Probably the last chapter, since herein what passes for a plot element is resolved, but I may yet find further 'minor differences'.

Disclaimer: Mass Effect, etc, at owned by Bioware and Demiurge. This is a work of fanfiction written without any intention of profit or other gains.

Shepard paused, then double checked. Sighing softly, she reached out past the curtain to key the ship-board intercomm.

"Ne, Miranda..." She said, dropping her voice to a husky purr.

"Yes, Shep- wait, are you in the shower?" Miranda replied, voice rising at the end. Obviously she'd heard the water in the background (and, like Joker's leather seats, alliance water-control regulations be damned).

"Mhmm." Shepard purred, running a hand through her hair again. "You know, back before I died..."

"Yes?" Miranda sighed, long-sufferingly. Shepard decided she was getting near the end of how much teasing she could do over the radio before the straight girl snapped.

"I had a few grey hairs. I was nearly thirty when I died, you know, and the military isn't exactly a relaxing organisation..." She briefly considered switching to petulant, but decided it would be more amusing to remain sultry.

"I'm sure they'll come back on their own soon enough." Miranda snapped back. "Honestly, of all the things to be mad about..."

"Oh, I'm not mad.. I just wanted to thank you personally, since I just noticed..." Shepard murmured into the comm, barely audible over the continued sound of the shower.

"I... you... that is..." Miranda stammered, apoplectic. "April!" She finally shrieked, incapable of actually forming a sentence.

"Miss Lawson," April Shepard replied calmly, all teasing gone from her voice as she switched the shower off and started drying her auburn hair, "You seriously need to relax. You think this is bad? You wouldn't have lasted two days on an Alliance ship."

"This isn't an alliance ship." Miranda snapped back. "And unlike some... irresponsible... juvenile..." she spluttered, trying to find an adequate word, "incorrigible commanders I know, I realise just how damn serious this damn mission is! The entire galaxy is at stake and all you ever do is goof off!"

"You really have no clue, do you?" Shepard sighed. "I am... was... career military for eleven years, thirteen if you count my time on the Einstein before I officially enlisted. Not just a soldier, but an N7 spec. ops marine. Live with death for that long and you go one of two ways. Either you snap and become dead inside yourself, or you develop coping mechanisms. I'm one of the lucky ones. Unless you stop being so damn scared of being human, of enjoying life while you can, you won't be." She realised she was ranting, and toned it down a little. "You think I'm upset that I can punch out a Krogan, or that I've got the colour back in my hair? Being two inches taller might have nearly gotten me killed once or twice since I came back, and played merry hell with my co-ordination, but over all, I don't really care all that much. This is my second chance."

"And you're wasting it on trying to destroy my professionalism?" Miranda snarled back. "Don't you have more important things to do than flirt with a-"

"No." Shepard cut her off, firmly. "No, I don't have anything more important to do than make sure my team doesn't screw themselves up. Not this time. And if I have to flirt with a damn straight girl to do it, I'm going to flirt with the god damned straight girl until she untwists her god damn knickers. If I have to kiss the blasted Turian to get his head back on right, I'll kiss the blasted Turian." She stopped, taking a deep breath to calm herself down again.

"You know, Shepard, I thought you were just a bloody space dyke." Miranda slipped the comment in while she was gathering her thoughts. "Now I know you're just a bloody whore it makes me feel a lot better."

"You..." Shepard started objecting, then stopped and laughed. "That's better. Banter, Miranda, will be your salvation. Pass the message along to Joker and Zaeed, we're going to Zorya."

"Fine." Miranda huffed, sulkily.

"And check your guns. You're coming planetside with us."

"I..." Miranda checked, then replied. "Yes, ma'am!"

Much better, Shepard grinned to the small picture on the desk as she pulled on her undersuit. Maybe now, the Cerberus cheerleader could actually be a part of the team.