Sorry for previous typos and such Leene, I thought I had them all. I've gone back and picked up a couple as I've put up new chapters but if there's anything glaring or cringeworthy let me know, I know it's a pain when I'm reading others work to lose the flow of the story in a misspell. I also realize this story's taking quite a few chapters to really get up and going but I felt the need to establish some things first and give Seph the chance to say things Shep missed out on in the game. I'd hoped the speedy updates help with that and now we've hit Omega the pace should increase.

I would like to point out that this story is going to delve deeply into some of the AU aspects I've started dropping hints on so I hope you'll all stick around for the long haul!

Also m, I think you're gonna like some of the things I've got coming up in the next few chapters. I don't see Miri as more flawed, she has a block in her mind regarding Persephone and Shepard's been throwing her some curve balls she hasn't anticipated but Miri's a highly intelligent woman who's going to be figuring out some things as some of the cracks in Shepard begin to show... Seph isn't as altogether as you think she is, for example if you recall how she reacted to her scars being removed, one broken hand and a few nice words from the good ol' doc ain't fixing that just yet ;)

Enjoy and again thanks for reviews!

A Batarian in the Blue Suns uniform was droning on about how the man in front of him was a freelancer, wouldn't be considered one of the Suns, Eclipse or Blood Pack, if he died he wasn't getting paid and he sounded bored out of his mind. "Send in the next one." he grunted. He did a double take at the group that came in next, all human, two men who definitely looked like they could hold their own and two drop dead gorgeous woman who were clearly not your average freelancers.

"Well what have we here? Sorry hon, strippers quarters are in that direction." he grinned as the armoured female sauntered up to him.

Shepard looked him over disdainfully, "You'd better get going then, I'm looking for Archangel not some little boy who thinks he's funny." she snapped in annoyance.

He chuckled, she had fire and was armed to the teeth, "You want a piece of that asshole you came to the right place. Five hundred creds apiece, you're freelancers not signing up to the Suns, Eclipse or Blood Pack, you die you don't get paid. Head over to the transport terminal and our guys'll take you to where Archangel's holed up." he sent a message to their driver letting him know he was about to get a bunch of pros.

Shepard just nodded and led the way out aware as always that so many eyes were watching her and blatantly ignoring them all.

The Blue Suns driver had taken one look at the glare of doom coming from the lead brunette, grunted something un-intelligible and drove them very quickly to their destination. He left them to make their way to the compound with a quick, "Talk to Sergeant Cathka." then was taking off.

"You certainly have a way with people Commander." Jacob grunted as the vehicle almost clipped him the driver wanted away so fast.

Massani laughed, "Goddamned right, she ever gives you the look and you'll either be dead in a heartbeat or on your arse even faster."

Shepard shot him a wicked grin, "He speaks from experience."

"Damn straight, didn't even see it coming." he chuckled.

"Alright EDI, any other way we can get to our man? Or are we stuck with the mercs?" she asked, getting to business quickly as she strode through the abandoned street in the direction she could hear gunfire.

"The only access point to where Archangel is situated is a single bridge which is being held by the mercenaries on one side. Archangel appears to be very accurate with a sniper rifle and is holding the mercenaries back." EDI informed the Commander after a quick scan of the area.

"Well then, with the mercs it is. Let's see what damage we can cause without them figuring us out." Shepard smirked and followed her gut and her senses to where Archangel was laying waste to any fool who popped their head out in the open.

First common area they came through was filled with Eclipse mercs, led by a Salarian who was cursing away harshly in his native language to a compatriot Salarian while the others around clearly had no idea what he was saying.

Shepard smirked at his language and continued walking until EDI spoke up.

"I'm detecting heavy mechs in the room to your left, powered down currently." The AI warned.

Shepard's mind began thinking quickly, "Keep an eye out for me will you?" she muttered and activating her omni-tool she quickly hacked the door. She was inside in under a minute surveying the apartment turned storage room. There were quite the number of mechs, human sized LOKI security mechs and one great big badass YMIR like the one from Freedom's Progress.

The trio outside assumed different positions, Jacob and Massani became slack in their demeanours, leaning against the walls facing in opposite directions. Miranda activated her omni-tool and sent Kasumi a message to see if she'd been able to follow them this far. She started at a feminine chuckle from somewhere to her right.

"Puh-lease. Like anyone could lose Shepard, the way she moves just about draws the attention of everyone in sight of her." Kasumi scoffed.

Miranda sighed, "She does doesn't she. So much for keeping a low profile." Once again she'd been caught out by that swagger and it wasn't alcohol related she'd discovered much to her chagrin.

"Honey, this is Omega. Low profile screams 'attack me'. You wanna know how many times you've been scoped out since getting here and one look at Shepard has turned them on their tails?" Kasumi had observed how seeing Shepard with Aria had affected Miranda and it was something she was going to pester the woman on later. Actually make that both women!

Shepard emerged and locked the door again, "I've switched the YMIR's F/F-ID system." she murmured.

"Excellent. As soon as they activate it it'll turn on them." Miranda was impressed and she'd done it so quickly.

Shepard held up her wrist flashing her omni-tool, "See, shopping with me wasn't such a waste of time now was it." she smirked, seeing the look in Miranda's eyes.

Miranda rolled her eyes.

Following the sporadic gunfire led them to a large chamber that led out to the bridge where Archangel was taking another shot at a foolish Vorcha that had stuck its head out at the wrong time.

Shepard's eyes narrowed, she knew that armour, the sound of the particular sniper. Closing her eyes for a moment she caressed her biotics into life, pouring energy not out but in to her eyes. Opening them she looked at an entirely changed world. Dark, the outline of shapes barely visible to her but the energy, the aura's of living beings shimmering brightly against the darkness, some brighter than others. Most of those that filled the room were dull gray, their life forces barely affecting the current and of little consequence, but a few stood out, she could feel the four behind her, Miranda the brightest and her silver aura soothing. Ahead, across the bridge was the shimmering blue of a very familiar figure. Reaching out with her right hand she lightly sent a gentle brush against his despairing energy.

The sniper tingled at the familiar sense and stiffened. The only time he'd ever felt that was with Shepard. Hesitating he scoped the other side of the bridge almost frantically. Then she stepped out, there was no mistaking that woman's swagger or those fiery amber eyes. Despair turned to hope.

"Uh Shepard, that's a real bad idea!" Jacob hissed as she strode out into the open without a care in the world.

"Relax." she made a quick gesture not to them but to the sniper.

When no shots came her way they followed her out, though they stuck to the walls so the mercs didn't realize Archangel wasn't shooting them.

"Where's Cathka?" Shepard grunted to a rather panicky looking freelancer who couldn't be more than seventeen.

He thumbed over to a gunship and returned his attention to something on his omni-tool.

Shepard strode over quickly to find a Batarian Blue Suns merc doing repairs on the ship, "You Cathka?" she demanded.

"Ah, you must be the group Sulkie mentioned." the Batarian nodded and looked over to them, evidently liking what he saw.

"Sulkie?" Shepard frowned, no idea who that was.

"Driver who brought you over, you lot stand out, Archangel won't know what hit him." he grinned.

"So what's the plan then?" Shepard didn't comment on his observation and gone were the easy going mannerisms she'd been displaying until now.

"You freelancers are going to charge the bridge, cause a distraction for the infiltration team we managed to get across. Keep Archangel busy while they blow the ground out from under 'im." Cathka looked over his diagnostics and grunted.

"That's it?" Shepard was not impressed, "Bullet fodder?"

"Yep. Shouldn't pose you lot much trouble though. Now I've got to fix this damn thing before Tarak needs it." He thumbed the gunship.

There was a shout from towards the bridge calling all the freelancers to move their asses.

Shepard smirked at Cathka, "You're working too hard." was all she said before she rammed the blade of her combat knife up through his jaw and sinking deep into his brain.

He was dead before the blade had slipped from his flesh, the burst of blood that followed was skilfully avoided by Shepard as she pushed the body aside, practically kicking him under the gunship and out of sight.

"If you're about done playing around, time to go Shepard." Massani was already fingering his beloved assault rifle.

With a nod Shepard strode out, blade replaced with her Phalanx pistol.

The freelancers were surging over the barrier, there were a good dozen of them.

"Well ladies and gentlemen let's get this party started." She tapped on her omni-tool and half the freelancers flashed with the failing of their shields. "Have at'em."

With that two assault rifles, a semi-machine pistol and a heavy phalanx pistol roared to life, cutting down the freelances in swathes.

Shepard was sprinting through the falling bodies, her body ablaze with biotics as she charged towards a merc bending down over a bomb preparing to set it off.

The merc was half way across the room before he even realized he'd been thrown, he heard the shot then everything went black before he'd even hit the wall.

Shepard put a bullet between the eyes of a shocked salarian then went about securing the crude explosive device.

When the others joined her they took up defensive positions and waited for her orders.

"Jacob, Lawson cover the bridge from down here. Massani, crack out the sniper you and Archangel will be covering from upstairs." she looked to Miranda once she'd finished with the explosive, "I'll be back down after a quick chat with Vakarian."

Miranda cocked her head slightly in confusion, "Who?"

"Archangel is Garrus Vakarian, he still uses the same sniper the acoustics gave him away." Shepard smirked, her eyes bright at the prospect of seeing the Turian.

"You know who he is from the gun he uses all the way back there?" Jacob gestured where they'd come in dumb shock.

"Acoustics never lie." Shepard smirked, she didn't feel the need to mention one of her more exotic biotic abilities. Then she was off leaving the two Cerberus operatives watching their arses as Eclipse prepared to send over a wave of mechs. Off to the right her enthusiasm curbed slightly at a number of respectfully covered bodies who were clearly not of the attacking mercs. A lot more was going on here than she realized.

Up the stairs a couple mercs were trying to hack the door.

Shepard encouraged them to desist with a shockwave that was far too powerful and blasted through the door.

"Show off." Massani grunted through his grin.

Shepard shrugged and sauntered in, grinning from ear to ear.

Garrus took one more shot with his sniper before standing from his snipers perch and removing his helmet, "Shepard." he greeted her with a nod. It was like seeing a spirit reborn, it had been Shepard that had restored in him his drive for justice, had made him a better man and not just a better Turian. The way she had led them on the Normandy was so different to any commanding officer he'd served with, she wasn't aloof, she was there in the trenches with them, shedding blood right alongside them, giving her life for them. When she led there were no questions, he followed, they all followed.

Shepard smiled and approached him with open arms.

Garrus returned her hug a little uncomfortably at first but when she didn't pull away and when he felt her so real he held her tightly. "Spirits I can't believe it's you." he breathed.

She scoffed softly, "You're not the only one." she pulled back and searched his blue predatory eyes and could see a deep grief had taken root in them, "We'll talk about me later. What the hell did you do to piss off every major merc band in the Terminus?" she smirked up at him.

He chuckled, "It wasn't easy, had to work really hard at it."

Shepard smiled then asked more seriously, "No doubt about that. What happened Garrus, how did you let yourself get caught up here like this?" she gestured to the apartment, to the bodies downstairs.

He stiffened and looked away shamefully, "I let my feelings get in the way of my better judgement." he bowed his face, "Look, can we talk about this later? I promise I'll tell you everything and you can tell me what happened to you."

"Deal." Shepard nodded enthusiastically, "I've got Massani with his sniper, Jacob and Miranda are both biotics, Jacobs an ex-soldier and pretty damn handy with that rifle of his and Miranda... goddess just don't fuck with Lawson. Only reason I'm still breathing is she spent two years putting me back together and isn't going to ruin her handiwork just yet." she smirked, hoping to ease his grief just a little.

"I take it you've... pissed her off?" Garrus interpreted with the Turian version of a smirk, his mandibles clicking with mirth.

Shepard chuckled, "I punched her so hard I knocked her out cold then had her sedated, I had the Cerberus logo removed from the hull of the Normandy, ordered her not to wear anything that has their bloody logo on it in public and took her shopping."

She said the last thing as though it was more scandalous than the first which made Garrus chuckle, "And I take it this would have resulted in something of a more violent response than you received?"

"Hell yes. I should be dead." Shepard smirked, the mirth shining in her eyes at the thought.

"If you two love birds have finished gas bagging we've got incoming." Massani grunted at them his sniper taking the head off a LOKI.

Shepard rolled her eyes at him and walked over to the balcony, standing dead centre and looking unfussed at the number of mechs Eclipse were sending their way.

Garrus returned to his sniper, his crest flushing a little at the remark but he didn't respond to it, "The bridge has been a life saver, whittling all those idiots into my scope. But it works both ways, we try to cross and they'll slaughter us."

"So what, we just sit and wait? To hell with that!" Massani growled, taking out another mech.

There was a flash that indicated Miranda had instigated an overload that left several of the mechs momentarily frozen for Jacob and Massani and now Garrus to take them down quickly.

"This place has served me well, it'll hold out yet and now with you..." Garrus glanced over at the stone faced Spectre who was glaring at the mercs as though that alone would stop them.

"We thin down their numbers, they'll be pushing hard now, they're committed to this assault. But they won't all come over the bridge. We couldn't detect any other entrances but is there any way they can blow through something behind us?" Shepard was in Commander mode now.

"Yeah. There's an access route we blocked off with three atmospheric containment shutters that can be closed." Garrus answered, taking a shot at a mech's head and watching the thing explode.

"Atmospheric shutters? Aria's gonna have a bitch of a time getting them open again." Shepard smirked, "Alright, I'm taking Lawson, you boys can deal with Eclipse. When they bring out the heavy let it do the work for you." her grin widened, "I fixed its targeting parameters."

Garrus chuckled, "Lucky them."

"So where're these shutters?" Shepard activated her omni-tool and linked communications with Garrus.

"There's a door behind the stairwell you came up, they're through there." Garrus informed her quickly with a gesture from his taloned hand.

"Alright. I'll clear up that mess for you first." Shepard smirked, nodding towards the mechs that were still spilling over the barrier. Lighting up her biotics she strode to the back of the room then turned to face the balcony. Neither Garrus nor Zaeed saw her as she sprinted forward then jumped off the railing.

"HOLY SHIT!" Jacob almost dropped his assault rifle as from out of nowhere a biotic storm fell out of the fucking sky and everything on the bridge was blasted out in a massive shockwave that decimated even the heavy defensive barrier at the other end of the bridge.

Miranda had also stared in awe, then she realized her mouth was open and she clamped her jaw shut. The biotic energy of Shepard was so familiar to her on a level she couldn't explain but right now she didn't have time to think it through. Shepard swayed for a moment on her feet, fully exposed on the bridge and clearly needing a moment to recover. With a hiss she sprinted from cover and grabbed Shepard by the back of her armour, dragging her back into cover and dropping the unbalanced woman unceremoniously on the ground, "Bloody reckless Shepard." she snapped.

Shepard sat there for a moment, cooling her biotics, "That... was not exactly how I saw that going." she admitted. "I only meant a shockwave to throw the mechs not... whatever the hell that was." she groaned, her head was starting to pound.

"Yes well need I say don't try that again?" Miranda glanced down at her, she was pale, not a good sign, "Now are you going to get off your arse or just sit there all day?" she snapped.

Shepard chuckled and hauled herself to her feet, "No ma'am. We've got some shutters to close in case these guys are just distracting us from a flank attack. The boys will hold here, you're coming with me Miss Lawson."

Miranda frowned slightly, there was a slightly playful edge to Shepard's tone and she hadn't reacted as she had thought she might at being reprimanded by her. Instead she'd simply laughed it off and was now slinking back into the apartment Archangel was using as his base. Quickly she followed the Commander, the bridge was momentarily clear as the mercs on the other side recovered from Shepard's powerful attack.

Heading through the door behind the stairwell Shepard stopped in her tracks as an explosion rumbled around them.

"Shepard that wasn't you was it?" Garrus asked warily.

Shepard rolled her eyes, so many responses coming to mind, "Yes Garrus, of course it was me, I thought I'd blast away the rubble and tell the bastards, 'Mechs are boring, bring it bitches'." she drawled.

Garrus chuckled, "So you were right."

"Garrus how often am I wrong?" it was a less hubristic way of saying, 'I'm always right' or 'I know everything about you'.

"Never while I've known you." he returned.

Shepard smirked, "Well there's a first time for everything, just not about this." she broke into a jog as she could see the first shutter. Her smile vanished at the sight of Blood Pack Krogan's and Vorcha rambling towards them. "Blood Pack. Looks like Lawson and I get more fun than you do."

"Want some backup?" Jacob asked instantly.

"No. Garrus gets a scratch on him and I'm kicking your arses. Besides," she smirked as she hit the shutter release, "I've got Lawson, why the hell would I need backup?" Her sparkling amber eyes alight with mirth. She was determined to jog Miranda's memory without jumping up and down screaming I AM PERSEPHONE and the best ways she figured to do that was number one: piano, number two: merciless teasing. Hey it'd worked when they were kids it could work now right?

Jacob chuckled, "True that."

Miranda had no idea how to take this new development. Was Shepard pretending to be nice to gain her trust? Was she flirting with her? Or was there a remote possibility that she was actually sincere? Miranda went to fire at the incoming Vorcha and Krogan but was stopped by Shepard.

"Save your ammo Lawson." Shepard glared at the lead Krogan and hit the shutter release. Ten seconds and a stack load of enemy bullets whipping past them later the shutter slammed shut.

"I'd prefer it if you called me Miranda." Miranda looked to Shepard expectantly though the woman was heading off to the door on the right that would take them to another shutter so she couldn't see the expression on her face.

Taking up position at the door she lit up her eyes biotically and detected half a dozen gray shapes moving through the room on the other side of the door. She looked back at Miranda and bit her lower lip at the platinum silver aura that shone around the woman, it was so beautiful she looked angelic and momentarily Shepard was lost for words.

Miranda was taken by complete surprise at the biotic glow that was focussed in Shepard's eyes turning them from their usual golden amber to violet. "Shepard what are you doing with your eyes?" she asked quickly.

"There's four Vorcha and two Varren behind door number two." she murmured as Miranda took her place.

"You can see biotic aura's?" Miranda whispered back as they prepared to break the door, that was yet another thing that wasn't in her files. She was quickly beginning to think her files were a waste of time.

"Yes." Was all Shepard whispered before she motioned for Miranda to go left. A moment later the door was sliding open and Shepard was sprinting through it with pistol blazing and biotics throwing crates at helpless vorcha.

Miranda was definitely going to be following up on this but took to the left as Shepard blasted to the right clearly making the bigger bang to get the attention of the Blood Pack mercs so she could do more subtle damage.

One of the varren charged at Shepard, until Shepard channelled her anger and snarled at the beast.

The varren suddenly slid on its haunches, whimpered like a kicked puppy and scrambled away much to the shock of the vorcha trailing it. Beast knew beast and the human was clearly an alpha.

Shepard smirked and ended the vorcha's confusion with a bullet through the brain.

The varren hightailed it right back where it came from through the shutter where a krogan was barking at it to get back into the fight.

The krogan cursed the varren and looked to the human female who had strangely glowing eyes and carried only a tiny pistol. He scoffed, "Why don't you try using a real gun human!" he bellowed at her, scoffing at the pathetic little weapon.

"I don't need one to deal with pissy little vorcha's like you." Shepard sneered right back.

He snarled and blood rage at such an insult took over his senses. He roared and charged at her.

Shepard braced, krogan could move real fast over short distances when in blood rage giving them great power when they slammed into their victims. In this case it would prove to be his undoing. She set her shoulders forward and charged, closing the distance between them with biotic speed, her right arm drawn back and enveloped in violet blue, pulsing energy.

Miranda's eye widened and she didn't even have time to curse as Shepard literally threw herself at a charging krogan. The bone shattering crash as the two opposing forces clashed in the centre of the small warehouse like chamber just about shook the room. Blood, bone and brain matter spraying in a wide arc as the Krogan's skull was pulverized by Shepards fist. It's body slamming to the ground several meters back from the point of collision.

Everything else in the room just stopped.

Three vorcha that remained pissed themselves in terror.

The other krogan that had been approaching the shutter from the other side stared in shock as his krogan comrade thudded to a stop, all that was left of his head was a mangled depression in his hump.

Shepard looked down at the body and smirked, "Guess Freedom's Progress was really just a love tap huh Miss Lawson?"

Miranda snapped her gaping jaw shut and opened fire on the nearest staring vorcha. She definitely did not want to be on the receiving end of another of Shepard's strikes.

Shepard threw the other krogan back with a shockwave and left Miranda to deal with the vorcha while she activated the shutter release.

Miranda approached Shepard, "How's the hand?" she asked casually, hiding her concern behind her usual cool mask.

Shepard looked at it and made a fist, "I cushioned it with a field, my hand never actually connected with him." she admitted.

"I thought I asked you to call me Miranda." she nodded in acknowledgement of the response.

Shepard flushed, "I... As you wish, Miranda." she murmured, bowing her head politely she turned and quickly jogged out to find the last shutter.

Had Miranda been able to see those amber eyes she would have, in that moment, seen the heart and soul of her beloved Persephone. But Shepard had not looked her in the eye and had turned as soon as she'd finished speaking.

The last shutter had been much easier to reach as only a couple brainless Vorcha had made their way through it and after Garrus warned them that things were heating up upstairs they returned at a sprint. They arrived in time to see two rather larger krogan's lumber up the stairs in the apartment and another half dozen vorcha and a couple varren charging towards them.

Shepard took care of the varren channelling her anger again and snarling at them.

Miranda shook her head in wonder as the beasts hightailed it out of there in fear while causing confusion with the vorcha trying to get them under control again and leaving themselves open for the two sharp shooters.

"That was a little unorthodox." She glanced at Shepard with an actual smirk.

Shepard grinned like she'd been praised by her idol, "What can I say, you bring out the beast in me Miranda." she winked and sprinted up the stairs.

Miranda hesitated. What in the stars did that mean?

"Lawson!" Jacob called from the main entrance, relieved to see them having just finished dealing with the Eclipse mercs.

"Keep watching the bridge." Miranda ordered him and followed after Shepard who was now punching the face in of another krogan. She shook her head, Shepard was enjoying that far too much.

Garrus and Massani were pinned down by the Krogan Battlemaster who wasn't aware of the threat behind him until she spoke.

"Hey Tiny, who the fuck taught you to shoot? A vorcha? Hell did you even pass your Rite? Bet you pissed your shell when the Klixon flew in." Shepard taunted, Wrex had taught her a lot about the Krogan when he realized not only was she interested but she had the heart of a Krogan Battlemaster.

Until then the Battlemaster had been calculating and composed. Now he saw black and charged her with a fear inspiring roar...

And Shepard just laughed, dancing out of the way to a place she could get a better run up. "That the best you got Tiny? A pyjak's got more quad then you."

"Shepard what the fuck are you doing!" Massani hissed at her. Everyone in the galaxy knew not to piss off a krogan in bloodrage.

The krogan surged towards her, weapons forgotten, his own roar filling his ears.

Shepard biotically charged him and drew back her right arm.

Miranda knew what was coming but the two men watching on didn't as Garrus surged to his feet as though he could somehow stop her.

The room shook at their collision.

Then again as the krogan's body slammed into the wall with such force he was embedded in it, his face literally coming out his hump.

Now Shepard looked at her fist in detest. That particular krogan had had a biotic shielding in place. Meaning her hand was quite broken, though nowhere near in the same magnitude as the krogan's face.

All three spectators were staring at the krogan body in the wall in awe.

"Holy fucking shit." Massani drawled, eyes boggling at the sight and an all new appreciation for the slip little Shepard billowing.

Miranda was the first to recover as she turned her gaze back to Shepard who was trying to remove her glove. Striding over she gently took over, "Well at least I know the enhancements are working."

Shepard chuckled and let Miranda do her thing, "You do good work."

Miranda glanced up at her, sensing sincerity in her voice, "Nothing but the best."

Shepard winced as she straightened out her bones before applying medi-gel.

Garrus moved up beside them shaking his head, "You did that and all you got was a broken fist? Spirits Shepard!" his mandibles clicked.

Shepard glanced at him, "Yeah, had a bit of an upgrade." she smirked.

Miranda scoffed but said nothing.

Shepard tapped beside her eye, "These babies go red and I suggest you run away very fast. Unless you're Miss Lawson and enjoy being knocked out co- ahh!" she bit back a yelp as Miranda pressed on one of her broken bones.

"Sorry what was that Commander?" she purred innocently.

Shepard laughed and tapped her lightly under the chin in an old affectionate gesture, "You'll keep Miranda."

Miranda looked up at her, feeling a little invaded at the intimate touch but upon seeing those fiery amber eyes something seemed to take hold of her and words failed her. Her heart actually skipped a beat and the heat from Shepard's proximity seemed to burn through her suit.

"Hate to interrupt, truly, but we got Blue Suns moving in." Massani called over to them sharply as a window to their right smashed.

Miranda scowled at him and felt her cheeks betray her and flush.

"Well you don't need my permission to shoot their arses. Found Vido yet?" Shepard pretended not to notice Miranda's blush and hoped it was a good sign.

"Yeah, gotta talk about that later so don't fucking choke on a bullet on me now girl." He grouched in his usual tough mercenary manner.

Miranda was wrapping up the bandage and wondering how the hell Shepard of all people could get on so well with a no-morals ruthless merc.

"Ha! You found the backstabbing bastard and want my help to keep his blood thirsty minions at bay while you put few rounds in him." she scoffed, still playfully as the men turned to the window to where the mercs were crashing in from the gunship.

Both Miranda and Shepard had their biotic shields up so weren't overly concerned about any incoming fire just yet but neither were planning on just standing out in the open for long. They both ducked behind a large planter, crouching side by side.

"Thanks Miranda." Shepard murmured to her as she pulled on her armoured glove.

"Try not to damage it further Commander, you have expensive hands." Miranda grumbled to her, though in a surprisingly calm manner rather than the usual cool business or annoyed or pissed of tones Shepard had come to hear from her more often than not.

"Well you do want me to put my upgrades to good use don't you?" Shepard grinned, popping up to fire at the already hampered mercs firing with her left hand with just as much accuracy as her right which she kept weapon free.

"I'm certain that good use does not including smashing your fist into the faces of charging krogan." Miranda countered, rising up as soon as Shepard ducked back down to reload.

Shepard grinned up at her, in this position she was so incredibly sexy as her catsuit hugged her figure tightly at her movements. "You know I'm having second thoughts about that suit of yours Miranda." she was up and firing quickly.

"Oh?" Miranda ducked down to reload.

"It's bloody distracting." Shepard whined playfully as though they weren't in a fight for their lives.

"Commander we've got Suns coming in from below." Jacob reported.

"Massani get your sniper over the stairs, we'll cover up here." Shepard ordered quickly.

"Roger that." he quickly moved out as ordered.

Miranda took over their firing position as Shepard ducked down to reload, "And just what about my uniform do you find so distracting Commander?" she continued their conversation, a part of her mind wondering what she was thinking if she was thinking at all.

"You want a list or the abbreviated version?" Shepard was grinning from ear to ear, so far so good.

What the hell why not. "You have a list?"

"How about starting off with those killer sexy boots, if I thought I could pull them off like you can I'd so want a pair." Shepard glanced at the knee high black heels that so did not look battle worthy yet Miranda fought in them flawlessly.

"Good thing you can't, I'm not in the habit of sharing my wardrobe." Miranda returned, she had an idea of what to expect from Shepard as many a man, woman and asari had made the mistake of flirting with her about her looks.

"Ha like I'd fit in them anyway, besides I'd just break my ankles running in those things." She probably could but Miranda was taller, bustier and had a much more nicely rounded arse than she did. "Which brings me to number two. How the fuck do you move in that thing? It's so tight I'm finding it hard to breath in sympathy for you."

Miranda had ducked down to reload and was startled by that one, glancing up at Shepard who was smirking as she shot down a batarian. "It's actually quite comfortable and allows me a greater range of movement than armour."

Their banter was interrupted by Kasumi who'd been wreaking havoc behind enemy lines with her sneaky, sneaky ways.

"That gunship is warming up its rockets!"

The gunship appearing in the balcony window to their left as soon as she'd finished speaking.

"Take cover!" Shepard yelled over to Garrus who was completely exposed where he was.

"ARCHANGEL YOU THINK YOU CAN SCREW WITH THE BLUE SUNS!" a very pissed off male voice bellowed right before he fired two rockets into the small space.

Shepard and Miranda were protected by their cover and biotic shields.

Garrus was not so fortunate as even with the warning he'd hesitated at seeing his end coming towards him.

"Garrus!" Shepard called out in fear as she saw one of her best friends tossed like a doll. Quickly she lashed out with her broken right hand and surrounded him with a biotic shield before he crashed into the wall.

"Damnit." Miranda hissed as their cover was pelted with chunks of debris from furniture and the floor.

"Singularity/Warp." Shepard snapped, all playfulness and teasing gone.

"Got it." Miranda nodded and prepared for it.

Shepard gently nudged Garrus behind cover with her biotics as the gunships machine guns roared to life intent on finishing the job on them all. With him in cover she took a deep breath and channelled the rage she felt at the mere thought of losing Garrus this close to him.

The singularity was so powerful it just about encompassed the gunship.

"Shepard that's really going to cause a big bang." Miranda warned her.

"That's the point." Shepard growled.

"Jacob take cover inside the apartment now, Kasumi wherever the hell you are get your head down." Miranda advised her fellow operatives.

"Taking cover." he moved quickly.

Counting a few more seconds Miranda let loose a warp and ensured her shields were as strong as she could manage.

The explosion ripped the ship apart just like it had the mech, only the gunship was far larger and the force of the explosion blew out most of the balcony.

The shockwaves threw Miranda into Shepard who put her arm around the operatives torso and held her close with one arm while she gripped the solid built in planter with her broken hand and kept her position. Anything that wasn't tied down was either pulverized, thrown into walls or into the centre of the apartment crashing downstairs.

Massani swore, diving for cover as even where he was wasn't safe.

It took a moment for Miranda's senses to return and she found herself in the strong, safe embrace of Shepard.

"We are quite the bringers of destruction, wouldn't you say?" Shepard smirked, waiting for Miranda to recover and enjoying the moment of closeness.

Miranda quickly pulled away, her heart racing for a different reason, "Indeed." was all she said.

Seeing that she was okay Shepard left what remained of their cover and sprinted over to Garrus, "Joker get Chakwas ready, Garrus has been hit real bad, tried to catch a rocket with his face." she contacted the pilot.

"Huh you been rubbing off on him Commander, that's so something you would do!" Came the playful but slightly concerned response. When Shepard didn't respond he knew it was bad and quickly passed on the message to the doctor.