**Author's Notes**-For those of you who were seriously disturbed by last chapter's events, please kindly remember that I did warn everyone in the first chapter about it. A hero who has flaws is more interesting than one who does not. However, do feel free to write a review. The fact that I've received a few expressing their opinions as such proves that they were uncomfortable. Good and thank you. Not every story that I write is meant to make this couple perfect because in real life, it is far from that. Things do get messy in relationships. I do not condone this immoral behavior at all, and the matter will be thoroughly addressed in a later chapter, do not worry. For those of you who are curious WHY Shepard did this, you may want to read "Cultivation" to gain some insight into his character. Miranda actually does make an appearance in it.
Chapter Three
Normandy SR-2 Debriefing Room, 839h
After wishing a somewhat fastidious farewell to Liara and Mordin, Miranda, Jacob, Tali, Kasumi, Thane, and Zaeed met again around the table for discussion. This time, Miranda did not invite Grunt. His contribution to the last meeting was nothing more than idiotic krogan wisecracks and damage to the conference table.
The quarian raised her hand before Miranda could start to speak. "Miranda, please excuse the interruption, but I received a message from my people. Might I have your permission to book passage on another ship? I absolutely must go back to the Migrant Fleet. They're talking about starting that war against the geth, and I must stop them before they try!"
"Just tell them that the geth are on our side now, that Shepard had Legion distribute that virus," Miranda said as her eyes sped over the data pad she was reading.
"I wish that I could do that from here, Miranda, but my people are asking for my help. I promise to return back to the Normandy as quickly as possible to give you aid. The quarians haven't forgotten about what Shepard did for the galaxy, nor have they forgotten about when we took back the Alarei two months ago. He's my friend and has done more for me than anyone, but right now, if you want our help with the Reapers in the future, you'll understand why I must leave the Normandy," Tali meekly replied.
"Don't be a hard-ass, Miranda," Jacob whispered to her. "I'd hate to have to explain to Shepard why Tali wouldn't come back to the Normandy. Wouldn't you?"
"I'm not completely unreasonable, you know," she whispered back and gave Tali a cursory smile. "Of course, Tali, whatever you need. Shepard would do the same if he were here."
"Thank you, Miranda. Once, I had a bad feeling about you back when we first met on Freedom's Progress, but I'm glad to see that you've changed." Tali bowed her head graciously and left the room.
"Right. Since Omega is currently off-limits courtesy of Cerberus, do either of you have the slightest inkling of where we could locate Aria?" She glanced in the assassin's and bounty hunter's general direction.
Zaeed spoke up. "I doubt she'd go back home to do business. My guess is that she'd lay low until she can get enough people together to kick the bastards off of Omega. Hmm…anybody disagree with me that she'd be on the Citadel?"
"That is assuming that she survived the Cerberus invasion, but I do have a few associates that have some ties to her that could find out," Thane responded honestly. "Aria owes me a favor for some work I did a few years ago for her, so I'm certain that she will make time to speak with us when we find her. Would you like for us to contact you when we've finished our meeting?"
"Send an extranet message to my personal email account," Miranda nodded and brought up her omni-tool. "Here's my address. Cerberus shouldn't be able to trace it; it's one of my throw-away accounts. Jacob and I might not be on the Normandy at the time."
"Why's that?" the ex-Alliance soldier raised an eyebrow.
"I'll get to that in just a minute. Kasumi, we'll drop you off there as well. I'm assuming you'll be fine by yourself?"
The thief placed her hands on the table. "What do you need me to do?"
"See if you can get in touch with David Anderson, formerly Councilor Anderson of the Council. He might have some access to some Alliance reports regarding some Cerberus facilities."
"And if I can't?"
"I'll give you the same address that I gave Thane. Use it by midnight tonight. I'll close up the account by zero hundred thirty hours, encrypt the data, and delete all messages received from you two. Failure is not an option. Remember, this is all for Shepard."
"Sheesh, no pressure at all," Kasumi joked. "And I thought you were just warming up to me." She left as well, although not before turning her cloaking field back on. The others minus Jacob also departed the room.
If you hadn't pulled that stunt last night, I might have, Miranda told herself. "Jacob, you and I will head to Feros afterward. I'll need some time to prepare, but hopefully, I should have enough time to brush up my familiarity with the planet. EDI, when you have the time, I'd like for you to search the extranet, download the geographical data for Zhu's Hope, and send the information to my private terminal."
"Of course, Ms. Lawson, I always have time," the AI chirped.
Undisclosed location in the Milky Way Galaxy, 1300h
"Patient is gaining consciousness, sir," a scientist with chestnut colored hair informed the Illusive Man, who just stepped into the laboratory.
"How is he?" He reached into his pocket to pull out a golden cigarette case.
They both gazed into the next room, which just illuminated itself to reveal a very restrained Shepard on an operating table. He slowly opened up his eyes and squinted at the harsh lighting.
"I apologize for Commander Shepard's condition, sir, but we did have to administer an exorbitant amount of diazepam last night and again this morning."
"How much did you have to administer?" The Illusive Man pulled a cigarette out and lit it.
"It was damn near a lethal amount. There was no other way for us to get him into that room and on the table without it. We were utterly amazed at his strength. Before he lost consciousness last night, he expectorated about ten times. He also vomited about three more times this morning."
"You were expecting less…" his eyes glanced upon her, "Operative Morrison? This is the savior of the galaxy you're looking at."
She gave a short derisive laugh through her mouth. "He's not a god…he's still human."
"See that you treat him respectfully in the future. Looks like he wants some water."
"Yes, sir. I'll have someone send a glass and pitcher in."
"I'll bring some in myself." He looked about the lab, spotted a water cooler, and filled some into a glass. "I'd like to speak with him. But please do have someone bring in some more. He will more than likely need more than one glass of water to compensate for his body's loss of fluids."
"Yes, sir, right away, sir. I'll also bring in an IV saline solution to balance out his electrolyte levels." The scientist left his side to obey him.
The Illusive Man swabbed the inside of his cheek with a Q-Tip and held it up to the DNA scanner. "Identity confirmed. Welcome, sir." The security door opened in front of him, and he strolled confidently right up to Shepard.
"So now we meet face to face," Shepard rasped and licked his lips. "What's with the four point restraints? Handcuffs going out of style?"
"You gave my people quite a fight last night," he responded coolly and held up the water. "Please accept my apologies for the harsh treatment, but there was no other way."
"So whose idea was it to use Liara to get to me…yours?" Although he did not want to, he motioned to the Illusive Man that he wanted the water.
"No, I was a bit…reserved about the idea, to tell you the truth." His sapphire eyes clashed with Shepard's as he tilted the glass forward for his captive to drink. "In fact, I originally said no to it, but my operative, whom you met last night, said that was the only way that I could get to you."
"If you had her location, why not just kidnap her?" Shepard demanded after a long swallow. "I would've come after her."
"Yes, you would have…with your entire squad, perhaps. This plan had the least amount of collateral damage." He paused to inhale from his cigarette. "I had hoped that the treaty between you and me would last a little longer, though, but what was done cannot be changed." The Illusive Man took another drag. "He's one of the finest operatives I have out there, a real asset."
"You mean you don't miss Miranda?"
The Illusive Man turned his back upon Shepard and bit his upper lip. Never let the enemy see you bleed. He spun back around upon his heel and held up the glass up again to his lips. "She proved herself useful for the time that I had her, like you. Little did I know that her judgment would become somewhat…clouded."
"She didn't leave you for me, she left Cerberus because she knew it was the right thing to do. She saw how warped and twisted you've become."
"Keep telling yourself that, but how long have you known her…three, four months, tops? I've known her for almost half of her life. You don't just walk away from a place that gave you everything you ever wanted without a damn good reason. I gave her direction, pushed her boundaries, taught her perseverance, and protected her sister. Don't presume to tell me what I know and don't know about Miranda Lawson!" His voice's volume doubled. "Your ridiculous idealistic crusade costed me billions of credits!"
"Seems I touched a nerve there. How much of an impact did her departure have on your financial support? Are you on your knees begging for your investors' forgiveness because two of your most precious assets told you to go to hell?"
The door opened, and Morrison strolled in with an IV cart. She approached Shepard cautiously, swabbed his right forearm, and prepared the needle. Shepard immediately tensed and pulled against his restraints. "Relax, Commander. This is just to balance your electrolyte levels. Don't you remember how much you threw up last night and again this morning?"
He growled, shook his head 'no', relaxed his muscles somewhat, and looked in the opposite direction.
"Squeamish around needles, huh?" she chuckled. "Seems I've found the only weakness you have."
The Illusive Man took a deep breath and continued to pull away at his cigarette as if nothing had just been said. "The project T'soni told you about was not some balderdash I invented. It did actually happen…I christened it 'Darwin' myself."
"That's a sacrilegious name if I ever heard one. Your path to human dominance is more foolhardy than letting a rabid pit bull into a schoolyard during recess."
"Perhaps you're right, Shepard." He finished off the cigarette and put it out in the glass. "Grayson, although he was a prestigious candidate for the project, could not avoid the Reapers' dominance. That's why they conquered him, because of his weak will."
"So that's why you haven't killed me," Shepard realized, his voice nearly at a whisper. The female doctor finished up her work and left them.
"Indeed. You are practically the most perfect specimen that humanity has to offer." The Illusive Man set the glass down on the floor and came closer to Shepard. "It occurred to me that you might be somewhat…resistant to my request. So, that's when my operative suggested luring you in with the perfect trap. And…you do owe me, Shepard-in fact, you owe Cerberus-humanity." He said this final word with a much lower pitch. "Strength for Cerberus is strength for humanity, " he continued.
"I'm immune to your malevolent propaganda, so cut the bullshit. You're a coward who's too yellow to take a real stand."
The Illusive Man chortled. "We are speaking face to face, you know."
"True, but we're not having this discussion like two men making a business deal. You don't have the balls, hence the cuffs. You're still scared of me."
"The restraints are to protect my people, not me. You are a…formidable opponent."
"All right, fine. I won't attack your scientists if you get me out of these."
"And I can trust you, how? You'd never willingly let yourself participate in this experiment!" he scoffed and shook his head in disbelief.
"Look at my face and say that again." Shepard's expression was completely solemn. The Illusive Man raised up his eyebrows incredulously.
"You wouldn't give me intact Collector technology, but you'd subject yourself to becoming a human Reaper?"
"I'm doing it for something in return…three conditions, come to think of it."
"I'm listening to you, Shepard."
"First of all, you will release Garrus and Jack…alive. Secondly, you must pull all of your Cerberus agents out of the Alliance permanently, and since you say you're not afraid of me, prove it to me in a fight. We'll do it mano a mano. No weapons, no biotic powers, and face one another as God intended. If I lose, I'll do this. If I win, I walk outta here back on the Normandy without pursuit."
The Illusive Man pondered his statement for a long time. Finally, he spoke. "Your offer bears some weight in it, Shepard. I will consider it and give you my decision in three days."
"Have to make a few calls to the financial investors first?" This time, Shepard's glib remark did not give the Illusive Man a second thought. He walked out of the room just as confidently as he came in.
Zhu's Hope, Feros, 1446h
"Once again, EDI surpassed my expectations," Miranda mused as she and Jacob departed the hangar. "I'd still never replace our entire crew, though. They're a fascinating bunch."
"Even the aliens?" Jacob pressed.
She bristled at his causative remark. "You think I buy into that racist garbage that so many of our operatives do? Humans have only begun to scratch the surface of it all, and who better to learn with than the other species in the galaxy? I've learned the value of teamwork with Shepard-unlike Cerberus. The only thing they ever united was a large accrual of bank accounts." She held up her left arm and glanced at the map on her omni-tool. "We're not too far away from the heart of the colony."
"I gotta ask this, Miranda. Back when you first spoke with Shepard…at Minuteman Station…you mentioned that you wanted to put a control chip in his brain. Is that really true?"
"I did, yeah." She quickened her pace a little. She wasn't sure if she liked where this conversation was headed.
"Are you glad that the Illusive Man didn't allow it?"
"Of course I wasn't…-" she hesitated, "at first. We should only have about two hundred meters left or so to go."
"When did you change your mind?"
"Change my mind about what?"
"You know what I'm talking about, Miranda. I know what he helped you do for your sister, I get why you're grateful to him for his help. Hell, I would done it probably, too. But back to my original question, though. When did you change your mind that the Illusive Man was right to let Shepard have control of his own will?"
Miranda stopped dead in her tracks, and Jacob nearly ran into her. "You haven't earned the right to know the answer."
"You and your goddamn walls, I swear," he sighed and shook his head.
"Look who's talking. You won't tell Chambers the truth about your father, and the only reason I knew what he really did is because I went with you and Shepard on the mission!"
"I don't need some shrink giving me warm, gushy, lovie-dubie advice. And by the way, I haven't exactly seen the two of you saying more than four sentences to one another. Let's just get in, ask for help, and get the hell outta this place." He pushed onward furiously, and Miranda had to take great strides to keep up with him.
The colony full of bunkers that had once been riddled to the ground knee-deep in rubble was nearly spotless. The buildings all around it were still under construction on the inside, but the outer structures looked about as solid as they once had thousands of years ago when the protheans had built them.
"Greetings. You must be the party from the Normandy," a female colonist beamed at them. "Is Commander Shepard with you?"
"We're looking for Shiala. Where might she be?" Miranda inquired. She didn't want to blatantly lie to the woman.
"She's in the bunker marked 'central operations'...second one to your right."
"Thanks," Jacob said as they passed the colonist. Soon thereafter, they made their way inside of the central operations bunker. It was jam-packed full of colonists waiting for paychecks, licenses, passports, and legal business. It was the perfect bureaucratic nightmare; both Jacob and Miranda despised crawling their way through over bodies, but it was the only way. Eventually, Miranda was able to distract three-quarters of the crowd to move by shouting, "Someone dropped 500 credits in here. We've got to find the owner!" They sneaked their way through to Shiala's office as everyone began to look around the bunker floor.
"That has got to be one of the lowest things you've ever done, Miranda," Jacob remarked and bit his lip.
"Maybe, but we got through faster, didn't we?"
"Yes, how may I be of assistance?" the green asari questioned them as she noticed their presence in her doorway. "Marriage licenses are at the end of the bunker."
"Oh, we're not looking to get married, Miss," Jacob began.
"Ever," Miranda spat. "We're here on unfortunate business, Shiala."
"Hmm, don't think I recognize you from the colony…" Shiala tore her eyes fully away from her monitor and gave them her full attention. "You're from Cerberus? What do you want from Zhu's Hope?"
"We're not, actually. We may wear the uniforms, but we are the crew from the Normandy," Jacob explained. "Appearances are deceiving, ma'am. We don't mean you any harm or ill will."
"Surely you jest; the Normandy is under Alliance command. If I were to even start to believe your story…"
"You mean, you didn't hear about what happened two years ago?" Miranda asked.
"We're very isolated out here on this world. We didn't even have a feed to the galactic news until last month. Giving credence to all those stories one finds on the extranet is quite foolhardy," Shiala informed them.
"No doubts there, ma'am. Well, basically, there was a recluse species called the Collectors who destroyed the original Normandy and spaced Shepard. Then, when Miranda and I worked for Cerberus, she put him back together, and Cerberus recreated the Normandy. Now, the Collectors are gone, we quit Cerberus, and now we're on the run from them," Jacob recounted.
"So if this is true, then where's Shepard? I ran into him not too long ago in Nos Astra on Illium."
"He's the reason that we're here," Miranda said and swallowed her pride, "asking for your help. He's gone; Cerberus took him, and we don't know where."
"This sounds specifically like a Cerberus ploy. I had my share of dealing with your ilk years ago when I was a commando." Shiala made direct eye contact with them. "Your people are ruthless and deliberately cruel to anyone who is not a human. Why should I trust you?"
"I don't blame you, ma'am. But please, do this for Shepard. He gave you a second chance, didn't he, after he destroyed the Thorian?" Jacob pleaded.
Shiala arose from her chair. "Yes, he most certainly did do so. To know that, you must have heard it directly from Shepard. Not many people outside this colony know that story." She sank her chin into her hand pensively. "ExoGeni, the company that began this colony, might be able to point you in the right direction. I believe that they used to do business with Cerberus but don't dare to dabble in and out of that anymore. Shepard made them see the error of their ways."
"He does have that effect upon people," Miranda agreed.
"They will be holding a gala this evening to celebrate the foundation for another building. You may find someone there with a powerful influence or perhaps even better, a network of contacts. I regret that I cannot do more for you other than to add your names to the guest list."
"Thank you. What time does it start?"
"8:00, I believe. Just take the elevator to the Prothean Skyway. We have some shuttles running back and forth to the ExoGeni buildings all day and all night. That's the best we can do, until the Skyway is completely repaired. Oh dear, oh dear, more paperwork. Will it ever end?" Shiala returned to her desk and began to type furiously. "Two more things before you go, please. I'll be needing your names now."
"Miriam Longfellow and Jordan Thompson," Miranda rattled off the lies easily. "And the other thing?"
"When you do rescue Shepard, tell him that I'd very much like to see him again. Alone, if possible."
As they strolled out of the bunker, Miranda muttered to herself, "I hate those damned asari. Every single one of them that I've met in the past few months is obsessed with Shepard!"
"And how exactly did you resist his charms?" Jacob teased her. "You were the ultimate Ice Queen, you know. He melted you down to putty in his hands."
"I'll ignore that remark for now because I know that you won't be able to talk your way out of going to this party."
"Aw, Miranda, I hate these stupid socialite things! I'm no good with crowds of people dressed to the nines. I'd rather shoot them all!" Jacob crossed his arms in a pout. "They're like lumps of plastic!"
"It'll build character, Jacob."
He clamped his lips and teeth down tightly. "I hate wearing monkey suits."
"Attending this party is not negotiable. Don't you forget that I'm still your senior ranking officer."
"Yes, ma'am," Jacob growled and saluted her. "Say the word when we go."
ExoGeni Headquarters, 2019h
"Just where did you have those threads stashed away?" Miranda asked Jacob as they departed the transport. Her eyes did a quick rundown of the lavender shirt, silver tie, and charcoal suit that he wore. She imagined Shepard would be just as uncomfortable in formal wear, but it would definitely compliment his Greek anatomy like it did Taylor's.
"In a pile of mothballs. What's it to you?" Jacob returned impatiently.
"It looks good on you, that's all. Don't get your knickers in a twist, I was just trying to make bloody conversation."
"Let's just do the job, Miranda. You weren't interested in talking earlier today, why start now?" He turned his head to look at her but could not help taking a longer gawk. She wore a strapless black and white gown that impeccably shaped her flawless hourglass figure. On top of that, she'd taken off her trademark choker and wore a simple golden necklace with a few pearls at the bottom. Her ears were studded with simple but elegant pearls.
"We may be here for a while." She motioned with her head that there was a line forming to the entrance of the red carpeted gala, and that it might take them some time to get to the front to get in.
"Perfect," he grumbled. "Maybe we should try the same tactic as we did earlier today."
"And say we found 500 credits? Are you kidding me? These people probably tip their valets that every day!" she scoffed. "Besides, that only worked once, and I never use the same ploy twice in one day." Miranda's eyes searched the entrance, scoping out their fellow guests. "Getting rather jumpy, aren't we?"
"Try seeing it from my side for once, Miranda. Imagine yourself in the most uncomfortable place possible and then talking to the kind of people that you just want to punch ten seconds after you meet them."
"Just remember who we're doing this for."
"Yeah, you keep saying that. I wouldn't mind taking a bullet for Shepard, but this is pushing my limits to the max." Finally, it was their turn to speak to the security guard, who wore an Eclipse uniform.
"Names, please," the guard said and brought up his omni-tool to scan the both of them.
"Miriam Longfellow, Jordan Thompson," both former Cerberus agents lied.
It was few uncomfortable five seconds as the guard's eyes flickered over his omni-tool's visual interface. He waved them along without another moment to lose. "Next, please."
"No one ever said that this was going to be an easy job," Miranda continued. "Feel comfortable enough to separate and branch out? Or would you rather stay together?"
"Remember what I said about talking to these people?"
She smirked and linked her arm through his. "I'll do it all, Jacob, don't worry."
Thirty minutes later at the party…
"This is getting us bloody nowhere," Miranda sighed in frustration. No one wanted to speak with either of them for more than two minutes with the exception of some liberal drunkards who gave her some very tawdry remarks.
"Told you so," Jacob muttered to himself.
"I heard that." She rolled her eyes and took a sip from her champagne flute. "Maybe I should formulate a new strategy."
He cringed and suddenly grabbed his rib.
"We're not leaving yet, Jacob. Don't even think about it."
When he didn't respond, her expression softened. "You all right?"
About three seconds later, he exhaled very slowly and let go of himself. "Yeah. Ever since we got back from the Omega 4 relay, I've had this…issue."
"What kind of issue? Does Chakwas know about it?"
Jacob nodded. "She does."
Her eyes hardened as she sized him up. "You're not being completely forthright with me."
He crossed his arms over his chest. "Then go ask her about it."
"I will."
The ex-Alliance soldier's eyes left hers and made a sweep around the large room.
"Someone's been watching us during this entire time. And he's headed our way, right there, at ten o'clock."
The stranger had dark olive skin, much like Shepard's. His complexion was also familiar to Miranda, with an aquiline nose and a straight jaw. The man's eyes weren't hard like Shepard's sorrel tones but rather hazel…warm and inviting. His South African accent pleasantly greeted them. "You must think I'm a horrible man for doing this." He boldly took Miranda's free hand and kissed the back of it. "But I'm ready for the consequences, good or bad."
He straightened after making a minute bow, released her hand, and distanced himself somewhat from Jacob.
"Feel free," Jacob said but eyed the man as if he were a criminal.
Miranda felt the blood rush to her cheeks and prayed that her face didn't show it. "Do I know you? I'm sorry, I…can't seem to…-"
"Let's go to a place where we can talk freely," the South African offered and led them away down a corridor of offices. "Still can't remember me, Miranda Lawson? Was I that easy to forget?" He was about to advance upon her hand again when Jacob placed a hand on the man's shoulder.
"Who are you, man? No games."
"You must be someone quite important to have a bodyguard like this. Bet he wasn't cheap." The man shook his head. "Surely you haven't completely blocked out a Dean Watson from your university days, have you?"
Lawson's expression froze into complete horrific embarrassment. "Oh. Not at all," she beamed. I knew he looked familiar. Haven't thought about those days for a long while. "Please forgive me, Dean."
"Jacob Taylor." Jacob was still scrutinizing him.
"I tried to send you messages, call you, but you were gone. You just left without saying goodbye in the middle of the semester," Watson stated.
"I couldn't say why at the time, but I'm sure you'll understand now. I had to leave my father, and going to go work for Cerberus was the only way," Miranda explained. "I had to sever all ties with everyone I knew to keep them safe."'
"And Niket, too?"'
"I…uh…what do you mean?"
"He was found dead on Illium about three months ago. Or didn't you hear the news?" Watson inquired.
"How?" She found it difficult to disguise her voice.
"Two shotgun slugs in the back, fired at point-blank range."
Miranda lowered her eyelids and pursed her lips together. I'm glad Shepard stopped me from killing Niket. Riddling Captain Enyala's body with that submachine gun didn't help as much as I thought it would.
"Miri, I'm sorry you had to hear it this way," Watson said and touched her bare shoulder. "Niket was a good mate of mine, too. Think he introduced us, didn't he?"
Tears beyond her control started to gush out of her eyes, which caused Watson to become more bold and take her into his arms with a hug. "I'm here for you, Miri, just like always."
Jacob took a step back from them and looked the other way. He hoped that this conversation would come to an end soon.
"Thank you, Dean," she sobbed and wiped the tears from her eyes with the back of her hand. "Damn this makeup…supposed to be smear free."
"You still look gorgeous to me, even without it. Come on, allow me." Watson withdrew a handkerchief from his pocket and blotted her eyes gingerly. "Now, I gather that you didn't come to Feros for the view…or the ExoGeni gala."
"What makes you say that?" Jacob cut in suddenly.
"Well, shortly after Miri left university, I got recruited as well. Had to break my own ties, too. The EIA was down in numbers, I guess," Watson recounted.
"Earth Intelligence Agency?" Miranda asked. "You became a spy?"
"More or less," he shrugged. "Started off as an analyst and pencil pusher, then I moved up. Last year, I quit, did some heavy training, and…became a Spectre."
"You? You're a Spectre?"
"Is it so difficult to believe, Miranda? After the Alliance declared Shepard dead, they needed someone new to represent humanity. So, they started to do some fishing around, and…I figured, what the hell? I got passed over for it the first time, but the other candidate backed out at the last minute. I suppose he didn't realize that he'd have to leave his wife and children behind him for all of his missions." Miranda gave him his handkerchief, and he pocketed it. "Then I heard from former Councilor Anderson that Shepard wasn't dead, and that he had alleged ties with Cerberus. I could only imagine the Council's shock after hearing that one."
"We cut loose from them. And, uh…well, somehow they found us and got Shepard," Jacob reported. "That's why we're here. We're looking for help."
"Oh, well, how fortunate," Watson smiled genuinely. "It's like you were just dropped right into my lap. Haven't had a mission in a month…I've been looking for some action. Got room for another Spectre onboard your ship?"
"Definitely. Let's go now," Miranda nodded.
"When we find him, I look forward to shaking his hand. He's the stuff legends are made of."
