Miranda didn't like having strangers on board the Normandy. Not in the least. As soon as Shepard was stable and sleeping she'd crossed the crew deck for her quarters to start running background checks on the three intruders. She barely cast a glance at the people gathered around the tables socializing or enjoying a meal from Gardner but was aware of the looks her way that were curious or nervous at her presence.
Letting the inquiries filter through different channels she knew it would take some time before anything beyond basic Alliance profiles came through. Taking a deep breath she sat back and closed her eyes, rubbing her forehead as she finally had a quiet moment to just stop and think. No one was pounding on her door, yet, Shepard was asleep in the medbay having the drugs flushed from her system and recovering from the intensive fights she'd endured... alone. She scowled and made a mental note to reprimand Shepard thoroughly for being so thoughtless about her own safety once again.
Thinking beyond that, however, her memories were returning and having a moment to just sit and remember them she began going through them to try and recall the important events that she'd almost lost.
She could remember having to wake Shepard up, how hostile Shepard been initially in no small part due to her own pride and waving red flags in Shepards face. That she winced at, especially now she knew so much more about Shepard and actually cared about her.
Miranda gasped and opened her eyes as it suddenly struck her that it hadn't been simply hostility on Shepards part but hurt. Knowing what she did now, that Shepard not only knew her before but deeply cared for her, the very first look in her eyes back on Lazarus that unconditional trust followed by what she'd said about wanting to chip Shepard took on a whole new light. She remembered before the fury had set in the look of heartache that had flickered through those amber eyes. At the time she hadn't understood how her words could have impacted Shepard so much… now, now her heart hurt. Sinking forward she put her elbows on her desk and face in hands she found herself taking a deep breath with heavy heart as things started making sense and hitting home just how much she'd hurt Shepard in those first days especially. Sure Shepard had lashed out and crossed multiple lines in return but now she could understand why.
It was still slightly strange to even be referring to Shepard without her title even in her mind now, for so long it had been Commander Shepard, an impersonal title. Commander Shepard had simply been a project, one that challenged her on a level nothing else had even come close to, being able to bring someone back from the dead. Then once she had brought her back a whole host of other challenges had arisen, challenges that still seemed to blow up in her face.
With those challenges, however, was a very unforeseen reward, a friendship that was quickly becoming something much deeper. Being able to feel how Shepard felt towards her was breathtaking, humbling and nerve wracking, incredibly nerve wracking.
She clenched her fists and thumped the desk with a biotic rumble of frustration, if only she could remember who Shepard really was. It was getting harder and harder to wait, to find a way to safely unlock the memories that were sealed away in her mind. Now that she knew melding with Shepard was a viable solution for the short term memory loss she wanted to get Shepard better then leap into her mind once more when Shepard was in control of herself. She wanted to find out who had dared to do this to her and rip them apart.
"Operative Lawson," EDI's voice suddenly broke through the mental roar in Miranda's mind and her avatar winked to life at the console.
"What EDI?" Miranda snapped in annoyance at the intrusion but she did sit straighter and cool down her biotics, she had been unaware that she was lightly flaring them so intense was her frustration.
"I was able to acquire the information Shepard had entered the Eclipse base for. Justicar Samara is waiting in police custody for the ship name her quarry departed Ilium on having agreed to join the mission upon delivery."
Miranda's brow rose, "Police custody?"
"She was requested by the local authorities to remain in their custody to avoid a diplomatic incident due to the nature of her Justicar code," EDI filled her in calmly, her sensors had detected that Miranda was angered by something yet with Shepard in the medbay she was the next in command. It would also provide a distraction from whatever was causing her anger.
Miranda shook her head, "I don't want her on the ship until Shepard is well enough to handle her should she decide to follow her code and try to kill someone."
"Justicar Samara advised she would only remain in police custody for 24 hours then she would leave with the implication that she would kill anyone who got in her way," EDI's modulated tones advised the Operative of a very relevant piece of information.
Miranda mentally swore, that meant she'd have to sit on the Justicar as none of the others would stand a chance. "She can wait for now until we can determine how badly Shepard has been harmed by the Minagen."
"I shall download the information to your terminal for when you are ready," EDI's blue avatar twinkled a little before winking out.
Miranda sighed heavily as she looked at her terminal at all the things that were piling up. Did Shepard always get this beat up on missions? It was really setting them back now, they didn't have all the time in the universe and there was no telling when the Collectors would hit again or where.
Jaw setting stubbornly Miranda determined that they were not going to leave Illium until Shepard had herself under control.
XXXX
Miranda scowled at the readings displaying the results of Shepards brain scans.
Dr Chakwas noticed the frown lines on that immaculate face and took a deep breath, "We didn't get a chance to talk earlier Miranda."
Miranda glanced over at the distinguished doctor and waited for whatever it was Chakwas knew that she didn't.
"Chasen has the same anomaly as Shepard," she murmured softly and held out a datapad.
Miranda's eyes widened and she quickly accepted the offered information, "How is that possible?"
"From what I've determined from the Lieutenant, the Alliance is investigating as well. It seems that there is a clandestine organization of some kind out there running experiments on children. Very few make it to adulthood with their minds intact, in fact they only know of two cases and we're looking at them right now." Chakwas nodded to the two unconscious women who had yet to stir in any fashion since their arrivals into medbay.
Miranda took a deep breath and exhaled slowly to stop her heart from getting too fast, "Makes sense. Experimentation of this magnitude would not be without casualties. Given the complexity of the alterations to the brain…" she paused as she caught sight of Chakwas' raised brow, "I did not mean to insinuate that the lives lost do not matter, just that it is to be expected with this level of experimentation," she added softly.
Chakwas acknowledged her sentiment with a nod, secretly pleased as before Stephanie had crashed into Miranda's life the woman wouldn't have made that kind of sentiment known. "In any case both of them describe what's in their mind as a beast. They both can be provoked into overwhelming rage where they lose their sense of self if not anchored to another person in some way."
Miranda considered that, "They need a bond that's more than friendship, it's mind to mind. Do we know who Chasen is anchored with?"
"The Lieutenant to some degree, from what she was saying their bond is not nearly as powerful as yours, there are times where she is not able to bring Chasen back as with what happened back there. Apparently if Shepard hadn't intervened and beat Chasen so soundly, Chasen would have turned on Keya as the weaker opponent." Chakwas crossed her arms and leaned back against her desk, glancing between the two patients, "Something happened that Keya was not able to understand. They stopped fighting and stared at each other, when they did she described an immediate increase in the scent of ozone which indicates something was happening biotically however she could not see any substantial biotics to accompany that increase."
Miranda listened closely to everything the doctor was saying and moved to stand beside Shepard, taking in her features that normally would have been softened and calm in sleep but she was still tense. Miranda's frown deepened the more Chakwas shared. Lightly brushing her fingertips across Shepards forehead she closed her eyes and ever so cautiously reached towards that seemingly calm mind. She pulled back almost instantly at the animalistic hiss and surge of pain that burst through the biotic contact, explaining the reason why Shepard did not look like she was peacefully sleeping off the drugs.
"Goddamn it Shepard of all the stupid, idiotic, foolish things to do!" She hissed under her breath out of annoyance and a touch of fear as she wondered how in the worlds she was supposed to fix this.
Chakwas waited in hopes that Miranda would elaborate but it wasn't guaranteed knowing the secretive woman as she did.
"They melded and fought mind to mind. We're going to need to bring Rana in on this, this is not anything I've studied before and we don't have time for me to take a crash course on the matter," she seethed at the admission but there was only so much one could study with a workload she carried on a daily basis. She looked to Chakwas with a fiery expression and pointed at Shepard and growled, "She is not to set one foot off this ship for the foreseeable future."
Chakwas nodded in wholehearted agreement as Miranda stalked out of the medbay to get Rana. While she didn't anticipate Shepard waking up soon she could certainly understand Miranda's concern as Shepard did have the habit of doing just that… waking up to soon and skipping out on the medbay as soon as she was physically able.
Miranda swung by the armory before heading to the lab and found Jacob alone polishing Shepards armor, "Jacob." She nodded in greeting as she approached to cast her critical eye over his handiwork.
"Miranda." He continued focusing on a spot that had been dented and he'd had to take some extra time to get put back into shape from whatever Shepard had hit or been hit with on her chest piece, "How's Shepard?"
Miranda scowled which was enough of an answer in itself, "She's been worse."
"She's been better to, what do you need?" Jacob acknowledged, she would only come down here if needing something after all, she wasn't the conversational type.
"I want you to make sure our guests are accompanied at all times, just because they're Alliance does not mean I trust them," Miranda looked to him expectantly, he was the head of security after all.
"Already on it, Kelly is sitting on the lieutenant up on the crew deck, Garrus is talking shop with the pilot, Kasumi is making sure no funny business tech wise, and of course EDI is keeping a close eye on them to." He pointed up to the roof indicating the AI.
Miranda nodded curtly and continued on her way, "Thank you Jacob."
Jacob's brow rose at the thanks, that was… unusual coming from Miranda, Shepard must be in worse shape than he'd thought.
In the lab Miranda found both Mordin and Rana quietly at work in their own spaces, both of them glancing up at the intrusion of their domains.
"Operative Lawson, how is the Commander?" Mordin asked with a nod of greeting.
"I was hoping you and Rana could help me work that out. Doctor Chakwas is keeping an eye on her and Chasen's readings at the moment but she's found something interesting." Miranda approached his workstation and handed over the datapad for him to upload onto his console.
In moments he had it up on display for them to collaborate over.
Rana was the first to speak, "It is similar to Shepards but not quite identical. There is a much greater sense of wildness in the other woman, Chasen did you call her?"
"Chasen Satria, apparently both she and Shepard were a part of an experiment. What we need to figure out now however, is what damage they've done to each other. We think they melded and fought while melded." Miranda looked to Rana expectantly, hoping that the Asari would know something of that.
The way Rana's painted brows shot up in surprise was not very reassuring.
"The only Asari who use melding as a weapon are Ardet Yakshi and even then it is something they have no control over." Rana frowned and examined the data more closely.
"The neural pathways around the structure show no damage. The structure itself." Mordin manipulated the console and altered the visual display. "Irregular."
The trio began to collaborate in a manner Miranda hadn't had the pleasure of enjoying in a very long time, experts in their fields not intimidated by her presence and not requiring her to explain simple functions. If it wasn't for the fact that they were trying to figure out how to heal Stephanie Shepard she might have even enjoyed the mental stimulation.
XXXX
"Operative Lawson we have a communication from the Illium police department who are currently holding Justicar Samara." EDI's bubble avatar appeared in the lab several hours after the doctors had set to work to understand what was going on in the brain chemistry of Shepard and Satria.
Miranda mentally cursed, "I'll take it in my quarters."
A few minutes later she had a concerned detective going on about an attack of unprecedented proportions on the mercenary head of operations.
Miranda sighed wondering what the hell the asari had been thinking, "It's Commander Shepard, you didn't send her in thinking there wasn't going to be a mess left behind did you?"
The detective smirked, "Oh don't get me wrong, might be a pile of paperwork now but things'll settle down a lot more while they're busy rebuilding. She certainly made my life a little easier. Just need to know if Commander Shepard is ready to receive Justicar Samara."
"Commander Shepard received some head injuries and is currently in our medbay but we do have the information Justicar Samara seeks. Please offer my apologies, we had hoped Commander Shepard would be recovered enough by now to receive the Justicar. If she's ready we can accommodate her at your earliest convenience." Miranda was all politeness and poise, it didn't escape her attention the flash of red uncurling from behind the police officer.
"She's on her way, Commander Shepard has a pretty hard head from what I've heard, give her my best though." The officer nodded and blinked out.
Miranda rubbed her temple then sent through a communication to Jacob, "Jacob, we'll be receiving Justicar Samara shortly. Can you get a cot set up in the observation lounge for her, I don't want her near engineering."
"Sure thing Miranda." Jacobs voice returned without hesitation.
With Zaeed, Jack and Grunt below the crew deck she figured it would be safer for all involved to keep some semblance of space between them on the relatively small vessel.
Going to the medbay to check up on Shepard one last time before the Justicar arrived she found the Lieutenant sitting on the end of Satria's bed rather comfortably, as if it was not an unusual position for her to be in. She noted that Kelly was just outside sitting at one of the tables with a coffee just quietly observing as she'd been asked to by Jacob.
"I didn't get the chance to thank you earlier, if you and Garrus hadn't come when you did I'd probably be dead." Lieutenant Nastaran glanced over at Miranda with a nod of thanks.
"I wasn't there for you Lieutenant," Miranda couldn't manage to keep the bite out of her tone at the woman in her space as she strode straight to Shepard's bed and brought up her stats.
"Oh I know, the Commander needed you. But thanks all the same." Nastaran shrugged nonchalantly, she couldn't blame the woman for being on edge after what had happened after all.
Miranda didn't respond, Shepard's vitals were not recovering as quickly as they normally would. Yes the Minagen was gone from her system but perhaps the beast in her mind helped to regulate her biology as well and being wounded itself wasn't able to assist as it normally would. That said with all her upgrades she was recovering faster than the average human.
"Once I have Justicar Samara settled, Rana and I will be trying to assist in Shepard's recovery biotically. We want to try restoring her biotic energy to see if that will assist the healing of her mind. If it works," she glanced at the other sleeping woman, "we'll try with Satria." She held up her hand as the Lieutenant went to speak, "I can't promise that it will work, Shepard knows my aura Satria does not."
Keya closed her mouth and thought for a moment before making comment, "I've always just let her sleep it off."
Miranda turned to face her now and considered her for a moment, "If that's what you'd prefer." she nodded crisply then strode out having satisfied herself that Shepard was on the mend.
Keya sighed and rubbed her neck, "I shoulda just said 'sure why not' huh."
Chakwas chuckled, "Miranda doesn't tend to offer assistance lightly or often, but if it works Shepard will most likely insist on helping Chasen... unless whatever caused them to fight in the first place holds her back."
Keya looked from one to the other, now there was a sobering thought, would Shepard want to heal the woman who had attacked her seemingly without provocation?
XXXX
Everything hurt. Her body felt like lead, her brains felt scrambled, grilled and like they'd been dished out for someone's dinner. Opening her eyes she winced as she caught sight of just who that someone was.
"Well I guess I'm still breathing so that's gotta be a good sign right?" she drawled and sat up slowly, grimacing at the shocks of pain that radiated from her arm especially.
"Why did you attack me?" the question was simple, the voice husky but curious.
Blinking a few times her eyes finally started to adjust to wherever this was and it was like no where she had ever experienced. There was no actual form to the world around them just colour and light, swirls of biotic energy that leaned more towards the violet spectrum. The only other thing she could see was the woman who had threatened Keya, Commander Shepard, only her eyes were glowing amber in this strange place and not as… dark as she remembered from the fight.
"I was defending Naz, you attacked her," she growled back heatedly.
Shepard cocked her head as she went back through her memories as that didn't make sense and she didn't quite understand who this Naz was.
It was then that the world around them shifted and they were suddenly there at that moment and Chasen could see it from Shepards perspective. So much pain, grief, anger, power flowing through her it was hard to breathe.
Shepard realized she'd somehow shown more than just the memory, "Hm, we seem to be melding."
"What the hell? I thought only Asari could do that."Chasen got to her feet and looked around warily, the colours around them swirling and becoming darker.
"Relax, your mind… is like mine and not like mine." Shepard strode around her, observing her outside of the context of battle.
"If you're saying my heads messed up then you got that pretty damn straight." Chasen couldn't stop the subconscious recollection of memories that flashed around them.
Standing in front of the Wardens desk, twelve years old, blood and mud on her sleeve from a broken nose, dark hair matted from the rain and sullen, and yet another irate foster parent yelling at him, at her to. Being thrown back into the system for being a violent nutcase that should be in prison, not remembering what she'd done. Knowing she hadn't killed anyone but had put a boy in hospital.
Another half way house this time all girls to stop her fighting with the boys and overhearing the Mother of the house being told 'this ones got a violent history, you'll need to watch her.'
Her first biotic explosion that damn near ripped apart a room and did kill a girl, her best friend in the whole world. Believing them this time when they called her a monster.
Shepard shook herself out of the torrent of self loathing and recrimination that was roiling around them from this stranger, this woman called Chasen Satria. Closing the distance between them was something of a moot point in this place but she approached and stood in front of Chasen, not touching but definitely in her space.
Chasen was torn between snarling at her and sulking.
Shepards lips quirked as she felt the dilemma in the stranger, she took control of their meld and showed Chasen one of her own horrifying moments where she had lost control yet had retained enough of her mind to remember what she'd done. Torfan.
Chasen's eyes widened as she saw what had happened from the perspective of one who was there, who had been at the center of the whole shitstorm that had been Torfan. Just flashes of memory, the visceral nature of those moments imprinted forever in her mind as she felt as though with her own hands as Shepard ripped apart Batarians limb from limb. The pure rage that poured through her being at the sight of beaten and abused slaves, men, women, children who had been chipped, tortured, raped and put in animal cages so small they could barely sit. Some of the faces Shepard had known. Some of the faces were friends, friends who stared at her with hollow eyes and minds so lost they didn't even recognize her.
It took Shepard silencing the memories for Chasen to blink and realize they weren't her own memories, it hadn't been her raging and tearing and snarling at the Batarian slavers and pirates. Her green eyes darted to Shepards with brows high in shock at the understanding she could feel coming from the infamous woman before her.
Shepard slowly and gently reached up, lightly touching Chasen's chin, "I look at you and think mine but I don't know who you are."
Chasen scoffed and looked away from those intense amber eyes that seemed to bore into her very soul in this place.
Shepard stepped back with a small smirk, "Just as well, Miranda doesn't share."
Unbidden flashes of the gorgeous operative both from childhood and since awakening on Lazarus sprang to life around them. A couple memories had Shepard going bright red, "Uh…"
It was Chasen's turn to smirk, "Well she's definitely hot, I'll have to see if I can work on this sharing business." She winked rather brazenly and received a punch to the shoulder.
"I like my head where it is, I'm pretty sure she'd remove it if provoked too much," Shepard huffed but finished with a grin and flash of Miranda completely dominating her on the testing mats at the Cerberus facility.
Chasen could feel herself relaxing, hyperaware of her own self in this place and somehow of Shepard who was now beside her. She could feel that there was definitely something between them, whatever it was it wasn't like anything she could really describe. There wasn't anything romantic or sexual about it, just a belonging that she had never experienced before not even with Keya. Growing up being shafted from place to place, family to house to juvenile detention centers, nowhere had ever felt right. She just couldn't put her finger on it but Shepard somehow felt right, she felt like home.
Shepard cocked her head slightly as they were both sensing each other out. She could remember snippets of their fight, not strongly enough to relive them in this place but enough to know that Chasen was not only strong but like her.
Both of them stiffened as the world around them shifted, swirls of darkness encircling them and encroaching on their minds.
On instinct they both spun pressing back to back and ready for anything. Neither of them had weapons in their hands but they were in a place where weapons were rather futile anyway.
From out of the darkness two beings emerged.
The first was tall, standing upright on two powerfully muscular legs with long arms that reached to the knees and ended in wickedly long and sharp claws. Its skin seemed almost translucent under the indigo fire that lit it in this darkness revealing a strange luminescent blue lava flowing under the surface. Its wings were furled and feathers ruffled with its movement. The burning amber eyes were focused solely on matching amber hues of the human it was bonded with.
Keeping a distance from the winged being the other moved with the grace of a feline hunter on six muscle bound legs. The black fur only had a small amount of red energy crackling through it this time as it had been subdued and the time to fight was not at hand. Its long tail was flicking only a little at the end as it eyed its green eyed bonded.
Both of the beings looked beaten up with jagged slashes through their hides and bleeding quite profusely from some still and limping as they walked even in this biotic plane of existence.
Shepard was the first to speak as the creatures prowled around them but didn't seem to be making any hostile moves just yet, "What are you?"
Neither creature replied, at least not in a manner the humans could understand. The feline growled softly whereas the winged one cocked its head and simply came to a stop in front of its human.
"They look pretty damn beat up." Chasen muttered over her shoulder.
Shepard heard the comment but didn't respond to it as she considered what was happening. She felt a strong sense of affinity with the winged creature before her. She knew it. She'd tasted its rage, been fueled by it, been empowered by it.
The winged one crouched down, knuckles carrying the brunt of its weight as it leaned forward and down to its bonded.
Shepard took a step towards it and reached up with her hand to that fire-licked bestial face.
"Hey Boss what ya thinking there?" Chasen stiffened as the comforting presence of Shepard moved away from her back.
"They are what's inside us." Shepard answered her own question and was taken by the warmth of the skin that felt smooth and warm, the indigo fire licking over her own hand but not burning.
"Oh, that makes me feel soooo much better." Chasen glared at the predator that had taken to staring her down. "It's just the thing that makes me go nuts and kill everyone around me."
The feline snarled aggressively at the words.
Chasen jumped, stepping back quickly and right into Shepard.
The winged beast snarled at the intrusion of their first moment together.
Shepard reached back with one hand and found Chasen's, not taking her other hand from the warmth of the being before her. "It's okay."
"Like hell it's okay." Chasen growled, not daring to take her eyes away from the beast before her in case it took it as a sign of weakness and attacked or something. "You know how many people this thing has made me hurt? How many I've killed because of it? And now it's staring at me like it wants to eat me." Her voice was starting to hitch embarrassingly.
At that Shepard turned to face the taller woman, "Chasen, relax, look at them, they're in no condition to do anything other than glare at us." She reassured the panicking woman softly.
"We're melding like fucking Asari, how the hell do you know they can't hurt us?" Chasen demanded.
"I won't let them." Shepard answered confidently. She had a little practice with the whole melding thing and was confident in her abilities.
Chasen scoffed.
Shepard sent a thought towards the winged one with eyes that matched hers.
It lowered its head in acknowledgement and slunk around to position itself between Chasen and the feline.
The feline snarled unhappily but lowered itself down submissively.
Shepard approached it and clicked her fingers which got its attention. When they met eyes she instantly picked out the green flecks that matched Chasen's. It met her eyes but didn't utter a sound or make a move other than the swishing of its tail. She reached out and put her hand to the top of its head, not a hint of fear or anxiety in her.
The feline rumbled which brought a sharp hiss from the winged being.
Shepard nodded, more to herself, "Okay. So you and I go at it in person, these guys go at it at the same time, now we're conscious in a meld with them…"
"Crazy shit." Chasen shook her head, completely lost.
"They've been a part of us for years why are they revealing themselves now?" Shepard pulled back to look between the creatures, the beasts that had plagued them but also strengthened them.
Chasen studied them as well. She could feel a pull bitoically around them that had been nagging the back of her mind. "They're fading."
Shepard glanced at her.
"Look at em, bleeding like that, we're in our minds why would injuries matter?" Chasen waved a hand at them.
"Because they exist biotically." Shepard stepped back with Chasen.
"What happens if they die?" Chasen asked softly.
At that question both of the creatures bowed their heads.
"Why do I doubt we'd be unaffected?" Shepard's heart raced at the implications that were running through her mind right now.
"Well. Shit." Chasen ran her fingers through her hair anxiously.
XXXX
Miranda met the pale blue Asari at the airlock with a polite nod.
Samara inclined her face as well.
"Welcome to the Normandy Justicar Samara. I am Operative Miranda Lawson, Commander Shepard's second in command." Miranda greeted coolly, she held a datapad in hand with the information the Justicar wanted. "We have prepared a room for you for the duration of your stay with us. If you would follow me."
Samara followed the dark haired human who oozed power and authority of a different kind to Shepard's but was just as unmistakable. Shepard was restrained chaos while this Miranda Lawson was disciplined control. It would be an interesting dynamic to observe.
"I understand your code requires definitive action on your behalf at times, the Commander will discuss more with you how this will coincide with our mission and crew. For the time being I ask that you refrain from anything… permanent, until Shepard has spoken with you." She cast a glance at the Asari who was over eight hundred years old.
Samara merely nodded, "I understand Operative Lawson and will do so."
"Thank you." Miranda entered the lift and took them down to the crew deck.
Samara closed her eyes for a moment as she felt something highly unusual. A sensation she had not felt for hundreds of years but was unmistakable. "You have other Asari on board?"
"One. A scientist, Rana Thanoptis." Miranda acknowledged.
Samara frowned slightly, "I sense three very powerful minds, other than yours of course. Two of which do not feel like human biotics and they are in great pain."
Miranda hesitated. The Justicar could have insights they did not. She held out the datapad, "This is the data Shepard and EDI, our Artificial Intelligence, collected for you."
Samara accepted the datapad, she had hoped that had been the case having seen the human carrying it. "Thank you. I would see the injured first."
Miranda nodded and led her around to the medbay.
Samara's crystal blue eyes widened as the doors opened and two human women lay on the beds unconscious and wrapped in shimmering biotic energy.
"You know Commander Shepard of course, the other is Chasen Satria. Both have been subject to experimentation that have altered their biotics." Miranda strode over to Shepard, it had been a couple hours since she'd been in the medbay and while the medical instruments showed no changes she wanted to see for herself.
Samara glanced at the gray haired human woman who rose from her desk.
"Doctor Chakwas, Justicar Samara." Miranda introduced them almost absently as she frowned down at Shepard, there was a strain in her face that had intensified from before. Both Shepard and Satria looked strained.
"Pleasure to meet you." Doctor Chakwas nodded to the Asari.
"Likewise." Samara acknowledged politely, this human was a healer, her very aura resonated with it.
When Miranda put her hand on Shepard's forehead and reached out with her mind there was no defensive hiss and no surge of pain directed towards her but she could feel the turmoil in Shepard very clearly. Something was wrong.
Samara stood between the beds and bowed her head, reaching out with her mind to confirm her initial sensations. She could sense them. The Ashvaylin. To think that after only thirty years such beings had found their way into humanity and their very young biotics. Samara would scarcely have believed it if she wasn't feeling it for herself right now.
"They're not improving at all." Miranda just about growled in frustration.
Samara opened her eyes and looked to the human whose brows had furrowed and lips turned down in a grimace. "Have there been other humans with similar… conditions?"
"Numerous children have been experimented on but these two are the only ones who have made it to adulthood." Miranda shook her head then amended, "That we are aware of. We don't know who is doing this or what they are trying to accomplish."
Samara was relieved that she wouldn't have to kill the human for this grave offense, "I have seen this before, in Asari. It has been many centuries since one has openly emerged. They are called Ashvaylin and they are symbiotic beings. Biotic in nature, hunters, those bound to them require much training and discipline to control them."
Both humans looked to the Asari in shock.
Miranda's heart raced, "It's a separate entity entirely?"
"Yes. It takes one of great will and compatibility to join successfully with a Ashvaylin. These two fought each other?" Samara mused out loud and determined the stronger being Shepard.
"Yes. Shepard kept Satria from harming another." Miranda nodded.
"They require healing, the human biotics are different to Asari's and do not seem to be able to replenish fast enough. Do either of them have someone they trust? That their subconscious minds will recognize are not a threat?" Samara watched Miranda's body language closely as she adjusted to this new information.
"For Shepard that would be me, I can't be certain for Satria. There is another on board she trusts, however, during their fight Satria turned on her so I'm not sure how safe that connection would be." Miranda was quickly trying to mesh together what they already knew with this new information. "We were planning on trying to infuse them them with biotic energy."
"Yes. That is the only way to save them. If the Ashvaylin die, so too will their hosts." Samara nodded, "Perhaps just your connection will be required, they are already melding."
"EDI!" Miranda snapped, she did not like the thought of Shepard melding with someone else even if it wasn't conscious.
The blue eyeball avatar appeared, "Yes Operative Lawson?"
"Have Jacob, Rana and Jack come to the medbay immediately. Lieutenant Nastaran as well." She commanded firmly, hoping against hope that Jack wouldn't cause trouble.
"Yes Operative Lawson." EDI acknowledged the order and blinked out.
Several minutes later Jacob, Rana and Keya were present but no sign of Jack.
EDI's avatar sprang to being, "Operative Lawson, Jack does not seem to be agreeable."
Miranda clenched her fists and looked to Samara, "Is there enough biotic energy with what we have?"
"It would be easier with another of matching power." Samara didn't believe the human male or the scientist would be enough, neither of them were very powerful biotically.
Miranda nodded curtly, understanding what she did and didn't say. Storming out of the medbay she went below to engineering and Jack's little hidey-hole.
" . !" An enraged snarl, followed by a biotic powered fist launched at her.
Miranda easily side stepped it and used her own biotics to throw Jack into the wall, "Commander Shepard is dying."
That had the biotic halo around Jack fizzle out.
"What the fuck?" Jack wasn't sure she heard right.
"Her last mission damaged her biotics to such an extent she will die if we can't stabilize her. The only way we can stabilize her is if we can get everyone who is biotic to help. Now will you come?" Miranda barely restrained herself from accusing Jack of being a child throwing a temper tantrum.
"Well why didn't you fucking say Shepard needed help?!" Jack snarled and purposefully shouldered Miranda on the way to the stairs.
Miranda rubbed her temple as a headache threatened and she repeated to herself that this was for Shepard. She had to wait for the elevator as Jack had gone up without her and her jaw ticked in anger and frustration.
Entering the medbay Miranda found Rana practically trying to sit in Doctor Chakwas lap as if she was a shield from the Justicar, Jacob stood stiffly to the side of the door and nodded to her in acknowledgement, Keya was next to Chasen fidgeting slightly, Mordin was going over some data by the rear door that led to the Normandy server mainframes, Jack had made herself comfortable on the scanner with her back to the wall and suspiciously eyeing everyone in the small room while Samara had remained in the same position as before.
"We're not gonna hold hands and sing kumbayana or some shit?" Jack growled, glaring at the asari in the form fitting red catsuit that made Miranda's look like a school girls.
"No." Miranda responded firmly, striding over confidently to stand next to Shepard between the patient beds. "Justicar Samara, if you could explain what is required?"
Samara inclined her head, "We will need to link our minds so that Operative Lawson can channel our biotic energy into Commander Shepard."
"Wait, we're gonna fucking do an asari orgy? Like fuck am I doing that!" Jack snarled, getting to her feet.
"No, we are not." Samara looked to the angry young human calmly, there was much rage in this one, with the amount of power she held it was not a good combination by any stretch of the imagination. "There will be no sharing of minds, no exchange of pleasure, simply a siphoning of energy to allow Commander Shepard and Chasen Satria to heal of their injuries."
Doctor Chakwas spoke up then, "Think of it like donating blood, only its biotic energy instead."
Jack relaxed, Shepard had saved her life breaking her out of that hellhole prison ship. "Fine."
"You will feel a presence and your first instinct will be to block it. That is fine, I will not need to enter your mind." Samara informed all of them and looked to Miranda, "I will need to meld with you, however, Operative Lawson, to be able to channel the energy through you."
Miranda squared her shoulders and nodded wordlessly. This was for Shepard, Steph.
"First try and reach Commander Shepard's conscious mind, her Ashvaylin will recognize you but if we are linked at the time it might become defensive and cause more harm. Once you prepare the Commander I will meld with you." Samara gestured with her hand for Miranda to proceed.
Miranda just nodded and in front of a room full of people she tenderly brushed her fingers over Shepard's forehead and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath.
XXXX
Shepard felt a presence peripherally that had her smile and turn away from the problem before her. The feline snarled and hissed aggressively at the new presence but the winged one shut it up with a firm backhand and snarl of its own. Reaching out she drew the presence in and beamed as Miranda's form materialized.
Miranda took a moment to adjust her senses to this strange place within Shepards mind.
"Miri!" Shepard wrapped her up in a hug and held her tight.
Miranda couldn't help the small smile and returned the hug but was greatly intrigued… and intimidated by the pair of large beasts that were watching them very closely. "Steph." She responded softly to the greeting, her eyes flicking over to Chasen who was also watching them curiously.
Shepard pulled back and cupped her face in both hands, looking into those gorgeous blue eyes, "Welcome to my brain! Or is it our brain? I have no idea."
Miranda's gaze was pulled to Shepard's and she bit her lip at the beautiful amber hues that were glistening at her, "Your eyes… god they're beautiful." She couldn't help herself and reached up to cup Shepard's face in wonder.
Shepard grinned and drew her in for a kiss.
The feline seemed to actually calm as it came to understand that this new intruder was considered a mate to the alpha.
After a glorious moment Miranda pulled back, "As much as I would love to continue that line of conversation, we have other things to discuss."
"Oh no, that's okay, keep conversing honey I really don't mind." Chasen winked as the stunning woman glanced at her.
Miranda glared at her, she really knew nothing of substance about her at all.
Chasen held up her hands submissively but her grin was a little on the wickedly amused side.
"So what's happening?" Shepard stepped back so that she could see everyone.
Miranda rolled her eyes, "What's happening." She refrained from cuffing Shepard barely. "Justicar Samara has arrived and knows what your companions here are apparently." She eyed them and noted the horrific injuries that they'd inflicted on each other, also that the winged one appeared to be maintaining a dominant position over the feline.
"Oh? She have any ideas how we can help them and wake up? We haven't had any luck with that." Shepard admitted. They had been trying to but they just didn't know how.
"Yes, it will require an infusion of biotic energy so they can heal. She is going to meld with me while I'm melded with you in order to channel it, you'll need to make sure the Ashvaylin, your friends here, don't try to kick us out." Miranda nodded towards them.
Shepard looked to hers firmly, "No funny business with my better half!"
Its amber flecked eyes seemed to twinkle with mirth but it inclined its head.
"You especially!" Shepard turned to the feline.
The feline lowered its head to the ground and huffed.
"I think they got the message now." Shepard nodded confidently and turned to Miranda.
Miranda just shook her head in wonder, "Incredible."
Shepard shrugged, "I've known for a long time I've had a beast in me, now I can put a face to it." Right now she couldn't express in words what a relief it was to know that it truly wasn't a part of herself that she had lost control over, it being a separate being however did raise a whole host of other issues she just didn't want to contemplate at the moment.
Miranda gave Shepards hand a squeeze, "I'll let Samara know you're prepared."
Her form faded into nothing.
"She is hot." Chasen nodded in approval.
Shepard grinned but her eyes flashed darkly, "Make one move on her and I'll crack your skull open so hard your friend there feels it."
Chasen once again held up her hands submissively, "Nooo touching the booty! Got it boss!"
It seemed like only moments later Miranda was back and there was a very distinct cord connecting her to another consciousness, the consciousness did not move to join them however.
Miranda strode up to the beings, "We're going to heal you, I'd appreciate it if you don't bite my hands off." She held out her hands to them.
Both beings submitted before her and let her place a hand on them.
Shepard and Chasen both moaned as the biotic power began to surge through Miranda.
Miranda didn't notice them as she was enveloped in the flow. She lost her sensory abilities, what they had been in this strange plane, and struggled to keep her own mind afloat as it drowned in the river of energy.
A presence reached through the flow and held her firm, strong arms wrapping around her and lips pressed to her neck. She knew straight away that it was Shepard and relaxed into the embrace, feeling grounded by it.
Chasen watched on as the tears, slashes and ripped flesh of the biotic beings filled with light and began to heal. "This is the craziest shit I have ever seen." She muttered to herself, shaking her head and trying not to be aroused by the flow of power that filled the melding. Or by the fact that the sexiest women on the planet were getting all cuddly right in front of her, it was enough to make her go all gooey inside.
There was no warning when it was done.
The biotic plane receded into the depths and their conscious minds reasserted themselves.
Shepard opened her eyes to see gorgeous cobalt blues gazing down at her in concern. Without a second thought she reached up, grabbed the front of Miranda's uniform and yanked her down for a searing kiss. She slipped an arm around Miranda's neck and took a fist of her hair while the other took hold of that slender waist.
Miranda barely caught herself in time, gasping in shock as Shepard's lips claimed hers with fierce passion that shot straight to her core after the melding that already had her feeling somewhat aroused. She gripped the bed sheets and struggled to pull away, not just because Shepard had her in a death grip either.
Chasen glanced over at the soft sound of lips fighting for dominance and was met with a very nice sight of Miranda bent over Shepard, "She really does have a great ass."
Keya rolled her eyes and cuffed Chasen with a growl.
"What? How can I not admire that?" Chasen whined, but was grinning from ear to ear.
Jack put a hand over her eyes, "For fucks sake, I can't unsee that goddamn it! Shepard you're gonna give me nightmares for years!"
At the sound of Jacks complaining Shepard registered the fact that they weren't alone and released Miranda's lips. It shouldn't have been a surprise of course but her brain just hadn't registered it. Still caught up in the bliss of the meld all she'd known was instinct and passion and that Miri was right there.
Miranda licked her lips, still not able to pull away as Shepard was still holding her to tightly, "Stephanie, let me go please." She asked softly, highly embarrassed right now.
"Oh right, sorry." Shepard obeyed and took a deep breath, her cheeks were bright red from the surging of heat within her which the meld hadn't helped with at all.
"Aw fuuuuuu-ar out." Chasen suddenly registered the pain factor from all the pins holding her arm together not to mention the other things such as cracked ribs. "What the hell Shepard? You hit like a bloody krogan!"
Shepard looked over to her with a smirk, "You shoulda seen what I did to the krogan battlemasters on Omega. Jacob you got the shots still?"
Jacob smiled, "Yes ma'am."
"Perhaps you could save your boasting for later." Miranda rolled her eyes, "Thank you for your help Samara, Jacob, Rana, Jack." She even cast a glance at the tattooed mental teenager.
"You owe me Shepard!" Jack jumped down and thumped Shepard on the arm.
"I'll make sure your shotgun is all shiny." Shepard didn't wince at the hit, at least not until Jack's back was to her then she made a face.
Mordin moved to Chasen's side and was already taking scans, figuring Miranda wasn't going to let anyone near Shepard for the moment.
Shepard looked up at Miranda, her lips quirked in a cheeky smirk.
Miranda's eyes narrowed before Shepard even said a word.
"So, am I gonna live?" Her eyes twinkled.
"Not if you keep going off by yourself like that. Do you have any idea how much your reckless, suicidal tendencies are putting us behind? I can't keep patching you up to have you back in here five minutes later without any physiological consequences. There is only so much the human body is capable of withstanding." Miranda hissed at her furiously, her blue eyes flashing in anger. "I spent over two years bringing you back from the dead. At the rate you're going…"
Shepard stopped the tirade by reaching up and lightly taking hold of Miranda's, the mirth gone to be replaced by concern and a touch of tenderness, "Miri…"
"Don't 'Miri' me Shepard." She withdrew her hand.
"I'm sorry for worrying you." Shepard continued softly.
Miranda took a deep breath, making the mistake of looking into those dark eyes that were looking at her like that. She ended up sighing, "I wasn't the only one worried Stephanie. Now, as your better half," her lips curved ever so slightly, remembering quite clearly what Shepard had referred to her as in the meld.
Shepard grinned.
"I'm confining you to quarters until you're properly healed. Furthermore, you are not to set one foot off this ship for the next forty-eight hours minimum." Miranda ordered firmly.
"Oh? Gonna pin me down Miss…" Shepard couldn't finish as something in the back of her mind all of a sudden clawed towards the surface. Her eyes widened in shock before she reached up and held her head with trembling hands, "Chasen?"
"I feel it." Chasen whispered through clenched teeth, eyes scrunched shut, "I feel it."
"What's your control?" Shepard could feel her mind being pulled, could feel the turmoil in Chasen, the fierce aggression that was struggling to break free and retaliate for the injuries it had sustained.
Chasen growled, unable to form words.
Shepard threw herself out of the bed and launched herself at Chasen, pinning her to the bed as she tried to struggle free. Using her body to hold down the unnaturally powerful woman, one hand on Chasen's unbroken hand, the other at her throat. "Come on that thing in your head is a pussy cat, kick its ass already or I will!"
"Shepard what's going on?" Miranda demanded, heart racing with uncertainty.
"Bite her." Keya suddenly put in, seemingly forgotten beside Chasen.
"What!?" Both Miranda and Shepard gasped for different reasons.
Keya reached over and pulled the shoulder of Chasen's shirt aside to reveal teeth marks, "It was how you calmed her down last time."
"Fuck Chasen, you really want to get me in trouble don't you." Shepard shook her head for a moment but could see Chasen was losing herself the longer she waited.
Miranda didn't quite know what to feel as Shepard dropped to Chasen's neck and literally bit her, both women were growling as Chasen thrashed beneath Shepard.
After a few moments Chasen did indeed begin to still. It was only when she stopped fighting entirely that Shepard pulled back. She didn't dismount straight away however. Waiting for Chasen to open her eyes and show that she was back in control again.
"Ya know Sunshine, it's rather sexy being dominated like that. You're definitely the top in the bedroom aintcha." Chasen purred a little hoarsely.
Shepard was off her so fast she could've left skid marks, "Well next time I'm just gonna beat the shit out of you again." She muttered, face flushed and utterly embarrassed.
"Aw Naz, she blushes!" Chasen chuckled, sparkling green eyes looking over the sexiest conundrum in the galaxies.
Shepard's ribs started to complain loudly at the strenuous and sudden movements and she leaned back against the bed with a wince. "Keya, how the fuck do you put up with her?"
Keya responded by cuffing Chasen upside the head.
"OW! Whatwazzatfor?" Chasen flinched away from her and pouted.
Keya simply smirked.
A smile crept over Shepards face, "Right, got it. That's my girl. We are having a heart to heart soon as I'm released from custody."
Keya grinned, "Look forward to it ma'am."
"Pfft don't ma'am me Nastaran." Shepard waved her hand dismissively at the young woman, "Patched me up enough on Elysium to skip formalities."
"You know her?" Miranda frowned, she hadn't picked up any connections yet.
"Course! Nastaran was a med student on Elysium. When shit went down she was one of the first to start pulling out bullets, slapping medi-gel on knife wounds and that was just with me. We'd have lost hundreds without her, not to mention I'd have been pretty damn dead without her." Shepard flashed her a grateful grin, "Please tell me you're combat med trained."
Keya scowled at her, "Someone needs to keep you knuckleheads in one piece."
"Oi who you- goddammit!" Chasen rubbed her head and scowled jovially again at being on the receiving end of another cuffing.
"Knucklehead." Keya repeated firmly but with a small smirk.
Chasen just grumbled under her breath good naturedly.
Shepard looked around to the people in the medbay and her gaze rested on Justicar Samara who had not said a word as yet. "Welcome to the Normandy, Justicar Samara. Sorry for napping on you."
There was a slight brow raise but not much more in the way of facial expression change, "I had thought I sensed something unique in you when we first met. Now I am obligated to remain, both of you will require considerable training to control the Ashvaylin or you will become dangers to the greater galaxy."
There was an unspoken warning there that she would not let them become dangers be it through training or death.
"Well I certainly appreciate the offer, we do need to sort out some things regarding your code. I don't want to do anything that will make you break your code but in order to complete my mission I will be doing things against the book and using people who work outside the law. I'd rather you didn't kill them, or me, for it." Shepard looked to her firmly, this was no light-hearted matter.
Samara inclined her head, "Of course, I will bind myself to your command."
Before them all she knelt down, head bowed, body alight with biotic energy.
Shepards eyes widened a little in surprise.
"By the code I will serve you, Shepard. Your choices are my choices. Your morals are my morals. Your wishes are my code." With that the biotics faded and she rose back up to her feet, "That said, make me do anything truly abhorrent and when this mission is done I will kill you."
Shepard couldn't stop the snort of amusement, "I'll keep that in mind."
"Once the doctors have cleared you, I will be more than happy to discuss the Ashvaylin with you." Samara offered.
"Have you been shown your quarters yet?" Shepard glanced at Miranda who subtly shook her head in response to the silent question.
"No, it was more important to see to your health."
"Jacob?"
"Yes ma'am, if you'll follow me Justicar Samara." The quiet man who had been simply observing nodded and after a stiff salute he led the asari out.
Shepard looked to Miranda who very clearly wanted to talk, "So if I'm being confined to quarters, would you care to escort me? Make sure I don't mutiny or jump ship?"
Miranda was far too annoyed to smile but she nodded crisply and walked to the door.
Neither Shepard nor Miranda spoke in the lift as they went up to the loft.
Miranda kept an eye on Shepard though, she could feel the turmoil building up within her as they left the crew behind. Striding out of the lift with her usual confident, graceful stride Miranda led the way into Shepard's lavish quarters. She went straight to Shepards cooler and sought the bottle of Serrice Ice Brandy she knew would be in there.
Shepard looked on in surprise, and great approval, as Miranda proceeded to pour her a very full tumbler of brandy and a smaller one for herself.
Miranda brought it over to where Shepard was standing almost at a loss of what to do or where to go even in her own quarters.
Shepard accepted the offered drink and just looked at it for a moment as though she still wasn't sure it was really in her hand.
"You need a drink Steph, and to come sit with me." Miranda offered softly, moving to the lounge and taking a comfortable position with knees crossed and one arm lazily resting on the back corner of the lounge. She was in the center of the L so no matter where Shepard chose to sit she would still be in reach.
Shepard looked up and her dark eyes shone with adoration for her woman. "Thank you Miri."
Miranda simply watched and waited as Shepard moved over and actually sat down under her arm, slipping down a little so she could comfortably rest her head on Miranda's shoulder. She responded by reaching up and gently caressing her fingers through Shepard's soft hair.
Neither spoke for a while, sipping their brandies and just letting the presence of the other calm them, their biotics whispering together but not melding.
Finally Shepard tilted her head and looked up at Miranda, "I'm sorry." She offered softly.
Miranda's brow rose minutely and her lips quirked in a wry smile, "You'll need to be more specific, there's a few things I could slap you with a warp for."
Shepard sighed, "I thought with EDI's help sneaking in and out of the Eclipse base would be a walk in the park. I didn't take into account the Minagen. I was overconfident and it bit me in the ass."
"You have every right to be confident, however, we are a team. All it takes is one thing to go wrong, I won't always be able to come in after you and pick up the pieces." Miranda felt Shepard's body stiffen for a moment, then she finished the last swig of her brandy and used her biotics to float the empty glass over to the table.
"I know."
"Then always take backup with you, I don't care who as long as there's someone, hell even Jack would be better than no one." Miranda didn't want to think of a situation in which Jack had to haul Shepards rear out of fire but she knew Jack's anger issues could be directed into slightly more controlled mayhem.
Shepard looked up at her with an expression of curiosity, "EDI was very helpful."
"I'm sure, but can she shoot an adversary between the eyes?" Miranda didn't want to discount the AI, especially knowing that it was most likely listening in right now.
Shepards eyes lit up with a look that could only mean trouble, "You might be on to something. We should get Grunt to gear up with remote controlled turrets on his armor! He'd be a walking tank, he'd love it!"
Miranda lightly cuffed Shepard's ear and huffed at the suggestion.
Shepard chuckled and snuggled closer to the warmth of Miranda's body, "So did Samara say anything about these Ashvaylin?"
"Only enough to infer they are symbiotic and if it dies so will you. She was also very surprised you aren't asari, then again her dossier suggests she hasn't had much cause to leave Asari space until recently so I doubt she's had much contact with humans before." Miranda resumed her caress of Shepard, the woman felt so comfortable against her like this.
"Well at least she's willing to teach us. Chasen has less control than I do, she would've killed Keya back there." Shepard took a deep breath at the mention of Chasen.
"That reminds me, biting Steph? Really?" Miranda looked down at Shepard not sure if she should be annoyed or concerned.
"I think it's a domination thing. Like alpha to beta."
"A control bite." Miranda nodded slowly as she pondered it, "Your Ashvaylin defeated Chasen's putting you in the position of alpha which suggests the possibility of a pack mentality."
"So long as it doesn't feel the need to challenge us, they were both pretty damn torn apart." Shepard closed her eyes for a moment and even with Miranda's intoxicating biotics beside her she could feel that other presence on the ship. "I can still sense her and as weird as this sounds she feels like mine."
Miranda instantly stiffened.
Shepard realized what she'd said and sat up a little, "Oh not like that! As in pack, family, like we were meant to find each other. I love you Miri."
Miranda's eyes widened a little at the confession, she watched the 'oh shit' look enter Shepard's chocolate brown eyes and a deep blush began to creep up from her neck.
"Uh…"
Miranda's expression softened and she leaned down to claim Stephanie's lips with her own, lightly touching her chin with her fingertips and letting Steph know without words that she didn't mind that confession at all.
Shepard relaxed and let Miranda have her way with her lips, her heart picking up its pace.
After a few moments Miranda pulled back, "Just so long as we're clear, I don't share."
Shepard smiled a little dreamily, "I know."
Miranda's smile was tender, her eyes soft as she took in the mighty Commander Shepard who had morphed into this beautiful menace that had captured her heart. She wasn't quite ready to say the words back to Stephanie but right now she didn't need to, they could feel it in each other.