Chapter One: First Step
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Saphyria sat with her back against the wall of her families small quarters, playing Alliance Corsair on her omni-tool to waste time whilst waiting for yet another round of immunity-boosting implants. At almost 21-years-old her pilgrimage was fast approaching.
"Ria..?" Saphyria jumped, fully lost in her own thoughts, barely paying attention to the screen in front of her.
"Yes Papa?" she replied
"Are you ready?" came his response, already setting off on his way "Mal says he has some armour upgrades for your suit, and we have to get you down to medical for your implants. Then you should be good to go." He said his voice a mixture of sadness and excitement; sad at sending his only child, his only family out into the galaxy alone, and excited because the Pilgrimage is an important part of every quarian's life.
Saphyria rose to her feet and fell into stride beside her father, weaving through the slim paths leading between the numerous cubicles that served as private quarters for the many quarian families that lived on board the Idenna, each with their own brightly coloured curtains for decoration and individuality. Ysin'Mal was the Captain of the Idenna, Saphyria's home-ship.
"Sit still Saph," the medic chastised her again. It was difficult to sit still for so long, especially whilst her father and the medic told her again of her plans in great detail and especially as it was Saphyria who made the plans.
She would travel with the Cyniad, whose current mission was leading a small scout troop close to geth territory. Saphyria would disembark at Illium and make her way from there. She would carry only what she needed: weapons, medical supplies, and the tasteless food paste she'd be living on.
"It's alright, papa, I'll be careful, and I'll be back before you know it, you won't even have a chance to miss me," Saphyria reassured him.
"You be sure you are," the reply was short, but there was happiness in his tone.
Saphyria sat back and stared at the ceiling; this rite of passage was the single most terrifying and yet exhilarating experience of a young quarian's life, the idea of leaving the flotilla, all that you've ever known, your own protective little bubble and going it alone in the galaxy. The flotilla didn't often have non-quarian guests, and when they did the visits were short. This would be the first time that Saphyria would see most of the other races in person, an exciting yet scary thought; although she'd done her homework, she reminded herself.
Asari, live for a long time and as such are wise and for the most part peaceful, krogan also live for a long time, but instead of the peaceful existence chosen by the asari they prefer bloodshed and violence, so don't get on the wrong side of a krogan. Humans were more of a mystery, treated with fear throughout the galaxy, they'd made their presence known during their brief time as a space faring species. A lot of the galaxy viewed them as bullies, even after everything that Commander Shepard and the human Alliance fleet had done for the council; saving them from death at the hands of the turian Saren and the reaper Sovereign. The Galactic society had even gone as far as to mock Shepard and her party. But Saphyria didn't see it this way; humans knew what they wanted and they were willing to fight for it, as was Shepard. The galaxy could do with more like them, especially if the sources were right, if the reapers were coming. Saphyria shuddered at the thought and brushed it from her mind. She'd have plenty of time to think it through on her pilgrimage: she planned to find out whatever she could about the pending reaper invasion, a topic that would affect not only the quarian race, but the entire galaxy. If the quarians could help, maybe the council would be willing to help them find a homeworld, or recover Rannoch..
A few days later in her quarters, Saphyria packed her bags for the final time and looked around her small abode, this would be the last time she could call it home; when she returned she'd join a different ship and make her own name. She pulled back the orange curtain: she hated orange, always had, but her mother had chosen it before leaving the flotilla and her father had insisted on keeping them that way, as if it would bring her back. Sighing she made her way toward the stairs; her father would be just fine without her. He worked in maintenance, and there was always plenty of maintaining to do on a quarian ship, particularly ones as old as the Idenna.
She rounded the corner at the bottom of the stairs and came face to face with all her friends, her father's friends, the ship's captain, and her father. Saphyria smiled to herself, laughing at how she'd managed to convince herself that she'd get away without a fuss.
She boarded the Cyniad, alongside eight other quarians, seven of whom would be going on this mission deemed top secret, which left one other, also heading on their pilgrimage.