Shepard was glaring at her hand as she strode into the medbay, still in her work out clothes and glistening with sweat.
Chakwas beamed at the younger woman. She had that same look every time she got an injury, that look of 'how dare it break' or 'who gave you permission to bleed out'. "I see you've been breaking in the gym Commander."
Shepard's face snapped up in surprise at the familiar voice, "Doc!" she beamed, positively radiant as she enthusiastically crossed the distance between them with a laugh of delight and hugged the woman, sweaty and all.
Chakwas didn't mind in the least as she hugged the young woman back, a woman she'd never imagined she'd see again until Cerberus contacted her. "Stephanie." She greeted softly with all the warmth of a loving mother reunited with her lost little girl.
"Goddess it's so good to see you, to have you here... here of all places?" Shepard pulled back, "What the fuck are you doing with Cerberus?" she was positively confused.
Chakwas laughed, "I'm here for you Stephanie." she cupped her face, taking in the scars with her trained eye and sobering quickly, "On a critical mission to save the galaxy once again."
Shepard sighed, "Do I even get any other missions these days?"
Chakwas chuckled, "Well you are the best there is Commander."
"Oh I'm not so sure about that. I just bring out the best in the people around me, it's always a team effort." Shepard blushed at the praise.
"And that is what makes you the best." Chakwas took hold of the swollen, bruising hand gently to examine it, "Now am I going to have to send a search party for some poor unconscious victim?"
Shepard chuckled, "Maybe a requisitions officer? We'll need a new punching bag. "
"Already? We haven't even left dock yet!" Chakwas scolded though unable to hide the mirth in her eyes.
"I wanted to see how hard I could hit. Miranda upgraded just about everything else." Her grin became mischievous. "Apparently I could punch a hole through the hull. If it'd been a person, they'd be pretty dead I imagine."
"That is a positively terrifying thought. Don't even think about trying it." Chakwas growled at her, no mirth this time.
Shepard just grinned with sparkling eyes that said 'already done that'.
"Well just don't try it then." She grumbled, "Come on, I need to set this. How you managed to break your own bones after all the reinforcing Cerberus did to them is quite beyond me."
"What can I say, I could always hit hard, now I hit harder." she shrugged and sat down on one of the beds as ordered. It was just like the old Normandy, though much better equipped.
Chakwas got what she needed and returned to the Commanders side. It was only then, standing side on to Shepard that she noticed something and once she noticed it, it was glaringly obvious. "They removed your scars I see. How do you feel about that?" she asked softly, she knew how proud Shepard was of them, how much a part of herself they were.
Shepard scowled, "Naked, violated, like a part of my soul is missing. Don't... don't get me started please Helen. I'm still coming to terms with it, hence the hand." she murmured, eyes firmly planted on her hand as Chakwas manipulated the bones to how they were supposed to be. It hurt like a bitch but after everything she'd been through it wasn't anything to really complain about.
Chakwas now understood why she had a broken hand, she was hurting and angry. "Perhaps it could give you the opportunity for a fresh start, a new beginning. You've had a hard life Stephanie, not everyone gets the chance for a second round." she spoke gently, soothing the woman with both her words and medi-gel. "You have a fresh canvas to work from but that doesn't mean you have to forget the old one."
"So I shouldn't go hunting down a Maw to replace the old scars?" Shepard smirked, but Doc's words struck a chord in her heart and she found it... calming as she considered it.
"I would not recommend it, no." Chakwas smiled and shook her head, tenderly massaging that strong slender hand.
"I'll take that under advisement." she glanced up at the woman, still smirking. "But thank you."
Chakwas nodded with her knowing smile.
The doors swished opened and Miranda strode in with a rather annoyed expression, "What's going on here?" she demanded, nodding towards the injured hand.
"Turns out the punching bag is harder than your head, go figure." Shepard smirked, casting her a sidelong glance, "That's after I broke the bag of course, perhaps you should have Doc take a look at your skull, make sure I didn't fracture anything. I mean you were out cold before you hit the ground and I'd hate to interfere with your higher mental functions and everything, though it might give us mere mortals a chance to catch up." she teased her, watching her to see if it got a familiar reaction.
Miranda was too livid to catch the reference to the past, "My skull is perfectly fine, no thanks to you and you could never catch up with my higher mental functions." she hissed then stormed out before she was drawn further in to a childish argument.
Shepard sighed, "She really is frustrating. I mean that is a seriously old joke between us and she still has no idea who I am." she muttered.
Chakwas raised her brow, "I think she knows you're Commander Shepard." she stated the obvious.
Shepard considered her for a moment and if it wasn't for the fact they were on a Cerberus ship with an AI constantly listening in she would have told the good doctor everything, "She knows what my files say and Stephanie Shepard's files only begins at sixteen."
Chakwas heard the tone, saw the strange look in her eyes that was distant and forlorn, "I had assumed that's because your files were on Mindoir and with the attack..."
Shepard shook her head, "My childhood was erased before Mindoir." was all she said on the matter, "I'm gonna have a shower." she murmured and walked out rather dejectedly.
Chakwas shook her head sadly, Stephanie had lost so much for so long, when would it end? When would she be able to finally live and not just exist?
Shepard and Joker had stepped outside as soon as she'd received word the emblazoning was done. Joker was ecstatic to see Normandy glistening and bright on the hull. Shepard was livid to see the Cerberus logo in front of it.
Shepard strode up to the painting crew, "Before you pack up your gear there's something else I need you to do." she looked to them firmly.
"Yes ma'am?" the head technician looked to her curiously.
"The Cerberus logo. Get rid of it." she stated flatly, crossing her arms and instilling the fear of Shepard into them with a single look.
They scurried like ants, too terrified of her to argue. They all knew who she was and what she'd done so she scared them more than the Illusive Man.
"What's that all about?" Joker asked curiously as she returned.
"That Cerberus logo is going to cause me all kinds of grief. They're a secretive organization. What self respecting secretive organization emblazons their logo on everything even my fucking underwear?" She snarled.
Joker guffawed, "Seriously? Your panties have Cerberus logos on them?"
"Kelly's removing them." she growled, "Besides Cerberus has pissed off that many groups, the Council, Alliance, just about every government body not to mention merc groups, having that on our hull is like painting a big fucking red target screaming 'shoot me, shoot me'. That is attention I already get enough of thank you very much." she seethed.
"You know Lawson'll be real pissed at you." Joker grinned at her, she was inviting trouble with the woman already.
"I can handle Miranda Lawson." she snorted.
"Yeah, you're about the only one who could." Joker chuckled and began the walk back into his new baby.
Shepard remained outside until the offending logo had been removed. Thankfully no one was the wiser at this point in time. She smiled and nodded to the workers, giving them a thumbs up for which they were infinitely relieved and grateful. Her next task was to keep Miranda sufficiently engaged so that she didn't step foot outside the ship to notice the adjustment. The last of the crew would be arriving in three hours.
Miranda didn't look up from her screen as the door chimed, "Enter." she called like a Queen allowing a subservient into her domain.
Shepard strolled in, not in armour this time but black slacks and fitted white and black shirt that was missing the logo over the left breast.
Miranda was a little surprised to see Shepard and noted she actually looked quite smart in the altered attire that was form fitting and hugged her figure quite nicely. "Commander, what can I do for you?" she asked congenially.
"I've had a chance to read over the dossiers and I'd like to discuss them with you if you have time. I also got an interesting message from Tali." Shepard waited for permission before she'd take a seat.
Miranda nodded, she hadn't had time to check over her own messages let alone Shepard's and hadn't thought that she'd be getting any just yet as only a limited number of people were aware of her existence. "What did Tali have to say?" she asked crisply.
"Apparently Veetor got more than just scans, he got a few live samples of Seekers. She wants to know where to send one for us to pick up." She had assumed Miranda would be pleased with the information but her scowl suggested otherwise.
"If we'd brought him with us she wouldn't have to send them anywhere." Miranda growled.
"If we'd brought him with us he'd have been so terrified he forgot all about them until we were off planet anyway and we'd have to send someone back to get them if he even remembered them at all." she countered quickly. "But that's beside the point. I'd like us to go to the Citadel first. If I can get my Spectre status reinstated it will give us access to a whole lot more resources. Not to mention if we run into any trouble with Council or Alliance assets given that Cerberus are considered terrorists I'll be able to use my position as a safeguard to get us out peacefully."
Miranda had so many problems with that she didn't know where to begin, "Do you think they'll just accept you back? That they'll turn a blind eye to you working with terrorists?" she growled, glaring at Shepard icily.
"Spectres do what it takes to keep the galaxy safe by any means necessary even if it means working with what many deem unsavoury assets. Besides, they owe me one for saving their arses and with the Collectors abducting human colonies they need someone investigating which is what we'll be doing anyway." she pointed out reasonably. "To that end I'm going to need some files demonstrating that I did indeed die, the condition my body was in when you recovered it and some data on the restoration process that you feel would be appropriate to share with the Council showing how you got me from point A, being dead, to point B, being alive." she asserted, hoping it would be something that would keep her occupied for awhile.
Miranda growled in the back of her throat inaudibly but nodded, "Fine."
"Thank you. Now the dossiers. I believe Mordin Solus would be best to enlist first, especially with samples for him to play with. Massani will be in a club or chasing down bounties so we'll need to do some scouting when we get there. And from what's here on Archangel he'll be pissing off mercs so I'd go to the Blue Suns, Eclipse or Bloodpack to see what they know about him or if they've got anything going on he'd be likely to hit." She looked up from the datapad in her hands.
Miranda nodded, "Agreed. How do you intend on scouting for Massani?"
"Well I would just give him a call but drat my omni-tool with all my contact data got a little fried." she smirked, "So Aria T'loak would be my first stop, hell she might know something about Archangel."
"And what makes you think she'll just give you the information you're looking for?" Miranda mused, that was a rather bold move on Omega, approaching it's Queen Bee.
"I don't, but you never know if you don't ask. Besides last time we met she was trying very hard to get in my pants, or in my head, most likely both Asari flirtations are confusing." she rubbed her aching jaw which made her look almost comical to Miranda as she truly did look confused.
Miranda shook her head at the frustrating woman and snapped, "Of course she'd want to get in your head, you've got a lot of classified information in there as well as more knowledge than the vast majority of people have on the Protheans."
Shepard's face darkened but her cybernetics didn't flare up signifying it wasn't anger she was feeling, "So she's at least willing to talk to me. I'd like those files before we reach the Citadel and I'd like to call Anderson before we get there so he has some notice before he has a heart attack at seeing me alive."
Miranda wasn't quite sure what to make of the expression on Shepard's face, the lack of glowing meant she wasn't angry or overly emotional but there was... something that bothered her. "We'll send him a message, it would be prudent to keep your presence as quiet as possible and a visual communication to the Citadel would compromise that."
Now Shepard's cybernetics started to glow, "I was being polite in phrasing it as a request. You and I both know that it's more than possible to make a discrete call to the consulate. You've cut off my extra-net access, I'm not allowed to contact anyone I know, you're isolating me from my support networks and all it's going to do is get you one hell of a pissed off Commander. I'm not a fucking machine. You can't just reboot me and expect me to suddenly cut off from everyone I knew and cared about. Besides this is business with Anderson. Just sending him a note saying 'Hi it's Shepard, yeah big surprise I'm not dead anymore' isn't going to cut it. Now you are going to set up that call and I don't fucking care if it's in here and you're standing over my shoulder the entire time." An idea came to mind, "In fact it'd probably be better if you talk to him first and tell him to sit down you've got big news." she growled at the infuriating woman.
Miranda sighed, she could see she wasn't going to win this one, "Fine."
Shepard calmed a little, her tone was softer as she nodded to Miranda, "Now you realize as soon as he sees that logo on your uniform he's going to shut down and see only the enemy right?"
Miranda scowled, "I am Cerberus, you are here only because of Cerberus." she growled at her.
"I know that and I'm not saying don't tell him, I'm only suggesting you give him a chance to hear what you have to say first. Call it being diplomatic, I am capable of such a thing and I'm only asking you to be as well. But it's your call on that. Have EDI contact me when you're ready." Shepard nodded curtly and left abruptly.
Miranda was tempted to wear her uniform just to spite the Commander, but what she'd said was actually logical. Antagonizing the Councillor with her Cerberus status would not be the best way to begin this interaction.