Though he had seen a great deal in his lifetime, the Tempest still managed to fascinate Jaal Ama Darav like few other technologies could. He desired to take the sleek space-vessel apart piece by piece to see how all the parts worked together. Still, he'd seen enough of Gil and Kallo's arguments to know that it was not such a good idea. Gil was quite skilled; constantly adapting and improving the Tempest's hardware to keep the ship at peak efficiency was no easy matter.

Jaal sometimes snuck into to the ship's core to watch Gil work, but he often asked too many questions. Gil was too polite to tell Jaal he was interrupting his work, but the alien could not resist curiosity.

As Jaal studied the Milky Way's technology and histories, his appreciation grew for the universe around him. It painted a holistic perspective that Jaal could scarcely explain. It was unfortunate then, the abundant suspicion that existed between the Angara and the Milky Way aliens.

So much caution, so much fear.

The eye-catching gleam of the Nomad on its elevated platform provoked a wince. Jaal remembered the last time he'd had the misfortune to ride in the vehicle during the team's last jaunt on Voeld. The Pathfinder's less than ideal driving abilities rarely made for a pleasant ride. Veering tuns and high speeds through precarious clifftops weren't uncommon when she drove. It was impressive how well the vehicle held up, a testament to Gil's skill. The woman was something to behold on the battlefield, but her skill behind the wheel wasn't so impressive. Peebee had laughed at Jaal once; it wasn't easy for him to hide his discomfort when Pathfinder Ryder drove.

Hearing footsteps, Jaal turned, curious who was taking a walk so late in the evening. The subject of his thoughts, Pathfinder Ryder was making her daily rounds around the ship, as she always did. She paced towards him, but something was wrong. He hoped the Pathfinder would be willing to indulge his thoughts; but the harsh glower on her face suggested otherwise.

"We're headed back to Aya. The Tempest will arrive in a few hours," she stated, her feminine voice surly. "Will you let Evfra know that we'll be at the Resistance HQ soon?"

"Of course I will. Is there something wrong, Pathfinder?" he called, hoping he was not the target of her frustration, or at least that he hadn't done anything to exacerbate it.

The team had rescued Moshae Sjefa from the kett facility on Voeld a few days prior. While inside, they had discovered kett 'exaltation'. The process was disturbing; turning innocent Angara into bloodthirsty soldiers was truly an act of evil. The harrowing discovery had left everybody on edge, so the team was doing their best to stay positive. It was harder for some more so than others.

"Nothing important, Jaal," Pathfinder Ryder replied, coming to a stop in front of him.

Jaal was silent. He had a way of observing his teammates with such intensity, as if he saw every thought flitting through. Despite her denial, the Pathfinder's stiffened jaw gave her away.

It was an alien concept to him to deny one's emotions, but she was an alien after all. It was pointless among Angara to conceal emotions, but such wasn't the case among Jaal's alien comrades. Liam was the first who'd been eager to place everything in the open in an attempt to erase the borders between them. Everyone else however was wary, Peebee being the biggest offender.

A few moments of awkward silence passed; Ryder's steadfast gaze fell to the floor. Something about Jaal's calm presence made Sara Ryder want to open up to him. He did not press her or implore her to speak further, which was ironically what caused her thoughts to spill.

"Tann is pretty pissed off with me. Apparently, my 'sarcasm' has irked a few in the Nexus hierarchy. He said I need to represent myself better- that stupid salarian doesn't know the first thing about representation. Everyone thinks he's a fool," Ryder rambled. "Everything I do is for the Initiative but every damn time we stop at the Nexus, somebody has a complaint for me."

Jaal frowned.

"Such is the nature of leadership," Jaal told his leader. "No matter what choices you make, there will be those who are… unhappy."

Ryder breathed a sigh at his words. She knew he was right, but it didn't make the situation any less frustrating.

"Don't ignore your critics," Jaal continued, "But don't let them keep you from the good that you do, either."

Ryder turned her head away so that Jaal couldn't see the whirlwind of emotion in her eyes. She hadn't known her father and predecessor well, but she knew the man would've had similar advice. Her father had loved to give advice, coupled with some thinly veiled criticisms as well.

What had Alec Ryder been thinking, making her Pathfinder? It was true that she was eager to learn and explore, but Ryder's mind was far from tactical. Too often she became frustrated with those she sought to help, too often her emotions were a hindrance in the field. If he'd truly been a father to her, he'd know these qualities in her. In reality, she'd never known the man well.

"Guess I should try to avoid ruffling people's feathers in the future," Ryder said, somewhat assuaged by her companion's advice.

Ryder heard some cross between a grunt and a snort coming from Jaal. She glanced at back at him, perplexed.

"Forgive me Pathfinder," Jaal said, an odd expression on his face. "I wasn't aware any of your Milky Way species possessed feathers of any kind… might I inquire further, or would that be rude?"

It took a second or two for the question to register in Ryder's mind. Once it did, she couldn't hold back a burst of laughter at Jaal's expense, much to his embarrassment.

"No… not real feathers. It's an idiom," she explained, amused. Getting to know a new alien species provided no shortage of awkwardly comical moments.

"I see… yes, Liam has already explained a few idioms to me. It seems that I'm… 'barking up the wrong tree.'"

"Uh… sure, Jaal," Ryder allowed, giving an encouraging smile. He was trying, at least.

Ryder leaned over the railing next to Jaal, her posture having visibly relaxed. As the new Pathfinder, she often found difficulty allowing herself casual moments such as this, given the immense pressure upon her shoulders.

It was nice, but she couldn't allow herself the moment for too long. Ryder straightened herself, preparing to finish her daily rounds about the ship.

"One more thing, Pathfinder," Jaal called as she turned away. Ryder stopped. His eyes were so compelling and full of emotion, she found herself holding a breath.

"Might I be allowed to… experiment with the Nomad schematics? I believe I may be able to find some worthwhile modifications. To help in our adventures," Jaal added quickly, trying to deflect any suspicion.

Ryder smiled.

"Ask Gil."

Hours later, the Tempest touched down on Aya's surface, much to the whole crew's relief. Since rescuing the Moshae, the Angara had been welcoming, and the crew was eager to explore what the city had to offer. Last time the crew had been there, the Moshae had requested some time to prepare the Vault on Aya. In the meantime, Ryder's team performed the finishing touches on Voeld's new outpost.

Since her arrival to Heleus, Aya was one of the most beautiful planets Ryder had the privilege to discover. Misty waterfalls, a lush vibrant ecosystem, blue skies cut by streaks of grey… it was a pleasant change of pace. Much more pleasant than the icy landscape of Voeld, although the wintry planet was undeniably beautiful as well.

Jaal excused himself once everybody departed the Tempest.

"I still need to complete the mission reports for the Kett facility," he explained. "Don't leave without me."

Peebee looked as if she were about to jump from her own skin. "I hear they have a museum here, and experts on the Remnant! I can't wait to talk to them," the asari scientist gushed.

"I'll be at the bar if anyone needs me," Drack rumbled, several of the crew members uttering sounds of agreement.

Ryder gave her team a nod and they dispersed, leaving her to find the shuttle indicated by the Moshae. Visiting the Vault on Aya would occupy a few hours, and she hoped any information discovered there would be useful in the fight against the Archon.

Liam stared dolefully after her, wishing that Ryder would kick back and relax a little more often. He wanted to get to know her, but it had proved difficult. Even when the crew was on shore leave, it seemed that their Pathfinder worked tirelessly. He knew she had many important jobs to do but still… it was a disappointment.

"Doing alright, Kosta?" Peebee asked, tearing Liam from his thoughts. The asari followed his gaze. It wasn't difficult to figure out what he was thinking. Most of the team was aware of the soldier's boyish crush, much to Liam's chagrin.

"Yeah," he said, trying to perk up. "Just wish we could all get to know each other better, you know? Everyone needs to relax some."

Peebee smirked, linking her arm through his. "So let's go to the bar with Drack, and the others," she said. "Jaal's been telling me about these Angaran intoxicants I want to try that you mix into sweet drinks. I hear they have a slow absorption rate. Come on, Kosta!"

"You had no right to keep this from me!" Moshae Sjefa lectured. Evfra may have been the leader of the Resistance, but even he was not immune from her chiding.

"It is an ongoing investigation," explained Evfra. "I meant no disrespect."

Moshae Sjefa paused. "Did Jaal know?"

"Of course not. Neither did the human."

"Tell the human the truth of my capture. This may be our only route to the Archon," the Moshae argued.

Ryder raised a brow, suspicious. What they had discovered in the vault of Aya would change everything about their mission. Evfra sighed, turning to the human outsider. Whatever it was, Evfra was not keen to let the Pathfinder know.

"One of my men helped the kett take her. A resistance member named Vehn Terev," Evfra explained to Ryder, stony-faced.

"Why would a Resistance soldier capture her?" she asked, confused. From what she'd seen, the Angara seemed to all have a great amount of respect for Moshae Sjefa. The Resistance soldiers she'd worked with had revered the Moshae, and cursed the Archon for taking her prisoner.

"I don't know," Evfra admitted. "That's why I kept it quiet. Vehn's on Kadara Port now. My contacts are searching for him."

The Moshae seemed offended. "Contacts? Those are our people who have given up on us!"

"And now our people are ruled by these 'exiles' from your galaxy," Evfra said, his imposing stare finding Ryder.

Ryder pursed her lips. She'd heard accounts all across the cluster about how dangerous the exiles were. It wouldn't be an easy job to go to a planet full of people who hated the Initiative, and convince them to hand over a prisoner. 'Easy' never seemed to make its way onto the job description, Ryder thought.

In the vault, Ryder had found a light map, resembling the vault's map on Eos that had pointed to Aya. The map had showed them a planet- the command center of the terraforming network.

"The Archon showed this same planet to me when he was torturing, me,"Moshae Sjefa had said, mystified. "He called it Meridian."

"What did he tell you about it?" Ryder had asked, equally perplexed.

"He only said he would access its true power, whatever the meaning. I believe he used a Remnant relic to display the map."

Ryder needed that relic, and she needed to find the Archon to get it. If this Vehn Terev had communicated with the Archon, then she could convince him to reveal the Archon's location.

Everyone has a price.

"We need to find Vehn and see if he can lead us to the Archon. I need to go to Kadara Port," Ryder said decisively. The lead wasn't a miracle, but it was just promising enough to give her hope.

"I don't like this," Evfra said, skepticism in his eyes.

"The Pathfinder is right," Moshae Sjefa insisted.

Evfra grunted, but couldn't argue with her. "Fine, but we do this my way. I'll be in contact, Pathfinder. You're dismissed."

Ryder didn't know much about Kadara, besides the scraps of intel they'd gained from the Initiative and the Angara. The rumor was the exiles from the Nexus seized the planet from the Angara. After the uprising, the Initiative considered the exiles dangerous enemies.

Danger seemed to be a constant here in Heleus, that much was a given.

After the Tempest's supplies were replenished and the crew had finished browsing the markets (or the bar), they all met back on the docks. Suvi had found some ingredients for an Angaran recipe she was eager to try, which provided mixed reactions from the ship. Vetra seemed a bit disgusted, Liam excited, and Lexi was attempting to dissuade the science officer from trying the recipe. Jaal didn't help the situation, offering Suvi some pointers on how to prepare the snack.

Ryder was having a hard time focusing on their antics. A few months ago she'd have joked right alongside them but now, there was so much tension. If they found Meridian it could be the key to all their problems. She could activate the terraforming network, rendering the planets livable once more. The biggest obstacle standing in the way was the Archon.

Liam noticed her disassociated state. "Hey Pathfinder," he said, pulling her from her thoughts. "People are getting excited about our movie night. It's going to be great- we can all stand to have some more social time. You know, everyone really getting to know each other and all."

"Yeah, it's going to be a lot of fun," Ryder spared as she chewed on her thumbnail. Liam seemed as if he wanted to keep the conversation engaged, but she was light-years away, so he let it be. In her faraway state, she missed the flash of disappointment that crossed Liam's face.

As soon as they were safely off the planet, Ryder left the navpoint for Kadara with Kallo and retreated to her quarters. Her mind was swimming and she needed some alone time to process it all.

Her quarters were large and rather comfortable, but she often thought the room was wasted on her. On the rare occasion that Ryder found herself in her quarters, it was spent sleeping or studying. Even then, she scarcely took the time to enjoy the amenities the room had to offer.

"You have new e-mail, Sara," SAM announced.

"Thanks, SAM," she replied, checking the terminal per his alert. Typically, Ryder didn't care for others addressing her by first name, but SAM was different.

There were three unread messages waiting for her eyes to see. One was from a Nexus journalist requesting an interview, the second message from Lexi imploring Ryder to eat her meals on a regular schedule. The third message was from Jaal, expressing his concern for the Moshae. She switched to her codex, an archive of information gathered by SAM throughout her travels. She liked to study it, see what information there could be useful to her as Pathfinder. Ryder didn't know how long she spent reading, she didn't remember when she stopped.

Ryder was awoken by Suvi's voice through her comm. "Pathfinder, we've reached Kadara. Kallo has placed us in orbit."

She lifted her head groggily from the desk, groaning as the muscles in her neck and back protested. Setting up the outpost in Voeld had been hard work- Ryder hadn't much time for sleep the past few days. She must have missed the wake-up call.

Strolling into Kadara Port wearing a uniform with the Initiative logo would be asking for trouble. Ryder opted for something more informal than usual. She shrugged on a leather jacket of black and reddish brown. Usually she would slick back her short, dark hair, but she left it in its disheveled nap state.

She grabbed a steaming cup of black coffee from the galley and took two short swigs, leaving it half full on the counter.

Ryder met up with Vetra on the bridge, who observed her new look.

"Blending in, are we?" asked the turian.

"Something like that," Ryder replied. "Take us into the Port," she ordered Kallo who promptly obeyed.

As the ship began its descent to the planet, she watched hazy skies and towering mountain ranges against hollow blackness. The planet was decidedly close to the cluster's native black hole, known as Ketos. The proximity wasn't enough to affect the Tempest's readings, but it would be unwise to come any closer.

"Incoming call- patching it through," Suvi informed the Pathfinder.

Evfra's voice rang through the comms. "There's been a development regarding the spy, Vehn Terev. Rendezvous at Kralla's song. Your contact's name is 'Shena'."

"Shena," Ryder repeated. "Got it."

Kallo landed the ship with deft skill onto the port. Their view of Kadara from the Tempest's sights was entrancing; skies of blended purple, orange, pink. Mountain peaks dipped through the atmosphere's wispy clouds, captivating Ryder. It was one of her favorite parts of the job, getting to see a new planet for the first time.

She disembarked, Vetra and Drack in tow. They hadn't made it two steps off the Tempest before Ryder froze in her tracks.

The severed head of a kett, impaled on a pike, was stuck into the ground. Ryder was coming to despise the kett, but this was overkill.

"The exiles have really stepped up their game since the revolt," Vetra commented.

The trio approached the Port, unsure of what to expect. Despite its reputation, Kadara Port was striking, bright neon lights illuminating the buildings. The buzz of activity greeted them, streets full of life. The air was pleasantly crisp unlike the humidity of Aya, though an odd scent lingered on the air.

"Not too shabby for folk who got kicked off the station with nothing to show for it," Drack said.

Ryder scowled, thinking of the pirates and exiles making her job as Pathfinder more difficult than necessary. "All I see is the trail of bodies they left behind."

Vetra and Drack exchanged glances.

"Come on," Drack said. "Our supplier is waiting."

"Do I even want to know?" Ryder asked the two.

"Nope," Vetra and Drack said in unison, sauntering into Kadara Port, leaving Ryder alone.

"Right…" Ryder muttered to herself. "Kralla's Song... where are you?"

Descending the stairs into the marketplace, Ryder noticed a commotion down below. A crowd of people had gathered around a human woman shoved on the ground. The woman gave a strangling cry as the turian guard kicked her again and again, his plated shins striking open wounds. One of the guards shouted something about Sloane Kelly, and protection fees. The woman begged and pleaded but the beating continued.

Ryder knew little about Sloane Kelly, mostly that she was a loyal soldier before the uprising on the Nexus with a bad attitude. Ryder had expected degenerates, but someone being openly beaten in the streets by the guards was barbarous.

An angaran civilian pointed her towards the entrance to Kralla's Song. It was a bar, pretty popular if the swarm of exiles inside and out was any indication. A salarian approached as she entered, but Ryder managed to evade him, making a straight shot for the bar.

Pulsating bass beats thumped throughout her chest as she entered, feeling the music from the bar in her chest. It was plenty crowded; several drunkards reeking of booze bumped into Ryder as she walked by, much to her annoyance. She didn't see many Angarans around the bar. There was one, but he seemed far too inebriated to function, Ryder doubted that's who she was meeting. Her contact must not have arrived yet.

Ryder leaned against the countertop. She'd have ordered a drink, but the asari bartender was shouting at a krogan who didn't care to pay for his drinks. The exchange was amusing, right up until the asari plunged a knife into her own bar top, her eyes icy daggers aimed at the krogan.

Minutes passed, Ryder wondered how she would find the contact. None of the bar's patrons seemed conspicuous enough to draw her attention, and asking around for 'Shena' was a dumb plan. Uncertainty welled in her chest as she glanced up and down at her watch.

"You look like you're waiting for someone."