A/N: SPOILER WARNING: This little fic is intended to be an expansion to the universe created in Catalyst of Fate and as such it will contain spoilers for that fic. If you haven't checked it out yet, I highly suggest reading it. However if you can't be arsed wading through 250,000 words of what is primarily a FemShep/Liara focused story, then by all means read on.

Ashley and Miranda kind of surprised me while I was writing Catalyst to the point where they became two of my favourite characters to write. However in telling Shepard and Liara's story, I didn't have the space to do justice to what is a very complicated relationship. The idea for teasing out their story has been with me for a while, but the enthusiasm has only just emerged. This will probably run to four or five chapters at the most and I hope all you Miranda/Ashley shippers enjoy it (and those that didn't even realise they were a viable ship – like me!).

No Impact, No Idea

'No impact, no idea' – a marine expression denoting a miss on a weapons range when the scorer cannot find an impact on target; also used as an "I don't know" response.

Chapter One
The Social Engagement from Hell

TO: WilliamsA

FROM: [redacted]

SUBJECT: Knowledge comes, but Wisdom lingers

I need to speak to Shepard, can you arrange something?

P.S. Congratulations on your appointment to the Spectres.

[end message]

TO: [redacted]

FROM: WilliamsA

SUBJECT: RE: Knowledge comes, but Wisdom lingers

Who the fuck is this?

[end message]

TO: WilliamsA

FROM: [redacted]

SUBJECT: RE: Knowledge comes, but Wisdom lingers

You're a Spectre, you tell me.

Fine. I met you on Horizon. You called me a Cerberus c***.

[end message]

TO: [redacted]

FROM: WilliamsA

SUBJECT: Fuck you

Dear Miranda,

I didn't call you a Cerberus c***. I called you a Cerberus cunt.

And no I will not help you speak to Shepard. I'm blocking you from contacting this address.

[end message]

TO: WilliamsA

FROM: [redacted]

SUBJECT: RE: Fuck you

Block me? Are you serious?

You really need to live a little, Spectre. Tell you what…you, me, Purgatory, 0100hrs tonight. We'll talk. I think I might have more luck convincing you in person.

[end message]

TO: [redacted]

FROM: WilliamsA

SUBJECT: RE: Fuck you

How about you go crawl in the ass end of a thresher maw?

[end message]

TO: WilliamsA

FROM: [redacted]

SUBJECT: This might change your mind

Attachment: Williamssexytimes. vid

How about you agree to come to Purgatory tonight and I don't post this little vid on the extranet of you making good use out of your recent purchase? Who knew that you could use the Spectre Requisition terminal to buy pretty much whatever you want?

[end message chain]

She'd only been standing outside for less than a minute, but the pulsing beat emanating from within Purgatory was already giving Lieutenant-Commander Ashley Williams a headache. Her original intention to march straight into the place without a pause had been shot to hell by a sudden flash of anxiety before she even reached the doors. Something inside her chest constricted and her feet stopped working. She stepped out of the flow of patrons far more eager than she to enter the club and moved to one side. Ash was well aware that the batarian bouncer was staring at her as though she was already three sheets to the wind but she didn't care. Instead she propped her body up against a nearby wall and folded her arms stubbornly across her chest.

This is ridiculous. I am not setting foot in that club, she told herself firmly. Her expression fixed into a scowl. And certainly not because I was commanded to by some terrorist...regardless of her threats. Ash only had to dwell on this last thought for a split second before her cheeks burned fiercely. The thought of such a video going anywhere near the extranet made her feel sick to her stomach. Joker would have a field day...

Her sole prior meeting with Miranda Lawson had been seven months ago in the wake of the Collector attack on Horizon. At the time she didn't dare let herself believe in the rumours that Shepard was alive let alone the ones that said she was alive and working for an extremist organisation. Then Horizon had changed everything. Any euphoria Ash had felt upon seeing the Skipper alive had vanished the instant she recognised the logo on the Commander's armour for what it was – Cerberus. In the chaotic tangle of emotions that followed, her anger had won out. Shepard had tried to placate her with words, but Ash had found herself incapable of hearing them as anything but hollow lies. Lawson had leapt to defend Shepard and Cerberus, but every word that came out of her mouth only incensed Ashley further. She hated Shepard for her betrayal, but she hated the smug bitch standing just behind her even more. When Lawson had tried to explain her anger as a 'typical Alliance attitude' she'd snapped in spectacular fashion. Her heated words had led to Shepard stepping in just as a biotic aura had danced threateningly on Miranda's fingertips. Ashley sighed. She'd turned on the Skipper at that point, even going as far as to swing and miss before Garrus jerked her away.

As far as Ash was concerned, everything was Miranda Lawson's fault. Her and fucking Cerberus-

She cut herself off before she could continue her tirade. Her anger gave her the courage she needed as she left her spot on the wall and marched straight past the batarian bouncer. He narrowed all four of his eyes at her as she walked past.

If the music was loud outside Purgatory, inside it throbbed incessantly in her head – filling all of the pauses that were usually reserved for thoughts with a wall of sound. Ashley gave the throng a cursory glance, but the place was packed to the gunnels. There was no way she could spot Lawson. Instead she made her way to the bar and ordered by simply pointing toward the scotch. The bartender sloshed a double into a glass which she promptly drained in one smooth motion. She slammed the empty down on the bar and jerked her head to order a refill. The drink remained in her glass as she moved away from the bar – she'd already received more than enough elbows to the ribs just in the minute she'd been standing there. She suspected it had something to do with the fact she'd opted for her uniform over civvies.

The dark corner she found wasn't nearly dark enough for her liking, but it was as removed as it was possible to be from the crowds and the music. Ash pressed her shoulder against the wall and watched the ebbs and flows of the crowd as she scanned for the Cerberus bitch. Usually she prided herself on being observant. Having a sharp eye in the midst of a fire-fight often meant the difference between life and death – for you or your buddy on the line.

"And I had thought this was a social engagement."

The words were murmured so close to her ear that Ashley felt more than just warm air flowing over her skin. She felt the unmistakable brush of lips several times, each one sending an electric jolt down her spine. Her first instinct was to spin on her heels and throw her drink in the bitch's face. She surprised herself with her own restraint. Instead Ash lifted her glass to her lips. The cool liquid left a trail of fire in its wake as it slid down her throat, much like the one that was raging in her stomach. She lowered the glass and occupied her twitching, nervous fingers by tracing circles around its wet rim.

"This is a social engagement, Lawson." Ashley did not understand why her voice sounded so ineffective. "You can tell by the fact that I'm carrying a pistol instead of a shotgun." The weight of the Carnifex strapped to her leg was decidedly reassuring. "And you're still standing. I'd offer to buy you a drink, but then you might get the mistaken impression that I can actually stand you."

"We definitely wouldn't want that," Miranda replied. Ashley could tell by the sound of her voice that the damn woman was smiling. "I guess I shouldn't have bought you this then."

Reluctantly, Ashley disengaged her body from the nonchalant leaning position in which she felt secure. When she turned to face Miranda Lawson she felt strangely awkward in the face of both the smile and the glass extended towards her.

Why am I not surprised she knows what I like to drink? The marine took the scotch for the simple fact that she didn't like the way Miranda's proximity made her feel. She had to suppress a sigh of relief when the other woman's hand fell back to her side. Ash used the pretence of setting down her empty to put some much needed distance between them. No thanks were offered before she tilted the glass to her lips. Miranda followed suit with her own drink. Through half-lidded eyes, Ash observed the long lines of her pale white throat. Her gaze wandered, drifting down over the skin-tight black catsuit the woman wore. In comparison, Ashley felt as though she was wearing a sack – especially when her stare remained fixed on the perfectly proportioned amount of cleavage revealed by the suit. Far from being obscene, the shadowed cleft offered the merest hint of an invitation for eyes to linger. Ashley scowled. Her own suit was decently zipped up – after all, she was a marine, not some terrorist slut. When Miranda lowered her empty glass, there was a smile playing across her full, red lips.

What the fuck is she smiling at now? Ashley realised belated that her cleavage-directed gaze had not been subtle in the slightest. With colouring cheeks, she practically threw her empty glass down beside the first.

"I haven't got all night, Lawson. What the hell do you want?" Ashley demanded angrily.

"It's nice to see you again too, Lieutenant-Commander Williams." Miranda gently set down her own glass so she could fold her arms across her chest. She appeared completely unfazed by the Spectre's hostile attitude.

"The feeling is not mutual." Ash glowered.

Miranda raised her eyebrows in amusement. "Well at least you showed up."

Bristling noticeably, Ash closed the distance between them until she was virtually standing on the other woman's toes. She caught a whiff of a fragrant scent and almost lost her train of thought. "I'm here because you threatened me, you bitch!" She could not stifle the quick glance to her left as an asari waitress cleared her empty glasses. It was only when she had moved on that Ash turned her attention back to Miranda. "I don't know how the hell you bugged my apartment, but if that vid goes anywhere other than your deleted folder, then I swear you won't even see the fucking shot coming. No questions asked...one of the perks of being a Spectre."

Ash knew she was going too far, but she didn't care in the slightest. Just with her presence, Miranda Lawson managed to make her feel insignificant – even more so than years of constantly being shunted to backwater postings by her superiors. She loathed everything the woman stood for.

"You didn't watch that vid did you?" Miranda asked, the smile lingering at the corners of her lips.

"And I suppose you did?" Ashley threw the question back at her. Her furious tone was merely an effort to hide her embarrassment. The thought of anyone seeing her private moments, let alone Miranda Lawson, left her feeling stripped bare – much as she no doubt was in the video. She had a brief flash of memory – her naked body framed in a mirror as she knelt on her bed. Her dark hair wild was about her face as her hips rocked, pistoning the fake cock deep inside with each thrust. Her cheeks burned and she looked away from Miranda with a defiant expression on her face.

"Watching a cat jump into a box isn't really my thing," Miranda replied with a diminutive shrug.

Ashley stiffened as a chill enveloped her body. She stared hard at the other woman. "What?"

Miranda grinned and shook her head. "You really think I would bug a Spectre's apartment for the sole reason of capturing incriminating vids...well of course I would, but that's beside the point. I didn't bug your apartment, Williams." Ashley's mouth was currently working soundlessly as Miranda continued, "I merely made a couple of reasonable deductions – long-term single, recently returned to active duty after injury, approaching sexual prime...and of course straight women love a good sized toy-"

"You..." Ashley clenched both her fists until her nails dug into her palms. Of course she hadn't watched the vid. Why didn't I watch the damn vid? "You are an unbelievable piece of work, Miranda Lawson!"

The other woman was completely unrepentant as she ran the tip of her tongue over her upper lip. She uncrossed her arms and propped one hand on her hip. "Self-gratification is nothing to be ashamed of. Although I must admit my curiosity has made my imagination run rampant."

"Why did you do it?" Ashley realised she was subconsciously stroking her Carnifex and forced herself to stop.

Miranda dropped both hands to her sides and shrugged. "I knew you weren't about to give me access to the Spectre Terminal unless I could convince you in person."

"The Spectre Terminal?" Ashley asked. "That's what this is about? You want to use it to speak to Shepard?"

Miranda nodded. "Is that a yes?" she asked hopefully.

"What? No!" Ashley fired back. "There's absolutely no friggin' way I'm giving a known terrorist access to Spectre tech. Do you think I graduated from boot yesterday? You can skulk back into your shadows before I lock you up and throw away the key – another perk of being a Spectre."

Relieved to learn that the Cerberus bitch had absolutely nothing on her, Ashley turned to leave. She had not even managed a single step before Miranda's hand darted out and seized her wrist in a desperate grip. Angrily, she tried to wrench herself free but the grip was too strong and her effort was inexplicably half-hearted.

If it were possible the music within Purgatory suddenly increased tempo. The primal rhythms amped up to something approaching a lustful frenzy. In the pulsing glare of the lights, all Ashley could make out was a sea of heads and raised arms as sweaty dancers lost themselves in the sound. She stared, transfixed as restraints were abandoned and fears were banished. When she forced herself back into the moment, Miranda's touch felt as though it was branding her flesh but she still could not move. She could feel the other woman standing only scant centimetres behind her. When the grip on her wrist became one around her waist, Ashley's mouth went dry. Her entire body felt like putty as she was drawn backwards to close that last, crucial gap that separated her from Miranda. When she felt Miranda's breasts press up against her back and her thighs against her arse, Ashley let out a ragged exhale that sounded suspiciously like defeat.

Shit, Williams. She didn't dare move. How many drinks did you have? There's loneliness and then there's fucking insanity. The warmth created by the hand pressing gently into her stomach felt almost safe. Swift, sharp elbow to the gut – disable her and get the hell out before she can react. Swift and sharp - Then she felt Miranda's breath close to her ear once again and her knees started to go weak. Shit...

"I'm leaving the Citadel tonight but I need to be able to contact Shepard via a secure terminal when the Normandy docks," Miranda said quietly. "The Spectre Terminal is the most secure on the Citadel and even I can't hack into it."

Ashley had to strain to hear her. She still didn't know why she was bothering to listen. "You worked for fucking Cerberus. Tell me again why I should help you."

"Yes, I worked for Cerberus." Miranda's sigh fell across her skin. "I respect your right to hate me for that, but Shepard is the only friend I have. I know you don't think much of me, but that friendship means everything to me. I'm asking you to help me get in touch with her. I need to say goodbye. I have something to do…and where I'm going, I don't hold out much hope of coming back."

Her reaction to Miranda's admission surprised Ashley. She felt a twinge of regret and a strange desire to ensure that she did not die. Ashley closed her eyes, seeking to understand the confusion that was invading her thoughts. Several minutes earlier she would have happily shot Miranda Lawson herself, now the prospect of her dying seemed – for lack of a better word - wrong.

When Ash found herself incapable of coming up with a reply, Miranda continued, "Look at them...soldiers, civilians...some of them might die tomorrow but they're here because they want to lose themselves in something mindless, they want to enjoy being alive purely for the sake of living. When was the last time you let yourself do that, Williams?"

"I-I..." Ashley struggled to form any sort of coherent sentence. She fumbled for something familiar to cling to. In her mind's eye she found herself lying prone on a silent rifle range. As she had been taught, she tried to slow her breathing to steady her aim. Somehow her training deserted her and she found that each of her carefully squeezed off shots missed the target completely. The highest rifle score in her intake, and now she couldn't shoot for shit. "No impact...no idea," she whispered.

Miranda didn't understand the reference, but she picked up on the intent. "Will you help me?"

Miranda's cheek pressed into the side of Ashley's neck and her lips moved against her ear as she whispered. The internal rifle range in Ash's head deserted her and instead she found herself alone with Miranda Lawson. In an irrational thought, she imagined taking hold of the hand pressed against her stomach and dragging it down between her legs. Ashley's lips parted subconsciously and she turned her head so that Miranda could hear her reply.

"Yes," she breathed. She was achingly aware that if she turned her head just that fraction farther, their lips would meet. In that instant, everything could have descended into uncharted territory as she unwound completely. However Ashley's eyes snapped open and she turned back to face the dancing crowd. Her breath came in shallow gasps and she felt embarrassed at the fact that Miranda could sense the effect she had on her.

"Thank you," Miranda said. "I promise I'll pay you back somehow."

"Fuck off, Miranda." Despite her best efforts, Ashley's response carried little authority.

"I was duplicitous in enlisting your help and I am sorry." Miranda's tone carried with it a surprising honesty. "I'll leave you alone now. Unless of course..."

The unspoken invitation was so blatant Miranda may as well have said it aloud. A dozen reactions played in Ashley's head – including the one where she invited the ex-Cerberus operative back to her apartment. Ashley had never been confronted with a situation that would led to her fucking another woman, at least not one as obvious as the one in which she found herself. If she was honest, her reluctance had nothing to do with the fact that Miranda was a woman. First and foremost, she'd worked for fucking Cerberus.

While one voice was telling the marine to spin around and find out exactly what those damn lips tasted like, another was yelling at her to run like hell. In the end, the reaction that won out was complete inaction. Ashley remained immovable, her stare fixed at some unimportant point in the distance.

Then the warmth of Miranda's body was gone. If it was possible, Ashley was both intensely relieved and bereft at the same time. Each breath that came from her throat was laboured and her mouth was dry again. She needed another drink...or something that had the distinct possibility of being even more soothing.

However when Ashley finally summoned the courage to turn around, the blue-eyed brunette had disappeared into the crowd. Ashley sighed. A part of her never wanted to see Miranda Lawson again.

Without fully realising what she was doing, a tremulous smile tugged at one corner of her lips for a few moments. The following scowl wiped it in an instant. "What the fuck did you do to me, Miranda Lawson?" Ashley muttered under her breath as she headed straight to the bar in search of that drink.