"He killed half my staff!" The dark-haired woman hissed, arms crossed beneath her bosom. "Sir I beg you to reconsider the control chip. This man is dangerous at best, our ruin at worst."
The Illusive Man took a long drag from his cigar, observing her closely, watching the light from the massive, red super giant filter through her irate expression, the QEC gave the woman an other-worldly countenance. His fingers traced the contours of the stogie, musing.
"My understanding is that Klaus broke protocol by wearing his uniform in the rejuvenation bay. Seems to me your ire should be directed at him. Besides, it's good news – the latest cybernetic material meshed well with his physiology. I understand how difficult this must be to see, but ultimately, it's a sign of success."
"Klaus will answer for his impudence. But this is about the future of Cerberus. Reviving someone this physically adept with the political power he wields and not installing a safety measure is…."
"No. And I don't want to hear about this again." He inhaled, savoring the rich, woody flavor. "I want Shepard. The Commander Shepard. Not some disjointed knock off. Foreign material, regardless how bleeding edge, can cause any number of changes in personality."
"We just need a talented team to follow him. They don't have to know we're the ones pulling the strings."
"You have a lot to learn about the art of control Miss Lawson. It is a delicate dance – not something so crude that it can be achieved with the flip of a switch. We need him to work with us, not as a puppet or even a subordinate. I need his vision, his insight. And most importantly, he is the only human to be touched by a working prothean beacon who lived to tell the tale. Your chip could alter any number of mental functions. The final answer is no."
"And what am I supposed to tell my staff? This maniac breaks loose, kills their coworkers, and we're just… continuing on as normal? No extra safeguards? I can't blame them for accusing us of using them as expendable labor."
"Tell them the truth – that compassion has no place in the face of extinction. Every few months, another colony vanishes into thin air. And we both know it isn't the batarians, not on this scale. Now, if we're done with this pointless discussion, I have some concerns about The Lazarus Project that need to be addressed."
"I – yes – Of course sir."
"His memory. Tests indicate that his mind is still fragmented, he has nothing but an incomplete, half-baked history. And that's something we cannot afford. He needs to be fully restored. I want him exactly as he was before the attack. Besides, part of the reason for this frenzy is his discombobulation."
She sighed heavily. "The hypoxic damage to his brain was significant. We're working to repair it but..."
"Excuses? From you Miss Lawson? I expected better…."
"I have an idea." She hastily interjected. "He has significant evidence of neurofibrillary tangles composed of the hyper-phosphorylated form of the microtubule protein tau. I am almost positive this is the source of his memory issues. Yet, it's not something I can solve with surgery, it's far too delicate."
"So what do you suggest?"
"An infusion of nanite-laced antibiotic therapies. It could reverse the neural degeneration. However, he'll need to be in a medically induced coma and all efforts to restore his physical functions will have to be placed on hold."
"I like it. Aggressive but we're running short on time. Besides, he's proven that his physical capabilities are progressing splendidly."
Miranda sighed, nervously scratching at the base of her neck. "Yes but the infusion will be too high-volume for an organic brain. He'll need a high powered, cybernetic shunt to handle the additional stress – at least temporarily. Not to mention the fact, it may alter his biotic abilities. And I'm aware how over-budget we are."
"I'm forwarding six-billion credits dedicated to his memory restoration, if you need anything more, I'm just a call away. As for his biotics, he'll have other skills at his disposal before the mission takes place. If we lose Shepard, humanity will follow."
"Then I'll see to it we don't lose him."
"I hope you're up to this task, I know your history with your fath..."
"I will not fail."
"Also, make sure to clean up the lab. You're expecting a guest."
The holo-call ended, leaving The Illusive man to his own devices. "VI-299, tap Kelly Chambers, it's high time we start putting together some dossiers. And get me Chelsea while you're at it. I think we're due for a trip to Tiptree."