"A reaper attack?"
Scott echoed the same words as that which came from the distressed audio logs. They'd been static, choppy at best, but the despair in every sentence were as clear as day. He sat beside Sara on the edge of the bed, hand still holding hers, dumbfounded by what she'd just revealed. This might have been the final audio files to come from the Milky Way. He was still trying to wrap his head around the fact that their last messages were cries of help.
Sara's face was pale as she watched her brother reel at the news, she'd already had time to process it, though it didn't make relistening to it any easier. "The human spectre, Commander Shepard, had given warnings prior to the attack but the council dismissed their claims."
Scott realized why reapers sounded so familiar. Back when he was working for the alliance, overseeing one of the mass relays, news of the human spectres accomplishments spread like wildfire. Rumors mostly. Sarens attack apparently being a front for something more. Not everyone believed what Shepard had claimed to be the truth. For Scott, it was mostly just brief conversations and speculations with coworkers while on breaks. Not something he'd have ever thought about until now. His life in the Milky Way felt like a distant memory. With everything happening in Andromeda the rest seemed like background noise in comparison.
"Does anyone else know?"
Scott tried to make sense of it all, to find out who else was in on this. He needed more information before he could connect the dots. The distress messages came from both Palaven and Earth. A galaxy wide alert had been called by both. So while the messages hadn't been directly sent to the initiative, they must have been within range while on route to their new home. Whatever happened would have gone down not long after they jumped ship.
Scott couldn't get that noise out of his mind. That godawful booming of something entirely inhuman. It had drowned out most of the screaming and explosions in the Palaven audio, all before it abruptly cut out and leaving them with silence. That had to be the thing, a reaper. It made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. Exactly who else knew about this? Why all the secrecy?
"I don't know if Tann or anyone else knows. I've not said a word to anyone about this. The only people who seem to know anything are Jien Garson, dad, and now us. So... just us." Sara tried to keep to the facts. As selfish as it were, she felt some of the weight lifted from her shoulders having someone else to talk to about this. She'd been terrified to bring this up with anyone else. Not even Jaal knew, as much as she wanted to, she couldn't bring herself to burden him with problems of another species. "There's also some mysterious benefactor who pushed for the Initiative project to be finished in time. Dad collaborated with them - a lot - but they never revealed themselves in his memories."
Scott stared towards the empty space ahead of them. He could just about make out the kitchen, more importantly the coffee machine mom had gotten for dad. It was strange to think of how many sentimental items littered the room. All the guns displayed had a story to tell. All the memories. Could Sara see them all through dads eyes? Or was it just the ones he wanted her to see?
SAM hadn't been directed to light up the room, but gradually the lights began to brighten. It'd been Sara's turn to sit in an uncomfortable silence, her fingers wrapped around his had been the only reminder they were still sitting together.
Scott's mind raced with so many questions and not enough answers. Maybe there was a way to find out more information. Someone had to know something. There could also be a chance of more logs Sara hadn't unlocked. Or maybe a way for them to look back to the Milky Way - just as the Geth had figured out how to look to Andromeda. While they didn't have access to relay technology, they had SAM. Not only that but they were sitting in a sphere of remnant technology. Sure they didn't exactly know how it worked but it wasn't like they'd found an instruction manual for the relays either. Scott eventually felt the sense of despair settle in and weigh down his shoulders, his mind went to great lengths to find something feasible. Realistically he knew he was grasping at straws.
She couldn't read his mind, as much as she wished she could. They used to pretend that they could as kids, rehearse lines for the other to finish and weird out anyone that was paying attention. Sometimes it was a little too convincing. Dad had been so angry when he'd been called to Earth to stop by their school (for the first and only time mind you) over concerns for 'potential biotics', all Scott's idea obviously. He had always loved thinking up elaborate pranks, Sara could never resist going along with his wild ideas.
"We have to tell everyone. We can't keep this to ourselves."
Scotts voice was firm, she could practically hear their dad in his tone. So commanding and cold. He broke away from staring into the empty space to search her eyes. Looking for that same acceptance he once got when they were kids. Back when they were full of big dreams and wild hopes. Instead he received quite the opposite. They weren't those starry eyed kids anymore. People's lives were on the line with any decisions they made.
"What? Have you completely lost your mind?! No good will come from telling."
She pulled back away from him quickly, hand becoming her own once more and face contorting into a disapproving frown. Scott was being ridiculous if he thought this would help. It'd send everyone into a panic and they had enough on their plate to deal with. They'd gotten a home, sure, but Andromeda was still dangerous for their people.
"They deserve to know the truth. We signed up for expansion and exploration, not being some last hope for our species."
He couldn't help but wonder just how many people would have been on board if they knew they might potentially be the last of their kind. Less than two thousand Krogans had come over to Andromeda and according to news reports they almost lost everything when their seed vault was taken. People had left behind friends and family, some species being able to outlive six hundred years so would have still been kicking around back in the Milky Way right about now if things hadn't gone the way they had. Running from a reaper invasion wasn't part of that plan.
"Don't you think I know that? We need a plan, this isn't like fighting the Kett. You can't go barreling into it, guns blazing - not until we know more. There's that benefactor we don't know about and I have a feeling they're involved with Garsons death. Finding that out should be our priority."
She was right, she was always right. Scott stood quickly to move further away from her. More annoyed at her words than anything. His hand going back to his abdomen while he gritted through the shooting pains once more. The sudden movements had been enough for him to start seeing spots ahead. Moving forward slowly he reached out to steady himself against the bookcase. Everything hurt and now he was learning of more secrets their dad kept from them. He couldn't help but feel just a little resentful over it all.
"So are you ordering me to keep quiet as my sister, or as the pathfinder?"
"Jesus Scott, are you even listening to yourself?!"
"Ryders, I am detecting an increase in your vitals. Please allow me to contact doc-"
"Not now, SAM!"
They both snapped in unison, neither looking at the other person. Sara stayed seated in her position at the edge of the bed, refusing to rise to his level. Both were too stubborn to yield. Sara sighed while Scott stayed completely silent. He hated all of this, none of it felt right. As much as he didn't want to admit it, he also knew Sara hadn't gotten them this far without making tough decisions. Sighing, his shoulders slumped and he pushed himself off of the bookcase. The dizziness had passed and he could hold himself upright without any assistance. His other hand still gripping his abdomen. Lexi would be having a fit if she could see the pair.
"Dad kept this a secret for a reason. If we-"
"Dad isn't the greatest example for keeping secrets, just look at where it got him!"
"Enough!"
She jumped to her feet, face flushed bright red as her temper flared for the first time. Her hand went static with her biotics, threatening to lose control. Scott hasn't seen her this mad in a long time. He bowed his head, eyes to the ground, already feeling the regret over his choice of words. Sara had been there for their dad's final moments, Scott hadn't. Their dad chose her as pathfinder with good reason. Scott just wished he could have said goodbye, to tell him he was sorry for being the screwup. Sara glared holes into the back of his head while she stormed off out of the room without another word.
"Scott, Dr.T'Perro's request for you to remain under observation for an additional week has just been approved by the Pathfinder. Please see in the medbay at your earliest convenience. Also, preparations for Landing Day celebrations are underway, might I suggest showering?"
His fist pounded against the bookcase, jaw clenching. Scott made no attempts to move, he couldn't. Everything hurt and now Sara was doing what she could to keep him as far away as she could. God fucking dammit.
A/N: Major love to those who've taken time to read this far. Thank you for all the feedback!
