#miranda.

 It’d been a secret for as long as she could remember— one she’d sworn secrecy to for Oriana’s protection. It’d never been anyone else’s problem to bear but herself, and Miranda had always intended to keep it that way. Then again, she hadn’t intended to wind up on the Normandy alongside Commander Shepard under Cerberus’ rules. Things could never stay perfect forever, and it’s a lesson Miranda is beginning to learn more and more with every passing day. 

 She’d heard the rumors of her father searchings for Oriana. As far as she knew, for the longest time, Oriana had been hidden just outside of the grasp of their father. The walls were beginning to cave in, though— things weren’t as clear as they had always been. Dots were finally beginning to connect and suddenly, the web had been completed and Miranda had received word of the presumed abduction of Oriana orchestrated by their father. Cerberus had been willing to help relocate her, but that simply wasn’t enough. She needed to be there, watching with her own two eyes— she needed to protect her sister. She needed help, though; she couldn’t do this alone. (Not again.)

 Miranda went to the one person she’d wound up trusting in this sea of unpredictability: Alice Shepard. 

“There must be a reason you didn’t tell me about this.”    Shepard’s voice breaks Miranda out of her thoughts, eyes relocating on the ivory top of her desk. 

 “I didn’t tell you because there was no need to tell you at the time. Oriana was safe— now, my father is going to all lengths to find her.”    It’s an answer that nearly shatters her heart; the realization dawning upon her that time is against them. Time is a ticking time bomb.    “I have reasons to believe he’s going to attempt to abduct her— if he succeeds...”   She stops herself from going further, her head shaking. Miranda’s lips press together, nostrils flaring from a long exhale.