"This is why we came. For moments like this."
Scott Ryder smiled as he took in Cora's words, hers matching his own thoughts as he stood proudly by her side. "Yeah. It's something, isn't it?" Humanity's Pathfinder took in his surroundings at Prodromos, the Andromeda Initiative's first successful outpost. "To be here, to build, to make something like this?" Scott shook his head. "I can't believe it's a reality."
"Well I hope you'll get used to it quickly." Cora nudged him with a small grin. "This was always the plan, remember?"
Scott chuckled. "Yeah, I remember. Just imagining and seeing for yourself are two very different things. Especially after six hundred years and all the shit we've seen so far."
"First of many, Pathfinder." Liam Kosta motioned to the shuttles now landing on the surface. "But it'll always be our first outpost. It's a hell of an achievement I say. Drinks on Tann's tab?"
As Scott, Cora and Liam made their way around Prodomos meeting and greeting those who now called Eos a home, the smiles never left their faces as they heard a variety of stories from the new residents.
It had been a difficult start to life in the Helius Cluster. Having awoken from cryo after six hundred years, Scott Ryder's entire life was turned upside down within the space of just a few short hours. His sister, Sara, had to be placed into a coma due to a malfunction with her cryo-pod after the humanity's arc, the Hyperion, hit some sort of energy cloud that sent the arc into disarray. His father, Alec Ryder, the designated human Pathfinder had been killed after landing on Habitat 7, the supposed 'golden world' for humanity. It was anything but that. Alec had given his life to save Scott's after successfully stabilizing the planets atmosphere, utilizing some sort of alien structure to do so. It resulted in a blast that had sent both Ryder's flying, severely damaging Scott's helmet in the process. Alec saved his son by giving him his helmet and transferring Pathfinder protocols to Scott. Because of that, SAM, the AI designed by Alec Ryder, was now deeply connected to Scott in ways that nobody truly understood.
Because of that, Scott Ryder was humanity's Pathfinder. A job that should have transferred to Alec's second, Cora Harper.
I wonder what you'd say about all of this, Dad. Probably something about stop patting each other on the back and getting back to work.
"Got a laundry list of things to do around here now." Scott shrugged. "You think they'd give us a break since we gave them a planet and all."
"That's the reason you've got that list, Scott." Cora pointed out. "Because you gave them this."
"Hey now, don't put all the credit onto me." Scott grinned. "If you two think you're getting out of-" He paused as he examined his omni-tool. "Mineral sampling, you've got another thing coming."
"You know, I think that would be right up Peebee's alley." Liam grinned.
"Drack too." Cora added. "Big guy loves rocks."
"They're not rocks, they're minerals, Cora."
Cora rolled her eyes. "Sorry."
"Try to remember next time. Keep making mistakes like that and I'll never let you drive."
"You know, just because you're Pathfinder, doesn't mean that you automatically have the right to drive." Cora teased Scott with a small grin.
"Yeah," Liam nodded. "You're important and all. You should really let one of us take the wheel. So you have more time to file reports."
"Ah, that's a kind offer, Liam." Scott pondered. "I appreciate it, but I'm going to stick with it. Besides, any reports I'll fob off to Cora. She loves that."
"I hate you."
Scott grinned. "No you don't. You hate Peebee."
"I-" Cora gritted her teeth. "I don't hate Peebee. I just.. she is.."
"Yeah, you hate her." Liam added.
Cora shook her head. "Can we go and scan these damn minerals, now? Please?"
"Sure." Scott nodded. "Since you're so excited and all. Let's get-" Scott was cut off as SAM began to speak.
"Pathfinder. Director Tann wishes to speak to you via vid-con aboard the Tempest."
Scott threw up his hands. "Damn. And Cora was so excited about the rocks."
"Minerals."
"Right, yeah." He shrugged. "We'll be right there, SAM. Raincheck on the minerals."
"I will note potential areas that can be mined for resources upon your return, Pathfinder." SAM added.
Scott groaned. "Please don't."
Scott skipped up the stairs towards the Tempests meeting room and vid-con. "Ready, SAM?"
"Connecting to Director Tann. One moment, please."
Static came to life and soon the image of Initiative Director Jarun Tann appeared before him. "Ryder. Congratulations are in order. I knew you were the right man for the job."
Sure you did. "It's still early days, Director. We've got much more to do yet."
"Indeed. But Prodromos is not why I'm calling. I need you to return to the Nexus. There is a sensitive matter that we must discuss."
"Sensitive matter? What's this about?"
"All will be explained upon your return." And without another word, the image of Tann winked out.
Scott placed his hands on his hips. "You know, a simple message would have sufficed. Ryder? Nexus. Now." He shook his head and turned for the stairs. "Kallo? You get that?"
"Yes, Pathfinder." The Tempest's Salarian pilot responded. "I shall plot a course back to the Nexus."
"Thanks." Scott closed his omni-tool and made his way towards his quarters to change before they reached the Nexus.
As the tram arrived at Operations aboard the Nexus, Scott stepped off and made his way towards Director Tann's office. He'd asked Cora to accompany him, as she'd proven to be a big asset in helping him adjust to his new role thus far. He also emphasised the point of not wanting to go see Tann on his own. As of yet, Scott wasn't the biggest fan of the Salarian. Or Foster Addison, overseer of Colonel Affairs. He was however fairly fond of the Krogan, Nakmor Kesh, the Superintendent of the Nexus and also the granddaughter of one of his newest crew members, Nakmor Drack.
Kesh wasn't present with Tann when Scott and Cora reached the Director's office, only Addison stood side by side with the Salarian. Considering the success on Eos, Scott thought Addison should have looked more pleased with his arrival. If anything, she actually looked worried.
"Pathfinder, Lieutenant Harper." Tann greeted them as they entered his office. Addison stayed silent. "Thank you for coming so quickly."
"Your message sounded urgent. What is this about?" Scott asked, waiting for why he'd been dragged back to the Nexus.
"First I'd like to congratulate you again with your success on Eos. While a millitary outpost will not please everyone, I believe it is necessary given our previous run ins with the Kett."
He's stalling. Why? Scott nodded. "I thought the same. Given the past issues at the other two sites, we need to make sure our people are secured. We can't have the Kett rolling in whenever they feel like."
"Of course." The Salarian paused. "But yes, that is not the reason why you're here. Well, partly." Tann shot a glance at Addison, but the woman still offered no response. "As I said, a delicate situation has come to light. It is best that I show you."
"Show me?" Scott frowned. "Show me what exactly?"
Tann motioned for Scott and Cora to follow him. Addison tentatively followed the group. "There is a situation in the cryo bay." Tann kept his voice to barely above a whisper as they made their way from his office.
"The.. is something wrong with Sara?" Scott's eyes widened.
"No, no. Your sister is fine. This has nothing to do with her." Tann stepped onto the tram as Scott let out a breath of relief. He pushed the button to take them to the Hyperion as the door closed behind Addison. "You'll just have to see when we arrive."
"Why the secrecy?" Cora asked. "What's happening?"
Addison finally spoke up. "The secrecy is because we don't know how to explain this."
Scott glanced towards Cora. He could tell she was as confused as he was. The tram soon arrived at the Hyperion and stopped. Tann quickly stepped off the tram as the door opened and stepped down the stairs towards the cryo bay. There were two armed men guarding the doors. As the doors to the cryo bay opened, Scott noticed immediately how things had changed.
The room was almost empty of people. Only Sara was lying peacefully on one of the beds, with Dr. Carlyle near by. He nodded at Scott as he entered. At the far end of the room, some sort of tent had been erected around one of the beds. It completely closed off anyone from viewing what was now inside.
"Er, that's new." Scott said as Tann walked directly towards the tent.
The Salarian paused as he brought up his omni-tool. A click allowed access as the door unlocked. "What you're about to see.. it is of the highest clearance. And, well-" Tann trailed off. "You'll see for yourselves." He stepped into the tent.
Scott looked at Cora and motioned for her to go in first. "Gotta protect the Pathfinder, remember? Who knows what's in there."
"So brave." Cora shook her head and entered. Ryder quickly followed behind, followed by Addison. "Oh my god." Cora's words caught in her throat. "Is that-"
Scott looked upon the unconscious Human lying on the bed. "Holy shit." His eyes widened. "That can't be.." He struggled to find the words as he turned towards Tann. "That's-"
"Commander Shepard." Tann responded. There was no emotion in the Salarian's voice.
"But.." Scott shook his head. "How? He died after the battle of the Citadel. Didn't he? I watched the ceremony on the Citadel. Is this.. what is this?"
"I don't know, Scott." Tann sounded defeated. "None of us do. Upon your request for a military outpost, we began the process of waking suitable candidates. We opened a pod designated for 'Robert McNeill' and found.. him. The first Human SPECTRE. The man that saved the Citadel."
"Or somebody with his face." Addison added. "Our doctors are as baffled as we are. There's a lot of, well, tech seemingly inside of him. Tech we don't even understand, that's keeping him alive."
Ryder opened his scanner and looked over the body of what seemed to be Commander Shepard. "SAM?"
"One moment." There was a slight pause. Nobody made a sound. "I can confirm that this is a DNA match for John Shepard, born April 11, 2154 on Earth. Graduate of the Systems Alliance N7 special forces program, service no. 5923-AC-2826."
"SAM." Ryder blinked. "Why do you have Commander Shepard's DNA profile?"
There was a short silence. "Unknown."
Scott gritted his teeth. "Dammit, Dad!" Did you have something to do with this? He looked helplessly toward Cora. She had nothing to give as she looked back sorrowfully. "Are you going to wake him?"
"We've tried." Tann spoke again. "Whatever is inside of Shepard, it's keeping him in some sort of coma. We don't know how to remove him from it."
Scott rubbed his eyes. "So let me get all this straight. Commander Shepard was supposedly killed after Saren and the Geth attacked the Citadel. Except he wasn't. Or almost was. Hell! He's here and nobody in charge knows why. We can't wake him up and ask him. So we're just stuck, like this, until what? He wakes up?"
"I'm looking into Jien Garson's files, to see if there's anything to indicate Shepard's presence here." Tann sighed. "Currently, there is nothing."
"I can see what you meant by sensitive matters." Scott licked his lips. "How do we proceed from here?" I need to get into Dad's memories. Maybe there's something about Shepard? Is this what you meant by find things out about you?
"You continue your mission, Pathfinder. But this is on a need to know basis. Considering some of the allegiances that your crew have with others no longer on board the Nexus, it is better not to involve them. We don't want word of Shepard's presence here to spread. Not before we know the how and why. And then we wait and hope that he wakes, or we can wake him. I fear only he might have the answers."
"Understood." Scott looked down at Shepard. "This has been a hell of a day, hasn't it?" He glanced at Cora. "Why we came, eh? For moments like this?"
