Chapter 3: Issues

"But you're perfect
Poorly wired circuit
And got hands like an ocean
Push you out, pull you back in"
Song: Julia Michaels | Issues

Three: Issues

Reyes Vidal made his way to the first level of Tartarus, red lights and syncopated dance music doing nothing for his nerves. Zia Cordier. Reyes and Zia had what he thought was a clear arrangment during their short-lived fling. Alcohol. Sex. Casual and physical, nothing more. Apparently, he wasn't quite clear enough. Zia's emails had started to involve wanting to make plans with him, talking about their - he shuddered - future together. It was truly astonishing, as he made sure they knew close to nothing about each other. Reyes told her as much, in an email coldly telling her not to contact him again.

Zia had begun to stoop to juvenile tactics to get his attention as of late, getting his middle men drunk, stealing ships and the like. She hadn't inflicted any lasting damage, but he wasn't about to wait for the day that she did. He should have known better than to get involved with a woman in the same business as he was. An uncharacteristically rookie mistake. Hell hath no fury, as they say.

Kian Dagher was instructing one of his employees to cover for him behind the bar. He silently walked to his back office with Reyes in tow. As soon as the door was shut and they sat down, he looked at Reyes and said "You're fucked."

"Let me guess; Zia's dead and they want me to write the eulogy." Reyes joked.

"Always with the jokes when he's nervous."

"Or, I'm naturally hilarious."

"Very. Look, it's not good. She intercepted your latest cargo. Y'know, the one that belongs to the client who offered hefty credits on top of your usual fees?"

Reyes exhaled loudly, pressing his fingers to his forehead. She really wants to cross the line? Was she always this stupid? "You brought this on yourself, thinking with your dick again."

Reyes couldn't resist a wry smile from spreading across his face. "You wound me, Kian. Whose side are you on?"

"Yours, which is why I'm telling you. I wouldn't put it past Zia to get her goons to try and jump you. You know you can't use the Collective on this, you risk exposing the connection. We better think of something, fast." Kian's right. He needed the help of a small, reliable team that was unaffiliated with either of Kadara's factions to reclaim his cargo.

Kian suddenly sat upright as if struck by an idea. "Come to think of it, Reyes - the Pathfinder team would be perfect."

"Are you out of your mind? You want me to take Sara to what may become a possible confrontation with Zia?"

Kian's raised eyebrows told Reyes that his casual use of the Pathfinder's first name did not escape him. "Have you got a better idea?"

"Well - no. I don't suppose I have a choice. Fine, I'll ask her right now." Reyes acquiesced, both uneasy and enlivened at the prospect of working with Sara again. He wrote her a quick email: "Sara, I've got a business proposition for you. Come meet me when you're free? -RV"

"Jesus, Reyes - you're smiling while writing an email. I knew all the time she's been spending over here was no coincidence." Kian groaned.

"I haven't been sleeping with her if that's what you're implying."

"...What? You've suddenly grown a conscience?"

The lack of a witty response from Reyes prompted Kian to scrutinize his face suspiciously. "Oh no, no no no - that look is much worse. You're smitten!"

Reyes waved a dismissive hand at his friend's stern accusation. "It's not some miraculous moral awakening. I just can't risk complicating my relationship with Sara right now - she happens to be the Pathfinder. I'm at a delicate stage in my plans, as you very well know."

"Bullshit. You're scared she'll hate your guts."

Damn it, Kian. It shook him to hear it from the person who knew him the most. "Don't be ridiculous. It's nothing - I could fuck her right out of my system if I wanted to." Now that he's said it aloud, maybe it'll be true. Maybe now he could convince himself to believe it.

"You better start talking, Sara." Sara Ryder was sipping on her coffee on the couch in the Pathfinder's quarters, legs propped up on Gil Brodie's lap.

Gil set his coffee mug down and grabbed hold of her ankle, hand poised threateningly above her foot. "Gil, fucking don't! Hot fucking coffee in my hands!" Sara growled.

"One - wash that dirty mouth. Two - get to talkin'! You probably already wasted like ten minutes of my allotted time!"

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Sara sniffed, taking another sip of coffee.

"You're going to bluff me of all people? ...May I please speak to SAM?" Gil asked sweetly.

"Fine. Have at him." Sara grumbled, knowing when she's beaten.

"SAM? Could you please verify that little Ms. Sara the obsessive Type A has me penciled in on her schedule?"

"Correct, Mr. Brodie. Sara is much like Alec in this regard. She wakes up at 0430 each day and follows a specific pattern for most of her activities." SAM wasted no time. The AI seemed to like being included in conversations, especially on his favorite topic - Sara.

Sara and SAM did not always have the cordial relationship they enjoyed today. Initially, Sara had difficulty accepting that SAM was permanently a part of her - a constant reminder that Alec was truly gone. Dr. Lexi T'Perro had a large part in her psychological healing and acceptance of SAM. Lexi provided her with the vital perspective that both of her parents' precious legacies lived on through her. L5n Biotic implant by her mother and SAM by her father.

Gil threw her the most self-satisfied look she's ever seen on another human's face. Sara responded by giving him a hefty smack on the arm. "Ow! Engineer, not soldier! You can't escape this with violence. Spill!"

Sara heaved a sigh. "You win, you soulless ginger. I already know what you're going to ask me - I probably have Jaal's big Angaran mouth to thank for that. I'll get right to it. There's nothing new between Reyes and I. Things haven't progressed past a harmless flirtation. He's easy on the eyes and unexpectedly reliable. That's it."

"Really, Sara? How dare you rob me of the chance to live vicariously through you?"

Sara laughed. "I'll admit it, there's something there. I do like the man. He's tempting - but I can't. For obvious reasons."

"Ugh I get it, you're saving us all. The galaxy's not gonna implode because you have some semblance of a love life. I didn't say shack up with him and have his babies, did I?"

"I just can't afford hindrances of any k-"

Gil held up a hand. "I'm gonna stop you right there. Your own happiness is not a hindrance. You need to live a little - feel it do it, yeah? It wouldn't be such a bad thing to have someone when all is said and done. Bet you anything you've been voluntarily spending time with Reyes. It's what happens when you like someone, Sara."

Sara was turning this over in her mind for a moment when Gil addressed SAM again. "SAM, could you give me a rundown of Sara's latest social activities?"

"Certainly. Sara's most common interactions are summarized as follows: Sparring with Liam, gun mods with Jaal, running with Cora, polishing weapons with Drack, Heleus science with Suvi, all things Tempest with Kallo, Remnant artifacts with Peebee, marketplace analysis with Vetra, crew's wellbeing with Lexi, Q&A with SAM and social hour with Gil."

"Yep, I definitely see space in there for sexy time with Reyes." Gil mimed writing through the air.

"It is worth noting that Sara does not have history of scheduling intimacy. The previous encounter with Mr. Kosta-"

"SAM, no!" Sara spoke into their private channel in a panic, but the damage was done. Gil's mouth was hanging open like a hinge.

"You had sex with Liam?!"

"Shhhh! And don't get so excited. It was one time."

"I'll forgive the fact that you didn't tell me because I have so many questions." Gil's gray eyes gleamed with renewed interest.

"Forget them. Here's everything I'm willing to share: We were having drinks on his couch. We had only just gotten to Andromeda - both homesick and lonely. We survived Habitat-7 together. He looked good with his shirt off. Things happened."

"That's more like it, Sara! Remind me to never sit on that couch in storage again. Now, don't be a spoilsport. Gimme more."

"There's honestly nothing more. We agreed it was a one-time thing. We work together, no need to make shit awkward. He said he's a big boy and-"

"Is he?" Gil wiggled his eyebrows lasciviously.

"Gil!"

"Not sorry. Well?"

"...Yeah."

Gil did a ridiculous fist pump and Sara couldn't hold back anymore, laughter bubbling forth and chasing all worries away for one lovely moment in time.

There he is. Sara Ryder briefly wondered if Reyes knew how much he stood out amidst Kralla's daytime crowd of unwashed Exiles. Never mind that he was much cleaner than everyone else, he seemed to permanently exude an aura of easy confidence. That, or perhaps Sara's eyes just naturally gravitated to the handsome bastard - also a distinct possibility. He stood with his back to the entrance, casually leaning on the bar with both elbows.

Reyes had asked for her assistance for a bind he was in, something about a business rival stealing cargo intended for a VIP client of his. He proposed a 60-40 split on the profits but she refused it. She felt oddly pleased that he trusted her and insisted that she'd help him out as a personal favor.

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

"That's my line." Reyes had a warm smile on his face as he turned to face her. Their eyes locked and she could almost swear like there were actual sparks flying. She was wholly unfamiliar with this feeling of simultaneously wanting to run into and away from such obvious danger.

Shit, I don't know about this. Sara decided to give Gil's advice a chance and see where things go with Reyes, but parts of her were still fighting it. It felt like all her life she's trained to be stronger, smarter, better. She exercised precise control over every aspect of her life and yet here she was, standing in front of a man who could shatter her defenses with a single look. Suffice to say that Sara wasn't accustomed to morphing into a breathless damsel.

Umi broke the spell with a sound of pure disgust from behind the bar. "You want a drink or a room?"

"You have private rooms now?" Reyes asked with exaggerated interest, tossing Sara a meaningful glance. Umi scowled.

Sara bit her lower lip to keep from laughing. "Sorry about him, Umi. We need information, actually."

"That'll cost you more than a round of drinks."

"Done." Sara quickly transferred the credits to Umi before she could change her mind.

"Looks like I may never stop being in your debt, Sara."

She smirked at him. "True, but I'm sure I can think of ways you can repay me."

Another groan of disgust from Umi. "Could do with a lot less of that eye-fucking in front of me. What do you want to know?"

"Zia Cordier. She been around here recently?" Reyes asked.

"You mean your ex-girlfriend? Yeah, she was here."

Wait, what in the actual fuck? An ex-girlfriend, here on Kadara? Sara felt a sudden irrational stab of jealousy but thankfully managed to keep her expression neutral.

"Girlfriend is not the word I'd choose. We just had drinks occasionally, so-" Reyes trailed off and cleared his throat. "Anyway, she was here?" He seemed determined to get his credits' worth of intel, while trying to detract from the fact that there was no mention to Sara that this business rival was an ex.

"Yeah. Met with a Salarian. Shifty guy I've never seen before. Maybe it was the Charlatan."

"Anything's possible. You overhear their conversation?"

"They were plannning to meet someone at Spirit's Ledge."

"Thanks, Umi."

"Whatever. You didn't hear it from me." Umi turned away immediately after, as if she couldn't stand the tension between Sara and Reyes a second longer.

"Shall we go check that meeting spot?"

"No, I'll go with my team. You go follow the Collective lead." the iciness of Sara's response was not lost on Reyes.

"Sara, she was never my girlfriend. Frankly I don't care what happens to her, I just want my cargo back."

"I didn't want or need an explanation. Your personal life is none of my business. Umi mentioned the Charlatan - this could be bigger than your little smugglers' rivalry."

Reyes studied her face with a furrowed brow that melted into an impish smile. "Why Sara, are you jealous?" The very notion that she might be seemed to delight him. Infuriating.

Sara gave him an indifferent shrug. "Not sure why you'd think that. We better get to work. Contact each other via comms for any developments?"

Much to Sara's currently petty satisfaction, Reyes looked puzzled again for a moment. He quickly recovered, chuckling and shaking his head. "As you wish. Talk to you soon."

Reyes Vidal landed his shuttle a safe distance away from the target location and continued on foot. It seems he was the first to arrive at the coordinates that Sara provided. She located the navpoint on a datapad that Zia likely left behind for the buyer. As he suspected, the shifty Salarian was a fence and was in no way affiliated with the Collective. "Go follow the Collective lead." - Sara's clipped orders to split up. She was jealous, endearingly so. He thought he had her on the ropes by calling her out on it, then she shot him down like a duck in hunting season. He grinned. Never a dull moment.

Reyes entered the venue silently, gun drawn. He moved cautiously from cover to cover. No sign of anyone inside. He then spots a large pile of crates sitting in the back of the room. This is checkmate, Zia.

He heard the rumble of wheels on the craggy landscape. It sounded like the Nomad but he can never be too certain. He heard chatter and he crouched, rifle at the ready.

"What're you gonna do if the ex-girlfriend shows up?" Male, British accent. Ah, there's my Pathfinder and her team.

"If she threatens us in any way, I treat her as I would any other hostile. Whatever past she may have with Reyes is no deterrent."

"More like a propellant, eh Ryder?"

"Very funny, Kosta. Stand-up comedian could be a possible career path should you find yourself suddenly unemployed."

Reyes laughed aloud at this, holstering his weapon. "If you guys are done planning deaths and future employment, I found our stolen cargo."

"Reyes! I don't believe you've formally met my friends? Introductions are in order. Liam, Jaal - Reyes Vidal."

Reyes took note of the rapport and natural banter between Sara and the people she called her friends. Friends, not mere associates or colleagues. The Angara stuck out his hand first.

"Jaal Ama Darav. Thank you for your service to the Resistance." Jaal gave him a couple pats on the back along with the handshake, a typical Angaran greeting.

"Likewise, Jaal." Reyes responded in kind.

"Liam Kosta. Pathfinder team and Ryder's bodyguard." Liam's voice was friendly but Reyes could feel his eyes sizing him up.

"Reyes Vidal. Smuggling and espionage."

"Psh Kosta, I've saved your ass more than you've saved mine." Sara teased, scanning their surroundings with her AI.

"I don't know about that, might need an official tally by SAM." Liam joked back.

Reyes looked back and forth between Sara and Liam, getting the sense that there might be some kind of history there. A jab of an unpleasant emotion struck him and it took him a second to realize that it was jealousy. Shake it off, Reyes.

"Oh how could I forget, SAM is protesting. SAM, Reyes. Reyes, SAM."

"Pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr. Vidal." He heard SAM's electronic voice for the first time.

"SAM, the fancy AI! I'm honored."

Sara laughed. "He likes you."

The men each hoisted up a crate, breaking locks with the butts of their guns. Sara kept watch with what he recognized as an M-8 Avenger assault rifle.

"These are... empty." Jaal said, voicing out what everyone saw. Reyes and Sara gave each other a sharp glance, reaching the same conclusion.

"This was some elaborate set-up."

"There was never any cargo to begin with." They practically spoke over each other, knowing at once that they've been played.

"Someone's here." Sara hissed, signaling her team to take their positions.

A click of footsteps. "Bravo! I knew you'd figure it out eventually." Reyes recoiled at the sound of the familiar voice.

"Zia." Reyes said through gritted teeth. She stood in front of him, same as always - smug expression on her face, bottle-red hair and the accent he once found appealing. What is she playing at? Could she be working for someone?

"You could never resist a big payout." Zia sneered at him.

"What can I say? I'm a greedy man." Reyes responded. He was trying to buy time as he looked around for the ambush, knowing Zia couldn't have showed up alone.

"This is why we didn't work out. You're too selfish." I get to find out why her imaginary relationship didn't go well? Lovely.

"Sounds like you don't know him at all. Reyes is a good man." Sara rushed to his defense before he could think of a retort. Reyes stared at her angered face, angry on his behalf. He has been called many things, a good man was not one of them. If he had ever been more pleasantly surprised in his life, he didn't remember.

Zia laughed condescendingly, looking down at the considerably shorter Sara with pitying eyes. "Oh honey, you've no idea how wrong you are. But you will."

Jaal tutted, shaking his head. "Big mistake, Red." Liam muttered.

"Leave her out of this." Reyes warned Zia.

Zia let out a forced chuckle, expression darkening. "You must really like this one, Reyes."

Reyes' patience neared its end and by the looks of Sara, so had hers. "Cut the shit. What is this all about?"

"Apart from playing me for a fool? You've been taking all the good jobs in Kadara. It's gotten more than my attention."

"So what? The local smuggling union got together and decided to take me down?"

"Something like that." Zia responded coyly. She was toying with him. Reyes saw Sara making hand signals behind her back to Jaal and Liam from the corner of his eye.

"Give me a reason, bitch. Please. I really wish you would." Sara goaded Zia. Reyes groaned inwardly, a strange mixture of admiration and trepidation in his stomach. He's been warned that she could be volatile but this Pathfinder has officially lost her marbles.

Zia's face twisted with hatred. "Move in!" she barked.

Jaal laughed at the shock on Reyes' face. "If you've never witnessed Ryder in combat, you're about to see the reason for the bravado." The doors slid open and Zia's men poured in, weapons hot. Reyes and the Pathfinder team took cover. They were outnumbered and no one seemed to be in the least bit concerned.

"Feel free to pick your jaw up off the floor when we're done." Liam quipped, readying dual Omni-blades.

"Jaal, 10 o'clock, sniper first. Liam, on your 3, fuck 'em up. Leave her. She's mine." Sara had a huge grin on her face. It was almost frightening how thoroughly she seemed to be enjoying this. She aimed at Zia, fingers flying over what looked like a tech device on her right arm. For a split second it seemed that nothing happened, then flames bloomed and spread on everything combustible on Zia. She fucking set her on fire.

"Kill her!" Zia shrieked in pain, attempting to put the flames out by dropping to the floor. Too late - Sara charged across the room in a rush of blinding blue light. An indescribable shiver ran through him. She's biotic! The ground shook as she slammed her fist down, tossing bodies up in the air with a nova of dark energy. The blade of Sara's Asari sword was waiting for Zia as she fell - a brutal, final stab. Looks like this was the signal they were waiting for. Jaal outsniped the disoriented enemy sharpshooter with ease and Liam leapt into the fray using his jumpjets. A bullet whizzed past, narrowly missing Reyes as he gawked. A precise shot from his rifle took the offending party down. Can't a man be amazed in peace around here?

"Nice shot, Vidal!" Jaal yelled over the sounds of battle.

"Thank you!"

It was as if Sara came alive on the battlefield, a thing of horrifying beauty. She was a whirling dervish moving from hostile to hostile with a flash of biotics, a glint of metal, and the occasional boom of a shotgun to the face. That is probably as good an indication as any to never get involved with someone. But damn, that's sexy.

And then, everything was still.

"Clear!" Liam and Jaal reported from both sides. Sara walked around, doing a final sweep of the area with SAM. She found one of Zia's thugs dying but not dead, clutching his chest wound. Without pause, she swiftly plunged her sword down into his neck.

Liam shuddered, "She's explained before how we should never let anyone slowly bleed to death. Or, potentially get up and shoot at us as we leave. It doesn't make it any less grody to see her do it."

Sara shook the blood from her blade, "Clear. So, Reyes - should I be expecting more attacks like this?"

"Well, I never thought the other smugglers would team up against me. Kind of flattering." Reyes remarked glibly.

"They might try again. She did try to get you here alone."

He let out a short chuckle, "You worried about me, Sara?"

"Reyes."

"Relax, I know they're coming now. They won't get the jump on me."

"Good. Are we done with this?"

"Yes. Thank you, everyone. I'll clean up here." Reyes instinctively took hold of Sara's arm as she passed by him. She halted, eyes on the hand on her arm then up to his face, startled.

"What you said back there - about me being a good man. Thank you."

"I meant it." She said, softly, as though afraid of the implications of her own statement. He searched her eyes and knew it to be true. The way she looked at him pierced his insides. Reyes wanted to kiss her, right then and there - but something stopped him. If it was between the fear of rejection and the pile of dead bodies, he would rather face the latter.