So, this will be my first true attempt at a ship-centric story. Not quite my forte, but I love this ship too much to stay quiet. So...please be gentle? (Also constructive criticism is most welcome, since, again, not quite my forte)
The colonization of Prodromos was like a dream come true for hundreds of settlers and colonists in the Initiative. Eos, a planet so hostile and dangerous that it had failed the Initiative's previous two attempts to colonize on its surface. But the desert planet had been terraformed and made livable, thanks to the efforts of the Pathfinder, who made the third and final colony a reality.
With the planet's changes, as well as having an actual team on the surface to gather readings, Suvi had a whole set of new challenges herself. There was so much to go through, so much to collect and study. Even after leaving the colony, the Remnant structures continued to slowly alter the very essence of Eos itself. Atmosphere, temperature, humidity—anything and everything that a planet needed for a stable environment. The Remnant vaults were truly astounding in themselves. Time was of the essence when studying the full effects of how much the vault changed Eos. Whoever or whatever created the Remnant were truly inspired minds to say the least. Suvi couldn't help but wonder as to what their motives would have been—for the Remnant, the vaults, and the other structures. How much of Heleus was touched by their creations? What else did they have to hide?
Suvi shook her head to focus on her datapad and the information she was reading. Eos' science team was huge, and covered a variety of fields of study. They continued to transmit new information or new findings regularly, and Suvi was the first, and usually only one, to plow through the raw data in the Tempest's research room.
It helped that Prodromos was a scientific outpost—established at the behest of the Pathfinder. It was a relief that despite all the hardships of Andromeda so far that Ryder chose study and research over a military outpost, though neither choice seemed inherently wrong in the grand scheme of things. The kett were every bit as dangerous as the unusual nature of Andromeda itself.
The kett themselves were...interesting, to say the least. Suvi skimmed through most of the relevant data on their biology, since Lexi was more than eager to cover what readings and tissue samples Sara brought back with her, but most of her focus went toward their unique technology. Even if most of the salvage was smashed and broken, it still provided an indepth look at the first civilization, such as the kett were, in Andromeda. It was a shame that the kett were just naturally hostile towards anything and everything. There were so many questions that ran through Suvi's mind that only a kett could answer.
With any luck, maybe the next wave of kett salvage would have fewer bullet holes. Or at least something would get brought back that was in one piece. Then again, it was probably asking too much from a team that consisted of two Vanguards and one Liam Kosta. It was a miracle that there was anything left to bring home in the first place.
Suvi's thoughts were interrupted by the familiar hiss of the Tempest's automated doors as they opened for the Pathfinder herself, and the crew's newest, biggest addition, Drack. "...and I mean really, if it pisses off Tann, then I'm all for it."
The ancient krogan laughed like a scheming devil as he followed Ryder around the central table. Suvi took a few steps to her left to make room as Sara started typing away designated APEX terminal. She observed the Pathfinder curiously before taking a glance up at Drack, who paid the other human no mind.
"I'm surprised you're alright with this, Ryder. Tann would probably fire you if he found out you were giving me access to your fancy ship's computer."
Suvi felt her brow furrow with frustration as her curiosity for their scheme was growing, as was her general concern. Sara shrugged and stepped away from the terminal. "I don't think he has the authority to fire me. And if he wants to throw a racist hissy fit over you using a computer, then I'll just remind him how far his opinion goes on this ship. You know, when he's being thrown out of the airlock."
Drack laughed again as he took Sara's place in front of the strike terminal and started typing away with his large, claw-like fingers. "You're alright, kid."
Suvi remained silent, but observant, and more than anything, frustrated and still curious. She looked at Drack again before taking a step away from the research and development station. Her movement finally caught the Pathfinder's attention. "Do I want to know...?"
Sara smiled, almost looking apologetic, before lightly tapping her knuckles on the gigantic krogan's shoulder. "Drack has some scouts out in the wind and he wants to stay in touch with them."
"Without those bastards from the Nexus looking at them."
"Barring SAM and maybe myself if you do plan that coup we were talking about." Drack grinned, which only made Suvi worry more. It was no secret that the leadership of the Nexus had been less than pleasant for the Pathfinder's arrival, but surely Sara didn't plan to bring down the initiative. At least not solely on Drack's behest. "SAM is setting up a secure channel that he can contact his scouts and his people through, without having to worry about Tann or anybody else being a nosy shit."
Based on what she had heard about the uprising, Suvi couldn't exactly blame Drack for not trusting the Nexus, or a majority of their leaders. Nor could she judge Sara for expecting open arms and a welcoming party, only to be met with a sea of troubles and a staff of bureaucrats telling her what an awful job she's only just started at. Addison in particular left quite the memorable impression on the Pathfinder. Perhaps Sara and Drack's mutual distrust of Nexus leadership—and kett, helped them get along.
It was all Suvi could do to fathom the things that not just Sara, but all of the Hyperion Ark had to endure before just making it to the Nexus. She had slept through most of the Nexus excitement, though waking up to a world of troubles was taxing in its own way. Sara had the worst of both experiences.
Everything seemed so simple when they left; travel to a new galaxy, settle on the golden worlds, make a new home. The Scourge, Remnant, the kett, even their own hub station—nothing in Andromeda was supposed to be as it turned out. Everyone had given up hope that things could change, until Sara proved them wrong.
"Alright, SAM says that's all," Sara finally said. "You can contact them from your omni-tool whenever you want, but if you need quality signal, you're going to have to come up here."
"Neat. Thanks, kid." Drack turned and lumbered out of the room without another word. Sara watched him leave before she turned to Suvi with a smile, undoubtedly trying to hide the tired look on her face. Suvi wondered when the Pathfinder last got a chance to sleep.
"How's everything going on Prodromos?" she asked. "Still there?"
"Still there, and still extremely busy." Sara's tired smile seemed more genuine after hearing the continued good news, but something was still off. "You look like you could use some sleep."
Sara nodded with a heavy sigh, "And then some. But you know what they say; no rest for the wicked."
Suvi smiled, "That's a shame." She looked up just in time to catch Sara's curious, perplexed look. "I just thinking Drack could use more beauty sleep."
The Pathfinder immediately broke out into a fit of laughter. Suvi couldn't help but to grin at Sara's reaction as she hastily tried to quiet herself with her hand. A few weak giggles managed to get past her fingers, but Sara's eyes betrayed the amusement she was trying to suppress.
"I didn't think it was that funny," Suvi said, practically mumbling.
Sara's hand finally dropped off of her face, but her lips were still curled up in a smile. "I'm tired, and it was pretty funny. I needed a good laugh anyway."
"Happy to be of assistance," Suvi declared with a smile of her own. Sara stared at her a bit longer, holding her smile as her eyes eventually moved back to the APEX terminal. She took a second herself to study the Pathfinder's face, or at least what she could make out behind a veil of dyed, crimson locks of hair. "Pathfinder...?"
"Hm?" Sara's head snapped to almost immediately. Suvi took a moment to study the curiosities present on the Pathfinder's face—namely the faint series of scars that surrounded her right eye, and the unusual blue tattoo that covered her left.
"I was...curious about your tattoo?"
Sara smirked, "Not the scar?" Suvi knew she was being teased, but she wasn't quite able to think of a proper way to ask about Sara's facial scars. Then again, it would be almost impossible to wonder about one and not the other. "The short version is that my brother got a tattoo to match my scar, and then I got a matching tattoo. Just...reversed."
"That's sweet of both of you," Suvi said. She wanted to hear the long version to both stories, but decided against pressing the exhausted Pathfinder. Especially given that both topics likely treaded along the lines of the Ryder family history. Something Sara probably did not want to talk about, given her brother's condition. "Prodromos is off to a great start so far."
"Good..." Worry flickered across Sara's face. She was already second guessing herself. But nothing was certain, especially not with the rough start they've had.
"For whatever it's worth...I think focusing on science and research was the smart choice."
"I just hope it's the right one." And there was the problem eating away at her. Eos was not a forgiving planet, and everyone on Prodromos was in danger of attack from hostile forces, or even just a spike in the weather should the vault go on the fritz again. But the settlers of Prodromos were also people who were ready for work, just like Suvi when she volunteered to join the Pathfinder's crew on the Tempest.
"I think it was. We're here to explore and learn about this brand new galaxy. And all the things we've seen and experienced so far in Heleus? I think it's better to try and understand exactly what we're up against before trying to tackle it head on."
A faint smile returned to Sara's face, making Suvi smile in turn. "I appreciate the vote of confidence."
"It's more than that." She quickly entered a few keystrokes to pull up a holographic display of the Heleus Cluster for the Pathfinder to see. "Teams report that communications between the Nexus and Prodromos, and there are already plans to expand the colony once the worst of the radiation passes. APEX teams are helping the security teams assigned on Eos to thin out kett resistance in the area. We're even getting new scans of the Scourge, not to mention the rest of the research and data that's been flooding in. Also, the information you gathered in the Remnant vault, the terraforming network, a better map of the cluster...you made this possible for us, Pathfinder."
Sara looked up at the display as she listened to her list of accomplishments on Eos laid out for her. It certainly improved her mood, if the soft tone of her face was anything to go by. The way the light hit the Pathfinder's face, Suvi could make out all the small details that her unkempt hair tried to hide. Every scar illuminated, every detail of her unusual tattoo was shown for Suvi to study. She didn't even realize how long she was staring for until Sara finally turned away from the map.
"You really know how to make a girl feel special." A rush of warm flooded Suvi's cheeks as Sara shot a charming smile her way. Of course, she was grinning like an absolute idiot because of her.
"Anything I can do to help our Pathfinder."
"Got a way to beat the kett yet?"
"It's a work in progress." Sara giggled again as she moved her focus back to the terminal. Suvi took a cautionary glance before she stared a bit longer at her.
She studied the unique ruggedness of the Pathfinder's face while she was looking away. From where she was standing, Suvi could see how the scars ran over her cheek, across her nose, and reached up underneath her bangs. She wondered what happened to give her such a harsh scar crossing around in all directions. Even more her curiosity, or perhaps just a personal interest, studied Sara's focused emerald eyes that were untouched gems surrounded by the the complicated, intricate scars on her face. All of it only drew Suvi's focus in deeper.
The lights shifted from blue to a glaring orange, breaking Suvi's focus before Ryder even raised her head. She frantically looked around the room, only to find the change in lighting came from Sara. The display showed the new mappings of the Scourge set before them. Suvi looked at Sara one last time to make sure she hadn't been caught. Thankfully, she didn't seem to notice.
"There's this new mass we didn't know about," Suvi said, quickly occupying the silence and her own attention on something else. A red box appeared around the tendrils Suvi pointed out. They cut and reached across Pytheas in ways previous observers never noticed. "Prodromos has managed to pick up more readings with the planet's rotation in the system. They think that these nerves are what's causing the same readings across Eos."
Sara tilted her head, "Nerves?"
Suvi blinked at her, then blushed when her personal term had been pointed out. "Oh, sorry. It...they all look like—,"
"A nervous cluster," Sara said, finishing her thought. She nodded gently, as if she had read the science officer's mind. "I can see it. I guess I've just never looked at with that perspective before."
There was some relief there, and a twinge of joy that Ryder saw it in a similar light. "I've spent so long studying the old scans that I guess I've just...noticed patterns." Or rather she saw them everywhere. "All that dark energy twisting and turning on itself...it's..."
"Beautiful." Suvi looked at the Pathfinder as the heat rushed to her cheeks. Sara's eyes were stuck on the Scourge, filled with equal parts wonder and reservation. Of course she didn't mean to use that word on Suvi. "Dangerous. Chaotic. Alien," she continued. "I guess it just depends on how we observe such a darkly beautiful phenomenon."
"'Darkly beautiful...'" she repeated in a gentle whisper, a smile tugging softly at the corners of her mouth. "I like that."
"The Scourge is a menace, and a threat, but who knows what's hidden inside of it? Who created it, how, and why? Every expression tells a story."
"The Scourge does leave quite the impression." Suvi was delighted that someone else could see such a unique cosmic construct in so many different ways. So many people would never ask those questions about it. The Scourge was just some big mess they had to live with. More than the Scourge, Suvi started to wonder what story Sara's expressions told about her. Strength, determination, bravery, compassion. It was difficult finding just the right word to describe the Pathfinder.
"Everything in Heleus seems to do that," Suvi said. "It's all so...new, so alien. Not just the Scourge or the Remnant, but...all of it really. A constant reminder of...just how big the universe really is."
"Do you ever think of what the plan was for all of it?"
The Pathfinder was staring right at her when she asked. Suvi's mind came crashing to a stop all at once. "All of what?" She hardly registered that she spoke out loud before Sara laughed.
"The universe." Sara turned around and leaned back gently next to the APEX terminal. "Come on, you're really smart. You haven't wondered about the nature of creation before?"
The compliment made Suvi blush. More importantly, the question continued stalling her brain. "You...think there was a plan?"
The Pathfinder shrugged, "I don't know. Existence seems too...complicated to just be an accident, you know? Think about the countless lives that are scattered throughout the universe, and consider that each individual being is a complex, sentient creation that's totally one-of-a-kind. Twins don't even have fully identical DNA, and that's about as close as you can even get with our species. I just can't buy that our existence is just by happenstance."
Suvi was at a loss for words. There were so many thing she felt like she wanted to say, but all of it was loud, frantic noise in her head. "I...wow." The Pathfinder turned her way with a curious look, and that stupid cute smile of hers. "I'm sorry, it's just I...I don't find many people who...believe in a higher power. I-I've had to justify my own beliefs so much that I just expect ridicule and judgment."
Sara's smile caused her eyes to light up with mischief. "A woman of science and faith? You're just a little rebel, aren't you?"
Suvi never dared to classify herself as such, even if belief and facts often clashed in the scientific community. "I can believe in something greater than myself while also searching to understand the fundamental truth of creation. I'm a scientist because science brings me closer to something greater than myself. To me, God is an inventor—an artist. Not someone sitting in the clouds, wondering if I brushed my teeth before bed."
"Wow." Suvi looked at the Pathfinder, whose smile continued to make her stomach flip over. "You definitely have some interesting thoughts on the interplay of science and faith. I'd really like to pick your brain on this subject some more. Maybe...drinks on the Nexus?"
Her thoughts came crashing down all at once. Again.
Say yes you idiot!
"Oh...I uh...I'd like that."
"Looking forward to it." Sara gave one last smile before she turned around and left the room.
Suvi pressed her lips together to try and force down the smile that forced its way onto her face. She tried to silence the part of her brain that was throwing a party for scoring a date with the Pathfinder. Despite herself, Suvi eventually lost herself down a trail of whimsical 'what-if' scenarios. Having a mind that searched for logic and facts always conflicted with her romantic heart.
It's just a date. A date with the dashing, flirtatious, one-of-a-kind Pathfinder. Okay, don't think of it as a date then.
Hey! If you're reading this, then thanks for sticking around. Hopefully you enjoyed my uh...attempt. There will be more in the future, because I can't explain how much I love the Sara x Suvi ship, and Andromeda in general. If you liked my story, or constructive criticisms to offer, then feel free to leave a review! It helps to fuel my writing addiction.