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The Ballad of the Pirate of Terminus	By : Nicker Category: +M through R > Mass Effect Views: 26022 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Mass Effect, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 5
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The last few weeks have kept Ashley blissfully busy. Sometimes she thought the only reason she set things in motion was that she wouldn’t have time to think or worry about Miranda’s fate. She ran errands for Udina to keep her cover. Shepard made it obvious that they were watching her.
In between being a pretty face for military diplomacy to make Udina look good, she met with Kai Leng at random times in random places. He was mapping out Shepard’s operation, tracing his steps, pointing out where he pulled one of his tricks, where are possible weaknesses. Ashley provided her input based on the data they gathered, and they made a list of the possible targets. Now they needed to find some muscle to help with their plan. Ashley wished she could go on the hits, but she needed to keep her cover. It also didn’t help that their budget was limited to travel and accommodations.
After a few meetings Ashley and Garrus reached an understanding. Since Elysium, the turian was her shadow. They communicated in half-sentences, sometimes it was enough to look at the other and they knew what to do. Those long weeks holding out to the batarians bonded them as close as soldiers can get on the field. They held the other’s life in their hands countless times.
After losing Miranda, it was even harder for her to send him away.

“I need you to go, brother”, she told him one day, and Garrus nodded. He knew what she meant ever since they decided how they wanted to handle Shepard. “I need you to be in place and be ready to move when I give you the signal.”

“I will be there, little sister”, he rested a hand on her shoulder. Ashley did the same. She looked into the turian’s dark eyes. And then he got on the next ship to Omega to dig in and keep an eye out until they knew where will they hit Shepard. She never felt lonelier in her entire life.
She was walking back to her apartment after a tiresome day chaperoning Udina’s guests, which left her little time during the day to work on the other project. She was at an impasse, having trouble to find the necessary people for the job, especially without a real budget. A C-Sec captain called Bailey promised to be a good lead. Maybe he can hook her up with some disgruntled ex cops.
She noticed someone on the street outside her flat. Weapons were not allowed in these areas of the Citadel, but that man was either packing, or at least had a holster under his suit. A bodyguard. Not the cheap kind. Keeping an eye on him, she walked into her building. There was another bodyguard on her floor on the corridor.
Ashley stopped and eyed the bodyguard suspiciously. She’s not gonna walk into a trap. The man lifted a hand in a gesture of peace.

“It’s all right, Lt. Commander Williams”, he said. “He just wants to talk to you.”

Ashley frowned. “Who?”

The bodyguard didn’t reply, just waved a hand, motioning towards her apartment. Ashley slowly walked on, still eyeing the bodyguard until she reached her door.
In the dimness of her living room, an older man stood in front of the bookshelf, holding a framed picture in his hands, studying it. He was probably in his late fifties, white hair, straight back, expensive suit, confident posture. Not military. A high-ranking diplomat?

“Commander.”
She stopped in the door and switched on the light. The man looked at her and Ashley froze.

“Mr. Lawson,” she willed herself to form the words. She hoped this day would never come. It wasn’t totally unexpected, but something she wanted to avoid. Sort of a worst case scenario. Of course, she was the queen of worst case scenarios.

“General Anderson was kind enough to point me in your direction. The Alliance was brushing me off back on Earth.” He explained, still holding the photo in his hands. It was a picture of her and Miranda at some formal event. Ashley was wearing her full dress uniform, Miranda in a long, simple white cocktail dress.
“I am— What can I do for you, Mr. Lawson?” She wanted to say she was sorry, but it would have felt pathetic, even though she was Miranda’s commanding officer in that operation. She pulled herself together, swallowing hard. She knew what was coming and she was going to take it like a soldier. She deserved it.
Henry Lawson turned the picture towards her with a faint smile.

“I heard a lot about you, commander. Your actions on Elysium are well known. You saved a lot of lives.”

“Uh- Thank you, sir.”

“I suppose my daughter told terrible things about me.”
Ashley kept quiet. Miranda did talk about him. It was not flattering. Lawson chuckled softly, looking back at the picture.

“She seems happy in this picture. And content.”

“Yes, sir.”

“How about you?” He looked up at Ashley, turning the picture towards her. Ashley shot a glance at the photo. It made her chest hurt.

“Pride. I was very proud.”
Lawson hummed. “That’s a sin, commander.”

“I don’t care. I am proud of her.”

The man nodded and put the picture back on the shelf.

“The Alliance gave me the usual condescending crap about her mission. I had to dig for weeks until I could finally talk to general Anderson. He tells me, Miranda was under your command.”
Ashley swallowed. Here it comes, she thought.

“She was. I made a bad call about Shepard. I regret it every day.”

Lawson nodded “Yes. Anderson told me everything about it. You made a big mess.” He put the picture back on the shelf. “So. What are you going to do about it?”
“I—” Ashley fell quiet. It started as a scolding, but it quickly shifted into something very different. She started to admit her fault, but then she thought about it a bit more.

If Anderson told him everything, it was because he wanted to. Even the powerful Henry Lawson could not have bullied Anderson into spilling out classified information. He had plans. So what was Lawson doing on the Citadel, talking to her?

“I intend to hunt Shepard down, sir. I am going to bring him down and get Miranda back.” She sounded more and more determined as she spoke. Lawson ran his fingers over the picture and stepped in front of Ashley, who was still standing in the door.
“The Alliance benched you. Rightfully so.”

“I don’t give a damn.” She declared. “Shepard is a traitor. And Miranda is mine.” She stared into the millionaire’s eyes. She meant what she said, and she was not going to take shit from anybody. “But that’s not why you are here, Mr. Lawson. You could have buried me from the comfort of your office. And you can’t make me feel any worse, than I already am. What is it that you want?”
The man nodded.

“I heard that you are short on funds to put a team together and go after that bastard.”

Ashley nodded.

“The Alliance cannot accept private donations to fund a non-existent covert operation, Mr. Lawson.”

“You said you don’t give a damn.”

“I’m still a marine, sir. I won’t disgrace the Alliance with using questionable methods.”
Lawson’s lips twitched into a smile, as he searched Ashley’s gaze.

“You realize I just offered you a blank check to get your revenge and you refused?”

“Mr. Lawson, I will get your daughter back, but it will be on my terms. Clean.”

The old man pursed his lips, looking Ashley over from head to toe, slowly walking around her to leave. Her heart sank. She probably threw away her best chance to get her little mission funded.
Henry Lawson stepped outside, then slowly turned back.

“I was planning to hire a private contractor, commander Williams, and pay him generously for bringing my daughter back. You wouldn’t mind... consulting with him, and... give him directions, would you?”

Ashley let out a soft sigh, trying to hide her relief.

“Technically, I can’t give him confidential information, Mr. Lawson. But I can talk to him in an unofficial capacity.”
Lawson nodded.

“Good. He will call you and ask for your... advice as soon as he arrives on the Citadel.”

“I will be waiting for the call.”

Lawson nodded, and started walking down the corridor. Ashley took a deep breath and called after him.

“Mr. Lawson!” The man turned around. “You know, that when this is over... You know she still won’t go back to you.”

Lawson smiled and nodded slowly.

“I know. I’m sure she will be in good hands.”

And with that, he walked away.
Ashley stared at the empty corridor for a long time before she finally stepped back into the apartment and let the door close. She had a lot on her mind. She felt the powers shifting. She felt time slow down as she turned and walked to the shelf. She marveled at how long it took her to reach out and pick up the photograph and run her fingers along Miranda’s image.
She remembered this day. Oh, yes. It was on Arcturus Day, when the Alliance hands out promotions in an official ceremony. That’s when she became Major Ashley Williams. She was in her finest, white full dress uniform. Miranda was in ‘civilian’, as a guest. Even in that simple, long, white dress she looked stunning. Although it looks like Ashley was beaming because of the promotion and Miranda just happened to be posing with her, Major Williams was proud of Agent Lawson. There was a lot of flirting involved.
She remembered walking up to Miranda casually, bobbing her head and smirking like a sailor about to hit on a girl on his shore leave. He even lowered her voice to sound like one of those dumb guys who don’t know they’re out of their league.

“Hey-y-y there, gorgeous. Y’know, me and mah pals over there were just wonderin’ if them boobs of yours are real.” She even wiggled her eyebrows. Miranda laughed, her voice still sending shivers down her spine.
“You look so hot in this uniform,” Miranda purred into her ear when she leaned over to put down her empty champagne glass. She might have been a bit tipsy, as she stole a touch, giving a discreet caress to Ashley’s neck.

“You mean, you want to rip it off, or want me to take you in this?” Ashley asked in her best lecherous voice. Miranda slapped her arm in mock outrage.

“You are disgusting, sir!” She declared, lifting her cheek up, tearing her gaze away, but not before giving Ashley a look and biting down on her lower lip. “I’m going to powder my nose in the ladies room!” And she strolled off.
Ashley tried her best to look dejected, fidgeting with her hands, and picking up a glass of wine from the table, darting her gaze left and right as she sipped into it, impatiently. She could only wait thirty seconds before darting towards the ladies room, as cool as she could make it.
Miranda was powdering her nose at the sinks, but smiled at her as she entered. Miranda turned towards her, giving her permission to walk up to her and press their bodies together. They started kissing.

“I love your taste,” Ashley sighed into her lips. Miranda held the kiss for a few more seconds before reluctantly pushing her away. Her eyes were bright and she licked her lips.

“Not here,” she whispered, her hand resting on Ashley’s shoulder. Ashley grinned, holding her by the waist and with a smooth move she spun her in a half-circle and waltzed her into the closest stall, already kissing her neck as she closed the door behind them.
Miranda’s hands were on the nape of her neck, slender fingers digging into her pinned up hair, while Ashley was tasting her smooth, perfumed neck from behind her ear to her shoulder. She smelled heavenly. For some reason she could worship her shoulder for long-long minutes. Miranda was letting out small, excited sighs, her breath tickling Ashley’s ear.
Then they were back at kissing, Miranda still holding her head, Ashley grabbing her waist with one hand, and her shoulder with the other. Miranda’s lips tasted even better. She was drinking in her silky touch, getting a tingling sensation. Miranda moaned back into her mouth, tongues twirling around each other. The plan to stay quiet was never gonna work.
After what seemed like hours, Ashley slipped her hands down to her waist and one hand found the cut of the skirt down her right thigh, where she could touch smooth, firm skin, reaching for her ass. Miranda giggled into their kiss and held onto Ashley’s neck, wiggling her hip for easier access.
Ashley started to gather the skirt up to her hips, taking her time, crumpling the fabric into her fist, then slipping it up her waist.

“What are you— Oh!” Miranda gasped as Ashley quickly kissed her way down to her modest cleavage before crouching down, revealing Miranda’s flat belly. “Ash, stop it! Bad girl!” she chided then went a very soft and long “Aaahhh—” when Ashley sucked in the skin just above her simple, white panties. From the squeezing on her shoulders Ashley could tell she hit the sweet spot: above her panties and below her navel was Miranda’s weak spot. She was actually like a cat in that sense. Rub her belly and she will purr.
Ashley was moaning into her quivering belly, showering her skin with wet kisses, while Miranda tried very hard not to gasp out loud, just panting irregularly, supporting herself on Ashley’s shoulder, pressing her back against the side of the stall.
When Ashley started to roll down her panties along her thighs using only her palms, Miranda squeaked.

“You shouldn’t— Stop that—” she even hammered on her shoulder with her fists. She didn’t want to ruin Ashley’s uniform though, so she didn’t try that hard.
When she realized she couldn’t stop Ashley from pulling her panties down, she changed tactics. Resting her hands on Ashley’s hair, taking care not to ruffle it too much, she lifted a leg and slipped the panties off with a seductive move usually reserved for pole dancers, and gracefully put her leg on Ashley’s shoulder, her high heel poking her back.
Ashley looked up at Miranda with a hungry smirk, holding the skirt to her body. Miranda looked back down with an eager twinkle in her eyes.

“Congratulations on your promotion, Major,” she purred. “Now start licking pussy!” she growled and pressed her head against her lap even as she pushed her hip forward.
Ashley blinked, hardly had enough time to take a breath before their lips met, her nose buried in the thin landing strip shave of her dark fur, and her soft, damp folds pressing against her mouth, parting already.

But two could play that game, so Ashley, after a few initial smacks and rubs, opened her mouth and sucked in her flesh, her mouth clasping down around her clit, tongue twirling eagerly around her nub.

Miranda gasped out loud, shuddering, grabbing Ashley’s shoulder harder. She gyrated her hips erratically against her mouth, biting down on her lip to avoid crying out again. Ashley looked up as she threw her head back, exposing her slender neck. It was a heavenly sight.
Then there was a noise, and the bathroom door opened. Two women walked in, chatting. Miranda stopped instantly, pressing her hand on Ashley’s head to stop her, looking down with pleading eyes and a deep blush. Ashley let her petals slip from her mouth, and pressed her cheek against her lap, her mouth brushing at her cleft. For once, she was not teasing her. They looked at each other with more than just restrained lust. It was more intimate than sex. Ashley felt her heart beating in her throat, Miranda’s taste in her mouth, even the rush of her blood and the warmth of her body. Miranda was looking down at her, and Ashley realized, she was stroking her hair.
The women chattered and washed up, refreshed their makeup, and left. They didn’t move for a few more minutes. Then Ashley started kissing her lap, just little pecks here and there, her gaze locked with Miranda’s. She slowly stood up, her hands still holding her hips, keeping her naked from waist down. They locked lips, this time with a little sigh, eyes closed. Then it was over.
Ashley left first, not saying a word, just looking at Miranda with something new in her eyes. She checked her hair in the mirror, straightened herself up and left the bathroom, Miranda following a few minutes later, looking perfect again.
A couple of minutes later the event photographer snapped that picture of them at a table. They posed, and Ashley smiled proudly, Miranda leaning closer. That was the time they realized that what they had was more than just fooling around. And only the two of them knew, that the other reason Ashley was smiling was because she slipped Miranda’s panties into her pocket when she left the stall, and the raven-haired agent spent the rest of the evening with a constant, faint blush on her cheeks.
* * * * *
Miranda stood under the shower, shivering from the cold water. She was allowed to clean herself so she would be ready for another evening of being used to get Liara and Shepard in the mood. She chose the cold water to chase away a headache.
When her head was clear enough, for a couple of hours after sleep, Miranda wondered if this was all a play, Bad Cop Liara and Good Cop Shepard, and if they put something in her food to break down her will and induce the migraines. The problem was, that her brain might see through the act, but her body was losing.
The initial fear for her safety was quickly gone, when she got over being a prisoner and think about it rationally. But then fear came back, shifted, split into different parts, haunting her thoughts. It started with fear from Liara, who, despite her apparent emotional immaturity, was smart, and being an asari, would have had the best chance to warp Miranda’s mind and entice her into compliance.
But Liara was not patient enough. She was greedy, she wanted Miranda for herself and pushed all the wrong buttons at the wrong time. It was weird for Miranda to find Liara repulsive and her fear shifted into physical apprehension. After the freakout, Liara gave her the silent treatment. In the past few days, she just bossed her around, dressing her up in very seductive underwear: garter belts complemented the constant thigh-highs, thongs, see-through bras, corset, once just two straps of leather that covered her nipples and sex but nothing else.
She paraded her around in the canteen, chatting about nothing with the crew, while they leered at Miranda. The asari was smart enough to know that it was more humiliating for Miranda to wear these outfits, than it would have been if she was stark naked. The whippings were simply substituted with mean kicks when she was lying or kneeling, giving her several bruises.
And then there was Shepard. First, she was afraid of his physicality, especially when he took her for the first time. That was violation, simple rape. But during his “nightly visits” he always took her from behind, silent, in the dark. She still felt violated, but he wasn’t rough and didn’t intend to cause her pain. The fear was changing into mental anguish. It felt good for her body after a while and she could shuffle into a more comfortable position. She was already afraid she would start to enjoy it more. And then after the freakout—
Shepard DID know how to push her buttons and when. She lost that battle when he kissed her belly. Oh, how she used to love it when Ashley touched her there! After a while, they made it a habit, Miranda lying in bed and Ashley resting her head on her belly with a sigh, after a hard day. They would lie there, preferably naked, Ashley stroking her belly, Miranda absently caressing her hair until they relaxed. And now, Shepard put his stain on that memory, too, one of the few she still dared to recall. She felt ashamed that she thought about Ashley less and less.
She was more afraid of Shepard now, sensing that he will soon succeed in using her body against her and break her will. She felt it was close.
She was shivering under the cold water, and when she looked up, he was standing in the doorway only in his shorts. Miranda lowered her hands from her hair, and crossed them over her chest, looking away from him. He didn’t leave her any privacy. When she glanced at him from the corner of her eyes, he was already naked and stepping closer. And when he stopped at arm’s length from her, she cast her eyes down and before she even realized it, sank to her knees, thighs slightly parted, hands behind her back and looked up, opening her mouth.
She had a migraine and she didn’t want to go through all the ordeal of getting bullied into this position anyway. Better to get over it quickly, especially when she couldn’t avoid it. She told herself it was just common sense, that as long as she knew she was doing it and didn’t want to do it, she was still herself.
Shepard stepped forward, his cock slipping between her parted lips smoothly. He put one leg between her thighs, under her lap, his shin touching her midriff. He turned up the warm water and started to take a quick shower, while Miranda’s lips were moving up and down his hardening erection, filling her mouth with his warmth and his taste. Luckily, the water washed away her tears.
She clasped her hands together harder behind her back and moved her head back and forth, letting him push his hip, poking her tongue out to allow him to sink deeper. She was trying to breathe through her nose, but after a while it became harder with all the water rushing down at her face and her crying probably made her nose run, too.
She even started to choke and had to pull her head away, letting his cock slip out, catching her breath, waiting for the choking to pass. Shepard looked down and suddenly his eyes narrowed as she was trying hard not to reach forward and wipe her face off.

“You’re nose is bleeding,” Shepard said and quickly closed off the water.

Miranda’s heart started to race, even as she realized that it probably made her bleed faster. She already started to feel dizzy, and cupped her hand over her nose, blinking rapidly to clear her head.
The next thing she knew she was ushered across the deck, wrapped in towels, to the med bay, and they made her sit in a chair while she shivered. Dr. Michel stopped the bleeding until she could get her diagnostics tools up and wrapped more blankets around her. Miranda tried to look around but the light was too bright and all the arguing voices were becoming muffled. She probably passed out.
When she came about, she was lying on a bed, covered in fresh blankets. She was also cuffed to the bed. The other thing she noticed was that her head did not hurt at all. No dull throbbing, buzzing, nothing. She turned her head to the side and noticed the quarian girl sitting at Dr. Michel’s desk, holding her collar and using some tools on it. Shepard and Dr. Michel were further away, talking quietly.
“What—”

“Resonance episode”, the quarian replied sullenly. “The biotic dampening field misaligned and caused an interference. That caused the headaches and the nose bleeding.”

Miranda sighed, closing her eyes and opening it to look at the ceiling. So it was a mistake.

“No,” the quarian replied. Miranda must have whispered it out loud. “I set it up right! Standard human frequencies! It must have received a strong biotic current, that messed up the settings.”
Miranda slowly turned towards the quarian again.

“I’m not mad— Tali, is it?”

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry, Tali. Are you in trouble?”

The quarian shrugged. Miranda looked at her, pondering. Now that she could actually think, she tried to understand more about the quarian. She seemed to be younger, than they thought.

“I think it was Liara. She put her hands on my neck once and did charge her biotics.”

“I know” Tali snorted. “I’m not stupid. The readouts are obvious.”

“Of course.”

“I’m not stupid, you know,” Tali repeated, sounding indignant. Miranda blinked at her confused. She already said that. “I found your tracker in the energy module we took from your ship.”

Miranda’s eyes opened wide. She took a quick look at Shepard, who was still talking to the doctor. That tracker was Plan B, in case Shepard managed to get away with the bait. They could have followed the Normandy through the relays with it.

“Uh—”

“Don’t worry, I didn’t tell them.”

“Why?”

Another shrug. Tali was still fidgeting with the collar. “Because I found it and switched it off. And the module is working.”

“That was... nice of you, Tali. You saved me from some trouble.”

The quarian girl snorted again. “Yeah, right. Like your nosebleed?”

Miranda closed her eyes and sighed.

“It was Liara’s fault.”

Tali made a face behind the mask. Probably a smirk.

“Damn right!”

So the quarian didn’t like the asari. That’s useful.
“Listen—”

She couldn’t finish, because Shepard and Dr. Michel stepped up next to them.

“So?”, Shepard asked.

“It’s fixed, Shepard. It received an overcharge and got misaligned. It should be fine.”

Shepard smiled and put a hand on Tali’s shoulder, reaching for the collar. The quarian visibly relaxed and gave it to him. What kind of power did Shepard have over these young girls?, Miranda mused. Tali seemed to be generally miserable and yet, as soon as he says some kind words, she’s happy.

“Thank you, Tali. Great job.”
Tali’s glowing eyes flickered behind the mask, probably the quarian equivalent of blushing. Miranda kept her eyes on her while Shepard walked around her bed. She had no intention of guilt-tripping Tali, but as Shepard ordered Miranda to lift her head and clicked the collar back in place, she looked at Tali and the quarian looked away.

“Now, will this be okay, Tali?” Shepard asked in a paternal, but friendly tone. “Or will she get headaches again?”

“Y-yes, Shepard, sure. It will be okay.”

“No more problems?”

“No more problems.”

Miranda watched the quarian curiously. Why was she taking the blame?
“She should rest for at least a day,” Dr. Michel said to Shepard as he uncuffed Miranda from the bed. “I can give her some sleeping pills.”

Miranda sat up, crumpling the blanket in front of her. The collar felt cold around her neck. She looked at the doctor. Based on her bloodshot eyes and dilated pupils, the doctor was using some of her own medication. She seemed to be constantly deflated, like carrying some invisible burden on her shoulders.

“Yes, thank you,” Miranda whispered but Shepard shook his head, gently starting to tug the blanket away from her. Miranda glanced at him from the corner of her eyes, but she didn’t dare to move. She reluctantly let him pull the blanket away and shivered as she sat naked on the bed.
“Not necessary, doctor.” Shepard placed a hand on Miranda’s shoulder, giving her a gentle squeeze. Miranda stood up, covering her sex with her hands, looking away from all of them. “She will be fine.”

He squeezed her shoulder again and Miranda closed her eyes for a second, pressing her lips together. She hoped she wouldn’t have to do this. She lowered herself onto her knees, staring straight ahead.

“See? Fine.” Shepard gave a little pat to her head. “Now thank Tali for her help.” His voice was still pleasant, no hint of menace or mockery. He really expected her to behave without any threats or problems.
Miranda clenched her jaw. She felt she could scream. There were always new lows they could make her sink to. She almost got used to being ordered around in front of the crew, who leered at her and thought about how they would fuck her, but Tali and Dr. Michel were both women, who were among the few people on the ship who didn’t want to do anything to her.

She kneeled up and hugged Tali’s legs and looked up at the shocked quarian.
“Thank you, Tali,” she said quietly. She actually meant it. Tali on the other hand was freaking out and nervously pushed away from her embrace, crashing into Dr. Michel’s desk. Shepard chuckled.

“It’s okay, Tali. Don’t be nervous.”

“I— No problem. Uh. I need to go back to engineering,” the poor thing stammered and backed out of the med bay, staring at Miranda, who looked at her with an apologetic gaze. She didn’t know if it helped or not.
She had to thank Dr. Michel the same way, who was so embarrassed, she actually patted her on the head, which just made it more humiliating for Miranda. Shepard was amused to no end and laughed louder. Dr. Michel seemed to be unhappy about this as well, but kept her mouth shut.
Shepard hooked a finger into the ring of her collar and gently pulled her up standing. As he lead her back to his quarters, amongst the cheers and hoots of the crew, Miranda caught a glimpse of Tali lurking on top of the stairs leading down to engineering, ducking her head back as soon as Miranda noticed her.
Maybe, just maybe she found an ally on this damned ship.
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The Ballad of the Pirate of Terminus