Jane found a map to the place where they were at and carried Miranda as she went closer to the surface. As she did her comms cleared up. “SHEPARD! Are you there? Hello?”
“Ashley? Is that you?”
“Commander? Oh thank goodness. I’m here on an alliance cruiser We got your distress call. We’re on your way. We patched through the Normandy as well. Try to get to the surface. Otherwise we can send our ground team to rescue you.”
“I’m finding my way to the surface. I have Miranda. She’s **** and needs immediate medical support. Continue to track my location. Don’t cut off the feed. Understand, Williams?” Shepard said.
“Yes, Commander,” Ashley said.
“WAIT!” Shepard said. “What’s the one secret you never wanted me to tell anyone ever again?”
“C-commander… I don’t think that question is appropriate right now…” Ashley said.
“Just say it,” Shepard said.
Shepard could hear Ashely blushing. “T-that I like to sleep in the nude and I have a crush on Vega…”
Shepard could hear some snickers from around Ashley, but nodded. “I’m sorry. I have to be sure I can trust you. There are clones, Ash. At least one of me and one of Miranda. We can’t trust anyone right now,” Shepard said.
“Understood, Commander. Then you won’t mind me asking you one question for verification?” Ashley said.
“Go for it,” Shepard said.
“What’s your most embarrassing pair of underwear that you still wear?” Ashley said.
Shepard blushed. “Space Hamster Alliance Junior briefs,” Shepard said.
She could hear some more snickering. “Thank you,” Ashley said. “We’ve landed just outside your indicated location.”
Shepard nodded as she stepped outside and saw the Alliance Cruiser. She approached it as the bay door opened up. Ashley was there along with the ship doctor who took Miranda and rushed her to the medbay. Shepard boarded the ship. Shepard blushed as she remembers she was naked but pulled Ashley into a private room. “What happened?” Ashley asked.
Shepard began to explain everything. “And now I’m here.”
“Shit…” Ashley said. “So now there’s an evil you and Miranda… and a pissed off Jack… we need to get to your apartment.”
Ashley commed the pilot and gave them the instructions to drop them off at the Citadel Silversun Strip apartment.
Shepard sighed. “I had everything planned out,” Shepard said. “And now everything’s gone to shit. And Jack might not even want to be with me at the end of this.”
Shepard rubbed her face as she ran a hand through her hair. “I’m sorry,” Ashley said. “I know how much she means to you.”
“It’s more than that,” Shepard said. “I can’t go a day or a second without thinking of her. I’ve never said it but… but I love her… and I want to be with her… even if that involves Miranda… I’m okay with that. But I let Miranda kiss me. I entertained the idea of being unfaithful. I almost crossed a boundary and did exactly what Jack is mad about.”
“Shepard… Jack knows that you love her,” Ashley said. “Don’t tell her I said this but… she’s actually talked to me several times about it. She wants you. Bad. But you’re in an open relationship and she does have to understand your feelings just as much as you understand hers. I also think I know why she reacted this way now. And I believe it’ll work itself out.”
Ashley stood up. “You’re a good person, Commander, don’t forget that.”
“Thanks, Ash,” Jane said. “Do you maybe have something for me to wear?”
“I might be able to find something,” Ashley said as she disappeared for a moment.
She came back with a large hoodie and sweatpants. “Thanks,” Shepard said as she put the clothes on.
“I think Miranda’s starting to recover. And we’re almost at the apartments,” Ashley said.
“Thanks,” Shepard said.
“I’m glad we’re finally even,” Ashley said. “For once I’m the one that gets to save you.”
Shepard smiled as she headed down to the medbay.
Sure enough Miranda was awake and recovering.
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