Shepard was pacing the briefing room, the holographic ship in the centre all but ignored other than avoiding it in her pacing as she thought about where to go next. She'd had a quick chat with the engineers Kenneth and Gabby who'd mentioned that a part she'd only be able to get on markets like Omega would help the ship run smoother. She also wanted to pick up some Serrice Ice Brandy for Chakwas and some other... beverages for personal consumption. But going back to Omega would require an escort and they all needed a break. Hell she hadn't even had a shower yet and was grateful the armour kept that fact from everyone else.
Miranda watched from her office over the 'security' feeds. Shepard was mulling over something but it was curious she'd chosen to do so in the briefing room and not her loft. Watching the woman she contemplated the interactions from the Citadel and Omega and was having trouble correlating them. Shepard had been ready to rip her apart over their discussion about Cerberus, but removing the logo and not mentioning the organization or projects and Shepard was like a different woman, she was less guarded, friendly, flirtatious even. Was it really that simple to get along with her? To take away the visual reminders of her working with Cerberus?
From that discussion she knew that Shepard was well aware of who they were, it clearly ate away at her. From that discussion Miranda had began researching, moving around Cerberus spy programs that she hadn't been aware of initially. That had irritated her. Spy programs on her workstation. She'd isolated them so whoever had put them in wouldn't realize she knew about them and could monitor them without them truly impeding her work. Anything for the Illusive Man she allowed the programs to see in case they'd been put in place by him, which after talking with Shepard had seemed more and more likely. Of course the Illusive Man himself would most likely know of everything as anything electronic that came and went from the ship was screened by EDI. If he asked she was getting facts and information to reason with Shepard after their altercation.
But the facts were not reassuring.
She glanced up at her surveillance screen as Garrus strode into the briefing room and Shepard all but ran into his arms for a hug. She turned up the sound to listen in.
"I'm more worried about you Shepard. Cerberus? You do remember all those sick experiments they were performing?" Garrus looked to her worried, the right side of his face was being held together by cybernetic implants and a patch had been placed over them in the mean time to aid in the healing of his scales.
Shepards shoulders slumped, "I know, I know Garrus. Which is why I need you. If I'm walking into hell I want someone I can trust at my side."
"You realize this plan has me walking into hell to you know?" he smirked, "Just like old times. Besides you seemed very friendly with that female."
"Miranda?" Shepard actually smiled, "Work in progress."
"What you think you can... what's the human phrase... 'flirt and convert'? Isn't that the saying Chief Williams used?" Garrus scratched his still numb mandible thoughtfully.
Shepard laughed, "I wish." she was aware of the many, many bugs on the ship, "She's an amazing woman and believe it or not we actually have the same goals."
Garrus gave the turian version of a frown, "Should I be worried Shepard?"
Shepard smirked, "What Miranda wants is for humanity to find a good, strong place in the galactic community. She's no xenophobe and it's not dominance she's working for. What she hasn't realized yet is that her goals and those of the Illusive Man are different. That he's using her merely as a tool as he would have her use me." she sighed, "I just hope she realizes it before he swallows her soul."
Miranda considered that comment thoughtfully, she had picked up that they shared the same fundamental ideals, they just went about them in very different ways. The thought that Shepard believed she was just being used as a tool, that they both were, was not new to her. She herself was comfortable with the notion, it gave her purpose. She had worked to bring Shepard back for a purpose. Clearly Shepard was not comfortable with the notion, she'd have to find a way around that.
Garrus could read humans pretty well since serving on the first Normandy and Shepard especially so, "What is it Shepard? Who is she?"
Shepard smiled sadly, "An incredible woman Garrus with so much potential. Cerberus has..." she sought for the right words, "Hell Garrus, they've tried to snuff out her heart. Think of it as fighting an organic over an AI. An AI is predictable, fights in a certain way, uses only the tools at its disposal with clinical precision. But an organic is unpredictable, can alter the way it fights is more dynamic and if it doesn't have the right tools they create it and think outside the box."
Garrus nodded slowly.
EDI listened with great interest.
Miranda was most definitely not sure she was all that happy with this analysis so far.
"Miranda is an organic the Illusive Man has tried to make into an AI. He's made her predictable, trained her to fight in a certain way and use tools with clinical precision, sure she's creative and fucking amazingly intelligent but that heart of an organic... that unpredictability makes for loose cannons to those who require the utmost in control over their subject." She nervously fiddled with her fingernails, wondering if Miranda was somehow listening and being very careful with what she said.
"And of course this Illusive Man requires utmost control." Garrus nodded again as he wrapped his head around what Shepard was trying to explain to him.
"Yes. Therefore he's tried to drill it out of her and in doing so it's made her put up walls around her heart." She rapped her knuckles against his chest over his heart.
"And you need her heart, you need her to fight like an organic." Garrus smiled, straightening his shoulders as he understood, or so he thought.
"I..." Shepard stepped back and looked to the holographic image of the Normandy, "I'd like that yes but... the very last thing I want... I would never..." she wrung her hands nervously like Tali.
Garrus realized something and his eyes widened, "Oh you like her."
Shepard went bright red, "Of course I like her, I believe I let that slip when I told you she's incredible."
"Oh no, no, no," he waved a talon at her, "you want to court her." he grinned at that little gem of information.
Shepard leaned against the rail with her head bowed, "What I want is of no importance. It never has been." she murmured.
"Bullshit Shepard. What about Liara?" He demanded, arms crossed now and annoyed that she viewed her own needs so low when she'd fight tooth and claw for the needs of others.
"That was different, I needed her to keep my mind steady. Yes I care about her, as a dear friend but the melds were never about love. Hell, she kept me human Garrus, she anchored my mind whenever the sea of the Protheans threatened to overwhelm me. I know she wanted more but I could never..." Shepard could feel herself getting emotional and closed her eyes, squeezing them tight. She'd never been able to openly share with Liara for fear of what would happen if the gentle scientist touched the savage beast in her.
"You could never actually love her?" Garrus asked curiously.
"The thought of me joining with her terrified me. She was so... innocent and I'm... not." her brows furrowed and she looked down at her hands with heavy shoulders, "I... there's a part of me I can't describe other than savage. Most of the time I keep it tucked away but there are times when... when it surfaces and I become something other than 'Commander Shepard'. It happened today, not as bad as Torfan but enough that I wasn't myself after seeing what those mercs did to the humans... to those innocent kids just for being human."
Garrus had never seen her like this, she'd never spoken of it to him before. Reaching out he gently took hold of her shoulder, "Shepard, sometimes to protect those who can't protect themselves we must become something those who would harm the innocent fear. Whatever this is you feel inside you, you obviously keep it under tight control until it's needed. There's no shame in that, none at all. I have the greatest respect for you, for your skills, your leadership and I am honoured to call you friend." he encouraged her with earnest sincerity.
Shepard looked up and him and put her hand over his, gracing him with a small smile, "Thanks Garrus, that means a lot to me. I consider you a great friend as well."
Garrus grinned down at her, "Good." he wasn't really one for soft moments like this but Shepard was different. He'd do anything for her if she needed him to. "So this Miranda..." he stepped back out of reach as she went to jab him in the ribs with her elbow.
Shepard shook her head with a soft chuckle, "Gear up, we're going shopping."
Garrus followed her, shaking his head. No matter how much he thought he understood her he realized he had no clue. Was this what human males felt about their females? If so it wasn't any wonder the females usually always had the upper hand psychologically, especially the older ones. He knew never to mess with Doctor Chakwas not even Shepard dared that.
Miranda had forgotten all about her reports in listening to that conversation. It had been quite enlightening listening in, and not just because it was apparent the Commander had something of a crush on her. Was what had happened with Aria somehow related to this 'savageness' she felt inside her? Was violence against the innocent the only way to bring it out of her? She was pondering this when something else Shepard had said came to mind prominently. She was going shopping! "Damnit!" she hissed and shot to her feet.
Shepard knew the click of those heels and muttered under her breath to Garrus, "Brace yourself Vakarian."
Garrus quickly stiffened and looked around for danger. His predatory gaze landed on an irate human woman in white and black uniform. "She's all yours Shepard." he muttered and quickly went on ahead.
"Coward!" Shepard called after him.
"Shepard what the hell are you doing?" Miranda snapped at her.
"Shopping. You made it abundantly clear that taking you last time was such a waste of your time and Garrus knows all the good places to shop..." Shepard shrugged nonchalantly then smirked, "All the nice dress shops." she glanced at Miranda in time see the fist coming at her but deciding to let it connect.
Miranda hissed in pain, hitting armour was stupid.
Shepard chuckled, "I'd offer to kiss it better but I think I'd get a black eye."
"At the minimum." Miranda growled, "This is Omega you can't just..." she stopped as Shepard suddenly put her hand on her shoulder.
"I figured you'd catch up sooner rather than later Miranda. Even doped up on meds Garrus knows Omega better than any of us." she grinned, "Besides you know you're always welcome to come shopping with me."
Miranda glared at her but kept in stride with her. She had so many questions to ask but now wasn't the time. No she'd ask those in the privacy of the ship. "What's on your list?" she grumbled.
"Some parts for Kenneth and Gabby, brandy for Chakwas and I want to check out some non-standard mods. Anything you'd be interested in Miranda?" she asked curiously with a cheeky grin as she anticipated the answer.
"From Omega?" Miranda just about spat in disgust.
Shepard chuckled.
They didn't spend long on shopping. A Quarian on pilgrimage had the parts they needed as well as some interesting mods Shepard paid way too much for. Miranda had been about to scold her when the Quarian reverently looked up from the credit chit to Shepard, his voice cracked with heartfelt emotion as he thanked her and told them he'd be able to buy a ticket off of Omega now.
Garrus had chuckled and elbowed her, "Softie." he'd teased her.
Shepard had merely shrugged, "So I have a soft spot for Quarian's on Pilgrimage. The poor kids get thrown out into a universe that hates them for their ancestors mistakes and wonder how they get themselves in so much trouble."
They'd followed her to a few merchant stalls, watched her bargain with them like a native of Omega then they'd gone to Afterlife to purchase the 'medicinal' supplies for Chakwas... which turned out to be a little more for Shepard's personal medicinal purposes.
As they were about to leave one of Aria's thugs approached.
"Shepard, Aria's got a job for you." the turian looked to her expectantly, well aware that Aria was watching on from above.
"Oh really?" Shepard crossed her arms and looked over him coldly.
"She's got information that someone's gonna take out Patriarch. She wants you to get him out of sight." he passed on the simple message.
Shepard waited for more but none was forthcoming and the turian became fidgety under her glare. "Why the fuck would I do that? I'm no babysitter for Aria's pet krogans." she growled dangerously.
The turian flinched, "Look, you're not on Aria's payroll, it won't be seen as her protecting him..."
Shepard's face rose and shot Aria a withering glare the asari met coolly. Shepard snarled and gestured curtly before stalking towards the back of the club that led down to a second level Patriarch was known to inhabit.
Aria simply smirked. Yes, she always got her way.
"Shepard!" Patriarch greeted the little human warmly and with a proud chuckle, both arms wide waiting for the traditional greeting.
Shepard bounded in exuding energy, confidence and inspiring awe as she returned his greeting, "Patriarch!"
They clasped wrists and slammed shoulders.
Patriarch chuckled as he felt the strength in her, "You've been working out."
"I'm a busy girl." she shrugged.
"Yeah, hear dying can do that." Patriarch nodded his bulky form at odds with the human gesture. "T'loak still trying to get in your pants?"
Shepard scoffed, "Trying's the word alright." she scowled.
"Can I get ya a round or too busy to share war stories with an old krogan?" he laughed at her predicament. The human had a quad walking the line she did with the Asari alpha bitch. But he saw what Aria didn't. Aria had yet to realize that it was Shepard who was the true alpha. It was Shepard who let her remain as the top bitch of Omega. Should Shepard ever change her mind Aria would be dead, not a trophy, not a defeated icon to wave at her enemies but dead.
"You know I enjoy hearing your tales of crushing the skulls of your enemies." Shepard motioned for Miranda and Garrus to remain outside of the alcove to keep watch, "Perhaps in private?" she glanced at the guests.
Patriarch considered her for a moment, "You heard her, scram." he gestured to the entrance.
Everyone in the alcove, about a dozen in total, left quickly as ordered by the old battlemaster.
Shepard sauntered over to a lounge and sunk down into it while she played with something on her omni-tool, she'd already set up a looping feed for privacy from Aria's security net and was checking to make sure everything was green.
"So what seems to be the matter today?" Patriarch waited expectantly, looking down at the lounging human who was like a graceful wildcat, poised, coiled and deadly. They'd established this method of communicating without Aria's overbearing paranoia becoming aware of their 'private' talks.
"It appears Aria's got word of an assassination attempt for your life. She wants me to sneak you away and hide you out of sight." she scoffed at the idea, shaking her head in disgust.
"You have other ideas I take it." he smirked.
Shepard looked up at him with a calculating expression, "Indeed I do. Right now you're a pet on a leash, no kraant and barely considered krogan by most of your kind."
The words were harsh but true and the old krogan knew it so merely nodded.
"But what if word got out that Patriarch's kraant dealt with the assassins, in a bloody and brutal manner?" she purred, letting the thought mull around in his mind.
Patriarch's yellow eyes started to light up a little at the thoughts that began to trickle in. "What do you have in mind?"
"Seen Garm recently?" she smirked and once again activated her omni-tool. The image she was about to show Patriarch was one Massani had taken of the Krogan Blood Pack merc from Archangel's apartment.
His eyes widened at the holograph and he grunted, "How did you do that?" he asked with admiration.
"My fist versus his face." She held up her hand and chuckled, "Hurt like hell and got a couple broken bones but hey. My fist won."
He roared out in laughter, "Oh I would love to see you in action Shepard but there's no way you could do that."
"Vakarian!" Shepard barked.
Garrus appeared suddenly.
"How did this happen?" she gestured to the image.
Garrus smirked, "She taunted him into a bloodrage charge, met it with her own biotic charge and punched him in the face. It was the spirits be damned best thing I've ever seen!"
Shepard nodded and dismissed him.
Patriarch looked at her with a completely new level of respect. "So this kraant you're suggesting..." he left her to finish her idea.
"Myself and my two friends outside will deal with the assassins. You will begin building up your strength again then when you're ready I'll be back with my squad and will kill the bitch leaving you in charge again." she waited for his next question, knowing exactly what it would be about.
His eyes narrowed, "From Aria's pet to your puppet?" he rumbled.
Shepard rose to her feet smoothly, "In a manner of speaking. How you run Omega is entirely up to you but I do have some expectations." she took a menacing step towards him, her fierce glare beating down his with ease, "Clean up this stinking shit hole. Get the fucking gangs off the streets. No more slaves, prostitution, drugs."
"That's where just about all the credits come from." He snarled at her.
"So go fucking legit. Do you have any idea how many corporations would kill to get set up out here if it was safe enough? You could make a shitload more credits because out here there aren't the bloody exorbitant Council taxes and if you play your cards right you could even get legit with the Council." she wasn't sure how that suggestion would go and could sense his confusion.
"Why would I want that?" he scoffed, shaking his head again.
"The Reapers are very real and they're coming whether the Council believes they exist or not. How do you think people are going to respond when a place like Omega steps up while the Council stick their heads in the sand? They'll flock here like stink on shit." she flashed him a feral smile, her voice low with promise. "I've also heard that Urdnot Wrex is changing things up on Tuchanka, uniting the clans. Think of what an alliance with Urdnot would do for both of you."
He pondered thoughtfully and for the first time in centuries began to feel the flicker of hope. "These thoughts do merit quite the consideration."
"You get your shit together and I'll deal with that bitch. From that day you'll have a standard galactic year to clean up Omega. I don't know when the Reapers will strike, hopefully not before I can convince the Council to get their arses in gear, but I need Omega solid before they get here and Aria has shit for brains. But you... you can get it done." she stepped back from him, "And you know I'll kill you if you fail. Aria has yet to grasp that concept." she reminded him in a firm tone that set the bones trembling in fearsome warriors.
Patriarch nodded, feeling the shiver. "You do all that you say and we have a deal. No slavers, prostitutes or drugs, Omega cleaned of Aria's filth and ready for war in a year of her demise." he rumbled holding out his hand.
Shepard shook it, "Done." she grinned up at him, "Well old beast it's been enjoyable catching up but you know me, places to go, people to kill."
Patriarch chuckled, "Be off with you then whelp."
"So the old reptile coming or what?" Garrus asked curiously as Shepard emerged alone.
"No, we're going to track down these assassins and deal with them ourselves. My guess is they'll be lingering around the back door, wouldn't dare come down through the upper level as Aria would flay them alive. Also given that it's Omega they don't spend weeks plotting right Garrus?" she glanced up at the turian.
"Not generally no." Garrus acknowledged as he and Miranda fell into step with her.
"And the fact that Aria's found out about it and came running after me means the assassins are probably not very..." she strode through the door to come face to face with a half dozen krogan mercs armed with shotguns and flamethrowers, "far." she laughed, she actually laughed, "No fucking way!"
"Keep walking human." one of the krogan snarled at her.
"You lot here for Patriarch?" she asked, hand on her hip and looking calm, collected and totally not concerned that they were outnumbered by the massive reptilian species.
At that they straightened from their relaxed and bored mannerisms and went for their weapons.
"What's it to you?" the speaker growled fiercely.
"Well you picked a hell of a day for it. You see," she strode up to him completely unfazed by the weapons that were immediately trained on her, "we're Patriarch's kraant and he's sent us here to make a bloody mess of you." With that she pulled back her left arm and let loose an earth shattering biotic punch that wasn't quite as brutal as the one she pulled on Garm but it still had the krogan's face exploding through its hump.
Garrus and Miranda immediately opened fire on the closest to Shepard.
Shepard didn't even go for her guns. Instead with one hand she called up a stasis field... inside one of the mercs causing him to literally explode. With her other hand she slapped a singularity between the rear three pulling them off balance and smirking as without being told Miranda finished them off by warping the singularity.
It was bloody and messy as requested. The walls were painted with krogan blood, organic matter and shrapnel from their less than adequate armour.
"Think that'd be all of them Garrus?" Shepard asked, flicking off a chunk of meat from her thigh with a small measure of disgust evident on her features.
"I'll do a sweep just to make sure." Garrus rolled his shoulder and slunk off to blend in the shadows as he had done as Archangel.
Shepard nodded and looked to Miranda who had a near unreadable expression on her face, "I had to make it messy, deter further attempts on Patriarch's life." she defended thinking that was the problem.
Miranda simply nodded and waited to follow her lead, saying nothing. In fact she'd said very little on this trip, something that Shepard had noticed.
Shepard considered the woman long and hard and for several moments both women refused to back down. Miranda's gaze was quickly turning to ice whereas Shepard's was more curious. Shepard cocked her head slightly, "Is everything alright Miranda?" she asked genuinely.
"I would like to speak with you privately when we return to the Normandy." Miranda responded curtly.
"As you wish, you know my door's rarely locked." Shepard smiled, wondering what Miranda wanted to talk about that she didn't want to discuss here, maybe the paintjob?
Miranda simply nodded and followed Shepard back into the club.
Patriarch looked over as Shepard and another woman entered his alcove, "Back so soon?"
"Yeah, idiots were waiting right outside the doors for when you left next, I've got someone scouting just to make sure that was all of them. You'll find a terrible mess on the way out so don't slip and break something important now will you." she smirked up at him.
He chuckled, "Well then, looks like I owe you Shepard."
They shared a meaningful nod. He knew what was expected next of him and he was not about to cross this human.
Miranda frowned. They would also be discussing whatever that was as well.
"See you round old beast, try not to piss off Aria too much." she winked, bidding him goodbye for now.
He merely chuckled once more and returned to his drinks and companions.
"Want a drink while we wait?" Shepard asked Miranda, hoping to somehow ease the tension from her.
"No thanks." she shook her head, not about to drink anything from this pisshole.
"Suit yourself." Shepard shrugged and approached the bar. Catching the attention of the batarian bar tender she felt a moment of discomfort at being served anything by a batarian but quickly shoved it aside. He'd given no indication of recognizing her after all. "Serrice Ice Brandy." she ordered her drink, a favourite she shared with Chakwas.
He grunted and prepared the order.
"Wow, look at you. Anyone ever tell you what an amazing waist you've got?" a turian beamed broadly at Shepard who was leaning casually against the bar.
Shepard glanced at him, he was a little flushed along his crest and obviously tipsy but not quite at the drooling drunk stage yet, "Not recently, are you feeling inclined to make an observation or merely question one?" she smirked back at him, her body language instinctively slipping into a more Turian demeanour. Straightening up, turning slightly, accentuating her hips and shoulders.
"Depends if I'm gonna get my arse blown off, you're packing some serious firepower there." the Turian grinned, nodding towards her weapons.
Shepard chuckled and nodded to the batarian in thanks for the drink. Lifting the glass to her lips she tossed it back and grimaced at the sharper than usual bite it had. Scowling she lowered the glass to the counter and tried to clear her throat of the increasing burn.
The Batarian was smirking darkly at her.
Shepard's eyes widened as her stomach began to convulse and her vision began to get spotty. Lightning fast she whipped out her pistol and shot the Batarian between the eyes before she started coughing up blood and dropped her pistol.
"Shit!" Miranda cursed, heart beating wildly as Shepard's whole body began to shake, "Garrus get back here immediately, Shepard's been poisoned."
"On my way." Garrus responded quickly.
Taking Shepard's arm Miranda draped it across her shoulder and dragged her out of the club at a smart pace, Shepard tried to walk alongside her but her feet weren't cooperating.
Miranda knew there was little time judging by the amount of blood Shepard was coughing up. She wouldn't be able to get her back to the ship for proper treatment until Shepard was at least stabilized. Good thing she knew Shepard's physiology by heart. Quickly getting her down in a quiet alley she set to work.
When Garrus found them there was little he could really do other than scare off vorcha and scum who'd try to get the jump on Miranda while she kept Shepard alive.
Shepard came too with a splitting headache and stomach ache. "How many d'I drink?" she moaned, feeling ready to heave any minute now.
"One." Garrus was so relieved to hear her voice and feeling terribly guilt ridden, "I should've warned you not to get a drink from there, the batarian bar tender has a nasty habit of poisoning the drinks of humans. I'm so sorry Shepard." he shifted his weight uncomfortably and his crest was flushed.
Shepard scoffed and ended up coughing for her trouble.
"Easy now Shepard, we need to get you back to the ship. You're regenerating but I don't have the equipment to see how much damage was done here." Miranda held her shoulder to steady her.
"What... no room... in your back... pocket?" Shepard wheezed, a grin tugging the corners of her mouth.
Miranda decided if she was joking she wasn't in too bad a shape, "You're welcome to inspect my back pockets if you insist."
Shepard's eyes widened and she was not yet coherent enough for a suitable come back.
Miranda smirked and held up her finger, "How many fingers?"
Shepard considered the offered digit curiously. Reaching up with a slightly shaky hand she gently took hold of Miranda's wrist and brought it closer to her face, then further away then she cocked her head and brought it closer again.
Miranda rolled her eyes and flicked her wrist free, "Come on, let's get you back to the ship." she stood smoothly and held out her hand again to help the Commander to her feet.
"Gotta see Aria first." Shepard insisted as she accepted Miranda's hand and stood, her world tilting suddenly and she moaned.
Miranda quickly steadied her again, "You're in no shape for another dance with Aria." she growled firmly.
"No dancing, just getting paid." She muttered, reaching up to touch her lips that were caked in blood. Grimacing she was very grateful when Garrus held out a canteen of water. Swishing a couple mouthfuls around she swallowed the bloodied water and her face scrunched up at the horrible feeling of it trickling down her raw throat.
"We need to get you proper medical attention, then you can go see Aria." Miranda reasoned with her firmly, annoyed at her insistence to see the Asari in such a state when Aria would most certainly try and take advantage of her weakness.
Shepard looked up at her cobalt eyes that were expressing her annoyance and frustration right now. She sighed softly and nodded, "As you wish Miranda." her voice was a huskier than normal murmur.
Miranda was relieved Shepard wasn't going to argue with her, she obviously was feeling the effects of the poison more acutely than she thought. This was confirmed when Shepard swayed on her feet. Taking Shepard's arm over her shoulder once more Miranda supported her as they began their walk back to the ship.
Garrus looked to Shepard, highly concerned... until she winked at him with a cheeky smirk. He bit back his chuckle and shook his head at her, Miranda would so kick her arse if she figured out Shepard was faking.
He he he! Seph and Miri will be having quite the chat soon. Just got to wrap things up on Omega then we're heading off for Grunt to see what he adds to the mix. It'll take a little more than five seconds to get there however... ;)