Chapter 11

The next morning started early. Miranda's eyes were jolted open by the sound of an explosion in the streets below. The blast was large enough the shake the deserted office building, leaving a cloud of dust to fill the air in its wake. She propped herself up on the couch and immediately had to grit her teeth. The sealed wound across her stomach had healed somewhat thanks to her natural powers of recovery and the medi-gel, but not all the way.

A second and more violent explosion brought her to full alertness, though across the room Jack somehow remained fast asleep. She was draped over an office chair, her head hung, and Miranda took a moment to absorb the image. The biotic's short hair had managed to get ruffled in her sleep and it draped down over her face, leaving only her nose and her full lips on display. A trickle of drool dripped from her partner's lips and Miranda smirked. A few days ago, the sight would have disgusted her yet now she found it amusing.

Miranda dragged herself to her feet, thankful to find her balance had returned. She padded over to the sleeping biotic, standing over her as she remembered their exchange from the night before. That she was different than Jack had remembered. Miranda wondered if Jack knew that the same could be said about her.

She thought on Jack's story, of the students that she couldn't save as well as the woman's suicidal motives for accepting this mission. Mostly, she thought about how when Miranda needed her most, Jack had been there to save her. The convict had done something for her that the man she once thought she loved never had. Something nobody had ever done for her. She came back for her.

Miranda took hold of Jack's shoulders, gently shaking her awake, and when her pretty brown eyes drifted open, she mumbled a swear.

"Time to move, Jack."

"Why?" Jack drawled sleepily. "Cerberus ain't going anywhere."

Instead of answering at once, Miranda moved to the office's window and looked down into the street below. Typhon's sun illuminated the pavement, giving her a clear view of the carnage. Dead bodies, both alien and human were strewn about amidst flaming debris and wreckage. Whether the corpses were a result of the two explosions she had just heard or remnants of an older battle, she couldn't say but one thing was clear: Typhon was at war again.

Miranda turned around. "We shouldn't stay in one place for too long."

Jack let out a yawn as she stretched. "Yeah, you're probably right. What's the play then, cheerleader?"

"Find a place to restock on ammo, weapons, and food. Then we move onto Ford's tower."

"That place has gotta be locked up tighter than a turian's ass. You know I'm all for the direct approach but…"

"I'm not suggesting we storm in through the bloody front door. But we'll need to see what we're dealing with before we formulate an infiltration plan. A little recon goes a long way, Jack. Besides, the tower appears to be several miles north of here." Miranda kept her gaze lingering on the massive spire in the distance, dominating the cityscape. "Hopefully we'll get a better idea of what we're dealing with on the way."

"You sure you're good to move?"

Jack almost sounded concerned, and Miranda was more touched than she wanted to be. "I'll manage."

The biotic shrugged and rose to her feet. "Good." She tugged at the bottom of her Cerberus uniform. "First thing we're grabbing down there is a change of clothes. I ain't wearin this shit any longer than I have to."

Miranda looked down at herself. Her own disguise was smeared with blood and dirt, and the blade that had cut her had also torn a hole across the front, exposing her abs, along with the freshly sealed wound. "Agreed."

It had taken Miranda longer than she was proud of to climb down the office building's stairwell to street level. Her injury was still plenty sore but by the time she found herself back out in the sun, she could feel her strength returning to her.

One of the few things I can thank my father for. Though I doubt he'd approve of what I'm using his gifts for.

While the fresh air was nice, the view was another matter. The streets of Typhon's capital city were littered with the corpses of Cerberus and non-human forces alike. Dismembered limbs were scattered about next to the charred scars left in the street by explosives and colorful puddles of blood dotted the pavement.

Jack lowered her weapon after they completed their sweep of the area. "Looks like the aliens did a good job of clearing out these assholes for us."

As Jack spoke, Miranda looked down at the body of an asari, a maiden by the look of her, with a soft face and teal skin. She gave the girl a gentle nudge with her boot to find the corpse already stiff. "Idiots," she hissed under her breath. "They'd rather get themselves killed over revenge than escape this planet. We gave them a perfect opportunity to be free and instead they ran straight into a war with Cerberus."

"Are you really surprised? After all the shit we've seen Cerberus put these people here through? You know the first thing I did when I got free from my cell on Pragia? I killed every Cerberus bastard I saw. They locked these people up like animals, forced them to fight for their entertainment, experimented on and tortured them... Fuck, it's Teltin all over again, just bigger. I'd do the same damn thing. I just hope they saved some for us."

Miranda gave her a wry smile. "I wouldn't worry, Jack. I imagine there will be plenty of Cerberus soldiers for you to fight."

"You never did tell me what you know about this place."

Miranda looked up to the large, tattered Cerberus banner dancing in the wind above the streets. "I've never actually been here before. Its main purpose was military experimentation and recruitment while I specialized in more… delicate projects. However, the Illusive Man talked about it a few times and occasionally, I was tasked with reviewing the developments coming out of the Typhon base."

"And what kind of shit did they send you?"

"The kind of shit that's better left forgotten," Miranda answered bluntly. "What I don't understand is, if the Alliance is truly worried about a major uprising here, then why haven't we seen any Cerberus' operatives yet?"

"The hell are you talking about? We saw a whole shitload of them back at that rally in the park, and in the prison."

"We saw desperate civilians who were given a scapegoat for their anger and grief. Some of them may have been given guns and pressed into service, and maybe there were a few regular soldiers in the prison, but aside from Brother Givoni, I haven't seen one genuine Cerberus operative since we touched down."

"So maybe the navy got it wrong?" Jack gave a derisive snort. "It wouldn't be the first time."

Miranda shook her head. "I don't think so. Typhon would have had thousands of Cerberus troops stationed here when the Reapers invaded. While they might have lost a lot of their numbers in the war, Ford must have had enough left to pacify the public after it ended. There would've been a fair number of elite forces among that group."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that we've yet to discover Ford's true threat. He spoke of re-taking Earth. The man I knew wasn't deluded enough to think a few racist civilians, and a couple of divisions would be enough to overthrow the Alliance."

Jack shrugged. "Whatever. We end Ford, none of it will matter."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that. It's possible that he's the key to what's happening here and that killing him will break Cerberus for good. But it's also possible that he's just a figurehead and that his death will change nothing."

"Fuck." Jack spat on the ground. "Shit's never simple, is it?"

Miranda managed a rueful laugh. "No, I suppose not. We can't just smash everything that gets in our way… No matter much we might want to. I do understand the appeal of violence, but if it's not directed at the right target, it's ineffective."

Jack nodded. "Yeah, yeah," was what she said, but though her words were dismissive, Miranda couldn't help but notice that they lacked the venom that she'd been so full of earlier on their mission. Clearly, Jack no longer felt the need to lash out at every word that came out of Miranda's mouth.

Clearly it helped her, telling me about what happened to her students. Good. A little rapport goes a long way in these sorts of situations.

But it was more than that, she admitted to herself as they continued through the shattered streets of the city. Maybe it had happened when Jack saved her life. Maybe it was earlier. Either way, she now cared what the convict thought of her, not for any operational reason, but for its own sake. Once, she might have deemed that a weakness, but now…

We're probably going to die on this planet. Something that passes for, dare I say it, a friend wouldn't be the worst thing to have with me.

When she first heard the noise, Miranda's head whipped around, searching for the possible threat. A second later, however, she realized that it was only a virtual presence addressing them. Several stories up, a large vid monitor attached to the side of a half-bombed out building had switched itself on and a familiar image appeared there, accompanied by a voice she'd already learned to hate.

"Ford." Jack's face twisted into a grimace as she too realized who it was.

"Brothers and sisters," the Cerberus leader began, "Many times, I have warned you of the evil forces that conspire against us. Now, the day has arrived when their foul thoughts are being turned into action. Agents of the treacherous Alliance have come to our home, seeking to destroy all that we are building here. Striking from the shadows, they have murdered our brethren and freed some of the alien scum that infests our home. These are creatures who we, in our mercy, had allowed to live even while we kept them from infecting you, our people, with their filth."

"Today, that compassion has been repaid with treachery. These Alliance saboteurs set loose a host that slime on the streets our fair city. Even now, our brave soldiers move to exterminate these criminals once and for all, but it is not only they who must be vigilant. Even once we have thwarted this scheme of theirs, the vipers of the Alliance will remain in our city, concocting new and fouler schemes against us."

"Think he's talking about us, cheerleader?" Jack had a smug smile on her face, clearly proud of having gotten Ford's personal attention. Miranda, however, was more concerned than pleased. It was to be expected after Miriam's last words, but she remained unhappy that their identities now appeared to be known to their enemy.

"Yes, but please be quiet for one second, Jack," she replied. "I want to see what information he's putting out there about us."

"Two of these snakes have crept into our garden," Ford said, his voice dripping with contempt. "And today, we shall show you their faces, so that you may know them. So that no matter what lies they tell, they will not hide from your righteous gazes. The first of them is a psychopath and a murderer, a woman known as Subject Zero, because she deserves no good, human name."

"It's Jack, asshole," the convict hissed, while Ford continued to speak.

"She is a powerful biotic, and an unstable lunatic, who should be considered extremely dangerous. Do not hesitate to kill her if you have the opportunity, because she will no doubt attempt to kill you and all those whom you love. And yet, vicious though Subject Zero may be, the other woman with whom she travels may be even worse. Miranda Lawson may wear a comely face, but she is a traitor of the worst kind. A biotic as well, and a skilled operative who once served Cerberus. A woman given the trust of our leaders until she betrayed them. Until she threw in her lot with the quislings of the Alliance and helped to murder many of those who strove for humanity's salvation."

"She is no doubt the instigator of this sabotage, having turned the mind that once aided our noble work to evil purposes, and we must know their full extent. Destroy Subject Zero, but should you encounter Miranda Lawson, you are to capture her alive at all costs, so that we may know what further treachery she and her minions plan. I have no doubt that you are equal to this mighty task, because, though these may be trying times, with your aid, with our resolve, and with Cerberus' strength, we will prevail. Blessings be upon you all."

The image of Ford faded from the screen amidst stirring music, replaced with stills of Jack and Miranda taken from inside the prison, but even while Jack laughed, "Hey, at least they caught your good side, cheerleader," Miranda could only wonder, What the hell does Ford want with me?

Jack dismissed the threat with a wave of her hand. "Screw 'em."

"It might not be wise to take the danger Ford poses so lightly," Miranda advised.

"Look around you, cheerleader. This whole damn city is at war." Jack gestured at a charred corpse laying in a nearby gutter. "They've hardly had time to hunt our asses down. Besides, we've survived this long, haven't we?"

Miranda managed a little half smile. "Optimism. Can't say I was expecting that from you, Jack."

"Yeah well… maybe we don't make such a shitty team after all. Now let's go. If I have to spend another hour in this Cerberus get-up I'm gonna start kicking these bastard's asses naked."

It took them some time to locate a store that had not been picked entirely clean. The signs of battle grew fresher the closer they drew to the city's center, the bodies of both alien and Cerberus forces more numerous. Miranda knew it would only be a matter of time before they found danger again but she was thankful for the unlikely breather. Her wound might have been sealed but the pain ensured she wasn't at her best. She recognized that she was relying on Jack's protection to a certain extent. Two days earlier, the thought would have shamed her beyond measure, yet now it was oddly comforting.

Their fortunes finally turned when they stumbled across a general supply store that hadn't been completely looted. Jack created an entrance by smashing the large storefront window with a chunk of charred debris and when the duo stepped inside, they found the shelves still in neat rows instead of scattered on the floor as they had been elsewhere.

They wasted no time ransacking the place for food. The boxes of cereal they found were stale but edible and the two women devoured them dry as they sat on the floor of the abandoned aisle.

With her belly full, Miranda found her attention fixed on Jack once more for reasons she couldn't explain, though thankfully, the biotic was still shoving fistfulls of cereal into her mouth and hadn't noticed.

"So, think they'll have any catsuits in your size?" Jack teased when she finally took a break in her eating.

"One can only hope," Miranda answered with a smile.

Jack set down the now-empty box. "Look, I know things got a little heavy last night. I didn't mean to be such a pussy."

"Please, don't apologize."

"I was just thinking, I showed you mine, right? So… why are you here?"

Miranda looked down at the cereal box in her hands. "You already know. The admiral gave me a deal. End Cerberus and clear my name."

Jack shot her a skeptical look. "Yeah, but… do you really think that people back on Earth are gonna suddenly wise up if you put Ford in a hole?"

She took a deep breath. "I don't know. But it's the only chance I have left." Miranda hung her head. "Perhaps I deserve their hate. It's not as if all my operations with Cerberus were as noble as my work on the Normandy. I did do...regrettable things for the Illusive Man."

Jack shrugged. "So you told me. But maybe you were right. Maybe people can change."

"I hope so." For both our sakes.

The convict rose to her feet and tugged on the collar of her Cerberus uniform. "Let's get out of these."

"I suppose now that our faces have been plastered all over planet, there's no reason to blend in any longer." Miranda began down the aisle before a sudden compulsion stopped her. "Jack…"

The biotic turned around, leaning on a half-empty shelf of laundry detergent. "What's up?"

"I'm glad you're here. I wouldn't have been able to do this alone."

Jack's eyes narrowed before she waved her hand dismissively. "Yeah, yeah. I know we did all that talking crap, but don't start going all soft on me, cheerleader. We still got places to be, people to kill."

With that, Jack disappeared around the corner at the end of the aisle. Miranda followed after her, finding the younger woman standing amongst the racks of clothes in the abandoned department store's women's section. Some of the outfits were laid in crumpled heaps next to overturned racks, signs of a previous looter's presence. Fortunately, there was still a selection of grey tank tops that Jack quickly snatched up. She kept one for herself and threw another at her partner while she continued her search for more clothes.

Miranda caught the top and looked down at her ruined outfit once more. Blood, dirt and sweat had ensured she'd need an entirely fresh wardrobe. A pit in her stomach formed when she relived the last time she had tried to squeeze herself into pants in front of Jack but as luck would have it, she came across a pair of form-fitting black pants that were made from a similar material to her catsuit. She had always favored the garment for it's ability to adapt to her unique curves.

"You find something you can fit your ass in, cheerleader?" Jack teased her from across the room.

For once, the urge to return the insult wasn't there. "Hopefully," Miranda answered with a chuckle before she grabbed a nearby tank top and the black leather jacket that hung on the rack in front of her. With her outfit assembled she looked back up to Jack to continue their banter, but when she did, her words caught in her throat.

Jack stood in plain view as she reached down and pulled the Cerberus-branded shirt over her head. She wore no bra underneath, which left her pert, tattooed breasts on display. Miranda suddenly found herself taking notice of Jack's prominent nipples and the hardened muscle of her abs. Her hands tightened on the clothes she held as Jack kicked out of her boots and stepped out of her pants as well, leaving her in only a pair of simple underwear.

It wasn't the first time Miranda had seen Jack naked that week. The last time they had changed into their disguises, Jack had wasted no time stripping down in front of Miranda either. However something was different now and Miranda couldn't place it. For reasons unknown, her cheeks burned and her head felt light. When Jack pulled the panties down her legs, exposing the rest of her naked body, Miranda's breath caught in her throat.

Jack's tattoos covered her legs in a colorful, symmetrical web, save for a small patch of dark hair above her vagina, while her right thigh was marked with a long scar Miranda guessed came from a knife or a turian's claw. When her eyes traveled from between Jack's legs up to her face Miranda's blood ran cold. Jack's eyes had caught hers. For once, though, the convict said nothing. Instead, she just stared at her for a moment with one eyebrow raised in what Miranda assumed was confusion or perhaps something more.

Miranda cleared her throat while Jack pulled a fresh pair of underwear up her legs. "Why don't you search the corpses outside for unspent thermal clips while I get dressed?"

Jack grunted, "Uh huh," as she changed into the rest of her new outfit. She now wore a pair of jeans, her boots, and the grey tank top, which was tight enough for Miranda's cheeks to burn once more. Only once Jack had marched outside to loot the bodies did she make an effort to release the tension in her chest, letting out a long sigh.

What the hell is wrong with me?

She didn't understand what had just occurred but the feeling between her legs was both unmistakable and confusing. Miranda shook her head in an effort to clear it as she began to change into her scavenged clothes. The form fitting pants were far more comfortable than her prior disguise and the black leather jacket did a good job of covering up what her tanktop barely hid. She left the jacket open as she attached her holster to her hip.

Get ahold of yourself, dammit.

No matter how hard she tried, though, the sudden and unwelcome feelings wouldn't dull. She looked out the storefront window and when she saw Jack waiting for her, Miranda took another deep breath.

"Shit."

Notes- We're back! Sorry for the hiatus but we're back on a regular schedule for this series again. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and will share your thoughts on it with me and Revan in the reviews. And the next chapter of Rise of the Asari is coming soon!