❝ i’m certainly not opposed to our mission . no one else seems to be doing anything to stop these strange attacks the collectors are walking around freely and taking colonists , and not even the alliance will act . ❞ garrus keeps his tone as even and as calm as he can , avoiding any subvocal sounds that might startle her . ❝ that doesn’t mean i’m aligned with cerberus . i trust shepard . i trust her judgement i’m here for her . if she says cerberus is the only one taking this seriously , i believe her . ❞ a minute scoff at her question . ❝ couldn’t stand all the bureaucratic crap . i outgrew c-sec and all the restrictions that came with it . seems shepard’s ability to take things into her own hands rubbed off on me . ❞
miranda admits to failing in her initial search , and garrus can’t help but stand up a little taller . ❝ the only one miranda couldn’t find , ❞ he marvels outloud , breaking this even-toned appearance to chuckle and duck his head momentarily . ❝ i think that might be the greatest compliment anyone’s ever given me . i’ll be holding onto that for quite a while . ❞ he realizes he’s trying to joke and play around a little with miranda of all people and it startles him quite a bit . ❝ i’ll pretend you just said archangel was THE first consideration for the team , and that’ll just about round out my day . ❞ another chuckle . ❝ be careful . if you bring on any more turians to do cerberus’s work , we might think you like us . ❞
❝ HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF COLONISTS GONE , one would think the alliance might step in . as it turns out , they’re more concerned about appearances than human lives .
❞
a sneer cuts at the corner of her mouth , laden with a healthy disrespect for humanity’s representatives . they would rather bend over backwards for the council than truly investigate the extent of innocent human lives lost to the collectors . his distrust is evident , and expected . the ranks of cerberus are padded with those who join out of simple xenophobia , rather than a genuine desire to see humanity succeed . nodding slowly , miranda folds her hands atop her stomach , leaning backward into the wall .
❝
yes , i do understand , and i appreciate your cooperation with us nonetheless . there aren’t enough people who sign up with cerberus for the right reasons , and some who take the … flexibility cerberus offers too far . i hope that your time here will show you that our true aim is simply the protection and advancement of humanity . it isn’t really any different than , say , the salarian STG units – or even the spectres .
❞
she won’t downplay or revoke her loyalties for the sake of good conversation : but , offering a different side of cerberus to for him to see , that she can do .
❝
so it seems . but it works in your favor .
❞
his distaste for c - sec and all of its many , many strings is near tangible . her knowledge of garrus vakarian before their hasty , blood - bathed introduction at archangel’s base on omega was CLINICAL , absent details on his personality , his life , but the information seems consistent with the man before her now , puzzle pieces slowly snapping into place with each word out of his mouth . his father was a c - sec officer , but given his frustration with it , was it forced upon him ? must have been good at his job , or else why wouldn’t he have been replaced with someone more amenable , compliant with the rules ? but his superiors likely didn’t appreciate that fast to act attitude . he’s interesting , and she finds herself far more curious about him than she intended . his pride at her minor failure shocks a laugh out of her , short and fast . her shortcomings are rarely treated with such … levity . ❝
well , i’m glad you’re happy about it . it was quite frustrating at the time . but — i suppose it all worked out in the end . though i’m afraid you were behind myself , obviously , and dr . solus . but we did come to get you first , didn’t we ? ❞
she’s surprised by the ease of their banter . miranda is hardly someone who cloys for the approval and trust of others – she doesn’t need it to do her job correctly , which is what comes first . still , it’s pleasant , and the carefully held tension in her shoulders slowly relaxes . teasing , her tone takes on a lighter , easier lilt .
❝
like i said , i – and cerberus – have nothing against turians . and if i remember correctly , you’re the one who chose to stay , no questions asked . you might like it here more than you anticipated .
❞
