Miranda

She had to suppress the urge to tap her foot, forcing herself to keep still. Miranda wasn't one to show her emotions to even her closest friends. She wouldn't let her foot do it now.

But what Shepard had done really got under her skin. He betrayed Cerberus' trust. After everything she – they had done for him, he still wouldn't give them a second chance. He was stubborn as ever.

A small part of her wondered why she cared so much. Miranda should have expected this. Shepard was Alliance through and through, and his history with former Cerberus personnel was not positive.

So why was she surprised and appalled?

She forced that thought away. Miranda needed to focus if she wanted to keep Shepard from knowing how much he irked her.

Finally, the elevator doors opened. Miranda crossed the short antechamber and was about to hit the call button on Shepard's door when it slid open without prompting.

Why does he keep his door unlocked? It was another question she didn't have time for, so she filed it away to be examined later.

Inside, Miranda found Shepard huddled over his desk, a sparking hydrospanner in his hand. She figured she would find him like this eventually. Surrounded by Cerberus, he would seclude himself to his cabin and work on his tech pet projects. The Alliance R&D begrudged Shepard's "genius" as they called it.

Miranda had seen his inventions and thought the description was an exaggeration. The tech he created was innovative of course but rough. It was as if he didn't have the patience to finish the design himself.

Now she was getting frustrated. Miranda was a focused, determined individual. She never got sidetracked by idle thoughts or questions. Yet it had happened three times just on her way to Shepard's cabin. What was wrong with her today?

"Shepard. I need to speak with you," she said evenly, finally getting her mind back to the situation at hand.

He put down his sparking tool and turned in his chair to face her. "I was wondering when you would be visiting. Honestly, I'm surprised it took you this long."

Miranda approached, stopping just out of his reach. "Then you know why I am here."

"I have an idea. But I don't like to assume, so let's hear it."

She didn't appreciate how flippant he was being about this severe breach in protocol. "You handed over sensitive Cerberus data to the Alliance, data that will tarnish our reputation."

"Because you all already are so highly thought of already."

She ignored the jab. "You were under orders to retrieve the operative or, if failing to do so, retrieve the data for Cerberus. The Illusive Man trusted you-"

"Well that was his first mistake," he said, cutting her off. "The only thing the Illusive Man can trust me on is stopping the Collectors. Everything else is at my discretion."

Miranda felt a hot anger start to rise. She fought to keep the emotion from entering her voice. "Regardless of your feelings, this is still a Cerberus operation. The Illusive Man expects you to follow orders."

Shepard stared at her for a moment, his eyes hard and intense. "Does he? Or is it just you that expects me to. I think the Illusive Man knew exactly how I would act. I bet he was hoping the operative was still alive and I would save him. The Alliance would have never gotten the data then. And I'm willing to guess that you already sent in the mission report. I haven't gotten any mail suggesting he is upset, and I doubt I will. I think it's just you that can't stand me not following orders."

The accusation was true. Miranda did have a problem with Shepard's blatant disregard for Cerberus' chain of command, though she doubted she was alone in the matter.

"And for the record, Lawson," he continued, "this is my operation. I may be using Cerberus resources, but I still run this ship. If you don't like it, you're free to leave whenever you want."

Shepard turned back to his project and began to work on it again. She got the distinct feeling that she had been dismissed. But Miranda wasn't done with him yet, and she wasn't leaving until she was.

"Cerberus gave you a second chance, Shepard. Maybe it's time you give us one as well."

"I don't give second chances to mass murders," he answered, never turning or looking up from his work.

She let out a small sigh. She was tired of fighting what happened to his squad. "The scientists responsible for Akuze were dealt with after the Illusive Man found out what they had done. Their actions were not sanctioned or endorsed by Cerberus."

Shepard turned in his chair again. This time, he appeared shock, an eyebrow arched comically high. "Dealt with how? By being given more funding? I ran into their handy work again after I became a Spectre."

No, she thought. That couldn't be right. The Illusive Man said the project was shut down after the first incident.

"And the scientists behind it were dealt with by the only other survivor of the attack. I had to stop him from killing the last one."

Miranda's face scrunched. Shepard's story didn't match the one she was told. Even after her investigation into his past, she never ran across any instance of him encountering active Cerberus cells.

"By the look on your face, I guess the Illusive Man told you otherwise."

She met his eyes. "He said it was shut down after Akuze. They must have found funding some other way and…"

"No, that wasn't the case. The equipment they were using was top-of-the-line stuff, and it had Cerberus emblems all over it."

He stood up and led her further into his cabin. He sat down and motioned for her to do the same. She did so, leaving some distance between the two.

"Never trust someone who is trying to sell you something," Shepard said after she got settled. "Even if they don't outright lie to you, they will always color the story in the way they want you to see it."

"But there is no reason to lie to me. I believe in what Cerberus stands for. I know what the Illusive Man does is for the best of humanity."

Shepard scoffed. "What the Illusive Man does is for himself and Cerberus. The whole 'we are humanity's protectors' is a bunch of bull to get investors and recruits. I thought you would see through that by now." He paused for a moment. "What did Cerberus do to earn your undying loyalty?"

Miranda debated what she should tell him. She rarely spoke of her personal life and for good reason. It was difficult to relive, mired in misery and solitude. Yet, if Shepard could see what Cerberus saved her from, how they helped her, it might sway him enough to join. Or, at the very least, prevent betrayals like the one they just experienced.

"My father is a very controlling man," she started. "When I was born, he didn't see me as a daughter. He saw me as his dynasty, his legacy. He pushed and drove me, even going so far as genetically enhancing me. One day, I couldn't take it anymore, so I left."

She found herself doing exactly what Shepard had said, coloring her words to hide truths and display the most sympathetic story possible.

"I went to Cerberus. My father gave generously to the Illusive Man, so I knew enough about the group. When I found them, the Illusive Man took me in and protected me from my father. I've been with them ever since."

"Why did you need Cerberus?" Shepard asked. "You're smart. Couldn't you just stay on the run?"

She shook her head. "My father is a very wealthy and influential man. He spent a lot of money on me. He wouldn't just give up simply because I ran. He would have tracked me down eventually. I needed Cerberus' protection."

"And you feel Cerberus appreciates you, unlike you're father?"

"Of course," Miranda answered with a nod. "The Illusive Man supports anything that forwards humanity's advancement, genetic modification included."

"How extensive are these modifications?"

"They're very thorough. I heal faster and will probably live half as long as the average human. Even my biotic abilities are advanced, for a human. Basically, I'm the best a human can be."

He smiled at her. It was the first time he showed any emotion warmer than a mild disinterest in her presence. Maybe this gambit was actually working.

"Well you certainly are full of yourself."

She shrugged. "It's just a fact. No use hiding it. It's why the Illusive Man gives me the most technically difficult and demanding jobs. I'm a valuable asset."

His smile faltered. "Is that all you think you are? An asset? You're more than a tool, Miranda."

The earnest honesty in his voice startled her, forcing her to advert her gaze. "Maybe. I like to know where I fit in the universe. It helps me find purpose in how I was created."

Then she realized what she said, startling herself. Miranda didn't intend to be so sincere or vulnerable. Shepard somehow pulled it out of her. It was disconcerting.

She looked back at Shepard and instantly regretted it. His eyes had that same intense look as the first time she saw them open, back when they almost lost him to Wilson's betrayal. Unlike the time before, however, they didn't pierce deep into her, making her feel like she needed to prove herself. They were sad, as if he was disappointed that she didn't see what he saw in her. It was stunning how much emotion his eyes held.

"You are who you are, Miranda. You don't need to make excuses for what your father did to you."

She was not appreciating the way he was making her feel. "That's easy for you to say," she snapped with more heat than she intended. "We were both engineered for greatness. The difference is you were great before we rebuilt you. I'm great because of it."

"Listen. We may not see eye to eye on… well on anything really. But I know one thing. You are a remarkable woman. Your father may have given you your gifts, but you are the one that decides what to do with them. Your achievements are yours, just as your failures are yours."

Miranda had to look away again. "Thank you for saying that. I don't know if I believe you, but thanks regardless."

"Don't every sell yourself short, Miranda," he said softly as he stood up. "You deserve better than that. You deserve better than Cerberus."

She stood up with him. "The Illusive Man has given me a lot. I owe him. You do as well. You should remember that." She tried to sound firm, but the emotion fell flat. She felt drained.

Shepard just gave her a small smile. "We'll see."

Miranda left then, feeling more confused than she ever had since joining Cerberus.