Author's Note: Here we are with Chapter 2~ I hope you enjoy it!
Ain couldn't help her eyes from looking back and forth along Aya's walls. The Angara around were all sorts of different colors and sometimes even a mixture of colors. She wondered if it was a genetic thing or if it was something else. Her knowledge was bound by what she knew in the Milky Way 400 years ago. Her mind wandered briefly to how things have changed in the Milky Way since then. The steps and whispers around her making her keenly aware that she was, in fact, not there anymore. If she was being honest with herself, the looks she was getting and the hushed whispers coming from the many Angara were making her nervous and extremely uncomfortable. Paraan Shie seemed to notice the anxiety she was facing and clasped her hands together, walking slower to let Ain catch up to her.
"Forgive us," she had begun "the last alien that had come to us from another galaxy was the Kett."
Ain couldn't blame herself for wanting to defend her people, and in truth, she really could understand. The First Contact War between the Turians and Humans had been from fear and misunderstanding. Now Vetra was one of her best friends. Whenever a new species had encountered another fear always set in along with worry. With the Angara, the Kett had tried to commit genocide to the Angara and were still trying. If it was the other way around, Ain knew she would be defending Humans. Still, the Angara had such large eyes and so many staring at her made her nervous. What if she stepped forward too fast? Not fast enough? What if she coughed and they took it as a way to get them sick or some way to harm them? She couldn't be too careful since she didn't want to upset potential allies and maybe even friends.
"I understand Paraan Shie, Ma'am," Ain said and dipped her head in respect again. The Angara seemed to have respect deeply embedded into their culture. Slightly, she froze when Paraan Shie gave her a once over. She looked at the guards that were behind Ain and waved them off. They hesitated for a moment, obviously not liking the idea of leaving their governor directly unattended with an alien there. Looking around, there were still guards placed everywhere making it obvious that Ain wasn't allowed to stray from her guide's side to explore or look around lest she be warned or even shot dead. "We have also had our own run-ins with the Kett." Paraan Shie's movement of trust made Ain exhale gently. This was a step forward in the right direction.
"Many people died at their hands then." Paraan Shie nodded in understanding without even having to ask the question. A solemn look crossed her big eyes, respect and honor soaking into them. Even though they were aliens and Ain was technically being held at gunpoint-even if not directly anymore-and Paraan Shie was still willing to honor them with her own moment of silence. Incredible. They were truly an incredible people. The more she walked with the governor, the more she hoped to have the Angara on their side.
"Aya is beautiful, Ma'am," Ain commented, looking at the flora, the fauna, and the beautiful architecture that they had started to climb their way into. It seemed like paradise, but of course, she was sure there was more to the story. Jaal had said it was hidden and protected. That could only mean they had been invaded and harmed, maybe even massacred before.
"It is the last jewel we have." Ain had wanted to ask what Paraan Shie had meant, but the beautiful woman had already spoken again. "This is where I leave you, Pathfinder. You will see Evfra; take this door." Despite the somewhat tense conversation all the way there, she received a smile and gave one in return.
Ain walked into the building, hearing another conversation coming from deeper inside. It sounded like Jaal speaking, and it sounded like it was coming closer. A more nervous part of her wanted to hide and eavesdrop, but that wasn't a way to gain someone's trust. She would have to breathe and keep her chest and head high, reminding herself that she was indeed a Pathfinder. Just as Paraan Shie had said. But maybe just a little hiding and eavesdropping wouldn't be so bad. She would only have to go slower and scoot a little to the side, right? Then when they were finished, she could just continue like normal. It wasn't like she could hide in plain sight either. Ain saw a little alcove that she could hide in for the meantime. It was out of sight from the front door as well as from where the sight of the conversation was coming from.
"They're bullies, but this situation is now your fault. Don't get kicked out Moraan-not because of them."
"But you're telling me to be weak!"
"No, I'm telling you to be strong through your cunning and heart. Okay?" Ain heard more steps coming towards her and she started to panic. If she got caught hiding it would be a little bit harder to convince the Angara that she was trustworthy. Jaal spoke up again before she could get too worried. "Hey." The footsteps retreated and Ain found this the time to get out of her spot and head slower up the stairs for the rest of the conversation that Jaal and this "Moraan" seemed to be having. He handed something to Jaal.
"It really is the best one in the Resistance."
"I know."
Ain picked up a regular pace at the stairs and came face to throat with another Angara. At least she was more this one's height. Using common sense, she supposed this was Moraan. Ain gave a small bow in respect to the younger Angara and a smile. Moraan stopped for a moment in shock; stunned and blinking. He smiled before glancing back at Jaal and heading out of the building to who knew where. She hoped those smiles were meaningful and that she had done something right. Like her previous worries, she knew that she was walking on a tightrope with barely any balance. All she wanted to do was show that they could trust each other and that she did indeed respect them. Her eyes turned to Jaal who had holstered what looked like a Kett rifle and she was met with fiercely locked eye contact. Her throat got fuzzy again, and she forgot how to breathe. Clearing her throat must've been the right thing to do because Jaal spoke, thankfully breaking the silence before it could really begin.
"Our experiences with the Kett have made us naturally distrustful of all aliens."
It was kinda awkward hearing them being called "aliens", but in truth, that's what they were. The Angara were the natives and Humans, Salarians, Asari, and Turian; they were the aliens now and they really didn't have a choice but to get used to it.
"Yes, that's what Paraan Shie was saying. it's completely understandable."
"Hmm..." Was it something that she had said?
"I mean, we've had our own dealings with the Kett. Many good friends and soldiers died."
"Then... you really do understand," Jaal said and a somewhat confused expression covered his face. Was he doubting?
Duh Ain, he literally just said that they were naturally distrustful of all aliens. That includes you now Idiot. Think!
Perhaps sensing Ain's awkwardness, Jaal continued.
"When the Archon came to Heleus, he demolished our sovereign state-took what he wanted, as if we were nothing."
"The Archon?" Ain asked. "We met a Kett that seemed to be higher on the chain of command than the others. Was that-"
"The Archon. Yes." Jaal said and gestured with his hand, walking next to her as he continued. He supposed Jaal was leading them to this "Evfra's" office. "Now, the Kett mercilessly abduct the Angara. Often... we never see our people again."
"W-Wait, I heard that right, right?" Ain said, blinking her eyes. Her brows furrowed, trying to dissect what she had just heard. "The Kett kidnap your people? Steal them?"
"Yes, and the Resistance fights them every day with everything that we have."
"Very admirable." Silence filled them again, only the footsteps echoed through the hall. "... what is it the Kett are after?"
"You should save your questions for Evfra."
Ain couldn't help but wonder what kind of person Evfra was. She didn't have to wonder long before his gruff voice rang out in the building.
"Kadara be damned! I won't lose Voeld!" This sort of behavior seemed to be normal since Jaal nor the other Angara around him were shaken in any way. Ain's gaze traveled to what he was looking at, but couldn't understand any of it. Even if she could, she doubted that this man would've wanted any input that she had to offer.
"Evfra, this is one of the aliens of the Milky Way-A Pathfinder." Ain coughed slightly, trying to stifle a laugh from the way that Jaal had said "Milky Way". She blinked her eyes and looked at the Angara, her smile dropping when she saw the two large scars upon his face. It was from an attack of some sort; Kett or perhaps indigenous life forms that they had yet to run into. Either way, he didn't look too friendly. From Moraan, to Evfra, to Jaal, and Paraan Shie; the Angara could come in all flavors. Ain could only wonder what the crew on the Tempest would think of them.
"Pathfinder." Ain couldn't tell whether Evfra's tone held curiosity or resentment. She hoped it was the former, or she could feel the brewings of racism on the horizon already. "Bold move, coming to Aya."
"We traveled a long way, Sir. We had to be bold enough to leave the Milky Way. I have to be bold enough to save them. Our ship was almost on fire, and we needed somewhere to land."
A sound of... approval? Could she really hope? That hope was dashed with another harsh tone. She wanted to chalk it up to it just being the undertone of all male Angara, but from the way Moraan spoke she couldn't make that assumption. Jaal and Evfra just seemed to hate her she supposed. It really wasn't fair since they didn't get a chance to know them. They hadn't shot them up first chance they had gotten like the Kett. Ain tried to see it from their point of view but with Evfra's tone, it was making it difficult. It wasn't like they had wanted all these problems either.
"Never mind how you got here-why are you here?"
"We set a small colony on Eos, trying to get a foothold here in Andromeda, somewhere to start to put down roots. It was highly radiated and couldn't hold life for anyone." Ain began to explain. "There we found a sort of vault and I brought it back online, it somehow regulated the atmosphere so we could really start our colony. The map gave us coordinates here where there was supposed to be another vault."
"Remnant. The recent intelligence that we've gathered supports that claim."
As far as Ain knew, they had only activated the first vault since the monoliths weren't powered. Eos and other planets like it were toxic to all human life. It would be hard to believe that anyone else had gotten a way to activate them. So how did they know? They couldn't have followed them considering they were ready to shoot them. They had been here longer, maybe there was something in Native lore? Evfra was watching her every move, waiting for her.
"From what the map showed, there's a vault on Aya and it's... different somehow."
Evfra made a grunt and turned from her, staring out the window at the beautiful scenery. She didn't think that she would ever get used to seeing this. Then again, she didn't know how much she would be traveling here either, or if she would even make it back to the Tempest alive. She could picture her friends pacing back and forth, arguing about if they should send someone to go and try to find her.
"Yes. There is a 'vault' on Aya, but its entrance was sealed years ago. We... can't help you."
"The Moshae could." Seeing the look of confusion at the term, he nodded as if understanding forgetting that he would have to elaborate on almost anything and everything that had to do with them, their culture, or even their planet. "She is our most revered scientist and elder. She knows of this vault."
Evfra about faced and glared at not only Ain but now at Jaal too. A sensitive topic to Evfra perhaps? That would have to be filed in her mental notebook. His voice was practically a growl when he stomped over to where Jaal was.
"Now the Kett have her, and our rescue attempts have failed. She's lost to us. And you."
No. There's no way... the Moshae is our only hope now. We need to find her. Even if it doesn't improve relations with the Angara... I can't let someone just stay in Kett hands when they're being looked for and missed.
"Let me at least show you what I can do." Ain said, taking a step forward which only seemed to anger him more. Bad move. "I won't take one step without your approval."
"You have no idea what you're dealing with! The Angara learned years ago the dangers of messing with the vaults and the Kett for that matter."
Can't argue there... Good job, Ain. Thank you, Ain. You're welcome, Ain... Dumbass. Of course, it wouldn't be that ea-
"Evfra...I... I feel this alien is extraordinary."
Jaal's voice jarred her and Ain couldn't thank the stars enough that he was turned away from her so that he wouldn't see the pink blush returning to cover her cheeks. Extraordinary? After he had been so quick to get in her face at their meeting. He had smiled after that and hadn't been as hostile towards her since then. Maybe it was just the fact that someone had actually given her a compliment instead of a curveball one. It was nice to get a direct compliment. Even if that wasn't what Jaal was hoping for, she hoped it would be safe to at least take it as that.
"What they say that is."
Well... there went that feeling of approval.
"The Moshae would want us to be brave and not argue among ourselves. She wouldn't want us to let this chance pass, Evfra. You know it as well as I."
I'm getting a headache. Great, looks like Evfra's getting one too. Good... Jackass.
"Let me assess this alien. I'll be your eyes. I know you can spare me."
"Fine, but when it tries to kill you, be prepared to strike first."
I'm right here you know... I was right, you are a jackass. A dildo. I'd call you a dick Evfra, but you're not real enough.
His footsteps retreated quickly, not from fear, but from anger. Ain had to seriously fight the urge to stick out her tongue at him. He could just be so childish! Oh.. well, maybe that wasn't the best insult considering... But still! If the Moshae was as important as Jaal said, then there was no way that they should just give up. She was revered. A scientist and an elder. A friend and maybe even a mother. Anger boiled in her mind. Evfra had been serious about just giving up.
"I am Jaal Ama Darav. I'll be your envoy through Angaran space."
"H-Hey... I-I mean, hello." Ain cleared her throat and wiped her hands down her sweatpants. "Ryder. A-Ain Ryder."
"A-Ain? Quite a name."
"No, uh... just Ain."
"Ah."
Silence. Great...
"Thank you for trusting me." Ryder smiled, hoping to at least get a smile back to prove that they were on good terms. Hopefully?
"I don't. But I can always kill you in your sleep."
"Ha...ha." Ain said, cold sweat pricking on the back of her neck. She saw no humor in his eyes. "R-Right..."
Together, Ain walked out of the building with Jaal by her side. Every now and then she stole glances at him. Had that been a terrible attempt at humor? No.. probably not. The whispers from the Angara only increased in volume with Jaal at her side. She had caught Jaal giving her side glances as well which had resulted in her quickly looking away from him. Following him back to the dock, they were stopped. It seemed to be Jaal's friend and she moved slightly away, not wanting to interrupt or eavesdrop on their conversation.
Not like I didn't do that a little while ago... But... that doesn't count. Just because.
"Jaal... you think the Moshae is alive?"
"I'm sure of it."
"Don't kill yourself trying to bring her home."
"No promises."
The Moshae is someone so important that people would die for her? Or was it just Jaal in particular. He seemed different from the other Angara, but she still didn't know if that was a good thing. Maybe he really was waiting for a time to kill her in her sleep. How ironic that she would sleep 400 years to only be killed in her sleep.
"Ryder, the ship is all fixed up."
"Alrighty, Gil. Thanks." Ain smiled and looked at the Tempest. She looked at Jaal who seemed mesmerized.
"Your ship is..." A deep chuckle rumbled from Jaal's throat and Ain looked at the nearest... anything to capture her attention. "we have nothing like it."
"Oh uh... wait until you see the inside."
"It gets better?"
"U-Uh, yeah. I.. I think so." Ain stammered and looked at the Tempest. "I'll introduce you to the rest of my crew."
Please don't embarrass me, guys...
Ain walked onto the ship with Jaal, stunning Vetra who had been waiting anxiously for her return. She walked with Jaal to the conference room, with glances from everyone that they passed. Maybe Jaal would get how she felt now. It wasn't like she wanted him to feel awkward, but letting him know what it felt like to be gawked at may have been a little payback for subjecting her to Evfra. She looked up and saw Cora.
"Can you get everyone together for me? We need to have a meeting." Ain said and watched Cora jog off, Vetra hadn't been far behind, her eyes wide.
Ain stood at the communication device, pacing back and forth while one by one her friends arrived. Jaal had stayed near Ain, but not too close for someone to insinuate that they were even acquaintances. Each one that passed, had given Jaal a look of worry and maybe a hint of fear. She scratched the back of her head, looking at him with a bit of apology in her eyes. They were the Natives here, and as much as she wanted to give him a little payback a little bit ago, she remembered how uncomfortable it had been and felt bad about it.
"Okay, guys..." Ain began.
"What were you thinking?!" Peebee exclaimed, looking at everyone. "You brought an alien here?"
Oh. My. God. I'm going to let Jaal kill you in your sleep.
"They're the natives here. We're the aliens, Peebee." Ain tried to remind.
"It can't be that bad." Cora tried to reason.
"Are you serious?! This is one of the worst things that could happen."
"I think you're being a little overdramatic..." Cora said.
"Am I?!"
"Look, all I'm trying to say is that this First Contact went a whole hell of a lot better than the other one."
"Only slightly." Liam said.
"A lot better." Cora corrected, glaring at him.
"I wanted to look around." Peebee frowned, folding her arms.
Oh. My. God. So much for not embarrassing me.
"And now we have another mouth to feed... Whatever he eats." Drack said, glaring at Jaal. That was just Krogan nature, Ain hoped he didn't take offense to it. The last thing they needed was for an Angara and Krogan to go at it on the ship. Though, like she was cursed, one by one they all looked at Jaal who was looking at them shrouded in the shadows.
"Do the translators not work?" Vetra asked and Ain shook her head in disbelief.
"They work."
Ain slammed her hands down on the table.
"Can we not talk about Jaal like he isn't here!" A strange sound came from over in Jaal's direction. She didn't want to find out what it was. "Just... focus guys. Can't we all just try to play nice?"
"Play nice? Seriously? We're going to have to fight with him. What if he gets mad and shoots us!" Peebee exclaimed. Why did she always have to yell?
"Then don't do anything stupid dammit!"
Drack laughed which caused Ain to relax a bit. Or maybe it was because "Grandpa" Drack found it funny to watch Ain flounder around trying to regain control. Yeah, that seemed more like what he'd do.
"Ryder, we followed our best lead here and now... we don't even have that!" Cora said.
"Jaal has been kind enough to help us get into the vault."
"How are we supposed to do that Ain if we're leaving the planet it's on?" Vetra asked, switching her weight from her left to right hip.
"That's... a fair point, Jaal?" Ain asked. Everything had happened so fast from Habitat 7 until now. Usually, a Pathfinder had training and she didn't. Her training was literally on the job life or death.
"... Seriously, Ain?" Vetra asked with a sigh.
A slam from beside her stopped everyone. It was Liam.
"Enough! Ain's right! Let's just hear it from Jaal himself."
Ain turned to Jaal with a smile while Liam gave him a nod. She saw all eyes turned to Jaal. These were the most guarded stares she had ever seen.
"One day, about eighty years ago, the Archon and the Kett arrived in Heleus. Then the horror began."
Wait... then that means that what we saw when we looked at Andromeda had been true. They had been looking from before the Archon and Kett even arrived in Andromeda. Damn... Who could've predicted that?
"You mean... they declared war?" Cora asked.
"Nothing so defined."
"Jaal said back on Aya that the Kett kidnap Angara, and that they're never heard from again. Guys... what if it were us?"
"Look, Buttercup, I'll fight Kett all day long, but that ain't a plan." Drack said and folded his arms.
"Yeah Ryder, we need in that vault!" Peebee said.
This is going downhill fast...
"Surprisingly, I'm with Peebee on this one. Our own mission takes priority." Cora frowned.
Great. Awesome way to make a first impression. How was she going to explain to Jaal that her crew wasn't a bunch of complete assholes?
"We do have a plan! Kinda... Sort of... Right, Jaal?" Ain looked at him, practically begging for him to save her at this point.
"Since the Resistance is stretched thin, I was given the task of traveling to two of our worlds-and you will accompany me."
"Havarl and Voeld." Ain said and brought up the worlds on the holo-screen in front of them.
"Still don't see how this helps us." Drack said.
"If you help me, Evfra will see you as trustworthy. You want that."
Right... the dildo's approval.
"Hmm."
"Voeld used to be-before the Scourge-a bustling world full of technology and life."
"... now?" Vetra said, almost afraid to ask.
"It... It is not the ground center for our war against the Kett. Havarl is the birthplace of the Angara. Lately, it has started to deteriorate. We suspect Remnant."
"Now we're talkin'!" Peebee exclaimed.
"Shut up..." Vetra mumbled.
"We've recently lost contact with our scientists." Jaal explained.
"So we help you, you vouch for us, right? 'Cause Jaal wants inside Aya's vault too, right?"
"Ain, your call." Drack said.
Ain had been listening on the sidelines the whole time like she wasn't even the commander or captain or whatever of this damn ship. She felt aggravated all over again. Her blood was rushing faster and her heart rate was increasing with every bit of anger that boiled in her body.
"Oh, really? Is it my turn to speak now?" Ain said sarcastically, looking at her friend's surprised looks. "I figured you'd all just talk amongst yourselves without letting me tell you the reasons behind me doing what I'm doing." She turned when she felt Liam's hand on her shoulder.
"... We'll be here for you. Whatever you choose."
Ain rubbed her temples in aggravation.
"Jaal, please give Kallo the nav points." She said and turned to walk away. "Dismissed."
Ain was pulling out boxes from the tech lab, sweat pricking her hairline. About 30 minutes had passed since her team had gone back to their stations. Conversation had stopped among each other besides Vetra agreeing to take Jaal on a tour of the ship. With the extra boxes, Ain was making a stack against a wall. Sighing, she wiped her sweat with the back of her hand, grabbing another box. She couldn't believe her team had treated Jaal like that. He didn't have to come on their ship and help them. The Moshae was someone from their culture after all. Someone who was going to help them get into the vault. If Cora and Peebee had just shut up for a minute, maybe she could have explained that better. They had all made terrible first impressions-save Liam and maybe Vetra. This was life or death after all, for all of them; Jaal included. Why would he just travel on a random ship full of unknowns for him if she didn't want to help someone at least? He'd go back to Aya and tell all the Angara what terrible people the Pathfinder and her team were, and then there would go that chance of making an alliance between the only benevolent species they had encountered. Honestly, she wanted to hit something. Peebee and Cora seemed like good candidates, but she couldn't snap like that. Once again, everything seemed to be going wrong.
"Ain? What are you doing?" Hearing Vetra's voice didn't make her turn around. She continued to move boxes, pushing them with all her force and causing the stack of boxes to turn into two, then three.
"Moving boxes." She muttered, aggravation heavy in her tone. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see both Vetra and Jaal's eyes following her every movement.
"I can see that, smart ass. Why?"
"Jaal has to stay somewhere. No one wants to stay in the barracks, and the Tech Lab is spacious and secluded, away from people who treat others terribly." Ain emphasized with another harsh push to a box. She was surprised Vetra had acted the way that she had. Peebee, she had expected. Cora had surprised her, but not as much as Vetra had. She probably would've lost it in the meeting had Liam not been there to be on her side. Jaal and Vetra had frozen where they stood. When Ain looked back at the lab, she saw that it was 99% cleared out. She was about to go back in to get the last couple boxes, but Vetra had beaten her to it, bringing them out and putting them on the stack. Ryder turned and looked at Jaal, awkward eyes looking downward.
"There. All clear." Vetra said and sighed. "I gotta go call my sister, Ain. I'll talk to you later."
Ain was trying to catch her breath from all the heavy moving she had done. She folded her arms and cleared her throat,
"Despite how terribly my crew treated you when you came onboard... I hope you find you like staying here." She gestured to the cleared out Tech Lab. "I... Well, I hope that you'll be able to consider it may be a 'home'. You know and maybe not try to kill us in our sleep. Feel free to decorate or whatever however you please. It's your space Jaal."
"This is... unexpected, but appreciated." Jaal said and looked at the box of things that he had brought, shifting his rifle on his back.
"There are some other things in those boxes that you could use. Blankets, lights, things like that. They're labeled so... feel free to go through them to try to make your space more like home."
"I thank you, Ryder."
"If there's anything you need Jaal, my cabin is downstairs." Ain's face flushed a deep red realizing the innuendo she had just created. "I-I mean, like... i-if there's anything I can do to make things easier, I-I uh..." Ain rubbed her hand down her face. She was terrible at meeting and communicating with new people. This is why she hardly had any friends.
"Thank you." Jaal said again before heading into the Tech Lab.
Good job, Ryder. Good. Job.
"Ryder, you seem to be distressed." SAM came over their personal channel.
"Shut up SAM." Ain murmured, heading back towards her cabin. She needed to think; Havarl or Voeld? They both needed help, like yesterday. As.. Pathfinder, it was her duty to make the decision... and her's alone.
I don't want to be a burden...
Author's Note: I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I really enjoyed writing it and I hope you liked the way I wrote the characters. Sarcastic internal Ryder gives me life. I know it was really dialogue heavy, but I still hope you enjoyed. Leave comments if you'd like and consider following or favoriting. Have a great day/night~