Pt. 3 Responsibilities

2130 Hours, Wednesday, November 12, 2166 / Hunter's Hill, Greater Sydney Metropolitan Area, NSW, Australia, Earth, Sol, Local Cluster / 19 years, 6 months, 11 days Pre Reaper invasion of Earth

Ten.

"Oriana and the OSD have been recovered." I chattered rapidly into my earpiece, sliding down the final marble staircase in the gardens and out of sight. The larger the distance between myself and the house, the better.

Getting inside had been simple. No one suspected I had ulterior motives when I returned from my evening 'walk' around the outskirts of the forty-five acre property. In fact, the servants hardly ever paid me much mind, unless I specifically approached them- which I rarely ever did. And that made my journey into Father's private laboratories all the more uncomplicated.

Apart from the VI that monitored her health and the infrequent visits from her pediatrician and the other medical personnel that came to provide her daily needs, Oriana was once again alone in a sterile, powder blue room. The moment her slate gray eyes met my own- made lighter and more ominous by age and experience- she had smiled and cooed at me in recognition, clapping her hands and extending her soft little arms in the air in a demand that I hold her. It was never a desire I resisted, or bothered denying her. Since the first time I'd caught sight of her- growing steadily and on her way to infancy inside of a birthing tank- she had become my world and the one person I would do absolutely anything for.

My sister was a well-behaved baby. She had never cried during the irregular trips I had risked my neck to overtly come see her. Instead, she watched my every move with keen attentiveness, laughed at the trivial games and faces I made up for her, and craved my affection. She trusted me inexplicably. A factor that I seized advantage of when I administered a fast-acting dose of a harmless anesthetic. Both for her sake and my own. I wouldn't risk Father's staff hearing an infant cry- one they did not yet even know existed.

Escaping would prove challenging enough without any additional safety hazards. This was a mission that took over five months to brew any sort of faith in. For the first three I had researched all of my options. I had known almost immediately that Cerberus was the only organization in existence that could offer what I both needed and desired, but I had delayed approaching them directly for risk of exposure to my father- an avid supporter of theirs. I'd had to convince Cerberus I was an asset of higher value than he could ever be.

Apparently- much to my great pleasure- the Illusive Man thought as much. And he had gone as far as to give me until the last possible date to be absolutely comfortable enough with my keeper before he gave the order to move out.

"Excellent," Came my mentor's praise.

Nine.

"Making my way to you now." I murmured, jogging towards his regular landing zone.

Eight.

There was a brief pause, and I recognized the muted noise of a silenced pistol go off through the comm chatter. "Negative. Alarms are going to go off any minute. Security is pouring out of the compound. Head for the rear wall."

Seven. I mentally kept count through his instructions. Keeping distance with the allotted time left on the clock was crucial.

"Flores and Lentz are on standby for intercept. I'll draw the guards' attention to the stables. Once you've rendezvoused, loop around and meet with me there." He continued.

Six.

I spared a glance at our package. Flores and Lentz were two variables I still had my doubts about. Simply because I had entrusted the security of my sister's future to Cerberus High Command did not mean I had absolute faith in all of their people. Specifically two I knew very little of from personal observation.

But, the Illusive Man had promised me their loyalty to my cause. He was the only individual that had proven himself trustworthy enough to rely on. They had not asked questions. The operatives had accepted their task of providing extra security.

Yet, my sister's safety was at risk, and those factors meant nothing in the face of her possible future with my father.

Expressing my doubt, I asked, "But are they-"

"Do it." My keeper ordered sharply as I came close to a passing sentry, oblivious to my presence hidden amongst shrubbery.

Five.

I bit my lip- forced to silence myself and extend confidence that I wasn't comfortable giving. I held my breath while I tracked her footsteps treading away from my location until I could safely make chase once more. She paused a few yards from my location, shuffled her feet on the red brick pathway to swivel at her watch, and slowly carried onwards. Seizing the opportunity of a blind spot, I silently rushed forwards, protecting Oriana's cheeks from being scratched by the limbs of the bush we maneuvered through to reach the clearing leading to the woods. I breathed quietly, "Yes, Commander."

If Flores and Lentz were anything but helpful to my mission, I would regard my mentor's and the Illusive Man's choice in assets as a betrayal, and I would do everything in my power to dispose of the two agents.

Four.

I pumped my legs harder than I had ever forced myself to run as I made a beeline for the woods and undergrowth, steadily holding my impenetrable biotic barrier behind me with one hand. I had yet to fall into the line of sight of a sniper or watchman, but I was not going to risk the unpleasantries that came with the experience. I kept my breathing as silent as possible, as I dodged in and out of the nighttime shadows of the garden, through an open field, and into the underbrush.

Three.

Furious demands echoed on the wind not thirty yards to my back, alarm bells clang from deep within the compound and all around, and the ferocious threat of being tracked down by Father's prize bloodhounds presented itself from where the guards had clustered. Howls and furious barks erupted from canines held steady at their trainer's sides.

Two.

Unease slapped me across the face, and for the first time since I'd joined Cerberus, I was uncertain as to what would occur if I was incapable of bolting out the backdoor by myself with a snoozing infant in a sling around my front undetected, and absconding from the property. There would be no escape from these hounds' olfactory senses. Zigzagging through the trees, hiding, spraying the ground with pepper, doubling back, crossing through a stream- none of that would be effective. My best chance was to outrun them, and if push came to shove- utilize my two resources. Ducking behind the trunk of a eucalyptus tree on my left, I murmured into my radio. "Dogs."

"Can you-"

One.

Boom!

The ground rumbled beneath the soles of my feet, heat erupted from the building I had just vanished from, and I stumbled a bit in surprise, jostling my still sound asleep sister. Her big eyes were closed, and little red lips were parted as she breathed steadily in slumber, resting peacefully in her sling. Out of instinctive concern I reached for her tiny wrist to feel a steadily drumming pulse, and sighed in relief.

"That was a little bigger than we agreed on," A hiss rang in my ear.

Judging the length of the shadows extending outwards from the mansion, the blast may very well have been.

Five minutes prior, I had been inside the lab that I was manufactured in- that my sisters were created in. On the same floor had been the rooms where I was routinely- forcefully, painfully- exposed to secondary bouts of element zero, where others like me had been executed. I had three objectives: rescue my sister from an egomaniacal madman and a life that would never belong to her, recover an OSD with all uncorrupted data on the details of my genetic tailoring and biotic capabilities for Cerberus to study the possibilities of human advancement, and upload a polymorphic scripting virus into my father's copies of the data located anywhere- low lying extranet channels, company cell blocks, encryptions, etcetera. No one else would ever be subjected to the treatment I had been, nor would anyone further be needlessly slaughtered through the ways of Henry Lawson. I had completed my assignment with almost expert proficiency, but I had chosen to add a few details to the finale. To let the labs stand would have felt like a betrayal. So, I had set a low grade bomb beneath the floor panels for a precise and restrained explosion.

Maybe the mansion was much more flammable than I had anticipated.

A louder chorus of howls came from the clearly upset animals. Their ears must have been ringing. I hope that will play to my benefit.

"Theatrics were never my intention." I muttered dryly.

"I'm aware," My mentor answered. I thought I could hear a trace of amusement in his voice, but discerning emotions was terribly distracting from the new, aimless gunfire bursting behind me. "What happened to simply purging the data, and low grade explosives?"

"Insurance. The labs are gone now. It'll cost a fortune to rebuild." I answered darkly, panting as I attempted to outrun the guards that pursued me- as fast as most olympians could. For one of the first times in my life, I was thrilled to see father's gifts of physical superiority put to good use. "I'm carrying the only three copies of the data."

"This is your operation." He consented.

I smiled at the subtle hint of approval, but the expression quickly faded when a voice exploded over the loudspeakers.

"Miranda!" The screech was broadcast abruptly over all forty-five acres, bouncing off trees and swallowing the attention of any being with the ability to hear. My heart shot straight to a stop in a mixture of satisfaction and anxiety. I had specifically chosen a time for this extraction that would not coincide with Henry Lawson's presence on the property. Yet, he had arrived home early. He must have suspected my intentions. "Don't bother running. There's nowhere in this galaxy I won't find you!"

Foolishly in my surprise, I spared a glance behind me to be sure I was out of range of the guards that had fanned out twenty plus yards to my flank- firing stunners at anything that moved between the trees- and lost several seconds in my lead. I paused in my tracks- hiding in the bushes resting on the edge of a stream, listening for the sounds of clanking armor, muffled breath, the growl of a canine, a beep of a thermal scanner, or a readjustment of a firearm. I wasn't very far ahead. In fact, one thing was incredibly clear- I was being flanked, cornered like an animal.

The wall was merely another thirty yards away. On the other side was my extraction- or an onslaught of rival arms hired by my father. I could have sprinted to find out, but there would have been a lack of focus on my enemies, and I'd have been struck by a stray bullet. Security was far too close for sudden movement- even in the dark.

"Lentz, Flores: where are they?" I whispered lowly into my one-to-one radio, breathing out heavily and fishing for a response I sincerely hoped wasn't a mistake.

Gunfire chorused across the property an acre east.

"Hear that?" My mentor asked through a series of heavy breathing. I knew he was running.

"Yes."

"That's Flores in the field playing red herring."

"Where's Lentz?" I murmured frustratedly, freezing at the sound of a snapping twig far too close for my liking. He was supposed to be there.

"Looking for you."

Looking for me? I nearly echoed in disbelief. Lentz had been instructed to stay on guard had he been needed.

Then, there in my hiding place amongst the bushes, came a nightmarish hiss. I felt all of the heat drain from my face and I blanched at the sight of the unintentional disturbance I had caused the red-bellied black snake. Startled awake, the serpent threateningly recoiled into a striking stance and bared its fangs to frighten me away.

Fantastic.

A part of me knew the animal was merely feigning the aggressiveness- that it was terrified and only wanted me to back away from its lair. But my larger, surmounting prejudice against the venomous creature won over. Instinctively my arms drew protectively around my sister and a blue corona encircled my wrists as a beating of footsteps fell on the marsh not far from me. Instantly a sapphire ball of energy struck the unsuspecting serpent, tossing it several yards.

"Ah!" Someone began to squeal in surprise when the unexpected drop landed squarely on their shoulders- only to be abruptly silenced by two quick, muffled cracks of a pistol. The man and dog hit the ground with resounding thuds.

"Lawson?" A new voice called out, not bothering to maintain a low profile. Male. Young adult.

Lentz.

My own pistol drawn at the ready, I stepped out from my cover, careful not to aim the barrel of my gun at him just yet. For all of three seconds, I glared daggers at him. He was tall and lanky with neatly trimmed dark hair and eyes. I noted the beads of sweat rolling down his forehead- glistening in streaks of moonlight- and the heaving of his chest beneath Cerberus black attire. If he was surprised to find an unconscious infant in a carrier around my middle, he only showed it for a split second. I growled suspiciously, "You took your time."

"Held up." He shook his head and sidled up beside me. Breaking into a canter, he pointed back to the wall I had been aiming to find refuge in. "That way's blocked by guards. Flores had to move the car to keep the fire off. She'll be in the field in exactly two minutes."

"So we'll be surrounded until then? Playing cat and mouse on the edge of the woods?"

"Basically." He muttered as we ducked into a new set of cover to scan the upcoming sector we would encompass on the outskirts of the underbrush. I leveled my sights at a faint movement across the meadow, but pulled back when I realized there was a squad of soldiers fanned out one hundred yards to my left, scouting the clearing.

"Bogies. " Lentz grumbled. "Flores needs to get here soon."

"What happened to your comm?" I muttered disbelievingly. Constantly revising a withdrawal strategy was unsavory to say the least. The approaching pounding rhythm of Father's guards as Lentz and I darted perpendicular from our Plan B rendezvous point towards our tertiary only made the situation worse.

"Hacked. Flores' too."

Henry Lawson continued over the loudspeaker. "I will find you, Miranda! And when I do, you'll wish you'd never been born! Now, give her back!"

"He's charming. How'd a kid like you get mixed up in this?" Lentz whistled the same moment a barrage of bullets struck the tree I hid behind and my barrier. He had not been informed of my relationship with the man I had rescued the anonymous infant from- the one I was shielding with my life.

"Now's not the time to make conversation." I snapped, intermittently shifting Oriana into a safer position and firing at the now charging security force. Thankfully, we had the advantage in our cloaked position. "They've seen us."

"Come out now, Miranda, and I'll order a ceasefire!" Father shouted once more. "If you oblige, I'll see to it no harm will come to you, or Oriana."

I found that promise entirely unlikely. More like I got shot in the head as soon as Ori and the OSD were back in his grasp.

"Don't even think about it," The commander's demand suddenly rang in my ear once more.

"I'm not stupid," I snarled indignantly, pulling the trigger and watching one of the silhouettes fall limply to the ground. That was the second time in my life I had ever killed a sentient being. Not that I felt particularly terrible about the incident in the first place.

"Nice shot," Lentz complemented over the rhythm of beating flames, strategic commands, and an approaching turbine. From his own hiding place, the lieutenant pointed outwards. "That should be Flores."

Casting a glance through the outlying flora, I watched the rectangular object Lentz had directed my attention to. Instead of hovering in one place, the car settled down smoothly on a patch of wild grass fifteen yards from the perimeter, and switched the engines off. The remaining four sentries did not fire at it once- which automatically raised my qualms. All of which were confirmed the moment the hatch opened and three spares burst from within forming a blockade around none other than my father.

"Or not," I sneered, heavily weighing the options of retreating versus remaining still. I desperately wished to know where Flores and my teacher were dallying.

"Dammit," Lentz growled so lowly under his breath that only a human with genetically altered auditory receptors- like myself- would be able to hear him. The lieutenant motioned a command to refrain from moving or causing any noise. I nodded in acknowledgement, glaring steadily.

"Miranda," Henry called out for me once more. This time in a soft voice that made my skin crawl, as though he were simply reprimanding a misbehaved toddler. His cold eyes could not pinpoint our location, but he knew that somewhere in the marsh, I lurked with his intended successor. I was nearly inclined to train my gifted pistol on his heart and pull the trigger, but that would have alerted the attention of his entourage. "You've caused quite a bit of trouble this evening. A shame to have this happen the night before your birthday party, dear. I was going to introduce your new sister to all of my friends. Now, the lawn is ruined, and I'll be required to force everyone to reschedule. Come out, come out, and we'll settle this like grown-ups."

Heat flooded my face in frustration before I could rationalize his manipulative behavior away and compartmentalize the resulting anger it inflicted me with. The lieutenant stared at me, but said nothing. Henry Lawson would have presented Oriana as his newest daughter during the sixteenth celebration of his first success and seventh failure- claiming she had lived with her surrogate mother for the first few months of her life. And not two weeks later, he would have feigned the cause of my disappearance as some horrible accident. Irritating me out of rational strategizing was his goal, and I would not give Henry Lawson the satisfaction. So, I breathed in slowly and exhaled the moment the commander decided to buzz in my ear once more.

He told me, "Flores is in the air. Your father's men are in my sights. I'm just north of you. Have Lentz draw their attention twelve yards south of your location. Stay put, and run to the car on my mark."

The seconds ticked by agonizingly slow- until the first crack of fire brought one of the thugs to his knees. Immediately, the squad responded, ushering my father into the safety of a protective human shield and returning shots. Flexing my mind and forearms I procured a sapphire corona around Oriana and myself, attempting to create a steady biotic barrier- on top of the kinetic one attached to my person. A second round from within the trees drew their attention, and when they realized they were surrounded, the guns for hire motioned to retreat into cover across from us.

"Don't you dare! Keep at it." I heard my father order from his sheltered position, causing a few of his employees to weigh the value of their lives against a hefty paycheck. Only when a second car with an open hatch lingered down with the engines running in between the perimeter and the ground they stood on did the thugs pause.

"Miranda, go. We'll cover you."

I didn't have to be told twice.

Flores sat in the driver's seat holding a gun in one hand and a wheel in the other. Dents, scrapes, and cracks from bullets had rendered the exterior in desperate need of body work. But the car flew, and that was all I needed.

I bolted, and the moment I breached the tree line I was almost immediately flanked by the broad and lanky forms of my mentor and Lieutenant Lentz. Several times, I pulled the trigger of the Predator as projectiles bounced off our slowly degenerating shields. We had nearly made it when they finally broke, and my mentor was forced to erect himself before me.

"Petrovsky?! Not another step or I'll have my men kill you all where you stand." Henry Lawson suddenly roared with contempt. He had brazenly asserted himself forward, a new confidence in his canter. Two of his guards flanked him, rifles at the ready. His steely eyes were crazed with hostility at the sight of the man at the end of his scope.

My father knew my mentor? The man standing between myself and a bullet?

My eyes grew wide with shock for just an instant before narrowing in suspicious hostility. I bristled with the idea that the Illusive Man and Oleg Petrvosky had been dishonest with me regarding their affiliations. I felt betrayed as Petrovsky signaled for us to pause in our race, and I shifted Oriana into the most protective stance possible.

"I know your face!" My father continued, jabbing his gun in our direction. "An Alliance poster child turned Cerberus. What do you think you're doing on my lawn? Surely the Illusive Man has nothing to do with this?"

Perhaps they didn't know each other after all.

"Don't shoot, Mr. Lawson. The Illusive Man will not take kindly to losing humanity's finest." Oleg Petrovsky reasoned evenly, tilting his head back in my direction, and providing me the sufficient opportunity to slink sideways to the car ever so slowly.

My father's face quickly rotated between shades of scarlet and violet. His aim strained steadily on my mentor's forehead, his eyes found mine. And in them was the exact loathing we shared for one another. "Cerberus has stolen my property! If the Illusive Man has any respect for our partnership he will return it to me immediately."

"My sister in not your property!" I snarled, feeling the kinetic energy of my shields begin to reboot.

"Your very genetic code was created by my hand!" He growled viciously. "You walk around as the embodiment of everything I paid for! My research pulses through your veins, Miranda!...And you've destroyed every other copy."

"So, what are you going to do, Father?" I mocked. "Tear it out of me? Tear it out of Oriana?"

"Oriana is to be part of my dynasty. You..." His eyes grew colder. "You've proven that is no longer an option for yourself."

"Mr. Lawson, the Illusive has this entire compound surrounded," Petrovsky bluffed impressively, though I made a mental note to be cautious in the future about his ease with deliberately lying. "He sends his apologies for the condition of your estate, but Miranda is a vital asset to Cerberus and the advancement of humanity... And he has judged that you are no longer fit to care for her or her sister. Stand down, and do not attempt to pursue us."

My father audibly grumbled low in his throat, and pulled the hammer of his pistol back, readying himself for our execution. In the same instant there was shimmering crackle of purple light that swooped across Oriana and my body when my kinetic barrier reached optimal strength. Mustering every ounce of my telekinetic power, my sapphire corona surged across my arms and a blue ball of transparent dark energy struck him full in the clavicle. The wind knocked entirely from his lungs, Henry Lawson returned to Earth's surface the moment I lunged into the car.

"About time!" Flores laughed darkly, though I found nothing amusing regarding our predicament.

"Move!" Petrovsky bellowed.

"I'll find her, Miranda!" Father screeched one last threat before the skycar hatch closed and we were off.

No one followed us.

Once we had finally departed Earth en route for the Citadel, I spent my time personally caring for Oriana for what I knew to be the last time, hacking security cameras, monitoring fellow travelers and supposed civilians, and tapping outgoing communications to the human home world. Yet, there had been no sign of Father's bounty hunters. But, I was still left with a nagging, foreboding sensation that some time in the future, somewhere undisclosed, Henry Lawson would hunt for Oriana.

And I would be perpetually vigilant. She would never know me- or be a part of my new, dangerous life- but she would be cared for by two, loving parents I had dutifully- anonymously- selected from a list of top-tier adoption agencies that were unwittingly under Cerberus influence. Oriana's life would be normal, blissful, and her own- without my direct influence.

It was for the best.

1300 Hours, Saturday, November 15, 2166 / Presidium Commons, Citadel, Widow, Serpent Nebula / 19 years, 6 months, 8 days Pre Reaper invasion of Earth

"Congratulations, Miss Lawson. You've successfully completed your first special reconnaissance mission for Cerberus." Petrovsky whispered with faint traces of sympathy in his tone as we leaned against a railing in the Presidium side by side two days after my sixteenth birthday. I had only ever been to the Presidium twice before, and never to the wards. The Citadel was an uncharted experience with more races and cultures than I had ever seen in one place.

Directly below, Flores- posed as a social worker- introduced an eager young couple to their new daughter. The little girl smiled widely at them in the exact manner she had once for an estranged sibling. Tears of happiness brimmed in the woman's dark eyes, and she clutched the infant tightly, whispering greetings and issuing kisses. Her husband, although more reserved, reacted very similarly. They were going to be a genuine family.

"I had an obligation to Oriana. She was my responsibility to find a proper home for," I relented flatly, nodding in approval. "And now she has one."

Petrovsky stood silently for a moment. His dark eyes lingered, "Mr. and Mrs. Roshed were a good choice. Respectable, kind-"

"And normal," I added as I recalled the thorough background investigation I had procured on them.

Both native to Melbourne and descending from well-doing families, Rasheeda Walker and Baz Roshed had become college sweethearts in the late 2140's and were married soon after graduation. In 2157 they had been hired as freelance researchers in a joint effort between Baria Frontiers and ExoGeni Corporations to scout and chart potential systems to colonize. For awhile they had enjoyed the adventure of space travel, but had eventually taken up more stable careers at Baria Frontiers' in Nos Astra in hopes of raising a child of their own. But, when Rasheeda learned that she was incapable of bearing her own offspring, those dreams eventually shifted to adoption. For years they had been on multiple waiting lists, nearly closed a few, but had always been overlooked by the system. Oriana had become their best chance and last, and I knew they would care for her- treasure her and the opportunity she provided.

"They'll be an excellent match," Petrovsky added.

Below us, finishing up paperwork, Rasheeda passed Oriana to Baz. The man smiled dazzling at her as she sat in his lap. Her chubby hands reached up to touch his face, and she giggled, cooing. Discreetly, Baz glanced around the vicinity, and planted a kiss on the top of his daughter's head.

Wrenching my gaze away, I faced my mentor and gestured outwards. "So, what's next for me?"

Considerately, Petrovsky gave me a closed smile. "Next, we follow Lentz to Illium and make sure he's settling in nicely in his new abode."

"Do you think he'll grow restless- keeping an eye on Oriana for the next few years?" I wondered aloud.

"He is military. He'll want to get on to a ship sooner or later," Oleg explained. "But, for now, he's happy serving as a special security officer. Besides, Illium is the gateway to the Terminus Systems. Cerberus command will keep him occupied."

"What about you?" I raised an imploring eyebrow, evacuating my weight from my elbows and drawing myself up to my full height. "You're military. Won't you want to get back onto a ship?"

"I find special assignments equally fulfilling. Training a new operative," He threw me a pointed expression. "...Will be rewarding in and of itself. I promise to provide you with all the tools and experience necessary before I unleash you onto the galaxy."

His jibe actually caused me to smile.

"You'll be able to make quite an impression on history, Miranda. Many people wish for that same gift, but you were born capable. I can see your drive and efficiency. And now you have the means to implement those talents." Petrovsky's tone became serious as though he were lecturing a child that had yet to understand their own strength. "But I want to make sure it's pointed in the proper direction. The Illusive Man and I will discuss when we believe it best for you to carry on without a mentor."

I scowled sharply. I longed to prove my worth to the Illusive Man- the man that had risked millions of credits in sponsorship to protect my sister and offer me an ample variety of opportunity. I would do anything to secure his trust and confidence. After all, he had more than earned mine. "And until then?"

"We wait for our next assignment." He answered.

"Any idea when that'll come?" I questioned. Eagerness pricked me in the shoulder. I was more than ready to begin my new life- intrigued, curious, enthralled, and even excited. This was what I wanted.

"Soon. For now, we begin our lessons in strategizing."

That peaked my interest. Of course, my imagination wandered to methods of infiltration, different routes of approaching different species, execution of combat tactics. So when I asked how we would get started, I was surprised to see his grin return.

"With a game of chess." Petrvosky told me, and led the way to a nearby retailer to purchase a set that he would keep for almost twenty years.

A/N: Hello everyone! Thanks for reading! Sorry for the delay. I just started a new regimen with school this last week, and it was very stressful. XD But, it's past and hopefully things will be settling down.

Just so you know, I went back and edited a few dates on logs for clarification (I made up my mind.)

Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! Please review! Your feedback really means a lot!