KIRA SHEPARD.          ^{choseparagon‌}

the  original.  the  idea  is  a  startling  one  for  her,  to  be  wanted.  she  doesn’t  doubt  that  cerberus,  and  in  turn  miranda,  has  read  every  line  within  her  file.  do  they  know  that  no  one  had  wanted  her  for  years  on  earth?  that  it  was  only  when  the  alliance  put  a  gun  in  her  hands  and  slapped  private  before  her  name  that  she  became  something  of  value ?  shepard  wonders  when  the  switch  happened, when  the  original  became  something  of worth. 

she  blinks  as  miranda  lifts  her  omni-tool,  visibly  surprised  at  the  swiftness  of  the  action. “i’ll  admit,”  she  glances  down  to  her  own  tool,  confirms  the  data  transmission. “i may  not  miss  working  with  diplomats  all  that  much.  the  wheels  of  bureacracy  grind slowly  and,”  one  quick  flick  of  her  finger  and  the  download  is  completed,  “half  the  time you  don’t  even  get  what  they  promised.”  how  many  times  had  she  begged  the  alliance for  additional  resources,  how  many  times  had  the  council  claimed  to  offer  more  troops  or  support  and  been  silent  when  she’d  needed  it  most?  cerberus  is  alluring,  shepard thinks,  and  that  in  itself  should  serve  as  a  warning. 

gaze  flicks  upwards  once  more  as  miranda  shifts  into  her  chair  across  from  her,  the picture  of  ease.  “thanks  for  the  head’s  up.”  she  rests  her  arm  by  her  side  once  more, omni-tool  shut  off  for  the  time  being.  “were  you  in  one  of  the  programs  they  started, then?  for kids?  one  of  my  old  crew  had  the  l2  implants,  told  me  about  what  it  was  like for him.” 

MIRANDA ISN’T A STRANGER     ^{to manipulation ,    of herself and of others     —     it’s an inevitability in this line of work ,    plying with promises and threats :    a handgun as fast as a smile ,    both operated by a woman not quite perfect ,     but as close as god would allow .    and she knows it ,    too ,    the breadth of her capabilities .    she’s been handcrafted for success ,   sharp and slender as a knife to the gut .     false modesty has never been a virtue in her eyes    –    it slows things down ,    denying one’s strengths in an attempt to look properly ,     acceptably humble .   there’s only the goal ,    and what it will take to reach it .   miranda is under no illusions about the commander’s capabilities ,    either    –    kira’s results ,    her potential ,   it’s all data ,   all hard fact .     and miranda ,    she’s uncovered everything there is to know ,    at least on paper .   kira’s loyalty to cerberus isn’t necessary for the success of this mission ,     but it wouldn’t be such a terrible thing to have .}

^{miranda tilts her head to the side ,    evaluating and carefully deciding her next action ,     her next words .    no ,    there’s no denying that she’d make an excellent cerberus agent .    but first ,    she’d have to be won over .    no promises can be made ,    no words exchanged ,   that will turn kira from her rooted beliefs of cerberus .    she’d have to be fed on proof of cerberus’ aims and values     —     she’s got enough faith in the illusive man for the both of them ,    but the whole operation will run smoother if shepard isn’t questioning his every word and action .    miranda smiles ,    this small victory sharpening the curve of it ,    a wry chuckle springing forth .          ❝              no doubt you understand that better than anyone .    i can only imagine how frustrating it is ,    getting bogged down by bureaucracy while the real problems get worse and worse .          ❞         the choice of words is intentional :     she can only imagine ,    but not with cerberus .}     

^{she props her arm atop the side of her chair ,    leaning her chin onto her fist .    a display of openness ,    the lines of her form casual and stolid .        ❝         no ,   actually .    i’ve never spent any time in any official programs ,     alliance or otherwise .    i received private tutoring as a child ,    and that included training with my biotics .     after i joined cerberus ,    i did receive more training ,    but by that time i already quite capable .          ❞         she received nothing but the best ,    always ,    and there’s no point in hiding that ,    either .     even if it cuts at a part of her ,    low and tucked away .          ❝          you’re talking about alenko ,    right ?     were you two close ?            ❞          she poses the question tentatively ,    in the shape of harmless curiosity .}

KIRA SHEPARD .       ^{choseparagon‌}

“if i was exactly the same as before the project,” shepard states simply, almost icily, “i’d still be dead. if you all were expecting a thank you for that, by the way, i hope you’ll understand that i’m still a bit hesitant.” everything about miranda, the polite curve of her lips and careful words, makes her think about the diplomats back on the citadel, save for one key difference. the politicians seemed to her to always be eager to grasp at power, gild themselves in any illusion of it they could muster, but miranda? one look at her and kira knows her power isn’t an illusion. miranda lawson is powerful and dangerous and beneath that courteous power lies no small amount of ruthlessness. if the situation were different, shepard might have even been impressed by it. 

glancing towards the chair, shepard settles into a moment later, scarred visage impassive. “i would like to see the files. no offense, but the last thing i want is any surprises in the middle of a firefight, something i didn’t have before clicking on.” 

the thought of it sends a sharp shiver down her spine that she immediately suppresses, one lean leg folding over the other. “what about you? any fancy new upgrades courtesy of cerberus?” 

KIRA’S HOSTILITY IS HARDLY UNEXPECTED .     ^{it’d be quite a shock if she were completely accepting of all that happened ,    of cerberus and the ways it had crawled into every crevice of her life .    if their roles were reversed ,    miranda would revolt from such an invasion      —     as she already had once before .    leaning forward on the desk ,    palms upward ,    face softened ,    she begets an air of careful ease ,    unstirred by the edge in the commander’s tone .     she is nothing if not impeccable in her work ,    and ensuring kira’s cooperation is paramount .          ❝             yes ,    you would still be dead if not for cerberus .    but we didn’t want some facsimile of you ,    shepard .    we wanted the original .           ❞}

^{not waiting for a response ,     she raises her omni - tool ,    smearing soft light across her visage .    fingers dance quickly over the holographic buttons ,    instinctively finding the lazarus project’s data ,    harbored and secured .    miranda sends them unceremoniously ,    nodding to kira .          ❝         there .    that’s all the data ,   reports ,    and files i have on the lazarus project .    my own private notes included .    some of the older files contain photos ,    and they’re quite graphic    –    just in case you want to avoid them .          ❞           a warning ,    nothing more .}    

^{truthfully ,    miranda can’t tell if the commander is trying to bait her ,    drawing her in with a question like that .    hoping for a strong reaction :    anger ,    disgust ,    shame ?    or ,    perhaps a sympathetic ear ?    no ,    likely not that .    it could simply be curiosity .    she mimics kira ,    pressing the length of her spine into the chair ,     crossing her leg over the other .    mimicry of body language is frequently unrealized ,    unintentional .    she does it on purpose .        ❝         that’s a fair question .     but no ,    i haven’t received any upgrades from cerberus .    my genetics have been heavily altered and modified ,   but that was before i joined .          ❞}