Chapter 6 - Flight to Meridian
Lexi hurried back to the med bay when her omni tool beeped. There was a spike in Ryder's vitals. "I got to go, Ryder's awake," she said rising from the chair.
She found Ryder pulling the leads that were monitoring her brain waves off her temple. There was much grunting as she attempted to sit up. Lexi started to open her mouth to voice her concerns but she decided against it. It's just useless to tell Ryder to sit the coming engagement out. Instead Lexi turned to her medical supplies and filled a syringe. Ryder eyed the needle with suspicion. "Painkillers," she explained.
Ryder offered her left arm to Lexi. With a quick stab and plunge of the syringe, Lexi could see Ryder relaxing. She is just a bundle of raw nerves and pain. I can't imagine how she actually interfaced with the Remnant tech without SAM.
"Ahhh…,"Ryder flashed her a quick smile. "That's the good stuff."
Jaal hovered over Ryder's shoulder. There were obvious questions that he wanted to ask but he kept his mouth shut. Lexi thought it was best to get them out of the way. "You know I'd recommend you days if not weeks of bed rest," she started.
Ryder's face scrunched at her words. "But I won't."
"Put it simply, your brain is having a hard time interfacing with the Remnant. It's not made to do that. Without SAM to be a pain buffer, so to speak, you will experience pain every time you do so. I don't even know if you're suffering from brain damage by doing so," she continued. "We just don't have the equipment for it."
Jaal's eyes widened in distress. His hand landed on Ryder's shoulder protectively. Ryder absently reached over, placing her hand over his and ran her thumb over his knuckles. Lexi saw a faint blue glow of a biotic charge over her thumb. "What about painkillers?" Ryder asked.
"Those are only for your physical pain. Your broken rib, your headache and the soreness in your chest. That's it." Lexi explained. "Remnant tech is something else. There are no pain receptors in the brain, you shouldn't even be able to feel pain but you do. There is no painkiller for the brain."
Ryder frowned before she squared her shoulder. Lexi saw the Pathfinder taking over. "And the painkillers don't last long because your biotic metabolism burns through them fast. It's not safe to take too much too soon."
"What about stims?" Ryder suggested.
Lexi leaned against the counter behind her. "It will only heighten your reaction time. You can move faster, react fast, basically increased combat effectiveness. It does dull the pain receptors but the same logic applies they are not made for the brain. The brain has never needed it."
Ryder huffed a breath and shook her head. "Increased combat effectiveness, I'll take it, given what's ahead."
"Given your physical condition as your doctor I'll have to advise against it," Lexi said at the same time handing Ryder two epipen injectors. "One of each."
Ryder moved to take them but Lexi held on to them. "Ryder, don't use them if you can possibly help it. The come down will hurt you more than what just you went through."
Ryder's eyes met hers. Lexi could only see the determination, the drive and the need to see their mission through. "We need every advantage we can get."
Ryder left the med bay. Her body was no longer fighting her every step of the way. The painkillers are magic! Though she knew she could use with a proper sleep. It seems falling unconscious doesn't count as sleep. Her omni tool beeped, informing her of an incoming connection. It was Cora. She turned to Jaal, "You got your own prep to do."
Jaal nodded. "I see you later?"
His bio-electricty was tentative. Ryder smiled, the mask of the Pathfinder lifted for just a moment. "Sure."
Then it slammed down again as she tapped to accept the connection. "We need to talk," Cora said without a greeting. "Meet me at the bridge?"
Ryder arrived to find the bridge empty, save for Cora. Silently she thanked Cora for getting Kallo and Suvi to take a break. "I saw what happened out there," Cora said staring out at the dark space.
"Using Remnant without SAM hurts you," she continued, turning to face Ryder. "A lot."
"Believe me, I know," Ryder drawled wryly. "But I survived and we have a shot to bring down the Archon once and for all."
"Everything or nothing," Cora sighed. "We keep making that deal."
"I'm greedy like that."
Cora rolled her eyes. "Maybe you can raise a fleet, maybe you can make explorers into soldiers." Cora ducked her head, breaking their eye contact. "But I know one thing, we can't bury another Pathfinder."
"Don't worry, Cora. You'll make a fine Pathfinder." Ryder joked, laughing a little.
"That's not funny, Ryder."
The laughter died a quick death in her throat. Ryder took a deep breath. "I hope you don't have to," she replied, seriously this time. "I can't promise anything but I'll do my best."
Cora nodded, clapping a hand on her shoulder. Kallo's voice piped up via their omni tools. "We will be leaving FTL in 30 minutes we should have visual contact of the Kett forces then."
"Acknowledged, Kallo. Good work," Ryder said turning to Cora. "Time for a speech?"
"Why not?" Cora grinned.
Ryder stared at her own reflection in the mirror. Dark rings around her bloodshot eyes and her skin far paler than it had ever been. I couldn't look more like a phantom if I've tried. She shook her head. Nothing a couple weeks of sleep can't cure. Tugging at her hair tie, her brown almost black hair came loose. She sighed. Ryder wasn't a vain woman but she have always loved her hair, almost proud of it. It had always been long and lustrous. The fine and smooth locks were mostly straight till it reached her shoulders where it curled slightly. Now it looked dull and brittle, in obvious need of much shampoo and conditioner. Ryder exhaled through her mouth in a huff. Apparently worrying about my hair is more important than the Archon.
She turned the tap and dunked her head under it. Cold water rolled over her face as it washed away her tiredness and doubts. Turning off the tap she grabbed her towel and wiped her face. Finally she pulled her hair back into a pony tail. Ryder stared at her reflection as she rolled her shoulders, trying to shift the burdens of command into a more comfortable position but there was none to be found. Lives hanging in the balance again this time with Scott caught in the cross fire. Fuck!
Kallo's voice broke through her brooding. "Ryder, dropping out of FTL in 5 minutes."
Go time.
A wave of déjà vu swept over her when she entered the cargo bay. The ground squad were prepping for the fight to come. Jaal was helping her with her hard shell - again. Didn't we just did all this less than a standard day ago? A flash of memory of their little trip to the Remnant City made her sway a little. Disastrous? Not quite but very unpleasant to say the least. The last buckle was snapped into place. She smiled a little as she remembered what happened the last time. "No goodbye kiss this time, Jaal." she whispered into his ear.
He stiffened. "I'm keeping them for our victory dance later," she continued.
Jaal flashed her a feral smile with his teeth on display. "I'll hold you to that. Killing Kett is what I do best after all."
Ryder was glad he got out of the funk that he had around him since Kadara. Patting his arm lightly, she moved towards the middle of the cargo bay and climbed up on the crates stacked there. It didn't take long before silence fell.
"Every one of you have people you care about in Heleus." she started, shakily. That's more or less true right? Damn, I have no idea where the hell I'm going with this. A speech only works if I have to give it only once. This is the second time in 2 days!
She could see nods among the ground squad and the crew. Cora gave her a single raised eyebrow. I hope there is more there. I think that's what Cora's eyebrow said.
Yes of course there is more. Uhh… Yeah, more. Ryder refrained from rolling her eyes at Cora. This is harder than fighting the Kett. "They will be joining the fight with us." she continued before hastily adding. "Not to throw them at the Archon, we got the Remnant for that."
She swallowed and cleared her throat before continuing, "We're fighting for the lives we've built. That only matters if there is someone left to live them."
Her audience didn't quite cheered but there were resolve in their stance and a fire in their eyes. That works for me. Ryder grinned and hopped off the crate. "It could still use a little work," Liam started.
"Everyone's a critic." Ryder punched him in the arm and he winced in mock pain. "Next time, I'll leave the speech making to you."
She made her way to the bridge knowing they would be making visual contact with the Kett forces soon. "Great speech," Kallo said as she entered.
"Thanks Kallo."
"Very inspiring," Suvi quipped.
"Are you guys teasing me?"
"Never would dream of it, Ryder," Kallo replied with a straight face.
Ryder turned her attention to the view before her. Looking at the black of dark space, Ryder couldn't help but shudder. It couldn't help but remind her of the time SAM stopped her heart. Fuck… The pitch black space before her dropped out and was replaced with thousands of tiny white dots.
"Ryder, there is an incoming transmission from the Hyperion."
She rolled her shoulders back and stood ramrod straight, the Pathfinder taking over. "Put it through," her voice hard and sharp.
A familiar face appeared on her screen. Ryder's hands tightened on the rail in front of her. Her flinty eyes seemed to darken as she met his. "You continue to defy your limitations. Impressive."
"I live but to impress." she couldn't help but to snark at the hateful creature before turning her eyes to Scott. "Scott, are you ok?"
"He is a total loon this guy, he wants to us to choose between exaltation and death!" Scott said, equal measures of fear and snarkiness in his words. "What is the difference?"
Ryder managed to keep a snort of laughter from erupting. Trust Scott to be a wise ass in a hostage situation. "You say that like I should feel guilty. I am giving you a gift!" the Archon said, turning to face Scott. "Those who can't see that deserves to die."
"You still command the Remnant but that began with the implant and SAM. Now I have both!" the Archon continued, eyeing Ryder. "I no longer need you Pathfinder but since you insist on interfering I'll give you my full attention."
With that, the comm link was broken. Ryder wished she could have simply reach through the comm channel and throttle the asshole. It seemed bad guys everywhere watched the same movies. Kallo's voice broke her internal musings. "Kett fighters incoming!"
Shit Ryder hoped that the Remnant fleet would defend them. Why didn't they equip a canon or something on the Tempest. We're a sitting duck out here. She had no idea how and what she had done back at the Remnant City but she could only pray it was enough.
"The Remnant fleet is engaging the Kett!" Suvi reported triumphantly.
The three watched as a massive dog fight played out before their eyes. It was akin to a high budget light show but silent. Energy beams flashed while fighters zoomed and zigzagged across space. "That's more than we thought," Suvi said, apprehension creeping in.
"No, we got this," Ryder replied hoping her confidence wasn't a false one.
The Tempest was rocked by the multiple concussion as the fighters exploded in flames. Too close! "More fighters incoming!"
Damn! Ryder eyed the battle field before her. Her father's voice rang in her head unbidden.
"When your back is against the wall, use it."
"Kallo, how close can you skirt the scourge?"
"Too close?"
"Take us in as close as you can."
Without hesitation or even a question about her sanity, he took firm controls of the Tempest and put her plan into action. "Hang on!" he yelled.
The Tempest glided as graceful as a bird in flight, skimming the waves of the scourge. "Kallo, you are a master!"
His delight clear as he laughed, "Never thought I'll ever like the scourge."
Ryder could see Meridian just ahead and a gaping hole began to emerge. "Take us in!"
She rushed over to the cargo bay. "Jaal, Vetra with me" she ordered. "Cora, you have command of the second team."
"Got it, Ryder," she said. "Give the Archon hell!"
"Hot drop in 5." Gill announced.
Ryder buckled herself into the nomad.
"4."
She turned around to check Jaal and Vetra.
"3."
Vetra gave her a thumb's up as much as her 3 fingered hand could manage.
"2."
Jaal reached out and gave her a small charge of bio-electricty. It spoke much of trust and confidence though tinged with worry.
"1."
Ryder pulled her helmet on and with her gloved hands gripped the steering wheel.
Chasing the Archon's shuttle turned out to be a bumpy one but one that made her heart soar. Ryder saw the allies she had cultivated since being Pathfinder joining the fight. "How?" she asked.
"Cora called in all favours while you were out," Vetra informed as she hung on to dear life. "So if you need any new favours you are all out of luck."
Ryder laughed, flashing her teeth in a wolfish grin. Raeka's voice came over the comms. "Take the fight to the Archon. We will defend the Hyperion."
"Understood, Pathfinder." She turned to Vetra and Jaal, "Let's go."
Ryder launched herself into the air with a biotic jump and she Charged over to a Chosen, slamming her asari blade into its throat. The Chosen died drowning in its own blood. "Clear!" she shouted.
Vetra and Jaal emerged from behind cover. Ryder heading down the hall confident the others would keep up. Frustration and urgency was clear in the brutal pace she set. Activate this here, get a bridge there. Shoot some Kett. Rinse and repeat. Where the fuck is the Archon? The pain that came from interfacing with Remnant tech was more manageable somehow. It wasn't as incapacitating as before. Maybe she was in a battle high or it was purely mind over matter, she didn't know, she didn't care. As long as she could get to the Archon quickly, she didn't want to know how she was getting it done.
She had ditched her helmet 4 rooms ago after the face plate shattered under an Anointed's hail of bullets. Ryder was lucky she didn't take one in the face thanks to Vetra's reflexes. Ryder wiped a hand across her nose after activating yet another bridge.
Red. Blood.
Her nose felt clogged and it was really hard to breath past the clotted blood. If only I was bleeding out my ears instead, that's will be way more convenient. No… blood from the nose, how fucking irritating. She slammed a fresh clip into her Mattock, she took aim and unleashed a short burst at the nearest Kett. Vetra and Jaal's weapons joined hers in a strangely comforting harmony of death and blood of their foes. It didn't take long to clear the hallway.
Ryder headed straight for the door. A small stab of pain behind her eyes as she palmed the door open. They walked in cautiously then Suvi's voice broke the silence. "Ryder, multiple system failures on the Hyperion."
Shit. "Dunn, Captain Dunn, is there anything we can do?"
"Stay out of our way," Dunn's response was clipped, made through clenched teeth. "There is no pulling up."
Ryder heard the Captain issuing orders to her bridge crew. It was obvious her priority were the sleepers. They were the future of humanity here on Heleus. Ryder clenched her fists, it was obvious to her that Dunn was ready to make the ultimate sacrifice. She slammed her fist down her thigh, she never liked being powerless but all any of them could do was to bear witness. Dunn's voice cut out and crackled. Then, it came through loud and clear one more time. "It has been an honour to…" she said before it was abruptly cut off.
Fuck. She couldn't spare herself time to wonder at the Captain's fate. "Let's go." she order curtly. I can feel later, if there is a later.
She didn't have enough time to react before the Fiend slammed into her. Her head bounced on the hard floor once, twice as she tumbled and slid across the floor before falling onto the lower level. Ryder was dizzy while her ears rang. Her ribs were also definitely not happy with the turn of events. "Ryder!" Jaal's voice came through the comm.
"Still here," she panted, shaking her head to clear it. "Still alive."
Ryder wished she had a moment to catch her breath but there wasn't such luxury. She heard the whine of a Destroyer's turrets powering up. Damn! She rolled to her feet and raced towards the nearest cover. The first hit was absorbed by her shields, the second took it down and the third slammed into her side as she dived behind the low wall. Pain blinded her as she curled under the cover hoping to present a smaller target. It didn't take long before her on board computer injected the last of her medi gel. It barely put a dent in the pain.
She held herself still while her shields recharged. Once her shields were up, Ryder peeked from over her cover. There was a deep groan and rumble as she saw the Fiend slumping to the ground after Jaal unloaded a bunch of sticky grenades on it. One down, one to go. Ryder skirted the edges of the room as she flanked the Destroyer. She activated the mic on her suit. "Jaal," she said. "Combo to take the shields down. Vetra, follow up after."
Jaal's eyes met hers and he nodded. She signalled to him using hand signals.
3 Ryder primed a Singularity in her right hand
2 Her left hand wrapped around her pistol loaded with Disruptor ammo.
1 She flung the Singularity directly into the Destroyer while she unloaded her pistol.
The Destroyer twisted to focus on Ryder. She ducked behind cover as Jaal unleashed an Overload. The resulting explosion took its shields down in one fell swoop. Vetra took the chance to pump it full of bullets. Within a minute, the Destroyer was just a smouldering mess on the floor. "Clear," Vetra announced.
Ryder holstered her pistol and headed to the gravity well controls. "You're bleeding," Jaal said as he approached.
She looked at where Jaal was pointed. She realised there was a long crack down the side of her hard shell where she took the hit. "Ahh, damn. I didn't realise it."
Blood was oozing from it and pain started registering. "Here," Vetra said offering Ryder a medi gel pack.
"No," Ryder shook her head. "You should keep it. We don't know what we might face later."
"Ryder," Jaal began disapprovingly. "You need help, take it when it's offered."
Her mouth twisted though she heard the truth but as she was about to protest out of habit, Vetra interrupted. "If you are down, who is going to interface with the Remnant."
Now, that's a logic I can't fight. "Fine," she growled, anxious to move on.
The on board computer registered the new pack and promptly injected it into her system. Her side felt numb but her head still throbbed. "Sorry, I was just being stubborn." Ryder conceded. "Come on, let's go."
She rolled her shoulders and steeled herself as she approached the gravity well. One more, just one more. I hope… Ryder activated the gravity well and the floor opened up. She floated down, down, down all the while keeping the pain within herself. The torment of countless tiny needle stabs in her head that she couldn't escape from. She was panting from the effort by the time she reached the bottom.
"Look!" Jaal shouted as they ran down the long empty hallway. The door they were headed for closed just as they reached it. "Damn!" Vetra cursed. "Is it the Archon herding us?"
"Who else would it be?" Jaal replied, heading towards the nearest open door
"Maybe," Ryder mused. "Or maybe Scott found a way to help."
The entire place felt odd. It was too empty, too quiet. Then the Archon's voice burst through their omni tools. "Prepare for cortical stimulation."
"Does he know he is broadcasting?"
Before anyone could say anything, Scott's voice came through. "Get out of my head, you green lump of moss!"
Ryder ran, faster than she thought possible. All her pain and fatigue forgotten as Scott's screams filled her ears. "Scott!" she cried, "SAM, keep him safe!"
She knew SAM couldn't hear her pleas but she prayed she would reach them in time. Another set of doors, another long hallway and then yet another gravity well. Where the bloody hell is the Archon! Ryder didn't wait for the others, she activated it. Her vision grew hazy as pain buzzed in her head. If Ryder wasn't in such agony she would have appreciated the view as she floated and was flung vertically through space. Her hair whipped about her face at the speed she was travelling in.
Instead of her usual graceful stylish landing once the gravity exerted itself again, Ryder's legs buckled as she landed. She fell heavily to her knees. Glancing behind her, Jaal and Vetra were a little too far away to see her fall. I hope. Who knows how far a turian or an angara can see? She grimaced as she picked herself off the floor albeit on slightly shaky knees. Ryder turned to face the long bridge stretching out in front before stealing another glance to see the progress Vetra and Jaal made across the open void. She pulled out the two epipens Lexi had given her earlier. Fuck it. Without giving it another thought, she plunged both into the side of her neck.