Reunited

Author’s notes: This is the 13th chapter of my ongoing series between Commander Megan Shepard, her lover and XO Miranda Lawson, and the crew of the SSV Normandy. Read the previous 12 chapters as there are lots of references to prior events, or else you’ll find yourself lost and wondering how Tali died. Once again, enjoy, REVIEW, favorite and introduce to your friends and fellow authors, and keep sending your reviews and ideas. Special thanks goes out to Riekenen, LePerfectionist and Archon’s Voice for dutifully reviewing and giving me tips on how to improve! You’re awesome bros! And do review, the rest of you. I need to know if you’re reading this and liking it or not. And the new character will introduced in this chapter. Commander Megan Shepard can be seen with Miranda Lawson in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVPIKd0LUQI

“Christ on the cross Megan...pick something already!”Miranda Anne Lawson, who was already dressed in a flowing maroon velvet dress that reached her knees and her makeup already immaculately applied, sighed in frustration at the unusually indecisive Megan, who was still fretting over what to wear to the diplomatic ball that was being held in honor of the crew of the Normandy, and specifically Tali, who’d died just 12 days ago. After the usual politicking and arguments of the new human-led Council, which Megan was openly grateful that they didn’t have any part of, the Council finally decided to make it public that Megan and her crew did indeed destroy the Collectors and prevent the abduction of human colonies by throwing a celebratory ball on the Citadel.

“Okay fine Mom...I’ll wear this.”Megan grumbled as she finally picked out a light pink silk sheath dress and slipped it on, sick of Miranda’s constant nagging as the XO just rolled her cerulean eyes as she fidgeted with her pocketbook. “Finally. We’ve got 10 minutes to get to the Presidium Grand Ballroom.”Miranda reminded Megan, who paused to grab her own pocketbook as they hurried to the elevator. 12 days ago, the crew had gathered around the starboard airlock of the Normandy to give Tali a traditional quarian funeral, which involved blowing the coffin out of the airlock and into space. Tali had once mentioned to Megan and Ashley that if she were to die, she would love to just have her corpse float around in space. As such, they’d granted the quarian her wish.

At the funeral, all of the Normandy’s women were openly crying at the loss of a crewmate and dear friend, Megan, Jack and Ashley included. The biggest shock of the day was when Miranda wept openly as she went up to take a final look at the coffin, mumbling something about God being unfair to take away her close friend. Everyone had known that Miranda and Tali were close gal pals despite a very icy start, but it still surprised everyone that the normally cool, calm XO and ex-Cerberus operative would break down and cry in public.

“Do we really need to go for this ball?”Megan sighed as Miranda thought about an appropriate answer for a couple of seconds before she replied. “We do. It’s in honor of Tali, and we’ve to give a speech.”The brunette sighed as Megan just nodded her head. “Poor Tali...and poor Chloe. Chloe’s just guilt ridden over what she’d done, even though it’s not her fault.”Megan said sadly. Doctor Chloe Michel was the only one besides Grunt and Samara who wouldn’t be attending the ball, electing to stay inside the medbay alone while the rest of the crew was attending the ball instead, and Grunt elected to roam the Citadel instead under Samara’s supervision. They went to pick up Legion from the AI core, passing by and consoling a sobbing Michel, who was lying on one of the beds in the medbay, before they headed out.

They arrived five minutes late for the party, and they had to spend a few minutes assuring the C-Sec officers that Legion wasn’t a threat before they were ushered inside. The rest of the crew was already in attendance, and they were all wearing formal wear. Jacob was decked out in his Alliance dress blues that he kept around somewhere with Kasumi on his arm, and she was dressed in a navy blue gown that didn’t have a hood for once, revealing her silky, jet black hair that was tied back into a bun. Ashley was dressed in a flowing white gown that had streaks of pink, and to everyone’s surprise, Jack was dressed in a yellow cocktail dress. The quartet were chatting and laughing with Councilor Anderson while they held a glass of champagne each.

Erin was dressed in a very short white cocktail dress that revealed her toned thighs, and Joker and the other male members of the crew were dressed in tuxedos and chatting amongst themselves. Garrus was dressed in beige turian formalwear, and Kelly was holding his talons as they walked around the party chit-chatting with people. Jentha was also there in a hoverchair, clad in a red gown that she’d borrowed from Kelly, chatting with a grizzled politician that Megan remembered as Ambassador Hall, and he was a former merc before he traded his guns for votes. For more than an hour, Megan and Miranda chatted with various generals, admirals and politicians before they were able to get some time to themselves.

“Finally. I was starting to think that we’d never get any alone time.”Miranda smiled as the both of them sipped their champagne. “Yeah. If there’s one thing the Council can do right, it definitely has to be getting the best champagne and hors d’ oeuvres. And besides, this is actually our second date.”Megan replied with a smile as she bit into one of the canapés she’d taken from the buffet table, causing Miranda to laugh as she snacked on her own caviar on crackers. They just stood on the balcony overlooking the Presidium, chatting intimately, sipping their champagne and joking before Garrus came over. “Hey Megan, Miranda, time to give your speech. Anderson’s done with his speech.”He informed them before he went off to rejoin Kelly.

“Okay. So you want to go first, or should I go first?”Megan asked. “You go first. You’re the skipper after all.”Miranda replied as she gave Megan’s arm a reassuring squeeze. Megan headed up to the podium as Miranda stood at the forefront with the rest of the crew, ready for Megan’s speech. “Evening ladies and gentlemen. I am Commander Megan Cassandra Shepard, captain of the SSV Normandy. We are gathered here to celebrate the destruction of the Collectors, who have been abducting human colonies. Yes, I was dead for two years after the original SSV Normandy was destroyed in a Collector ambush 2 years ago. Cerberus recovered my body and resurrected me under the command of my girlfriend and ex-Cerberus officer Miranda Anne Lawson, and ex-Cerberus Operative Jacob Taylor.”Megan smiled at Miranda, indicating with her hand to let the crowd know who her girlfriend was.

Megan paused for awhile, sipping some champagne while the gathered reporters took pictures and recordings and turned their focus to Miranda, who was starting to get uncomfortable with all the attention focused on her. “Under Cerberus’ command, we found out that the Collectors are actually Protheans who were enslaved and we destroyed a disabled Reaper.”A shocked murmur spread through the audience, and the reporters were practically going wild with delight. “And my ship’s crew was abducted by the Collectors, and as soon as that happened, my team and I went through the Omega 4 relay and to the Collector base located in the galactic core, and my team destroyed it.”

“My crew is the best in this galaxy, and credit for destroying the Collector base solely goes to them. I simply had the honor of being their commanding officer. Unfortunately, Tali’Zorah, a member of my crew since the first Normandy, fell sick and died from a bioweapon twelve days ago. She was the reason why we could successfully complete the first phase of our mission. And now she is gone. I propose a toast to Tali.”Megan quavered, her voice breaking as she lifted her champagne flute high in the air as the entire congregation lifted their glasses and the Normandy’s crew solemnly responded with a “to Tali”. She then got off-stage to applause and Miranda came up next and delivered her speech.

“Good evening all. As you know, I used to be a high ranking Cerberus officer. However, throughout my time serving alongside my CO and girlfriend, she continually made me re-think my stance on Cerberus. I used to think that Cerberus was always right and both the Alliance and Council were a bunch of moronic, misguided idiots before she came along.”Miranda chuckled, provoking snickers from everyone, Anderson included, except the brass from the Alliance and the Council members, who were fixing her with angry glares. Ignoring those glares, the brunette continued. “Now I still think that the Council and Alliance are bumbling fools, but I’ve realized that Cerberus is in a morally grey area.”

“Some of the experiments they’ve conducted are completely horrible, and it’s unarguable. Miss Jack over there,” Miranda gestured to Jack, who was standing in the front with Ashley’s arm around her waist and Megan on her right, “was experimented on and made to be a powerful biotic in unspeakable ways during her childhood by Cerberus. The Thresher Maw incident on Akuze was a completely evil doing by Cerberus. And I detest every one of those incidents with my entire being, and I feel sadness for every one of the victims of those twisted experiments. To cut a long story short, when Commander Shepard decided to destroy the Collector base against the Illusive Man’s orders, I knew my heart, soul and spirit were attached to her forever, and my loyalty lay with her and the Normandy’s crew, not with Cerberus anymore, and thus I resigned from Cerberus, and we destroyed the Collector base.”Miranda concluded to rapturous applause from the assembled crowd as she smiled while bowing slightly before she got off the stage to rejoin the crew in the front row.

“Wow Miri. Never expected you to give such a great speech.”Megan beamed at her XO and lover as she gave Miranda an affectionate peck on her cheek. “Hey Miranda?”Jack spoke up as Miranda turned to look at the biotic, who was now sporting a jaw-length haircut. “I just wanted to say thanks. I never knew how sorry you actually were about my whole mess.”Jack said in a small voice, tearing up as Ashley hugged her closer. “I was in denial the whole time. I seriously couldn’t believe that anybody could do something that horrible to children.”Miranda replied softly as she stroked Jack’s arm before they were interrupted by the MC announcing that it was time for the dance.

The two couples simply smiled as they took their partner’s hands in their own as a Latin instrumental song began to play from the loudspeakers as most in the ballroom began to dance. Once again, Megan was completely mesmerized by Miranda’s grace and flexibility as they did the salsa. The XO was able to bend her back so far back against the redhead’s supporting arm that Megan thought she’d snap it for sure, but Miranda simply smiled as she popped back up into Megan’s embrace once again. Needless to say, many eyes were on the Commander and XO of the Normandy as they danced and moved with fluid grace in time with the Latin drumbeats.

After dancing for quite a while, the two lovers stopped, completely exhausted. They retrieved their pocketbooks from Jentha, who was sitting on the side with all those who didn’t dance with a dreamy grin. “Damn, you two blow people’s heads off with ease, and then dance so well, and look fabulous all the time.”The ex-merc teased them as Megan and Miranda just laughed. “Well thanks Jenny. You look fabulous too.”Miranda returned the compliment with a smile, hugging the hoverchair-bound brunette as Jentha just smiled back from Miranda using her pet name, hugging the brunette back before Megan leaned in to make it a group hug.

Megan and Miranda then broke away, taking two flutes of champagne from a human waitress as they headed back out to the balcony, where Jacob and Kasumi were kissing and making out. “Get a room, you two. No sex allowed here.”Megan chuckled as she led a giggling Miranda towards some seats and a table facing the lake. “Says you Shep, after you’ve had drunken sex in a club.”Kasumi retorted sassily as Jacob led her away by her hand. “Kasumi and I have got some...business to attend to back on the Normandy. See you Shepard.”The former marine grinned as Miranda gave them some parting advice that made them choke.

“Enjoy yourselves, and Jacob, use your biotics. It’s amazing!”Miranda giggled, teasing the couple who did a spit-take with their drinks while Megan slapped her butt with a stern expression on her beautiful face, but her randy grin gave her away. “Miri, when did you ever turn into a sex therapist?”Megan chuckled. “I don’t know. I just wanted to see them do a spit-take.”Miranda grinned back, sipping on her champagne as Megan’s eyes widened. Damn, I’d never expected Miri to be such a prankster just 7 months ago. We’ve been in a relationship for only 10 months and she’s already changed so much.

Suddenly, Miranda gasped, bringing Megan out of her train of thought. “Isn’t he...”Miranda whispered in surprise as she pointed towards a rather handsome older gentleman in a black tuxedo and blue bowtie approaching them with a shot glass full of scotch on the rocks. Megan saw that the nametag that every guest was required to wear at the ball read Horatio Jason Caine, and she looked at his face and did a double take. “Oh my God...it’s the Illusive Man.”Megan breathed as Horatio/the Illusive Man sat next to them in an adjacent chair. “Enjoying the evening Shepard, Miranda?”He smiled as he puffed on his ubiquitous cigarette.

“You...you...how...”Megan began, but was cut off by Horatio. “Obviously nobody knows who I really am. I’m just old Horatio Jason Caine, highly respectable businessman and CEO of Caine MegaCorp.”He chuckled lightly as he stubbed out the cigarette and bummed one of Miranda’s hors d’oeuvres, popping it into his mouth before Miranda cut in. “Wait, what happened to your eyes?”She asked, noticing that his eyes were steely gray instead of the bionic looking ones she’d always seen him in. “Oh, those creepy bionic ones? Those are just contact lenses, my dear Miranda. The disguise effect is pretty amazing.” He said, and opened his mouth to continue but was interrupted by a loud explosion that rocked the room and blew apart the massive, sturdy asari creekwood doors.

Everyone in the room wheeled around to face the now-obliterated entrance, and saw approximately 120 turians wearing the distinctive insignia of Facinus charge in and fire their weapons wildly into the crowd while shouting “Down with the humans and barefaced colonialists!” “Shit!”Miranda swore as Megan, Horatio and herself dived behind the cover of the solid marble bar counter while the crowd started to panic. The two women pulled out their S5 Phalanx handguns from their pocketbooks and deployed it, while Horatio deployed two X12 Locusts from under his tux, gripping one in each hand. They saw that most of the casualties were humans and turians, but there were a few dead asari, salarians and a couple of volus who’d died from suit breaches.

The C-Sec guards returned fire, but they were outgunned and outmatched by the battle-hardened Facinus terrorists, and worse still, some turian officers turned on their colleagues. “Okay, Miri, on three, you and I’ll break cover and fire until we’re out. Horatio, cover us.”Megan commanded as Miranda just nodded. “Don’t I always cover you two?”Horatio smirked as he blew on a new cigarette that was stuck in his mouth. The women just shook their heads in despair as they broke cover to fire at the incoming rebels, and both Megan and Miranda killed three before they had to duck and reload, and Megan paged her team.

“Garrus! Where are you and the team?”She yelled into her omnitool. “Everyone’s evac-ing the civvies! None of us brought our weapons, so we’re hustling back to the ship to get some!”Garrus’ yelled reply came back as Miranda saw the crew evacuating the civilians, and Jack produced a biotic barrier to shield the civilians while Erin, Legion and Jentha sent out their combat drones to distract the rebels while they fell back with the civilians. The two women then looked over to Horatio, who was just standing there, calmly putting out round after round from his akimbo Locusts and taking down 26 terrorists before he knelt down to reload.

“Like I was saying, the Council and Alliance can’t lead for nuts, but they sure serve up good food.”Horatio puffed on his cig before he popped back out and fired a single shot which hit a Facinus guerilla in the head across the room. Both the Commander’s and the XO’s eyes widened in awe. The Illusive Man was a pretty damn good shot. “Okay, Megan, Miranda, I’ll cover and you two run to that overturned table over there.”Horatio said calmly as he picked up his shot glass and took a sip of his brandy. “Aah...nothing like a glass of 2133 Vintage Jack Daniels to soothe the soul. And the both of you look ravishing in your dresses.”He purred, and both women looked at each other and both of them could see that they were both trying their damndest to not strangle the Illusive Man/Horatio.

“Well, time for you to go.”Horatio calmly commanded, and somehow, both Megan and Miranda felt totally compelled to do so as they charged towards the table as fast as they could with their high stiletto heels, which was actually pretty slow. Both of their biotic barriers took a beating before they reached the table, despite the fact that Horatio was taking out the attackers by the dozens. Horatio then sprinted to their location, and once again, both Megan and Miranda were staring in awe, jaws slack as Horatio leapt over overturned tables parkour style, ran and did a rock star slide on his knees before he crashed into their cover, firing the whole time and taking out rebels without a scratch.

“Bloody hell. That was...”Miranda trailed off, her voice tinged with awe. “Amazing. Fucking amazing.”Megan finished, also in awe of the Illusive Man. “Yes. Just like the Iranian beluga caviar they served here. That is simply delicious.”He replied calmly as Megan said the first thing that came to mind. “Actually, I preferred the pastizzi. The risotto in it made it really delicious.”The redhead blurted out before she could stop herself, and Horatio chuckled as he replied. “Personally, the Welsh rarebit was more to my liking. Branston pickles are surprisingly addictive.”He replied before he stubbed out his cigarette.

“I always had a soft spot for tiropitas, and these have to be the best I’ve eaten so far.”Miranda added as she and Megan popped up to nail three more rebels each with double-taps from their S5s before they ducked down again and reloaded. “Yes, they’re amazing, but my personal favorite has got to be the deviled eggs with Parma ham and cream cheese. Decadent, but irresistible.”Horatio replied as he killed a few more terrorists with short bursts from his dual SMGs. “Are we seriously having a discussion on our favorite hors d’oeuvres right in the middle of a firefight?”Megan asked incredulously as Miranda’s beautiful cerulean eyes widened in shock at the sheer stupidity of it. “Yes. The smorgasbord was also very well prepared. The fish were exceptionally fresh.”The silver-haired man continued as both Megan and Miranda just groaned in dismay. This was never going to end.

“Okay, Megan, hit that trio at 2’o clock with your biotic charge, and Miranda, warp that grenadier there and follow Megan.”Horatio ordered coolly, indicating a turian with a grenade launcher before he charged forward, firing both Locusts at a cluster of rebels taking cover behind a table, keeping them down as the two women just shrugged and did as told. Megan’s elegant form coruscated in a blue glow as she charged into the targets, sending flying as she and Horatio took them out, and Miranda’s own curvy form went aglow with a brilliant blue biotic corona as she killed the turian with the launcher and ran like hell to where Megan was taking cover.

As soon as Miranda slid behind cover next to Megan, the women realized when Horatio had planned. The remaining platoon of C-Sec officers were taking cover on the left, and Horatio was in the middle, and they were behind the main group of rebels. “Wow. He’s really good at his tactics.”Megan whispered as Miranda piped up her assent. “Yep. It’s a pincer movement, and they’ve got nowhere to go because of the bar.”The brunette replied, gesturing towards the counter they were taking cover behind just 10 minutes ago.

As predicted, Horatio rose up and started firing his Locusts, taking out some of the rebels as Miranda killed one with a biotic slam, and Megan killed 4 with a biotic throw field while the C-Sec officers added to the firepower, effectively ending the fight as the remaining 3 surrendered, their talons high up in the air. “Team, fight’s over. Secure the perimeter and check for any Facinus.”Megan commanded her team breathlessly via omnitool. “Got it. Securing perimeter.”Ashley replied as Horatio, Miranda and Megan stood up and dusted themselves off as they headed for the bar. Standing behind the bar was a nervous turian constable who was clutching his X8 Avenger in a death grip while his eyes darted around wildly.

“Officer, could you pour me some 2133 Vintage Jack Daniels on the rocks? And what would you fine ladies like?”The Illusive Man ordered the constable, lighting up once again before he turned to Megan and Miranda. “A glass of 2109 Vintage Grand Cru.”Both women replied in unison as they sat down on the armchairs next to Horatio, just as he’d beckoned them to do as the officer just poured their drinks with shaking hands, and he passed the drinks to the trio who thanked him. “Actually, Constable, a shot of brandy will help you to stabilize you nerves. Very soothing.”Horatio advised the officer, who just shrugged, picked up a bottle of turian brandy and took one long swig right from the bottle.

Both Megan and Miranda nodded in approval at the officer while Horatio crinkled his face into an expression of distaste. “That’s yours now.”He muttered as he sipped on his whiskey, and the officer turned to look at him blankly before shrugging and saying “Yeah, probably a good idea.” in reply as he walked off to report to the senior officer. “So, now that we’ve gotten over the debate about the hors d’ oeuvres, it’s time to get down to business. Why’d you destroy the Collector base? Weren’t you afraid that you’d destroy our only chance to beat the Reapers?”Horatio asked as clouds of smoke curled around him.

“I was, but no matter what we found in there would never justify the tens of thousands of people liquefied in that base. And besides, if the Council got its head out of its stinking ass, we’d actually have quite a good chance.”Megan replied before Miranda cut in while sipping her champagne. “Okay, 2 questions. Why do you piss in your bed every night, and I expected you to send assassins of some kind to kill us and reclaim your ship in retaliation for blowing up that abomination. But here we are 10 months later without a single attempt on our lives. Why?”Miranda asked, puzzled at Horatio’s apparent lack of action against them. “Firstly, I had an assassination attempt on my life 45 years ago, and the assassin died but managed to shoot me in my inner thigh and permanently damage my bladder control nerve.”Horatio began as he puffed on his cig.

“And I know for a fact that you and your crew are the only chance we stand against the Reapers, and despite the fact that I am actually very tempted to just rape and kill you both right here, right now. But, unlike what many think, I am not a man who lets revenge cloud my judgment. So that’s why I didn’t send any assassins to kill you and your crew.”Horatio concluded with a chuckle. “You really think it’s that easy to rape me?”Megan sneered at Horatio, who just smiled and got up from his recliner and strode over to Megan and stood before her for a few seconds before he threw her back into her chair and began to rip off her dress. “What...get off me you old pervert!”Megan shrieked as she struggled futilely to get Horatio off her, but he was too powerful.

However, he just stood up and chuckled to himself. “Proved my point yet?”He smirked at Megan, who was straightening her dress and glaring at him, and Miranda was glaring at him with her S5 drawn. “Miranda, Miranda. When did you become so violent?”He smiled as he sat down again. “None of your bloody business. We’re leaving.”The brunette shot back as she helped Megan up from her chair, and both women were still glaring at the Illusive Man as they walked by in front of him. “Not so fast.”He guffawed as his foot swept out, tripping Megan and she fell onto him face-first as she gasped in shock. He then pressed a kiss against Megan’s lips as his right hand gently squeezed her left breast, and his left hand squeezed her right butt cheek.

The Commander’s eyes widened in horror and outrage as she quickly picked herself up under Miranda’s shocked stare, blushing as she slapped him hard across his left cheek with her right hand. “You perverted fuck.”She hissed at him as he just laughed loudly. “Ah, I’d say that my 4 billion credit investment was completely worth it. Your breasts and buttocks are divine.” As soon as the two women turned on their heels, Horatio tripped Miranda and spun the brunette beauty around, eliciting a shocked gasp from her as she landed right onto him.

He then kissed her full on the lips as well while his left hand squeezed her right breast, and his right smacked and squeezed her left butt cheek. Miranda picked herself up, her face coloring with embarrassment and outrage as she slapped the Illusive Man hard on his right cheek with her left hand. “You bloody wanker.”She swore at Horatio as he replied. “Your breasts and buttocks are just as heavenly as they were 15 years ago, Miranda. Looks like you really are made for perfection.”The man chuckled as Megan slapped his left cheek once again. “That was for raping my Miri when she asked you to protect Oriana, and for outraging her modesty right now.”The redhead spat as Miranda slapped him on his right cheek again.

“That was for trying to rape my Megan just now, and for feeling her up.”Miranda scowled as both women slapped him really hard on both cheeks simultaneously, causing him to wince, but he still had the triumphant smirk on his face. “And that double-team is for being such a glorious bastard and making us undecided whether or not we should strangle you for being an asshole or kiss you for being so suave.”Megan finished as Legion, Udina and Anderson rushed up to their side. “Shepard, why’d you slap Mr Caine?”Anderson asked. “Ask the Illusive Man himself.”Miranda retorted as both Anderson’s and Udina’s jaws hit the floor while Horatio just facepalmed. “Shepard, first you join Cerberus, and then you recruit the geth you call Legion, and now you don’t apprehend the Illusive Man! This is ridiculous!”Udina yelled in shock as Megan spun on her heels to face the politician.

“Shut the fuck up you idiot!”She hissed as she kicked Udina as hard as she could, which was really hard, in his gonads. The politician just made a high-pitched ‘ooohh’ sound as he clutched his crotch and slumped to the ground, unconscious, making Miranda giggle and Anderson and Horatio chuckle. “We have reached a consensus. The kick has resulted in a historically memorable victory for Shepard-Commander.”Legion intoned as Megan, Miranda, Horatio and Anderson laughed loudly, causing the C-Sec to look at them quizzically. “Legion, I believe that it would be better summarized by the term ‘epic pwnage’.”Horatio guffawed as he sipped on his whiskey, causing the rest to laugh even louder. “And Councilor Anderson, this meeting never happened, and information on the Reapers and everything else will stream in through unofficial channels.”Horatio concluded as Anderson just nodded.

“Sure thing Mr Caine. Meet me in my office tomorrow and we can work something out.”Anderson said as he left. “Now, we’re really leaving.”Megan snarked as she held Miranda’s hand as they walked back to the ship. “By the way, I didn’t rape Miranda. It was consensual.”Horatio called out to them. “Oh really? You saw that I desperately needed to use you to protect Oriana, and you said that you’d only protect her if I had sex with you. I didn’t have a choice, and that qualifies as rape.”Miranda hissed back as the duo left the ballroom. Ah, my biggest vice has to be my weakness for beautiful, feisty women like these two. Horatio chuckled as he sipped on his glass of Jack Daniels.

Megan and Miranda headed back to their ship hand in hand, passing by their team who were now fully armored and debriefing the C-Sec officers. As they neared their ship’s airlock, a distinctly British sounding male called out to Miranda. “Ah Miranda Anne Lawson, still looking gorgeous after all these years eh?”The sandy haired, well built and tall stranger snickered as he stepped out of the shadows with a duffle bag in hand, and Miranda appeared to be lost for words. “Hansen? Thomas David Hansen?”She asked uncertainly as Megan turned to Miranda. “You know this guy?”The redhead asked as Thomas just chuckled once more in the clipped tones of a Harrow graduate. “That’s right love, the one and only Captain Thomas David Hansen.”

“He was the sniper who got away during Protector, remember?”Miranda replied to Megan as the Commander recalled the sniper who’d quit a few months after the mission due to PTSD over his guilt about not being able to rescue Miranda. “That’s me, beauties.”He said with a nonchalant smile. “Captain? I thought Cerberus doesn’t have ranks?”Megan asked, curious that Thomas had a rank attached. “That’s because I was an Alliance N7 marine just like you before I joined Cerberus. Being left to rot without evac or support while under fire by the bloody Alliance due to some diplomatic bullshit really changes your perspective on things.”He said in a low, dangerous tone, his easy smile changing to a deadly scowl in a split second.

“So why are you here Tom?”Miranda asked curiously, and his easy smile came back once again. “Simple. I heard you lost one of your crewmembers, and I’m here to atone for my past.”He said jauntily as Miranda just sighed. “Look Tom, it wasn’t your fault tha-” “Listen, Miranda, it was my fault that I couldn’t save you and the team. It was my fault that you got captured by those bloody batarians. It was my fault that you were raped. It was my entire fault.”Thomas interrupted, his deadly scowl coming back once again. “So you want to join our team?”Megan changed the subject, hoping to lighten the mood as Thomas appeared to be quite unstable, and he just nodded expressionlessly.

“Okay, so what skills do you have?”Megan asked as she led both Thomas and Miranda to the airlock, and waited for it to open. “I’m a professional sniper, and I’m a biotic and tech.”He said, the easy smile coming back once more. “And he’s not just any sniper, he’s the best. And he’s an Adept, and his biotics are even stronger than mine, which is saying a lot.”Miranda cut in as Thomas just turned to her and smiled. “Team, you done over there?”Megan paged her team via omnitool, and she received replies in the affirmative. “Good. Then get back to the Normandy, we’ve got a new teammate.”She then closed her omnitool and turned to Thomas, and asked “Ready to meet the team?” “Sure. Ready for the Reapers, actually. Everyone at Cerberus knows about the Reapers and believes you on it.”Thomas grinned as he began to whistle a tune.

Just as the airlock opened, a lone Facinus rebel appeared behind a cargo box, and he wielded a grenade launcher. “How about some rockets, you human scum!”He yelled as Thomas’ expression turned from jaunty to deadly as he spun around faster than either Megan or Miranda, who were drawing their S5s. “How ‘bout a nice, big can of shut the fuck up and go to hell!”The sandy haired sniper roared as he hit the rebel with a singularity, rendering him helpless as Megan and Miranda leveled their pistols and emptied their thermal clips into him, killing him. “Like I said, shut the fuck up.”Thomas said evenly as he hit the still-floating corpse with a warp bolt, causing a large biotic explosion as the corpse was ripped to shreds, before the airlock finally opened.

An hour later, Erin, the best sniper on the team, was soundly defeated by Thomas on the shooting range. They’d met back on the Normandy, and Thomas had introduced himself, and he got along with everyone very well, especially Garrus and Grunt, whom he’d taught the art of the fistbump. “There is no way you can snipe that fast and get perfect headshots on each kill!”Erin whined in slack jawed awe as she lowered her Viper sniper rifle, while Hansen stowed away the Viper he’d been provided for the competition as he whistled yet another jaunty tune. “It’s saying a lot when even an AI says that you can’t do something that you do.”Garrus said in awe as Thomas’ jaw dropped. “Wait, what? Erin’s a what?”He asked incredulously as Megan just sighed and filled him in on how EDI became Erin.

“Seriously...what the fuck.”He said in disbelief as he shook his head at Mordin, who just smiled his creepy salarian smile as Jack, Samara and Miranda walked up to him. “Ready to take us bitches on with biotics only, tough guy?”Jack leered as Thomas just gave another easy smile. “Anytime love. Let’s go.”He said as the three of them and the entire crew headed to the sparring ring. Earlier on, as Miranda had said that Thomas was the most powerful biotic who was matched only by Megan, Jack had snorted and challenged Thomas to take her, Samara and Miranda on in a biotic fight. He’d agreed, and now they started. Miranda hurled a biotic throw at him immediately after Jack flung a biotic pull and him, but he deflected with his barriers and hit Jack with a slam as Samara tried to hit him with a singularity but he dodged and countered with a warp.

Jack’s barriers dissipated as she hit the ground stunned and out of the fight, and Miranda tried again to hit Thomas with a biotic slam, and she succeeded, but as he went down with a grunt, he hit her biotic barriers with a very strong warp which blew up her barrier, causing her to stumble into Samara, and both floated helplessly as they got trapped in a singularity Thomas had produced. “So...I win?”He asked with a light chuckle as he dissipated the singularity field, both Miranda and Samara gently slumped to the floor. “By the Goddess Thomas, your biotics are on par with that of an asari matriarch.”Samara gasped as Jack stood up with a groan. “Goddammit, your biotics are fucking amazing. And you didn’t need any sick experiments.”

“Yeah, the Teltin thing. I heard, and I honestly think the Illusive Man was stupid to put a bloody paranoid schizophrenic in charge of it.”He scoffed as Jack’s jaw dropped. “Wait, you mean the project director was nuts?”She asked in shock as Thomas just nodded sadly. “Fuck, no wonder the princess here keeps saying they went rogue. Must’ve been true...”She mumbled, indicating Miranda as Ashley just hugged her close. “Yeah, that’s what I said too. Anyways, time to take me on Thomas.”Megan said sweetly as she stepped into the ring with Thomas. “I usually don’t hit women, but since you’re Commander Megan Shepard, I guess I’ll make an exception.”He chuckled as both of them lit up with their biotic coronas. The fight was brutal. It lasted an hour, and neither Megan nor Thomas was able to get a clear advantage throughout the fight, and they finally called it a draw after an hour.

Thus, Miranda was now massaging Megan on their bed in their quarters upon the XO’s insistence, despite the redhead’s reluctance as she knew Miranda was just as tired, and both women were naked. “Damn, he’s good. Better than an asari commando, that’s for sure. Ah right there Miri...ahh.”Megan sighed in relief as Miranda massaged a particularly sore spot at the small of her back. “Yeah.”Miranda sighed absentmindedly, and Megan turned her head to face Miranda. “What’s wrong Miri?”She asked, as Miranda just shook her head. “He’s still guilty about not being able to rescue me after all these years. I can’t live with the fact that I made someone guilt-ridden for his entire life!”Miranda yelled with guilty tears in her eyes as she stopped her massage and looked at Megan, who turned to lie on her back before she sat up.

“Miri, it wasn’t your fault that he couldn’t rescue you. It was nobody’s fault. He just doesn’t know that he doesn’t need to feel guilty anymore.”The redhead said softly as she pulled the brunette in for a tight, loving embrace and Miranda sobbed for a little while onto her shoulders. “But I still...”Miranda began before she was cut off by her girlfriend. “Miri, you shouldn’t bear any guilt, because it wasn’t your fault. Please, just be the sweet, joyful Miri I know from my childhood tonight.”Megan pleaded before she leant in to kiss Miranda on her lips. Both women moaned softly into the kiss, and what started out as a chaste kiss was quickly becoming a lot more heated as they rolled around on the bed fighting for dominance.

Soon, they were groping each other’s breasts, and Megan made the first move by breaking off the kiss and lowering her aim to Miranda’s breasts, and she claimed Miranda’s stiff right nipple in her mouth while she pinched and rolled the erect left nipple between her fingers gently, making the curvy brunette gasp and sigh in delight. She then turned her oral ministrations to the other nipple while she played with the other one after a while, and Miranda let her continue for a few more minutes before she pulled away, and opened the wardrobe to grab the chick dick while Megan sat on the edge of the bed, watching her Miri intently.

“Getting ready, I see.”Megan purred as Miranda just kneeled on the floor in front of her, and planted a series of moist kisses on her neck while she strapped on the dildo to her redheaded lover and activated it before she pulled away. “Spread your legs please Cassie.”She asked in a soft tone and Megan just complied. Miranda then grasped the phallus with her right hand while she swirled her tongue around the tip, causing Megan to moan and whimper in delight. The brunette continued to tease the tip for a while longer before she sucked the entire length into her mouth and she bobbed her head up and down. “Oh yeah...Miri...”Megan moaned, her eyes shut tight as she savored Miranda’s blowjob for a few minutes before she pushed Miranda’s head further down, making the brunette deepthroat the dildo.

They continued like that for a few minutes before Megan reached her peak. “Oh-oh-oh fuck I’M CUMMING! MIRI!”The redhead screamed as her juices flooded Miranda’s mouth and throat, and Miranda drank as much as she could while the rest spilled out of her mouth, running down her chin and onto her body when Megan pulled away, gasping and moaning in her post-coital daze. Miranda then got onto the bed, lying on her back as she pulled Megan close and kissed the taller woman on her cheek. When Megan recovered, she kissed Miranda on the lips, savoring the taste of her own orgasm on her precious lover’s lips before she slid down the bed and gently parted Miranda’s legs with her hands, and put her head in between the brunette’s firm, toned thighs.

Megan had decided long ago that Miranda’s pussy was the most beautiful thing in the entire galaxy, and once again, she admired her lover’s pink, flawless and perfectly shaped sex that looked purer than a virgin’s, before she dove in with her mouth, parting Miranda’s cameltoe with her fingers. “Oh God...”Miranda whimpered in delight when she felt Megan suck one of her wet, pink petals into her mouth and begin to suck on it gently. Her juices started to flow, wetting her snatch before Megan took in the other fold as well, making Miranda cry out in delight. After a while, Megan decided to take it one step further and she gently let Miranda’s wet petals out from her mouth, and Miranda growled in frustration as she reached to try and pull Megan in. She was so close.

Megan just pushed her hand away and gave Miranda’s vagina one hard, long lick. “Oh fuck! Yes Cassie yes! Please!”Miranda babbled out, quaking with her impending orgasm as she lifted her head from the pillow and looked down at Megan. Megan just stared lovingly into the cerulean eyes of her lover, smiling before she started to lick Miranda’s soaked pussy in a series of long, sensuous strokes of her skilled tongue. “Uuh Megan yes-yes-yes-yes-yes!”The brunette cried out, almost peaking when Megan went a little higher and teased Miranda’s clit, now bright red and swollen from her arousal with her tongue.

Miranda was squealing incoherently now, begging Megan to give her release. Megan continued licking Miranda’s clit for a little while more before she pressed forward and gently nipped the engorged bud with her teeth. “AAAAAHH FUUUCK CASSIE! OH MY GOD!”Miranda shrilled as her body exploded in a triumphant orgasm, gushing her essence into Megan’s waiting mouth in several powerful spurts. The raven-haired woman’s back arched off the bed, her buxom chest proudly sticking into the air as Megan licked her clit, helping her to ride out her overload of pleasure. Miranda finally slumped down onto the bed after a minute in a sweaty, quivering and moaning heap.

Megan gently trailed kisses up Miranda’s curvy, taut body while the brunette recovered from her orgasm. When she did, she grabbed Megan’s face and pulled the redhead in for a lustful, tongue filled kiss which lasted for awhile before she broke off and looked deep into the large, beautiful honey green eyes of her lover. “Megan baby, make me yours again tonight.”She whispered, and Megan just smiled and nodded. They kissed passionately once again as Megan lifted Miranda up, and the curvy woman wrapped her long, elegant legs around Megan’s waist and straddled her as they stood up, still kissing.

The redhead parted Miranda’s cameltoe with the tip of her dildo before she pushed into her lover’s wet, warm and maddeningly tight pussy, and both women let out long, sensuous moans as Megan moved over to the closet, pinning Miranda against the doors before the Commander thrust into Miranda. “Oh God yes...”Megan moaned as Miranda closed her eyes, moaning as she savored the rough pounding. Moans and cries of delight from both women filled the air as Megan kept pounding Miranda’s womanhood hard with her chick dick for a few minutes before they peaked together.

“Mmh Cassie I-I-I’M...AAAAAAHH! OH GOD!”Miranda shrieked as she came, squirting all her juices around Megan’s dildo, wetting the redhead’s groin and thighs as the excess flowed out of her pussy which was stuffed by the large toy and onto the floor. Her sex clamped down hard on Megan’s dildo, sending the Commander over the brink as well. “Miri...Miri...I-OOOHH FUCK INCOMING! MIRI!”Megan screamed as she unloaded her own feminine fluids into Miranda’s soaked womanhood. Miranda mewled loudly in pleasure as she felt her Megan squirt her juices deep into her womanhood and mix with her own cum.

Megan teetered unsteadily before she landed on the bed, Miranda sitting atop her, still straddling her as she removed her phallus from Miranda’s womanhood. Miranda leaned in to kiss Megan passionately once again before she pulled away with a randy grin. “Oh we’re not quite done yet, Commander.”She purred right into her girlfriend’s ear, her hot, sweet smelling breath driving Megan mad with lust as she pushed Miranda up to look her in the eyes, and Miranda just gave her yet another salacious wink as she grabbed the chick dick and inserted it into her extremely tight anus, sitting down on Megan’s thighs as she grinded against Megan.

“Oh yeah...”Both of them moaned as Megan began to push deeper into Miranda’s less-explored orifice while they looked into each other’s eyes lovingly. Soon, Megan was thrusting as fast and hard as she could into Miranda’s ass, and both women screamed and cried out the other’s name and pledges of love for each other. “Uuh make me cum honey!”Miranda begged. “I will-yes-yes-yes!”Megan cried out as she approached her climax. “GAAAAAAHH I’M...OH FUCK ME IT’S SO GOOD! CASSIE!”Miranda screamed as she came, releasing her vaginal fluids all over Megan’s lower abdomen and wetting the sheets.

“MIRI! BABY! MMMMMHH!”Megan shrilled as she came, unable to find the strength to pull out before she ejaculated into Miranda’s anus, filling it to the brim and over as Miranda’s radiant azure blue eyes widened as she felt her Megan fill her up so much she feared she might burst. Megan finally stopped gushing and weakly pulled out of Miranda, and Miranda dismounted Megan and lay back on the bed, resting her head on her pillow as she pulled Megan up, and the exhausted redhead let her head slump onto her pillow as the two women just stared into each other’s eyes, laughing breathlessly while Megan pressed the blue button on the belt of the strap-on, sighing as she felt the 3 wires retract and withdraw from her sopping wet womanhood before she tossed it onto her nightstand.

Megan then spooned up behind Miranda, grasping and gently squeezing the brunette’s large, firm breasts, loving the way they were still soft enough to ooze out slightly from between her fingers when she squeezed them. “So...how’s my little Miri?”She whispered throatily into Miranda’s ear while she bit on her earlobe, making the curvy XO shiver and mewl with delight. “A lot less guilty and a lot more satisfied.”Miranda purred breathily as she turned around and leaned back to kiss her redhead before they drifted off to sleep together after they pulled the sodden blanket up to cover their nude, curvaceous bodies.

Final notes: Heh. I had quite a bit of fun when I wrote TIM to be a Glorious Basterd, and the outrage of modesty part was especially fun to write. And yeah, the obvious CSI: Miami reference is fully intended, mainly due to the fact that both Horatio Caine and TIM are awesome, yet they can be a pain in the ass at times and you’re not sure whether to shoot them or praise their awesomeness. And my bad about the late update and slightly crappy ending (IMO), trying to sell a $13k HD 3D TV on your part time job and a writer’s block can really fuck it all up for you. So anyways, REVIEW, fav and sub. Releasing control of this form. ;P