Victor Reed cleared his throat and Jill looked up from her rifle scope and away from the view she had of the ball below. "What do you need?" Jill asked.
"Came by to check up on you and see if you'd seen him."
Jill rose to her feet. "Sweetie, we don't have time for you to check on me."
"Then have you seen the target?"
"If I had he'd be missing his head by now." Jill said.
Victor sighed. "I'm coming up dry down there."
"Well you better fix that, Victor. That asari bitch wasn't fucking around and I don't care if we have to blow up this entire building to make sure that Hackett is dead."
Victor glanced out the window where the projector would usually shine down from but was instead replaced by Jill's Widow. He saw all the people below and turned back to Jill. "We're not terrorists. And we don't kill people unless we have a reason."
"I can think of two reasons. Credits and saving our asses." Jill said. "And I'm going to do whatever it takes to keep us safe." Jill was becoming increasingly unhinged and the fear in her voice couldn't be missed.
Victor rested a hand on her shoulder. "It's alright, babe. We can do this. And when it's done we won't ever have to again."
Jill's eyes softened and she looked up to her lover. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying this is the last job we're ever gonna have to pull. With the credits this Shaw asshole is promising and all our savings we can retire." He placed his hand on Jill's cheek. "We can find some place where it's just the two of us and leave all this bullshit behind us. Maybe...start a family."
Jill smiled. "Promise?"
He nodded. "Promise."
"Then get down there and kill this old bastard already."
Victor chuckled. "Yes, mam. Just keep your eyes peeled up here. If you get a shot you take it. I'll look for a more subtle approach while I work the floor and look for him." he turned to leave after he checked the thermal clip in his pistol. As the door opened up he turned back to Jill. "I love you, Doll."
"Go kill me an Admiral and I'll show you how much I love you." She promised.
Shepard followed close behind Miranda as she lead Shaw by the hand through the crowded ball. Jane listened in while Miranda pretended to flirt with the man.
"You're a very interesting woman, Miss Lawson." Shaw said as she dragged him along.
Miranda turned back to him and grinned. "I'm a girl who knows what she wants and how to get it."
"I can see that."
Miranda looked over Shaw's shoulder and saw Shepard working her way through the crowd as she followed. Part of her was conflicted about taking Shaw down for working with Cerberus. Sure she had long cut ties with the organization and Cerberus was by all accounts dead and gone she still remembered working for the organization and not all those memories were bad. There was a time she was doing good at Cerberus. Hell, if it wasn't for the Illusive Man Shepard would still be dead and the whole galaxy with her. But when Miranda thought about her father and Sanctuary, about what the Illusive Man turned into and what they did to Jack and she remembered why she was doing this. A few good deeds didn't wash away all the evil Cerberus was responsible for. She might not regret working for Cerberus but Admiral Shaw sure as hell was going to.
He was a traitor, selling out the very military he swore to serve for reasons Lawson didn't care to know. And maybe this could help balance the books after all the bad she did for Cerberus herself. While it was true she didn't regret working for them that time in her life had it's fair share of bad memories. The day The Illusive Man had her kill her first man still haunted her.
Shaw's touch called her back into reality as he laid his hand on her backside and squeezed. "You are very stunning." He complimented her.
Miranda slapped his hand away. "Not yet. There will be plenty time for that when I get you to myself." she said. She shuddered, being touched by someone who wasn't Jack disgusted her.
"Just put up with it until you can slip him the OSD. I'll get you out right away after the job is done." Shepard promised through the comm.
Suddenly an asari came out from the crowd and blocked Shepard's path. Jane moved her hand to shove past her but then she saw her face. "Councilor Tevos." she greeted her.
Tevos smiled warmly. "Commander, good to see you." there was another younger looking asari by Tevos' side who kept quiet as the Councilor spoke. "I must admit I was surprised to hear you were in attendance tonight."
Shepard was only half paying attention to what Tevos was saying as she watched Miranda and Shaw slip further away. But Miranda was a big girl and she could still hear their conversation through the comm, there was no need to be rude and blow off the asari yet. "I was in the neighborhood." Jane said.
"I actually have something I wish to discuss with you." Tevos said and it caught more of Shepard's attention.
"And that is?"
"With the Citadel being reconstructed and the Council in a period of... limbo I suppose you could call it. I was wondering what your stance is regarding the Spectres."
"The Spectres?" Shepard had forgotten all about that. She had been so busy since the war ended she hardly thought about it.
"Yes." Tevos said cooly. Her tone was always so neutral and controlled. "I'm sure you've heard rumors of the new Council. And with Councilor Valern's recent passing the salarian and human seat are currently vacant."
Shepard shifted all her attention to the asari and off of Miranda. "Wait. Councilor Valern is dead?"
"You hadn't heard? Yes I was shocked when I heard the news."
"What happened?"
"His transport vessel must have suffered a severe drive core malfunction. The entire ship exploded. He will be dearly missed. But I now hear the Salarian union is appointing a new member already. Someone by the name of Mardok. I had never heard of him until this morning. And by now I'm sure you've heard of Admiral Shaw being appointed by humanity. But I'm getting off topic, I'm here to ask if you'd resume your position as a Council Spectre when the Council has returned to full strength."
Shepard thought about it. She couldn't exactly deny the offer and the position could always come in handy. "I'd be honored, Councilor." Shepard said.
Tevos smiled. "Excellent."
Miranda Lawson looked back over her shoulder again and could barley spot Shepard far away talking with an asari. She was more than capable of handling this alone so it didn't concern her. Shepard could catch up so she continued to lead Shaw towards a utility closet just off of the main floor. She opened up the closet and stepped inside with the Admiral in tow.
Lawson turned around and her hands instantly found Shaw's belt but The Admiral took a stern hold of her wrists. "Not just yet, Miss Lawson." His hands found the front zipper of her catsuit and before she could protest he had pulled it down and ripped the front open exposing her bra clad breasts.
"Oh!" Miranda cried in surprise and instinctively went to cover her breasts.
"Why so shy?" Shaw asked. His voice was colder than before. "You certainly weren't so reserved just a few moments ago."
"Why don't we get your pants off." Miranda said and reached her hands out for the man's belt again but Shaw slapped her hands away. Miranda looked up at the man. "Playing hard to get?"
"Actually I'm afraid I'm playing a different game." Suddenly Shaw reached behind him and fished out a pair of biotic dampening cuffs and slapped them on Miranda's wrists and pushed her down to the ground. The cuffs were a result of the Admiral's increasing paranoia and he had prepared himself for this eventuality.
Miranda sat up and stared up wide eyed at the man. "What the hell?! Get these bloody cuffs off me!" She cried as static filled her ear. Shaw's cuff had apparently damaged her omni-tool's comm link with Shepard.
"As soon as you tell me who you're working for?"
"Working for?" Miranda played dumb.
"Did the Matriarch send you too? Is this some kind of test?" Shaw was losing his grip. He was in over his head and he knew it and his position with the Alliance and with the Matriarch were more fragile than ever.
"Matriarch?"
"You don't work for the Matriarch?"
Miranda shook her head. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Shaw sighed. That was not what he wanted to hear. If someone not connected to the Matriarch was investigating him that meant he would have to deal with them to keep them silent. "Who else knows?"
"Knows what?" Miranda had to keep him talking until Shepard realized something was wrong. "I'm not working for anyone."
"I'm not an idiot, Miss Lawson! I know that you were trying to seduce me to get me alone. You know something and I have to know what it is." Shaw unholstered the pistol he had hidden under his uniform jacket and aimed it at the woman's head. "You have to understand it was all for a very good reason. I never wanted any of this."
Miranda's heart started to race. "Calm down, Shaw." For as dangerous as Miranda was she couldn't do much with her hands cuffed and without her biotics while being held at gunpoint. She was at his mercy.
"I don't want to hurt you, Miss Lawson. I never wanted to get anyone hurt. I was just doing this for my boys. I was doing what had to be done! But you don't understand what she's like. I thought it was just going to be simple. But nothing is simple with her. She's the single most dangerous person in the galaxy."
"Who the hell are you talking about? What is this?"
Shaw shook his head. "I can't tell you. I'm sorry I...I have to kill you."
Shepard's ear was assaulted by a sharp cry of static as her comm link with Miranda was violently severed. She winced as the unpleasant sound rang in her ear and Tevos shot her a confused look. "Are you alright, Commander?" she asked.
Jane nodded. "Fine." she said as she looked over the asari's shoulder at the closet Miranda and Shaw had disappeared into. It must have been a glitch. There was no way Miranda was in trouble that quickly but she now had no idea when Miranda would need to bail her out and she didn't want to risk ruining the mission by jumping in to early.
Tevos calling her name made Shepard pry her eyes from the closet door. "What?" Shepard asked.
The asari smiled back at her. "I was saying I'd like you to meet one of our most promising new members of the asari military. We established a new training facility on Thessia for the purpose of bolstering asari infantry and she has been quite exceptional." Tevos said as she urged forward the younger asari standing behind her. The blue woman looked somewhat awkward in a dress and Shepard would have been able to tell she was military even if Tevos hadn't mentioned it.
Jane extended her hand and the asari shook it. "Hello, I'm Shepard."
The asari smiled, shook Jane's hand and confidently replied with her own name. "Elphi."
Jack's biotics were flaring as she stormed through the crowd and towards the door she had saw Miranda and that Admiral asshole disappear into. She had forgotten what it felt like to be this angry and she wished she hadn't been given the reminder as she violently tossed people out of her way.
Hot tears burned in her eyes, she couldn't believe she had been so fucking stupid. This was probably all just some big joke to Miranda but it was everything to Jack. She had changed her whole life for this woman. Fuck, she loved her. Was it all a lie? Why the fuck would she do this to her? Jack just didn't want to believe it but she had been right all those years ago on the Normandy about Miranda. Relationships make you weak she used to say and she had been right. She had never opened up so fully or shared her life with someone like she had with Miranda and now the Cheerleader was going to throw it all away for a quick fuck with some Admiral in a closet? She couldn't even think straight. Rage was taking over every thought in her head.
Jack's heart was pounding out of her chest as she sprinted towards the door. There was no way she was giving up Miranda without a fight.
Jane was half listening to Elphi speak as she kept an eye on the closet behind the asari on the far wall but then her eyes caught Jack plowing through the crowd with unmistakable rage on her face. "Oh no..." Shepard said.
"I'm sorry?" Elphi said.
"I should go!" Shepard cried and pushed aside both Tevos and Elphi and ran to intercept Jack.
Shepard snaked her way through the tables and tightly knit groups of guests as she kept her eyes glued on Jack. The convict wasn't hard to miss, her glowing biotics easily made her stand out. Jane finally broke free from the crowd and ran up behind Jack. Jane grabbed her shoulder to turn her around.
Jack spun around and without conscious thought threw a punch at whoever had grabbed her and landed on something soft. Her eyes softened when she heard a familiar voice cry out in pain. Shepard stumbled back rubbing her right breast. "Ow! You punched me in the boob, Jack!"
"Get the fuck out of my way, Shepard!" Jack shouted and turned to resume on her path to Miranda but Jane jumped in front of her.
"Wait! You can't!" Shepard cried.
"Why the hell are you protecting her? I can't believe this shit! She's fucking cheating on me, Shepard!"
"No she's not!"
"Bullshit! I saw it myself."
"Whatever you think you saw isn't what it looked like. She's helping me out. Jack, she'd never cheat on you, she loves you."
"Tell that to her after I kick her ass! Now get the hell out of my way!" Tears were streaming from Jack's eyes and Shepard knew that she wasn't going to be reasoned with.
"Jack, Shaw is..." Shepard began but was cut off when Jack shoved her aside and ran for the door.
Finally Jack had arrived and she slammed the door open. She found Miranda on her knees, her breasts spilling out of her catsuit was the first thing Jack saw and she wanted to scream before she noticed the gun in Shaw's hand. "What the fuck?!" Jack screamed and the Admiral turned around with terror in his eyes as he aimed his gun right at the convict's face.
"Jack!" Miranda screamed.
Before Shaw could pull the trigger Jack unleashed a powerful blast of her biotics that launched Shaw back with such force he smashed through the back wall of the closet and was rendered unconscious, his gun falling harmlessly to the floor.
"What the fuck is going on?!" Jack demanded to know.
Miranda jumped up and into the arms of her lover. "You just saved my life!"
Jack embraced her out of habit but quickly shoved her away. "No, what the hell were you doing? You were gonna fuck him!" She didn't sound as convinced anymore.
"Jack, I would never! I love you!"
"Save it Princess!" Jack was completely confused and she had a feeling her anger towards her lover might be misplaced but she had to do something with it.
Finally Shepard arrived and inspected the scene. Shaw was face down in a pile of debris on the other side of the hole Jack had blasted him through. "Well that didn't exactly go according to plan." Shepard sighed as she bent over and picked up Shaw's fallen gun.
Jack's biotics finally sizzled out. "What plan? What are you two talking about?"
"Shaw was Cerberus, Jack!" Miranda said, her hands still clamped in Shaw's cuffs.
Shepard turned around and closed the closet door to give them privacy. "That's what I was trying to tell you outside." She said to the convict.
"But I saw you two..." Jack began to understand her mistake.
"I was only trying to get him alone so I could plant evidence on him. Jack I would never cheat on you. You have to believe that."
Shepard inspected Shaw's gun. "What the hell happened, Miranda?"
"He knew he was being played. The man was completely paranoid, kept rambling on about a Matriarch and then he pulled the gun and said he had to kill me because I knew something. Then Jack showed up and saved me."
"A Matriarch?"
"You know something about it?"
"Maybe." Shepard said as she crossed through the hole in the wall and bent down to check Shaw's pulse. "He's still alive."
"Fuck." Jack grunted.
"He isn't getting up anytime soon though." Jane fished out the key to the cuffs from the Admiral's pocket and released Miranda.
Miranda instantly wrapped her arms around Jack and kissed her passionately. "You still have the data?" Jane asked as she awkwardly holstered Shaw's pistol in her pants and covered it back up with her uniform jacket.
Miranda pulled the OSD from her pocket. "What now?"
Jane took the OSD and put it in her own pocket. "Time for plan B. I'm just gonna have to give this to Hackett myself and tell him to look at it. I didn't want to have to do that unless I had to as it will pretty much confirm that Liara is the Broker."
"You can trust Hackett." Miranda said.
"He's still an Alliance admiral and Liara is the most notorious information broker in the galaxy. We'll just have to hope he's willing to let that slide when he sees what's on this thing." Jane said.
"Wait does any of this shit have to do with that weird guy who was pretending to be Simmons?" Jack asked.
Jane and Miranda both looked at her. "What?"
"Before I saw Shaw groping your ass I was following a guy who was definitely not Alliance and was wearing Simmons' uniform." Jack told them.
"That's odd." Miranda said. "Jack, can you show me where he went?"
"Fine." Jack's anger had left and been replaced with relief. She was upset with herself for not trusting Miranda but trust didn't exactly come easy to her and Miranda understood that better than anyone. "Follow me, Cheerleader."
"I'll go find Hackett." Shepard said and glanced at Shaw on the ground. "After I deal with cleaning this up."
Notes- Okay! So Shaw got his ass handed to him and Shepard, Miranda and Jack are all on Jill and Victor's scent and they don't even know it! The next chapter will be a very big one. I'm sorry Liara and Kaidan didn't appear but I just didn't have room for them in this chapter. I promise Liara will be back next time. Oh and I hope some of you caught my reference to ReavansMask's "Ashara Shepard: The Fourth Life" with Elphi's cameo. Tell me what you thought of this chapter and Jack accidentally saving the day in the reviews!