Walking out of the Tempest alone with her arms up high in surrender, Kathryn Ryder held her breath, looking around at the shuttles, soldiers with guns, all aimed at her.
"Here goes nothing," she said under her breath. This was the navpoint they gave them, would it be a trap? Of course, they could have shot down her ship before they landed. Ten soldiers immediately surrounded her while one scanned her. Speaking in a language she'd never heard before, but found intriguing, she waited patiently. They slowly stepped aside and allowed her to walk with them down the dock. At the top of a set of stairs, was small greeting committee. She tried to think of what this experience must be like for them. With how the kett had treated them, she could understand their trepidation, but how much hostility would they have for her?
Governor Shie introduced herself, and Ryder responded "I'm a pathfinder with the initiative –"
"Yes, you crossed darkspace. I have heard of your journey." She interrupted.
Confused, Ryder was about to ask, then realized, of course, the exiles. They had probably encountered them on other worlds.
Suddenly a large Angaran pushed past Governor Shie despite her protests.
"Evfra saw the ship come in and sent me to find out what's going on." Jaal held up his hand.
Ryder unconsciously backed up, but tried to stand up her straightest as his hulking mass walked down and loomed over her. He stood very close to her, "Aya is protected. What do you want!"
She was distracted by his demeanor, the deep scar on the left side of his head, neck, something or other. She snapped to attention, "I apologize. Landing here, like we did without warning, on fire, was not the plan." Inside she winced. Her nerves got the better of her, and her thoughts spilled out without filter.
He was still very close and intimidating, "That's good to know. Because if it was," he paused and got closer, "That would be a very bad plan." He leaned in towards her, and gave her a smile. His face turned serious again, and he turned to Governor Shie.
She processed that for a second, Wait, he just made a joke. She relaxed a little, maybe this would go alright after all.
Governor Shie very sternly took her on a heavily guarded tour through the city. The tension increased with her conversation with Evfra. How could she possibly get him to trust her, let alone help her, a stranger, an invader, after Jaal's description of what the Kett did to the Angara?
"Arrogant!" Evfra spat out, "I don't know you, let alone trust you, why would I want your help?"
Ryder knew in her desperation to help find a home, she'd pushed too hard. She pulled back and looked down, "Of course." She let out a deep breath. Now what?
Jaal spoke up, "Evfra, I feel- Evfra, what this alien says is extraordinary. The Moshae would want us to be brave and not let this chance pass."
Ryder looked at him incredulously, he was actually helping her. He trusted her.
"Jaal, you talk too much." Evfra huffed.
She watched as Jaal put his rifle back in its holster.
"Let me assess this – alien. Let me be your eyes. I know you can spare me."
Evfra acquiesced, "Go if you want, but when she tries to kill you, be prepared to strike first." He walked away.
She stared at him in silence for a few moments. Her eyes wide.
Finally he said, "I'm Jaal Ama Darav. I'll be your envoy through Angaran space."
Stunned, she sputtered out, "Thank you for trusting me."
"I don't. But, I can always kill you in your sleep."
She smiled, "Good to know."
Back on board the Tempest, Jaal sat quietly to the side in the meeting room while her crew bickered, complained and stared at him. She was frustrated and embarrassed by their reaction, thankful she had gone out alone for first contact on Aya. Jaal stood up and gave them a brief history of the Kett and the horrors they inflict on the Angaran. Ryder explained their plan, turning to Jaal to help her out. He was successful in convincing the crew and getting them on board with their plan.
He didn't take the bait on their jabs about his motives, was calm and firm, but still helpful to her. She appreciated and admired that. He fascinated her.
Later she went to the lab to try and initiate a conversation with him in private. He had his back to her, working on some equipment.
"So…Jaal." She couldn't think of anything better to say.
"So." He said in his deep voice, and got up, turning to face her.
She swallowed hard, "We haven't had a chance to talk alone. You comfortable in here?"
"I took it. It feels strange to stay with the others. They're – you're – aliens."
"And, you're alien to us, so there. We have something in common." She smiled.
"We can look at it as a place to start."
"Got it."
He let out a small chuckle, "Perhaps then, if we're all aliens, it's about what kind of alien we are."
He impressed her. "You had no idea about us, but you signed up to help us anyway."
"Perhaps it had nothing to do with you."
She frowned, "Care to elaborate?"
"I do not."
There was an uncomfortable silence, and she realized she was perhaps asking for too much too soon. She changed the subject. "How do you know Moshae Sjefa?"
"She's our greatest mind on the Remnant. I was her student."
This keeps getting better, she thought, "You studied the remnant too?"
"Hmph, a little. I was terrible. I quit. Or, she threw me out, one of those. We're still very close."
His honesty surprised her, and she felt it strangely charming. Her mind went blank, but she wanted to keep talking to him. Grasping for a topic, she said, "So – is that your rifle?"
He looked at the bench. "It is now. It's kett. With my own modifications. I like to tinker. To get my hands on something and take it apart."
"That's a skill I know we can use. But I have one request. Please don't take apart my ship."
He laughed, and she felt relieved. "You're right. I signed up – volunteered – for this. It's…exciting."
He studied her closely, "There's something unique about you – uneasy, raw – but somehow profound."
She felt a little exposed by his accurate assessment of her, but was flattered. "Face value, that sounds like a compliment, a nice one."
"It is. Angara feel deeply. We have more trouble hiding our emotions than showing them." He looked around a little uneasily. "I should get back to my work."
"When we have down time, I'd love to watch you work."
"Sure, I could show everyone."
She took a risk, "Um, no, just us. So we can get to know each other better." She could feel a blush coming on, "Or just share a hobby."
"Oh, of course."
She could tell it went over his head. "Good, good." She stood awkwardly, tipping back and forth on her heels. He turned back to his work, and she walked back to her quarters. Once inside, she felt the full force of the blush on her cheeks. She hoped Angarans didn't know what that was. She shook her head. When she went in his quarters, she'd had no intention of flirting with him. Initially she was trying to be a pleasant ship captain and teammate. The more he talked, the more it was important to her to get to know him better.
"I've got to keep that in check," she said.
She made sure the ship had the appropriate supplies Jaal needed, per his detailed email, and she talked with the rest of the crew about the mission to Aya.
"So which planet do we go to first?" Cora asked.
"I'll have to ask Jaal which one he recommends."
"Putting him in charge now, kid?" Drack added.
"I'm still in charge of this mission, but I'm not hard headed enough to think I'm the expert on Voeld and Havarl."
"Exactly. A good pathfinder knows how to get the right intel." Cora turned and nodded at her.
"Get something to eat and some sleep. We're going to hit one of those planets tomorrow." She turned for the lift. Damn, it was going to be hard to corral so many strong-willed crew without setting them off.
In his new quarters, Jaal chided himself on being so open with her. It was against his nature to be otherwise. As he worked on his rifle, he shook his head. His people's future was too important to be so undisciplined. He could still hear Evfra's parting words with him, to be careful, to stay true and clear to his purpose.
Ryder tracked down Jaal, still working on whatever he was doing before. "Yes?"
"So, what's your story Jaal? Tell me about yourself." God, again something lame. Hopefully he didn't see it that way.
"Why." He said flatly.
This wasn't going so well. "Well, why wouldn't you?" she tried to goad him into saying something, "You hiding something?"
"Maybe. That would only make sense."
She thought maybe if she started. "I was born on Earth. Third planet in the Sol system in the Milky Way."
"Hm. That's interesting. Thank you."
She was perplexed, he'd seemed so much friendlier earlier.
"That's enough, until we've established a better trust with each other." He turned back to his work.
"Okay. I understand." She turned to go, then turned back, "I wanted to get your opinion on which planet you thought we should start with. You're the expert."
"Hm. Yes. I believe we should start on Voeld. It is the headquarters of the Angaran resistance."
She nodded, "I agree. We'll start there tomorrow. Get some rest. If you need anything, you can email me, or you can come by my quarters. Anytime, really, it's okay." Damn, blushing starting again. She turned quickly and went down to her room. She put her cool hands on her hot cheeks. "Shit," she was taken aback by how strong her attraction was to him, it made no sense. She just met the guy, and yes, he helped her out, but that wasn't any reason to go all ga-ga over him.
"Pathfinder" Sam came into her thoughts.
"Yes, Sam."
"I am reading a different reaction to Jaal and I have some questions-"
"Let's establish something clear upfront, Sam. Any thoughts, actions or anything else I do that is of a personal or romantic nature is not a topic for your comment or discussion with me unless I specifically ask you, do you understand?"
"Yes, Pathfinder."
Jesus, it was hard enough trying to figure this out without an AI wanting to put its two cents in.