {I had thought perhaps there was some specific reason, perhaps something linked to you, but it seems it is merely a destination.}
Miranda frowned. "Linked to me? Why?"
Liara drew in a breath in preparation. {I will be as brief as I can. You may or may not be aware that a Galaxy-wide project has been monitoring the Reapers since the end of the War.} Miranda shook her head as Liara continued, {While not intended to be a secret, it has largely operated outside of the public eye. The Individuals and Governments involved, we were all guilty of wanting the War to be over and believing that the Reapers were docile. About six months ago, we learned to our horror that this was far from true. Thanks to this project, we were able to minimise casualties from the first anomalies – incidents where isolated Reapers appeared to attack. A mining colony in the Ismar Frontier, a geological outpost on Nepheron, an unlicensed colony on Aite, a turian settlement on Oma Ker-}
"Why have not heard about any of those attacks?" Miranda asked, unable to conceal her surprise. Realisation quickly dawned. "Wait…this Galactic project, you covered it up didn't you?"
A slight inclination of Liara's head told Miranda everything she needed to know.
Rather than dwell on it, Liara moved smoothly past. {However, the next attack on the asari world of Lusia was beyond even our resources to keep quiet – and the spectacular conclusion was unavoidably…noticeable.}
"I would say that one Reaper throwing another into a gas giant is pretty damn noticeable," Miranda could not help but state the obvious.
{Indeed. What was kept from the public was that on two separate occasions individuals were able to speak to the fallen Reapers – Samantha Traynor first on Oma Ker, then myself on Lusia. On both occasions, the Reapers we spoke to sounded confused. They repeated the old instructions that organic life must be harvested, before faltering and revealing critically that the Intelligence was failing. The Reaper that spoke to me, also asked for help.}
"Help…in what way?"
Liara shook her head. {I was not able to glean that information before – as my bondmate is so fond of saying – the shit hit the fan. However, I believe that subsequent events have brought us closer to discovering how we might help. As Reapers across the Galaxy began moving on a scale not seen since the end of the War, twelve Reapers stationed themselves in a ring surrounding Shepard Station. Two days ago, Samantha used a shuttle to board one of those Reapers.}
"Samantha…are we talking about the same Samantha Traynor?"
{The very same. My reaction was similar to yours. While Samantha is one of the bravest people I know, she is not reckless. Garrus, Vega and myself retrieved her from the Reaper. When we found her, she displayed very clear signs of indoctrination. She spoke of hearing indecipherable voices in her head, but somehow her subconscious translated them into a set of coordinates. Beyond that, the only other information that she received were three very distinct words – bring Miranda Lawson.}
"Okay…what?" Miranda found herself trembling slightly, chilled to the core. She shook her head in disbelief. "You mean to tell me that you need me to come with you because of what Traynor learned while she was indoctrinated?
Liara had the good grace to look apologetic. {In essence…yes. Will you come with us?}
Absolutely bloody not! was Miranda's immediate response. However, when she found herself staring at Liara's expectant expression, she was grateful that she had managed to keep that answer to herself. Still, it was the answer she knew she ought to give. Her instincts were telling her that nothing good could come of this endeavour. Within her grasp was the life she had always wanted. And yet she was ready to willingly involve herself in a venture that could keep her from that life. However, her sense of duty and obligation weighed heavily.
"Will this solve whatever is happening with the Reapers?" she asked quietly.
{It is our best…and only lead,} Liara offered.
"What the hell, it's not every day you get a summons from a Reaper," she heard herself say, inwardly cursing the choices and events that had put her in such a position. Miranda knew that there was no one choice or event to pinpoint. She could argue that she had been careening towards this point since the day Jack Harper put her in charge of the Lazarus Project. To say that Nea is not going to be pleased is an understatement. "And let's face it, you needed me to come with you – it was just a question of willingness."
Behind her, Ashley sniffed – whether it was out of scorn or a grudging respect, Miranda did not know. However, it was Liara's response that mattered most. It was almost imperceptible, but she saw Liara offer up a sigh of relief that it did not have to come to that.
{I did not want it to be any other way,} Liara replied honestly. {I believe that time is critical. The Gallipoli will be in Thessian orbit within the next six hours, a shuttle will descend to the surface to retrieve you and Ashley.}
"Will you be on it?" Ashley suddenly asked.
Miranda had not realised that the other woman had moved to stand beside her at the QEC. Their close proximity felt odd, especially with Ashley's unpleasant behaviour. Miranda resisted the urge to shuffle over.
{I…have not decided,} Liara admitted quietly. {I would only be able to see them for a few minutes. It seems unnecessarily cruel for all of us.}
"You know Alice and Theda won't care," Ashley replied. "They'll only be more upset if they don't see you. Please, Li, I think it will be for the best."
Miranda heard the heartfelt plea in Ashley's voice. It was a side of the ex-marine that she had never seen before. On hearing it, she could see past the layers of resentment to glimpse a fuller picture of the individual that Ashley was. She wondered how much energy Ashley had spent over the years maintaining her unnecessary hatred.
{Okay,} Liara agreed readily. {I will see you all soon. And thank you again, Miranda. T'Soni out.}
As soon as the QEC winked out, Ashley quickly put some distance between herself and Miranda. With Liara's presence gone from the room, Miranda was left to ruminate on what she had just heard. Repeating it in her own head made it seem even more ludicrous. Whatever I thought might be needed of me, Miranda thought, this is infinitely stranger…not to mention infinitely more hazardous to my health. After all, how could this not be a life-threatening situation? It was all she could do to push that to the back of her mind for now.
Her gaze instead drifted to some of the framed images on the wall. One depicted a squad of marines. Six youthful faces stared back at her – among them a much younger Ashley. Miranda moved onto the next image. Her lips parted slightly when she saw an all too familiar smile beaming back at her. Shepard. The Commander and Ashley had obviously hammed it up for the picture. Both were wearing Alliance casuals, just cargos and vests. They were flexing their biceps in some sort of competition. Miranda recognised the background as the shuttle bay of the SR-2. She subconsciously smiled. It was hardly any sort of competition. Shepard's biceps were clearly superior. Miranda remembered the way they felt beneath her fingers.
After losing herself for a long moment, Miranda shook herself out of her trance. Thankfully Ashley had been too busy tidying a stack of datapads on her desk to notice.
"You named one of your daughters Alice," Miranda said quietly. It was meant to be a simple observation, but for some reason it sounded accusatory. She immediately regretted opening her mouth.
"I suppose you're going to say we had no right to," Ashley replied scathingly.
"What? No, of course not!"
For years after the War, children across the Galaxy had been named after the great hero. Miranda had even heard that 'Alice' was a popular name for new-born Krogan – both male and female. Miranda sighed. This was an argument she did not want to be having. Simply being around Ashley and her ill-defined resentment was exhausting.
"Can you point me in the direction of the kitchen please?" Miranda's stomach betrayed her with an angry rumble. "Then promise me that you will find some way to avoid me until the Gallipoli arrives?"
"Nothing would give me more satisfaction," Ashley snapped before turning on her heels, opening the door and walking out of the room.
Miranda was left with an expression of shock and a gnawing sensation in her belly. She heard a brief exchange of voices outside the door, just as she was muttering a few choice expletives of her own. Mercifully, Kefali quickly appeared in the open doorway with an apologetic grin on her face.
"Follow me," the asari beckoned with a jovial wave of her arm. "Hopefully Aethyta hasn't drained the coffee pot!"
Miranda drew in a deep breath as she stared out across the coastline. There was no doubting the fact that the Zephyr Coast was a stunning part of Thessia. The air was thick with the tang of salt and a sweet scent that clearly came from the graceful, seemingly ancient trees that dotted they landscape. Each was laden with blooms in a rich, deep purple. Although she felt the need to put distance between herself and the house, she was wary of straying too far. The sound of waves rolling incessantly against the shore was a point of familiarity, but everything else felt alien.
Even as she perched on a rock to take everything in, she felt herself to be a blot on the landscape. Or perhaps she was imaging everything and she was merely homesick for Nevos. Homesick for the familiar and the known. Missing Jack.
Reaching into the deep pocket of her coat, Miranda drew out the small book. She stared at it for a moment, wondering what had possessed her to bring one of her most treasured possessions to a place she didn't want to be.
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
Her fingers traced the outline of the rabbit on the red cover. She'd read it dozens of times. Knew almost every word by heart. Yet she kept coming back to it. Because it was familiar. And because it had belonged to her. Miranda did not open the book to read, she simply stared at it. For a moment at least. Long enough to recognise the fact that she was being watched. Any apprehension she might have felt quickly dissipated when she heard the distinct snap of a twig underfoot. Who, or whatever, it was presented little threat. She was irked at having to share her solitude. A darker thought crossed her mind. Ashley had no doubt tagged one of her retainers to stalk her every move. That thought wasn't remotely surprising – it was something she would have expected from Ashley.
Miranda had hoped to spend the rest of her life without encountering that woman ever again. Now it seemed fate was playing a cruel joke. She was staying in Ashley's home. With her family. With no recourse to leave until the whole strange situation came to its eventual resolution. Whatever that might be.
The first twinge of irritation settled. A remnant of the anger she had felt at being ripped away from her life – almost literally being ripped from Nea's arms. Placing the book safely back in her jacket pocket, Miranda prepared to do battle of sorts. Or to at least make it clear that she wanted to be left alone. She stood and turned in one fluid movement, her face already schooled into a hard mask. The whole act almost came undone immediately when she found something unexpected. Wide eyes, lips parted in shock and a small body poised for flight. An asari child, no more than twenty years old, stood a few metres away. Miranda had never laid eyes on the child before, but she knew immediately that this was one of Liara and Ashley's daughters.
"Hello." Miranda offered up the greeting as an invitation and waited.
Any trace of fear disappeared from the child's face, replaced by open curiosity as she edged closer. Physically, she resembled Liara, but her mannerisms were Ashley's – right down to the way she carried herself with intelligence and directness.
"You're Miranda," the child said, rolling the unfamiliar name around on her tongue. "Miranda…Lawson. I heard my Mum talking about you."
Better her than your father, Miranda thought. "You're very observant. But I'm afraid I'm not. I don't know your name."
The child drew herself up a little taller. Pride clearly written on her face. "I'm Alice T'Soni."
So, this is Alice. Standing in front of the child, Miranda's subconscious resentment over Ashley and Liara's use of Shepard's name disappeared. She was left only with an odd sense of fulfilment. That it was appropriate that two of Shepard's closest and dearest friends had chosen to name their child after her.
"Did you fight alongside my Mum and Dad during the War?" Alice continued, filling the silence.
"Sorry?" Miranda forced herself to concentrate on Alice's expectant face. "No…not really. I served on the Normandy after your Mum and Dad left…and, in turn, I had left when they re-joined during the Reaper War. But I did have the pleasure of going on a mission alongside your Mother once, before the War." Your father would have sooner shot me in the back.
Alice looked slightly disappointed, then her eyes widened, and she grinned. "But you served on the Normandy! So, you definitely fought with Commander Shepard?"
Miranda inclined her head. "Of course. We fought the Collectors together."
Alice dared to dart even closer, staring up at Miranda expectantly. "What was she like? Mum and Dad don't talk about her much, and they won't let me watch any of the vids."
Miranda smiled softly at Alice's complete lack of reservation. A certain someone else had been prone to the same thing. At least in every area of her life bar one.
"I don't need to tell you that she was brave." Stupidly so. Miranda looked back out at the view, not bothering to wipe the wistful expression off her face. "But she was clever and resourceful." She glanced back to Alice. "She taught herself most of what she knew by watching people…and reading books. The world was definitely a better place with her in it. I miss her."
"I think my Dad does too. She gets angry when I ask questions-" Alice stopped suddenly and chewed on her lip for a moment. "I'm not 'posed to bother adults. Don't tell my Mum and Dad? Please?"
"I'm not going to tell on you," Miranda offered what she hoped was an encouraging smile. "Although only if you help me find my way back to the house. I might be a little lost."
It was next to impossible to miss the massive house, but Alice T'Soni was only too happy to be her guide. The child alternated between darting ahead excitedly, or lingering close by. Every moment was filled with excited chatter as Alice made what she thought were helpful observations about native plants or birds, or peppered Miranda with yet more questions. The young asari was delightful. Miranda was happy to indulge her.
As they walked up a set of steps leading into the house, Miranda found herself anxiously running her thumb along the spine of her book. An idea settled into her head. Once lodged, it could not be shaken. When Alice glanced over her shoulder, grinning with youthful enthusiasm, Miranda made her decision.
"Alice?" she called ahead, stopping the child in her tracks.
The name always sounded wistful on her lips of late, especially as she had so little cause to say it. Whilst waiting for Alice, Miranda's fingers trailed over the cover of the book one last time. There were a few last moments as she thought about what she was doing. It was all she had of Shepard. No, it wasn't. She had memories – so many of them hurt to remember, but she needed to move on. Alice was staring up at her with a quizzical expression. Miranda knelt down to bring herself closer to Alice's height.
"I want you to have this." Miranda showed her the book.
"That's a book. An actual real book! Made of paper!" Alice seemed pleased with herself for recognising the object. Her eyes scanned the cover and she read each word carefully, "Alice's Adventures in…Wonderland. Wow, it has my name in it?"
"It's all about a girl called Alice...and that's not all, this book used to belong to someone else called Alice." Miranda drew open the cover and held it open. Even if she closed her eyes, she would still see that name written in a childish hand across the title page.
Alice Shepard.
Beside her, a different Alice's eyes goggled in wonder. "Do you mean…is this…?" Alice's voice trailed off in wonder.
"Yes. This book once belonged to Commander Shepard herself. It was her favourite story." Miranda closed it gently and held it towards Alice. "I've been looking after it for a while. But now I'd like you to have it."
Alice's fingers closed over the book with as much reverence as a child could muster. She immediately clutched it to her chest. Her blue eyes were shining with gratitude, but she obviously could not find the right words to express how she felt as her mouth was fixed open in wonder. Miranda knew she had made the right decision.
The moment was interrupted by the sound of heavy footsteps on the tiled floor. Both Miranda and Alice looked up to see Ashley approaching. Ashley's face looked like thunder, although Miranda could not tell whether it was directed at her daughter or at her. She rose slowly to her feet, keeping her expression relaxed even though her instincts told her to send Ashley flying with a well-placed biotic throw to the chest.
"Alice, what did I tell you about bothering guests – and Ms Lawson in particular?" Ashley demanded.
"That I wasn't 'posed to?" Alice ventured uncertainly.
"Look, Ashley, it's my fault," Miranda interjected quickly. She had no desire to come between a parent and a child, but nor did she want to see Alice punished for something so trivial. "Alice and I happened to bump into one another. We were chatting about this wonderful place where you live, and I gave her a gift."
"Dad, look!" Alice held out her prized possession, gently opening the cover in the same manner Miranda had a few moments earlier so her father could see the name inside. "This was her book. Commander Shepard's! And Miranda…Ms Lawson, gave it to me!"
Miranda almost winced as she waited for the reaction. However, as Ashley stared down at the book and the joy on Alice's face, her expression noticeably softened. All trace of her fury dissipated. She knelt down in front of Alice in much the same way that Miranda had earlier.
"That is a very special gift, monkey," Ashley said softly. "Did you say thank you to Ms Lawson?"
Alice turned her face to Miranda, eyes bright. "Thank you, Ms Lawson. I can't wait to read it. Dad, can I read it to Theda?"
"Of course you can," Ashley replied. "Why don't you go and find Theda now?"
The child hesitated, clearly enjoying being the centre of attention with two adults. But the prospect of showing her new treasure to her sister won out, and she dashed off at a brisk walk – the book was clutched against her chest with both hands.
"My apologies, Ashley," Miranda said once they were alone. "I should have asked your permission before giving Alice the book."
"You don't need to apologise." Ashley's voice was firm, but she could not bring herself to look at Miranda. "I'm sorry. For…everything. I've been nothing but an asshole."
Miranda stared at Ashley with disbelief written plainly across her face. From the expression on Ashley's face, it was apparent she felt the same way. Neither of them could believe the words that had just escaped the marine's lips. Ashley opened her mouth, as though to say something further, before she shook her head almost imperceptibly. When she finally did meet Miranda's gaze, her own was furtive and embarrassed.
"Right, good…okay." A string of unnecessary words escaped Ashley's mouth as she shuffled her feet and tried to focus. "I came to let you know that the Gallipoli is in orbit." Her tone was swiftly back to normal. "The shuttle is already on its way. We'll be leaving in half an hour."
The Gallipoli is in orbit. Miranda let the words sink in. The interlude on the Zephyr Coast had only ever been that, a short moment between the new life that she had been carving out for herself and the unknown that she now faced. It had been so easy to lose herself here that she had almost forgotten there was a job to be done. The prospect sat uncomfortably in the pit of her stomach.
"Are we good, Lawson?"
Ashley's brusque question jerked her back to reality.
Miranda nodded purposefully. Now was not the time for uncertainty. "I'll gather my things."
