Initiative Outpost: Ditaeon (Present)
Christmas Tate looked back and forth between the people assembled in his office. The Pathfinder was the first person his eyes fell on. Ryder stood at the window staring out across the Kadara landscape. Her dark blue and orange armor gleaned in the setting sun's light. Her brown hair looked darker also black in the waning day.
The Pathfinder pursed her lips as she turned to look at the rest them. "Well, I'm assuming that whoever is responsible for these murders will not act while we are sitting here."
Christmas started to nod in agreement. She was right if word spread around that the Pathfinder was investigating the murders. They could possibly dissuade who was responsible to backing down or changing tactics buying them time to evaluate and analyze what was happening.
Reyes shook his head. "No, I don't believe this will help the situation," He paused his eyes catching the Pathfinder's for the briefest of moments. Something past between the two. Christmas placed a hand under his chin, pondering.
"You mean the Pathfinder name isn't enough to deter people way. Really?" Liam Costa's voice dripped with sarcasm. "Here I was thinking we could have this cleaned up by simply showing up."
"Enough, Liam," Cora commanded softly.
"Hey, if people haven't heard enough about our Pathfinder yet, more's the pity for them."
"While I do agree that Ryder is an amazing person, I don't think the people of Kadara quite see her in the same breath as the rest of the Initiative. Remember, many are exiles and are still coming to grips with the idea of working with the Nexus again." Reyes supplied, "It will take more than a couple of outposts and talking to get many of these people to cooperate with you."
"I don't know, being dead and brought back to life by the AI in your head, should count for something, I feel like," Liam shrugged.
Christmas sucked in a breath as his and Reyes' eyes fell on the Pathfinder, who looked daggers at her teammate.
"Thanks, for that Liam," A slight blush crept up on her freckled cheeks.
Liam looked pointedly at his feet, "Hadn't realized it was something we were not talking about," His eyes darted from his feet to Reyes, widening as he did so. "Sorry, Pathfinder, I didn't realize you hadn't," He stopped as Ryder waved a hand at him.
"Not important at the moment," She glanced at Reyes and then Christmas, clearing her throat. "Anyway, let's go with Reyes assumption that my title isn't enough. That means they are deliberately trying to attack the outpost and the Collective. But why?"
"I don't think motivation is important, what's important is how do we stop them?" Cora answered, "They need to be stopped in order for this outpost and the Collective to continue working together. The Exiles need to see cooperation on both parts."
Christmas nodded, "I agree with your second, Pathfinder, these murders need to be stopped,"
"We can't do that unless we know why they started in the first place," Ryder stated turning back to face out the window. "Here's what we'll do, I'll have SAM scan the latest victim and see what he can come up with. We post a watch up tonight and see if anything happens," She turned back to them. "It's getting late, tomorrow we'll start searching. Reyes, I'm guessing your contacts at the port will be useful?"
Reyes nodded, though Christmas happened to notice the smuggler's easiness had dissipated over Liam's announcement from earlier. Instead, his eyes remained focused on the Pathfinder with an intensity Christmas recognized. Fear. Shock. Guilt. Hurt. Anger. The smuggler's eyes flipped through all of these emotions quickly before tucking them away behind his poised smile. What is going on between these two?
In the past several months, Christmas had come to realize the smuggler was a friendly face with a confident façade if nothing else. Something new settlers looked to and, honestly needed after the shit show that was the first several months of being in Andromeda. However, now something else flickered across Reyes mask of helpfulness.
"I'll send a message out to Kadara Port," Reyes stepped away them, heading out the door. Christmas smiled to see the Pathfinder watching the smuggler leave.
"Cora, go about setting up a watch with what personal Christmas available for the night." Cora nodded and shifted toward Christmas.
"I'll need a dossier on all your settlers who you think will be acquaint and available enough for watches." Cora said. Christmas nodded, moving toward his desk computer.
"Mostly we are scientist and researchers, but we do have a number of people who are former Alliance and Turian Military. Between them you all I'm certain we'll have enough people."
"Good,"
"Liam, work with Christmas as well to set up a place for to stay tonight," Ryder didn't wait for Liam to answer, she simply walked out the door. The door closing automatically behind her.
Awkward silence fell over them. "Well, that wasn't awkward," Liam muttered, as he read over the available spaces in the outpost, that Christmas had just forwarded him.
"You made it awkward," Cora supplied.
Christmas raised an eyebrow at the pair.
"Hey, it was awkward before, now it is just weird," Liam shot back with a shrug of his shoulders.
Cora rolled her eyes. Christmas chuckled. The picture became clearer now. His eyes dropped down to his computer screen. He remembered what is was like to be young and balancing work and personal. It had not work so well for him. Otherwise, he would not be here in the Andromeda. But that was him, and he did thing slightly different than every else. He wished them luck in whatever capacity they choose.