"So, Commander, even your asari are trained killers? You get everyone at the same store or something?" Joker quipped.
"Maybe." Kacey replied, "Anyway, how is everything up here?"
"This thing wants to fire me over a joke!" Joker said, glaring at EDI, "Okay, I said I'd flash the AI core, but I was kidding! And we'd only lose a few systems. Nosey ones.
"To clarify, human resources adjustments are not actually under my authority." EDI explained.
"Then why?" Joker asked, "Why are you always picking on me?"
"My replies were intended to provoke, though not to cause distress." EDI clarified, "Your reactions are atypical of most humans. You are interesting."
"It beat you at your own game." Kacey could barely contain her laughter, "She pushed your buttons to get a rise out of you. About time you were on the receiving end."
"Yeah, great I just got worked by the intercom." Joker sighed.
"It was not my intent to breed hostility, Mr Moreau. But you did instigate our interactions."
"Okay, but think of it this way—shut up." Joker said, "Oh, and how is Liara anyway?"
Kacey didn't know what to say. After watching the way Garrus reacted, she wasn't sure what to say.
"She's fine." Kacey replied, "Joker, did Garrus say anything to you about Liara?"
"No, why?"
"Liara…she…uh…" Kacey sighed, "Liara told Garrus and I that she found my body two years ago."
"She did?" Joker said, "How? Where?"
"She and a friend of hers recovered my body from the Shadow Broker." Kacey explained, "Cerberus had apparently given her the intel. Liara found me then handed me over to Cerberus. That's the short version."
"And she didn't tell anyone?" Joker asked.
"Yeah. Garrus wasn't happy."
"Yeah I can believe that. Why didn't she tell Kaidan though?"
"Apparently Kaidan wasn't in the right state of mind." Kacey replied, "Know anything about that?"
"Kinda?" Joker replied, "I mean, he really wasn't. But the Alliance had split us up, so I don't know any details."
"Okay, thanks anyway, Joker."
…
Kacey entered the Starboard Observation Deck to find Samara sitting in the middle of the floor, meditating. The small, gentle glow of biotic energy in her hand lit up a small part of the room.
"Shepard." Samara said, briefly catching Kacey off-guard.
"Just checking in to make sure you're settling in okay." Kacey replied.
"I've spent much of the last 400 years on my own; it is nice to have a colleague to chat with." Samara said, "I may be rusty at it, however. If you are patient, I would love to talk."
Kacey sat on one off the chairs next to where Samara was sitting, just as Samara made the biotic energy dissipate.
"How much do you know about this mission?" Kacey asked.
"I know that I've sworn an oath to follow you, and that you seek to destroy the Collectors. That is enough for me."
"You don't want to know why the Collectors need to be fought?"
"When you live by a code that compels you to harsh action, you learn the dangers of curiosity. If I must kill a man because he has done wrong, do I really wish to know that he is a devoted father?"
"I suppose not." Kacey said, "Such things would cause some to hesitate."
"And by the Justicar Code, I cannot allow hesitation."
"I understand." Kacey responded, "What about your fugitive? The one you were chasing on Nos Astra?"
"I hope you will understand if I wish to avoid this topic. It's deeply tied to my code and my beliefs. You might say it is personal."
"I get it. We've all got one of those things we don't want to talk about because its personal."
"Thank you, Shepard."
…
"Your scars have healed nicely, Commander. You can't even see them anymore."
"Good. I didn't like having light up scars anyway." Kacey joked, "Anyway, how are you?"
"Good. I'm just finishing an operational report." Miranda replied, "I'm impressed Shepard. So far things have gone exceptionally well. As Cerberus operations go, this is one of the best I've been a part of."
"Maybe it's because I'm not Cerberus and this isn't a Cerberus operation."
"Not to you, maybe." Miranda replied as Kacey sat down, "But I report to the Illusive Man. And I'm here because he wants me to be. Cerberus gave you a second chance, Commander. Maybe you should do the same for us."
"The Illusive Man? No chance." Kacey replied, "You though, maybe."
"I'm surprised. I thought you would have the typical Alliance attitude of hating all of us."
"Just because I detest the Illusive Man doesn't mean I hate you or Jacob." Kacey explained, "You are both separate from the organisation you work for. I'm an Alliance soldier, but I don't represent the opinion of every other soldier in the Alliance. Plus, if you all had the typical Cerberus attitude of wanting to kill Alliance soldiers you wouldn't have revived me."
"It's ironic how you have trust issues and yet seem…so trusting of others." Kaidan mused.
"Trust me, the irony is not lost on me." Kacey replied, "I just prefer to keep most people at arm's length is all."
"Fair point." Miranda replied, "I suppose I was wrong about you in a way."
"Is that so?"
"You're not what I expected at all, Commander. I assumed you would've been more hostile towards me."
"I'm just full of surprises." Kacey replied, "But I don't get why you are so loyal to Cerberus."
"Hmm." Miranda mused, "I suppose you have earned the right to know. Do you remember when I told you I was genetically altered? Well, that wasn't my choice. My father…created me. He's a very influential man, and extremely controlling. He didn't want a daughter…he wanted a dynasty. I ran away when I was old and brave enough. I went to Cerberus because I knew they could protect me."
"You seem capable of defending yourself." Kacey said, "Why did you need Cerberus?"
"My father invested a great deal in his dynasty. It wasn't a matter of just leaving…I knew he would continue to pursue his…investments."
"And Cerberus approves of these enhanced abilities?"
"Of course." Miranda replied, "Cerberus fully endorses anything that advances the cause of humanity…genetic alterations included. But unlike my father and his own selfish reasons, Cerberus and the Illusive Man believe in the greater good. They see the bigger picture…and I feel like I have a purpose here."
"You talk about yourself like you're just a…tool to be used." Kacey replied, "By your father. By Cerberus."
"Maybe." Miranda replied, "I like to know where I fit in the world. It helps me find a meaning in how I was created."
"You are who you are, Miranda. You don't need to make excuses for it."
"You sound like you're talking from personal experience." Miranda said.
Kacey hadn't realised it. But she couldn't deny it. Kacey didn't know how much Cerberus knew about her…or what files they had on her. She had to word her answers carefully.
"A little bit." Kacey responded vaguely, "I don't make excuses for myself though. Never have done."
It wasn't necessarily a lie, more like a stretched truth. Miranda gave Kacey a small smile.
"We've both been engineered for greatness, Shepard." Miranda said disheartened, "The difference is, you were great before we rebuilt you…I'm great because of it."
"That doesn't define you, Miranda." Kacey replied, "Your spirit and personality are what makes you great. It's what makes anyone great."
"That's kind of you…I'm not sure I believe you, but thanks for saying it." Miranda replied, "Since we're opening up, what about you, Shepard?"
"What about me?"
"I've seen you talking to the crew, getting to know them with…a few exceptions." Miranda explained, "I just want to get to know you. It's only fair."
"She's got you there Kacey." Kaidan said, "And I don't blame her. It took me a while to get to know you more personally. And I still think you know more about me than I do you."
"Well, we do have time to rectify that." Kacey smiled, "I only told Miranda some basic stuff. Stuff you kinda already know."
"What is it you want to know?" Kacey asked, "Although I'm sure my files have given you the answers already."
"Believe it or not, but we don't have that much on you." Miranda admitted, "Aside from some of your more high-profile missions, we have little to no information on you."
"I see." Kacey replied, "So, what do you want to know?"
"Well, since we were talking about family, why don't you tell me about yours?" Miranda asked, "And don't worry; I'm not going to tell the Illusive Man anything. Not after what happened with…you know."
"Yeah, probably for the best." Kacey said, "Well, there's not much to say. Both my parents were Alliance soldiers and I'm an only child. I don't have any other family aside from them."
"I see. So, Alliance enlistment runs in the family."
"Kind of." Kacey replied, "My mother still works for the Alliance. You'll have to forgive me if I don't disclose any information regarding her work."
"I understand completely." Miranda said, "Do they know you're with Cerberus?"
"My mother doesn't. She thinks I'm on some sort of covert Spectre mission." Kacey replied, "And my father doesn't know because he's dead."
"Dead?" Miranda replied shocked, "I'm sorry, Shepard—"
"Don't be. It's an old wound." Kacey said, "Trust me. I've already spent time mourning over his death."
"Is that the truth?" Kaidan asked.
"Yeah, it is." Kacey replied, "Those nightmares I'm having have nothing to do with his death…for the most part."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah," Kacey said, "Like I said, its an old wound. A really old wound."
"Are you sure?" Miranda questioned, "Parental loss can be devastating."
"He died a year before I enlisted." Kacey said, "So, yeah, a very old wound. But I'm fine though, really."
"If you're sure." Miranda replied hesitantly, "So did you enlist because of your parents?"
"Despite of what everyone thinks, I didn't. I enlisted for my own reasons." Kacey replied, "My mother wasn't too pleased about it at first, but she eventually accepted it."
"Maybe your father's death had something to do with it?"
"I always assumed so." Kacey responded, "We haven't spoken to each other properly in years, not including the two years I was dead."
"Hopefully, you can rectify that before we go through the Omega 4 Relay."
"Yeah maybe."
"Thanks for talking with me, Shepard." Miranda said, "And thank you for opening up to me like this. I think I know you a little bit better now."
"Likewise."
…
Kaidan didn't know how to process the influx of new information. Liara knew what had happened to Kacey and kept quiet. It was the part that Kaidan had the hardest time coming to terms with. But he would speak to Liara about it later.
"It felt weird, talking to Miranda like that." Kacey said after several minutes had passed, "I'm not used to opening up like that, you know, talking about my past and all."
"I understand." Kaidan replied, "I was the same. You know that."
"Yeah I do." Kacey smiled, "It took forever for you to chat about yourself Kaidan."
"I didn't want to bother you, that's all." Kaidan said, "But about your father…if its okay with you…can I ask what happened?"
Kacey sighed and patted the space next to her, gesturing for Kaidan to sit next to her. Kaidan moved over and sat closely next to Kacey.
"He died on a mission." Kacey started, "I was just leaving high school and when I came back from school that day…my mother told me he died. Apparently, some covert op went wrong, he…he sacrificed himself to save his squad. He covered them as they bolted back to their shuttle. To them, and to me, he died a hero. He saved his squad, and he saved the civilians they were supposed to."
"So, in the end, they were successful?"
"Yeah," Kacey replied, "The second-in-command of the squad blamed himself for his death, but my mother and I held no such blame for him. We both knew what he had signed up for, what we signed up for."
"You enlisted a year after that, right?" Kaidan asked to which Kacey nodded, "Why?"
"Because I wanted to." Kacey replied, "I wanted to make a difference. To help people. There were plenty of reasons why. Some are just…a bit too personal."
"Hey its okay." Kaidan replied, "You don't have to tell me if you are not ready to."
"Thanks, Kaidan." Kacey replied.
Kaidan put his arm around Kacey, who cuddled up with him. She leaned her head against his chest, their hands clasped tightly together.
"Kaidan?"
"Yes, Kacey?"
"I'm so happy you're here."
"Me too, Kacey. Me too."