(no subject)

[paragonsoldier]

Shepard doesn't manage to shake off Miranda before the debriefing in the communications room. But she's figured out by now that she can use Miranda to her advantage as far as Jack is concerned: Shepard can let Miranda rile Jack up, reel the Cerberus handler in, and maybe get on Jack's good side, as long as she doesn't overplay her hand.

Yeah, it's manipulative, but she needs every advantage she can get.

That's why she's leaning against the railing in the communications room while Miranda addresses Jack. "Welcome to the Normandy, Jack. I'm Miranda, Shepard's second-in-command. On this ship, we follow orders."

Heh. Like that's gonna go over well.

Comments

[noscaredkid.livejournal.com]

Jack, leaning against the cool metallic walls of the communications room, is wondering if she should laugh or just hit this stupid woman in the mouth and get it over with. Instead she manages to rise above both these urges, turning her attention away from the uptight bitch and over to Shepard.

"Tell the Cerberus cheerleader to back off, Shepard. I'm here because of our deal."

[paragonsoldier.livejournal.com]

"Miranda will let you into the system," Shepard says. And yes, she will, whether she likes it or not. "Let me know what you find."

She's considering the possibility of catching Jack alone after this conversation, and asking her to let Shepard know if she turns up anything about the BAaT program on Jump Zero. She has a...well, maybe it's not a theory so much as a hunch.

[noscaredkid.livejournal.com]

That makes Jack smile. Digging up dirt on Cerberus is just about her favorite thing to do, not including drinking and fighting, and digging up dirt from their own archives is even better.

"Hear that, precious? We're going to friends." Jack steps forward off the wall, smiling sarcastically. "You, me, and every embarrassing little secret." She turns her gaze over to Shepard, letting the smile slip into something more comfortable. "I'll be reading down in the hold or somewhere near the bottom. I don't like a lot of through traffic."

Jack turns and begins to leave, and as the door slides open she tosses back one last warning. "Keep your people off me. Better that way."

And then Jack is gone, her mind racing with the possibility of the secrets she may yet find.

[paragonsoldier.livejournal.com]

Miranda gives Shepard a look that plainly says this is a very bad idea before following Jack out the door - at a safe distance, of course.

Once she's alone, Shepard sighs and rubs the bridge of her nose. It's been a long day, and tomorrow's not likely to be much better. Hopefully Miranda and Jack can manage not to kill each other or any innocent bystanders while Shepard gets a few hours of sleep.