Author Note: Welcome to the 29th Chapter of the very put off Fight for the Lost! There will be A LOT going on because I'm starting to merge the 'Buyer' storyline as well as the final arc story-line (yes, they go together!). I suggest you re-catch up by going so far as to re-read or skim the last SIX chapters just so that you're not confused about what's happening.
I've decided to place this chapter a few days after the occurrences in 28. Don't worry, all the blanks will be filled as we go along through the story.
Also, please excuse any errors if you've encountered them as I do not have a Beta Reader. If you find something that is just absolutely intolerable, please let me know and I'll be sure to correct it. Thanks!
Admiral Steven Hackett, Alliance HQ.
Commander Shepard, I need to discuss a sensitive matter with you privately.
We have a deep cover operative that was captured out in Batarian space. Her name is Doctor Amanda Kenson. Doctor Kenson recently reported that she found evidence of an imminent Reaper invasion. I need you to infiltrate the prison and get her out of there. As a favor to me, I'm asking you to go in alone and keep this quiet. The Batarians are just looking for an excuse, Shepard. If they see a fully armed team going in under a logo they'll open fire and deem it as an act of warfare. Go in with discretion. With the Reaper threat in one hand, the last thing we need is war between us and them. The prison is hidden underground at an outpost on Aratoht. I'll upload the coordinates now. Once Kenson is secure, confirm her discovery. We'll debrief when you're back.
Hackett out.
[Chapter Twenty-Nine: Outcomes and Arrivals, Part I of II]
[The Armory, 10AM]
"Okay something is totally going on. Shepard just up and left June in his holding cell with only a few more days till we hit his hive? Nuh-uh. What gives? I thought we were supposed to be taking him back into the Terminus System for trial that way we could get our infiltrate on. Why the pit stop at the Viper Nebula?"
"Kasumi, if the Commander felt it best that he keep his new, current objective classified then you know what? It probably is for the best."
"You don't think that's odd, Jacob? You don't think it's weird that Mr. Teamwork himself suddenly decides to go and get dropped off on some strange Batarian planet claiming that he needs to get something done alone?"
Jacob shrugged lightly, "No. I don't."
"Why! I mean hello, have you seen the team he's put together? We're awesome-we put the freaking 'awe' in awesome! There's a Krogan in the lower decks that could punch a hole through someone's face and Shepard decides it best to go solo? Riiiight.."
"Kasumi," Jacob warned softly. "The Commander knows what he's doing."
"I know that! Of course he knows what he's doing...I just wanna know why he's doing it and why we're not involved."
The ex-Cerberus officer groaned in protest, "Do you absolutely have to know?"
"Hi, my name is Kasumi. It's so nice to meet you."
"Ka-"
"-Jacob, when do I not have to know?"
"Valid point. But just how are you going to find out?" Jacob trusted the Commander and would never be one to question his methods or orders, but something about the quirky expression on Kasumi's face really did cause a vague amount of curiosity to spring forth. He couldn't tell if it was because he was curious as to what the Commander was up to, or if he just wanted to see if Kasumi could really find out.
"Who else besides myself has a knack for spying and gathering a little harmless information every now and then?" Kasumi looked to her boyfriend with one of her straightforward 'duh' expressions. When there was no reply the thief groaned, "You should know as well as I do that Miranda put enough bugs in the Commander's Cabin to start a colony."
"...she never took those out? I thought she said that she removed those."
"Seriously," Kasumi deadpanned. "Have you met anyone aboard this ship? I love you, sweetie, but you have got to play catch up!" Jacob stared at his love in confusion, blinking as she roughly patted him on the cheek before quickly walking past the giant, sliding exit doors. Kasumi's destination? Miranda.
[Miranda's Office, 10:30AM]
"Miranda, we know you've got the place wired. Spill." Kasumi had the flat of her palms against the operative's desk, leaning forward and casting an interested gaze upon the raven haired woman who seemed almost oblivious to any presence.
"I already tried, Squinty. The Ice Queen is being extra frosty today." Jack crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back against the armchair by Miranda's desk. She casually threw her boots on top of its surface, dirt (or something similar to it) from their grubby, rubber soles flaking off onto some of the XO's paperwork. Miranda flicked her eyes to the offending feet and miraculously managed to keep her eyebrow from twitching in irritation.
"Come on, Miranda. You're our second-in-command, and as two of your specialists I think we have the right to know if we're about to get pulled into anything." As soon as the words left her lips Kasumi knew it was the wrong tactic to pull, a soft grunt the resulting sound of her methods.
"Goto, it's your job to be pulled into any and everything that the commander sees fit. You agreed to the terms of serving with us. The possibility that we might be heading into danger now should not prove to hold much shock value for you, correct?" Miranda kept her voice level and eyes glued to her terminal, slender fingers typing away at her morning report.
Kasumi sighed and stood straight, changing her gaze to look towards the convict instead. "What about you?"
"What about me?" Jack countered, almost defensively. "If I fuckin' knew anything do you think I'd be here with the Precious Princess? No. Shepard blew me off." She clenched her jaw tightly and pushed her tongue against the roof of her mouth, a new habit that formed recently now that she was learning to watch her temper.
Kasumi looked at the woman almost wide-eyed. "Shepard...blew you off?"
Jack exhaled sharply through her nose, a half-assed shrug being her only response.
The thief cocked her head to the side, watching as the tattooed, slender woman looked out the small window across from her seat as if trying to process.
"Shepard, I know we've been workin' our goody-goody asses off trying to catch the bad guys and everything, but do you remember what I asked for back at the Citadel a few weeks ago?"
"Of course I do, Jack. Why?"
"You told me that a lot of the files went missing but that you'd be sure to ask the Cheerleader to look for them when 'the time was appropriate'. I'm wonderin' if you've asked her yet. I'd do it myself but you know that her and I don't exactly exist well together."
John lowered his eyes and shifted, "I know this is probably really important to you, but I haven't been able to ask just yet. It's been a little stressful, I'm not going to lie. But I promise that I will see to it that we find out everything we can about-"
"Commander Shepard," Kelly suddenly said in her usual regal manner, "Forgive the interruption, but Admiral Steven Hackett from Alliance HQ has sent a message to your private terminal. It is presented as urgent and requires your attention immediately. He has requested that you review its contents in privacy."
Jack looked up at the intercom system in annoyance before lowering her gaze back onto her boyfriend expectantly. Shepard sighed and shrugged apologetically before looking over towards his terminal. "Let me just take care of this message then-"
"Forget it, Shepard. Just forget all about it. At this rate I'll never get what I'm looking for. I was stupid to ever ask someone like you." She turned away from him, eyebrows furrowing in hurt. She knew that John loved her, and she knew that he was busy, but it still stung every time he chose to run away and save the world instead of helping her with something that would take an hour tops.
"Jack come on, you know how crazy it's been for us lately..."
John reached out to gently take hold of Jack's forearm and she paused, frozen by the touch and the unwillingness of her feet to move. "It must get pretty tiring playing wonder-boy all the time, eh? Look, don't worry about it. I'll do it myself. I was doing everything by myself before you came along, it ain't gonna kill me to do it alone now." Jack made sure to exit the room before he had the chance to make her feel bad about her choice of words. She had the upper hand in this guilt trip and like hell she would back off now.
"Hello? Normandy to Jack, come in Jack." Kasumi snapped her fingers and Jack brought up her eyes. "I was asking why Shepard blew you off? That doesn't sound much like him. What happened?"
"The fuck, Kasumi? I said I didn't know anything. I was talking to him in his cabin and then Kelly said some shit about a message. Then he put on his serious face and big boy pants and starting working. I left the room and that's the last time I saw him before he launched himself onto that planet alone."
Kasumi took a few steps towards the tattooed woman and leaned in, "What'd the message say?"
"Are you deaf, dumb, or stupid? I just said that I walked out. I didn't hear the message. I just know it was from that asshole Hackett."
"Hackett, hmm?" Ignoring the wave of insults Kasumi then turned back towards the operative. "If it involves the Alliance you know what's going on. Drop the act, Miranda. You know everything that happens on this ship! What did Hackett tell Shepard? What's going on down on that Batarian planet?"
Miranda shrugged nonchalantly and simply continued typing away. It was only when Jack cracked a huge smile that Miranda's eyebrow involuntarily twitched-a tick that only occurred in annoyance when Jack was around.
"Holy shit."
Kasumi turned to eyeball Jack, switching back and forth between the two women. "What? What happened?"
"She really doesn't know!" Jack slapped her knee in amusement and let a little cackle slip. "Ms. Fuckin' Nosey herself doesn't know what's going on and it's killing her!"
"Oh shut up, Jack." Miranda countered, her fingers beginning to move faster and a little harder along the keyboard.
Kasumi's eyes widened. "Oh my God. You really don't know, do you?"
After several moments of silence Miranda finally exhaled bitterly. "It took him long enough, but Shepard must have found and disabled the last of my bugs. There are only so many places they can be installed in a cabin that size, so I didn't hear anything nor do I know what it's about. Shepard only said one thing, and that was for Joker to be listening in for pick up. He'll probably explain it later when he has the time. He seemed rushed."
"I just wonder what it is," Kasumi sighed.
"Use your knowledge and skills of deduction. Any idiot can do that," Miranda waved-off coldly. "It's not like we're completely clueless. If the message was from Hackett and brought forth under the Alliance HQ seal then it's most likely a special objective meant to be kept in low key - which makes sense considering its located on a Batarian planet. What do we know about the Batarians?"
Jack shrugged. "They're assholes and in urgent need of a dentist?"
Miranda rolled her eyes, "Kasumi?"
"We're not on the best footing with them. No one is, really."
"Exactly. Relations with the Batarians are shaky, so whatever it is that Hackett needed will most likely require to be carried out quietly and efficiently. I don't understand why it would call for a solo operation when this team has proven that its more than capable to undergo such missions in numbers of only two or three, but then again I gave up trying to understand the Alliance's logic a long time ago."
"I'm sure the Alliance would be doing much better if you were in charge. Right, Cheerleader?"
"Isn't there a zoo somewhere that you'd feel more at home at, Jack?"
Kasumi rolled her eyes and quietly backed out of the conversation, knowing exactly how long these mini-verbal battles could go on for. Jack grinned and wiggled herself deeper into her seat, slumping back in defiance. "Nah, I'm actually gettin' kinda' comfy here. Thanks. But shouldn't you be visiting your lesbo-lover soon? Didn't you finally promise her a visit or some shit? Isn't it about that time when she's actually awake from all those meds they pump into her?"
Miranda quickly looked at the time on her terminal and groaned.
"You know you wanna see her, Cheerleader. Stop putting it off because you've gotten all crazy over what happened at the resort. She got hurt, big deal. It won't be the last time one of us takes a little hit in the middle of one of Shepard's crazy ass missions."
Kasumi nodded, "Jack's actually right, Miranda. She's been stuck in that bed for days and you haven't seen her once since after Chakwas gave us the okay."
"So?" Miranda managed to answer indifferently even though it felt as if her insides were about to implode.
"So," Kasumi pushed, "it's starting to look really bad on your end."
Jack shrugged, "Especially since the midget gave her that verbal lashing and she's all-"
"Drop it, Jack. Stop acting like you care about her or her sister or anyone for that matter. And as for you Kasumi, when our relationship becomes your problem-either one of your problems, I'll take your advice into consideration."
"Sensitive are we? Bad subject to bring up?"
"I said to drop it, Jack."
"Looky here, Princess, I actually like the stripper...and as much as it mind-fucks me, she seems to really like the pain in the ass that is you too. Love even. You've been shitty to her these last few days without so much as a word spoken. Now go get your crazy together and go see her. You can't avoid her forever."
"You. Out. Now. Both of you."
The thief crossed her arms while giving Miranda an unconvinced look before turning to leave. Jack inhaled slowly and stretched her arms out in a leisurely manner, arching her back and releasing a mighty yawn. "Yeah, yeah, I'm sure you wanna get all pretty for her. I got places to go anyways." The convict stood up and turned around, her eyes quickly darting towards Miranda's desk drawers before looking back at the operative, "By the way, that was my nice way of saying you look like shit. Fix it."
"Coming from a bald, badly dressed woman, I'll take you not liking the way I look as a compliment."
"Whatever. Just go pluck your eyebrows or something, Frida."
[Holding Room, 12PM]
This particular room was colder than most, darker too. It was small and Jack was sure that it was probably less than comfortable for the man cuffed to the metal chair. He was slumped over, his head hanging while he mumbled quietly to himself in what sounded like prayer. Several days had passed since his capture. There were deep purple bags underneath his eyes, and dark red marks all around his wrists, the skin on the verge of breaking and bleeding. Shepard had offered to patch them up on several occasions, but the mercenary had refused. Whether it was pride or punishment, no one could really tell what his reasons for declining were. It may not look it, but cuff wounds can grow to be excruciatingly painful if not treated and padded properly. Jack would know of all people.
June was a curiosity for the ex-convict. He was difficult to read in comparison to other Joe-blows and as a result Jack found herself wandering down into his holding room once or twice a day since his arrival. Majority of the time they just observed each other with studied silence, but sometimes he would indulge the young woman with conversation. Something about Jack compelled him to speak. Maybe he saw a little bit of himself in her, or maybe it was simply the saddened look that always seemed present in the back of her eyes. Either way: between, before, or after the heated interrogations from the Commander, when she would visit…he would oblige.
Upon hearing the heavy thud of her boots, June lifted his head and brought his tired orbs up to give the young, tattooed woman a jokingly flirtatious once-over, "Fancy meeting you here. You and I have got to stop meeting like this. What would the others think?"
For a moment Jack felt a fraction of a grin grace her lips before her face fell neutral. "Looks like you'll be gettin' transferred over to someone from the Alliance soon-just not yet. Shepard made a pit stop and we gotta' wait to pick him up," she said as she slunk down to sit on the ground, extending one leg comfortably and bending the other at the knee.
"It looks that way, yeah. Shepard has all the information that I can give him and my hive should be docking on Tortuga by the end the week. I knew my welcome would be worn out eventually." June smiled, a halfhearted attempt at humor, "And here I was just starting to like the accommodations. I think these cuffs are the highlight of it all." He tugged his wrists upwards twice, the soft cling of metal against metal echoing throughout the small room.
"Don't bitch. Try being in cryo then get back to me about accommodations."
He watched and observed her then, the emotions darting across her face. June had heard people talk about this young woman, had heard the whispers from blurry-faced crewmen who were beginning to all look exactly alike to him. This girl was the only one that ever stood out. He couldn't understand why everyone thought she was so hard to read. It seemed to him like the emotions on her face were getting a little more transparent with each passing day that he had been on board. Was she losing her patience with something? With someone? She looked annoyed enough, almost upset about whatever it was. Jack placed a fist against her lips as her eyes scanned every dull area of the room.
"...bad day, kid?"
"Don't you start too, old man. I come down here because it's quiet and you're usually to fuckin' tired to move much less psychoanalyze me."
June laughed, "Alright. Just thought I'd be a friendly neighbor and lend you a cup of sugar."
"Why the hell would you lend me that?"
"...nevermind. It's an old, old phrase." He sighed, accepting the now silent, tattooed convict as his companion. It was better than the Krogan who came in every so often threatening to 'beat the squishy out of him' with June's own leg just for the hell of it.
Gentle whirring was the only sound in the holding cell, an eerie stillness filling the air now that the ship was stationary. "You know, I try not to wonder about it, but the question keeps popping in my head like some kind of damn firework. Why'd you do it?" Jack asked, finally shattering the silence after mere moments.
"Do what?"
"The kids. When in your job did you find out that you get off transferring kids?"
June shrugged, "I'm not the one putting out the order to retrieve them. I just make sure they get to their destination in one piece."
Jack bit her lip, never making eye contact with the mercenary but opting to stare straight ahead at a vacant wall. "That easy, huh? Do you ever wonder what they must feel like when they get unloaded from that box? Ever think what they could end up like, if they manage to make it out at all?"
June remained quiet for a moment, his eyes wandering over the convicts stone expression then the many tattoos on her body. He knew what some of those symbols were: Gangs, cults, kills, memories. "Why did you choose the life that you did, Jack?"
She looked at him then, a small curl on her upper lip. "I didn't choose anything, I just didn't know anything else."
"I don't know anything else either." June looked at her honestly, his eyes never leaving hers. "You and me share the same story. I know about you. I know who you are, what they did. I didn't have parents. I didn't have someone to watch my back and put a roof over my head and food in my stomach. It's all about survival. Once the Suns give you a mark, you're in it for life, kid. You know how this system works. Now I work hard so my son doesn't have to do the shit I did. It's simple enough."
Jack scoffed; a soft, unsure sound that showed her unfamiliarity with subjects such as a father's pure, loving devotion. June leaned in as if the action mixed with his words would make her understand. "I'm a parent. Do you understand? I have a wife. I have a family...and they're all I got. Do you have family, Jack? Because if you do then you should know the lengths you're willing to go to make sure they're cared for and happy."
There was a thick silence that blanketed the room. "Look," June continued quietly, "I know that I'm not a good man. I know a lot of the things that I do wouldn't make my mother proud. But I also know that I'm not exactly a bad man either, not completely. I know that a good man would choose the whole over the one. I understand it and hey, I get it. I'm just not that man. I choose my family over the rest of you. You can't say you'd be much different. If it were a life and death situation, would you pick me or someone important to you?"
Jack slowly made her way to a standing position and gave the mercenary a cold nod. "Later."
"Whoa. I know I'm a crap conversationalist, but you're leaving so soon?"
"...I got shit to do."
"Hey kid," June called out again, stopping Jack from turning further. "You may not be aware of it because I did the job for me and my own, but in the end everything will connect no matter what the reason. Sacrifices need to be made because it involves us all. And while you may not like it now, sooner or later you'll find out that all of this shit that's happening might just be happening for the greater good after all."
"What the hell are you talking about? There's nothin' good about this."
"Like I said, it all connects. It's not all for nothing. I believed them when they told me that, at least. They're looking for something specific. They'll find it. We'll have a chance because of it."
Jack stopped before the large, sliding doors, placing a hand on the cold, metal frame before turning to look over her shoulder with furrowed brows. "I've heard you say that before. You said it to London back in that hotel room, didn't you? 'They're looking for something specific'."
June sighed tiredly, leaning back against his chair and flexing his wrists the best he possibly could. "It's in the genetics. Shepard knows what I mean and will find out soon enough, I'm sure. Until then I wouldn't worry your pretty little head about it. Why don't you 'go get your shit done' now? I'm kind of tired of talking."
Jack clenched her jaw and offered the mercenary a look of distaste before the doors suddenly slid open to reveal a business-faced Grunt and Garrus. Jack gave both of the specialists a nod. "You're just in time. He just told me that he's in the mood for telling a good, long story..."
[Medical Bay, 12:30PM]
"What do you expect most out of a relationship? A) Companionship, B) Sex, or C) Respect?"
Days had passed since they captured June and it was time for yet another checkup. London eyeballed Kasumi heatedly from her place on the medical bay bed. The thief was sitting cross-legged on a stool and thumbing carelessly through an old magazine that she had in her chest of 'old world' goodies. When London didn't answer, Kasumi raised her head curiously to face the brunette. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Kasumi, you don't have to be here. I know that everyone is busy and probably has more important things to do than keep me entertained with...that," London's back and neck were extremely stiff and her mood was foul to say the least.
"I didn't come up with these questions! I swear that's what the magazine has printed on it. And since you're not playing along, I'll just answer for you. I cheated and looked up which choices give you the most points, so we'll go with—"
"Kasumi!"
"What!"
They stared at each other intensely. Everyone knew why the dancer was in a bad mood. There were no secrets on the Normandy that stayed hidden for long. London's chest heaved and her jaw was tightened. Something in the woman's eyes made it seem as if she were thinking deeply and weighing out the outcomes of her decisions.
"London, I don't like that look on your face. Whatever you're planning…don't. Don't even think about doing anything. Miranda made it specifically clear that you need to rest. Now lay there, let that drippy thing pump you full of vitamins and antibiotics or whatever, and just…don't move!"
"If Miranda has something to say then she can come over and tell me herself, because as far as I know that's all I've been doing! I sleep, I wake up, I eat a little, and on good days people help me stretch. I'm tired of just laying here and letting the drippy thing drip into me! Damn it, Kasumi," London huffed. "Teagan is angry at me! I can't not do anything to try and make it better." Gray eyes peered eagerly at the medical bay door.
Kasumi noticed the direction of the dancer's gaze and the way her feet and toes wiggled ever so slightly. "Oh, no you don't," she said, placing the magazine down and standing up. "You aren't making a break for it. You're going to lie there and like it!"
London redirected her gaze towards the thief. "And if I do make a break for it? What are you going to do about it? What are you going to do if I hobble my way through those doors, hmm? You wouldn't hurt a woman who hobbles."
"I'll friggin' tackle you if I have to, O'Conner. The orders were to stay with you while you got pumped full of your meds. If you're going through those doors, you'll have to go through me first."
"Ugh!" London threw her head back onto her pillow and practically growled. "I have to talk to her. She didn't give me the chance to explain why I cancelled our plans. She won't accept any of my calls either! That is not like her!"
"Just give her a little bit of time to herself. She's just angry…"
"Kasumi, it's about to be noon and its Wednesday. This is the only day where she goes back to her room to eat. It's the only time when I can call and know that she's on the other end near her terminal. I have to go call her now."
Kasumi stared down into London's large, puppy-like eyes and inhaled, "…no."
"Seriously!"
"I said no!"
"I can't believe you would deny me one of the only chances I have to see my sister! You know that she's the only family that I have and and that I need to take care of her! She's never been angry at me before much less pissed! You can see why I'm worried here, right?"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Kasumi's eyes widened and she held her hands up towards the raving woman on the medical bed. London's face was practically turning red. "London, calm down. It's going to be okay!"
"—What if something has happened and I don't know about it because you people and your freaking rules and regulations and medications won't let me get in contact with her—"
"Take a breath! BREATH." Kasumi watched as London flailed her hands out, speaking quicker and emphasizing her gestures with flicks or tosses of the arms and hands. London would groan occasionally, her body obviously protesting towards such rapid movements. "London, you're going to hurt yourself! Stop talking to fast! Oh for the love of…EDI," Kasumi called out loudly over the ranting.
"What can I do for you, Specialist Goto?"
"For the love of all that is holy will you PLEASE get Operative Lawson over to the Medical Bay now! What the hell is taking her so long? She was supposed to visit today. Tell her it's concerning O'Conner!"
"Right away."
It was only a short two minutes before Kasumi intercepted a perfectly fresh looking Miranda right outside the Medical Bay doors. The operative's walk was brisk and the look in her eyes worried as she made her way up towards the hooded woman.
"What happened? Is everything alright? I got the message from EDI saying it was urgent."
Kasumi was sure to keep her voice low, but couldn't contain the aggravation in it as she leaned into the XO. "While you were 'busy' in your office and ignoring your girlfriend, London over here has snapped. I think all the bed rest is finally getting to her. Now, top that all off with the recent tiff with Teagan and…boom. She wants to talk to her sister and she wants to get off that damn bed. Lawson, she won't shut up. She just keeps rambling at a speed that's damn near impossible. And she's turning red because despite my disbelief, I don't think she's taken a breath yet…"
Miranda craned her neck to the side to notice London through the frosted medical bay windows. The woman's shape was indeed ranting and raving despite the lack of people around her. "…how long has she been doing that?"
"Since I told her that she couldn't make a break for it."
The operative ran several fingers through her hair before exhaling and nodding her head determinedly. "Thanks, I'll take it from here."
Kasumi nodded her head and made her way towards the armory while Miranda quietly entered through the doorway. London's eyes snapped to the familiar figure and instantly pointed a finger, her speech seeming to break into double-time"—Don'tevenstartIknow you'reheretogetmetoshutup butIwouldlikeverymuchtogetup andoutofthisbedsothat Icanbepro-activeIhaven't stayedinbedthislong sinceIwaslikeseven hey speaking of sevenyearsold Ineedtotalkto mysisterbecause todayistheonlyday sheeatsinherroom—"
Miranda's brow arched as her heels clicked softly away against the floor on their way towards the sniper's bedside. "London…"
"—Miranda I already said it once, now please don't start. I know what you're going to say and I am putting my foot down! That's right! Putting it—"
"London," the operative tried again, this time a small smile forming on her lips as she leaned over and cupped the brunette's face. "Hey," she said slowly, softly.,
Gradually the rambling slowed down until it stopped all together. London took a large breath and looked away from the woman that was hovering just inches above. When she finally gathered the nerve to reply, it was with a simple, "...hey."
"What's going on," Miranda asked delicately, ever so gently forcing London to look back at her.
"Wait no," London pushed the offending hands away, "don't you try to be all suave and 'hey' me with that stupidly attractive accent. I understand that you're busy, but you haven't come down in days. I would have even settled for a feeble wave of the hand as you walked by my window on the way to lunch or something. Your office is right across the way from here. So before I say anything about what's going on with me, how about you tell me what's going on with you?"
"London," Miranda began weakly, "I've just had a lot of work and I'm tired. So please, let me just sit down with you and talk. I've...I have...missed you." The word and feeling was foreign to her and she found her expression falling because of it.
"It's not like I've been gone, Miranda. I've been across the damn hallway."
"I know that. I deserve that, even. It's just that I've been-"
"Busy, I got it."
"Can we just-"
"Look, I just want to call and talk to my sister, but both you and Chakwas scheduled this God damned medication administration for noon today. Teagan is angry with me, Miranda. She won't talk to me. Remember? I promised her that she could spend her free three days with me and I had to break that promise. You were there when I told her, you saw that sparkle in her eye and how excited she was."
"I know that. At the time I truly thought the visit might have been possible. Things changed and you did the right thing, London. You couldn't let your sister see you like this, with all the bruising and cuts. Not to mention the fact that June is on board. She'll be angry for a little while, but when she calms down and you get to explain... she'll understand. Teagan is a smart girl. Believe me when I say that she'll forgive you. Just give her a small while to vent, okay?"
"I…I know," the sniper finally said, closing her eyes and sighing miserably. "I know. I'm not used to having her so angry at me. I also need to get off this damn bed. Everything hurts and I'm tired of lying down. My body has gone stiff and my mood is just terrible. Why am I being kept in bed? Is it because of my ribs?"
Miranda sat up straight as she cautiously ran her hand down London's arm in an attempt to be soothing. "Not so much your ribs as it is because of your hip dislocation. You had a central dislocation, straight out of the pelvis socket. That's why we bring you in here and hook you up to that little machine. It's anti-inflammatory medication to aid and smooth out the healing process. You're almost done. There's just a few days left to go."
"…I hate this, Miranda. I'm not used to just lying down like a useless lump all day."
"I know," the XO said quietly. "But you're not useless, you're injured. There is a difference."
"...doesn't feel like there is."
Miranda took note of her girlfriend's nearly defeated look, knowing almost instantly what to do to help with both her mood and spirits. "Here, let's work out some of those kinks." Miranda walked around to the foot of London's medical bed and crawled up before the woman could protest. She carefully folded her legs underneath and sat down on her heels before gently lifting and placing London's left calve on her shoulder. "I'm going to push slightly up and forward to stretch you out. You'll feel a bit of pressure in your hip, but we'll move onward little by little to help with the stiffness. Just take it easy when Chakwas works with you today."
London groaned happily as her leg was stretched, a smile even forming when Miranda gently pushed. Fighting against her stubbornness was futile because like it or not London adored Miranda's immediacy and warmth.
"Nice and slowly, Casanova." Miranda chuckled after taking notice of London's expression, her hands rubbing the sniper's thigh up and down firmly to warm the muscle. "Honestly I would enjoy this bed rest while you can. The minute you're fit you'll be ordered to join the rest of the crew in conditioning and training. There won't be time to worry about anything else. You're behind. Years behind if we want to be technical and I would have you catch up as quickly as possible before we being briefing on the-"
"It always has to lead back to work, doesn't it? Nevermind that for five minutes I'd like to worry about my and my sister's relationship." The sniper swallowed the lump in her throat when she felt Miranda's hands stop momentarily, "Just never mind, I assure you that I'm fit as a fiddle. I'll be ready to work."
Miranda's smile turned into tight line, a hand adjusting itself onto London's hip so that she could add a bit more pressure into the stretch. "It has nothing to do with being fit. I don't care if you can run fifty miles and never stop to drink or breathe. You need to train and you need to continue practicing your skills. You have a cold sniper rifle. Who knows what the time off has done to the barrel? Not to mention those knives that Shepard gave you. You still have no clue on how to wield them in a combat scenario. Are you going to just march into battle only to chop off your own arm? If that's the case just pass that gear onto Specialist Goto. How long has it been since you've practiced in hand to hand?"
London raised her hands in surrender, responding with strained ease. "Fine, I'm aware that we can't afford to be rusty at a time like this. Understood, Operative Lawson. I'll be sure to drop and give you two hundred as soon as I'm able."
"I'm not saying it to be pushy, London." The line on Miranda's mouth was beginning to turn into a frown. "I'm saying it because sooner or later there will be a time when you might need to fight again. And I would not have you-I would not have one of my team membersgetting hurt because of the damned lack of bloody training!"
"Whoa," London said quietly, finally taking the time to notice the anxious, almost angry look on Miranda's face. She reached over to place a hand on Miranda's. The operative halted her movements and leaned both back and away from the touch with a heavy sigh. "Don't."
"Don't what? Touch you? I'm supposed to be the upset one here, but only God knows why I find myself concerned for you. Why are you freaking out on me, Miranda?"
The response was a bit more harsh than intended. "I'm fine."
London sighed in return as she watched the other woman's expression. "Here we go again."
"Here what goes again? The fact that you don't want to seem to take an order?"
"I'm not from the damn military, Miranda. I don't work at the same pace. I don't bark when I'm asked to. You know that. I'm still getting used to working with this crew."
"I do know that you're not military. Maybe that's the problem. You can take it as you'd like, but I'm simply stating that training is in order. Nothing else. You're trying to make more of it."
"Maybe that's the problem? I'm not stupid. There is more to it, you've made it plain as day! You got like this the night we fell asleep after I got hurt! I fell asleep, you stayed up, I woke up and you were still awake only this time pacing, and working, and writing, and planning, and always thinking. You've been thinking a lot. You have that same look now. You need to rest."
"It is my job to help think and plan so we can bloody survive! Maybe you just don't think enough."
London nodded her head, "I see. All that verbal vomit is really starting to come out now, huh?"
"London," Miranda groaned, realizing that she was beginning to take it just a bit too far. "I apologize, that is not what I meant. I don't mean to make it sound like you're stupid or unfit for this job, it's just-"
"-you know what happened to me was not your fault, right? It was no one's fault."
Miranda was sure to keep her face neutral after the shock of having her girlfriend hit the issue right on the head. She tried to weigh out her options, deciding if it would be best to enter into that conversation at all. London's expression didn't leave her much room for a way out. "If you must know, there are certain factors that when put into consideration could have been avoided had-"
"I didn't get my ass kicked because of lack of training or planning or leadership. I got my ass kicked because I was out numbered and under geared. The same thing could have happened to anyone had they been in my position. There is nothing you could have done to prevent me from doing what I did. It can't be fixed. You can't go back. It's over and done with, and I'm healing. Stop beating yourself up about it!" Pause. "Is that why you're acting like this? Is that why you haven't come to see me?"
"It's not just that. This...ugh," she scoffed. "This is a complicated situation for me, please understand." Miranda got off the medical bed then, folding her arms as she slowly paced back and forth a short distance. "I'm trying my damndest to control and balance both the XO and the ...girlfriend, but it's proving to be harder than I thought it would. I thought if Shepard could manage it with Jack then I sure as hell could too, but I'm wrong. I'm just not...built that way. There's no place for emotions on the battlefield. I can't keep trying to command you as Shepard's second, but worrying about you like a lover...I can't. I made a bad call back at The Vault. I should have stood my ground and just said no. But I let you go because of this relationship. Because I took a single look into your eyes and saw how much you wanted it despite my decision. I broke." Miranda took a breath then and halted her pacing, a hand raising to her forehead as she thought aloud. "Then I realized that my feelings are starting to...London, I can't have that happen again. I can't make another bad call when we're all so deep into something much bigger than ourselves."
London struggled to move quickly, finally finding that damned remote to lock the bed's top into a slight sitting position. "Stop talking about yourself like you're a damned machine who's switch is stuck on 'GO, GO, GO'. I've gotten to know you, Miranda, and you're anything but. I understand the pressure you're under. I understand that you're going to have to make calls and decisions. I know. But you need to realize that right now we're not on a battlefield. This is starting to become about you and me and our problems. After we figure those out then I'll take everyone else into consideration."
"There is no-"
"Let me talk," London interrupted angrily. "You think that I don't know that I don't have even a smidgen of the training that you guys do? You don't think I know that we're probably about to head into a war? You think I haven't done the homework or gotten my hands on any reports? I know what's out there. I know what the Normandy is fighting for, and I know what I've gotten myself into. I'm not the only one who's at risk, Miranda. What about every other person on this ship? What about our sisters? What about every other single family out there? If people like us don't fight, then who will on our behalf? You're afraid of me getting hurt? You got impaled not too long ago on my behalf! Things happen that we can't always predict in battle, you know that. And I know that pain is a small price to pay in the long run. I will fight so that my little sister, so that your little sister won't have to. I will fight because I want them to be safe."
When Miranda didn't reply London spoke again, softer this time. "You may have chosen to keep your distance from me for a few days, but I know that you love me. I can see it in the way you look at me, hell you're looking at me like that now. I know that sometimes your head will fight with your heart, and that you'll question your judgment. It happens to me too. But please don't blame the misfortunes of combat solely on something so simple as this relationship. You're not a woman who looks for the easy way out, and what you're doing now is most definitely the easy way out."
"I'm not. I've thought about this rationally."
"No," London countered, "you've thought that maybe I'd be safer if you were only commanding me and nothing else. You think it'd be better to cut all ties. I will have you know right this instant that you're wrong. If anything, knowing that at the end of the road I might have a chance to be happy with you gives me more passion and reason to fight harder and better than any military soldier you'll ever meet."
Miranda smiled sadly, knowing that the words only smelled and tasted like honey. The reality was that London was no soldier.
"Don't give me that look," London whispered. "I may not have the training you do, but I've been fighting my entire life just the same. And when this is all done, I just want to be happy. So please tell me that I'll have that chance with you at the end of this battle. Tell me that you're not about to take the easy way out."
Miranda's arms tightened underneath her breasts, trying their best to self-soothe and failing miserably. "I haven't come to visit because I didn't want to start this conversation," she finally admitted honestly, sorrowfully. "I knew it would lead here."
"I've never been a woman to ask twice let alone beg. But I am begging you now to please reconsider what you're thinking, Miranda"
"I don't make mistakes, London. Not out on the field."
Gray orbs searched over Miranda's face tiredly. She would not ask a third time. It took the entirety of her strength to keep her body from trembling. "You're about to make one now."
"You don't know that us being apart will be a mistake. How can you? Maybe it would be better this way. For both of us. Let's be serious about this for one second. This is no time for emotional entanglement. The night that we decided to be with each other was...it was a mistake. We were running on hormones, stupid, idiotic, dim-witted hormones."
"Miranda, you love me. You can't hide that. You can't hide behind that either. What we have is good. It's hard to find and it's very good. If you're going to leave me, let it be because you no longer love me. Don't walk away from me because you're scared. Relationships take work, especially under the current circumstances. Our lives have been-will get more difficult still, and I can honestly say you're one of the very, very few things that have ever made me happy. So I'm going to forgive you for saying we were a mistake, and I'm going to forgive you for ignoring me these past few days... because real love is forgiving. Though I don't approve of you doing it, I understand why you did. I understand your concern. But now the rest is up to you, because I think I've shown you and told you everything that I possibly can to make you understand."
"...I can't, London." Miranda was unable to look at the young brunette then, her voice tinged with an unfamiliar vulnerability as she looked down to her feet. "...what if we...oh God, what if you..."
"Stop it. I haven't seen you in days and I've missed you too. I've missed my girlfriend, Miranda. I know you want to be here with me just as badly as I want you to stay."
"I do," Miranda admitted indistinctly as she walked over towards the machine that administered London's medication. "It's just that now is not the time. For any of it."
London's eyes widened, "Wait! Miranda, don't!"
"Rest now. You need to get better." It was only a few short strokes later that Miranda had administered a small amount of sedative, enough to knock the dancer out. "...I need you to get better." She walked back over towards the bed then, leaning down to place a kiss upon the sleeping woman's head, pausing her kiss and squeezing her eyes shut as a single tear rolled down her cheeks. "Promise me that you won't die when this war begins," she whispered hotly against London's cool skin. "Please. I'll do my job as your second in command, so you bloody well be sure to do yours."
"EDI," Miranda then called out, standing straight and wiping her face. "She's probably having her lunch now, but when she returns let Dr. Chakwas know that I'm transferring the patient back to her quarters for the afternoon."
[Mess Hall, 12PM]
Jack waited, the sole of her heavy combat boot bouncing in anxiousness as she watched the gap that led between Miranda's office and the Medical Bay.
Short distance but enough noise from the lunch crowd to cover up mostly anything.
She was sitting alone at a table furthest back from the crowd, sinking into a corner of the room and trying her best to blend with whatever shadow she could. People ignored her for the most part, just as they always did. No one tried to stir up a conversation, and the crew learned a long time ago to not stare. So she waited in perfect silence, her thoughts remaining uninterrupted.
Come on. Come on. Come on.
Jack could make out Kasumi on the other side of the frosted medical bay windows. The woman was on her feet, one hand stretched out to halt the actions of a very angry looking London. Everyone knew it was only time until the bed-rest and constant use of sedatives got to her. Kasumi threw her hands up, walking back and towards the gliding doors. When the entrance opened the faint sound of ranting could be heard while the thief glared angrily at the direction of Miranda's office.
That's right. Call the girlfriend.
Careful eyes watched as the operative made her way quickly from her office. Jack could tell from Miranda's posture that she must have received the "urgent" news in regards to London and had made her way to the Med Bay as quickly as possible. Both Kasumi and Miranda exchanged some short words, Miranda having double checked the issue by trying to peek at London through the hazy glass. When the XO gave the thief the okay, Kasumi quickly retreated back to the quiet comfort of hers and Jacobs quarters while Miranda entered the battle zone.
Bingo.
Jack casually lifted herself from her seat and made her way through the loud mess hall. Making a right at the elevator and a small u-turn, Jack found herself face to face with Miranda's office door. She gave a quick look over her shoulder as she walked closer, noticing that no one was behind her. The glow at the center of the entrance was green.
Left in a hurry, Cheerleader?
The convict grinned giving one last look-around before softly shoving her elbow into the dimly glowing light and quietly making her way inside.
"I tried doing this the right way," Jack told herself, eyes quickly scanning the area. "It's time to get shit done."
She moved quickly towards the small shelf of books and folders that Miranda kept on the counter near her desk. Fingertips walked over the top of each paper, hazel orbs noting the subjects and classifications. Jack knew what she was looking for, the folder had been given to her once before joining the Normandy and growing to love Shepard. It was just strange how suddenly certain files on her went missing or misplaced. Jack wanted information, and since Shepard had been too busy to help... now was the time to find them herself.
"Bills, bills, receipts...bullshit, where are the fuckin' dossiers?"
Jack paused briefly before shoving everything back into order. "A lot of the files went missing, huh? Nothing goes missing. This office is a fucking prison for information." She eyed Miranda's desk next, turning quickly to inspect the drawers. "Come on, Cheerleader. Where'd it go?"
Jack raised an eyebrow. "Nah, the desk is too open, too common." She got onto her knees and craned her head to scan the desk area underneath the terminal. Tattooed fingers ran across the smooth surface, not finding a single hint to any secret compartment. "Fuck. Where are you?"
She scanned the room again as she got to her feet, hands on her hips until her eyes fell onto the more personal side of Miranda's office. Jack walked over to the nightstand by Miranda's bed, kneeling down and opening the drawer. The convict rolled her eyes as she pushed aside several issues of 'Technology Today' and 'Bio-Tech Research Quarterly, sighed as she read a cover entitled 'Men are from Omega, Women are from Illium,' and cussed as she bumped into a soft, phallic-shaped toy.
"Jesus Christ," Jack hissed, wiping her hand roughly on the back of her cargo pants before shoving the drawer closed. It was then that something strange happened. The force of the shove actually caused the small piece of furniture to move, an oddity considering that the furniture on this military vessel was usually bolted to the floor. Jack squinted as she examined the base of the metal square. "...the fuck?"
She bit her lip as she quietly pushed against the furniture, watching as it slightly lifted and slid aside. Jack could only move it about four inches before the piece refused to budge. There was a small slot visible underneath, but the space was only wide enough to fit a hand much less stick her head in to view anything. The convict popped her knuckles before sliding her hand carefully in, her fingers wiggling around to feel out the small space.
Jack felt the stiff, thick paper of several files, followed by what felt like a frame. Little by little the contents of the hidden compartment were emptied. She looked at the frame first, an eyebrow raising when she found no picture being held within. Next, Jack looked down at the tiny pile of papers.
"What do we have here," she asked herself, haphazardly shoving the frame back into the dark place beneath the nightstand before sitting against the wall and picking up a file.
Jack smiled upon opening the folder's flap. "Miranda Lawson's dossier. Trying to keep your business private? Pfft. Let's see what you got, Cheerleader."
She read the information greedily, eyebrows furrowing the further along she got. "Messages regarding Ashland Energy...possible candidate for the Shadow Broker's recruitment after...oh shit," Jack said quietly, eyes widening in curiosity. "They were gonna off the Illusive Man."
She continued to flip through the pages, landing on what appeared to be a message in regards to medical reports. "...Illium Medical Center, Prenatal Care Department?" Jack tilted her head, "...benign neoplasm to the irregularity in genetic makeup...progressive damage...unable to conceive a child..."
"At least the world will be spared a mini version of you," Jack scoffed, slapping Miranda's dossier closed and tossing it back into the dark hole before picking up a file she noticed, an older file marked with the Cerberus logo. "Subject Zero," Jack whispered, running the tip of her pointer finger over the words. "What the fuck are you doing under there? Looks like I found my 'misplaced' files, Shepard. Question is why the fuck she 'misplaced' them."
Jack's eyes ran through the information she had already seen once before, flipping through the pages hungrily until she reached a page unknown to her, a page that had seemingly been removed from the rest of the packet. There was a feeling in her chest then, almost as if her heart was stuck inside of her throat and had stopped beating all at once. The cause of it was four simple lines, followed by a tiny hard plastic compartment containing a chip.
Subject Zero
Helios Medical Facility, Eden Prime
Year: 2165
Doctor: Henry J. Castor, Head of Research
Shaky hands delicately removed the tiny piece from its holdings and inserted it into her dimly lit omni-tool, the information quickly beginning to download. Jack swallowed then inhaled, using her free hand to begin the short holo-vid.
"Ma'am, please know that we are working on treatments. We understand the harm that prenatal eezo exposure can cause, and know the suffering of parents like yourself. It's just that the government doesn't put much effort into it. They don't want a treatment to intervene with the possibility of biotic recruitment."
"Sons of bitches," the woman in the holo spat, arms folded tightly. "Those sons of bitches!"
Doctor Castor extended his hand towards the woman in condolences, "...this may not be the right time, but if you'd be willing to let us study your child we might be able to run some tests to help determine the exact cause of this problem."
"...you want to keep her? Here?"
"Your child could prove very helpful in the fight of finding a treatment."
The woman shook her head, fighting to keep her breathing steady. "But she's my baby. That's my little girl that you're asking for! What kind of man asks a woman for her child? Especially a child in this state."
"I understand. I know, and I'm not proud to ask. I just don't want to watch another family go through what you're going through. Think about it, please. Think about what you'd be helping us do."
"I want to see my baby."
"...Ma'am...there were some...complications after you brought her in. I'm sorry."
"What are you...?Oh no. Oh please God, no. Please don't tell me..."
"There isn't much we can do. Could do. Could have done."
"No," the woman shook her head. "Not yet. She's just...a child is never supposed to go before their parents."
"I'm so sorry."
"I want...I need to see my baby off. She can't go alone. She needs to know that her mother is here and that mommy loves her. She needs to know, doctor. I need to be with her."
Doctor Castor very carefully placed both hands on the woman's shoulders, "She's already gone. The death was...it would be better if you didn't see her now."
It was then that the woman fell to her knees, a guttural, uncontrolled sob echoing loudly throughout the medical office. Doctor Castor kneeled down beside her, rocking the woman who had crushed herself against him. "I'm so sorry. Let's go get you something to drink and we'll talk."
Castor nodded his head to the two guards standing by, both of which helped the woman stand up to her feet. She was still crying, having to lean on the shorter of the two men as they helped her walk out. When the office door closed the doctor turned around to his terminal immediately.
"Open secure channel, authorization code three-three-six-two. I have a candidate, four years of age. Highest potential I've seen in years. Send a team from Pragia."
Even though the holo had faded Jack remained perfectly still, her wide, watering eyes never leaving the point where the holo-screen used to be. "They lied," she whispered through trembling lips. "They...lied to...m-my," Jack had to breathe then, her entire body quivering. "...she wanted me. She lov..."
"She knew," the convict suddenly said with venom, the look in her eyes showing that she was no longer speaking of her mother. Jack brought her forearm up to wipe her eyes harshly. "That... fucking... little...SHE KNEW." A fist pounded heavily upon the floor and the biotic flared up in brilliant hues of black and blue as she stood on her feet, her jaw and fists clenched tightly as she exited Miranda's office, not even bothering to place the nightstand as she had found it. Crew men and women alike gazed at the ex-convict wide eyed, watching as the human torch strode through the mess hall and towards the medical bay resolutely.
"Where the fuck is she," Jack spat with a sneer towards the surprised Dr. Chakwas when she didn't find the XO.
"Jack? What's the matter, dear?"
"Where the fuck is Miranda!"
Garrus, who had noticed the biotic walk from the office towards the bay had followed the woman with his eyes, watching her through the now de-frosted windows. He nudged Jacob, who had been doing the exact same thing. "That doesn't look good."
Dr. Chakwas shook her head, "Sweetie, I'm going to have to ask you to calm down. You seem riled up. Now," she said softly, cautiously lifting her hands up like a person does when trying to calm a wild horse, "why don't you have a seat and-"
Jack scanned the room, noticing that London had been moved. If Miranda hadn't returned to her office after visiting London...there was only one other place she could be. The biotic turned quickly from the still slow speaking doctor and walked through the doors towards the Portside Observation.
"Wait! Jack!" Helen called out, taking a few steps towards the woman before the entrance closed.
Garrus and Jacob looked at each other before rushing over to check on the doctor.
"What happened," the Turian asked. "What's with all the flare?"
Chakwas shook her head, "I don't know. She was asking after Operative Lawson. Something's wrong and Jack is mighty pissed about it. She doesn't seem stable."
"Garrus, let's go." Jacob nudged him. "Don't worry, it's probably just a misunderstanding. The Commander should be back soon, but we'll go check up on her just in case."
[Portside Observation/ London's Quarters/ 1PM]
Miranda had stayed beside the sniper for her lunch hour, her hand slowly running up and down the sleeping woman's forearm soothingly. The wounds on her girlfriend's body were healing, and Miranda knew without a doubt that she'd be back on active duty in no time-something that still made the depths of the XO's stomach turn.
"I'm scared," she said softly into the cold room where only a single, unconscious woman slept. "I lied. Shepard did tell me what he was doing down on that planet. There is supposed evidence of an imminent Reaper invasion. I couldn't say anything to the others because as of now it's only speculation. I don't want to rattle the team. But it's driving me crazy because I just keep bloody thinking. The stakes are different. Everything feels different. Like it's the end, you know? Like everything we've ever done in our lives is going to lead up to this one, giant conclusion. And I'm scared that somewhere along the way we'll mess up. This 'Buyer' business is child's play in the long run. It's busy work. Shepard and I know what's really coming more than any other person on this ship. We know the odds, really know the odds and the council is still complacent. We're just not ready, and we're dragging you into this as the untrained daughter of a mercenary. What if-"
"YOU BITCH." Miranda had only just turned her head around before being thrown harshly against the metal wall by a strong pulse of biotic energy.
She landed with a loud thud. Lawson groaned and shook her head, quickly looking ahead to take notice of the brightly glowing Jack. Her right arm was curled, strong biotic waves bouncing off her hands. In her left was a tightly held folder, its contents currently being creased and crushed with the unyielding grip. "It was part of our deal," Jack breathed heavily. "I joined this suicide-fest in exchange for all the information you had on me. You hid shit. You withheld the most important fucking information that Cerberus had!"
Miranda got to her feet, eyes switching from the dossier to Jack's face. "Jack..."
London stirred from the yelling, blurry eyes trying to focus on who and what was happening in her room. "Jack?" She hissed as she sat up in her bed, her mind still reeling from the aftereffects of the sedative.
"I even gave you time to fess up, Cheerleader. London and I had a little chat back on Watson about family. I got curious, ya know? Her speech made the ol' noggin turn. I asked Shepard for his help, so Shepard went to you asking for more shit on me, seeing if there was anything else we could find...and you told him that files went missing, got misplaced. He didn't have the time after that to keep looking. You knew that. You knew he'd get side tracked. But I didn't. The minute you stepped out of that office in a panic I knew I had my chance. I slipped in and found your little hiding spot."
Lawson laughed, balancing her stance and preparing herself in case of the worst. There was no point in damning the woman for breaking into her bedroom now. "Yet now you can see the very reason why I didn't tell you about that holo in the first place! Look at you, Jack! You've lost it! At the time we were a Cerberus vessel about to go in through the Omega Four Relay on a suicide mission! You were unstable and unreliable as it was. Imagine what you would have been like after finding out what happened. What would you have done? What lengths would you have gone until you got every single piece of information you needed or wanted? You were a liability, and I wasn't about to let you get everyone killed because you couldn't decide which side to bloody stand on."
"Then what was your excuse this time around," the ex-convict asked through gritted teeth.
"It's the same story, just at another instant." Miranda looked the tattooed woman straight in the eye. "We don't have time for your shit-fits, Jack. You know what could be coming."
London looked between both women in panic, "What's going on? Miranda? Jack?"
Jack shook her head, the glow surrounding her body seeming to burn ever brighter. "Your girlfriend is a bitch, that's what's going on. Months ago I asked for information in exchange for my services. She held out on me. She held out on the most important part of it all."
"You knew who had taken you already. Don't act like you bloody didn't. Why is it important to know how you got there?"
"Why is it impor-WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?" Jack extended her hand, using a bright sphere of biotic energy to grab a desk chair and shoot it out in the operative's direction but purposefully missing. Miranda never flinched as it broke apart beside her.
"JACK!" London cried out from her bed as she threw her legs over the side. Lawson reached out towards her, "No! Don't move. You're still injured."
"It's important," Jack finally said after watching the brief exchange. "It's... important."
Garrus and Jacob burst through the door after hearing the scream only to witness the glow suddenly die down from the young woman's body, her hands falling limply to her sides. "You don't get it do you? You wouldn't. I spent my entire childhood wondering why someone would just give me up to a place like that. I couldn't figure out if it was because something was wrong with me, or maybe because I had done something bad to be there."
London watched as Jack's face fell, her upper lip beginning to quiver as the two men behind her moved only slightly into the room. Miranda, however, remained unwavering.
"I was four, Cheerleader. I was fucking four years old and thought no one had cared. Thinking that changes you when you're kept in a place like Pragia. But I come to find out that she did. My...my mom did. I had a mother. She wanted me. She...loved me. Knowing that makes a difference that you'll never understand. So yeah, it's important."
Jack moved her eyes over towards London, causing Miranda to shift nervously. "Don't worry, Lond. I ain't gonna hurt her. I think she's done that all by herself."
The dancer blinked, shifting her gaze back and forth between both women before the ex-convict threw one of the folders she was carrying down onto the ground. "She's been holding out on you too."
"Go on. Ask her," Jack continued calmly. "Ask her about the Ashland Energy accident on Yandoa. Ask her about the very accident that both killed and created several human, biotic children-Teagan included. It was Cerberus operated, wasn't it?" Jack added as an after thought, turning her back on both women. "Yeah, I think you should really ask her about the shit that got your father into all this trouble in the first place."
Jacob and Garrus parted for Jack, watching as she quietly passed the doors and turned to enter the elevator. London stared after her for a while before finally turning to look back at Miranda. "Cerberus was behind the Ashland Energy accident?"
The operative nodded, noticing how tense her body had really become since being smacked against the wall. Jacob called out to her, not daring to go anywhere past the entrance. "You alright, Lawson?"
Miranda nodded, flicking a loose strand of hair away from her face. "I'm fine, thank you. You two can continue on with your duties, I need to-"
The steady jolt of thrusters kicking in caught all in the observation room off guard, each needing to take a moment to steady themselves. Miranda turned to look out the window, her eyes widening at the sight before her; an asteroid, heading towards the very relay they would need to get out. "Get to your stations. Now!"
"All hands to stations. Normandy in bound for pickup," EDI said through the ship's intercom system.
Small quakes were felt as the Normandy descended into the atmosphere, winds hurling and dust whipping about as she leveled her docking station with a platform, the Commander jumping into the entrance as quickly as possible before the ship made out for the mass relay. Miranda had just left the observation room as she saw him. John's legs pumped as he sprinted down the hall and towards the pit, his second in command soon following in pursuit.
"Joker, get us out of here!"
"I'm on it!"
Shepard turned, his chest heaving as he walked briskly back towards the galaxy map. Miranda shook her head as she followed once more, "What's going on?"
He pointed then at the place on the map where the Mass Relay was, watching as the small vicinity was suddenly enveloped by a halo, it's area continuously expanding until the system itself was... gone.
"Commander...?" Miranda asked hesitantly, the disbelief of what she had just seen evident in her voice. Kelly, who was at her usual work station, didn't have a dissimilar expression.
"Kelly," Shepard said as he leaned heavily against galaxy map's railing, the weight of his decision seemingly appearing on his shoulders. "I need Hackett on the line ASAP."
"Right away, Commander," Kelly responded after taking the moment to process. "Dr. Chakwas requested that you meet her in the medical bay for a quick examination upon returning."
"That's fine. Just get a hold of Hackett."
Kelly began the message right away as Shepard closed his eyes and took a breath. He placed a hand on Miranda's shoulders and nodded. The XO swallowed the bile that she felt rise into her throat and simply nodded in return.
"How long, Commander?"
"They've been stalled for now. It could be months. It could be years. It could be tomorrow. I...I don't know, Lawson. We just need to be ready."
[End 29: Outcomes and Arrivals, Part I of II]
A/N: It's tough to try and find a way to realistically deal with relationships under circumstances this bizarre, with characters this quirky. I hope all the dialog was done well enough.
Not many chapters left, folks!