Allers: You actually left the Normandy in order to go on mission with a Cerberus agent?
Ashley: No I left with Sarah Walker my partner.
Allers: Right, of course. This mission you went on, I remember hearing about it when it happened. No one was credited for it, in fact as far as I'm aware the Alliance are still trying to track down whoever saved Terra Nova.
Ashley: They weren't exactly going to say it was Cerberus, who saved the colony, were they. You wanted the truth Diana, here it is. If you don't believe it then you can ask my partner.
Allers: I believe you Commander. But I may take you up on the offer to ask your partner. Now where were we?
Ashley: We'd just docked on the Citadel.
As soon as the Normandy was docked we were ready to set out, waiting by the airlock for the green light to shine. Taking in last minute instructions from Miranda and placing my cover firmly in my head, the light went green and we left the Normandy and straight into the lift that would take us down to C-Sec. Some more final checks followed and as the elevator reached the bottom, our covers started.
"Carina Miller, are you ready?"
"I am Sarah Walker."
As we headed out the elevator Miranda placed her hand in mine and sealed the cover. From C-Sec we headed up through another elevator and came to a stop at the Presidium where we got off and headed towards the financial district where the safe house was located. The Cerberus headquarters just looked like any other building on the Presidium the front was a shop and the back and above were living quarters. We went in through the shop entrance and went straight up to the shop keeper and Miranda asked to see the prototype goods. We were led into the back of the shop away from the other customers and asked to wait see the owner. A couple of minutes later and the owner walked into the room.
"Who are you?"
"I'm Sarah Walker and this is Carina Miller. We're here to check out the prototype goods."
"Sarah Walker we've had dealings in the past, every other time you have been alone."
That wasn't statement not really, it was more of a question about who I am.
"Sometimes everyone needs a partner and she's mine."
To seal the statement Miranda's hand crept in to mine and she beamed at me, with that smile that I'd only seen once before. The smile that was reserved only for me.
"You've proven your point Sarah, in the years that I've known you; you've never once shown your feelings to another human before. That was definitely genuine."
"Thanks. Now can we get on with it, you know why we're here."
"I do. Everything's waiting for you up stairs. There's a change of clothes and an armoury waiting for you, now get going."
Following the owners orders we moved upstairs and into the room provided for us. Laid out on the bed were two outfits both were made of black latex, they looked like a cat suit it had to be said.
"These are the latest in Cerberus armour."
"Really, they don't look like much."
"Believe me there better than they look. I've worn them several times and they've never let me down so far. They may accentuate are features, but that's just another distraction, soon you won't even realise that your wearing it."
"I'll take your word for it. What's this cymbal on the front?"
"That is the Cerberus emblem."
"I thought you were a secret organisation?"
"We are, but sometimes it's good for people to know that we're out there. Back to the armour, once it's on it will integrate with your omni-tool. There are certain features installed on the armour which will come in handy."
"Okay, let's just get them on."
Surprisingly for something that looked like latex, it was easy to get into. It fitted very well against the body and clung to every curve. Looking at myself in the mirror I didn't look like a soldier, not anymore. I suppose that was the point but at the moment I wasn't too comfortable wearing it, hopefully equipping a weapon I wouldn't feel as naked. Miranda on the other hand looked like she was born to wear the cat suit. Every perfection was shown and magnified with the skin tight outfit. If she had turned round at that moment, I'm pretty sure my mouth would have been on the floor. It was perfect, handed on a latex plate.
"Like what you see."
"Oh yeah."
"Now now lover, we've got to be somewhere."
She turned my quite obvious staring around at me and moved us straight back on to the mission at hand. From there Miranda opened up a chest, which held any weapons we would need. But the suits only had a clip for a pistol.
"Here take this. It's a Lotus submachine pistol, only one was ever made and Cerberus created an identical copy. So here we are one each. It's time we were of."
We left the safe house straight away and took a sky car to Chora's Den. Having been there before I was fairly certain I knew what was coming. As soon as we stepped out of the sky car the music from Chora's Den reached us loud and proud.
"Let's just hope we won't be here long. The last time I was here ended up in a fire fight and a Krogan shaped dent in my armour."
"Sounds like quite the party you were at."
"I'll have to tell you about it someday."
"Can't wait. Come on Vevran's inside."
We entered the club and was greeted by the lewd gaze of everyone in the establishment. They eyes on the humans in the bar bulged. It was pathetic, the sight of two woman in armour, well cat suits would make them speechless. I suppose it was really a secondary defence, it was certainly working. We looked around to find the Batarian and he was sitting in Harkin's useless place, looking out of place and completely suspicious. Then again who didn't in this place. He nodded his head towards us and made his way outside. We followed him out and led him down the alley where we met Tali, Miranda was going to do all the talking.
"Vevran we understand you have some information for us."
"Yes, yes I do."
"Why so nervous Vevran?"
"This is new to me, if I do this then I'm a traitor to my people."
"You'll be saving thousands of life's."
"Human lives. Not Batarians."
"In the long run you'll be saving Batarian lives, if Terra Nova is destroyed what do you think will happen?"
" Oh God, annihilation by the hands of the humans."
"Now, give us the information."
"Here take it, this everything I've acquired."
He handed Miranda an OSD, which went connected to her omni-tool showed everything about the terrorist faction that we were bent on wiping out Terra Nova. Including the location of said asteroid at the moment. Whilst we examined the data Vevran chose that moment to leave, knowing he wasn't getting anything out of the deal. The intel was good, but we would need to act fast if we were to save the colony.
"Sarah we need a ship."
"We have one waiting for us, part of the assistance the shopkeeper gave us."
"Let's get going then."
We reached the ship within the hour and Miranda set the co-ordinates for Terra Nova. The VI that was installed had the capabilities for autopilot even through the Mass Relays. As long as Miranda was at the wheel for takeoff and docking everything would be fine. ETA for Terra Nova was four hours. Giving us plenty of time to talk.
"Sarah..."
"The ships Cerberus, no need for covers here Ash."
"Okay. Will these suits protect us from what we're about to do?"
"Apart from point blank. Yes, they'll provide better armour than most of your Alliance gear."
"So is this mine then?"
"If you decide to stay with us after this mission."
"Okay. What'll happen if I stay?"
"If you stay, because of the situation you're in, you'll have to stay on the Normandy for the moment, but once you've finished the mission then you'll have to come to us. That's all I can say for the moment, once you've accepted I can give you more."
"What about you?"
"What about me?"
"After this mission, what happens to you?"
"I move on to the next one. Who knows you might even see me again."
"Right..."
"Problem Ash?"
"No...Yeah...No...Maybe."
"You getting attached already."
"We'll see."
A/N Not the longest chapter I'm aware but it was needed. More banter between Miranda and Ashley. Or is it Sarah and Carina? Hahaa. Any way, time to get on with the next chapter. Does anyone want to Bring Down the Sky with me?