Interrogation

"According to the scanners, our lead is in here." Liara said as she pulled up to what looked like a large spa surrounded by lush vegetation. A sign out front read, "Tessia on Earth Onsen".

"Huh." Jane commented, "Didn't think any Asari actually opened a business on Earth. I just hope Aria doesn't get any -"

*SLAM!*

"Oh no." Jane groaned as she and Liara quickly got out of the skycar and followed the enraged Miranda into the building.

Once inside, the trio walked up to the front desk where a light blue Asari sat reading a magazine, not even looking up at the trio as she asked, "You have an appointment?"

"No!" Miranda said in a low, cold tone. "We're looking for someone who should be here."

"Isn't that nice?" The Asari droned, still not looking up. "However, no appointment, no entry."

"Listen here, you little bitch!" Miranda growled, biotics flaring up. "You clearly don't understand the current situation! I need to speak with this woman right now, or -"

"No appointment. No entry."

"Miranda? If I may?" Liara asked, stepping in before things got to violent. Turning to the Asari at the desk, she said, "Perhaps I could persuade you to reconsider?"

"Look, I told your friend twice already. No -" The Asari began in annoyance before finally looking up, turning almost white at the Asari in front of her. "S-Shadowbroker?! W-what a pleasant surprise! What... Uh, what can I help you with?"

"We're looking for this woman." Liara said, pulling up an image of The Daughters of Cerberus Scout. "The three of us have some questions for her in regards to a friend of ours being taken."

"Is she dangerous?"

"Depends." Miranda muttered sarcastically, "Would you call the woman who is part of a splinter cell of Cerberus that kidnapped my wife dangerous?"

"Cerberus?!" The Asari gasped. "She's here, alright! Bath 12B!"

"Thank you very much." Jane said as the three went over to the entrance door.

"However..." The Asari called out, getting their attention. "I should bring up the fact that we at Tessia on Earth have a strict dress code policy in regards to the bath..."

"Well, can't say I expected this as part of my night." Jane commented as the three entered the hallway that led to the baths, all three wearing bath towels and slippers.

"At least you weren't running around naked earlier." Miranda griped as she stalked the halls like a wild cat on the prowl. She stopped once she came to a door labeled "12B" and snarled.

The Brunette in question sighed blissfully as she slipped into the hot water, her towel and slippers on a nearby rock as she closed her eyes.

*BANG!*

The Woman jumped in surprise as she looked up to see the door bashed in and an enraged Miranda standing in the doorway, marching herself towards the hot spring.

"Oh, it's you." The Woman said, sighing relief. "I was just treating myself with the credits you paid in advan-" the woman stopped as she noticed Jane and Liara following after the dark haired woman as a look of fear came to her face, "Oh crap! You're her!"

"You're not going anywhere!" Miranda snarled murderously, grabbing the retreating scout with her biotics and pinning her to the tall wooden fence that offered the bathers privacy. "Where's Jack?! What are these Daughters of Cerberus planning?!"

"The Who of What?" The Woman asked, her voice of mixture of confusion and fear.

"Don't play dumb!" Miranda snapped, "We know you're a scout for The Daughters of Cerberus!"

"What are you talking about?! I deliver pizzas for a living!"

"Right... Because your average pizza girl has enough money for Asari strippers and spa treatments!" Miranda replied sarcastically, rolling her eyes. "Do I look fucking stupid to you?!"

"But I -"

"TALK!" Miranda roared, "Or I'll paint this fence with your insides!"

"ENOUGH!" Jane snapped, grabbing Miranda's shoulder. "Liara, keep a hold on our friend here. You! Come with me."

And with that, Miranda let The Woman go as Liara grabbed her with the latter in her own biotics, Jane leading the enraged woman along until they were at the other side of the bath.

"Shepard! That woman is -"

"Look, Miranda." Jane said sternly. "I get it. I get exactly what you're going through right now. Hell! If those creeps had kidnapped Liara, I'd be on the warpath too. That said, I need you to calm down like I know you would try to."

"I am calm!"

"You just threatened this woman that you were going to use her as a paintbrush." Jane reminded, a small smirk coming to her face. "Something that Jack would most likely had done."

"... You're right." Miranda said with a sigh, rubbing her arm as she hung her head. "I'm sorry. It's just... I don't think I can lose her, Shepard. She's tough, yes, but I'm not worried about what they do to her physically. I -"

"I know." Jane said, "I don't think I could lose Liara either. I know I couldn't! But right now, we need to do this by the books."

"Okay..." Miranda said, desperately calming herself down as she and Jane made their way back over to The Woman and Liara.

"Please don't let her kill me!" The Woman whimpered, "I'll talk! I tell you everything!"

"Why don't we start with why you were on Illium at Afterlife+ talking about this 'Number One'?" Liara asked.

"I... Save up some money from the tips and paychecks I earn to treat myself to a little one on one with one of the dancers." The Brunette replied with a blush, "I think Asari women are hot."

"No arguments there..." Jane muttered.

"Anyway," The Brunette continued, "I was about to oder a dance when I get a call over my omnitool from some unknown number. I answered and there was this hooded woman over the other end who called herself 'Number One' offering me a business proposal."

"And what kind of proposal was this?" Miranda asked skeptically.

"She said she was a bounty hunter working for The Hellhound Offsprings Mercenary Group. She'd pay me credits beyond my wildest dreams, and all I had to do was track down two fugitive war criminals and tell her where they were."

"And you believed that?" Miranda asked in disbelief.

"At first, no." The Woman said, "Then I got a notification from my bank that fifty-six thousand credits had been deposited. That's one hundred times more than I make in a month! So obviously, I said yes to the deal as long as I was out of harms way. She said that more credits would be deposited after the job was done."

"One more thing." Jane said, "When Miranda stormed in here, you said 'Oh, it's you' as if you recognized her. Why?"