Edited 31.05.2021 for grammatical, stylistic and logic errors
16/01/2174 Serpent Nebula, Widow, Citadel, Tayseri Ward
My plan for getting the resources I needed to take on the Reapers had not changed since I explained it to Kal'leena. And since I now had the full freedom to pursue it how I wanted I intended to go out, find some pirates and kick their ass. As it turned out with more planets getting colonized by humans piracy has been increasing. Especially with batarians smarting from the snub from the Council. Not that batarians were at any point liked by the Council. Merc bands operated more or less as they saw fit in the Traverse and the Terminus and as long as they didn't break the laws too overtly in Citadel space they were treated as legitimate private security companies.
Miranda did not think much of my plan. But after I explained how this would lay down groundwork for the confrontation with Cerberus and Illusive Man that was coming she grudgingly agreed that it was a workable idea. I thought that she looked particularly cute when she did that.
Her own mission was to get back to Cerberus and try to map out as much of it's structure and it's sponsors as she could with the help of the worm that she planted. I thought it was the more dangerous assignment, I would only be getting shot at by criminals and I was free to shoot back, she would be in the den of evil pretending that everything is fine while navigating the pit of vipers that was Cerberus hierarchical ladder as she attempted to climb it and not fall for the intrigues weaved by other agents on the inside. When we parted at a rapid transit terminal I saw her steel herself with a breath and as she exited the cab she was in the Ice Queen mode that I knew from the games.
I spent a week recuperating, pain was gone by the second day and I was back in shape by the third day but all three Shepards on the station decided that they won't leave me be until I have properly rested. Which in their opinion meant a run down of things the Citadel had to offer for entertainment. Ray thought that it was imperative for me to learn the finest points of culture in which he included elcor, hanar and volus theatre. Elcor plays were actually interesting, although they had a disclaimer that non-elcor were inable to appreciate it properly. Volus stage plays had far too many numbers and graphs in them. The less is said about hanar the better.
Jack's idea of relaxation was to drag me to bioti-ball games and turian wrestling matches. Bioti-ball was fun but watching half naked turians wrestle was odd. They didn't differentiate the sport into male and female categories either. Not that there was anything to look at, male and female turians are almost identical without their clothes on. Kate was less exotic in her entertainment preferences which included places with good food and movies.
And so it was at the end of the week as we were walking out of a cinema Kate laughing as she recalled a funny moment from the volus situational comedy that we just watched that I found myself with a realisation of two things. First that I was feeling happy, actually happy. A feeling that I did not have much practice in both this universe and my original universe. And the second was that if someone looked at me and Kate right now they would think we were dating. I had missed the moment where my left arm had found it's way around her waist supporting her as she was leaning heavily into me shaking with laughter recounting a funny moment and I was laughing along. I wasn't quite sure what to think of this. On one hand she is an extremely attractive young woman whose company I find rather enjoyable, one the other hand she is the future Commander Shepard the Saviour of the galaxy. It felt almost sacrilegious to think of her that way. Also there was that moment with Miranda which hinted at something more, even if it had been an act at first to spring a trap.
Thinking of Kate I simply could not see how this young woman could be responsible for so much in less than a decade. But I could believe that she managed to bring a whole galaxy together, she easily made friends and even after a few days hanging out together it was like we had been friends for years. I could see her getting to know her alien crew and making every single one loyal to her. But I could not warn her, I had no evidence that would convince a human of what I knew was coming, so I resolved myself to prepare in her place. And I would rather let her have these years without them being overshadowed by the doom that the Reapers were bringing. When the time comes she would need help and she would have it. As I was lost in thought she grabbed my collar, pulled me close and then pressed her lips to my cheek.
"What was that for?" I asked surprised
"For showing me a good time. This will be my last chance at civilian comforts for a while and I couldn't have hoped for better company." Kate said smiling at me
"Ah, I know you have been looking forward to a shipboard assignment, SSV Manila was it, one of the newer cruisers so it shouldn't be as cramped as the old Geneva's. What kept you? I would have thought someone with your aptitude would have been assigned long ago." I noted as we walked towards the rapid transit terminal.
"It was for Jack. I know I delayed my career but I wanted to be there for her and the specialists at medical agreed that Jack needed as normal a family as we could make it. That's why mom stayed for a few months too but she got her own command now and you don't turn down a command of a ship." Kate replied her smile faltering slightly and I kicked myself mentally for bringing it up
"All I can say is that you did good. Not that you need me to tell you that. I had only seen Jack briefly that one time and I can see a clear change." I said and stopped. We stood in front of the terminal and I could see Kate hesitate slightly as if to say something
"I will be shipping out too, now that I am free to choose my own goals I need to make a start on my to do list. So this is a goodbye for now." I said
"You are? I thought you lost your job?" Kate asked
"And that means that now I am my own boss. As a parting gift they have given me a ship and a few names and places I need to visit." I replied thinking on the intel I was given, it would be a nice start. Cerberus distributed cell structure might make it hard to take down but also that meant that coordinating a response would not be easy. I tapped the terminal to summon an aircar.
"It's about Miranda isn't it. I knew it, no guy could turn down someone like her." Kate stated pointing an accusing finger at me
"It's not like that." I replied, quickly, maybe too quickly considering the smirk on Shepard's face. And yes that was definitely a Shepard Smirk, patent pending. "Yes she is involved but it's work. You could say our activity fields are related and are overlapping in a manner and now we have to do some cleaning up. It's going to be hard but the result should be worth it."
"Oh I have no doubt that it's going to be hard and that she is going to like the result when both of you are finished." Kate teased her grin lighting up her face
"Shepard!" I shouted reproachfully and I could feel my face heating up but I knew it would not be visible. I thanked whoever remade me that emotional biological responses were practically non-existent.
"I can't blame you throwing yourself on a grenade for her. I am not batting for that team but even I can appreciate how snug her outfit was. It's like someone made her just to give other women body image issues." Kate continued laughing at my expense
"Done?" I asked amused, Kate was only saying that as a joke and I was not going to say how close to the truth she got.
"Done. Ehh, I could say something but I won't. " Kate said grinning impishly.
"How did someone like you came out of such serious and reasonable people like your parents." I said shaking my head in mock disbelief
"That's only because you didn't know them from before. My father started out as a marine corpsman and my mother was an ensign when they met in a brig after starting a brawl. A brawl that thrashed a bar and spilled out on the streets of Armstrong City. The best part is that they started it with each other." Kate said
"I have nothing to say to that." I said and both us lapsed into a silence and I saw the timer on the terminal down to 30 seconds "This was a good evening. Hopefully we will have a repeat some time later. And Kate, if you ever need help, you have my contacts. Even if you are on the far side of the galaxy I will come. So stay safe"
The aircar slid into it's place right in front of the terminal with a hum of it's mass effect core changing the pitch. Kate looked at it and then at me and stepped close and hugged me.
"You too. I will have two dozen marines as backup unlike you. If you find yourself on the Citadel again look in on dad and Jack for me." Kate said and let me go
"Of course." I nodded
"I should go." Kate said and climbed into the aircar, she sloppily saluted and I replied in kind just before the door closed and the aircar sped off. As I ordered another aircar I mused to myself that this what I was going to fight for. Saving the galaxy from Reapers was obviously a fight well worth fighting for but it was also a bit abstract. I knew I was here, in this universe to fight them, it was the whole reason for my existence here however it didn't feel personal. But moments like this, of friendship and warmth, was personal and I needed this connection. Not to keep me motivated, no I was plenty motivated. But it would keep my head screwed straight, help me keep from turning into another Illusive Man. Because as much as I wanted to stop him I could not condemn him. Experiencing what he did and getting a dose of Reaper indoctrination must have played havoc with his mind. I had to keep things in perspective and stay away from thinking that results at any cost strategy could ever work.
Thinking of my next steps I returned to my hotel room. It would be a busy day tomorrow.
12/03/2174 Bekenstein, Milgrom, Business District Cordoba Tower level 212
Miranda stepped into the holo-communication system and sighed inwardly. After losing a second cell at the hands of the same man Illusive Man decided to take every precaution and investigate everything about Sam Knight. And who better to lead the investigation than the only Cerberus operative left alive after meeting him? Miranda had tried her best not to put anything that didn't come from Cerberus sources into the final report and it ended up as a series of suppositions. Verified sightings of Sam Knight were few and associated actions as an operative of unknown secret organisation were no more than educated guesses. Even his name was not a known fact as taking on a name of a dead person with no relatives was a classic tactic when covert operatives needed a fake identity.
Miranda had sent her report earlier today and now she was summoned to appear in front of Illusive Man himself. She wondered briefly if her career in Cerberus would have been going the same way if Sam had never shown up.
"Miranda, I have read your report. The issue of Sam Knight is troubling." Illusive Man said exhaling a cloud of smoke.
"I did not find any mention of the origin of the tip that led us to him in the files I received. I understand the need for security of a valuable asset but the origin might have given us more leads to follow. " Miranda replied coolly, showing displeasure at not being trusted enough but being a professional about it. This had been her go to persona, a way to keep others at an arms length. To everyone she must appear competent and confident with just enough justified arrogance that would make everyone doubt themselves first before doubting her. Not that such things worked on Illusive Man.
"That particular asset is no longer available. It is of no concern. Your recommendation at the end of report is intriguing." Illusive Man tapped the cigarette against the ashtray
"Sam Knight might as well be working for one of our cells. His actions are in line with our own procedure when dealing with rogue cells. I have reviewed the records from the Teltin Facility and the mission files of the cell used to capture Sam Knight and in both cases a particular disregard for proper operating procedures is evident. The lead scientists at Teltin were engaged in pseudo-science and Gant was a complete maniac. The funding Cerberus spent on those two cells was being wasted.
And currently he is engaged in anti-piracy action in the Traverse. He brings publicity to the problem of piracy and batarian slavers. Cerberus could use that to push Alliance for more hard line policy against batarians. Leaving him under observation without interference is most efficient. Going after him right now would require a considerable investment of resources and I do not see the need to do so for mere revenge." Miranda explained as she remembered a recent report where Sam had managed to interrupt sale of several dozen human children. One picture in particular showed a teenage girl carrying a toddler, brought to mind her own escape from her father's clutches. Miranda had spent weeks on passenger ships going from system to system while caring for her sister. Despite the constant fear of being captured, despite the cramped conditions and feeling more tired than she had ever felt it was a fond memory for Miranda. It was only her and her sister. Rocking her to sleep, feeding her or just holding her Miranda finally understood what had been missing from her own childhood. And that she would do everything to give Oriana a normal childhood.
"Your assessment of the situation is based purely on fact then?" Illusive Man took a drag of his cigarette
"Of course." Miranda replied coldly, she knew where this was going and she was disappointed in Illusive Man. He had been someone she had admired and seeing the curtain raised and revealing what was behind it made her reassess every interaction. He tried very hard to appear as more than a man. To appear in control.
"So this has nothing to do with it?" he asked and gestured towards a recording of her kissing Sam. Looking at the run time Miranda was slightly surprised herself. Time had indeed vanished for those twelve minutes and seventeen seconds.
Seeing herself from the side Miranda could not help but feel the fire rekindle itself inside her again. Even if the recording was being used in such a way she still felt the same after two months. That on itself had meaning.
"That was my role in this operation wasn't it?" Miranda replied keeping her face aloof and her posture relaxed. She had more than enough practice keeping her inner self away from others. Her father had seen to that.
"Then we will follow your recommendation. Now, I have a new job for you." Illusive man said turning away as if forgetting to stop the video. Miranda listened to her new orders and watched herself moan silently in pleasure as Sam kissed her neck, his hands moving across her body, her hands moving across his, watched herself as they lost clothes and she straddled him. And when Illusive Man finished with his instructions at the same moment as the recording stopped she knew that the next time she saw Sam she would not mind continuing where they left off.
Exiting the holographic communication field Miranda repressed the urge to close her eyes and sigh. Illusive Man and Cerberus had once again proven to unworthy of the lofty ideals they espoused. The trick of using a display of her own sexuality to make her lose her balance was simple and cheap. She expected more from Illusive Man.
Thanks to her tap into the Cerberus network Miranda now knew a lot more than she should know as an agent of her position. Unfortunately it revealed her own ignorance when it came to the organisation she was working for. The things she had seen so far were leaving far too many questions unanswered but one thing was a certainty. Cerberus had to die. And if it had to be her that walked into Jack's Harper's office and pulled the trigger then Miranda would make sure she did not miss. Any enjoyment of the deed would be purely coincidental.
Returning to her quarters she sat down at her terminal and started to design a new uniform for herself. Miranda decided that if even Illusive Man could not help but think of her as a woman first and agent second then she would start using her looks the way they were designed for, as a bludgeon. Triple ballistic weave, nanogel liner and full medical weave, all tailored to fit her like a glove and accentuate her best sides from all angles. Knee high, high heeled boots with magnetic soles and a kinetic shield harness made into the shape of belt to accentuate her hips. Hours later striding through the polished metal and glass office of one of Cerberus front companies Miranda did not let her thoughts slip outside of her Ice Queen mask. Miranda was pleased with the result. The male Cerberus operatives that had seen her definitely looked like someone hit them over the head. For now Illusive Man had given her a job, she would make sure Cerberus people were in place on the new joint human-turian ship building project. The details were few but it was set to bring the best of human and turian ship building experience together. With her new identity as a corporate negotiator for Cord-Hislop Aerospace she would have all the right access. Smiling coldly Miranda felt excited to try out her new look on the Alliance requisitions officers.
I am alive. I have returned. I know it's been a long time and I am not going to make excuses for it. We have all dealt with issues over the past year. Hopefully you still like what I have done. And yes I did get a boost out of the Legendary Edition announcement. But I know I need to sustain this. I also know that since I haven't actively written over the past year my work is not the quality it should. And punctuation is guesswork more than knowledge.
So please review and if anyone wants to be a beta or kick me every so often so I write more often please PM me.